An intensity profile of the deconfined phase of a Majorana zero mode in a vortex lattice shows a pronounced periodic modulation in the x direction, parallel to the superflow, with bifurcation points at the vortex cores.

APS Editor in Chief, Michael Thoennessen, discusses a new opportunity for communicating authors to include their pronouns together with their contact email in order to promote a more respectful, inclusive, and equitable environment.

A machine-learning technique maps water’s phase space as reliably as gold standard ab initio calculations but at a much smaller computational cost.

Synopsis on:
Linfeng Zhang, Han Wang, Roberto Car, and Weinan E
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 236001 (2021)

Pseudorandom circuits, until recently thought only to be useful to show that quantum computers can outperform classical ones, can be used to simulate hydrodynamics in quantum many-body systems.

Researchers outline a protocol for performing a popular quantum-classical machine-learning algorithm with a so-called measurement-based quantum computer, which could allow for more resource-efficient calculations.

Feature on:
R. R. Ferguson et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 220501 (2021)

A robotic fish whose swimming action is initiated in the same way as that of real fish could help researchers test predictions about these underwater creatures, using well-controlled conditions.

Synopsis on:
J. Sánchez-Rodríguez, F. Celestini, C. Raufaste, and M. Argentina
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 234501 (2021)

When a cloud of cold atoms goes through a supersolid phase transition, its coexisting superfluid and crystalline phases do not emerge simultaneously.

Viewpoint on:
Maximilian Sohmen et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 233401 (2021)

An invisible gateway experiment at microwave frequencies is demonstrated, providing a real observation of the superscattering effects of metamaterials in electromagnetic waves.

Ultrafast pulses of infrared light generate electron-phonon polarons that cause a short dip in the effective temperature of semimetal PtTe${}_2$ thin films during the first few picoseconds after photoexcitation.

As an analogy of the magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene, a coupled-mode theory is formulated for low-angle twisted bilayer honeycomb photonic crystals, discovering magic-angle photonic flat bands with a non-Anderson-type localization.

A new technique for measuring displacements of tiny particles in a fluid reveals a previously unseen hydrodynamic flow pattern that could provide intel on the interface’s mechanical properties.  

Synopsis on:
Mehdi Molaei et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 228003 (2021)

A proposal combines classical optimization using a cost function with measurement-based quantum computation, which would allow one to run efficient VQEs on photonic architectures.

A self-propelled particle trapped in a potential well defined by energy availability, has a unique swimming pattern that comes from hidden currents in the fluid in which it swims.

Synopsis on:
Nicola Andreas Söker et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 228001 (2021)

Sven Auschra et al.
Phys. Rev. E 103, 062601 (2021)

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing in November 2020 of our former colleague, Jack Sandweiss, who was Editor of Physical Review Letters for a quarter of a century (1987-2013). Jack had a passion for all of physics, which infused his role. He pressed us to be better, always with a smile. Jack spearheaded many initiatives in his time here, as you can see from this APS News interview. He was always looking forward. We will miss him dearly.