Using muon spin rotation at the Swiss Muon Source SmS, researchers have discovered that a quantum phenomenon known as time-reversal symmetry breaking occurs at the surface of the Kagome superconductor RbV₃Sb₅ at temperatures as high as 175 K. This sets a new record for the temperature at which time-reversal symmetry breaking is observed among Kagome systems.

“What?” we hear you ask. Kagome? Time reversal symmetry breaking? Don’t worry, we’re here to break it down. Read more to find out why this matters for future quantum technologies.

Based on an experiment at CERN, a collaboration led by the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, can predict hitherto unchartered changes in the shape of nuclei.

Prof. Britto will work with colleagues Prof. Francis Brown, University of Oxford; Prof. Axel Kleinschmidt, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Potsdam; and Prof. Oliver Schlotterer, Uppsala University, Sweden on their Mathematics of Scattering Amplitudes (MaScamp) project. The team will tackle longstanding computational bottlenecks and push the boundaries of numerous areas of theoretical physics, such as quantum field theory, gravity and string theory, as well as inspiring new mathematical research. 

“Scattering amplitudes” are used to produce theoretical predictions necessary in many areas of physics, but the process for deriving them is currently labour intensive and difficult to compute. In addition, the team will develop a widely applicable computer software implementation that will enable physicists to make previously inaccessible predictions for present and future experiments.   

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and at the University of Magdeburg in Germany have developed a novel type of nanomechanical resonator that combines two important features: high mechanical quality and piezoelectricity. This development could open doors to new possibilities in quantum sensing technologies.

Studying synapses in live human brains is crucial for understanding many psychiatric disorders. Now, using positron emission tomography of the brain of patients with psychiatric disorders, researchers from Japan have developed and used a novel technology to visualize the distribution of AMPA receptors, one of the most important molecules in synaptic transmission. Their efforts could lead to more accurate diagnosis and targeted treatments for diseases like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder.

Hydrogen, a promising fuel, has extensive applications in many sectors. However, its safe and widespread use necessitates reliable sensing methods. While tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) has proved to be an effective gas sensing method, detecting hydrogen using TDLAS is difficult due to its weak light absorption property in the infrared region. Addressing this issue, researchers developed an innovative calibration-free technique that significantly enhances the accuracy and detection limits for sensing hydrogen using TDLAS.