Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have obtained an unusual metal alloy that behaves as if it violates the usual laws of physics. The material goes into the so-called spin superhard state – it simultaneously remains solid and at the same time continuously rotates spontaneously. The temperature at which this occurs is extremely low: about minus 273 degrees Celsius, which is almost 30 degrees colder outer space.
The development can solve two pressing technological problems. Firstly, the new alloy makes it possible to create ultra-low-temperature cooling systems necessary for the stable operation of quantum computers and sensitive sensors. Secondly, it opens the way to secure quantum communications—one that is resistant to disruption and hacking.
The vulnerability of the modern Internet has become obvious only recently. In February of this year, there was a large-scale failure of the Cloudflare service, due to which millions of people lost access to banking applications, corporate websites and other critical services. This was followed by an incident with Amazon Web Services, adding to the chaos. The cause was a coding error—an accident that exposed the fragility of the global network.
But if a random bug can already paralyze the digital economy, then a targeted attack can lead to disaster. This is where new material can come in handy. Quantum communications based on ultra-cold metals are theoretically immune to interference and interception. It is capable of transmitting information with unprecedented reliability, eliminating the very possibility of mass outages.
Moreover, the rapid development of artificial intelligence requires enormous computing power. Data centers already consume enormous amounts of energy and water, and traditional semiconductors are reaching their limits. The ultra-cold metal opens the way to superconducting chips that operate at extremely low temperatures and lose virtually no energy.
Scientists emphasize that the material is still far from commercial application, but the very fact of its creation proves that it is possible to control the quantum states of matter at the macro level. Chances are that the next generation of computers and communications networks will not only be faster, but also radically more reliable.
Source: The Pulse
Image: A Chosen Soul, Paul Campbell, Getty Images, Marvin Radke, The Pulse Internal edition
