Physicists create a strange new quantum state called a fractional fermi sea

ScienceDaily ^ | June 29, 2026 | Source: University of Innsbruck

[SunkenCiv]

Summary: Researchers have shown that ultracold atoms can be driven into a strange new quantum state called a fractional Fermi sea, where particles organize themselves in unexpected ways. The discovery points to a new phase of matter that goes beyond established quantum theories and could expand the possibilities of quantum simulation...

The newly created state displays several unusual characteristics. Mathematical correlations between particles reveal pronounced ripples, known as Friedel oscillations, along with distinctive decay behavior across all levels of repulsive interactions.

Perhaps most importantly, the state exhibits properties that differ from those expected for Tomonaga-Luttinger liquids, which have long served as the standard description of one-dimensional quantum matter.

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TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: fractionalfermisea; physics; quantummechanics; science; stringtheory

[SunkenCiv]

Ultracold cesium atoms locked into a hidden, ordered state after being cycled between repulsive and attractive interactions.

Credit: University of Innsbruc

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for the link!

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[Mister Tee]

Somehow the words “well-known Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid theory” don’t seem to belong together in the same sentence...

[SunkenCiv]

Gotta love the irony though.

[marktwain]

The minds we produce when we create billions of humans and educate them...

I am amazed and in wonder. It only takes a few dozen who understand “well-known Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid theory” to advance the science...

The older I get the more I understand how little I know!

[Migraine]

“across all levels of repulsive interactions”

I’ve had a few of those.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“could expand the possibilities of quantum simulation”

So the chances that we are in a simulation just went way up?

[telescope115]

The older I get the more I understand how little I know

*****

Ain’t it the truth…..

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I apply the “well-known Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid theory” every morning...

[ScottHammett]

Sheldon would be so excited.

[SunkenCiv]

[singing] the more you study the more you know, the more you know the more you forget, the more you forget...

[SunkenCiv]

Once in a while I encounter one of the ones who got away all those years ago, and have that same sensation.

[SunkenCiv]

Flight Of The Conchords - The Matrix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqLY96_zezc

[montag813]

Modern physics is such a clown show. Newton will always be king of physics.

[Leaning Right]

My cat had the fractional Fermi sea all figured out years ago. But she was too shy to publish her results.

Pity, actually.

[Honorary Serb]

New!