Recent Comments

    Category Physics

    World 1st: ‘Storing Lightning inside Thunder’

    September 18, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics

    Basic principle and setup of the photonic–phononic memory. a Storing process: an optical data pulse is depleted by a strong counter-propagating write pulse, storing the data pulse as an acoustic phonon. b Retrieval process: in the retrieval process a read pulse depletes the acoustic wave, converting the data pulse back into the optical domain. c A basic schematic of the experimental setup. The inset shows a chalcogenide chip next to a 50-cent coin. The chip contains more than 100 spiral waveguides with different lengths (8.6, 11.7 and 23.7 cm). Note: this is only a schematic and the actual setup is more advanced and can be found in Supplementary Fig. 1 (CW continuous wave, SSB single-sideband modulator, IM intensity modulator, PG pulse generator, BP bandpass filter, PD photo-detector, LO local oscillator, Ω Brillouin frequency shift)

    Basic principle and setup of the photonic–phononic memory. a Storing process: an optical data pulse is depleted by a strong counter-propagating write pulse, storing the data pulse as an acoustic phonon. b Retrieval process: in the retrieval process a read pulse depletes the acoustic wave, converting the data pulse back into the optical domain. c A basic schematic of the experimental setup. The inset shows a chalcogenide chip next to a 50-cent coin. The chip contains more than 100 spiral waveguides with different lengths (8.6, 11.7 and 23.7 cm). Note: this is only a schematic and the actual setup is more advanced and can be found in Supplementary Fig...

    Read More

    Graphene-wrapped Nanocrystals makes inroads toward Next-Gen Fuel Cells

    September 17, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Image - A new study explains how an ultrathin oxide layer (oxygen atoms shown in red) coating graphene-wrapped magnesium nanoparticles (gold) still allows in hydrogen atoms (blue) for hydrogen storage applications. (Credit: Berkeley Lab)

    A new study explains how an ultrathin oxide layer (oxygen atoms shown in red) coating graphene-wrapped magnesium nanoparticles (orange) still allows in hydrogen atoms (blue) for hydrogen storage applications. (Credit: Berkeley Lab)

    Simulations and analysis provide new atomic-scale clues to material’s enhanced hydrogen storage properties. A powdery mix of metal nanocrystals wrapped in single-layer sheets of carbon atoms, developed at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), shows promise for safely storing hydrogen for use with fuel cells for passenger vehicles and other uses...

    Read More

    Tough stuff: Spider Silk enhanced with Graphene-based materials

    September 16, 2017, Categories  Biology/Biotechnology, Physics, Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Spiders fed graphene produce stronger and tougher silk. Credit: F. Tomasinelli

    Spiders fed graphene produce stronger and tougher silk.
    Credit: F. Tomasinelli

    Natural spider silk has excellent mechanical properties. Researchers from the Graphene Flagship have found a way to boost the strength of spider’s silk using graphene-based materials, paving the way for a novel class of high-performance bionic composite.

    Researchers from the Graphene Flagship have demonstrated that graphene-based materials can be used to boost the properties of spider’s silk. The silk — produced naturally by the spiders, incorporating graphene and carbon nanotubes (rolled up graphene sheets) introduced in their environment – had enhanced mechanical properties of up to 3X the strength and 10X the toughness of the unmodified silks.

    Artificially modified biological materials are an expanding area of...

    Read More

    In step toward Controlling Chemistry, Physicists create a New Molecule, atom by atom

    September 15, 2017, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Experimental schematic of the hybrid system and ToF apparatus. (A) A schematic of the experimental apparatus, including the LQT, the high voltage pulsing scheme (shown as solid and dashed lines), and the ToF. (B) An illustrative experimental time sequence that depicts initialization of a Ba+ crystal, production of BaOCH3 + (visualized as dark ions in the crystal) through reactions with methanol vapor, and subsequent MOT immersion. (C) Sample mass spectra obtained after ejecting the LQT species into the ToF after various MOT immersion times, ti, along with an inset depicting a superimposed fluorescence image of an ion crystal immersed in the Ca MOT. (D) Mass spectra of photofragmentation products collected after inducing photodissociation of BaOCa+ . The identified photofragments were used to verify the elemental composition of the product.

    Experimental schematic of the hybrid system and ToF apparatus.
    (A) A schematic of the experimental apparatus, including the LQT, the high voltage pulsing
    scheme (shown as solid and dashed lines), and the ToF. (B) An illustrative experimental
    time sequence that depicts initialization of a Ba+ crystal, production of BaOCH3 +
    (visualized as dark ions in the crystal) through reactions with methanol vapor, and subsequent MOT immersion. (C) Sample mass spectra obtained after ejecting the LQT
    species into the ToF after various MOT immersion times, ti, along with an inset depicting a superimposed fluorescence image of an ion crystal immersed in the Ca MOT. (D) Mass spectra of photofragmentation products collected after inducing photodissociation of
    BaOCa+...

    Read More