Table of contents
May 2008, Volume 4 No 5 pp337-428
About the coverEditorial
Media star - p337
doi:10.1038/nphys945
Physics is a hit on the small screen, in US comedy The Big Bang Theory, and takes a leading role in this month's World Science Fair.
Thesis
Laws, power laws and statistics - p339
Mark Buchanan
doi:10.1038/nphys946
Full Text - Laws, power laws and statistics | PDF (123 KB) - Laws, power laws and statistics
Books and Arts
That extra dimension - p341
Henry Gee reviews Flatland: The movie
doi:10.1038/nphys947
Full Text - That extra dimension | PDF (169 KB) - That extra dimension
Research Highlights
Good vibrations - p343
doi:10.1038/nphys948
Full Text - Good vibrations | PDF (269 KB) - Good vibrations
News and Views
Random organization: Ordered chaos - pp345 - 346
Daan Frenkel
doi:10.1038/nphys973
Although a driven colloidal suspension is not at equilibrium, a systematic study shows that such a system can still undergo a phase transition — albeit to a randomly organized state.
Full Text - Random organizationOrdered chaos | PDF (149 KB) - Random organizationOrdered chaos
Subject Categories: Statistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamics | Condensed-matter physics
Cavity QED: Signs of anharmonicity - pp346 - 347
Howard Carmichael
doi:10.1038/nphys953
The energy of an atom binding one photon in a cavity can be derived classically. But when two photons are bound to the atom, signatures of light quantization appear in the spectrum. These have now been observed in the optical domain.
Full Text - Cavity qedSigns of anharmonicity | PDF (210 KB) - Cavity qedSigns of anharmonicity
Subject Categories: Atomic and molecular physics | Optical physics | Quantum physics
Solar wind: Thar she blows - p347
May Chiao
doi:10.1038/nphys949
Full Text - Solar windThar she blows | PDF (170 KB) - Solar windThar she blows
Subject Categories: Astrophysics | Plasma physics
Condensed matter: An insulator with a twist - pp348 - 349
Charles L. Kane
doi:10.1038/nphys955
Experiment has now proved the existence of the predicted three-dimensional 'topological insulator' in the semiconducting alloy Bi1- xSbx.
Full Text - Condensed matterAn insulator with a twist | PDF (289 KB) - Condensed matterAn insulator with a twist
Subject Category: Condensed-matter physics
History of quantum mechanics: The path to agreement - p349
Andreas Trabesinger
doi:10.1038/nphys950
Full Text - History of quantum mechanicsThe path to agreement | PDF (230 KB) - History of quantum mechanicsThe path to agreement
Subject Categories: Quantum physics | Other physics
Attosecond physics: Ultrafast goes ultralong - pp350 - 351
John W. G. Tisch
doi:10.1038/nphys957
A systematic study of ionization and high harmonic generation in strong laser fields at long wavelengths confirms predictions made 40 years ago, and has important implications for the development of attosecond light sources.
Full Text - Attosecond physicsUltrafast goes ultralong | PDF (174 KB) - Attosecond physicsUltrafast goes ultralong
Subject Categories: Optical physics | Atomic and molecular physics
X-Ray optics: Clarity through a keyhole - pp351 - 353
Janos Hajdu & Filipe R. N. C. Maia
doi:10.1038/nphys952
The requirement for an object to be surrounded by empty space when imaged by coherent X-ray diffraction was once thought to be a fundamental limitation. A variant of coherent diffractive imaging proves this not to be the case, and substantially widens its potential use.
Full Text - X-Ray opticsClarity through a keyhole | PDF (242 KB) - X-Ray opticsClarity through a keyhole
Subject Categories: Optical physics | Techniques and instrumentation
Neutron stars: A magnetar by another name - pp353 - 355
Fernando Camilo
doi:10.1038/nphys956
Is a rotating neutron star powered by rotational energy loss or by magnetic-field decay? The answer seems to be yes.
Full Text - Neutron starsA magnetar by another name | PDF (501 KB) - Neutron starsA magnetar by another name
Subject Category: Astrophysics
John Wheeler: Three ages of man - p355
Richard Webb
doi:10.1038/nphys951
Full Text - John wheelerThree ages of man | PDF (240 KB) - John wheelerThree ages of man
Subject Categories: Astrophysics | Particle physics | Other physics
Radiation sources: Electrons and lasers sing THz tune - pp356 - 357
Gwyn P. Williams
doi:10.1038/nphys958
Control over the distribution of electrons in a relativistic particle beam enables the realization of a bright, narrow, tunable source of terahertz radiation.
