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Lasers can lengthen quantum bit memory by 1,000 times

Researchers at the University of Michigan have discovered a method to prolong quantum bit memory by utilizing lasers. By exciting the quantum dot with a laser, scientists were able to block magnetic field interactions and stabilize the magnetic field, resulting in a significant increase in stable existence of the quantum bit.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature·DateJun 24, 2009

Giant eruption reveals 'dead' star

Astronomers use ESA's XMM-Newton and Integral space observatories to study a magnetar outburst from the rare 'dead' star SGR 0501+4516. The outburst lasted over four months and released hundreds of smaller bursts, providing valuable insights into extreme matter conditions.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 16, 2009

New rotors could help develop nanoscale generators

Researchers have successfully created a rotating molecular rotor on a gold surface, creating an off-axis rotation that mimics the property of machines like electric motors and generators. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of machines for generating currents at small scales.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 27, 2009

Dissecting a stellar explosion

The analysis reveals highly polarised gamma rays, providing insight into the central engine's magnetic field structure. The team favours a synchrotron model, suggesting that the jet lifted the magnetic field into space.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 3, 2009

Ship-in-a-bottle kit on a microchip

Researchers have developed a new method to equip miniaturized laboratories with moving parts using magnetic colloidal particles. The technique allows for the creation of complex networks of individual components driven by a single magnetic field.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 2, 2008

The hibernating stellar magnet

Astronomers have discovered a mysterious celestial object emitting visible-light flashes before disappearing. It is likely to be a missing link in the family of neutron stars, exhibiting powerful magnetic activity.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateSep 24, 2008

Quantum chaos unveiled?

A University of Utah study demonstrates fundamental new property – chaotic behavior in a quantum system – in frozen xenon nuclei, challenging conventional understanding. The findings provide new insights into the relationship between chaos theory and quantum mechanics.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 6, 2008

U-M instrument shows what planet Mercury is made of

A University of Michigan instrument on the MESSENGER spacecraft has detected silicon, sodium, sulfur, and water ions around Mercury, suggesting that they were blasted from the surface or exosphere by solar wind. The findings provide a new understanding of Mercury's composition and its interaction with the sun's magnetic field.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience·DateJul 3, 2008

A supra new kind of froth

Researchers have discovered that magnetic domains in type-I superconducting lead exhibit patterns similar to everyday froths like soap foam or frothed milk. The team found that suprafroths, a new kind of froth system created by applying a magnetic field, adhere to statistical laws governing the behavior of froths.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 5, 2008

3-D imaging -- first insights into magnetic fields

Scientists at HMI and University of Applied Sciences in Berlin have successfully visualized three-dimensional images of magnetic fields inside solid, non-transparent materials. By detecting changes in neutron spin rotation, the researchers can reconstruct a three-dimensional image of the magnetic field distribution within the sample.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature Physics·DateMar 30, 2008

Sun's corona is both hot and kinky

Scientists at University of Warwick argue that Alfvén waves, thought to superheat the Corona, are actually kink waves, a bending of the magnetic field. This reinterpretation throws doubt on previous research and leaves the question of the Corona's extreme heat unresolved.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 6, 2008

MRI/PET scanner combo

The combined scanner uses a new technology to eliminate interference between MRI and PET systems, enabling simultaneous acquisition of structural and functional information. This innovation allows researchers to correlate tumor structure with functional information, providing deeper insights into cancer research.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2008

Mars and Venus are surprisingly similar

The Mars Express and Venus Express spacecraft reveal that the two planets' atmospheres are stripped away into space due to solar wind interactions. The similarity in magnetic field structure between the two planets suggests a shared ionosphere density at high altitudes.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalPlanetary and Space Science·DateMar 5, 2008

Odd little star has magnetic personality

A team of astronomers, led by Dr. Edo Berger, have observed a surprisingly active magnetic field on the ultracool low-mass star TVLM513-46546, challenging the theory that cooler stars are simple and quiet. The star's complex magnetic field environment may indicate unusual activity beneath its surface or possibly even an unseen companion.

Storing data on atomic roundabouts

Researchers at the University of Bonn have discovered right-handed and left-handed magnetic vortices, which could be used to store information in hard disks. The discovery has potential practical applications, but the primary interest is in understanding the underlying principles of magnetism.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature·DateOct 10, 2007

Stopping atoms

Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin create an 'atomic coilgun' that slows and stops a wide range of atoms using pulsed magnetic fields. This breakthrough enables the study of previously inaccessible elements like hydrogen, with implications for atomic and nuclear physics.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateOct 3, 2007