Two systems exist in thermal equilibrium if no heat passes between them. Computers, which consume energy and give off heat as they process information, operate far from thermal equilibrium. Were they to stop consuming energy—say you let your laptop discharge completely—they would stop functioning.
Electrons spin even without an electric charge and this motion in condensed matter constitutes spin current, which is attracting a great deal of attention for next-generation technology such as memory devices. An Osaka Metropolitan University-led research group has been able to gain further insight into this important topic in the field of spintronics.
Quantum computers hold the promise to emulate complex materials, helping researchers better understand the physical properties that arise from interacting atoms and electrons. This may one day lead to the discovery or design of better semiconductors, insulators, or superconductors that could be used to make ever faster, more powerful, and more energy-efficient electronics.
The close relationship between AI and highly complicated scientific computing can be seen in the fact that both the 2024 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were awarded to scientists for devising AI for their respective fields of study. KAIST researchers have now succeeded in dramatically shortening the calculation time of highly sophisticated quantum mechanical computer simulations by predicting atomic-level chemical bonding information distributed in 3D space using a novel approach to teach AI.
Spectroscopic study on a kagome magnet thin film uncovers the local-moment nature of the magnetism in the presence of topological flat bands, as well as a strong spin-and orbital-selective electronic correlation effect.
Claudio Pellegrini, a professor of thermal and fluid sciences at the Federal University of São João del-Rei in Brazil, has calculated the optimal shape for a beer glass to keep the beer cold for as long as possible. He has written a paper describing his analysis of beer glass shapes and posted it on the arXiv preprint server.
The temperature of elementary particles has been observed in the radioactive glow following the collision of two neutron stars and the birth of a black hole. This has, for the first time, made it possible to measure the microscopic, physical properties in these cosmic events.
UCLAs new unidirectional imaging technology enables image formation in a single direction, preventing image capture in the reverse direction.
This novel technology, which operates effectively under partially coherent light, offers significant advancements in optical communication and visual information processing by providing selective, high-quality imaging.
Unidirectional Imaging
For the first time, EPFL researchers have directly observed molecules engaging in hydrogen bonds within liquid water, capturing electronic and nuclear quantum effects that had previously been accessible only through theoretical simulations.
Water is synonymous with life, but the dynamic, multifaceted interaction that brings H2O molecules together – the hydrogen bond – remains mysterious. These hydrogen bonds form as hydrogen and oxygen atoms from neighboring water molecules connect, exchanging electronic charge in the process.
This charge-sharing is a key feature of the three-dimensional ‘H-bond’ network that gives liquid water its unique properties, but quantum phenomena at the heart of such networks have thus far been understood only through theoretical simulations.
Scientists are rethinking the timing of Betelgeuse’s supernova, as new research suggests the star may have a hidden companion, known as Betelbuddy. This companion could be responsible for Betelgeuse’s unusual brightening and dimming patterns.
The discovery opens up new possibilities, including the idea that Betelbuddy might be a young star or even something more exotic, like a neutron star. Researchers are working to confirm Betelbuddy’s existence, which could dramatically change what we know about Betelgeuse and its eventual explosion.
Betelgeuse and Betelbuddy.
