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Pump-induced stimulated superradiant Smith-Purcell radiation with ultra-narrow linewidth

Scientists have created a compact device that enables ultra-narrow spectral linewidth of superradiant Smith-Purcell radiation, overcoming limitations in free electron accelerators. The device, called pump-induced stimulated S-SPR (PIS-SPR), uses a three-section system to pre-bunch electrons and emit radiation at a specific frequency.

SLAC scientists created the most powerful ultrashort electron beam in the world

SLAC researchers develop a laser-based shaping technique to compress billions of electrons into a length less than one micrometer, producing an electron beam with femtosecond-duration and petawatt peak power. This achievement opens up new discoveries in quantum chemistry, astrophysics, and material science.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 5, 2025

Optical control of phase and group velocities in everyday liquids

Scientists have discovered a way to turn ordinary liquids into epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials by interacting them with intense femtosecond laser pulses. This creates a new class of materials with tunable light propagation properties, opening up possibilities for advances in optical sensing and communication.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 6, 2025

How fast is quantum entanglement?

Researchers at TU Wien have developed computer simulations to investigate the temporal development of quantum entanglement. They found that the 'birth time' of an electron flying away from an atom is related to the state of the remaining electron, demonstrating a quantum-physical superposition.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 22, 2024

Atoms on the edge

Researchers at MIT have directly observed edge states in a cloud of ultracold atoms, capturing images of atoms flowing along a boundary without resistance. This discovery could enable super-efficient energy transmission and data transfer in materials.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 6, 2024

Metal foil as 3D scanner for electron beam

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed a novel method to measure the structure of microbunched plasma-wakefield-accelerated electron beams using metal foil. This technique enables precise control over the electron bunches, leading to brighter and more stable light in free-electron lasers.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2024

Direct operando identification of reactive electron species driving photocatalytic hydrogen evolution on metal-loaded oxides

Researchers successfully observe and identify the reactive electron species for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution on metal-loaded oxides, shifting the paradigm on the traditionally believed role of metal cocatalysts. The electrons shallowly trapped in the in-gap states contribute to enhancing the hydrogen evolution rate.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2024

A new theoretical development clarifies water's electronic structure

Researchers from EPFL have made significant strides in deciphering the electronic structure of water using computational methods that go beyond current approaches. The study accurately determines water's ionization potential, electron affinity, and band gap, essential for understanding its interactions with light and substances.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2024

Slow electrons for more efficient reactions

Researchers at ETH Zurich discovered a new method to produce slow electrons through optical excitation, allowing for more efficient chemical reactions. The slow electrons, created by dissolving sodium in ammonia and exposing it to UV light, can be controlled and used to initiate reactions.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2023

Looking at magnets in the right light

A team of researchers at the Max Born Institute developed a novel method for X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy using a laser-driven plasma source. This breakthrough enables precise determination of magnetic moments in buried layers without damaging samples, and can monitor ultrafast magnetization processes.

Ice-cold electron beams for ultra-compact X-ray lasers

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde have simulated ice-cold electron beams that can produce powerful coherent photon pulses with pulse durations in the attosecond regime. The breakthrough could lead to the development of ultra-compact X-ray lasers, reducing their size from kilometres to just tens of metres.

SourceUniversity of Strathclyde·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Nanoparticles make it easier to turn light into solvated electrons

Scientists at Rice University, Stanford University, and UT Austin have developed a mechanism to generate solvated electrons through plasmon resonance, making it easier to turn light into these clean, zero-byproduct chemicals. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of driving chemical reactions and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 18, 2023

Physicists develop a new method that strengthens electron-triggered light emission with flat bands Shedding light to produce new sources of light and build quantum-based computational and communications systems

Researchers at The University of Hong Kong and MIT have developed a new method to produce stronger interactions between photons and electrons, enabling hundredfold increases in light emission. This breakthrough has potential ramifications for commercial applications and fundamental scientific research.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 4, 2023

CityU scientists discover a novel photophysical mechanism that has achieved record-breaking efficiency for organic photovoltaics

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong developed a novel device-engineering strategy to suppress energy conversion loss in organic photovoltaics, achieving PCE over 19%. The discovery enables OPVs to maximize photocurrent and overcome the limit of maximum achievable efficiency.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2022

Milestone for laser technology

A team of researchers from Synchrotron SOLEIL, France, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Germany, has successfully demonstrated a free-electron laser driven by plasma acceleration and seeded by additional light pulses. This achievement could lead to the development of more compact and affordable FEL systems.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalNature Photonics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 5, 2022

More control over plasma accelerators

Researchers have developed a hybrid plasma accelerator that combines two methods for electron acceleration, achieving better stability and higher particle density than single-accelerator systems. This innovation opens up new possibilities for precision X-ray generation and novel applications in fields like medical imaging and ultrafast...

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalPhysical Review·DateNov 30, 2022