Topological materials

Topological materials: Recently, Microsoft released a quantum-computing chip made of such topological materials.

• About Topological Materials: Materials that behave differently on the surface and inside, such as a metal outside and an insulator inside, are called topological materials.

o Such materials were discovered in the second half of the 20th century, and some of their discoverers won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2016.

o To understand why these materials work, one needs quantum mechanics, whose foundational principles were discovered 100 years ago.

o 2025 has been declared as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology by the UN.

• How Does Mirror Work?

o A mirror is not one material but two — glass (shy electrons) and metal (unruly electrons).

o A mirror feels like glass but reflects like a steel plate. It has a thin metal layer at the back.

o The glass lets light through, and metal reflects it back. This combination makes a long-lasting mirror.

o Imagine a block of glass with silver on all sides — it will look like metal but won’t conduct inside. Creating such behaviour in a single material results in topological materials.

• Note: When you next stare at a mirror, appreciate the dance of electrons in both the glass and metal layer, sending your light back to you.

o To deeply understand this, consider learning quantum mechanics, such as through physics courses at institutions like IIT Kanpur.