Quantum materials in extreme environments: Unlocking new frontiers for next-generation technologies

Abstract

Quantum materials are defined by strong interactions and emergent electronic and magnetic states that are highly sensitive to their environment. Under extreme conditions – for example, very low temperature, high pressure, intense magnetic fields, or ionizing radiation – their electronic structure and collective behavior can change qualitatively, revealing new phases and enabling control over functionality. These responses both expose fundamental mechanisms of correlation and topology and create practical opportunities for sensing, information processing, and harsh-environment electronics. At the same time, the same sensitivity raises challenges for stability, coherence, and scalable integration. Progress will depend on materials-by-design approaches and on experimental methods that probe behavior in operando across length and time scales, together with theory that links microscopic mechanisms to device-relevant performance. This paper discusses recent advances that illustrate these points and outlines strategic directions to translate distinctive quantum phenomena under extreme conditions into robust technologies.