Nanowerk November 8, 2022 While a precise modulation of magnetism is achieved when voltage is applied, much more uncontrolled is the spontaneous evolution of magneto-ionic systems upon removing the electric stimuli. An international team of researchers (Spain, Italy, Belgium) has demonstrated a voltage-controllable N ion accumulation effect at the outer surface of CoN films adjacent to a liquid electrolyte, which allows for the control of magneto-ionic properties both during and after voltage pulse actuation (i.e., stimulated, and post-stimulated behavior, respectively). This effect, which takes place when the CoN film thickness is below 50 nm and the voltage pulse frequency is […]
The transformation between different topological spin textures
Phys.org November 11, 2022 Skyrmions and bimerons are versatile topological spin textures that can be used as information bits for both classical and quantum computing. An international team of researchers (Japan, China, Australia) has demonstrated the creation of isolated skyrmions and their subsequent transformation to bimerons by harnessing the electric current-induced Oersted field and temperature-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy variation. The reversible transformation between skyrmions and bimerons was controlled by the current amplitude and scanning direction. Both skyrmions and bimerons could be created in the same system through the skyrmion-bimeron transformation and magnetization switching. Deformed skyrmion bubbles and chiral labyrinth domains […]
Transforming bacterial cells into living artificial neural circuits
Phys.org November 14, 2022 Neuro-inspired models can transform synthetic gene circuit design in a manner that is reliable, efficient in resource utilization, and readily reconfigurable for different tasks. To this end, an international team of researchers (Israel, USA – MIT) has introduced the perceptgene, a perceptron that computes in the logarithmic domain, which enables efficient implementation of artificial neural networks in Escherichia coli cells. They successfully modified perceptgene parameters to create devices that encode a minimum, maximum, and average of analog inputs. With these devices, they created multi-layer perceptgene circuits that compute a soft majority function, perform an analog-to-digital conversion, […]
Unimon – A new qubit to boost quantum computers for useful applications
Nanowerk November 15, 2022 Superconducting qubits seem promising for useful quantum computers, but the currently wide-spread qubit designs and techniques do not yet provide high enough performance. Researchers in Finland have developed a superconducting-qubit type, the unimon, which combines the desired properties of increased anharmonicity, full insensitivity to dc charge noise, reduced sensitivity to flux noise, and a simple structure consisting only of a single Josephson junction in a resonator. In agreement with their quantum models, they measured the qubit frequency and increased anharmonicity at the optimal operation point. It yielded, 99.9% and 99.8% fidelity for 13 ns single-qubit gates on […]
Top 10 Science and Technology Inventions for the Week of November 11, 2022
01. Discovery of a fundamental law of friction leads to new materials that can minimize energy loss. 02. Engineers develop a low-cost, quantum-dot-enhanced terahertz camera 03. Erbium atoms in silicon: A prime candidate for quantum networks 04. Faster and more efficient computer chips thanks to germanium 05. Low-loss, chip-scale programmable silicon photonic processor 06. Magnetism or no magnetism? The influence of substrates on electronic interactions 07. New technology creates carbon neutral chemicals out of thin air 08. Novel copper gas penetration electrode can efficiently reduce CO2 to multicarbon products 09. Seeing clearly into a new realm—researchers prototype a new generation […]
DARPA’s Robotic In-Space Mechanic Aces Tests, on Track for Launch
DARPA November 8, 2022 DARPA is seeking to create a persistent operational dexterous robotic capability in geosynchronous Earth orbit to enable on-orbit satellite repair and upgrade, extending satellite life spans, expanding the capabilities of existing satellites, enhancing spacecraft resilience, and improving the reliability of the current U.S. space infrastructure. All component-level tests are complete on DARPA’s Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program and the on-orbit demonstration mission is on schedule for launch in 2024. Following a period of checkout and calibration activities, the program anticipates on-orbit satellite servicing activities will begin in 2025. RSGS is intended to remain in […]
Discovery of a fundamental law of friction leads to new materials that can minimize energy loss
Nanowerk November 3, 2022 By performing measurements on bulk graphite, and on epitaxial graphene films on SiC with different stacking orders and twisting, as well as in the presence of intercalated hydrogen an international team of researchers (USA – New York University, Italy, Czech Republic) found that the interfacial transverse shear modulus was critically controlled by the stacking order and the atomic layer–substrate interaction. They demonstrated that the modulus is a pivotal measurable property to control and predict sliding friction in supported two-dimensional materials. Their experiments demonstrated a reciprocal relationship between friction force per unit contact area and interfacial shear […]
Engineers develop a low-cost, quantum-dot-enhanced terahertz camera
Nanowerk November 5, 2022 The currently available THz detectors are limited in many aspects of their performance, including sensitivity, speed, bandwidth, and operating temperature. Most do not allow the characterization of THz polarization states. The recent observation of THz-driven luminescence in quantum dots offers a possible detection mechanism via field-driven interdot charge transfer. An international team of researchers (USA – MIT, University of Minnesota, , Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, South Korea) has demonstrated a room-temperature CMOS THz camera and polarimeter based on quantum-dot-enhanced THz-to-visible upconversion mechanism with optimized luminophore geometries and fabrication designs. Besides broadband and fast responses, […]
Erbium atoms in silicon: A prime candidate for quantum networks
Phys.org November 7, 2022 A major challenge for a scalable architecture for quantum information processing is based on emitters in nanostructures that are coupled by light. Researchers in Germany demonstrated the integration of erbium atoms with special optical properties into a silicon crystal. Thus, the atoms could be connected by light at a wavelength that is commonly used in telecommunications, making them ideal building blocks for future quantum networks that enable calculations with several quantum computers, as well as the secure exchange of data in a quantum internet. They achieved a narrow inhomogeneous broadening, less than 1 GHz, strong optical […]
Faster and more efficient computer chips thanks to germanium
Science Daily November 8, 2022 The compound semiconductor silicon-germanium has decisive advantages over today’s silicon technology in terms of energy efficiency and achievable clock frequencies. But establishing contacts between metal and semiconductor on a nanoscale in a reliable way is the main problem with a high proportion of germanium than with silicon. An international team of researchers (Austria, Switzerland, France) found a method to create perfect interfaces between aluminium contacts and silicon germanium components on an atomic scale. They produced a thin silicon layer and the silicon-germanium. By heating the structure in a controlled manner a contact was created between […]