Physics articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article |

    Scanning probe microscopy and related techniques rely on the availability of very sharp tips. Here, a sharpening technique based on field-directed sputtering is demonstrated, resulting in ultrasharp metallic tips for use in scanning tunnelling microscopy as well as atomic-scale lithographic experiments.

    • S.W. Schmucker
    • , N. Kumar
    •  & J.W. Lyding

  • Article |

    Controlling nuclear spin patterns is important to manage decoherence and control electron spin currents in spintronic devices. This study demonstrates the optical creation of rewritable patterns of nuclear polarization in gallium arsenide without ferromagnets, lithographic patterning or field gradients.

    • Jonathan P. King
    • , Yunpu Li
    •  & Jeffrey A. Reimer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding localization and delocalization phenomena is important for studying wave propagation in many types of disordered photonic systems. Here, a theoretical study of one-dimensional photonic crystal structures reveals the importance of Fano interference in wave transport in the presence of disorder.

    • Alexander N. Poddubny
    • , Mikhail V. Rybin
    •  & Yuri S. Kivshar

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Graphene's remarkable properties make it ideal for optoelectronic devices, and its two-dimensional nature enables its integration with photonic structures. By combining a graphene transistor with a planar microcavity, Engelet al. control the spectrum of the photocurrent and the light emitted by the device.

    • Michael Engel
    • , Mathias Steiner
    •  & Ralph Krupke

  • Article |

    Spin ice is a state of matter that occurs in certain rare earth magnets with a pyrochlore structure. Here it is shown theoretically that, in conjunction with the magnetic monopoles observed in previous experiments, spin ice can also host electric dipoles.

    • D.I. Khomskii

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nanocrystal quantum dots can exhibit photoluminescence blinking, where the intensity of the emitted light fluctuates due to random charging and discharging. Gallandet al.study thick shell nanocrystals and find that the photoluminescence lifetime can also undergo blinking, without intensity changes.

    • Christophe Galland
    • , Yagnaseni Ghosh
    •  & Victor I. Klimov

  • Article |

    Ink-jet printing methods are an attractive approach to nanofabrication, where electrohydrodynamic control allows for flexible and cheap fabrication. Here, a new approach is presented using electrostatic nanodroplet autofocussing to produce high aspect ratio nanoscale structures like plasmonic nanoantennas.

    • P. Galliker
    • , J. Schneider
    •  & D. Poulikakos

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetometers based on organic magnetoresistance are limited by narrow sensitivity ranges, degradation and temperature fluctuations. Bakeret al. demonstrate a magnetic resonance-based organic thin film magnetometer, which overcomes these drawbacks by exploiting the metrological nature of magnetic resonance.

    • W.J. Baker
    • , K. Ambal
    •  & C. Boehme

  • Article
    | Open Access

    High-intensity laser-plasma ion generation is promising as a compact proton source for applications like ion beam therapy. Using a femtosecond table-top laser system, Zeilet al. show that protons efficiently gain energy in the pre-thermal intra-pulse phase of the generation process.

    • K. Zeil
    • , J. Metzkes
    •  & U. Schramm

  • Article |

    Topological phases are unusual states of matter whose properties are robust against small perturbations. Using a photonic quantum walk system, Kitagawaet al. simulate one-dimensional topological phases and reveal novel topological phenomena far from the static or adiabatic regimes.

    • Takuya Kitagawa
    • , Matthew A. Broome
    •  & Andrew G. White

  • Article |

    Geometrically frustrated spin systems are a class of statistical mechanical models that have received widespread attention, especially in condensed matter physics. This study experimentally demonstrates a quantum information processor that can simulate the behaviour of such frustrated spin system.

    • Jingfu Zhang
    • , Man-Hong Yung
    •  & Jonathan Baugh

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Metamaterial lenses enable super-resolution imaging of structures, beating the diffraction limit. Lemoultet al. propose a resonant metalens based on plasmonic nanorods that uses polychromatic light to achieve sub-diffraction limit focusing and imaging in the visible spectral region.

    • Fabrice Lemoult
    • , Mathias Fink
    •  & Geoffroy Lerosey

  • Article |

    Transistors based on ions, as opposed to electrons, offer the promise of bridging the gap between technological and biological systems. Tybrandtet al. present logic gates based on ion bipolar junction transistors that operate at concentrations compatible with biological systems.

    • Klas Tybrandt
    • , Robert Forchheimer
    •  & Magnus Berggren

  • Article |

    Methods to study the structure of complex networks often rely on case-sensitive parameters that have limited applications. In this study, a new method—link salience—is used to classify network elements based on a consensus estimate of all nodes, finding generic topological features in many empirical networks.

