Tag Archives: measurement

First Measurement of Quantum Entanglement in Solid Materials Achieved

Posted on by
Reply

The Behavior of Two Different Particles Linked by Quantum Entanglement

Science Photo Library / Alamy

We have a groundbreaking method to measure quantum entanglement in solids, paving the way for significant advancements in quantum technology and fundamental physics.

Researchers face limitations in quantifying quantum entanglement—the phenomenon that correlates the behavior of distant quantum particles. The Bell test is one technique that assesses whether two particles are entangled or facilitates the intentional creation of entanglements in quantum computing setups.

However, detecting entangled particles within a material is far more complex. This capability is critical in developing advanced quantum computing and communication devices that rely on entanglement.

Allen Scheie from Los Alamos National Laboratory, along with his team, has dedicated over 50 years to refining this technology, and they have now confirmed its effectiveness.

“We have verified that it works flawlessly, and we’re taking steps to extend its application across various materials,” Scheie stated.

The innovative technique involves bombarding a sample material with neutrons and capturing them with a detector. Since the 1950s, studying the properties of these neutrons has allowed researchers to unveil the arrangement and behavior of quantum particles within substances. Scheie and his colleagues utilized this approach to calculate quantum Fisher information (QFI), a metric that indicates the minimum number of entangled quantum particles necessary to influence a neutron in a detected manner.

The research team applied their method to various magnetic materials, including well-documented crystals of potassium, copper, and fluorine. Team member Pontus Laurel emphasized that their findings closely aligned with computer simulations of the quantum architectures of these crystals, affirming the reliability of their new approach. “The experimental and theoretical predictions matched surprisingly well,” he stated.

Laurel added that while previous studies explored QFI and similar metrics as potential “witnesses to entanglement,” their group has established a clear, dependable, and broadly applicable measurement technique. Much of their effort focused on perfecting the nuances, enabling experiments with diverse materials, including those suitable for future device development.

Notably, their method remains effective irrespective of whether a robust mathematical model exists for the material, even when the samples are incomplete. “That’s the remarkable aspect: you can measure quantum Fisher information under any circumstances,” Scheie remarked. The research was presented at the American Physical Society Global Physics Summit on March 17th in Denver.

Within the next month, the researchers aim to enhance their methodology by measuring QFI (quantum equivalent at the transition point from water to ice) in materials approaching a phase transition. At this juncture, theoretical models often falter or predict skyrocketing entanglement, creating a prime opportunity for groundbreaking quantum discoveries, according to Scheie.

Topics:

  • Material/
  • Quantum Physics

Source: www.newscientist.com

Revolutionizing Temperature Measurement: A Quantum Device Approach to Defining Temperature

Posted on by
Reply
Cooling and trapping rubidium atoms

Key Components of a New Rubidium Atom Cooling Setup

Tomasz Kawalec CC BY-SA 4.0

A groundbreaking quantum device utilizing giant rubidium atoms may redefine temperature measurement.

While some nations utilize Celsius or Fahrenheit to measure temperature, physicists universally rely on Kelvin. This unit signifies “absolute temperature,” where 0 Kelvin represents the lowest temperature permitted by physical laws. However, confirming the accuracy of a 1 Kelvin measurement is a meticulous endeavor.

“When making absolute temperature measurements, one typically purchases a temperature sensor calibrated against another sensor, and the chain continues. Ultimately, one of those sensors was previously sent to the American Standards Institute,” explains Noah Schlossberger from NIST in Colorado.

Schlossberger and his team have developed an innovative device leveraging quantum mechanics to directly measure Kelvin, eliminating the need for extensive sensor calibrations.

This device, a compact metal and glass structure housing trapped rubidium atoms, employs lasers to displace outer electrons far from the atomic nucleus, resulting in significantly enlarged atoms. Subsequently, the researchers cool these atoms to roughly 0.5 milliKelvin—about 600,000 times cooler than room temperature—using lasers and electromagnetic fields.

