Major Breakthrough: The First-Ever Achievement of a Laughlin State in Quantum Physics

Major Breakthrough: The First-Ever Achievement of a Laughlin State in Quantum Physics

Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the realm of quantum physics by successfully realizing a Laughlin state using ultracold atoms manipulated by lasers. This achievement sheds light on a peculiar quantum liquid where each atom engages in an intricate dance with its counterparts, while avoiding them as much as possible. The experimental group led by Markus Greiner at Harvard, in collaboration with an international team, has published their findings in the prestigious journal Nature.

The concept of Laughlin states emerged in the 1980s with the discovery of quantum Hall effects, unveiling new forms of matter. These unique states manifest in two-dimensional materials when exposed to extremely cold conditions and subjected to intense magnetic fields. In a Laughlin state, electrons exhibit unusual behavior, forming a liquid-like state where they orbit each other while maintaining a significant distance.

Exciting this quantum liquid leads to the emergence of collective states that physicists associate with fictitious particles known as “anyons.” These intriguing particles possess fractional charges, differing significantly from conventional classifications of particles as bosons or fermions.

For many years, scientists have sought ways to realize Laughlin states in systems beyond solid-state materials to explore their distinct properties further. However, the necessary conditions, such as the two-dimensional nature of the system, the presence of a strong magnetic field, and strong particle correlations, have proven to be exceptionally challenging to recreate.

The recent experiment described in the Nature article overcomes these obstacles by utilizing ultracold neutral atoms manipulated by lasers. By trapping a small number of atoms in an optical box, the researchers implemented the essential components required for the creation of the exotic Laughlin state, including a strong synthetic magnetic field and robust repulsive interactions among the atoms.

In their study, the scientists employed a powerful quantum-gas microscope to image the atoms individually, allowing them to observe the distinct characteristics of the Laughlin state. They documented the mesmerizing orbital “dance” between the particles as they revolved around each other, providing compelling evidence of the fractional nature of the realized atomic Laughlin state.

This groundbreaking achievement opens up a new realm of exploration for Laughlin states and related phenomena, such as the Moore-Read state, within the realm of quantum simulators. The ability to create, image, and manipulate anyons under a quantum-gas microscope holds great promise for harnessing their unique properties in laboratory settings.

Reference: “Realization of a fractional quantum Hall state with ultracold atoms” by Julian Léonard, Sooshin Kim, Joyce Kwan, Perrin Segura, Fabian Grusdt, Cécile Repellin, Nathan Goldman, and Markus Greiner, 21 June 2023, Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06122-4

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