physicsworld--2020-11-25--ESTRO 2020 enables digital dialogue on radiation oncology - Physics World

The annual meeting of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology ( ESTRO ) , originally due to take place in April in Vienna , was one of the early casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Postponed once to August , the event organizers decided to further delay the meeting to the end of November in the hope of convening a reduced live congress along with enhanced online participation .
However , the resurgence of coronavirus in Europe has forced another rethink , and ESTRO 2020 will now be staged as a fully digital event .
The main online congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 December , with attendees able to access the scientific programme via a digital platform that includes Q & A and polling functionality to enable interaction with the speaker .
Several pre-congress sessions are also available online , including three short courses on a dedicated education platform , while all registered participants will be able to view all sessions on demand after the congress has finished .
The theme for this year ’ s event is “ Translating research and partnership into optimal health ” .
Meeting chair Umberto Ricardi from the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that technologies and methodologies in radiation oncology are evolving rapidly , but that these advances will “ only truly provide impact when the new findings can be translated into clinical applications that will result in optimal benefit for each individual patient in daily practice ” .
ESTRO 2020 will also host Europe ’ s largest industrial exhibition in radiation oncology .
This year a virtual exhibition will enable attendees to interact with industry leaders and to find more about the latest innovations in technology , techniques and oncology products – a few of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( QA ) plays a fundamental role in any radiotherapy procedure .
IBA Dosimetry is working to shape QA to advance patient safety in radiation therapy , proton therapy and medical imaging .
The company predicts that its latest innovations will bring the accuracy and efficiency of QA to a new level .
Future solutions , meanwhile , will significantly reduce QA times and further streamline the medical physics workload .
Independent QA is essential to ensure reliable , trustworthy and accurate QA , and has been assumed as a given in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly offer built-in “ self-check ” QA , the need for independent QA becomes imperative .
To raise awareness of this topic , IBA Dosimetry has teamed with radiotherapy QA equipment vendors worldwide to launch an “ Independent Quality Assurance ” initiative .
IBA Dosimetry also highlights the need for convergence of machine and patient QA .
Today , QA applications for validating the treatment machine and those for verifying the patient-specific plan generally have little or no connectivity .
Combining data from patient QA and machine QA will provide more precise outcomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are based on four strategic pillars – implementation of measurements , integration , smart automation and prediction of QA results – that help save valuable time of the medical physicist and provide higher accuracy and increased confidence .
IBA Dosimetry notes that while measurements will remain important for future QA , further integration , Monte Carlo-based predictive QA and automation will enable users to measure only where it really matters , leading to fewer measurements with better quality results .
Peer review of treatment plans is a powerful strategy in radiation oncology clinics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but time constraints in the daily routine can make it difficult to prepare and review patient cases in an optimal way .
MIM Harmony is a dedicated software platform that provides rapid and reproducible treatment plan review , allowing medical teams to focus their efforts on a deeper , critical evaluation of patient cases and to improve the quality of their treatment plans .
MIM Harmony allows clinicians to prepare patient cases automatically , saving valuable time and ensuring that all the necessary information is available at the review meeting .
Each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worklist that can be fully customized to suit the needs of each clinical team , offering a flexible but standardized approach to patient care .
MIM Harmony ’ s customizable worklist , along with flexible task automation , reporting tools , and advanced analytics , enhance multiple peer-review formats such chart rounds , contour rounds , and one-to-one consultations .
Its robust data analytics platform moves beyond traditional peer review , compiling critical information after each meeting to help identify areas for improving quality or clinical practice .
Fast and filmless patient QA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convenient patient-specific quality assurance ( QA ) is essential for delivering stereotactic radiotherapy safely and effectively .
The SRS MapCHECK from Sun Nuclear is a patient QA solution that replaces conventional film with a high-density diode array , providing accurate dose measurements in minutes rather than hours .
With nearly 400 devices in clinical use and a growing body of supporting literature , the SRS MapCHECK has been proven to efficiently detect the most common sources of errors in stereotactic treatments and has become the gold standard for time-sensitive patient QA .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which corrects for angular dependence , field size and pulse rate to ensure accurate patient QA from any angle .
A new update to the software now makes it possible to simplify QA workflows for single-isocentre multiple-target ( SIMT ) treatments , with a new QA Setup Tool providing guidance for the optimal set-up of SIMT plans and simplified shifts for larger field sizes .
This software update , described in more detail in this short video , complements Sun Nuclear ’ s MultiMet-WL Cube , designed for machine QA of SIMT treatments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ StereoPHAN QA solutions for stereotactic radiotherapy .
During ESTRO 2020 , on 30 November at 13.00 CET , Sun Nuclear will host a satellite symposium entitled “ Advancing QA : Latest Solutions from Sun Nuclear ” .
Presentations and demonstrations will showcase both SRS MapCHECK and the SunCHECK platform .
New radiotherapy technologies such as image guidance , high-precision dose delivery and more accurate target definition are making it possible to administer higher radiation doses in fewer treatment sessions .
For prostate cancer , an improved understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fewer and larger fractions has the potential to improve the therapeutic ratio while also shortening the overall treatment time .
Hypofractionated radiotherapy delivered via stereotactic body radiation therapy ( SBRT ) offers a high dose per fraction within a small number of fractions , but the steep dose gradient demands a high level of reliability during the entire treatment delivery process .
At even small distances from the target the radiation dose decreases rapidly , which means that prostate motion during treatment might result in spatial misses and the exposure of surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HypoCath system from Micropos Medical is a removable electromagnetic transponder that offers real-time tracking of the tumour throughout the treatment process .
The electromagnetic tracking device is compatible with conventional linacs and requires no surgical intervention , with the transmitter integrated into a standard urinary catheter to enable localization of both the prostate and the urethra .
The system has already been trialled at the Ospedale San Gererdo in Monza , Italy , with the results reported in a recent white paper by Professor Stefano Arcangeli .
Tests with four patients showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ target motion within 2 mm throughout treatment delivery , with no impact on patient comfort .
Arcangeli notes that further improvements in the accuracy could be achieved by fine tuning the workflow , which he believes would make SBRT well positioned to become the procedure of choice for patients with localized prostate cancer .
Quality assurance ( QA ) in radiation treatment planning is becoming ever more important as medical physicists seek to optimize image-guided radiotherapy ( IGRT ) protocols for the delivery of higher doses and emerging adaptive treatments .
Imaging phantoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems on a daily basis , and the QUASAR Penta-Guide Phantom from Modus QA has become recognized globally as the preferred tool for efficient daily testing of key parameters such as system alignment and imaging performance .
Modus QA is now enhancing the capabilities of this phantom with the new Penta-Guide 2.0 software , a comprehensive daily QA solution that is free for all existing and new Penta-Guide users .
Designed to improve the daily QA workflow , the software offers advanced features such as automated monitoring of system alignment , image quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tools .
An online presentation by product manager Rocco Flores will highlight the innovative features of the Penta-Guide phantom , review the daily QA user workflow , and explain the advanced utility of the Penta-Guide 2.0 software .

