Category Archives: Quantum Physics
Quantum Field theory breakthrough: First observation of vacuum decay bubbles – Space Daily
Quantum Field theory breakthrough: First observation of vacuum decay bubblesby Sophie JenkinsLondon, UK (SPX) Jan 23, 2024In a significant development for quantum field theory, an international team of researchers, with theoretical support from Newcastle University, has observed a phenomenon known as 'false vacuum decay' for the first time. This experimental milestone, conducted in Italy and involving Newcastle scientists, offers vital insights into a process thought to be central to the creation of the universe.
Vacuum decay in quantum field theory describes a transition from a less stable state to a true stable state, typically through the creation of localized bubbles. Despite robust theoretical predictions about the frequency of this bubble formation, experimental evidence has remained elusive until now. This research, recently published in Nature Physics, demonstrates the formation of these bubbles in a controlled atomic environment, marking a crucial step in understanding quantum systems and their implications.
The experiment hinges on the use of a supercooled gas, chilled to a temperature less than a microkelvin, or one millionth of a degree, from absolute zero. In this extreme environment, researchers observed bubbles emerging as the vacuum decayed. Professor Ian Moss and Dr. Tom Billam from Newcastle University provided conclusive evidence that these bubbles result from thermally activated vacuum decay.
Professor Moss, specializing in Theoretical Cosmology, emphasized the significance of this discovery: "Vacuum decay is thought to play a central role in the creation of space, time, and matter in the Big Bang, but until now there has been no experimental test." This observation thus not only adds a new dimension to our understanding of quantum field theory but also potentially sheds light on the events that shaped the early universe.
Dr. Tom Billam, a Senior Lecturer in Applied Maths and Quantum, highlighted the broader implications of this research. "Using the power of ultracold atom experiments to simulate analogs of quantum physics in other systems - in this case, the early universe itself - is a very exciting area of research at the moment," he said. This reflects a growing trend in physics where experiments are increasingly able to simulate conditions analogous to those found in cosmological phenomena.
The research also opens new avenues for understanding ferromagnetic quantum phase transitions. These transitions are critical to our comprehension of the early universe and the fundamental forces that govern it. The experiment's success in demonstrating vacuum decay adds a new layer of understanding to this complex puzzle.
However, this groundbreaking experiment is just the beginning. The ultimate goal is to observe vacuum decay at absolute zero, where the process would be driven purely by quantum vacuum fluctuations. This endeavor is part of a national collaboration, QSimFP, involving an upcoming experiment in Cambridge, supported by Newcastle University.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the laboratory. In particle physics, for instance, vacuum decay of the Higgs boson - a particle integral to understanding mass - could dramatically alter the laws of physics. Such a scenario has been described as the 'ultimate ecological catastrophe,' illustrating the profound impact that vacuum decay could have on our understanding of the universe.
Research Report:False vacuum decay via bubble formation in ferromagnetic superfluids
Related LinksNewcastle UniversityUnderstanding Time and Space
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Quantum Field theory breakthrough: First observation of vacuum decay bubbles - Space Daily
The Theory That Consciousness Is a Quantum System Gains Support – Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence
At New Scientist last week, science writer and editor George Musser talked about the way a theory of consciousness that sees the brain as a quantum system is now under reluctant consideration. Musser, author of Putting Ourselves Back in the Equation (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023) went to visit anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff, who with theoretical physicist Roger Penrose advances the quantum-based Orch Or Theory (orchestrated objective reduction of the quantum state).
Do quantum phenomena create conscious experience?
Musser explains the basic idea of the Orch Or Theory (OOT), that conscious experience arises from quantum phenomena in the brain. The theory gained little traction in the past because it was difficult to test but Musser thinks that the use of anesthetics on brain organoids (lumps of brain tissue grown in a medium), along with other new methods may enable the theory to be tested:
Such ideas have existed, in various guises, on the fringes of mainstream consciousness research for decades. They have never come in from the cold because, as their critics argue, there is no solid experimental evidence that quantum effects occur in the brain, never mind a clear idea of how they would give rise to consciousness.
What, more specifically, is the Orch Or theory?
In short, it says that consciousness arises when gravitational instabilities in the fundamental structure of space-time collapse quantum wave functions in tiny structures called microtubules that are found inside neurons and, in fact, in all complex cells.
In quantum theory, a particle does not really exist as a tiny bit of matter located somewhere but rather as a cloud of probabilities. If observed, it collapses into the state in which it was observed. Penrose has postulated that each time a quantum wave function collapses in this way in the brain, it gives rise to a moment of conscious experience.
Hameroff has been studying proteins known as tubulins inside the microtubules of neurons. He postulates that microtubules inside neurons could be exploiting quantum effects, somehow translating gravitationally induced wave function collapse into consciousness, as Penrose had suggested. Thus was born a collaboration, though their seminal 1996 paper failed to gain much traction.
Of course, the Nineties was the decade of the Astonishing Hypothesis, (Scribner, 1994), wherein Nobel laureate Francis Crick (19162004) proclaimed, Youre nothing but a pack of neurons. In those days, many thought that materialism had already won and no more sophisticated analysis was needed.
