Ultracold atoms juggle spins with exceptional symmetry
The physical behavior of materials is strongly governed by the many electrons which can interact and move inside any solid. While an individual electron is a very simple object, carrying only mass, electric charge, and an internal rotation known as "spin", the collective behavior of many interacting electrons can be very complex, and understanding it is the key to understanding the properties of the material. The more complex materials, especially those for which the interactions involve the spin of the electrons, pose formidable theoretical challenges. This has prompted researchers in recent years to model such systems, using artificial crystals of light filled with gases of ultracold atoms, in order to mimic the electrons and investigate the collective behavior in an exceptionally clean environment.