Advance online publication
The latest research papers, published online ahead of print. These online versions are definitive and may be cited using the digital object identifier (DOI).
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Metal–insulator transitions: The problem with spins
Denis Jérome
Published online: 18 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1452
The metal–insulator Mott transition, which has been extensively studied by means of charge transport, is now detected through the electron spins in a two-dimensional organic conductor.
Full Text - Metal–insulator transitionsThe problem with spins | PDF (286 KB) - Metal–insulator transitionsThe problem with spins
Letters
Realization of a programmable two-qubit quantum processor
D. Hanneke, J. P. Home, J. D. Jost, J. M. Amini, D. Leibfried & D. J. Wineland
Published online: 15 November 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1453
A simple programmable quantum processor has been created using trapped atomic ions. The system can be programmed with 15 classical inputs to produce any unitary operation on two qubits. This trapped-ion approach is amenable to scaling up for creating more complex circuits.
First Paragraph - Realization of a programmable two-qubit quantum processor | Full Text - Realization of a programmable two-qubit quantum processor | PDF (918 KB) - Realization of a programmable two-qubit quantum processor | Supplementary information
Experimental probing of the interplay between ferromagnetism and localization in (Ga, Mn)As
Maciej Sawicki, Daichi Chiba, Anna Korbecka, Yu Nishitani, Jacek A. Majewski, Fumihiro Matsukura, Tomasz Dietl & Hideo Ohno
Published online: 15 November 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1455
The transition from a ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic state is observed directly as the density of carriers that mediate spin–spin coupling is varied. The measurement was performed on thin films of GaMnAs and was made possible by superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDS).
First Paragraph - Experimental probing of the interplay between ferromagnetism and localization in (Ga, Mn)As | Full Text - Experimental probing of the interplay between ferromagnetism and localization in (Ga, Mn)As | PDF (1,926 KB) - Experimental probing of the interplay between ferromagnetism and localization in (Ga, Mn)As | Supplementary information
Non-adiabatic spin-torques in narrow magnetic domain walls
C. Burrowes, A. P. Mihai, D. Ravelosona, J.-V. Kim, C. Chappert, L. Vila, A. Marty, Y. Samson, F. Garcia-Sanchez, L. D. Buda-Prejbeanu, I. Tudosa, E. E. Fullerton & J.-P. Attané
Published online: 08 November 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1436
There is considerable debate over the size and direction of the non-adiabatic component of the spin-torque generated when a current flows across a domain wall in a ferromagnet. Measurements of this property in a wall just 1–10 nm wide suggest its value is small, arising from purely magnetic dissipation mechanisms.
First Paragraph - Non-adiabatic spin-torques in narrow magnetic domain walls | Full Text - Non-adiabatic spin-torques in narrow magnetic domain walls | PDF (2,452 KB) - Non-adiabatic spin-torques in narrow magnetic domain walls | Supplementary information
Melting temperature of diamond at ultrahigh pressure
J. H. Eggert, D. G. Hicks, P. M. Celliers, D. K. Bradley, R. S. McWilliams, R. Jeanloz, J. E. Miller, T. R. Boehly & G. W. Collins
Published online: 08 November 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1438
Measurements of the melting point of diamond at pressures of around 10 million atm suggest it could be present in crystalline form in the interiors of giant planets. At even higher pressures and temperatures about 50,000 K, diamond melts to form an unexpectedly complex, polymer-like fluid phase.
First Paragraph - Melting temperature of diamond at ultrahigh pressure | Full Text - Melting temperature of diamond at ultrahigh pressure | PDF (4,455 KB) - Melting temperature of diamond at ultrahigh pressure | Supplementary information
Nernst effect and dimensionality in the quantum limit
Zengwei Zhu, Huan Yang, Benoît Fauqué, Yakov Kopelevich & Kamran Behnia
Published online: 08 November 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1437
The Nernst effect—the generation of a transverse electric field in a system subject to a longitudinal temperature gradient and perpendicular magnetic field—is increasingly used as a probe of a material's electronic structure. The discovery of an unexpected Nernst response in graphite establishes the role of dimensionality on this effect, and enables the individual contributions of bulk and surface to be distinguished.
