Featured
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| Open AccessTravelling-wave resonant four-wave mixing breaks the limits of cavity-enhanced all-optical wavelength conversion
Wave mixing in optical resonators suffers from strong bandwidth constraints, hindering practical implementation. Morichettiet al. report travelling-wave four-wavemixing in coupled ring resonators, which combines the efficiency enhancement of resonant propagation with a wide-band conversion process.
- Francesco Morichetti
- , Antonio Canciamilla
- & Andrea Melloni
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Article |
Observation of atomic speckle and Hanbury Brown–Twiss correlations in guided matter waves
Speckle patterns are a manifestation of decoherence and can result from two-particle interference. Here, the authors image atomic speckle for guided matter waves and link this to atom bunching in the second-order correlation function, suggesting potential use in squeezed-atom interferometry applications.
- R.G. Dall
- , S.S. Hodgman
- & A.G. Truscott
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Article
| Open AccessFractal fronts of diffusion in microgravity
Theory and simulations predict scale-invariant concentration fluctuations during diffusion in liquids, but on Earth, large-scale fluctuations are damped by gravity. Microgravity experiments by Vailatiet al. reveal the scale-invariant nature of diffusion, associated with fractal fronts and long-ranged correlations.
- Alberto Vailati
- , Roberto Cerbino
- & Marzio Giglio
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Article
| Open AccessReversible temperature regulation of electrical and thermal conductivity using liquid–solid phase transitions
Temperature-controlled regulation of thermal conductivity is difficult to achieve because thermal properties do not change significantly through solid-state phase transitions. Here temperature control of thermal conductivities is demonstrated using liquid–solid phase transitions in a nanoparticle suspension.
- Ruiting Zheng
- , Jinwei Gao
- & Gang Chen
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Size and mechanics effects in surface-induced melting of nanoparticles
Melting-related phenomena are of fundamental and applied interest, but the melting theory is poorly understood. Levitas and Samani develop an advanced phase-field theory of melting coupled to mechanics that resolves existing contradictions and reveals the features of melting phenomena.
- Valery I Levitas
- & Kamran Samani
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Article
| Open AccessPatterns and flow in frictional fluid dynamics
Pattern-forming processes in simple fluids and suspensions are well understood, but displacement morphologies in frictional fluids and granular mixtures have not been studied extensively. Sandneset al. consider the effects of Coulomb friction and compressibility on the fluid dynamics of granular mixtures.
- B. Sandnes
- , E.G. Flekkøy
- & H. See
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Article
| Open AccessGapless spin liquid of an organic triangular compound evidenced by thermodynamic measurements
Frustrated magnetic systems can form an exotic quantum spin-liquid ground state, in which strongly correlated spins fluctuate in the spin lattices. Here, the low-temperature electronic state of a charge-transfer compound is found to form a gapless spin liquid.
- Satoshi Yamashita
- , Takashi Yamamoto
- & Reizo Kato
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Article
| Open AccessThe Meissner effect in a strongly underdoped cuprate above its critical temperature
In the pseudogap state of cuprates, although diamagnetic signals have been detected, a Meissner effect has never been observed. Morenzoni and colleagues probe the local diamagnetic response in the normal state of an underdoped layer showing that a 'barrier' layer exhibits a Meissner effect.
- Elvezio Morenzoni
- , Bastian M. Wojek
- & Ivan Božović
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Article
| Open AccessQuantum interference of large organic molecules
Observing superposition states of mesoscopic quantum systems is an ongoing challenge. Gerlichet al. report quantum interference of large tailor-made organic compounds, demonstrating delocalization and the quantum wave nature of entire molecules composed of up to 430 atoms.
- Stefan Gerlich
- , Sandra Eibenberger
- & Markus Arndt
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Article
| Open AccessWhispering gallery microresonators for second harmonic light generation from a low number of small molecules
Small molecules can be detected by second harmonic light generation, but sensitive detection usually requires a large number of molecules and a high-power laser source. Here, relatively low numbers of molecules are detected using Q spherical microresonators and low average power.
- J.L. Dominguez-Juarez
- , G. Kozyreff
- & Jordi Martorell
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The lifetime of the deviations from bulk behaviour in polymers confined at the nanoscale
Monitoring the impact of annealing on nanometre-thick polymer layers provides new insight into the changes in the performance of macromolecular materials. Here, the authors present results showing a correlation between the deviations from bulk behaviour and the growth of an irreversibly adsorbed layer.
- Simone Napolitano
- & Michael Wübbenhorst
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A nanomechanical interface to rapid single-molecule interactions
Single-molecule force spectroscopy is used to study single molecule interactions, but probing short-lived events is difficult. Here, a nanomechanical interface is developed, which allows the study of microsecond timescale interactions.
