Nature Physics

Nature Physics, Published online: 25 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0910-0

A careful study of quantum oscillations of single crystals of the cuprate superconductor YBCO placed under a magnetic field reveals a sawtooth behaviour that is reminiscent of two-dimensional electronic systems—in turn suggesting the existence of a so-called ‘hard antinodal gap’ in this system.

Nature Physics, Published online: 25 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0903-z

High entanglement fidelity between neutral atoms is achieved using highly excited Rydberg states. The unique electron structure provided by alkaline-earth atoms makes it a promising platform for various quantum-technology-based applications.

Nature Physics, Published online: 25 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0907-8

Systems of neutral atoms are gradually gaining currency as a promising candidate for realizing large-scale quantum computing. The achievement of a record-high fidelity in quantum operation with alkaline-earth Rydberg atoms is a case in point.

Nature Physics, Published online: 19 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0906-9

The identification of superconductivity and strong interactions in twisted bilayer 2D materials prompted many questions about the interplay of these phenomena. This Perspective presents the status of the field and the urgent issues for future study.

Nature Physics, Published online: 18 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0898-5

The interface between a quantum Hall state and a superconductor hosts topological modes. Here, interference between two such modes turns an electron into either a hole or an electron depending on the phase difference along the interference path.

Nature Physics, Published online: 18 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0899-4

The intrinsic dipole moment of 228Th is reported, from which the degree of the nucleus’s octupole deformation is estimated, suggesting that 229Th and 229Pa may be suitable candidates for the search for a permanent atomic electric dipole moment.

Nature Physics, Published online: 18 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0891-z

By exploiting the long-lived phonon modes in nanoscale mechanical resonators, a quantum memory that operates around the standard telecom wavelength of 1,550 nm is realized on a silicon platform.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0886-9

An exotic s + is multiband superconducting state manifests in a doped pnictide superconductor when a second band moves below the Fermi surface. This creates an internal magnetic field, breaking time-reversal symmetry.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0892-y

Transmitting the time signal and generating the secure key with the same carrier photon improves the security of a satellite-based quantum-secure time transfer protocol, which uses two-way quantum key distribution.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0889-6

Generalization of linear response theory to the non-Hermitian case turns dissipation into a new tool for detecting equilibrium phases. The prediction from this theory remarkably agrees with a recent cold atom experiment.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0862-4

Coupling of the quadrupole moment of an electron in a triple quantum dot to photons has been predicted to be a good platform for reducing the effect of charge noise on the decoherence time of a qubit. Here, the authors create such a coupling.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0887-8

Ionization delays from ethyl iodide around a giant dipole resonance are measured by attosecond streaking spectroscopy. Using theoretical knowledge of the iodine atom as a reference, the contribution of the functional ethyl group can be obtained.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0894-9

Symmetry breaking is essential for polarization of cells and generation of left–right body asymmetry. Here the authors investigate the arrangement of hair cells in zebrafish and show that mirror-symmetric patterns arise from a combination of biochemical and mechanical symmetry-breaking events.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0893-x

Error-transparent quantum gates that can tolerate certain error during the execution of quantum operations have been demonstrated. Substantial improvement of the gate fidelity sheds lights on large-scale universal quantum computation.

Nature Physics, Published online: 07 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0900-2

Forewarned is forearmed

Nature Physics, Published online: 07 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0916-7

On the 60th anniversary of the first functioning laser, we imagine a research landscape without it.

Nature Physics, Published online: 07 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0895-8

The tool of choice to measure optical frequencies with extremely high precision is the optical frequency comb. Camille-Sophie Brès explains what makes this technique so powerful.

Nature Physics, Published online: 06 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0926-5

Author Correction: Enhanced energy coupling for indirect-drive fast-ignition fusion targets

Nature Physics, Published online: 04 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0875-z

Collective cell migration is usually attributed to large-scale transmission of signals through cell junctions. Here, the authors confine cells into a ring-shaped pattern and show that collective cell migration can arise at the single-cell level.

Nature Physics, Published online: 22 April 2020; doi:10.1038/s41567-020-0912-y

Author Correction: Quantum metasurfaces with atom arrays