Quantum processing in bird brains
Musser tells us, recent research suggests that some kind of quantum processing does occur in the brain. One suggested example is the way a birds internal compass includes radicals with an odd, unpaired electron:
When these radicals eventually react, the outcome will depend on the strength and orientation of the magnetic field. The thinking is that the bird is sensitive to this in a way that allows it to tell north from south. The process is highly quantum as the radical pair electrons are entangled, which means that they act as a single quantum object, even though they are some distance apart.
If thats correct, we already know of at least one quantum process in a nervous system. Linking that up to human consciousness is still a stretch but, he says, scientists are more willing now to at least consider it.
And other research?
Musser seems to be on to something. In 2022, for example, researchers at Trinity College in Dublin did experiments that suggest our brains do quantum computation. They think that their finding may help solve a mystery:
Quantum brain processes could explain why we can still outperform supercomputers when it comes to unforeseen circumstances, decision making, or learning something new. Our experiments, performed only 50 meters away from the lecture theater where Schrdinger presented his famous thoughts about life, may shed light on the mysteries of biology, and on consciousness which scientifically is even harder to grasp.
Likewise, Dorje C. Brody, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Surrey, hopes that quantum processes can shed light on human behavior. For example, the order in which questions are asked is important in quantum physics but not in classical physics. But in that respect, the human mind often behaves more in a quantum way, he says:
For example, in a study published 20 years ago about the effects that question order has on respondents answers, subjects were asked whether they thought the previous US president, Bill Clinton, was honest. They were then asked if his vice president, Al Gore, seemed honest.
When the questions were delivered in this order, a respective 50% and 60% of respondents answered that they were honest. But when the researchers asked respondents about Gore first and then Clinton, a respective 68% and 60% responded that they were honest.
He sees the human response as more like a quantum system.
How trying to understand human consciousness or behavior via quantum processes will work out is anyones guess but heres a prediction: It wont help the cause of materialism much.
You may also wish to read: Why many researchers now see the brain as a quantum system. The hypothesis is that the brain relies on quantum physics, not classical physics, to power thinking processes. Quantum processes are helpful to know about when we hear a gimcrack new theory that dismisses or explains away consciousness. We know it cant be that simple.
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Study offers new insights into understanding and controlling tunneling dynamics in complex molecules – Phys.org
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Tunneling is one of most fundamental processes in quantum mechanics, where the wave packet could traverse a classically insurmountable energy barrier with a certain probability.
On the atomic scale, tunneling effects play an important role in molecular biology, such as accelerating enzyme catalysis, prompting spontaneous mutations in DNA and triggering olfactory signaling cascades.
Photoelectron tunneling is a key process in light-induced chemical reactions, charge and energy transfer and radiation emission. The size of optoelectronic chips and other devices has been close to the sub-nanometer atomic scale, and the quantum tunneling effects between different channels would be significantly enhanced.
The real-time imaging of electron tunneling dynamics in complex molecules has important scientific significance for promoting the development of tunneling transistors and ultrafast optoelectronic devices. The effect of neighboring atom on electron tunneling dynamics in complex molecules is one of the key scientific issues in the fields of quantum physics, quantum chemistry, nanoelectronics, etc.
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In a paper published in Light: Science & Applications, a team of scientists from Hainan University and East China Normal University designed a van der Waals complex Ar-Kr+ as a prototype system with an internuclear distance of 0.39 nm to track the electron tunneling via the neighboring atom in the system of sub-nanometer scale.
The intrinsic electron localization of the highest occupied molecular orbital of Ar-Kr gives a preference of electron removal from Kr site in the first ionization step.
The site assisted electron hole in Ar-Kr+ guarantees that the second electron is mainly removed from the Ar atom in the second ionization step, where the electron may straightly tunnel to continuum from the Ar atom or alternatively via the neighboring Kr+ ionic core.
In combination with the improved Coulomb-corrected strong-field approximation (ICCSFA) method developed by the team, which is able to take into account the Coulomb interaction under the potential during tunneling, and by monitoring the photoelectron transverse momentum distribution to track the tunneling dynamics, it was discovered that there are two effects of strong capture and weak capture of tunneling electrons by neighboring atom.
This work successfully reveals the critical role of neighboring atom in electron tunneling in sub-nanometer complex systems. This discovery provides a new way to deeply understand the key role of the Coulomb effect under the potential barrier in the electron tunneling dynamics, solid high harmonics generation, and lays a solid research foundation for probing and controlling the tunneling dynamics of complex biomolecules.
More information: Ming Zhu et al, Tunnelling of electrons via the neighboring atom, Light: Science & Applications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41377-023-01373-2
Journal information: Light: Science & Applications
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W&Ms Irina Novikova Named Fellow of the American Physical Society – WYDaily
Novikova stands in front of the new atom-based electric field sensor for plasmas and charge particles. Courtesy photo.
WILLIAMSBURG Irina Novikova, a professor in William & Marys Department of Physics, has been named a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).
Founded in 1899, the APS is a nonprofit professional organization of approximately 53,000 physicists from academia, industry and national laboratories. Elevation to fellowship is in recognition of exceptional contributions to the field of physics, according to a report in W&M News.
