In a groundbreaking study scientists successfully “stirred” a bizarre state of matter called a supersolid directly observing its unique properties as both a solid and superfluid for the first time. This strange hybrid matter, which can flow frictionlessly while maintaining a rigid crystal structure, was examined by researchers from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and published in Nature.
Supersolids are among the “exotic” states of matter, created at temperatures close to absolute zero. For decades, physicists theorized their existence, believing that supersolids would allow some atoms to flow freely through a solid lattice structure, combining both rigidity and fluidity. Until now, though, directly observing how a supersolid flows had proven elusive.
To achieve this breakthrough, the team cooled specific atoms to ultra-low temperatures, forming a stable, two-dimensional supersolid in the lab. They then used magnetic fields to gently stir this fragile structure. As expected, tiny whirlpools, or “quantized vortices,” began to appear a clear marker of superfluidity. Lead researcher Francesca Ferlaino described the effect as creating “small holes in the fluid, each rotating at a specific speed,” arranged in an orderly pattern like holes in Gruyere cheese.
This development doesn’t only reveal more about supersolids but also offers a model to study extreme cosmic phenomena, such as conditions inside neutron stars, where trapped superfluid vortices might cause sudden rotational shifts. This discovery could ultimately advance our understanding of these extreme astrophysical environments by recreating aspects of their behavior here on Earth.
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