Showing 1–50 of 97 results for author: Shen, M

Quantum Frequency Resolved Optical Gating of Few-Cycle Squeezed Vacuum

Authors: Thomas Zacharias, Elina Sendonaris, Robert Gray, James Williams, Ryoto Sekine, Maximilian Shen, Selina Zhou, Alireza Marandi

Abstract: Offering terahertz of bandwidths and femtosecond timescales, ultrafast optics is enabling both the study of fundamental quantum optical phenomena and the advancement of quantum-enhanced applications. However, unlocking the full potential of ultrafast quantum optics requires accessing the temporal characteristics of ultrashort quantum pulses across ultrabroad bandwidths. This is particularly import… ▽ More Offering terahertz of bandwidths and femtosecond timescales, ultrafast optics is enabling both the study of fundamental quantum optical phenomena and the advancement of quantum-enhanced applications. However, unlocking the full potential of ultrafast quantum optics requires accessing the temporal characteristics of ultrashort quantum pulses across ultrabroad bandwidths. This is particularly important in the near-infrared and visible range of the optical spectrum, which, unlike the terahertz and long-wave infrared, has remained beyond the reach of current techniques. Here, we break this barrier by translating frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG), a widely used technique for ultrafast classical pulse characterization, to the quantum regime. We show how such a quantum FROG can measure complex temporal modes and sub-optical-cycle quadrature covariances in the near-infrared, enabling complete characterization of microscopic Gaussian states. We experimentally use the quantum-FROG to report the measurement of quadrature correlations, complex temporal modes, and squeezing levels of multimode ultrafast squeezed vacuum states generated on a nanophotonic chip. We access multimode squeezing levels of a femtosecond quantum pulse approaching 7 dB and demonstrate FROG-based measurement bandwidths exceeding 100 THz. Quantum FROG enables measurement of previously inaccessible quantum features of ultrashort pulses at the sub-optical-cycle regime and highlights a practical path to accessing terahertz of bandwidths in quantum optics for applications in computing, sensing, and imaging. △ Less

Submitted 8 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Optimizing p-spin models through hypergraph neural networks and deep reinforcement learning

Authors: Li Zeng, Mutian Shen, Tianle Pu, Zohar Nussinov, Qing Feng, Chao Chen, Zhong Liu, Changjun Fan

Abstract: p-spin glasses, characterized by frustrated many-body interactions beyond the conventional pairwise case (p>2), are prototypical disordered systems whose ground-state search is NP-hard and computationally prohibitive for large instances. Solving this problem is not only fundamental for understanding high-order disorder, structural glasses, and topological phases, but also central to a wide spectru… ▽ More p-spin glasses, characterized by frustrated many-body interactions beyond the conventional pairwise case (p>2), are prototypical disordered systems whose ground-state search is NP-hard and computationally prohibitive for large instances. Solving this problem is not only fundamental for understanding high-order disorder, structural glasses, and topological phases, but also central to a wide spectrum of hard combinatorial optimization tasks. Despite decades of progress, there still lacks an efficient and scalable solver for generic large-scale p-spin models. Here we introduce PLANCK, a physics-inspired deep reinforcement learning framework built on hypergraph neural networks. PLANCK directly optimizes arbitrary high-order interactions, and systematically exploits gauge symmetry throughout both training and inference. Trained exclusively on small synthetic instances, PLANCK exhibits strong zero-shot generalization to systems orders of magnitude larger, and consistently outperforms state-of-the-art thermal annealing methods across all tested structural topologies and coupling distributions. Moreover, without any modification, PLANCK achieves near-optimal solutions for a broad class of NP-hard combinatorial problems, including random k-XORSAT, hypergraph max-cut, and conventional max-cut. The presented framework provides a physics-inspired algorithmic paradigm that bridges statistical mechanics and reinforcement learning. The symmetry-aware design not only advances the tractable frontiers of high-order disordered systems, but also opens a promising avenue for machine-learning-based solvers to tackle previously intractable combinatorial optimization challenges. △ Less

Submitted 18 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 13 pages, 8 figures

Parker Solar Probe observations of solar energetic particle (SEP) events with inverse velocity arrival (IVA) features

Authors: Zigong Xu, C. M. S. Cohen, R. A. Leske, G. D. Muro, A. C. Cummings, O. M. Romeo, D. Lario, D. J. McComas, M. E. Cuesta, S. Pak, L. Y. Khoo, H. A. Farooki, M. M. Shen, S. Kasapis, E. R. Christian, D. G. Mitchell, R. L. McNutt, A. Kouloumvakos, J. Grant Mitchell, G. D. Berland, N. A. Schwadron, M. E. Wiedenbeck, M. L. Stevens, R. C. Allen

Abstract: In SEP events, velocity dispersion (VD) is characterized by the earlier arrival of faster, higher-energy particles relative to slower ones, assuming negligible acceleration time and transport effects. The "Labor Day event" at Parker Solar Probe (PSP) on 2022 September 5 provided a unique arrival profile, in which the medium energy (~ few MeV) particles arrive earlier than both lower and higher ene… ▽ More In SEP events, velocity dispersion (VD) is characterized by the earlier arrival of faster, higher-energy particles relative to slower ones, assuming negligible acceleration time and transport effects. The "Labor Day event" at Parker Solar Probe (PSP) on 2022 September 5 provided a unique arrival profile, in which the medium energy (~ few MeV) particles arrive earlier than both lower and higher energy particles. This created a so-called "nose" structure in the intensity spectrogram formed by measurements from the two energetic particle instruments, EPI-Lo and EPI-Hi, of the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) suite. Unlike typical VD, the delayed arrival of higher energy particles compared to medium energy particles, i.e., the "inverse velocity arrival" (IVA), could be caused by various acceleration, transport, and instrumental effects, including shock acceleration. By applying a new method based on the contour-line of the intensity, we found 14 IVA events in the ISOIS observations up to the end of 2024. Several parameters that may modify velocity dispersion characteristics are further explored including the spacecraft radial distance, the speed of corresponding CMEs and shocks, the angle between the shock normal and the upstream magnetic field, and the spacecraft magnetic footpoint longitudinal separation from the flare location. The energy of the early arriving particles, i.e., the nose energy, can be grouped into low (L, <0.5 MeV), medium(M, 0.5 - 5 MeV), and high(H, >5 MeV) categories. Most (11/14) of the IVA events have medium nose energies. This SEP list provides ingredients for examination of shock acceleration in the inner heliosphere, and the existence of IVA events sheds new light on the acceleration and propagation of SEPs. △ Less

Submitted 12 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 21 Pages, 5 figures, revision submitted to ApJ

Fast compression of pure-quartic solitons in nonlinear optical fibers via shortcuts to adiabaticity

Authors: Chengyu Han, Qian Kong, Ming Shen, Xi Chen

Abstract: Pure-quartic solitons (PQSs) supported by negative fourth-order dispersion have recently attracted considerable interest. In this work, we study both adiabatic and nonadiabatic compression of PQSs in nonlinear optical fibers with pure quartic dispersion in the presence of distributed gain and loss. Within a variational framework, we show that, for weak constant gain, the adiabatic compression dyna… ▽ More Pure-quartic solitons (PQSs) supported by negative fourth-order dispersion have recently attracted considerable interest. In this work, we study both adiabatic and nonadiabatic compression of PQSs in nonlinear optical fibers with pure quartic dispersion in the presence of distributed gain and loss. Within a variational framework, we show that, for weak constant gain, the adiabatic compression dynamics can be mapped onto the motion of an effective particle in a slowly deformed potential, providing an intuitive physical picture. To overcome the long propagation distance required by conventional adiabatic condition, we exploit shortcuts to adiabaticity (STA) based on inverse engineering and derive analytical gain-loss profiles, with appropriate boundary conditions that realize a prescribed fast compression over a shorter propagation distance. Numerical simulations confirm the theoretical predictions and indicate a minimum propagation distance below which noticeable waveform distortion emerges. Compared with standard adiabatic references, the STA design significantly reduces the required compression distance while maintaining high-fidelity PQS evolution. △ Less

Submitted 23 January, 2026; originally announced January 2026.

Comments: 9 pages, 5 figures

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. A 113, 023511 (2026)

Search for Cosmic Ray Electron Boosted Dark Matter with the CDEX-10 Experiment

Authors: R. Xu, L. T. Yang, Q. Yue, K. J. Kang, Y. J. Li, H. P. An, Greeshma C., J. P. Chang, H. Chen, Y. H. Chen, J. P. Cheng, J. Y. Cui, W. H. Dai, Z. Deng, Y. X. Dong, C. H. Fang, H. Gong, Q. J. Guo, T. Guo, X. Y. Guo, L. He, J. R. He, H. X. Huang, T. C. Huang, S. Karmakar , et al. (63 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We present new constraints on the cosmic ray electron boosted light dark matter (CReDM) using the 205.4 kg$\cdot$day data of the CDEX-10 experiment located at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The cosmic ray electron spectrum and distribution in the Galaxy are generated by the $\tt GALPROP$ code package. In the calculation process of DM-electron scattering process in the Galaxy, we conside… ▽ More We present new constraints on the cosmic ray electron boosted light dark matter (CReDM) using the 205.4 kg$\cdot$day data of the CDEX-10 experiment located at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The cosmic ray electron spectrum and distribution in the Galaxy are generated by the $\tt GALPROP$ code package. In the calculation process of DM-electron scattering process in the Galaxy, we consider the energy-dependency of the DM-electron scattering cross section. The constraints on CReDM are set for both heavy and light mediator scenarios using the CDEX-10 dataset. The result exceeds previous Standard Halo Model (SHM) limits for DM mass lower than 0.6 MeV in heavy mediator case and corresponds to the best sensitivity among all direct detection experiments from 1 keV to 0.5 MeV in the light mediator scenario. △ Less

Submitted 13 January, 2026; originally announced January 2026.

Comments: 7 pages, 5 figures

Roadmap for Condensates in Cell Biology

Authors: Dilimulati Aierken, Sebastian Aland, Stefano Bo, Steven Boeynaems, Danfeng Cai, Serena Carra, Lindsay B. Case, Hue Sun Chan, Jorge R. Espinosa, Trevor K. GrandPre, Alexander Y. Grosberg, Ivar S. Haugerud, William M. Jacobs, Jerelle A. Joseph, Frank Jülicher, Kurt Kremer, Guido Kusters, Liedewij Laan, Keren Lasker, Katrin S. Laxhuber, Hyun O. Lee, Kathy F. Liu, Dimple Notani, Yicheng Qiang, Paul Robustelli , et al. (16 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Biomolecular condensates govern essential cellular processes yet elude description by traditional equilibrium models. This roadmap, distilled from structured discussions at a workshop and reflecting the consensus of its participants, clarifies key concepts for researchers, funding bodies, and journals. After unifying terminology that often separates disciplines, we outline the core physics of cond… ▽ More Biomolecular condensates govern essential cellular processes yet elude description by traditional equilibrium models. This roadmap, distilled from structured discussions at a workshop and reflecting the consensus of its participants, clarifies key concepts for researchers, funding bodies, and journals. After unifying terminology that often separates disciplines, we outline the core physics of condensate formation, review their biological roles, and identify outstanding challenges in nonequilibrium theory, multiscale simulation, and quantitative in-cell measurements. We close with a forward-looking outlook to guide coordinated efforts toward predictive, experimentally anchored understanding and control of biomolecular condensates. △ Less

Submitted 7 January, 2026; originally announced January 2026.

