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A new optical centrifuge is helping physicists probe the mysteries of superfluids

Researchers have successfully controlled the rotation of molecules suspended in liquid helium nano-droplets using a new optical centrifuge. This breakthrough enables scientists to study the behavior of exotic, frictionless superfluids and understand how molecules interact with the quantum environment at various rotational frequencies.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 22, 2026

Discovery of a new superfluid phase in non-Hermitian quantum systems

Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo have discovered a stable superfluid that inherently hosts singularities known as exceptional points. The study reveals how dissipation can stabilize this unique superfluid phase, which features a finite order parameter and emerges deep inside a strongly interacting phase.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 12, 2026

Miniscule wave machine opens big scientific doors

University of Queensland researchers have developed a microscopic 'ocean' on a silicon chip, allowing for the study of wave dynamics at an unprecedented scale. The device, made with superfluid helium, enables the observation of striking phenomena, including waves that lean backward and shock fronts.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

Unlocking the secrets of superfluid: HKUST scientists unveil how dipolar interactions shape two-dimensional superfluid behavior

Researchers have made a groundbreaking observation of the BKT phase transition in a 2D dipolar gas of ultracold atoms. The study demonstrates how dipolar interactions modify critical parameters and govern superfluidity without conventional symmetry breaking.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 17, 2025

Quantum vortices confirm superfluidity in supersolid

A team of physicists has observed mini-tornadoes in a supersolid quantum gas, confirming the existence of quantized vortices as a hallmark of superfluidity. The discovery is significant for understanding the behavior of supersolids and their potential applications in fields like condensed matter physics.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 6, 2024

Study reveals twisted origin of dead stars’ mysterious ‘heartbeats’

Researchers have proposed a new model explaining neutron star glitches, suggesting that the power-law behavior of glitch energies is due to the formation of twisted clusters of superfluid vortices. The study found that the exponent for the power-law behavior closely matched the observed data.

Signature of spin-triplet exciton condensations in LaCoO3 at ultrahigh magnetic fields up to 600 T

Scientists at the University of Electro-Communications successfully measured the effects of an ultra-high magnetic field on a transition metal oxide, discovering signs of a new magnetic superfluid state. This achievement has significant implications for spintronics technology and potential applications in quantum computing.

SourceThe University of Electro-Communications·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023

Quantum liquid becomes solid when heated

Researchers have discovered a new phase of matter where a quantum liquid becomes solid when heated. The breakthrough was achieved through a collaboration between experimentalists and theoretical physicists, who developed a model that explains the formation of a quantum crystal at finite temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2023

Can a solid be a superfluid? Engineering a novel supersolid state from layered 2D materials

Researchers predict that layered electronic 2D semiconductors can host a quantum phase of matter called the supersolid. A solid becomes 'super' when its quantum properties match those of superconductors, simultaneously having two orders: solid and super. The study reports the complete phase diagram of this system at low temperatures.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 29, 2023

Ultra-cold mini twisters

Scientists at the University of Innsbruck have developed a new method to observe and study ultra-cold mini twisters, quantized vortices that form in dipolar quantum gases. These vortices are a strong indication of superfluidity, a frictionless flow characteristic of certain quantum gases.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Trapping polaritons in an engineered quantum box

Australian researchers have engineered a quantum box for polaritons in a two-dimensional material, achieving large polariton densities and a partially 'coherent' quantum state. The novel technique allows researchers to access striking collective quantum phenomena and enable ultra-energy-efficient technologies.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

Skipping tiny stones into a quantum whirlpool

Scientists confirm observations of quantized vortices in superfluid helium by simulating quantum vortex dynamics with silicon nanoparticles, revealing new possibilities for optical research. The study enables visualization of quantized vortex reconnection, a key feature of superfluid helium at macroscopic scales.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 12, 2022

Like a pebble in a whirlpool

Researchers at Osaka University used silicon nanoparticles to visualize the coalescence of quantized vortices in superfluid helium. This technique enables better understanding of quantum fluids and materials, including superconductors. The study also opens up new possibilities for optical research on other quantum properties.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 4, 2022

Eccentric fractional skyrmion discovered in numerical simulations of ultra-cold superfluids

Scientists have discovered a new type of skyrmion with half-integer topological numbers in a ferromagnetic superfluid, challenging the current understanding of these phase defects. This discovery could lead to a major breakthrough in skyrmion research and its applications in particle physics and spintronics.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalPhysical Review A·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 15, 2022

Research Group of Ryuichi Shindou proposed dissipationless conversion between magnetic spin and electric charge in emergent superfluid in 2D materials

A research group led by Ryuichi Shindou proposes a new phenomenon where magnetic spin and electric charge are converted without energy loss in emergent superfluids of 2D materials. This conversion is made possible by exciton condensates, which exhibit dissipationless supercurrent flows.

SourcePeking University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 8, 2022

Research Group of Ryuichi Shindou proposed dissipationless conversion between magnetic spin and electric charge in emergent superfluid in 2D materials

A team of researchers proposed a novel approach to spintronics, demonstrating dissipationless conversion between magnetic spin and electric charge in an emergent superfluid in 2D materials. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient spintronic devices.

SourcePeking University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 8, 2022

Stirring a superfluid with a laser

Scientists at Osaka University have successfully manipulated nanoparticles suspended in superfluid helium using optical tweezers, opening the way for new cryogenic applications and potential visualization or control of vortices. The research may help better understand interactions between quantum fluids and classical nanomaterials.

SourceOsaka University·JournalOptica·DateJan 20, 2022

Sloshing quantum fluids of light and matter to probe superfluidity

An Australian-led team of physicists successfully created sloshing quantum liquids, revealing wavy motion and superfluid properties. The experiment provided insights into the speed of sound and potential effects on superfluidity, shedding light on a promising hybrid light-matter system for ultra-low-energy electronics.

Scrambled supersolids

Scientists discovered a way to create supersolids using ultracold quantum gases, a state that exhibits both crystalline order and particle flow. The researchers found that by draining the superfluid bath, the droplets lose communication and behave like independent systems, but can be revived by replenishing the bath.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 4, 2021

Stresses and flows in ultra-cold superfluids

Researchers developed a new model to study stresses and flows in ultra-cold superfluids. The findings show that the fluid becomes deformed when flowing around impurities, providing valuable insights into quantum mechanical properties at a macroscopic scale.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMay 11, 2020

Nanobubbles in nanodroplets

Scientists have observed the ultrafast reaction of nanobubbles in helium droplets after extreme ultraviolet radiation (XUV) excitation. The findings help understand how nanoparticles interact with energetic radiation and decay, essential information for directly imaging individual nanoparticles.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 8, 2020

Glitch in neutron star reveals its hidden secrets

Scientists have studied the Vela Pulsar, a neutron star 1,000 light years away, to understand its behavior during a glitch. The team found that the star's spin increased before slowing down, providing a glimpse into its interior structure, which consists of three different components.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateAug 12, 2019