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Category: quantum physics – Page 73

In a new study published in Nature Physics, researchers have developed the first controlled method for exciting and observing Kelvin waves in superfluid helium-4.

First described by Lord Kelvin in 1880, Kelvin waves are helical (spiral-shaped) waves that travel along the lines, playing a vital role in how energy dissipates in . However, they are difficult to study experimentally.

Creating a controlled setting to observe them has been the biggest challenge that the researchers overcame. Phys.org spoke to the first author of the study, Associate Prof. Yosuke Minowa from Kyoto University.

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Antimony is widely used in the production of materials for electronics, as well as metal alloys resistant to corrosion and high temperatures.

“Antimony melt is interesting because near the melting point, the atoms in this melt can form bound structures in the form of compact clusters or extended chains and remain in a bound state for quite a long time. We found out that the basic unit of these structures are linked triplets of adjacent atoms, and the centers of mass of these linked atoms are located at the vertices of right triangles. It is from these triplets that larger structures are formed, the presence of which causes anomalous structural features detected in neutron and X-ray diffraction experiments,” explains Dr. Anatolii Mokshin, study supervisor and Chair of the Department of Computational Physics and Modeling of Physical Processes.

The computer modeling method based on quantum-chemical calculations made it possible to reproduce anomalies in the structure of molten with high accuracy.

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Aurora consists of four photonically interconnected modular and independent server racks, containing 35 photonic chips and 13km of fiber optics. The system operates at room temperature and is fully automated, which Xanadu says makes it capable of running “for hours without any human intervention.”

The company added that in principle, Aurora could be scaled up to “thousands of server racks and millions of qubits today, realizing the ultimate goal of a quantum data center.” In a blog post detailing Aurora, Xanadu CTO Zachary Vernon said the machine represents the “very first time [Xanadu] – or anyone else for that matter – have combined all the subsystems necessary to implement universal and fault-tolerant quantum computation in a photonic architecture.”

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In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Optica, this innovative instrument emerges from the collaborative genius of the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute (NQSTI), incorporating expertise from several esteemed institutions. The device serves as a window into a dual universe, allowing the simultaneous examination of phenomena governed by both classical laws and the bizarre rules of quantum mechanics.

At the heart of this discovery lies the technique of optical trapping, a method that harnesses the power of light to manipulate microscopic particles. Now, empowered by the insights of physicist Francesco Marin and his team, the dual laser setup dramatically enhances our understanding of how these nano-objects interact. As they oscillate in their laser confines, the spheres reveal a dance of behaviors—some that align with our everyday experiences, and others that defy our intuition.

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The fundamental principles of thermodynamics have long been a cornerstone of our understanding of the physical world, with the second law of thermodynamics standing as a testament to the inexorable march towards disorder and entropy that governs all closed systems. However, the realm of quantum physics has traditionally appeared to defy this notion, with mathematical formulations suggesting that entropy remains constant in these systems.

Recent research has shed new light on this seeming paradox, revealing that the apparent contradiction between quantum mechanics and thermodynamics can be reconciled through a nuanced understanding of entropy itself. By adopting a definition of entropy that is compatible with the principles of quantum physics, specifically the concept of Shannon entropy, scientists have demonstrated that even isolated quantum systems will indeed evolve towards greater disorder over time, their entropy increasing as the uncertainty of measurement outcomes grows.

This breakthrough insight has far-reaching implications for our comprehension of the interplay between quantum theory and thermodynamics, and is poised to play a pivotal role in the development of novel quantum technologies that rely on the manipulation of complex many-particle systems.

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Using levitating nanospheres trapped in laser beams, they can observe how matter behaves in ways never seen before. This breakthrough could help unravel the mysteries of the quantum world.

Exploring the Boundary Between Classical and Quantum Worlds

A recent study published in the scientific journal Optica introduces a groundbreaking experimental device that bridges the gap between classical and quantum physics. This innovative instrument enables researchers to observe and study phenomena from both realms simultaneously. Developed in Florence, the device is the result of a collaborative effort within the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute (NQSTI). It involves experts from the University of Florence’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, the National Institute of Optics (CNR-INO), the European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy (LENS), and the Florence branch of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN).

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Lasers. MRIs. Precision timekeeping. Solar cells. SI units of measure. High-contrast, high-efficiency display devices. Ultraprecise sensors. Optimized drug development. Secure communications. Most of us don’t think about it, but we interact with quantum-enabled devices and applications on a regular basis, and that’s only going to accelerate.

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For the first time ever, scientists have managed to snap a picture of an electron’s shape while it moves through a solid. While it doesn’t sound remotely impressive for the average Joe, this discovery gives us a whole new way to look at electrons.

This photographic achievement could lead to big changes in things like quantum computers, futuristic electronics, and maybe even gadgets we haven’t imagined yet. The research was led by physicist Riccardo Comin, a professor at MIT, along with a team of collaborators from various institutions.

“We’ve essentially created a blueprint for uncovering completely new insights that were out of reach before,” explains Comin. His colleague and co-author, Mingu Kang, carried out much of the work at MIT before continuing his research at Cornell University.

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