The quantum Hall effect has long been suspected of superfluidity — the ability to flow without friction. Imagine a cook following a recipe: for each unit of magnetic flux, he must add exactly a certain number of electrons. Electrons pair up with field quanta into couples that merge into a common cloud and flow without resistance.
In the experiment, a ring-shaped contact and an alternating magnetic field were used. Precise measurements revealed: as the field changed, the system pulled in exactly as many electrons as needed to maintain the proportion.
Accumulation occurred uniformly throughout the volume, not just at the edges. This means the entire 'team' of particles is working, not just individual edge currents.
This proves the superfluid nature: the substance acts as a single whole, without dissipating energy. Moreover, scientists saw how the system screens out external disturbances by managing thermal chaos — much like a cook not only follows the recipe but also keeps the kitchen tidy.
The most unexpected twist: this cook's talent only shows up in a flat, two-dimensional world. Add thickness — and the perfect recipe falls apart.
Such a self-tuning liquid resembles 'smart' materials from science fiction — for example, from Iain M. Banks' 'Culture' series, where matter itself adapts to conditions.