Showing papers in "Physics Today in 2016"
TL;DR: Graphene is not the only atomically thin material of technological importance as mentioned in this paper, and diverse families of newly harnessed monolayers have far-reaching implications for basic physics, materials science, and engineering.
Abstract: Graphene is not the only atomically thin material of technological importance. Diverse families of newly harnessed monolayers have far-reaching implications for basic physics, materials science, and engineering.
379 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the fundamental physics of glass continue to emerge, despite the fact that humans have been making glass for more than 3000 years, and despite that long history, new ways to understand the fundamental physical properties of glasses are still emerging.
Abstract: Humans have been making glass for more than 3000 years. Despite that long history, new ways to understand the fundamental physics of glasses continue to emerge.
145 citations
TL;DR: Deeply committed to the cause of Indian independence, Saha occasionally detoured from his physics to conduct a revolutionary mission or pen a populist manifesto as discussed by the authors, and was a leader of the Indian independence movement.
Abstract: Deeply committed to the cause of Indian independence, Saha occasionally detoured from his physics to conduct a revolutionary mission or pen a populist manifesto.
77 citations
TL;DR: When a two-dimensional material abuts a three-dimensional one, a century-old electrical phenomenon finds new applicability as mentioned in this paper, where a twodimensional material is replaced by a 3D one.
Abstract: When a two-dimensional material abuts a three-dimensional one, a century-old electrical phenomenon finds new applicability.
62 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a pedagogical introduction to the AdS/CFT correspondence is presented, starting with the conceptual basis of the holographic dualities and emphasizing some concrete topics, which are discussed in detail.
Abstract: This is a pedagogical introduction to the AdS/CFT correspondence. Starting with the conceptual basis of the holographic dualities, the subject is developed emphasizing some concrete topics, which are discussed in detail. A very brief introduction to string theory is provided, containing the minimal ingredients to understand the origin of the AdS/CFT duality. Other topics covered are the holographic calculation of correlation functions, quark–antiquark potentials and transport coefficients.
58 citations
TL;DR: By fabricating magnetic structures into nanoscale arrays, physicists can directly visualize how condensed-matter systems accommodate competing interactions among dipole moments and other degrees of freedom as mentioned in this paper, which can be used to study how magnetic structures can be constructed.
Abstract: By fabricating magnetic structures into nanoscale arrays, physicists can directly visualize how condensed-matter systems accommodate competing interactions among dipole moments and other degrees of freedom.
56 citations
TL;DR: The physicist who 35 years ago proposed the construction of "dumb holes" to search for the analog of Hawking radiation is impressed by the recent experiment that looked for entangled thermal radiation from a tabletop horizon.
Abstract: The physicist who 35 years ago proposed the construction of “dumb holes” to search for the analog of Hawking radiation is impressed by the recent experiment that looked for entangled thermal radiation from a tabletop horizon.
54 citations
TL;DR: To mitigate climate change at local, regional, and global scales, we must begin to think beyond greenhouse gases as mentioned in this paper, and that is the direction of our work in this paper.
Abstract: To mitigate climate change at local, regional, and global scales, we must begin to think beyond greenhouse gases.
53 citations
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TL;DR: The fundamental questions of the future will be profound, sophisticated, and difficult to answer as mentioned in this paper. And the great projects of the present will be grand and complex, indeed, very grand indeed.
Abstract: The fundamental questions of the future will be profound, sophisticated, and difficult to answer. And the great projects of the future will be grand indeed.
51 citations
TL;DR: The discovery of the mysterious hypothetical particles would provide a tantalizing glimpse of new laws of nature beyond the standard model as mentioned in this paper, and the discovery of such laws would also provide a new paradigm for physics.
Abstract: The discovery of the mysterious hypothetical particles would provide a tantalizing glimpse of new laws of nature beyond the standard model.
47 citations
TL;DR: In this article, internet technologies are helping physics teachers provide their students with more lab time and expose them to a wider variety of experiments, and they are also helping them to provide more exposure to a wide range of experiments.
Abstract: Internet technologies are helping physics teachers provide their students with more lab time and expose them to a wider variety of experiments.
TL;DR: Inspired by the insights of mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, scientists are engineering hydrogels and liquid-crystal-containing polymers that change from flat to curved in response to heat and other stimuli.
Abstract: Inspired by the insights of mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, scientists are engineering hydrogels and liquid-crystal-containing polymers that change from flat to curved in response to heat and other stimuli.
