In a groundbreaking achievement, researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have sustained a quantum "Schrödinger's cat" state for an unprecedented 1,400 seconds, approximately 23 minutes.The team cooled 10,000 ytterbium-173 atoms to near absolute zero and used laser traps to place them in a superposition of two opposite spin states at once. Such delicate quantum superpositions typically collapse almost immediately due to environmental interference. However, by employing a specialized "decoherence-free subspace" and a carefully tuned "magic wavelength" optical lattice, the scientists created a protected quantum environment that dramatically shielded the atoms from noise.This remarkable feat extends far beyond record-breaking endurance. These long-lived superposition states are extraordinarily sensitive to tiny external influences, making them ideal building blocks for next-generation technologies such as ultra-precise magnetic sensors, next-level atomic clocks, and advanced navigation systems.On a fundamental level, the breakthrough opens new avenues to probe the limits of the Standard Model and search for unknown physical forces. With continued advances in vacuum technology, even longer coherence times may soon be possible. This progress brings humanity closer to practical fault-tolerant quantum computers and a richer understanding of the quantum realm.[Yaoyun Yang, Wei-Ting Luo, et al. (led by researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China, including Prof. Zhengtian Lu and Researcher Tian Xia)Preprint: arXiv:2410.09331]Science and facts💡

See original source