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Supercool delivery: final section of souped-up neutron source trucks out of Jefferson Lab

The Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is receiving a major upgrade thanks to US neutron science facility Jefferson Lab. The final cryomodule has been successfully delivered and will double the power capability of the linear accelerator, enabling next-generation neutron science research. This delivery marks the ...

A micro-accelerator for mega-electronvolt electrons: TIFR Hyderabad researchers generate super-fast electrons with table-top laser systems

Scientists from TIFRH successfully generate MeV temperature electrons at a fraction of the previously thought necessary laser intensity. The technique uses two laser pulses to create tiny explosions in microdroplets and accelerate electrons to megaelectronvolt energies.

SourceTata Institute of Fundamental Research·JournalCommunications Physics·DateMar 13, 2024

Positronium laser cooling

Researchers successfully cooled positronium atoms to record-low temperatures of 170 K, significantly reducing their transverse velocity component. This achievement has far-reaching implications for precision spectroscopy and the study of quantum electrodynamics.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 27, 2024

Steering and accelerating electrons at the microchip scale

Stanford researchers have successfully accelerated and steered electrons at the microchip scale using silicon dielectric laser accelerators. This breakthrough enables the creation of tiny linear accelerators that could rival larger systems, with potential applications in medical treatments such as targeted cancer therapies.

SourceStanford University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 26, 2024

Compact accelerator technology achieves major energy milestone

Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin have demonstrated a compact particle accelerator that produces an electron beam with an energy of 10 billion electron volts (10 GeV) in a chamber less than 20 meters long. The breakthrough uses nanoparticles to boost the energy delivered to electrons, enabling new applications in semic...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalMatter and Radiation at Extremes·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 27, 2023

Down goes antimatter! Gravity's effect on matter's elusive twin is revealed

Researchers confirmed that antimatter falls under the influence of gravity, ruling out gravitational repulsion as a cause for its absence in the universe. The study used an antihydrogen experiment to observe individual atoms taking a downward path, providing a definitive answer to long-standing questions about antimatter's behavior.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2023

A model for stopping heavy ions

Researchers used a nonequilibrium-statistical model to predict the stopping process of heavy ions at high LHC energies, gaining insights into original states of matter and quark-gluon plasma. Future experiments may confirm predicted stopping behavior and reveal properties of gluons.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalPhysics Letters B·DateJun 14, 2023

Researchers capture first atomic-scale images depicting early stages of particle accelerator film formation

Scientists have captured the first atomic-scale images of tin on niobium during the growth process of next-generation particle accelerators, revealing potential for greater control over superconducting Nb3Sn films. The study aims to optimize fabrication of next-generation accelerator cavities and reduce cryogenic infrastructure costs.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·DateApr 25, 2023

A smoky solution — for plants

Researchers have made a surprising discovery that liquid smoke can enhance plant defense against pests and diseases, leading to new farming practices. The study found that sunflowers grown in soil treated with liquid smoke had larger, thicker, and greener leaves and appeared less prone to pests and disease.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·DateOct 19, 2022

Particles pick pair partners differently in small nuclei

A high-precision experiment reveals that protons and neutrons in small nuclei prefer to pair up with others of the same kind more often than expected. The study provides new details about short-distance interactions between particles and may impact results from experiments seeking to tease out further nuclear structure details.

SourceDOE/Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 31, 2022

Astrophysicists prove neutrinos originate from Blazars

A team of scientists led by Clemson University's Marco Ajello has provided conclusive evidence that astrophysical neutrinos come from blazars, which are powerful black holes. This breakthrough resolves the long-standing question about the origin of high-energy cosmic rays.

SourceClemson University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 14, 2022

Study proposes mathematical tool to help understand fractal structure of quark-gluon plasma

A new study proposes a mathematical tool to understand the fractal structure of quark-gluon plasma, which is formed in high-energy collisions. The fractal structure explains some phenomena seen in these collisions, including particle momentum distributions that follow Tsallis statistics.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateJun 6, 2022

The tetra-neutron – experiment finds evidence for a long-sought particle comprising four neutrons

Physicists at Technical University of Munich discover potential existence of tetra-neutron, a bound state of four neutrons, which could significantly alter our understanding of nuclear forces. The experiment's results suggest a half-life of 450 seconds and stability comparable to the neutron.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalPhysics Letters B·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 10, 2021