PhysORG Physics News

Scientists observe 'negative time' in quantum experiments
Scientists have long known that light can sometimes appear to exit a material before entering it—an effect dismissed as an illusion caused by how waves are distorted by matter.
Researchers take 'significant leap forward' with quantum simulation of molecular electron transfer
Researchers at Rice University have made a meaningful advance in the simulation of molecular electron transfer—a fundamental process underpinning countless physical, chemical and biological processes. …
New electron microscopy technique reveals complex spin structures at femtosecond timescales
Plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons in a solid and are important for a wide range of applications, such as sensing, catalysis, and light harvesting. Plasmonic waves that travel along the …
Quantum walk computing unlocks new potential in quantum science and technology
Quantum walks are a powerful theoretical model using quantum effects such as superposition, interference and entanglement to achieve computing power beyond classical methods.
Team presents first demonstration of quantum teleportation over busy internet cables
Northwestern University engineers are the first to successfully demonstrate quantum teleportation over a fiberoptic cable already carrying internet traffic.
First results from 2021 rocket launch shed light on aurora's birth
Results from a 2021 experiment led by a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist have begun to reveal the particle-level processes that create the type of auroras that dance rapidly across the sky.
Dual-comb method achieves first precise absolute distance measurement over 100 km
A team of physicists and engineers at China's Hefei National Laboratory has succeeded in conducting the first instance of precise absolute distance measurement over a path exceeding 100 km. The g …
Active particles reorganize 3D gels into denser porous structures, study shows
Colloidal gels are complex systems made up of microscopic particles dispersed in a liquid, ultimately producing a semi-solid network. These materials have unique and advantageous properties that can b …
Compact on-chip polarimeter measures light polarization with high accuracy
Reliably measuring the polarization state of light is crucial for various technological applications, ranging from optical communication to biomedical imaging. Yet conventional polarimeters are made o …
Most precise measurement of electrically neutral beauty meson lifetime achieved
The ATLAS collaboration at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has released a new high-precision measurement of the lifetime of the electrically neutral beauty (B0) meson—a hadron composed of a bottom ant …
Scientists achieve collective quantum behavior in macroscopic oscillators
Quantum technologies are radically transforming our understanding of the universe. One emerging technology is macroscopic mechanical oscillators, devices that are vital in quartz watches, mobile phone …
Plasma heating efficiency in fusion devices boosted by metal screens
Heating plasma to the ultra-high temperatures needed for fusion reactions requires more than turning the dial on a thermostat. Scientists consider multiple methods, one of which involves injecting ele …
Need to accurately measure time in space? Use a COMPASSO
Telling time in space is difficult, but it is absolutely critical for applications ranging from testing relativity to navigating down the road. Atomic clocks, such as those used on the Global Navigati …
Colliding top quarks reveal hidden quantum 'magic'
Queen Mary University of London physicist Professor Chris White, along with his twin brother Professor Martin White from the University of Adelaide, have discovered a surprising connection between the …
Purple diamond maser could one day amplify signals from deep space
UNSW engineers have developed and built a special maser system that boosts microwave signals—such as those from deep space—but does not need to be super-cooled.
When solar probes align: Data confirms how sun's magnetic field accelerates solar wind
When two probes orbiting the sun aligned with one another, researchers harnessed the opportunity to track the sun's magnetic field as it traveled into the solar system. They found that the sharpl …
Advancing a trustworthy quantum era: A novel approach to quantum protocol verification
Quantum computing offers the potential to solve complex problems faster than classical computers by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics. Significant advancements have been made in areas, su …
A new way of thinking about skyrmion motion could lead to more robust electronics
The future storage and processing of data stand to benefit greatly from tiny magnetic whirlpools known as skyrmions, which are robust against noise and may be useful in lower power consumption devices …
Molecular 'pinball': Superfast collisions predict supercritical fluid properties
Neither gas nor liquid, supercritical fluids exhibit a unique mashup of the properties of both and arise when fluids are pushed to very high temperatures and pressures. Their properties make them idea …
In-plane magnetic fields reveal new Hall effect behaviors in advanced materials
In-plane magnetic fields are responsible for inducing anomalous Hall effect in EuCd2Sb2 films, report researchers from the Institute of Science Tokyo. By studying how these fields change electronic st …
Faster way to calculate electron structure makes it easier to discover new materials
Figuring out certain aspects of a material's electron structure can take a lot out of a computer—up to a million CPU hours, in fact. A team of Yale researchers, though, are using a type of artifi …
Optical spring enables programmable defect mode in new mechanical crystal
Mechanical crystals, also known as phononic crystals, are materials that can control the propagation of vibrations or sound waves, just like photonic crystals control the flow of light. The introducti …
Anomalous magnetic moment of the muon: New calculation confirms Standard Model of particle physics
The magnetic moment of the muon is an important precision parameter for putting the Standard Model of particle physics to the test. After years of work, the research group led by Professor Hartmut Wit …
Miniaturized all-fiber photoacoustic spectrometer for intravascular gas detection rivals lab-based systems
Miniaturized spectroscopy systems that can detect trace concentrations at the parts-per-billion (ppb) level are of the utmost importance in applications ranging from environmental monitoring and indus …
Researchers address material challenges to make commercial fusion power a reality
Imagine if we could take the energy of the sun, put it in a container, and use it to provide green, sustainable power for the world. Creating commercial fusion power plants would essentially make this …
Antineutrino detection gets a boost with novel plastic scintillator
How do you find and measure nuclear particles, like antineutrinos, that travel near the speed of light?
Nonlinear 'skin effect' unveiled in antiferromagnetic materials
A team of researchers has identified a unique phenomenon, a "skin effect," in the nonlinear optical responses of antiferromagnetic materials. The research, published in Physical Review Lette …
Where's my qubit? Scientists develop technique to detect atom loss
Quiet quitting isn't just for burned out employees. Atoms carrying information inside quantum computers, known as qubits, sometimes vanish silently from their posts. This problematic phenomenon, …
Thin-film tech makes nuclear clocks a 1,000 times less radioactive and more affordable
In the quest for ultra-precise timekeeping, scientists have turned to nuclear clocks. Unlike optical atomic clocks—which rely on electronic transitions—nuclear clocks utilize the energy transitions in …
Physicists magnetize a material with light: Terahertz technique could improve memory chip design
MIT physicists have created a new and long-lasting magnetic state in a material, using only light.