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Category: quantum physics

First Dawn of Universe Simulation: EWOG

From Dark till First Dawn of Universe Simulation: EWOG Quantum Gravity Theory.

🚀From Dark till First Dawn of Universe Simulation: Why EWOG is promising to the Cosmic Race! 🌌 https://lnkd.in/gFBNsKtq Ever wonder how the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) keeps finding massive, mature galaxies that “shouldn’t exist” yet? Standard cosmology (ΛCDM) is struggling to explain this without extreme fine-tuning. But Entanglement-Weighted Operator Gravity (EWOG) provides a first-principles answer. đŸ§© The “Quantum Turbo” Effect In the dense early universe, high quantum entanglement between matter and geometry temporarily boosted gravity’s strength. The Core Idea: Gravity isn’t a constant; it’s an operator weighted by entanglement (ĆŽ). * Curvature from Commutators: R̂ᔀᔄ = [∇̂ᔀ, ∇̂ᔄ] * The Boosted Coupling: G_eff(a, k) = G_N [1 + α₀(1 — eâ»á”Êł)ℱ] This “turbo boost” allowed gas to collapse into stars 150,000 years earlier than standard models predict.

Physicists uncover hidden magnetic order in the mysterious pseudogap phase

Physicists have uncovered a link between magnetism and a mysterious phase of matter called the pseudogap, which appears in certain quantum materials just above the temperature at which they become superconducting. The findings could help researchers design new materials with sought-after properties such as high-temperature superconductivity, in which electric current flows without resistance.

Using a quantum simulator chilled to just above absolute zero, the researchers discovered a universal pattern in how electrons—which can have spin up or down—influence their neighbors’ spins as the system is cooled.

The findings represent a significant step toward understanding unconventional superconductivity, and were the result of a collaboration between experimentalists at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Germany and theoretical physicists, including Antoine Georges, director of the Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ) at the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute in New York City.

World’s smallest capacitor paves way for next-generation quantum metrology

Nanomechanical systems developed at TU Wien have now reached a level of precision and miniaturization that will allow them to be used in ultra-high-resolution atomic force microscopes in the future. Their new findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies.

A major leap in measurement technology begins with a tiny gap of just 32 nanometers. This is the distance between a movable aluminum membrane and a fixed electrode, together forming an extremely compact parallel-plate capacitor—a new world record. This structure is intended for use in highly precise sensors, such as those required for atomic force microscopy.

But this world record is more than just an impressive feat of miniaturization—it is part of a broader strategy. TU Wien is developing various hardware platforms to make quantum sensing easier to use, more robust, and more versatile. In conventional optomechanical experiments, the motion of tiny mechanical structures is read out using light. However, optical setups are delicate, complex, and difficult to integrate into compact, portable systems. TU Wien therefore relies on other types of oscillations that are better suited for compact sensors.

Twisted 2D materials get an ultraclean, scalable upgrade for future quantum devices

Exciting electronic characteristics emerge when scientists stack 2D materials on top of each other and give the top layer a little twist.

The twist turns a normal material into a patterned lattice and changes the quantum behavior of the material. These twisted materials have shown superconductivity—where a material can conduct electricity without energy loss—as well as special quantum effects. Researchers hope these “twistronics” could become components in future quantum devices.

But creating these extremely thin stacked structures, called moiré superlattices, is difficult to do. Scientists usually peel off single layers of material using Scotch tape and then carefully stick those layers together. However, the method has a very low success rate, often leaves behind contamination between layers and produces tiny samples smaller than the width of a human hair.

How pointing errors impact quantum key distribution systems

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is an emerging communication technology that utilizes quantum mechanics principles to ensure highly secure communication between two parties. It enables the sender and receiver to generate a shared secret key over a channel that may be monitored by an attacker. Any attempt to eavesdrop introduces detectable errors in the quantum signals, allowing communicating parties to detect if communication is compromised via QKD protocols.

Among the various parameters that influence the performance of QKD systems, pointing error, a misalignment between the transmitter and receiver, is one of the most important. Such misalignment can arise from mechanical vibrations, atmospheric turbulence, and/or inaccuracies in the alignment mechanisms.

Despite its importance, very few studies have examined pointing error in a comprehensive manner for QKD optical wireless communication (OWC) systems.

Building the world’s first open-source quantum computer

Researchers from the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Science and the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) are prioritizing collaboration over competition to advance quantum computer development and the field of quantum information. They are doing this through Open Quantum Design (OQD), a non-profit organization that boasts the world’s first open-source, full stack quantum computer.

OQD was co-founded in 2024 by faculty members in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and IQC, Drs. Crystal Senko, Rajibul Islam and Roger Melko, alongside CEO Greg Dick (BSc ‘93).

The group is helping reshape how quantum research is shared, opening doors for the next generation of quantum scientists, and even seeding new quantum startups.

Observing the positronium beam as a quantum matter wave for the first time

One of the discoveries that fundamentally distinguished the emerging field of quantum physics from classical physics was the observation that matter behaves differently at the smallest scales. A key finding was wave-particle duality, the revelation that particles can exhibit wave-like properties.

This duality was famously demonstrated in the double-slit experiment. When electrons were fired through two slits, they created an interference pattern of light and dark fringes on a detector. This pattern showed that each electron behaved like a wave, with its quantum wave-function passing through both slits and interfering with itself. The same phenomenon was later confirmed for neutrons, helium atoms, and even large molecules, making matter-wave diffraction a cornerstone of quantum mechanics.

Stealth quantum sensors unlock possibilities anywhere GPS doesn’t work

As commercial interest in quantum technologies accelerates, entrepreneurial minds at the University of Waterloo are not waiting for opportunities—they are creating them.

Among them is Alex Maierean (MMath ‘24), CEO of Phantom Photonics and part-time Ph.D. student at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). Her startup is developing ultra-sensitive quantum sensors that can filter out background noise and detect the faintest signals, even down to a single photon—the smallest unit of light. This offers new levels of precision and stealth for industries operating in extreme environments, from the depths of the ocean to outer space.

Launched in 2023, the Velocity startup emerged from fundamental research at an IQC lab led by Dr. Thomas Jennewein, IQC affiliate and adjunct faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Today, the startup is based at Velocity where it has established a dedicated lab space to continue to develop its quantum sensor technology and build its core team.

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