JPS Hot Topics

Moiré patterns form when two periodic structures overlay one another with a slight mismatch, such as a difference in lattice spacing or small twist angle. In two-dimensional (2D) materials, stacking two single layers with these mismatches creates a moiré pattern, introducing a new effective structure with a much larger periodicity than that of the original […]

We can realize a quantum limit in extremely strong magnetic fields, where all charge carriers in metals occupy only the lowest-energy quantum state. Further increases in the magnetic field suppress the kinetic degrees of freedom of the carriers and incorporate electron correlation effects. Understanding the types of quantum states emerging from strongly correlated three-dimensional materials […]

Among all the nuclides comprising protons and neutrons, 260 isotopes are stable. Based on mass models, 7000 to 10000 nuclides are predicted to exist; however, most of them are radioactive isotopes (RIs) with extremely short half-lives. To confirm their existence, they should be artificially produced and identified. Currently, approximately 3000 nuclides have been confirmed, which […]

Colloidal suspensions, in which particles ranging from tens of nanometers to a few microns are dispersed in a liquid, are the basis of many industrial applications, including paints, foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Their macroscopic dynamic behavior, especially under external flows or stresses, is strongly influenced by the microscopic motion of the suspended particles and the […]

Topology is a useful tool for understanding quantum entanglement in condensed matter physics. In particular, symmetry-protected topological phases, in which complex quantum entanglements can be classified by topological invariants, are attracting significant attention. When materials with pyrochlore lattice structures have competing interactions, unusual quantum effects emerge. Among the various interesting states, we focus on two […]

Chirality is the fundamental property of symmetry in nature that influences the physical properties of both inorganic and organic substances. Consequently, it has gained significant attention in materials science in the last decade. In magnetic chiral crystals, which lack both inversion and mirror symmetries, the effect of the antisymmetric Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DM) interaction leads to a […]

Nematics represent an orientational order in an otherwise isotropic material, and the two-fold nematic electronic state in iron-based superconductor FeSe has been investigated extensively. The superconducting state possesses a two-fold nematic order, with the superconducting gap described by a combination of two-component order parameters (Cooper-pair wave functions) comprising s- and d-waves. In the nematic electronic […]

Traffic congestion remains a challenge in urban environments, leading to increased travel time, fuel consumption, and environmental pollution. Traditional traffic signal control methods, such as fixed-cycle systems, fail to adapt to dynamic traffic conditions, causing inefficiencies. Recent advancements in quantum computing, particularly quantum annealing, have offered promising avenues for rapidly tackling complex optimization problems. This […]

Generative AI automatically creates text, images, and music, converting ideas into tangible outputs. It has become an essential tool for creativity and problem-solving, with applications expanding in everyday life, education, and work. Innovations such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Gemini have further boosted their popularity. Generative AI and machine learning technologies have seen explosive growth […]

Understanding the properties of thin films is crucial for their application in materials science, from gaining insights into physical phenomena at the nanoscale to advancing applied technologies. An effective method for analyzing these properties is X-ray diffraction (XRD), which provides detailed information about the crystal structures of materials.Among the features observed in the XRD patterns, […]