The dataset spans roughly 12 billion years, capturing light from some of the universe's earliest galaxies to those just one billion years old. The new catalog, soon to be published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A), contains nearly 1,700 galaxy groups, representing the most extensive and detailed sample of its kind. A striking image of a galaxy cluster over six billion light years away from this study has been featured as the European Space Agency's (ESA) picture of the month.

"We're able to actually observe some of the first galaxies formed in the universe," said Ghassem Gozaliasl of Aalto University, who led the study. "We detected 1,678 galaxy groups or proto-clusters - the largest and deepest sample of galaxy groups ever detected - with the James Webb Space Telescope. With this sample, we can study the evolution of galaxies in groups over the past 12 billion years of cosmic time."

Launched in 2022, the JWST's advanced capabilities have enabled astronomers to observe faint, distant galaxies - some a billion times dimmer than the human eye can detect - revealing the universe as it appeared in its early stages. Given the finite speed of light, this allows scientists to peer billions of years into the past, capturing the growth and evolution of galaxies.

Galaxy groups and clusters are dense cosmic environments containing dark matter, hot gas, and massive central galaxies that often host supermassive black holes. "The complex interactions between these components play a crucial role in shaping the life cycles of galaxies and driving the evolution of the groups and clusters themselves," Gozaliasl explained. "By uncovering a more complete history of these cosmic structures, we can better understand how these processes have influenced the formation and growth of both massive galaxies and the largest structures in the universe."

Galaxies are not uniformly distributed but instead form interconnected clusters within a vast structure known as the cosmic web. These dense regions, linked by filaments of dark matter, contain most of the universe's galaxies. Our Milky Way, for instance, is part of a small galaxy group known as the Local Group, which includes the Andromeda Galaxy and dozens of smaller members.

"Like humans, galaxies come together and make families," Gozaliasl noted. "Groups and clusters are really important, because within them galaxies can interact and merge together, resulting in the transformation of galaxy structure and morphology. Studying these environments also helps us understand the role of dark matter, feedback from supermassive black holes, and the thermal history of the hot gas that fills the space between galaxies."

By examining structures from one billion to 12 billion years ago, astronomers can trace the development of galaxy groups over cosmic time. This long-range perspective reveals how the brightest group galaxies (BGGs) at the centers of clusters form through repeated mergers, providing insights into the broader story of galaxy evolution.

"When we look very deep into the universe, the galaxies have more irregular shapes and are forming many stars. Closer to our time, star formation is what we refer to as 'quenched' - the galaxies have more symmetric structures, like elliptical or spiral galaxies. It's really exciting to see the shapes changing over cosmic time," Gozaliasl added. "We can start to address so many questions about what happened in the universe and how galaxies evolved."

Research Report:Astronomers observe largest ever sample of galaxies up to over 12 billion light years away

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Tokyo, Japan (SPX) May 20, 2025 - Researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Hyderabad have achieved a significant breakthrough in laser-driven ion acceleration, demonstrating the potential for compact, high-repetition-rate proton acceleration using tabletop lasers. This advancement, detailed in a recent study in Physical Review Research, leverages small, millijoule-class lasers to produce megavolt energy protons at a remarkable rate of 1,000 pulses per second.

Traditional laser ion acceleration methods rely on high-energy, multi-joule laser systems to generate extreme ion speeds, typically requiring massive and complex setups. However, the TIFR team, led by Prof. M. Krishnamurthy and including researchers S.V. Rahul and Ratul Sabui, developed a new approach that harnesses a known limitation of these systems-the presence of pre-pulses.

Pre-pulses are small bursts of laser energy that precede the main, intense laser pulse, often complicating the acceleration process by disrupting the target surface. However, rather than suppressing these pre-pulses, the TIFR researchers found a way to exploit them. Their approach uses pre-pulses to sculpt hollow cavities in liquid microdroplets, creating a low-density plasma environment. This plasma serves as a highly efficient medium for absorbing subsequent laser pulses, generating powerful electron bursts that can drive protons to hundreds of kilovolts of energy.