Consequently, the outer electrons of rubidium atoms exhibit heightened sensitivity to minute temperature fluctuations. When exposed to certain quantum states, these electrons “jump,” allowing the device to function effectively as a temperature sensor. Established mathematical models can accurately relate the temperature difference necessary for such jumps, facilitating a new Kelvin definition.

The International Bureau of Weights and Measures similarly defines Kelvin via various quantum constants. Yet, institutions like NIST often resort to non-quantum devices for calibration. The new quantum device aims to deliver a calibration-free definition of Kelvin.

According to Schlossberger, “Every rubidium atom behaves identically in the same conditions. You can replicate a device anywhere in the world, and it will perform the same way.” This uniformity is crucial for maintaining high-precision instruments, such as atomic clocks, which require operation at very low Kelvin temperatures.

However, the prototype still faces challenges: it struggles with accurately detecting quantum states and is currently too cumbersome for practical use. Researchers are actively refining the design for enhanced practicality and precision.

Schlossberger presented this groundbreaking research at the American Physical Society Global Physics Summit in Colorado on March 16th.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

First-Ever Measurement of Floating Exoplanet’s Mass by Astronomers

Posted on by
Reply

Gravitational microlensing surveys have unveiled populations of free-floating planets. Although their masses haven’t been directly measured due to distance-related challenges, statistics suggest that many of these rogue planets possess less mass than Jupiter. Recently, astronomers identified a groundbreaking microlensing event, termed KMT-2024-BLG-0792/OGLE-2024-BLG-0516. This event involved an exoplanet with approximately 21.9% of Jupiter’s mass, situated 9,785 light-years (3,000 parsecs) from the Milky Way’s center.

An artist’s impression of a free-floating exoplanet. Image credit: Sci.News.

Traditionally, planets are linked to stars, but research indicates that many traverse the galaxy independently.

Known as free-floating or rogue planets, these celestial bodies lack stellar companions.

Due to their low light emissions, they are primarily detected through their gravitational influences, a technique known as microlensing.

A significant challenge of this discovery method is determining the distances to these planets, complicating mass measurements.

This has left much of the data regarding these solitary objects speculative.

In a recent study, Dr. Subo Dong from Peking University and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and collaborators discovered a new free-floating planet, KMT-2024-BLG-0792/OGLE-2024-BLG-0516, via a brief microlensing event.

In contrast to prior approaches, they utilized a novel strategy by observing the microlensing phenomenon concurrently from Earth and space, leveraging multiple ground-based surveys alongside ESA’s Gaia space telescope.

Variations in the timing of light captured by these different locations facilitated measurements of microlens parallax, enabling researchers to calculate the planet’s mass and position through finite source modeling.

“Based on comparisons with the statistical characteristics of other microlensing events and simulation predictions, we conclude that this object didn’t originate as an isolated entity (like a brown dwarf) but likely formed within a protoplanetary disk (like a planet),” the astronomers noted.

“Subsequent dynamic processes likely ejected it from its formation site, resulting in a free-floating object.”

For further details, check out the study published in this month’s Science: paper.

_____

Subo Dong et al. 2026. Microlensing of free-floating planets caused by heavy objects in Saturn’s vicinity. Science 391 (6780): 96-99; doi: 10.1126/science.adv9266

Source: www.sci.news

First Measurement of Rare Saturn-Sized Rogue Planet’s Mass

Posted on by
Reply

Artist's impression of a rogue planet

Artist’s impression of a rogue planet capturing light from a distant source

Credit: J. Skowron/OGLE

Located nearly 10,000 light-years away, a Saturn-sized planet roams through the vacuum of space. This enigmatic rogue planet was discovered through the joint efforts of ground-based telescopes and the Gaia Space Telescope, marking the first time researchers have measured the mass of a free-floating exoplanet.

Typically, rogue planets found are either more massive than Jupiter or lighter than Neptune, creating a gap known as the “Einstein Desert.” This gap is attributed to the fact that lighter celestial bodies are more likely to be ejected from their stellar orbits, while heavier planets may form independently in open space, similar to stars.

