Scientists at JILA, a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder, have observed a long-predicted third phase of superconductivity using a quantum simulator made of strontium atoms. The researchers created a superconducting-like state in the atom gas by controlling interactions between the atoms using lasers and an optical cavity.
The observed phases in the superconductor simulation mirror those predicted for conventional superconductors:
1. Phase I: Superconductivity collapses
2. Phase II: Superconductivity survives the quench
3. Phase III: Superconductivity oscillates over time
The third phase, where superconductivity oscillates, was previously unobserved. This finding could help scientists engineer more robust superconductors and better understand their behavior when out of equilibrium.
The research also has implications for quantum technologies, as the observed oscillations could potentially be harnessed to protect quantum coherence in sensors, leading to more precise and sensitive measurements.
Keywords: superconductivity, Cooper pairs, energy gap, quantum simulation, quantum metrology
