Showing 1–50 of 474 results for author: Ye, J

Physics-Aligned Deep Learning Enables SERS Resolving and Sequencing of Dynamic Single-Molecule DNA Oligomers in Plasmonic Nanocavity

Authors: Kuo Zhan, Peilin Xin, Yingqi Zhao, Han Gu, Enock Adjei Agyekum, Zhou Chen, Shuai Li, Jian Ye, Lu Cheng, Jian-an Huang

Abstract: Single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SM-SERS) captures dynamic molecular behavior with ultrahigh sensitivity, but its biopolymer analysis is hindered by strong spectral heterogeneity, transient hotspot sampling, and background interference. Here, we develop a physics-aligned deep learning framework integrating contrastive attention-based multiple-instance learning (CAMIL), a tri-ch… ▽ More Single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SM-SERS) captures dynamic molecular behavior with ultrahigh sensitivity, but its biopolymer analysis is hindered by strong spectral heterogeneity, transient hotspot sampling, and background interference. Here, we develop a physics-aligned deep learning framework integrating contrastive attention-based multiple-instance learning (CAMIL), a tri-channel multi-kernel CNN classifier, and trajectory-level transition-guided sequence reconstruction to decode single-molecule DNA oligomer dynamics in a plasmonic nanocavity. In this work, CAMIL mines informative spectra enriched with chain-embedded nucleotide and dinucleotide signatures from contrastive positive and negative DNA trajectory bags, generating a single-molecule DNA-segment spectral-states library. This library trains a 12-class CNN to assign query time-resolved DNA SM-SERS frames to high-confidence DNA-segment states, enabling trajectory-level analysis of state composition, dwell length, entropy, switching frequency, and transition matrix. The transition matrix is further converted into state-transition-edge evidence for candidate sequence scoring, enabling asymmetric DNA sequences inference from confined stochastic sampling dynamics. This framework transforms SM-SERS heterogeneity into quantitative analytical information, advancing dynamic single-molecule decoding. △ Less

Submitted 17 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Comments: 28 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

Phase-continuous comparison of three all-optical time scales over 20 days

Authors: Dahyeon Lee, Kyungtae Kim, Zoey Z. Hu, Ben Lewis, William Warfield, Kai Zhou, Alejandra L. Collopy, Jeffrey A. Sherman, Abijith S. Kowligy, Parth B. Patel, Jonathan D. Roslund, Arman Cingöz, Martin M. Boyd, Jun Ye

Abstract: Optical frequency standards have progressed rapidly over the past two decades, leading to the anticipated redefinition of the SI second by an optical frequency. However, time scales have not yet significantly improved despite this development because they are still fully reliant on rf flywheel oscillators, mostly hydrogen masers, which impose a performance limit related to incompletely sampled noi… ▽ More Optical frequency standards have progressed rapidly over the past two decades, leading to the anticipated redefinition of the SI second by an optical frequency. However, time scales have not yet significantly improved despite this development because they are still fully reliant on rf flywheel oscillators, mostly hydrogen masers, which impose a performance limit related to incompletely sampled noise known as the Dick effect. To best benefit from the exceptional stability and accuracy of optical frequency standards, time scales must employ optical flywheels with orders-of-magnitude better short-term (<$10^4$ s) stability than masers. Here, we introduce three optical flywheel oscillators (two cryogenic silicon cavities and one iodine optical clock) with superior short-term stability than hydrogen masers and long-term stability on par with masers. Steering each optical flywheel with a high-uptime Sr optical frequency standard generates three parallel all-optical time scales with continuous operation over >20 days. When compared with each other, these all-optical time scales achieve <$10^{-16}$ relative instability after just a few days of averaging. During typical steering gaps of ~6 hours, the accumulated time difference is ~20 ps, leading to the total time difference of <100 ps over the full measurement period. With the proliferation of long-distance optical fiber links and commercialization of optical flywheels and frequency standards, we anticipate all-optical time scales to be the future of timekeeping. △ Less

Submitted 1 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Counterdirectional Exciton and Trion Motion in Applied Electric Field

Authors: Daniel Vaz, Yuanjun Guan, Qiaochu Wan, Bobby Bobby, Anshul Ramavath, Brandon Vargo, Juntong Ye, Jonathan Beaumariage, Om Patel, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Xiong Feng, James Hone, Nathan Youngblood, Zheng Sun, David W. Snoke

Abstract: Charged excitonic complexes are central to the optoelectronic and many-body properties of semiconductors, yet their real-space transport dynamics remain largely unexplored. Here, we report the direct optical observation of trion motion under an applied electric field. The trions exhibit electrically driven drift with velocities approaching {$10^5~\mathrm{m/s}$}. Unexpectedly, the trion flow induce… ▽ More Charged excitonic complexes are central to the optoelectronic and many-body properties of semiconductors, yet their real-space transport dynamics remain largely unexplored. Here, we report the direct optical observation of trion motion under an applied electric field. The trions exhibit electrically driven drift with velocities approaching {$10^5~\mathrm{m/s}$}. Unexpectedly, the trion flow induces a pronounced back-action on coexisting neutral excitons, driving them in the opposite direction and giving rise to counterpropagating exciton-trion transport. Our results reveal an interaction-driven nonequilibrium transport regime of mixed excitonic fluids and establish a direct route for imaging the dynamics of more complex charged quasiparticles, including doubly charged excitons. △ Less

Submitted 5 August, 2026; v1 submitted 24 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Experimental realization of a rotating radio-frequency ion trap for precision metrology

Authors: Sun Yool Park, Anzhou Wang, Kia Boon Ng, Patricia Hector Hernandez, Addison Hartman, Tuan Anh Nguyen, Rohan Kompella, Michail Athanasakis-Kaklamanakis, Jun Ye, Eric A. Cornell

Abstract: We discuss the experimental realization of the rotating radio-frequency (rrf) trap, proposed by Hasegawa and Bollinger [Phys. Rev. A 72, 043403 (2005)]. Compared to a traditional linear rf (lrf) Paul trap, the rrf trap is a closer analogy to the popular mechanical lecture demonstration for a Paul trap. In an ion trap with reslistic, non-ideal electrode geometry, the rrf trap averages over angular… ▽ More We discuss the experimental realization of the rotating radio-frequency (rrf) trap, proposed by Hasegawa and Bollinger [Phys. Rev. A 72, 043403 (2005)]. Compared to a traditional linear rf (lrf) Paul trap, the rrf trap is a closer analogy to the popular mechanical lecture demonstration for a Paul trap. In an ion trap with reslistic, non-ideal electrode geometry, the rrf trap averages over angular variations in the effective potential. This averaging provides more uniform confinement and reduces ion loss at equal confinement strength compared with the lrf trap. This feature makes the rrf trap configuration advantageous for precision metrology application, such as electron electric dipole moment (eEDM) measurements. △ Less

