Hybrid quantum computers could finally get to grips with light and matter
Many of nature's most important processes depend on how particles of matter interact with light and other force-carrying particles. So far, however, it has proven difficult for co…
Quantum 'birthmarks' hold lasting traces of a system's past
Some classical physical systems can explore many configurations over time until their long-term behavior no longer reveals their starting conditions. The sampling of available con…
Ultraviolet laser pulses engineer diamond defects selectively, leaving quantum qubits intact
When we think about a diamond, we often think about a material whose value comes from its perfection. In my research, however, I am interested in something almost opposite: the ti…
New stability rules distinguish quantum phases of matter that an older method wrongly groups together
Most of us recognize basic phases of matter and their properties: solids maintain their shape, liquids flow freely with constant volume, and gases expand to fill their container. …
New catalyst enables lower-temperature methane conversion with sustained performance
Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is a chemical reaction that directly converts methane and oxygen, the main components of natural gas, into higher-value hydrocarbons such as et…
Hybrid quantum computer observes foundational quantum effect in a new setting
Physicists in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford have used a hybrid quantum computer, made up of qubits and quantum oscillators, to observe the Aharonov–Bohm ef…
Three quantum-inspired cores leave opposite fingerprints on the ringing of black holes
Every black hole hides a question at its center. Einstein's theory predicts that whatever falls in is crushed into a singularity, a point of infinite density where the theory itse…
'Mix-and-match' material's properties can be tuned by changing its metallic 'recipe'
Scientists have created a new family of materials whose behavior can be tuned by changing their metallic "recipe"—opening new possibilities for uses including gas storage and sens…
AI reveals how coating thickness changes the link between surface roughness and pitting resistance
Localized pitting corrosion can cause sudden failure in aluminum components even when overall corrosion rates are low. Steam coating offers a water-vapor-based route to protective…
Quantum chip holds multiple photons at once, opening path to scalable memory
For highly fragile quantum information systems, the ability to store quantum information is vital—but also challenging. Quantum information is transported in particles of light ca…
Light-responsive inks could make tattoos visible on demand, but safety remains unproven
A team of engineers has designed a new line of multicolored tattoo inks that switch on and off with different kinds of light. Described in a study published in Matter & Light, the…
Light reads electron spins inside porous crystals, opening path to quantum chemical sensors
University of Glasgow researchers are part of an international collaboration that could lead to a new generation of quantum sensors. The team, which included researchers from the …
Physics model reveals fundamental trade-off between prediction and energy efficiency in intelligent systems
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives, from digital assistants to robots that respond to their surroundings. Each of these capabilities is ba…
Superconducting circuit links smaller photon groups into larger entangled states
Quantum computers, computer systems that leverage the laws of quantum mechanics, store and process information using qubits (i.e., quantum bits). In many quantum computers, qubits…
'Molecular movie' finally reveals how penicillin is made
Researchers from the University of Oxford and international collaborators have revealed previously unseen rapid chemical stages in the formation of β-lactam antibiotics like penic…
Chemists uncover the true active surface of nickel catalysts
Nickel is a promising, cost-effective and robust catalyst for alkaline water electrolysis—a key technology for the climate-neutral production of hydrogen. However, the actual stru…
Lensless imaging method enables long-term monitoring of living cells without staining
In a study led by Tampere University, researchers have developed a new lensless imaging method that produces precise quantitative data on living cells from a single image. The com…
Real-time oxygen measurements expose hidden losses in solar water splitting
A new technique developed at Imperial College London measures oxygen production in real time, revealing hidden losses in solar water splitting. The researchers found that electric…
Nonchaotic model reveals how predictability can emerge from seemingly unpredictable dynamics
Predicting a system's final outcome from its initial state is the ultimate goal for many physicists. In certain complex systems, however, this goal is thwarted by chaos, where eve…
How researchers tell different quantum excitations apart in individual molecules
Molecules can be placed in a wide variety of quantum states. How can these states be distinguished in measurements when theoretical models are unreliable? Which excitation process…
Layered semiconductor unlocks magnetic control of light emitted by quantum condensates
Quantum technologies are considered key technologies of the future. However, research in this field requires not only scientific expertise but sometimes also highly specialized la…
Gravity and light reveal how liquids turn into thin fibers
From spiders spinning their webs to the manufacturing of textiles, the formation of fibers from liquids plays an important role in both nature and industry. Yet accurately predict…
Liquid-crystal-like magnetism explains puzzling properties in a rare-earth compound
In some materials, physical properties don't emerge from their individual particles, but from the collective behavior of their quantum spins. Now, researchers led by Pengcheng Dai…
Light-driven method puts notoriously reactive hydrogen atoms to work for chemical synthesis
Hydrogen is the simplest element in the periodic table, consisting of just one proton and one electron. In chemistry, however, the smallest of atoms is anything but simple. First …