Articles tagged with Neutrons
Using neutron scattering, researchers have discovered ferromagnetism on the surface of a hybrid topological insulator material at room temperature. The discovery could lead to new opportunities for next-generation electronic and spintronic devices.
Researchers have developed a novel technique to detect special nuclear materials in cargo containers using low-energy neutron and photon imaging. This method can simultaneously measure density and atomic number, while confirming the presence of nuclear materials through unique delayed neutron emission signatures.
Researchers have used powerful computers to analyze the decay of calcium-48, a rare isotope that could reveal the mass of neutrinos. The study suggests the decay may be half as long as previously thought, improving chances of detection in underground labs and potentially confirming Majorana particles.
Scientists at ORNL used neutron scattering to observe novel behavior in a two-dimensional magnet, providing evidence for long-sought phenomena in a Kitaev quantum spin liquid. The findings suggest the presence of Majorana fermions, which could be used as the basis for a qubit.
Researchers measured precise binding energy of a 10ΛBe hypernucleus, finding small charge symmetry breaking for heavier hypernuclei. The study extends knowledge of the nuclear force to the baryonic force and has significant implications for hypernuclear studies.
Researchers at OIST Graduate University have made a groundbreaking discovery about the behavior of protons inside ice. They found that protons exhibit locally ordered yet globally disordered patterns, which are rare in nature and occur only in ice.
A new study published in Nature reports that Earth's moon slowly moved from its original axis around 3 billion years ago. The discovery was made possible by analyzing NASA data indicating lunar polar hydrogen, which is presumed to be ancient ice hidden in craters surrounding the moon's poles.
Scientists have detected internal movements in LOV photoreceptors using neutron spectroscopy, which can control biological processes with light. The study highlights the potential of neutron scattering experiments for analyzing cellular processes and provides unique insights into protein functionality.
Astronomers discovered a tiny, ancient galaxy that contains seven stars with heavy elements formed through rapid neutron captures, a process more common in rare cosmic collisions. The findings suggest that the heaviest elements on Earth originated in neutron star mergers.
Scientists discovered that surface vibrations in nanomaterials significantly affect their behavior, impacting applications such as solar cells. The researchers found that suppressing these vibrations can lead to higher photocurrent and efficiency in solar cells.
A team of scientists led by Patrick Peplowski used MESSENGER mission data to confirm a high abundance of carbon at Mercury's surface. The carbon most likely originated deep below the surface, in an ancient graphite-rich crust that was later brought to the surface through impact processes.
Researchers used neutron characterization techniques to study the nature of atomic motifs in complex metal oxides. They discovered a novel atomic disordering mechanism that challenges previous assumptions about their behavior under extreme environments.
A novel in-situ plasma processing technique has been successfully applied to superconducting cavities at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), significantly improving neutron production and accelerating beam energy. The technique uses hot plasma to clean hydrocarbon contamination from surfaces, reducing maintenance time and costs.
A new neutron study at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reveals promising results that could drastically boost the performance of solid-state electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries, leading to safer and more efficient batteries. The study found a common rule governing how dopants redistribute vacancies in garnet structures, enabling materi...
Researchers at UCSB have improved LUX's sensitivity by 20 times using a neutron calibration technique. The new method helps rule out potential dark matter detections at low masses, excluding alternative particle models.
LUX scientists have improved the detector's sensitivity for low-mass dark matter particles, enhancing their ability to detect WIMPs. The new calibrations help rule out potential detections at low-mass ranges where other experiments had previously reported results.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich identify key mechanisms behind lithium ion battery capacity loss due to aging. The study reveals that a pacifying layer on the anode consumes active lithium and protects the electrolyte from decomposition.
Researchers have identified 'sweet points' in dental cement where it regains elasticity before hardening, allowing for longer-lasting fillings. This breakthrough could lead to better applications of fillings and easier treatment options for patients.
Researchers created a synthetic model of E. coli's outer membrane, providing unprecedented access to its structure and dynamics. The model was used to test how antibiotic molecules can cross the critical barrier, which is highly impermeable to incoming molecules.
Researchers used America's most powerful supercomputer, Titan, to compute the neutron distribution of calcium-48, finding a smaller difference between neutron and proton distributions. This calculation impacts the size of neutron stars, connecting objects with a 18-order magnitude size difference.
