Blog
- Raman spectroscopy offers new insights into ionic liquid acidity 01/08/2024 Researchers at the University of Liège have for the first time determined the acidity of ionic liquids using Raman spectroscopy, thanks to Hammett acidity functions. This advance promises to revolutionize our understanding and use of these organic solvents, in which dissolved acids can be remarkably more acidic than in water, with an acidity that can be up to 100 million times greater.
- Artificial neural network syndrome decoding on IBM quantum processors 25/07/2024 Syndrome decoding is an integral but computationally demanding step in the implementation of quantum error correction for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Here, we report the development and benchmarking of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) decoding on IBM quantum processors. We demonstrate that ANNs can efficiently decode syndrome measurement data from heavy-hexagonal code architecture and apply appropriate corrections to facilitate error protection. The current physical error rates of IBM devices are above the code's threshold and restrict the scope of our ANN decoder for logical error rate suppression. However, our work confirms the applicability of ANN decoding methods of syndrome data retrieved from experimental devices and establishes machine learning as a promising pathway for quantum error correction when quantum devices with below threshold error rates become available in the near future.
- New synthesis method enhances MoS₂ optoelectronic performance 23/07/2024 An international research team led by Professor My Ali El Khakani of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has made a surprising discovery about the properties of molybdenum disulfide, also known as MoS2. The material is highly sought after in optoelectronics.
- Scientists discover way to 'grow' sub-nanometer sized transistors 18/07/2024 A research team led by Director Jo Moon-Ho of the Center for Van der Waals Quantum Solids within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has implemented a novel method to achieve epitaxial growth of 1D metallic materials with a width of less than 1 nm. The group applied this process to develop a new structure for 2D semiconductor logic circuits. Notably, they used the 1D metals as a gate electrode of the ultra-miniaturized transistor.
- High-selectivity graphene membranes enhance CO₂ capture efficiency 16/07/2024 Reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is a crucial step towards mitigating climate change and protecting the environment on Earth. One proposed technology for reducing CO₂ emissions, particularly from power plants and industrial establishments, is carbon capture.
- Researchers explain the imaging mechanisms of atomic force microscopy in 3D 12/07/2024 Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University report the 3D imaging of a suspended nanostructure. The technique used is an extension of atomic force microscopy and is a promising approach for visualizing various 3D biological systems.
- New probe reveals water-ice microstructures 10/07/2024 Ice is believed to have played a crucial role in the emergence of life. One reason is that organic molecules can be excluded into the gaps between the crystal lattice by orderly arranged water molecules, leading to the concentration of organic compounds.
- Redox-fluid ligand stabilised as triradical for the first time 04/07/2024 An exotic triradical aluminium complex is the first of its kind to be isolated and characterised. Containing three ‘redox non-innocent’ dithiolene ligands stabilised in radical form, the new species exists in an unusual quartet ground state and could have implications for the design of superconducting and single-molecule magnetic materials.
- Quantum computers are like kaleidoscopes: Why unusual metaphors help illustrate science and technology 02/07/2024 Quantum computing is like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates: You never know what you're gonna get. Quantum phenomena—the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels—are not definite, one thing or another. They are opaque clouds of possibility, or more precisely, probabilities. When someone observes a quantum system, it loses its quantum-ness and "collapses" into a definite state.
- Experimental observation of Earth’s rotation with quantum entanglement 27/06/2024 Precision interferometry with quantum states has emerged as an essential tool for experimentally answering fundamental questions in physics. Optical quantum interferometers are of particular interest because of mature methods for generating and manipulating quantum states of light. Their increased sensitivity promises to enable tests of quantum phenomena, such as entanglement, in regimes where tiny gravitational effects come into play. However, this requires long and decoherence-free processing of quantum entanglement, which, for large interferometric areas, remains unexplored territory. Here, we present a table-top experiment using maximally path-entangled quantum states of light in a large-scale interferometer sensitive enough to measure the rotation rate of Earth. The achieved sensitivity of 5 μrad s−1 constitutes the highest rotation resolution ever reached with optical quantum interferometers. Further improvements to our methodology will enable measurements of general-relativistic effects on entangled photons, allowing the exploration of the interplay between quantum mechanics and general relativity, along with tests for fundamental physics.
- A new and simple method for super-resolution microscopy 25/06/2024 MINFLUX is a powerful microscopy technique that allows researchers to see objects much smaller than the wavelength of light. A newly developed evolution of the process uses a simpler device to create the light pattern needed to examine the molecule, making the entire process faster, cheaper and easier to use for future discoveries.