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Dynamics of structural transformation for liquid crystalline blue phases

Researchers have uncovered key insights about how liquid crystals transform between different phases using direct simulation and machine learning. This study provides a clearer understanding of the microscopic-level changes in these materials, which could lead to new possibilities for advanced materials development.

SourceKyushu University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2024

Kagome breaks the rules at record breaking temperatures

Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute have found a quantum phenomenon known as time-reversal symmetry breaking occurring at the surface of the Kagome superconductor RbV₃Sb₅ at temperatures up to 175 K. This discovery sets a new record for the temperature at which this phenomenon is observed among Kagome systems.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 5, 2024

The expansion of turbid drops in water

A team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has developed a new method to study the interior of crystalline drops using monochromatic illumination. This approach exploits the color-dependent scattering of light and reveals the density profile of the drop, including initial rapid expansion due to particle repulsion befo...

Discovery of orbital angular momentum monopoles enables orbital electronics with chiral materials

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery in chiral materials, enabling the creation of orbital electronics. The study reveals that certain materials naturally possess orbital angular momentum monopoles, which can be harnessed for memory devices and other applications.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 1, 2024

Breakthrough research uncovers hidden phenomena in ultra-clean quantum materials

Researchers have discovered unusual transport phenomena in ultra-clean SrVO3 samples, contradicting long-standing scientific consensus. The study's findings challenge theoretical models of electron correlation effects and offer insights into the behavior of transparent metals.

Customised thermal radiation

A team of researchers from TU Wien and the University of Manchester demonstrated the control of thermal radiation by manipulating its topological properties. They created a coating with varying metal layer thickness along the coastline of the British Isles, allowing for localized heat emission at specific points.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 13, 2024

Improving the safety of HED LIBs by co-coating separators with ceramics and solid-state electrolytes

Researchers propose a novel separator design co-coated with boehmite ceramics and LATP solid-state electrolytes to improve the safety of HED LIBs. The study demonstrates that this design can prevent thermal deformation and mitigate detrimental effects on electrochemical performance, resulting in improved battery performance and reliabi...

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalEnergy Material Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

Charge fractionalisation observed spectroscopically

Researchers discovered charge fractionalisation in an iron-based metallic ferromagnet using laser ARPES spectroscopy, revealing collective excitations and quasiparticles. The study challenges fundamental quantum mechanics by showing electrons can behave as independent entities with fractionally charged pockets.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 6, 2024

A new chapter for all-attosecond spectroscopy

A team of researchers from the Max Born Institute has demonstrated a new approach to all-attosecond pump-probe spectroscopy using a compact intense attosecond source. This enables the investigation of extremely fast electron dynamics in the attosecond regime, which is not accessible by current attosecond techniques.

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 22, 2024

Magnesium still has the potential to become an efficient hydrogen store

A Swiss-Polish team has found the answer to why previous attempts to use magnesium hydride for efficient hydrogen storage failed. The researchers developed a new model that predicts local, thermodynamically stable clusters are formed in magnesium during hydrogen injection, reducing hydrogen ion mobility.

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

USTC explores exotic spin interactions at microscale using solid-state spin quantum sensors

The University of Science and Technology of China has made a significant breakthrough in exploring exotic spin interactions using solid-state spin quantum sensors. Their research findings provide valuable insights into these interactions, allowing for precise measurements of various spin phenomena.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 26, 2023

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers reveal the effect of AIN surface pits on GaN remote epitaxy

GIST researchers found that nano-sized pits on AlN surfaces cause graphene degradation at higher temperatures, leading to GaN film exfoliation failure. The study's results demonstrate the importance of substrate chemical and topographic properties for successful remote epitaxy.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2023

Topology's role in decoding energy of amorphous systems

Researchers from Osaka University and others have used topological data analysis and machine learning to predict the properties of amorphous materials. The study employed a method combining persistent homology and machine learning to accurately predict the energies of disordered structures composed of carbon atoms at varying densities.

SourceOsaka University·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 22, 2023

When D turns to F, quantum matter is A-plus

Researchers have found that certain materials can exhibit D-wave effects, entangled with other quantum states, allowing for efficient coupling at higher temperatures. This breakthrough bridges condensed matter physics subfields and could enable practical applications of quantum computing.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 2, 2023

Optimizing the properties and microstructure of bulk superconductors

Japanese researchers develop improved ternary superconductor bulks from liquid sources, demonstrating enhanced performance and microstructural analysis shows significant reductions in secondary phase particle size. The findings have huge potential for applications in magnetic levitation, electric motors, and energy systems.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 6, 2023

Better superconductors with palladium

Researchers have found a material, palladium, that is optimally suited for creating superconductors with high transition temperatures. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize electricity generation and transportation by enabling materials to conduct electricity without loss at normal room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 24, 2023

Can a solid be a superfluid? Engineering a novel supersolid state from layered 2D materials

Researchers predict that layered electronic 2D semiconductors can host a quantum phase of matter called the supersolid. A solid becomes 'super' when its quantum properties match those of superconductors, simultaneously having two orders: solid and super. The study reports the complete phase diagram of this system at low temperatures.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 29, 2023

Probe where the protons go to develop better fuel cells

A team led by Professor Yoshihiro Yamazaki from Kyushu University discovered the chemical innerworkings of a perovskite-based electrolyte developed for solid oxide fuel cells. By combining synchrotron radiation analysis, large-scale simulations, machine learning, and thermogravimetric analysis, they found that protons are introduced at...

SourceKyushu University·JournalChemistry of Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2023

The switch made from a single molecule

Researchers at University of Tokyo's Institute for Solid State Physics have demonstrated a switch made from a single fullerene molecule that can function as multiple high-speed switches simultaneously. This technology could lead to unprecedented levels of resolution in microscopic imaging devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2023

Making sense of coercivity in magnetic materials with machine learning

Researchers developed a new approach to analyze coercivity in soft magnetic materials using machine learning and data science. The method condenses relevant information from microscopic images into a two-dimensional feature space, visualizing the energy landscape of magnetization reversal. This study showcases how materials informatics...

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 1, 2022

A quantum of an angle

Researchers at TU Wien have directly measured the fine structure constant using a thin film that rotates light polarisation, revealing an astonishing quantum jump related to this fundamental constant. This measurement provides new insights into the strength of electromagnetic interactions.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2022

Magnetism or no magnetism? The influence of substrates on electronic interactions

Researchers at Monash University found that electric fields and applied strain can turn magnetism on and off in two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks. This discovery could lead to applications in magnetic memory, spintronics, and quantum computing.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·Journalnpj Computational Materials·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

New era of two-dimensional ferroelectrics

Researchers review emerging field of 2D ferroelectric materials with layered van-der-Waals crystal structures, offering new properties and functionalities not found in conventional materials. These materials show easily stackable nature, making them attractive as building blocks for post-Moore's law electronics.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies·JournalNature Reviews Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 27, 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

On the way to quantum sensors

The IQ-Sense project brings together researchers from two German universities to develop and demonstrate integrated quantum sensors for spectroscopic and imaging applications. The project will enable precise measurements of temperature, pressure, magnetic or electric fields, crucial in various scientific and medical fields.

Magnetic memory milestone

Scientists have successfully switched the state of a bit in memory using spin-orbit torque switching in antiferromagnetic material Mn3Sn, promising faster and more efficient devices. This breakthrough could lead to radical improvements in performance compared to current electronic devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 20, 2022