The NIF team reported that on December 5, 2022, 2.05 MJ of laser light produced 3.1 MJ of fusion yield, a target gain of 1.5 and the first lab demonstration of exceeding scientific breakeven.
As reported in: Abu-Shawareb, Acree, Adams et al. (2024). Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.065102
Meurisse and colleagues tested sintered lunar regolith simulant for shielding against neutron radiation.
As reported in: Meurisse, Cazzaniga, Frost et al. (2020). Neutron radiation shielding with sintered lunar regolith. Radiation Measurements. doi:10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106247
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Narici and colleagues measured how Kevlar and polyethylene shielding performed aboard the International Space Station.
As reported in: Narici, Casolino, Di Fino et al. (2017). Performances of Kevlar and Polyethylene as radiation shielding on-board the International Space Station in high latitude radiation environment. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01707-2
Marzo and colleagues drove an ultrasonic phased array to levitate, move and rotate particles from one side, creating acoustic tweezers, twisters and bottles.
As reported in: Marzo, Seah, Drinkwater et al. (2015). Holographic acoustic elements for manipulation of levitated objects. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/ncomms9661
Hensen and colleagues violated a Bell inequality with electron spins 1.3 km apart, without the extra assumptions earlier tests needed.
As reported in: Hensen, Bernien, Dréau et al. (2015). Loophole-free Bell inequality violation using electron spins separated by 1.3 kilometres. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature15759
ATLAS reported a new particle in the search for the Standard Model Higgs boson at the LHC.
As reported in: Aad, Abajyan, Abbott et al. (2012). Observation of a new particle in the search for the Standard Model Higgs boson with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Physics Letters B. doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2012.08.020
CMS observed a new boson at a mass of about 125 GeV.
As reported in: Chatrchyan, Khachatryan, Sirunyan et al. (2012). Observation of a new boson at a mass of 125 GeV with the CMS experiment at the LHC. Physics Letters B. doi:10.1016/j.physletb.2012.08.021
Tonouchi reviewed terahertz technology.
As reported in: Tonouchi (2007). Cutting-edge terahertz technology. Nature Photonics. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.3
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Bilderback and colleagues reviewed third- and next-generation synchrotron light sources and X-ray free-electron lasers.
As reported in: Bilderback, Elleaume, Weckert (2005). Review of third and next generation synchrotron light sources. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. doi:10.1088/0953-4075/38/9/022
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Tsou and colleagues described the Stardust mission plan to catch comet and interstellar dust in aerogel.
Built / tested: Stardust aerogel collector
As reported in: Tsou, Brownlee, Sandford et al. (2003). Wild 2 and interstellar sample collection and Earth return. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. doi:10.1029/2003JE002109
Aymar and colleagues described the redesigned ITER tokamak, intended to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy at about half the earlier cost target.
As reported in: Aymar, Barabaschi, Shimomura (2002). The ITER design. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. doi:10.1088/0741-3335/44/5/304
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Ferguson and Zhang reviewed terahertz spectroscopy and imaging for characterizing materials including semiconductors and biomolecules.
As reported in: Ferguson, Zhang (2002). Materials for terahertz science and technology. Nature Materials. doi:10.1038/nmat708
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Hales proved that any partition of the plane into equal-area regions has perimeter at least that of the regular hexagonal honeycomb.
As reported in: Hales (2001). The Honeycomb Conjecture. Discrete & Computational Geometry. doi:10.1007/s004540010071
Cloetens and colleagues combined synchrotron X-ray phase images taken at several distances to map 3D density at micrometer resolution.
As reported in: Cloetens, Ludwig, Baruchel et al. (1999). Holotomography: Quantitative phase tomography with micrometer resolution using hard synchrotron radiation x rays. Applied Physics Letters. doi:10.1063/1.125225
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The Super-Kamiokande collaboration found a zenith-angle-dependent deficit of atmospheric muon neutrinos, evidence for neutrino oscillation.
As reported in: Fukuda, Hayakawa, Ichihara et al. (1998). Evidence for Oscillation of Atmospheric Neutrinos. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.1562
Martínez-Sala and colleagues measured sound attenuation by a periodic sculpture.
As reported in: Martínez-Sala, Sancho, Sánchez et al. (1995). Sound attenuation by sculpture. Nature. doi:10.1038/378241a0
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Douady and Couder reproduced Fibonacci phyllotaxis patterns in a physics experiment and simulation, arising from self-organization that converges toward the golden mean.
As reported in: Douady, Couder (1992). Phyllotaxis as a physical self-organized growth process. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.68.2098
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Tonomura and colleagues filmed an interference pattern building up one electron at a time in a two-slit-type experiment, demonstrating wave–particle duality.
