EPJ Plus Highlight - Image processing brings new clarity to RTe3’s electronic structure

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Published on 05 March 2026

By applying image segmentation to ARPES data, researchers reconcile Fermi surface measurements with magnetic quantum oscillations and precisely determine the size of tiny electron pockets in rare-earth tritellurides.

Rare-earth tritellurides (RTe₃) are a class of two-dimensional quantum materials known for their diverse electronic properties. One of the most powerful tools for studying them is angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), which probes the allowed energies and momenta of electrons in solids. Despite its strengths, conventional ARPES methods are not well suited to producing fully accurate two-dimensional momentum maps, limiting researchers’ view of the complex electronic landscape these materials host.

In new research published in EPJ Plus, a team led by Alexander Morocho and supervised by Prof. Pavel D. Grigoriev at the National University of Science and Technology (MISiS), Moscow, demonstrates how this limitation can be overcome through careful image processing of ARPES data combined with comparisons to magnetic quantum oscillations. Their results could help physicists better understand the origins of exotic quantum effects in RTe₃ compounds, possibly paving the way for new applications.

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EPJ Plus Focus Point: Nuclear microprobe technology and applications

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Published on 05 March 2026

Guest Editors: Noelia Maldonado, María Dolores Ynsa, Belén Cortés, José Olivares Villegas, Teresa Pinheiro, Esther Enríquez, M. Carmen Jiménez-Ramos, Gastón García

This Focus Point issue includes 19 papers showcasing the diversity and innovation within the nuclear microprobe community, ranging from microelectronic radiation testing and ion-beam-induced charge microscopy to advances in microbeam systems, quantum device fabrication, and biomedical applications. The contributions originate from the 19th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications (ICNMTA2024), which was held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in June 2024.

All articles are available here and are freely accessible until 23 April 2026. For further information, read the Editorial.

EPJ Plus Focus Point: CBRNE events: prevention, mitigation, consequences and recovery

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Published on 04 March 2026

Guest Editors: Andrea Malizia, Marco D’Arienzo, Gian Marco Contessa, Francesco d’Errico, Susana de Souza Lalic, Frank Duschek, Vasilis Vasiliou, Antony M. Hooker, Pasquale Gaudio

CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) events remain among the most complex and disruptive threats facing contemporary societies, demanding integrated scientific and technological responses across multiple domains. This Focus Point of The European Physical Journal Plus brings together a curated collection of contributions that address the entire CBRNE risk-management cycle, from prevention and early detection to impact assessment, emergency response, and recovery. The articles highlight advances in radiation and nuclear detection, chemical and biological sensing, aerosol science, forensic analysis, and high-fidelity modelling, alongside innovative approaches in decontamination, responder protection, digital governance, and critical-infrastructure resilience. Particular attention is given to field-deployable technologies, UAV-based sensing platforms, decision-support tools, and scenario-based modelling frameworks that bridge research and operational practice. By integrating physics, engineering, biosciences, and digital technologies, this Focus Point provides a multidisciplinary and operationally relevant perspective on CBRNE preparedness and resilience. It offers researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers scientifically robust insights and scalable solutions to address non-conventional threats in an increasingly interconnected world.

All articles are available here and are freely accessible until 23 April 2026. For further information, read the Editorial.