Physical Review Letters

ON THE COVER

Evidence of Galaxy Cluster Rotation and Intrahalo Gas Motions in the Cosmic Microwave Background

13 October, 2026

Planck CMB temperature data (blue to red spans 100 $\mu$K) from 25 galaxy clusters showing a dipole signal from rotating intracluster gas. Selected for an Editors’ Suggestion.

Samuel Goldstein and J. Colin Hill
Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 161001 (2026)

EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Observation of Superlubricity at Commensurate Moiré Graphite Interfaces

14 October, 2026

Robust superlubricity in commensurate moirapos{e} patterns is experimentally demonstrated for the first time.

Weipeng Chen, Jin Wang, Quanshui Zheng, and Zhanghui Wu
Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 166201 (2026)

EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Orbitronics: Orbit-Spin Interconversions for Long-Range Orbital Propagation Enabled by Spin Current

14 October, 2026

Long distance orbital effects in light elements like titanium are not due to long orbital diffusion lengths, but rather by a multistep mechanism in which orbital accumulation is locally converted into spin current that mediates long-range transport and is reconverted at a distant interface.

Melissa Yactayo et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 166701 (2026)

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Illuminating Quantum Ferroelectrics

14 October, 2026

An ultrafast optical technique uncovers new clues to the origin of bulk polarization in quantum ferroelectric materials.

Synopsis on: Mohamed Kandil et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 166801 (2026)

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Time Delay Probes Quantum Light

13 October, 2026

Photoelectron interference can reveal otherwise hidden properties of quantum light through an apparent attosecond time shift.

Synopsis on: Liding Li et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 163201 (2026)

EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Evidence of Galaxy Cluster Rotation and Intrahalo Gas Motions in the Cosmic Microwave Background

13 October, 2026

Thomson scattering of cosmic microwave background photons off rotating intracluster gas reveals a secondary anisotropy associated with the rotational kinematic Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect.

Samuel Goldstein and J. Colin Hill
Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 161001 (2026)

EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Optical Readout of the Magnetic State Using Terahertz Electric Fields

9 October, 2026

Resonant excitation of $f$ -electrons by a terahertz optical signal rotates the magnetization in rare-earth iron garnets, establishing a new ultrafast magnetoelectric coupling that can potentially be used for ultrafast magneto-optical readout in magnetic data storage.

T. G. H. Blank et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 156901 (2026)

EDITORS' SUGGESTION

First Experimental Evidence of Helicon Current Drive

9 October, 2026

J. B. Lestz et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 155101 (2026)

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Quantum Light Leaves Its Fingerprint on Electrons

7 October, 2026

When intense quantum light knocks electrons out of atoms, the statistics of the light can be transferred to the electrons.

Synopsis on: Haodong Liu, Xiaoxiao Long, Peizeng Li, and Yunquan Liu Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 153201 (2026)

EDITORS' SUGGESTION

Dissipative Acousto-Mechanical Parametric Interface between High-Overtone Acoustics and Flexural Phonons

7 October, 2026

A novel hybrid acousto-mechanical system demonstrates the highest-to-date coupling between a high-overtone bulk acoustic wave resonator and low-frequency flexural modes in a suspended silicon nitride membrane.

Xun Ji et al.
Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 153602 (2026)

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Nobel Prize: Neutrinos from Far, Far Away

6 October, 2026

Neutrino astronomy and the effort to build a cubic-kilometer-sized detector at the South Pole are recognized by the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Focus story on: M. G. Aartsen et al. (IceCube Collaboration) Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 021103 (2013)

M. G. Aartsen et al. (IceCube Collaboration) Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 101101 (2014)

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

A Little Noise Helps a Soft Valve Close

5 October, 2026

A simplified model of the heart’s mitral valve shows that flow fluctuations can cause a soft valve to close at about one-tenth the pressure required under steady flow.

Viewpoint on: Mengfei He et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 158401 (2026)

NEWS

APS Early Career Astro Prize

In 2026, a new prize was introduced to celebrate the contributions of early-career researchers to the Physical Review journals within the Astronomy and Astrophysics Topical Group, such as Physical Review Letters. Eligible candidates are early-career authors (PhD students and post-docs), and nominations should be submitted via email to astro@aps.org. The award includes a $2,000 cash prize, a certificate, an invitation to attend the APS Global Physics Summit in Atlanta, and the opportunity to present at Physical Review’s astro session at the GPS.

Please see the Announcement here for more details.

About Physical Review Letters

Physical Review Letters (PRL) is the premier APS journal for current research, providing rapid publication of short reports of important fundamental research in all fields of physics. PRL provides its diverse readership with weekly coverage of major advances in physics and cross-disciplinary developments.

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