- Mingdong Dong
- & Ozgur Sahin
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Article |
Quasi-two-dimensional Skyrmion lattices in a chiral nematic liquid crystal
Skyrmions are particle-like topological entities in a continuous field that have a role in various condensed matter systems. Here, numerical methods are used to show that a chiral nematic liquid crystal could be used as a model system to facilitate direct structural investigation of Skyrmions.
- Jun-ichi Fukuda
- & Slobodan Žumer
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Electrical injection and detection of spin accumulation in silicon at 500 K with magnetic metal/silicon dioxide contacts
Harnessing spin angular momentum could allow the development of electronic devices that are not limited by Moore's law. Here, electrical injection and detection of spin accumulation is achieved at temperatures that are practical for device operation.
- C.H. Li
- , O.M.J. van 't Erve
- & B.T. Jonker
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Nanofriction in cold ion traps
Cold ion traps have not previously been used to study sliding friction between crystal lattices. Here, Benassiet al. use simulations to show that cold ion traps could be used for detailed investigation of atomic scale friction.
- A. Benassi
- , A. Vanossi
- & E. Tosatti
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Secure device-independent quantum key distribution with causally independent measurement devices
Device-independent quantum key distribution aims to distribute cryptographic keys without requiring assumptions about the quantum devices in the protocol. Here, a general security proof is reported for a class of quantum key distribution protocols, which could aid the development of highly secure encryption.
- Lluís Masanes
- , Stefano Pironio
- & Antonio Acín
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Coherent electron–phonon coupling in tailored quantum systems
Graphene and InAs nanowires are both promising materials for coherent spin manipulation, but coupling between a quantum system and its environment leads to decoherence. Here, the contribution of electron–phonon coupling to decoherence in graphene and InAs nanowire is studied.
- P. Roulleau
- , S. Baer
- & T. Ihn
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Article
| Open AccessPhonon-tunnelling dissipation in mechanical resonators
The performance of micromechanical and nanomechanical resonators is often hampered by mechanical damping. In this study, the authors demonstrate a numerical solver for the prediction of support-induced losses in these structures and verify experimentally the fidelity of this method.
- Garrett D. Cole
- , Ignacio Wilson-Rae
- & Markus Aspelmeyer
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Article
| Open AccessMultimode quantum interference of photons in multiport integrated devices
Multimode interference devices could allow the implementation of multiport circuits for quantum technologies. Here, quantum interference is demonstrated in 2×2 and 4×4 multimode interference devices, and a technique is reported to characterize such devices.
- Alberto Peruzzo
- , Anthony Laing
- & Jeremy L. O'Brien
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Article
| Open AccessA fast and low-power microelectromechanical system-based non-volatile memory device
New memory devices are being developed to overcome the limitations of conventional silicon-based flash memory. Here, a non-volatile memory design is reported that uses a micromechanical cantilever to charge and discharge a floating gate, which controls charge transport through a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor.
- Sang Wook Lee
- , Seung Joo Park
- & Yung Woo Park
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Article
| Open AccessFirst direct observation of the Van Hove singularity in the tunnelling spectra of cuprates
In two-dimensional lattices the electronic levels are unevenly spaced and the density of states exhibits a divergence known as the Van Hove singularity. In this study, the Van Hove singularity is observed for the first time in a cuprate using scanning tunnelling microscopy.
- A. Piriou
- , N. Jenkins
- & Ø. Fischer
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Identification of active atomic defects in a monolayered tungsten disulphide nanoribbon
The physical and chemical properties of low-dimensional materials, such as nanoribbons, are affected by edge structures and atomic defects. Here, single-atom defects in a monolayered tungsten disulphide nanoribbon are discriminated and the motions of atomic defects are visualized.
- Zheng Liu
- , Kazu Suenaga
- & Sumio Iijima
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Optical virtual imaging at 50 nm lateral resolution with a white-light nanoscope
Lenses are restricted by diffraction to imaging features roughly the size of visible wavelengths. Wanget al. develop a white-light nanoscope that uses optically transparent spherical silica lenses to virtually image, in the far-field, features down to 50 nm resolution.
- Zengbo Wang
- , Wei Guo
- & Minghui Hong
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Article
| Open AccessSuperconductivity-induced optical anomaly in an iron arsenide
Electronic excitations with energies near the superconducting energy gap are strongly affected by superconducting transitions. The authors show, with a comprehensive optical investigation, that excitations with energies up to two orders of magnitude greater are also affected by the transition.
- A. Charnukha
- , P. Popovich
- & A. V. Boris
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Heisenberg-limited sensitivity with decoherence-enhanced measurements
Quantum-enhanced measurements use quantum mechanical effects to enhance measurement sensitivity of classical quantities; but the required quantum states are generally highly entangled and difficult to produce. In this study, the use of entangled states is avoided allowing Heisenberg-limited measurements.
