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American Institute of Physics


How do your crystals grow?

Scientists used fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to investigate the processes at the surface of growing crystals. They found that when single tetragonal crystals formed, there was no concentration gradient between the solution and the crystal surface. However, in formation of clumps of needle-like branched crystals, called spherul...

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateSep 14, 2010

Tiny rulers to measure nanoscale structures

Physicists at China's Wuhan University discovered a new way to measure absolute distances and distance changes using a plasmon ruler. By combining nanospheres with a nanorod dimer, they found that the resonance wavelength shift increases linearly with the increasing of a nanosphere's interparticle separations.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateAug 31, 2010

LEDs illuminate eye for ocular disease screening

A new imaging system using six different wavelengths of LED illumination is paving the way for doctors to easily screen patients for common eye diseases. The system allows doctors to distinguish between different light-absorbing characteristics of biological molecules in the eye, enabling earlier detection and diagnosis.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateAug 31, 2010

Off-the-shelf dyes improve solar cells

Researchers have successfully improved the ability of zinc oxide solar cells to absorb visible light using a blended mixture of off-the-shelf dyes. The best result came from a blend that boosted efficiency by nearly eight percent, paving the way for custom dye blends to be formulated for specific solar cell applications.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateAug 31, 2010

Major hurdle cleared for organic solar cells

Researchers have discovered a method to improve the performance of organic solar cells by modifying an interface between an organic polymer and an inorganic oxide layer. This breakthrough could significantly enhance the industry's prospects for producing efficient and environmentally friendly electricity.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 17, 2010

Powering Australia with waves

Researchers estimate that harnessing 10% of Australia's near-shore wave energy could generate enough electricity to meet half of the country's present-day consumption. This could contribute significantly to Australia's goal of producing 45,000 gigawatt-hours/year of additional renewable energy by 2020.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateAug 17, 2010

World's tiniest mirror

Researchers design and characterize a field-switchable nanomagnetic atom mirror, which can manipulate atoms by applying magnetic fields. The technology could be applied to devices that trap and confine atoms, potentially leading to breakthroughs in quantum computing.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateAug 10, 2010

Faster DNA analysis at room temperature

Paul Li's new technique combines DNA microarrays with microfluidic devices, allowing for faster and more efficient DNA analysis at room temperature. The method uses gold nanoparticles to separate single strands of DNA, enabling quicker detection and identification of specific genetic sequences.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalBiomicrofluidics·DateAug 3, 2010

Generating energy from ocean waters off Hawaii

The University of Hawaii at Manoa has identified the Leeward side of Hawaiian Islands as a promising location for ocean-based renewable energy plants using seawater to drive massive heat engines. This technology, known as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), has the potential to produce steady amounts of renewable energy by harnessi...

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy·DateAug 3, 2010

New inexpensive solar cell design

Scientists at University of Toronto have developed a new inexpensive solar cell design that uses nickel instead of gold, reducing material costs by 40-80 percent. The design employs low-cost electrical contacts, including nickel, to gather the electrical current produced by colloidal quantum dot solar cells.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 3, 2010

Where do the drugs go?

A new theoretical model accurately predicts the hydration free energy of a wide variety of organic compounds, enabling accurate prediction of compound movement in complex environments. The model has been developed using computational hydration thermodynamics and chemo-informatic techniques, requiring only 10-20 seconds on a PC.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 27, 2010

Sensing wind speed with kites

Scientists at the University of Reading in the UK have created a kite-based system to measure wind speed with high accuracy. By attaching a strain gauge to a kite's tether line, researchers found that the tension in the line is linearly related to wind speed, making it a potential tool for atmospheric research.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateJul 27, 2010

Cheaper substrates made of oxide materials

Researchers at Taiwan's National Chiao Tung University have made a discovery that opens the door to building electronic components like diodes on various substrates, including plastic, paper, and fabric. They developed a new method to improve the rectification efficiency of oxide diodes by forming nanoscale current paths in oxides.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 27, 2010

New method developed for synchronizing clocks

Researchers have developed a new method to accurately synchronize clocks by leveraging both GPS and the Internet. This technique uses a common-view disciplined oscillator (CVDO) to set clocks within 10 nanoseconds of a reference clock, providing unparalleled accuracy in complex systems such as computers, telecommunications, and more.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateJul 20, 2010

Moving polymers through pores

Researchers improved a theoretical model for polymer movement through nanopores, addressing the motion of polymers inside pores and introducing significant increases in total time in the pore. This improvement has potential technological applications in DNA sequencing and biosensors.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 13, 2010

Rainbow trapping in light pulses

Researchers at Nanjing University develop a new method to trap a wide spectrum of light, including visible radiation, using a self-similar-structured dielectric waveguide. This breakthrough has potential applications in on-chip spectroscopy, photon processing, and quantum computing.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 13, 2010

A simple quantum dynamics problem?

Scientists have observed the first real-time measurements of a rare gas atom and halogen molecule dissociation. The study found that adding vibrational energy to the bromine-stretching vibration led to rapid direct dissociation, while higher excitation resulted in a more complex mechanism.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 13, 2010

Diamonds and the holy grail of quantum computing

Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics have made a breakthrough in developing diamond nitrogen vacancy materials for room-temperature quantum computing. The team's discovery could lead to significant advances in condensed matter physics, quantum information science, and diamond making technology.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 29, 2010

Fast-tracking the manufacture of glasses

Researchers have developed a new method to manufacture highly stable glass films with properties equivalent to those of conventionally aged glasses. This breakthrough uses physical vapor deposition and alternating current nanocalorimetry, enabling the production of 'impossible materials' in a matter of minutes.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 29, 2010

Report describes the physics of the 'bends'

A new study published in the Journal of Chemical Physics suggests that decompression sickness is caused by the formation and loss of small gas bubbles in soft tissues. The researchers propose a model where these bubbles are stabilized by pockets of reduced pressure, allowing them to persist despite their expected collapse.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 22, 2010