This innovative technique effectively bridges the gap between traditional low-repetition, high-energy laser systems and more practical, compact setups, potentially transforming applications ranging from medical treatments to advanced materials processing.

Research Report:High-repetition rate ion acceleration driven by a two-plasmon decay instability

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST London, UK (SPX) May 15, 2025 - A landmark study published in Nature has significantly advanced the understanding of black hole and neutron star collisions, setting a new standard for precision in gravitational wave modeling. Led by Professor Jan Plefka at Humboldt University of Berlin and Dr Gustav Mogull of Queen Mary University of London, the research marks a major step forward in characterizing these extreme cosmic events.

Utilizing advanced quantum field theory techniques, the team computed the fifth post-Minkowskian (5PM) order for critical observables like scattering angles, radiated energy, and recoil. Notably, the study uncovered the role of Calabi-Yau three-fold periods - complex geometric structures traditionally associated with string theory - in calculating radiated energy and recoil. These mathematical forms, once considered purely theoretical, are now recognized as directly relevant to real-world astrophysical phenomena.

As gravitational wave observatories such as LIGO enter a new era of heightened sensitivity, and with next-generation detectors like LISA on the horizon, this work addresses the growing demand for highly accurate theoretical models.

Dr Mogull emphasized the importance of this breakthrough: "While the physical process of two black holes interacting and scattering via gravity we're studying is conceptually simple the level of mathematical and computational precision required is immense."

The appearance of Calabi-Yau geometries in this context has profound implications, potentially transforming the field of gravitational wave astronomy. Benjamin Sauer, a PhD candidate at Humboldt University of Berlin, noted, "The appearance of Calabi-Yau geometries deepens our understanding of the interplay between mathematics and physics. These insights will shape the future of gravitational wave astronomy by improving the templates we use to interpret observational data."

This precision is particularly significant for capturing signals from elliptic bound systems, where the gravitational dynamics more closely resemble high-speed scattering events, pushing beyond the slow-motion assumptions typically applied to black hole interactions.

The project, which relied on over 300,000 core hours of high-performance computing at the Zuse Institute Berlin, underscores the critical role of computational physics in modern science. PhD candidate Mathias Driesse, who led the computational efforts, highlighted this importance, stating, "The swift availability of these computing resources was key to the success of the project."

This interdisciplinary effort also included experts like Dr Johann Usovitsch, developer of the KIRA software, and leading mathematical physicists like Dr Christoph Nega and Professor Albrecht Klemm, who contributed their specialized knowledge on Calabi-Yau manifolds.

Funding for the research was provided by Professor Plefka's ERC Advanced Grant GraWFTy, the RTG 2575 Rethinking Quantum Field Theory, and the Research Unit FOR 5582 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Additional support came from Dr Mogull's Royal Society University Research Fellowship, Gravitational Waves from Worldline Quantum Field Theory.

Research Report:Emergence of Calabi-Yau manifolds in high-precision black-hole scattering

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 15, 2025 - Quantum entanglement, a core principle that underpins emerging quantum technologies like secure communications, cloud quantum computing, and distributed sensing, is notoriously fragile. Environmental noise can degrade these entangled states, prompting researchers to seek ways to preserve their fidelity.

Scientists at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Microsoft have discovered a critical limit in this pursuit. Their study demonstrates that a universal approach to eliminating noise in entangled states is fundamentally unattainable.

"In quantum information, we often hope for a protocol that works in all scenarios - a kind of cure-all," said Asst. Prof. Tian Zhong, senior author of the study published in Physical Review Letters. "This result shows that when it comes to purifying entanglement, that's simply too good to be true."

Entanglement purification protocols (EPPs) are a primary tool for countering noise in entangled states. These protocols aim to combine multiple imperfect entangled pairs to yield fewer pairs with reduced noise. However, the research team confirmed that such a one-size-fits-all solution is not feasible, as the input states in these protocols are rarely identical in real-world scenarios. Entanglement states vary significantly depending on how they are generated, stored, and processed, making a universal approach impractical.