Researchers at Newcastle University have created a synthetic model of the bacterial outer membrane, providing unprecedented access to its structure and dynamics. The model allows for the testing of antibiotic molecules and has the potential to overcome resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new solvent-based method to manufacture ultrathin films used in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells. This method eliminates the need for thermal annealing, resulting in improved film morphology and increased photovoltaic performance.
Researchers from NIST and UC Davis have successfully created stable magnetic skyrmions under ambient conditions, opening up possibilities for novel data storage and nanoelectronic devices. The breakthrough enables the use of skyrmions in information memory systems with improved elasticity and resistance to external influences.
Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have found a way to assemble photovoltaic polymers in water using a surfactant, enabling the creation of defect-free polymer assemblies for fast electric charge transport. This breakthrough creates molecular building blocks for designing optoelectronic and sensory materials.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed a new type of nuclear fusion process that produces almost no neutrons, instead releasing fast and heavy electrons. This allows for the creation of smaller and simpler fusion reactors with instant electrical energy production.
Physicists at Ruhr-University Bochum have developed a new approach to carry out precision calculations of the forces acting between protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei. This method uses effective field theory and a new method for analyzing theoretical uncertainties, allowing for a more accurate description of nuclear systems.
Researchers at University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing have controlled the orbital angular momentum of neutron waves for the first time. This breakthrough enables probing of material properties like magnetism and crystalline structure, opening doors to deeper studies of superconducting and chiral materials.
Scientists at Joint Quantum Institute successfully control orbital angular momentum of neutron waves, a fundamental property of matter waves. The achievement uses a counterintuitive property of neutrons to twist the phase of their wavefunction, enabling potential applications in neutron imaging and quantum information processing.
New RHIC data reveals clear-cut evidence of primordial soup's signature particle flow in collisions of 3-particle ions with gold nuclei, confirming earlier suspicions that smaller particles can create droplets of free-flowing QGP. The analysis shows a triangular pattern consistent with the creation of three tiny droplets of QGP.
Researchers from Forschungszentrum Jülich create a comprehensive phase diagram that describes the material properties of colloids based on their structure and concentration. The study finds that the interaction length, which determines the solubility of the colloid solution, can be tuned to achieve specific macroscopic properties.
A new study reveals an iron-telluride material develops superconductivity without long-range electronic or magnetic order, with a competing disordered magnetic phase. The researchers found that the ordering is extremely local and fleeting, similar to a liquid-like behavior.
A Syracuse University team funded by NSF has discovered the long-sought pentaquark particle using the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The discovery confirms pentaquarks, which are formed of four quarks and one antiquark, could provide insight into ordinary baryons' properties.
Researchers have confirmed plutonium's magnetism using neutron scattering, resolving a scientific mystery that had gone unsolved for seven decades. The discovery provides insight into plutonium's unique electronic properties and suggests new avenues for materials science applications.
Researchers at Mainz University measured the mass of a 'strange' atomic nucleus with unprecedented precision, shedding light on the fundamental 'strong force'. The findings provide valuable insights into the nature of this force and its role in holding nuclei together.
The US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has successfully demonstrated the production, separation and purification of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) using a process developed in cooperation with SHINE Medical Technologies. The new method uses fast neutrons to create Mo-99 from an aqueous solution of uranium.
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.
A team of physicists has calculated the tiny neutron-proton mass difference using a powerful supercomputer, verifying the theory of the strong interaction. The finding confirms that neutrons are slightly more massive than protons, with a 0.14% difference, and opens up new possibilities for simulations of quarks and nuclear particles.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new material, boron-coated vitreous carbon foam, to detect neutrons emitted by radioactive materials. This breakthrough improves homeland security and nuclear power instrumentation, overcoming the scarcity of traditional detection material helium-3.
Researchers developed a new model describing atomic nuclei that better predict exotic isotope properties. This improvement enables simulations of supernova explosions and nuclear reactor processes.
A team of physicists has found that protons and neutrons in large atomic nuclei do not behave as predicted by existing models. The researchers used experimental data from various elements to fit parameters into the current model, showing that quantum effects and nuclear vibrations have a lower impact on individual particles than thought.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory quantify thermodynamic forces driving metal-insulator transition in vanadium dioxide, finding phonons and atomic vibrations control phase stability. The discovery has implications for multifunctional materials, including colossal magnetoresistors, superconductors, and ferroelectrics.