First Paragraph - Nernst effect and dimensionality in the quantum limit | Full Text - Nernst effect and dimensionality in the quantum limit | PDF (1,523 KB) - Nernst effect and dimensionality in the quantum limit | Supplementary information
Non-equilibrium edge-channel spectroscopy in the integer quantum Hall regime
C. Altimiras, H. le Sueur, U. Gennser, A. Cavanna, D. Mailly & F. Pierre
Published online: 25 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1429
Gapless edge-state excitations known as one-dimensional chiral fermions explain many experimental observations of the behaviour of integer quantum Hall systems. But prevailing theory suggests the emergence of extra edge states as well. A new spectroscopic technique for probing the flow of energy in the edge channels of a quantum Hall device finds no loss of energy to such extra states.
First Paragraph - Non-equilibrium edge-channel spectroscopy in the integer quantum Hall regime | Full Text - Non-equilibrium edge-channel spectroscopy in the integer quantum Hall regime | PDF (1,134 KB) - Non-equilibrium edge-channel spectroscopy in the integer quantum Hall regime | Supplementary information
Bias-voltage dependence of perpendicular spin-transfer torque in asymmetric MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions
Se-Chung Oh, Seung-Young Park, Aurélien Manchon, Mairbek Chshiev, Jae-Ho Han, Hyun-Woo Lee, Jang-Eun Lee, Kyung-Tae Nam, Younghun Jo, Yo-Chan Kong, Bernard Dieny & Kyung-Jin Lee
Published online: 25 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1427
Spin-transfer torque allows the magnetization of nanopillar devices to be switched electrically. Incorporating asymmetries into the design of such a device generates a linear out-of-plane torque component that could help prevent the unwanted spontaneous reversal of the nanopillar's magnetization.
First Paragraph - Bias-voltage dependence of perpendicular spin-transfer torque in asymmetric MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions | Full Text - Bias-voltage dependence of perpendicular spin-transfer torque in asymmetric MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions | PDF (1,390 KB) - Bias-voltage dependence of perpendicular spin-transfer torque in asymmetric MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions | Supplementary information
Superconductivity in a single-C60 transistor
Clemens B. Winkelmann, Nicolas Roch, Wolfgang Wernsdorfer, Vincent Bouchiat & Franck Balestro
Published online: 25 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1433
Single-molecule transistors have enabled studies of magnetism and other correlated nanoscale behaviour, but superconductivity has not been observed with this approach. It is now shown that superconducting junctions on both sides of a C60 molecule induce superconductivity across the whole device.
First Paragraph - Superconductivity in a single-C: 60: transistor | Full Text - Superconductivity in a single-C60 transistor | PDF (835 KB) - Superconductivity in a single-C60 transistor | Supplementary information
Magnetic Mott criticality in a 
-type organic salt probed by NMR
Fumitaka Kagawa, Kazuya Miyagawa & Kazushi Kanoda
Published online: 18 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1428
The Mott transition between an insulator and a metal can be tuned by applying pressure, which affects the electronic correlations. In an insulating organic salt, NMR studies reveal that the spin fluctuations are suppressed whereas the conductance is enhanced by the same critical exponent as pressure drives the insulator into a bad metal.
First Paragraph - Magnetic Mott criticality in a : [kappa]: -type organic salt probed by NMR | Full Text - Magnetic Mott criticality in a 
-type organic salt probed by NMR | PDF (1,449 KB) - Magnetic Mott criticality in a -type organic salt probed by NMR |
Supplementary information
A universal relationship between magnetic resonance and superconducting gap in unconventional superconductors
G. Yu, Y. Li, E. M. Motoyama & M. Greven
Published online: 18 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1426
A comprehensive survey of the cuprate, heavy-fermion and iron-based superconductors shows a universal linear relationship between their magnetic resonance energy and superconducting gap. This result suggests that antiferromagnetic fluctuations might play a similar role in the unconventional superconductivity of these seemingly different classes of materials.
First Paragraph - A universal relationship between magnetic resonance and superconducting gap in unconventional superconductors | Full Text - A universal relationship between magnetic resonance and superconducting gap in unconventional superconductors | PDF (563 KB) - A universal relationship between magnetic resonance and superconducting gap in unconventional superconductors | Supplementary information
Spin-resolved quantum interference in graphene
Mark B. Lundeberg & Joshua A. Folk
Published online: 11 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1421
Graphene is expected to possess characteristics that are particularly useful for transporting and manipulating electronic spin. The discovery of spin-dependent interference features in its electrical characteristics could be useful in the development of graphene spintronics.
