High Energy Physics and Computational Science

A new theoretical framework proposes that gravity may arise from entropy, offering a fresh perspective on the deep connections between geometry, quantum mechanics and statistical physics. Developed by Ginestra Bianconi, a mathematical physicist at Queen Mary University of London, UK, and published in Physical Review D, this modified version of gravity provides new quantum information theory insights on the well-established link between statistical mechanics and gravity that is rooted in the thermodynamic properties of black holes. Quantum relative entropy At the heart of Bianconi’s theory is the concept of quantum relative entropy (QRE). This is a fundamental concept of information theory, and it quantifies the difference in information encoded in two quantum states. More specifically, QRE is a measure of how much information of one quantum state is carried by another quantum state. Bianconi’s idea is that the metrics associated with spacetime are quantum operators that encode the qua...

Fifty years after it was proposed, scientists have finally created a black hole bomb in the lab. For the first time, physicists have created a " black hole bomb " in the lab, providing evidence for the "Zel’dovich effect" proposed half a century ago. The idea behind the Zel’dovich effect came from an unusual place. In 1969, British physicist and mathematician Roger Penrose suggested that energy could be extracted from black holes by lowering an object into the ergosphere (the region just outside of the event horizon) and allowing it to accelerate the object, stealing some of the black hole's energy. The idea, known as the Penrose process, requires negative energy to be acquired by the object in order for it to be recovered from the black hole – otherwise, all you'd be doing is feeding the black hole. "Let’s imagine that we launch a particle from very far away into the ergosphere of a Kerr black hole, following a retrograde orbit, that is, a trajectory d...

Scientists have made a groundbreaking leap in detecting dark energy by developing a magnetically levitated precision force system. Their experiments vastly surpassed previous methods, reaching a new level of precision that opens up unexplored realms of dark energy research. The work was so impactful it earned a featured highlight in Nature Astronomy. Breakthrough in Dark Energy Detection Recently, a research team from the Department of Physics at Nanjing University, working alongside collaborators from the School of Astronomy and Space Science at Nanjing University, the University of Science and Technology of China, and Zhejiang University, achieved a major breakthrough in dark energy detection. The team developed a magnetically levitated precision force measurement system, enabling high-precision experimental tests of the symmetron dark energy theory. Unprecedented Leap in Experimental Precision Their new system pushed the boundaries of experimental precision, improving the internatio...

Understanding the origin of heavy elements on the periodic table is one of the most challenging open problems in all of physics. In the search for conditions suitable for these elements via "nucleosynthesis," a Los Alamos National Laboratory-led team is going where no researchers have gone before: the gamma-ray burst jet and surrounding cocoon emerging from collapsed stars. As proposed in an article in The Astrophysical Journal, high-energy photons produced deep in the jet could dissolve the outer layers of a star into neutrons, causing a series of physical processes that result in the formation of heavy elements. "The creation of heavy elements such as uranium and plutonium necessitates extreme conditions," said Matthew Mumpower, physicist at Los Alamos. "There are only a few viable yet rare scenarios in the cosmos where these elements can form, and all such locations need a copious amount of neutrons. We propose a new phenomenon where those neutrons don...

In a dramatic leap for astrophysics, Chinese researchers have recreated a key cosmic process in the lab: the acceleration of ions by powerful collisionless shocks. By using intense lasers to simulate space-like conditions, they captured high-speed ion beams and confirmed the decades-old theory that shock drift acceleration, not shock surfing, is the main driver behind these energy gains. This discovery connects lab physics with deep-space phenomena like cosmic rays and supernova remnants, paving the way for breakthroughs in both fusion energy and space science. Breakthrough in Particle Acceleration Observed in Lab Scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have made the first direct laboratory observation of ion acceleration caused by reflection off laser-generated, magnetized collisionless shocks. This key finding reveals how ions gain energy by bouncing off supercritical shocks, a critical step in the Fermi acceleration process that powers high-energy p...

A recent study found that the Hubbard model failed to accurately predict the behavior of a simplified one-dimensional cuprate system. According to scientists at SLAC, this suggests the model is unlikely to fully account for high-temperature superconductivity in two-dimensional cuprates. Superconductivity, the phenomenon where certain materials can conduct electricity without any energy loss, holds great potential for revolutionary technologies, from ultra-efficient power grids to cutting-edge quantum devices . A recent study published in Physical Review Letters by researchers at the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences (SIMES) at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory offers new insights into one of the field’s most persistent puzzles: high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates. Building on findings from an earlier SLAC study, the researchers present additional evidence that the Hubbard model the most widely used theoretical framework for d...

Research suggests that early cosmos had different method for creating massive black holes Researchers have proposed in a new paper that dark matter may have contributed to the formation of giant black holes in the early universe. Truly gigantic black holes that appeared in the relatively young universe, are being revealed by more observations, especially with the James Webb Space Telescope , reported Space.com. It would appear just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang that our cosmos was already home to black holes billions of times more massive than the sun. Moreover, the only known way to create black holes is through the deaths of massive stars, but that process yields black holes with a few dozen solar masses . There was just not enough time for the first stars to form, die, and then for those little black holes to eat enough matter to become supermassive, which is the reason why the huge black holes appeared so early. Therefore, it's possible that the early cosmos ...

