Quantum Patterns from Chaos: How Disorder Gives Birth to Solid Flow ⚡ экспресс
The Penrose tiling, assembled from two types of tiles, covers a plane without a repeating pattern—a mathematical marvel discovered by Roger Penrose that has found physical embodiment in the quantum world. Researchers modeled a chain of particles interacting according to a rule reminiscent of Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio. The chaotic rule creates disorder in the distances between particles, but it is precisely this disorder that freezes into a harmonious pattern: sharp peaks appear in the scattering spectrum—a hallmark of crystalline order. Such a 'quasicrystal' is stable on its own, without external support.
But more was discovered. At a certain density, the matter became dual: it retained a rigid framework, yet simultaneously flowed without the slightest friction—like superfluid helium, but still holding its shape. This quantum centaur, or quasi-supersolid, expands the boundaries of our understanding of matter. It can be seen in experiments with ultracold Rydberg atoms—an idea going back to Richard Feynman and his quantum simulators. The surprise is that a pattern mathematicians once considered a mere mind game turned out to be natural for quantum chaos—one just needs to 'season' the interaction with the golden ratio.
🎯 Quasicrystals in alloys were discovered in 1982 by Dan Shechtman, for which he won the Nobel Prize. Today their quantum analogs promise to become the basis for ultrasensitive sensors and quantum computers.
🎬 A solid that flows without friction recalls 'hard light' from science fiction—matter that holds its shape but can flow.