Submitted 23 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Final assessment of radioactive impurities in the JUNO detector

Authors: Thomas Adam, Fengpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Didier Auguste, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger, Svetlana Biktemerova, Thilo Birkenfeld, Simon Blyth, Manuel Böhles, Anastasia Bolshakova, Mathieu Bongrand, Matteo Borghesi , et al. (549 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) collaboration has completed the construction of the 20,000-ton liquid scintillator detector and the associated muon veto detector system. To meet the physics objectives, the materials used in the detector must exhibit low radioactive contamination. The single-event rate in the fiducial volume (R $<$ 17.2 m) of the scintillator is required to be… ▽ More The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) collaboration has completed the construction of the 20,000-ton liquid scintillator detector and the associated muon veto detector system. To meet the physics objectives, the materials used in the detector must exhibit low radioactive contamination. The single-event rate in the fiducial volume (R $<$ 17.2 m) of the scintillator is required to be approximately 7 Hz for energies above 0.7 MeV, resulting in an accidental coincidence background of about 1 event per day for reactor neutrino physics analyses. Since the beginning of the construction phase, we have screened the natural radioactivity content of thousands of materials, to select those that meet the design background budget. The radioactive impurity concentrations of the materials ultimately used in the JUNO detector are summarized in this paper. The construction of the entire detector and the subsequent filling of the liquid scintillator were completed in August 2025. From the initial data, the total count rate of natural radioactivity within the detector's fiducial volume has met the requirements and is sufficient to support the reactor antineutrino analysis. △ Less

Submitted 19 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Vortex formation around islands in random waves

Authors: Alex J. Vernon, Junyi Ye, Wenzhe Liu, Lei Shi, Konstantin Y. Bliokh

Abstract: Wave vortices are fundamental topological features of interference fields, occurring at nodal points where the wave amplitude vanishes. A distinct class of vortices can instead form around it islands or `holes' in two-dimensional wavefields, where the wave intensity remains finite and may even peak at the boundary. In particular, such vortices occur in M2 ocean tides around New Zealand, Madagascar… ▽ More Wave vortices are fundamental topological features of interference fields, occurring at nodal points where the wave amplitude vanishes. A distinct class of vortices can instead form around it islands or `holes' in two-dimensional wavefields, where the wave intensity remains finite and may even peak at the boundary. In particular, such vortices occur in M2 ocean tides around New Zealand, Madagascar, Iceland, and Svalbard, yet the conditions governing their appearance have remained elusive. Here we develop a statistical theory of vortices around islands in random two-dimensional wavefields, with and without the Coriolis effect, and test it experimentally. We determine the probabilities of vortices with different topological charges as functions of island size and Coriolis parameter. We find that island-bound vortices emerge with unexpectedly high probability, approaching 50% in non-rotating systems and nearly 100% in rotating systems. Moreover, for a broad range of parameters, the presence of a subwavelength island dramatically enhances vortex formation compared with homogeneous random wavefields. Our results explain the formation of tidal vortices around ocean islands of particular sizes (~0.1 of the characteristic wavelength) and establish a general mechanism for generating localized high-intensity vortices around defects in diverse wave systems, from water waves to nanophotonic structures. △ Less

Submitted 17 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures

Record nonlinear conversion efficiency in the production of high spectral purity vacuum ultraviolet laser at 148 nm

Authors: Sergey Vasilyev, Tian Ooi, Igor Moskalev, Mike Mirov, Andrey Muraviev, Dmitrii Konnov, Victor Churikov, Viktor Sukharev, Evgeny Galenin1, Jack F. Doyle, Chuankun Zhang, Kai Li, Georgiy Seryogin, Dan Perlov, Igor Samartsev, Konstantin Vodopyanov, Jun Ye

Abstract: Coherent vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) lasers are indispensable for precision measurement, quantum optics, and materials science. Recent high-resolution spectroscopy of the Th-229 nuclear clock transition near 148 nm highlights the urgent demand for intense, narrow-linewidth VUV lasers for advancing metrology and testing fundamental physics. However, existing VUV generation schemes typically require en… ▽ More Coherent vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) lasers are indispensable for precision measurement, quantum optics, and materials science. Recent high-resolution spectroscopy of the Th-229 nuclear clock transition near 148 nm highlights the urgent demand for intense, narrow-linewidth VUV lasers for advancing metrology and testing fundamental physics. However, existing VUV generation schemes typically require enhancement cavities [C. Zhang et al., Opt. Lett. 47, 5591-5594 (2022)], atomic resonances [Q. Xiao et al., Nature 650, 852-856 (2026)], or random quasi-phase-matched nonlinear crystals [V. Lal et al., Optica 12, 1971-1974 (2025)]. Here, we demonstrate a VUV frequency comb via cascaded frequency doubling of a 2400 nm Cr:ZnS comb to its 16th harmonic in nonlinear crystals. The final stage employs a bulk-grown, spatially uniform quasi-phase matched (QPM) crystal developed by IPG, combining VUV transparency, high $χ^2$ nonlinearity, and power scalability. Using this QPM crystal we generate a VUV frequency comb with 40 $μ$W average power (1 nW per mode at 80 MHz mode spacing) with a conversion efficiency order of magnitude higher than other known methods. These results establish a scalable route to compact VUV sources via direct frequency doubling, opening a path toward a robust continuous-wave nuclear clock laser. △ Less

Submitted 17 June, 2026; originally announced June 2026.

Fermi gas of polar molecules in the Pauli-blocked regime

Authors: Junyu Lin, Annette N. Carroll, Phillip Martin, Calder Miller, Reuben R. W. Wang, Kevin Xu, John L. Bohn, Tim de Jongh, Jun Ye

Abstract: Quantum gases of polar molecules have recently emerged as a powerful platform for exploring exotic many-body dynamics and correlated quantum behavior. To achieve the full potential of this platform, the production of deeply degenerate quantum gases of molecules in arbitrary confinement geometries is necessary. Here, we successfully evaporate fermionic KRb molecules in both 3D and quasi-2D geometri… ▽ More Quantum gases of polar molecules have recently emerged as a powerful platform for exploring exotic many-body dynamics and correlated quantum behavior. To achieve the full potential of this platform, the production of deeply degenerate quantum gases of molecules in arbitrary confinement geometries is necessary. Here, we successfully evaporate fermionic KRb molecules in both 3D and quasi-2D geometries to well below their Fermi temperatures utilizing dipolar collisions. As we evaporate deeper into degeneracy in both geometries, we enter the Pauli-blocked regime with polar molecules, which we independently confirm for the first time by measuring the Pauli suppression of elastic collisions. Moreover, the Pauli suppression of collisions contributes to the limitation of our final molecular temperature to about 25% of the Fermi temperature in both geometries, particularly limiting quasi-2D evaporation where the Pauli blockade drastically reduces an otherwise large elastic to inelastic scattering ratio. This work demonstrates the production of degenerate Fermi gases of polar molecules both in a 3D harmonic trap and in mono- and bi-layer 2D configurations. Further, our work explores the fundamental limits on evaporation of molecular Fermi gases set by the Pauli-exclusion principle, which could be overcome in the future by introducing distinguishable scattering partners. △ Less

Submitted 12 June, 2026; originally announced June 2026.

