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A quantum simulator for magnetic materials

Physicists at ETH Zurich have developed a new device that uses laser beams and atoms to emulate magnetic materials, enabling the study of exotic forms of magnetism. The approach promises groundbreaking insights into the properties of magnetic materials.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateMay 23, 2013

Laser empties atoms from the inside out

Researchers at the University of York and Joint Institute for High Temperatures used a petawatt laser to remove deeply bound electrons from atoms, creating a distinctive plasma state. The experiment aims to further understanding of fusion energy generation, which employs hotter plasmas than the Sun.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 25, 2013

Electrons are not enough: Cuprate superconductors defy convention

Researchers have found that cuprate superconductors, known for carrying electrical current without resistance, cannot be fully explained by the traditional concept of Luttinger's theorem, which states that electrons carry current. This discovery reveals that there must be alternative explanations beyond electron behavior.

Feynman's double-slit experiment brought to life

Researchers have successfully replicated Feynman's famous double-slit thought-experiment using a gold-coated silicon membrane and a moveable mask. This achievement demonstrates the mysterious properties of electrons, including their ability to produce an interference pattern when fired at the wall one at a time.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateMar 13, 2013

Fusion helped by collision science

Researchers applied Deutsch–Märk and Binary-Encounter-Bethe methods to beryllium and its derivatives. The calculations provide improved understanding of electron impact ionization cross sections (EICS) for the ITER fusion chamber.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateJan 11, 2013

Supercharged

By using high-powered X-ray laser, researchers stripped a record 36 electrons from a xenon atom, achieving a previously unachievable positively charged state. This breakthrough will help create new states of matter and produce higher-quality images of nano-world objects.

SourceKansas State University·JournalNature Photonics·DateNov 15, 2012

Living power cables discovered

Multicellular bacteria have been found to function as living power cables, transmitting electrons across large distances as part of their respiration and ingestion processes. The discovery reveals a previously unknown type of long, multicellular bacteria that act as biological power cables.

Florida State University chemist may hold key to building a better toxin mousetrap

Sourav Saha's research in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has led to the development of a compound that can strip electrons from toxic fluoride, producing tangible benefits for toxin detection and removal. This innovation has far-reaching potential applications in various fields, including the creation of new plastics and ...

SourceFlorida State University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateSep 24, 2012

Disorderly conduct

Researchers examine relationship between disorder and quantum coherence in materials, finding that a pinch of disorder is good but too much can destroy coherence. The Joint Quantum Institute experiment uses laser beams to introduce slight disorder into rubidium atoms, revealing how it affects their behavior.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateJul 19, 2012

You can't play nano-billiards on a bumpy table

A team of physicists has developed a new design for nano-billiards that eliminates the effect of small bumps on electron paths, enabling more predictable electronic devices. By removing impurities and defects, researchers have created stable billiard tables at the nanoscale, paving the way for improved nanoscale electronics.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 13, 2012

Microprocessors from pencil lead

Researchers found a way to influence electron flow through graphene by mounting it on boron nitride, enabling more controlled electronic properties. The discovery creates hexagonal structures that prevent some electrons from passing through, opening up new possibilities for graphene-based microelectronics.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 29, 2012

Barrier to faster graphene devices identified and suppressed

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have identified a major barrier to faster graphene devices, finding that charged impurities on the surface of graphene scatter electrons. By using electrically neutral liquids, they achieved record-levels of room-temperature electron mobility, three times greater than previous graphene-based devices.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 13, 2012

Jupiter's 'Trojans' on an atomic scale

Researchers successfully stabilized electron orbits using an electromagnetic field, mimicking Jupiter's gravitational influence on asteroids. The experiment verifies calculations made at Vienna University of Technology and holds promise for future studies on the quantum-world of tiny objects.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 25, 2012

Electron's negativity cut in half by supercomputer

Physicists at Duke University used supercomputers to simulate an ultra-cold atom and split a virtual electron in half, creating two particles with half the negative charge. This discovery provides clues about the behavior of fundamental particles and challenges traditional notions of particle indivisibility.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience·DateJan 12, 2012

The interplay of dancing electrons

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg developed a new method to study electron interactions in negative ions, crucial for understanding phenomena like superconductors. This knowledge may also shed light on the origin of life and the chemical reactions that occurred in space.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateNov 29, 2011

Like fish on waves: electrons go surfing

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum have developed a method to manipulate individual electrons, enabling the transportation of an electron from one quantum dot to another using a sound wave. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of more powerful computers.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature·DateSep 22, 2011