A supercurrent can flow through a weak link—such as a thin insulating barrier, nanowire or molecule—between two superconductors. This famous effect, for which B. Josephson received the Nobel Prize in 1972, has had a great impact on both fundamental and applied science.
23 September 2016
Nature has developed photosynthesis to power life. Quantum coherences have been observed in the energy transfer of photosynthetic complexes, even at room temperature, hinting to a role of deep physics in natural light harvesting. Does nature exploit quantum concepts?
25 April 2016
Topological insulators are a novel class of materials that exhibit a novel state of matter - while the inside (bulk) of the materials are electrical insulating, their surface is metallic. This effect occurs because the band structure of the materials is topologically different (in a mathematical sense) from the outside world.
Among the many exotic properties of topological superconductors, the prediction that they can host Majoranas stands out both for its fundamental interest and for possible applications in topological quantum computing.
09 October 2015
In his famous novel "Flatland" published in 1884, the English writer Edwin Abbott imagined a social life in a two-dimensional world. With a very original use of geometrical notions, E. Abbott produced a unique satire of his own society.