News
Supramolecular architectures of molecularly thin yet robust free-standing layers
In a collaboration within the network of the Swiss Nanoscience Institute, the formation of free-standing molecular monolayers using self-assembly processes has been demonstrated. The results of the study have been published in the February 2019 issue of Science Advances.
Data storage using individual molecules
The research group of Prof. T.A. Jung at the University of Basel has reported on a new method that allows the physical state of just a few atoms or molecules within a network to be controlled.
EU grants 14 million to Swiss Researchers
A team with three researchers from the ETH Domain has been awarded a prestigious EU grant. Today, they received the contract signed by the EU confirming the extraordinary 14 million euros funding. With it, they will investigate quantum effects which could become the backbone of future electronics.
A theory for the gapless field-induced quantum spin-liquid phase of α−RuCl3
The material α−RuCl3 continues to garner attention as the current poster child for realising the Kitaev model. New work places recent experimental observations on a solid theoretical footing, and concludes that the physics of α−RuCl3 is not dominated by Kitaev interactions.
Spin ice goes quantum
Numerous intriguing behaviours have been observed already in magnetic materials known as spin ices. But now for the first time direct manifestations of quantum mechanical effects have been seen in such a system.
Giant multiphoton absorption points towards new methods for THz quantum control
In findings recently published in Nature Photonics, a team including researchers from the UK, the Netherlands and Photon Sciences division head Gabriel Aeppli have investigated multi-photon THz absorption in Si:P. Their studies, using the THz free-electron laser FELIX, discovered a two photon absorption cross-section ten orders of magnitude higher than that of a natural hydrogen atom and may enable new methods in quantum control. In addition to the original publication their findings are also discussed in a 'News and Views' article.
Coupled quantum wires realize Abelian and non-Abelian topological order in two-dimensional space
Christopher Mudry and his collaborators have shown theoretically how to construct strongly interacting phases of matter that realize topological order in two-dimensional space by strongly coupling quantum wire. Remarkably, their model supports both Abelian topological order (ATO) and non-Abelian topological order (NATO) with a continuous phase transition separating them. Read the full paper here
Frustratingly disordered
A study of how disorder affects a ‘frustrated’ magnet reveals a surprising robustness of the underlying quantum many-body state, and provides evidence for emerging quantum phenomena induced by disorder.
Dr. Nan Xu awarded SPS 2017 Prize in Condensed Matter Physics
The SPS 2017 Prize in Condensed Matter Physics, sponsored by IBM, has been awarded to Dr. Nan Xu for his excellent work on topological quantum states. Dr. Nan Xu is a joint postdoc of Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).