Novikova is the eighth current member of the W&M physics department to become an APS Fellow.
Irina Novikova and her research group are a cornerstone of atomic and laser physics, and more broadly quantum information science, at William & Mary, saidSeth Aubin, associate professor of physics. She has developed an extensive research program that uses optically-induced quantum coherence of atomic states for quantum memory, precision magnetometry and squeezed light.
Novikova explained to W&M News that her main area of expertise is using light to manipulate quantum states of atoms and vice versa. Atoms are the building blocks of all matter, but they are also tiny quantum systems with enormous potential.
The beauty is that atoms of the same element are truly identical, and theyre quantum by nature, said Novikova. Plus, if one knows quantum mechanics, atoms are fairly easy to understand. That makes them beautiful playgrounds for figuring out how to do new things.
One of Novikovas long-term projects is magnetometry, and she explained that atoms change their energies slightly when put in a magnetic field, and the amount of that change depends on their quantum state.
Many atoms are like little magnets themselves, said Novikova. So in a magnetic field, they will point in one direction or another direction. Depending on the direction, the energy shift will be a little different. What is most exciting is that now we have lasers to accurately measure these tiny changes, and thus measure the magnetic field.
The result is a highly precise measurement system with a wide range of uses, W&M News reports, and one example is cardiac diagnosis. Currently, electrocardiograms (EKGs) are the main diagnostic tools for cardiologists.
Novikova explained that an EKG is an indirect measurement of cardiac activity, as it measures changes that take place within the skin. Doctors then determine how those skin changes reflect whats going on within the heart. Magnetometry, on the other hand, is a direct measurement of the actual electric currents that control the heart.
With magnetometry, doctors can see exactly whats going on inside the heart, said Novikova, And its measured very precisely.
Magnetometrys measurement capabilities can be applied to improve efficiency in a wide variety of other fields, including satellite technology and navigation, and its also highly effective in the detection of things like oil reserves and submarines, according to the report.
Quantum science is taking off in so many different directions, said Novikova. Its great to see how something youve been working on for so long that used to be considered a bit exotic and weird is now being taken seriously. Were currently talking about which devices we can build and how we can manufacture and mass-produce them. Its really exciting to visualize.
Novikova regularly communicates and collaborates with researchers from other disciplines and institutions, Aubin said. Irina has employed her strong leadership skills to build several successful multidisciplinary and multi-institution collaborations to undertake ambitious science projects with academic, federal and industry research partners. Her leadership activities also extend to organizing national conferences and serving as an editor for journals.
Novikova also gives public talks and attends science education shows at local elementary and middle schools to help the general public gain more knowledge of the basics of quantum research and its applications.
She has also ledPhysicsFest, the physics departments yearly open house, since its inception. In addition to lectures and demonstrations, the event provides an opportunity for members of the general public to tour physics labs and talk to scientists about their research, according to W&M News.
I think quantum physics has a reputation of being really weird, said Novikova. And yes, it is completely counterintuitive, but applied quantum science is really changing what we can do with current technology. I think that a wider understanding of its basic principles and applications will help to expand new possibilities in other fields. Its a really exciting area of physics to become familiar with right now.
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W&Ms Irina Novikova Named Fellow of the American Physical Society - WYDaily
Beyond the Blink: Probing Quantum Materials at Attosecond Speeds – SciTechDaily
By Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI) January 24, 2024
Metal-Insulator phase transition triggered in strongly correlated system by a few-femtosecond pulse (orange curve) and resulting in a dramatic change of density of states, occurs within less than 1 femtosecond. Credit: MBI: Olga Smirnova / Universitt Hamburg: Alexander Lichtenstein
Researchers have developed a new spectroscopy method to study ultrafast processes in strongly correlated materials, achieving sub-femtosecond resolution.
An international team of researchers from the European XFEL together with colleagues from the Max Born Institute in Berlin, the Universities of Berlin and Hamburg, The University of Tokyo, the Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the Dutch Radboud University, Imperial College London, and Hamburg Center for Ultrafast Imaging, have presented new ideas for ultrafast multi-dimensional spectroscopy of strongly correlated solids. This work will be published today (January 24) in Nature Photonics.
Strongly correlated solids are complex and fascinating quantum systems in which new electronic states often emerge, especially when they interact with light, says Alexander Lichtenstein from Hamburg University and Eu-XFEL. Strongly correlated materials, which include high-temperature superconductors, certain types of magnetic materials, and twisted quantum materials among others, both challenge our fundamental understanding of the microcosm and offer opportunities for many exciting applications ranging from materials science to information processing to medicine: for example, superconductors are used by MRI scanners.
This is why understanding the hierarchy and the interplay of the diverse electronic states arising in strongly correlated materials is very important. At the same time, it challenges our experimental and theoretical tools, because transformations between these states are often associated with phase transitions. Phase transitions are transformations that do not develop smoothly from one stage to the next but may occur suddenly and quickly, in particular when the material is interacting with light.
