Physics

Fig. 1. Comparison of TCSEL with mainstream commercial single-mode semiconductor lasers. Credit: Institute of Physics Semiconductor lasers are the most widely used lasers due to their compact size, high efficiency, low cost and wide spectra. But they suffer low output power and low beam quality—two specifications difficult to improve simultaneously. For example, although a larger …

Scientists invent topological-cavity surface-emitting laser Read More »

We spend a lot of time talking about the boundaries of science. What we are usually talking about are the limits of what science can explain. What we often miss is the impact of the boundaries within science itself. By this, I mean the walls that exist between different disciplines. If you want to learn …

The boundaries between sciences – Big Think Read More »

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Scientists from Cardiff University have taken a step towards a greener, more sustainable way of creating a plastic material found in a range of items from toothbrushes and guitar strings to medical implants, construction materials and car parts. In a new paper published today in the journal Sciencethe team report a …

Scientists discover greener route to widely used industrial material Read More »

A schematic depiction of virtual electron–positron pairs appearing at random near an electron (at lower left). Credit: RJ Hall/Wikipedia Holding the right material at the right angle, Cornell researchers have discovered a strategy to switch the magnetization in thin layers of a ferromagnet—a technique that could eventually lead to the development of more energy-efficient magnetic …

Mechanism ‘splits’ electron spins in magnetic material Read More »

Single-photon emission by a self-assembled GaN/AlN quantum dot. Credit: J. Stachurski (EPFL) To get closer to quantum technology we need to develop non-classical light sources that can emit a single photon at a time and do so on demand. Scientists at EPFL have now designed one of these “single photon emitters” that can work at …

Single photon emitter takes a step closer to quantum tech Read More »

Artist’s depiction of a far-away galaxy experiencing a sudden surge in brightness. Credit: NASA/Sonoma State University, Aurore Simonnet Something strange is afoot in the galaxy known as 1ES 1927+654: In late 2017, and for reasons that scientists couldn’t explain, the supermassive black hole sitting at the heart of this galaxy underwent a massive identity crisis. …

A surging glow in a distant galaxy could change the way we look at black holes Read More »

Researchers have used liquid crystals to create magic windows that produce a hidden image when light shines on it. Credit: Felix Hufnagel, University of Ottawa For the first time, researchers have used liquid crystals to create a flat magic window—a transparent device that produces a hidden image when light shines on it. The technology represents …

Researchers create flat magic window with liquid crystals Read More »

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections on the sun are caused by “magnetic reconnection”—when magnetic field lines of opposite directions merge, rejoin, and snap apart, creating explosions that release massive amounts of energy. Credit: NASA Conceptual Image Laboratory Researchers identify the physics that enables rapid magnetic explosions in space. When magnetic field lines of opposite …

Explaining Mystery Behind Fast Magnetic Reconnection Read More »