Physicists Achieve World-First Creation of a Supersolid Made of Light

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00:00Physicists achieve world-first creation of a supersolid made of light.

00:05Researchers transformed light into a crystalline structure,

00:08creating a supersolid first predicted in the 1960s.

00:13Successfully coupling matter and light, this advances condensed matter physics

00:16research significantly.

00:22In quantum mechanics, a supersolid is a state where particles form a crystalline

00:26solid but move like a liquid without friction, typical of superfluids.

00:31They alter density and direction based on particle interactions

00:35while maintaining a lattice structure forming only at low temperatures.

00:39Helium-4 isotopes, even at absolute zero, require 25 atmospheres to solidify,

00:46showcasing quantum effects that remove viscosity, eliminating friction in fluids.

00:55Researchers used a laser on gallium arsenide to form polaritins,

00:59confined in a photonic crystal waveguide, achieving a supersolid state.

01:05This method, differing from ultra-cold gases, enhances quantum phase exploration,

01:10potentially advancing light-emitting devices, frictionless lubricants,

01:13and neuromorphic computing, bridging fundamental science with practical applications.

01:19This breakthrough exemplifies how former science fiction techniques are now reality.

01:23Manipulating light into a flowing structured form was once impossible but is now observable.

01:30Understanding this brings us closer to applying quantum mechanics in daily life.

01:35Researchers consistently expand our knowledge, potentially leading to revolutionary technologies

01:40that transform our interaction with the world.

01:43We stand on the brink

01:44of innovations that redefine our engagement with this mysterious world.