What are the pathways of charge and energy flow during such a transition? How quickly does it occur? Can light be used to control it and to sculpt the electron correlations? Can the light bring the material into a state that the material wouldnt find itself in under the usual circumstances? These are the types of questions that can be addressed with powerful and sensitive devices like X-ray lasers such as the European XFEL in Schenefeld near Hamburg, and with the modern optical tools of attosecond science (1 attosecond = 10-18 second or the billionth part of a billionth second. In one attosecond, light travels less than a millionth of a millimeter).
In their work, the international team now presents a completely new approach that makes it possible to monitor and decipher the ultrafast charge motion triggered by short laser pulse illuminating a strongly correlated system. They have developed a variant of ultrafast multi-dimensional spectroscopy, taking advantage of the attosecond control of how multiple colors of light add to form an ultrashort laser pulse. The sub-cycle temporal resolution offered by this spectroscopy shows the complex interplay between the different electronic configurations and demonstrates that a phase transition from a metallic state to an insulating state can take place within less than a femtosecond i.e. in less than one quadrillionth of a second.
Our results open up a way of investigating and specifically influencing ultrafast processes in strongly correlated materials that goes beyond previous methods, says Olga Smirnova from the Max Born Institute and Berlin TU, awardee of the Mildred Dresselhaus prize of the Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, we have thus developed a key tool for accessing new ultrafast phenomena in correlated solids.
Reference: Sub-cycle multidimensional spectroscopy of strongly correlated materials by V. N. Valmispild, E. Gorelov, M. Eckstein, A. I. Lichtenstein, H. Aoki, M. I. Katsnelson, M. Yu. Ivanov and O. Smirnova, 24 January 2024, Nature Photonics.DOI: 10.1038/s41566-023-01371-1
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Beyond the Blink: Probing Quantum Materials at Attosecond Speeds - SciTechDaily
False vacuum decay: New research sheds light on the phenomenon – Tech Explorist
Metastability arises from the finite lifetime of a state when a lower-energy configuration is possible but can only be reached by tunneling through an energy barrier. This phenomenon is observed in various natural situations, such as chemical processes and electron field ionization. In classical many-body systems, metastability naturally occurs in the presence of a first-order phase transition.
The application of metastability to quantum field theory and quantum many-body systems has garnered considerable interest in statistical physics, protein folding, and cosmology. In these contexts, it is anticipated that thermal and quantum fluctuations may initiate the transition from a metastable state (false vacuum) to the ground state (true vacuum) through the probabilistic nucleation of spatially localized bubbles. Despite this theoretical progress, the experimental validation of estimating the relaxation rate of the metastable field through bubble nucleation has been a longstanding challenge.
In quantum field theory, transforming a not-so-stable state into an actual stable state is called false vacuum decay. This process involves the creation of tiny localized bubbles. While existing theoretical work can predict the frequency of bubble formation, more experimental evidence must be provided.
An international research team, including scientists from Newcastle University, has observed these bubbles forming for the first time in carefully controlled atomic systems. This experimental observation provides valuable insights into the quantum field theory dynamics of false vacuum decay.
The experimental findings are substantiated by theoretical simulations and numerical models, affirming the quantum field origin of the decay and its thermal activation. This opens up possibilities for emulating out-of-equilibrium quantum field phenomena in atomic systems.
The experiment used a supercooled gas with a temperature of less than a microkelvin (one millionth of a degree) above absolute zero. At this extremely low temperature, bubbles were observed to emerge as the vacuum decayed.
Professor Ian Moss and Dr. Tom Billam from Newcastle University conclusively demonstrated that these bubbles result from thermally activated vacuum decay. This experimental work contributes to our understanding of quantum field dynamics and provides a platform for exploring quantum phenomena in controlled atomic systems.
Ian Moss, Professor of Theoretical Cosmology at Newcastle Universitys School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics, said:Vacuum decay is thought to play a central role in the creation of space, time, and matter in the Big Bang, but until now, there has been no experimental test. In particle physics, vacuum decay of the Higgs boson would alter the laws of physics, producing what has been described as the `ultimate ecological catastrophe.'
Dr Tom Billam, Senior Lecturer in Applied Maths/Quantum, added:Using the power of ultracold atom experiments to simulate analogs of quantum physics in other systems in this case, the early universe itself is a fascinating area of research at the moment.
The research not only provides insights into the dynamics of quantum field phenomena but also opens up new avenues for understanding the early universe and ferromagnetic quantum phase transitions.
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False vacuum decay: New research sheds light on the phenomenon - Tech Explorist
Breakthrough Method Opens New Window to the Quantum World – SciTechDaily
Several innovations in the new sample rod including the sample holder enable temperature measurements with the highest precision. Credit: D. Kojda/HZB
Researchers at HZB have created an innovative technique to precisely measure minuscule temperature variations as small as 100 microkelvin in the thermal Hall effect, overcoming previous limitations caused by thermal noise. By applying this technique to terbium titanate, the team showcased its effectiveness in producing consistent and dependable outcomes. This advancement in measuring the thermal Hall effect sheds light on the behavior of coherent multi-particle states in quantum materials, particularly their interactions with lattice vibrations, known as phonons.
The laws of quantum physics apply to all materials. However, in so-called quantum materials, these laws give rise to particularly unusual properties. For example, magnetic fields or changes in temperature can cause excitations, collective states, or quasiparticles that are accompanied by phase transitions to exotic states. This can be utilised in a variety of ways, provided it can be understood, managed, and controlled: For example, in future information technologies that can store or process data with minimal energy requirements.
