Only the lonely...(reveal the secrets of atomic nuclei)
Warsaw, Poland (SPX) Jan 23, 2015 -
Individual protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei turn out not to behave according to the predictions made by existing theoretical models. This surprising conclusion, reached by an international team of physicists including staff members from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw (UW), forces us to reconsider how we have been describing large atomic nuclei for the past several decade ...
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Optic fiber for recording temps in extreme industrial environments
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Jan 23, 2015 -
The system they have developed is able to measure the temperature of mechanical or cutting processes in areas where conventional techniques do not have access.
In these environments, thermographic infrared cameras cannot be used because there is not a clear line of vision to the tool's cutting point, nor can thermocouples or other sensors be applied because of the deterioration they will s ...
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Optimizing optimization algorithms
Boston MA (SPX) Jan 23, 2015 -
Optimization algorithms, which try to find the minimum values of mathematical functions, are everywhere in engineering. Among other things, they're used to evaluate design tradeoffs, to assess control systems, and to find patterns in data.
One way to solve a difficult optimization problem is to first reduce it to a related but much simpler problem, then gradually add complexity back in, so ...
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Two or one splashing... It's different
Bonn, Germany (SPX) Jan 23, 2015 -
If two children splash in the sea high water waves will emerge due to constructive superposition. Different observations are made for the microscopic world in an experiment at the University of Bonn, where physicists used a laser beam to generate light waves from two cesium atoms.
The light waves were reflected back from two parallel mirrors. It turned out that this experimental arrangemen ...
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Rice-sized laser, powered one electron at a time, bodes well for quantum computing
Princeton NJ (SPX) Jan 23, 2015 -
Princeton University researchers have built a rice grain-sized laser powered by single electrons tunneling through artificial atoms known as quantum dots. The tiny microwave laser, or "maser," is a demonstration of the fundamental interactions between light and moving electrons.
The researchers built the device - which uses about one-billionth the electric current needed to power a hair d ...
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Breakthrough lights up metamaterials
New York NY (SPX) Jan 23, 2015 -
A City College of New York led-team has successfully demonstrated how to both enhance light emission and capture light from metamaterials embedded with light emitting nanocrystals. The breakthrough, headed by physicist Dr. Vinod Menon, could lead to a range of applications including ultrafast LEDs, nanoscale lasers and efficient single photon sources.
In the demonstration, the team used me ...
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Nano-beaker offers insight into the condensation of atoms
Basel, Switzerland (SPX) Jan 23, 2015 -
An international team of physicists has succeeded in mapping the condensation of individual atoms, or rather their transition from a gaseous state to another state, using a new method.
Led by the Swiss Nanoscience Institute and the Department of Physics at the University of Basel, the team was able to monitor for the first time how xenon atoms condensate in microscopic measuring beakers, o ...
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