A group of researchers has managed to amplify the manipulative capability of cold atomic gases twofold, creating a novel form of matter. This game-changing discovery is likely to push the frontiers of quantum technology through the generation of “density waves” within a carefully prepared gas. The concept of a density wave is depicted by Harald Ritsch. Credit: Innsbruck University/EPFL
Scientists from EPFL have uncovered an innovative method to fabricate a crystalline formation known as a “density wave” within an atomic gas. This monumental discovery contributes to a more profound comprehension of quantum matter’s behavior, a subject that stands as one of the most intricate challenges in the realm of physics.
“Cold atomic gases have historically been appreciated for their programmable inter-atomic interactions,” asserts Professor Jean-Philippe Brantut from EPFL. “Our experiment has now magnified this capacity two-fold!” Collaborating with Professor Helmut Ritsch’s team at the University of Innsbruck, they have pioneered a breakthrough that holds promising implications not only for quantum research but also for future quantum-based technological applications.
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Density Waves
The self-organization of materials into intricate structures, such as crystals, has intrigued scientists for a long time. Within the mystifying world of quantum physics, such particle self-organization manifests as ‘density waves’, where particles align themselves into a consistent, recurrent pattern or ‘order’, akin to individuals in multi-colored shirts lining up in a pattern where no two individuals in the same colored shirt stand adjacent to each other.
Density waves can be found in various materials, encompassing metals, insulators, and superconductors. Nonetheless, the study of density waves has proven challenging, particularly when this order coincides with other organizational forms, such as superfluidity – a trait that permits particles to flow unimpeded.
Superfluidity, far from being a theoretical fascination, is crucial for the development of materials possessing distinctive properties, including high-temperature superconductivity, potentially leading to superior energy transmission and storage, or for the construction of quantum computers.
Manipulating a Fermi Gas with Light
To investigate this relationship, Brantut and his team developed a “unitary Fermi gas,” an ultra-thin lithium atom gas cooled to extremely low temperatures where atom collisions are frequent.
This gas was subsequently positioned in an optical cavity, a tool designed to confine light within a small area over a lengthy duration. Optical cavities comprise two mirrors facing each other that reflect incoming light between them multiple times, enabling light particles, or photons, to accumulate within the cavity.
During the research, the scientists employed the cavity to induce long-distance interaction among the particles in the Fermi gas: one atom emits a photon that rebounds off the mirrors and is then reabsorbed by another atom in the gas, irrespective of their spatial separation. When a sufficient number of photons are emitted and reabsorbed – a process easily adjustable in the experiment – the atoms collectively arrange themselves into a density wave pattern.
“The fusion of direct atomic collisions in the Fermi gas with simultaneous photon exchange over long distances forms a new matter state characterized by extreme interactions,” states Brantut. “We anticipate this will augment our understanding of some of the most complex materials encountered in physics.”
Reference: “Density-wave ordering in a unitary Fermi gas with photon-mediated interactions” by Victor Helson, Timo Zwettler, Farokh Mivehvar, Elvia Colella, Kevin Roux, Hideki Konishi, Helmut Ritsch and Jean-Philippe Brantut, 24 May 2023, Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06018-3
The Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and the Swiss National Fund for the Promotion of Scientific Research provided the funding for the study.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Quantum Matter Breakthrough
What was the key breakthrough made by the team of scientists?
The researchers successfully doubled the manipulative potential of cold atomic gases, which allowed them to create a new type of matter. They achieved this by stimulating “density waves” in a specially prepared gas. This discovery could greatly advance quantum technology.
Who were the key researchers in this study?
The research was primarily conducted by Professor Jean-Philippe Brantut at EPFL and his team, in collaboration with Professor Helmut Ritsch’s group at the University of Innsbruck.
What are density waves?
In the realm of quantum physics, density waves are a type of self-organization of particles, where particles arrange themselves into a regular, repeating pattern or ‘order’. These waves are observed in various materials, including metals, insulators, and superconductors.
What is the significance of superfluidity in this study?
Superfluidity, which is a property that allows particles to flow without resistance, is a significant part of this study. It’s not just a theoretical curiosity; it is of immense interest for developing materials with unique properties, such as high-temperature superconductivity, which could lead to more efficient energy transfer and storage, or for building quantum computers.
What is a unitary Fermi gas and how did the researchers use it in their experiment?
A unitary Fermi gas is a thin gas of lithium atoms cooled to extremely low temperatures, where atoms collide with each other very often. The researchers created this gas and placed it in an optical cavity, which allowed the particles in the Fermi gas to interact at long distances, forming a density wave pattern.
5 comments
Whooa! thats some high-level stuff. No wonder quantum physics is like rocket science for me. Keep up the good work guys.
brantut and his team are literally making waves, haha. In all seriousness tho, this is some groundbreaking stuff. Quantum tech is the future!
This just confirms it… science is basically magic. So cool that they can do all this. Hats off to the researchers!
Its just so cool how quantum tech is evolving so fast! I mean, cold atomic gases, density waves – this is the stuff of Sci-fi! Can’t wait to see the practical applications.
ok, i might not understand all the science behind this, but I know enough to be amazed. Creating new types of matter? We’re living in the future, people!