Layered semiconductor unlocks magnetic control of light emitted by quantum condensates

What happened

The first Bose–Einstein condensates were observed in ultracold atomic gases at temperatures close to absolute zero. Quantum technologies are considered key technologies of the future.

However, research in this field requires not only scientific expertise but sometimes also highly specialized laboratory conditions. Bose–Einstein condensates are a remarkable example, in which atoms move in lockstep, making quantum-mechanical effects visible not only at the level of individual atoms but also on a macroscopic scale. The cooling required to achieve this was technically demanding, costly and restricted to specialized laboratories.

Key facts

• However, research in this field — requires: not only scientific expertise but sometimes also highly specialized laboratory conditions