The thermal Hall effect (THE) plays a key role in identifying exotic states in condensed matter. The effect is based on tiny transverse temperature differences that occur when a thermal current is passed through a sample and a perpendicular magnetic field is applied (see Figure 2). In particular, the quantitative measurement of the thermal Hall effect allows us to separate the exotic excitations from conventional behavior.
The thermal Hall effect results in a very small transverse temperature difference, if a longitudinal temperature difference is applied. The magnetic field penetrates the sample vertically. Credit: D. Kojda/HZB
The thermal Hall effect is observed in a variety of materials, including spin liquids, spin ice, parent phases of high-temperature superconductors, and materials with strongly polar properties. However, the thermal differences that occur perpendicular to the temperature gradient in the sample are extremely small: in typical millimeter-sized samples, they are in the range of microkelvins to millikelvins. Until now, it has been difficult to detect these heat differences experimentally because the heat introduced by the measurement electronics and sensors masks the effect.
The team led by PD Dr. Klaus Habicht has now carried out pioneering work. Together with specialists from the HZB sample environment, they have developed a novel sample rod with a modular structure that can be inserted into various cryomagnets. The sample head measures the thermal Hall effect using capacitive thermometry. This takes advantage of the temperature dependence of the capacitance of specially manufactured miniature capacitors. With this setup, the experts have succeeded in significantly reducing heat transfer through sensors and electronics, and in attenuating interference signals and noise with several innovations. To validate the measurement method, they analyzed a sample of terbium titanate, whose thermal conductivity in different crystal directions under a magnetic field is well known. The measured data were in excellent agreement with the literature.
The ability to resolve temperature differences in the sub-millikelvin range fascinates me greatly and is a key to studying quantum materials in more detail, says first author Dr. Danny Kojda. We have now jointly developed a sophisticated experimental design, clear measurement protocols and precise analysis procedures that allow high-resolution and reproducible measurements. Department head Klaus Habicht adds: Our work also provides information on how to further improve the resolution in future instruments designed for low sample temperatures. I would like to thank everyone involved, especially the sample environment team. I hope that the experimental setup will be firmly integrated into the HZB infrastructure and that the proposed upgrades will be implemented.
Habichts group will now use measurements of the thermal Hall effect to investigate the topological properties of lattice vibrations or phonons in quantum materials. The microscopic mechanisms and the physics of the scattering processes for the thermal Hall effect in ionic crystals are far from being fully understood. The exciting question is why electrically neutral quasiparticles in non-magnetic insulators are nevertheless deflected in the magnetic field, says Habicht. With the new instrument, the team has now created the prerequisites to answer this question.
Reference: Advancing the precision of thermal Hall measurements for novel materials research by Danny Kojda, Ida Sigusch, Bastian Klemke, Sebastian Gerischer, Klaus Kiefer, Katharina Fritsch, Christo Guguschev and Klaus Habicht, 22 December 2023, Materials & Design.DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2023.112595
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Breakthrough Method Opens New Window to the Quantum World - SciTechDaily
Can We Use Graphene To Build Nanoscale Power Plants? – AZoNano
Twelve years ago, Mickael Perrin began his scientific career with no idea that he would be working in the field of quantum electronics, which would only become popular a few years later.
At the time, physicists were just starting to talk about the potential of quantum technologies and quantum computers. Today there are dozens of start-ups in this area, and governments and companies are investing billions in developing the technology further. We are now seeing the first applications in computer science, cryptography, communications and sensors.
Mickael Perrin, Assistant Professor, ETH Zurich
Another area of application being made possible by Perrins research is the creation of electricity with nearly no energy loss through quantum phenomena. The 36-year-old expert blends thermodynamics and quantum mechanics, two traditionally distinct branches of physics, to accomplish this.
Due to the high caliber of Perrins work and its potential for future applications, he has been recognized with two awards in the last year: the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) awarded him an Eccellenza Professorial Fellowship in addition to one of the highly coveted ERC Starting Grants for young researchers. Currently, Perrin works as an Assistant Professor of Quantum Electronics at ETH Zurich and heads a research group of nine people at Empa.
According to Perrin, he never thought of himself as naturally gifted in mathematics.
Perrin noted, It was mainly curiosity that pushed me in the direction of physics. I wanted to gain a better understanding of how the world around us works, and physics offers excellent tools for doing just that.
In 2005, he enrolled at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) to pursue an applied physics degree, having completed his high school education in Amsterdam. Perrins first focus was on practical applications rather than theory.
Perrin originally fell in love with the fascination of creating micro and nanoscale devices while studying under the renowned quantum electronics pioneer Herre van der Zant. He quickly realized the countless opportunities that molecular electronics offered since circuits can be utilized as transistors, diodes, or sensors and have entirely varied properties depending on the molecules and materials chosen.
Perrin studied for his Ph.D. at TU Delft for a long period, spending much of his time in the nanolab cleanroom, always covered in a white full-body overall to keep dust and hairs from contaminating the tiny electronics. The technical infrastructure needed to construct machines a few nanometers in sizeroughly 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hairwas made possible by the cleanroom.
