Quantum Breakthrough Reveals New Material Behavior in Insulators

Researchers at the University of Michigan have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of quantum physics, revealing that quantum oscillations occur within insulating materials. This finding, published on November 9, 2025, in the journal Physical Review Letters, challenges long-standing beliefs about the behavior of materials and suggests a new duality in their properties.

The study, conducted at the National Magnetic Field Laboratory, indicates that these oscillations arise from the bulk of the material rather than just its surface. This revelation could reshape our understanding of how certain compounds function, indicating they may act as both metals and insulators under specific conditions.

Exploring Quantum Oscillations

Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, the research focuses on a phenomenon known as quantum oscillations. In conventional metals, these oscillations occur when electrons behave like tiny springs, responding dynamically to magnetic fields. Researchers have recently found that similar oscillations can be detected in insulators—materials traditionally understood to resist the flow of electricity.

The core question driving this research is whether these oscillations originate from the material’s surface or its bulk. If they were solely a surface phenomenon, it could signal exciting possibilities for new technologies based on materials known as topological insulators, which are already under investigation for their unique electronic properties.

Significant Findings from Collaborative Research

The research involved a global team of over a dozen scientists from six institutions across the United States and Japan, including Kuan-Wen Chen and graduate students from the University of Michigan. Chen remarked, “For years, scientists have pursued the answer to a fundamental question about the carrier origin in this exotic insulator: Is it from the bulk or the surface, intrinsic or extrinsic? We are excited to provide clear evidence that it is bulk and intrinsic.”

This collaborative effort yielded compelling evidence that the oscillations are indeed a bulk effect, reshaping the understanding of insulator behavior.

Lu Li, a physicist and professor at the University of Michigan, described the discovery as “really bizarre and exciting.” He noted that while the results do not yet suggest immediate applications, they reveal fundamental truths about the universe that are worth exploring further.

“Effectively, we’re showing that this naive picture where we envisioned a surface with good conduction is completely wrong,” Li explained. “It’s the whole compound that behaves like a metal even though it’s an insulator.”

Implications for Future Research

The researchers investigated a compound known as ytterbium boride (YbB12) under an extraordinarily powerful magnetic field of 35 Tesla, which is approximately 35 times stronger than the magnetic field found in a standard hospital MRI machine. This extreme setting allowed them to observe the material’s unexpected behavior.

While the “metal-like” characteristics of this insulating material are only apparent under such conditions, the findings open new avenues for research into quantum mechanics and materials science. The team hopes that their work will inspire further experiments and theoretical investigations into the neutral particles responsible for these oscillations.

The project received additional backing from the Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

As scientists continue to peel back the layers of complexity surrounding quantum materials, this discovery is a significant step toward understanding the intricate behaviors that govern our universe.