BEC

From the middle of her living room, she made a breakthrough, that proved an Einstein-Bose prediction. India-born physicist Dr Amruta Gadge of Sussex University created the fifth state of matter working from home using quantum technology. She successfully created a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) at the University of Sussex facilities despite working remotely from her living room two miles away. This could mean experiments can be run in inaccessible places such as space or underground. The five states of matter are Solids, Liquids, Gases, Plasma and BEC.

In 1924, Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose predicted BEC, which is referred to as the fifth state of matter. In a BEC, matter stops behaving as independent particles, and collapses into a single quantum state that can be described with a single, uniform wave-function.

Daughter of a physics teacher, Amruta Gadge says her mom inspired her to push boundaries. Here’s an exclusive interview with a woman who promises to inspire so many young girls wanting to take up STEM.

1. How does it feel to make true an Einstein- Bose prediction?

I felt really wonderful and the whole team were so excited to have a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in our experiment. It is important to understand that I am by no means the first person to create a Bose-Einstein-Condensate. The prediction of this fifth state of matter was made by Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein in 1925. It was first achieved in 1995 (over 20 years ago) first time in a laboratory. However we believe that we might be the first to do it remotely in a lab that didn’t have one before.

2. What was the process like for you, how did the at-home breakthrough happen?

The process has been a lot slower than if I had been in the lab, as the experiment is very sensitive. We had set up the experiment in the lab before the lockdown and saw the first signal from our 2D magneto-optical trap the day before! Without this, it wouldn’t have been possible. However, the degree of automation and monitoring we have achieved in our labs enabled me to continue working on the experiment in the lockdown. I spent many hours optimising and running the cooling sequence before the BEC happened. It was a laborious effort but one that was completely worth it. I just wish I wasn’t locked down at home so I had someone to enjoy it with. Of course, the team met over zoom to celebrate!

3. Who would you say have been your biggest support in your journey as a scientist?

I would say that my mother has been my biggest support. She is a physics teacher herself and she has constantly encouraged me to excel throughout my academic life. My grandfather has also played a big role in guiding me to think positively, especially when things got hard. My husband being a scientist himself, understands the hardships of academia and is a true better half. I am very fortunate to have an extremely supportive extended family. My entire family and friends have been super excited about this news and rallied around me.

4. What’s your message to young women in science?

Keep asking questions and never let your thirst for discovery be curbed. Always believe in yourself. You have the same right as anyone else to be there in the arena you choose.

5. How would you say this breakthrough will change our understanding of science as we know it?

I don’t think at this stage this achievement is meant to change our understanding of science fundamentally, but having the technology and knowing that we have the capability of doing this remotely is significant. This could mean we can run experiments in inaccessible places such as space or underground. We are hoping to start slowly back in the labs over the next week, but it also means that if we are locked down again in the future, I can keep working on my experiments remotely. For that I am very grateful.

Based on the prediction of Albert Einstein and Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose from mid-1920s which stated that quantum mechanics can be used as a force to clump a large number of particles to behave like a single particle.

Dr Amruta Gadge, a physicist based in the UK, has reportedly created the fifth state of matter, while working from home, during the coronavirus lockdown. She has reportedly used her computer to conduct the experiments remotely during the ongoing lockdown. According to the Lab News, Dr Gadge, who works in the Quantum Systems and Devices Laboratory at the University of Sussex, has created a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) — considered to be the fifth state of matter (where cold atoms comprise together like a single entity). Researchers at the university’s quantum department believe this is the first time someone has created BEC remotely in a lab.
Indian-origin physicist stays two miles away from the lab. She reportedly used the technology on her computer to control lasers and radio waves and create the BEC. Now, researchers are saying that this achievement could provide a blueprint for operating quantum tech in space or underwater.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr Amruta Gadge from the Quantum Systems and Devices Laboratory has created a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) – considered to be the fifth state of matter.
• Peter Krüger, professor of experimental physics at the University of Sussex, believes the fifth state of matter is “produced when the atoms in a gas become ionized.”
• This research is based on the prediction of Albert Einstein and Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose from mid-1920s which stated that quantum mechanics can be used as a force to clump a large number of particles to behave like a single particle, thus the research of fifth matter was introduced.

What is the fifth state of matter?

The development research of the fifth state of matter follows after the establishment of other four matters — solid, liquid, gas and plasma. Peter Krüger, professor of experimental physics at the University of Sussex, believes the fifth state of matter is “produced when the atoms in a gas become ionized.”

Talking about the experiment and having a satisfactory result in hand, he said, “We are all extremely excited that we can continue to conduct our experiments remotely during lockdown, and any possible future lockdowns.”

This research is based on the prediction of Albert Einstein and Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose from mid-1920s which stated that quantum mechanics can be used as a force to clump a large number of particles to behave like a single particle, thus the research of fifth matter was introduced. “Enhancing the capabilities of remote lab control is relevant for research applications aimed at operating quantum technology in inaccessible environments such as space, underground, in a submarine, or in extreme climates,” Peter further added.