Artificial Topological Matter (IMAGE) Princeton University Caption The heterostructure consists of two materials, a topological insulator (blue and orange atoms) and a trivial insulator (green and orange atoms). Each interface traps electrons (illustrated as quantum wavefunctions by the red clouds). In their work, the researchers made different heterostructure samples where they could control how the electrons tunnel from interface to interface in the stack, forming an emergent, tunable one-dimensional quantum lattice. The researchers discovered an emergent topological phase of matter, where there was an electron cloud at the end of the stack without a pairing partner, forming a topologically protected end state that is closely related to the famous Su-Schrieffer-Heeger theoretical model of one dimensional topological lattice. Credit Image credit: I. Belopolski, Princeton University Usage Restrictions Image credit: I. Belopolski, Princeton University License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.