Graduate student Allen Zang from UChicago PME and Xinan Chen from UIUC, co-first authors of the paper, initially explored this question within commonly used EPPs. "We knew that existing input-independent protocols are not guaranteed to improve the fidelity of the entangled states," said Zang. "We wondered whether there was any possible protocol that can always guarantee improvements, a property we call universality."

Despite broadening their analysis to all theoretically possible purification methods allowed by quantum mechanics, the team found no evidence of a universal EPP that consistently enhances entanglement fidelity across diverse quantum systems.

"Importantly, we're not saying purification protocols don't work," said Eric Chitambar, Assoc. Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UIUC. "But no single method works in all cases."

This finding has significant implications for quantum communication networks, where entangled states must be generated, stored, and transmitted over long distances. Applying a purification protocol without precise knowledge of the entangled state can undermine performance.

Instead, the study advises focusing on tailoring error management strategies to the unique characteristics of each quantum system, potentially guiding future research toward more effective, context-specific solutions.

"This result tells us not to waste time searching for a protocol that doesn't exist, and instead put more emphasis on understanding the unique characteristics of specific quantum systems," said Martin Suchara, Director of Product Management at Microsoft, a co-author of the study.

The researchers plan to investigate whether nearly universal purification methods might be achievable under more restricted conditions, potentially offering a middle ground in the quest for robust quantum communication.

Research Report:No-Go Theorems for Universal Entanglement Purification

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 13, 2025 - The latest research from Radboud University scientists Heino Falcke, Michael Wondrak, and Walter van Suijlekom builds on their earlier work, revealing that the ultimate fate of the universe may arrive much sooner than previously believed, though still an unimaginable timescale away.

In their new study, the team estimates that the final decay of the universe, primarily driven by Hawking-like radiation, could occur in about 10^78 years. This marks a significant revision from past calculations that estimated white dwarf stars, some of the last remaining cosmic objects, would persist for 10^1100 years. "So the ultimate end of the universe comes much sooner than expected, but fortunately it still takes a very long time," noted lead author Heino Falcke.

This dramatic adjustment comes from a refined understanding of Hawking radiation, a process first proposed by physicist Stephen Hawking in 1975. Hawking theorized that black holes gradually decay as they emit tiny amounts of radiation, ultimately evaporating entirely over immense timescales. Falcke and his colleagues extended this principle to other dense objects like neutron stars, revealing that their evaporation is driven not just by mass but by density, resulting in surprising findings.

For instance, despite their extreme gravitational pull, black holes and neutron stars share a similar decay timeline of around 10^67 years, significantly shorter than prior estimates. This counterintuitive result arises from the fact that black holes, lacking a solid surface, can partially reabsorb their emitted radiation, slowing the process.

Extending their calculations for context, the researchers found that objects as small as the Moon or even a human would take approximately 10^90 years to evaporate via Hawking-like radiation, though other natural processes are likely to end their existence far sooner.

The team's ongoing work aims to bridge the gap between quantum mechanics and general relativity, potentially unlocking deeper insights into the fundamental nature of the universe. As co-author Walter van Suijlekom puts it, "By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory, and perhaps one day, we unravel the mystery of Hawking radiation."

Research Report:Ultimate end of the universe

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 13, 2025 - The afterglow of the universe, known as the cosmic microwave background (CMB), provides critical insights into the early cosmos and the formation of the first galaxies. However, researchers from the Universities of Bonn, Prague, and Nanjing have presented calculations suggesting that this radiation's strength may have been significantly overestimated. If validated, their findings could challenge the standard model of cosmology, potentially reshaping our understanding of the universe's origins.

The Big Bang, which occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago, marked the origin of the universe. In the first 380,000 years, the cosmos rapidly expanded and cooled, allowing protons and electrons to combine into neutral hydrogen atoms. This event, known as recombination, enabled light to travel freely for the first time, forming the CMB.