Full Text - Radiation sourcesElectrons and lasers sing THz tune | PDF (556 KB) - Radiation sourcesElectrons and lasers sing THz tune
Subject Categories: Optical physics | Particle physics | Techniques and instrumentation
Review Article
The physics and applications of random lasers - pp359 - 367
Diederik S. Wiersma
doi:10.1038/nphys971
Lasing in disordered media presents both theoretical challenges and practical opportunities.
Abstract - | Full Text - The physics and applications of random lasers | PDF (1,128 KB) - The physics and applications of random lasers
Subject Categories: Electronics, photonics and device physics | Optical physics
Letters
Probing vortex-core dynamics using current-induced resonant excitation of a trapped domain wall - pp368 - 372
Rai Moriya, Luc Thomas, Masamitsu Hayashi, Yaroslaw B. Bazaliy, Charles Rettner & Stuart S. P. Parkin
doi:10.1038/nphys936
A magnetic vortex trapped by a notch in a nanowire is no larger than 10 nm, but both the direction and polarity of the vortex can now be measured without applying a magnetic field. In this set-up, the vortex is therefore both stable and switchable for use in possible device applications.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Probing vortex-core dynamics using current-induced resonant excitation of a trapped domain wall | PDF (610 KB) - Probing vortex-core dynamics using current-induced resonant excitation of a trapped domain wall | Supplementary information
Subject Categories: Condensed-matter physics | Nanotechnology | Materials physics
Electric-field-controlled spin reversal in a quantum dot with ferromagnetic contacts - pp373 - 376
J. R. Hauptmann, J. Paaske & P. E. Lindelof
doi:10.1038/nphys931
Electric-field induced control of the magnetic ground state of a carbon nanotube quantum dot enables the orientation of injected spins to be reversed without using an external magnetic field.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Electric-field-controlled spin reversal in a quantum dot with ferromagnetic contacts | PDF (483 KB) - Electric-field-controlled spin reversal in a quantum dot with ferromagnetic contacts | Supplementary information
Subject Categories: Electronics, photonics and device physics | Nanotechnology
Charged-impurity scattering in graphene - pp377 - 381
J.-H. Chen, C. Jang, S. Adam, M. S. Fuhrer, E. D. Williams & M. Ishigami
doi:10.1038/nphys935
Valuable insight into the influence of scattering from impurities on the peculiar electronic properties of graphene are gained by a systematic study of how its conductivity changes with increasing concentration of potassium ions deposited on its surface.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Charged-impurity scattering in graphene | PDF (359 KB) - Charged-impurity scattering in graphene | Supplementary information
Subject Categories: Electronics, photonics and device physics | Condensed-matter physics | Nanotechnology
Nonlinear spectroscopy of photons bound to one atom - pp382 - 385
I. Schuster, A. Kubanek, A. Fuhrmanek, T. Puppe, P. W. H. Pinkse, K. Murr & G. Rempe
doi:10.1038/nphys940
Nonlinear optics traditionally involves macroscopic atomic ensembles or solid-state crystals. The observation of a nonlinear two-photon resonance in a system consisting of one single atom trapped inside an optical cavity demonstrates nonlinear optics at the level of individual quanta.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Nonlinear spectroscopy of photons bound to one atom | PDF (402 KB) - Nonlinear spectroscopy of photons bound to one atom | Supplementary information
Subject Categories: Atomic and molecular physics | Optical physics
See also: News and Views by Carmichael
Scaling strong-field interactions towards the classical limit - pp386 - 389
P. Colosimo, G. Doumy, C. I. Blaga, J. Wheeler, C. Hauri, F. Catoire, J. Tate, R. Chirla, A. M. March, G. G. Paulus, H. G. Muller, P. Agostini & L. F. DiMauro
doi:10.1038/nphys914
A systematic experimental study of the ionization of argon by mid-infrared light confirms half-a-century-old predictions and paves the way to the development of brighter, shorter attosecond pulse sources.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Scaling strong-field interactions towards the classical limit | PDF (334 KB) - Scaling strong-field interactions towards the classical limit
Subject Categories: Optical physics | Atomic and molecular physics
See also: News and Views by Tisch
Tunable narrowband terahertz emission from mastered laser–electron beam interaction - pp390 - 393
S. Bielawski, C. Evain, T. Hara, M. Hosaka, M. Katoh, S. Kimura, A. Mochihashi, M. Shimada, C. Szwaj, T. Takahashi & Y. Takashima
