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Sheets of carbon nanotubes come in a rainbow of colors

Scientists have developed a method to predict the specific colors of thin films made from combining any of the 466 varieties of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The research shows that the thinnest and most colorful tubes affect visible light more than those with larger diameters and faded colors.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 14, 2020

Ultrafast dynamics of chiral spin structures observed after optical excitation

A joint research project has achieved a new milestone in ultra-fast control of magnetism by investigating femtosecond time-resolved x-ray scattering signals. The results indicate a faster recovery of chiral order compared to collinear magnetic order dynamics, suggesting that twists are more stable than straight magnetic configurations.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 9, 2020

Squaring the circle -- Breaking the symmetry of a sphere to control the polarization of light

Scientists at Tokyo Tech and ICFO develop a method to generate circularly polarized light from a sphere by breaking its symmetry through electron beam excitation. This enables the precise control of phase and polarization, paving the way for novel quantum communication and encryption technologies. The approach has been experimentally v...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·DateSep 4, 2020

Nanoearthquakes control spin centers in SiC

Researchers have demonstrated the use of elastic vibrations to manipulate the spin states of optically active color centers in SiC at room temperature. The findings show a non-trivial dependence on the spin quantization direction, enabling chiral spin-acoustic resonances and full control of spin states without external microwave fields.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 4, 2020

Quantum simulation for 3D chiral topological phase

Researchers simulated a 3D chiral topological insulator using nitrogen-vacancy centers, observing dynamical bulk-surface correspondence and symmetry protection in momentum space. They measured spin textures on band inversion surfaces, revealing perfect (broken) topology depending on the preserved or broken chiral symmetry.

SourcePeking University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 25, 2020

A plot twist in pharmaceuticals: Single nanoparticles could pave the way for medicines on demand

Physicists at the University of Bath have accurately measured and characterised a single, twisted nanoparticle using a new method, taking them closer to producing medicines on demand. The discovery could lead to mini-labs that can mix substances in a completely new way, producing pharmaceuticals from minute droplets of active ingredients.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalNano Letters·DateJul 20, 2020

Cherned up to the maximum

Researchers have observed that palladium gallium (PdGa) reaches the maximum allowed Chern number of four, a fundamental aspect yet to be settled in topological physics. The team also demonstrated control over the sign of the Chern number by manipulating the crystal's handedness during growth.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience·DateJul 9, 2020

Chirality-assisted lateral momentum transfer for bidirectional enantioselective separation

Researchers design an experiment to demonstrate chirality-dependent optical lateral force on microparticles, achieving robust bidirectional sorting and reversible optical lateral forces. The study opens new avenues for direct detection and sorting of microparticles with imperceptible chemical differences.

How cosmic rays may have shaped life

Researchers propose that cosmic rays influenced the evolution of DNA-based life on Earth, promoting one form of molecular handedness over its mirror image. This idea suggests a connection between fundamental physics and the origin of life, with potential experiments to test their hypothesis.

SourceStanford University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 20, 2020

Let's do the twist

Researchers designed a polymer that can twist and bend in response to light, mimicking human muscle movement. The polymer's chiral structure changes direction when exposed to different light sources, enabling simultaneous bending and twisting motions.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 7, 2020

New measurements reveal evidence of elusive particles in a newly-discovered superconductor

Researchers at the University of Illinois have used high-resolution microscopy tools to study an unusual type of superconductor, uranium ditelluride (UTe2). The measurements reveal strong evidence for the presence of exotic Majorana particles on its surface, which could provide insights into fundamental physics and quantum computing.

Shaping the rings of molecules

Researchers at Université de Montrêl have successfully used biocatalysis to control the shapes of large ring molecules, called macrocycles. This breakthrough enables the creation of planar chiral macrocycles, which can be tailored for various applications including pharmaceuticals and electronics.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalScience·DateFeb 21, 2020

Pretty with a twist

Researchers at TUM functionalized a simple rod-like building block with hydroxamic acids to form molecular networks displaying complexity and beauty. The networks exhibit exceptional properties and chiral symmetry, with unique opportunities for bottom-up nano-templating.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 16, 2020

Two chiral catalysts working hand in hand

A team of researchers from the University of Münster has developed a new synthetic method for producing all four stereoisomers of α,β-disubstituted γ-butyrolactones. The method uses two chiral catalysts working in tandem to efficiently produce the final product.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalNature Catalysis·DateDec 3, 2019

Let there be...a new light

Researchers have synthesized a new type of chiral light that can tell right- and left-handed molecules apart. This innovative light interacts differently with each type of molecule, allowing for precise control over chemical reactions and potential applications in drug development.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 28, 2019

Chemists clarify a chiral conundrum?

Rice chemists disentangled the mysterious interactions between bovine serum albumin and gold nanorods, revealing multilevel chirality and a possible way to sense single proteins' handedness. This discovery could lead to the development of drug-sensing tools with improved accuracy.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateSep 26, 2019

An astonishing parabola trick

Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have discovered a unique chiral effect in magnetic materials. The team created parabolic strips of Permalloy, which exhibited a surprisingly strong delayed response to a reversed magnetic field due to curvature-induced chiral properties.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 3, 2019

Multi-state switchable stationary phase opens new doors in chiral separation

Researchers from Kanazawa University have developed a three-state switchable chiral stationary phase that can be controlled using metal ions, enabling efficient separation of enantiomers. The phase's stability and separation performance were demonstrated over multiple cycles, opening new doors for drug discovery and other research areas.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 31, 2019

Concert of magnetic moments

Scientists have identified a unique chiral coupling that allows spins in different magnetic layers to interact over long distances, even if they are not adjacent. This discovery opens up novel opportunities for engineering complex magnetic configurations to store and process data more efficiently.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 13, 2019

Synthesis of helical ladder polymers

Scientists have successfully synthesized helical ladder polymers using a novel electrophilic aromatic substitution method. The resulting molecules exhibit well-defined right-handed helical geometry and can be modified to create nanoscale architectures for various applications.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 20, 2019

New material also reveals new quasiparticles

Scientists at PSI investigate a novel material exhibiting electronic properties never seen before, including Rarita-Schwinger fermions and quadruple topological Fermi arcs. The crystal is a chiral topological semimetal with exotic physical phenomena, such as phase transitions at its surface.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Physics·DateMay 7, 2019