Nature Physics

Nature Physics, Published online: 08 September 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01746-1

Although the ohm is ‘only’ a derived SI unit, the assumption that it plays an unobtrusive role could not be further from the truth, as Karin Cedergren reveals.

Nature Physics, Published online: 08 September 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01766-x

It is easy to dismiss research into the foundations of quantum mechanics as irrelevant to physicists in other areas. Adopting this attitude misses opportunities to appreciate the richness of quantum mechanics.

Nature Physics, Published online: 08 September 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01745-2

Value our natural resources

Nature Physics, Published online: 08 September 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01655-3

Random lasers made out of disordered media have a rich but often unpredictable laser light emission, in all directions and over many frequencies. Strategies for taming random lasing are emerging, which have the potential to deliver programmable lasers with unprecedented properties.

Nature Physics, Published online: 29 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01666-0

High-resolution imaging methods have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the structure of materials. To move microscopy and tomography methods forwards, approaches to reassess macroscopic concepts such as symmetry are needed.

Nature Physics, Published online: 25 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01672-2

Wrinkling happens because of mechanical instabilities arising from length mismatches. A theory now describes wrinkling in confined elastic shells and is expected to be relevant for the controlled design of complex wrinkle patterns.

Nature Physics, Published online: 25 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01706-9

In experiments with a levitated force sensor, no signatures of a fifth force are detected. This rules out the basic chameleon model, which is a popular theory providing an explanation for dark energy.

Nature Physics, Published online: 25 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01719-4

Nitrogen vacancy centres close to the surface of diamonds are a key component of quantum sensing technologies. Using an atomic force microscope to manipulate the surface electrostatic environment can significantly improve the sensing performance.

Nature Physics, Published online: 22 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01715-8

Predictions of the properties of 208Pb from first principles augmented by statistical learning techniques reproduce those seen in experiments but rule out very thick neutron skins.

Nature Physics, Published online: 18 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01735-4

An active solid composed of confined robots is reported. Through elastic interactions, the robots sync up to create novel states of coherent motion.

Nature Physics, Published online: 18 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01710-z

Fluctuations arising from proximity to an antiferromagnetic state may be a mechanism for electron pairing in high-temperature superconductors. Now numerics show that only about half of the pairing interaction can be attributed to spin fluctuations considered in spin fluctuation theory.

Nature Physics, Published online: 18 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01645-5

Control of magnetization is important for applications in spintronics. Now, the piezomagnetic effect allows strain to control the anomalous Hall effect in a metal at room temperature by rotating its antiferromagnetic order.

Nature Physics, Published online: 18 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01704-x

In active solids, work is performed by elastically coupled units. By studying a minimal experimental model of an active solid, actuation mechanisms resulting in a collectively oscillating displacement field that drives work cycles are now identified.

Nature Physics, Published online: 15 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01701-0

The diode is a well-known component of semiconductor electronics, but equivalent behaviour in superconductors is rare. Now, two demonstrations of a superconducting diode effect show that this is possible, through different mechanisms.

Nature Physics, Published online: 15 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01717-6

In a plasma-based accelerator, the amplitude of the plasma wave is constrained by the wavebreaking limit. Experiments reveal features of the plasma waves at the point at which wavebreaking occurs.

Nature Physics, Published online: 15 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01699-5

A diode effect—asymmetric transport depending on its direction—is shown in the proximity-induced superconducting state of a Dirac semimetal.

Nature Physics, Published online: 15 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01700-1

A superconducting diode effect is observed at zero magnetic field in twisted trilayer graphene. This suggests that time-reversal symmetry is intrinsically broken and leads to pairing between electrons with non-zero centre-of-mass momentum.

Nature Physics, Published online: 15 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01754-1

Publisher Correction: Two qubits for the price of one ion

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01712-x

Statistical correlations between particles play a central role in the study of complex quantum systems. A new study introduces microscopic detection of ultracold molecules and demonstrates the measurement of two-particle correlations.

Nature Physics, Published online: 11 August 2022; doi:10.1038/s41567-022-01694-w

Reply to: Absence of evidence of superconductivity in sulfur hydride in optical reflectance experiments