Italian researchers at the National Research Council (CNR) have successfully created a quantum "supersolid" using light. This breakthrough, achieved in Italy, involves transforming light into a solid state with properties of both zero viscosity and a crystal structure, akin to the arrangement of atoms in salt crystals. Supersolids, previously only created with supercooled atoms, exist solely in the quantum realm.
The team used a semiconductor material made of gallium arsenide and aluminum, along with a laser, to manipulate light into forming a quasiparticle known as a polariton. This polariton was then constrained to form the supersolid. Researchers believe light-based supersolids are more easily manipulated than those made from atoms, opening new avenues for understanding matter organization and phase transitions.
This achievement provides a platform for further exploration into the properties of this unique substance and its potential applications.