quantum animal navigation magnetic field

Animal Navigation May Function at the Quantum Limit of Magnetic Field Detection

Introduction to Biological Manetoreceptors and Quantum Limits

Physicists at the University of Crete have discovered that certain biological magnetoreceptors used by various species for navigation function at or near the quantum limit. In their PRX Life publication, I. K. Kominis and E. Gkoudinakis approached the problem of magnetic sensing in small animals by defining constraints on unknown quantum boundaries revealing new insights into animal navigation.

How Animals Use Earth's Magnetic Field for Navigation

Scientific studies confirm that many creatures use Earth's magnetic field for navigation. Sharks, fish and birds rely on this innate ability to traverse great distances. Their magnetic sensing mechanisms differ across species, incorporating radical-pair interactions electromagnetic induction and magnetite-based magnetoreception.

Radical-Pair Magnetoreception

Radical-pair magnetoreception functions by detecting correlations between unpaired electrons within specific molecules.

Electromagnetic Induction and Magnetite-Based Magnetoreception

The induction mechanism converts magnetic field energy into electrical signals, which are then sensed as electrical charge. Magnetite-based magnetoreception relies on the movement or alignment of microscopic iron crystals within the body, akin to the operation of a traditional compass.

Investigating the Limits of Magnetic Sensing in Organisms

Kominis and Gkoundinakis investigated the sensing limits of various organisms based on their biological magnetoreceptors. They determined that a magnetic sensor's effectiveness depends on three key factors- Volume, Time and uncertainty in magnetic field estimation. Though these parameters can be reduced for smaller sensors, their lower bound is ultimately restricted by Planck's constant.

Hypothesis: Animals Operating at the Quantum Limit

The researchers hypothesized that some animals operate near the quantum limit due to their small size and the minimal variations in the magnetic field they detect. Instead of directly measuring these parameters they approached the problem in reverse—starting from the quantum limit and extrapolating backward to determine the unknown biological sensor constraints.

Key Findings: Biological Magnetoreceptors at the Quantum Limit

The researchers discovered that at least two biological magnetoreceptors involved in chemical reaction-based sensing in animals may function precisely at or near the quantum limit of magnetic field detection. This finding could pave the way for the development of highly sensitive magnetic field sensing technologies.

Source

"Discover more cutting-edge research on how animals navigate using magnetic fields and the quantum limits of biological sensors. Explore how these findings could lead to advanced magnetic field sensing technologies.

For deeper insights into health-related discoveries, visit Human Health Issues.

If you're curious about more science news, head over to FSNews365.

and for an eye-opening perspective on Earth's environmental challenges, check out Earth Day Harsh Reality.

Stay informed and join the conversation on the frontlines of science!"

alice-antimatter-hyperhelium4-evidence-lhc

ALICE Unveils First Evidence of Antimatter Hyperhelium-4 Partner

Introduction: The Role of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) facilitates collisions between heavy ions, generating quark—gluon plasma—a hot, dense state of matter believed to have existed a millionth of a second after the Big Bang. These collisions also offer an ideal environment for the formation of atomic nuclei, exotic hypernuclei, and their antimatter equivalents, including antinuclei and antihypernuclei.

Importance of Hypernuclei Research

The study of these matter forms is vital for multiple objectives, including:

• Deciphering how hadrons emerge from quarks and gluons in the plasma
• Exploring the matter-antimatter imbalance in the universe today

What are Hypernuclei?

Exotic Nuclear Structures

Hypernuclei are exotic nuclear structures composed of protons, neutrons, and hyperons—unstable particles that include one or more strange quarks. Despite their discovery in cosmic rays over 70 years ago, hypernuclei continue to captivate physicists due to their rarity in nature and the challenges associated with their creation and study in laboratory settings.

Hypernuclei Production in Heavy-Ion Collisions

Hypernuclei are produced in substantial numbers during heavy-ion collisions; however, until recently, only the lightest hypernucleus, the hypertriton, and its antimatter counterpart, the antihypertrition, have been detected. The hypertrition consists of a proton, a neutron, and a lambda particle (a hyperon with one strange quark), while the antihypertrition is composed of an antiproton, an antineutron, and an antilambda.

Antimatter Hypernuclei: A Milestone Discovery

First Evidence of Antihyperhelium-4

After the STAR collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) reported the observation of antihyperhydrogen-4 earlier this year—a bound state comprising an antiproton, two antineutrons, and an antilambda-the ALICE collaboration at the LHC has now provided the first evidence of antihyperhelium-4. This exotic particle is made up of two antiprotons, an antineutron, and an antilambda.

Significance of the Discovery

This result, showing a significance of 3.5 standard deviations, marks the first evidence of the heaviest antimatter hypernucleus observed at the LHC. The findings have been made available on the arXiv preprint server.

ALICE Experiment and Methodology

The 2018 Lead-Lead Collision Data

The ALICE experiment utilized lead-lead collision data from 2018, with an energy of 5.02 teraelectronvolts (TeV) for each colliding pair of nucleons (protons and neutrons). Employing an advanced machine-learning technique that exceeds the performance of standard hypernuclei search approaches, ALICE researchers examined the data for signs of hyperhydrogen-4, hyperhelium-4, and their antimatter equivalents.

Detection and Analysis Process

To identify candidates for (anti) hyperhydrogen-4, researchers searched for the (anti) helium-4 nucleus and the charged pion produced during its decay. In contrast, candidates for (anti) hy perhelium-4 were detected through their decay into an (anti) helium-3 nucleus, an (anti)  proton, and a charged  pion.

Measured Masses and Production Yields of Hypernuclei

Consistency with World-Average Values

The ALICE team not only found evidence of antihyperhelium-4 a significance of 3.5 standard deviations and antihyperhydrogen-4 with a significance of 4.5 standard deviations, but also measured the production yields and masses of both hypernuclei.

Both hypernuclei showed measured masses that are consistent with the current world-average values. The production yields were also analyzed and compared with predictions made by the statistical hadronization model, which accurately depicts hadron and nucleus formation in heavy-ion collisions.

Statistical Hadronization Model Predictions

The comparison shows that the statistical hadronization model's predictions are consistent with the data when both excited and ground states of hypernuclei are factored in. This supports the model's effectiveness in describing hypernuclei production, which are small, dense entities measuring roughly 2 femtometers in diameter (with 1 femtometer equal to 10¯¹⁵ meters).

Conclusion: Contribution to Understanding Matter and Antimatter

The researchers measured the antiparticle-to-particle yield ratios for both hypernuclei and found them to be consistent with unity, within the bounds of experimental uncertainty. This consistency aligns with ALICE's findings of equal matter and antimatter production at LHC energies and contributes to the broader study of the matter-antimatter imbalance in the universe.

Source

"Explore more on the groundbreaking research from ALICE at LHC and stay updated on developments in particle physics and antimatter studies."