Physicists Superheat Gold to 19,000 °C, Disproving Entropy Catastrophe; Advances in Gamma-Ray Lasers and Antimatter Qubits Reported

Physicists have used giant lasers to superheat wafer-thin sheets of solid gold to nearly 19,000 °C, approximately 14 times its melting temperature, without the metal melting or losing its crystalline structure. This experimental result challenges a longstanding thermodynamic prediction known as the "entropy catastrophe," which posited a theoretical upper limit to superheating solids. The findings, published in Nature, suggest that some solids may not have an upper melting point, fundamentally revising current understanding of material phase transitions under extreme conditions. Concurrently, researchers have developed a new quantum material enabling the creation of extreme electromagnetic fields on a chip, facilitating the potential development of compact gamma-ray lasers. Such lasers could reveal subatomic structures and explore hypotheses including the existence of parallel universes. Advances in photonics and quantum technology include the integration of quantum dot lasers on silicon chiplets, improving heat management and manufacturing compatibility for faster, cheaper photonic circuits. Additionally, scientists have created an antimatter qubit from an antiproton in a quantum superposition state, allowing for unprecedented precision in measuring the particle's magnetic moment. These breakthroughs collectively open new avenues for fundamental physics research and practical quantum and photonic applications.