    • Daniel Grady
    • , Christian Thiemann
    •  & Dirk Brockmann

  • Article |

    Nitrogen-vacancy colour centres in diamond are promising examples for solid-state multi-spin-qubit systems. Here, the spin environment of nitrogen vacancy centres is studied spectroscopically, uncovering a mechanism for spin-flip suppression that opens the way for quantum information applications.

    • N. Bar-Gill
    • , L.M. Pham
    •  & R. Walsworth

  • Article |

    The ground state of yttrium-doped lithium holmium fluoride, a realisation of dilute magnetic dipoles, has been the subject of much debate. Biltmo and Henelius demonstrate theoretically that the system freezes and exhibits extremely slow and unusual glassy dynamics.

    • A. Biltmo
    •  & P. Henelius

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The motion of domain walls in magnetic materials characterized by a perpendicular axis of magnetization is a promising means of controlling information in future memory and logic devices. Schellekenset al. show the velocity of domain walls in such systems can be controlled by using an applied electric field.

    • A.J. Schellekens
    • , A. van den Brink
    •  & B. Koopmans

  • Article |

    The electromotive force is a well established phenomenon that is induced by a varying magnetic field. Here, Tanabeet al. report a compelling experimental confirmation of its spin-induced analogue, the spinmotive force.

    • K. Tanabe
    • , D. Chiba
    •  & T. Ono

  • Article
    | Open Access

    As lengthscales in plasmonic structures enter the sub-nanometre regime, quantum effects become increasingly important. Here, a quantum-corrected model is presented that addresses quantum effects in realistic-sized plasmonic structures, a situation not feasible for full-quantum-mechanical simulations.

    • Ruben Esteban
    • , Andrei G. Borisov
    •  & Javier Aizpurua

  • Review Article |

    Quantum-mechanical tunnelling currents across nanometre-scale gaps between electrodes are sensitive to the medium in the gap. Albrecht reviews progress towards using tunnelling currents to probe single-molecule processes, and in biosensor and sequencing applications.

    • T. Albrecht

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Studying the dynamics of electrons is important for understanding fundamental processes in materials. Here the ionization of a pair of electrons in argon atoms is explored on attosecond timescales, offering insight into their correlated emission and the double ionization mechanism.

    • Boris Bergues
    • , Matthias Kübel
    •  & Matthias F. Kling

  • Article |

    Quantum phase transitions are generally associated with many-body quantum systems undergoing changes between different phases. This study examines the connection between such phase transitions and quantum information processing, and finds that different quantum phases can have different computational power.

    • Jian Cui
    • , Mile Gu
    •  & Vlatko Vedral

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Broadband coherent light sources are crucial for numerous applications, such as imaging and spectroscopy. Using filamentation of mid-infrared laser pulses in bulk crystals, Silvaet al. generate supercontinuum spectra over three octaves, from 4.5 μm to 450 nm, with carrier-envelope phase stability.

    • F. Silva
    • , D.R. Austin
    •  & J. Biegert

  • Article |

    Electron spins at nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond are thought to be the most promising building blocks for practical realizations of quantum computers. Yaoet al. present a scalable architecture for a quantum information processor based on such vacancy centres that operates at room temperature.

    • N.Y. Yao
    • , L. Jiang
    •  & M.D. Lukin

  • Article |

    Percolation transitions indicate the threshold above which a network can operate. This work examines a general class of models known as hierarchical networks, and shows they can be made to percolate explosively, if they share features of so-called 'small-world' networks.

    • Stefan Boettcher
    • , Vijay Singh
    •  & Robert M. Ziff

  • Article |

    The terahertz spectral region is desirable for applications such as imaging or spectroscopy, but progress is hampered by a lack of efficient terahertz devices. By exploiting intraband transitions in graphene, Sensale-Rodriguezet al. demonstrate a broadband intensity modulator working at terahertz frequencies.

    • Berardi Sensale-Rodriguez
    • , Rusen Yan
    •  & Huili Grace Xing

  • Article |

    Morphotropic phase boundaries—regions of abrupt structural change and enhanced material response—are of practical importance and are a challenge for the fundamental theory of phase transitions. Here, the ferroelectric–antiferroelectric boundary is studied using atomically resolved mapping in BiFeO3.

    • A.Y. Borisevich
    • , E.A. Eliseev
    •  & S.V. Kalinin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Stable, ultrahigh repetition rate optical clocks are critical for applications in high-speed communications, metrology and microchip computing. Pecciantiet al.present a mode-locked laser based on an integrated microcavity, with repetition rate exceeding 200 GHz and narrow linewidth pulses.

