The oxygen of publicity - p745

doi:10.1038/nphys1081

The Large Hadron Collider launched in a blaze of publicity. But, amid claims that the machine would destroy the Earth, is all publicity good publicity?

Full Text - The oxygen of publicity | PDF (243 KB) - The oxygen of publicity

You say diplon, I say deuton - p747

Mark Buchanan

doi:10.1038/nphys1082

Full Text - You say diplon, I say deuton | PDF (125 KB) - You say diplon, I say deuton

The power of belief - pp749 - 750

Michael Shermer reviews Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science by Robert L. Park

doi:10.1038/nphys1083

Full Text - The power of belief | PDF (303 KB) - The power of belief

Exhibition: Drawn to the prize winners - p750

doi:10.1038/nphys1088

Full Text - ExhibitionDrawn to the prize winners | PDF (228 KB) - ExhibitionDrawn to the prize winners

Vectors, phases and oddities - p751

doi:10.1038/nphys1084

Full Text - Vectors, phases and oddities | PDF (161 KB) - Vectors, phases and oddities

Quantum-displacement detection: SQUIDs at the limit - pp753 - 754

Miles P. Blencowe

doi:10.1038/nphys1086

Superconducting quantum interference devices, or SQUIDs, are usually used as high-sensitivity magnetic-field detectors. Embedding bar resonators into them could enable this sensitivity to be exploited for displacement measurements at the quantum limit.

Full Text - Quantum-displacement detectionSQUIDs at the limit | PDF (265 KB) - Quantum-displacement detectionSQUIDs at the limit

Subject Category: Electronics, photonics and device physics

Magnetoelectronics: An attractive way to change direction - p754

Dan Csontos

doi:10.1038/nphys1079

Full Text - MagnetoelectronicsAn attractive way to change direction | PDF (172 KB) - MagnetoelectronicsAn attractive way to change direction

Subject Categories: Condensed-matter physics | Nanotechnology

Anderson localization of light: A little disorder is just right - pp755 - 756

Cefe López

doi:10.1038/nphys1085

As with most things in life, some disorder can cause unexpected new phenomena. But when it comes to disorder-induced Anderson localization of light in a photonic crystal, simulations suggest that moderation may be the best policy.

Full Text - Anderson localization of lightA little disorder is just right | PDF (208 KB) - Anderson localization of lightA little disorder is just right

Subject Category: Optical physics

Simulating a quantum magnet with trapped ions - pp757 - 761

A. Friedenauer, H. Schmitz, J. T. Glueckert, D. Porras & T. Schaetz

doi:10.1038/nphys1032

The observation of controlled adiabatic evolution from paramagnetic into ferromagnetic order in a system made of two trapped ions represents an initial step into the emerging field of quantum simulation.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Simulating a quantum magnet with trapped ions | PDF (306 KB) - Simulating a quantum magnet with trapped ions

Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Atomic and molecular physics

Strong correlations make high-temperature superconductors robust against disorder - pp762 - 765

Arti Garg, Mohit Randeria & Nandini Trivedi

doi:10.1038/nphys1026

Why are the superconducting pairs in high-temperature superconductors so resilient to the presence of disorder? The strong electronic correlations appear to be the answer.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Strong correlations make high-temperature superconductors robust against disorder | PDF (319 KB) - Strong correlations make high-temperature superconductors robust against disorder

Subject Categories: Condensed-matter physics | Materials physics

Spin-glass order induced by dynamic frustration - pp766 - 770

E. A. Goremychkin, R. Osborn, B. D. Rainford, R. T. Macaluso, D. T. Adroja & M. Koza

doi:10.1038/nphys1028

Disorder and geometric frustration usually lead to magnetic spins that point in random directions, as in a spin glass. So how can spin-glass behaviour emerge in a well-ordered system without static frustration? The presence of 'dynamic frustration' may explain the situation.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Spin-glass order induced by dynamic frustration | PDF (543 KB) - Spin-glass order induced by dynamic frustration

Subject Categories: Condensed-matter physics | Statistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamics | Materials physics

Thermodynamic signature of growing amorphous order in glass-forming liquids - pp771 - 775

G. Biroli, J.-P. Bouchaud, A. Cavagna, T. S. Grigera & P. Verrocchio

doi:10.1038/nphys1050

That the dynamical properties of a glass-forming liquid at high temperature are different from behaviour in the supercooled state has already been established. Numerical simulations now suggest that the static length scale over which spatial correlations exist also changes on approaching the glass transition.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Thermodynamic signature of growing amorphous order in glass-forming liquids | PDF (293 KB) - Thermodynamic signature of growing amorphous order in glass-forming liquids | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Statistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamics | Condensed-matter physics

Electrically driven single-electron spin resonance in a slanting Zeeman field - pp776 - 779

M. Pioro-Ladrière, T. Obata, Y. Tokura, Y.-S. Shin, T. Kubo, K. Yoshida, T. Taniyama & S. Tarucha

doi:10.1038/nphys1053

The integration of a micrometre-sized magnet with a semiconductor device has enabled the individual manipulation of two single electron spins. This approach may provide a scalable route for quantum computing with electron spins confined in quantum dots.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Electrically driven single-electron spin resonance in a slanting Zeeman field | PDF (443 KB) - Electrically driven single-electron spin resonance in a slanting Zeeman field | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Electronics, photonics and device physics | Techniques and instrumentation

