Physics and Matter News

Scientists explore the physics of bumpy roads

Thursday, July 09, 2009 00:00 MST

Just about any road with a loose surface -- sand or gravel or snow -- develops ripples that make driving a very shaky experience. A team of physicists from Canada, France and the United Kingdom have recreated this "washboard" phenomenon in the lab with surprising results: ripples appear even when the springy suspension of the car and the rolling shape of the wheel are eliminated. The discovery may smooth the way to designing improved suspension systems that eliminate the bumpy ride.

Physicists find way to control individual bits in quantum computers

Wednesday, July 08, 2009 00:00 MST

Physicists at NIST have overcome a hurdle in quantum computer development, having devised a viable way to manipulate a single "bit" in a quantum processor without disturbing the information stored in its neighbors. The approach, which makes novel use of polarized light to create "effective" magnetic fields, could bring the long-sought computers a step closer to reality.

Discovery brings us nearer to making the dream of invisibility true

Wednesday, July 08, 2009 00:00 MST

Physicists at UAB describe how to make objects invisible at very low frequency light with magnetic field shielding dc metamaterials

Physical reality of string theory demonstrated

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 00:00 MST

String theory has come under fire in recent years. Promises have been made that have not been lived up to. Leiden theoretical physicists have now for the first time used string theory to describe a physical phenomenon. Their discovery has been reported in Science.

Researchers unite to distribute quantum keys

Monday, July 06, 2009 00:00 MST

Researchers from across Europe have united to build the largest quantum key distribution network ever built. The efforts of 41 research and industrial organizations were realized as secure, quantum encrypted information was sent over an eight node, mesh network.

Researchers develop novel ion trap for sensing force and light

Sunday, July 05, 2009 00:00 MST

A novel ion trap demonstrated at NIST could usher in a new generation of applications, because the device holds promise as a stylus for sensing very small forces or for an interface for efficient transfer of individual light particles for quantum communications.

Unexpectedly long-range effects in advanced magnetic devices

Saturday, July 04, 2009 00:00 MST

A tiny grid pattern has led materials scientists at NIST and the Institute of Solid State Physics in Russia to an unexpected finding -- the surprisingly strong and long-range effects of certain electromagnetic nanostructures used in data storage.

Finding could help electronics industry enter new phase

Friday, July 03, 2009 00:00 MST

Electronic devices of the future could be smaller, faster, more powerful and consume less energy because of a discovery by researchers at the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

NuTeV anomaly helps shed light on physics of the nucleus

Thursday, July 02, 2009 00:00 MST

A new calculation clarifies the complicated relationship between protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus and offers a fascinating resolution of the famous NuTeV Anomaly. The calculation, published in the journal Physical Review Letters on June 26, was carried out by a collaboration of researchers from the Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Tokai University and the University of Washington.

Fermilab's CDF observes Omega-sub-b baryon

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 00:00 MST

At a recent physics seminar at the US Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Fermilab physicist Pat Lukens of the CDF experiment announced the observation of a new particle, the Omega-sub-b (and#937;b). The particle contains three quarks, two strange quarks and a bottom quark (s-s-b). It is an exotic relative of the much more common proton, and has about six times the proton's mass.

Scientists create first electronic quantum processor

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 00:00 MST

A team led by Yale University researchers has created the first rudimentary solid-state quantum processor, and used the two-qubit superconducting chip to successfully run elementary algorithms, demonstrating quantum information processing with a solid-state device for the first time.

Stream of sand behaves like water

Sunday, June 28, 2009 00:00 MST

Research opens up new experimental territory

Salt block unexpectedly stretches in Sandia experiments

Saturday, June 27, 2009 00:00 MST

To stretch a supply of salt generally means using it sparingly.But researchers from Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Pittsburgh were startled when they found they had made the solid actually physically stretch.

University of Nevada, Reno mathematician receives nuclear energy grant to study reactors

Friday, June 26, 2009 00:00 MST

New computational methods to help in design of next generation reactors

New calibration tool for radio frequencies

Thursday, June 25, 2009 00:00 MST

Part of the 'Measurement for Innovators' program that helps industry achieve business goals through utilizing the facilities and expertise at NPL