However, recent studies indicate that part of this radiation may not be as ancient as previously thought. According to Prof. Dr. Pavel Kroupa from the Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics at the University of Bonn and Charles University in Prague, some of the CMB might actually originate from intense star formation in early elliptical galaxies. "Our calculations indicate that some of the cosmic background radiation actually originates from the formation of the elliptical galaxies," says Kroupa. "This accounts for at least 1.4 percent of the radiation but could even account for all of it."

Elliptical galaxies, among the first to form after the Big Bang, condensed vast amounts of gas into hundreds of billions of stars within a relatively short time. Dr. Eda Gjergo of the University of Nanjing emphasized that this early "star fire" would have been exceptionally luminous, potentially contributing significantly to the CMB. If this contribution is confirmed, it could cast doubt on decades of cosmological measurements that rely on the CMB's presumed uniformity.

Researchers have long interpreted subtle variations in the CMB as evidence of slight density fluctuations in the early universe, which allowed gas to collapse into galaxies. However, if even a small portion of this radiation comes from a more recent source, the reliability of these measurements could be called into question. "It might be necessary to rewrite the history of the universe, at least in part," added Kroupa.

Research Report:The Impact of Early Massive Galaxy Formation on the Cosmic Microwave Background

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 12, 2025 - An international team of physicists working on the NA61/SHINE experiment has discovered a striking violation of a fundamental quark-level symmetry known as flavor symmetry during high-energy nuclear collisions. This unexpected observation, made in collisions of argon and scandium atomic nuclei, challenges long-held assumptions about the behavior of quarks under extreme conditions and may hint at new physics beyond the Standard Model.

The research, led in part by scientists from the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN) in Cracow, was recently published in the journal Nature Communications. The findings reveal a significant deviation from theoretical predictions, suggesting that current models of high-energy nuclear interactions might need substantial revisions.

The concept of flavor symmetry arises from the similarity in mass between the two lightest quarks - up and down quarks - which are the primary building blocks of protons and neutrons. In principle, collisions involving particles composed of these quarks should produce secondary particles with roughly equal probability, reflecting this approximate symmetry. However, the latest results from the NA61/SHINE experiment indicate a substantial imbalance.

"Our measurements show a statistically significant overproduction of charged kaons, reaching as high as 18%, compared to previous theoretical expectations, which usually assume discrepancies no greater than 3% in this energy range," said Prof. Andrzej Rybicki of IFJ PAN. "This finding suggests that something fundamental is missing in our understanding of these high-energy processes."

The study focused on the production of kaons - particles made of quark-antiquark pairs - in collisions between argon and scandium nuclei. Initially, the team expected that measurements of neutral kaons would simply confirm the flavor symmetry assumption. Instead, they found a pronounced imbalance, with far more up quarks emerging than anticipated, despite the initial neutron-heavy makeup of the colliding nuclei.

"Given that argon has 18 protons and 22 neutrons, while scandium has three more neutrons than protons, the pre-collision environment contained more down quarks than up quarks," explained Prof. Katarzyna Grebieszkow from the Warsaw University of Technology. "Yet, our data clearly indicate an excess of up quarks in the aftermath of these collisions - a direct violation of flavor symmetry."

The implications of this discovery are potentially far-reaching. It could signify that current quantum chromodynamics (QCD) models, which describe the strong nuclear force binding quarks, have overlooked a critical aspect of these interactions, or it might point to a fundamentally new aspect of particle physics.

"This anomaly may even extend beyond the Standard Model, hinting at new physics," added Prof. Rybicki. "It forces us to reconsider many long-standing assumptions in nuclear physics and could reshape our understanding of the strong force."

Looking ahead, the NA61/SHINE collaboration plans to expand their studies to include collisions where the initial conditions are more symmetrical, such as those involving pi+ and pi- mesons with carbon nuclei. Future experiments with heavier systems, including oxygen-oxygen and magnesium-magnesium collisions, are also planned, though the latter must wait for the completion of a major upgrade to the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) over the next three years.

