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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

Turning down the noise in quantum data storage

Researchers developed a technique to triple the number of events in reading qubits, strengthening the signal and enabling more efficient quantum data storage. This approach uses the spin of Nitrogen nuclei to add steps to the process, potentially paving the way for practical quantum computers at room temperature.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review B·DateJan 19, 2010

Diamonds are a laser's best friend

Researchers in Australia have developed the first efficient diamond Raman laser, achieving an efficiency of 63.5%, comparable to existing lasers built with other materials. This technology has potential applications in defense technologies, trace gas detectors, medical devices, and satellite mapping.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateSep 18, 2009

January Geology media highlights

Research on submarine displacement rates reveals some of the highest strike-slip rates on Earth, with implications for plate boundary deformation. Volcanic ice-slurry flows are also studied, showing extreme mobility and hazards at snow-capped volcanoes, with insights into their kinematic properties.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateJan 8, 2009

Physicists discover how fundamental particles lose track of quantum mechanical properties

Researchers at the University of California - Santa Barbara and Ames Laboratory have discovered how fundamental particles in matter lose their quantum mechanical properties through interactions with their environment. This finding is key to unraveling how the classical world emerges from interacting quantum particles in matter.

Hope Diamond's phosphorescence key to fingerprinting

A team of researchers from Penn State, Naval Research Laboratory, and Smithsonian Institution used spectroscopic analysis to determine that all blue diamonds have a red phosphorescent component. This unique property allows for the identification of individual blue diamonds, distinguishing them from synthetic or altered stones.

SourcePenn State·JournalGeology·DateJan 8, 2008

A crystal that nature may have missed

A mathematical analysis of the diamond's microscopic structure reveals its special properties, including maximal symmetry and strong isotropic property. The K4 crystal, sharing these properties, has sparked curiosity about its potential existence in nature or synthesis.

SourceAmerican Mathematical Society·JournalNotices of the American Mathematical Society·DateJan 3, 2008

Laser-induced shocks in diamond anvil can achieve pressures inside supergiant planets

Researchers have developed a method to achieve pressures up to a billion atmospheres, recreating conditions expected in the cores of supergiant planets. This breakthrough allows for the study of extreme chemistry and material properties, shedding light on the composition of Earth's mantle and rocky core.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 2, 2007

Tough new probe developed for nanotechnologists

Scientists from Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory have created a new type of atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe made from ultra-nano-crystalline diamond, exhibiting properties similar to single-crystal diamond. The development enables improved durability and scalability for high-resolution imaging.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalSmall·DateAug 10, 2005

Tiny tools carve glass

Researchers create miniature drills and end mills using microelectro discharge machining to produce smooth, curly chips of glass or ceramic. The process can take as long as an hour to produce one dimple a half millimeter in diameter, but is faster than photolithography.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Micromechanics and Microengineering·DateNov 2, 2004

Chemistry puts new sparkle in diamonds

Companies like Gemesis and Apollo Diamond are creating lab-grown diamonds over a carat in size that match mined counterparts in terms of chemical and physical properties. Additionally, colored diamonds can be created by introducing controlled elemental impurities, such as nitrogen for yellow stones or boron for blue gems.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateFeb 10, 2004

Diamond in the rough...and on the chip

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a stable, DNA-modified diamond film that can detect biological molecules with high accuracy. The sensor, which is about the size of a postage stamp, has the potential to be used in early warning systems for defense against biological weapons.

Mirror, mirror on the ball...

The Starshine Satellite Project involves students from Pakistan, New Zealand, Brazil, and India polishing thousands of mirrors to help calibrate The Fence, the Navy's space surveillance network. Once launched, students will be able to track the satellite's movement as it passes across the skies.

Earthquakes reveal diamonds' origins

By analyzing seismic waves, scientists have mapped the physical properties of the earth below, identifying regions with seismically fast mantle that produce gem-quality diamonds. This discovery could aid in locating new diamond mines by targeting areas with similar characteristics.

SourceArizona State University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 13, 2001