- Daniel Braun
- & John Martin
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Article
| Open AccessObservation and electric current control of a local spin in a single-molecule magnet
In molecular spintronics, the spin state of a molecule may be switched by changing the molecular structure. Here, the spin of a single-molecule magnet is switched by applying an electric current using a scanning tunnelling microscope, which may aid in information coding at the single-molecule level.
- Tadahiro Komeda
- , Hironari Isshiki
- & Masahiro Yamashita
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Mechanism for spectral break in cosmic ray proton spectrum of supernova remnant W44
TheFermispacecraft recently observed gamma-ray emission from supernova remnant W44, however, the mechanism is unclear. Here, the authors show that strong ion-neutral collisions in the remnant surrounding lead to the steepening of the energy spectrum of accelerated particles by one power.
- M. A. Malkov
- , P. H. Diamond
- & R. Z. Sagdeev
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Article
| Open AccessInterconnect-free parallel logic circuits in a single mechanical resonator
Eliminating wiring in transistors could lead to high integration densities and low power consumption. Here, multiple logic gates are implemented in a microelectromechanical resonator by parametrically mixing binary information channels corresponding to mechanical oscillations of the resonator at different frequencies.
- I. Mahboob
- , E. Flurin
- & H. Yamaguchi
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Article |
Mixtures of planetary ices at extreme conditions
The interiors of outer solar planets are believed to contain water–methane mixtures that are subject to extreme pressures. Lee and Scandolo use molecular dynamics simulations to show that at high pressures there can be enhanced mixing and ionization, with consequences for the origin of the planetary magnetic field.
- Mal-Soon Lee
- & Sandro Scandolo
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Article |
Quantum networks reveal quantum nonlocality
The nonlocality of a quantum state is often difficult to predict. Here, Cavalcanti and colleagues devise a method based on networks that makes this characterization much easier, revealing that the nonlocality of a quantum state depends on the context of the measurement.
- Daniel Cavalcanti
- , Mafalda L. Almeida
- & Antonio Acín
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Ultra-high-energy cosmic ray acceleration in engine-driven relativistic supernovae
The origin of the highest energy cosmic rays is still unknown. Here, Chakraborti and colleagues show that a recently discovered sub-population of type Ibc supernovae with mildly relativistic outflows can satisfy all required characteristics for an ultra-high-energy cosmic ray source.
- S. Chakraborti
- , A. Ray
- & P. Chandra
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Article
| Open AccessHigh efficiency coherent optical memory with warm rubidium vapour
Efficient memory systems are vital for the development of quantum communications technologies. Hosseini and colleagues describe an optical memory based on warm rubidium vapour that achieves 87% pulse recall efficiency, illustrating the potential of warm atomic vapour systems for quantum memory.
- M. Hosseini
- , B.M. Sparkes
- & B.C. Buchler
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Experimental magic state distillation for fault-tolerant quantum computing
Error correction in quantum computing can be implemented using transversal gates, which in turn rely on the availability of so-called magic states. The authors experimentally show that it is possible to improve the fidelity of these states by distilling five of them into one.
- Alexandre M. Souza
- , Jingfu Zhang
- & Raymond Laflamme
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Article |
Spherical hyperlens for two-dimensional sub-diffractional imaging at visible frequencies
Although hyperlenses made of metamaterials can image sub-diffraction-limited objects, they are limited to one-dimensional magnification and ultraviolet frequencies. Here, the authors demonstrate a spherical hyperlens for visible light far-field imaging, with a resolution of 160 nm in both lateral dimensions.
- Junsuk Rho
- , Ziliang Ye
- & Xiang Zhang
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Article |
Efficient quantum state tomography
Direct quantum state tomography—deducing the state of a system from measurements—is mostly unfeasible due to the exponential scaling of measurement number with system size. The authors present two new schemes, which scale linearly in this respect, and can be applied to a wide range of quantum states.
- Marcus Cramer
- , Martin B. Plenio
- & Yi-Kai Liu
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Article |
Atomically flat single-crystalline gold nanostructures for plasmonic nanocircuitry
Polycrystalline substrates are a hindrance to the realization of high-definition plasmonic nanostructures. In this paper the authors chemically grow large and thin gold single crystals, and show that they can be coupled with top-down fabrication methods to produce high-quality nanostructures with good optical properties.
- Jer-Shing Huang
- , Victor Callegari
- & Bert Hecht
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Macroscopically local correlations can violate information causality
Two principles have recently been proposed as attempts to provide physical axioms for quantum mechanics: causality and macroscopic locality. Cavalcanti and colleagues show here that the two are not equivalent, giving confidence in information causality as a constraint for correlations obtained in experiments.
