'Quantum Hall-like effect' found in a bulk material without an applied magnetic field

These images collected by Princeton University scientists show (top) the first direct image of the dancing pattern of electrons on the edge of the bismuth-antimony bulk crystal, which is a quantum Hall insulator; (center) a schematic and another image showing the electron distribution in three dimensions; and (bottom) a schematic and an image conveying the distribution of edge-electrons in two dimensions. Images: Zahid Hasan


High-temperature superconductor 'pseudogap' imaged

Sep 22, 2008
With the right combination of temperature (right scale) and percentage of doping (bottom scale), a cuprate crystal becomes superconducting (dark blue curve). As the percentage of doping decreases, a scanning tunneling microscope ...

World's thinnest balloon

Sep 19, 2008
Scientists have developed the world's thinnest balloon that is impermeable to even the smallest gas molecules. Above is a multi-layer graphene membrane that could be used in various applications, including filters and sensors. ...

Entangled photons

Sep 12, 2008
Entangled photons. Photo courtesy / Paul Kwiat and Michael Reck, University of Vienna

Large Hadron Collide

Aug 19, 2008
The massive ATLAS detector dwarfs a worker standing in front of it during installation at the Large Hadron Collider. UCSC physicists have been working on the ATLAS project since 1994. Image courtesy of CERN.

Researchers analyze material with 'colossal ionic conductivity'

Aug 01, 2008
The molecular model of the ion-conducting material shows that numerous vacancies at the interface between the two layers create an open pathway through which ions can travel. Image: Oak Ridge National Laboratory