Things can only get better - p821

doi:10.1038/nphys1115

The Bush administration has failed to engage with science and deliver on funding — that should change under the new President of the United States.

Full Text - Things can only get better | PDF (134 KB) - Things can only get better

US at a crossroads - pp822 - 824

Leo P. Kadanoff

doi:10.1038/nphys1116

Science once enjoyed a close and fruitful relationship with the White House and Capitol Hill — one that must now be rekindled, as a new president and Congress take office.

Full Text - US at a crossroads | PDF (177 KB) - US at a crossroads

Climate of change - p825

Mark Buchanan

doi:10.1038/nphys1117

Full Text - Climate of change | PDF (120 KB) - Climate of change

Presidential advice - pp827 - 828

Robert L. Park reviews Physics for future presidents: the science behind the headlines by Richard A. Muller

doi:10.1038/nphys1118

Full Text - Presidential advice | PDF (162 KB) - Presidential advice

Anniversary: The art of space - p828

doi:10.1038/nphys1132

Full Text - AnniversaryThe art of space | PDF (232 KB) - AnniversaryThe art of space

Like a walk in the park - p829

doi:10.1038/nphys1119

Full Text - Like a walk in the park | PDF (260 KB) - Like a walk in the park

Nobel Prize 2008: Nambu, Kobayashi and Maskawa - p830

Alison Wright

doi:10.1038/nphys1126

The 2008 Nobel Prize for physics has been awarded to Yoichiro Nambu "for the discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics", and to Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa "for the discovery of the origin of the broken symmetry which predicts the existence of at least three families of quarks in nature".

First Paragraph - Nobel Prize 2008: Nambu, Kobayashi and Maskawa | Full Text - Nobel Prize 2008: Nambu, Kobayashi and Maskawa | PDF (70 KB) - Nobel Prize 2008: Nambu, Kobayashi and Maskawa

Nanomagnetism: A matter of orientation - pp831 - 832

M. Alexander Schneider

doi:10.1038/nphys1120

Detailed investigation of a single atomic spin on a surface reveals that its Kondo interaction with the substrate electrons depends strongly on the spin's relative orientation.

Full Text - NanomagnetismA matter of orientation | PDF (277 KB) - NanomagnetismA matter of orientation

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

Artificial spin ice: Increasingly frustrated - p832

Andreas Trabesinger

doi:10.1038/nphys1114

Full Text - Artificial spin iceIncreasingly frustrated | PDF (210 KB) - Artificial spin iceIncreasingly frustrated

Subject Categories: Condensed-matter physics | Nanotechnology

Quantum entanglement: Reversible path to thermodynamics - pp833 - 834

Micha Horodecki

doi:10.1038/nphys1123

The theory of quantum entanglement shares a number of analogies with the laws of thermodynamics, but still there are some differences. New results reveal a more complete thermodynamic structure behind entanglement.

Full Text - Quantum entanglementReversible path to thermodynamics | PDF (116 KB) - Quantum entanglementReversible path to thermodynamics

Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Statistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamics

Quantum many-body theory: Divide, perturb and conquer - pp834 - 835

Michael M. Wolf

doi:10.1038/nphys1124

A fresh take on perturbation theory allows quantum-mechanical interactions to be simplified, while preserving low-energy properties, and deepens understanding of the complexity of quantum systems.

Full Text - Quantum many-body theoryDivide, perturb and conquer | PDF (184 KB) - Quantum many-body theoryDivide, perturb and conquer

Subject Category: Quantum physics

Particle physics: Don't discount the tachyon! - p835

Alison Wright

doi:10.1038/nphys1113

Full Text - Particle physicsDon't discount the tachyon! | PDF (163 KB) - Particle physicsDon't discount the tachyon!

Subject Category: Particle physics

Semiconductor spintronics: Snapshots of spins separating - pp836 - 837

Mathias Duckheim & Daniel Loss

doi:10.1038/nphys1121

Theories of the spin Hall effect suggest that spin currents generated by electric fields accumulate spin polarization at the sample edges. Now an experiment has observed this conversion in real time.

Full Text - Semiconductor spintronicsSnapshots of spins separating | PDF (146 KB) - Semiconductor spintronicsSnapshots of spins separating

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

Metal spintronics: Electronics free of charge - pp837 - 838

Claude Chappert & Joo-Von Kim

doi:10.1038/nphys1122

For nearly two decades physicists have been learning to incorporate spin into conventional electronics. Now they may be one step closer to devices that use only flow of spins, but not of charges.

