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

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

Carbon Rings Under Stress

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

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

The “Edge of Chaos” Amplifies Signals Without Transistors

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

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

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

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

Artist’s representation of camelina seeds with contrasting seed coat colors and oil amounts. Disruption of the TT8 gene in camelina changed the regular brown seed color to light yellow and enhanced oil accumulation.

Engineered Yellow-Seeded Camelina Packs More Oil

Scientists use gene editing to create a yellow-seeded camelina that may boost oil yield.

Researchers have long thought pure niobium superconducting radiofrequency cavities were best for particle accelerators. Researchers are now using a toolkit to learn how to add impurities to the cavities to make them smoother—and more efficient.

Smoother Surfaces Make for Better Particle Accelerators

An enhanced topographic analysis toolkit for forecasting and improving particle accelerator performance is helping scientists build better accelerators.

Smoother Surfaces Make for Better Particle Accelerators

An enhanced topographic analysis toolkit for forecasting and improving particle accelerator performance is helping scientists build better accelerators.

Four layers of a surface-conducting material (Bi2Te3) between two single layers of a magnetic insulator (MnBi2Te4). This structure creates the conditions to align the manganese spins (red arrows) and support a zero-resistance, spin-polarized current.

Could a Magnetic Sandwich Make Your Electronic Devices Work More Efficiently?

Layers of a surface-conducting material, sandwiched between layers of a magnetic insulator, could lead to more powerful, energy-efficient electronics.

Highly porous MOFs can trap toxic gas molecules and prevent them from entering the atmosphere and can also be used to build sensors. This illustration shows the material’s normal luminescence (left) switched off in the presence of harmful gases (right).

Lying in Wait: MOF Are Traps for Toxic Gases

Researchers used neutrons to study porous metal materials called MOFs that trap toxic gases that are harmful to the environment and human health.

(A) The ultra-intense X-ray beams delivered by the unique superconducting helical undulator. (B) Ultrafast multi-pulse X-ray images. (C) Analysis of a region of interest. (D) A high-resolution velocity map of the near-nozzle spray.

Tiny Cavitation Bubbles Enhance Energy Conversion in Fuel Injectors’ Jets

Ultrafast X-ray imaging created with new technology offers insights into improving the energy efficiency of combustion engines.

Illustration of electron transfer driven by an ultrashort laser pulse across an interface between two atomically thin materials. An electronic interlayer “bridge” state emitting lattice vibrations in the layers facilitates this electron transfer.

New Mechanism Explains Rapid Energy Sharing Across Atomic Semiconductor Junctions

Electron transfer between atomically thin materials triggers the ultrafast release of heat.

Schematic of a plasma wakefield accelerator using optical laser beams and electron driver, escort, and witness beams for generating bright, coherent X-ray laser beams with attosecond duration and sub-Angstrom wavelength.

Ice-Cold Plasma Electron Beams Prepare to Power Future Hard X-ray Laser Beams

Scientists chart a path to sub-femtosecond hard X-ray Free-Electron-Laser pulses powered by compact plasma-based accelerators.

Team members pose in the clean room (left). Thermal image of the 10.4 kW uranium-238 beam on the target (top right). Three never-before-seen isotopes, shown to the right of the red line on the particle identification plot (bottom right).

Scientists Accelerate Uranium Beam with Record Power

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams opens a new research avenue and observes three new rare isotopes.