Topics: Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Science, Modern Physics, Superconductors It’s one of the most stubborn open questions of modern physics: What’s the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity? All superconductors need some way of binding their electrons, which are fermions, into quasiparticles called Cooper pairs, which act as bosons. The low-temperature superconductivity in metals is well describedContinue reading “Superconductivity and Electron Pairs…”
Category Archives: Materials Science
Nano and Quantum…
Topics: Materials Science, Nanomaterials, Phonons, Quantum Computers, Quantum Mechanics, Superconductors Argonne researchers have developed a cutting-edge technique to study atomic vibrations near material interfaces, opening doors to new quantum applications in computing and sensing. Scientists are racing to develop new materials for quantum technologies in computing and sensing for ultraprecise measurements. For these future technologiesContinue reading “Nano and Quantum…”
Plasmons and Diamonds…
Topics: Chemistry, Materials Science, Plasmons, Quantum Mechanics, Semiconductor Technology Researchers report plasmons in boron-doped diamond; quantum applicationsDiamond, often celebrated for its unmatched hardness and transparency, has emerged as an exceptional material for high-power electronics and next-generation quantum optics. Diamond can be engineered to be as electrically conductive as a metal, by introducing impurities like theContinue reading “Plasmons and Diamonds…”
Defeat of the Boltzmann Tyranny…
A finished device: Optical microscope image of the transistor (left) and an ultra-scaled vertical nanowire (right). (Courtesy: Y Shao) Topics: Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Nanoengineering, Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology, Semiconductor Technology A new transistor made from semiconducting vertical nanowires of gallium antimonide (GaSb) and indium arsenide (InAs) could rival today’s best silicon-based devices. The new transistors areContinue reading “Defeat of the Boltzmann Tyranny…”
Lasers and Plasma…
A researcher holds the scaffolding with tiny copper foils attached. These copper pieces will be struck with lasers, heating them to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit. Credit: Hiroshi Sawada Topics: Applied Physics, Lasers, Materials Science, Plasma, Radiation, Thermodynamics For the first time, researchers monitor the heat progression in laser-created plasma that occurs in only a fewContinue reading “Lasers and Plasma…”
Running on Air…
Running on air Close-up of the air-powered sensing device. (Courtesy: William Grover/UCR) Topics: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Microfluidics A device containing a pneumatic logic circuit made from 21 microfluidic valves could be used as a new type of air-powered computer that does not require any electronic components. The device could help make aContinue reading “Running on Air…”
Nano Over Nukes…
Heat trap The proposed nanoparticle warming method. (Courtesy: Aaron M. Geller, Northwestern Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics) Topics: Aerogels, Exoplanets, Mars, Materials Science, Nanomaterials, NASA, Planetary Science. Thermodynamics Suffice it to say, Mr. Musk’s nuking the Martian planet idea is impractical, and a nonstarter, but to show that he’s mature about it,Continue reading “Nano Over Nukes…”
Twist in Storage…
Power with a twist: Twisted ropes made from single-walled carbon nanotubes could store enough energy to power sensors within the human body while avoiding the chemical hazards associated with batteries. (Courtesy: Shigenori UTSUMI) Topics: Applied Physics, Battery, Carbon Nanotubes, Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanoengineering Mechanical watches and clockwork toys might seem like relics of a bygoneContinue reading “Twist in Storage…”
Goldene…
Researchers have synthesized sheets of gold that are one atom thick. Credit: imaginima/Getty Topics: Graphene, Materials Science, Nanoengineering, Nanomaterials, Solid-State Physics It is the world’s thinnest gold leaf: a gossamer sheet of gold just one atom thick. Researchers have synthesized1 the long-sought material, known as goldene, which is expected to capture light in ways that couldContinue reading “Goldene…”
When Falsification Has Lease…
Topics: Applied Physics, Civics, Materials Science, Solid-State Physics, Superconductors I’m a person who will get Nature on my home email, my previous graduate school email (that’s active because it’s also on my phone), and my work email. Because it said “physics,” I was primed to read it. What I read made me clasp my handsContinue reading “When Falsification Has Lease…”
Physics and Nano 