MIT scientists have innovatively recreated the quantum Hall effect, traditionally observed at the nano-scale in electrons, using a cloud of ultracold sodium atoms. This groundbreaking experiment allows phenomena that usually occur over femtoseconds and fractions of a nanometer to be observed over milliseconds and microns. By trapping a million ultracold sodium atoms with lasers and simulating a flat space through rapid spinning, researchers mimicked the conditions under which electrons exhibit the quantum Hall effect. This setup enabled the observation of “edge states” – where atoms flow without resistance, akin to electrons in 2D materials like graphene under extreme conditions. The experimental breakthrough, detailed in Nature Physics, offers a scalable and more accessible way to study complex quantum interactions, potentially unlocking new frontiers in the understanding of quantum physics and the development of materials with exotic electrical properties.
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