Physicists Achieve Breakthrough by Stirring Supersolid to Reveal Quantum Vortices

This discovery confirms the dual nature of supersolids, combining properties of both solids and superfluids.

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck successfully created and stirred a supersolid, revealing quantized vortices that confirm its superfluid properties.
Supersolids, predicted over 50 years ago, exhibit characteristics of both a rigid solid and a frictionless superfluid, making them a unique state of matter.
The experiment involved cooling a gas of erbium atoms to near absolute zero and using magnetic fields to rotate the supersolid without destroying its delicate state.
These findings provide insights into the behavior of exotic quantum systems and have potential applications in understanding neutron stars and superconductors.
The study marks a significant advancement in quantum physics, allowing simulations of extreme cosmic phenomena in a laboratory setting.