Researchers at the University of Oxford have demonstrated quadsqueezing, a fourth-order quantum effect that allows for unprecedented control over atomic motion and could revolutionize high-precision sensors and quantum computing.
In a significant leap for quantum mechanics, researchers at the University of Oxford have successfully demonstrated a fourth-order quantum effect known as quadsqueezing. The breakthrough, published in Nature Physics on May 1, 2026, marks the first time scientists have been able to manipulate and observe these complex interactions, which were previously considered too weak and susceptible to noise for practical application.
At the heart of the experiment is the quantum harmonic oscillator—a model used to describe everything from light waves to the vibrations of atoms. In the quantum realm, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle dictates that certain pairs of properties, such as position and momentum, cannot be known simultaneously with perfect precision. ‘Squeezing’ is a technique used to bypass this by narrowing the uncertainty of one property at the expense of the other. While standard squeezing is already utilized in gravitational-wave detectors like LIGO, higher-order effects like quadsqueezing have remained an elusive frontier.
Lead author Dr. Oana Băzăvan and her team achieved the result by applying two precisely controlled forces to a single trapped ion. This method relied on ‘non-commutativity,’ a quantum principle where the order of operations changes the final outcome. By leveraging this often-problematic phenomenon, the team was able to amplify quantum interactions, generating quadsqueezing more than 100 times faster than traditional theoretical approaches would allow.
The research builds on a 2021 theoretical framework proposed by Dr. Raghavendra Srinivas and Dr. Robert Tyler Sutherland. By moving these theories into the physical lab, the researchers have opened a door to simulating complex lattice gauge theories and enhancing the sensitivity of atomic clocks and other precision instruments. The team verified their success through quantum state reconstruction, which revealed distinct geometric patterns corresponding to second, third, and fourth-order squeezing.
As the global race for quantum supremacy intensifies, the ability to engineer these interactions at high speeds provides a new toolkit for quantum sensing and simulation. This breakthrough is not merely a laboratory curiosity; it represents a fundamental shift in how we might control the building blocks of matter. By mastering these higher-order interactions, scientists can now explore uncharted territory in quantum physics that was previously masked by environmental noise.
The Oxford team is now looking toward multi-mode systems, aiming to scale these interactions for broader use in emerging quantum infrastructure. Because the technique relies on tools already available in many existing quantum platforms, it could be rapidly adopted across the field. Dr. Srinivas, who supervised the work, noted that the demonstration allows for the exploration of quantum physics in entirely new ways, potentially leading to discoveries that reinforce the security and precision of future decentralized technologies.
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