News Releases
Materials Science
Materials Science
Los Alamos Shares Nano 50 Award for Directed Assembly
September 3 — A team of scientists has discovered a more efficient way of fusing charge-carrying electrical contacts to tiny “nanowires” of silicon to create the nanotechnology at the heart of potential future advances in modern electronics, sensing, and energy collection.
Magnetism and Superconductivity Observed to Exist in Harmony
August 28 — Physicists at the Laboratory, along with colleagues at institutions in Switzerland and Canada, have observed, for the first time in a single exotic phase, a situation where magnetism and superconductivity are necessary for each other's existence.
Approaches to renewable energy storage focus of Frontiers in Science talk
August 21 — The science of renewable energy storage and how nanotechnology can benefit that science is the subject of the Laboratory’s next Frontiers in Science Lecture beginning August 26.
Lab Scientists Shed Light on Heavy Electrons, Suggest New View of Superconductivity
July 30 — Scientists from the Laboratory, the University of California, Irvine, and the University of California, Davis have proposed a new characterization for the bizarre behavior of certain super-cooled materials.
Electronic Structure of Superconductivity Refined
July 10 — A team of physicists, including Neil Harrison and Charles Mielke from Los Alamos National Laboratory, propose a new model that expands on a little understood aspect of the electronic structure in high-temperature superconductors.
The Quest for a New Class of Superconductors
December 20 — Fifty years after the Nobel-prize winning explanation of how superconductors work, a research team from Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of Edinburgh, and Cambridge University are suggesting another mechanism for the still-mysterious phenomenon.
Test of Through-The-Earth Communication System Exceeds Expectations
August 6 — Rigorous testing at the Lake Lynn Experimental Mine last month proved the viability of Vital Alert Technologies' system,Through-The-Earth Communication system, for emergency warning, evacuation, and rescue communications.
Contemplating the far away future of computing
March 20 — An unprecedented and multidisciplinary group of world-renowned scientists will gather this week in Santa Fe looking far into the future for the most promising ideas about what computers and computing may be like many decades from now.
Scientists develop new terahertz material
March 14 — Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have created a device for manipulating terahertz (THz) radiation. The device could be the basis for novel electronics and photonics applications ranging from new imaging methods to advanced communication technologies.
One-of-a-kind magnet open for science
October 24 — The world's most powerful pulsed, nondestructive magnet is now ready to explore the frontiers of high magnetic field science - after 10 years of research, major instrument development, and construction.
Less expensive fuel cell may be possible
October 3 — Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new class of hydrogen fuel-cell catalysts that exhibit promising activity and stability.
Laboratory sets high magnetic field records
August 31 — Scientists at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory's Pulsed Field Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory have set a pair of world records.
Los Alamos partners with CNT Technologies to commercialize SuperThread(tm) carbon-nanotube fiber
August 21 — Los Alamos National Laboratory has licensed its carbon nanotube technology to a new commercial partner, Seattle-based CNT Technologies Inc. (CNT Tech).
Making a safer bang for the buck - Los Alamos Research Team Identifies Replacements for Mercury and Lead in Primary Explosives
June 30 — Four ground-breaking families of environmentally friendly primary explosives under development at Los Alamos National Laboratory are featured this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Raiders of the lost dimension
June 1 — A team of scientists working at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory's Pulsed Field Facility at Los Alamos has uncovered an intriguing phenomenon while studying magnetic waves in barium copper silicate.
Scientists observe solitary vibrations in uranium
March 30 — Los Alamos scientists, working with collaborators from around the world, recently observed experimental evidence of solitary vibrations (solitons) in a solid.
Research reveals hidden magnetism in superconductivity
March 7 — While studying a compound made of the elements cerium- rhodium-indium, researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have discovered that a magnetic state can coexist with superconductivity in a specific temperature and pressure range.
Scientists put the squeeze on electron spins
June 15 — University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a novel method for controlling and measuring electron spins in semiconductor crystals of GaAs (gallium arsenide). The work suggests an alternative--and perhaps even superior--method of spin manipulation for future generations of "semiconductor spintronic" devices.
Researchers bridge superconductivity gap
March 31 — University of California scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory working with a researcher from Chonnam National University in South Korea have found that magnetic fluctuations appear to be responsible for superconductivity in a compound called plutonium-cobalt-pentagallium (PuCoGa5).
Scientists "PAD" their way to new metal-oxide film technology
December 14 — University of California scientists working with a researcher from Washington State University at Los Alamos National Laboratory's Superconductivity Technology Center have developed a novel method for creating high performance, inorganic metal-oxide films using polymer-assisted deposition, or PAD. The breakthrough could pave the way for a greater use of metal-oxide films into the electronics manufacturing industry.
Scientists explore atomic mysteries of ancient pigment
November 18 — University of California scientists from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Pulsed Field Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory, working with colleagues from Tokyo Metropolitan University, the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics in Estonia, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida and the University of Tokyo, have discovered an ideal candidate for Bose-Einstein condensation in the ancient Chinese pigment, Han Purple.
Laboratory grows world record length carbon nanotube
September 13 — University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory in collaboration with chemists from Duke University have recently grown a world record-length four-centimeter-long, single-wall carbon nanotube.
Nanotechnology leads to discovery of super superconductors
September 9 — University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory with a researcher from the University of Cambridge have demonstrated a simple and industrially scaleable method for improving the current densities of superconducting coated conductors in magnetic field environments. The discovery has the potential to increase the already impressive carrying capacity of superconducting wires and tapes by as much as 200 to 500 percent in certain uses, like motors and generators, where high magnetic fields diminish current densities.
