Abstract The Casimir effect, a fundamental manifestation of quantum vacuum fluctuations, has evolved from a curiosity between idealized metallic plates to a versatile probe of quantum and material properties in structured and time-dependent media. This review traces the progression of Casimir force research from its classical formulation in noble metals like gold (Au) to cutting-edge developments involving metamaterials and time crystals. Beyond surveying recent experimental and theoretical advances, we provide a unifying framework that bridges Casimir physics with essential solid-state principles—including band theory, dielectric response, and temporal periodicity—critical for understanding forces in real and engineered materials. Special attention is given to non-equilibrium and dynamically modulated systems, where time-periodic structures can profoundly alter vacuum-induced interactions. By synthesizing insights from quantum field theory and condensed matter physics, this review offers a comprehensive perspective on the rich interplay between quantum fluctuations, material response, and temporal symmetry breaking.

Abstract Different platforms and sensors have been exploited since the start of the space era, with the aim of improving the knowledge of the gravity field of our planet. Then, since the beginning of this century, dedicated missions were designed and launched, providing a wealth of data that have helped estimate more and more accurate gravity field models, improving both spatial and temporal resolution. In recent years, the focus of these missions has been the determination of the temporal variations of gravity field, which are an important source of information for studies of global change phenomena. Thus, gravity field observations from space can give a significant contribution to the determination of many essential climate variables which help explaining phenomena that are changing the world we live in: climate change, distribution of water resources, flooding, melting of ice masses, global sea level rise, etc. In this paper, the basic concepts of gravity field observation from satellite missions will be presented. A short history of satellite missions exploited or specifically designed for the observation of the Earth gravity field will be outlined, coming to the most recent satellite missions and to the planned ones (including the novel concept based on quantum sensors) which will further our insight on several geophysical phenomena. In the final part of the paper, some results will be presented for different mission scenarios analyzed by applying the so-called space-wise approach in the frame of recent studies on future satellite gravimetry or gradiometry missions.

Abstract We present an overview of transport phenomena in quantum systems induced by time-dependent driving. The emphasis is on steady-state transport (as opposed to transient effects). We introduce the main theoretical frameworks to study open quantum systems out of equilibrium that are useful to study quantum transport under time-dependent driving. Based on this, we discuss the fundamentals of key mechanisms leading to steady-state quantum transport induced by time-dependent driving, such as the periodic charging and discharging of a mesoscopic capacitor, dissipation, quantum pumping, noise, and energy conversion in quantum transport. Our primary focus is on electronic systems, where decades of research have established a rich theoretical foundation and a wealth of experimental realizations. Topics of interest include quantum optics with electrons, quantum transport spectroscopy, quantum electrical metrology, and the critical role of quantum fluctuations in transport and thermodynamics. We also extend the discussion to atomic, molecular, and optical systems, as well as to nanomechanical platforms, which offer complementary perspectives and are currently experiencing rapid experimental development. Finally, we briefly examine the intersection of time-dependent transport and topological matter. This review aims to bring together the diverse approaches and emerging trends that define the current landscape of quantum transport research under time-dependent conditions, bridging theoretical insights with experimental advances across multiple physical platforms.

Abstract Recent advances in superconducting materials are giving renewed impetus to different power applications, some of which already existed based on previous superconductors with more modest properties while some others have been the symbiosis of new requirements in science and technology and better properties of the new superconductors. This paper constitutes a review of classical and new superconducting materials for power applications (the technological superconductors as they are frequently called) in terms of their structure and their engineering properties (electrical, mechanical and thermal) but also in terms of their manufacturability and scalability for possible scenarios where massive quantities may be required. The second and longer part of the paper is a state of the art of power applications of superconductivity related to energy (generation, transport and transmission), transport (airborne, waterborne and terrestrial) and industrial processes. Practically, all these applications are based on superconducting magnets, which are addressed in the article, including new technologies regarding their design, fabrication and operation. Particularly, these magnets can be the coils of superconducting electrical machines, also described in the paper, where different applications are presented following a scheme of problems to be solved versus the solution provided by superconductivity, including benefits regarding sustainability improvement associated with their better efficiency and power consumption reduction.

