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Three-channel Kondo effect discovered in cubic holmium compound

Researchers have discovered a three-channel Kondo effect in a cubic holmium compound using numerical methods, predicting an exotic quantum ground state and potential applications. The study found a residual entropy value at ultra-low temperatures, matching the predicted value by the three-channel Kondo effect.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalJournal of the Physical Society of Japan·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 30, 2021

New wave of electron research

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have made a surprising discovery about the behavior of electrons in iron-based superconducting materials. They found that the electrons form a nematicity wave, which could help them understand how electrons interact with each other in superconductors and lead to new discoveries.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 2, 2021

How ions get their electrons back

Researchers created highly charged ions by removing 20-40 electrons from atoms and studied their interaction with solid materials. They found that the ions capture electrons from the material to become electrically neutral, a process that can be explained by simple laws.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

Switched on IR-active organic pigments

Researchers developed a modular organic molecular system with customizable properties, creating a potent dye that absorbs light in the near-infrared range. The pigments' electronic switchability makes them suitable for studying electron transfer in photosynthesis and as efficient electron-transporting materials.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2021

Capturing electrons in space

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have discovered a mechanism for creating negative ions in interstellar environments. The team used an ion trap to study the formation of chemical compounds, finding that weakly bound states enhance the attachment of free electrons to linear molecules.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 20, 2021

Quantum physics helps destroy cancer cells

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a way to enhance radiation therapy using iodine nanoparticles, which trigger cancer cell death when exposed to X-rays. The study reveals that the optimal energy level for X-ray irradiation is 33.2 keV, causing double-strand breaks in DNA and leading to programmed cell death.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 14, 2021

Physicists report definitive evidence how auroras are created

Researchers have identified Alfven waves as the primary cause of the most brilliant auroras. These waves accelerate electrons toward Earth, producing atmospheric light show, through a process known as Landau damping. The study, conducted at the Large Plasma Device, confirms decades-long quest to demonstrate experimentally the physical ...

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 7, 2021

'Surfing' particles: Physicists solve a mystery surrounding aurora borealis

A team of scientists from UCLA and other institutions has confirmed the interaction between electrons and Alfvén waves, shedding light on the origin of the aurora borealis. The experiment replicated conditions in Earth's auroral magnetosphere, revealing that electrons undergo resonant acceleration by the Alfvén wave's electric field.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 7, 2021

The birth of a subnanometer-sized soccer ball

Researchers successfully captured a video image of the bottom-up synthesis of fullerene C60, an allotrope resembling a soccer ball. The process was observed using single-molecule atomic resolution real-time electron microscopy (SMART-EM), revealing a kinetically and thermodynamically controlled cyclodehydrogenation reaction.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalACS Nano·DateMay 24, 2021

Awake brings proton bunches into sync

Scientists at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft report a breakthrough in plasma wakefield acceleration technology. They successfully timed the production of proton microbunches that drive a wave in the plasma, fulfilling an important prerequisite for using Awake technology in collision experiments.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 30, 2021

Taking 2D materials for a spin

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba successfully detect and map electronic spins in a working transistor made of molybdenum disulfide. This breakthrough could lead to the development of faster spintronic computers that exploit electrons' natural magnetism.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalCommunications Materials·DateMar 5, 2021

Ultrafast electron dynamics in space and time

Scientists have made a breakthrough in tracing electron transfer processes at metal-molecule interfaces, allowing for the observation of electron excitation pathways in real-time. This achievement has fundamental implications for optimizing interfaces and nanostructures, potentially leading to new technologies.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalScience·DateFeb 18, 2021

What's in a name? A new class of superconductors

Physicists Qimiao Si and Emilian Nica propose a new theory that explains how electrons form pairs in unconventional superconductors. Their work reveals a general phenomenon called multiorbital singlet pairing, which is crucial for understanding the behavior of iron-based and heavy-fermion materials.

SourceRice University·Journalnpj Quantum Materials·DateJan 25, 2021

Better bundled: new principle for generating X-rays

Researchers at the University of Göttingen have created a novel approach for generating X-rays by utilizing a thin layer structure with varying electron densities. This 'sandwich structure' enables focused X-ray beams to be directed in a specific direction, overcoming the challenges of traditional X-ray tube methods.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 25, 2021

Quantum insulators create multilane highways for electrons

Researchers at Penn State have created multilayered quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulators, enabling the realization of the QAH effect over a broader range of conditions. This allows for the construction of high-speed electronic highways with minimal energy loss, which could significantly improve information transfer speed.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateDec 16, 2020

Shining a light on nanoscale dynamics

Researchers from University of Konstanz and LMU Munich demonstrate ultrafast electron diffraction to uncover nanomaterials' functionality. They observe quantum mechanical phase shift through interaction with light waves, providing a movie-like sequence of images revealing fundamental light-matter interactions.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 24, 2020

Rotation of a molecule as an "internal clock"

Researchers at the Heidelberg Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics have investigated ultrafast fragmentation of hydrogen molecules in intense laser fields using a new method. They used the rotation of the molecule as an internal clock to measure the timing of the reaction triggered by a second laser pulse.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 1, 2020

Direct observation of a single electron's butterfly-shaped distribution in titanium oxide

Researchers at Nagoya University have directly observed the spatial distribution of a single valence electron in titanium oxide, revealing a butterfly-shaped distribution. The new Fourier synthesis method, called core differential Fourier synthesis (CDFS), can determine orbital states in materials regardless of their physical properties.

SourceNagoya University·JournalPhysical Review Research·DateOct 28, 2020

Demonstrating the dynamics of electron-light interaction originating from first principle

Researchers have developed a new tool to simulate electron-light interactions with unprecedented accuracy, enabling the study of ultra-fast processes and complex dynamics. The breakthrough, led by Professor Nahid Talebi, combines Maxwell and Schrödinger equations to describe electron-light interactions beyond adiabatic approximations.

SourceKiel University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 31, 2020