Comments: 21+26 pages, 4+11 figures

Co-optimization of Diffusive and Tomographic Blur in Computed Axial Lithography via Experimental Kernel Identification

Authors: Jennings Z. Ye, Abrar Amin Khan, Hayden K. Taylor

Abstract: Computed Axial Lithography is a volumetric additive manufacturing method that selectively cures photosensitive resin through the 3D superposition of patterns of light, offering advantages over layer-based processes including rapid print times, reduced layer artifacts, and compatibility with high-viscosity materials. However, diffusive effects, primarily those of free-radical quenchers such as oxyg… ▽ More Computed Axial Lithography is a volumetric additive manufacturing method that selectively cures photosensitive resin through the 3D superposition of patterns of light, offering advantages over layer-based processes including rapid print times, reduced layer artifacts, and compatibility with high-viscosity materials. However, diffusive effects, primarily those of free-radical quenchers such as oxygen, blur the boundary between cured and uncured regions, limiting resolution and preventing the reproduction of sharp, high-spatial-frequency features. By comparing micro-CT data to computational dose models convolved with kernels across a range of diffusivities, we establish a framework for extracting a single diffusion kernel from any standard uncorrected print to account for all observed deviations from the target. In this work, we correct diffusion-induced blurring by co-optimizing for its effects alongside the inherent blur of the computed tomography reconstruction, demonstrating improved fidelity over previous approaches of pre-compensating the target geometry via deconvolution. △ Less

Submitted 2 June, 2026; originally announced June 2026.

Comments: 33 pages (including supplementary information), 12 figures, 5 tables

Ultra-Low-Noise Brillouin Hybrid Synthetic Laser for Sub-Hertz Lattice Clock Spectroscopy

Authors: Meiting Song, Stefan Lannig, Dahyeon Lee, Lingfeng Yan, Andrei Isichenko, Nick Montifiore, Nitesh Chauhan, Max N. Frankel, Yu Hyun Lee, Shraddha Agrawal, Jun Ye, Daniel J. Blumenthal

Abstract: Frequency-stable lasers enable high-fidelity quantum state manipulation, which forms the basis of optical atomic clocks, quantum sensing, and quantum computation. Performing state manipulations at increasingly high speeds requires attention to laser frequency noise at high Fourier (carrier-offset) frequencies that cannot be addressed by traditional cavity stabilization alone. Scalable operations a… ▽ More Frequency-stable lasers enable high-fidelity quantum state manipulation, which forms the basis of optical atomic clocks, quantum sensing, and quantum computation. Performing state manipulations at increasingly high speeds requires attention to laser frequency noise at high Fourier (carrier-offset) frequencies that cannot be addressed by traditional cavity stabilization alone. Scalable operations also benefit from device miniaturization. Here, we demonstrate a hybrid laser stabilization approach that combines ultrahigh frequency stability of a cryogenic silicon cavity with high-Fourier-frequency noise suppression of an integrated Brillouin laser. The combined system suppresses frequency noise over a Fourier span of more than 7 decades, yielding a <1 Hz phase-integrated linewidth and 0.2 Hz^2/Hz frequency noise at Fourier frequencies above 10 MHz. The performance of this hybrid laser is confirmed by sub-Hz Rabi spectroscopy with a three-dimensional ^{87}Sr lattice clock. This work demonstrates record-low frequency noise at 698 nm over an extensive Fourier frequency range and highlights the promise of precision clock spectroscopy using a chip-scale integrated laser technology. △ Less

Submitted 28 May, 2026; v1 submitted 26 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Recent test beam results of ATLAS ITk Pixel sensors and modules

Authors: A. Schmier, B. K. Chitroda, C. Gemme, N. Kakoty, M. N. Mantinan, H. Pang, K. Rama, S. Ravera, M. Ressegotti, A. Rummler, M. Sachdeva, M. A. A. Samy, M. Ventura, J. Ye

Abstract: Test beam studies of ITk pixel sensors and full modules are an essential tool for assessing their performance and operational behavior. In the 2025 test beam campaigns, quad and triplet modules equipped with both pre-production and production readout chips were evaluated. For the first time, triplet modules were tested in beam conditions, both before and after irradiation. Measurements were perfor… ▽ More Test beam studies of ITk pixel sensors and full modules are an essential tool for assessing their performance and operational behavior. In the 2025 test beam campaigns, quad and triplet modules equipped with both pre-production and production readout chips were evaluated. For the first time, triplet modules were tested in beam conditions, both before and after irradiation. Measurements were performed at multiple incident angles to study charge-collection efficiency under conditions representative of actual detector operation. The 2025 test beam dataset contains several important new elements, enabling further progress toward the full qualification of ITk pixel modules. This work presents an overview of the ITk pixel test beam program including recent triplet module results from the 2025 campaigns. △ Less

Submitted 27 May, 2026; v1 submitted 25 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 21st "Trento" Workshop on Advanced Silicon Radiation Detectors

Artificial Intelligence Reshapes Microwave Photonics

Authors: Peng Li, Xihua Zou, Jia Ye, Wei Pan, Lianshan Yan

Abstract: As a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary field that intrinsically integrates microwave and photonics, microwave photonics (MWP) provides disruptive solutions to overcome the fundamental bandwidth of conventional electronic systems. By exploiting the inherently ultra-wide bandwidth and low-loss characteristics of photonic technologies, MWP enables the generation, transmission, processing, and detect… ▽ More As a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary field that intrinsically integrates microwave and photonics, microwave photonics (MWP) provides disruptive solutions to overcome the fundamental bandwidth of conventional electronic systems. By exploiting the inherently ultra-wide bandwidth and low-loss characteristics of photonic technologies, MWP enables the generation, transmission, processing, and detection of microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz signals. Representative breakthroughs include fully photonic microwave radar systems, photonic analog-to-digital converters with bandwidth up to 320 GHz, and photonic wireless communication systems achieving data rate as high as 616 Gbit/s. Meanwhile, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping scientific research, engineering, and daily life in unprecedented ways, such as AI for science/engineering and AI co-scientist/assistant. Correspondingly, AI is profoundly reshaping MWP in all aspects, ranging from signal generation, transmission to signal processing and detection. AI has revolutionized the design, simulation, fabrication, testing, deployment, and maintenance of MWP systems, delivering autonomous operation and exceptional efficiency beyond traditional systems. Motivated by these developments, this Review Paper provides the first comprehensive overview of AI-enabled MWP, systematically summarizing the state-of-the-art advances and presenting insights for both the academic community and the broader public. △ Less