Research Report:Evidence of isospin-symmetry violation in high-energy collisions of atomic nuclei

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 12, 2025 - A team of researchers from Griffith University has introduced a new technique that significantly simplifies the use of high-dimensional quantum information encoded in light, potentially advancing next-generation quantum technologies.

This breakthrough, detailed in the journal Physical Review Letters, leverages a quantum effect known as Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference to streamline the detection and measurement of quantum data encoded in the precise timing of single photons. Unlike traditional methods, this approach avoids the complexity and instability that have previously hindered practical applications of such systems.

HOM interference occurs when two identical photons meet at a beam splitter, causing them to exhibit unique quantum behaviors. Dr. Simon White and Dr. Emanuele Polino from the Quantum Optics and Information Laboratory (QOIL) within Griffith's Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Research Institute (QUATRI) led the research effort.

"Think of it as the universe's version of an awkward handshake that actually achieves something useful," explained Dr. White. This method offers a simpler, more robust way to measure time-bin quantum encoded information, which is a highly promising method for secure quantum communication.

Time-bin encoding involves storing information in the precise arrival time of photons, making them ideal carriers of quantum data. This technique significantly reduces the need for complex detector setups, as the interference pattern itself is sufficient to decode the quantum message.

The team further enhanced their approach by integrating a quantum walk method, a process that describes the movement of single photons along various temporal paths. This combination allows for the generation and measurement of high-dimensional quantum states known as qudits, which can represent more than the binary 0 and 1 states of classical bits or the superposition states of qubits.

"Through optical experiments, our team demonstrated the reliability of both the state generation and measurement techniques, achieving an impressive fidelity of over 99%," noted Dr. Polino.

Additionally, the researchers demonstrated that their protocol could generate quantum entanglement, a crucial quantum property where the states of particles remain strongly correlated even over large distances. This capability is essential for the future of secure quantum communications.

"Sending secure quantum signals is a difficult task, but encoding using time-based qudits makes that task easier and more robust," Dr. White added.

"This breakthrough moves us closer to scalable quantum technologies, providing a clearer understanding of the foundational properties of quantum particles and opening new possibilities for secure communication, advanced quantum simulation, and real-world quantum applications," he concluded.

Research Report:Robust Approach for Time-Bin-Encoded Photonic Quantum Information Protocols

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Berlin, Germany (SPX) May 07, 2025 - High-precision atomic mass measurements at the University of Jyvaskyla's Accelerator Laboratory have revealed that the beta decay of the silver-110 isomer could play a critical role in determining the mass of the elusive electron antineutrino. This breakthrough marks a significant step toward unlocking one of the major mysteries of particle physics.

Neutrinos, including their antimatter counterparts, antineutrinos, are elementary particles within the Standard Model of particle physics, known for their extremely small but uncertain mass. Understanding their mass is a key objective in modern physics, as it provides crucial insights into the evolution of the universe. Trillions of neutrinos pass through the human body every second, generated by nuclear reactions in stars like the Sun.

"Their mass determination would be of utmost importance," explained Professor Anu Kankainen from the University of Jyvaskyla. "Understanding them can give us a better picture of the evolution of the universe."

Electron antineutrinos can be produced through nuclear beta decay, a weak interaction process where a neutron-rich nucleus transforms into a proton-rich one, emitting an electron and an antineutrino. The energy released in this process, known as the decay Q value, is determined by the mass difference between the parent nucleus and the resulting decay products. This Q value is critical for assessing the antineutrino mass.

"Since the electron antineutrino mass is estimated to be at least five orders of magnitude smaller than the electron mass, it is very challenging to observe its impact on beta decay," said doctoral researcher Jouni Ruotsalainen from the University of Jyvaskyla. "Low-Q-value beta decays, which release very little energy, are particularly promising for such measurements."