TL;DR: The search for the hypothetical state has been a 43-year-long slog, one whose end may now be in sight as discussed by the authors. But the search for such a state has not been easy.
Abstract: The search for the hypothetical state has been a 43-year-long slog, one whose end may now be in sight.
TL;DR: The winner of the 2016 Physics Today challenge as discussed by the authors described a huge space telescope fashioned from laser-machined asteroids, which he called the Space Telescope of 2116, and used to detect asteroids.
Abstract: In April 2016 Physics Today challenged its readers to write a fictional news story about a discovery made in 2116. Robert Austin’s winning entry describes a huge space telescope fashioned from laser-machined asteroids.
TL;DR: Many a child has enjoyed watching the gardens grow; many a physicist has puzzled over the transformation of self-organized, nonequilibrium patterns into permanent structures as discussed by the authors, and many a scientist has been perplexed by the process.
Abstract: Many a child has enjoyed watching the gardens grow; many a physicist has puzzled over the transformation of self-organized, nonequilibrium patterns into permanent structures.
TL;DR: Just as physics is not a list of facts about the world, history is also not a lists of names and dates, but a way of thinking that can be powerful and illuminating.
Abstract: Just as physics is not a list of facts about the world, history is not a list of names and dates. It is a way of thinking that can be powerful and illuminating.
TL;DR: In this paper, the production, behavior, and life span of seawater droplets are modeled and measured using a wide range of interdisciplinary techniques, including a wide variety of tools and techniques.
Abstract: Because the production, behavior, and life span of seawater droplets are complex, measuring and modeling them require a wide range of interdisciplinary techniques
TL;DR: In the quarter century since the US last exploded a nuclear weapon, an extensive research enterprise has maintained the resources and know-how needed to preserve confidence in the country's stockpile as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In the quarter century since the US last exploded a nuclear weapon, an extensive research enterprise has maintained the resources and know-how needed to preserve confidence in the country’s stockpile.
[...]
TL;DR: For several decades the character and culture of large-scale research at major facilities has been changing as mentioned in this paper, and big science is no longer what it used to be, and it is changing rapidly.
Abstract: For several decades the character and culture of large-scale research at major facilities has been changing. Big Science isn’t what it used to be.
TL;DR: According to model simulations, a warming Arctic can shift the circulation patterns of the polar jet stream and bring frigid air southward as mentioned in this paper, but has it yet to do so?
Abstract: According to model simulations, a warming Arctic can shift the circulation patterns of the polar jet stream and bring frigid air southward. But has it?
TL;DR: In many biological systems, structures all grow at the same rate as discussed by the authors, and the phenomenon of proportionate growth has now been observed in a nonequilibrium physical system, which is known as exponential growth.
Abstract: In many biological systems, structures all grow at the same rate. That phenomenon of proportionate growth has now been observed in a nonequilibrium physical system.
TL;DR: To contend with the challenges of fueling modern society, the physics community must collaborate with other disciplines and remain broadly engaged in research and education on energy as discussed by the authors, which is the goal of our work.
Abstract: To contend with the challenges of fueling modern society, the physics community must collaborate with other disciplines and remain broadly engaged in research and education on energy.
TL;DR: The element's complex free-energy landscape allows such structural motifs as rings, cages, and channel-like holes to emerge in extreme or unusual conditions as discussed by the authors, such as extreme weather conditions.
Abstract: The element’s complex free-energy landscape allows such structural motifs as rings, cages, and channel-like holes to emerge in extreme or unusual conditions.
TL;DR: In this paper, hypervelocity stars provide a window on black holes and the distribution of dark matter surrounding the glowing Milky Way, by shooting out of the galaxy at speeds greater than the escape velocity.
Abstract: Shooting out of the galaxy at speeds greater than the escape velocity, hypervelocity stars provide a window on black holes and the distribution of dark matter surrounding the glowing Milky Way.
TL;DR: The history of electric vehicles offers a lesson to the wise: Harvesting the fruits of basic science requires industrial foresight, investment, and a healthy dose of realpolitik as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The electric vehicle’s history offers a lesson to the wise: Harvesting the fruits of basic science requires industrial foresight, investment, and a healthy dose of realpolitik.
TL;DR: In this paper, the twin laser interferometers nearly simultaneously received the call of two black holes in the violent final instants of their merger, and the two blackholes burst out of the two interferometer arrays.
Abstract: The twin laser interferometers nearly simultaneously received the call of two black holes in the violent final instants of their merger.