Submitted 20 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 13 pages, 12 figures

MSC Class: 78-02

Stop Drawing Scientific Claims from LLM Social Simulations Without Robustness Audits

Authors: Jinyi Ye, Lei Cao, Ding Chen, Emilio Ferrara

Abstract: The scientific claims drawn from LLM social simulations should be no stronger than the robustness audits that support them. Generative agents bring new expressive power to agent-based modeling, enabling simulations of collective social processes like cooperation, polarization, and norm formation. Yet they also introduce complexity through additional architectural choices, such as agent specificati… ▽ More The scientific claims drawn from LLM social simulations should be no stronger than the robustness audits that support them. Generative agents bring new expressive power to agent-based modeling, enabling simulations of collective social processes like cooperation, polarization, and norm formation. Yet they also introduce complexity through additional architectural choices, such as agent specification, memory representation, interaction protocols, and environment design. Small perturbations that appear minor to researchers can cascade into macro-level outcomes through repeated interaction, creating a "butterfly effect." Consequently, scientific claims drawn from LLM social simulations may reflect implementation artifacts rather than the social mechanisms being modeled. We support this position with two case studies: a repeated Prisoner's Dilemma and a social media echo chamber simulation. Across multiple models, minor perturbations in persona format and game-instruction framing shift cooperation rates by up to 76 percentage points, while network homophily and hub assignment produce significant and consistent shifts in polarization metrics. We also find that sensitivity is unevenly distributed across both architectural choices and model families: the same perturbation that produces the 76 pp shift in one frontier model only shifts another by 1 pp. Robustness is therefore a property that should be measured per claim and per model, not assumed. To address this validation gap, we introduce TRAILS (Taxonomy for Robustness Audits In LLM Simulations), a robustness-audit taxonomy spanning three levels of simulation design: agent (micro-level), interaction (meso-level), and system (macro-level). We call for robustness to become a first-order validation requirement before LLM social simulations are used to explain mechanisms, evaluate interventions, or inform decisions. △ Less

Submitted 16 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Wave Vortices Around Oscillating Subwavelength Holes: Water-Wave Observation

Authors: Junyi Ye, Zheyi Li, Alexey Y. Nikitin, Franco Nori, Wenzhe Liu, Konstantin Y. Bliokh, Lei Shi

Abstract: We consider a two-dimensional wave system containing a subwavelength hole, such as an aperture in an interface supporting surface electromagnetic or acoustic waves, or an island in a fluid surface sustaining gravity-capillary waves. Recent studies have revealed the emergence of pronounced wave vortices around such structures, termed type-II vortices, in contrast to conventional (type-I) vortices a… ▽ More We consider a two-dimensional wave system containing a subwavelength hole, such as an aperture in an interface supporting surface electromagnetic or acoustic waves, or an island in a fluid surface sustaining gravity-capillary waves. Recent studies have revealed the emergence of pronounced wave vortices around such structures, termed type-II vortices, in contrast to conventional (type-I) vortices associated with phase singularities and intensity nulls. A striking natural manifestation of type-II vortices occurs in ocean tides around islands such as New Zealand, Madagascar, and Iceland, where the tidal phase increases by $\pm 2π$ around the island. Although this phenomenon is usually associated with the Coriolis effect from the rotation of the Earth, here we demonstrate the controlled generation of type-II vortices using a minimal and tunable setup: a dipole-oscillating subwavelength hole and a single incident plane wave. Using laboratory gravity-capillary waves and an oscillating subwavelength `island', we directly measure the resulting phase structure, topological charge, and wave angular momentum. We show that the emergence and handedness of the vortices can be precisely controlled via the relative phase between the dipolar source and the incident wave. Our results offer a simple and versatile mechanism for engineering subwavelength wave vortices, with potential applications in a variety of two-dimensional wave systems. △ Less

Submitted 29 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: 6 pages, 6 figures

Embedded underwater front-end electronics for the 3-inch photomultipliers in the JUNO experiment

Authors: Cédric Cerna, Miao He, Xiaoshan Jiang, Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux, Frédéric Perrot, Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Fengpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Didier Auguste, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger, Svetlana Biktemerova , et al. (576 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a 20-kton liquid scintillator-based, low-radioactivity, multi-purpose neutrino detector located 693 meters (1800 m.w.e.) underground in the Guangdong province, China. To detect scintillation light produced in the target, the detector is equipped with 17,612 20-inch photomultipliers (PMTs), forming the Large PMT system (LPMT). In addition, 25,… ▽ More The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a 20-kton liquid scintillator-based, low-radioactivity, multi-purpose neutrino detector located 693 meters (1800 m.w.e.) underground in the Guangdong province, China. To detect scintillation light produced in the target, the detector is equipped with 17,612 20-inch photomultipliers (PMTs), forming the Large PMT system (LPMT). In addition, 25,600 3-inch photomultipliers (the Small Photomultiplier System or SPMT) are deployed in the gaps between the LPMTs. This paper presents the design and performance of the underwater front-end electronics developed for the SPMT system. It details the individual electronics boards and their key components, the inter-board interfaces, the system-level design, and the firmware architecture that supports data acquisition and control. It also outlines mechanical and thermal integration, board validation procedures, and system performance metrics. The readout chain includes digitization of 128 PMT channels per unit, synchronized time-stamping, charge measurement, event packaging, and bandwidth management. Comprehensive validation confirms the system's readiness to meet JUNO's stringent physics goals. The underwater electronics achieve noise levels as low as 0.04 photoelectrons with minimal crosstalk (below 0.4%) and a bandwidth of 57 MB/s, ensuring reliable single photo-electron detection and operation under high-rate conditions. The SPMT system has now been fully integrated and installed in JUNO. Its commissioning and physics performance will be reported in a future publication. △ Less

Submitted 1 June, 2026; v1 submitted 28 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: Submitted to Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A