- Daniel Cavalcanti
- , Alejo Salles
- & Valerio Scarani
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Article
| Open AccessAll-linear time reversal by a dynamic artificial crystal
Signal processing by time reversal has thus far only been realized through nonlinear mechanisms. The authors describe an all-linear, and thus low-power, time-reversal process based on frequency inversion in a dynamically controlled artificial periodic structure, a dynamic magnonic crystal.
- Andrii V. Chumak
- , Vasil S. Tiberkevich
- & Burkard Hillebrands
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Article
| Open AccessSingle-molecule identification via electric current noise
Molecular fluctuations are a source of noise that can impede single-molecule identification. Here, quantum-fluctuation-induced inelastic noise is observed as current fluctuations in individual molecules, suggesting that inelastic noise could be used as a molecular signature.
- Makusu Tsutsui
- , Masateru Taniguchi
- & Tomoji Kawai
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Article |
Coexistence of the topological state and a two-dimensional electron gas on the surface of Bi2Se3
Topological insulators are materials with an insulating interior and a metallic surface. In this study the authors demonstrate that the topological state can coexist with a two-dimensional electron gas state, a feature important in semiconductors used for electronic applications.
- Marco Bianchi
- , Dandan Guan
- & Philip Hofmann
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Article
| Open AccessCooperative dynamics in the penetration of a group of intruders in a granular medium
Objects moving through fluids and granular media experience drag forces that determine their dynamics. The authors consider the case of multiple objects moving through a low-density granular material and show that their dynamics are cooperative.
- F. Pacheco-Vázquez
- & J.C. Ruiz-Suárez
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Article |
Three-dimensional imaging of magnetic domains
The imaging of magnetic domains in three-dimensional solids has been hampered by a lack of suitable methods. The authors show that Talbot-Lau neutron tomography is capable of visualizing the domain structure of an iron silicide bulk crystal.
- I. Manke
- , N. Kardjilov
- & J. Banhart
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Article |
Three-dimensional broadband and broad-angle transformation-optics lens
Lenses with superior performance with respect to conventional uniform materials are desirable. The authors show a three-dimensional lens, made of multilayered metamaterials and based on approximate transformation optics, which works in different polarizations at broad viewing angles and with wide bandwidth.
- Hui Feng Ma
- & Tie Jun Cui
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Article |
Monolithic nonlinear pulse compressor on a silicon chip
The development of optical information processing depends on the demonstration of silicon-based all-optical circuit components. Here, the authors show a monolithic pulse compressor, compatible with current electronic processing technologies, which is able to function at low power input.
- Dawn T.H. Tan
- , Pang C. Sun
- & Yeshaiahu Fainman
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Article |
Dilatancy in the flow and fracture of stretched colloidal suspensions
Colloidal suspensions are important in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Here, the breaking of filaments of a colloidal liquid under tensile loading is shown to be closely related to the jamming transition seen in its shear rheology; surprising viscoelasticity is also observed in the fluid under tension.
- M.I. Smith
- , R. Besseling
- & V. Bertola
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Article
| Open AccessField-induced water electrolysis switches an oxide semiconductor from an insulator to a metal
Water is composed of the electrochemically active species, H+ and OH−, but has not been used as an active electronic material. In this study, a field-effect transistor is developed that uses water-infiltrated nanoporous glass as the gate insulator; this new application of water may be useful in electronics and energy storage.
- Hiromichi Ohta
- , Yukio Sato
- & Hideo Hosono
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Article
| Open AccessAnisotropic structure of the order parameter in FeSe0.45Te0.55 revealed by angle-resolved specific heat
The structure of the superconducting gap of iron pnictide superconductors is controversial. In this paper, angle-resolved specific heat measurements are used to show that the gap is anisotropic, which is consistent with an extended s-wave model of superconducting pairing.
- B. Zeng
- , G. Mu
- & H.-H. Wen
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Review Article |
Quantum metrology for gravitational wave astronomy
Gravitational waves are predicted by general relativity, but their direct observation from astronomical sources hinges on large improvements in detection sensitivity. The authors review how squeezed light and other quantum optical concepts are being applied in the development of next generation interferometric detectors.
- Roman Schnabel
- , Nergis Mavalvala
- & Ping K. Lam
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Article |
Creation of a two-dimensional electron gas at an oxide interface on silicon
The integration of oxide nanoelectronics with silicon platforms is a necessary step for the fabrication of ultrahigh-density devices. Here, the authors grow a LaAlO3/SrTiO3interface directly on silicon, and show the reversible creation of a two-dimensional electron gas confined within nanowires located on the surface.
- J.W. Park
- , D.F. Bogorin
- & C.B. Eom
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