Abstract: A computing network comprising a first layer comprising a first set of oscillators and a second layer comprising a second set of oscillators is provided. The computing network further comprises a plurality of adjustable coupling elements between the oscillators of the first set and a plurality of nonlinear elements. The nonlinear elements are configured to couple output signals of the first layer to the second layer. The computing network further comprises an encoding unit configured to receive input signals, convert the input signals into phase-encoded output signals, and provide the phase-encoded output signals to the first layer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a reconfigurable interference device comprising a phase change structure. The phase change structure comprises a solid-state phase change material having a first phase state and a second phase state dependent on temperature. A first energy source is configured to supply an initialization energy to initialize a plurality of domains having the first phase state and a second energy source is configured to supply an electrical current to the structure to position the plurality of domains of the first phase state within the phase change structure. A control unit is configured to control the first and the second energy source and to create a periodic interference pattern comprising a plurality of domains of the first phase state and a plurality of domains of the second phase state in an alternating pattern.

Abstract: An electrical resistor element, system, and method related thereto, wherein the electrical resistor element includes a tunable resistance. The electrical resistor element comprises a first contact electrode, a second contact electrode and a ferroelectric layer arranged between the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode. The ferroelectric layer comprises a first area having a first polarization direction and a second area having a second polarization direction. The first polarization direction is different to the second polarization direction. The ferroelectric layer further comprises a domain wall between the first area and the second area. The electrical resistor element further comprises a first pinning element configured to stabilize the first polarization direction of the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a programmable metamaterial which comprises an array of phase-change material elements. A domain inducing component may be coupled to at least one phase-change material element of the array of phase-change material elements. The domain inducing component may be configured to program the refractive index of the at least one phase-change material element and reprogram the refractive index of the at least one phase-change material element by inducing a phase transition in a domain of the at least one phase-change material element. A method for programming the metamaterial may include selecting the phase-change material element for programming and programming the refractive index of the selected phase-change material element by inducing a phase transition in a domain of the selected phase-change material element.

Abstract: An electrical resistor element, system, and method related thereto, wherein the electrical resistor element includes a tunable resistance. The electrical resistor element comprises a first contact electrode, a second contact electrode and a ferroelectric layer arranged between the first contact electrode and the second contact electrode. The ferroelectric layer comprises a first area having a first polarization direction and a second area having a second polarization direction. The first polarization direction is different to the second polarization direction. The ferroelectric layer further comprises a domain wall between the first area and the second area. The electrical resistor element further comprises a first pinning element configured to stabilize the first polarization direction of the ferroelectric layer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a reconfigurable interference device comprising a phase change structure. The phase change structure comprises a solid-state phase change material having a first phase state and a second phase state dependent on temperature. A first energy source is configured to supply an initialization energy to initialize a plurality of domains having the first phase state and a second energy source is configured to supply an electrical current to the structure to position the plurality of domains of the first phase state within the phase change structure. A control unit is configured to control the first and the second energy source and to create a periodic interference pattern comprising a plurality of domains of the first phase state and a plurality of domains of the second phase state in an alternating pattern.

Abstract: The present disclosure is notably directed to a computing network comprising a first layer comprising a first set of oscillators and a second layer comprising a second set of oscillators. The computing network further comprises a plurality of adjustable coupling elements between the oscillators of the first set and a plurality of nonlinear elements. The nonlinear elements are configured to couple output signals of the first layer to the second layer. The computing network further comprises an encoding unit configured to receive input signals, convert the input signals into phase-encoded output signals, and provide the phase-encoded output signals to the first layer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a reconfigurable interference device comprising a phase change structure. The phase change structure comprises a solid-state phase change material having a first phase state and a second phase state dependent on temperature. A first energy source is configured to supply an initialization energy to initialize a plurality of domains having the first phase state and a second energy source is configured to supply an electrical current to the structure to position the plurality of domains of the first phase state within the phase change structure. A control unit is configured to control the first and the second energy source and to create a periodic interference pattern comprising a plurality of domains of the first phase state and a plurality of domains of the second phase state in an alternating pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments are notably directed to a thermoelectric device including a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element includes a Weyl semimetal and a plurality of magnetized elements. The plurality of magnetized elements are configured to apply a directed magnetic field on the Weyl-semimetal. Embodiments further concern a related method for cooling a device and a related method for generating electrical energy.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a structure, in turn including a solid-state phase change material. The solid-state phase change material has a first phase state and a second phase state dependent on the temperature. A heat source is configured to supply heat to a first area of the structure, thereby creating a first domain having the first phase state and thereby storing latent heat in the first domain. The first domain is separated by domain walls from second domains having the second phase state. A heat sink is configured to receive heat from a second area of the structure. Furthermore, an electrical energy supply is configured to supply an electrical current to the structure, thereby moving the first domain and the corresponding latent heat stored in the first domain along the structure from the first area to the second area. A related thermal computing device, a related method, and a related computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a reconfigurable interference device comprising a phase change structure. The phase change structure comprises a solid-state phase change material having a first phase state and a second phase state dependent on temperature. A first energy source is configured to supply an initialization energy to initialize a plurality of domains having the first phase state and a second energy source is configured to supply an electrical current to the structure to position the plurality of domains of the first phase state within the phase change structure. A control unit is configured to control the first and the second energy source and to create a periodic interference pattern comprising a plurality of domains of the first phase state and a plurality of domains of the second phase state in an alternating pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments are notably directed to a thermoelectric device including a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element includes a Weyl semimetal and a plurality of magnetized elements. The plurality of magnetized elements are configured to apply a directed magnetic field on the Weyl-semimetal. Embodiments further concern a related method for cooling a device and a related method for generating electrical energy.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a programmable metamaterial which comprises an array of phase-change material elements. A domain inducing component may be coupled to at least one phase-change material element of the array of phase-change material elements. The domain inducing component may be configured to program the refractive index of the at least one phase-change material element and reprogram the refractive index of the at least one phase-change material element by inducing a phase transition in a domain of the at least one phase-change material element. A method for programming the metamaterial may include selecting the phase-change material element for programming and programming the refractive index of the selected phase-change material element by inducing a phase transition in a domain of the selected phase-change material element.