Petabit-per-second Random Number Generation

Authors: Lin Jiang, Jihui Sun, Qiao Zhang, Jincheng Cui, Xiaohan Wang, Yanlan Xiao, Lin Sun, Hairong Lin, Haijun He, Jiacheng Feng, Anlin Yi, Jia Ye, Xihua Zou, Wei Pan, Gangxiang Shen, Heng Zhou, Lianshan Yan

Abstract: Physical random number generators based on chaotic microcombs, with their complex nonlinear dynamics and multi-channel parallel capability, have attracted considerable research attention. However, key technical challenges for chaotic microcombs are the high correlation between symmetric teeth and the low bandwidth of single-channel teeth, which seriously affect the speed and scalability of random… ▽ More Physical random number generators based on chaotic microcombs, with their complex nonlinear dynamics and multi-channel parallel capability, have attracted considerable research attention. However, key technical challenges for chaotic microcombs are the high correlation between symmetric teeth and the low bandwidth of single-channel teeth, which seriously affect the speed and scalability of random number generation. We experimentally demonstrate a petabit-per-second (Pbit/s) parallel random number generation system based on intensity chaotic modulation and Rayleigh scattering. Through intensity modulation, the effective bandwidth of the single-channel entropy source is increased from 440MHz to 27.6GHz. Crucially, Rayleigh scattering further contributes through the random superposition of backscattered light, which introduces unpredictable fluctuations in intensity, phase, and polarization. This randomness suppresses inter-channel correlation among parallel entropy sources to ~0.02, ensuring their orthogonality. Moreover, by employing polarization-diverse coherent detection on a single-channel, four new low correlated sub-channels are extracted: X-/Y- intensity and phase. We achieve a single-channel bit rate of 14.336 Tbit/s and a total bit rate of 1.032 Pbit/s (over 72 parallel channels) with offline post-processing, representing the highest post-processing record reported in both the single-channel and the total system. Moreover, our scheme based on a single chaotic microcomb and fiber scattering link show fundamentally scalable. The total bit rate can be significantly pushed beyond the Pbit/s level by further expanding the usable comb channel and/or by deploying multiple fiber scattering links in parallel, paving a practical path toward higher throughput regimes. △ Less

Submitted 22 April, 2026; v1 submitted 20 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: When submitting the preprint, the consent of all authors was not obtained, and several co authors did not wish to publish the manuscript in advance

Projection of purification performance for the RELICS experiment

Authors: Jiachen Yu, Kaihang Li, Jingfan Gu, Chang Cai, Guocai Chen, Jiangyu Chen, Huayu Dai, Rundong Fang, Hongrui Gao, Fei Gao, Xiaoran Guo, Jiheng Guo, Chengjie Jia, Gaojun Jin, Fali Ju, Yanzhou Hao, Xu Han, Yang Lei, Meng Li, Minhua Li, Shengchao Li, Siyin Li, Tao Li, Qing Lin, Jiajun Liu , et al. (25 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The RELICS (REactor neutrino LIquid xenon Coherent elastic Scattering) experiment employs a dual-phase liquid xenon time projection chamber to search for Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CE$ν$NS) induced by reactor neutrinos. To detect these sub-keV nuclear recoils and minimize signal attenuation, it is critical to maintain a sufficiently low impurity concentration in the detector. Th… ▽ More The RELICS (REactor neutrino LIquid xenon Coherent elastic Scattering) experiment employs a dual-phase liquid xenon time projection chamber to search for Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CE$ν$NS) induced by reactor neutrinos. To detect these sub-keV nuclear recoils and minimize signal attenuation, it is critical to maintain a sufficiently low impurity concentration in the detector. This work presents a comprehensive purity evolution model developed to describe impurity migration inside the detector. Utilizing measured material outgassing rates as input parameters, the model incorporates non-uniform transport mechanisms of the impurities, including circulation, vaporization, and condensation. The model is validated using data from a dedicated prototype detector. Based on this validated model, projections for the purification performance of the upcoming RELICS-10 and RELICS-50 detectors are provided. △ Less

Submitted 14 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Enhancing Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay Sensitivity of Liquid-Xenon Time Projection Chamber with Augmented Convolutional Neural Network

Authors: E. Aprile, J. Aalbers, K. Abe, M. Adrover, S. Ahmed Maouloud, L. Althueser, B. Andrieu, E. Angelino, D. Antón Martin, S. R. Armbruster, F. Arneodo, L. Baudis, M. Bazyk, L. Bellagamba, R. Biondi, A. Bismark, K. Boese, R. M. Braun, G. Bruni, G. Bruno, R. Budnik, C. Cai, C. Capelli, J. M. R. Cardoso, A. P. Cimental Chávez , et al. (151 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Dual-phase time projection chamber (TPC) that employs a multi-ton-scale liquid xenon (LXe) target mass is a pioneering detector technology to search for dark matter. Beyond its advantage in dark matter direct detection efforts, the natural xenon target allows it to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0νββ$) process, which would violate lepton number conservation and indicate that neutr… ▽ More Dual-phase time projection chamber (TPC) that employs a multi-ton-scale liquid xenon (LXe) target mass is a pioneering detector technology to search for dark matter. Beyond its advantage in dark matter direct detection efforts, the natural xenon target allows it to search for the neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0νββ$) process, which would violate lepton number conservation and indicate that neutrinos are Majorana particles. However, such $0νββ$ searches have been limited by gamma-ray backgrounds originating from the detector materials. In this work, we designed an augmented convolutional neural network (A-CNN) model to extract additional event-topology information from detector data. Using simulation and calibration data from XENONnT, a leading LXe TPC experiment, our model achieved over 60% background rejection while maintaining 90% signal acceptance. This rejection power improves XENONnT's projected sensitivity of the $^{136}$Xe $0νββ$ search by about 40%. The implementation of A-CNN in the data analysis of future liquid xenon observatories, such as XLZD, will further enhance their sensitivities for $0νββ$ with $^{136}$Xe. △ Less

Submitted 20 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Widefield Nanodiamond Quantum Sensing Based on Light-Sheet Microscopy

Authors: Shuo Wang, Ming-Zhong Ai, Jing-Wei Fan, Junchen Ye, Chao Lin, Quan Li, Ren-Bao Liu

Abstract: Nanodiamonds containing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are promising quantum sensors for biological applications thanks to their sub-micron spatial resolution, biocompatibility, and versatile multi-modal responses. However, the optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) measurement requires laser irradiation, creating a trade-off between high-throughput and low phototoxicity for applications in l… ▽ More Nanodiamonds containing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers are promising quantum sensors for biological applications thanks to their sub-micron spatial resolution, biocompatibility, and versatile multi-modal responses. However, the optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) measurement requires laser irradiation, creating a trade-off between high-throughput and low phototoxicity for applications in live cells. Here to address this challenge we develop a widefield quantum sensing method based on light-sheet microscopy (LSM), in which the sample is illuminated by a vertically movable laser sheet and the fluorescence is collected along the vertical axis that is orthogonal to the light sheet. This LSM-ODMR system is demonstrated to feature high throughput sensing due to the wide-field configuration, fast three-dimensional imaging and sensing due to the vertical mobility of the light sheet, enhanced sensitivity due to suppression of out-of-focus background fluorescence, and low phototoxicity for bio-sensing due to elimination of out-of-focus illumination. This LSM-based widefield nanodiamond sensing provides an approach for biological studies with low phototoxicity, offering three-dimensional and multi-modal sensing capability. △ Less

Submitted 19 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Comments: Comments are welcome!

