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Minutest absolute magnetic field measurement

Physicists have developed an extremely high-precision method for magnetic field measurement, combining the accuracy of helium and cesium magnetometers. This device has an intrinsic sensitivity ideal for explaining the missing antimatter in the universe, a key area of research in fundamental physics and cosmology.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateDec 3, 2015

How to fall gracefully if you're a robot

Researchers at Georgia Tech developed an algorithm to teach robots how to fall safely by determining the optimal sequence of movements to slow their momentum. The planning algorithm was validated through physics simulation and experimental testing on a humanoid robot, enabling potential applications in healthcare and domestic tasks.

The taming of the shrew

Researchers from University of Cologne measured vibrational transitions in CH5+ ions with high accuracy, revealing the molecule's structure. The findings confirm a simple model of five hydrogen nuclei moving freely around the carbon nucleus.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalScience·DateMar 19, 2015

The physics of lead guitar playing

Physicist Dr David Robert Grimes has derived equations to explain how guitar techniques manipulate pitch, shedding light on string bending, vibrato, and whammy bars. His research provides insights into the physics behind iconic guitarists' sounds.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 23, 2014

Long-range tunneling of quantum particles

A team of scientists at the University of Innsbruck has directly observed long-range tunneling of quantum particles through up to five potential barriers. The researchers used a gas of Cesium atoms in an engineered optical lattice, where they applied a directed force to initiate tunneling motion.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience·DateJun 12, 2014

Could diamonds be a computer's best friend?

Researchers at Ohio State University demonstrated that diamond wires can transmit spin, a magnetic effect that could revolutionize computing. The discovery challenges conventional methods of measuring spin dynamics and has the potential to make computers faster and more powerful.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 23, 2014

ERC grant awarded to physicist Florian Schreck

Florian Schreck has received the ERC Consolidator Grant for his research on quantum many-body systems. His team will investigate new phenomena using strontium atoms, which have unique properties that allow for precise measurement and new material discoveries. This award recognizes Schreck's outstanding research results in Innsbruck.

The 'woman who understood Newton'

Laura Bassi was a renowned physicist in the 18th century, making groundbreaking contributions to experimental physics through conversation, demonstration, experimentation, and explanation. Her work and legacy were recognized with numerous professorships and academy memberships, despite facing controversy and restrictions on her career.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalPhysics World·DateAug 28, 2013

Making big 'Schroedinger cats'

Physicists at the University of Calgary successfully tested quantum mechanics on a large scale, creating a system in two substantially different states at once. This breakthrough demonstrates the application of quantum superposition principles to everyday macro objects.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 21, 2013

Competition in the quantum world

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck and Complutense University of Madrid use a quantum simulator to study quantum mechanical phase transitions in many-body systems. They observe how competition between two processes takes place, leading to fragile long-range correlations between distant particles.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·DateMay 19, 2013

Ultracold experiments heat up quantum research

Researchers at the University of Chicago experimentally demonstrate quantum criticality in ultracold atoms, a phenomenon that may connect the atomic realm to deep questions of cosmology. This breakthrough could lead to simulations of the early universe by studying systems in states of quantum criticality.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience·DateMar 16, 2012

Elusive Higgs boson in sight?

Researchers at Michigan State University's DZero team have detected a distinct Higgs-like signature that cannot be easily explained without the presence of something new. If confirmed, this finding would be a major milestone for the world physics community and validate the Standard Model.

The impact of quantum matter

Researchers at the Joint Quantum Institute create more complicated collisions between atoms using laser light, enabling the observation of high-angular-momentum scattering in long-lived atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. This innovation may facilitate the creation of exotic quantum states for practical applications like quantum computing.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalScience·DateDec 8, 2011

NIST achieves record-low error rate for quantum information processing with one qubit

Physicists at NIST achieved a record-low probability of error in quantum information processing with a single qubit, meeting theoretical requirements for building viable quantum computers. The experiment used microwaves and a copper vacuum chamber to reduce errors, achieving an error rate of 1 per 50,000 logic operations.

Ultra high speed film

Researchers from Kiel University have developed a new technique to record films of extremely fast processes, capturing phase transitions and catalytic reactions in solids. The technique uses ultra short flashes of light to make snapshots of electronic states, enabling new insights into relevant properties of solids.

SourceKiel University·JournalNature·DateMar 10, 2011

Antihydrogen trapped for first time

Researchers have achieved a significant milestone by trapping 38 antihydrogen atoms for more than one-tenth of a second using the ALPHA experiment. This achievement marks a crucial step towards studying the properties of antihydrogen, which could provide insights into the universe's mysterious lack of antimatter.

Pinning atoms into order

Researchers at University of Innsbruck create one-dimensional structures in optical lattice and observe 'pinning transition' from superfluid to insulated phase. Strongly interacting atoms align regularly along wire due to repulsive interaction.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature·DateJul 28, 2010

Quantum mechanics not in jeopardy

Researchers have confirmed an axiom in quantum physics by ruling out the existence of higher-order interferences experimentally. This confirms the accuracy of Born's law, a key principle in quantum mechanics that proposes interference occurs in pairs of possibilities.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience·DateJul 22, 2010

Photons led astray

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light have demonstrated that quantum particles can take both possible paths simultaneously in a random walk, leading to interference patterns and increased intensity at the edges. This breakthrough could provide new insights into statistical processes like photosynthesis.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 16, 2010

From three to four: A quantum leap in few-body physics

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck experimentally prove the existence of four-body loss resonances closely tied to Efimov trimer states, providing strong evidence for these new universal states. This achievement marks an important step towards simplifying laws for complex interactions in few-body physics.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 7, 2009

Smile, protons, you're on camera

A team of scientists, led by Marek Pfutzner, has successfully peered closely at the radioactive decay of a rare iron isotope, shedding light on an exotic form of radioactivity. The technique used a novel combination of advanced physics equipment and digital camera technology to capture ghostly images of trajectories of emitted protons.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 8, 2007

Quantum cryptography

Researchers at Perimeter Institute outline a new aspect of Quantum Cryptography, improving the security of data transmission. The study demonstrates enhanced capabilities in quantum key distribution, paving the way for widespread adoption in secure communication networks.

SourcePerimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 5, 2005

Next step to the quantum computer

Researchers at the University of Bonn have successfully built a quantum register using neutral atoms, enabling the storage and manipulation of quantum information. The achievement marks a significant milestone in the development of quantum computing, which could potentially solve complex problems beyond current computer capabilities.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 6, 2004