When atoms tunnel as one

Subjects Quantum simulationUltracold gases By making atoms tunnel together as a bound cluster, researchers have generated massive Schrödinger cat states, opening new routes toward tests of gravity in the quantum regime. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Access through your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Learn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per year only $21.58 per issue Learn more Rent or buy this article Prices vary by article type from$1.95 to$39.95 Learn more Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Fig. 1: Collective tunnelling and spatial superposition of an atomic cluster. ReferencesZhang, H., Wang, Y.-K., Zheng, Y., Bai, H.-T. & Yang, B. Nat. Phys. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03281-9 (2026).Article Google Scholar Arndt, M. & Hornberger, K. Nat. Phys. 10, 271–277 (2014).Article Google Scholar Diósi, L. Phys. Rev. A 40, 1165 (1989).Article ADS Google Scholar Bassi, A., Lochan, K., Satin, S., Sing, T. & Ulbricht, H. Rev. Mod. Phys. 85, 471–527 (2013).Article ADS Google Scholar Carney, D., Stamp, P. C. E. & Taylor, J. M. Class. Quantum Gravity 36, 034001 (2019).Article ADS Google Scholar Arndt, M. et al. Nature 401, 680–682 (1990).Article ADS Google Scholar Eibenberger, S., Gerlich, S., Arndt, M., Mayor, M. & Tüxen, J. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15, 14696–14700 (2013).Article Google Scholar Fein, Y. Y. et al. Nat. Phys. 15, 1242–1245 (2019).Article Google Scholar Kovachy, T. et al. Nature 528, 530–533 (2015).Article ADS Google Scholar Aspelmeyer, M., Kippenberg, T. J. & Marquardt, F. Rev. Mod. Phys. 86, 1391–1452 (2014).Article ADS Google Scholar Haine, S. New J. Phys. 23, 033020 (2021).Article ADS Google Scholar Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsDepartment of Quantum Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, Ngunnawal Country, Australian Capital Territory, AustraliaSimon HaineAuthorsSimon HaineView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Simon Haine.Ethics declarations Competing interests The author declares no competing interests. Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this articleCite this articleHaine, S. When atoms tunnel as one. Nat. Phys. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03366-5Download citationPublished: 06 July 2026Version of record: 06 July 2026DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03366-5Share this articleAnyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:Get shareable linkSorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.Copy shareable link to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative Scalable generation of massive Schrödinger cat states via quantum tunnelling Han ZhangYong-Kui WangBing Yang Nature Physics Article 11 May 2026