When quantum particles work together, they can produce signals far stronger than any one particle could generate alone. This collective phenomenon, called superradiance, is a powerful example of cooperation at the quantum level. Until now, superradiance was mostly known for making quantum systems lose their energy too quickly, posing challenges for quantum technologies.

But a new study published in Nature Physics turns this idea on its head—revealing that collective superradiant effects can instead produce self-sustained, long-lived microwave signals with exciting potential for future quantum devices.

“What’s remarkable is that the seemingly messy interactions between spins actually fuel the emission,” explains Dr. Wenzel Kersten, first author of the study. “The system organizes itself, producing an extremely coherent microwave signal from the very disorder that usually destroys it.”