The researchers focused on the beta decay of the silver-110 isomer, a long-lived excited state of the silver-110 isotope with a half-life of approximately 250 days. This isomer decays primarily to the excited states of cadmium-110, offering a potentially promising candidate for precise antineutrino mass measurements.

By using the JYFLTRAP Penning trap mass spectrometer, the team precisely measured the mass difference between the stable silver-109 and cadmium-110 isotopes, reducing the uncertainty of the decay Q value. "It was quite easy to produce the stable silver and cadmium ions with our electric discharge ion sources and measure their mass difference using the phase-imaging ion cyclotron resonance technique," Ruotsalainen noted. "The resulting Q value, 405(135) eV, is positive and the lowest for any known allowed beta decay transition, making it a particularly exciting discovery."

Theoretical calculations supported the experimental findings, revealing that roughly three out of every million decays from the silver-110 isomer follow this rare, low-energy pathway. Despite the small fraction, this pathway is significant given the long half-life of the isomer, providing ample opportunity for detailed experimental study.

"This is certainly a case to be studied in more detail," added Kankainen. "Our collaboration with local theorists also highlighted a few additional isomeric beta decays worth investigating for neutrino physics. It is exciting to see that even near-stable isotopes can still provide impactful insights."

Research Report:Value for the Allowed Decay of 110 Ag Confirmed via Mass Measurements

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Paris, France (SPX) May 06, 2025 - Physicists continue to grapple with the elusive singularities believed to reside at the cores of black holes, a concept long regarded as signaling the breakdown of known physical laws. Stefano Liberati, director of IFPU, invokes the Latin phrase "Hic sunt leones" to describe this uncharted territory. The phrase historically marked unexplored regions on maps-an apt metaphor for the unknown physics within black holes.

The origin of this mystery dates back to Einstein's general relativity, published in 1915. Just a year later, Karl Schwarzschild solved Einstein's equations, predicting compact objects now known as black holes. These entities, with gravity so intense that even light cannot escape, have fascinated scientists for over a century. Yet, the predicted singularity-a point of infinite density-poses a profound challenge, suggesting that general relativity breaks down under extreme conditions.

Despite accumulating observational evidence, including gravitational wave detections and Event Horizon Telescope images, the singularity remains unresolved. These observations illuminate only the exterior features of black holes, leaving their inner workings in the shadows.

Seeking a resolution, researchers are turning to quantum gravity theories. These propose models where quantum effects prevent the formation of singularities. A recent paper born from discussions at an IFPU workshop highlights such efforts. Unlike traditional review articles, the paper reflects the synthesis of views from a diverse group of theorists and phenomenologists. "It emerged from a set of discussions... which roughly correspond to the structure of the article itself," says Liberati. He notes that some participants shifted their perspectives through these exchanges.

The workshop examined three main models: classical black holes with singularities and event horizons, regular black holes that eliminate the singularity but retain the horizon, and black hole mimickers lacking both. The paper explores how these structures might arise, transform, and how future observations might distinguish them.

Although existing data reveal little about black hole interiors, differences in the external behavior of mimickers or regular black holes could offer indirect evidence. "Regular black holes, and especially mimickers, are never exactly identical to standard black holes... even outside the horizon," explains Liberati. Upcoming high-resolution imaging and gravitational wave measurements may detect subtle anomalies linked to alternative models.

Thermal emissions from horizonless mimickers, variations in photon ring structures, and deviations in gravitational waveforms all offer promising avenues. The challenge lies in predicting what signatures to look for and how they might manifest. Advances in theory and simulation are expected to guide this effort, shaping the design of new observational tools.

Ultimately, this research could forge a crucial link between general relativity and quantum mechanics. As Liberati puts it, "We are entering an era where a vast and unexplored landscape is opening up before us."

Research Report:Towards a Non-singular Paradigm of Black Hole Physics

]]> Fri, 23 MAY 2025 02:09:41 AEST Subscribe to our daily selection of space, military, environment and energy newsletters responseText http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=0016gbbKsaiGSpQFojVO8ZoHw%3D%3D