The annual meeting of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), originally due to take place in April, is now being staged as a fully digital event
On show: ESTRO 2020 will host Europe’s largest industrial exhibition in radiation oncology. (Courtesy: Shutterstock/Mark Kostich)
The annual meeting of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), originally due to take place in April in Vienna, was one of the early casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic. Postponed once to August, the event organizers decided to further delay the meeting to the end of November in the hope of convening a reduced live congress along with enhanced online participation.
However, the resurgence of coronavirus in Europe has forced another rethink, and ESTRO 2020 will now be staged as a fully digital event. The main online congress will take place from 28 November to 1 December, with attendees able to access the scientific programme via a digital platform that includes Q&A and polling functionality to enable interaction with the speaker. Several pre-congress sessions are also available online, including three short courses on a dedicated education platform, while all registered participants will be able to view all sessions on demand after the congress has finished.
The theme for this year’s event is “Translating research and partnership into optimal health”. Meeting chair Umberto Ricardi from the University of Turin, Italy, points out that technologies and methodologies in radiation oncology are evolving rapidly, but that these advances will “only truly provide impact when the new findings can be translated into clinical applications that will result in optimal benefit for each individual patient in daily practice”.
ESTRO 2020 will also host Europe’s largest industrial exhibition in radiation oncology. This year a virtual exhibition will enable attendees to interact with industry leaders and to find more about the latest innovations in technology, techniques and oncology products – a few of which are highlighted below.
Innovating and evolving radiotherapy quality assurance
Quality assurance (QA) plays a fundamental role in any radiotherapy procedure. IBA Dosimetry is working to shape QA to advance patient safety in radiation therapy, proton therapy and medical imaging. The company predicts that its latest innovations will bring the accuracy and efficiency of QA to a new level. Future solutions, meanwhile, will significantly reduce QA times and further streamline the medical physics workload.
Independent QA is essential to ensure reliable, trustworthy and accurate QA, and has been assumed as a given in the radiotherapy community. But as radiotherapy systems increasingly offer built-in “self-check” QA, the need for independent QA becomes imperative. To raise awareness of this topic, IBA Dosimetry has teamed with radiotherapy QA equipment vendors worldwide to launch an “Independent Quality Assurance” initiative.
Convergence of machine QA and patient QA will unlock the potential of real risk-based radiotherapy QA. (Courtesy: IBA Dosimetry)
IBA Dosimetry also highlights the need for convergence of machine and patient QA. Today, QA applications for validating the treatment machine and those for verifying the patient-specific plan generally have little or no connectivity. Combining data from patient QA and machine QA will provide more precise outcomes and faster results.
These QA innovations are based on four strategic pillars – implementation of measurements, integration, smart automation and prediction of QA results – that help save valuable time of the medical physicist and provide higher accuracy and increased confidence. IBA Dosimetry notes that while measurements will remain important for future QA, further integration, Monte Carlo-based predictive QA and automation will enable users to measure only where it really matters, leading to fewer measurements with better quality results.
IBA Dosimetry’s QA innovation strategy is based on four pillars: measure, integrate, automate and predict. (Courtesy: IBA Dosimetry)
Software platform standardizes treatment plan review
Peer review of treatment plans is a powerful strategy in radiation oncology clinics to ensure patient safety and plan quality, but time constraints in the daily routine can make it difficult to prepare and review patient cases in an optimal way. MIM Harmony is a dedicated software platform that provides rapid and reproducible treatment plan review, allowing medical teams to focus their efforts on a deeper, critical evaluation of patient cases and to improve the quality of their treatment plans.
MIM Harmony allows clinicians to prepare patient cases automatically, saving valuable time and ensuring that all the necessary information is available at the review meeting. Each review is guided by a disease site-specific worklist that can be fully customized to suit the needs of each clinical team, offering a flexible but standardized approach to patient care.
A dedicated platform from MIM Software is designed to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of treatment plan reviews. (Courtesy: MIM Software)
MIM Harmony’s customizable worklist, along with flexible task automation, reporting tools, and advanced analytics, enhance multiple peer-review formats such chart rounds, contour rounds, and one-to-one consultations. Its robust data analytics platform moves beyond traditional peer review, compiling critical information after each meeting to help identify areas for improving quality or clinical practice.
Fast and filmless patient QA now extends to multitarget treatments
Quick and convenient patient-specific quality assurance (QA) is essential for delivering stereotactic radiotherapy safely and effectively. The SRS MapCHECK from Sun Nuclear is a patient QA solution that replaces conventional film with a high-density diode array, providing accurate dose measurements in minutes rather than hours. With nearly 400 devices in clinical use and a growing body of supporting literature, the SRS MapCHECK has been proven to efficiently detect the most common sources of errors in stereotactic treatments and has become the gold standard for time-sensitive patient QA.
The system comes with SNC Patient software, which corrects for angular dependence, field size and pulse rate to ensure accurate patient QA from any angle. A new update to the software now makes it possible to simplify QA workflows for single-isocentre multiple-target (SIMT) treatments, with a new QA Setup Tool providing guidance for the optimal set-up of SIMT plans and simplified shifts for larger field sizes.
The SRS MapCHECK from Sun Nuclear now provides enhanced support for single-isocentre multiple-target (SIMT) treatments. (Courtesy: Sun Nuclear)
This software update, described in more detail in this short video, complements Sun Nuclear’s MultiMet-WL Cube, designed for machine QA of SIMT treatments, and adds to a suite of StereoPHAN QA solutions for stereotactic radiotherapy. During ESTRO 2020, on 30 November at 13.00 CET, Sun Nuclear will host a satellite symposium entitled “Advancing QA: Latest Solutions from Sun Nuclear”. Presentations and demonstrations will showcase both SRS MapCHECK and the SunCHECK platform.
Tracking device promises more precision for prostate cancer treatment
New radiotherapy technologies such as image guidance, high-precision dose delivery and more accurate target definition are making it possible to administer higher radiation doses in fewer treatment sessions. For prostate cancer, an improved understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the use of hypofractionation suggests that the delivery of fewer and larger fractions has the potential to improve the therapeutic ratio while also shortening the overall treatment time.
Hypofractionated radiotherapy delivered via stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers a high dose per fraction within a small number of fractions, but the steep dose gradient demands a high level of reliability during the entire treatment delivery process. At even small distances from the target the radiation dose decreases rapidly, which means that prostate motion during treatment might result in spatial misses and the exposure of surrounding healthy tissues to radiation.
The RayPilot HypoCath system from Micropos Medical is a removable electromagnetic transponder that offers real-time tracking of the tumour throughout the treatment process. The electromagnetic tracking device is compatible with conventional linacs and requires no surgical intervention, with the transmitter integrated into a standard urinary catheter to enable localization of both the prostate and the urethra.
The RayPath HypoCath keep track of prostate motion during SBRT treatments. (Courtesy: Micropos Medical)
The system has already been trialled at the Ospedale San Gererdo in Monza, Italy, with the results reported in a recent white paper by Professor Stefano Arcangeli. Tests with four patients showed that the electromagnetic tracking device kept the average target motion within 2 mm throughout treatment delivery, with no impact on patient comfort. Arcangeli notes that further improvements in the accuracy could be achieved by fine tuning the workflow, which he believes would make SBRT well positioned to become the procedure of choice for patients with localized prostate cancer.
Upgraded software enhances daily testing regime
Quality assurance (QA) in radiation treatment planning is becoming ever more important as medical physicists seek to optimize image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) protocols for the delivery of higher doses and emerging adaptive treatments. Imaging phantoms are essential to calibrate and commission IGRT systems on a daily basis, and the QUASAR Penta-Guide Phantom from Modus QA has become recognized globally as the preferred tool for efficient daily testing of key parameters such as system alignment and imaging performance.
Modus QA is now enhancing the capabilities of this phantom with the new Penta-Guide 2.0 software, a comprehensive daily QA solution that is free for all existing and new Penta-Guide users. Designed to improve the daily QA workflow, the software offers advanced features such as automated monitoring of system alignment, image quality analysis, and improved reporting and visualization tools.
Updated software for Modus QA’s Penta-Guide phantom is designed to improve the efficiency of daily testing protocols. (Courtesy: Modus QA)
An online presentation by product manager Rocco Flores will highlight the innovative features of the Penta-Guide phantom, review the daily QA user workflow, and explain the advanced utility of the Penta-Guide 2.0 software.


physicsworld--2020-11-25--DNA origami makes 3D superconducting nanostructures - Physics World

Researchers in the US and Israel have developed a way to make 3D superconducting nanostructures by combining DNA with niobium and silicon .
This new technique might be used to make signal amplifiers that enhance the speed and accuracy of quantum computers as well as ultrasensitive magnetic field sensors for medical and geophysics applications .
While traditional nanofabrication techniques like electron-beam lithography can produce one-dimensional and two-dimensional superconducting nanostructures , their ability to produce three-dimensional structures is limited .
For the past 15 years or so , researchers have instead turned to self-assembly techniques that use DNA to construct 3D @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inorganic nano-components .
One such technique , known as “ DNA origami ” , uses the natural pairing of DNA ’ s four nucleotide bases – A , T , C and G – to produce a multitude of self-assembled engineered shapes .
The process involves folding a long single strand of DNA with the help of shorter complementary strands at specific locations to make pre-defined nanoscale structures .
These nanostructures can then be used as scaffolding for building 3D nanoscale architectures that can be “ converted ” into inorganic materials such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was led by Oleg Gang , a nanoengineer at Columbia University and the Brookhaven National Laboratory ’ s Center for Functional Nanomaterials .
In their experiments , Gang and colleagues at Columbia designed octahedral-shaped DNA origami “ frames ” using a computer software package called caDNAno .
Each edge within the frames comprises a six-helix bundle of DNA that is 28.6 nm long and contains 84 base pairs .
At each end of these bundles , the researchers added a single-stranded DNA chain that measured roughly 2 nm in length and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the opposing DNA origami .
To better visualize ( and subsequently characterize ) the structure , the researchers inserted 10-nm-diameter gold nanoparticles into each octahedral “ cage ” , where the particles were held in place by a structure made from DNA that is complementary to the inner strands of the frame .
The researchers then assembled the cages into a simple cubic superlattice of octahedra made from two pairs of frames and designed to have specific DNA strands targeting four complementary counterparts in-plane and two counterparts out-of-plane .
The resulting superlattice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1-3 microns thick , and the researchers used small angle X-ray scattering at the Brookhaven National Synchrotron Light Source II to confirm their nanoscale structure .
The team then solidified their ensemble by using a wet chemistry technique to coat the DNA lattices with a layer of silicon dioxide .
“ In its original form , DNA is completely unusable for processing with conventional nanotechnology methods , ” Gang explains .
“ But once we coat the DNA with silica , we have a mechanically robust 3D architecture that we can deposit inorganic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is analogous to traditional nanomanufacturing , in which valuable materials are deposited onto flat substrates , typically silicon , to add functionality.
” The next step was to use an evaporation technique to coat the silica-coated superlattices with a layer of niobium around 10 nm thick .
This part of the work was done at the Institute of Superconductivity at Bar-Ilan University in Israel .
There , researchers led by Yosi Yesurun carefully controlled both the temperature of the silicon substrate and the rate at which they deposited the niobium so that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not penetrate all the way through it .
They did this to prevent short circuiting between the electrodes used for later electronic transport measurements .
Once this step was complete , the researchers used scanning transmission microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy ( STEM-EDS ) to check the structure of their samples .
This imaging technique revealed a porous superlattice structure made up of the silica-coated DNA and the gold nanoparticle “ tracers ” .
This structure forms a periodic array of Josephson junctions – thin non-superconducting barriers though which superconducting current tunnels – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mainly confined to the top three pairs of octahedra layers ( which have a total thickness of around 290 nm ) .
As a final step , the researchers measured the current-voltage characteristics of their superlattices at temperatures between 1.9 and 3.7 K. The curves produced are typical of single Josephson junctions – that is , they show zero voltage for currents up to a certain temperature-dependent critical current ( indicated by the appearance of resistance ) and then a gradual voltage increase .
Gang and colleagues note that Josephson junctions are key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technologies , with examples including the superconducting quantum interreference devices ( SQUIDs ) used to sense magnetic fields .
The three-dimensional nature of the Josephson junctions created in this work means that more of them can be packed into the same small volume , which could increase the power of a device that uses them .
While DNA is not necessarily the most useful functional material for such work , the researchers say they have demonstrated that complex DNA organization can , in principle , be used to create highly nanostructured 3D superconducting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives us an ability to make a variety of systems with interesting properties – not only superconductivity but also other electronic , mechanical , optical , and catalytic properties , ” they report .
“ We can envision it as a ‘ molecular lithography ’ , where the power of DNA programmability is transferred to 3D inorganic nanofabrication.
” Spurred on by this possibility , the researchers , who report their work in Nature Communications , say they are now planning to apply the same strategy to create highly-structured 3D inorganic nanomaterials with @ @ @ @ @ @

