Researchers Ibuki Taniuchi, Ryota Akiyama, Rei Hobara, and Shuji Hasegawa of the University of Tokyo have demonstrated that the direction of the spin-polarized current can be restricted to only one direction in a single-atom layer of a thallium-lead alloys when irradiated at room temperature. The discovery defies conventions: single-atom layers have been thought to be almost completely transparent, in other words, negligibly absorbing or interacting with light. The one-directional flow of the current observed in this study makes possible functionality beyond ordinary diodes, paving the way for more environmentally friendly data storage, ultra-fine two-dimensional spintronic devices, in the future. The findings were published in the journal ACS Nano.

Researchers have developed a new process that uses microwave flow reaction and recyclable solid catalysts to efficiently hydrolyze polysaccharides into simple sugars. The developed device utilizes a continuous-flow hydrolysis process, where cellobiose is passed through a sulfonated carbon catalyst that is heated using microwaves, resulting in the efficient conversion of cellobiose to glucose.

New quantum chromodynamics (QCD) research provides physicists with the tools needed to relate the physics of specific particle collisions with the internal structure of the involved particles. These tools will help scientists relate theory and experiments into how quarks and gluons bind under the influence of QCD.

Recent research discovered that CaAs3 presents anomalous strong electron coherence when approaching the MIR limit. Taking advantage of multiple national high magnetic field facilities, the research team has realized quantum transport and magneto-infrared spectroscopy under extremely low temperature and high magnetic field, and revealed the Landau quantization and quantum oscillations of CaAs3 when approaching the MIR limit.

Valence electrons exhibit electrical conductivity and magnetism. Initially, we studied magnetic spin ordering in triangular lattice semiconductors using light. However, about half of these electrons did not directly contribute to magnetism. Instead, two such electrons formed weakly bound pairs, similar to superconductors. Considering all valence electrons, the system resembles a quantum spin liquid. Our findings show that these previously overlooked "inactive" electrons play a vital role in quantum properties.

Latest results now published in the journal Science Advances