What is the fusion energy gain factor?
So how much progress have we made towards using fusion to generate electricity? Here, we introduce the concept of the fusion energy gain factor, normally written as (Q). (Q) is …
Course: Frontier Physics, Future Technologies
How fusion technology can be used for energy production
Fusion technology If we can push together two light nuclei, they can fuse and release their excess energy. So how do we make use of this in practice? The problem …
Radiotherapy
As well as playing an important role in developing medical imaging technologies, particle physics is also vital in developing treatments, particularly for diseases such as cancer. In the video above, …
What is a plasma?
Let’s get started! Plasma is often referred to as the fourth state of matter. So how is it different from the other states of matter – solids, liquids, and gases? …
The future for d* hexaquark research
Trying to identify candidates for dark matter is an ongoing and exciting field of astrophysics. There are still many possibilities, one of which is the d* hexaquark. As Prof. Dan …
The D-Star Hexaquark
Moving on from medical applications, we are now going to explore an exciting new discovery in particle physics. The d-star hexaquark, described by Dr Mikhail Bashkanov in the video above, …
The D-Star Hexaquark and Neutron Stars
The d-star hexaquark may have a role to play in the structure of neutron stars. Let’s find out more… Neutron stars are the remnants left after the gravitational collapse of …
Week 3: Closing thoughts
This week we have explored the world of quantum and particle physics. We hope that you were inspired by the applications of this research to areas as diverse as medical …
Designer pharmaceuticals
We finish this section on designer materials by looking at one final application of computer modelling materials: pharmaceuticals. You might imagine that developing new medications would be best done by …
Thermoelectric Efficiency
Here we will look at an innovative software which allows new advanced materials to be developed using sophisticated computer simulation. It has been used for a vast range of applications: …
How to create designer materials
Finding ways to improve a material, let alone creating a brand new one, is experimentally challenging and requires time, money and resources. This effort is only worthwhile if the final …
Biosensors
Having looked at how photonic nanostructures are manufactured, this video shows how they are converted into biosensors. The biosensors developed at the University of York combine the diffraction and Bragg …
Week 2: Closing thoughts
This week we have zoomed in on the nanoscale and explored the world of materials. We have investigated how electron microscopy can allow us to see down to the atomic …
The benefits of advanced solar cells
In addition to being used for biosensors, photonic nanostructures can be used in a wide range of other applications. Arguably one of the most important of these is in improving …
Making nanostructures
Once a photonic nanostructure has been designed, we need to manufacture it. The process, for the example of a diffraction grating discussed in the previous article, is shown in the …