Highly nanostructured 3D superconducting materials can be created based on DNA self-assembly. Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Researchers in the US and Israel have developed a way to make 3D superconducting nanostructures by combining DNA with niobium and silicon. This new technique might be used to make signal amplifiers that enhance the speed and accuracy of quantum computers as well as ultrasensitive magnetic field sensors for medical and geophysics applications.
While traditional nanofabrication techniques like electron-beam lithography can produce one-dimensional and two-dimensional superconducting nanostructures, their ability to produce three-dimensional structures is limited. For the past 15 years or so, researchers have instead turned to self-assembly techniques that use DNA to construct 3D nanoscale structures and integrate them with functional inorganic nano-components.
One such technique, known as “DNA origami”, uses the natural pairing of DNA’s four nucleotide bases – A, T, C and G – to produce a multitude of self-assembled engineered shapes. The process involves folding a long single strand of DNA with the help of shorter complementary strands at specific locations to make pre-defined nanoscale structures. These nanostructures can then be used as scaffolding for building 3D nanoscale architectures that can be “converted” into inorganic materials such as superconductors – as in this new work, which was led by Oleg Gang, a nanoengineer at Columbia University and the Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Center for Functional Nanomaterials.
DNA origami “frames”
In their experiments, Gang and colleagues at Columbia designed octahedral-shaped DNA origami “frames” using a computer software package called caDNAno. Each edge within the frames comprises a six-helix bundle of DNA that is 28.6 nm long and contains 84 base pairs. At each end of these bundles, the researchers added a single-stranded DNA chain that measured roughly 2 nm in length and was designed to complement the DNA chain of the opposing DNA origami.
To better visualize (and subsequently characterize) the structure, the researchers inserted 10-nm-diameter gold nanoparticles into each octahedral “cage”, where the particles were held in place by a structure made from DNA that is complementary to the inner strands of the frame. The researchers then assembled the cages into a simple cubic superlattice of octahedra made from two pairs of frames and designed to have specific DNA strands targeting four complementary counterparts in-plane and two counterparts out-of-plane. The resulting superlattice samples are flakes 5-10 microns long and 1-3 microns thick, and the researchers used small angle X-ray scattering at the Brookhaven National Synchrotron Light Source II to confirm their nanoscale structure.
Mechanically robust 3D architecture
The team then solidified their ensemble by using a wet chemistry technique to coat the DNA lattices with a layer of silicon dioxide. “In its original form, DNA is completely unusable for processing with conventional nanotechnology methods,” Gang explains. “But once we coat the DNA with silica, we have a mechanically robust 3D architecture that we can deposit inorganic materials on using these methods. This is analogous to traditional nanomanufacturing, in which valuable materials are deposited onto flat substrates, typically silicon, to add functionality.”
The next step was to use an evaporation technique to coat the silica-coated superlattices with a layer of niobium around 10 nm thick. This part of the work was done at the Institute of Superconductivity at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. There, researchers led by Yosi Yesurun carefully controlled both the temperature of the silicon substrate and the rate at which they deposited the niobium so that the niobium only coated the sample and did not penetrate all the way through it. They did this to prevent short circuiting between the electrodes used for later electronic transport measurements.
A periodic array of Josephson junctions
Once this step was complete, the researchers used scanning transmission microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) to check the structure of their samples. This imaging technique revealed a porous superlattice structure made up of the silica-coated DNA and the gold nanoparticle “tracers”.
This structure forms a periodic array of Josephson junctions – thin non-superconducting barriers though which superconducting current tunnels – with the niobium in the superlattice being mainly confined to the top three pairs of octahedra layers (which have a total thickness of around 290 nm). As a final step, the researchers measured the current-voltage characteristics of their superlattices at temperatures between 1.9 and 3.7 K. The curves produced are typical of single Josephson junctions – that is, they show zero voltage for currents up to a certain temperature-dependent critical current (indicated by the appearance of resistance) and then a gradual voltage increase.
Gang and colleagues note that Josephson junctions are key components for leveraging quantum phenomena in practical technologies, with examples including the superconducting quantum interreference devices (SQUIDs) used to sense magnetic fields. The three-dimensional nature of the Josephson junctions created in this work means that more of them can be packed into the same small volume, which could increase the power of a device that uses them.
While DNA is not necessarily the most useful functional material for such work, the researchers say they have demonstrated that complex DNA organization can, in principle, be used to create highly nanostructured 3D superconducting materials. “This material conversion pathway gives us an ability to make a variety of systems with interesting properties – not only superconductivity but also other electronic, mechanical, optical, and catalytic properties,” they report. “We can envision it as a ‘molecular lithography’, where the power of DNA programmability is transferred to 3D inorganic nanofabrication.”
Spurred on by this possibility, the researchers, who report their work in Nature Communications, say they are now planning to apply the same strategy to create highly-structured 3D inorganic nanomaterials with a broad range of functions.


physicsworld--2020-11-24--MRS combines Spring and Fall meetings into virtual event - Physics World

