New Quantum Supersolid State Observed at Room Temperature

Room Temperature Quantum State

Researchers engineered a supersolid quantum state at room temperature inside an optical microcavity, ScienceAlert reported.

Physicists have long studied quantum states in extreme conditions near absolute zero. An international team changed that by creating a part-liquid and part-solid phase without a cryogenic fridge.

Exciton Polaritons and Light

The team generated hybrid quasiparticles called exciton polaritons by coupling light and matter inside an optical microcavity, according to Interesting Engineering. The setup used a liquid crystal combined with an organic semiconductor to achieve coupling at room temperature.

These quasiparticles last for only a few picoseconds. That window remains long enough to form a Bose-Einstein condensate that behaves like a quantum superfluid.

Supersolid Phase Observation

Researchers spotted the supersolid phase by observing regularly spaced bright fringes of light emitted from the sample, Science Advances reported. A superfluid typically loses all viscosity, yet this behavior coexisted within a rigid crystal-like structure.

“Our liquid-crystal microcavities can operate even at temperatures approaching 60°C,” Wiktor Piecek, a professor at the Military University of Technology, told Interesting Engineering.

Assembly issues limit measurement time

The organic semiconductor reacted with the liquid crystal during assembly. Researchers had to complete all measurements within a few hours of building the sample.

Repeating an experiment required starting with a fresh sample each time. Optical microcavities allow researchers to alter properties using an external voltage, paving the way for practical quantum photonic devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What institutions participated in the research?

Researchers from the University of Warsaw, the Military University of Technology in Poland, IBM Research Zurich, and the French National Center for Scientific Research collaborated on the project, according to Interesting Engineering.

Where were the study results published?

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances, as reported by ScienceAlert.

When was the supersolid phase first observed?

The supersolid phase was experimentally observed in ultracold atomic Bose-Einstein condensates in 2017, according to Interesting Engineering.