A Quantum Breakthrough: Scientists Turn Light Into a Supersolid

Researchers achieve a historic feat in condensed matter physics, opening new frontiers in quantum science.

Fez — In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, researchers have successfully transformed light into a supersolid, a bizarre state of matter that behaves as both a solid and a fluid.

This discovery, conducted by scientists at Italy’s National Research Council (CNR), marks a major step forward in understanding quantum mechanics and its potential applications in advanced technology.

Supersolids are materials that exhibit the structural properties of solids while flowing without resistance, much like a superfluid. Until now, such states of matter had only been observed in ultracold atomic gases under extreme laboratory conditions.

However, this latest research introduces a novel approach. Instead of using ultracold atoms, scientists directed laser light onto a semiconductor material, aluminum gallium arsenide, that was engineered with a precise ridge pattern. This interaction produced polariton quasiparticles, which ultimately arranged themselves into a supersolid state.

As reported in New Scientist, Dimitrios Trypogeorgos, one of the lead researchers, described the breakthrough with excitement: “We actually made light into a solid. That’s pretty awesome.”

The achievement builds on earlier work by CNR scientist Daniele Sanvitto, who demonstrated more than a decade ago that light could behave like a fluid. This new research takes it a step further, proving that light can also form a stable supersolid structure.

However, creating the supersolid was only half the challenge. The team needed to gather concrete evidence that their new material displayed both solid-like rigidity and fluid-like zero viscosity. Their experimental validation sets a precedent in condensed matter physics, expanding the possibilities for manipulating light in quantum systems.

Physicists like Alberto Bramati from Sorbonne University in France see this study as a significant contribution to understanding quantum phase transitions, the process by which materials change states at a quantum level.

While the experiment successfully demonstrated the formation of a supersolid, further research is required to analyze its full range of properties. Scientists believe this discovery could lead to innovative applications in quantum computing, optical technologies, and next-generation materials science.

Trypogeorgos expressed optimism about future studies, suggesting that light-based supersolids may be easier to control than those formed from ultracold atoms, potentially leading to unexpected breakthroughs in quantum physics.

As research progresses, this milestone serves as a reminder that the quantum world continues to reveal new surprises, reshaping our understanding of reality at the most fundamental level.