Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made a groundbreaking discovery in the world of superfluid quantum gas. They have successfully imaged the movement of heat in a wave, known as ‘second sound,’ through this exotic fluid for the first time ever.

This achievement holds significant implications for the understanding of high-temperature superconductors and neutron stars. Unlike regular materials, superfluid quantum gases exhibit unconventional thermal behavior, where heat propagates as a wave, sloshing from side to side, rather than spreading outward from a localized source.

While the phenomenon of ‘second sound’ has been observed before, it had never been imaged until now. The MIT scientists developed a new method of thermography to capture the movement of pure heat, a breakthrough that has been published in the journal Science.

MIT assistant professor and co-author Richard Fletcher explained the peculiar nature of ‘second sound’ using an analogy of a tank of water with one half nearly boiling. He described how the heat moves back and forth, creating a visual illusion of stillness in the water while the heat alternates between sides.

These superfluids are created under ultra-cold temperatures approaching absolute zero, where atoms behave differently, creating a friction-free fluid. In this state, heat is theorized to propagate like a wave, marking the hallmark of superfluidity.

This groundbreaking discovery opens up new avenues for research and could potentially lead to advancements in various fields, including materials science and astrophysics. The imaging of ‘second sound’ provides a tangible understanding of the behavior of these exotic superfluids, offering valuable insights into their unique properties and potential applications.