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This Simple Laser Trick Could Supercharge Quantum Tech

In a major advance for quantum technology, researchers have discovered a surprisingly simple method to preserve atomic spin coherence using just a single laser beam. Scientists have developed a surprisingly effective technique to preserve atomic information, addressing a major obstacle in the advancement of quantum technologies . The approach involves directing a single, finely tuned laser at a gas of atoms, which helps synchronize their internal spins and significantly slows the loss of information. In many quantum devices such as sensors and memory systems, atoms can lose their magnetic alignment (known as spin) through collisions with each other or with the container walls. This process, called spin relaxation, undermines the reliability and accuracy of these technologies. Past solutions typically relied on operating in ultra-low magnetic fields and using cumbersome magnetic shielding equipment. The newly introduced method avoids those limitations. Rather than shielding the system, ...
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The Universe’s Most Elusive Particles Might Be Talking to Themselves

Collapsing stars might act as cosmic laboratories for discovering hidden neutrino interactions. Neutrinos are among the most puzzling particles in the universe. Nearly massless and incredibly elusive, they rarely interact with anything, yet they play a deadly role in the life cycle of stars far larger than our sun. These subatomic particles exist in three known types electron, muon, and tau and despite decades of study, many of their behaviors remain poorly understood. Because neutrinos interact so weakly, it is nearly impossible to make them collide under laboratory conditions. As a result, scientists still do not know whether they follow the interaction rules laid out by the standard model of particle physics or if they engage in theorized “secret” interactions exclusive to neutrinos. In a new study, researchers with the Network for Neutrinos, Nuclear Astrophysics , and Symmetries (N3AS), including members from UC San Diego, have used theoretical models to demonstrate that massive s...

Light Versus Light: The Secret Physics Battle That Could Rewrite the Rules

In a fascinating dive into the strange world of quantum physics, scientists have shown that light can interact with itself in bizarre ways creating ghost-like virtual particles that pop in and out of existence. This “light-on-light scattering” isn’t just a theoretical curiosity; it could hold the key to solving long-standing mysteries in particle physics . Quantum Light: Why Lasers Don’t Clash Like Lightsabers Under normal conditions, light waves can pass through one another without any interference. Based on the principles of electrodynamics, two beams of light can occupy the same space without affecting each other. They simply merge and continue on their paths. This means that the dramatic laser duels seen in science fiction would be much less exciting in real life. However, quantum physics introduces a twist. It predicts a phenomenon known as “light-on-light scattering.” This effect cannot be detected with typical laser systems, but it has been observed in high-energy environments l...

In a first, quantum entanglement is made reversible with the help of unique battery

Turns out, entanglement isn’t a one-way ticket. A new framework lets scientists reverse entanglement transformations perfectly. For more than a century, the laws of thermodynamics have helped us understand how energy moves, how engines work, and why time seems to flow in one direction. Now, researchers have made a similarly powerful discovery, but in the strange world of quantum physics . Scientists have shown for the first time that entanglement, the mysterious link between quantum particles, can be reversibly manipulated just like heat or energy in a perfect thermodynamic cycle. The researchers support their findings using a novel concept called an entanglement battery, which allows entanglement to flow in and out of quantum systems without being lost, much like a regular battery stores and supplies energy. This achievement resolves a long-standing puzzle in quantum information science and could significantly impact the design of future quantum computers, secure communication system...

Scientists Use Cryptography To Unlock Secrets of Quantum Advantage

Researchers use cryptography to gain insights into the mechanisms behind quantum speed-ups. Quantum computing is widely regarded by experts as the next major leap in computer technology. Unlike traditional computers, which process information in binary (0s and 1s), quantum computers make use of unique principles from quantum physics. These include phenomena like superposition and interference, which could enable quantum machines to tackle certain problems far more efficiently than even the most advanced classical systems. When a quantum computer successfully handles a task that would be practically impossible for current computers, this achievement is referred to as quantum advantage. However, this advantage does not apply to all types of problems, which has led scientists to explore the precise conditions under which it can actually be achieved. While earlier research has outlined several conditions that might allow for quantum advantage, it has remained unclear whether those condit...

Star Breaks Free From Supermassive Black Hole—And It’s Not Done Yet

A star narrowly escapes the deadly grip of a supermassive black hole, defying the odds. In a remarkable twist of fate, a star has defied the odds by escaping the destructive grasp of a supermassive black hole, only to return for a second encounter. This rare event, captured by astronomers, challenges long-standing theories about how black holes interact with stars. A Star That Defied The Odds The cosmic drama began when a distant supermassive black hole tried to devour a star from a galaxy millions of light-years away. Instead of succumbing to the black hole’s gravitational forces , the star managed to escape, sparking interest among researchers. The first clue came in the form of a flare, a sudden burst of light signaling the star’s first brush with destruction. Astronomers were surprised when, about 700 days later, a second flare appeared, nearly identical to the first. The phenomenon was officially named AT 2022dbl, and the team behind the discovery was quick to dismiss the possib...

Gravity may be an illusion — Experts discover ‘fluctuating space-time’ flooding galaxies

What do you know about gravity? Let’s remember that gravity is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, and it has always been one of the most mysterious. Newton’s physics gave us the first concrete explanation of how it works, and Einstein’s theory of general relativity deepened it, explaining how mass curves spacetime. Gravity, then, seemed to have a simple explanation: a force that pulls everything toward the center, keeping the universe in equilibrium. However, this understanding began to be challenged with the emergence of quantum mechanics, which deals with the behavior of subatomic particles. The point is that, while quantum mechanics works flawlessly on tiny scales, and relativity wonderfully describes behavior on large scales, the two models simply don’t fit when applied to extreme situations, such as the interior of black holes or the early universe. Turning point: when Space-Time started to “shake” And here is the discovery: the theory of floating spacetime suggests th...