Advances in Macro Quantum Phenomena

Yale Physicists Use Lasers to Cool Crystal Vibrations to Quantum Ground State ⸻ Introduction: In a groundbreaking leap for quantum mechanics and materials science, researchers at Yale University have succeeded in cooling crystal vibrations—also known as phonons—of a microscopic object down to their quantum ground state using lasers. The achievement, published in Nature Physics, marks a major advance in quantum control over macroscopic mechanical systems, with broad implications for quantum computing, secure communications, and precision measurement technologies. ⸻ Key Breakthroughs: • Quantum Control of Sound in “Massive” Objects: • The team, led by Professor Peter Rakich, used lasers to cool quantized acoustic vibrations (phonons) in a quartz microresonator to the lowest energy state allowed by quantum mechanics. • While the resonator weighs only 10 micrograms, it contains roughly 100 quadrillion atoms—making it quantum-coherent on a scale far larger than in previous studies. • Why It’s Revolutionary: • Earlier laser-cooling techniques only worked on nanoscale systems—up to a million times smaller than this. • By extending quantum control to larger, more massive systems, researchers can potentially develop quantum devices with longer coherence times, which are critical for storing and transmitting quantum information. • How It Works: • The system uses light to interact with mechanical vibrations, precisely removing energy (heat) from the system until it reaches the quantum ground state. • This state means the vibrations are reduced to their minimum possible energy level, eliminating classical noise and thermal fluctuations. • Potential Applications: • Quantum networks: Ground-state vibrational modes can serve as robust quantum memories or transducers between light and sound. • Quantum sensors: Enhanced sensitivity in gravitational wave detection, inertial navigation, and other precision measurements. • Quantum computing: Mechanical resonators like these could help link or stabilize qubits in hybrid systems. ⸻ Why It Matters: This achievement redefines the boundary between the classical and quantum worlds, proving that quantum mechanics can govern systems far larger than previously demonstrated. By controlling the motion of trillions of atoms as a single quantum entity, this work paves the way for scalable, stable, and coherent quantum technologies. It also opens new doors in our understanding of how quantum information can be stored, transferred, and preserved across different physical systems—ushering in a new era of cross-disciplinary innovation. ⸻ I share daily insights with 22,000+ followers and 8,000+ professional contacts across defense, tech, and policy. If this topic resonates, I invite you to connect and continue the conversation. Keith King https://lnkd.in/gHPvUttw

Researchers in Italy have reported a major advance in quantum physics by creating a state in which light behaves like a solid. Rather than freezing light in the everyday sense, the team engineered conditions where photons interact so strongly that they move collectively, forming an ordered, solid-like structure. Under extremely controlled laboratory conditions, photons were confined within a carefully designed environment and cooled to ultra-low temperatures. Using advanced quantum techniques, the researchers slowed the photons and coupled them with matter, forcing them to interact instead of passing freely through space. This caused light to exhibit properties normally associated with solids, such as rigidity and structure. The achievement has important implications for future technologies. Solid-like light states could play a role in quantum computing, ultra-secure optical communication, and new forms of data processing where information is carried and manipulated by light with exceptional speed and efficiency. Beyond applications, the work deepens scientific understanding of how light and matter interact at the quantum level. By showing that photons can be organized into entirely new states, the research opens doors to novel materials and computing architectures that were previously thought impossible. While still confined to experimental settings, this breakthrough represents a significant step toward technologies that harness light not just as a signal, but as a controllable form of matter itself.

Physicists have created "hotter" Schrödinger cat states, which are quantum states that exist in multiple conditions at once, by maintaining quantum superpositions at higher temperatures than previously possible. This breakthrough, achieved at temperatures up to 1.8 Kelvin—or about 60 times hotter than the previous record—demonstrates that quantum phenomena can persist in warmer, less ideal conditions. This could significantly lower the cost and complexity of quantum technology, making quantum computers more practical and easier to build. The breakthrough What they are: A "Schrödinger cat state" is a quantum system in a superposition of two distinct states simultaneously, a concept named after the famous thought experiment. The challenge: Normally, these states are so fragile they must be maintained at temperatures near absolute zero to prevent the superposition from collapsing. The new achievement: A research team created these states at temperatures up to 1.8 Kelvin, which is much warmer than the previous limit. How they did it: They adapted experimental protocols to generate and maintain the quantum states at these higher temperatures, using a specialized microwave resonator and carefully designed microwave pulses. Significance for quantum technology Reduced costs: The ability to perform experiments at higher temperatures means less need for extremely expensive and complex cooling equipment. New possibilities: It shows that quantum interference can persist even in less-than-ideal conditions, opening new opportunities for quantum computing and other technologies. More practical quantum computers: By proving that quantum effects are more robust, this research moves quantum technology closer to practical applications that could run in less controlled environments. More info: https://lnkd.in/e8YfDxyb