Comments: 14 pages, 5 figures

The throttling refrigeration system for the large cooling power recovery of the PandaX-xT cryogenic distillation system for radon removal

Authors: Shunyu Yao, Zhou Wang, Kangkang Zhao, Zhi Zheng, Haoyu Wang, Xiangyi Cui, Tao Zhang, Li Zhao, Huaikuang Ding, Wenbing Tao, Xiang Xiao, Shaobo Wang, Yonglin Ju, Jianglai Liu, Xiangdong Ji, Shuaijie Li, Manbin Shen, Chengbo Du

Abstract: In order to solve the continuous large cooling power supply problem (20 kW) for the radon-removal cryogenic distillation system, which operates at high liquid ffow rate of 856 kg/h (5 LPM) for the dark matter detector PandaX-xT of the next-generation, a throttling refrigeration system based on carbon tetraffuoride (R14) refrigerant for cooling power recovery is designed and developed. According to… ▽ More In order to solve the continuous large cooling power supply problem (20 kW) for the radon-removal cryogenic distillation system, which operates at high liquid ffow rate of 856 kg/h (5 LPM) for the dark matter detector PandaX-xT of the next-generation, a throttling refrigeration system based on carbon tetraffuoride (R14) refrigerant for cooling power recovery is designed and developed. According to this system, the cooling power of the liquid xenon in the reboiler of 178K could be transferred to the product xenon cryostat to liquefy the gaseous product xenon by the R14 circulation, thus the liqueffed xenon could return to the detector with the same condition of which extracted from the detector to form a stable cooling cycle and prevent the instability of the detector. A research and development experiment is implemented to validate the feasibility of this large cooling recovery system, using the ethanol to simulate the liquid xenon. Experimental results show that the cooling power recovery of this system could achieve 17 kW with the efffciency of 76.5%, and the R14 ffow rate is 0.16 kg/s. This study realizes the online radon removal distillation with large ffow rate while eliminating the dependence of liquid nitrogen or cryocoolers, which means saving 2414 m3 liquid nitrogen per year or the power consumption of 230 kW. Furthermore, process simulation and optimization of the throttling refrigeration cycle is studied using Aspen Hysys to reveal the inffuences of the key parameters to the system, and the deviation between the simulation and experimental results is < 2.52%. △ Less

Submitted 24 December, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

Comments: 20 pages, 16 figures

Single-cell identification with quantum-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance

Authors: Zhiyuan Zhao, Qian Shi, Shaoyi Xu, Xiangyu Ye, Mengze Shen, Jia Su, Ya Wang, Tianyu Xie, Qingsong Hu, Fazhan Shi, Jiangfeng Du

Abstract: Identification of individual cells within heterogeneous populations is essential for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. Conventional labeling-based sorting methods, such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting and magnetic-activated cell sorting, enable precise sorting when reliable markers are available. However, their applicability is limited in cells lacking defined markers or sensiti… ▽ More Identification of individual cells within heterogeneous populations is essential for biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. Conventional labeling-based sorting methods, such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting and magnetic-activated cell sorting, enable precise sorting when reliable markers are available. However, their applicability is limited in cells lacking defined markers or sensitive to labeling, as labeling can compromise cellular viability and function. We present a single-cell identification approach using quantum-enhanced NMR with diamond nitrogen-vacancy centers for label-free detection of intracellular proton ($^1$H) signals. Using this method, we distinguish two human tumor cell lines by their proton spin-lattice ($T_1$) relaxation times, which serve as a cell-intrinsic physicochemical signature. It lays the groundwork for label-free sorting applications in rare cell analysis, personalized medicine, and single-cell diagnostics. △ Less

Submitted 8 December, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

Comments: 23 pages, 4 figures

Neural Network Perturbation Theory (NNPT): Learning Residual Corrections from Exact Solutions

Authors: Zhenhao Chen, Mutian Shen, Boris Fain, Zohar Nussinov

Abstract: Many complex physical systems admit natural decomposition into an exactly solvable component and a perturbative correction. Rather than training neural networks to learn complete trajectories from scratch, we introduce Neural Network Perturbation Theory (NNPT), where networks predict only residual perturbations after analytically subtracting known exact solutions. We validate this framework thro… ▽ More Many complex physical systems admit natural decomposition into an exactly solvable component and a perturbative correction. Rather than training neural networks to learn complete trajectories from scratch, we introduce Neural Network Perturbation Theory (NNPT), where networks predict only residual perturbations after analytically subtracting known exact solutions. We validate this framework through systematic comparison: using identical 2x32 architectures, correction learning achieves 28-54x lower validation error compared to networks trained on complete trajectories. Using the gravitational three-body problem as a test bed, we investigate capacity transitions in fixed-architecture multilayer perceptrons as Jovian mass varies from 0.05 to 30 times its physical value. An equalized-accuracy protocol reveals that both minimal network capacity and training time exhibit sharp transitions at f_c = 15.6+-1.0, where the system enters a strongly chaotic regime. At this transition, minimal capacity jumps approximately sevenfold from ~1,200 to ~8,600 parameters (architectures 2x32 and 3x64). Preliminary exploration of sequential two-stage corrections suggests that first-stage networks already capture dominant perturbative features. Our symplectic integrator maintains relative energy conservation below 2x10^-7 throughout, confirming that transitions reflect physical complexity rather than numerical error. Our results establish correction learning as a general strategy for parameter-efficient surrogates and demonstrate that physical complexity imposes fundamental capacity barriers on fixed-architecture networks at chaos onset. △ Less

Submitted 1 December, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

Comments: About to submit to Physical Review E

Energy-dependent SEP Fe/O abundances during the May 2024 superstorm

Authors: G. D. Muro, C. M. S. Cohen, Z. Xu, R. A. Leske, A. C. Cummings, S. Bale, G. D. Berland, E. R. Christian, M. E. Cuesta, M. I. Desai, F. Fraschetti, J. Giacalone, L. Y. Khoo, A. Labrador, D. J. McComas, J. G. Mitchell, M. Pulupa, N. A. Schwadron, M. M. Shen

Abstract: During mid-May 2024, active region (AR) 13664 produced a series of M- and X-class flares along with several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that resulted in exceptionally strong aurora at Earth. This study presents in-situ solar energetic particle (SEP) ion composition data from Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory Ahead (STA), Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), and Parker Solar Probe (PSP) as… ▽ More During mid-May 2024, active region (AR) 13664 produced a series of M- and X-class flares along with several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that resulted in exceptionally strong aurora at Earth. This study presents in-situ solar energetic particle (SEP) ion composition data from Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory Ahead (STA), Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), and Parker Solar Probe (PSP) as their magnetic connectivity to AR 13664 varied throughout the event period. Between 08 to 24 May, STA was separated by 12° in longitude from ACE at 0.96 AU. SEP intensities rose gradually due to merged CMEs from AR 13664. On 13 May, an M6 flare was followed by a rapid-onset SEP event at STA, although velocity dispersion analysis yielded no clear path length or release time. PSP, 95° longitudinally separated from Earth at 0.74 AU, observed gradually increasing SEP intensities beginning 11 May, followed by a jump in both SEP intensity and magnetic field (>100 nT) on 16 May. These early event intervals display stepwise SEP increases, consistent with the passage of successive CMEs. On 20 May, an X16.5 flare from AR 13664 produced an Fe-rich SEP event observed at all three spacecraft despite their wide longitudinal separations. Throughout the period, Fe/O ratios ranged from <0.01 to >0.8 and increased with energy between 1 to 100 MeV/nuc. This trend deviates from the typical energy-dependent decrease expected from diffusive shock acceleration and suggests more complex scenarios, possibly involving variable suprathermal seed populations or species-dependent transport. △ Less

Submitted 5 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 27 pages, 11 figures (2 animations)

Constraints on ultraheavy dark matter from the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory

Authors: Y. F. Wang, L. T. Yang, Q. Yue, K. J. Kang, Y. J. Li, H. P. An, Greeshma C., J. P. Chang, H. Chen, Y. H. Chen, J. P. Cheng, J. Y. Cui, W. H. Dai, Z. Deng, Y. X. Dong, C. H. Fang, H. Gong, Q. J. Guo, T. Guo, X. Y. Guo, L. He, J. R. He, H. X. Huang, T. C. Huang, S. Karmakar , et al. (63 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We report a search for ultraheavy dark matter (UHDM) with the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. Using a Monte Carlo framework that incorporates Earth shielding effects, we simulated UHDM propagation and energy deposition in p-type point-contact germanium detectors. Analysis of 205.4 kg$\cdot$day exposure in the 0.16--4.16 keVee range showed no excess above background.… ▽ More We report a search for ultraheavy dark matter (UHDM) with the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. Using a Monte Carlo framework that incorporates Earth shielding effects, we simulated UHDM propagation and energy deposition in p-type point-contact germanium detectors. Analysis of 205.4 kg$\cdot$day exposure in the 0.16--4.16 keVee range showed no excess above background. Our results exclude the spin-independent UHDM-nucleon scattering with two cross section scales, with the UHDM mass from $10^6$ to $10^{11}$ GeV, and provide the most stringent constraints with solid-state detectors below $10^8$ GeV. △ Less

Submitted 28 March, 2026; v1 submitted 24 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Comments: 8 pages, 5 figures. Version updated to match PRD version

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. D 113, 052011 (2026)

Quadratic Supercontinuum Generation from UV to Mid-IR in Lithium Niobate Nanophotonics

Authors: Selina Zhou, Maximilian Shen, Ryoto Sekine, Nicolas Englebert, Thomas Zacharias, Benjamin Gutierrez, Robert M. Gray, Justin Widjaja, Alireza Marandi

Abstract: Supercontinuum light sources are widely used for applications ranging from imaging to sensing and frequency comb stabilization. The most common mechanisms for their generation rely on cubic nonlinearities, for instance in crystals, optical fibers, and integrated photonics. However, quadratic supercontinuum generation (QSCG) offers potential for enhanced energy efficiency and broader spectral cover… ▽ More Supercontinuum light sources are widely used for applications ranging from imaging to sensing and frequency comb stabilization. The most common mechanisms for their generation rely on cubic nonlinearities, for instance in crystals, optical fibers, and integrated photonics. However, quadratic supercontinuum generation (QSCG) offers potential for enhanced energy efficiency and broader spectral coverage because of the typically much stronger nonlinearity and ability to achieve both coherent up- and down-conversion via three-wave mixing processes. Despite such potentials, demonstrations of QSCG in integrated photonic waveguides have been sparse and have barely surpassed their cubic counterparts in terms of spectral coverage and energy-efficiency. Here, we introduce a new dispersion engineering principle and experimentally demonstrate purely quadratic supercontinuum generation in lithium niobate nano-waveguides substantially outperforming previous demonstrations in integrated photonics. In one device, by engineering a near-zero dispersion profile and using a single poling period for quasi-phase matched saturated second-harmonic generation, we achieve robust and energy efficient multi-octave QSCG with only femtojoules of pump pulse energy. In another device, we use a flat dispersion profile with two distant zero crossings of group velocity dispersion (GVD) to achieve broadband difference-frequency generation (DFG) for extending the spectral coverage further into the mid-IR and cover the entire transparency window of lithium niobate from 350 nm to 5000 nm. Our results showcase how DFG-assisted QSCG can access hard-to-access spectral regions in an energy-efficient fashion by properly utilizing dispersion engineering and quasi-phase matching. △ Less

