Particle

China already has one of the most advanced observatories on the planet to hunt the most elusive particle that exists

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Neutrinos are The most elusive particles of nature. They were first described from a theoretical point of view in 1930 by Austrian physicist Wolfgang Ernst Pauli, one of the parents of Quantum physics (We owe, among other contributions, known as exclusion principle). However, its experimental discovery took place two and a half decades later, in 1956. We owe it to American physicists Frederick Reines and Clyde Cowan. There is a forceful reason that explains why these particles are so difficult to detect: They barely interact with ordinary matter. In addition, its mass is very tiny, its electric charge is neutral and are not influenced by strong nuclear interaction or electromagnetic force, although due to gravity and weak nuclear interaction. There is no doubt that they are very special particles. Scientists often illustrate how difficult it is to capture a neutrino explaining that every second trillion of these particles go through both the earth and us without colliding with any other particle. You can also illustrate how elusive that they are using quantum mechanics, which ensures that it would be necessary to manufacture a lead plate with a light year thickness to ensure that half of the neutrinos that go through it collide with the particles of the lead block. The Jiangmen Observatory is ready to hunt neutrinos Despite how elusive neutrinos are, we have several observatories that are able to detect them. One of them is The Japanese Super-Kamiokande. This installation is located in Hida, a city located in the central area of ​​Honshu, the largest island in the Japanese archipelago. It is built in a mine, 1 km deep, and measures 40 meters high and another 40 meters wide, which gives a volume similar to that of a fifteen floors building. However, the authentic protagonist of this article is the Underground Observatory of Neutrinos of Jiangmen, which is housed in the Chinese province of Guangdong. Like the Super-Kamiokande Japanese, Juno, which is how this Chinese observatory is known for its English denomination (Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory), It is a real monster. His heart is a cylindrical pool 44 meters deep that is housed in an underground chamber with granite walls. The neutrin detector consists of a 41.1 meters in diameter stainless steel mesh that supports an acrylic sphere of 35.4 meters in diameter The neutrin detector consists of a 41.1 meters in diameter stainless steel mesh that supports an acrylic sphere of 35.4 meters in diameter. This container is full of a very exotic liquid expressly designed to interact with neutrinos and produce a light of light that can be detected. Juno contains no less than 20,000 tons of this liquid, which allows him to erect himself as the largest neutrin detector on the planet. The composition of this fluid seeks to maximize the amount of light generated by the interaction of each neutrino. Its three fundamental components are linear alkyl benzene, which acts as a solvent; 2,5-difeniloxazole, which is the molecule that is excited when a neutrino interacts with herwhich causes the emission of a flash of light; And, finally, 1.4-bis (2-methylstiril) benzene, which absorbs the ultraviolet light that emits 2.5-difeniloxazole and re-enters it with a longer wavelength that is easier to detect. The flashes of light are collected by 45,000 photomultiplier tubes that cover the inner surface of the sphere. By measuring the intensity, position and duration of these flashes, scientists can reconstruct the trajectory and energy of each neutrino. And all this for what? Wang Yifang explains it to usJuno spokesman: “This observatory will allow scientists to address fundamental questions about the nature of matter and the universe.” Neither more nor less. Image | Generated by Xataka with Google Gemini More information | Digital Diario In Xataka | The future circular collider of CERN will cost 20,000 million euros. Can leave us cheap

Physicists believed that the neglect was a useless particle. Now they suspect that it is the key to universal quantum computers

