Researchers at Rice University have successfully observed the superradiant phase transition (SRPT), a long-theorized phenomenon driven by collective coupling between quantum vacuum fluctuations and materials. By engineering quantum fluctuations using terahertz and gigahertz spectroscopy, the team cooled a rare-earth orthoferrite crystal to -457°F and applied a static magnetic field.
The SRPT is a type of quantum phase transition that has intrigued physicists for decades due to its potential applications in quantum computing and sensing. The researchers achieved this by precisely tuning material parameters and using non-invasive probes to monitor low-energy excitations within the material.
The team’s results show that quantum fluctuations can be used to control material phases, opening a new frontier in quantum materials research. They report perfect intrinsic squeezing at the SRPT critical point, where quantum noise is fully suppressed. This discovery holds promise for passive noise correction in quantum computing and sensing, improving fidelity and precision without complex active control systems.
While still at the fundamental research stage, the ability to induce phase transitions via engineered quantum fluctuations has exciting technological implications. Potential applications include ultralow-noise quantum memory, passively error-corrected quantum computing, and quantum sensors operating at the fundamental noise limit. The researchers aim to build scalable, solid-state platforms where quantum squeezing becomes a robust and practical quantum resource in the near future.
Source: https://www.laserfocusworld.com/quantum/article/55296018/scientists-observe-quantum-vacuum-phenomenon-theoretically-predicted-50-years-ago