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ETH Zurich Department of Physics


A dual boost for optical delay scanning

Researchers at ETH Zurich introduce a novel single-cavity architecture for a dual-comb laser, enabling fast and precise scanning of optical delays. The system achieves high precision (2-fs) and stability (up to 500 Hz) for an optical delay of 12.5 ns, opening up new possibilities for practical applications.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2022

A quantum pump without the crank

Researchers demonstrate the creation of a self-oscillating pump in a topological dissipative atom-cavity system, transporting atoms without external periodic driving. This discovery combines quantum many-body physics and open quantum systems, offering insights into exotic states of matter.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 22, 2022

Going gentle on mechanical quantum systems

Researchers at ETH Zurich successfully demonstrated a protocol for gentle, controlled measurement of mechanical quantum states in hybrid qubit-resonator devices. This breakthrough enables applications such as quantum error correction and more, paving the way for advanced technological innovations.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2022

Imagining an Earthly neighbor

A team of scientists has created a detailed prediction of an Earth-sized planet in the α Centauri A/B system. The model suggests the planet, dubbed 'α-Cen-Earth', would have a mantle dominated by silicates and be geochemically similar to our Earth.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 10, 2022

Quantum errors made more tolerable

Researchers at ETH Zurich have successfully implemented a novel measurement scheme for finite-energy states, extending the coherence time of a trapped ion quantum oscillator by a factor of three. This breakthrough addresses a major challenge in quantum computing and brings us closer to enabling fault-tolerant quantum computers.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2022

Cascading femtosecond lasers into the mid-infrared

Researchers at ETH Zurich demonstrate the first direct femtosecond-pulse emission from a quantum cascade laser in the mid-infrared region, generating powerful pulses as short as 630 femtoseconds and 4.5 watt peak power. This breakthrough opens up practical routes to accessing ultrafast dynamics across the molecular fingerprint region.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 22, 2021

Current trend reversed

Researchers demonstrate controlled reversal of thermoelectric current in a tiny cloud of atoms by tuning interaction strength. This breakthrough advances the fundamental understanding of interacting quantum systems and paves the way for designing efficient thermoelectric materials.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalPhysical Review X·DateMay 13, 2021

Lights on for silicon photonics

Researchers successfully demonstrated electroluminescence from a silicon-germanium device, marking a key step towards the development of a silicon-based laser. The achievement could have significant implications for the large-scale use of terahertz radiation in fields such as medical imaging and wireless communication.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 8, 2021

The cascade to criticality

Quasiperiodic structures exhibit unique beauty and intriguing physics, but a lack of overarching framework hindered understanding. Researchers establish versatile tools for exploring quantum behavior in diverse quasiperiodic settings, demonstrating the strength of their approach to uncover new physical mechanisms.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 1, 2020

X-ray vision through the water window

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a high-repetition-rate laser source producing coherent soft x-rays spanning the entire 'water window', enabling new applications in chemistry and biology. The system, capable of 100 kHz repetition rates, demonstrates a significant improvement over existing sources.

Photons and electrons one on one

Researchers in the Keller group at ETH Zurich have measured for the first time how single photons alter an unbound electron's dynamics. They found a delay of up to 12 attoseconds between s- and d-electrons, depending on their angular momentum. This subtle signature reflects underlying quantum-mechanical effects.

A momentous view on the birth of photoelectrons

Researchers at ETH Zurich have made a breakthrough in understanding the interaction between light and matter, revealing how linear momentum is transferred to electrons during ionisation. The study found that the timing of electron 'birth' affects momentum transfer, with additional delays induced by interactions with residual ions.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 5, 2019

A distinct spin on atomic transport

The study demonstrates simultaneous control over transport and spin properties of cold atoms, enabling the exploration of spintronics and solid-state physics. The efficiency of the atomic spin filter matches that of equivalent electronic systems, opening up new perspectives for studying quantum transport dynamics.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 8, 2019

Terahertz technology escapes the cold

Researchers at ETH Zurich have demonstrated a terahertz quantum cascade laser that operates without cryogenic cooling, reaching temperatures of up to 210 K. This breakthrough removes the main obstacles to widespread use in various applications, including non-invasive imaging and quality control.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 10, 2019

Weyl goes chiral

Physicists at ETH Zurich have created acoustic metamaterials that interact differently with Weyl fermions of opposite chirality, a crucial aspect of particle physics. This discovery enables the manipulation of chiral channels, giving independent access to these particles in bulk systems.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·DateFeb 11, 2019

Coping with errors in the quantum age

ETH Zurich researchers have demonstrated a novel quantum error correction technique that can monitor and correct errors in real-time. The technique, which uses trapped ions to encode quantum information, has been successfully tested with repeated measurements on the same system, exceeding previous experimental limits.

Breaking down the Wiedemann-Franz law

Researchers at ETH Zurich explore the coupling between heat and particle currents in a gas of strongly interacting fermionic atoms. They found an order of magnitude below predictions of the Wiedemann-Franz law, indicating separation of mechanisms responsible for particle and heat currents.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 10, 2018

A refined magnetic sense

Researchers have developed a refined magnetic sense using algorithms and hardware from quantum computation, achieving six times higher sensitivity than classical methods. The transmon qubit-based magnetometer uses adaptive phase-estimation schemes to measure the strength of external magnetic fields.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·Journalnpj Quantum Information·DateJul 2, 2018

Lightening up dark galaxies

A team of astronomers has identified at least six strong candidates for dark galaxies by leveraging the ultraviolet light from quasars to 'illuminate' gas in the intergalactic medium. The discovery could help fill a gap in our understanding of galaxy evolution, as it provides direct evidence for the existence of dark galaxies.

When nuclei catch up with electrons

Researchers at ETH Zurich found that ionization delays in molecules can significantly depend on the kinetic energy of both the photoelectron and the nuclei. This study extends the concept of ionization delays introduced for atomic systems, showing that variations can be as large as those with electronic kinetic energy.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 16, 2018

Easing uncertainty

Christa Fluehmann and colleagues demonstrate a way to measure position and momentum with minimal disturbance, enabling precise measurements in a limited range. This relaxation of the uncertainty principle has fundamental implications for quantum mechanics and opens up possibilities for practical applications like quantum computing.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalPhysical Review X·DateApr 2, 2018

Mastering metastable matter

Researchers created metastable states in an artificial quantum many-body system, observing the switching dynamics between two states. They found that thousands of atoms move through quantum tunnelling during the process.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 9, 2018