Physics Magazine
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Reporting advances in physics research.
The spatial extent of a particle’s wave function depends on the particle’s mass and environment. Now researchers have developed an optical method that sheds light on this dependence for single molecules of hydrogen and deuterium trapped in a superfluid helium nanodroplet.
Seeing a Molecule’s Quantum Shadow
An optical technique reveals the spatial extent of a molecule’s wave function when the molecule is embedded in a tiny helium droplet.
physics.aps.org
December 24, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The spatial extent of a particle’s wave function depends on the particle’s mass and environment. Now researchers have developed an optical method that sheds light on this dependence for single molecules of hydrogen and deuterium trapped in a superfluid helium nanodroplet.
X-ray free-electron lasers produce extremely bright pulses, but shot-to-shot fluctuations in their temporal structure limit their use in phase-sensitive experiments. The first realization of a “mode-locked” XFEL has overcome that limitation.
Boosting the Coherence of X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers
Mode locking—a laser technique that revolutionized optical physics—has been extended to x rays, producing stable trains of attosecond pulses with unprecedented phase coherence.
physics.aps.org
December 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
X-ray free-electron lasers produce extremely bright pulses, but shot-to-shot fluctuations in their temporal structure limit their use in phase-sensitive experiments. The first realization of a “mode-locked” XFEL has overcome that limitation.
Researchers have used a beam of fast hydrogen atoms to probe single-layer graphene, producing the sharpest graphene diffraction patterns to date. The patterns embody information about short-range interactions between the atoms and the surface.
Sharp Diffraction Pattern Produced by Atoms Passing Through Graphene
Researchers have generated high-quality atom diffraction data from graphene, which could lead to new ways to measure surface interactions.
physics.aps.org
December 24, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Researchers have used a beam of fast hydrogen atoms to probe single-layer graphene, producing the sharpest graphene diffraction patterns to date. The patterns embody information about short-range interactions between the atoms and the surface.
Standard quantum error correction works best when errors occur independently across qubits and over time. Now researchers have tested a new way to suppress correlated errors. The demonstration expands the types of physical errors that can be mitigated.
Plugging Leaks in Quantum Computing
A new strategy improves error correction in quantum computation by mitigating the effects of qubits escaping from their intended states.
physics.aps.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Standard quantum error correction works best when errors occur independently across qubits and over time. Now researchers have tested a new way to suppress correlated errors. The demonstration expands the types of physical errors that can be mitigated.
If mimicked and controlled, the complex flows found in living systems could be useful in robotics and other areas of engineering. Now researchers have demonstrated a way of controlling such fluids that maintains a constant fluid speed despite changing conditions.
Reining In a Chaotic Fluid
Fluid flows mimicking biological flows can be controlled in the lab using a feedback system, which could be useful in robotics and other technologies.
physics.aps.org
December 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM
If mimicked and controlled, the complex flows found in living systems could be useful in robotics and other areas of engineering. Now researchers have demonstrated a way of controlling such fluids that maintains a constant fluid speed despite changing conditions.
Researchers have demonstrated a modified version of Bragg coherent diffraction imaging. Unlike the conventional version, it can be used to measure large strains in nanocrystals. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Measuring Large Strains in a Nanocrystal
Researchers have demonstrated a technique for measuring lattice distortions that are too big for conventional methods to handle.
physics.aps.org
December 22, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Researchers have demonstrated a modified version of Bragg coherent diffraction imaging. Unlike the conventional version, it can be used to measure large strains in nanocrystals. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Data-driven approaches to machine learning generally yield black boxes whose deductions are inaccessible. To address that shortcoming, researchers have designed a machine-learning method that can discover simple, human-interpretable laws from data. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Data-driven approaches to machine learning generally yield black boxes whose deductions are inaccessible. To address that shortcoming, researchers have designed a machine-learning method that can discover simple, human-interpretable laws from data. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Researchers have applied a quantum trick called weak-value amplification to beam displacements outside its usual setting, an interferometer. In principle, the technique could eavesdrop on conversations inside a building by using a laser to measure window vibrations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Researchers have applied a quantum trick called weak-value amplification to beam displacements outside its usual setting, an interferometer. In principle, the technique could eavesdrop on conversations inside a building by using a laser to measure window vibrations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
This year new observatories offered fresh views of the dark Universe, quantum computers edged closer to performing practical tasks, and gravitational-wave detectors delivered their cleanest signal yet. These stories and others are our highlights of 2025. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
This year new observatories offered fresh views of the dark Universe, quantum computers edged closer to performing practical tasks, and gravitational-wave detectors delivered their cleanest signal yet. These stories and others are our highlights of 2025. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Researchers have demonstrated a quantum-state-verification method that should work efficiently on quantum computers with an arbitrary number of qubits. The method should prove a boon for quantum computers made of multiple modules. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 16, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Researchers have demonstrated a quantum-state-verification method that should work efficiently on quantum computers with an arbitrary number of qubits. The method should prove a boon for quantum computers made of multiple modules. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
In a striking validation of physics-inspired approaches to social sciences, researchers have used data from the Tokyo Stock Exchange to find a simple mathematical law that describes how the price of every traded stock responds to trading volume. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