For nearly 50 years , researchers from around the world have converged in Boston for the Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society .
This year , however , as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic , the meeting will be convened as a fully digital event in combination with the Spring Meeting , which was due to take place in Pheonix , Arizona , back in April .
The joint 2020 MRS Spring/Fall Meeting & Exhibit , scheduled for 27 November ̶ 4 December , will include the scientific programmes from both meetings , with a combination of live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northwestern University will give a plenary lecture on functional materials that enable small electronic devices to be integrated into the body , while a range of networking , Q & A sessions and professional development events are available to access before and after the meeting .
A virtual exhibit will enable attendees to interact directly with equipment vendors , with extended “ booth hours ” where delegates can chat with company representatives .
It is also an ideal opportunity to up to date with the latest technology developments – a few of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measurement platform from Lake Shore Cryotronics makes it quicker and more convenient to acquire high-precision Hall measurements .
Ideal for anyone studying semiconductor materials , the MeasureReady FastHall Station incorporates Lake Shore ’ s M91 FastHall controller into a tabletop system that enables simplified Hall measurements and reduces the time needed for experimental setup .
Along with the M91 measurement controller , the all-in-one station includes a Windows-based computer , a 1 T permanent magnet , a high-precision sample holder , and all the necessary software and cabling to provide a comprehensive range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detect sample resistances up to 1 GΩ and mobilities as low as 0.01 cm2/V s –making it ideal for research into low-mobility materials .
Lake Shore ’ s patented FastHall method speeds up measurement times , while easy-to-use spring pin and solder sample holder cards accommodate up to 10 mm × 10 mm van der Pauw and Hall bar type samples .
The station also features an electronically shielded , low-noise sample space with guarded contacts , making it quicker and easier to derive accurate measurements of the carrier type , carrier concentration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The system ’ s MeasureLINK-MCS software collects all the data , and provides standard sequences , charts , and test scripts that can be customized by the user .
In addition to performing complete Hall analyses and outputting all measured and derived values , detailed reports can be generated that include all the supporting intermediate data , so a researcher can readily confirm the integrity of the results .
Optional extras include a gate-bias instrument plus a liquid-nitrogen add-on to convert the standard room-temperature station to a cryogenically cooled sample space maintained at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) has become a crucial tool in both research and industry for studying the properties and structure of many different materials and devices .
In an online presentation that is now available to view on demand , Dr Vladimir Korolkov , a senior application scientist at AFM manufacturer Park Systems , highlights the use of AFMs to study the structure of polymer materials .
In the presentation , Korolkov explains how to exploit an AFM to resolve individual polymer chains in real space , which is particularly important because the properties of polymer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conformation of individual macromolecules as well as their monomer composition .
He also shows how an AFM can be used to acquire ultrahigh-resolution images of individual PTFE molecules on the semi-crystalline surface of a commercial Teflon tape .
Using these real-world polymer samples , Korolkov highlights the capabilities of Park Systems ’ NX20 AFM for high-speed acquisition of high-resolution images .
The NX20 is designed to study large samples and conduct multi-sample analyses , and comes with an automated interface that makes it easy for non-experts to acquire high-quality data .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mode of Park ’ s SmartScan software , while automatic operation of the cantilever brings it safely into contact with the surface within just 10 seconds .
The NX20 also controls the scan speed based on the peaks and valleys of the sample surface , minimizing the scanning time while also acquiring a high-quality image .
When moving to a neighbouring location or zooming into a target , the system automatically applies a new optimal condition .
A unique atomic force microscope ( AFM ) from Quantum Design can easily be integrated into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electron or scanning ion microscope ( SEM/FIB ) .
The AFSEM® Nano enables simultaneous operation of SEM , FIB , and AFM inside the vacuum chamber , allowing these complementary techniques to be combined without needing to transfer the sample or break the vacuum .
The AFSEM Nano directly correlates AFM functionality to SEM or FIB information at the same location on the sample .
This correlated functionality allows users to , for example , measure the real 3D-topography of their sample with ( sub ) -nanometer resolution inside their SEM or FIB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of interest with the SEM and then use the AFM to measure the physical , electrical , or magnetic properties at the same location .
Combining the different techniques makes it easy to analyse samples with very different shapes or sizes .
Users can also obtain in-situ correlation of chemical ( EDX ) and crystallographic ( EBSD ) information , and achieve 3D subtractive tomography by combining FIB slicing with the mapping of nanomechanical properties using the AFM .
The AFSEM Nano is a laser-free AFM that exploits a self-sensing cantilever technology to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vacuum chamber .
Its open design allows for easy integration with other optional add-ons , such as tensile stages , nano-indentors or nano-manipulators .
2D layered perovskites have attracted huge research interest for their unique optoelectronic properties , helped enormously by the discovery that the most promising structures – usually hybrid organic–inorganic lead halides – can be prepared easily and cheaply using solution processing techniques .
Photoluminescent 2D perovskites have a direct bandgap with a narrow emission peak that can be tuned by changing the layer thickness and the material composition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in light-emitting diodes , phototransistors , lasers , and solar cells .
Materials company MilliporeSigma offers a range of fully synthesized layered 2D perovskites , including some of the most popular organolead halides .
Also available is a comprehensive portfolio of precursor materials , including lead halides , organohalides , and halide acids , as well as other key materials needed to fabricate 2D layered perovskites .

This year the Materials Research Society will replace its traditional Boston-based Fall Meeting with a virtual conference and exhibition
Virtual exhibit: this year’s Spring and Fall Meetings of the Materials Research Society will be combined into one online event. (Courtesy: Shutterstock/Ambelrip)
For nearly 50 years, researchers from around the world have converged in Boston for the Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society. This year, however, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the meeting will be convened as a fully digital event in combination with the Spring Meeting, which was due to take place in Pheonix, Arizona, back in April.
The joint 2020 MRS Spring/Fall Meeting & Exhibit, scheduled for 27 November ̶ 4 December, will include the scientific programmes from both meetings, with a combination of live and on-demand presentations. John Rogers of Northwestern University will give a plenary lecture on functional materials that enable small electronic devices to be integrated into the body, while a range of networking, Q&A sessions and professional development events are available to access before and after the meeting.
A virtual exhibit will enable attendees to interact directly with equipment vendors, with extended “booth hours” where delegates can chat with company representatives. It is also an ideal opportunity to up to date with the latest technology developments – a few of which are highlighted below.
Turnkey system delivers fast and precise Hall measurements
A fully integrated measurement platform from Lake Shore Cryotronics makes it quicker and more convenient to acquire high-precision Hall measurements. Ideal for anyone studying semiconductor materials, the MeasureReady FastHall Station incorporates Lake Shore’s M91 FastHall controller into a tabletop system that enables simplified Hall measurements and reduces the time needed for experimental setup.
Along with the M91 measurement controller, the all-in-one station includes a Windows-based computer, a 1 T permanent magnet, a high-precision sample holder, and all the necessary software and cabling to provide a comprehensive range of Hall measurements. The system can detect sample resistances up to 1 GΩ and mobilities as low as 0.01 cm2/V s –making it ideal for research into low-mobility materials.
The MeasureReady FastHall Station for Lake Shore Cryotronics provides an integrated solution for quick and easy Hall measurements. (Courtesy: Lake Shore Cryotronics)
Lake Shore’s patented FastHall method speeds up measurement times, while easy-to-use spring pin and solder sample holder cards accommodate up to 10 mm × 10 mm van der Pauw and Hall bar type samples. The station also features an electronically shielded, low-noise sample space with guarded contacts, making it quicker and easier to derive accurate measurements of the carrier type, carrier concentration, mobility, and Hall coefficient.
The system’s MeasureLINK-MCS software collects all the data, and provides standard sequences, charts, and test scripts that can be customized by the user. In addition to performing complete Hall analyses and outputting all measured and derived values, detailed reports can be generated that include all the supporting intermediate data, so a researcher can readily confirm the integrity of the results. Optional extras include a gate-bias instrument plus a liquid-nitrogen add-on to convert the standard room-temperature station to a cryogenically cooled sample space maintained at 77 K.
Large-sample AFM pinpoints polymer properties
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become a crucial tool in both research and industry for studying the properties and structure of many different materials and devices. In an online presentation that is now available to view on demand, Dr Vladimir Korolkov, a senior application scientist at AFM manufacturer Park Systems, highlights the use of AFMs to study the structure of polymer materials.
In the presentation, Korolkov explains how to exploit an AFM to resolve individual polymer chains in real space, which is particularly important because the properties of polymer materials are strongly influenced by the packing and conformation of individual macromolecules as well as their monomer composition. He also shows how an AFM can be used to acquire ultrahigh-resolution images of individual PTFE molecules on the semi-crystalline surface of a commercial Teflon tape.
The NX20 AFM from Park Systems is designed for failure analysis and large sample research. (Courtesy: Park Systems)
Using these real-world polymer samples, Korolkov highlights the capabilities of Park Systems’ NX20 AFM for high-speed acquisition of high-resolution images. The NX20 is designed to study large samples and conduct multi-sample analyses, and comes with an automated interface that makes it easy for non-experts to acquire high-quality data. The instrument supports single-click imaging through the auto mode of Park’s SmartScan software, while automatic operation of the cantilever brings it safely into contact with the surface within just 10 seconds.
The NX20 also controls the scan speed based on the peaks and valleys of the sample surface, minimizing the scanning time while also acquiring a high-quality image. When moving to a neighbouring location or zooming into a target, the system automatically applies a new optimal condition.
Single instrument combines AFM with scanning microscopy
A unique atomic force microscope (AFM) from Quantum Design can easily be integrated into the high-vacuum environment of almost any scanning electron or scanning ion microscope (SEM/FIB). The AFSEM® Nano enables simultaneous operation of SEM, FIB, and AFM inside the vacuum chamber, allowing these complementary techniques to be combined without needing to transfer the sample or break the vacuum.
The AFSEM Nano directly correlates AFM functionality to SEM or FIB information at the same location on the sample. This correlated functionality allows users to, for example, measure the real 3D-topography of their sample with (sub)-nanometer resolution inside their SEM or FIB system, or easily identify the region of interest with the SEM and then use the AFM to measure the physical, electrical, or magnetic properties at the same location.
Best of both worlds: the AFSEM Nano from Quantum Design can be integrated into the vacuum chamber of almost any scanning microscope. (Courtesy: Quantum Design)
Combining the different techniques makes it easy to analyse samples with very different shapes or sizes. Users can also obtain in-situ correlation of chemical (EDX) and crystallographic (EBSD) information, and achieve 3D subtractive tomography by combining FIB slicing with the mapping of nanomechanical properties using the AFM.
The AFSEM Nano is a laser-free AFM that exploits a self-sensing cantilever technology to avoid the need for optical alignment inside the vacuum chamber. Its open design allows for easy integration with other optional add-ons, such as tensile stages, nano-indentors or nano-manipulators.
Materials matter for 2D layered perovskite research
2D layered perovskites have attracted huge research interest for their unique optoelectronic properties, helped enormously by the discovery that the most promising structures – usually hybrid organic–inorganic lead halides – can be prepared easily and cheaply using solution processing techniques. Photoluminescent 2D perovskites have a direct bandgap with a narrow emission peak that can be tuned by changing the layer thickness and the material composition, and have been widely studied for applications in light-emitting diodes, phototransistors, lasers, and solar cells.
MilliporeSigma supplies the precursor materials needed to create 2D layered perovskites with different compositions and properties. (Courtesy: MilliporeSigma)
Materials company MilliporeSigma offers a range of fully synthesized layered 2D perovskites, including some of the most popular organolead halides. Also available is a comprehensive portfolio of precursor materials, including lead halides, organohalides, and halide acids, as well as other key materials needed to fabricate 2D layered perovskites.