First Paragraph - Spin-resolved quantum interference in graphene | Full Text - Spin-resolved quantum interference in graphene | PDF (1,662 KB) - Spin-resolved quantum interference in graphene | Supplementary information
Effect of covalent bonding on magnetism and the missing neutron intensity in copper oxide compounds
Andrew C. Walters, Toby G. Perring, Jean-Sébastien Caux, Andrei T. Savici, Genda D. Gu, Chi-Cheng Lee, Wei Ku & Igor A. Zaliznyak
Published online: 04 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1405
A study of a one-dimensional system may have finally resolved the long-standing discrepancy between the expected and measured inelastic neutron scattering intensities in the high-temperature cuprate superconductors.
First Paragraph - Effect of covalent bonding on magnetism and the missing neutron intensity in copper oxide compounds | Full Text - Effect of covalent bonding on magnetism and the missing neutron intensity in copper oxide compounds | PDF (8,445 KB) - Effect of covalent bonding on magnetism and the missing neutron intensity in copper oxide compounds
Elastically driven anisotropic percolation in electronic phase-separated manganites
T. Z. Ward, J. D. Budai, Z. Gai, J. Z. Tischler, Lifeng Yin & J. Shen
Published online: 04 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1419
Complex oxide films are highly anisotropic in the way they conduct electricity, which is due to phase separation. However, the origin of this metal–insulator phase coexistence has been unclear. Transport measurements now show that strain, rather than chemical inhomogeneity, is mainly responsible.
First Paragraph - Elastically driven anisotropic percolation in electronic phase-separated manganites | Full Text - Elastically driven anisotropic percolation in electronic phase-separated manganites | PDF (544 KB) - Elastically driven anisotropic percolation in electronic phase-separated manganites | Supplementary information
Broken-symmetry states and divergent resistance in suspended bilayer graphene
Benjamin E. Feldman, Jens Martin & Amir Yacoby
Published online: 27 September 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1406
The presence of disorder makes it difficult to determine the intrinsic properties of graphene in its ideal form. Measurements of high-quality bilayer graphene flakes suspended above a substrate identify the persistence of quantum Hall behaviour at magnetic fields an order of magnitude lower than seen before, and previously unseen symmetry breaking of the lowest Landau level is also observed.
First Paragraph - Broken-symmetry states and divergent resistance in suspended bilayer graphene | Full Text - Broken-symmetry states and divergent resistance in suspended bilayer graphene | PDF (1,802 KB) - Broken-symmetry states and divergent resistance in suspended bilayer graphene | Supplementary information
Energy gaps and a zero-field quantum Hall effect in graphene by strain engineering
F. Guinea, M. I. Katsnelson & A. K. Geim
Published online: 27 September 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1420
Owing to the fact that graphene is just one atom thick, it has been suggested that it might be possible to control its properties by subjecting it to mechanical strain. New analysis indicates not only this, but that pseudomagnetic behaviour and even zero-field quantum Hall effects could be induced in graphene under realistic amounts of strain.
First Paragraph - Energy gaps and a zero-field quantum Hall effect in graphene by strain engineering | Full Text - Energy gaps and a zero-field quantum Hall effect in graphene by strain engineering | PDF (795 KB) - Energy gaps and a zero-field quantum Hall effect in graphene by strain engineering | Supplementary information
Articles
Quantum oscillations from Fermi arcs
T. Pereg-Barnea, H. Weber, G. Refael & M. Franz
Published online: 01 November 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1431
Quantum oscillations in metals are a signature of electrons travelling in closed orbits in a magnetic field. Could such oscillations occur in the absence of closed orbits, as seems to be the case for the copper oxide superconductors that have arc-like segments instead of closed Fermi surfaces?
Abstract - Quantum oscillations from Fermi arcs | Full Text - Quantum oscillations from Fermi arcs | PDF (974 KB) - Quantum oscillations from Fermi arcs | Supplementary information
A universal origin for secondary relaxations in supercooled liquids and structural glasses
Jacob D. Stevenson & Peter G. Wolynes
Published online: 01 November 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1432
In a glassy system, a distribution of relaxation times indicates a system that continues to rearrange itself. Besides the main relaxations involved in the glass transition, there are faster dynamics associated with secondary relaxations, which are predicted to reconfigure structures that are stringy rather than tightly clustered.