Twisted multilayer moiré water waves topologically robust to disorder

Authors: Zhiyuan Che, Julian Schwab, Yi Zhang, Junyi Ye, Cheng Cheng, Lei Shi, Yijie Shen, Harald Giessen, Jian Zi

Abstract: Moiré patterns, stacking and twisting multilayer periodic lattices into superlattices, have become cornerstones of many physical systems from condensed matter to wave phenomena, but have never been properly studied in water waves. Here, we demonstrate twisted multilayer moiré water surface waves carrying robust skyrmionic topologies. Using a custom water tank of circular multi-channel phased array… ▽ More Moiré patterns, stacking and twisting multilayer periodic lattices into superlattices, have become cornerstones of many physical systems from condensed matter to wave phenomena, but have never been properly studied in water waves. Here, we demonstrate twisted multilayer moiré water surface waves carrying robust skyrmionic topologies. Using a custom water tank of circular multi-channel phased array, we precisely generate water-wave skyrmion lattices and superimpose them into moiré superlattices with higher-order topological textures, e.g., skyrmion bags and clusters, programmed via the twist angle. We also quantitatively compare the topological robustness of bilayer and trilayer configurations under spatiotemporal perturbations. The trilayer moiré superlattices exhibit more enhanced stability, stronger field localization and energy concentration than the bilayer. Our work establishes water waves as a macroscopic, tunable, and visually accessible platform for moiré physics, towards robust particle manipulation and classical analogues of topological quantum phenomena. △ Less

Submitted 22 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Probing Ultralight Dark Matter at the Mega-Planck Scale with the Thorium Nuclear Clock

Authors: Jason Arakawa, Jack F. Doyle, Elina Fuchs, Jacob S. Higgins, Fiona Kirk, Kai Li, Tian Ooi, Gilad Perez, Wolfram Ratzinger, Marianna S. Safronova, Thorsten Schumm, Jun Ye, Chuankun Zhang

Abstract: Ultralight dark matter is expected to induce oscillations of nuclear parameters. These oscillations are characterized by extremely weak couplings or high suppression scales, with the Planck scale - the characteristic scale of quantum gravity - serving as a natural benchmark. Probing this phenomenon requires systems with exceptional sensitivity to shifts in nuclear energies. The uniquely low-energy… ▽ More Ultralight dark matter is expected to induce oscillations of nuclear parameters. These oscillations are characterized by extremely weak couplings or high suppression scales, with the Planck scale - the characteristic scale of quantum gravity - serving as a natural benchmark. Probing this phenomenon requires systems with exceptional sensitivity to shifts in nuclear energies. The uniquely low-energy nuclear isomeric transition in ${}^{229}$Th provides such sensitivity: it directly probes the nuclear interaction and, owing to a near cancellation between electromagnetic and nuclear contributions, its response to changes in nuclear structure is greatly amplified. We devise and perform a new type of ultrasensitive search for dark matter which uses the precision nuclear spectroscopy at JILA to set the strongest bounds in the mass range $10^{-21}\,{\rm eV} \lesssim m_{\rm DM} \lesssim 10^{-19}\,{\rm eV}$. Our results probe effective interaction scales exceeding $10^6$ times the Planck scale (the Mega-Planck scale) and establish the ${}^{229}$Th system as the leading probe of dark matter couplings to the nuclear sector. △ Less

Submitted 18 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 14 pages, 9 figures

Report number: KEK-QUP-2026-0003, DESY-26-022

Lunar Silicon Cavity

Authors: Jun Ye, Zoey Z. Hu, Ben Lewis, Wei Zhang, Fritz Riehle, Uwe Sterr, Yiqi Ni, Julian Struck

Abstract: The Moon's permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) are among the coldest places in the Solar System and are expected to become key landing sites for upcoming international space agency missions. Their proximity to peaks of perpetual solar power and potential resource richness makes them prime candidates for lunar exploration and future Moon bases. Here we propose to deploy a passive, ultrastable optic… ▽ More The Moon's permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) are among the coldest places in the Solar System and are expected to become key landing sites for upcoming international space agency missions. Their proximity to peaks of perpetual solar power and potential resource richness makes them prime candidates for lunar exploration and future Moon bases. Here we propose to deploy a passive, ultrastable optical resonator in these regions that will enable laser systems with unprecedented phase-coherence. The unique physical environment of lunar PSRs greatly benefits the construction of a cryogenic monolithic silicon cavity that exhibits low $10^{-18}$ thermal noise-limited stability and coherence time exceeding 1 minute, more than a decade better than the current best terrestrial system. Such a stable laser will form an enabling infrastructure for quantum technology in space to serve many applications, including establishing a lunar time standard, building long-baseline optical interferometry, distribution of stable optical signals across networks of satellites, testing general relativity and gravitational physics, and forming the backbone for space-based quantum networks. △ Less

Submitted 4 August, 2026; v1 submitted 5 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Temporal Beam Self-Cleaning in Second-Harmonic Generation

Authors: Siyu Chen, Jun Ye, Lei Du, Wenwen Cheng, Jiangming Xu, Rongtao Su, Pu Zhou, Zongfu Jiang

