By Josh Perry, Editor
[email protected]

European researchers recently kicked off Project TOCHA (dissipationless topological channels for information transfer and quantum metrology), which is being coordinated by the Catalan institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Barcelona, Spain.

Project TOCHA kicked off with a meeting at the ICN2 in Barcelona. (ICN2)

According to a report from ICN2, the project seeks methods for using topological properties to build the next generation of electronic devices that can process information without losses.

“TOCHA will investigate topological protection, a property that provides stability to a system, in novel materials and nanoscopic structures,” the article explained. “Its objective is to empower electrons (subatomic particles with negative electric charge), photons (quantum particles of electromagnetic radiation, such as light) and phonons (quantum particles transferring sound or heat) to flow with little or no dissipation and, ultimately, crosslink them within a hybrid platform.”

To achieve this goal, researchers will build novel heterostructures from topological insulators and ferromagnetic materials, according to the report. The potential applications range from information processing to quantum computing.

TOCHA combines research into electronic materials, optics, and thermal management. It includes 11 research units from seven European institutions, one technology and innovation center, and six different countries.

Read more about the project at http://tocha-project.eu.