Quantum Anomalies in Condensed Matter

Pettes, Michael Thompson; Lin, Shi‐Zeng; Peterson, Elizabeth Ann; Zhu, Jian‐Xin; Winter, Laurel Elaine Winter; Palmstrom, Johanna Christine; Yoo, Jinkyoung; Sirica, Nicholas Steven; Padmanabhan, Prashant; Rosa, Priscila F. S.; Thomas, Sean Michael; Saxena, Avadh

doi:10.1002/apxr.202400189

Quantum Anomalies in Condensed Matter

Journal Article · Fri Jul 11 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Advanced Physics Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/apxr.202400189· OSTI ID:2570049

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Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Naval Research Lab. (NRL), Washington, DC (United States)

Quantum materials provide a fertile ground in which to test and realize unusual phenomena such as quantum anomalies predicted by quantum field theory. There are three important symmetries that are broken when classical field theory is moved into the quantum regime, the scale anomaly, the axial (chiral) anomaly, and the parity anomaly. Several potential device applications may be realized by the discovery of quantum anomalies in condensed matter, enabled by the new physics they embody, including ultra‐sensitive dark matter detectors, far infrared optical modulators, micro‐bolometric detectors, low‐dissipation ballistic transporters, terahertz‐based qubits, terahertz polarization state controls, passive magnetic field sensors, stable topological superconductors that host Majorana fermions, and qubits topologically protected against decoherence. In this perspective article, the definition of these quantum anomalies is laid out, how little is known in the context of condensed matter, and how quantum anomalies are predicted to manifest as anomalous electronic, thermal, and magnetic behavior in experiments on topological quantum materials, including Weyl and Dirac semimetals. Furthermore, the importance that mechanical strain and defects will play in modifying signatures of quantum anomalies is discussed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 2570049

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--24-32473; 10.1002/apxr.202400189; 2751-1200

Journal Information:: Advanced Physics Research, Journal Name: Advanced Physics Research Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 4; ISSN 2751-1200

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
axial (chiral) anomaly
magneto-thermoelectric transport
parity anomaly
quantum anomalous Hall effect
scale anomaly
strain engineering
topological quantum materials

Quantum Anomalies in Condensed Matter

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References (74)

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