Abstract: The spatial-temporal beam quality of laser sources is crucial for applications such as nonlinear spectroscopy and master oscillator power amplification systems. However, the temporal stability remains challenged by issues like line-width broadening and high-power demand in efforts to improve it. In this work, we investigate the effect of the second-harmonic generation process on the laser characte… ▽ More The spatial-temporal beam quality of laser sources is crucial for applications such as nonlinear spectroscopy and master oscillator power amplification systems. However, the temporal stability remains challenged by issues like line-width broadening and high-power demand in efforts to improve it. In this work, we investigate the effect of the second-harmonic generation process on the laser characteristics under three longitudinal mode regimes: single-longitudinal-mode, dual-longitudinal-mode, and multi-longitudinal-mode. The results demonstrate that the second-harmonic generation process effectively stabilizes the temporal characteristics of the laser and enhances its correlation, leading to a temporally clean output beam. The physical mechanism of the observed temporal stabilization effect can be attributed to a high-peak-pulse attenuation effect, jointly induced by nonuniform longitudinal-mode depletion and phase preservation in the residual fundamental wave. Statistical analysis indicates that at the maximum fundamental-wave power in the multi-longitudinal-mode regime, the standard deviation and peak-to-valley values derived from the normalized temporal profile decrease from 0.6122 and 5.6846 for the fundamental wave to 0.189 and 0.8847 for the residual fundamental wave. Meanwhile, the background level of the intensity auto-correlation function rises from ~0.72 to ~0.96, revealing its evolution toward a more coherent state. To the best of our knowledge, this research presents the first demonstration of laser temporal stabilization and correlation enhancement via second-harmonic generation. It not only deepens the comprehension of second-harmonic generation mechanisms, but also opens up a new avenue for realizing temporal beam self-cleaning of light. △ Less

Submitted 17 January, 2026; originally announced January 2026.

Light Dark Matter Search with 7.8 Tonne-Year of Ionization-Only Data in XENONnT

Authors: E. Aprile, J. Aalbers, K. Abe, M. Adrover, S. Ahmed Maouloud, L. Althueser, B. Andrieu, E. Angelino, D. Antón Martin, S. R. Armbruster, F. Arneodo, L. Baudis, M. Bazyk, V. Beligotti, L. Bellagamba, R. Biondi, A. Bismark, K. Boese, R. M. Braun, G. Bruni, G. Bruno, R. Budnik, C. Cai, C. Capelli, J. M. R. Cardoso , et al. (152 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We report on a blinded search for dark matter (DM) using ionization-only (S2-only) signals in XENONnT with a total exposure of $7.83\mathrm{tonne}\times\mathrm{year}$ over 579 days in three science runs. Dedicated background suppression techniques and the first complete S2-only background model in XENONnT provide sensitivity to nuclear recoils of [0.5, 5.0] $\mathrm{keV_\mathrm{nr}}$ and electroni… ▽ More We report on a blinded search for dark matter (DM) using ionization-only (S2-only) signals in XENONnT with a total exposure of $7.83\mathrm{tonne}\times\mathrm{year}$ over 579 days in three science runs. Dedicated background suppression techniques and the first complete S2-only background model in XENONnT provide sensitivity to nuclear recoils of [0.5, 5.0] $\mathrm{keV_\mathrm{nr}}$ and electronic recoils of [0.04, 0.7] $\mathrm{keV_\mathrm{ee}}$. No significant excess over the expected background is observed, and we set 90\% confidence level upper limits on spin-independent DM--nucleon and spin-dependent DM--neutron scattering for DM masses between 3 and 8 $\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$, as well as on DM--electron scattering, axion-like particles, and dark photons, improving on previous constraints. For spin-independent DM--nucleon scattering, we exclude cross sections above $6.0\times10^{-45} $cm$^2$ at a DM mass of 5 $\mathrm{GeV}/c^2$, pushing the XENONnT sensitivity closer to the region where coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering ($\text{CE}ν\text{NS}$) becomes an irreducible background. △ Less

Submitted 30 July, 2026; v1 submitted 16 January, 2026; originally announced January 2026.

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 051003 (2026)

Atomic clock frequency ratios with fractional uncertainty $\leq 3.2 \times 10^{-18}$

Authors: Alexander Aeppli, Willa J. Arthur-Dworschack, Kyle Beloy, Caitlin M. Berry, Tobias Bothwell, Angela Folz, Tara M. Fortier, Tanner Grogan, Youssef S. Hassan, Zoey Z. Hu, David B. Hume, Benjamin D. Hunt, Kyungtae Kim, Amanda Koepke, Dahyeon Lee, David R. Leibrandt, Ben Lewis, Andrew D. Ludlow, Mason C. Marshall, Nicholas V. Nardelli, Harikesh Ranganath, Daniel A. Rodriguez Castillo, Jeffrey A. Sherman, Jacob L. Siegel, Suzanne Thornton , et al. (2 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We report high-precision frequency ratio measurements between optical atomic clocks based on $^{27}$Al$^+$, $^{171}$Yb, and $^{87}$Sr. With total fractional uncertainties at or below $3.2 \times 10^{-18}$, these measurements meet an important milestone criterion for redefinition of the second in the International System of Units. Discrepancies in $^{87}$Sr ratios at approximately… ▽ More We report high-precision frequency ratio measurements between optical atomic clocks based on $^{27}$Al$^+$, $^{171}$Yb, and $^{87}$Sr. With total fractional uncertainties at or below $3.2 \times 10^{-18}$, these measurements meet an important milestone criterion for redefinition of the second in the International System of Units. Discrepancies in $^{87}$Sr ratios at approximately $1\times10^{-16}$ and the Al$^+$/Yb ratio at $1.6\times10^{-17}$ in fractional units compared to our previous measurements underscore the importance of repeated, high-precision comparisons by different laboratories. A key innovation in this work is the use of a common ultrastable reference delivered to all clocks via a 3.6 km phase-stabilized fiber link between two institutions. Derived from a cryogenic single-crystal silicon cavity, this reference improves comparison stability by a factor of 2 to 3 over previous systems, with an optical lattice clock ratio achieving a fractional instability of $1.3 \times 10^{-16}$ at 1 second. By enabling faster comparisons, this stability will improve sensitivity to non-white noise processes and other underlying limits of state-of-the-art optical frequency standards. △ Less

Submitted 16 July, 2026; v1 submitted 24 December, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

Comments: 5 pages main text with 4 figures; 1 page and 1 figure end matter; 9 pages and 7 figures supplemental material

Beam-test evaluation of pre-production Low Gain Avalanche Detectors for the ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector

Authors: A. Aboulhorma, M. Ait Tamlihat, H. M. Alfanda, O. Atanova, N. Atanov, I. Azzouzi, J. Barreiro Guimarães da Costa, T. Beau, D. Benchekroun, F. Bendebba, G. Bergamin, Y. Bimgdi, A. Blot, A. Boikov, J. Bonis, D. Boumediene, C. Brito, A. S. Brogna, A. M. Burger, L. Cadamuro, Y. Cai, N. Cartalade, R. Casanova Mohr, R. Cherkaoui El Moursli, Y. Che , et al. (207 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) will be installed in the ATLAS experiment as part of the Phase-II upgrade for the High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). It will mitigate pile-up effects in the forward region, and measure per bunch luminosity. The design of HGTD is based on Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) sensors. This paper presents the results of beam-test campaigns conduc… ▽ More The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) will be installed in the ATLAS experiment as part of the Phase-II upgrade for the High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). It will mitigate pile-up effects in the forward region, and measure per bunch luminosity. The design of HGTD is based on Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) sensors. This paper presents the results of beam-test campaigns conducted at CERN and DESY in 2023 and 2024 on single LGADs from HGTD pre-production test structures, before and after neutron irradiation up to fluences of $2.5 \times 10^{15}~\mathrm{n_{eq}/cm^2}$. The tested LGADs can meet HGTD requirements in terms of charge collection, time resolution, and hit efficiency, even under HL-LHC end-of-life conditions, supporting their deployment in the final detector. △ Less

