Tag Archives: Materials Sciences

A Very Stable Mirror

A crystalline mirror coating significantly reduces fluctuations in the resonant frequency of an optical cavity. Continue reading →

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X-Ray–Optical Technique Detects Subtle Signal

A high-sensitivity measurement reveals the asymmetric shifts of electrons along atomic bonds. Continue reading →

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Spectroscopy Technique Reveals Nanoscale Acoustic Waves

Imaging using extreme ultraviolet scattering shows that optical pulses can generate surface excitations with spectra that were previously difficult to achieve. Continue reading →

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Active Matter Gets Solid

Researchers have determined the mechanical properties of a tiny beam made of active particles, laying the groundwork for future micromachines. Continue reading →

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Active Matter Breaks like an Amorphous Plastic

Shearing a dusty plasma with a laser shows how vibrational modes lead to weak points in an amorphous active system. Continue reading →

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Magnetic Topological Insulators Have an Edgy Side

Edge currents are observed in a magnetic topological insulator even when conventional theory says that they should not. Continue reading →

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Amorphous Ice Is Partly Crystalline

Evidence builds against the long-held notion that water ice can be truly glassy. Continue reading →

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Birefringent Nanocubes Give Light a Circular Boost

An achiral metasurface selectively transmits two beams of opposite chirality. Continue reading →

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A Versatile Design for a Metasurface Cavity

An all-dielectric version of a metamaterials-based cavity allows the cavity to operate over a previously inaccessible wavelength range—which could benefit lasers and other resonant devices. Continue reading →

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A New Way to Engineer Composite Materials

The innovative polymer design combines strength with reversibility. Continue reading →

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