Abstract - A universal origin for secondary relaxations in supercooled liquids and structural glasses | Full Text - A universal origin for secondary relaxations in supercooled liquids and structural glasses | PDF (1,031 KB) - A universal origin for secondary relaxations in supercooled liquids and structural glasses
Controlling X-rays with light
T. E. Glover, M. P. Hertlein, S. H. Southworth, T. K. Allison, J. van Tilborg, E. P. Kanter, B. Krässig, H. R. Varma, B. Rude, R. Santra, A. Belkacem & L. Young
Published online: 25 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1430
Intense optical beams can alter the way that a material interacts with X-ray radiation. This is now demonstrated by experiments that use femtosecond laser pulses to affect inner-shell processes in neon atoms, increasing the transmission of X-rays. This could allow imprinting of optical pulse trains onto much longer X-ray pulses.
Abstract - Controlling X-rays with light | Full Text - Controlling X-rays with light | PDF (1,814 KB) - Controlling X-rays with light
Anisotropic magneto-Coulomb effects and magnetic single-electron-transistor action in a single nanoparticle
Anne Bernand-Mantel, Pierre Seneor, Karim Bouzehouane, Stéphane Fusil, Cyrile Deranlot, Frédéric Petroff & Albert Fert
Published online: 18 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1423
Anisotropies in the response of ferromagnetic electrodes attached to a gold nanoparticle lead to Coulomb blockade and spin-valve-like magnetoresistance phenomena. Such behaviour could allow the development of magnetically gated single-electron transistors composed of just two terminals.
Abstract - Anisotropic magneto-Coulomb effects and magnetic single-electron-transistor action in a single nanoparticle | Full Text - Anisotropic magneto-Coulomb effects and magnetic single-electron-transistor action in a single nanoparticle | PDF (1,446 KB) - Anisotropic magneto-Coulomb effects and magnetic single-electron-transistor action in a single nanoparticle
Near-field cavity optomechanics with nanomechanical oscillators
G. Anetsberger, O. Arcizet, Q. P. Unterreithmeier, R. Rivière, A. Schliesser, E. M. Weig, J. P. Kotthaus & T. J. Kippenberg
Published online: 11 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1425
Coupling a nanometre-scale oscillator to a micrometre-scale optical resonator provides a way of measuring the small-amplitude motion. The scheme is applied to silicon nitride 'strings', but it could be extended to many other types of tiny vibrating structures.
Abstract - Near-field cavity optomechanics with nanomechanical oscillators | Full Text - Near-field cavity optomechanics with nanomechanical oscillators | PDF (916 KB) - Near-field cavity optomechanics with nanomechanical oscillators | Supplementary information
Universal quantum control of two-electron spin quantum bits using dynamic nuclear polarization
Sandra Foletti, Hendrik Bluhm, Diana Mahalu, Vladimir Umansky & Amir Yacoby
Published online: 11 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1424
The spin state of two electrons in a double well is a promising qubit. Now, such qubits can be arbitrarily rotated around two different axes by applying a magnetic field of different magnitude to each electron. This can be done in nanoseconds, before the stored information is lost.
Abstract - Universal quantum control of two-electron spin quantum bits using dynamic nuclear polarization | Full Text - Universal quantum control of two-electron spin quantum bits using dynamic nuclear polarization | PDF (1,190 KB) - Universal quantum control of two-electron spin quantum bits using dynamic nuclear polarization | Supplementary information
Self-induced back-action optical trapping of dielectric nanoparticles
Mathieu L. Juan, Reuven Gordon, Yuanjie Pang, Fatima Eftekhari & Romain Quidant
Published online: 11 October 2009 | doi:10.1038/nphys1422
Optical tweezers use the forces exerted by light to manipulate objects at the micrometre scale. An approach in which the target particle itself plays an active part now achieves this using a lower light intensity. This reduction means that heat-sensitive targets such as viruses could be manipulated directly.
Abstract - Self-induced back-action optical trapping of dielectric nanoparticles | Full Text - Self-induced back-action optical trapping of dielectric nanoparticles | PDF (718 KB) - Self-induced back-action optical trapping of dielectric nanoparticles | Supplementary information
Until print versions of AOP papers are published, they should be cited in the style "Author(s) Nature Physics advance online publication, day month year (doi:10.1038/nphysXXXXX)". Once the print version (identical to the AOP) is published, it should be cited as follows: "Author(s) Nature Physics volume, page (year); advance online publication, (doi:10.1038/nphysXXXXX)".
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