Abstract: An Apparatus and method are provided for sensing temperature of a sample. Apparatus 2 has a sensor 5, positionable relative to a sample 3, which is responsive to temperature of a region of the sample at each position of the sensor. Sensor circuitry 10 provides a response signal indicative of the sensor response at the position of the sensor. Sample-temperature controller 12 controls temperature of sample 3 independently of sensor 5. Sample-temperature controller 12 effects a time-dependent modulation of the sample temperature such that a time-dependent heat flux is generated between the sample and the sensor at the position of the sensor. Temperature analyzer 11 extracts time-averaged and time-dependent components of the response signal due to the modulation of the sample temperature, and processes the components to produce an output indicative of temperature of the sample at the position of the sensor.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a structure, in turn including a solid-state phase change material. The solid-state phase change material has a first phase state and a second phase state dependent on the temperature. A heat source is configured to supply heat to a first area of the structure, thereby creating a first domain having the first phase state and thereby storing latent heat in the first domain. The first domain is separated by domain walls from second domains having the second phase state. A heat sink is configured to receive heat from a second area of the structure. Furthermore, an electrical energy supply is configured to supply an electrical current to the structure, thereby moving the first domain and the corresponding latent heat stored in the first domain along the structure from the first area to the second area. A related thermal computing device, a related method, and a related computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A radiation detector and method and computer program product for detecting radiation. The detector comprises a waveguide structure, a sensing structure comprising a phase change material, an optical transmitter and optical receiver. The optical transmitter transmits an optical sensing signal for receipt at the optical receiver via the waveguide structure. The phase change material comprises a first phase state at a first temperature range and a second phase state at a second temperature range and transitions from the first phase state to the second phase state under exposure of the radiation. The sensing structure is arranged in an evanescent field area of the waveguide structure and provides for an evanescent field of the optical sensing signal a first complex refractive index in the first phase state and a second complex refractive index in the second phase state. The first complex refractive index is different from the second complex refractive index.

Abstract: A thermal oscillator (10) for creating an oscillating heat flux from a stationary spatial thermal gradient between a warm reservoir (20) and a cold reservoir (30) is provided. The thermal oscillator (10) includes a thermal conductor (11) which is connectable to the warm reservoir (20) or to the cold reservoir (30) and configured to conduct a heat flux from the warm reservoir (20) towards the cold reservoir (30), and a thermal switch (12) coupled to the thermal conductor (11) for receiving the heat flux and having a certain difference between two states (S1, S2) of thermal conductance for providing thermal relaxation oscillations such that the oscillating heat flux is created from the received heat flux.

Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a scanning probe sensor for a scanning probe microscope. The scanning probe sensor comprises a probe tip having a ferromagnetic fluid and a magnetic field generator adapted to generate a magnetic field acting on the ferromagnetic fluid. Furthermore, a sensor controller is provided and configured to control one or more parameters of the magnetic field generator, thereby controlling the shape of the fluid. The invention further concerns a related scanning probe sensor, a related method and a related computer program product.

Abstract: Temperature sensing. An Apparatus and method are provided for sensing temperature of a sample. Apparatus 2 has a sensor 5, positionable relative to a sample 3, which is responsive to temperature of a region of the sample at each position of the sensor. Sensor circuitry 10 provides a response signal indicative of the sensor response at the position of the sensor. Sample-temperature controller 12 controls temperature of sample 3 independently of sensor 5. Sample-temperature controller 12 effects a time-dependent modulation of the sample temperature such that a time-dependent heat flux is generated between the sample and the sensor at the position of the sensor. Temperature analyzer 11 extracts time-averaged and time-dependent components of the response signal due to the modulation of the sample temperature, and processes the components to produce an output indicative of temperature of the sample at the position of the sensor.

Abstract: A thermal oscillator (10) for creating an oscillating heat flux from a stationary spatial thermal gradient between a warm reservoir (20) and a cold reservoir (30) is provided. The thermal oscillator (10) includes a thermal conductor (11) which is connectable to the warm reservoir (20) or to the cold reservoir (30) and configured to conduct a heat flux from the warm reservoir (20) towards the cold reservoir (30), and a thermal switch (12) coupled to the thermal conductor (11) for receiving the heat flux and having a certain difference between two states (S1, S2) of thermal conductance for providing thermal relaxation oscillations such that the oscillating heat flux is created from the received heat flux.