Exploring the noisy nature of atoms
September 2 — University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have demonstrated a way to use the random fluctuations that exist naturally in all magnetic systems to perform magnetic resonance studies without disturbing the system's natural state.
Laboratory advances the art and science of aerogels
August 25 — University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have recently demonstrated a novel method for chemically modifying and enhancing silica-based aerogels without sacrificing the aerogels unique properties. Aerogels are low-density, transparent materials used in a wide range of applications, including thermal insulation, porous separation media, inertial confinement fusion experiments and cometary dust capture agents.
Laboratory Captures Five R&D 100 Awards
July 6 — Scientists at the University of California's Los Alamos National Laboratory have captured five of R&D Magazine's 2004 R&D 100 Awards. The latest winners bring the Laboratory's total to 83 awards over the past 17 years. The projects recognized this year span a diverse range of scientific and technical areas - from innovative imaging techniques and advances in computing to revolutionary new materials. This year, Los Alamos was tied with its sister laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, for the largest number of awards received by a Department of Energy laboratory.
Laboratory creates hydrogen and fuel cell research institute
May 19 — Building on more than 25 years experience in the area of fuel cells, Los Alamos National Laboratory announced today the creation of the Institute for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research (IHFCR) to better address technical issues and provide solutions for enabling key aspects of the hydrogen economy and broadening the use of fuel cells
Superdiamonds? - Scientists discover superconductivity in diamond
April 1 — Scientists working at the Russian Academy of Sciences and Los Alamos National Laboratory announced today the discovery of superconductivity at ultracold temperatures in cubic diamond. The discovery offers the potential for a new generation of diamond-based device applications and even suggests that superconductivity in silicon or germanium, which also forms in the diamond structure, may be possible.
Backhaus named top young innovator by Technology Review magazine
September 15 — The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Technology Review magazine today announced that Los Alamos National Laboratory staff member Scott Backhaus is one of the world's 100 Top Young Innovators for 2003.
Scientists explore complex nature of superconductivity
August 21 — Researchers from the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) at Los Alamos National Laboratory believe they have discovered evidence to support leading theories about the underlying mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity. Through research in high magnetic fields, they hope to have made one more step toward a complete understanding of this complex phenomenon.
Laboratory's Greg Swift honored by Acoustical Society of America
August 14 — Physicist Greg Swift of the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory will receive the Silver Medal in Physical Acoustics from the Acoustical Society of America.
Los Alamos receives two R&D awards
July 24 — The U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory has received two of R&D Magazine's R&D 100 Awards, bringing the Laboratory's total to 65 awards over the past 12 years.
U.S. and Russian scientists develop process for making pure titanium medical implants
May 30 — Researchers at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Ufa State Aviation Technical University in Russia have developed a process for making strong, lightweight and corrosion-resistant medical implant material from pure titanium.
Los Alamos announces agreement to develop second-generation superconductor tapes
March 17 — The Los Alamos National Laboratory announced today, in cooperation with Argonne National Laboratory, the signing of a cooperative research and development agreement with Intermagnetics General Corporation of Latham, New York. The 3-year, $2.5 million agreement will focus on coating technologies developed for producing second-generation high-temperature superconducting tape.
Director selects newest Laboratory Fellows
November 1 — Los Alamos National Laboratory Director John Browne has named Aloysius Arko, Shiyi Chen, Shimshon Gottesfeld, Steve Lamoreaux, and Robert Weaver to the position of Laboratory Fellow, the Laboratory's highest scientific honor
Making concrete stronger and tougher with bone-shaped wires
August 23 — Researchers at Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory have discovered that enlarging the ends of small wires mixed into concrete substantially increases the material's overall strength and toughness.
Laboratory researchers to receive award for work on fuel-cell technology
March 15 — Five researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory are among the 15 recipients of the 1998 Partnership for the Next Generation of Vehicles Award for their work on automotive fuel cell technology.
Lab to provide electrical characterization for novel energy project
January 26 — The Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory will be providing special electrical characterization of components used in the first high temperature superconducting transformer installed in a U.S. electric utility network.
Lab names new Cyril Smith Scholars
January 20 — Davis Tonks, Fred Steinkruger, and Alexander Balatsky have been named Cyril Smith Scholars for the 1999 term at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory
Laboratory hires new MST division director
January 21 — Former Los Alamos scientist Paul S. Follansbee has been selected as the new director of the Laboratory's Materials Science and Technology Division. Follansbee succeeds Ross Lemons, who resigned in October 2002 after serving as division director since 1993.
Laboratory's Atlas machine begins experimental work
September 27 — Scientists at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory performed the first liner implosion shot on the Atlas pulsed power facility recently. This successful experiment demonstrated that the Atlas facility is ready to support the Laboratory's research work relating to the certification of the nuclear weapons stockpile.
Lab develops colorful beryllium detection technology
August 30 — Detecting beryllium on contaminated surfaces may become as simple as testing the acidity of a swimming pool, thanks to scientists at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Los Alamos researcher presents bright idea
August 27 — Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory are exploring methods for creating more electrically efficient organic light-emitting diodes -- technology that could be used to create energy-efficient panels of light for use in buildings or homes.
High-temperature superconducting tape licensed
June 4 — The Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory has licensed patents and applications related to its technology for manufacturing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape to IGC-SuperPower of Latham, N.Y., a wholly owned subsidiary of Intermagnetics General Corp.
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