Scientists Made a Quantum Leap and Entered a New Kind of Matter, and It Lasted Two Seconds
Indian Defence Review••science
Key Points:
- Researchers at the University of Colorado and Radboud University have created a dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) using sodium-cesium molecules cooled to five nanoKelvin, marking a significant advancement in quantum mechanics experimentation.
- The team employed a novel dual-microwave technique to cross the BEC threshold, which shielded molecules from lossy collisions and extended the condensate’s stability to an unprecedented two seconds.
- This dipolar BEC allows for enhanced control over particle interactions via external electric or magnetic fields, enabling more precise studies of quantum behavior than previously possible with atomic BECs.
- The breakthrough opens pathways to exploring exotic quantum phases such as dipolar spin liquids, self-organized crystal phases, and
