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Category: space – Page 27

Mapping the universe, faster and with the same accuracy

If you think a galaxy is big, compare it to the size of the universe: it’s just a tiny dot which, together with a huge number of other tiny dots, forms clusters that aggregate into superclusters, which in turn weave into filaments threaded with voids—an immense 3D skeleton of our universe.

If that gives you vertigo and you’re wondering how one can understand or even “see” something so vast, the answer is: it isn’t easy. Scientists combine the physics of the universe with data from astronomical instruments and build , such as EFTofLSS (Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure). Fed with observations, these models describe the “cosmic web” statistically and allow its key parameters to be estimated.

Models like EFTofLSS, however, demand a lot of time and computing resources. Since the astronomical datasets at our disposal are growing exponentially, we need ways to lighten the analysis without losing precision. This is why emulators exist: they “imitate” how the models respond, but operate much faster.

Observations investigate the nature of a newly discovered odd radio circle

Astronomers from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany and elsewhere have conducted radio spectropolarimetric observations of a recently identified odd radio circle designated ORC J0356–4216. Results of the observational campaign, presented Sept. 5 on the arXiv pre-print server, shed more light on the nature of this object.

The so-called odd radio circles (ORCs) are mysterious gigantic rings of radio waves and their origin is still unexplained. They are highly circular and bright along the edges at but they cannot be observed at visible, infrared or X-ray wavelengths. To date, only a few objects of this type have been identified, hence very little is known about their nature.

ORC J0356–4216 was identified in October 2023 with the MeerKAT radio telescope and shortly after its discovery, a group of astronomers led by Ruhr University Bochum’s Sam Taziaux, performed radio spectropolarimetry of this source using the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) and MeerKAT to investigate its properties and nature.

New technique advances compact particle accelerator development

An international collaboration has developed a new diagnostic technique for measuring ultra-short particle beams at STFC’s Central Laser Facility. This collaboration is led by the University of Michigan and Queen’s University Belfast. The research addresses a key challenge in developing compact alternatives to kilometer-long particle accelerators.

Current X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs), which produce laser-like X-rays for imaging at the viral scale, require facilities stretching for kilometers. These installations demand substantial resources and space that many institutions cannot accommodate.

Laser-wakefield acceleration technology offers the potential to create similar capabilities in devices small enough to fit on a laboratory bench. This approach works by focusing an intense, ultra-short laser pulse into plasma, matter where electrons and ions are separated.

From Sci-Fi to Reality: New Breakthrough Could Bring Holograms to Your Phone

New research from the University of St Andrews is advancing holographic technology, with potential applications in smart devices, communication, gaming, and entertainment. In a paper published in the journal Light, Science and Application, physicists from the School of Physics and Astronomy reported the creation of a new optoelectronic device that combines Holographic Metasurfaces (HMs) with Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs).

Until now, holograms have typically been generated using lasers. The St Andrews team, however, demonstrated that pairing OLEDs with HMs provides a more compact and straightforward method. This approach is not only easier to implement but also less expensive, addressing one of the key challenges that has limited wider use of holographic technology.

OLEDs are thin-film devices already common in mobile phone displays and some televisions, where they create colored pixels. Because they are flat and emit light across their surface, OLEDs are also promising for emerging fields such as optical wireless communication, biophotonics, and sensing. Their versatility and ability to integrate with other components make them well-suited for developing miniaturized, light-based systems.

New quantum sensors can withstand extreme pressure

The world of quantum physics is already mysterious, but what happens when that strange realm of subatomic particles is put under immense pressure? Observing quantum effects under pressure has proven difficult for a simple reason: Designing sensors that can withstand extreme forces is challenging.

In a significant advance, a team led by physicists at WashU has created in an unbreakable sheet of crystallized . The sensors can measure stress and magnetism in materials under pressure that exceeds 30,000 times the pressure of the atmosphere.

“We’re the first ones to develop this sort of high-pressure sensor,” said Chong Zu, an assistant professor of physics in Arts & Sciences and a member of Washington University in St. Louis’ Center for Quantum Leaps. “It could have a wide range of applications in fields ranging from quantum technology, , to astronomy and geology.”

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