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X-ray optics on a chip

Researchers have successfully fabricated a millimeter-sized chip capable of splitting a beam of X-rays. The chip features fork-shaped channels that efficiently transport and split the beam, producing interference patterns similar to those in classical Young's double-slit experiments.

SourceInternational Union of Crystallography·JournalActa Crystallographica Section A·DateAug 18, 2016

Beating the heat a challenge at the nanoscale

Rice University scientists detect thermal boundary that hinders ultracold experiments, requiring clever measurement techniques to overcome. The researchers found that cooling substrates reduced temperature increases, but thermal boundary resistance remained a major issue.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJul 28, 2016

Yale scientists amplify light using sound on a silicon chip

A Yale team has developed a new waveguide system that harnesses the interaction of light and sound waves to boost light intensity on a silicon microchip, solving a long-standing problem in hybrid technologies. The breakthrough enables precise control over the interaction, leading to potential commercial applications in fiber-optic comm...

SourceYale University·JournalNature Photonics·DateJun 13, 2016

An eco-friendly approach to reducing toxic arsenic in rice

University of Delaware researchers found that incorporating rice husk into soil can decrease toxic arsenic levels in rice grain by 25 to 50 percent. This eco-friendly approach has implications for developing countries relying on rice as a staple food and aims to improve soil quality without negatively affecting yield.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJun 8, 2016

Gigantic ultrafast spin currents

Researchers from TU Wien have proposed a new method to create gigantic spin currents in a very small period of time using ultra short laser pulses. The spin current is injected into silicon without creating a charge current due to a spin-selective effect, leading to extremely strong spin-polarization.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 24, 2016

Team builds first quantum cascade laser on silicon

A team of researchers has successfully built the first quantum cascade laser on silicon, paving the way for applications in chemical bond spectroscopy, gas sensing, astronomy, and free-space communications. The breakthrough integrates lasers directly on silicon chips, overcoming challenges posed by silicon's indirect bandgap.

SourceOptica·DateApr 20, 2016

Scientists grow a material based on hafnium oxide for a new type of non-volatile memory

Researchers have successfully grown ultra-thin ferroelectric films based on hafnium oxide, which could potentially be used to develop non-volatile memory elements. The films' ferroelectric properties are compatible with silicon technology, paving the way for the creation of new non-volatile memory devices.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 13, 2016

How bioceramics could help fight gum disease

Scientists are exploring the potential of bioceramic silicon nitride to treat severe gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. The material's surface has been shown to degrade bacteria responsible for periodontitis, offering a promising therapeutic aid.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalLangmuir·DateApr 6, 2016

Cost-effective production of hydrogen from natural resources

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed a cost-effective method for producing high-purity silicon nanosheets, which are essential for the mass production of hydrogen. The new technique uses natural clay and salt to synthesize these nanosheets, significantly reducing production costs.

Scratching the surface: Real-time monitoring of surface changes at the atomic level

A French research team, led by Dr. Frédéric Leroy, has created a method for real-time monitoring of surface changes at the atomic level. The approach enables them to study the kinetics of silicon dioxide decomposition onto silicon during thermal treatment, revealing a non-homogeneous process involving hole nucleation and opening.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMar 15, 2016

'Tuning in' to a fast and optimized internet

Researchers have designed a tunable filter that can be integrated onto a photonic chip, enabling flexible optical networks. The device has a record-breaking tuning span of 670 GHz, making it suitable for handling large data volumes and adapting to dynamic changes.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateNov 16, 2015