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Category: space – Page 2

Controlling electron interference in time with chirped laser pulses

In quantum mechanics, particles such as electrons act like waves and can even interfere with themselves—a striking and counterintuitive feature that defies our classical view of reality. We know this kind of interference happens in space, where different paths can overlap and combine, but what if we could take it further? What if we could control quantum interference in time, where electrons created at different moments interfere?

In a new study published in Physical Review Letters, a team of researchers developed a novel technique—chirped laser-assisted dynamic interference—to manipulate temporal during photoionization.

By using extreme-ultraviolet pulses with time-varying central frequency, in combination with intense infrared laser fields, they guided electron motion with unprecedented precision.

TRAPPIST-1e observations narrow down possibilities for atmosphere and surface water on elusive exoplanet

University of Bristol astrophysicists are helping shed new light on an Earth-sized exoplanet 40 light years away where liquid water in the form of a global ocean or icy expanse might exist on its surface. That would only be possible if an atmosphere is present—a big mystery that the scientists are attempting to unravel and now even closer to solving using the largest telescope in space.

Deploying NASA’s JWST, the researchers have reached these discoveries as part of a major international project which is probing the atmosphere and surface of TRAPPIST-1e, also more simply known as planet e in the system, orbiting within the habitable zone of red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1.

Exoplanets are highly varied planets which orbit stars outside the solar system. Planet e is of particular interest because the presence of liquid water—not too hot or cold—is theoretically viable, but only if the planet has an atmosphere.

‘Quantum squeezing’ a nanoscale particle for the first time

Researchers Mitsuyoshi Kamba, Naoki Hara, and Kiyotaka Aikawa of the University of Tokyo have successfully demonstrated quantum squeezing of the motion of a nanoscale particle, a motion whose uncertainty is smaller than that of quantum mechanical fluctuations.

As enhancing the measurement precision of sensors is vital in many modern technologies, the achievement paves the way not only for basic research in fundamental physics but also for applications such as accurate autonomous driving and navigation without a GPS signal. The findings are published in the journal Science.

The physical world at the macroscale, from to planets, is governed by the laws of discovered by Newton in the 17th century. The physical world at the microscale, atoms and below, is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, which lead to phenomena generally not observed at the macroscale.

New radio halo discovered with MeerKAT

Using the MeerKAT radio telescope, an international team of astronomers has performed observations of a galaxy cluster designated SPT-CLJ2337−5942. The observational campaign revealed the presence of an ultra-steep spectrum radio halo in this cluster. The finding is presented in a paper published Sept. 9 on the arXiv preprint server.

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