This newly identified exoplanet is extremely rare and has been assigned two designations: KMT-2024-BLG-0792 and OGLE-2024-BLG-0516. Andrzej Udalski, along with researchers from the University of Warsaw, made this groundbreaking discovery using distinct ground-based telescopes. What makes it even more remarkable is its measured mass, which is approximately one-fifth that of Jupiter.

“What’s fascinating about this find is that it’s the first rogue planet we’ve measured in terms of mass, achievable through both Earth-based and Gaia observations,” says Gavin Coleman from Queen Mary University of London. The planet was detected via a method known as gravitational microlensing, occurring when light from a distant source is bent by the planet’s gravitational field, resulting in a halo effect around it. The alignment of the Gaia Space Telescope at the right moment allowed additional capture of this microlensing event.

“Mass is a crucial factor for classifying celestial bodies as planets,” Udalsky explains, confirming this as the first verified rogue planet. “This is a pivotal moment for recognizing that floating planets do indeed exist,” he added. The upcoming NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, expected to launch in 2027, is anticipated to uncover even more such celestial discoveries.

“These planets should be quite numerous, with many being expelled from their original stellar systems during their formation’s early stages, providing key insights into how planetary systems develop,” Udalsky notes. This knowledge may contribute to understanding the formation of our own solar system, which some studies suggest may have inadvertently ejected planets in its early history.

Chile: The World Capital of Astronomy

Discover the astronomical marvels of Chile. Visit the most advanced observatory globally and gaze at the stars beneath the clearest skies on Earth.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Breakthroughs in Body Clock Measurement Help Reduce Shift Work-Related Illnesses

Posted on by
Reply
EMS's ambulance team delivers medical aid to injured individuals and transports them on stretchers. Emergency medical personnel arrived at the traffic accident site.

Cemetery shifts earn their name for a reason. Individuals working night shifts face heightened health risks, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. The World Health Organization has identified shift work as a potential carcinogen, given the increased likelihood of cancer.

While the rest of us are asleep, these night workers often go unnoticed, yet their efforts are vital to the medical and emergency services on which we rely. Though we depend on them for our very survival, the irony lies in how their work impacts their own health.

This situation could evolve with the advent of a test that accurately measures one’s internal biological clock in relation to external time (see “How innovative new tests can unleash the power of your body clock”). Such advancements in medicine promise to benefit a larger population.

Research indicates that many frequently used medications affect the body’s system, which operates on a 24-hour cycle, and are more effective when administered in harmony with this rhythm. Surgeries and vaccinations also yield better results at specific times of the day. Initial strategies often rely on standardized biological clocks, but for those whose circadian rhythms are misaligned, this approach may prove ineffective or even detrimental. This is where the new tests come into play.

Night workers may remain in the shadows, yet they are the backbone of essential services we all rely on.

Fortunately, these tests are expected to become more affordable and widely accessible. However, there is a concern that they could be misused by those anxiously trying to optimize their health, perhaps alongside other fitness metrics like step counts (refer to page 16).

The genuine potential lies in using these tests to gain insights into the biological processes of those in challenging situations, ensuring that in the future, the effects of nighttime work and improved strategies for managing shift patterns are addressed. One day, your biological clock may finally align with the external clock.

This could mitigate the health repercussions associated with night shifts and provide these employees with a chance to revitalize their lives. Employers must recognize this opportunity.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Blue Whale: A Versatile and Reliable Tool for Measurement

Posted on by
Reply

Feedback is the latest science and technology news of new scientists, the sidelines of the latest science and technology news. You can email Feedback@newscientist.com to send items you believe readers can be fascinated by feedback.

Whales are not Wales

Feedback is a science journalist of more years than we remember, and as a result we have come across a significant share of the odd units of measurement. The human mind wrestles with very large and very small things, so as a writer, it’s fascinating to get you to say that the huge iceberg has an area x times the size of Wales, the mountains are at the height of Burj Khalifa, or the bad books contain Z plot holes. Fourth Wing.