physicsworld--2020-11-26--Quantum software company tackles big computing challenges - Physics World

“ My mission is to demystify quantum computing , ” says Ilyas Khan , who is founder and chief executive @ @ @ @ @ CQC ) – a UK-based provider of software for quantum computers .
Khan is our @ @ @ @ @ the Physics World Weekly podcast , and he explains how CQC helps its clients use @ @ @ @ @ problems in the design of pharmaceuticals , machine learning and cybersecurity .
Later in the @ @ @ @ @ talk about what is new in physics this week , including how to make a @ @ @ @ @ ; a new way of tackling tumours using immunotherapy and a beam of carbon ions @ @ @ @ @ using spin impurities as quantum bits .
This podcast is sponsored by Teledyne Princeton Instruments @

Explore the ways in which today’s world relies on AI, and ponder how this technology might shape the world of tomorrow


physicsworld--2020-11-27--First report of clinical MRI-Linac treatments wins journal citations prize - Physics World

A research paper describing the first clinical use of a 1.5 T MRI-Linac for MRI-guided radiotherapy has won its authors the 2020 Physics in Medicine & Biology ( PMB ) citations prize .
This annual prize recognizes the PMB paper that received the most citations in the preceding five years .
The paper , First patients treated with a 1.5 T MRI-Linac : clinical proof of concept of a high-precision , high-field MRI guided radiotherapy treatment , was written by researchers from UMC Utrecht , where the MRI-Linac concept was originated , and Elekta , which has now commercialized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radiotherapy provides a means to visualize a tumour target in real time ; and the use of MRI for this guidance confers exceptional soft-tissue contrast without the need for ionizing radiation .
The winning paper describes the first-in-man treatments using the prototype MRI-Linac , which integrates a diagnostic-quality 1.5 T MR scanner with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator .
The team treated four patients with lumbar spine bone metastases , chosen as these tumours are clearly visualized on MRI and the surrounding spinal bone can be detected on the integrated portal imager , providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patients were treated with an intensity-modulated radiotherapy ( IMRT ) plan created while they were on the treatment table and based on the online MR images .
This study demonstrated that the MRI-Linac concept does indeed work in the clinic and that radiation can be precisely targeted using high-field MRI guidance .
Absolute doses were found to be highly accurate , with deviations ranging from 0.0 % to 1.7 % in the isocentre .
Portal imaging confirmed that the MRI-based targeting was better than 0.5 mm , ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has pioneered this work on hybrid MRI radiotherapy systems since 1999 , suggests that the paper ’ s popularity may be due to readers being pleased to see that the MRI-Linac worked with patients .
“ The possibility of acquiring 1.5T MRI data that reveal anatomical details and motion prior to treatment does resonate very well with existing efforts on image-guided radiotherapy , ” he explains .
“ The fact that these data can also be acquired during irradiation offers all kind of exciting opportunities to move towards real-time adaptive radiotherapy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrating the technical feasibility of the MRI-Linac .
Since its publication , the MRI-Linac has gained 510 ( k ) and CE approval and there are now around 30 systems in clinical use around the globe .
UMC Utrecht has two clinical MRI-Linacs and a third expected in 2021 .
Other advances include the move from treating vertebral bodies to soft-tissue targets , such as lymph nodes , prostate tumours , rectal tumours and others .
Improvements in workflow , meanwhile , have led to an average treatment slot of 45 minutes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research , we are now prototyping next-generation workflows with intra-fraction replanning to get to the real-time adaptive radiotherapy , ” Raaymakers tells Physics World .
The PMB citations prize is marked with the presentation of the Rotblat medal , named in honour of Sir Joseph Rotblat , PMB ’ s second and longest-serving editor .
“ This award is a much appreciated recognition and motivation for the entire department and the long-standing , ongoing industrial collaborators , ” says Raaymakers .
“ Of course , we are intrinsically motivated to keep on improving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work .
But at the same time it feels good that the long journey to get to the clinic is something that is followed and cited by the PMB audience.
” • The winner of the 2020 Physics in Medicine & Biology citations prize is : First patients treated with a 1.5 T MRI-Linac : clinical proof of concept of a high-precision , high-field MRI guided radiotherapy treatment by B W Raaymakers et al Phys .
Med .
Biol .
62 L41

Lead author Jan Lagendijk (left) and first author Bas Raaymakers from UMC Utrecht. (Courtesy: UMC Utrecht)
A research paper describing the first clinical use of a 1.5 T MRI-Linac for MRI-guided radiotherapy has won its authors the 2020 Physics in Medicine & Biology (PMB) citations prize. This annual prize recognizes the PMB paper that received the most citations in the preceding five years.
The paper, First patients treated with a 1.5 T MRI-Linac: clinical proof of concept of a high-precision, high-field MRI guided radiotherapy treatment, was written by researchers from UMC Utrecht, where the MRI-Linac concept was originated, and Elekta, which has now commercialized the system as the Elekta Unity.
Image-guided radiotherapy provides a means to visualize a tumour target in real time; and the use of MRI for this guidance confers exceptional soft-tissue contrast without the need for ionizing radiation. The winning paper describes the first-in-man treatments using the prototype MRI-Linac, which integrates a diagnostic-quality 1.5 T MR scanner with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator.
The team treated four patients with lumbar spine bone metastases, chosen as these tumours are clearly visualized on MRI and the surrounding spinal bone can be detected on the integrated portal imager, providing independent verification of the targeting accuracy. Patients were treated with an intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plan created while they were on the treatment table and based on the online MR images.
This study demonstrated that the MRI-Linac concept does indeed work in the clinic and that radiation can be precisely targeted using high-field MRI guidance. Absolute doses were found to be highly accurate, with deviations ranging from 0.0% to 1.7% in the isocentre. Portal imaging confirmed that the MRI-based targeting was better than 0.5 mm, ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.
First author Bas Raaymakers, who has pioneered this work on hybrid MRI radiotherapy systems since 1999, suggests that the paper’s popularity may be due to readers being pleased to see that the MRI-Linac worked with patients.
“The possibility of acquiring 1.5T MRI data that reveal anatomical details and motion prior to treatment does resonate very well with existing efforts on image-guided radiotherapy,” he explains. “The fact that these data can also be acquired during irradiation offers all kind of exciting opportunities to move towards real-time adaptive radiotherapy.”
Into the clinic
The paper represented the final step in demonstrating the technical feasibility of the MRI-Linac. Since its publication, the MRI-Linac has gained 510(k) and CE approval and there are now around 30 systems in clinical use around the globe. UMC Utrecht has two clinical MRI-Linacs and a third expected in 2021.
Other advances include the move from treating vertebral bodies to soft-tissue targets, such as lymph nodes, prostate tumours, rectal tumours and others. Improvements in workflow, meanwhile, have led to an average treatment slot of 45 minutes for the majority of patients.
“Within research, we are now prototyping next-generation workflows with intra-fraction replanning to get to the real-time adaptive radiotherapy,” Raaymakers tells Physics World.
Team effort: some of the other authors of the prize winning PMB paper.
The PMB citations prize is marked with the presentation of the Rotblat medal, named in honour of Sir Joseph Rotblat, PMB’s second and longest-serving editor. “This award is a much appreciated recognition and motivation for the entire department and the long-standing, ongoing industrial collaborators,” says Raaymakers.
“Of course, we are intrinsically motivated to keep on improving, it is really fun and rewarding work. But at the same time it feels good that the long journey to get to the clinic is something that is followed and cited by the PMB audience.”
The winner of the 2020 Physics in Medicine & Biology citations prize is: First patients treated with a 1.5 T MRI-Linac: clinical proof of concept of a high-precision, high-field MRI guided radiotherapy treatment by B W Raaymakers et al Phys. Med. Biol. 62 L41


