Researchers at JILA, a joint institute of NIST and the University of Colorado Boulder, have created a new type of quantum crystal using ultracold gas molecules. These molecules, made of potassium and rubidium atoms, can swap quantum “spin” properties with nearby and distant partners, creating a unique crystal structure.
The new crystal has potential applications in simulating and creating new materials with exotic properties, such as high-temperature superconductors and topological insulators. These materials could be used in future electronics and quantum computing technologies.
The JILA team used an optical lattice, created by intersecting laser beams, to trap the molecules in a crystal-like arrangement. They manipulated the molecules’ spins using microwave pulses, creating a “superposition” of two opposite spins. The resulting spin-swapping interactions “entangle” the molecules, a key feature of quantum systems.
The research opens up new possibilities for creating customized molecular spin models in solid-like structures, with potential applications in quantum simulation and material science.
Keywords: Molecules, quantum spin, ultracold gas, spin behavior, quantum systems, exotic properties, quantum magnetism, spin patterns, quantum computers, entangle, quantum world, customized molecular spin models
