search
quantum fields
Trends
- 1Do Quantum Fields' Energy Prove They Are Real?●Quantum fields carry energy. Does that prove that they’re real? In quantum physics, we often argue over "what is real?"
Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel argues that quantum fields have a stronger claim to physical reality than other contested concepts in quantum physics, such as the wavefunction or eigenstates, because they carry measurable energy. The piece revisits the long-running debate over what counts as 'real' in quantum theory, a question that divides interpretations of the theory and remains unsettled among physicists and philosophers of science.
- 2Scientists Push Superconductors Beyond Their Usual Current Limit●Scientists just pushed superconductors beyond their usual current limit
Researchers report that they have pushed superconductors past their usual current limit, a benchmark that has long constrained practical applications of the technology. The advance could matter for fields that rely on carrying large currents without resistance, such as magnets, power transmission and quantum devices. Details of the method and how broadly it can be applied remain to be seen as the work circulates among science readers.
- 3
Physicists report a tabletop experiment using ultracold atoms to simulate the creation of particles, mimicking processes normally associated with quantum fields in extreme environments such as the early universe. By controlling atoms cooled to near absolute zero, researchers can reproduce conditions where quantum fluctuations turn into real excitations. The work, published by the American Physical Society, offers a new way to test fundamental physics that is otherwise out of reach of direct experiments.