Category Physics

How Quantum Light ‘Sees’ Quantum Sound

How quantum light sees quantum sound
Getty images.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have proposed a new way of using quantum light to ‘see’ quantum sound.

A new paper published today reveals the quantum-mechanical interplay between vibrations and particles of light, known as photons, in molecules.

It is hoped that the discovery may help scientists better understand the interactions between light and matter on molecular scales.

And it potentially paves the way for addressing fundamental questions about the importance of quantum effects in applications ranging from new quantum technologies to biological systems.

Dr Magnus Borgh from UEA’s School of Physics said: “There is a long-standing controversy in chemical physics about the nature of processes where energy from particles of light is transferred ...

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Robots Learn Faster with AI Boost from Eureka

Robots learn faster with AI boost from Eureka
EUREKA generates human-level reward functions across diverse robots and tasks. Combined with curriculum learning, EUREKA for the first time, unlocks rapid pen-spinning capabilities on an anthropomorphicfive-finger hand. Credit: arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2310.12931

Intelligent robots are reshaping our universe. In New Jersey’s Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, AI-assisted robots are bringing a new level of security to doctors and patients by scanning every inch of the premises for harmful bacteria and viruses and disinfecting them with precise doses of germicidal ultraviolet light.

In agriculture, robotic arms driven by drones scan varying types of fruits and vegetables and determine when they are perfectly ripe for picking.

The Airspace Intelligence System AI Fly...

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Solar Farms in Space are possible

It’s viable to produce low-cost, lightweight solar panels that can generate energy in space, according to new research from the Universities of Surrey and Swansea.

The first study of its kind followed a satellite over six years, observing how the panels generated power and weathered solar radiation over 30,000 orbits.

The findings could pave the way for commercially viable solar farms in space.

Professor Craig Underwood, Emeritus Professor of Spacecraft Engineering at the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey, said:

“We are very pleased that a mission designed to last one year is still working after six...

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Plant-based Materials give ‘Life’ to Tiny Soft Robots

Soft robot in a maze

A team of University of Waterloo researchers has created smart, advanced materials that will be the building blocks for a future generation of soft medical microrobots.

These tiny robots have the potential to conduct medical procedures, such as biopsy, and cell and tissue transport, in a minimally invasive fashion. They can move through confined and flooded environments, like the human body, and deliver delicate and light cargo, such as cells or tissues, to a target position.

The tiny soft robots are a maximum of one centimetre long and are bio-compatible and non-toxic. The robots are made of advanced hydrogel composites that include sustainable cellulose nanoparticles derived from plants.

This research, led by Hamed Shahsavan, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engine...

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