Laboratory Science Highlights | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC)

Graphic showing the transverse motion of a quark (green sphere) inside a proton whose spin is aligned to its direction of motion (large yellow arrow).

Calculation Sharpens Imaging of Protons’ Insides

New theory-based approach gives access to quarks’ tiny transverse motion within protons.

Copper X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements of catalysts in action demonstrate light-driven oxidation of copper nanoparticles under photocatalytic operating conditions.

X-ray Measurements Reveal an Unexpected Role for Copper in Photocatalysts

Copper catalysts play an unexpected oxidizing role during unassisted photocatalysis when coupled with plasmonic light absorbers.

Depiction of the dynamic atomic and nanoscale evolution of a relaxor ferroelectric following photoexcitation. Light drives ultrafast reconfigurations of the domains and rotation of the ferroelectric polarization in a few trillionths of a second.

Light Makes Special Materials Move at Ultrafast Speeds

Ultrafast electron scattering measurements reveal dynamic reconfiguration of polarization in relaxor ferroelectrics by light.

A computer that uses electronic synapses made of terminals with a top electrode (TE), dielectric layer (DL), and bottom electrode (BE) can emulate the human brain. A neural network using these synapses shows improved image recognition in an MNIST test.

Emergent Device Boosts Neuromorphic Computing

Researchers open a new avenue for future brain-inspired computer hardware.

Robotic stacking of 2D material layers on a heated substrate while applying pressure pushes out residues such as polymers from between the layers, resulting in atomically clean interfaces between layers (Bottom inset: TEM cross section of the interface).

For Layered 2D Materials, Robotics Produces Cleaner Interfaces Between Stacked Sheets

Robotic stacking of 2D layers provides the atomically clean interfaces critical for high performance assembled materials.

Visualization of a 3D assembly of DNA-guided nanoparticles and frameworks (top). Multi-element template (teal) framework of tetrahedra (bottom). Zoomed-in portion shows iron (Fe), silica, platinum (Pt), and gold (Au).

“Seeing” More Sharply into Self-Assembled Nanomaterials

Researchers leveraged advanced X-ray imaging for a nondestructive way to peer inside complex 3D nanomaterials with record resolution.

Microscope image of one of the small fragments of asteroid 162173 Ryugu studied by scientists at the Advanced Photon Source. This fragment is roughly 400 microns in diameter, or about the width of six human hairs.

Illuminating the Journey of a 4-Billion-Year-Old Asteroid

By examining tiny fragments from one of our nearest cosmic neighbors, scientists uncovered more about the history of our solar system.

Researchers study neutron star crusts by simulating neutron matter then adding “hidden” neutrons to mediate interactions between “real” neutrons. Next, neural networks construct a quantum wave function of neutron matter’s normal and superfluid phases.

Probing Neutron Star Crusts with Artificial Neural Networks

Scientists find evidence of superfluidity in low-density neutron matter by using highly flexible neural-network representations of quantum wave functions.

Contour plot of electron temperature (left) and radial profiles of electron temperature (center) and ion temperature (right) across an island, with ion temperature showing a gradient observed experimen-tally (blue) and reproduced in simulations (red).

In a Fusion Device Plasma, a Steep Ion Temperature Gradient Slows the Growth of Magnetic Islands

The first measurement of ion temperature in magnetic islands identified a steep gradient, providing insights for improving plasma confinement in tokamaks.

A gas-phase X-Ray scattering experiment captures cyclopentadiene rapidly transforming into the strained bicyclo[2.1.0]pentene. This structure change is triggered by a pump pulse (blue) and detected through X-ray scattering (yellow).

Carbon Rings Under Stress

Ultrafast X-ray experiments provide direct evidence that interaction of light with a hydrocarbon molecule produces strained molecular rings.

A metallic line atop a medium biased at the edge of chaos can provide effective negative resistance for time-varying signals, outputting a larger signal compared to its input. The energy for amplification comes from the static bias applied to the medium.

The “Edge of Chaos” Amplifies Signals Without Transistors

Emulating the edge of chaos of axons enables a metal wire to overcome its resistance without cooling, thereby amplifying signals flowing inside of it.

3D-printed metal samples are about 4 inches wide. Printed and heat-treated samples are mounted on a pedestal and exposed to a neutron beam to analyze residual stresses, or irregularities such as cracks or voids, created during the manufacturing process.

Neutrons Help Improve 3D-Printed Superalloys for Applications in Extreme Environments

Neutron experiments revealed microscopic details about a special 3D-printed superalloy that could potentially reduce component costs.