Hidden Magnetic Order in Pseudogap Narrows Path to Room-Temp Superconductivity

Physicists used ultracold lithium atoms in an optical lattice to simulate the Fermi-Hubbard model and uncovered a hidden magnetic order beneath the pseudogap, revealing universal spin correlations and multi-particle interactions up to five bodies. By imaging thousands of individual atoms with a quantum gas microscope and varying temperature and doping, they gain new clues about how pseudogap physics connects to superconductivity and how analog quantum simulations can guide theory and materials design for higher-temperature superconductors.