Recent Articles
Alleviating the Stress of Finding a PhD Advisor
At many US universities, no formal procedure exists to help physics students pick a PhD project and a supervisor. Researchers argue it’s time for that to change. Read More »
Filamentation Observed in Wakefield Acceleration
A particle-beam-generating method—called wakefield acceleration—uses proton bunches, which can fragment into high-density filaments as a result of their interactions with plasma, new experiments show. Read More »
Spinning Up Rydberg Atoms Extends Their Life
Researchers record the longest Rydberg-atom lifetime by placing strontium atoms in “circular” states, where the outer electrons move in planet-like orbits. Read More »
Two-Dimensional Simulation Captures the Ocean’s Energy Cycle
A new model provides an improved description of the flow of the ocean’s kinetic energy by including friction with the coasts. Read More »
Fluxonium Qubits Under Control
By coupling two fluxonium qubits through an inductive circuit rather than through a capacitor, researchers have realized a high-fidelity two-qubit gate. Read More »
A Photonic Emulator of Topological Matter
A method for freely adjusting the parameters of a loop of optical fiber enables the exploration of exotic topological phases of matter. Read More »
Quantum Gravity Gets a New Test
A proposed experiment could bring scientists closer to answering the long-standing question of whether gravity is a classical or a quantum phenomenon. Read More »
Shedding Light on the Thorium-229 Nuclear Clock Isomer
Researchers use a laser to excite and precisely measure a long-sought exotic nuclear state, paving the way for precise timekeeping and ultrasensitive quantum sensing. Read More »
The Universe’s Topology May Not Be Simple
Most models for the overall shape and geometry of the Universe—including some exotic ones—are compatible with the latest cosmic observations. Read More »
