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Heidelberg physicists bridge worlds of quantum matter

Researchers at Heidelberg University developed a new theoretical framework that connects two fundamental domains of modern quantum physics, describing the emergence of quasiparticles in systems with both mobile and static impurities. The new theory explains how quasiparticles form even in systems with extremely heavy impurities.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 20, 2026

Keeping the photon in the dark

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have developed a versatile method to control dark excitons in semiconductor quantum dots using chirped laser pulses and magnetic fields. This allows for the storage and manipulation of excitons, enabling new opportunities for quantum memory control and entangled photon pair generation.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 9, 2025

Luminous magnets

Researchers visualized new quantum phenomenon: luminous excitons appearing on surface of antiferromagnetic semiconductor CrSBr. Excitons are created when photons strike the material, absorbing light and storing energy.

SourceTechnische Universität Dresden·JournalNature Materials·TypeObservational study·DateMay 19, 2025

Particle that only has mass when moving in one direction observed for first time

Researchers at Penn State and Columbia University have observed a type of quasiparticle called a semi-Dirac fermion that has mass when moving in one direction but not in the other. The discovery, made using a technique called magneto-optical spectroscopy, could lead to advances in emerging technologies such as batteries and sensors.

SourcePenn State·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 10, 2024

Will the convergence of light and matter in Janus particles transcend performance limitations in the optical display industry?

Researchers pioneer technique to control polaritons, unlocking potential for next-generation materials and surpassing performance limitations of optical displays. The breakthrough enables stable generation of polariton particles with enhanced brightness and color control.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 8, 2024

Diamonds are a chip's best friend

Researchers at Kyoto University have determined the magnitude of spin-orbit interaction in acceptor-bound excitons in a semiconductor. The study revealed two triplets separated by a spin-orbit splitting of 14.3 meV, supporting the hypothesis that two positively charged holes are more strongly bound than an electron-and-hole pair.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2024

The secret life of an electromagnon

Scientists have discovered how atoms and spins move together in electromagnons, a hybrid excitation that can be controlled with light. The study used time-resolved X-ray diffraction to reveal the atomic motions and spin movements, showing that atoms move first and then the spins fractionally later.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 28, 2023

Interacting polarons

Scientists generate multiple quasiparticles simultaneously in a quantum gas and observe their complex interactions, including attractive and repulsive behavior. Quantum statistics plays a crucial role in these interactions, which are essential for understanding fundamental mechanisms of nature.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2023

Solving quantum mysteries: New insights into 2D semiconductor physics

Researchers from Monash University have introduced a new theoretical study on quantum impurities, exploring their behavior in two-dimensional semiconductors. The 'quantum virial expansion' method sheds light on the complex interactions between impurities and their surroundings in 2D materials.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 15, 2023

A drop in the sea of electrons

Scientists at Swinburne University of Technology and FLEET collaborators observe and explain signatures of Fermi polaron interactions in atomically-thin WS2 using ultrafast spectroscopy. Repulsive forces arise from phase-space filling, while attractive forces lead to cooperatively bound exciton-exciton-electron states.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

Trapping polaritons in an engineered quantum box

Australian researchers have engineered a quantum box for polaritons in a two-dimensional material, achieving large polariton densities and a partially 'coherent' quantum state. The novel technique allows researchers to access striking collective quantum phenomena and enable ultra-energy-efficient technologies.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2022

Topological materials become switchable

Researchers have successfully switched on and off topological states in a material, exploiting the interaction of electrons to manipulate their behavior. The discovery opens up new possibilities for technical applications, including quantum computers and sensor technology.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 11, 2022

Scientists see spins in a 2D magnet

Researchers at Columbia University have discovered a way to visualize magnons in a 2D material, CrSBr, by pairing them with excitons that emit light. This breakthrough enables the observation of tiny changes in magnon spins, potentially leading to the development of more efficient quantum information networks.

SourceColumbia University·JournalNature·DateSep 7, 2022

Building blocks of the future for photovoltaics

A research team from the University of Göttingen has observed the build-up of dark Moiré interlayer excitons for the first time using femtosecond photoemission momentum microscopy. This breakthrough allows scientists to study the optoelectronic properties of new materials in unprecedented detail.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 18, 2022

Perfect transmission through barrier using sound

A new study by the University of Hong Kong has experimentally proven the existence of Klein tunneling, where relativistic particles can pass through barriers with 100% transmission. This breakthrough has significant implications for fundamental physics and potential applications in sound manipulation and acoustic signal processing.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·DateDec 23, 2020

Skyrmion dynamics and traverse mobility

Researchers have studied skyrmion behavior under dc and ac drives, discovering directional locking effects and enhanced transverse mobility. The study's findings could revolutionize computing and solve the mystery of ball lightning.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 19, 2020

Finding Majoranas

Researchers at UCSB have made a breakthrough in generating Majorana quasiparticles, which are essential for topological quantum computing. By using 'hashtag'-shaped nanowires, the team has successfully coaxed these exotic states into existence, paving the way for braiding and potentially revolutionizing quantum information processing.

Bending the rules

Yu Chen and colleagues find that superconductivity and dissipation can coexist under generic conditions in a universal manner, thanks to a peculiar nonequilibrium state of quasiparticles. The researchers also discover an unexpected property: when a magnetic field is applied, the superconducting area expands and is enhanced.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 29, 2014