by Willow Tohi, Natural News:
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- Scientists at Rice University and EPFL experimentally confirmed the superradiant phase transition (SRPT)—proposed by Robert Dicke in 1954—and dissipative phase transitions (DPTs). SRPT involves synchronized quantum fluctuations between light and matter, while DPTs describe phase shifts in open quantum systems losing energy to the environment.
- Rice researchers bypassed theoretical limitations by using magnons (spin waves) instead of light, cooling a crystal to near absolute zero and applying an ultra-strong magnetic field to observe SRPT behavior in erbium and iron ions.
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- SRPT enables quantum squeezing, reducing noise beyond classical limits to improve quantum sensors, communications and qubit stability—key for quantum computing. EPFL’s work on DPTs revealed metastable states and hysteresis, which could enhance quantum error correction and logical operations.
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- These breakthroughs could accelerate fault-tolerant quantum networks, ultra-precise sensors and scalable quantum processors, aligning with NASA’s projected timeline for mainstream quantum computing. Quantum squeezing and DPT-driven designs may lead to self-stabilizing quantum devices less prone to decoherence.
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- The experiments validate decades-old quantum theories, serving as a stepping stone toward practical quantum technology—from bioinspired energy-based systems to next-gen computing and sensing. As physicist Dasom Kim stated, this marks “the cornerstone of a quantum revolution,” unifying theory with real-world applications.
Scientists have finally observed a quantum phase predicted over 50 years ago, marking a breakthrough that could revolutionize quantum computing, sensors and communication technology. In separate experiments published in Science Advances and Nature Communications, researchers at Rice University and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland demonstrated stable manipulation of a superradiant phase transition (SRPT) and dissipative phase transitions (DPTs)—states of matter that behave collectively at quantum extremes. These discoveries address longstanding theoretical challenges while unlocking pathways to build quantum systems that are more precise, stable and resilient.
A quantum breakthrough half a century in the making
The SRPT, first proposed by physicist Robert H. Dicke in 1954, describes a state where two interacting quantum systems—light and matter—fluctuate in unison, forming a new state of matter. While Dicke and later theorists like Klaus Hepp and Elliot Lieb laid groundwork, experimental verification proved elusive due to a “no-go theorem” that deemed light-based SRPTs impossible under certain conditions.
Rice University researchers bypassed this barrier by using magnons—collective spin waves in solids—instead of light. In a crystal of erbium, iron and oxygen cooled to -457°F (-271.67°C), scientists applied a magnetic field 100,000 times stronger than Earth’s, inducing coordinated fluctuations between iron and erbium ions. “We realized this transition by coupling two distinct magnetic subsystems—the spin fluctuations of iron and erbium ions,” explained co-lead author Dasom Kim. The experiment yielded spectral shifts matching Dicke’s theoretical predictions, marking the first direct SRPT observation.
How they did it: Extremes yield extraordinary results
The experiment’s success relied on pushing materials to their quantum limits. By cooling the crystal near absolute zero and applying a 7-tesla magnetic field, the team stabilized the system long enough to observe the phase transition. “Ultrastrong coupling between these spin systems allowed us to overcome constraints,” noted Kim.
