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Towards the goal of controlling individual electrons

A German research team has successfully generated stable laser pulses in the femtosecond range, allowing for the manipulation of individual electrons. The team's achievement enables the stability of the electric field oscillations across a wide range of timescales, from microseconds to hours.

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalApplied Physics B·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2026

Zooming in: Electron orbitals photographed in 3D

Physicists have developed a method to visualize three-dimensional wavefunctions of molecules, enabling the study of molecular interactions. The technique, which uses a table-top soft-X-ray laser and powerful computer algorithms, allows for the imaging of features smaller than atomic scales.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 4, 2026

UCLA-led research finds synchronized electron movement can trigger electrical signals more than 100-fold

A UCLA-led team discovered that synchronized electron movement can trigger electrical signals more than 100 times larger than conventional electronic materials. This breakthrough could lead to smaller, more energy-efficient devices using a quantum-like collective state of matter called charge-density-wave.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 18, 2026

Physicists identify upper limit to resistivity in a pure metal

Researchers discovered a maximum amount of electrical resistance that can occur due to electron collisions, offering insights into what causes resistivity at the microscopic level. The study found that when interactions between atoms become too strong, the resistivity caused by collisions eventually stops rising and saturates.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2026

Printed oxygen "highways" shatter the 2D transistor speed limit

A research team has successfully removed the primary obstacle to post-silicon computing by creating a record-breaking electronic connection for atomic-thin materials. The new GaOx layer enables 'hybrid tunnelling' mechanism, reducing contact resistance and allowing transistors to operate at much lower voltages without sacrificing speed.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateMay 8, 2026

Neutrinos caught on camera

A new detector technology has been developed to track elementary particles in large volumes of unsegmented scintillator material. The system uses a plenoptic camera and single-photon avalanche diode array sensors to achieve high-resolution 3D tracking, even in photon-starved conditions.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 24, 2026

Electrons can do it all

Using three-dimensional electron diffraction, researchers demonstrate that electrons can provide averaged structural information previously accessible only with X-rays. They also optimize the electron dose and develop tailored acquisition strategies to probe highly sensitive nanocrystalline structures while preserving the material.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 15, 2026

Ultrafast computers controlled by light: a new frontier opened by Politecnico di Milano and CNR

Researchers at Politecnico di Milano and CNR have developed a new ultrafast computer technology controlled by light, potentially hundreds of times faster than traditional electronics. The technology manipulates the state of electrons in matter using oscillating light, enabling operations at rates above 10 terahertz.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2026

Atomic spins set quantum fluid in motion

A team of researchers has observed the Einstein–de Haas effect in a Bose–Einstein condensate, demonstrating the transfer of angular momentum from atomic spins to fluid motion. This finding highlights the conservation of angular momentum between microscopic spin and macroscopic mechanical rotation in the quantum world.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 29, 2026

Discovery of a new superfluid phase in non-Hermitian quantum systems

Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo have discovered a stable superfluid that inherently hosts singularities known as exceptional points. The study reveals how dissipation can stabilize this unique superfluid phase, which features a finite order parameter and emerges deep inside a strongly interacting phase.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 12, 2026

Towards light-controlled electronic components

Scientists have discovered how to generate an electron gas by illuminating a material made of layers of oxides, enabling light-controlled electronic components. This breakthrough could lead to applications in spintronics and quantum computing, with potential energy savings of up to a third of electrical contacts on computer processors.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 10, 2025

Solar Orbiter traces superfast electrons back to Sun

The European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter mission has split energetic particles into two groups, tracing them back to distinct solar outbursts. Researchers found that one type of particle is connected to intense solar flares and the other to larger coronal mass ejections.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeObservational study·DateSep 1, 2025

A new model to accurately develop better OLEDs

A new model details the kinetics of exciton dynamics in OLED materials, enhancing lifetime and accelerating material development. The findings have potential to improve fluorescence efficiency, leading to more advanced OLED devices.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 30, 2025

Scientists discover one of the world’s thinnest semiconductor junctions forming inside a quantum material

Researchers at University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering discovered one of the world's thinnest semiconductor junctions within a quantum material. The discovery could lead to ultra-miniaturized electronic components and provides insight into electron behavior in materials designed for quantum applications.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNanoscale·DateMay 20, 2025

SLAC scientists created the most powerful ultrashort electron beam in the world

SLAC researchers develop a laser-based shaping technique to compress billions of electrons into a length less than one micrometer, producing an electron beam with femtosecond-duration and petawatt peak power. This achievement opens up new discoveries in quantum chemistry, astrophysics, and material science.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2025

‘Brand new physics’ for next generation spintronics

Researchers at the University of Utah and UCI have discovered a unique quantum behavior that allows for the manipulation of electron-spin and magnetization through electrical currents. This phenomenon, dubbed anomalous Hall torque, has potential applications in neuromorphic computing.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2025

Hidden transport pathways in graphene confirmed, paving the way for next-generation device innovation

Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology confirm the existence of hidden transport pathways in graphene, which enables faster and more efficient data handling. The study sheds light on the 'Valley Hall Effect' and its role in nonlocal resistance, providing crucial insights for advancing valleytronics device design.

Authoritative review makes connections between electron density topology, future of materials modeling and how we understand mechanisms of phenomena in familiar devices at the atomistic level

The comprehensive review highlights the impact of electron density topology on materials science and chemistry. It reveals connections between methods, including NG QTAIM, and their potential for simulating complex reactions, enabling more realistic computing and understanding of matter.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalChemical Reviews·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 18, 2024

Lifting the veil of topological censorship

A recent study has lifted the veil of topological censorship by revealing a meandering conduction channel that can carry quantized bulk current. The researchers identified mechanisms that allow for tuning between qualitatively different microscopic implementations, challenging traditional theories.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2024

New insights into hot carrier solar cells: Increasing generation and extraction

Researchers have made breakthroughs in hot carrier solar cells by studying electron tunneling and collection, increasing generation and extraction. The study revealed that a new system comprising AlGaAs and GaAs materials can harness valley photovoltaics and realize solar cells beyond the current single bandgap limits.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Photonics for Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 24, 2024

Molecular level changes translate to big efficiency gains for organic solar cells

Researchers from Osaka University have synthesized a new molecule that increases the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. The molecule's design reduces exciton binding energy, making it easier to convert sunlight into current. This breakthrough paves the way for high-performance and large-scale photovoltaic applications.

SourceOsaka University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2024

Atoms on the edge

Researchers at MIT have directly observed edge states in a cloud of ultracold atoms, capturing images of atoms flowing along a boundary without resistance. This discovery could enable super-efficient energy transmission and data transfer in materials.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 6, 2024

Freeze-frame: U of A researchers develop world's fastest microscope that can see electrons in motion

Researchers at the University of Arizona developed a transmission electron microscope with attosecond temporal resolution, allowing scientists to observe electron motion in real-time. This breakthrough enables studies of ultrafast processes at the atomic level, paving the way for advancements in physics and chemistry.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 21, 2024