Full Text - Metal spintronicsElectronics free of charge | PDF (143 KB) - Metal spintronicsElectronics free of charge

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

Deterministic entanglement swapping with an ion-trap quantum computer - pp839 - 842

M. Riebe, T. Monz, K. Kim, A. S. Villar, P. Schindler, M. Chwalla, M. Hennrich & R. Blatt

doi:10.1038/nphys1107

Entanglement swapping—a protocol for entangling remote quantum systems without the requirement of direct interaction between them—has been implemented in a completely deterministic fashion, allowing to prepare well-defined entangled states on demand.

First Paragraph - Deterministic entanglement swapping with an ion-trap quantum computer | Full Text - Deterministic entanglement swapping with an ion-trap quantum computer | PDF (261 KB) - Deterministic entanglement swapping with an ion-trap quantum computer

Subject Categories: Atomic and molecular physics | Quantum physics | Information theory and computation

Time-resolved dynamics of the spin Hall effect - pp843 - 846

N. P. Stern, D. W. Steuerman, S. Mack, A. C. Gossard & D. D. Awschalom

doi:10.1038/nphys1076

When current is passed through certain semiconductors or metals, spins of opposite sign accumulate on opposing boundaries. The phenomenon is known as the spin Hall effect, and now, for the first time, its dynamics has been measured directly.

First Paragraph - Time-resolved dynamics of the spin Hall effect | Full Text - Time-resolved dynamics of the spin Hall effect | PDF (440 KB) - Time-resolved dynamics of the spin Hall effect

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

See also: News and Views by Duckheim & Loss

The role of magnetic anisotropy in the Kondo effect - pp847 - 850

Alexander F. Otte, Markus Ternes, Kirsten von Bergmann, Sebastian Loth, Harald Brune, Christopher P. Lutz, Cyrus F. Hirjibehedin & Andreas J. Heinrich

doi:10.1038/nphys1072

Localized magnetic moments on surfaces can be screened through the Kondo effect by forming a correlated system with the surrounding conduction electrons. Measurements now show that the orientation of the magnetic moment's spin relative to the surface has a decisive role in the physics of Kondo screening.

First Paragraph - The role of magnetic anisotropy in the Kondo effect | Full Text - The role of magnetic anisotropy in the Kondo effect | PDF (417 KB) - The role of magnetic anisotropy in the Kondo effect

Subject Categories: Polymer physics | Nanotechnology

See also: News and Views by Schneider

Giant spin-accumulation signal and pure spin-current-induced reversible magnetization switching - pp851 - 854

Tao Yang, Takashi Kimura & Yoshichika Otani

doi:10.1038/nphys1095

A key element in spintronics is the spin-transfer effect, by which the magnetization in a nanomagnet can be switched. The effect has already been demonstrated using spin-polarized electrical currents, but now reversible magnetization switching has been achieved using a pure, chargeless spin current.

First Paragraph - Giant spin-accumulation signal and pure spin-current-induced reversible magnetization switching | Full Text - Giant spin-accumulation signal and pure spin-current-induced reversible magnetization switching | PDF (288 KB) - Giant spin-accumulation signal and pure spin-current-induced reversible magnetization switching

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

See also: News and Views by Chappert & Kim

Control of speed and efficiency of ultrafast demagnetization by direct transfer of spin angular momentum - pp855 - 858

G. Malinowski, F. Dalla Longa, J. H. H. Rietjens, P. V. Paluskar, R. Huijink, H. J. M. Swagten & B. Koopmans

doi:10.1038/nphys1092

Separating two ferromagnetic layers with an appropriately chosen spacing layer enables the transfer of spin between the two, which increases the speed and degree of demagnetization induced by a laser pulse.

First Paragraph - Control of speed and efficiency of ultrafast demagnetization by direct transfer of spin angular momentum | Full Text - Control of speed and efficiency of ultrafast demagnetization by direct transfer of spin angular momentum | PDF (558 KB) - Control of speed and efficiency of ultrafast demagnetization by direct transfer of spin angular momentum | Supplementary information

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

Coherent generation of non-classical light on a chip via photon-induced tunnelling and blockade - pp859 - 863

Andrei Faraon, Ilya Fushman, Dirk Englund, Nick Stoltz, Pierre Petroff & Jelena Vukovi

doi:10.1038/nphys1078

Analysis of the optical characteristics of a chip-based photonic crystal cavity embedded with a quantum dot demonstrates the occurrence of both photon tunnelling and photon blockade phenomena. Such behaviour could prove useful in the development of single-photon transistors and detectors.

