Super Solid Light
Light turns SOLID, A Big step in SCIENCE
Mostly Sunlight is seen as a symbol of energy and a good day. Many of us love to wake up and see the sunlight in the morning. But what if this light could not only be seen but also touched?
Is this possible at all?
This idea which once seemed impossible is now becoming a reality. Scientists from Italy have made an amazing discovery. Antonio Gianfrate from CNR Nanotech and Davide Nigro from the University of Pavia have shown that light can turn into a solid form.
Also Read: AI for Emerging Technologies; Rising Industries and Creating Multiple Job Opportunities
Historical chronology, scientists studied light
The study of light has a long history. It started in the 17th and 18th centuries when scientists like Isaac Newton and Christiaan Huygens were trying to understand what light is.
Newton thought light was made of tiny particles. But later in the 20th century Albert Einstein introduced the ‘Theory of Relativity‘ in 1905.
He showed that light behaves like both a wave and a particle. Einstein explained that energy can be created from matter and matter can come from energy. However, he believed light could not become a solid.
In 1942 Enrico Fermi showed that energy can be produced from materials like uranium. But making a solid substance from light was not possible. This is because solid materials have mass but light is made of photons which have no mass at all.
The New Discovery: Super Solid Light
Now the recent research has changed this thinking. Published in Nature magazine – The study shows that light can turn into a ‘super solid‘.
This super solid light is a new state of matter where the atoms are cooled so much that they all behave in the same way.
In this state the material is solid but flows like a liquid. Before this such a state was seen only in something called Bose-Einstein Condensates (BECs).
This discovery is a big step for quantum physics. It could bring huge changes to quantum computing and optical technology in the future.
How did Scientists turn Light Into a Solid?
The scientists did not cool light in the usual way. Instead, they used a special method. They used quantum technology to control photons (particles of light) by using tiny ridges made of gallium arsenide. This helped them turn light into a super solid form.
With this new discovery quantum computing could become faster and more powerful.
As we know – Quantum computers: which are super powerful machines used for hard calculations and research, now could be improved. This can help many fields like space research, healthcare, cyber security and more.
Also Read: Quantum AI: The Mind Blowing Fusion of Two Tech Giants
Will it be helpful in everyday life?
Although the direct benefits of this research may not be visible right now, it can unfold many changes in the future. However, this can lead to better technology and make daily life easier.
Future impacts
- Now it is being forecasted that- In the future more advanced smartphones and electronic devices could be developed. Phones may have ultra-thin screens and stronger processors. Battery life could become longer. Fast charging technology might fully charge a phone in just minutes. Data transfer speeds could increase and internet could become faster even in remote areas.
- This research can also make the internet more secure and help stop hacking. New medical technologies like improved MRI and ultrasound machines could come from this. It may even help in the treatment of diseases like cancer.
- Environmentally, this discovery could support green energy efforts. It could help save energy and protect nature. New ways to produce and store energy may become possible and making electricity more available in places where it is not currently accessible.
From science fiction to reality
Earlier, during the school and college time, science fiction stories about chemicals and reactions were fun to read like comics.
This discovery brings such fiction closer to reality. Just seeing sunlight in the morning brings warmth. Imagine how many new discoveries might happen in the future if this sunlight turns into something solid.
This success is a step towards a future where technology and nature work together. It shows that ideas that once seemed impossible can come true through research and hard work.
More about : Super Solid Light
