Observation of a Dipolar Quantum Gas with Metastable Supersolid Properties

The competition of dipole-dipole and contact interactions leads to exciting new physics in dipolar gases, well illustrated by the recent observation of quantum droplets and rotons in dipolar condensates. We show that the combination of the roton instability and quantum stabilization leads under proper conditions to a novel regime that presents supersolid properties due to the coexistence of stripe modulation and phase coherence. In a combined experimental and theoretical analysis, we determine the parameter regime for the formation of coherent stripes, whose lifetime of a few tens of milliseconds is limited by the eventual destruction of the stripe pattern due to three-body losses. Our results open intriguing…

• EC
  European Commission

  Awards: 641122, 793504, H2020
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: FOR 2247, SFB 1227, FOR2247
• H2
  Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

  Award: 641122
• HE
  H2020 European Research Council

  Award: 641122—QUIC
• HM
  H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

  Award: 793504