UNCONVENTIONAL SOLITONIC HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERFLUORESCENCE The ability to generate coherent macroscopic states and control their entanglement through external stimuli is fundamental to advancing quantum technologies. Traditionally, collective quantum phenomena, including Bose–Einstein condensation, superconductivity, superfluidity, and superradiance, have been confined to ultra-low temperatures, where thermal agitation-induced dephasing is minimized. The realization of high-temperature macroscopic quantum coherence marks a groundbreaking advancement, potentially revolutionizing quantum technologies by eliminating the need for extreme cooling in devices like quantum computers. Superfluorescence, a collective quantum phenomenon in which excited particles emit coherent light bursts, is closely related to other exotic quantum phases such as superconductivity and superfluidity. These states emerge when numerous quantum particles synchronize their behavior, functioning as a single coherent entity beyond the constraints of individual particles. Research at North Carolina State University presented the observation of room-temperature superfluorescence in hybrid perovskite thin films, revealing an unexpectedly high resilience to electronic dephasing from thermal fluctuations within this material platform. They finally explained how and why some materials work better than others in applications that require exotic quantum states at ambient temperatures. Rapid thermal dephasing restricts macroscopic quantum phenomena to cryogenic environments, posing a challenge for their realization at ambient temperatures. In condensed media, electronic excitations undergo dephasing primarily due to thermal lattice motion. Thus, controlling lattice dynamics is crucial for achieving collective electronic quantum states at higher temperatures. Practically, the discovery hinges on the role of polaronic quasiparticles, formed when electrons strongly couple with lattice distortions in the crystal structure. These large polarons act as protective shields, safeguarding the quantum dipoles responsible for superfluorescence from thermal agitation. Researchers uncovered the mechanism behind this insulating effect. By using a laser to excite electrons within hybrid perovskite materials, they observed large groups of polarons clustering together, forming a coherent structure known as a soliton, which interacts with the lattice collectively. This soliton formation mitigates thermal disturbances that would otherwise hinder quantum effects. A soliton emerges only when the material contains a sufficient density of excited polarons, particularly at low polaron densities, the system consists of free, incoherent polarons. However, beyond a critical density threshold, polarons transition into solitons. This marks one of the first direct observations of macroscopic quantum state formation. # https://lnkd.in/efWCEqge

BREAKING NEWS: Scientists have achieved a major milestone in quantum physics by creating a photon that occupies thirty seven distinct quantum dimensions. This breakthrough demonstrates that individual particles of light can be engineered to store and process far more information than previously thought. In classical physics, a photon is described by simple properties such as wavelength, energy, and polarization. In quantum physics, however, photons can be assigned multiple states at once, forming high dimensional quantum systems that exceed the binary limits of qubits. To create the thirty seven dimensional photon, researchers used advanced optical setups that manipulated the particle’s spatial modes. By shaping the wavefront and allowing it to pass through precisely engineered patterns, they encoded the photon into thirty seven orthogonal states. Each state acts like a separate channel that can carry unique information. This significantly increases the data capacity and computational potential of quantum systems. High dimensional states also have advantages in noise resistance, making them more robust for communication. The experiment relied on interferometry and spatial light modulators to verify that the photon maintained coherent quantum behavior across all thirty seven dimensions. Measurements confirmed that the particle did not collapse into a lower dimensional state and that each encoded mode remained stable. This stability is essential for building quantum devices that depend on multitiered information structures. Applications of high dimensional photons include secure quantum communication, where more dimensions translate into stronger encryption. They may also enhance quantum computing by enabling more complex calculations within a single particle. In quantum teleportation and entanglement research, high dimensional states allow richer and more efficient information transfer. While this achievement is still experimental, it represents a critical step toward scalable quantum technologies. It shows that quantum systems are not limited to simple two state structures but can be expanded to dozens or even hundreds of dimensions with careful engineering. This progress moves the field closer to practical quantum networks and advanced computational platforms. #techmedtime #fblifestyle #quantumphysics #innovation #research

BREAKING NEWS The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2025 #NobelPrize in Physics to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.” This year’s physics laureates’ experiments on a chip revealed quantum physics in action. A major question in physics is the maximum size of a system that can demonstrate quantum mechanical effects. The 2025 physics laureates conducted experiments with an electrical circuit in which they demonstrated both quantum mechanical tunnelling and quantised energy levels in a system big enough to be held in the hand. Quantum mechanics allows a particle to move straight through a barrier, using a process called tunnelling. As soon as large numbers of particles are involved, quantum mechanical effects usually become insignificant. The laureates’ experiments demonstrated that quantum mechanical properties can be made concrete on a macroscopic scale. In 1984 and 1985, John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis conducted a series of experiments with an electronic circuit built of superconductors, components that can conduct a current with no electrical resistance. In the circuit, the superconducting components were separated by a thin layer of non-conductive material, a setup known as a Josephson junction. By refining and measuring all the various properties of their circuit, they were able to control and explore the phenomena that arose when they passed a current through it. Together, the charged particles moving through the superconductor comprised a system that behaved as if they were a single particle that filled the entire circuit. This macroscopic particle-like system is initially in a state in which current flows without any voltage. The system is trapped in this state, as if behind a barrier that it cannot cross. In the experiment the system shows its quantum character by managing to escape the zero-voltage state through tunnelling. The system’s changed state is detected through the appearance of a voltage. The laureates could also demonstrate that the system behaves in the manner predicted by quantum mechanics – it is quantised, meaning that it only absorbs or emits specific amounts of energy. The transistors in computer microchips are one example of the established quantum technology that surrounds us. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has provided opportunities for developing the next generation of quantum technology, including quantum cryptography, quantum computers, and quantum sensors.

