Articles tagged with "quantum-mechanics"
New Quantum clock ticks accurately without wasting much energy
Researchers have developed a novel quantum clock design that significantly reduces energy waste while maintaining high precision in timekeeping. Traditional quantum clocks measure time by counting discrete, irreversible events, each generating entropy and requiring energy, leading to a direct trade-off between precision and energy consumption. The new approach abandons this model by allowing quantum excitations to evolve coherently and uninterrupted across a system, tracking the overall flow of time rather than individual ticks. This method, based on coherent quantum transport, avoids repeated measurements that produce entropy, thereby breaking the previously assumed linear relationship between precision and entropy production. The innovative clock operates on principles drawn from quantum many-body systems, where particles exhibit coordinated, wave-like behavior, enabling precise control with minimal thermodynamic cost. By trading off precision with resolution—similar to waiting for a larger quantity of sand to fall in an hourglass rather than counting individual grains—the clock achieves greater accuracy without proportionally increasing entropy. Theoretical models validate this concept, and experimental efforts, such as those underway at Ch
energyquantum-clockquantum-mechanicsentropytimekeepingquantum-transportenergy-efficiencyQuantum tunneling observed in heavy fluorine atoms for first time
A recent study has, for the first time, observed quantum tunneling in heavy fluorine atoms, breaking the long-held "fluoro wall" belief that such heavy atoms cannot tunnel. Quantum tunneling is a phenomenon where particles pass through energy barriers they classically shouldn’t overcome. Previously, tunneling had been mostly seen in very light atoms like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Researchers discovered this effect by trapping fluorine atoms in a frozen neon matrix at –270°C and using infrared spectroscopy to analyze unusual signals from a negatively charged ion composed of five fluorine atoms (F₅⁻). The central fluorine atom in this ion was found to tunnel between two equivalent positions, a behavior confirmed by quantum mechanical simulations. This breakthrough challenges existing views in quantum chemistry, suggesting that tunneling may occur more widely, even in heavier atoms under certain conditions. The finding has significant implications for understanding fluorinated compounds, which are important in pharmaceuticals, battery technology, and environmental science. For instance, fluorinated groups enhance drug absorption and battery efficiency, while fluorine-rich pollutants like PFAS are notoriously persistent in the environment. Understanding and potentially controlling fluorine tunneling could lead to new methods for breaking down such pollutants or designing advanced materials and medicines.
materialsquantum-tunnelingfluorinechemical-reactionsspectroscopyquantum-mechanicsatomic-physicsNew tech reveals plasma turbulence secrets for nuclear reactors
energynuclear-fusionplasma-turbulencecomplex-systemsquantum-mechanicsfusion-reactorsmulti-field-analysisScientists simulate how tens of thousands of electrons move in real time
materialsenergyquantum-mechanicselectron-dynamicsphotovoltaic-cellssimulationnanostructures