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    Category Physics

    Spintronics: Ultra-Short Spin Waves in an astoundingly Simple Material

    March 28, 2019, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics

    An ultrashort spin wave (red) running through a nickel iron layer. Towards the center of the layer, the magnetic direction (blue arrows) swings only up and down in a sort of knot, while the motion in the other parts remains circular — with opposing sense of magnetic rotation.
    Credit: HZDR / Juniks

    Due to its potential to make computers faster and smartphones more efficient, spintronics is considered a promising concept for the future of electronics. In a collaboration including the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), a team of researchers has now successfully generated so-called spin waves much more easily and efficiently than was previously deemed possible...

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    Engineers demonstrate Metamaterials that can Solve Equations

    March 24, 2019, Categories  Physics


    University of Pennsylvania Engineers have designed a metamaterial device that can solve integral equations. The device works by encoding parameters into the properties of an incoming electromagnetic wave; once inside, the device’s unique structure manipulates the wave in such a way that it exits encoded with the solution to a pre-set integral equation for that arbitrary input.
    Credit: Eric Sucar

    Engineers have designed a metamaterial device that can solve integral equations. The device works by encoding parameters into the properties of an incoming electromagnetic wave; once inside, the device’s unique structure manipulates the wave in such a way that it exits encoded with the solution to a pre-set integral equation for that arbitrary input.

    The field of metamaterials involves desig...

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    Evidence for a Human Geomagnetic Sense

    March 24, 2019, Categories  Physics, Astronomy/Space

    Research shows the changes in alpha wave amplitude — a measure of whether the brain is being engaged or is in a resting or “autopilot” mode — following rotations of an Earth-strength magnetic field. On the left, counterclockwise rotations induce a widespread drop in alpha wave amplitude. No drop is observed after clockwise rotation or in the FIXED condition.
    Credit: Connie X. Wang / Caltech

    Scientists develop a robust experiment that shows human brain waves respond to changes in Earth-strength magnetic fields. Many humans are able to unconsciously detect changes in Earth-strength magnetic fields, according to scientists at Caltech and the University of Tokyo.

    The study, led by geoscientist Joseph Kirschvink (BS, MS ’75) and neuroscientist Shin Shimojo at Caltech as well as neuroenginee...

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    True-meaning Wearable Displays: Self-powered, washable and wearable

    March 23, 2019, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics


    Schematic and photo of a washable wearing display module.
    Credit: KAIST

    Smart clothing has had a problem with its power sources and moisture permeability, which causes the devices to malfunction. This problem has now been overcome by a KAIST research team, who developed a textile-based wearable display module technology that is washable and does not require an external power source.

    To ease out the problem of external power sources and enhance the practicability of wearable displays, Professor Kyung Cheol Choi from the School of Electrical Engineering and his team fabricated their wearing display modules on real textiles that integrated polymer solar cells (PSCs) with organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).

    PSCs have been one of the most promising candidates for a next-generation...

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