Author archives: DIPC

How to measure tiny temperature differences using a Josephson junction

How to measure tiny temperature differences using a Josephson junction

Condensed matterMaterialsPhysicsQuantum physicsTheoretical physics

By DIPC

At low temperatures, the resistivity of a metal (the inverse of its conductivity) is nearly constant. As the temperature of a material is lowered and as we approach absolute zero the resistivity should approach a constant value. Many metals, known as normal metals, behave in this way. The behaviour of another class of metals and […]

The era of organo-plasmonic devices

The era of organo-plasmonic devices

Condensed matterPhysics

By DIPC

One of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, if not the greatest, was the transistor. It revolutionized the electronics industry and changed the way people around the world lived, learned, worked, and played. Its invention marked the beginning of solid state electronics which quickly reduced the size and power requirements of existing electronic tube […]

Darker than black quantum dots

Darker than black quantum dots

ChemistryMaterials

By DIPC

A quantum dot is a nanometric crystalline structure of semiconductor materials. In a quatum dot electrons are confined in a region of space, thus creating a well defined structure of energy levels that depends very much on the size and shape of the quantum dot. This structure resembles that of atoms, that is why sometimes […]

The true colour of chlorophylls

The true colour of chlorophylls

BiologyChemistryMaterials

By DIPC

Most leaves are various shades of green. This is due to the chlorophylls. The name chlorophyll comes from the Greek words chloros (green) and phyllon (leaf). There are six types of chlorophylls in plants. The two main chlorophylls are chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Chlorophyll a absorbs purple and orange light the most. Chlorophyll b […]