Researchers at the National Research Council in Italy have successfully created an odd solid that can flow like a fluid using light. The achievement is significant because it allows scientists to study exotic quantum states of matter.
Dimitris Trypogeorgos, a researcher at CNR, comments on the discovery: “We actually made light into a solid. That’s pretty awesome.” This breakthrough builds upon previous work by Daniele Sanvitto, who demonstrated that light could become a fluid more than a decade ago.
The current experiment creates not just any solid, but one that exhibits unique properties. By studying this phenomenon, researchers can gain valuable insights into the behavior of exotic quantum states of matter.
Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2470908-light-has-been-transformed-into-a-supersolid-for-the-first-time