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Electrons get confused

Researchers at HZB observed exotic behavior in beryllium oxide when bombarded with high-speed heavy ions, causing electrons to forget material properties. The results show changes in electronic structure and ultra-fast melting processes around the firing line of the heavy ions.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 3, 2010

The proton -- smaller than thought

Physicists have measured the proton's charge radius with an accuracy of better than one thousandth of a femtometre, significantly deviating from previous measurements. This change affects the Rydberg constant used to calculate energy packets absorbed and emitted by atoms and molecules.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateJul 12, 2010

Bizarre matter could find use in quantum computers

Physicists at Rice University and Princeton University have found that ultracold mixes of electrons can have 'topological' properties making them immune to information degradation in quantum computers. The discovery could pave the way for the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 21, 2010

Elusive 'hot' electrons captured in ultra-thin solar cells

Boston College researchers successfully harvested elusive charges using ultra-thin solar cells, opening a potential avenue to improved solar power efficiency. The team developed a mechanism able to extract hot electrons in the moments before they cool, effectively opening an escape hatch for these highly energized particles.

SourceBoston College·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 11, 2009

Rice ties in race for atomic-scale breakthrough

Physicists at Rice University have successfully created a Bose-Einstein condensate from strontium atoms, marking an important advancement in atomic-scale research. The achievement demonstrates the long-sought creation of a state where individual atoms lose their identity and come together to form a singular lump.

Device controls electron spin at room temperature

North Carolina State University scientists developed a GaMnN thin film-based device that manipulates both charge and spin of electrons at room temperature, surpassing previous devices which only functioned at -173°C. The new technology uses lower voltages to switch electron bias, improving semiconductor efficiency and speed.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 6, 2009

Solving a subatomic shell game

Physicists at Michigan Technological University have calculated electron affinities for all 15 lanthanide elements, filling in long-standing gaps on the periodic table. The complex atomic structure of lanthanides made it challenging to calculate their electron affinities due to varying subshell configurations and complex variables.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalPhysical Review A·DateMar 23, 2009

Chemist tames longstanding electron computation problem

A chemist at the University of Chicago has developed a new method to predict many-electron chemistry using only two electrons, allowing for faster and more accurate chemical reaction predictions. This breakthrough could lead to significant advances in fields such as atmospheric ozone depletion, greenhouse gas reduction, and drug design.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 10, 2008

New solar energy material captures every color of the rainbow

Researchers at Ohio State University have created a hybrid material that absorbs all the energy in sunlight and generates electrons easier to capture. This breakthrough material has two useful energy states, lasting up to 83 microseconds, allowing for better charge separation and potentially more efficient solar cells.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 16, 2008

New insight on superconductors

A team of researchers from UC Davis and Los Alamos National Laboratory have found a simple way to calculate the temperature at which the Kondo liquid emerges in heavy-electron materials, leading to new understanding of superconductivity. The discovery may help researchers find organizing principles of heavy-electron superconductivity.

Physicists create millimeter-sized 'Bohr atom'

Researchers at Rice University have created giant millimeter-sized atoms resembling Bohr's atomic model, with electrons behaving like classical particles for several orbits. The achievement has potential applications in next-generation computers and studying quantum chaos.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 30, 2008

Can one 'pin down' electrons?

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt have made the first measurement of entangled states in nitrogen, resolving a long-standing debate on electron localization. The study uses COLTRIMS technology to probe the pathways of two electrons, demonstrating that electron location can only be determined for the complete system.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalScience·DateMay 15, 2008

Rock: Electrons run through it

Scientists have discovered that a chunk of hematite can conduct electrons when exposed to the right chemical conditions. This phenomenon, linked to mineral surfaces, has important implications for understanding soil evolution and environmental cleanup. The discovery challenges long-held assumptions about electron conduction in minerals.

Biological electron transfer captured in real time

Biological electron transfer has been captured for the first time in real time by researchers at the University of Helsinki. The discovery could lead to significant medical advancements, particularly in understanding mitochondrial diseases caused by Complex I dysfunction.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 3, 2008

Young's experiment in a hydrogen molecule

Researchers reproduced Thomas Young's experiment in a hydrogen molecule using electrons and X-rays, revealing wave-like behavior that suggests a quantum nature. The findings provide insight into the transition between classical and quantum physics, with potential implications for quantum cryptography and computation.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalScience·DateNov 15, 2007