Nature Physics, Published online: 21 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03254-y
Entanglement between particles offers insights into quantum behaviour, but methods for studying it in free-electron systems are lacking. Now a two-electron quantum walk is used to probe decoherence of free electrons inside an electron microscope.
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- Two-electron quantum walks for probing entanglement and decoherence in an electron microscope
- Laser-induced nucleation of magnetic hopfionsNature Physics, Published online: 21 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03236-0 The creation of stable and isolated magnetic hopfions—three-dimensional topological solitons—has remained experimentally challenging. Now the laser-induced nucleation of hopfions has been achieved in a chiral magnet.
- Transverse optical torque observed at the nanoscaleNature Physics, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03268-6 Optical forces and torques on nanoparticles are difficult to measure due to the diffraction limit of light. Now, transverse optical torque is observed through the optical trapping and spatial tracking of a designed microscale structure.
- Average topological phase in a disordered Rydberg atom arrayNature Physics, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03271-x In addition to strongly protected topological phases that rely on exact symmetries, theory predicts that disorder can stabilize weakly protected phases in mixed quantum states, and an example of the latter is now observed in a Rydberg atom array.
- Optical excitations reshape the spin-wave spectrum in antiferromagnetsNature Physics, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03231-5 Charge-transfer excitations, which define the optical bandgap in many insulators, also contribute to magnetic exchange in antiferromagnets. Femtosecond optical pumping of these transitions in canted antiferromagnet DyFeO3 reshapes the spin-wave spectrum — the set of collective spin excitations that define the dynamics of the antiferromagnet — without destroying the long-range order.
- Symmetry-guided catalogue of chiral phonon materialsNature Physics, Published online: 17 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03260-0 Identifying and classifying chiral phonons has been challenging, limiting their use in quantum and thermal technologies. Now, a symmetry-based framework and database describe phonon chirality across space groups and reveal promising material candidates.
- Inter-magnet pumping counters dissipation in artificial ferrimagnetsNature Physics, Published online: 17 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03261-z Reducing dissipation when generating spin currents remains a central challenge in spintronics. Now, an artificial ferrimagnet is shown to produce spin current output and simultaneously lower magnetic damping.
- Loop-current order in kagome metalsNature Physics, Published online: 16 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03229-z Loop-current states represent a rare magnetic order driven by orbital motion, rather than by spin. This Perspective examines their symmetry, microscopic origins, detection challenges and interplay with other orders in kagome superconductors.
