Category Physics

Researchers at Oregon State University use new technology to control the formation and release of bubbles. Here that technology is illustrated with the letters “OSU” printed on a substrate. Credit: Image courtesy of Oregon State University

Engineers at Oregon State University have found a new way to induce and control boiling bubble formation, that may allow everything from industrial-sized boilers to advanced electronics to work better and last longer. The concept could be useful to either to boil water and create steam more readily, like in a boiler or a clothing iron; or with a product such as an electronics device to release heat more readily while working at a cooler temperature.

“One of the key limitations for electronic devices is the heat they generate, and something that helps dis...

Atomically thin TaS2 devices. (a) Ball and stick model of the crystal structure of the 2H polytype of TaS2. The dashed prism encloses the content of a single unit cell and the metal coordination geometry is highlighted by the red polyhedron. (b) Atomic force microscopy image of two devices fabricated on a 3.5-nm 2H-TaS2 flake. The scale bar is 4 μm in length. The full colour scale of the topograph corresponds to a height of 100 nm. (c) Line profile of the flake taken at the location of the white dotted line in b.

Uni of Valencia researchers show superconducting state can be maintained even when the material in question is reduced from 3 to 2 dimensions, making the efficiency gains needed for technologies like those underlying the frictionless train possible...

Iso-surface plot of Q-criterion (2500) showing the vortices generated at the transition between upstroke and downstroke at 2 m/s, viewed obliquely from above and behind. Iso-surface plot of Q-criterion (2500) showing the vortices generated at the transition between upstroke and downstroke at 2 m/s, viewed obliquely from above and behind.

Long-eared bats are assisted in flight by their ears and body, according to a study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden. The recent findings improve understanding of the bats’ flying technique and could be significant for the future development of drones etc. Contrary to what researchers previously assumed, Christoffer Johansson Westheim et al show long-eared bats are helped in flight by their large ears.

“We show how the air behind the body of a l...

Inkjet printed “lasing capsules” serve as the core of an organic laser. Figure (a) shows a schematic of the laser setup, while figure (b) shows actual lasing capsules, which would cost only a few cents to produce. OC stands for “Output Coupler” and FP stands for Febry-Perot etalon. Credit: Sanaur, et al/JAP

Ultra-low-cost, easy to fabricate ‘lasing capsules’ with an inkjet printer. Since lasers were invented more than 50 years ago, they have transformed a diverse swath of technology – from CD players to surgical instruments. Now researchers from France and Hungary have invented a way to print lasers that’s so cheap, easy and efficient they believe the core of the laser could be disposed of after each use.

“The low-cost and easiness of laser chip fabrication are the most significant aspects...