Submitted 21 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Constraints on inelastic dark matter from the CDEX-1B experiment

Authors: Y. F. Liang, L. T. Yang, Q. Yue, K. J. Kang, Y. J. Li, H. P. An, Greeshma C., J. P. Chang, H. Chen, Y. H. Chen, J. P. Cheng, J. Y. Cui, W. H. Dai, Z. Deng, Y. X. Dong, C. H. Fang, H. Gong, Q. J. Guo, T. Guo, X. Y. Guo, L. He, J. R. He, H. X. Huang, T. C. Huang, S. Karmakar , et al. (63 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We present limits on spin-independent inelastic weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP)-nucleus scattering using the 737.1 kg$\cdot$day dataset from the CDEX-1B experiment. Expected nuclear recoil spectra for various inelastic WIMP masses $m_χ$ and mass splittings $δ$ are calculated under the standard halo model. An accurate background model of CDEX-1B is constructed by simulating all major ba… ▽ More We present limits on spin-independent inelastic weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP)-nucleus scattering using the 737.1 kg$\cdot$day dataset from the CDEX-1B experiment. Expected nuclear recoil spectra for various inelastic WIMP masses $m_χ$ and mass splittings $δ$ are calculated under the standard halo model. An accurate background model of CDEX-1B is constructed by simulating all major background sources. The model parameters are then determined through maximum likelihood estimation and Markov chain Monte Carlo fitting. The resulting 90\% confidence level upper limits on the WIMP-nucleon cross section $σ_{\mathrm{n}}$ exclude certain DAMA/LIBRA allowed regions: the $χ^2 < 4$ regions for $δ< 30$ keV at $m_χ= 250$ GeV and the $χ^2 < 9$ region for $δ< 50$ keV at $m_χ= 500$ GeV. The method is applicable to other inelastic dark matter scenarios, and the upcoming CDEX-50 experiment is expected to improve sensitivity by four orders of magnitude. △ Less

Submitted 31 December, 2025; v1 submitted 9 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Comments: 10 pages, 8 figures. Version updated to match PRD version

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. D 112, 112025 (2025)

Mineral Detection of Neutrinos and Dark Matter 2025 Proceedings

Authors: Shigenobu Hirose, Patrick Stengel, Natsue Abe, Daniel Ang, Lorenzo Apollonio, Gabriela R. Araujo, Yoshihiro Asahara, Laura Baudis, Pranshu Bhaumik, Nathaniel Bowden, Joseph Bramante, Lorenzo Caccianiga, Mason Camp, Qing Chang, Jordan Chapman, Reza Ebadi, Alexey Elykov, Anna Erickson, Valentin Fondement, Katherine Freese, Shota Futamura, Claudio Galelli, Andrew Gilpin, Takeshi Hanyu, Noriko Hasebe , et al. (48 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The third ``Mineral Detection of Neutrinos and Dark Matter'' (MD$ν$DM'25) meeting was held May 20-23, 2025 in Yokohama, Japan, hosted by the Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). These proceedings compile contributions from the workshop and update the progress of mineral detector research. MD$ν$DM'25 was the third such meeting, follo… ▽ More The third ``Mineral Detection of Neutrinos and Dark Matter'' (MD$ν$DM'25) meeting was held May 20-23, 2025 in Yokohama, Japan, hosted by the Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). These proceedings compile contributions from the workshop and update the progress of mineral detector research. MD$ν$DM'25 was the third such meeting, following the first in October of 2022 held at the IFPU in Trieste, Italy and the second in January of 2024 hosted by the Center for Neutrino Physics at Virginia Tech in Arlington, USA. Mineral detectors record and retain damage induced by nuclear recoils in synthetic or natural mineral samples. The damage features can then be read out by a variety of nano- and micro-scale imaging techniques. Applications of mineral detectors on timescales relevant for laboratory experiments include reactor neutrino monitoring and dark matter detection, with the potential to measure the directions as well as the energies of the induced nuclear recoils. For natural mineral detectors which record nuclear recoils over geological timescales, reading out even small mineral samples could be sensitive to rare interactions induced by astrophysical neutrinos, cosmic rays, dark matter and heavy exotic particles. A series of mineral detectors of different ages could measure the time evolution of these fluxes, offering a unique window into the history of our solar system and the Milky Way. Mineral detector research is highly multidisciplinary, incorporating aspects of high energy physics, condensed matter physics, materials science, geoscience, and AI/ML for data analysis. Although realizing the scientific potential of mineral detectors poses many challenges, the MD$ν$DM community looks forward to the continued development of mineral detector experiments and the possible discoveries that mineral detectors could reveal. △ Less

Submitted 28 August, 2025; originally announced August 2025.

Comments: Summary and proceedings of the MDvDM'25 conference, May 20-23 2025 in Yokohama, Japan

Towards terahertz nanomechanics

Authors: Jiacheng Xie, Weifeng Wu, Mohan Shen, Patrick Fay, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Advancing electromechanical resonators towards terahertz frequencies opens vast bandwidths for phononic signal processing. In quantum phononics, mechanical resonators at these frequencies can remain in their quantum ground state even at kelvin temperatures, obviating the need for millikelvin cooling typically required for GHz resonators. However, electrical actuation and detection of mechanical mo… ▽ More Advancing electromechanical resonators towards terahertz frequencies opens vast bandwidths for phononic signal processing. In quantum phononics, mechanical resonators at these frequencies can remain in their quantum ground state even at kelvin temperatures, obviating the need for millikelvin cooling typically required for GHz resonators. However, electrical actuation and detection of mechanical motion at such high frequencies present significant challenges, primarily due to the need for device miniaturization to support acoustic waves with nanometer-scale wavelengths. One effective strategy is to aggressively thin down piezoelectric thin films, ideally to a thickness on the order of the acoustic wavelength, which is in the tens of nanometers. In this work, we aggressively reduce the thickness of lithium niobate from 300 nm to 67 nm through several stages, and fabricate suspended Lamb-wave resonators at each thickness level. These resonators achieve resonant frequencies as high as 220 GHz, doubling the previous record and approaching the terahertz frequency threshold. While ultrathin films exhibit a clear advantage in frequency gains, they also experience increased acoustic losses. Our results suggest that future advances in terahertz nanomechanics will critically rely on mitigating surface defects in sub-100 nm thin films. △ Less

Submitted 5 August, 2025; originally announced August 2025.

A kilometer photonic link connecting superconducting circuits in two dilution refrigerators

Authors: Yiyu Zhou, Yufeng Wu, Chunzhen Li, Mohan Shen, Likai Yang, Jiacheng Xie, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Superconducting quantum processors are a leading platform for implementing practical quantum computation algorithms. Although superconducting quantum processors with hundreds of qubits have been demonstrated, their further scaling up is constrained by the physical size and cooling power of dilution refrigerators. This constraint can be overcome by constructing a quantum network to interconnect qub… ▽ More Superconducting quantum processors are a leading platform for implementing practical quantum computation algorithms. Although superconducting quantum processors with hundreds of qubits have been demonstrated, their further scaling up is constrained by the physical size and cooling power of dilution refrigerators. This constraint can be overcome by constructing a quantum network to interconnect qubits hosted in different refrigerators, which requires microwave-to-optical transducers to enable low-loss signal transmission over long distances. Despite that various designs and demonstrations have achieved high-efficiency and low-added-noise transducers, a coherent photonic link between separate refrigerators has not yet been realized. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate coherent signal transfer between two superconducting circuits housed in separate dilution refrigerators, enabled by a pair of frequency-matched aluminum nitride electro-optic transducers connected via a 1-km telecom optical fiber. With transducers at each node achieving >0.1% efficiency, an overall 80 dB improvement in transduction efficiency over commercial electro-optic modulators is attainable, paving the way towards a fully quantum-enabled link. This work provides critical design guidelines towards scalable superconducting quantum networks interconnected by photonic links. △ Less

Submitted 4 August, 2025; originally announced August 2025.

The Physics of Local Optimization in Complex Disordered Systems

Authors: Mutian Shen, Gerardo Ortiz, Zhiqiao Dong, Martin Weigel, Zohar Nussinov

Abstract: Limited resources motivate decomposing large-scale problems into smaller,``local" subsystems and stitching together the so-found solutions. We explore the physics underlying this approach and discuss the concept of ``local hardness", i.e., the complexity of predicting local properties of the solution from local information, for the ground-state problem of both P- and NP-hard spin-glasses and relat… ▽ More Limited resources motivate decomposing large-scale problems into smaller,``local" subsystems and stitching together the so-found solutions. We explore the physics underlying this approach and discuss the concept of ``local hardness", i.e., the complexity of predicting local properties of the solution from local information, for the ground-state problem of both P- and NP-hard spin-glasses and related frustrated spin systems. Depending on the model considered, we observe varying scaling behaviors in how errors associated with local predictions decay as a function of the size of the solved subsystem. These errors are intimately connected to global critical threshold instabilities, characterized by gapless, avalanche-like excitations that follow scale-invariant size distributions. Away from criticality, local solvers quickly achieve high accuracy, aligning closely with the results of the computationally much more expensive global minimization. We leverage these findings to introduce a heuristic contraction-based algorithm for globally studying spin-glass ground states. The local solvers further display sharp imprints of the phase transition from the spin-glass to the ferromagnetic phase as the distribution of spin-glass couplings is shifted, as well as characteristic differences for the infinite-range model, implying the existence of specific classes of local hardness. Our findings shed light on how Nature may operate solely through local actions at her disposal. △ Less

Submitted 23 December, 2025; v1 submitted 5 May, 2025; originally announced May 2025.

