Physicists Create Room-Temperature Supersolid Quantum State of Matter
Physicists have successfully engineered an exotic supersolid quantum state of matter at room temperature, eliminating the need for extreme cooling.
Researchers have observed an exotic quantum state of matter that functions entirely at room temperature, bypassing the need for extreme cryogenic cooling traditionally required in quantum physics. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, detail how an international team of scientists generated a hybrid state exhibiting properties of both solids and liquids.
The setup utilizes a specialized light-trapping structure known as a microcavity. According to the study, this experimental apparatus offers several practical advantages because it is inexpensive, manageable through voltages, and operates without a cryogenic fridge.
“Our liquid-crystal microcavities can operate even at temperatures approaching 60 °C (140 °F),” says physicist Wiktor Piecek from the Military University of Technology in Poland.
Officially categorized as a supersolid within an exciton-polariton Bose-Einstein condensate, the state combines multiple physical phenomena. A superfluid flows completely without resistance, while a supersolid retains a repeating, crystal-like structure alongside fluid characteristics. The exciton-polariton acts as a hybrid quasiparticle blending light and matter, and a Bose-Einstein condensate occurs when multiple entities merge into a single quantum organism.
Experimentation and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking
To generate this state, the team combined a voltage-controllable liquid crystal with an organic semiconductor that strongly interacts with light. Energy was introduced into the system via laser pulses. Because the materials degraded over time through reactions between the semiconductor and liquid crystal, the team had to carefully plan their trials.
“We had to plan the entire sequence of experiments in advance,” says physicist Marcin Muszyński, from the City College of New York. “Repeating a measurement meant fabricating an entirely new sample.”
As successive laser pulses were applied, the condensate reformed repeatedly, with its solid-like crystal stripes aligning in varying positions. This behavior confirmed the inherent nature of the quantum state rather than any external influence from the microcavity structure. Computer simulation models subsequently backed up the physical observations.
“This is a textbook example of spontaneous symmetry breaking,” says physicist Guillaume Malpuech, from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). “Theory predicted that the supersolid could choose among several equivalent states, and that is exactly what we observed.”
Although the particles lasted only for fractions of a second, the duration was sufficient for data collection. Future development plans include extending the lifespan of core reactions and investigating quantum vortices. Ultimately, the discovery could simplify the study of quantum behavior and benefit advanced sensors and computing systems.