    • M. Peccianti
    • , A. Pasquazi
    •  & R. Morandotti

  • Article |

    Stochastic processes play an important role in a broad range of scientific problems. This study demonstrates that a large class of such processes are most efficiently simulated by quantum mechanical models, thus reducing the complexity required to simulate them using classical models.

    • Mile Gu
    • , Karoline Wiesner
    •  & Vlatko Vedral

  • Article |

    Metamaterials can be used to alter the transmission of light or sound, with their tailored structures permitting control over their optical or acoustic properties. Meiet al. present a thin-film acoustic metamaterial that provides efficient absorption of sound over a broad range of wavelengths.

    • Jun Mei
    • , Guancong Ma
    •  & Ping Sheng

  • Article |

    The singular properties of topological insulators are defined by the topological nature of their metallic surface states. This study shows that by doping Bi2Se3nanoribbons with antimony, the transport properties of these surface states are measurable and can be distinguished from the contributions due to the bulk of the samples.

    • Seung Sae Hong
    • , Judy J. Cha
    •  & Yi Cui

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Point defects in diamond in the form of nitrogen vacancy centres are believed to be promising candidates for qubits in quantum computers. Grotzet al. present a method for manipulating the charge state of nitrogen vacancies using an electrolytic gate electrode.

    • Bernhard Grotz
    • , Moritz V. Hauf
    •  & Jose A. Garrido

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Light scattering from nanoscale objects can be dramatically enhanced in the proximity of optical antennas. Here, by studying the amplitude and phase of the light scattered from a tip located at the hot spot of an antenna, the underlying electromagnetic mechanism of this enhancement is resolved.

    • P. Alonso-González
    • , P. Albella
    •  & R. Hillenbrand

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Minimising reflection from the interface between materials is an important goal for optical devices such as solar cells or photodetectors. Spinelliet al. show almost total loss of reflection over a broad spectral range from a silicon surface using periodic arrays of sub-wavelength silicon nanocylinders.

    • P. Spinelli
    • , M.A. Verschuuren
    •  & A. Polman

  • Article |

    The spin–orbit interaction affects the electronic structure of many solids to give rise to a host of unusual phenomena. Bahramyet al.theoretically examine its role in the non-centrosymmetric compound BiTeI, and find that under the application of pressure, it leads to topologically insulating behaviour.

    • M.S. Bahramy
    • , B.-J. Yang
    •  & N. Nagaosa

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Field-effect transistors fabricated from carbon nanotubes have been investigated extensively over the past two decades. This study demonstrates a nanotube-based integrated circuit design that substantially improves the speed and power consumption with respect to silicon-based integrated circuits.

    • Li Ding
    • , Zhiyong Zhang
    •  & Lian-Mao Peng

  • Article |

    The dynamics of spin ordering in magnetic materials is of interest both from a fundamental and an applied point of view. Using a combination of numerical and experimental techniques, Ostleret al. show that the magnetization of a ferrimagnet can be reversed on a timescale of picoseconds solely by heating it.

    • T.A. Ostler
    • , J. Barker
    •  & A.V. Kimel

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Graphene's broad bandwidth makes it promising as a photodetector, but common electronics cannot analyse the currents at high frequencies. Here, using photocurrent measurements, laser-induced carrier generation effects in freely suspended graphene and at graphene–metal interfaces are clarified up to 1 THz.

    • Leonhard Prechtel
    • , Li Song
    •  & Alexander W. Holleitner

  • Article |

    Under certain conditions, such as those found in low-dimensional systems, materials can show quantized behaviour based only on universal constants. Here, the relative optical transparency of gold nanopillar arrays is shown to change solely in units of the fine structure constant on adjusting array parameters.

    • V.G. Kravets
    • , F. Schedin
    •  & A.N. Grigorenko

  • Article |

    The dynamics of isolated quantum systems can either be strongly correlated with their initial state, or chaotic, as they relax into thermal equilibrium. Olshaniiet al. present a simple, exactly solvable model that captures the transition between these two limiting cases, and suggests it may have some universal features.

    • Maxim Olshanii
    • , Kurt Jacobs
    •  & Vladimir A. Yurovsky

  • Article |

    Single-photon emitters are important for developing quantum technologies, but their integration with existing devices requires them to be driven by electric fields. Here, an organic light-emitting diode is presented that emits single photons from guest molecules in an applied electric field at room temperature.

    • Maximilian Nothaft
    • , Steffen Höhla
    •  & Jörg Wrachtrup

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Although they offer significant promise, practical implementations of quantum key distribution are often not as rigorous as theory predicts. This study demonstrates how two instances of such discrepancies can be resolved by taking advantage of an enotropic formulation of the uncertainty principle.

    • Marco Tomamichel
    • , Charles Ci Wen Lim
    •  & Renato Renner

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