CNR, LIGHT TRANSFORMED INTO SUPERSOLID: WORLD FIRST
Italian researchers have transformed light into a supersolid, a quantum state that acts simultaneously as a solid crystal and a fluid without viscosity, upending classical physics
For the first time in the world, scientists from CNR – National Research Council of Italy, have transformed light into a supersolid, a quantum state that acts simultaneously as a solid crystal and as a fluid without friction. This groundbreaking research opens the path to a greater understanding of quantum states of matter.
Italian researchers at CNR (National Research Council of Italy) have achieved a groundbreaking scientific milestone by transforming light into a supersolid – a unique quantum state that simultaneously exhibits properties of both a solid crystal and a friction-free fluid.
This world-first achievement fundamentally challenges our classical understanding of physics. The researchers, led by scientist Daniele Sanvitto, have created a state of matter that behaves in ways previously thought impossible, comparable in concept (though not mechanism) to how Star Wars lightsabers manipulate light.
Published in the prestigious journal Nature, this research opens new possibilities in photonics that could revolutionize semiconductor development and inspire computing architectures that function more like the human brain.
What are supersolids
Supersolids are unique materials with zero viscosity and a structure similar to conventional crystals, like those present in table salt. Unlike typical materials, which behave according to the familiar laws of physics, supersolids exist primarily in the quantum realm.
Imagine taking an ice cube that, while perfectly maintaining its cubic shape, could also pass through a sieve effortlessly, as if it were water. It seems absurd, yet this is exactly what happens in these exotic states of matter: supersolids are characterized by a rigid crystalline structure and a frictionless flow that coexist in the same material.
Until now, physicists had managed to create supersolids only by cooling atoms to temperatures very close to absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius), conditions in which quantum effects become evident and observable. The big news is that now we can obtain them by manipulating light at much higher temperatures, thanks to the interaction with specially structured semiconductor materials. This means being able to study these quantum phenomena in much more accessible conditions.
The Italian CNR experiment
The experiment was not at all simple. The researchers had to design “ridges” on the semiconductor with micrometric precision, creating a pattern that confined the hybrid particles generated by the interaction between light and matter (the so-called “polaritons”). They then directed a laser onto this part of the semiconductor. This confinement forced the polaritons to arrange themselves in a crystalline structure while maintaining the fluidity typical of quantum systems: a supersolid, indeed.
The team of researchers, led by scientist Daniele Sanvitto, faced a significant challenge to consolidate the results: they had to precisely measure a sufficient number of properties of this new supersolid, providing evidence that it truly showed characteristics of both a solid and a fluid without viscosity. Many tests were necessary: there were no precedents, no experimental protocol to follow. They had to measure several properties simultaneously to prove that their material was truly both solid and fluid without viscosity.
“We have effectively transformed light into a solid. It’s truly extraordinary,” declared Dimitrios Trypogeorgos, another CNR researcher part of the team.
The long years of research
It’s not the first time that light has surprised us. Since 2009, when Daniele Sanvitto, already a CNR researcher, demonstrated that light could behave like a fluid, it was known that this seemingly simple element hid extraordinary properties. But taking the next step, transforming light into a supersolid, seemed like an impossible feat. Now, Sanvitto and his team have taken a further step forward by creating what they define as a quantum “supersolid.” They have not only manipulated light, they have transformed it into something that defies any classical categorization.
And who knows what other surprises the beams of light that we pay little attention to every day have in store for us!
Future developments
According to Alberto Bramati of Sorbonne University, this experiment represents just the first step. Although the team has convincingly demonstrated that they have produced a supersolid, Bramati acknowledged that further measurements and analyses are needed to fully understand its properties.
Trypogeorgos, from the CNR team, suggested that these forms of matter might be more manageable than those generated by atoms. This characteristic could lead to a deeper exploration of new and unexpected states of matter and practical applications in quantum technology, opening up previously inaccessible paths.
As the field of quantum physics continues to evolve, the creation of a light-based supersolid represents an exciting beginning for researchers. With much more to discover about the behavior of this new state of matter, scientists are eager to delve into its nuances, potentially discovering revolutionary applications in the coming years. Perhaps one day this seemingly abstract research will lead to revolutionary technologies, just as happened with other quantum phenomena that today power computers, lasers, and medical devices.
We are truly just at the beginning of a new chapter in physics. And, as often happens, it all begins with a beam of light.
Sources: CNR | HDBlog | EtaBeta
Cover image: Jj-Ying via Unsplash
Author: Barbara Marcotulli
Maker Faire Rome – The European Edition has been committed since nine editions to make innovation accessible and usable to all, with the aim of not leaving anyone behind. Its blog is always updated and full of opportunities and inspiration for makers, makers, startups, SMEs and all the curious ones who wish to enrich their knowledge and expand their business, in Italy and abroad.
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