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A clean-energy future for legacy coal?

Lehigh University researchers have developed a technique using machine learning and advanced spectroscopy to characterize waste feedstocks for gasification-produced hydrogen. This process has the potential to eliminate hazards associated with stored coal waste and reclaim valuable resources, while also emitting fewer pollutants than tr...

Organic lasers have a bright future

Scientists at the University of St Andrews have developed an electrically driven organic semiconductor laser, overcoming a decades-long challenge. This breakthrough has significant implications for various industries, including communication, medicine, and manufacturing.

SourceUniversity of St. Andrews·JournalNature·TypeNews article·DateSep 27, 2023

How atomic nuclei vibrate

Researchers at Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf have measured the wave-like vibration of atomic nuclei with record-breaking precision, confirming the accuracy of quantum theory. The study also explores the possibility of a new fundamental force between protons and deuterons in connection with Dark Matter.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 28, 2023

The correlation between the structures of bimetallic tartrate complexes in solutions for laser-induced synthesis and sensor characteristics of microbiosensors materials

Researchers discovered bimetallic tartrate complexes with unique structures, formed by insufficient ligand, leading to improved sensor characteristics for microbiosensors. The study showcases the potential of laser-induced chemical liquid phase deposition for creating nanostructures with various applications.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCurrent Organocatalysis·DateJul 11, 2023

Thorium-229: A new approach to investigation opens up a wide range of possibilities

An international team of researchers has developed a new method to study the thorium-229 isotope using lasers in the visible wavelength range. This approach could lead to precise measurements of the isomeric state's energy level, enabling tests of fundamental physics questions and potentially paving the way for a nuclear clock.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhysical Review Research·TypeCase study·DateJun 1, 2023

Breakdown spectroscopy induced by nonlinear interactions of femtosecond laser filaments and multidimensional plasma gratings

Researchers developed Plasma-grating induced breakdown spectroscopy (GIBS) and Multidimensional plasma grating induced breakdown spectroscopy (MIBS) techniques to overcome LIBS limitations. These novel methods exhibit heightened sensitivity and accuracy in detection, particularly for solution detection.

SourceUltrafast Science·JournalUltrafast Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 30, 2023

Data compression scheme facilitates measurement of blood flow to the brain

Researchers develop innovative data compression scheme to facilitate multispeckle diffuse correlation spectroscopy with high pixel resolutions, enabling non-invasive measurement of brain blood flow. The scheme uses field-programmable gate array compression to alleviate computational burdens and expand the use of SPAD cameras in biomedi...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateMay 9, 2023

Separated at last

A team of physicists and physical chemists from the University of Würzburg and the University of Ottawa has developed a new method to separate single and multiple excitations in laser spectroscopy. This breakthrough resolves a decades-old problem, enabling accurate analysis of materials and fundamental physical phenomena.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2023

New spectroscopy technique improves trace element detection in liquid

Researchers have developed a new spectroscopy technique called filament- and plasma-grating-induced breakdown spectroscopy (F-GIBS), which improves the sensitivity of trace metal detection in liquid samples. The technique uses fluid jets to analyze aqueous solutions and achieves high precision by avoiding detrimental influences of liqu...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateJan 4, 2023

Making sense of the muon’s misdemeanours

Researchers studying exotic atom muonium aim to detect deviations from the Standard Model, which could reveal new physics. By measuring energy levels with unprecedented precision, they may uncover evidence for additional particles or forces that explain the muon's misbehavior.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 25, 2022

How does radiation travel through dense plasma?

Researchers at the University of Rochester used x-ray spectroscopy to study radiation transport in dense plasmas. They found that atomic energy level changes do not follow conventional quantum mechanics theories, instead conforming to a self-consistent approach based on density-functional theory.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 17, 2022

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

Quantum light clarifies bioimaging

Researchers at Texas A&M University created a device that harnesses quantum fluctuations to enhance spectroscopy results in Brillouin microscopy, increasing image clarity and accuracy. The new source significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for better visualization of biological structures and properties.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalOptica·DateAug 20, 2022

Electrons in alcohol – concerted molecule and charge motions at terahertz frequencies

Researchers observed a novel type of excitation, called a polaron, where collective oscillations of the electron and its screening cloud arise at terahertz frequencies. These oscillations persist for tens of picoseconds and are impulsively triggered by ultrafast electron localization.

