Clocking the movement of electrons inside an atom

Scientists have developed an approach termed 'self-referenced attosecond streaking' that provides subfemtosecond resolution in spite of jitter, enabling time-domain measurement of the delay between photoemission and Auger emission in atomic neon excited by intense, femtosecond pulses from an XFEL.

Zebra stripes, leopard spots and other patterns on the skin of frozen metal alloys defying conventional metallurgy

Researchers have discovered that diverse types of patterns occur at the surface of solidified metal alloys. The team used two-component metallic mixes, such as gallium-based alloys containing small amounts of bismuth. These alloys easily melt in one's hand and thus make experimental observation and control convenient.

Researchers realize strong coupling of single quantum dots with low/high-refractive-index materials at room temperature

Researchers have reported for the first time the strong coupling and Rabi splitting between a single colloidal quantum dot and a Fabry-Perot cavity with dielectric low-refractive-index/high-refractive-index material based on photoluminescence spectra at room temperature.

Chemists develop polymer cathodes for ultrafast batteries

The new cathodes withstand up to 25,000 operating cycles and charge in a matter of seconds, thus outperforming lithium-ion batteries. The cathodes can also be used to produce less expensive potassium dual-ion batteries.

One-dimensional quantum nanowires fertile ground for Majorana zero modes

A new study overcomes previous difficulty detecting the Majorana zero mode, and produces a significant improvement in device reproducibility.