As reported in: Tonomura, Endo, Matsuda et al. (1989). Demonstration of single-electron buildup of an interference pattern. American Journal of Physics. doi:10.1119/1.16104
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Ashkin and colleagues demonstrated the first single-beam optical trap, holding particles from 10 µm down to about 25 nm in water.
As reported in: Ashkin, Dziedzic, Bjorkholm et al. (1986). Observation of a single-beam gradient force optical trap for dielectric particles. Optics Letters. doi:10.1364/OL.11.000288
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Chu and colleagues confined and cooled sodium atoms to about 240 µK using counter-propagating laser beams ("optical molasses").
As reported in: Chu, Hollberg, Bjorkholm et al. (1985). Three-dimensional viscous confinement and cooling of atoms by resonance radiation pressure. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.55.48
Strickland and Mourou introduced compression of amplified chirped optical pulses.
As reported in: Strickland, Mourou (1985). Compression of amplified chirped optical pulses. Optics Communications. doi:10.1016/0030-4018(85)90120-8
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Aspect, Dalibard and Roger measured photon polarization correlations with fast-switching analyzers; results agreed with quantum mechanics and violated Bell's inequalities.
As reported in: Aspect, Dalibard, Roger (1982). Experimental Test of Bell's Inequalities Using Time- Varying Analyzers. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.49.1804
Bloom and colleagues measured high-energy inelastic electron–proton scattering at SLAC (7–17 GeV).
As reported in: Bloom, Coward, DeStaebler et al. (1969). High-Energy Inelastic e − p Scattering at 6° and 10°. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.23.930
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Shockley and Queisser calculated the detailed-balance limit for p-n junction solar cells, a maximum of about 30% for a 1.1 eV band gap.
As reported in: Shockley, Queisser (1961). Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p-n Junction Solar Cells. Journal of Applied Physics. doi:10.1063/1.1736034
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Maiman reported stimulated optical radiation in ruby.
As reported in: MAIMAN (1960). Stimulated Optical Radiation in Ruby. Nature. doi:10.1038/187493a0
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Measured the elastic and piezoelectric constants of alpha-quartz.
As reported in: Bechmann (1958). Elastic and Piezoelectric Constants of Alpha-Quartz. Physical Review. doi:10.1103/physrev.110.1060
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Cowan, Reines and colleagues reported detection of the free neutrino.
As reported in: Cowan, Reines, Harrison et al. (1956). Detection of the Free Neutrino: a Confirmation. Science. doi:10.1126/science.124.3212.103
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Anderson found 15 cosmic-ray tracks of positive particles far lighter than a proton, with charge probably equal to the proton's: the positron.
As reported in: Anderson (1933). The Positive Electron. Physical Review. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.43.491
Chadwick reported the possible existence of the neutron.
As reported in: Chadwick (1932). Possible Existence of a Neutron. Nature. doi:10.1038/129312a0
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Gamow's quantum theory of the atomic nucleus.
As reported in: Gamow (1928). Zur Quantentheorie des Atomkernes. Zeitschrift f�r Physik. doi:10.1007/BF01343196
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Davisson and Germer measured electron beams diffracted by a nickel crystal.
As reported in: Davisson, Germer (1927). Diffraction of Electrons by a Crystal of Nickel. Physical Review. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.30.705
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Millikan made a direct photoelectric determination of Planck's constant h.
As reported in: Millikan (1916). A Direct Photoelectric Determination of Planck's "h". Physical Review. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.7.355
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Rutherford analysed the scattering of alpha and beta particles by matter to deduce the structure of the atom.
As reported in: Rutherford (1911). LXXIX. The scattering of α and β particles by matter and the structure of the atom. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science. doi:10.1080/14786440508637080
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Geiger and Marsden observed a diffuse reflection of alpha particles from metal plates, an effect not previously seen for alpha particles.
As reported in: Gegier, Marsden (1909). On a diffuse reflection of the α-particles. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Containing Papers of a Mathematical and Physical Character. doi:10.1098/rspa.1909.0054
Einstein's 1905 paper proposing a heuristic viewpoint on the production and transformation of light (light quanta).
As reported in: Einstein (1905). Über einen die Erzeugung und Verwandlung des Lichtes betreffenden heuristischen Gesichtspunkt. Annalen der Physik. doi:10.1002/andp.19053220607
Thomson's 1897 paper on cathode rays.
As reported in: Thomson (1897). XL. Cathode Rays. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science. doi:10.1080/14786449708621070
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