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Category: particle physics – Page 33

Many objects that we normally deal with in quantum physics are only visible with special microscopes—individual molecules or atoms, for example. However, the quantum objects that Elena Redchenko works with at the Institute for Atomic and Subatomic Physics at TU Wien can even be seen with the naked eye (with a little effort): They are hundreds of micrometers in size. Still tiny by human standards but gigantic in terms of quantum physics.

Those huge quantum objects are —structures in which electric current flows at low temperatures without any resistance. In contrast to atoms, which have fixed properties, determined by nature, these artificial structures are extremely customizable and allow scientists to study different physical phenomena in a controlled manner. They can be seen as “artificial atoms,” whose physical properties can be adjusted at will.

By coupling them, a system was created that can be used to store and retrieve light—an important prerequisite for further quantum experiments. This experiment was carried out in the group of Johannes Fink at ISTA, with theoretical collaboration from Stefan Rotter at the Institute for Theoretical Physics at TU Wien. The results have now been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

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“ tabindex=”0” quantum computing and secure communications. Scientists have optimized materials and processes, making these detectors more efficient than ever.

Revolutionizing Electronics with Photon Detection

Light detection plays a crucial role in modern technology, from high-speed communication to quantum computing and sensing. At the heart of these systems are photon detectors, which identify and measure individual light particles (photons). One highly effective type is the superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). These detectors use ultra-thin superconducting wires that instantly switch from a superconducting state to a resistive state when struck by a photon, enabling extremely fast detection.

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A neutrino of record-breaking energy — 220 PeV — has been detected by the underwater KM3NeT telescope, marking a pivotal moment in astrophysics.

This tiny but powerful particle, born from the universe’s most extreme events, provides fresh clues about cosmic accelerators. While its exact origin remains unknown, scientists believe it could be the first detected cosmogenic neutrino. The discovery fuels new momentum for multi-messenger astronomy, with future observations expected to shed light on the deepest mysteries of the cosmos.

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Researchers found for the first time evidence that even microquasars containing a low-mass star are efficient particle accelerators, which leads to a significant impact on the interpretation of the abundance of gamma rays in the universe.

Our home planet is bombarded with particles from outer space all the time. And while we are mostly familiar with the rocky meteorites originating from within our solar system that create fascinating shooting stars in the night sky, it’s the smallest particles that help scientists to understand the nature of the universe. Subatomic particles such as electrons or protons arriving from interstellar space and beyond are one of the fastest particles known in the universe and known as cosmic rays.

The origins and the acceleration mechanisms of the most energetic of these cosmic particles remains one of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics. Fast-moving matter outflows (or “jets”) launched from black holes would be an ideal site for particle acceleration, but the details on how and under which conditions acceleration processes can occur are unclear. The most powerful jets inside our Galaxy occur in microquasars: systems composed by a stellar-mass black hole and a “normal” star. The pair orbit each other, and, once they are close enough, the black hole starts to slowly swallow its companion. As a consequence of this, jets are launched from the region close to the black hole.

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One of the tiniest building blocks of the universe has a weigh-in problem, and Ashutosh Kotwal is determined to get to the bottom of it.

For nearly 30 years, the Duke physicist has led a worldwide effort to home in on the mass of a fundamental particle called the W boson.

It’s the force-carrying particle that allows the sun to burn and to form, so it’s pretty important. Without it, the entire universe would be in the dark.

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Why do avalanches start to slide? And what happens inside the “pile of snow?” If you ask yourself these questions, you are very close to a physical problem. This phenomenon not only occurs on mountain peaks and in snow masses, where it is rather uncontrolled—it is also studied in the laboratory at the microscopic level in materials with a disordered particle structure, for example in glasses, granular materials or foams.

Particles can “slide” in a similar way to avalanches, causing the structure to lose its and become deformable, even independently of a change in temperature. But what happens inside such a shaky structure?

Physicist Matthias Fuchs from the University of Konstanz and his colleagues Florian Vogel and Philipp Baumgärtel are researching these disordered solids. Two years ago, they solved an old puzzle about glass vibrations by revisiting a forgotten theory. “Now we have continued the project to answer the question of when an ‘irregular house of cards collapses.’ We want to find out when an amorphous solid loses its stability and starts to slide like a pile of sand,” says Fuchs.

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Devices that leverage quantum mechanics effects, broadly referred to as quantum technologies, could help to tackle some real-world problems faster and more efficiently. In recent years, physicists and engineers have introduced various promising quantum technologies, including so-called quantum sensors.

Networks of quantum sensors could theoretically be used to measure specific parameters with remarkable precision. These networks leverage a quantum phenomenon known as entanglement, which entails a sustained connection between particles, which allows them to instantly share information with each other, even at a distance.

While quantum sensor networks (QSNs) could have various advantageous real-world applications, their effective deployment also relies on the ability to ensure that the information shared between sensors remains private and is not accessible to malicious third parties.

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Yuval Boger is the Chief Commercial Officer of QuEra Computing, a leader in neutral-atom quantum computers.

Quantum computing and artificial intelligence stand at the forefront of modern technological advancement, each representing a paradigm shift that can transform industries ranging from healthcare and finance to logistics and materials science. Not long ago, these two fields appeared to be competitors vying for the same innovation budgets—while AI generated immediate returns, quantum computing was seen as a more speculative endeavor. However, the reality is more nuanced. Rather than being rivals, quantum and AI can symbiotically accelerate one another’s progress, sparking breakthroughs that neither could achieve in isolation.

AI is widely deployed today, driving business value via deep learning models, sophisticated analytics platforms and even self-driving technologies. Executives can see tangible returns in short timeframes, spurring widespread adoption. Quantum computing, by contrast, has yet to reach full commercial viability.

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