Simulations of quantum many-body problems are a challenge for even the most powerful conventional computers. Quantum computing has the potential to solve this challenge using an approach called an analog quantum simulation. To succeed, these simulations need theoretical approximations of how quantum computers represent many-body systems. In this research, nuclear physicists developed a new framework to analyze these approximations and minimize their effects.

A highly complex spectroscopic method for analysing the extremely fast movements of electrons in solids can now be used much more easily than before thanks to a new approach. A German-Italien research team presents the new method in the journal Optica. The researchers hope that this will transform multidimensional electronic spectroscopy from a method for experts to a tool that can be widely used.

Researchers used in situ pH measurements and in situ UV-Vis spectroscopy to investigate the kinetically controlled growth of Co(OH)₂. They discovered that Co polyhedra with unconventional coordination play a crucial role in the formation process of Co(OH)₂, reshaping our understanding of the formation process.

An international collaboration headed by researchers in the Department of Physics has shown that additive manufacturing offers a realistic way to build large-scale plastic scintillator detectors for particle physics experiments.

Conductive hydrogels from ionic liquids are widely used in soft electronics and solid electrolytes due to their high flexibility and conductivity. However, engineering such hydrogels with simultaneous biocompatibility, recyclability, excellent conductivity, stretchability, and toughness for different soft electronic applications remains challenging. This study presents a simple strategy to fabricate tough, biocompatible, and recyclable conductive hydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol PVA and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate for highly stretchable strain sensors and all-in-one supercapacitors. These hydrogels can also be recycled to make new strain sensors with consistent performance in terms of linear sensitivity, durability, and low hysteresis. This simple design concept opens up new avenues for the development of the next generation "green" wearable and implantable electronic devices.

An international team of researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Riga Technical University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and the MESA+ Institute at the University of Twente has discovered a new method to generate electricity using small plastic beads. By placing these beads close together and bringing them into contact, they generate more electricity than usual. This process, known as triboelectrification, is similar to the static electricity produced when rubbing a balloon against hair.