Electrons stop acting like particles—and physics still works

Scientists at TU Wien discovered that materials can display topological properties even when electrons stop behaving like particles, overturning a fundamental physics assumption. By studying a cerium-ruthenium-tin compound at near absolute zero, researchers found the material exhibited a spontaneous Hall effect without magnetic fields, demonstrating topological behavior despite electrons lacking particle-like characteristics. This breakthrough reveals topological states are more universal than previously thought and opens new pathways for discovering quantum materials with quantum-critical behavior.