Articles tagged with "energy-efficient-technology"
Chip 100× smaller than a hair could help scale quantum computing
Researchers have developed an optical phase modulator chip nearly 100 times smaller than a human hair, which could be pivotal for scaling quantum computers to handle massive qubit counts. Unlike bulky, custom hardware traditionally used, this device is manufactured using standard CMOS semiconductor fabrication processes common in everyday electronics. The modulator operates via microwave-frequency vibrations oscillating billions of times per second, enabling precise control of laser light phase and efficient generation of new frequencies—capabilities essential for quantum computing architectures like trapped-ion and trapped-neutral-atom systems. Current frequency-shifting technologies are large, power-hungry, and impractical for scaling to the hundreds of thousands of optical channels future quantum machines will require. The new modulator addresses these issues by consuming about 80 times less microwave power than many commercial modulators, producing less heat and allowing many devices to be integrated side by side on a single chip. This breakthrough leverages CMOS fabrication’s scalability, potentially enabling mass production of thousands or millions of identical photonic devices. The
quantum-computingoptical-phase-modulatorsemiconductor-chipenergy-efficient-technologymicroelectronicsscalable-manufacturingphotonic-devicesScientists make dark excitons 300,000x brighter for quantum tech
Scientists from City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of Texas at Austin have made a significant breakthrough by amplifying the light emission of dark excitons—normally invisible quantum light-matter states found in atomically thin semiconductors—by nearly 300,000 times. Using a nanoscale optical cavity composed of gold nanotubes and a single atomic layer of tungsten diselenide (WSe₂), the team made these elusive states not only visible but also controllable at the nanoscale. This advance holds promise for developing faster, smaller, and more energy-efficient quantum computing and photonic technologies due to dark excitons’ long lifetimes and low environmental interactions. Further, the researchers demonstrated precise tuning of dark excitons using electric and magnetic fields, enabling on-demand control of their emission without altering the semiconductor’s natural properties. This approach preserves the material’s integrity while achieving record-breaking light-matter coupling. The study also resolved a longstanding debate in nanophotonics by showing that
quantum-computingphotonicsdark-excitons2D-materialsenergy-efficient-technologynanoscale-controlquantum-informationMIT gets first 'direct view' of exotic superconductivity in graphene
MIT physicists have achieved a major breakthrough by obtaining the first direct measurement of unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle twisted tri-layer graphene (MATTG), a material made of three stacked and twisted atom-thin carbon sheets. Using a novel experimental platform that combines electron tunneling with electrical transport measurements, the team directly observed MATTG’s superconducting gap, which exhibits a distinctive V-shaped profile unlike the flat gap seen in conventional superconductors. This finding confirms that the superconducting mechanism in MATTG is fundamentally different and likely arises from strong electronic interactions rather than lattice vibrations, marking a crucial step toward understanding and designing new superconductors. This research advances the global pursuit of room-temperature superconductors, which could revolutionize technology by enabling zero-energy-loss power grids, practical quantum computers, and more efficient medical imaging devices. The study, led by MIT physicists including Jeong Min Park and Shuwen Sun and senior author Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, builds on the emerging field of “twistronics
materialssuperconductivitygraphenequantum-materialsenergy-efficient-technologyroom-temperature-superconductorsMIT-researchWorld-first: Six layers stacked vertically to reinvent microchips
Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed the world’s first six-layer hybrid CMOS microchip, significantly advancing beyond the previous two-layer limit in vertically stacked hybrid chips. This breakthrough enables much higher integration density by stacking circuits vertically rather than continuing to shrink transistor size, which is increasingly constrained by quantum effects and production costs. The team overcame key challenges such as heat damage to lower layers and precise layer alignment by innovating a low-temperature fabrication process that never exceeds 150°C, preserving the integrity of each layer. Their hybrid CMOS architecture combines inorganic and organic transistors, resulting in a stable, energy-efficient chip with six active layers—tripling the complexity of prior hybrid chips. This novel vertical stacking approach opens new possibilities for ultra-thin, flexible, and efficient electronics, particularly benefiting wearable devices, medical sensors, and Internet of Things applications where compactness and low power consumption are critical. The technology also holds promise for space and environmental sensors due to its lightweight and high-performance
