Data sharing helps avoid “smoking gun” claims of topological milestones
Abstract
Manipulating the topology of electronic bands can realize new states of matter, with possible implications for information technology. A central question is how to tell whether a topological regime has been achieved. Experiments are often guided by a prediction of a distinct and self-explanatory signal called "the smoking gun." However, in micrometer- or nanometer-scale specimens, phenomenology can mimic the anticipated behavior without containing the exotic states. We show limited data that are consistent with the presence of four topological phenomena; by considering additional data, we identified the most likely origins of the observed patterns as trivial. We argue that the reliability of smoking gun-type claims can be greatly enhanced by releasing comprehensive datasets, discussing alternative scenarios, and disclosing the total volume of study.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Topological Materials and Phenomena
Quantum many-body systems
Topological and Geometric Data Analysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Science
- Publisher
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Volume
- 391
- Issue
- 6781
- Pages
- 137–142
- Publication date
- 8 January 2026
- Language
- EN