The MINER system successfully identified the location of a hidden nuclear device within 30 minutes, even with shielding. It distinguishes between threatening and non-threatening radiation sources, measuring the neutron spectrum to pinpoint plutonium or AmBe.
Researchers have found that protons and neutrons in heavy nuclei have higher-average momentum when paired, contrary to previous theories. This phenomenon has implications for ultra-cold atomic gas systems and neutron stars.
A University of Utah-led study used advanced imaging techniques to understand the inner workings of Protein Kinase A (PKA), a master switch regulating cellular functions. The research found that PKA changes shape with only one sensor, revealing new insights into its unique biological functions and potential targets for disease treatment.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have produced a trillion fusion neutrons using the MagLIF technique, which uses magnetic fields and a laser to preheat hydrogen fuel. The achievement demonstrates the viability of this novel approach for achieving break-even fusion.
Using a neutron beam, researchers at Ohio State University track lithium atoms in real time as batteries charge and discharge. This technique, called neutron depth profiling, may help explain why rechargeable batteries lose capacity over time.
Lithium-ion battery researchers observed the phenomenon of 'lithium plating' during charging, which can cause short-circuits and reduce battery performance. The study used neutron diffraction to investigate the mechanism at work, shedding light on how lithium plating occurs and potentially paving the way for faster-charging batteries.
Researchers have developed a new neutron tomography technique to visualize and analyze phase fractions of crystalline materials in 3D. The method allows for bulk characterization of materials, enabling the discovery of previously undetectable inhomogeneities.
Scientists discover that collective movements of electron spins, not doping effects, are responsible for the formation of nematic phases. This finding opens up new avenues for understanding high-temperature superconductivity.
Researchers at Chapman University and Vienna University of Technology successfully separated a neutron from its magnetic field, defying classical notions of particle properties. The experiment utilized neutron interferometry to isolate the particle's spin from its direction of motion.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology demonstrate a new quantum paradox where neutrons can be separated from their properties, allowing for more precise measurements. This 'Quantum Cheshire Cat' phenomenon shows that particles can exist in multiple states at once, making it ideal for applications requiring high precision.
Researchers successfully separated a neutron's magnetic moment from its particle, observing the first experimental evidence of the 'Cheshire Cat' paradox. This technique can be applied to any property of any quantum object, improving high precision measurements.
A study at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reveals structural differences between normal and diseased forms of the huntingtin protein, which is involved in Huntington's disease. The researchers used neutron scattering to compare the structures over time, finding key discrepancies that support a growing focus on amyloid disorders.
An international team of researchers has solved a long-standing debate over the molecular structure of a vital biological chemical, identifying that the ferryl heme in Compound I is not protonated. However, one amino acid side chain is found to be doubly protonated, raising new questions about oxygen activation mechanisms.
Scientists solved the long-standing question of whether ferryl heme in Compound I involves just an oxygen atom or a hydroxyl group, with implications for drug development. The study used neutron crystallography to determine the structure of Compound I at cryogenic temperatures.
Researchers used MESSENGER data to detect solar neutrons created in solar flares, providing a direct link to the flare process. The combined use of NASA mission data from MESSENGER and STEREO spacecraft offers new information about particle acceleration in solar flares.
Researchers at Princeton University and the DOE's PPPL are developing a prototype system that can verify the presence of warheads without collecting classified information. The system uses high-energy neutrons to compare warheads with known true warheads, providing a key step towards reducing nuclear arms.
A team of international researchers has created 'molecular tadpoles' with unique properties, allowing for improved detergent performance and potential applications in flexible electronics. These molecules are formed by modifying 'bucky balls' with long chains, enabling them to assemble into extended structures.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that gamma and neutron imaging are safe for use in diagnostics, delivering radiation doses comparable to conventional medical imaging. The study aims to develop new imaging technologies to detect disease in its earliest stages.
A study found that methyl oleate in biodiesel emissions reacts with ozone to reduce surfactant properties, slowing down water droplet growth and cloud formation. The reaction could impact the water cycle by altering cloud formations and rainfall patterns.