Abstract The application of X-ray methods (using conventional sources or synchrotron radiation) for investigating degradation phenomena in paintings has significantly increased in the last two decades. This rise is due to their ability to provide spatially resolved elemental, molecular, and structural information from the macroscopic to the nanoscopic levels. This review will focus on the application of latest-generation X-ray techniques, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), to study the alteration processes of pigments in paintings. The first part outlines the fundamentals of XRF, XAS, and XRD techniques and then describes the corresponding instrumental set-ups used for non-invasive macro-scale mapping of paintings and synchrotron radiation-based X-ray analysis of paint micro-samples. Subsequent sections will cover advancements in X-ray data analysis software, workflow management systems, Open Science and FAIR data initiatives, alongside practical aspects of sample preparation and issues concerning X-ray-induced damage to paints. The final section will review degradation phenomena resulting from chemical changes of selected classes of pigments. This will involve describing key findings obtained from paintings, related micro-samples, and artificially aged paint mock-ups. The outcomes discussed in this review highlight their crucial role in developing effective monitoring and preventive conservation strategies for artworks highly susceptible to degradation within heritage sites and museums.

In this review, we give a brief overview of quantum simulation as applied to the study of complex systems. In particular, we cover the basic ideas of quantum simulation, neuromorphic computation, the Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev model, as well as applications to quantum batteries.

Topological materials, characterized by their symmetry-protected electronic properties, offer transformative opportunities to integrate solid-state topology and catalysis. When coupled with chirality, novel classes of chiral material systems emerge, including topological chiral materials and magnetic chiral materials, distinguished by their unique chiral-related phenomena. Investigating the role of structural and electronic chirality on chiral catalytic processes holds significant promise for designing advanced chiral catalysts. This review provides a comprehensive overview of intrinsic chiral materials with chiral space groups, accompanied by an in-depth analysis of their electronic chirality, including chiral spin angular momentum, chiral orbital angular momentum, chiral charge density waves, and chiral Weyl points. Moreover, we discuss various tuning knobs that induce chiral responses in topological materials. By offering fundamental insights into the interplay between chiral quantum phenomena and chiral catalytic efficiency, this review bridges chemistry and physics, offering strategies to optimize emerging chiral catalytic systems, such as spin-dependent catalysis and asymmetric synthesis.

The term diffusive media refers to all the media for which the photon diffusion equation provides an accurate description of light propagation. Indeed, this is the case for a plethora of natural media, such as biological tissues and agricultural products, when illuminated by red and near-infrared light. Diffuse Optics (DO) is the branch of Optics that studies how absorption and scattering phenomena affect light propagation in diffusive media. In this review paper, we present an introduction to time domain (TD) DO, a specific implementation of DO that employs picosecond light pulses, fast and sensitive photodetectors and timing electronics to record the distribution of photon time-of-flight (or photon path lengths) in diffusive media. By interpreting the TD DO signals with the physical model provided by the photon diffusion theory, it is possible to estimate the absorption and scattering properties of the medium that in case of biological tissues can be related to physiological and pathological conditions. We focus on the physical principles of TD DO, the building blocks of TD DO instrumentation, and the applications of TD DO targeting human biological tissues (such as the brain, breast, muscle, and others).

The X(3872) could be a shallow DD¯∗ bound state, a compact four-quark state, or a partially composite particle, i.e. a superposition of the two. We will review how these hypotheses could be tested experimentally, examining especially the cases in which the X is a pure bound state or a pure compact tetraquark. Data on X→DD¯π decays are compared with the analysis of the X lineshape. The pure bound state hypothesis corresponds to a well-defined region in parameter space defined by the width of the D∗ versus the binding energy of the X. As for the X lineshape, we observe that the currently available experimental analysis tests the compatibility with the compact hypothesis for the X. We propose how to extend the analysis to examine the molecular or the partially composite hypotheses. We also review the analysis on the radiative decays of the X including pion corrections confirming some conclusions reached in the literature on the use of the universal wave function description for the molecular X.