Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Iridium memories

Researchers incorporated nanocrystals of iridium into flash memory designs, demonstrating excellent memory properties and thermal stability. Iridium's high work function and melting point make it an attractive option for improving nonvolatile memory with enhanced trapping ability.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 14, 2010

Nano-diamond qubits and photonic crystals

Researchers have successfully fabricated a hybrid system using nano-diamonds and photonic crystals, paving the way for multi-qubit systems on a single chip. This achievement brings the dream of a quantum computer closer to reality, with potential applications in various fields of science and engineering.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateNov 30, 2010

Getting bubbles out of fuel pumps

A team of researchers has developed a way to prevent cavitation damage in jet fuel pumps, essential components in modern aircraft. The study provides realistic data for computer models, enabling designers to create lighter, more efficient, and longer-lasting pumps.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateNov 16, 2010

Foucault, revisited

Researchers from Argentina have successfully created a new type of Foucault pendulum that is smaller and more efficient than traditional devices. The new pendulums, which are designed to be compact enough to fit in a lobby or classroom, use advanced techniques to reduce the elliptical drift of the pendulum and improve precision.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateNov 9, 2010

Tiny rulers to measure nanoscale structures

Physicists at China's Wuhan University discovered a new way to measure absolute distances and distance changes using a plasmon ruler. By combining nanospheres with a nanorod dimer, they found that the resonance wavelength shift increases linearly with the increasing of a nanosphere's interparticle separations.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateAug 31, 2010

Major hurdle cleared for organic solar cells

Researchers have discovered a method to improve the performance of organic solar cells by modifying an interface between an organic polymer and an inorganic oxide layer. This breakthrough could significantly enhance the industry's prospects for producing efficient and environmentally friendly electricity.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateAug 17, 2010

Where do the drugs go?

A new theoretical model accurately predicts the hydration free energy of a wide variety of organic compounds, enabling accurate prediction of compound movement in complex environments. The model has been developed using computational hydration thermodynamics and chemo-informatic techniques, requiring only 10-20 seconds on a PC.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 27, 2010

New method developed for synchronizing clocks

Researchers have developed a new method to accurately synchronize clocks by leveraging both GPS and the Internet. This technique uses a common-view disciplined oscillator (CVDO) to set clocks within 10 nanoseconds of a reference clock, providing unparalleled accuracy in complex systems such as computers, telecommunications, and more.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalReview of Scientific Instruments·DateJul 20, 2010

Rainbow trapping in light pulses

Researchers at Nanjing University develop a new method to trap a wide spectrum of light, including visible radiation, using a self-similar-structured dielectric waveguide. This breakthrough has potential applications in on-chip spectroscopy, photon processing, and quantum computing.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJul 13, 2010

A simple quantum dynamics problem?

Scientists have observed the first real-time measurements of a rare gas atom and halogen molecule dissociation. The study found that adding vibrational energy to the bromine-stretching vibration led to rapid direct dissociation, while higher excitation resulted in a more complex mechanism.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 13, 2010

Fully epitaxial microcavities

Researchers introduced quantum dots into fully epitaxial nitride laser structures, eliminating the need for hybrid systems. This advancement paves the way to further optimization of lasers and single photon emitters in the visible spectrum region.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 16, 2010

The secret life of water at very low temperatures

University of Utah chemists confirm the coexistence of ice and liquid water after crystallization at very low temperatures. They found that rapid ice crystallization makes it difficult to follow the process, but computer simulations revealed a critical temperature zone that may be important for understanding cloud formations.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 16, 2010