semiconductormicrochiphybrid-CMOSelectronicsmaterials-scienceenergy-efficient-technologyvertical-stackingUS team sees tiny spinning waves called magnons moving in magnets
A research team at Brookhaven National Laboratory has achieved the first direct observation of magnon spin currents using resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), marking a significant advancement in spintronics. Unlike previous methods that detected spin currents indirectly by converting them into electrical signals, this approach allowed scientists to measure the momentum distribution of magnons—quantized spin excitations carrying angular momentum—in a magnetic insulator (yttrium iron garnet, YIG) under a temperature gradient. The RIXS technique was sensitive enough to detect subtle imbalances in magnon intensity, providing a microscopic view of how magnons move and carry spin current without involving electron charge transport. This breakthrough is crucial for developing future energy-efficient spintronic devices, which rely on controlling spin currents to store and transmit information at higher densities. By applying a mathematical model, the team could calculate magnon lifetimes and dynamics, offering insights essential for magnon-based technologies. The researchers plan to extend their work to thin films
spintronicsmagnonsmagnetic-materialsenergy-efficient-technologyyttrium-iron-garnetspin-currentsresonant-inelastic-X-ray-scatteringPhotos: This ‘Reboot’ concept imagines what a modern Saab EV could be
The article discusses a new design concept called “Reboot” by designer David Sova, which envisions a modern electric vehicle (EV) that continues the legacy of the Swedish car brand Saab. Although Saab ceased operations over a decade ago after its final revival attempt by NEVS ended, the brand’s unique design philosophy and engineering principles remain influential. The “Reboot” concept draws inspiration from Saab’s iconic models and core values—such as aeronautical influence, practicality, and Swedish pragmatism—while presenting a contemporary EV design that could have emerged if Saab had survived into the electric era of 2025. The “Reboot” concept emphasizes practicality and understated aesthetics, avoiding aggressive styling in favor of smooth bodywork, a long roofline, and maximized interior space. Its design features include a glass canopy reminiscent of classic Saab cockpits, turbine-inspired wheels referencing the brand’s aviation heritage, and an interior that promotes openness rather than screen-heavy cabins. The dashboard layout prioritizes ergonomic
electric-vehiclesEV-designautomotive-innovationsustainable-transportationSaab-concept-carvehicle-materialsenergy-efficient-technologyNo wires needed: German physicists control electronics with light pulses
German physicists at Bielefeld University have developed a novel method to control atomically thin semiconductors using ultrashort pulses of terahertz light instead of traditional electrical signals. By employing terahertz radiation—electromagnetic waves between infrared and microwave frequencies—and specialized nanoantennas that convert this light into extremely strong, vertical electric fields within the semiconductor, they achieved switching speeds on the order of femtoseconds to picoseconds (trillionths of a second). This approach eliminates the need for physical wires or bulky electronic components, enabling faster, more energy-efficient, and potentially miniaturized electronic devices. The team demonstrated their technique on molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), a semiconductor only a few atoms thick, observing a Stark shift that confirmed the terahertz-induced electric field was effectively altering the material’s electronic properties in real time. This coherent, non-contact control mechanism could revolutionize electronics by enabling light-controlled transistors, ultrafast data transmission, advanced
materialssemiconductorsterahertz-lightultrafast-electronicsnanoantennasenergy-efficient-technologyatomically-thin-materialsNew radiation-proof quantum state could unlock deep space travel
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered a new quantum phase of matter within a custom-synthesized material called hafnium pentatelluride. By subjecting this material to ultra-high magnetic fields of up to 70 Teslas—about 700 times stronger than a typical fridge magnet—at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the team observed a sudden loss of electrical conductivity, signaling a transition into this exotic state. This phase involves electrons pairing with positively charged holes to form a tightly-bound fluid of excitons that spin in unison, potentially enabling signals to be carried by spin rather than electrical charge. This discovery opens avenues for energy-efficient spin-based electronics and quantum devices. A key advantage of this new quantum state is its resistance to radiation, which could make it ideal for electronics used in deep-space missions where conventional semiconductors fail due to harsh radiation environments. The material’s robustness could lead to self-charging, radiation-proof computers and devices capable of long-term operation in space, addressing
quantum-materialsexotic-matterhafnium-pentatellurideenergy-efficient-technologyspin-based-electronicsradiation-resistant-electronicsdeep-space-travel