Volume 13 - April-June 2011
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Story 1 - 7/4/2011 - THE VIEWPOINT by Zuleykhan Tomova
The IONS Project
Over the past few years, a new network of young researchers has taken the world by storm: IONS. The International OSA Network of Students is a global network for young scientists, which enables them to connect, exchange ideas, and learn directly from the stars of science.
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Story 2 - 22/4/2011
The Random Walk towards Quantum Computing
Subtle quantum effects will be at the heart of the quantum computers of the future. Very few existing setups, however, offer the necessary stability and control to exploit such effects at the moment. As it turns out, arrays of waveguides meet this challenge, and they, therefore, serve as test beds for studying quantum computing.
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Story 3 - 3/5/2011
Extreme Light-Benders
Common materials have only limited light-bending power. A new, manmade material can bend light to the extreme thanks to the ultra-high value of its refractive index.
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Story 4 - 11/5/2011
Solar Fuel: No More Drilling!
The Earth’s reserve of fossil fuels is limited, and their production and use pollute our environment. Solar collectors offer a possible solution to the increasingly pressing demands for economically and environmentally sustainable energy.
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Story 5 - 18/5/2011
Upconversion Reloaded
Recent results give new life to an old, almost forgotten technique: upconversion imaging could soon make possible the wide use of light technology for infrared detection.
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Story 6 - 1/6/2011
Astronomical Twisters
Black holes are enigmatic astronomical objects, which remain, as of yet, unobserved. We may, however, be in a position to trace their trail. It is possible that a rotating black hole imparts small twists to photons passing nearby, which we may be able to detect from Earth.
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Story 7 - 27/6/2011
Superfluid Photons
Superfluidity is a peculiar quantum state of matter that resembles a liquid, albeit with no viscosity. Usually, this phenomenon is studied at ultra-low temperatures using very delicate setups. However, light can also mimic superfluid behavior, a fact which could make experiments considerably more accessible.