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Experts Quantum computing with those who have had the opportunity to speak, such as Spanish physicists Ignacio Cirac either Juan José García RipollThey argue that quantum computers will be able to make great contributions when they are capable of amend your own mistakes. The main problem they face in this area is noise, understood as the disturbances that can alter the internal state of the cubits and introduce calculation errors. The strategy for which many of the research groups that are involved in the development of quantum computers are opting for monitoring the operations carried out by the cubits to identify real -time errors and correct them. The problem is that from a practical point of view This strategy is very challenging. Logical cubits represent a way to overcome the difficulty involved in the use of hardware or physical cubits, which are extremely noise sensitive, and, therefore, prone to make mistakes. Each logical cubit is constructed abstractly on several physical or hardware cubits, so that a single logical cubit encodes a single cubit of quantum information, but with redundancy. It is precisely this redundancy that allows to detect and correct the errors that are present in the physical cubits. Anyway, the researchers will have one more tool to deal with the errors of quantum computers. It can even be the most powerful resource that they currently have at your fingertips: the Neglectón. Universal quantum computers are one step closer One of the most promising research fields in this area is topological quantum computing. Its purpose is to protect the delicate quantum information that the cubits work coding it in the geometric properties of exotic particles known as ISING anions. An important note before moving forward: in condensed physics an anion is not the same as in chemistry. In fact, Ising’s anions are quasiparticles that, in theory, arise in some two -dimensional materials. Its existence has not yet been demonstrated experimentally, so they are a theoretical result at the moment. It seems a complicated concept, and it is, but in this article we do not need to deepen much more. What we do need is that Ising’s anions They are presumably much more robustand, therefore, resistant to errors that traditional cubits. In practice this implies that moving some anions around others in a specific way should allow researchers to carry out logical operations with them. This is the reason why they are so attractive in quantum computing. And, in addition, they have another great advantage: this configuration is largely immune to external noise. Ising’s anions are quasiparticles that, in theory, arise in some two -dimensional materials Currently, Ising’s anions are thoroughly investigating in the condensed matter laboratories of the entire planet because they are one of the main candidates to participate in the construction of universal quantum computers, and, therefore, immune to errors. Aaron Lauda, ​​professor of mathematics, physics and astronomy at the University of Southern California (USA), Holds the following: “By themselves, Ising’s anions cannot perform all the necessary operations for a general purpose quantum computer. The calculations they support are based on the ‘braided’ (branding), And they require physically moving anions around each other To carry out quantum logic. For Ising’s anions, this braided only allows a limited set of operations known as Clifford doors, which fall short with respect to all the power required for universal quantum computing. “ Fortunately, the research team led by Lauda has found a way to transform ISING anions into universal structures that are capable of performing any quantum calculation through braided. Its solution for the moment is only theoretical, but its potential is enormous. The surprising thing is that what they propose is to resort to a new type of anion known as Neglectón that was initially discarded when it was “discovered” in the theoretical framework. In fact, Neglelectón has gone from being a mathematical waste to be the new hope of quantum computers. In theory when combining Ising’s anions and neglect, universal quantum computing will be possible through braided. According to Aaron Lauda Only one neglect is needed because it remains in the stationary or static state while the calculations are carried out by braiding Ising anions around them. It is a surprising conclusion. One last note to conclude: The neglect is not a fundamental particlesuch as the electron or the quark; It is a theoretical quasiparticle that arises from the collective behavior of many other particles in a two -dimensional system. Let us trust that it is consolidated as the definitive tool that will allow researchers to carry quantum computing from theory to practice in a robust and efficient way. Image | IBM More information | Science Daily In Xataka | Bitcoin encryption and other cryptocurrencies will fall. And those responsible will be quantum computers

The Granada particle accelerator is born today. Thanks to him Spain has the key to nuclear fusion

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Today is a crucial day for IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion materials irradicion facility demo-eraned neutron source). This very important scientific project is closely linked to ITER (International Thermonuclear Experctor reactor), The experimental reactor of nuclear fusion that An international consortium led by Europe He is building in the French town of Cadarache. Ifmif-Dones, however, resides in listening to, a town in the province of Granada. The construction works of this last installation began in mid -September 2022, but today it is a very important day for both Granada and all of Spain. And it is because the Council of Ministers will approve today the investment of almost 200 million euros required by the start of the construction of the IFMIF-DONES linear particle accelerator. This machine is the authentic heart of this scientific installation, and, therefore, the ingenuity that will place Spain in The nuclear fusion map. The tuning of this linear particle accelerator will cost approximately 450 million euros, although the Andalusian Board will contribute half of this money. However, this is the cost of the accelerator; The IFMIF-Dones project will completely cost about 700 million euros. Spain will contribute half of this capital. To this figure we must add another 50 million to carry out its implementation. In addition, the operation of this avant -garde research center will have an annual cost of about 60 million euros, of which Spain will assume 10%. It may seem a lot of money, but we must not forget that those responsible for the project are convinced that The economic and scientific return Ifmif-Dones will far exceed your cost. What is Ifmif-Dones and why it is crucial for the future of nuclear fusion Ifmif-Dones is one of the three fundamental pillars of the nuclear fusion building in whose construction the European Union is involved. The other two are iter and demo. The experimental nuclear fusion reactor that is currently being built in the French town of Cadarache seeks to demonstrate that the merger at the scale that man can handle works, and also that it is profitable from an energy point of view. However, Iter does not aspire to produce electricity. That will be demo’s task (Demonstration Power Plant), an installation that will take the technological advances that will have shown to function correctly in Iter and take them one step further to establish themselves as The authentic precursor of commercial nuclear fusion reactors. However, without Ifmif-Dones there will be no demo, so Granada is now the center of attention. The fusion of a deuterium core and another tritium triggers the production of a helium core and a neutron that is fired with an energy of about 14 MEV To understand in all its extension what is the role of the IFMIF-DONES project, it is necessary that we briefly review the foundations of nuclear fusion. One of the biggest challenges facing the technicians who are involved in the tuning of nuclear fusion reactors by means of magnetic confinement, such as Iter, consists of recreating inside the vacuum chamber of these sophisticated machines the necessary conditions so that the deuterium and tritium nuclei are merged. However, this is not everything. When this reaction takes place the fusion of a deuterium nucleus and another of tritium triggers the production of a helium core and a neutron that is fired with An energy of about 14 MEV (Megaelectronvolts). The problem is that the neutron lacks net electric charge, so it cannot be confined inside the magnetic field that, however, does retain the deuterium and tritium nuclei, which have positive electric charge. This is the reason why when it originates as a result of the nuclear fusion reaction, this neutron is fired towards the walls of the vacuum chamber with enormous energy. This particle is very important because in practice it will be closely linked to the production of electrical energy in nuclear fusion reactors, but, at the same time, it represents a very aggressive form of radiation that can significantly degrade the materials used in the reactor. The components that will be most affected by the direct impact of high energy neutrons and the most intense heat flow are the internal wall of the vacuum chamber and the Blanketthat it is a mantle that covers it and that has as its purpose Regenerate the tritium that it is necessary to use as fuel in the nuclear fusion reaction. This is the reason why it is crucial to develop new materials that are able to support the flow of neutrons and guarantee, therefore, that the reactor will have a prolonged operational life. IFMIF-DONES linear accelerator will produce high energy neutrons with the intensity and volume of irradiation necessary to test candidate materials This is, neither more nor less, the purpose of Ifmif-Dones. And to carry it out it is necessary to put ready -to -set facilities to allow the technicians involved in the project to evaluate the properties of candidate materials to intervene not only in demo, but also in future commercial nuclear fusion commercial reactors. The task of this project invites us to intuit what the heart of Ifmif-Dones is: a source capable of producing high energy neutrons with the intensity and volume of irradiation necessary for Test candidate materials. And this source of neutrons will be nothing other than a linear particle accelerator that will help IFMIF-DONES scientists to try, validate and qualify the materials that in the medium term should reach future electric power production plants through fusion. Image | IFMIF-DONES In Xataka | Iter has faced one of the great challenges of nuclear fusion: prevent plasma from 150 million ºC to destroy the reactor