A new analysis suggests that the universe could be spinning at a speed so gentle it has escaped our notice. This proposal may offer a way to explain why researchers get conflicting numbers when measuring how quickly space has been expanding. One of the scientists exploring the rotation theory is István Szapudi, a researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy. In a recent study, Szapudi analyzed subtle changes in cosmic expansion that might be tied to an extremely slow turn of all known matter. Century-old puzzle about cosmic expansion Most astronomers accept the current models that say the universe expands evenly in all directions, with no sign of rotation. They have known about cosmic expansion for nearly a century, but there has been a lingering discrepancy called the Hubble tension . This puzzle stems from comparing two ways of measuring the expansion rate of the universe. One method relies on supernovae in faraway galaxies to track distances, while the other dep...

Researchers have identified antiferromagnetism in a real icosahedral quasicrystal, reigniting interest in the quest to uncover antiferromagnetic quasicrystals. Quasicrystals (QCs) are a remarkable class of solid materials characterized by a unique atomic structure. Unlike conventional crystals, which have a periodic and repeating atomic arrangement, QCs exhibit long-range order without periodicity, a property known as quasiperiodicity . This distinct structure gives rise to symmetries that are forbidden in traditional crystallography. Since their Nobel Prize-winning discovery, QCs have attracted significant interest in condensed matter physics, both for their unconventional magnetic behavior and their potential applications in fields like spintronics and magnetic refrigeration . Recently, ferromagnetism was discovered in a family of icosahedral QCs (iQCs) composed of gold, gallium, and rare earth elements (Au-Ga-R). This finding, while notable, was not entirely unexpected, as translati...

A team of researchers from top universities has developed a groundbreaking mathematical model that could change how bowling is played and analyzed. Unlike previous methods that relied on player stats, this model factors in lane oil patterns, friction, and even ball asymmetry to pinpoint optimal strike conditions . It not only simulates ball trajectories using advanced physics but also offers a “miss-room” buffer for human error, aiming to give players a scientific edge in a sport with millions on the line. A New Mathematical Approach to Bowling Bowling remains one of the most popular sports in the U.S., with over 45 million people playing each year and millions of dollars awarded in tournaments. Yet despite its popularity, there’s still no widely accepted model that can accurately predict how a bowling ball moves down the lane. In a new study published today (April 15) in AIP Advances, researchers from Princeton, MIT, the University of New Mexico, Loughborough University, and Swarthmo...

Scientists discovered a new Hall effect driven by spin currents in noncollinear antiferromagnets, offering a path to more efficient and resilient spintronic devices . A research team led by Colorado State University graduate student Luke Wernert and Associate Professor Hua Chen has identified a previously unknown type of Hall effect that could lead to more energy-efficient electronic devices . Their study, published in Physical Review Letters, was conducted in collaboration with graduate student Bastián Pradenas and Professor Oleg Tchernyshyov of Johns Hopkins University. The researchers uncovered evidence of a new property, dubbed the “Hall mass,” in a class of complex magnetic materials known as noncollinear antiferromagnets . The traditional Hall effect, discovered by Edwin Hall at Johns Hopkins in 1879, describes how an electric current is deflected sideways when subjected to an external magnetic field, generating a measurable voltage. This effect plays a crucial role in technologi...

In a groundbreaking development at the Large Hadron Collider, scientists at CERN have potentially identified the elusive toponium particle, a discovery that could significantly reshape our understanding of particle physics and the fundamental forces of the universe. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN has once again captured global attention with a groundbreaking discovery in particle physics . This time, researchers have potentially identified the elusive toponium, a composite particle formed from top quark-antiquark pairs. Such discoveries are not just milestones; they redefine our understanding of the universe’s building blocks. At the heart of this exciting development lies the CMS collaboration, one of the LHC’s key experiments, which has been diligently analyzing data to unearth such intricate details. The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated, as it not only challenges existing theories but also opens new avenues for exploration in the realm of particle physics...

DESY scientists have taken a major step in refining laser plasma acceleration, a technology that could revolutionize particle accelerators by making them smaller, cheaper, and more versatile. Their recent success in using a clever magnetic correction system has dramatically improved the beam quality reducing energy variation and improving consistency. With these improvements, laser-plasma accelerators could soon power advanced applications like next-generation X-ray sources, transforming research and medicine alike. A Leap Toward Compact Accelerators Laser-plasma acceleration is an emerging technology with the potential to revolutionize particle accelerators . By enabling much more compact designs, it could pave the way for new applications in fundamental research, industry, and healthcare. However, current prototype systems still face challenges, particularly in producing high-quality electron beams with the consistency and precision needed for real-world use. Researchers at DESY’s L...