Scientists have transformed light into a supersolid, a unique form of matter that behaves like both a solid and a liquid, for the first time. The breakthrough, published March 5 in Nature, marks a significant step in understanding quantum physics and material behavior.
A supersolid is a rare state of matter that defies conventional physics. It has the rigid structure of a solid but moves like a frictionless liquid. In normal solids, atoms remain fixed in place, while liquids flow freely. Supersolids, however, do both simultaneously. This unusual behavior arises due to quantum effects, where particles interact in ways not seen in everyday materials.
Supersolids had previously been created using atomic gases, but this is the first time researchers have made one by combining light with matter. This achievement could offer new insights into quantum mechanics and lead to advancements in materials science. Scientists are still exploring potential applications. However, the discovery opens new avenues in physics and technology.
Supersolids can only form at temperatures near absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature in the universe. At higher temperatures, particles move too chaotically for quantum effects to dominate.
Think of a busy playground full of children jumping and running in all directions—this represents particles in a warm material. As the temperature drops, the chaos fades, allowing researchers to observe how particles behave in a supersolid state.
They Froze Light.
Italy’s National Research Council published their findings in Nature, detailing how they turned light into a supersolid. They used a laser to interact with a gallium arsenide semiconductor patterned with microscopic ridges, forming polaritons-hybrid… pic.twitter.com/OHGUPcYeUa
— Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) March 10, 2025
Viscosity determines how easily a fluid flows. Syrup has high viscosity, making it thick and slow-moving, while water has lower viscosity and flows easily. Some fluids, like superfluid helium, have no viscosity at all.
When helium is cooled close to absolute zero, it exhibits bizarre quantum behavior. It flows without resistance, climbs the walls of containers, and refuses to stay still. This frictionless movement is a key property of both superfluids and supersolids, where particles move freely despite maintaining an orderly structure.
In previous experiments, supersolids were made from atomic gases. This breakthrough relied on polaritons, special particles formed when light (photons) interacts strongly with matter. These hybrid light-matter particles can condense into a supersolid, much like atomic gases do under extreme conditions.
By coupling light with matter, researchers have created a supersolid that challenges the conventional understanding of material states. This achievement not only deepens the knowledge of quantum mechanics but also lays the groundwork for new scientific and technological discoveries.
Understanding supersolids could lead to major advancements in quantum computing, superconductors, and ultra-efficient materials. Superconductors, for example, allow electricity to flow without energy loss, and supersolids may contribute to similar frictionless systems.