physicsworld--2020-11-26--A matter of evidence - Physics World

A matter of evidence - Physics World

“ This experimental evidence does not match our theoretical prediction .
We shall admit its failures and attempt a new theory with neither shame nor pride.
” That ’ s how good science should work .
It ’ s what we strive for .
But it ’ s not what always happens in practice .
Sadly , the following has become all too familiar : “ This evidence does not match our theoretical prediction .
Let ’ s pick out the best bits and publish anyway or we ’ ll be accused of not doing our jobs properly and lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get : “ It ’ s a shame the evidence isn ’ t what we hoped for .
Perhaps if we put trust in groundless hope , then it might change tomorrow.
” Or , worse still : “ If the evidence suits us , then use it .
If it partly suits us , then twist it .
If it doesn ’ t suit us , then either ignore or debunk without backup.
” And , of course , there ’ s the not-too-uncommon : “ To hell with evidence !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotive , even political , concept ?
For one thing , it ’ s easy to find evidence to suit your needs .
For example : on 4 June 2020 , the temperature in Bristol was below the long-term average for that day of the year .
This is a piece of evidence that could be used to suggest that climate change is not happening .
It might well be an inconvenient truth that evidence to the contrary is overwhelming , but it ’ s still easy to find some evidence either way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : our theoretical understanding of the world .
In our early years of life , we learn basic mechanics at a considerable rate , and we do so mostly independently .
Before our first birthday , we learn that if you push a block on a surface , then it moves .
Not much later , we experiment with rough and smooth surfaces and see moving blocks come to a halt .
We are using these experiments to build rudimentary empirical models of the world and these models tend to be just good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live ” models in our brain to help us spear a mammoth , or push a block along an inclined plane .
At school , we teach the formal theories of classical mechanics to numerically predict the motion of said blocks .
At university , physics students learn about how relativity and quantum mechanics affect motion at extreme speeds or scales .
Does this succession of progressively more sophisticated modelling mean we disregard the previous , simpler methods ?
Of course not .
Even the most enthusiastic physicists would not expect relativity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For the mechanics case above , we have three layers of sophistication at our disposal : an empirical model for day-to-day life , a classical theoretical model for most engineering tasks , say , and relativistic/quantum theories for extreme situations .
I ’ m sure we could subdivide these layers further , but the point is this : we use a sophistication level to match the needs of the problem at hand .
Yet , this idea of simplified models of a given phenomenon causes much confusion – just as the significance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has a similar propensity to carve chasms between science and the wider world .
When it comes to theory and simulation , we face similar communication difficulties to those for evidence .
A recent article in the Washington Post , published during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic , presented successively sophisticated numerical simulations of the spread of the virus , subject to varying social-distancing measures .
The simulations were all grossly simplistic – modelling people as spheres bouncing against each other in a confined plane – but it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the scientific method , the response might be : “ The simulations show greatly reduced loss of life for the case of moderate-to-extensive distancing .
The model ’ s assumptions are huge so we must improve it , but the general conclusions are compatible with other works so regard this as further evidence in support of social-distancing measures , subject to the results of future improved simulations , manageable financial impacts , and other considerations.
” However , a well-meaning , if somewhat naive , reader might argue : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t anything like little balls floating in space !
Clearly this doesn ’ t prove anything.
” A more hostile reader might contend : “ This is ridiculous ; no wonder people are sick of experts.
” If a science communicator over-simplifies evidence or theory , then they might be accused of “ dumbing down ” or presenting pointless material .
If an attempt is made to convey the intricacies , including ( heaven forbid ) maths , then the articles become inaccessible to most people .
If it is claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stating with 100.0000 % certainty that climate change is real and anthropogenic , for example ) then the article is probably dubious itself .
Yet if you state something is not technically proven in a true scientific sense , but faces overwhelming evidence and consensus among experts ( climate change again , for example ) , then it ’ s “ just a theory ” .
So how best to communicate science ?
Call it a campaign problem : ( a ) present evidence , ( b ) show that a solution exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor old harbinger of bad news who only ever does ( a ) , faces much hard-talk : “ Give me solutions – or votes – not problems !
” Perhaps the world shouldn ’ t be that way .
But it is .
And scientists need to accept that .
Just as everyone needs to accept the evidence for climate change and the necessity of pandemic-mitigation strategies .

Physics World. Members of the Institute of Physics can enjoy the full issue Taken from the November 2020 issue of. Members of the Institute of Physics can enjoy the full issue via the Physics World app
In this article (originally published in Lateral Thoughts, Physics World’s regular column of humorous and offbeat essays, puzzles, crosswords, quizzes and comics, which appears on the back page of the print edition) Gary A Atkinson considers the emotive, and sometimes even political, concept of evidence
“This experimental evidence does not match our theoretical prediction. We shall admit its failures and attempt a new theory with neither shame nor pride.” That’s how good science should work. It’s what we strive for. But it’s not what always happens in practice. Sadly, the following has become all too familiar: “This evidence does not match our theoretical prediction. Let’s pick out the best bits and publish anyway or we’ll be accused of not doing our jobs properly and lose funding.” Outside of science you might get: “It’s a shame the evidence isn’t what we hoped for. Perhaps if we put trust in groundless hope, then it might change tomorrow.” Or, worse still: “If the evidence suits us, then use it. If it partly suits us, then twist it. If it doesn’t suit us, then either ignore or debunk without backup.” And, of course, there’s the not-too-uncommon: “To hell with evidence!”
Why is “evidence” such an emotive, even political, concept? For one thing, it’s easy to find evidence to suit your needs. For example: on 4 June 2020, the temperature in Bristol was below the long-term average for that day of the year. This is a piece of evidence that could be used to suggest that climate change is not happening. It might well be an inconvenient truth that evidence to the contrary is overwhelming, but it’s still easy to find some evidence either way.
Why is “evidence” such an emotive, even political, concept?
Consider the other side to evidence: our theoretical understanding of the world. In our early years of life, we learn basic mechanics at a considerable rate, and we do so mostly independently. Before our first birthday, we learn that if you push a block on a surface, then it moves. Not much later, we experiment with rough and smooth surfaces and see moving blocks come to a halt. We are using these experiments to build rudimentary empirical models of the world and these models tend to be just good enough for what we need: “live” models in our brain to help us spear a mammoth, or push a block along an inclined plane. At school, we teach the formal theories of classical mechanics to numerically predict the motion of said blocks. At university, physics students learn about how relativity and quantum mechanics affect motion at extreme speeds or scales.
Does this succession of progressively more sophisticated modelling mean we disregard the previous, simpler methods? Of course not. Even the most enthusiastic physicists would not expect relativity to be considered when checking their car speedometers. For the mechanics case above, we have three layers of sophistication at our disposal: an empirical model for day-to-day life, a classical theoretical model for most engineering tasks, say, and relativistic/quantum theories for extreme situations. I’m sure we could subdivide these layers further, but the point is this: we use a sophistication level to match the needs of the problem at hand. Yet, this idea of simplified models of a given phenomenon causes much confusion – just as the significance of different forms of evidence does. It has a similar propensity to carve chasms between science and the wider world.
When it comes to theory and simulation, we face similar communication difficulties to those for evidence. A recent article in the Washington Post, published during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, presented successively sophisticated numerical simulations of the spread of the virus, subject to varying social-distancing measures. The simulations were all grossly simplistic – modelling people as spheres bouncing against each other in a confined plane – but it was a fine article that made its limitations explicit.
According to the scientific method, the response might be: “The simulations show greatly reduced loss of life for the case of moderate-to-extensive distancing. The model’s assumptions are huge so we must improve it, but the general conclusions are compatible with other works so regard this as further evidence in support of social-distancing measures, subject to the results of future improved simulations, manageable financial impacts, and other considerations.” However, a well-meaning, if somewhat naive, reader might argue: “Well that was interesting, but people aren’t anything like little balls floating in space! Clearly this doesn’t prove anything.” A more hostile reader might contend: “This is ridiculous; no wonder people are sick of experts.”
If a science communicator over-simplifies evidence or theory, then they might be accused of “dumbing down” or presenting pointless material. If an attempt is made to convey the intricacies, including (heaven forbid) maths, then the articles become inaccessible to most people. If it is claimed that something is proven beyond doubt (stating with 100.0000% certainty that climate change is real and anthropogenic, for example) then the article is probably dubious itself. Yet if you state something is not technically proven in a true scientific sense, but faces overwhelming evidence and consensus among experts (climate change again, for example), then it’s “just a theory”.
So how best to communicate science? Call it a campaign problem: (a) present evidence, (b) show that a solution exists (assuming it does). The poor old harbinger of bad news who only ever does (a), faces much hard-talk: “Give me solutions – or votes – not problems!” Perhaps the world shouldn’t be that way. But it is. And scientists need to accept that. Just as everyone needs to accept the evidence for climate change and the necessity of pandemic-mitigation strategies.


