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Category: particle physics – Page 118

Magnetic Gyrations Are Excited by Strain

Imposing time-dependent strain on a magnetic disk induces vortex dynamics and offers a path toward energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Nanoscopic magnetic vortices made from electron spins could be used in spintronic computers (see Research News: 3D Magnetism Maps Reveal Exotic Topologies). To this end, researchers need an energy-efficient way to excite these vortices into a so-called gyrotropic mode—an orbital motion of the vortex core around the central point. The direction of this orbital motion would determine which of two binary states the vortex represents. Vadym Iurchuk at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany, and his colleagues have now demonstrated such a method by imposing a time-varying strain on a magnetic material [1].

The excitation of gyration dynamics by an oscillating strain was suggested by a separate team in 2015 [2]. The idea involves depositing a magnetic film, in which magnetic vortices form spontaneously, on a piezoelectric substrate. Applying an alternating voltage to the substrate transfers a time-varying mechanical strain to the film, dynamically perturbing its magnetic texture. This perturbation displaces a vortex core from its equilibrium position, thereby exciting the gyrotropic mode.

Stopping off-the-wall behavior in fusion reactors

Fusion researchers are increasingly turning to the element tungsten when looking for an ideal material for components that will directly face the plasma inside fusion reactors known as tokamaks and stellarators. But under the intense heat of fusion plasma, tungsten atoms from the wall can sputter off and enter the plasma. Too much tungsten in the plasma would substantially cool it, which would make sustaining fusion reactions very challenging.

Invisibility cloaks? Wave Scattering Simulation Unlocks Potential for Advanced Metamaterials

New software simulates complex wave scattering for metamaterial design. Could invisibility cloaks become a reality? New research brings this science fiction concept a step closer, with a breakthrough software package that simulates how waves interact with complex materials.

A new software package developed by researchers at Macquarie University can accurately model the way waves — sound, water or light — are scattered when they meet complex configurations of particles.

This will vastly improve the ability to rapidly design metamaterials — exciting artificial materials used to amplify, block or deflect waves.

Microwaves unlock power of uncontrollable diamond qubits in quantum leap

Microwaves can control and stabilize diamond qubits, addressing their main challenge:

Researchers from Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have devised a method to precisely control diamond qubits using microwaves.

In case you’re wondering what is a diamond qubit, here’s a simple explanation —When a tin atom replaces a carbon atom in a diamond lattice, it leads to the creation of tin vacancy (SnV) centers.

The SnV centers are defects with exceptional optical and electronic properties, and therefore they can be used as qubits. Since these qubits result from defects in diamond lattices, they are called diamond qubits.

Is India at risk? NASA predicts strongest solar storm in seven years will hit Earth; Here’s what you should know!

Solar storms, characterized by sudden explosions of particles, energy, and magnetic fields from the Sun, can create disruptions in Earth’s magnetosphere. As told to NDTV, Dr. Annapurni Subramanian, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, stated, “The (solar) flare which occurred a few days ago is similar in terms of strength to the one which occurred in May.” These flares are known to produce geomagnetic storms that can result in radio blackouts and power outages on Earth.

Recent NDTV reports highlight a series of powerful solar flares emitted by the Sun, including an X7.1 flare on October 1 and an even stronger X9.0 flare on October 3. NASA captured these flares using its Solar Dynamics Observatory, emphasizing their potential to disrupt communication systems. NOAA classified the X9.0 flare as an R3-strength flare, indicating a “strong” potential for radio blackouts.

Antimatter Could Be the Key to Solving the Universe’s Biggest Mysteries

The hunt for dark matter has long been one of the most compelling challenges in physics, with new candidates emerging from cutting-edge research in cosmic-ray propagation and particle detection.

Two new studies highlight the enigmatic nature of antimatter, revealing its potential role in both understanding the universe’s origins and unlocking the secrets of particle physics.

Neutron Star Collisions: Unmasking the Ghosts of Gravity

Scientists are using advanced simulations to explore the aftermath of neutron star collisions, where remnants might form and avoid collapsing into black holes.

This research not only sheds light on the dynamics and cooling of these remnants through neutrino emissions but also provides crucial insights into the behavior of nuclear matter under extreme conditions. The findings contribute to our understanding of astronomical events and the conditions that may or may not lead to black hole formation.

Mysterious aftermath of neutron star collisions.