Viewpoint: New Twist in Chiral Magnets
March 5, 2012
Catherine Pappas
A new state of matter involving twisting magnetic moments has been observed for the first time, possibly opening up novel applications in information technology.
Viewpoints
Spin-Heat Vision
March 5, 2012
Roberto Myers and Joseph Heremans
Local laser heating is used to image thermally driven spin currents and voltages.
Precision Measurement with Cold Atoms
February 27, 2012
John Close and Nick Robins
An improved mirror reduces the errors in an atom interferometer caused by Earth’s rotation and increases the time and spatial dimensions over which precision measurements can be made.
Seeing Deep Inside Icy Giant Planets
February 27, 2012
William Nellis
Magnetically accelerated metal plates are used to compress water to high pressures and temperatures like those inside Neptune and Uranus, permitting measurements that aid in the development of models of planetary interiors.
The ABC of Aharonov Effects
February 21, 2012
Klaus Richter
Controlling the spin and geometric phase of electrons in a semiconductor ring.
More Viewpoints
Silicon Nanowires Feel the Force of Magnetic Resonance
Are Mammals Ferroelectric?
Pairing with Spin Fluctuations
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Synopses
Fractal Teeth
March 1, 2012
Theoretical models show fractal hierarchical teeth can make joints stronger and more fail-resistant.
Quantum Pistons
March 1, 2012
Calculations reveal the relationship between work and free energy for a quantum particle contained in a box with a moving wall.
Lévy Flight of the Bumblebee
March 1, 2012
Bumblebee flight patterns reveal how the presence of spiders causes bees to modify their foraging strategies.
Optical Device is More Than 100% Efficient
February 27, 2012
Experiments demonstrate a semiconductor device that emits more power as light than it takes in electrically.
More Synopses
Plastic Capacitors
Graphene Nanoribbons Zip Up
Going the Distance
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Focus
A New Way to Channel Light
March 2, 2012
Light passing through a pair of adjacent glass strips generates a slight bending in the material, causing the light to concentrate into narrow tracks. The technique works for all wavelengths of light.
More Focus
Graphyne May Be Better than Graphene
When Does a Liquid Break Up?
Mystery of Isotope Separation in Lava is Solved
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Trends
How Solid is Supersolid?
December 19, 2011
Anatoly B. Kuklov, Nikolay V. Prokof’ev and Boris V. Svistunov
Macroscopic quantum properties of helium-4, one of the simplest and oldest elements in the universe, continue to puzzle and amaze scientists. Supertransport in solid helium-4 is the most elusive and controversial conundrum of all.
More Trends
Dynamic Heterogeneity in Amorphous Materials
Iron Superconductivity Weathers Another Storm
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Editors' Suggestions
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