Researchers at Rice University have made history by directly observing a superradiant phase transition (SRPT) for the first time, shattering a 50-year-old quantum barrier. This groundbreaking discovery has far-reaching implications for quantum computing, communication, and sensing technologies.
The breakthrough occurred in a crystal made of erbium, iron, and oxygen, cooled to a temperature of minus 457 degrees Fahrenheit, and exposed to an intense magnetic field. The team observed two distinct spin subsystems interacting with each other, creating a new state of matter.
The SRPT phenomenon is characterized by the synchronized fluctuation of quantum particles without external influence. In this case, the iron ions generated magnons, while the erbium ions represented fluctuations in matter. The researchers used advanced spectroscopic techniques to detect unmistakable signatures of an SRPT, which aligned with theoretical predictions.
This achievement marks a significant breakthrough in quantum physics and could revolutionize next-generation quantum technologies. By harnessing the collective quantum states at the SRPT, researchers can create ultra-sensitive quantum sensors and computing devices with enhanced precision and performance. The study’s findings have been published in Science Advances and demonstrate a new framework for understanding intrinsic quantum interactions within materials.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/superradiant-phase-transition-seen-first-233514817.html