: Physics Articles
Editorial: New facesAt a time when no extra money is likely to be forthcoming, those appointed to lead European-Union-funded science must follow a more imaginative plan. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp475-475 |
News and Views: Fluid phases: Going supercriticalThe critical point of a fluid is defined as the point beyond which it ceases to exhibit distinct liquid- or gas-like states. A crossover between liquid-like and gas-like behaviour observed by inelastic X-ray scattering suggests subtle effects involving nanoscale fluctuations in the one-phase region above the critical point. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp479-480 |
News and Views: Complex networks: Patterns of complexityThe Turing mechanism provides a paradigm for the spontaneous generation of patterns in reaction?diffusion systems. A framework that describes Turing-pattern formation in the context of complex networks should provide a new basis for studying the phenomenon. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp480-481 |
News and Views: Astrophysics: Magnetic bubble wrapThe orientation of the magnetic field wrapped around a galaxy cluster has been measured for the first time, through a previously unexplored combination of traditional astronomy and computer simulations. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp481-482 |
News and Views: Superfluid transitions: Proximity eases confinementConfinement of helium in a micrometre-size box rounds the sharp transition and depresses the specific-heat maximum. But coupling an array of boxes through a thin, non-superfluid film is now shown to raise that maximum, while the boxes also enhance superfluidity in the film. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp483-484 |
News and Views: Gravity: Trying to catch the waveExperiments aimed at finding Einstein's elusive gravitational waves have reached their designed sensitivity. Yet we are still waiting for the first detection. What can we learn from this? Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp484-485 |
News and Views: Semiconductors: A quantum dot in a Fermi seaThe optical spectrum of a single quantum dot is strongly affected by coherent tunnelling to a nearby sea of electrons. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp485-486 |
News and Views: Fluid dynamics: Propelled by diffusionThe process of diffusion isn't usually expected to be able to generate useful work. But when a neutrally buoyant wedge object is placed in a fluid with a vertical density gradient, the diffusion-driven flow of material can indeed generate a measureable horizontal propulsion. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp486-487 |
Letter: Interacting electrons in one dimension beyond the Luttinger-liquid limitLuttinger-liquid theory describes interacting electrons in one dimension, so long as their energies are linear as a function of momentum. When the energies become nonlinear, particles and holes behave differently, with particles able to relax when injected into a quantum wire. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp489-493 |
Letter: Positive noise cross-correlation in hybrid superconducting and normal-metal three-terminal devicesThe observation of positive noise cross-correlations in a hybrid system consisting of a superconductor sandwiched between two normal metals provides evidence that in such a device Cooper pairs can be split into pairs of spatially separated, entangled electrons. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp494-498 |
Letter: Coupling and proximity effects in the superfluid transition in 4He dotsSome effects that have long been observed in superconductors are difficult to see in superfluid helium-4, despite the similar physics governing these systems, owing to the small correlation length in helium-4. Proximity effects have now been observed in that system, using an array of micrometre-size boxes linked by a thin helium film. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp499-502 |
Letter: The Widom line as the crossover between liquid-like and gas-like behaviour in supercriticalfluidsBy conventional definition, a supercritical fluid is one that doesn?t exhibit distinct liquid- or gas-like states. This may need to be revised in light of measurements that show a sharp change in the speed of sound in supercritical argon when it crosses a well-defined line on its pressure versus temperature phase diagram. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp503-507 |
Letter: Ultralong-range energy transfer by interatomic Coulombic decay in an extreme quantum systemInteratomic Coulombic decay is a recently discovered ionization process by which energy absorbed from incident radiation by one atom is rapidly transferred to another. A study of this process in helium now shows that it can operate over remarkably long distances of more than 45 atomic radii. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp508-511 |
Letter: Thermalization of a two-dimensional photonic gas in a ?white wall? photon boxIt has now been demonstrated that a dye-filled optical microresonator can trap photons such that their number doesn?t decrease even when the trap is cooled. The idea could lead to a Bose?Einstein condensate of light. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp512-515 |
Letter: Propulsion generated by diffusion-driven flowFew would expect the process of diffusion to generate useful work. But when a buoyant wedge-shaped object is placed in a fluid with a vertically stratified density gradient, the upward flow driven by diffusion can be translated into a measurable horizontal propulsion. Nature Physics, vol. 6 #7, pp516-519 |
