MIT physicists have created a new and long-lasting magnetic state in a material, using only light. In a study appearing today in Nature, the researchers report using a terahertz laser — a light source that oscillates more than a trillion times per second — to directly stimulate atoms in an antiferromagnetic material. The laser’s oscillations are tuned to the natural vibrations among the material’s atoms, in a way that shifts the balance of atomic spins toward a new magnetic state.

MIT physicists and colleagues have for the first time measured the geometry, or shape, of electrons in solids at the quantum level. Scientists have long known how to measure the energies and velocities of electrons in crystalline materials, but until now, those systems’ quantum geometry could only be inferred theoretically, or sometimes not at all.

A Japanese research team, led by Professor Dr. Toru Asahi, Researcher Dr. Kenta Nakagawa, and master’s student Keigo Tokita from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Comprehensive Research Organization at Waseda University, investigated the origin of the strong optical anisotropy of lead-doped Bi2212 single crystals using ultraviolet and visible light transmittance measurements.

Now, researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering led by Elisa Riedo, Herman F. Mark Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, have uncovered a new phenomenon in graphene research, observing growth-induced self-organized ABA and ABC stacking domains that could kick-start the development of advanced quantum technologies. The findings, published in a recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy Of Sciences (PNAS), demonstrate how specific stacking arrangements in three-layer epitaxial graphene systems emerge naturally — eliminating the need for complex, non-scalable techniques traditionally used in graphene twisting fabrication.

A new study by Rice University physicist Qimiao Si unravels the enigmatic behaviors of quantum critical metals — materials that defy conventional physics at low temperatures. Published in Nature Physics Dec. 9, the research examines quantum critical points (QCPs), where materials teeter on the edge between two distinct phases such as magnetism and nonmagnetism. The findings illuminate the peculiarities of these metals and provide a deeper understanding of high-temperature superconductors, which conduct electricity without resistance at relatively high temperatures.

In a study published today in Nature Communications, researchers from the Quantum Magnetism group in the Department of Physics have developed an innovative approach to synthesise and study rare-earth magnetic materials. This achievement marks a significant advancement in understanding quantum magnetic states, potentially bringing the field closer to realising elusive quantum spin liquids.

What’s the best way to precisely manipulate a material’s properties to the desired state? It may be straining the material’s atomic arrangement, according to a team led by researchers at Penn State. The team discovered that “atomic spray painting” of potassium niobate, a material used in advanced electronics, could tune the resulting thin films with exquisite control. The finding, published in Advanced Materials, could drive environmentally friendly advancements in consumer electronics, medical devices and quantum computing, the researchers said.

Physicist Christian Schneider has been awarded one of the European Research Council's coveted Consolidator Grants. His project focuses on a special group of so-called two-dimensional materials and their optical properties.

While atoms are known to wiggle very fast, dopants added to a cuprate superconductor can also cause atoms to meander very slowly. A SLAC study shows this process, called atomic relaxation, offers a new way to explore quantum states in these puzzling materials.

Macquarie University research is paving the way for advanced diamond-based technologies in electronics and quantum computing. Imagine placing an object under a microscope and pressing a button to rearrange the surface atoms with atomic-scale precision. This once sci-fi scenario is now a reality thanks to pioneering research recently published in Applied Surface Science.