A Quantum Leap: Electrons Flow Like Water in NbGe2

Quantum materials are poised to revolutionise technology, and the chiral-lattice superconductor NbGe₂ is currently capturing the attention of physicists. In this material, quantum mechanical effects play a dominant role, creating a playground for unique electronic states. Recent reviews highlight that the energy band structure of NbGe₂ possesses specific saddle-point dispersions and a distinct peak structure near the energy level where conduction occurs.

Most notably, NbGe₂ serves as a promising platform for observing hydrodynamic transport phenomena. Unlike standard conduction, where electrons scatter individually, momentum-conserving scattering processes dominate here, allowing electrons to flow collectively. Additionally, NbGe₂ is a fully gapped superconductor that demonstrates a characteristic crossover from type-I to type-II/1 superconductivity. In microfabricated devices, scientists have observed unusual magnetoresistance and a superconducting diode effect within artificially induced surface states. These findings, confirmed by techniques such as quantum oscillations and spin-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, suggest NbGe₂ is vital for understanding complex quantum transport.