Scientists Turn Light Into a “Supersolid” Form for the First Time—a Quantum Physics Revolution

In a groundbreaking experiment, researchers have successfully transformed light into a supersolid, an unusual state of matter that exhibits properties of both a solid and a fluid. This discovery published in Nature, achieved by a team of physicists and nanotechnologists, opens new avenues for quantum mechanics, photonics, and advanced materials research.

Understanding Supersolids

A supersolid is a paradoxical state of matter that maintains a crystalline structure like a solid while also flowing without resistance, a property typical of superfluids.

Historically, supersolids have only been observed in ultracold atomic gases, requiring temperatures close to absolute zero. The ability to generate a supersolid using light challenges conventional views on the nature of matter and energy.

Turning Light Into a Solid

The research was conducted by a team led by Dimitris Trypogeorgos and Daniele Sanvitto at the National Research Council (CNR) in Italy. The scientists fired a laser beam at a gallium arsenide structure with precisely engineered microscopic ridges.

The interaction between the light and the material led to the formation of polaritons, hybrid light-matter particles that exhibited supersolid properties.

According to the researchers, this setup forced the polaritons into an ordered lattice structure while simultaneously allowing them to flow without viscosity. As Trypogeorgos described,

“We actually made light into a solid. That’s pretty awesome.”

The Significance of Light-Based Supersolids

This is the first time a supersolid has been created using light, which could lead to new ways of manipulating photonic materials and quantum systems.

Unlike previous experiments requiring ultracold atoms, the light-based supersolid might be more stable and controllable, making it an ideal platform for future quantum computing and optical technologies.

Quantum computing could benefit significantly from this discovery, as supersolid-based photonic systems may provide a more stable foundation for qubits, the building blocks of quantum information.

Additionally, the ability to create supersolid light could advance next-generation optical circuits, leading to faster, more efficient photonic devices. This discovery also paves the way for exploring new states of matter, further deepening our understanding of light-matter interactions in extreme quantum conditions.

Looking Ahead

The team plans to refine their approach to gain greater control over light-based supersolids, exploring how they could be applied to next-generation quantum systems.

Future research will focus on stabilizing and manipulating supersolid light in ways that could revolutionize multiple industries, from fundamental physics to technological advancements in photonics and computing.

This milestone challenges conventional views of what light is capable of and sets the stage for future breakthroughs in quantum physics and material science.

The ability to engineer light as both a fluid and a solid could fundamentally change the way scientists approach quantum materials and their applications in the modern world.