Exciting Research In The Field Of Physics

By Adriana Noton

Research in the field of physics has resulted in numerous remarkable discoveries that have benefited the world. Recent discoveries have uncovered insightful mysteries about the origins of the universe and have also led to astounding achievements in the field of health. This is an exciting time in the area of Physics research. Below are highlights of a few of the exciting discoveries that have resulted from research in the field of Physics.

1. Large Hadron Collider: The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) located at the CERN laboratory near Geneva, Switzerland, is the world's most powerful particle accelerator. Scientists believe it could help reveal amazing discoveries about the nature of the physical universe. In 2008, an international team of scientists sent the first beam of protons at almost the speed of light around the Large Hadron Collider's 27 kilometer ring.

2. Production of X-RAYS: This development allows computed tomography (CT) to produce images of isolated slices of the body. This imaging technique is based on mathematical principles for reconstruction of images, digital-computer technology, and x-ray scanning.

3. Ultrasound: Much like how sonar allows fishermen to find fish, ultrasound imaging allows pictures to be created of the body's organs. This is carried out by emitting a sound pulse and then waiting for its echo. The pulses are sent and received by a small transducer which an ultrasound technician slides over the skin. The sound waves travel through the body and then are reflected back towards the transducer. The echo signals are then used to produce the ultrasound images on the monitor. The sound of physics research bringing in practical appliactions!

4. Invisibility Shields: Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have developed 3-D materials that can reverse the natural direction of visible and near-infrared light. This development could help produce cloaking devices that cause objects to become invisible to the naked eye, higher resolution optical imaging, and nanocircuits for high-powered computers.

5. Positron Emission Tomography (PET): In a typical PET system the patient is surrounded by a ring of detectors. To image a specific biochemical activity of an organ, a radioactive substance called a radiotracer or radiopharmaceutical is inhaled or injected into the body. Two gamma rays are sent out in opposite directions and then hit radiation detectors that are placed around the patient. Each time a gamma ray hits the detector, a computer records its location. This information allows the computer to produce cross-sectional images of the organ.

6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI uses pulses to create images of the human anatomy. It uses the following to generate images of isolated slices of the patient: a large magnet that surrounds the patient, radio frequency electromagnetic pulses, non uniform magnetic fields, and a computer.

7. Teleportation: In recent years, Physicists have learned how to fully transfer the identity of one particle onto another particle at a separate location; a process called teleportation. The idea is that someday we will be able to teleport whole objects. This research is entering a realm where mathematics research and physics converge together.

The current and past discoveries in Physics research have made it an invaluable field for helping the world and humans progress. The future for research in Physics is going to be a very exciting time with many more significant discoveries to come. - 30454

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