As a general rule, the smaller the structure you want to build, the bigger and more expensive the machine you will need to do so, Perrin stated.
For example, lithography machines are used to form intricate mini-circuits on microchips.
"Nanofabrication and experimental physics require a lot of creativity and patience, because something nearly always goes wrong. Yet it is the strange and unexpected results that often turn out to be the most exciting, Perrin added.
A year after earning his Ph.D., Perrin was hired by Empa to work in the lab of Michel Calame, a specialist in incorporating quantum materials into nanotechnology. Even then, Perrin, a dual citizen of France and Switzerland, has resided in Dbendorf alongside his girlfriend and their two kids.
Perrin added, Switzerland was a good choice for me for several reasons. The research infrastructure is unparalleled.
He gets everything he needs to create nanostructures, including the measurement tools to evaluate them, from Empa, ETH Zurich, and the IBM Research Center in Rschlikon.
Also, I am an outdoor type. I love the mountains, and often go walking and skiing with my family, Perrin further stated.
Perrin is also a skilled rock climber. He occasionally takes weeks off to climb in distant regions, most commonly in France, his familys home country.
At Empa, this young researcher was free to continue experimenting with nanomaterials. A specific substance quickly piqued his interest: graphene nanoribbons, a carbon-based material as thin as the individual atoms. Roman Fasels group at Empa manufactures these nanoribbons with extreme accuracy.
Perrin demonstrated that these ribbons have unique features and can be employed in a variety of quantum technologies.
At the same time, he developed a strong interest in transforming heat into electrical energy. In 2018, it was demonstrated that quantum effects may be used to efficiently convert thermal energy to electricity.
To date, the challenge has been that these desirable physical features show only at extremely low temperatures, near absolute zero (0 Kelvin; -273C). This has limited significance to hypothetical future uses, such as cell phones or minisensors. Perrin came up with the notion of employing graphene nanoribbons to solve this problem.
Compared to other materials, their unique physical characteristics indicate that temperature has a far lesser effect on the quantum effects and, thus, the desirable thermoelectric effects. Soon after, his team at Empa was able to show that graphene nanoribbons quantum effects are essentially maintained at 250 Kelvin, or -23C. It is anticipated that the system will function at room temperature in the future.
Before technology allowed smartphones to consume less power, there were still a lot of obstacles to be solved. Due to the extreme miniaturization, unique parts are still needed to make sure that the systems that are developed function.
Perrin and associates from China, the UK, and Switzerland have demonstrated lately that carbon nanotubes with a diameter of just one nanometer can be included as electrodes in such systems.
But before these extremely complex and sensitive materials can be produced on a large scale and used in gadgets, Perrin predicts that it will take at least another 15 years.
Perrin concluded, My aim is to work out the fundamental basis for applying this technology. Only then will we be able to gauge its potential for practical uses.
#FacesOfScience: Mickel Perrin, PhysicistPlay
Video Credit:Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
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Can We Use Graphene To Build Nanoscale Power Plants? - AZoNano
Quantum Revolution: Uniting Twistronics and Spintronics for Advanced Electronics – SciTechDaily
Twistronics, a novel field in quantum physics, involves stacking van der Waals materials to explore new quantum phenomena. Researchers at Purdue University have advanced this field by introducing quantum spin into twisted double bilayers of antiferromagnets, leading to tunable moir magnetism. This breakthrough suggests new materials for spintronics and promises advancements in memory and spin-logic devices. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
Purdue quantum researcherstwist double bilayers of an antiferromagnet to demonstrate tunable moir magnetism.
Twistronics isnt a new dance move, exercise equipment, or new music fad. No, its much cooler than any of that. It is an exciting new development in quantum physics and material science where van der Waals materials are stacked on top of each other in layers, like sheets of paper in a ream that can easily twist and rotate while remaining flat, and quantum physicists have used these stacks to discover intriguing quantum phenomena.
Adding the concept of quantum spin with twisted double bilayers of an antiferromagnet, it is possible to have tunable moir magnetism. This suggests a new class of material platform for the next step in twistronics: spintronics. This new science could lead to promising memory and spin-logic devices, opening the world of physics up to a whole new avenue with spintronic applications.
By twisting a van der Waals magnet, non-collinear magnetic states can emerge with significant electrical tunability. Credit: Ryan Allen, Second Bay Studios
A team of quantum physics and materials researchers at Purdue University has introduced the twist to control the spin degree of freedom, using CrI3, an interlayer-antiferromagnetic-coupled van der Waals (vdW) material, as their medium. They have published their findings, Electrically tunable moir magnetism in twisted double bilayers of chromium triiodide, in Nature Electronics.
In this study, we fabricated twisted double bilayer CrI3, that is, bilayer plus bilayer with a twist angle between them, says Dr. Guanghui Cheng, co-lead author of the publication. We report moir magnetism with rich magnetic phases and significant tunability by the electrical method.
