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Blog – Page 13

Terahertz (THz) waves are located between microwaves and infrared light in the electromagnetic spectrum. They can pass through many materials without causing damage, making them useful for security scanning, medical imaging, and high-speed wireless communication. Unlike visible light or radio waves, THz waves can reveal structural details of biological molecules and penetrate nonmetallic objects like clothing and paper.

THz waves hold great promise, but to harness them effectively, their polarization (the direction in which the waves vibrate) must be controlled. Polarization control is crucial for optimizing THz applications, from enhancing to improving imaging and sensing.

Unfortunately, existing THz polarization control methods rely on bulky external components like wave plates or metamaterials. These solutions are often inefficient, limited to narrow frequency ranges, and unsuitable for compact devices. To overcome these limitations, researchers have been exploring approaches to control THz polarization directly at the source.

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Researchers at QuTech, in collaboration with Fujitsu and Element Six, have demonstrated a complete set of quantum gates with error probabilities below 0.1%. While many challenges remain, being able to perform basic gate operations with errors occurring below this threshold, satisfies an important condition for future large-scale quantum computation. The research was published in Physical Review Applied on 21 March 2025.

Quantum computers are anticipated to be able to solve important problems that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers. Quantum computations are performed through a large sequence of basic operations, called .

For a quantum computer to function, it is essential that all quantum gates are highly precise. The probability of an error during the gates must be below a threshold, typically of the order 0.1 to 1%. Only then, errors are rare enough for error correction methods to work successfully and ensure reliable with noisy components.

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When University of Texas at Dallas researchers tested a new surface that they designed to collect and remove condensates rapidly, the results surprised them. The mechanical engineers’ design collected more condensates, or liquid formed by condensation, than they had predicted based on a classic physics model.

The finding revealed a limitation in the existing model and inspired the researchers to develop a new theory to explain the phenomenon, which they outline in an article published online March 13 in the journal Newton.

The theory is critical to the researchers’ work to develop innovative surfaces for applications such as harvesting water from air without electricity.

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An Aston University researcher has conducted the first experimental demonstration of intricate and previously theorized behaviors in the fundamental patterns that govern oscillatory systems in nature and technology.

Synchronization regions, also known as Arnold’s tongues because of the shape they take when shown on a graph, help scientists understand when things will stay in sync and when they won’t.

Arnold’s tongues are observed in a large variety of natural phenomena that involve oscillating quantities, such as heartbeats, pendulum swings or flashing lights.

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The University of Osaka, Fujitsu Limited, Systems Engineering Consultants Co., LTD. (SEC), and TIS Inc. (TIS) today announced the launch of an open-source operating system (OS) for quantum computers on GitHub, in what is one of the largest open-source initiatives of its kind globally. The Open Quantum Toolchain for Operators and Users (OQTOPUS) OS can be customized to meet individual user needs and is expected to help make practical quantum computing a reality.

Until now, universities and companies seeking to make their quantum computers accessible via the cloud have had to independently develop extensive software to enable cloud-based operation. By offering this OS—covering everything from setup to operation—the research partners have lowered the barrier to deploying quantum computers in the cloud.

Additionally, quantum computing offered by the University of Osaka has begun integrating OQTOPUS into its operations and Fujitsu Limited will make it available for research partners using its quantum computers in the second half of 2025.

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Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have unveiled a new optical technology that enables precise focusing of light—only in one direction. This novel unidirectional focusing design uses structured diffractive layers that are optimized using deep learning to transmit light efficiently in the forward direction of operation while effectively suppressing unwanted backward focusing of light.

The findings are published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials. This innovation offers a compact and broadband solution for the unidirectional delivery of radiation with significant potential for applications in security, defense, and .

Controlling asymmetric light propagation—where light preferentially travels in one direction while being blocked or scattered in the opposite direction—has been a longstanding need in optical systems. Traditional solutions often rely on specialized material properties or nonlinear materials, which require relatively complex and costly fabrication methods, bulky hardware, and high-power laser sources.

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A cosmic enigma, ASKAP J1839-0756, a slow-spinning neutron star discovered using the ASKAP radio telescope, is challenging the conventional understanding of pulsars. Unlike typical pulsars which spin rapidly, this object completes one rotation every 6.5 hours and emits radio pulses from both magn

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University of Queensland scientists have cracked a long-standing puzzle in nuclear physics, showing that nuclear polarization, once thought to hinder experiments with muonic atoms, has a much smaller effect than expected.

This surprising result clears a major obstacle and paves the way for a new era of atomic research, offering deeper insights into the mysterious inner workings of atomic nuclei using exotic, muon-based atoms.

Breakthrough in Muonic Atom Research.

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New sapphire nanostructures created at UT Austin repel dust, glare, and fog while staying durable. Inspired by nature, these surfaces could be used in electronics, optics, space, and defense, and are being developed for real-world applications. Imagine a phone screen that stays flawless no matter

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In the ebb and flow of crowded crosswalks, a surprising pattern emerges: people can naturally form neat lanes of movement. But what flips the switch from graceful organization to chaotic weaving?

An international team of researchers has pinpointed a specific tipping point: when pedestrians deviate more than 13 degrees from their path, order collapses. Backed by math, experiments, and real-world testing, this discovery could revolutionize how cities manage foot traffic.

From flow to frenzy: what disrupts pedestrian order?

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