A NEW STATE OF MATTER IS HERE!

Anusha Gupta

Earlier this week, scientists from Vienna University of Technology, Harvard University and Rice University successfully created a new state of matter called the ‘Rydberg Polaron’.

Harking back to your school’s science classes, you might remember that atoms are made up of positively charged protons, neutral neutrons and negatively charged electrons. The protons, neutrons and electrons are so tiny, that there is still a very huge amount of empty space left in the atom. The tiny electrons generally stay in orbit far from their atomic nucleus centre. In an attempt to fill this extremely large space that is present in between the sub-atomic particles, the scientists decided to fill the space with other atoms.

THE PROCEDURE

 In a process that can be described as essentially stuffing atoms inside other atoms, scientists started out with a sample of the fifth state of matter – the Bose Einstein Condensate – made of Strontium atoms. In this state, atoms are cooled down to the absolute zero temperature, which gives rise to unusual quantum properties – one of them being atoms sharing quantum states.

Once in this state, the scientists used a laser to transfer energy to one of the atoms, causing a massive increase in the orbit radius of the outermost electron. The radius of this electron increased to such an extent that the surrounding atoms ended up bound inside the orbit. These surrounding atoms formed weak bonds with each other.

As a result of this drastic increase in the orbit radius of the outermost electron, up to 170 other Strontium atoms could be enclosed within its orbit. The presence of the other atoms exerts a minimal force on the electron, causing it to be scattered very slightly. Coupled with the weak bonds formed between the original atom and those surrounding it, the exotic state of matter – Rydberg Polaron – is formed.

The Rydberg Polaron can only be detected at very low temperatures and can lead to great advancements in physics in the future.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE

According to Professor Jaochim Burgdörfer, one of the scientists contributing to the experiment, the discovery of the Rydberg Polaron opens the door for scientists to investigate the physics of ‘ultracold atoms’ and could eventually allow scientists to study the properties of the Bose-Einstein Condensate on very small scales with great precision.

The researching scientists also mentioned that there were a number of avenues that are still to be explored by this research, including working out how polarons interact with each other.

The discovery of the Rydberg Polaron has broadened the horizon of science. Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!