NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Gusts in the Wind

January 13, 2017

A turbulence-based model of wind variations explains observed fluctuations in the power output from wind turbines.  

Synopsis on:
M. M. Bandi
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 028301 (2017)


EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Metabolic Trade-Offs Promote Diversity in a Model Ecosystem

A new ecosystem model, which accounts for metabolic trade-offs between coexisting species, shows that population diversity can increase even when species compete for the same limited nutrients, a finding that replicates nature.

Anna Posfai, Thibaud Taillefumier, and Ned S. Wingreen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 028103 (2017)


ON THE COVER

Isoscalar ππ Scattering and the σ Meson Resonance from QCD

January 12, 2017

Schematic diagrams showing possible quark propagation channels in pion-pion scattering.

Raul A. Briceño, Jozef J. Dudek, Robert G. Edwards, and David J. Wilson (for the Hadron Spectrum Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 022002 (2017)


EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Quasiphase Transition in a Single File of Water Molecules Encapsulated in (6,5) Carbon Nanotubes Observed by Temperature-Dependent Photoluminescence Spectroscopy

A temperature induced phase transition occurs in water molecules packed single-file inside a carbon nanotube, as shown by photoluminescence measurements and first-principles calculations.

Xuedan Ma et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 027402 (2017)


EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Dark Energy from Violation of Energy Conservation

A theoretical analysis suggests that quantum mechanical violations of energy conservation may arise in some proposed models of quantum gravity. If realized in nature, these violations could manifest on cosmological scales as an effective cosmological constant.

Thibaut Josset, Alejandro Perez, and Daniel Sudarsky
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 021102 (2017)


NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Dark Matter Still at Large

January 11, 2017

No dark matter particles have been observed by two of the world’s most sensitive direct-detection experiments, casting doubt on a favored dark matter model.

Viewpoint on:
D. S. Akerib et al. (LUX Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 021303 (2017)


Andi Tan et al. (PandaX-II Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 121303 (2016)

EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Two-Photon X-Ray Diffraction

Conventional diffraction theory is predicted to break down for x-rays when spontaneous scattering is replaced by stimulated scattering by a thin film source. The stimulated diffraction pattern generated by the cooperative interaction of two coherent, unentangled photons results in self-focussing beyond the diffraction limit.  

J. Stöhr
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 024801 (2017)


EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Observation of J/ψϕ Structures Consistent with Exotic States from Amplitude Analysis of B+J/ψϕK+ Decays

The LHCb collaboration has identified four new structures in B+ decays that are likely to be tetraquark states. These tetraquark systems contain neither of the light u and d quarks.



R. Aaij et al. (LHCb Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 022003 (2017)

R. Aaij et al. (LHCb Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. D 95, 012002 (2017)


EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Biochemical Machines for the Interconversion of Mutual Information and Work

An enzyme in a chemical bath can act as an autonomous biochemical device that exploits information to do work.

Thomas McGrath, Nick S. Jones, Pieter Rein ten Wolde, and Thomas E. Ouldridge
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 028101 (2017)


NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Golden Mystery Solved

January 10, 2017

A long-standing discrepancy between experiments and theory concerning the electronic properties of gold has now been resolved.

Synopsis on:
L. F. Pašteka et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 023002 (2017)


EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Channeling of Branched Flow in Weakly Scattering Anisotropic Media

A theoretical analysis of wave propagation through anisotropic media shows unexpected collective effects occur.

Henri Degueldre, Jakob J. Metzger, Erik Schultheis, and Ragnar Fleischmann
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 024301 (2017)


10 YEARS OF PRL EDITORS’ SUGGESTIONS

Testing Gravity

In January 2007, Dan Kapner and colleagues reported measurements of the gravitational force between two masses just 55 micrometers apart. As the masses were pushed together, the force increased exactly as theory predicted. The results ruled out some proposed modifications of Newtonian gravity involving “fat gravitons”, which required gravity’s effect to weaken at these very close distances.


Tests of the Gravitational Inverse-Square Law below the Dark-Energy Length Scale
D.J. Kapner et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 021101 (2007)


NEWS AND COMMENTARY

What Goes Up Must Come Down

January 9, 2017

A molecular fountain, which launches molecules rather than atoms and allows them to be observed for long times, has been demonstrated for the first time.

Viewpoint on:
Cunfeng Cheng et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 253201 (2016)

Current Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 2 — 13 January 2017

View Current Issue

Announcements

2017 Breakthrough Prizes Awarded
December 13, 2016

The Breakthrough Prize organization announced its 2017 winners and celebrated its 5th anniversary.

More Announcements

Meet The Editors

Physics of Quantum Electronics
January 8-13
Snowbird, Utah

Frank Narducci

CUWiP
January 13-15
Boulder, CO

Rocio Cortes

Biology for Physics Conference: Is there new Physics in Living Matter?
January 15-18
Barcelona, Spain

Hugues Chaté

University of Wisconsin
January 19
Madison, WI

Sami Mitra

SPIE Photonics West
January 30 - February 2
San Francisco, CA

Frank Narducci

Contact the editors at prl@aps.org.

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