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'Weighing' atoms with electrons

Scientists at the University of Vienna have developed a new technique to measure isotopes in nanometer-sized areas of materials, revealing atomic-resolution electron microscopes can distinguish between different isotopes of carbon. This method can be extended to other two-dimensional materials and has the potential to improve synthesis.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 11, 2016

New approach to nuclear structure, freely available

A new approach to nuclear structure calculations uses relative coordinates to describe quantum mechanical states of nuclei, reducing complexity and computational power required. This method enables other groups to perform their own nuclear structure calculations with limited resources.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal A·DateJun 1, 2016

Nuclear physics' interdisciplinary progress

Nuclear physicists can extend methods and observations from solid state physics to study the atomic nucleus. This collaboration has led to new understanding of Cooper pair tunneling, a phenomenon not possible in solid state physics. The authors encourage further interdisciplinarity to enrich nuclear physics research.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal A·DateMay 10, 2016

New method to better understand atomic nuclei

Physicists at Ruhr-University Bochum have developed a new approach to carry out precision calculations of the forces acting between protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei. This method uses effective field theory and a new method for analyzing theoretical uncertainties, allowing for a more accurate description of nuclear systems.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 24, 2015

Evidence of the big fix?

Researchers at Kyoto University found that the universe's radiation S reaches its maximum around the observed Higgs expectation value of 246 GeV. The study suggests that this could be evidence of the Big Fix, where Standard Model parameters are naturally fixed to achieve optimal results.

SourceWorld Scientific·JournalInternational Journal of Modern Physics A·DateJun 25, 2014

Exotic particle confirmed

Physicists confirm existence of exotic dibaryon made up of six quarks, a complex particle that could open door to new physical phenomena. The discovery was made using the WASA-at-COSY collaboration and has been published in Physical Review Letters.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 6, 2014

New method to separate much-needed medical isotopes

The new method uses optical pumping and magnetic barriers to extract desired atoms from a stream of elements, allowing for the isolation of crucial isotopes like lithium-7. This approach promises to be a more efficient and safer means of obtaining these vital elements for medical applications.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateFeb 28, 2012

Scientists make iron transparent

Researchers at DESY have successfully made atomic nuclei transparent using X-ray light, a crucial step towards developing quantum computers. This achievement demonstrates the effect of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in atomic nuclei and has significant implications for the future of quantum computing.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature·DateFeb 8, 2012

Physicists take new look at the atom

Researchers at the University of Arizona have created a sophisticated experimental setup to measure the interactions between single atoms and surfaces. The technique refines our understanding of the van-der-Waals force, which is crucial for chemistry, biology, and physics.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 25, 2011

Computer memory takes a spin

Researchers at the University of Utah have successfully stored information in atomic nuclei for 112 seconds, a major breakthrough towards developing faster quantum computers. The new technique uses magnetic 'spins' in the centers of atoms to store and read data electronically.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScience·DateDec 16, 2010

Extra large carbon

Carbon-22 has a nucleus comprised of 16 neutrons and 6 protons, exhibiting an unexpected stability due to its halo structure. The discovery sets a new milestone in nuclear physics, with implications for the investigation of heavier and more exotic nuclei.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 8, 2010

Quantum chaos unveiled?

A University of Utah study demonstrates fundamental new property – chaotic behavior in a quantum system – in frozen xenon nuclei, challenging conventional understanding. The findings provide new insights into the relationship between chaos theory and quantum mechanics.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 6, 2008

A quantum (computer) step

Researchers at the University of Utah have demonstrated a way to read data stored in the magnetic spins of phosphorus atoms, a major obstacle for building a particular kind of quantum computer. This breakthrough could lead to the development of superfast computers based on quantum physics.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 19, 2006

What is the lifetime of positronium ions?

Physicists at Max Planck have measured the lifetime of positronium ions six times more precisely than before, finding an average lifespan of almost half a nanosecond. This closely matches predicted values and provides an interesting model system for quantum mechanics.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 23, 2006

Measuring Bonds In A Single Molecule

A team of Cornell University physicists successfully measured the frequency of atomic vibrations in a single molecule of acetylene, providing a new way to identify and study molecular bonds. This technique, called vibrational microscopy, has potential applications in understanding catalysts and biological molecules like DNA.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateJun 11, 1998