doi:10.1038/nphys916
A tunable source of coherent narrowband terahertz radiation is realized by using a laser to modulate the emission characteristics of a relativistic electron beam.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Tunable narrowband terahertz emission from mastered laser–electron beam interaction | PDF (343 KB) - Tunable narrowband terahertz emission from mastered laser–electron beam interaction
Subject Categories: Optical physics | Particle physics | Techniques and instrumentation
See also: News and Views by Williams
Keyhole coherent diffractive imaging - pp394 - 398
Brian Abbey, Keith A. Nugent, Garth J. Williams, Jesse N. Clark, Andrew G. Peele, Mark A. Pfeifer, Martin de Jonge & Ian McNulty
doi:10.1038/nphys896
A powerful coherent diffractive X-ray imaging technique could enable next generation synchrotrons and free-electron lasers to study much larger samples than previously thought possible.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Keyhole coherent diffractive imaging | PDF (1,662 KB) - Keyhole coherent diffractive imaging | Supplementary information
Subject Categories: Optical physics | Techniques and instrumentation
See also: News and Views by Hajdu & Maia
Three-dimensional imaging of magnetic fields with polarized neutrons - pp399 - 403
Nikolay Kardjilov, Ingo Manke, Markus Strobl, André Hilger, Wolfgang Treimer, Michael Meissner, Thomas Krist & John Banhart
doi:10.1038/nphys912
Spin-polarized neutrons are sensitive to magnetic fields, and they can relatively easily penetrate through matter. A new imaging technique uses these two properties for mapping the three-dimensional distribution of magnetic fields inside massive objects.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - Three-dimensional imaging of magnetic fields with polarized neutrons | PDF (558 KB) - Three-dimensional imaging of magnetic fields with polarized neutrons | Supplementary information
Subject Category: Techniques and instrumentation
A thermodynamic unification of jamming - pp404 - 407
Kevin Lu, E. E. Brodsky & H. P. Kavehpour
doi:10.1038/nphys934
Grains, foams and colloids can behave as liquids or solids. Their flow is difficult to predict, often jamming. Such systems are far from equilibrium but there may now be a thermodynamic framework for granular media.
First Paragraph - | Full Text - A thermodynamic unification of jamming | PDF (632 KB) - A thermodynamic unification of jamming
Subject Categories: Statistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamics | Condensed-matter physics | Materials physics
Articles
d-wave duality and its reflections in high-temperature superconductors - pp408 - 414
Zlatko Te
anovi
doi:10.1038/nphys910
There are two major theories regarding the normal state of a high-temperature superconductor: that the 'pseudogap' state is either a disordered superconductor or a distinct and competing phase. But could it be both?
Abstract - | Full Text - d-wave duality and its reflections in high-temperature superconductors | PDF (603 KB) - d-wave duality and its reflections in high-temperature superconductors
Subject Category: Condensed-matter physics
Resolved-sideband cooling of a micromechanical oscillator - pp415 - 419
A. Schliesser, R. Rivière, G. Anetsberger, O. Arcizet & T. J. Kippenberg
doi:10.1038/nphys939
Laser-driven resolved sideband cooling of the resonant vibrational mode of a toroidal microcavity represents another step towards reaching the quantum ground state.
Abstract - | Full Text - Resolved-sideband cooling of a micromechanical oscillator | PDF (1,486 KB) - Resolved-sideband cooling of a micromechanical oscillator | Supplementary information
Subject Categories: Electronics, photonics and device physics | Optical physics
Random organization in periodically driven systems - pp420 - 424
Laurent Corté, P. M. Chaikin, J. P. Gollub & D. J. Pine
doi:10.1038/nphys891
Random collisions between particles usually generate disorder in a system. But under certain conditions, particles in suspended in a liquid subjected to periodic shear forces can collide in a way that leads to fewer subsequent collisions and less disorder.
Abstract - | Full Text - Random organization in periodically driven systems | PDF (465 KB) - Random organization in periodically driven systems | Supplementary information
Subject Category: Statistical physics, thermodynamics and nonlinear dynamics
See also: News and Views by Frenkel
Futures
Everything we know is wrong - p428
Jeff Crook
doi:10.1038/nphys960
Change is not always for the best.
Full Text - Everything we know is wrong | PDF (181 KB) - Everything we know is wrong