Ultrafast control of donor-bound electron spins with single detuned optical pulses - pp780 - 784

Kai-Mei C. Fu, Susan M. Clark, Charles Santori, Colin R. Stanley, M. C. Holland & Yoshihisa Yamamoto

doi:10.1038/nphys1052

A technique that controls electron spins using single optical pulses far detuned from the optical transition has been demonstrated. This approach may enable fast spin manipulation in a variety of solid-state systems.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Ultrafast control of donor-bound electron spins with single detuned optical pulses | PDF (431 KB) - Ultrafast control of donor-bound electron spins with single detuned optical pulses

Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Electronics, photonics and device physics | Materials physics

Motion detection of a micromechanical resonator embedded in a d.c. SQUID - pp785 - 788

S. Etaki, M. Poot, I. Mahboob, K. Onomitsu, H. Yamaguchi & H. S. J. van der Zant

doi:10.1038/nphys1057

Superconducting quantum interference devices, or SQUIDs as they are better known, are capable of detecting minute variations in magnetic field. Embedding a suspended beam into the structure of d.c. SQUID enables this sensitivity to be exploited for measuring displacements.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Motion detection of a micromechanical resonator embedded in a d.c. SQUID | PDF (3,975 KB) - Motion detection of a micromechanical resonator embedded in a d.c. SQUID | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Electronics, photonics and device physics

See also: News and Views by Blencowe

Membrane-induced bundling of actin filaments - pp789 - 793

Allen P. Liu, David L. Richmond, Lutz Maibaum, Sander Pronk, Phillip L. Geissler & Daniel A. Fletcher

doi:10.1038/nphys1071

Cells can change shape by reorganizing the actin filaments that make up the cytoskeleton, and this is usually achieved through protein interactions. But it seems that the cell membrane, by virtue of its elasticity, can also influence the bundling of actin filaments.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Membrane-induced bundling of actin filaments | PDF (409 KB) - Membrane-induced bundling of actin filaments | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Biological physics

Dynamic light diffusion, three-dimensional Anderson localization and lasing in inverted opals - pp794 - 798

C. Conti & A. Fratalocchi

doi:10.1038/nphys1035

State-of-the-art simulations of disorder-induced trapping of light in inverted opals provides a basis for a definitive identification, and potential use, of the three-dimensional Anderson localization of light.

Abstract - | Full Text - Dynamic light diffusion, three-dimensional Anderson localization and lasing in inverted opals | PDF (1,533 KB) - Dynamic light diffusion, three-dimensional Anderson localization and lasing in inverted opals

Subject Category: Optical physics

See also: News and Views by López

How to make a bilayer exciton condensate flow - pp799 - 802

Jung-Jung Su & A. H. MacDonald

doi:10.1038/nphys1055

Analysis of how condensation of an ensemble of bilayer excitons reorganizes the low-energy degrees of freedom of its constituent fermions suggests it should be possible to generate a dissipationless superflow in such a system.

Abstract - | Full Text - How to make a bilayer exciton condensate flow | PDF (304 KB) - How to make a bilayer exciton condensate flow

Subject Categories: Condensed-matter physics | Electronics, photonics and device physics

Bias-driven high-power microwave emission from MgO-based tunnel magnetoresistance devices - pp803 - 809

Alina M. Deac, Akio Fukushima, Hitoshi Kubota, Hiroki Maehara, Yoshishige Suzuki, Shinji Yuasa, Yoshinori Nagamine, Koji Tsunekawa, David D. Djayaprawira & Naoki Watanabe

doi:10.1038/nphys1036

Improvements in the microwave output efficiency of MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions brings them a step closer to practical applications and enables greater insight into the physics of spin transfer in such devices.

Abstract - | Full Text - Bias-driven high-power microwave emission from MgO-based tunnel magnetoresistance devices | PDF (867 KB) - Bias-driven high-power microwave emission from MgO-based tunnel magnetoresistance devices | Supplementary information

Subject Category: Electronics, photonics and device physics

High-sensitivity diamond magnetometer with nanoscale resolution - pp810 - 816

J. M. Taylor, P. Cappellaro, L. Childress, L. Jiang, D. Budker, P. R. Hemmer, A. Yacoby, R. Walsworth & M. D. Lukin

doi:10.1038/nphys1075

Impurity centres in diamond have recently attracted attention in the context of quantum information processing. Now their use as magnetic-field sensors is explored, promising a fresh approach to single-spin detection and magnetic-field imaging at the nanoscale.

Abstract - | Full Text - High-sensitivity diamond magnetometer with nanoscale resolution | PDF (1,048 KB) - High-sensitivity diamond magnetometer with nanoscale resolution

Subject Categories: Techniques and instrumentation | Quantum physics | Condensed-matter physics

Linked and knotted beams of light - p817

William T. M. Irvine & Dirk Bouwmeester

doi:10.1038/nphys1087

Full Text - Linked and knotted beams of light | PDF (72 KB) - Linked and knotted beams of light

Seed crystal - p820

Tania Ritchie

doi:10.1038/nphys1089

The perils of research.

Full Text - Seed crystal | PDF (160 KB) - Seed crystal