Category archives: Quantum physics

How the physical model of atoms was lost

How the physical model of atoms was lost

Condensed matterHistoryQuantum physics

By DIPC

By the mid-1920s it was clear that “things” (electrons, atoms, molecules) long regarded as particles also show wave properties. This fact is the basis for the currently accepted theory of atomic structure. This theory, quantum mechanics, was introduced in 1925. Its foundations were developed very rapidly during the next few years, primarily by Born, Heisenberg […]

Itinerant ferromagnetism at the surface of an antiferromagnet

Itinerant ferromagnetism at the surface of an antiferromagnet

Condensed matterMaterialsNanotechnologyPhysicsQuantum physics

By DIPC

Silicon surfaces of crystalline solids are part of conventional electronics, but their exploitation in novel materials combining two-dimensional electron states (2DESs) and magnetism, which play an important role in the development of next-generation electronics, still remains elusive. The appearance of 2DESs at surfaces or interfaces and their interplay with magnetic degrees of freedom may open […]

The loophole-free quantum entanglement experiment (4): The free will loophole

The loophole-free quantum entanglement experiment (4): The free will loophole

Philosophy of sciencePhysicsQuantum physics

By Daniel Manzano

In previous posts, we have discussed the two main loopholes of Bell experiments, the locality loophole, and the detection loophole. Both were closed a long time ago, but only recently they were closed in the same experiment. Let us summarize the kind of experiments we are dealing with by an example. Alice and Bob will […]

The classical behaviour of the dark modes of silver nanotrimers

The classical behaviour of the dark modes of silver nanotrimers

Condensed matterMaterialsPhysicsQuantum physics

By DIPC

Nanoparticles of certain metals, like gold or silver, have attracted substantial interest in recent years owing to their ability to support localized surface plasmon resonances (collective oscillations of conduction electrons). These plasmonic excitations allow manipulation of light at the nanoscale and have enabled technological advances ranging from improved catalytic and photovoltaic cell efficiencies to sensitive […]

The importance of the dynamical electron-nuclear correlation terms

The importance of the dynamical electron-nuclear correlation terms

ChemistryCondensed matterPhysicsQuantum physics

By DIPC

Ionization is a fundamental process in chemistry and physics, lying at the heart of many fascinating phenomena. Ionization is the process of producing ions. Certain molecules ionize in solution, for example. But ions may also be formed when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons as a result of energy gained in a […]

Introducing impurities

Introducing impurities

Condensed matterMaterialsPhysicsQuantum physics

By DIPC

The most extensive use of semiconductors, such as silicon or germanium, including their use as transistors, arises from their behavior when, after being sufficiently purified of atoms other than the basic element (e.g., silicon or germanium), very small amounts of special impurities are carefully introduced. While the methods for first purifying then adding small amounts […]

The loophole-free quantum entanglement experiment (3): The detection loophole

The loophole-free quantum entanglement experiment (3): The detection loophole

PhysicsQuantum physics

By Daniel Manzano

Let ‘s continue with the story of the development of the loophole-free Bell experiment. As we discussed in the first post, it is possible to prove that the universe is either non-real, meaning that the outcomes of some experiments can only be predicted statistically, or it is non-local, meaning that there are signals that propagate […]

Impurities and spin Hall effects in graphene

Impurities and spin Hall effects in graphene

Condensed matterMaterialsPhysicsQuantum physics

By DIPC

The interactions between moving charges and magnetic fields can be quite complicated; more if we consider the quantum effects. One example is the collection of Hall effects. There are analogues of these effects for spin and the detection of the most sophisticated one in graphene, where, at least, it should not be strong, is something […]