Physics Department News
The electrons that make heavy rare earth metal magnets critical
A theory for magnetic ordering in metals investigates the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the magnetic states of the heavy rare earth elements Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb
Extreme Nanowires and Single Atom Coils of Metallic Tellurium Formed Within Ultra-Narrow Carbon Nanotubes
New research by Drs. J. Sloan, D. Quigley and PhD student Sam Marks in Warwick, Drs. P. Mederios and A. J. Morris in Cambridge and Dr. Q. Ramasse at STFC SuperSTEM confirm the formation of metallic ‘Extreme Nanowires’ (ENs) of single atom width tellurium atomic chains in ultra-narrow Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes. We combined state-of-the-art imaging techniques and 1D-adapted ab initio structure prediction to treat both confinement and periodicity effects. The studied Te ENs adopt a variety of structures, exhibiting a true 1D realization of a Peierls structural distortion and transition from metallic to insulating behavior as a function of encapsulating diameter as well as the formation of discrete atomic coils of metallic tellurium.
Observation of quasi-periodic solar radio bursts associated with propagating fast-mode waves
The shock fronts of waves and plasma motions in the Sun'’s atmosphere produce radio emission via accelerated electrons. We analyse a series of quasi-periodic waves and the related radio features.
Rachel Edwards Wins Staff Award
Congratulations to Rachel Edwards who has won the Public Engagement Award (Individual) at the University Staff Awards.
"Rachel probably does more outreach activities than any other member of staff in the Physics Department. This almost always involves doing activities in the evenings or at weekends. When she does outreach in the week, because the level of effort falls outside her expected role, it often means that she needs to do additional work outside normal hours just to catch up because she has undertaken outreach. Whilst we expect all staff to do some outreach, Rachel undertakes this with a level of effort and enthusiasm that goes way beyond what we could usually expect or hope for. Without Rachel’s involvement and leadership, many of the outreach events or activities that we have been able to deliver would probably not have happened.”
See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/insite/uni_awards/winners2017 for a full list of winners from the night.