physicsworld--2020-11-27--Arches of chaos in the solar system, luxury watch has bits of Stephen Hawking’s desk - Physics World

If we had a “ Physics paper title of the year award ” , the 2020 winner would surely have to be “ The arches of chaos in the solar system ” , which was published this week in Science Advances by Nataša Todorović , Di Wu and Aaron Rosengren .
In their paper , the trio “ reveal a notable and hitherto undetected ornamental structure of manifolds , connected in a series of arches that spread from the asteroid belt to Uranus and beyond ” .
These manifolds are structures that arise from the gravitational interactions between the Sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in spacecraft navigation and also explain the erratic nature of comets .
The paper is beautifully written , describing the manifolds as “ a true celestial autobahn , ” and going on to say that they “ enable ‘ Le Petit Prince ’ grand tour of the solar system ” .
And if that has not piqued your curiosity , the figures are wonderful as well – with the above image being “ Jovian-minimum-distance maps for the Greek and Trojan orbital configurations ” .
The luxury watchmaker Bremont has released the Hawking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wooden desk once used by the late Stephen Hawking .
The “ exquisite chromometer ” also contains pieces of a meteorite and is etched with a view of the night sky as seen from Oxford on 8 January 1942 , Hawking ’ s place and date of birth .
What is more , the serial number of the watch is printed on paper from a 1979 paper by Hawking that was cowritten by Gary Gibbons .
One of these watches can be yours for as little as £7995 , if you settle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ models , but the white gold model will set you back £18,995 .
Interestingly , a preprint of a 1979 paper by Hawking and Gibbons fetched £3000 at auction in 2018 .
So , check your filing cabinets , there might be something there that you can sell to a luxury watchmaker .

Arches of chaos: Jovian-minimum-distance maps for the Greek and Trojan orbital configurations. (Courtesy: Nataša Todorović, Di Wu and Aaron Rosengren/Science Advances)
If we had a “Physics paper title of the year award”, the 2020 winner would surely have to be “The arches of chaos in the solar system”, which was published this week in Science Advances by Nataša Todorović, Di Wu and Aaron Rosengren. In their paper, the trio “reveal a notable and hitherto undetected ornamental structure of manifolds, connected in a series of arches that spread from the asteroid belt to Uranus and beyond”. These manifolds are structures that arise from the gravitational interactions between the Sun and planets. They play an important role in spacecraft navigation and also explain the erratic nature of comets.
The paper is beautifully written, describing the manifolds as “a true celestial autobahn,” and going on to say that they “enable ‘Le Petit Prince’ grand tour of the solar system”. And if that has not piqued your curiosity, the figures are wonderful as well – with the above image being “Jovian-minimum-distance maps for the Greek and Trojan orbital configurations”.
The luxury watchmaker Bremont has released the Hawking Limited Edition watch that contains bits of a wooden desk once used by the late Stephen Hawking. The “exquisite chromometer” also contains pieces of a meteorite and is etched with a view of the night sky as seen from Oxford on 8 January 1942, Hawking’s place and date of birth. What is more, the serial number of the watch is printed on paper from a 1979 paper by Hawking that was cowritten by Gary Gibbons.
One of these watches can be yours for as little as £7995, if you settle for the stainless-steel or “quantum” models, but the white gold model will set you back £18,995.
Interestingly, a preprint of a 1979 paper by Hawking and Gibbons fetched £3000 at auction in 2018. So, check your filing cabinets, there might be something there that you can sell to a luxury watchmaker.


physicsworld--2020-11-27--Ultracold atoms put high-temperature superconductors under the microscope - Physics World

Physicists have deployed a Bose-Einstein condensate ( BEC ) as a “ quantum microscope ” to study phase transitions in a high-temperature superconductor .
The experiment marks the first time a BEC has been used to probe such a complicated condensed-matter phenomenon , and the results – a solution to a puzzle involving transition temperatures in iron pnictide superconductors – suggest that the technique could help untangle the complex factors that enhance and inhibit high-temperature superconductivity .
A BEC is a state of matter that forms when a gas of bosons ( particles with integer quantum spin ) is cooled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bosons fall into the same quantum state .
Under these conditions , the bosons are highly sensitive to tiny fluctuations in the local magnetic field , which perturb their collective wavefunction and create patches of greater and lesser density in the gas .
These variations in density can then be detected using optical techniques .
The new instrument , known as a scanning quantum cryogenic atom microscope ( SQCRAMscope ) , puts this magnetic field sensitivity to practical use .
“ Our SQCRAMscope is basically like a microscope – a big lens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at the reflected light – except right at the focus we have a collection of quantum atoms that transduces the magnetic field into a light field , ” explains team leader Benjamin Lev , a physicist at Stanford University in the US .
“ It ’ s a quantum gas transducer.
” The SQCRAMscope grew out of Lev ’ s earlier work on atom chips .
In these devices , clouds of ultracold atoms are confined within a vacuum chamber to isolate them from their environment and levitated with magnetic fields generated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One possible application of atom chips is to use these suspended atom clouds as sensitive , high-resolution probes of magnetic fields .
But there was a problem : whenever researchers wanted to change the configuration of their chips , or bring a new sample of material near the atoms , they needed to break the vacuum , remove various optical components , take the chip out , and then put everything back .
“ It would take literally months to change anything , ” Lev says .
“ It was not very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complication is that running current through an atom chip causes the chip to heat up , affecting the temperature of any nearby sample in ways that are hard to predict or control .
This , Lev observes , is “ not ideal if you want to study phase transitions ” and other temperature-dependent phenomena .
The Stanford team ’ s solution was to separate their atom chip from the samples they wanted to study .
While the ultracold rubidium atoms in the SQCRAMscope remain inside a vacuum chamber , the chip used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , with a few-hundred micrometre gap in between for the samples to slide in .
“ It ’ s a crazy Rube Goldberg kind of device , but it works , ” Lev says .
After testing their SQCRAMscope on samples of gold wire , the team turned to a far more complex material : an iron pnictide superconductor with the chemical formula Ba ( Fe Co ) As .
At room temperature , this material is a metal with a tetragonal crystal structure , but as it cools , it undergoes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a temperature that depends on the doping fraction x .
At this point , the material ’ s crystalline symmetry is partially broken , and it exhibits a characteristic patchwork pattern of magnetic domains .
However , the exact temperature of this nematic transition was the subject of some debate , because measurements that were sensitive to the material ’ s bulk properties gave one answer , while methods that focused on its surface properties suggested another .
Enter the SQCRAMscope .
“ These spatial patterns [ in the magnetic domains ] develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that ’ s exactly matched to the spatial resolution of the SQCRAMscope , ” Lev says .
With help from collaborators in Stanford ’ s Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials , he and his team prepared a sample of the iron pnictide , connected it to gold wires , and used the SQCRAMscope to image magnetic field fluctuations as current flowed through it .
By combining these magnetometry measurements with separate measurements of the sample ’ s optical birefringence , the team could study the sample ’ s bulk and surface @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate engendered by previous conflicting measurements .
What they found is that , contrary to hints of a discrepancy in previous studies , the material ’ s structural transition to a nematic phase and its electron transition occur at the same temperature : about 135 K for an undoped sample , and 96.5 K for a sample with 2.5 % doping ( see image ) .
“ People are excited about multimodal probes , where you can do two distinct measurements at the same time without any sort of change to the sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have a perfect example of that , and it ’ s because the atoms are transparent to all wavelengths except for those that are resonant with rubidium.
” Now that the SCQRAMscope has proved its worth as a means of studying strongly correlated materials , Lev says that he and his colleagues have “ a long list of fun projects to do ” .
Possible follow-up experiments include using the SCQRAMscope to probe other properties of pnictides ( including superconducting electron transport ) and study electron transport in 2D materials such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improving the instrument ’ s technical capabilities by reducing its use of cryogens , extending its range of operating temperatures and designing a new mount to make sample exchange easier .
Further details of the study appear in Nature Physics .

