Physics

Researchers control quantum states with spin-polarized currents

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Researchers at ETH Zurich have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum physics by demonstrating that quantum states of single electron spins can be controlled using spin-polarized electron currents. This pioneering method holds potential for future applications in electronic circuit elements, potentially revolutionizing data storage and processing. The Spin of Electrons Electrons possess an intrinsic angular … Read more

Researchers create first topological frequency comb on a silicon nitride chip

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Scientists in the quest for compact and robust sources of multicolored laser light have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by generating the first topological frequency comb. This innovative result, reliant on a small silicon nitride chip patterned with hundreds of microscopic rings, has been detailed in the journal Science. Traditionally, light from an ordinary laser emits … Read more

Researchers develop platform to control qubits in silicon defects for quantum communications

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The dream of a quantum internet, one capable of unprecedented levels of security and computational power, is tantalizingly close. Making this dream a reality would be significantly more feasible if we could harness existing telecommunications technologies and infrastructure. Recently, researchers have made significant strides in this direction by exploring defects in silicon—a ubiquitous semiconductor material—as … Read more

Scientists design light with freely varying polarization

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A structured light refers to a light field which is “customized” in both space and time, characterized by its unique distribution of amplitude, phase, and polarization state in both space and time. Polarization plays a crucial role in structured light beams. Besides polarization manipulation on a single transverse plane, controlling polarization along the propagation direction … Read more

Entangled photons break rotation sensitivity records

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A team of researchers led by Philip Walther at the University of Vienna carried out a pioneering experiment where they measured the effect of the rotation of Earth on quantum entangled photons. The work, published in Science Advances, represents a significant achievement that pushes the boundaries of rotation sensitivity in entanglement-based sensors, potentially setting the … Read more

Physicists achieve breakthrough in quantum entanglement with top quarks

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A team of physicists led by University of Rochester professor Regina Demina has made a groundbreaking discovery in the realm of quantum entanglement, an enigmatic phenomenon famously referred to by Albert Einstein as “spooky action at a distance.” Quantum entanglement involves the interlinked behavior of tiny particles that, once having interacted, can influence each other … Read more

Record-breaking fusion data now open to all

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High-temperature fusion plasma experiments conducted in the Large Helical Device (LHD) of the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), have renewed the world record for an acquired data amount, 0.92 terabytes (TB) per experiment, in February 2022, by using a full range of state-of-the-art plasma diagnostic devices. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which is … Read more

Scientists create optical Kármán vortex street

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In a study published in Nature Communications, collaborating physicists from Singapore and the UK have reported an optical analog of the Kármán vortex street (KVS). This optical KVS pulse reveals fascinating parallels between fluid transport and energy flow of structured light. Yijie Shen, study lead author from Nanyang Technological University, says, “We introduce a type of light pulse … Read more

New technique enables on-demand creation of qubits in silicon with atomic precision

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Quantum computers have the potential to solve complex problems in human health, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence millions of times faster than some of the world’s fastest supercomputers. A network of quantum computers could advance these discoveries even faster. But before that can happen, the computer industry will need a reliable way to string together … Read more

New simulation shows reduced risk of heat damage in fusion reactors

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The furious exhaust heat generated by a fusing plasma in a commercial-scale reactor may not be as damaging to the vessel’s innards as once thought, according to researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the ITER Organization (ITER). “This discovery fundamentally changes how we … Read more

Machine learning algorithms enhance search for new physics at the LHC

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One of the main goals of the LHC experiments is to look for signs of new particles, which could explain many of the unsolved mysteries in physics. Often, searches for new physics are designed to look for one specific type of new particle at a time, using theoretical predictions as a guide. But what about … Read more

Scientists generate relativistic plasmas on Earth

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An international team of scientists has developed a novel way to experimentally produce plasma ‘fireballs’ on Earth. Black holes and neutron stars are among the densest known objects in the universe. Within and around these extreme astrophysical environments exist plasmas, the fourth fundamental state of matter alongside solids, liquids, and gases. Specifically, the plasmas at … Read more

New theory quantifies information carried by waves in interaction with environment

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Waves pick up information from their environment through which they propagate. A theory of information carried by waves has now been developed at TU Wien—with astonishing results that can be utilized for technical applications. Ultrasound is used to analyze the body, radar systems to study airspace or seismic waves to study the interior of our … Read more

New method for quieting the quantum world

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One of the biggest challenges in quantum technology and quantum sensing is “noise”–seemingly random environmental disturbances that can disrupt the delicate quantum states of qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information. Looking deeper at this issue, JILA Associate Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder Physics Assistant Professor Shuo Sun collaborated with Andrés Montoya-Castillo, Assistant Professor … Read more

Scientists unravel the electronic structure of promethium

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When element 61, also known as promethium, was first isolated by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1945, it completed the series of chemical elements known as lanthanides. However, aspects of the element’s exact chemical nature have remained a mystery until last year, when a team of scientists from ORNL … Read more

Scientists discover unforeseen vortex behavior in light particles

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Vortices are a common physical phenomenon. You find them in the structure of galaxies, tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as in a cup of tea, or water as it drains from the bathtub. Normally, vortices are formed when very fast-flowing air, water or another substance encounters an area with a slower flow. They are characterized … Read more

Theory of Everything

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The quest for a Theory of Everything (TOE) is one of the most ambitious scientific endeavors, aiming to unify all fundamental forces and particles in a single, all-encompassing theoretical framework. This grand vision seeks to bridge the gap between the two main pillars of modern physics: General Relativity, which describes the macroscopic world of gravity … Read more

Scientists simulate a hallmark of quantum gravity

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In a groundbreaking development at the intersection of quantum mechanics and general relativity, researchers have made significant strides toward unraveling the mysteries of quantum gravity. This work sheds new light on future experiments that hold promise for resolving one of the most fundamental enigmas in modern physics: the reconciliation of Einstein’s theory of gravity with … Read more

Magnetic quivers provide geometric description of quantum vacua in supersymmetric QFTs

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A simple concept of decay and fission of “magnetic quivers” helps to clarify complex quantum physics and mathematical structures. An international research team led by Marcus Sperling, a project leader at the Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, has sparked interest in the scientific community with pioneering results in quantum physics. In their current study, … Read more

FRIB facility measures mass of aluminum-22, potential proton halo candidate

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In May 2022, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University (MSU), launched its precision measurement program. Staff from FRIB’s Low Energy Beam and Ion Trap (LEBIT) facility take high-energy, rare-isotope beams generated at FRIB and cool them to a lower energy state. Afterward, the researchers measure specific particles’ masses at high … Read more