Sodium Cluster Shatters Records, Exhibits Wave-Like Quantum Properties

A microscopic cluster of sodium has been observed to exhibit wave-like properties, making it the largest object recorded to date to do so. This observation surpasses previous records by thousands of atoms.

In quantum physics, particles are described in terms of waves, indicating that all matter exists in a superposition of multiple possible states until measured. While most evident at sub-atomic levels, the theory applies to all matter. Observing this phenomenon at larger scales presents challenges.

The Record-Breaking Discovery

A recent study by researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Duisburg-Essen reported the observation of one of the largest objects in a superposition. The particle, a sodium cluster, measured approximately 8 nanometers in diameter and had a mass exceeding 170,000 atomic mass units, making it more massive than many proteins.

Validating Quantum Mechanics

The experiment demonstrated that sodium nanoparticles, composed of thousands of individual atoms, adhere to the principles of quantum mechanics despite their size.

Lead author Sebastian Pedalino noted that the observed interference suggests the validity of quantum mechanics at this scale, indicating that alternative models are not required.

The Experimental Setup

The researchers employed an interferometer, which utilized ultraviolet laser-generated diffraction gratings. Super-cooled particles were passed through an initial grating, directing them through small spaces. This process caused the particles to move in waves, measuring between 10 and 22 quadrillionths of a meter, leading to a superposition of possible paths detected by a final grating.

Key Observation: Particle Delocalization

This finding indicates that the particles' positions are not fixed during the unobserved portion of their journey.

The particles displayed a "delocalization" effect that was significantly larger than the size of any individual particle.

Quantum Decoherence and Broader Implications

The phenomenon of quantum decoherence, where matter becomes complex and entangled with its environment at larger scales, often makes individual superpositions indistinguishable. This effect may account for why quantum mechanics is not typically observed in macroscopic systems.

The study reinforces that there is no theoretical size limit for quantum mechanics.

Previous research has explored the idea that different possibilities within quantum superposition could branch out to form a multiverse, rather than collapsing into a single reality.

The study was published in the journal Nature.