Quantum

Rice University physicists used ultracold atoms and a 1D channel of light to simulate electrons in 1D wires and study how two of their intrinsic properties — spin and charge — travel at different speeds.

Rice lab’s quantum simulator delivers new insight

A Rice University quantum simulator is giving physicists a clear look at spin-charge separation, a bizarre phenomenon in which two parts of indivisible particles called electrons travel at different speeds in extremely cold 1D wires. The research is published this week in Science and has implications for quantum computing and electronics with atom-scale wires.

Natsumi Komatsu

Doctoral alumna wins prestigious Schmidt Science Fellowship

Doctoral graduate Natsumi Komatsu has been awarded a prestigious Schmidt Science Fellowship

Guido Pagano

Rice physicist wins DOE early career award

Physicist Guido Pagano wins a prestigious Early Career Research Award from the Department of Energy.

A new theory by Rice University researchers suggests that 2D materials like hexagonal boron nitride, at top, could be placed atop a contoured surface and thus be manipulated to form 1D bands that take on electronic or magnetic properties.

Bumps could smooth quantum investigations

Rice University materials theorists model a contoured surface overlaid with 2D materials and find it possible to control their electronic and magnetic properties. The discovery could simplify research into many-body effects, including quantum systems.

Rice graduate student Tong Chen "detwinning" iron selenide in 2019

Spinning is key for line-dancing electrons in iron selenide

Quantum physicists at Rice have helped answer an important question at the forefront of research into superconductivity.

Physicist Andriy Nevidomskyy

​​​​​​​Computational sleuthing confirms first 3D quantum spin liquid

Physicists have confirmed the first 3D quantum spin liquid, a solid material with a liquidlike magnetic state.

Rice University applied physics graduate student Catherine Arndt

Rice ‘metalens’ could disrupt vacuum UV market

Rice photonics researchers have created a potentially disruptive technology for the ultraviolet optics market.

Common salt (NaCl) acts as an intermediary in the chemical vapor deposition growth of 2D molybdenum disulfide, speeding the process of its creation.

Rice lab improves recipe for valuable chemical

Rice University theorists show why salt gives a significant speed boost to valuable 2D molybdenum disulfide, an effect they say may work for other 2D materials as well.

A theory by Rice University researchers suggests growing graphene on a surface that undulates like an egg crate would stress it enough to create a minute electromagnetic field. The phenomenon could be useful for creating 2D electron optics or valleytronics devices. (Credit: Illustration by Henry Yu/Rice University)

Don’t underestimate undulating graphene

A theory by Rice University scientists suggests putting graphene on an undulating surface stresses it enough to create a minute electromagnetic field. The phenomenon could be useful for creating 2D electron optics or valleytronics devices.

Thomas Senftle

Thomas Senftle wins NSF CAREER Award

Rice University chemical and biomolecular engineer Thomas Senftle has won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to advance machine learning techniques for designing new catalysts.

Sunrise aerial with Lovett Hall and Houston skyline

Faculty set Rice record with eight CAREER Awards

Rice faculty set a record, winning eight NSF CAREER Awards in 2002

Rice University physicists created synthetic dimensions in atoms by forcing them into Rydberg states, supersizing electrons’ orbits to make the atoms thousands of times larger than normal.

Physicists harness electrons to make ‘synthetic dimensions’

Rice University physicists have learned to manipulate electrons in gigantic Rydberg atoms with such precision they can create “synthetic dimensions” where the system acts as if it had extra spatial dimensions, which are important tools for quantum simulations.

Rice University postdoctoral researcher Andrey Baydin.

Strong magnets put new twist on phonons

Phonons, quasiparticles in a crystal lattice that are usually hard to control by external fields, can be manipulated by a magnetic field -- but it takes a very strong magnet.

Rice quantum physicists Pengcheng Dai and Qimiao Si

Physicists find evidence of new quantum phase

Rice physicists collaborated on the discovery of a quantum phase that appears to break time-reversal symmetry.

Atom-level simulations reveal the reason iron rusts in supposedly “inert” supercritical carbon dioxide fluid. Trace amounts of water can cause a reaction at the interface between iron and the fluid, prompting the formation of corrosive chemicals.

Rusting iron can be its own worst enemy

Atom-level simulations reveal the reason iron rusts in supposedly “inert” supercritical carbon dioxide fluid. Trace amounts of water can cause a reaction at the interface between iron and the fluid, prompting the formation of corrosive chemicals.