Rapid spin-flip in colloidal nanocrystals to generate molecular triplets

A team of scientists developed a method to generate molecular triplets in colloidal nanocrystals through rapid spin-flip, which can be used for photochemical applications such as photon upconversion and singlet oxygen generation. The study demonstrates the potential of solution-processed semiconductor materials for new fields.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalChem·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 24, 2022

Proton transfer between titania surface and dye observed for photocatalysis evaluation

A team of researchers at Shinshu University has successfully observed proton transfer between the titania surface and a dye molecule during UV light irradiation. The study used time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to measure the formation of basic hydroxyl groups on the titania surface, which accepts protons from the dye.

SourceShinshu University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 5, 2021

Lung model proves viability of spectroscopy technique

A lung model mimicking complex anatomy has enabled the assessment of respiratory volumes using a gas-in-scattering-media absorption spectroscopy (GASMAS) technique. The study demonstrates the feasibility of GASMAS to sense changes in gas volume in a controlled environment, paving the way for potential clinical applications.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2021

Light-induced shape shifting of MXenes

Researchers at the University of Konstanz have discovered that MXenes can be switched repeatedly between a flat and a rippled shape by applying femtosecond laser pulses. This discovery could lead to improved energy storage capacity, enhanced catalytic or antibiotic activity, and new applications in sensing and active plasmonic devices.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalACS Nano·DateSep 1, 2021

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors: Next big thing in blood flow measurement

Researchers developed a novel detector system using superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to measure cerebral blood flow. The SNSPD-DCS system showed significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio compared to conventional SPAD-based DCS, allowing for clearer detection of arterial pulses.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalNeurophotonics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2021

Uniquely sharp X-ray view

For the first time, scientists have successfully used transient grating spectroscopy with ultrafast X-rays to explore material properties at the atomic level. This method allows for the observation of individual atoms and selective measurement of specific chemical elements in a mixture of substances.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 22, 2021

Not all cats are grey in the dark!

Researchers Nathalie Picque and Theodor Hänsch developed dual-comb spectroscopy to detect spectral patterns even in extremely low light conditions. This technique enabled the recording of broad spectra with over 100,000 colors in near complete darkness.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2020

MHz, multi-beams coherent XUV source by intracavity high-order harmonic generation

Researchers have created a novel ultrafast coherent light source in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength region with multi-MHz range repetition rates. The system utilizes intracavity high-order harmonic generation and achieves a repetition rate of 3 MHz, suitable for applications such as ultrafast XUV spectroscopy.

Researchers present concept for a new technique to study superheavy elements

The new LRC approach enables the investigation of superheavy elements with extreme sensitivity, even at low production quantities. By combining laser spectroscopy and ion mobility spectrometry, researchers can unveil element-specific emission spectra, providing valuable insights into the electronic structure of these exotic atoms.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 13, 2020

Ultrasonic technique discloses the identity of graphite

Graphite exhibits stronger interplanar bond strength than previously believed, with an elastic constant of nearly 50 GPa, due to a short-range correlation effect selectively strengthening the potential energy surface. This discovery was made using a new ultrasonic measurement technique on defect-free monocrystalline graphite.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysical Review Materials·DateMay 21, 2020

Few-cycle pulses break the 300 W barrier

A team of researchers has generated multi-millijoule 3-cycle pulses at an unprecedented average power level of 318 W, paving the way for industrial applications. The achievement marks a significant milestone in few-cycle laser technology and opens up new possibilities for highly parallelized material processing.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalOptica·DateNov 13, 2019