TechAndComputer (July 19, 2012) — A new experiment conducted at the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI)* examines the relationship between quantum coherence, an important aspect of certain materials kept at low temperature, and the imperfections in those materials. These findings should be useful in forging a better understanding of disorder, and in turn in developing better quantum-based devices, such as superconducting magnets.

Most things in nature are imperfect at some level. Fortunately, imperfections -- a departure, say, from an orderly array of atoms in a crystalline solid -- are often advantageous. For example, copper wire, which carries so much of the world's electricity, conducts much better if at least some impurity...