Particle accelerators to make chips

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The photolithography equipment that designs and produces The Dutch Company ASML They are extraordinarily complex. These integrated circuit manufacturing machines have many sophisticated components, but one of the most advanced is, without a doubt, The ultraviolet light source. Its purpose is to generate extreme ultraviolet radiation (UVE) necessary to transport the geometric pattern that contains the design of the chips to the silicon wafer. Very broadly, this light source generates UVE radiation using high power lasers capable of instantly heating tens of thousands of tiny tin drops in a single second until they reach a temperature of half a million Celsius degrees. This interaction produces an extremely hot plasma that emits ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 13.5 nm. It looks like a relatively simple strategy, But it is not at all. In fact, the UVE source is one of ASML’s disruptive components. Pat Gelsinger has joined the Xlight team Interestingly, to manufacture avant -garde semiconductors using integration technology less than 7 Nm it is not essential to use an ultraviolet light source like the one I just described. You can also opt for other approaches. The UVE lithography machine prototype that, according to leaks, He is testing Huawei In its Dongguan Laboratory (China), it uses an LDP type ultraviolet light source (laser induced discharge), and not LPP class (plasma generated by laser) like the one used by ASML. Another option requires using a syncrotron -type particle accelerator to generate ultraviolet radiation. This is the path that is following the Chinese Academy of Sciences in The installation that is putting up in Beijing (China). Your heps (High Energy Photon Source or source of high -energy photons) has been designed for Deliver High Power UVE Light simultaneously to several integrated circuit manufacturing plants. However, this is not all. There is at least another option that is also being explored to generate the UVE light. Your plan consists in replacing the ultraviolet light source that ASML uses with a free electrons laser It is precisely the strategy for which the American company Xlight, to which Pat Gelsinger has just addedthe former director general of Intel, as executive president and the Organization for high energy physics with accelerators of Tsukuba (Japan). Of course, each of these organizations works on their own. Whatever your plan consists of replacing the ultraviolet light source that uses ASML with a free or fel electron laser for its English denomination (Free-electron laser) as those used in particle accelerators. In fact, in their tests they are using a fel laser generated by a linear accelerator of energy recovery. In theory the radiation delivered by a Fel laser allows to manufacture integrated circuits with a resolution comparable to that of an ultraviolet light source. A priori sounds good, but it seems reasonable to accept that a fel laser linked to a particle accelerator is not exactly cheap. The reason why some technicians prefer this option to which ASML uses is that a single linear accelerator of energy recovery is able to simultaneously feed several lithography machines. In addition, according to Xlight its Fel laser is designed to feed the next generation of ASML photolithography equipment. In fact, in theory it is four times more powerful than the light source used by this Dutch company in its most advanced machines. According to Gelsinger Xlight technology allows the price to be reduced by wafer by 50% and will achieve a higher wafer performance than current solutions. It sounds good, but we will have to wait until 2028 to know if this proposal is really up to expectations. That year Xlight and ASML hope to try their first Fel laser prototype with a lithography team. Image | Xight More information | Xight In Xataka | TSMC acknowledges that it has been considered taking its factories out of Taiwan. It is impossible for a good reason

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