Comments: 9+21 pages, 8+24 figures. Add 8 figures

Constraints on dark matter boosted by supernova shock within the effective field theory framework from the CDEX-10 experiment

Authors: J. Z. Wang, L. T. Yang, Q. Yue, K. J. Kang, Y. J. Li, H. P. An, Greeshma C., J. P. Chang, H. Chen, Y. H. Chen, J. P. Cheng, W. H. Dai, Z. Deng, C. H. Fang, X. P. Geng, H. Gong, Q. J. Guo, T. Guo, X. Y. Guo, L. He, J. R. He, H. X. Huang, T. C. Huang, S. Karmakar, H. B. Li , et al. (62 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Supernova shocks can boost dark matter (DM) particles to high, yet nonrelativistic, velocities, providing a suitable mechanism for analysis within the framework of the nonrelativistic effective field theory (NREFT). These accelerated DM sources extend the experimental ability to scan the parameter space of light DM into the sub-GeV region. In this study, we specifically analyze DM accelerated by t… ▽ More Supernova shocks can boost dark matter (DM) particles to high, yet nonrelativistic, velocities, providing a suitable mechanism for analysis within the framework of the nonrelativistic effective field theory (NREFT). These accelerated DM sources extend the experimental ability to scan the parameter space of light DM into the sub-GeV region. In this study, we specifically analyze DM accelerated by the Monogem Ring supernova remnant, whose age ($\sim 68000$ yr) and distance to Earth ($\sim 300$ parsec) are strategically matched to enable detection with current terrestrial detectors. Utilizing the 205.4 kg$\cdot$day data obtained from the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory, we derive new constraints on boosted DM within the NREFT framework. The NREFT coupling constant exclusion regions now penetrate the sub-GeV mass range, with optimal sensitivity achieved for operators $\mathcal{O}_{3}$, $\mathcal{O}_{6}$, $\mathcal{O}_{15}$ in the 0.4--0.6 GeV mass range. △ Less

Submitted 18 November, 2025; v1 submitted 4 April, 2025; originally announced April 2025.

Comments: 9 pages, 5 figures. Version updated to match PRD version

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. D 112, 092011 (2025)

Radial dependence of ion fluences in the 2023 July 17 SEP event from Parker Solar Probe to STEREO and ACE

Authors: G. D. Muro, C. M. S Cohen, Z. Xu, R. A. Leske, E. R. Christian, A. C. Cummings, G. De Nolfo, M. I. Desai, F. Fraschetti, J. Giacalone, A. Labrador, D. J. McComas, J. G. Mitchell, D. G. Mitchell, J. Rankin, N. A. Schwadron, M. Shen, M. E. Wiedenbeck, S. D. Bale, O. Romeo, A. Vourlidas

Abstract: In the latter moments of 17 July 2023, the solar active region 13363, near the southwestern face of the Sun, was undergoing considerable evolution, which resulted in a significant solar energetic particle (SEP) event measured by Parker Solar Probe's Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) and near-Earth spacecraft. Remote observations from GOES and CHASE captured two M5.0+ solar flares… ▽ More In the latter moments of 17 July 2023, the solar active region 13363, near the southwestern face of the Sun, was undergoing considerable evolution, which resulted in a significant solar energetic particle (SEP) event measured by Parker Solar Probe's Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) and near-Earth spacecraft. Remote observations from GOES and CHASE captured two M5.0+ solar flares that peaked at 23:34 and 00:06 UT from the source region. In tandem, STEREO COR2 first recorded a small, narrow coronal mass ejection (CME) emerging at 22:54 UT and then saw a major halo CME emerge at 23:43 UT with a bright, rapidly expanding core and CME-driven magnetic shock with an estimated speed of $\sim$1400 $kms^{-1}$. Parker Solar Probe was positioned at 0.65 au, near-perfectly on the nominal Parker spiral magnetic field line which connected Earth and the active region for a 537 $kms^{-1}$ ambient solar wind speed at L1. This fortuitous alignment provided the opportunity to examine how the SEP velocity dispersion, energy spectra, elemental composition, and fluence varied from 0.65 to 1 au along a shared magnetic connection to the Sun. We find a strong radial gradient, which is best characterized for H and He as $r^{-4.0}$ and most surprisingly is stronger for O and Fe which is better described by $r^{-5.7}$. △ Less

Submitted 24 February, 2025; originally announced February 2025.

Comments: The Astrophysical Journal: 10 pages, 13 figures

The Eggbox Ising Model

Authors: Mutian Shen, Yichen Xu, Zohar Nussinov

Abstract: We introduce the Eggbox Ising model, a tunable construction of rugged energy landscapes defined by distances to a prescribed set of patterns. Correlated pattern ensembles realize arbitrary k-step replica-symmetry-breaking structures and controllable Parisi overlap distributions p(q), consistent with the hierarchical overlap structure observed in a simple word-embedding example from empirical data.… ▽ More We introduce the Eggbox Ising model, a tunable construction of rugged energy landscapes defined by distances to a prescribed set of patterns. Correlated pattern ensembles realize arbitrary k-step replica-symmetry-breaking structures and controllable Parisi overlap distributions p(q), consistent with the hierarchical overlap structure observed in a simple word-embedding example from empirical data. A softened variant allows a systematic expansion leading to Hopfield-type couplings (and higher-body terms). We analyze the density of states and show that suitable potentials induce discontinuous finite-temperature transitions with metastability and hysteresis. △ Less

Submitted 19 February, 2026; v1 submitted 21 February, 2025; originally announced February 2025.

Comments: 14 pages, 12 figures

Position reconstruction and surface background model for the PandaX-4T detector

Authors: Zhicheng Qian, Linhui Gu, Chen Cheng, Zihao Bo, Wei Chen, Xun Chen, Yunhua Chen, Zhaokan Cheng, Xiangyi Cui, Yingjie Fan, Deqing Fang, Zhixing Gao, Lisheng Geng, Karl Giboni, Xunan Guo, Xuyuan Guo, Zichao Guo, Chencheng Han, Ke Han, Changda He, Jinrong He, Di Huang, Houqi Huang, Junting Huang, Ruquan Hou , et al. (78 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We report the position reconstruction methods and surface background model for the PandaX-4T dark matter direct search experiment. This work develops two position reconstruction algorithms: template matching (TM) method and photon acceptance function (PAF) method. Both methods determine the horizontal position of events based on the light pattern of secondary scintillation collected by the light s… ▽ More We report the position reconstruction methods and surface background model for the PandaX-4T dark matter direct search experiment. This work develops two position reconstruction algorithms: template matching (TM) method and photon acceptance function (PAF) method. Both methods determine the horizontal position of events based on the light pattern of secondary scintillation collected by the light sensors. After a comprehensive evaluation of resolution, uniformity, and robustness, the PAF method was selected for position reconstruction, while the TM method was employed for verification. The PAF method achieves a bulk event resolution of 1.0 mm and a surface event resolution of 4.4 mm for a typical $S2$ signal with a bottom charge of 1500 PE (about 14 keV). The uniformity is around 20\%. Robustness studies reveal average deviations of 5.1 mm and 8.8 mm for the commissioning run (Run0) and the first science run (Run1), respectively, due to the deactivation of certain PMTs. A data-driven surface background model is developed based on the PAF method. The surface background is estimated to be $0.09 \pm 0.06$ events for Run0 (0.54 tonne$\cdot$year) and $0.17 \pm 0.11$ events for Run1 (1.00 tonne$\cdot$year). △ Less

Submitted 11 February, 2025; originally announced February 2025.

Comments: 22 pages, 15 figures, 2 tables

Two-optical-cycle pulses from nanophotonic two-color soliton compression

Authors: Robert M. Gray, Ryoto Sekine, Maximilian Shen, Thomas Zacharias, James Williams, Selina Zhou, Rahul Chawlani, Luis Ledezma, Nicolas Englebert, Alireza Marandi

Abstract: Few- and single-cycle optical pulses and their associated ultra-broadband spectra have been crucial in the progress of ultrafast science and technology. Moreover, multi-color waveforms composed of independently manipulable ultrashort pulses in distinct spectral bands offer unique advantages in pulse synthesis and attosecond science. However, the generation and control of ultrashort pulses has requ… ▽ More Few- and single-cycle optical pulses and their associated ultra-broadband spectra have been crucial in the progress of ultrafast science and technology. Moreover, multi-color waveforms composed of independently manipulable ultrashort pulses in distinct spectral bands offer unique advantages in pulse synthesis and attosecond science. However, the generation and control of ultrashort pulses has required bulky and expensive optical systems at the tabletop scale and has so far been beyond the reach of integrated photonics. Here, we break these limitations and demonstrate two-optical-cycle pulse compression using quadratic two-color soliton dynamics in lithium niobate nanophotonics. By leveraging dispersion engineering and operation near phase matching, we achieve extreme compression, energy-efficient operation, and strong conversion of pump to the second harmonic. We experimentally demonstrate generation of $\sim$13-fs pulses at 2 $μ$m using only $\sim$3 pJ of input energy. We further illustrate how the demonstrated scheme can be readily extended to on-chip single-cycle pulse synthesis with sub-cycle control. Our results provide a path towards realization of single-cycle ultrafast systems in nanophotonic circuits. △ Less

Submitted 18 February, 2025; v1 submitted 25 January, 2025; originally announced January 2025.

Comments: 24 pages, 5 figures

Comparing Methods for Calculating Solar Energetic Particle Intensities: Re-binning versus Spectral Binning

Authors: M. E. Cuesta, L. Y. Khoo, G. Livadiotis, M. M. Shen, J. R. Szalay, D. J. McComas, J. S. Rankin, R. Bandyopadhyay, H. A. Farooki, J. T. Niehof, C. M. S. Cohen, R. A. Leske, Z. Xu, E. R. Christian, M. I. Desai, M. A. Dayeh

Abstract: Solar energetic particle (SEP) events have been observed for decades in the interplanetary medium by spacecraft measuring the intensity of energetic ions and electrons. These intensities provide valuable information about particle acceleration, the effects of bulk plasma dynamics on particle transport, and the anisotropy of particle distributions. Since measured intensities are typically reported… ▽ More Solar energetic particle (SEP) events have been observed for decades in the interplanetary medium by spacecraft measuring the intensity of energetic ions and electrons. These intensities provide valuable information about particle acceleration, the effects of bulk plasma dynamics on particle transport, and the anisotropy of particle distributions. Since measured intensities are typically reported in narrow energy bins, it is common to re-bin intensities over a wider energy range to improve counting statistics. We investigate two methods for calculating intensities across multiple energy bins: a) \textit{re-binned intensity} (\(\overline{j}_{\rm linlin}\)), which is calculated by integrating the intensity over energy space and corresponds to the intensity at an effective energy that depends on the time-varying spectral index, and b) \textit{spectral binned intensity} (\(\overline{j}_{\rm loglog}\)), calculated by integrating the log-intensity in log-energy space, yielding the intensity at the log-centered energy that is independent of the spectral index and remains constant over time. We compare these methods using Parker Solar Probe (PSP) IS\(\odot\)IS measurements of energetic protons, and we prescribe criteria for selecting the appropriate method for different scenarios. Our results show that the re-binned intensity is consistently larger (up to a factor of 5) than the spectral binned intensity for two SEP events observed by PSP, although the time series of the two methods are strongly correlated. Overall, both measures are important for SEP spectral analysis, and the selection of the appropriate measure depends on whether a physical (spectral binned intensity) or a statistical (re-binned intensity) representation is needed for a given analysis. △ Less

Submitted 24 January, 2025; originally announced January 2025.