In this spirit, Christopher Dionne CNN Article About Blue Ghost Lunar Lander sending the final message from the moon. He points out that the writer is trying to convey the amount of data on the probe, saying that he “returned around 120 gigabytes of data, which amounted to over 24,000 songs, to Earth.”

“This made me think,” says Dionne. With so much music streaming today, the size of the song file is “generally not important.” The size of the file also depends on how you compress it and the length of the song. We can certainly agree with it Too well (10 minutes) It’ll be a slightly larger file Please love me – Therefore, songs cannot be used as standardized units of dataset size.

Luckily, Dionne came up with a solution. “Why don’t we use internationally agreed metrics: blue whales?” Blue whale genome It is a base of 2.4 billion. “So it appears that the Blue Ghost sent back data from the moon about 50 Blue Whale.”

Feedback is because we enjoy it Douglas Adams style images A rapid of whales that flow from the moon to the Earth. But we quiesce Dionne’s mathematics. The genome’s base is not equivalent to bytes in the dataset. Each byte is 8 bits, similar to the base. DNA is not binary either. For each position in the genome, there are four options (a, c, g, or t). This means that you can encode the byte using bits on the base half. So, multiplying 8 and dividing 2, I think Blue Ghost sent back around 200 blue whales.

As Dionne suggests, we recommend submitting to our readers that “other comparison units of digital measurement… might be even better to convey the scale of the information.” I look forward to “a thoughtful discourse on this most pressing issue.”

Goodbye, Alice and Bob

Few are likely to kill jokes. So the feedback is a bit nervous about this. This is because it involves both local events and encryption jokes.

We think this might require readers to review, so let’s start with encryption. When describing how a secure messaging system works, it has become traditional to call the two main agents “Alice” and “Bob.” For example, “How can Alice send secure messages to the BOB using a signal messaging app?”

The name has been in use since 1978 and is very popular. Wikipedia Page. In addition to explaining the device history, this page also depicts a very extended list of additional characters that may be involved in these thought experiments. From Chad to “the third participant, usually malicious intent,” Wendy and “whistleblower.”

Basically, if you’re a regular New Scientist Readers, you’ve probably read stories that use Alice and Bob (and their friends/enemies/acquaints/lovers) to explain complex ideas of encryption and physics. You’re familiar with this. So the parody is interesting.

We will not name any related news events. It was widely covered and discussed. But who knows: We’re writing this on March 27th, so by the time you read this you might have forgotten it. The United States may have tentatively invaded Svalbarbad, as he had forgotten which Arctic land Donald Trump wanted.

Anyway, I’ll go here. Bluesky posts to software developer John Vanenk I shared a screenshot Wikipedia page page. “Hegseth and Waltz are fictional characters commonly used as placeholders in discussions about cryptographic systems and protocols, and thought experiments created by Jeffrey Goldberg, who was created by Jeffrey Goldberg in a 2025 article. This was accompanied by a diagram described as an example of a scenario where communication between Hegseth and Waltz is intercepted by Goldberg.”

After all, if you didn’t find it interesting, feedback encourages you to send your comments to our signal account, but we don’t have one.

How awful

Readers Patrick Fenron and Peter Thressenger both wrote to emphasize the same thing. article in Guardianon how migratory birds use quantum mechanics to navigate. According to the biologist cited in the article, it appears that most “we travel at night and ourselves, so no one should follow.” Her name is Miriam Reedvogel, which of course means “songbird.”

As Fenlong said: “Wonderbar.”

Have you talked about feedback?

You can send stories to feedback by email at feedback@newscientist.com. Include your home address. This week and past feedback can be found on our website.

Whale watching and marine ecosystems in the Azores: Portugal

Discover the hidden paradise of the Azores, a group of islands filled with rich biodiversity, lush landscapes, volcanic craters, peaceful lagoons and charming towns.

Source: www.newscientist.com