The moir superlattice structure of twisted double bilayer (tDB) CrI3 and its magnetic behaviors probed by the magneto-optical-Kerr-effect (MOKE). Section a above shows the schematic of moir superlattice fabricated by interlayer twisting. Bottom panel: a non-collinear magnetic state can emerge. Section b above shows MOKE results show the coexistence of antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) orders in the moir magnet tDB CrI3 compared with the AFM orders in natural antiferromagnetic bilayer CrI3. Credit: Illustration by Guanghui Cheng and Yong P. Chen
We stacked and twisted an antiferromagnet onto itself and voila got a ferromagnet, says Chen. This is also a striking example of the recently emerged area of twisted or moir magnetism in twisted 2D materials, where the twisting angle between the two layers gives a powerful tuning knob and changes the material property dramatically.
To fabricate twisted double bilayer CrI3, we tear up one part of bilayer CrI3, rotate and stack onto the other part, using the so-called tear-and-stack technique, explains Cheng. Through magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) measurement, which is a sensitive tool to probe magnetic behavior down to a few atomic layers, we observed the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders, which is the hallmark of moir magnetism, and further demonstrated voltage-assisted magnetic switching. Such a moir magnetism is a novel form of magnetism featuring spatially varying ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases, alternating periodically according to the moir superlattice.
Twistronics up to this point have mainly focused on modulating electronic properties, such as twisted bilayer graphene. The Purdue team wanted to introduce the twist to spin degree of freedom and chose to use CrI3, an interlayer-antiferromagnetic-coupled vdW material. The result of stacked antiferromagnets twisting onto itself was made possible by having fabricated samples with different twisting angles. In other words, once fabricated, the twist angle of each device becomes fixed, and then MOKE measurements are performed.
Theoretical calculations for this experiment were performed by Upadhyaya and his team. This provided strong support for the observations arrived at by Chens team.
Our theoretical calculations have revealed a rich phase diagram with non-collinear phases of TA-1DW, TA-2DW, TS-2DW, TS-4DW, etc., says Upadhyaya.
This research folds into an ongoing research avenue by Chens team. This work follows several related recent publications by the team related to novel physics and properties of 2D magnets, such as Emergence of electric-field-tunable interfacial ferromagnetism in 2D antiferromagnet heterostructures, which was recently published in Nature Communications. This research avenue has exciting possibilities in the field of twistronics and spintronics.
The identified moir magnet suggests a new class of material platform for spintronics and magnetoelectronics, says Chen. The observed voltage-assisted magnetic switching and magnetoelectric effect may lead to promising memory and spin-logic devices. As a novel degree of freedom, the twist can be applicable to the vast range of homo/heterobilayers of vdW magnets, opening the opportunity to pursue new physics as well as spintronic applications.
Reference: Electrically tunable moir magnetism in twisted double bilayers of chromium triiodide by Guanghui Cheng, Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahman, Andres Llacsahuanga Allcca, Avinash Rustagi, Xingtao Liu, Lina Liu, Lei Fu, Yanglin Zhu, Zhiqiang Mao, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Pramey Upadhyaya and Yong P. Chen, 19 June 2023,Nature Electronics.DOI: 10.1038/s41928-023-00978-0
The team, mostly from Purdue, has two equal-contributing lead authors: Dr. Guanghui Cheng and Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahman. Cheng was a postdoc in Dr.Yong P. Chens group at Purdue University and is now an Assistant Professor in Advanced Institute for Material Research (AIMR, where Chen is also affiliated as a principal investigator) at Tohoku University. Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahman is a PhD student in Dr.Pramey Upadhyayas group. Both Chen and Upadhyaya are corresponding authors of this publication and are professors at Purdue University. Chen is the Karl Lark-Horovitz Professor of Physics and Astronomy, a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the Director of Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute. Upadhyaya is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Other Purdue-affiliated team members include Andres Llacsahuanga Allcca (PhD student), Dr. Lina Liu (postdoc), and Dr. Lei Fu (postdoc) from Chens group, Dr. Avinash Rustagi (postdoc) from Upadhyayas group and Dr. Xingtao Liu (former research assistant at Birck Nanotechnology Center).
This work is partially supported by US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science through the Quantum Science Center (QSC, a National Quantum Information Science Research Center) and Department of Defense (DOD) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiatives (MURI) program (FA9550-20-1-0322). Cheng and Chen also received partial support from WPI-AIMR, JSPS KAKENHI Basic Science A (18H03858), New Science (18H04473 and 20H04623), and Tohoku University FRiD program in early stages of the research.
Upadhyaya also acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) (ECCS-1810494). Bulk CrI3crystals are provided by the group of Zhiqiang Mao from Pennsylvania State University under the support of the US DOE (DE-SC0019068). Bulk hBN crystals are provided by Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi from National Institute for Materials Science in Japan under support from the JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Numbers 20H00354, 21H05233 and 23H02052) and World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT, Japan.
