Seen Electrons Behaving Like A Fluid For The First Time

Electric current observed for the first time behaving like a fluid, i.e. a flow in which the individual electrons are no longer distinguishable from each other. This behavior had been predicted by some theories, but only now it has been observed for the first time, thanks to research conducted in the United States, at Rice University, by Douglas Natelson’s group. Published in the journal Science, the phenomenon was observed on special materials called ‘strange metals’ and the discovery could have important implications in various sectors, from the long-awaited superconductors at room temperature to quantum computers and the study of black holes.

“This is a very important demonstration, the first, of a rather particular phenomenon that occurs in some materials called strange metals. In this case — he added — the electricity, which is normally transported in the form of electrons which we can imagine as particles, instead behaves like a very viscous fluid. A whole in which the individual electrons are no longer identifiable, as if it were water whose individual molecules we cannot see.”

This strange behavior of electricity has been hypothesized for some time by some theories born from the study of particular metals which have bizarre characteristics based on external environmental conditions. One of those analyzed in the study, for example, can go from having superconducting properties at rather high temperatures, but with lower temperatures it can transform into an insulating metal, in which electrons actually do not circulate.

“Something strange happens in this phase transition, seen now for the first time. The electrons move like a fluid”. A bizarre phenomenon observed for the first time and which could now shed light on aspects that are still little or not understood at all.