News Releases

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Stability by fluctuation: topological materials outperform through quantum periodic motion

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory have discovered that applying vibrational motion in a periodic manner may be the key to preventing dissipations of the desired electron states that would make advanced quantum computing and spintronics possible.

Rare-earths experts at CMI debut a unique new research capability

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Critical Materials Institute have a new and more accurate tool—a start-to-finish, controlled atmosphere materials processing system.

Controlled Atmospheric Materials Processing System

Ames Lab’s testing device speeds the way to new refrigeration technology

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory is employing a testing device that pairs materials science with engineering systems development. Called CaloriSMART (Caloric Small-scale Modular Advanced Research Test-stand), the one-of-a-kind system is being used to rapidly test new materials that might eventually be part of an entirely new kind of refrigeration technology for the 21st century and beyond.

Lucas Griffith with the CaloriSMART system

Ames High wins 2020 High School Science Bowl

Ames High won the 2020 Ames Laboratory/Iowa State University Regional High School Science Bowl on Jan. 25.

Ames High confers on an answer to a bonus question.

Ames Lab to Host 30th High School Science Bowl Jan. 25

Team members confer during the 2019 Ames Laboratory High School Science Bowl

What’s MER? It’s a way to measure quantum materials, and it’s telling us new and interesting things

Experimental physicists have combined several measurements of quantum materials into one in their ongoing quest to learn more about manipulating and controlling the behavior of them for possible applications. They even coined a term for it-- Magneto-elastoresistance, or MER.

Graphic representation of magneto-elastoresistance

Atom-by-atom: Ames Lab’s powerful microscopes help scientists redefine understanding of antiferroelectrics

Ames Laboratory’s capabilities in viewing materials atom-by-atom at its Sensitive Instrument Facility (SIF) regularly helps scientists discover new rules of quantum behavior. Now, the Laboratory’s powerful microscopes have corrected a long held structural model in a class of materials called antiferroelectrics.

Micrograph showing alignment of atoms in antiferroelectrics

Ames Laboratory receives its highest ratings in FY2019

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released Ames Laboratory’s Performance Evaluation Report Card for FY 2019, and the Laboratory received its highest ratings ever, and continues for the third year in a row to exceed expectations in a majority of the key performance areas measured.

Under pressure: a new experimental apparatus gathers more insight on magnetic and superconducting states

A new technique developed at Ames Laboratory lets scientists study a material's specific heat while it's subjected to high pressure, a breakthrough that allows mapping of electronic, magnetic, and structural phase transitions, how those transitions interact and ultimately to control them for desired properties.

high pressure measurement of superconductors

How do you know it’s perfect graphene? The answer has been there all along

Ames Laboratory scientists have discovered an indicator that reliably demonstrates a graphene sample’s high quality, and it was one that was hiding in plain sight for decades, using low energy electron diffraction, a technique commonly used in physics to study the crystal structure of the surfaces of solid materials.