Comments: 17 pages, 9 Figures, Accepted for Publication in ApJS

Diverse dust populations in the near-Sun environment characterized by PSP/IS$\odot$IS

Authors: M. M. Shen, J. R. Szalay, P. Pokorný, J. G. Mitchell, M. E. Hill, D. G. Mitchell, D. J. McComas, E. R. Christian, C. M. S. Cohen, N. A. Schwadron, S. D. Bale, D. M. Malaspina

Abstract: The Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (IS$\odot$IS) energetic particle instrument suite on Parker Solar Probe is dedicated to measuring energetic ions and electrons in the near-Sun environment. It includes a half-sky-viewing time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EPI-Lo) and five high-energy silicon solid-state detector-telescopes (EPI-Hi). To August 2024, eight of EPI-Lo's eighty separate te… ▽ More The Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (IS$\odot$IS) energetic particle instrument suite on Parker Solar Probe is dedicated to measuring energetic ions and electrons in the near-Sun environment. It includes a half-sky-viewing time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EPI-Lo) and five high-energy silicon solid-state detector-telescopes (EPI-Hi). To August 2024, eight of EPI-Lo's eighty separate telescope foils have experienced direct dust puncture events, most of which occurred inside 40 solar radii (0.19 au). These impacts represent the closest ever direct dust detections to the Sun. While there is limited information about the size/mass of each impact due to the lack of a dedicated dust instrument, we can determine the impact direction for six punctures, allowing us to partially constrain the inner zodiacal abundance. Remarkably, one of six unambiguous dust impacters was likely on a retrograde orbit, suggesting long-period cometary material may survive within 20 solar radii (0.09 au). We discuss observations in the context of improving our understanding of the inner zodiacal dust environment, highlighting multiple dust populations responsible for these events, and refining hazard assessment for near-Sun spacecraft. △ Less

Submitted 28 December, 2024; v1 submitted 23 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

High-efficiency, cryogenic-compatible grating couplers on an AlN-on-sapphire platform through bottom-side coupling

Authors: Yiyu Zhou, Mohan Shen, Chunzhen Li, Jiacheng Xie, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Sapphire is a commonly used substrate for wide-bandgap III-nitride photonic materials. However, its relatively high refractive index results in low transmission efficiency in grating couplers. Here, we propose and demonstrate that the transmission efficiency can be significantly enhanced by bottom-side coupling. A metal reflector is deposited on the top side of the chip, and the fiber array is glu… ▽ More Sapphire is a commonly used substrate for wide-bandgap III-nitride photonic materials. However, its relatively high refractive index results in low transmission efficiency in grating couplers. Here, we propose and demonstrate that the transmission efficiency can be significantly enhanced by bottom-side coupling. A metal reflector is deposited on the top side of the chip, and the fiber array is glued to the bottom side of the substrate. We experimentally achieve a transmission efficiency as high as 42% per coupler on an aluminum nitride (AlN) on sapphire platform at the telecom wavelength. In addition, the grating couplers show a robust performance at a cryogenic temperature as low as 3~K for both transverse-electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) modes. Our results can be useful to a wide range of sapphire-based applications that require low coupling loss and cryogenic operation. △ Less

Submitted 23 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

Symmetric Second-Harmonic Generation in Sub-wavelength Periodically Poled Thin Film Lithium Niobate

Authors: Fengyan Yang, Juanjuan Lu, Mohan Shen, Guangcanlan Yang, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Second harmonic generation (SHG) extensively employs periodically poled nonlinear crystals through forward quasi-phase-matching to achieve efficient frequency conversion. As poling periods approach sub-micrometers, backward quasi-phase-matching has also been demonstrated, albeit by utilizing pulsed laser drives. The realization of symmetric second harmonic generation, characterized by counterpropa… ▽ More Second harmonic generation (SHG) extensively employs periodically poled nonlinear crystals through forward quasi-phase-matching to achieve efficient frequency conversion. As poling periods approach sub-micrometers, backward quasi-phase-matching has also been demonstrated, albeit by utilizing pulsed laser drives. The realization of symmetric second harmonic generation, characterized by counterpropagating pumps, however, has remained elusive despite theoretical predictions. The main challenge lies in achieving strong nonlinear coupling with poling period below half the wavelength of the second-harmonic light. The recent emergence of high-quality ferroelectric lithium niobate thin films provides an opportunity for achieving precise domain control at submicron dimensions. In this article, we demonstrate reliable control of ferroelectric domains in thin film lithium niobate waveguide with a poling period down to 370nm, thereby realizing highly efficient continuous-wave pumped symmetric SHG. This demonstration not only validates the feasibility of achieving subwavelength periodic poling on waveguides but also opens new avenues for leveraging submicron ferroelectric domain structures in integrated photonics and nonlinear optics research. △ Less

Submitted 12 July, 2024; originally announced July 2024.

Non-contact excitation of multi-GHz lithium niobate electromechanical resonators

Authors: Danqing Wang, Jiacheng Xie, Yu Guo, Mohan Shen, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: The demand for high-performance electromechanical resonators is ever-growing across diverse applications, ranging from sensing and time-keeping to advanced communication devices. Among the electromechanical materials being explored, thin-film lithium niobate stands out for its strong piezoelectric properties and low acoustic loss. However, in nearly all existing lithium niobate electromechanical d… ▽ More The demand for high-performance electromechanical resonators is ever-growing across diverse applications, ranging from sensing and time-keeping to advanced communication devices. Among the electromechanical materials being explored, thin-film lithium niobate stands out for its strong piezoelectric properties and low acoustic loss. However, in nearly all existing lithium niobate electromechanical devices, the configuration is such that the electrodes are in direct contact with the mechanical resonator. This configuration introduces an undesirable mass-loading effect, giving rise to spurious modes and additional damping. Here, we present an electromechanical platform that mitigates this challenge by leveraging a flip-chip bonding technique to separate the electrodes from the mechanical resonator. By offloading the electrodes from the resonator, our approach yields a substantial increase in the quality factor of these resonators, paving the way for enhanced performance and reliability for their device applications. △ Less

Submitted 7 July, 2024; originally announced July 2024.

Comments: 6 pages, 4 figures

Kappa-tail technique: Modeling and application to Solar Energetic Particles observed by Parker Solar Probe

Authors: G. Livadiotis, A. T. Cummings, M. E. Cuesta, R. Bandyopadhyay, H. A. Farooki, L. Y. Khoo, D. J. McComas, J. S. Rankin, T. Sharma, M. M. Shen, C. M. S. Cohen, G. D. Muro, Z. Xu

Abstract: We develop the kappa-tail fitting technique, which analyzes observations of power-law tails of distributions and energy-flux spectra and connects them to theoretical modeling of kappa distributions, to determine the thermodynamics of the examined space plasma. In particular, we (i) construct the associated mathematical formulation, (ii) prove its decisive lead for determining whether the observed… ▽ More We develop the kappa-tail fitting technique, which analyzes observations of power-law tails of distributions and energy-flux spectra and connects them to theoretical modeling of kappa distributions, to determine the thermodynamics of the examined space plasma. In particular, we (i) construct the associated mathematical formulation, (ii) prove its decisive lead for determining whether the observed power-law is associated with kappa distributions; and (iii) provide a validation of the technique using pseudo-observations of typical input plasma parameters. Then, we apply this technique to a case-study by determining the thermodynamics of solar energetic particle (SEP) protons, for a SEP event observed on April 17, 2021, by the PSP/ISOIS instrument suite onboard PSP. The results show SEP temperatures and densities of the order of $\sim 1$ MeV and $ \sim 5 \cdot 10^{-7} $ cm$^{-3}$, respectively. △ Less

Submitted 4 July, 2024; originally announced July 2024.

Parker Solar Probe Observations of Energetic Particles in the Flank of a Coronal Mass Ejection Close to the Sun

Authors: N. A. Schwadron, Stuart D. Bale, J. Bonnell, A. Case, M. Shen, E. R. Christian, C. M. S. Cohen, A. J. Davis, M. I. Desai, K. Goetz, J. Giacalone, M. E. Hill, J. C. Kasper, K. Korreck, D. Larson, R. Livi, T. Lim, R. A. Leske, O. Malandraki, D. Malaspina, W. H. Matthaeus, D. J. McComas, R. L. McNutt Jr., R. A. Mewaldt, D. G. Mitchell , et al. (10 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We present an event observed by Parker Solar Probe at $\sim$0.2 au on March 2, 2022 in which imaging and \emph{in situ} measurements coincide. During this event, PSP passed through structures on the flank of a streamer blowout CME including an isolated flux tube in front of the CME, a turbulent sheath, and the CME itself. Imaging observations and \emph{in situ} helicity and principal variance sign… ▽ More We present an event observed by Parker Solar Probe at $\sim$0.2 au on March 2, 2022 in which imaging and \emph{in situ} measurements coincide. During this event, PSP passed through structures on the flank of a streamer blowout CME including an isolated flux tube in front of the CME, a turbulent sheath, and the CME itself. Imaging observations and \emph{in situ} helicity and principal variance signatures consistently show the presence of flux ropes internal to the CME. In both the sheath, and the CME interval, the distributions are more isotropic, the spectra are softer, and the abundance ratios of Fe/O and He/H are lower than those in the isolated flux tube, and yet elevated relative to typical plasma and SEP abundances. These signatures in the sheath and the CME indicate that both flare populations and those from the plasma are accelerated to form the observed energetic particle enhancements. In contrast, the isolated flux tube shows large streaming, hard spectra and large Fe/O and He/H ratios, indicating flare sources. Energetic particle fluxes are most enhanced within the CME interval from suprathermal through energetic particle energies ($\sim$ keV to $>10$ MeV), indicating particle acceleration, and confinement local to the closed magnetic structure. The flux-rope morphology of the CME helps to enable local modulation and trapping of energetic particles, particularly along helicity channels and other plasma boundaries. Thus, the CME acts to build-up energetic particle populations, allowing them to be fed into subsequent higher energy particle acceleration throughout the inner heliosphere where a compression or shock forms on the CME front. △ Less

Submitted 26 May, 2024; originally announced May 2024.

Comments: 41 pages, 19 figures, In Press

Journal ref: Astrophysical Journal, 2024

Unveiling the Pockels Coefficient of Ferroelectric Nitride ScAlN

Authors: Guangcanlan Yang, Haochen Wang, Sai Mu, Hao Xie, Tyler Wang, Chengxing He, Mohan Shen, Mengxia Liu, Chris G. Van de Walle, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Nitride ferroelectrics have recently emerged as promising alternatives to oxide ferroelectrics due to their compatibility with mainstream semiconductor processing. ScAlN, in particular, has exhibited remarkable piezoelectric coupling strength ($K^2$) comparable to that of lithium niobate (LN), making it a valuable choice for RF filters in wireless communications. Recently, ScAlN has sparked intere… ▽ More Nitride ferroelectrics have recently emerged as promising alternatives to oxide ferroelectrics due to their compatibility with mainstream semiconductor processing. ScAlN, in particular, has exhibited remarkable piezoelectric coupling strength ($K^2$) comparable to that of lithium niobate (LN), making it a valuable choice for RF filters in wireless communications. Recently, ScAlN has sparked interest in its use for nanophotonic devices, chiefly due to its large bandgap facilitating operation in blue wavelengths coupled with promises of enhanced nonlinear optical properties such as a large second-order susceptibility ($χ^{(2)}$). It is still an open question whether ScAlN can outperform oxide ferroelectrics concerning the Pockels effect -- an electro-optic coupling extensively utilized in optical communications devices. In this paper, we present a comprehensive theoretical analysis and experimental demonstration of ScAlN's Pockels effect. Our findings reveal that the electro-optic coupling of ScAlN, despite being weak at low Sc concentration, may be significantly enhanced and exceed LiNbO$_3$ at high levels of Sc doping, which points the direction of continued research efforts to unlock the full potential of ScAlN. △ Less

Submitted 18 October, 2024; v1 submitted 13 May, 2024; originally announced May 2024.

