All articles tagged with #scanning tunneling microscope
Physicists used a scanning tunneling microscope to observe the real-time magnetic pulse of a titanium-49 atom's nucleus, revealing insights into nuclear spin relaxation and potential applications for quantum computing. They measured the atom's nuclear spin flip-flop every five seconds, providing an atomic-scale understanding of nuclear magnetic behavior relevant for developing qubit platforms.
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have successfully observed real-time switching of the nuclear spin in a single atom using a scanning tunneling microscope, achieving single-shot readout and revealing potential for advanced quantum control and sensing at the atomic level.
Researchers at Yale University have discovered a new type of superconducting material that supports the theory of superconductivity driven by electronic nematicity. Using a scanning tunneling microscope, they studied iron selenide materials mixed with sulfur at extremely low temperatures, revealing a "superconducting gap" that aligns with theoretical predictions. This breakthrough enhances understanding of superconductivity mechanisms and could lead to the development of advanced technologies like efficient power grids and high-speed computing systems.
Physicists at Princeton University have successfully visualized the Wigner crystal, a crystal made entirely of electrons, for the first time using a scanning tunneling microscope. This breakthrough confirms a 90-year-old theory proposed by Eugene Wigner and could lead to the discovery of new quantum phases of matter. The researchers used pristine graphene and low temperatures to directly image the crystal, observing its triangular configuration and its ability to transition into an electron liquid phase. They also discovered the quantum nature of the crystal, including the "zero-point" motion of electrons, and are now investigating how the crystal melts and transitions into other exotic liquid phases.
A team of physicists at the University of Cologne has successfully observed the Kondo effect in an artificial atom using a scanning tunneling microscope, marking a significant breakthrough in condensed matter physics. Their innovative approach allowed them to directly observe the Kondo effect in a one-dimensional wire floating above a metallic sheet of graphene, validating theoretical predictions and opening new possibilities for exploring exotic states of matter.
Physicists have successfully performed quantum calculations using individual titanium atoms on a surface by controlling their spin with microwave signals emitted from a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Although this technique is not expected to compete with leading quantum computing approaches, it could be used to study quantum properties in other chemical elements or molecules. The researchers were able to set up a simple two-qubit quantum operation and read out its results, with the potential to extend the technique to around 100 qubits.
Researchers in the Netherlands have created 'artificial atoms' using caesium atoms on a semiconductor surface, which can form molecular orbitals similar to those in organic molecules. The artificial atoms could help researchers measure the energies of unstable molecular systems and gain insights into chemical energetics. The researchers arranged the caesium cations into a ring that had an electromagnetic potential analogous to that between atoms, and then arranged them into artificial molecules such as cis and trans butadienes and even artificial benzene. The researchers now want to use this to explore the fundamentals of chemical bonding.