Exotic phases of matter known as spin ices are defined by frustrated spins that obey local “ice rules”—similar to electric dipoles in water ice. Physicists can define ice rules in two-dimensions for in-plane Ising-like spins arranged on a kagome lattice. The ice rules can lead to diverse orders and excitations. In a new report on Science, Kan Zhao and a team…
Tag: crystal
Glass transition of spins and orbitals of electrons in a pure crystal
A joint research group from Osaka University and the University of Tokyo uncovered the mechanism of the glass transition that electrons can experience in pyrochlore oxide crystals. The researchers show that distortions in the atomic lattice cause two types of rotational degrees of freedom of spins to become coupled and form a glassy state at the exact same temperature. This work…
Topology protects light propagation in photonic crystal
Dutch researchers at AMOLF and TU Delft have seen light propagate in a special material without reflections. The material, a photonic crystal, consists of two parts that each have a slightly different pattern of perforations. Light can propagate along the boundary between these two parts in a special way: It is “topologically protected,” and therefore does not bounce back at imperfections….
Happy birthday, Nicolaus Copernicus
In 1543, Copernicus tried to show the world that medieval beliefs of an enclosed, Earth-centered universe were wrong. Instead, he said, Earth revolves around the sun. His work set off what’s known today as the Copernican Revolution. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/this-date-in-science-happy-birthday-nicolaus-copernicus…
Valentine Venus
Talk about an awesome Valentine’s Day activity! Go outside and show your sweetie Venus, the planet of love. Astronomer Guy Ottewell provides a chart and more. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/valentines-day-activity-2020-how-to-see-venus…
Time crystals and topological superconductors merge
“Powering a topological superconductor using a time crystal gives you more than the sum of its parts,” says Jason Alicea, a researcher at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in the US. The discovery of topological states has bred reams of research revealing new condensed matter and quantum physics, with potential technological applications in spintronics and quantum computing. Similarly, not long after…