Scientists find new state of matter; could bring science fiction to life
Jared Portugal
The research of Harvard and MIT scientists, has led to the discovery of a never-before-seen photonic state of matter, the likes of which has only been dreamed of in science fiction until now.
Photons are massless quantum particles and the elementary particles that do not interact with one another, states the article published by Nature.
Physics professors Dr. Mikhail D. Lukin at Harvard University and Dr.Vladan Vuletic at MIT are the two first authors of the paper and were among many other scientists in the discovery.
The discovery was made through observations of what is known as the Rydberg blockade, a process where atoms next to an atom that has been excited cannot be excited to the same degree as the initial atom, according to the report.
What they found was that when two photonic molecules enter an atomic cloud, successively exciting each other, the molecules sway one another when passing the cloud as they energize the next particle.
Ultimately providing evidence of properties of photonic molecules that until now were only theoretical.
This means that the photonic molecules behave more like science fictional light sabers, rather than a traditional laser that will simply pass through one another, according to the scientists.
”When these photons interact with each other, they’re pushing against and deflect each other,” Lukin said.
” I hope the force is with them” said MCC student Micah H. who expects that scientists will one day be able to apply these findings to create science fictional gadgets.
The science is still at its early stages however, and until more research is done, scientists will not be able to find use for the new state of matter.