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Quantum Revolution: Uniting Twistronics and Spintronics for Advanced Electronics - SciTechDaily
Quantum computing gets real. In the race between man and machine | by Feed Forward | Dec, 2023 – Medium
In the race between man and machine, quantum computing takes a huge leap forward
On September 15th, 2021, the realm of technological innovation took a seismic leap forward as numerous pioneers reported significant progress in the field of quantum computing. Groundbreaking strides have been achieved in this sphere, making for a significant shift in our perception and understanding of both information processing and computational power. This advancement, momentous as it is, implies that computational tasks conventionally viewed as impossible or prohibitively lengthy are now entering the realm of the tangible; additionally, these quantum entities appear to surpass traditional binary supercomputers in several areas. Now that you know the dry facts, lets dip our toes into the effervescent sea of commentary and get the real scoop on why this techno-event is sending shock waves through the silicon and opening up a new world, not of magic, but of hubba-bubba bubble quantum realities.
Jumpstart those neurons and buckle up! Were about to delve into the fantastic, befuddling, and downright science-fiction-esque world of quantum computing. If you thought your computer was a nifty piece of tech, brace yourself. Quantum computing, quite simply, is like The Matrix met Tron on steroids!
Cracking the code of quantum computing involves diving straight into the depths of the extraordinary quantum realm. In laymans terms, its computing tech thats based on the principles of quantum theory. Remember Schrdingers famed cat? That poor creature thats simultaneously alive and dead until we decide to peek. Well, imagine those cats being your computer bits, in superpositions of both 0s and 1s. Yep, welcome to the future.
Its not all came out of thin air, not by a long shot. Its because of mega brains like mathematician Peter Shor and physicist David Deutsch that we have had such elliptical notions turn foundational stones for this tech revolution.
Oh, the progress weve seen over the years! Its gone from an abstract theory, to multiple working models. And the size difference? Were talking Hulks magnificent transformation, except reverse. The bulky knock-offs have made way to streamlined, chic versions we see showcased today. Notable achievements? Oh, how about Googles landmark quantum supremacy claim?
As we stand at the precipice of quantum reality, todays applications of quantum computers can give sci-fi scenarios a run for their money. From creating rich, complex models of the real-world systems to uncrackable codes quantum computing is making waves. As for industries, were talking revolution in sectors like pharmaceutics, weather prediction, finance, and more. If youre skeptical, remember: Its all in the Matrix!
Of course, every venture has its share of thorny patches. As I always say Hold on to your hats, its not all quantum rainbows and tech butterflies. Admittedly, quantum computing is not immune to challenges and there are controversies surrounding error rates and operational difficulties. But hey, no pain no gain, right?
Peering into the quantum future might just feel like staring into a time vortex. Are we moving towards a quantum invasion? Maybe, maybe not. But aptly summed up by a famous scientist, Prediction is very difficult, especially if its about the future. Aint that the truth!
So, from our existential cat friend Schrodingers controversial pet to Quantum Avengers, the quantum leap is indeed real. The question is, what part will you play in this quantum saga? Think it over while I sign off with, May the qubits be ever in your favour! Now, keep calm and compute quantumly!
So, youve reached the end of this riveting quantum computing journey and youre thirsty for more? Dont fret, weve got you covered, faster than you can say Schrdingers Cat! Here are some additional resources to keep you quantum-leaping forward in your understanding of this mind-boggling field:
1. Quantum Computing for the very curious
https://www.quantum.country/qcvc
A super engaging, interactive introduction to quantum computing. Great for beginners, but fascinating for experts too!
2. The Nature of Quantum Computing
https://www.nature.com/subjects/quantum-computing
An in-depth resource for those eager to dive into the rabbit hole of research articles and scientific papers.
3. 10 Things To Know About Quantum Computing
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/09/06/10-things-to-know-about-quantum-computing/
Just like it sounds, this Forbes article provides a quick rundown of 10 key facts. Who doesnt love a good ol listicle?
4. Quantum Computing Explained
https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/quantum-computing
IBMs page offers an easy to grasp breakdown of quantum computing. Dont get me wrong, this still isnt kindergarten stuff!
Scour through these resources, and youll be talking qubits, superpositions, and quantum entanglement like a bonafide quantum physicist (or at least like you belong in a Star Trek episode). Remember, in the words of Douglas Adams, I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. Good luck on your quantum quest!
And now, dear esteemed cybernauts, for the part youve all been steadfastly scrolling for the flamboyant flourish finale, the cherry on the cake of tech wisdom, the disclaimer! Brace yourselves for a twist so outrageous, you might mistake it for a trendsetting sci-fi movie plot.
Prepare to be as stunned as if youve accidentally mixed up your VR goggles with your 3D movie glasses: portions of this tasty tech-blog morsel were tastefully composed with the help of Artificial Intelligence. Yes, you heard that right the same kind of tech thats so hot right now, it makes quantum physics seem like a rubber duck in a science sink!
Why, you ask? Well, because AI is cooler than a polar bears toenails and its very much here to stay. Besides, lets face it, these machine learning maestros are way better at writing than us, humble humans, who still rely on pulsating grey blobs ensconced within our craniums to cobble together clunky sentences.
So there you have it, my dear digital denizens, our blogs virtual secret sauce. Remember, Resistance is futile. (Anyone else catch that cheeky Star Trek reference?). But dont worry, a robot rebellion isnt on the cards just yet. Only high-class tech content and the odd laugh here and there!
Remember: Todays science fiction is tomorrows science fact. Long live AI the guardian angel of this blog post and, soon enough, a whole lot more!
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