In recent decades, researchers have developed advanced techniques to detect and manipulate individual photons. A particularly intriguing field examines how nanoscale light emitters, resembling artificial atoms, produce these photons. In this vein, a new study addresses a subtle question: when two such emitters release photons that are red-shifted due to energy loss, do these photons […]
Condensed matter • DIPC Advanced materials • Materials • Quantum physics
In the layered kagome metal CsV₃Sb₅, researchers have observed something that, until now, seemed almost impossible: robust quantum interference in the normal, non-superconducting state, persisting over distances of several micrometers. The interference is not the fragile single-particle kind seen in ultra-clean semiconductors at millikelvin temperatures. Instead, it behaves as if the entire stack of kagome […]
Catalysis • Chemistry • DIPC Computational and Theoretical Chemistry • DIPC Interfaces • Nanotechnology
When we think of atoms sitting on a surface, we tend to imagine them as fairly still, especially at very low temperatures (colder than liquid nitrogen, in fact). Yet in modern surface science we often discover the opposite: atoms can be surprisingly restless, gliding from place to place in ways that shape how materials grow […]
Imagine a sheet of material so incredibly thin it’s just one atom thick, yet it can capture and guide light in ways that defy our everyday intuition. This isn’t science fiction—it’s graphene, a wonder material made from carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern. Now, picture slicing this sheet into tiny ribbons, arranging them in […]
Imagine electrons as tiny particles zipping through a material, each carrying two key properties: charge, which powers our everyday electronics, and spin, like a little internal compass needle that points up or down. Charge flow is what we call electric current, but spin adds a magnetic twist, opening doors to advanced technologies like more efficient […]
DIPC Advanced materials • DIPC Electronic Properties • Materials
Picture this: Your home’s walls don’t just keep out the rain—they soak up warmth from the sun during the day, slowly release it to keep you cosy at night, and even convert some of that heat into a trickle of electricity to power your lights or charge your phone. This isn’t science fiction; it’s the […]
If you’ve ever fallen down a Wikipedia rabbit hole—clicking link after link until you’re far from where you started—you’ve explored a network, much like physicists map connections in systems like the internet or ecosystems. Each Wikipedia article is a dot, each hyperlink a line connecting ideas. This vast web, built by millions of contributors, mirrors […]
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a rare but aggressive cancer of the bile ducts, poses a major challenge for doctors and patients. It’s tough to treat, with limited options beyond surgery, and systemic drugs like chemotherapy often fall short. Cisplatin, a classic platinum-based chemo drug, works against many solid tumours but has only modest effects in CCA. Worse […]
Condensed matter • DIPC Electronic Properties • Materials • Quantum physics
Graphene—a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice—has captivated scientists because of its extraordinary electronic and mechanical properties. Its electrons move through the lattice almost as if they were massless, giving graphene exceptionally high electrical conductivity and mobility. However, pristine graphene sheets are not magnetic and their electrons are delocalized across the […]
At first glance, molecules seem too small and too chaotic to be controlled with light. Their atoms jiggle ceaselessly, driven by thermal energy, and their vibrations—tiny oscillations of chemical bonds—usually remain hidden in the background. But recent work has shown that we can, in fact, use light not only to measure these vibrations but also […]