Observation of the supersolid stripe phase in spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensates

Understand

Supersolidity is an intriguing concept.

• It combines the property of superfluid flow with the long-range spatial periodicity of solids, two properties which are often mutually exclusive.
• The original discussion of quantum crystals and supersolidity focuses on solid Helium-4 where it was predicted that vacancies could form dilute weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensates.
• In this system, direct observation of supersolidity has been elusive.