New research suggests the road from abstract theory to practical applications doesn’t need to be very long. A mechanical use of a quantum mechanical phenomenon could soon be used for soundproofing.
For several years now, theoretical physicist Sebastian Huber of ETH Zurich has focused on so-called topological insulators, i.e., materials whose ability to conduct electric current originates in their topology.
The easiest way to understand what “topological” means in this context is to imagine how a doughnut can be turned into a coffee cup by pulling, stretching, and molding—but without cutting it.
Topologically speaking, doughnuts and coffee cups are identical. Sebastian Huber/ETH Zurich
