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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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The World’s First Quantum Phase Battery

Imagine a battery that doesn’t rely on chemical reactions, doesn’t lose energy, and can power the next generation of ultra-powerful computers — quantum computers. This vision has just become reality. Scientists have successfully created the world’s first quantum phase battery, marking a monumental step in the journey toward fully functional quantum technologies.

The battery, developed by Francesco Giazotto and Elia Strambini from the NEST-CNR Institute in Pisa, Italy, represents a completely new way of thinking about energy and computation. It’s made from an indium arsenide (InAs) nanowire in contact with aluminum superconducting leads — a design that enables it to produce energy in the quantum realm.

This achievement doesn’t just improve batteries; it redefines them entirely.

Quantum Computing: A Brief Refresher

To understand why this is such a breakthrough, it helps to know what quantum computing is. Unlike traditional computers, which use bits (0s and 1s) to process data, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. Qubits can exist in multiple states at once — thanks to quantum superposition — allowing these systems to process complex calculations simultaneously.

That means a well-designed quantum computer could solve problems that would take classical computers centuries — in seconds. Applications range from drug discovery and cryptography to climate modeling and materials science.

However, one of the biggest challenges in quantum computing has been energy control — how to power and stabilize these fragile quantum systems without disturbing their delicate states. This is where the quantum phase battery comes in.

The Problem with Classical Batteries

In our everyday devices — from smartphones to electric cars — we rely on classical batteries, like lithium-ion cells. These batteries store chemical energy and convert it into electrical voltage to power circuits. They are efficient for traditional electronics but inadequate for the quantum world.

Quantum devices, especially superconducting circuits, operate differently. In superconductors, currents flow without resistance, meaning they don’t require an applied voltage like a regular circuit. Once a supercurrent starts, it continues indefinitely without losing energy — an astonishing property that could enable lossless electronics.

But even these superconducting systems need a phase difference — a kind of quantum “push” — to maintain supercurrents. Until now, that push had to come from an external source. The new quantum phase battery changes that.

A Battery Unlike Any Other

A quantum phase battery doesn’t work by generating voltage. Instead, it provides a persistent phase difference in a quantum circuit — the key ingredient needed to sustain supercurrents. In simple terms, it gives quantum systems a continuous, stable “energy rhythm” to operate smoothly.

This concept was first proposed in 2015 by Sebastian Bergeret and Ilya Tokatly from the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) in Spain. They suggested that by combining superconducting and magnetic materials with something called spin-orbit coupling, one could create a battery that supplies quantum phase instead of voltage.

Spin-orbit coupling is a unique quantum phenomenon that links a particle’s spin (a quantum property like tiny magnetic orientation) with its motion. It allows electrons to behave differently under magnetic influence, making it a vital ingredient for quantum devices.

While Bergeret and Tokatly had the theory, it took years before someone could bring it to life.

Building the First Quantum Phase Battery

Enter Francesco Giazotto and Elia Strambini, the Italian physicists who transformed theory into reality. Their design used an n-doped indium arsenide (InAs) nanowire as the central core — the “pile” of the battery — and aluminum (Al) as superconducting leads, or poles.

The device is charged by applying a magnetic field, which induces the desired phase difference. Once charged, the magnetic field can be turned off, and the battery continues to function — maintaining a steady quantum phase.

In essence, it behaves as a self-contained power source for quantum circuits. No chemical reactions, no energy loss — just pure, stable quantum phase generation.

Their findings were published in Nature Nanotechnology, one of the world’s leading scientific journals, marking the first-ever realization of this concept.

Behind the Breakthrough: Collaboration and Simulation

While Giazotto and Strambini’s team built the device, others helped refine and validate the theory. Cristina Sanz-Fernández and Claudio Guarcello from the Materials Physics Center (CFM) adapted existing models to simulate the battery’s experimental results, confirming that the observed behavior matched the theoretical predictions.

This collaboration between Italian and Spanish research teams underscores how international scientific cooperation continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in modern physics.

Why the Quantum Phase Battery Matters

This invention is far more than a laboratory curiosity. It could become the missing link that allows quantum computers to operate more efficiently, stably, and compactly.

Here’s why it’s important:

  1. Energy Stability:
    Quantum systems are highly sensitive to noise and fluctuations. The quantum phase battery offers a consistent, noise-free power source that could help maintain qubit coherence — one of the toughest challenges in quantum computing.

  2. Scalability:
    Current quantum computers rely on large, complex setups with multiple external components. A compact quantum battery could simplify architecture, enabling smaller and more scalable designs.

  3. No Energy Loss:
    Because it uses supercurrents, it operates without resistance, meaning it doesn’t waste energy as heat — a significant efficiency boost over classical systems.

  4. New Quantum Devices:
    Beyond quantum computing, this technology could power superconducting sensors, quantum communication systems, and even topological quantum devices — machines that exploit exotic quantum states of matter.

  5. Environmental Impact:
    With no chemical waste or degradation, quantum batteries could represent a cleaner, more sustainable approach to future energy systems.

How It Works in Simple Terms

Think of a regular battery as a water pump pushing water (electric current) through a pipe (the circuit) using pressure (voltage).

Now, imagine a quantum phase battery as a wave synchronizer — it doesn’t push water; instead, it keeps all the waves in perfect rhythm so they flow smoothly forever, without friction or loss.

That’s the magic of quantum phase: it powers by coherence, not by pressure.

Challenges Ahead

While the first prototype works, the road to practical applications is still long. Quantum phase batteries are delicate systems that must be operated under extremely low temperatures — close to absolute zero — to maintain superconductivity.

Moreover, scientists must explore how these batteries behave when connected to complex quantum circuits or scaled up for use in large quantum computers.

Future research will also investigate how to tune, control, and store phase energy more efficiently, as well as how to manufacture these devices reliably at nanoscale levels.

But as with all great technologies — from the first transistor to the first integrated circuit — what starts in the lab today can become tomorrow’s foundation for an entire industry.

Collaboration and Future Development

The quantum phase battery is currently being refined at CFM, in collaboration between the Nanophysics Lab and the Mesoscopic Physics Group. These teams are working on enhancing performance, improving stability, and integrating the battery into quantum systems.

Their ultimate goal: to create a battery that can reliably power quantum processors, superconducting qubits, and other advanced devices — paving the way for quantum machines that are both powerful and practical.

A Glimpse Into the Quantum Future

If successful, quantum phase batteries could revolutionize the landscape of computation and energy.

They might enable:

  • Faster quantum chips capable of complex simulations for medicine, finance, and materials.

  • Ultra-efficient data centers consuming far less power.

  • Quantum communication systems that are faster, safer, and nearly impossible to hack.

  • Superconducting networks with zero energy loss — transforming how electricity is stored and transmitted.

In essence, the quantum phase battery could be the heart of the next technological era — one where computation, communication, and energy systems operate in harmony at the quantum level.

Conclusion: The Dawn of Quantum Energy

The creation of the world’s first quantum phase battery marks a turning point in science. It bridges the gap between theory and reality in one of the most complex and promising fields of our time — quantum computing.

While it may still be in its early stages, this tiny device demonstrates how imagination, physics, and persistence can lead to breakthroughs that reshape our world.

From powering quantum computers to revolutionizing how we think about energy, the quantum phase battery stands as a symbol of innovation — proof that the future is not just coming, it’s already here.

In a world where technology is evolving faster than ever, the quantum phase battery is more than an invention — it’s a glimpse into the next frontier of human capability.

Reference: Strambini, E., Iorio, A., Durante, O. et al. A Josephson phase battery. Nat. Nanotechnol. 15, 656–660 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-020-0712-7

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