Characterize two-dimensional supersolids of light

Construct and characterize supersolid states of light with two-dimensional spatial modulations, including their transverse sound modes, in order to determine their solidity and shear-modulus properties.

Background

Theoretical work on supersolids of light has so far concentrated on one-dimensional geometries. The review states that little is known about two-dimensional photonic supersolids and that their realization is technically difficult in current platforms. Such states would permit measurement of transverse phonon modes, which are directly related to the shear modulus and therefore provide a decisive probe of the solid component of the supersolid.

References

So far, all theoretical works on supersolids of light have focused on one-dimensional geometries and very little is known about supersolids with two-dimensional spatial modulations.

— Collective excitations of driven-dissipative quantum fluids of light  (2609.40110 - Bramati et al., 30 Sep 2026) in Section 8.1, subsection “Open questions”

Realization of two-dimensional supersolids will anyway be of utmost relevance to complete our understanding of the solidity properties with a measurement of the transverse sound modes.

— Collective excitations of driven-dissipative quantum fluids of light  (2609.40110 - Bramati et al., 30 Sep 2026) in Section 8.1, subsection “Open questions”