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Quantum Materials and Technologies

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Large-scale research infrastructures such as neutron scattering, synchrotron radiation, and muon facilities are essential to the advancement of quantum technologies because they allow scientists to probe materials at the atomic and subatomic levels with unparalleled precision.

Large-scale research infrastructures provide deep insights into the quantum behaviour of matter, enabling the study of spin dynamics, lattice vibrations, electron correlations, and magnetic properties that are fundamental to developing quantum devices and materials. For instance, neutron scattering reveals information about magnetic ordering and spin interactions in quantum materials, while synchrotron radiation offers high-resolution structural and spectroscopic data on quantum heterostructures and superconductors. Muon spin rotation techniques, meanwhile, provide a unique window into local magnetic fields and charge environments within complex materials, thin films, and multilayers.

Together, these infrastructures serve as state-of-the-art testing grounds for novel quantum materials and components such as superconductors, topological insulators, magnetic skyrmions, and quantum dots, all emerging key building blocks for quantum computers, sensors, and communication systems. By combining world-leading instrumentation, large user communities, and interdisciplinary collaboration, they bridge fundamental physics and applied engineering. Their ability to generate high-quality, reproducible data under extreme conditions—such as ultralow temperatures, high pressures, and strong magnetic fields—makes them indispensable for understanding and controlling quantum phenomena, thereby accelerating the transition from quantum science to viable quantum technologies.

With world-leading sources such as MAX IV and ESS located within walking distance of each other in Lund and the Öresund region, Sweden has established a uniquely integrated ecosystem for materials and quantum research. This close alignment between infrastructure, academia, and industry fosters collaboration, innovation, and rapid progress from fundamental discovery to technological application, positioning Sweden as a key driver in the emerging quantum technology landscape.

Examples

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Untangling a Quantum Twist in Magnetism

Swedish (KTH), French and Swiss researchers use neutron scattering to discover a new kind of magnetic phase change in the material BaCo2V2O8. They found that the transition is driven by shifts in the material’s topological structure rather than conventional symmetry breaking — revealing the rare example of a topological quantum phase transition in a real system.

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Early Electron Pairing in a Superconductor

In this study, Swedish and US researchers use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to reveal a surprising “normal-state gap” in an electron-doped cuprate (Nd2-xCexCuO4). The gap is much smaller than expected and smoothly evolves into the superconducting gap at optimal doping. This gap likely originates from incoherent electron pairing above the superconducting transition, offering fresh clues about how high-temperature superconductivity arises.

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When Two Magnetic Worlds Collide

Swedish (KTH), Canadian and Swiss researchers Scientists used the muon spin rotation technique, to reveal that the material LaSrNiReO6, once thought to be magnetically disordered, actually develops an intertwined yet organized magnetic state at very low temperatures. The discovery shows how two magnetic elements, nickel and rhenium, interact in a coordinated way, offering new insight into the design of advanced quantum materials.

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Hidden Orbital Motions in a Quantum Material

Using high-resolution resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), Swedish, Swiss and UK researchers have uncovered subtle orbital motions in the Mott insulator Ca2RuO4. The study resolves previously unseen low-energy excitations tied to the interplay between spin–orbit coupling and lattice distortions. By identifying distinct orbital fingerprints, the work provides a clearer picture of how spin and orbital dynamics intertwine.