First Paragraph - Coherent generation of non-classical light on a chip via photon-induced tunnelling and blockade | Full Text - Coherent generation of non-classical light on a chip via photon-induced tunnelling and blockade | PDF (336 KB) - Coherent generation of non-classical light on a chip via photon-induced tunnelling and blockade

Subject Categories: Electronics, photonics and device physics | Optical physics

Quantum-inspired interferometry with chirped laser pulses - pp864 - 868

R. Kaltenbaek, J. Lavoie, D. N. Biggerstaff & K. J. Resch

doi:10.1038/nphys1093

The precision of various interferometric measurements can be enhanced by using entangled states of light. Now an experiment demonstrates that all the metrological advantages of the famed Hong–Ou–Mandel quantum interferometer can be realized even with purely classical light.

First Paragraph - Quantum-inspired interferometry with chirped laser pulses | Full Text - Quantum-inspired interferometry with chirped laser pulses | PDF (597 KB) - Quantum-inspired interferometry with chirped laser pulses

Subject Categories: Optical physics | Techniques and instrumentation

Optical nanotomography of anisotropic fluids - pp869 - 872

Antonio De Luca, Valentin Barna, Timothy J. Atherton, Giovanni Carbone, Matthew E. Sousa & Charles Rosenblatt

doi:10.1038/nphys1077

A technique that combines ideas taken from conventional scanning near-field optical microscopy and medical tomography enables structures within an anisotropic fluid to be imaged in 3D with sub-wavelength resolution.

First Paragraph - Optical nanotomography of anisotropic fluids | Full Text - Optical nanotomography of anisotropic fluids | PDF (689 KB) - Optical nanotomography of anisotropic fluids | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Optical physics | Fluid dynamics | Techniques and instrumentation

Entanglement theory and the second law of thermodynamics - pp873 - 877

Fernando G. S. L. Brandão & Martin B. Plenio

doi:10.1038/nphys1100

It is already known that the theory of quantum entanglement shares some analogies with the laws of thermodynamics. Now a rigorous and general link between the two fields has been established.

Abstract - Entanglement theory and the second law of thermodynamics | Full Text - Entanglement theory and the second law of thermodynamics | PDF (303 KB) - Entanglement theory and the second law of thermodynamics

Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Statistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamics

See also: News and Views by Horodecki

Quantum states and phases in driven open quantum systems with cold atoms - pp878 - 883

S. Diehl, A. Micheli, A. Kantian, B. Kraus, H. P. Büchler & P. Zoller

doi:10.1038/nphys1073

The coupling of a quantum system to its environment is usually associated with the unwanted effect of decoherence. But theoretical work shows that with suitably engineered couplings, dissipation can drive a system of cold atoms into desired many-body states and quantum phases.

Abstract - Quantum states and phases in driven open quantum systems with cold atoms | Full Text - Quantum states and phases in driven open quantum systems with cold atoms | PDF (353 KB) - Quantum states and phases in driven open quantum systems with cold atoms | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Fluid dynamics | Atomic and molecular physics

Crystallization of strongly interacting photons in a nonlinear optical fibre - pp884 - 889

D. E. Chang, V. Gritsev, G. Morigi, V. Vuleti, M. D. Lukin & E. A. Demler

doi:10.1038/nphys1074

Interactions between photons are typically extremely weak. But when light pulses are confined to an optical waveguide and manipulated with nearby cold atoms, strongly interacting photons can be created that may even undergo crystallization, as is now shown theoretically.

Abstract - Crystallization of strongly interacting photons in a nonlinear optical fibre | Full Text - Crystallization of strongly interacting photons in a nonlinear optical fibre | PDF (347 KB) - Crystallization of strongly interacting photons in a nonlinear optical fibre | Supplementary information

Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Atomic and molecular physics | Optical physics

A giant electro-optic effect using polarizable dark states - pp890 - 894

Ashok K. Mohapatra, Mark G. Bason, Björn Butscher, Kevin J. Weatherill & Charles S. Adams

doi:10.1038/nphys1091

Coupling of the Rydberg states of an ensemble of rubidium atoms gives rise to a d.c. Kerr effect that is six orders of magnitude greater than in conventional Kerr media. Such phenomena could enable the development of high-precision electric field sensors and other nonlinear optical devices.

Abstract - A giant electro-optic effect using polarizable dark states | Full Text - A giant electro-optic effect using polarizable dark states | PDF (570 KB) - A giant electro-optic effect using polarizable dark states

Subject Categories: Optical physics | Electronics, photonics and device physics | Atomic and molecular physics

A safe or hopeful future - p896

Lee Gimenez

doi:10.1038/nphys1125

Politics can be hard to swallow.

Full Text - A safe or hopeful future | PDF (166 KB) - A safe or hopeful future