Search for solar axions by Primakoff effect with the full dataset of the CDEX-1B Experiment

Authors: L. T. Yang, S. K. Liu, Q. Yue, K. J. Kang, Y. J. Li, H. P. An, Greeshma C., J. P. Chang, Y. H. Chen, J. P. Cheng, W. H. Dai, Z. Deng, C. H. Fang, X. P. Geng, H. Gong, Q. J. Guo, T. Guo, X. Y. Guo, L. He, J. R. He, J. W. Hu, H. X. Huang, T. C. Huang, L. Jiang, S. Karmakar , et al. (61 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We present the first limit on $g_{Aγ}$ coupling constant using the Bragg-Primakoff conversion based on an exposure of 1107.5 kg days of data from the CDEX-1B experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The data are consistent with the null signal hypothesis, and no excess signals are observed. Limits of the coupling $g_{Aγ}<2.08\times10^{-9}$ GeV$^{-1}$ (95\% C.L.) are derived for axio… ▽ More We present the first limit on $g_{Aγ}$ coupling constant using the Bragg-Primakoff conversion based on an exposure of 1107.5 kg days of data from the CDEX-1B experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The data are consistent with the null signal hypothesis, and no excess signals are observed. Limits of the coupling $g_{Aγ}<2.08\times10^{-9}$ GeV$^{-1}$ (95\% C.L.) are derived for axions with mass up to 100 eV/$c^2$. Within the hadronic model of KSVZ, our results exclude axion mass $>5.3~\rm{eV}/c^2$ at 95\% C.L. △ Less

Submitted 12 May, 2024; originally announced May 2024.

Comments: 7 pages, 5 figures

Mineral Detection of Neutrinos and Dark Matter 2024. Proceedings

Authors: Sebastian Baum, Patrick Huber, Patrick Stengel, Natsue Abe, Daniel G. Ang, Lorenzo Apollonio, Gabriela R. Araujo, Levente Balogh, Pranshu Bhaumik Yilda Boukhtouchen, Joseph Bramante, Lorenzo Caccianiga, Andrew Calabrese-Day, Qing Chang, Juan I. Collar, Reza Ebadi, Alexey Elykov, Katherine Freese, Audrey Fung, Claudio Galelli, Arianna E. Gleason, Mariano Guerrero Perez, Janina Hakenmüller, Takeshi Hanyu, Noriko Hasebe, Shigenobu Hirose , et al. (35 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The second "Mineral Detection of Neutrinos and Dark Matter" (MDvDM'24) meeting was held January 8-11, 2024 in Arlington, VA, USA, hosted by Virginia Tech's Center for Neutrino Physics. This document collects contributions from this workshop, providing an overview of activities in the field. MDvDM'24 was the second topical workshop dedicated to the emerging field of mineral detection of neutrinos a… ▽ More The second "Mineral Detection of Neutrinos and Dark Matter" (MDvDM'24) meeting was held January 8-11, 2024 in Arlington, VA, USA, hosted by Virginia Tech's Center for Neutrino Physics. This document collects contributions from this workshop, providing an overview of activities in the field. MDvDM'24 was the second topical workshop dedicated to the emerging field of mineral detection of neutrinos and dark matter, following a meeting hosted by IFPU in Trieste, Italy in October 2022. Mineral detectors have been proposed for a wide variety of applications, including searching for dark matter, measuring various fluxes of astrophysical neutrinos over gigayear timescales, monitoring nuclear reactors, and nuclear disarmament protocols; both as paleo-detectors using natural minerals that could have recorded the traces of nuclear recoils for timescales as long as a billion years and as detectors recording nuclear recoil events on laboratory timescales using natural or artificial minerals. Contributions to this proceedings discuss the vast physics potential, the progress in experimental studies, and the numerous challenges lying ahead on the path towards mineral detection. These include a better understanding of the formation and annealing of recoil defects in crystals; identifying the best classes of minerals and, for paleo-detectors, understanding their geology; modeling and control of the relevant backgrounds; developing, combining, and scaling up imaging and data analysis techniques; and many others. During the last years, MDvDM has grown rapidly and gained attention. Small-scale experimental efforts focused on establishing various microscopic readout techniques are underway at institutions in North America, Europe and Asia. We are looking ahead to an exciting future full of challenges to overcome, surprises to be encountered, and discoveries lying ahead of us. △ Less

Submitted 2 May, 2024; originally announced May 2024.

Comments: Summary and proceedings of the MDvDM'24 conference, Jan 8-11 2024

Sub-terahertz optomechanics

Authors: Jiacheng Xie, Mohan Shen, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: We demonstrate optomechanics in the sub-terahertz regime. An optical racetrack resonator, patterned from thin-film lithium niobate, is suspended to support mechanical structures oscillating at these extremely high frequencies, which are read out through cavity optomechanical coupling. Our hybrid platform paves the way for advancing mechanical systems in the quantum regime at elevated temperatures. We demonstrate optomechanics in the sub-terahertz regime. An optical racetrack resonator, patterned from thin-film lithium niobate, is suspended to support mechanical structures oscillating at these extremely high frequencies, which are read out through cavity optomechanical coupling. Our hybrid platform paves the way for advancing mechanical systems in the quantum regime at elevated temperatures. △ Less

Submitted 30 April, 2024; originally announced May 2024.

First search for light fermionic dark matter absorption on electrons using germanium detector in CDEX-10 experiment

Authors: J. X. Liu, L. T. Yang, Q. Yue, K. J. Kang, Y. J. Li, H. P. An, Greeshma C., J. P. Chang, Y. H. Chen, J. P. Cheng, W. H. Dai, Z. Deng, C. H. Fang, X. P. Geng, H. Gong, Q. J. Guo, T. Guo, X. Y. Guo, L. He, J. R. He, J. W. Hu, H. X. Huang, T. C. Huang, L. Jiang, S. Karmakar , et al. (61 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We present the first results of the search for sub-MeV fermionic dark matter absorbed by electron targets of germanium using the 205.4~kg$\cdot$day data collected by the CDEX-10 experiment, with the analysis threshold of 160~eVee. No significant dark matter (DM) signals over the background are observed. Results are presented as limits on the cross section of DM--electron interaction. We present ne… ▽ More We present the first results of the search for sub-MeV fermionic dark matter absorbed by electron targets of germanium using the 205.4~kg$\cdot$day data collected by the CDEX-10 experiment, with the analysis threshold of 160~eVee. No significant dark matter (DM) signals over the background are observed. Results are presented as limits on the cross section of DM--electron interaction. We present new constraints of cross section in the DM range of 0.1--10 keV/$c^2$ for vector and axial-vector interaction. The upper limit on the cross section is set to be $\rm 6.8\times10^{-46}~cm^2$ for vector interaction, and $\rm 2.3\times10^{-46}~cm^2$ for axial-vector interaction at DM mass of 5 keV/$c^2$. △ Less

Submitted 17 February, 2026; v1 submitted 15 April, 2024; originally announced April 2024.

Comments: 6 pages, 4 figures. Version updated to match PRD version

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. D 113, 032011 (2026)

Correlation of Coronal Mass Ejection Shock Temperature with Solar Energetic Particle Intensity

Authors: Manuel Enrique Cuesta, D. J. McComas, L. Y. Khoo, R. Bandyopadhyay, T. Sharma, M. M. Shen, J. S. Rankin, A. T. Cummings, J. R. Szalay, C. M. S. Cohen, N. A. Schwadron, R. Chhiber, F. Pecora, W. H. Matthaeus, R. A. Leske, M. L. Stevens

Abstract: Solar energetic particle (SEP) events have been observed by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) spacecraft since its launch in 2018. These events include sources from solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Onboard PSP is the IS\(\odot\)IS instrument suite measuring ions over energies from ~ 20 keV/nucleon to 200 MeV/nucleon and electrons from ~ 20 keV to 6 MeV. Previous studies sought to group C… ▽ More Solar energetic particle (SEP) events have been observed by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) spacecraft since its launch in 2018. These events include sources from solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Onboard PSP is the IS\(\odot\)IS instrument suite measuring ions over energies from ~ 20 keV/nucleon to 200 MeV/nucleon and electrons from ~ 20 keV to 6 MeV. Previous studies sought to group CME characteristics based on their plasma conditions and arrived at general descriptions with large statistical errors, leaving open questions on how to properly group CMEs based solely on their plasma conditions. To help resolve these open questions, plasma properties of CMEs have been examined in relation to SEPs. Here we reexamine one plasma property, the solar wind proton temperature, and compare it to the proton SEP intensity in a region immediately downstream of a CME-driven shock for seven CMEs observed at radial distances within 1 au. We find a statistically strong correlation between proton SEP intensity and bulk proton temperature, indicating a clear relationship between SEPs and the conditions in the solar wind. Furthermore, we propose that an indirect coupling of SEP intensity to the level of turbulence and the amount of energy dissipation that results is mainly responsible for the observed correlation between SEP intensity and proton temperature. These results are key to understanding the interaction of SEPs with the bulk solar wind in CME-driven shocks and will improve our ability to model the interplay of shock evolution and particle acceleration. △ Less

Submitted 31 January, 2024; originally announced February 2024.

