Articles tagged with Phase Transitions
Research by University of Chicago mathematician Jack Cowan reveals that brain activity patterns follow natural rhythms, similar to phase transitions in physics. This study uses mathematical tools to understand brain-generated rhythms, including delta waves during sleep and gamma waves related to information processing.
A team of physicists from Vanderbilt University and the University of Konstanz in Germany have used a laser with 12-femtosecond pulses to switch vanadium dioxide film between reflective and transparent states. The transition occurs faster than previously thought, with the film shifting back and forth in under 100 femtoseconds.
Seismologists have recast their understanding of the Earth's inner workings, depicting it as a dynamic and chemically diverse living organism. New research shows that Earth's upper mantle exhibits chemical heterogeneity beyond just temperature and pressure.
Researchers have discovered a new type of phase transition in vanadium metal under extreme pressure, which contradicts the behavior of most other elements. This unusual lattice dynamics is driven by a huge change in electronic structure, providing a new explanation for the record-high superconducting temperature.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory found a unique phase transition in vanadium crystals under high pressure, changing shape but not volume. This discovery has significant implications for superconducting materials and challenges previous theories on element stability.
Seismologists have directly measured heat flowing from the molten core into a region of the lower mantle for the first time. The new temperature measurements provide insight into the geodynamo and tectonic plate movement, helping scientists understand the Earth's internal dynamics.
Researchers have developed a technique to measure precise conditions for electrically polarized ultrathin materials, revealing the ferroelectric state in next-generation memory chips and devices. The study shows that these materials can retain their properties at room temperature with thicknesses as thin as 4 nanometers.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a device that generates coherent ultrasonic waves, allowing them to study laser dynamics and measure material properties. The 'uaser' has potential applications in modeling and studying laser behavior, as well as sensing changes in materials.
Scientists have discovered a subducted slab of oceanic lithosphere at the base of the Earth's mantle, providing direct evidence for its presence. The finding reveals new insights into the processes driving tectonic plate movement, suggesting that ancient seafloor can sink to the bottom of the mantle.
A UK trial of TeGenero's TGN1412 biological agent resulted in six healthy volunteers developing serious adverse events, highlighting the need for urgent changes to phase I trial authorisation processes. Regulatory bodies must now consider the unique risks associated with activating antibodies compared to conventional drugs.
Researchers develop genetically engineered proteins to form erasable chemical detectors. They also create self-grown forests of molecular 'bottlebrushes' that keep themselves contamination-free. Additionally, they design auto-assembled DNA 'towers' that could serve as anchors for the tiniest devices.
Researchers create novel approach to tackle phase-change process, calculating critical point properties for the first time. The simulation findings match predictions and experimental results, including microgravity measurements on the Space Shuttle.
A new approach to studying oil, politics, and democracy suggests that America's oil age may be coming to an end. Researchers are re-examining policy in 50-100 year ranges instead of traditional 5-20 year cycles, pointing to potential decades-long shifts in oil policy.
Researchers recorded neuronal activity in primary motor cortex and dorsolateral striatum of mice during different phases of motor-skill learning. They found that cortico-striatal neural circuits undergo substantial changes, differing between fast and slow learning phases.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered a series of phase transitions that cause silicon crystals to round their edges as they reach thermal equilibrium. This finding has implications for the manufacturing of tiny electronic components, such as wires and semiconductors, which could be designed with specific patterns.
Researchers discovered niobium clusters exhibit ferroelectric behavior when cooled to ultra-cold temperatures, displaying negative and positive charges. The phenomenon is linked to superconductivity in transition metals, offering clues to this complex phenomenon.
Researchers found that phase transition in bilayers causes substantial tearing, resulting in foam-like defects that affect device performance and long-term storage. The study's findings have significant implications for the development of supported bilayer-based materials and applications such as biosensors.
Seismologist Douglas A. Wiens finds deep earthquakes recur at the same spot repeatedly, supporting ductile shear zone model. The research uses seismic wave evidence to locate earthquakes with accuracy, enabling future study of deep fault zones.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding a perovskite-related oxide with an extremely high dielectric constant, which remains stable over a wide temperature range. The material's unique property is attributed to the rearrangement of atomic charges without structural distortion.
Researchers smash atomic nuclei together to observe phase transitions from solid to liquid to gas, using the NIMROD detector. The transition occurs for less than a billionth of a second and may be more gradual or sharp.
The article explains that 'hard' NP-complete problems are difficult due to discontinuous phase transitions, making them impractical to solve even with moderate-sized inputs. The research suggests exploiting certain properties of these abrupt transitions to make the problems easier by nailing down critical variables.
Researchers used helium scattering to probe the germanium surface at temperatures above 1000K, finding that it undergoes a structural phase transition from an ordered phase to another highly ordered phase. At this temperature, the surface becomes metallic and exhibits jump diffusion of adatoms, similar to liquid germanium.