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Researchers Prove Existence Of New Type Of Electron Wave
ScienceDaily is reporting that physicists at the University of New Hampshire have discovered the existence of a new type of electron wave on metal surfaces. "The acoustic surface plasmon, which will have implications for developments in nano-optics, high-temperature superconductors, and the fundamental understanding of chemical reactions on surfaces. [...] 'The existence of this wave means that the electrons on the surfaces of copper, iron, beryllium and other metals behave like water on a lake's surface,' says Diaconescu, a postdoctoral research associate in the Condensed Matter Group of the physics department at UNH. 'When a stone is thrown into a lake, waves spread radially in all directions. A similar wave can be created by the electrons on a metal surface when they are disturbed, for instance, by light.'"
you may take notice that the 3 (yes only three) regions of interest they suggest the finding may have some merit within, are not exactly the "cures cancer!" type of hyped-up fields. If they'd said "it will make quantum computing possible and proves string theory" then I could see what you're saying...
it certainly does have implications in photonics. a member of my research group will find this very interesting as she's dealing with surface plasmons and their interactions with 1550 nm light, and this shows a method with which to actually measure the plasmons themselves, as opposed to performing a whole lot of inference.