Physics - Browse Physics

41.

Focus

Bake, Shake, and Shrink

Phys. Rev. Focus 14, 21 (2004) – Published November 22, 2004

An unusual material shrinks as it gets hotter because of complex vibrations in its crystal structure.

42.

Focus

Nanotubes Go with the Flow

Phys. Rev. Focus 13, 7 (2004) – Published February 12, 2004

Carbon nanotubes are not simply rigid rods, but can bend into a variety of shapes with a simple water treatment.

43.

Focus

What’s Down There?

Phys. Rev. Focus 13, 1 (2004) – Published January 9, 2004

Calculations from the fundamental laws of physics suggest that the Earth’s mantle remains mysterious.

44.

Focus

Copper Pentagons

Phys. Rev. Focus 12, 10 (2003) – Published September 26, 2003

Liquid copper atoms form small, transient clusters with the symmetry of a pentagon, a forbidden formation for conventional crystals.

45.

Focus

Chipping Away at Hardness

Phys. Rev. Focus 12, 1 (2003) – Published July 9, 2003

A new model accurately predicts material hardness based on atomic structure.

46.

Focus

Go-go Atoms Give Heat the Shake

Phys. Rev. Focus 11, 13 (2003) – Published April 3, 2003

Atoms that “rattle” in cage-like structures in a crystal could lead to materials that generate electricity or cool their surroundings.

47.

Focus

Breaking Glass under a Microscope

Phys. Rev. Focus 11, 9 (2003) – Published March 5, 2003

Glass may fracture in a way similar to metals, but at a thousand times smaller scale.

48.

Focus

Bucky Diamonds In The Rough

Phys. Rev. Focus 11, 4 (2003) – Published January 30, 2003

Carbon particles combining diamond and buckyball structures could form tomorrow’s optoelectronics.

49.

Focus

Minimalist’s Tug-of-War

Phys. Rev. Focus 10, 26 (2002) – Published December 11, 2002

Computer simulations suggest the interlaced structure of a composite material forced to balance competing demands.

50.

Focus

Crafting Crystals with a Light Touch

Phys. Rev. Focus 10, 15 (2002) – Published October 4, 2002

Polarized light can determine the precise structure of a growing crystal, opening the way for fine-tuned pharmaceuticals and novel materials.

51.

Focus

Crystal Clear Memory

Phys. Rev. Focus 10, 11 (2002) – Published September 10, 2002

Some ferroelectric crystals can remember sounds.

52.

Focus

Halfway Home for Thin Films

Phys. Rev. Focus 10, 5 (2002) – Published August 2, 2002

Simulations and experiments indicate that spherical molecules can form an ordered phase that’s part solid, part liquid.

53.

Focus

Close-Up of Atomic Cave-Dwellers

Phys. Rev. Focus 10, 4 (2002) – Published July 29, 2002

A new study gives the most detailed pictures yet of an industrially useful nanoscale sponge.

54.

Focus

The Perfect Rake

Phys. Rev. Focus 9, 26 (2002) – Published May 22, 2002

Atoms scraped from a surface pile up in a surprisingly well-ordered heap.

55.

Focus

Osmium is Stiffer than Diamond

Phys. Rev. Focus 9, 16 (2002) – Published March 27, 2002

Osmium holds up under pressure better than diamond, suggesting a new place to look for superhard materials.

56.

Focus

Polymer Pearl Necklaces

Phys. Rev. Focus 9, 2 (2002) – Published January 9, 2002

Microscopic polymer beads can link up into chains and networks that might be used in many technologies.

57.

Focus

Making Waves in Crack Theory

Phys. Rev. Focus 9, 1 (2002) – Published January 3, 2002

Cracks in stretched rubber mysteriously oscillate as they travel. Solving the mystery may help illuminate the puzzling laws of crack motion.

58.

Focus

Crystal Cannibals

Phys. Rev. Focus 8, 35 (2001) – Published December 27, 2001

During crystallization, larger crystals are surprisingly good at devouring smaller ones.

59.

Focus

Bonding Bucky-Onions

Phys. Rev. Focus 8, 27 (2001) – Published November 13, 2001

Adding nitrogen to buckyballs makes them form connected ‘onion’ structures and a material with impressive properties.

60.

Focus

Small Structures Act Big

Phys. Rev. Focus 8, 14 (2001) – Published September 13, 2001

The mechanical properties of a metal hold up even at nanometer scales.