Comments: 12 pages, 4 figures, and 2 tables

Choroidal thinning assessment through facial video analysis

Authors: Qinghua He, Yi Zhang, Mengxi Shen, Giovanni Gregori, Philip J. Rosenfeld, Ruikang K. Wang

Abstract: Different features of skin are associated with various medical conditions and provide opportunities to evaluate and monitor body health. This study created a strategy to assess choroidal thinning through the video analysis of facial skin. Videos capturing the entire facial skin were collected from 48 participants with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 12 healthy individuals. These facial… ▽ More Different features of skin are associated with various medical conditions and provide opportunities to evaluate and monitor body health. This study created a strategy to assess choroidal thinning through the video analysis of facial skin. Videos capturing the entire facial skin were collected from 48 participants with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 12 healthy individuals. These facial videos were analyzed using video-based trans-angiosomes imaging photoplethysmography (TaiPPG) to generate facial imaging biomarkers that were correlated with choroidal thickness (CT) measurements. The CT of all patients was determined using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). The results revealed the relationship between relative blood pulsation amplitude (BPA) in three typical facial angiosomes (cheek, side-forehead and mid-forehead) and the average macular CT (r = 0.48, p < 0.001; r = -0.56, p < 0.001; r = -0.40, p < 0.01). When considering a diagnostic threshold of 200μm, the newly developed facial video analysis tool effectively distinguished between cases of choroidal thinning and normal cases, yielding areas under the curve of 0.75, 0.79 and 0.69. These findings shed light on the connection between choroidal blood flow and facial skin hemodynamics, which suggests the potential for predicting vascular diseases through widely accessible skin imaging data. △ Less

Submitted 29 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures

Continuous Entanglement Distribution from an AlGaAs-on-Insulator Microcomb for Quantum Communications

Authors: Trevor J. Steiner, Maximilian Shen, Joshua E. Castro, John E. Bowers, Galan Moody

Abstract: Using an aluminum gallium arsenide microring resonator, we demonstrate a bright quantum optical microcomb with $>300$ nm bandwidth and more than 20 sets of time-energy entangled modes, enabling spectral demultiplexing with simple, off-the-shelf commercial telecom components. We report high-rate continuous entanglement distribution for two sets of entangled-photon pair frequency modes exhibiting up… ▽ More Using an aluminum gallium arsenide microring resonator, we demonstrate a bright quantum optical microcomb with $>300$ nm bandwidth and more than 20 sets of time-energy entangled modes, enabling spectral demultiplexing with simple, off-the-shelf commercial telecom components. We report high-rate continuous entanglement distribution for two sets of entangled-photon pair frequency modes exhibiting up to $20$ GHz/mW$^2$ pair generation rate. As an illustrative example of entanglement distribution, we perform a continuous-wave time-bin quantum key distribution protocol with 8 kbps raw key rates while maintaining less than 10$\%$ error rate and sufficient two-photon visibility to ensure security of the channel. When the $>$20 frequency modes are multiplexed, we estimate $>$100 kbps entanglement-based key rates or the creation of a multi-user quantum communications network. The entire system requires less than 110 $μ$W of on-chip optical power, demonstrating an efficient source of entangled frequency modes for quantum communications. As a proof of principle, a quantum key is distributed across 12 km of deployed fiber on the UCSB campus and used to transmit a 21 kB image with $<9\%$ error. △ Less

Submitted 21 October, 2023; originally announced October 2023.

Comments: 14 pages, 8 figures

Photonic link from single flux quantum circuits to room temperature

Authors: Mohan Shen, Jiacheng Xie, Yuntao Xu, Sihao Wang, Risheng Cheng, Wei Fu, Yiyu Zhou, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Broadband, energy-efficient signal transfer between cryogenic and room-temperature environment has been a major bottleneck for superconducting quantum and classical logic circuits. Photonic links promise to overcome this challenge by offering simultaneous high bandwidth and low thermal load. However, the development of cryogenic electro-optic modulators -- a key component for photonic readout of e… ▽ More Broadband, energy-efficient signal transfer between cryogenic and room-temperature environment has been a major bottleneck for superconducting quantum and classical logic circuits. Photonic links promise to overcome this challenge by offering simultaneous high bandwidth and low thermal load. However, the development of cryogenic electro-optic modulators -- a key component for photonic readout of electrical signals -- has been stifled by the stringent requirements of superconducting circuits. Rapid single flux quantum circuits (RSFQ), for example, operate with a tiny signal amplitude of only a few millivolts (mV), far below the volt-level signal used in conventional circuits. Here, we demonstrate the first direct optical readout of an RSFQ circuit without additional electrical amplification enabled by a novel superconducting electro-optic modulator (SEOM) featuring a record-low half-wave voltage Vπ of 42 mV on a 1 m-long SEOM. Leveraging the low ohmic loss of superconductors, we break the fundamental Vπ-bandwidth trade-off and demonstrate electro-optic bandwidth up to 17 GHz on a 0.2 m-long SEOM at cryogenic temperatures. Our work presents a viable solution toward high-bandwidth signal transfer between future large-scale superconducting circuits and room-temperature electronics. △ Less

Submitted 25 November, 2023; v1 submitted 6 September, 2023; originally announced September 2023.

Atomically smooth films of CsSb: a chemically robust visible light photocathode

Authors: C. T. Parzyck, C. A. Pennington, W. J. I. DeBenedetti, J. Balajka, E. Echeverria, H. Paik, L. Moreschini, B. D. Faeth, C. Hu, J. K. Nangoi, V. Anil, T. A. Arias, M. A. Hines, D. G. Schlom, A. Galdi, K. M. Shen, J. M. Maxson

Abstract: Alkali antimonide semiconductor photocathodes provide a promising platform for the generation of high brightness electron beams, which are necessary for the development of cutting-edge probes including x-ray free electron lasers and ultrafast electron diffraction. However, to harness the intrinsic brightness limits in these compounds, extrinsic degrading factors, including surface roughness and co… ▽ More Alkali antimonide semiconductor photocathodes provide a promising platform for the generation of high brightness electron beams, which are necessary for the development of cutting-edge probes including x-ray free electron lasers and ultrafast electron diffraction. However, to harness the intrinsic brightness limits in these compounds, extrinsic degrading factors, including surface roughness and contamination, must be overcome. By exploring the growth of CsxSb thin films monitored by in situ electron diffraction, the conditions to reproducibly synthesize atomically smooth films of CsSb on 3C-SiC (100) and graphene coated TiO2 (110) substrates are identified, and detailed structural, morphological, and electronic characterization is presented. These films combine high quantum efficiency in the visible (up to 1.2% at 400 nm), an easily accessible photoemission threshold of 550 nm, low surface roughness (down to 600 pm on a 1 um scale), and a robustness against oxidation up to 15 times greater then Cs3Sb. These properties suggest that CsSb has the potential to operate as an alternative to Cs$_3$Sb in electron source applications where the demands of the vacuum environment might otherwise preclude the use of traditional alkali antimonides. △ Less

Submitted 31 May, 2023; originally announced May 2023.

Comments: 11 pages, 6 figures, 1 table

Journal ref: APL Mater. 11, 101125 (2023)

Reply to: Deep reinforced learning heuristic tested on spin-glass ground states: The larger picture

Authors: Changjun Fan, Mutian Shen, Zohar Nussinov, Zhong Liu, Yizhou Sun, Yang-Yu Liu

Abstract: We wish to thank Stefan Boettcher for prompting us to further check and highlight the accuracy and scaling of our results. Here we provide a comprehensive response to the Comment written by him. We argue that the Comment did not account for the fairness of the comparison between different methods in searching for the spin-glass ground states. We demonstrate that, with a reasonably larger number of… ▽ More We wish to thank Stefan Boettcher for prompting us to further check and highlight the accuracy and scaling of our results. Here we provide a comprehensive response to the Comment written by him. We argue that the Comment did not account for the fairness of the comparison between different methods in searching for the spin-glass ground states. We demonstrate that, with a reasonably larger number of initial spin configurations, our results agree with the asymptotic scaling form assumed by finite-size corrections. △ Less

Submitted 12 May, 2023; originally announced May 2023.

Comments: 5 pages, 1 figure

Variability of Antenna Signals From Dust Impacts

Authors: Mitchell M. Shen, Zoltan Sternovsky, David M. Malaspina

Abstract: Electric field instruments carried by spacecraft (SC) are complementary to dedicated dust detectors by registering transient voltage perturbations caused by impact-generated plasma. The signal waveform contains information about the interaction between the impact-generated plasma cloud and the elements of SC-antenna system. The variability of antenna signals from dust impacts has not yet been syst… ▽ More Electric field instruments carried by spacecraft (SC) are complementary to dedicated dust detectors by registering transient voltage perturbations caused by impact-generated plasma. The signal waveform contains information about the interaction between the impact-generated plasma cloud and the elements of SC-antenna system. The variability of antenna signals from dust impacts has not yet been systematically characterized. A set of laboratory measurements are performed to characterize signal variations in response to SC parameters (bias voltage and antenna configuration) and impactor parameters (impact speed and composition). The measurements demonstrate that dipole antenna configurations are sensitive to dust impacts and that the detected signals vary with impact location. When dust impacts occur at low speeds, the antennas typically register smaller amplitudes and less characteristic impact signal shapes. In this case, impact event identification may be more challenging due to lower signal-to-noise ratios and/or more variable waveforms shapes, indicating the compound nature of nonfully developed impact-generated plasmas. To investigate possible variations in the impacting materials, the measurements are carried out using two dust samples with different mass densities: iron and aluminum. No significant variations of the measured waveform or plasma parameters obtained from data analysis are observed between the two materials used. △ Less

Submitted 2 April, 2023; originally announced April 2023.

Comments: Manuscript accepted online by JGR: Space Physics on 22 March 2023

Laboratory Study of Antenna Signals Generated by Dust Impacts on Spacecraft

Authors: Mitchell M. Shen, Zoltan Sternovsky, Mihály Horányi, Hsiang-Wen Hsu, David M. Malaspina

Abstract: Space missions often carry antenna instruments that are sensitive to dust impacts, however, the understanding of signal generation mechanisms remained incomplete. A signal generation model in an analytical form is presented that provides a good agreement with laboratory measurements. The model is based on the direct and induced charging of the spacecraft from the collected and escaping fraction of… ▽ More Space missions often carry antenna instruments that are sensitive to dust impacts, however, the understanding of signal generation mechanisms remained incomplete. A signal generation model in an analytical form is presented that provides a good agreement with laboratory measurements. The model is based on the direct and induced charging of the spacecraft from the collected and escaping fraction of free charges from the impact-generated plasma cloud. A set of laboratory experiments is performed using a 20:1 scaled-down model of the Cassini spacecraft in a dust accelerator facility. The results show that impact plasmas can be modeled as a plume of ions streaming away from the impact location and a cloud of isotropically expanding electrons. The fitting of the model to the collected antenna waveforms provides some of the key parameters of the impact plasma. The model also shows that the amplitudes of the impact signals can be significantly reduced in typical space environments due to the discharging effects in the ambient plasma. △ Less

Submitted 2 April, 2023; originally announced April 2023.

Comments: Manuscript accepted online by JGR: Space Physics on 05 April 2021

Electrostatic Model for Antenna Signal Generation From Dust Impacts

Authors: Mitchell M. Shen, Zoltan Sternovsky, Alessandro Garzelli, David M. Malaspina

Abstract: Dust impacts on spacecraft are commonly detected by antenna instruments as transient voltage perturbations. The signal waveform is generated by the interaction between the impact-generated plasma cloud and the elements of the antenna-spacecraft system. A general electrostatic model is presented that includes the two key elements of the interaction, namely the charge recollected from the impact pla… ▽ More Dust impacts on spacecraft are commonly detected by antenna instruments as transient voltage perturbations. The signal waveform is generated by the interaction between the impact-generated plasma cloud and the elements of the antenna-spacecraft system. A general electrostatic model is presented that includes the two key elements of the interaction, namely the charge recollected from the impact plasma by the spacecraft and the fraction electrons and cations that escape to infinity. The clouds of escaping electrons and cations generate induced signals, and their vastly different escape speeds are responsible for the characteristic shape of the waveforms. The induced signals are modeled numerically for the geometry of the system and the location of the impact. The model employs a Maxwell capacitance matrix to keep track of the mutual interaction between the elements of the system. A new reduced-size model spacecraft is constructed for laboratory measurements using the dust accelerator facility. The model spacecraft is equipped with four antennas: two operating in a monopole mode, and one pair configured as a dipole. Submicron-sized iron dust particles accelerated to > 20 km/s are used for test measurements, where the waveforms of each antenna are recorded. The electrostatic model provides a remarkably good fit to the data using only a handful of physical fitting parameters, such as the escape speeds of electrons and cations. The presented general model provides the framework for analyzing antenna waveforms and is applicable for a range of space missions investigating the distribution of dust particles in relevant environments. △ Less

Submitted 2 April, 2023; originally announced April 2023.

