NUS Physics Channel

Does quantum theory imply the entire Universe is preordained? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-04024-z

Diagram shows a hierarchy from niobate octahedra to structural motif to translational domain boundaries which can be described and modelled by the hybrid generative model. (Credit: Science Advances) A research team led by Professor Duane Loh from the NUS Physics and NUS Biological Sciences utilised generative machine learning models to investigate piezoelectric material. Such material can generate a small electrical voltage upon application of mechanical stress. The study unveils the pathways through which disorder can emerge. Read more here: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2023/12/04/generative-model-unveils-secrets-of-material-disorder-2/

Magnetic monopoles have been hypothesised from the times of Maxwell but never observed until a discovery made recently. Researchers from the University of Cambridge, working in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Oxford and the National University of Singapore, uncovered monopoles spread over two-dimensional space, gliding across the swirling textures on the surface of a magnetic material known as hematite, a type of iron oxide. Read here for more: https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/diamonds-and-rust-help-unveil-impossible-quasi-particles

(From left) CQT’s Mohammad Mujahid Aliyu, Zhao Luheng, Principal Investigator Loh Huanqian and Michael Lee Dao Kang with their experimental setup. Researchers at the NUS Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) have demonstrated a new technique to generate and protect entangled states in an atom array. Principal Investigator Loh Huanqian and her team have overcome a supposed distance limit on generating entanglement in neutral atom arrays meaning qubits in the promising quantum computing platform can be connected in more ways than before, boosting the options for information processing. Read more here: https://www.quantumlah.org/about/highlight/2023-11-rydberg-interactions-entanglement

Figure showing the diffusion of spin-polarised electrons within a graphene layer placed on top of a ferrimagnetic insulating oxide TmIG (Credit: Advanced Materials) A research team led by Professor Ariando @ NUS Physics has developed an innovative concept to directly quantify spin-splitting energy in magnetic graphene using the Landau fan shift. Using this concept, they have experimentally achieved large tunability and a high degree of spin-polarisation in graphene, paving the way for the advancement of two-dimensional spintronics for low-power electronics. Read here for more: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2023/11/23/magnetic-graphene-for-low-power-electronics/

Over the last weekend, around 100 participants convened at the NUS Medical & Science Library for the Annual Physics Conference (APC) 2023. The event was organised by the NUS Physics Graduate Society in collaboration with the Department of Physics. A total of 24 presentations were given by students and faculty. APC aims to provide a vibrant platform for undergraduates, graduates, faculty and scientists to share their latest research findings. The goal is to spearhead ongoing discussions and promote the exchange of ideas among the student community @ NUS Physics. Undoubtedly, the learning experience is going to inspire many budding physicists in the making.

Imagine placing a particle accelerator on an endoscope to administer radiotherapy directly to kill cancer cells in a human patient. This is a dream application of the world's smallest particle accelerator created by scientists and reported recently. Read on for more: https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/particle-physics/worlds-smallest-particle-accelerator-is-54-million-times-smaller-than-the-large-hadron-collider-and-it-works

New JWST images suggest our understanding of the cosmos is flawed https://www.sciencenews.org/article/jwst-images-cosmos-universe-hubble-constant-tension

Professor of Physics and Astronomy Meg Urry from Yale University visited NUS recently to hold talks and engage with staff and students. At a colloquium titled “Black Holes, Galaxies, and the Evolution of the Universe’, Prof Urry shared about the ubiquitousness of black holes and explained how recent multi-wavelength surveys of the sky have provided a census of black hole growth. Her profound insights into galactic supermassive black holes and galaxy mergers offered her audience a fascinating glimpse into the many wonders of our present-day universe. At noon today, Professor Urry delivered yet another contemplative lecture at NUS-Yale College titled "Women in Physics and Astronomy". Her speech focused on the critical aspects of diversity and inclusiveness within the science community. It was indeed such a privilege and remarkably educational experience to learn from Professor Urry.

The Centre for Ion Beam Applications (CIBA), a multidisciplinary research centre managed by professors from NUS Physics, has been designated as an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Collaborating Centre for Research and Development of Accelerator Science and Multidisciplinary Applications. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by both parties recently to formalise the four-year collaboration. The first Collaborating Centre in Singapore to be recognised by IAEA, CIBA joins a selected group of high standard technical centres with outstanding contributions in nuclear science and technology in the world. It is also leading an IAEA Coordinated Research Project on single-cell imaging and irradiation using accelerator-based techniques for applications in radiobiology and cancer treatment. The Collaborating Centre will focus on four thematic areas: ion beams for materials science application, microscopy and nanofabrication, forensics and heritage sciences as well as accelerators for radiology.

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2023/summary/

Who will win the Nobel Prize for Physics? Our predictions for 2023 – Physics World https://physicsworld.com/a/who-will-win-the-nobel-prize-for-physics-our-predictions-for-2023/

Staff @NUS Physics gathered for a delightful afternoon of mooncakes, pomelos, tea and riddles thanks to the department Welfare Team for putting together such a wonderful mid-autumn festival celebration! Mid-autumn festival signals the end of the autumn harvest and is also a time where the moon is said to be at its brightest. The Chinese poet Li Bai once wrote in his famous poem Quiet Night Thought which translated goes “I look up and gaze at the bright shining moon, bowing my head I am thinking of home.” Mid-autumn often captures the longing to reunite with our loved ones at home, something which must have resonated with many in our department. As today marks this special day, the department wishes everyone especially our professors, staff and students from overseas a 🏮Happy Mid-Autumn Festival🏮 as we bathe in the moonlight with our quiet night thoughts.🌝

Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment (Credit due: Wikimedia Commons) If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Schrödinger’s cat. It’s a thought experiment where a poor feline exists in a quantum superposition of being both dead and alive at the same time. Now, you might wonder, why don’t our everyday neighbourhood cats behave like that? The truth is, nobody knows for sure, but it likely has something to do with the fact that cats are composed of an enormous number of atoms, known as Avogadro’s number. This massive complexity could be a key factor. One intriguing hypothesis, known as quantum decoherence, suggests that the cat’s state collapses due to constant interactions with its surroundings, as if the universe is always watching. This ‘observation’ effectively ends the strange quantum superposition. But here’s the kicker: if we could somehow isolate the entire cat from its environment, theoretically, there’s nothing in the fundamental laws of Nature that forbids this bizarre state. Of course, this is all theoretical and just a playful exploration of quantum mechanics. It’s not something we’d ever attempt on an actual cat. The thought experiment simply helps us delve into the weird and fascinating world of quantum physics. Read more about how objective reality emerges from the strange underlying quantum world in this blog by Professor Dagomir Kaszlikowski from NUS Physics: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/new-theory-explains-how-objective-reality-emerges-from-the-strange-underlying-quantum-world/

Professor Berge Englert, Distinguished Fellow from the Centre for Quantum Technologies and Professor @ NUS Physics, brings us through the history of the discovery of photons in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHOJpyMDEI4

An artistic illustration of the supermoiré lattice A research team led by Professor Ariando from NUS Physics have developed a technique to precisely control the alignment of supermoiré lattices by using a set of golden rules, paving the way for the advancement of next generation moiré quantum matter. Find out more here: https://www.science.nus.edu.sg/blog/2023/08/29/golden-rules-for-building-atomic-blocks/