‘Strange metal’ sends quantum researchers in circles

“Strange metal,” that rogue phenomenon of the electrical realm, just became a little less enigmatic.

Identified more than 40 years ago, strange metal is a state of matter found in many quantum materials — including certain superconductors that scientists say may be vital for high-tech products of the future. The “strange” part of strange metal is its electrons: they defy the traditional rules for electron movement and conductivity.

Unlike most metals, in which electrical resistance increases with the square of temperature, strange metals have an electrical resistance that increases in proportion to temperature. This “linear-in-temperature” behavior defies physicists’ understanding of how electrons move in solids.

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