Unexpected behavior of atom clouds challenges existing theories

Clouds of ultra-cold atoms are a perfect model system to study fundamental questions of many-particle quantum physics. Now researchers have found remarkable results which cannot be explained by any of the existing theories. When two ultra-cold quantum gases are coupled, they can synchronize spontaneously, oscillating in perfect unison after just a few milliseconds. This means that textbook theories about Bose-Einstein-Condensates have to be revisited.