Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: More than 40 years ago, Andreev, Lifshitz and Chester suggested the possible existence of a peculiar solid phase of matter, the microscopic constituents of which can flow superfluidly without resistance due to the formation of zero-point defects in the ground state of self-assembled crystals. Yet, a physical system where this mechanism is unambiguously established remains to be found, both experimentally and theoretically. Here we investigate the zero-temperature phase diagram of two-dimensional bosons with finite-range soft-core interactions. For low particle densities, the system is shown to feature a solid phase in which zero-point vacancies emerge spontaneously and give rise to superfluid flow of particles through the crystal. This provides the first example of defect-induced, continuous-space supersolidity consistent with the Andreev–Lifshitz–Chester scenario. The peculiar supersolid phase of matter was predicted several decades ago, yet a physical system where it exists remains to be found. Cinti et al.investigate the zero-temperature phase diagram of bosons interacting by soft-core potentials and find that defects in it can give rise to a supersolid phase.
Source: Nature Communications
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4235
Authors: F. Cinti, T. Macrì, W. Lechner, G. Pupillo, T. Pohl
Institutions: National Institute for Theoretical Physics, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Universität Innsbruck, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Innsbruck, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires, Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W2055563681