Physicists tweak zinc to get many model compounds

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A single crystal of YFE2Zn20 shown next to a mm scale. It grows in this shape naturally and has mirrored facets. Credit: US Department of Energys Ames Laboratory
A single crystal of YFE2Zn20 shown next to a mm scale. It grows in this shape naturally and has mirrored facets. Credit: US Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory

Try as they might, ancient alchemists could never turn lead into gold. Neither can the members of the Novel Materials group at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory. But these physicists do have a way with materials, and they can get them to do some pretty amazing things.


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All News summaries for April 18, 2007

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