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University of Innsbruck


The Hippo and the Hydra

A new study reveals that the Hippo signaling pathway is responsible for forming the body axis in Hydra, a process also controlling tissue growth and morphogenesis. This breakthrough discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of the body axis in animals.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

A mirror tracks a tiny particle

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck developed a new technique to track levitated nanoparticles with improved precision. By using the reflected light of a mirror, they outperformed state-of-the-art detection methods and opened up new possibilities for nanoparticle-based sensing applications.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 29, 2022

Error-free quantum computing gets real

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully implemented a universal set of gates on encoded logical quantum bits, enabling fault-tolerant quantum computing. The demonstration showcases two essential gates: CNOT and T-gates, which are crucial for programming all algorithms.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 25, 2022

Important genetic origin of our senses identified

A study by researchers at the University of Innsbruck discovered that the Cranial Sensory Ganglia in vertebrates shares a common genetic origin with Bipolar Tail Neurons found in tunicates. This finding suggests that Hmx, a gene conserved across evolution, played a crucial role in the formation of highly specialized sensory organs.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 18, 2022

Quantum systems and the flight of the bee

A team of scientists used a quantum simulator to study the behavior of a complex quantum system, finding that it exhibits characteristics similar to fluid dynamics. The research also showed that this phenomenon can be observed in the flights of bees, as well as in unusual stock market movements.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 12, 2022

Glimpse inside a graphene sandwich

Researchers studied twisted trilayer graphene, discovering a phase diagram that decouples into product states of graphene and bilayer graphene. The system exhibits unique insulating and semi-metallic phases in the presence of an electric field.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 27, 2022

Microcavities as a sensor platform

Researchers at University of Innsbruck and ETH Zurich propose a new concept for a high-precision quantum sensor using microcavities and levitated nanoparticles. By exploiting fast unstable dynamics, they demonstrate mechanical squeezing reducing motional fluctuations below zero-point motion.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 7, 2022

Quantum sensors: Measuring even more precisely

Physicists at the University of Innsbruck have developed a programmable quantum sensor that can measure with even greater precision, using tailored entanglement to optimize performance. The sensor autonomously finds its optimal settings through free parameters, promising a significant advantage over classical computers.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 23, 2022

Physicists shed light on the darkness

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully manipulated dark states in superconducting circuits using microwave radiation. The team's discovery opens up new possibilities for quantum simulations and information processing, which could have significant implications for fields such as chemistry and materials science.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2022

Supersolid in a new dimension

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully generated a two-dimensional supersolid quantum gas, a phenomenon previously observed only in one dimension. This breakthrough enables the study of vortices forming in the hole between droplets, furthering our understanding of superfluidity and its properties.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2021

Capturing electrons in space

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have discovered a mechanism for creating negative ions in interstellar environments. The team used an ion trap to study the formation of chemical compounds, finding that weakly bound states enhance the attachment of free electrons to linear molecules.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 20, 2021

Insulators turn up the heat on quantum bits

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck develop new method to assess influence of dielectric materials on charged particles in ion traps, enabling more accurate design and minimization of noise in quantum computers. The breakthrough improves understanding of sources of error in ion trap quantum computing.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 14, 2021

Remote control for quantum emitters

Scientists at the University of Innsbruck have created a method to individually address quantum emitters using chirped light pulses, enabling precise control over individual superconducting quantum bits and atoms in various electromagnetic structures. This approach has far-reaching implications for quantum computing and simulation.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 12, 2021

Air pollution fell sharply during lockdown

The study found that air pollutants decreased more than carbon dioxide during the lockdown, confirming earlier assumptions. The researchers also revealed that domestic and commercial energy consumption contribute less to nitrogen oxide emissions than previously thought, with traffic responsible for over 90% of emissions.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics·DateMar 4, 2021

New crystalline ice form

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have elucidated the crystal structure of exotic ice XIX, a new ordered variant of high-pressure ice VI. This breakthrough discovery reveals new insights into the electrical properties of these unusual ice forms and paves the way for further experimentation to study their properties.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 18, 2021

Scrambled supersolids

Scientists discovered a way to create supersolids using ultracold quantum gases, a state that exhibits both crystalline order and particle flow. The researchers found that by draining the superfluid bath, the droplets lose communication and behave like independent systems, but can be revived by replenishing the bath.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 4, 2021

Eyebuy: Sweeping glances can cost you money

Researchers found that customers who were shown product images on a display before shopping walked significantly more miles in the store and made double the number of unplanned purchases. A simple tip is to avoid wandering glances with the support of a shopping list.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateDec 8, 2020

Quantum magic squares

Researchers from University of Innsbruck introduce quantum magic squares, a non-commutative generalization of classical magic squares. Quantum magic squares cannot be easily characterized by convex combinations of quantum permutation matrices, as previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalJournal of Mathematical Physics·DateNov 24, 2020

Cooling magnets with sound

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have developed a method to cool microparticles using sound waves, enabling quantum experiments without photons. This innovative approach also provides a path to probe and manipulate exotic dynamics of acoustic and magnetic waves in small particles.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 5, 2020

Atoms don't like jumping rope

Physicists at the University of Innsbruck have discovered that mechanical vibrations in glass fibers are responsible for heating individual atoms in nanooptical traps. This finding has important consequences for applications, including improved technology and new fields of physics.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review X·DateNov 19, 2019

Entanglement sent over 50 km of optical fiber

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully transferred quantum entanglement between matter and light over 50 kilometers using fiber optic cables. This achievement paves the way for building inter-city quantum networks, which could enable secure communication and distributed sensor networks.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·Journalnpj Quantum Information·DateAug 29, 2019

Puzzling on a quantum chessboard

A quantum computer has solved a complex chess puzzle using quantum physics, with the solution determined by atomic microscopy. The experiment was designed to demonstrate quantum supremacy for certain optimization problems, and its feasibility is now within reach of laboratory implementation.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalQuantum·DateJul 10, 2019

Quantum sensor for photons

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have developed a quantum sensor that measures visible light particles without destroying them. The innovation, led by Tracy Northup, allows for tailored light fields to be generated through feedback loops, paving the way for future quantum applications.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 3, 2019

Energy-saving new LED phosphor

Chemists at the University of Innsbruck have created a novel red phosphor called SALON, which emits light in the visible red range and reduces energy loss. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient white LEDs with improved color quality.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2019