Cool tool A photo of the scanning quantum cryogenic atom microscope, or SQCRAMscope. (Courtesy: Benjamin Lev)
Physicists have deployed a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) as a “quantum microscope” to study phase transitions in a high-temperature superconductor. The experiment marks the first time a BEC has been used to probe such a complicated condensed-matter phenomenon, and the results – a solution to a puzzle involving transition temperatures in iron pnictide superconductors – suggest that the technique could help untangle the complex factors that enhance and inhibit high-temperature superconductivity.
A BEC is a state of matter that forms when a gas of bosons (particles with integer quantum spin) is cooled to such low temperatures that all the bosons fall into the same quantum state. Under these conditions, the bosons are highly sensitive to tiny fluctuations in the local magnetic field, which perturb their collective wavefunction and create patches of greater and lesser density in the gas. These variations in density can then be detected using optical techniques.
The new instrument, known as a scanning quantum cryogenic atom microscope (SQCRAMscope), puts this magnetic field sensitivity to practical use. “Our SQCRAMscope is basically like a microscope – a big lens, focusing light down on a sample, looking at the reflected light – except right at the focus we have a collection of quantum atoms that transduces the magnetic field into a light field,” explains team leader Benjamin Lev, a physicist at Stanford University in the US. “It’s a quantum gas transducer.”
Making a practical probe
The SQCRAMscope grew out of Lev’s earlier work on atom chips. In these devices, clouds of ultracold atoms are confined within a vacuum chamber to isolate them from their environment and levitated with magnetic fields generated by a miniaturized circuit, or chip.
One possible application of atom chips is to use these suspended atom clouds as sensitive, high-resolution probes of magnetic fields. But there was a problem: whenever researchers wanted to change the configuration of their chips, or bring a new sample of material near the atoms, they needed to break the vacuum, remove various optical components, take the chip out, and then put everything back. “It would take literally months to change anything,” Lev says. “It was not very good for rapid trials.”
A further complication is that running current through an atom chip causes the chip to heat up, affecting the temperature of any nearby sample in ways that are hard to predict or control. This, Lev observes, is “not ideal if you want to study phase transitions” and other temperature-dependent phenomena.
The Stanford team’s solution was to separate their atom chip from the samples they wanted to study. While the ultracold rubidium atoms in the SQCRAMscope remain inside a vacuum chamber, the chip used to magnetically trap them is located just outside it, with a few-hundred micrometre gap in between for the samples to slide in. “It’s a crazy Rube Goldberg kind of device, but it works,” Lev says.
A pnictide puzzle
After testing their SQCRAMscope on samples of gold wire, the researchers turned to a far more complex material: an iron pnictide superconductor with the chemical formula Ba(Fe 1−x Co x ) 2 As 2 . At room temperature, this material is a metal with a tetragonal crystal structure, but as it cools, it undergoes a transition to a nematic phase at a temperature that depends on the doping fraction x. At this point, the material’s crystalline symmetry is partially broken, and it exhibits a characteristic patchwork pattern of magnetic domains. However, the exact temperature of this nematic transition was the subject of some debate, because measurements that were sensitive to the material’s bulk properties gave one answer, while methods that focused on its surface properties suggested another.
Surface vs bulk: Measurements of the iron pnictide sample’s birefringence (left) and the magnetic fields generated as current flows through it (right). (Courtesy: Benjamin Lev)
Enter the SQCRAMscope. “These spatial patterns [in the magnetic domains] develop on the scale of a few microns, and that’s exactly matched to the spatial resolution of the SQCRAMscope,” Lev says. With help from collaborators in Stanford’s Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, he and his team prepared a sample of the iron pnictide, connected it to gold wires, and used the SQCRAMscope to image magnetic field fluctuations as current flowed through it. By combining these magnetometry measurements with separate measurements of the sample’s optical birefringence, the team could study the sample’s bulk and surface magnetic properties simultaneously, and resolve the debate engendered by previous conflicting measurements.
What they found is that, contrary to hints of a discrepancy in previous studies, the material’s structural transition to a nematic phase and its electron transition occur at the same temperature: about 135 K for an undoped sample, and 96.5 K for a sample with 2.5% doping (see image). “People are excited about multimodal probes, where you can do two distinct measurements at the same time without any sort of change to the sample or substrate,” Lev says. “We have a perfect example of that, and it’s because the atoms are transparent to all wavelengths except for those that are resonant with rubidium.”
Scope for improvements
Now that the SCQRAMscope has proved its worth as a means of studying strongly correlated materials, Lev says that he and his colleagues have “a long list of fun projects to do”. Possible follow-up experiments include using the SCQRAMscope to probe other properties of pnictides (including superconducting electron transport) and study electron transport in 2D materials such as graphene. The team is also improving the instrument’s technical capabilities by reducing its use of cryogens, extending its range of operating temperatures and designing a new mount to make sample exchange easier.
Further details of the study appear in Nature Physics.


physicsworld--2020-11-27--Rock, paper…plastic? A quiz about pop songs and bands linked to materials - Physics World

With the 2020 Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society now underway , what better way to kick things off than a quiz about songs and bands with materials in their titles or lyrics ?
( Warning : we ’ re not saying we necessarily like all the music mentioned ! )
1 .
Which of these artists has never had a song with the word “ diamonds ” in the title ?
2 .
What metal was the title of the 2011 chart-topper by David Guetta , in which the singer Sia likens her strength to this material ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ stone hard ” ?
3 .
In Spandau Ballet ’ s cheesy 1983 hit Gold , what attribute of the metal does singer Tony Hadley use to describe his lover ?
4 .
Which of these artists once recorded a song called Made of Stone ?
A. Joss Stone B. Sly and the Family Stone C. The Rolling Stones D. The Stone Roses 5 .
Lady Gaga ’ s name can be spelled out using the symbols of which of the following groups of elements ?
6 .
What two materials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit by British band Unit 4 + 2 ?
A .
Cement and Ceramic B .
Cement and Clay C. Concrete and Ceramic D. Concrete and Clay 7 .
What was the stage name of Marianne Joan Elliot-Said , the lead singer of influential 1970s punk band X-Ray Spex ?
8 .
German pop star Drafi Deutscher – whose career famously nose dived after he urinated off a balcony – had a hit song in 1965 with what three materials in the title ?
9 .
Which one of the following bands with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as we know , existed ?
10 .
What ’ s the final element to be named at the very end of Tom Lehrer ’ s song The Elements ?
11 .
And finally , what Queen song , written by PhD physicist Brian May , is also the atomic mass of potassium ?
Stuck for the answers ?
We ’ ll reveal them on 4 December .
With thanks to Lou Bailey , Tami Freeman , Hamish Johnson , Ed Jost and Curtis Zimmermann for inspiration .

With the 2020 Fall Meeting of the Materials Research Society now under way, what better way to kick things off than a quiz about songs and bands with materials in their titles or lyrics? (Warning: we’re not saying we necessarily like all the music mentioned!) And to see how IOP Publishing’s very own materials-science publisher Tom Miller gets on with the quiz, check out the Physics World Weekly podcast.
Rock hard: how well do you know your pop trivia with a materials theme? (Courtesy: istock/Talaj)
1. Which of these artists has never had a song with the word “diamonds” in the title?
A. The Beatles B. David Bowie C. Paul Simon D. Rihanna
2. What metal was the title of the 2011 chart-topper by David Guetta, in which the singer Sia likens her strength to this material’s ability to be “bullet-proof” and “stone hard”?
A. Chromium B. Platinum C. Titanium D. Vanadium
3. In Spandau Ballet’s cheesy 1983 hit “Gold”, what attribute of the metal does singer Tony Hadley use to describe his lover?
A. Immutable B. Imperishable C. Incorruptible D. Indestructible
4. Which of these artists once recorded a song called “Made of Stone”?
A. Joss Stone B. Sly and the Family Stone C. The Rolling Stones D. The Stone Roses
5. Lady Gaga’s name can be spelled out using the symbols of which of the following groups of elements?
A. Lanthanum Dysprosium Gadolinium Gadolinium B. Lawrencium Dysprosium Gadolinium Gadolinium C. Lanthanum Dysprosium Gallium Gallium D. Lawrencium Dysprosium Gallium Gallium
6. What two materials formed the title of a 1965 number-one hit by British band Unit 4 + 2?
A. “Cement and Ceramic” B. “Cement and Clay” C. “Concrete and Ceramic” D. “Concrete and Clay”
7. What was the stage name of Marianne Joan Elliot-Said, the lead singer of influential 1970s punk band X-Ray Spex?
A. Poly Methyl Methacrylate B. Poly Styrene C. Poly Thene D. Poly Vinyl Chloride
8. German pop star Drafi Deutscher – whose career famously nose dived after he urinated off a balcony – had a hit song in 1965 with what three materials in the title?
A. Gold, silver, bronze B. Concrete, cement, granite C. Marble, stone, iron D. Rock, chalk, clay
9. Which one of the following bands with a metal in the title never, as far as we know, existed?
A. Tin Machine B. Steel Pulse C. Iron Maiden D. Brass Monkey
10. What’s the final element to be named at the very end of Tom Lehrer’s song “The Elements”?
A. Antimony B. Barium C. Sodium D. Zirconium
11. And finally, what Queen song, written by PhD physicist Brian May, is also the atomic mass of potassium?
A. “37” B. “38” C. “39” D. “40”
Stuck for the answers? We’ve listed them below.
With thanks to Lou Bailey, Tami Freeman, Hamish Johnson, Ed Jost and Curtis Zimmermann for inspiration.
Answers: 1. B (David Bowie had a song Diamond Dogs, which had “diamond” in the singular) 2. C 3. D 4. D 5. C 6. D 7. B 8. C (the German song was called Marmor, Stein und Eisen Bricht) 9. D 10. C 11. C