In a striking validation of physics-inspired approaches to social sciences, researchers have used data from the Tokyo Stock Exchange to find a simple mathematical law that describes how the price of every traded stock responds to trading volume. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Researchers have translated spin signals into phonon signals that can be transmitted through materials. Because phonons travel undisturbed for longer distances than spins can, the conversion potentially extends the capabilities of spintronics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 15, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Researchers have translated spin signals into phonon signals that can be transmitted through materials. Because phonons travel undisturbed for longer distances than spins can, the conversion potentially extends the capabilities of spintronics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Quantum networks that rely on entangled photons reduce transmission errors by having receiving nodes send a signal, called a herald, each time an entangled photon arrives. Now researchers have shown that producing heralds at sending nodes reduces errors further. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Quantum networks that rely on entangled photons reduce transmission errors by having receiving nodes send a signal, called a herald, each time an entangled photon arrives. Now researchers have shown that producing heralds at sending nodes reduces errors further. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Researchers have succeeded in laser cooling and trapping aluminum fluoride molecules. This feat takes physicists a step closer to cooling AlF molecules into a Bose-Einstein condensate. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Researchers have succeeded in laser cooling and trapping aluminum fluoride molecules. This feat takes physicists a step closer to cooling AlF molecules into a Bose-Einstein condensate. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
A survey conducted by the UK’s Institute of Physics Publishing found that 41% of its authors and referees thought generative AI had an overall positive impact on peer review, while 37% thought the overall impact was negative. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
A survey conducted by the UK’s Institute of Physics Publishing found that 41% of its authors and referees thought generative AI had an overall positive impact on peer review, while 37% thought the overall impact was negative. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
A new fluid-control valve inspired by the way strong wind flaps an umbrella inside out could find uses in wearable devices, microfluidics, and soft robotics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
A new fluid-control valve inspired by the way strong wind flaps an umbrella inside out could find uses in wearable devices, microfluidics, and soft robotics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Researchers have devised a “reset or reload” protocol that mitigates the loss of atoms from devices that use cold, trapped atoms for quantum computing. The method held up through 41 successive operations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Researchers have devised a “reset or reload” protocol that mitigates the loss of atoms from devices that use cold, trapped atoms for quantum computing. The method held up through 41 successive operations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
The Higgs field hides electroweak symmetry and gives masses to the electroweak bosons, W and Z. New results from the ATLAS Collaboration support the idea that the quark and charged-lepton masses are also the work of the Higgs field. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The Higgs field hides electroweak symmetry and gives masses to the electroweak bosons, W and Z. New results from the ATLAS Collaboration support the idea that the quark and charged-lepton masses are also the work of the Higgs field. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
In 1927 Einstein devised a thought experiment to expose what he believed was contradictory character of quantum complementarity. Researchers have now performed the experiment in a way that could explore other, less established aspects of quantum mechanics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
In 1927 Einstein devised a thought experiment to expose what he believed was contradictory character of quantum complementarity. Researchers have now performed the experiment in a way that could explore other, less established aspects of quantum mechanics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Within femtoseconds, a photon absorbed by a molecule can cause electrons to jump between energy levels, atoms to vibrate, and chemical bonds to rearrange. Now researchers have shown that ultrafast electron diffraction can track those perturbations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Within femtoseconds, a photon absorbed by a molecule can cause electrons to jump between energy levels, atoms to vibrate, and chemical bonds to rearrange. Now researchers have shown that ultrafast electron diffraction can track those perturbations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
The fractional quantum Hall effect comes with fractionally charged quasiparticles called anyons. Curiously, anyon charges are found to be multiples of their expected values. Now theorists have a solution: anyons bind together into “molecules.” physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 3, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The fractional quantum Hall effect comes with fractionally charged quasiparticles called anyons. Curiously, anyon charges are found to be multiples of their expected values. Now theorists have a solution: anyons bind together into “molecules.” physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Two independent groups have proposed a new class of 2D multiferroic materials that could find applications in spin-based computers, sensors, and energy-harvesting devices. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 2, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Two independent groups have proposed a new class of 2D multiferroic materials that could find applications in spin-based computers, sensors, and energy-harvesting devices. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Surprisingly, the size distributions of shattered fragments and spattered drops follow a simple power law. Now researchers have shown that the statistical regularities of fragmentation can emerge from a combination of maximum randomness and kinematic constraints. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 2, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Surprisingly, the size distributions of shattered fragments and spattered drops follow a simple power law. Now researchers have shown that the statistical regularities of fragmentation can emerge from a combination of maximum randomness and kinematic constraints. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Researchers have trapped molecules in the standing wave created by a laser field in a cavity. By mitigating Doppler broadening, the technique enhances high-precision molecular spectroscopy, which is used to search for new physics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 1, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Researchers have trapped molecules in the standing wave created by a laser field in a cavity. By mitigating Doppler broadening, the technique enhances high-precision molecular spectroscopy, which is used to search for new physics. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
Devised 40 years ago, the Leggett-Garg inequality tests whether a system’s evolution over time can be described by classical realism. Now researchers have shown that this limit can be surpassed by a quantum system evolving under a superposition of operations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Devised 40 years ago, the Leggett-Garg inequality tests whether a system’s evolution over time can be described by classical realism. Now researchers have shown that this limit can be surpassed by a quantum system evolving under a superposition of operations. physics.aps.org/articles/v18...