Quantum tunnelling is the counter-intuitive fact that a particle can cross a barrier even when it lacks the classical energy to do so. At small scales, the universe doesn’t always follow our macroscopic rules. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics went to John Clarke, Michel Devoret, and John Martinis “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.” In the 1980s, they showed that current-biased Josephson junctions tunnel between metastable states and exhibit quantised energy levels in the junction’s washboard potential; demonstrating quantum behaviour in devices you can hold in your hand. That work underpins today’s superconducting quantum circuits: Josephson physics sits inside modern qubit modalities (e.g., transmons) and enables ultrasensitive sensors such as SQUID magnetometers. There’s a broader lesson: innovation often looks less like smashing through barriers and more like finding the non-obvious path through them—exploiting structure and probabilities others overlook. In quantum engineering, tunnelling is both constraint and capability. It complicates coherence and control, yet it also enables operation in regimes inaccessible to classical electronics. The prize is a reminder: some “barriers” aren’t absolute. They’re models; useful until a better one, or a better device, tunnels right through.

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics went to John Clarke (UC Berkeley), Michel Devoret (Yale & UC Santa Barbara), and John Martinis (UC Santa Barbara) for pioneering experiments that proved macroscopic circuits can behave quantum mechanically. ⚛️ What Did They Do? They built superconducting circuits with Josephson junctions that revealed quantum effects like energy quantization and quantum tunneling. Showing that even large-scale circuits can exhibit quantum behavior. 💡 Why It Matters Their work laid the foundation for superconducting qubits, the core of today’s quantum computers. - IBM, Google, Rigetti, and Intel all built on their ideas to develop powerful quantum processors. - Devoret,also serves as Chief Scientist at Google Quantum AI Martinis, led Google’s Quantum AI Lab until 2020 and helped achieve quantum supremacy in 2019   -It has also influenced development of quantum cryptography and quantum sensors Increased recognition for foundational work in quantum will be a huge boost for our ecosystem. Super proud and happy to be working at the forefront of this technology. More to come 🤞

The Nobel Prize in physics has been awarded to: 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧. 𝐌.𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬, 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐇. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞 for for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit. 📌 𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬? 🔬 𝟏. 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 Traditionally, quantum mechanics was thought to only describe the behavior of atoms, electrons, and photons — tiny systems. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬’ 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 — 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝. 👉 This means we can engineer and control quantum behavior in large, man-made devices, bridging the gap between fundamental physics and real-world technology. 🔬 𝟐. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 They demonstrated that an entire electrical circuit, could act as a single quantum object capable of tunnelling — a process normally reserved for subatomic particles. This was a major step in proving that quantum mechanics remains valid at larger scales. 🔬 𝟑. 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 Their work with Josephson junctions (superconductors separated by thin insulating layers) directly laid the foundation for superconducting qubits — the core components of many modern quantum computers, including those developed by IBM, Google, and others. In fact, John Martinis went on to lead Google’s quantum computing effort that achieved 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲 in 2019. 🧠 𝟒. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 The Nobel prize recognizes that quantum engineering is now an experimental science, not just theoretical physics. The discoveries from the 1980s have led to: ✅ Quantum computers (superconducting qubits) ✅ Quantum sensors (for ultra-sensitive magnetic and gravitational measurements) ✅ Quantum communication (quantum key distribution and secure channels). 🌍 𝟓. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 The award signals a shift in the physics community’s focus from understanding quantum mechanics to harnessing it. It confirms that quantum technology is a major frontier and there will be more breakthroughs in future in terms of quantum engineering. #quantum #nobelprize #quantumhardware

Researchers have achieved a groundbreaking feat in quantum physics: a single photon has been manipulated to exist in 37 simultaneous quantum dimensions. Unlike spatial dimensions, these represent informational states, vastly expanding the capacity for data encoding. Using GHZ entanglement, the team controlled the photon’s color and phase across all 37 modes. Each mode carries hidden layers of information, enabling unprecedented data density for quantum communication networks and computation. This breakthrough not only advances technology potentially leading to unhackable networks and super-powerful quantum computers but also challenges our understanding of reality itself, hinting at a multi-layered, programmable quantum universe. #QuantumComputing #physics #quantumphysics #sciencenews #fblifestyle