MIT researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery of ‘neutronic molecules,’ revealing that neutrons can bind to nanoscale atomic clusters known as quantum dots. This finding could offer valuable insights into material properties and quantum effects, potentially leading to the development of innovative tools for exploring quantum-level phenomena.

Unlike protons and electrons, neutrons are subatomic particles that lack electric charge, making them impervious to the electromagnetic force that governs most interactions between radiation and materials. Instead, neutrons are held together within an atom’s nucleus solely by the strong force, a fundamental force of nature known for its remarkable strength at close range.

However, MIT researchers have now demonstrated that neutrons can be induced to adhere to quantum dots—comprising tens of thousands of atomic nuclei—solely through the strong force. This unexpected revelation opens up new possibilities for investigating material properties at the quantum level, particularly those stemming from the strong force, and for exploring novel forms of quantum information processing devices.

The study, published in the journal ACS Nano, details the work of MIT graduate students Hao Tang and Guoqing Wang, along with MIT professors Ju Li and Paola Cappellaro from the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Neutrons are commonly utilized in material property analysis through a technique called neutron scattering, where a neutron beam is directed at a sample, and the resulting scattered neutrons provide insights into the material’s internal structure and dynamics. However, prior to this discovery, it was not known that neutrons could actually adhere to the materials under investigation.

Professor Ju Li expressed surprise at this finding, stating, ‘The fact that [the neutrons] can be trapped by the materials, nobody seems to know about that. We were surprised that this exists, and that nobody had talked about it before, among the experts we had checked with.’

This unprecedented discovery opens up new avenues for research and exploration in the field of quantum materials and may pave the way for the development of advanced tools for studying quantum phenomena. The implications of this breakthrough could have far-reaching effects on our understanding of material properties and the potential for harnessing quantum effects for technological advancements.