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Choreographing the dance of electrons

Researchers at NUS have discovered a method to manipulate electrons in thin semiconductors by encapsulating them in atomically thin materials and applying external electric and magnetic fields. This technique enables reversible control of electron behavior, paving the way for new applications in high-temperature superconductivity.

A resonator for electrons

Researchers at ETH Zurich have successfully built an electron resonator, focusing electrons between two mirrors. The resonator's spin-coherent coupling could enable long-distance communication between quantum dots, solving a key challenge in quantum computing.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 13, 2015

Double the (quantum) fun

A team of researchers has developed a detailed analysis of the electrical characteristics of double-quantum-dot transistors, which could help design better devices for manipulating single electrons. The device's stability and geometry were found to be crucial in determining its electrical parameters.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateOct 6, 2015

Spintronics just got faster

EPFL scientists have shown that electrons can jump through spins much faster than previously thought, challenging the notion of intermediate steps between spin jumps. The finding has profound implications for both technology and fundamental physics and chemistry, potentially offering long-awaited solutions to spintronics limitations.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Chemistry·DateJul 20, 2015

Organic nanoparticles, more lethal to tumors

Researchers have found that carbon-based nanoparticles can produce low-energy electrons through plasmon excitation, making them more lethal to tumors and potentially inducing focused destruction of cancer cells. This breakthrough could lead to the development of novel types of sensitizers for proton radiotherapy.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMay 18, 2015

Zooming in

Researchers from UCSB have successfully measured the frequency of radiation emitted by a single electron for the first time. The team used a tabletop instrument to detect emissions from an individual, orbiting electron and witnessed over 100,000 single electrons.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 30, 2015

Electron chirp: Cyclotron radiation from single electrons measured directly for first time

Researchers have successfully detected cyclotron radiation from single electrons, a phenomenon predicted in 1904, and developed a new method to measure the energy of electrons. This technique has the potential to determine the mass of neutrinos, which are essential for understanding the universe's large-scale structure.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 28, 2015

You can't play checkers with charge ordering

Researchers at CIFAR discover that charge ordering creates a stripy pattern, not a checkerboard, and competes with superconductivity along one direction. This discovery sheds light on the role of charge ordering in propelling electrons into tight pairs, allowing for free movement.

SourceCIFAR·JournalScience·DateMar 19, 2015

Evidence mounts for quantum criticality theory

A new study by Rice University and international collaborators adds to the growing evidence for a theory that explains high-temperature superconductivity and heavy fermion physics through quantum fluctuations. The research observed a sharp Fermi surface reconstruction, consistent with theoretical predictions of unconventional quantum c...

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 30, 2015

Choreography of an electron pair

Physicists have imaged and controlled the motion of two electrons in a helium atom using attosecond-timed laser pulses. By varying the interval between the ultraviolet and visible pulses, they created a movie of the electronic dance and even influenced its rhythm.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateDec 18, 2014

Can the wave function of an electron be divided and trapped?

Physicists at Brown University have successfully trapped parts of an electron's wave function in liquid helium, a phenomenon that could fundamentally change our understanding of quantum mechanics. The discovery raises questions about the measurement process and the nature of particles at the quantum level.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Low Temperature Physics·DateOct 28, 2014

Measuring the smallest magnets

Physicists at Weizmann Institute of Science measure magnetic interaction between two single electrons by binding their spins in opposite directions. The measurements reveal that the electrons interact like regular bar magnets, with north poles repelling and rotating until they draw near.

Highly charged ions

A new theoretical study by Marianna Safronova and colleagues identifies 10 highly charged ions, including samarium-14+ and neodymium-10+, suitable for atomic timekeeping and quantum information schemes. The researchers provide estimates of ion properties needed for experiments, enabling the development of more accurate clocks and qubits.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 18, 2014

Stimulated mutual annihilation

The Joint Quantum Institute theorists have made detailed calculations of the dynamics of a positronium Bose-Einstein condensate. They report that above a critical density, collision processes destroy the internal coherence of the gas, posing challenges for the operation of a gamma-ray laser.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalPhysical Review A·DateMay 1, 2014

A glassy look for manganites

Scientists at Berkeley Lab discovered that the re-ordering of spin in manganites is not ultra-fast, but rather exhibits a glass-like state, with the restoration of crystalline order delayed. This separation of charge-ordering behavior from spin-ordering behavior may lead to new approaches for manipulating spin effects.

Beam on target!

The CEBAF accelerator successfully delivered its first data of the 12 GeV era, achieving 6.11 GeV electrons at 2 nanoAmps average current for over an hour. The milestone marks a major step in the commissioning process and demonstrates the ability to deliver high-energy beams beyond the original operational energy.

New way to measure electron pair interactions

Researchers at Max Planck Institute in Germany develop new way to measure electron pair emission directly on a standard lab bench using time-of-flight spectrometers. This breakthrough allows for the quantification of electron correlation strength, crucial for designing novel materials with desirable properties.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateFeb 11, 2014

Helical electron and nuclear spin order in quantum wires

Researchers from the University of Basel have observed spontaneous magnetic order of electron and nuclear spins in a quantum wire at temperatures of 0.1 kelvin, exceeding previous limits of microkelvin range. This new state of matter is stabilized by nuclear spin coupling and mutual interactions between electrons.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 11, 2014

Resistance makes waves

Scientists have found that charge-density waves destroy superconductivity at a maximum of minus 135 degrees Celsius. To develop high-temperature superconductors, researchers must search for substances not subject to these periodic fluctuations.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateDec 23, 2013

Louisiana Tech University physicists contribute to new findings of international research team

Physicists from Louisiana Tech University contribute to an international team that reports first results for the proton's weak charge based on precise new data from Jefferson Laboratory. The Q-weak experiment measured the weak interaction's unique property of parity violation, revealing a tiny asymmetry in electron scattering rates.

SourceLouisiana Tech University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 3, 2013