Comments: Manuscript accepted online by JGR: Space Physics on 13 August 2021

STCF Conceptual Design Report: Volume 1 -- Physics & Detector

Authors: M. Achasov, X. C. Ai, R. Aliberti, L. P. An, Q. An, X. Z. Bai, Y. Bai, O. Bakina, A. Barnyakov, V. Blinov, V. Bobrovnikov, D. Bodrov, A. Bogomyagkov, A. Bondar, I. Boyko, Z. H. Bu, F. M. Cai, H. Cai, J. J. Cao, Q. H. Cao, Z. Cao, Q. Chang, K. T. Chao, D. Y. Chen, H. Chen , et al. (413 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Super $τ$-Charm facility (STCF) is an electron-positron collider proposed by the Chinese particle physics community. It is designed to operate in a center-of-mass energy range from 2 to 7 GeV with a peak luminosity of $0.5\times 10^{35}{\rm cm}^{-2}{\rm s}^{-1}$ or higher. The STCF will produce a data sample about a factor of 100 larger than that by the present $τ$-Charm factory -- the BEPCII,… ▽ More The Super $τ$-Charm facility (STCF) is an electron-positron collider proposed by the Chinese particle physics community. It is designed to operate in a center-of-mass energy range from 2 to 7 GeV with a peak luminosity of $0.5\times 10^{35}{\rm cm}^{-2}{\rm s}^{-1}$ or higher. The STCF will produce a data sample about a factor of 100 larger than that by the present $τ$-Charm factory -- the BEPCII, providing a unique platform for exploring the asymmetry of matter-antimatter (charge-parity violation), in-depth studies of the internal structure of hadrons and the nature of non-perturbative strong interactions, as well as searching for exotic hadrons and physics beyond the Standard Model. The STCF project in China is under development with an extensive R\&D program. This document presents the physics opportunities at the STCF, describes conceptual designs of the STCF detector system, and discusses future plans for detector R\&D and physics case studies. △ Less

Submitted 5 October, 2023; v1 submitted 28 March, 2023; originally announced March 2023.

Journal ref: Front. Phys. 19(1), 14701 (2024)

An Algorithm for Subtraction of Doublet Emission Lines in Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

Authors: Yaoju Tarn, Mekhola Sinha, Christopher Pasco, Darrell G. Schlom, Tyrel M. McQueen, Kyle M. Shen, Brendan D. Faeth

Abstract: Plasma discharge lamps are widely utilized in the practice of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments as narrow-linewidth ultraviolet photon sources. However, many emission lines such as Ar-I, Ne-I, and Ne-II have closely spaced doublet emission lines, which result in superimposed replica on the measured ARPES spectra. Here, we present a simple method for subtracting the cont… ▽ More Plasma discharge lamps are widely utilized in the practice of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments as narrow-linewidth ultraviolet photon sources. However, many emission lines such as Ar-I, Ne-I, and Ne-II have closely spaced doublet emission lines, which result in superimposed replica on the measured ARPES spectra. Here, we present a simple method for subtracting the contribution of these doublet emission lines from photoemission spectra. Benchmarking against ARPES spectra of well-characterized 2D materials, we demonstrate that this algorithm manages to subtract the doublet signal and reproduce the key features of the monochromated He-I$α$ spectra in a physically sound manner that reliably reproduces quantifiable dispersion relations and quasiparticle lifetimes. △ Less

Submitted 13 March, 2023; originally announced March 2023.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 main figures, 3 appendix figures

Controlling single rare earth ion emission in an electro-optical nanocavity

Authors: Likai Yang, Sihao Wang, Mohan Shen, Jiacheng Xie, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Rare earth emitters enable critical quantum resources including spin qubits, single photon sources, and quantum memories. Yet, probing of single ions remains challenging due to low emission rate of their intra-4f optical transitions. One feasible approach is through Purcell enhanced emission in optical cavities. The ability to modulate cavity-ion coupling in real time will further elevate the capa… ▽ More Rare earth emitters enable critical quantum resources including spin qubits, single photon sources, and quantum memories. Yet, probing of single ions remains challenging due to low emission rate of their intra-4f optical transitions. One feasible approach is through Purcell enhanced emission in optical cavities. The ability to modulate cavity-ion coupling in real time will further elevate the capacity of such systems. Here, we demonstrate direct control of single ion emission by embedding erbium dopants in an electro-optically active photonic crystal cavity patterned from thin-film lithium niobate. Purcell factor over 170 enables single ion detection, which is verified by second-order autocorrelation measurement. Dynamic control of emission rate is realized by leveraging electro-optic tuning of resonance frequency. Using this feature, storage and retrieval of single ion excitation is further demonstrated, without perturbing the emission characteristics. These results promise new opportunities for controllable single photon sources and efficient spin-photon interfaces. △ Less

Submitted 22 November, 2022; originally announced November 2022.

Light-induced dynamic frequency shifting of microwave photons in a superconducting electro-optic converter

Authors: Yuntao Xu, Wei Fu, Yiyu Zhou, Mingrui Xu, Mohan Shen, Ayed Al Sayem, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Hybrid superconducting-photonic microresonators are a promising platform for realizing microwave-to-optical transduction. However, the absorption of scattered photons by the superconductors leads to unintended microwave resonance frequency variation and linewidth broadening. Here, we experimentally study the dynamics of this effect and its impact on microwave-to-optics conversion in an integrated… ▽ More Hybrid superconducting-photonic microresonators are a promising platform for realizing microwave-to-optical transduction. However, the absorption of scattered photons by the superconductors leads to unintended microwave resonance frequency variation and linewidth broadening. Here, we experimentally study the dynamics of this effect and its impact on microwave-to-optics conversion in an integrated lithium niobate-superconductor hybrid resonator platform. We unveiled an adiabatic frequency shifting of the intracavity microwave photons induced by the fast photo-responses of the thin-film superconducting resonator. As a result, the temporal and spectral responses of electro-optics transduction are modified and well described by our theoretical model. This work provides important insights on the light-induced conversion dynamics which must be considered in future designs of hybrid superconducting-photonic system. △ Less

Submitted 19 November, 2022; originally announced November 2022.

Unveiling photon statistics with a 100-pixel photon-number-resolving detector

Authors: Risheng Cheng, Yiyu Zhou, Sihao Wang, Mohan Shen, Towsif Taher, Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Single-photon detectors are ubiquitous in quantum information science and quantum sensing. They are key enabling technologies for numerous scientific discoveries and fundamental tests of quantum optics. Photon-number-revolving detectors are the ultimate measurement tool of light. However, few detectors to date can provide high-fidelity photon number resolution at few-photon levels. Here, we demons… ▽ More Single-photon detectors are ubiquitous in quantum information science and quantum sensing. They are key enabling technologies for numerous scientific discoveries and fundamental tests of quantum optics. Photon-number-revolving detectors are the ultimate measurement tool of light. However, few detectors to date can provide high-fidelity photon number resolution at few-photon levels. Here, we demonstrate an on-chip detector that can resolve up to 100 photons by spatiotemporally multiplexing an array of superconducting nanowires along a single waveguide. The unparalleled photon number resolution paired with the high-speed response exclusively allows us to unveil the quantum photon statistics of a true thermal light source for the first time, which is realized by direct measurement of high-order correlation function g^(N) with N up to 15, observation of photon-subtraction-induced photon number enhancement, and quantum-limited state discrimination against a coherent light source. Our detector provides a viable route towards various important applications, including photonic quantum computation and quantum metrology. △ Less

Submitted 28 June, 2022; originally announced June 2022.

SmartCut Er:LiNbO3 with high optical coherence enabling optical thickness control

Authors: Sihao Wang, Likai Yang, Mohan Shen, Wei Fu, Yuntao Xu, Rufus L. Cone, Charles W. Thiel, Hong Tang

Abstract: Integrated photonics capable of incorporating rare earth ions with high optical coherence is desirable for realizing efficient quantum transducers, compact quantum memories, and hybrid quantum systems. Here we describe a photonic platform based on the SmartCut erbium-doped lithium niobate thin film, and explore its stable optical transitions at telecom wavelength in a dilution refrigerator. Optica… ▽ More Integrated photonics capable of incorporating rare earth ions with high optical coherence is desirable for realizing efficient quantum transducers, compact quantum memories, and hybrid quantum systems. Here we describe a photonic platform based on the SmartCut erbium-doped lithium niobate thin film, and explore its stable optical transitions at telecom wavelength in a dilution refrigerator. Optical coherence time of up to 180\,$μ$s, rivaling the value of bulk crystals, is achieved in optical ridge waveguides and ring resonators. With this integrated platform, we demonstrate tunable light-ion interaction and flexible control of optical thickness by exploiting long waveguides, whose lengths are in principle variable. This unique ability to obtain high optical density using a low concentration ions further leads to the observation of multi-echo pulse trains in centimeter-long waveguides. Our results establish a promising photonic platform for quantum information processing with rare earth ions. △ Less

Submitted 25 June, 2022; originally announced June 2022.

Monolithic Kerr and electro-optic hybrid microcombs

Authors: Zheng Gong, Mohan Shen, Juanjuan Lu, Joshua B, Surya Hong X. Tang

Abstract: Advances in microresonator-based soliton generation promise chip-scale integration of optical frequency comb for applications spanning from time keeping to frequency synthesis. Miniaturized cavities harness Kerr nonlinearity and enable terahertz soliton repetition rates. However, such high repetition rates are not amenable to direct electronic detection. Here, we demonstrate hybrid Kerr and electr… ▽ More Advances in microresonator-based soliton generation promise chip-scale integration of optical frequency comb for applications spanning from time keeping to frequency synthesis. Miniaturized cavities harness Kerr nonlinearity and enable terahertz soliton repetition rates. However, such high repetition rates are not amenable to direct electronic detection. Here, we demonstrate hybrid Kerr and electro-optic microcombs using the lithium niobate thin film that exhibits both Kerr and Pockels nonlinearities. By interleaving the high-repetition-rate Kerr soliton comb with the low-repetition-rate electro-optic comb on the same waveguide, the wide Kerr soliton mode spacing is divided within a single chip, allowing for subsequent electronic detection and feedback control of the soliton repetition rate. Our work establishes an integrated electronic interface to Kerr solitons of terahertz repetition rates, paving the path towards chipscale optical-to-microwave frequency division and comb locking. △ Less

Submitted 6 February, 2022; originally announced February 2022.