Submitted 30 January, 2026; v1 submitted 1 December, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

The Solar Close Observations and Proximity Experiments (SCOPE) mission

Authors: Jun Lin, Jing Feng, Zhenhua Ge, Jiang Tian, Yuhao Chen, Xin Cheng, Hui Tian, Jiansen He, Alexei Pevtsov, Haisheng Ji, Shangbin Yang, Parida Hashim, Bin Zhou, Yiteng Zhang, Shenyi Zhang, Xi Lu, Yuan Yuan, Liu Liu, Haoyu Wang, Hu Jiang, Lei Deng, Xingjian Shi, Lin Ma, Jingxing Wang, Shanjie Huang , et al. (9 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Solar Close Observations and Proximity Experiments (SCOPE) mission will send a spacecraft into the solar atmosphere at a low altitude of just 5 R_sun from the solar center. It aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind solar eruptions and coronal heating, and to directly measure the coronal magnetic field. The mission will perform in situ measurements of the current sheet between coronal mass eje… ▽ More The Solar Close Observations and Proximity Experiments (SCOPE) mission will send a spacecraft into the solar atmosphere at a low altitude of just 5 R_sun from the solar center. It aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind solar eruptions and coronal heating, and to directly measure the coronal magnetic field. The mission will perform in situ measurements of the current sheet between coronal mass ejections and their associated solar flares, and energetic particles produced by either reconnection or fast-mode shocks driven by coronal mass ejections. This will help to resolve the nature of reconnections in current sheets, and energetic particle acceleration regions. To investigate coronal heating, the mission will observe nano-flares on scales smaller than 70 km in the solar corona and regions smaller than 40 km in the photosphere, where magnetohydrodynamic waves originate. To study solar wind acceleration mechanisms, the mission will also track the process of ion charge-state freezing in the solar wind. A key achievement will be the observation of the coronal magnetic field at unprecedented proximity to the solar photosphere. The polar regions will also be observed at close range, and the inner edge of the solar system dust disk may be identified for the first time. This work presents the detailed background, science, and mission concept of SCOPE and discusses how we aim to address the questions mentioned above. △ Less

Submitted 27 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 27 pages, 15 figures

Journal ref: Astronomical Techniques and Instruments, 2(3), 2025

Development of a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber prototype for the RELICS experiment

Authors: Lingfeng Xie, Jiajun Liu, Yifei Zhao, Chang Cai, Guocai Chen, Jiangyu Chen, Huayu Dai, Rundong Fang, Hongrui Gao, Fei Gao, Jingfan Gu, Xiaoran Guo, Jiheng Guo, Chengjie Jia, Gaojun Jin, Fali Ju, Yanzhou Hao, Xu Han, Yang Lei, Kaihang Li, Meng Li, Minhua Li, Ruize Li, Shengchao Li, Siyin Li , et al. (28 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The RELICS (REactor neutrino LIquid xenon Coherent elastic Scattering) experiment aims to detect coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering from reactor antineutrinos using a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber. To validate the detector concept and ensure technical reliability for the full-scale experiment, a dedicated prototype was designed, constructed, and operated. This work presents an… ▽ More The RELICS (REactor neutrino LIquid xenon Coherent elastic Scattering) experiment aims to detect coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering from reactor antineutrinos using a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber. To validate the detector concept and ensure technical reliability for the full-scale experiment, a dedicated prototype was designed, constructed, and operated. This work presents an overview of the design, construction, and operational performance of the prototype, with emphasis on its major subsystems, including the TPC, cryogenic and xenon purification systems, slow control, and data acquisition. During operation, the detector demonstrated the capability to achieve a sub-keV energy threshold required for the RELICS physics program, as reflected by a measured single electron gain of 34.30~$\pm$~0.01~(stat.)~PE/e$^-$ and the successful detection of 0.27~keV L-shell decay events from $^{37}$Ar. In addition, essential data analysis techniques and simulation frameworks were developed and validated, establishing the methodological foundation for future RELICS operations. The successful construction and operation of this prototype confirm the feasibility of the core technologies and provide a crucial experimental basis for the final RELICS detector. △ Less

Submitted 11 March, 2026; v1 submitted 23 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals as Charge Boosters for Triboelectric Nanogenerators

Authors: Jia-Yao Ye, Susanta Chakraborty, Karthick Subramani, Xing-Zhou Tang, Yan-Nan Xie, Bing-Xiang Li

Abstract: Driven by growing demand for clean energy, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as promising self-powered systems, yet achieving high charge density remains a critical challenge. In polymer dielectrics, triboelectricity can be further amplified by incorporating high-dielectric and polar materials for functional adaptability. Conventional dielectrics, including liquid crystals (LCs), o… ▽ More Driven by growing demand for clean energy, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as promising self-powered systems, yet achieving high charge density remains a critical challenge. In polymer dielectrics, triboelectricity can be further amplified by incorporating high-dielectric and polar materials for functional adaptability. Conventional dielectrics, including liquid crystals (LCs), offer limited improvement for triboelectrification, whereas the breakthrough ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals (NF-LCs), with giant spontaneous polarization and high dielectric constant, act as highly effective charge boosters. Here, we introduce NF-LC (DIO) as a functional filler in a PVDF-based TENG. Increasing DIO content progressively grows the electroactive phase and effective polarization in PVDF and defines a marked improvement in TENGs electrical performances through favourable dipolar alignment and strengthened charge-trap effects. The optimized composite film achieves an impressive open-circuit voltage of 1.1 kV, short-circuit current of 50 micro Amp, and power density of 110 W/m2 - seven times higher than pure PVDF. The device exhibits excellent charge-storage capability, powers over 500 LEDs without power management. This work establishes NF-LC-based TENGs as a new platform for high-performance self-powered energy harvesting, linking soft matter physics with applied energy technology. △ Less

Submitted 21 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Initial performance results of the JUNO detector

Authors: Angel Abusleme, Thomas Adam, Kai Adamowicz, David Adey, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Timo Ahola, Sebastiano Aiello, Fengpeng An, Guangpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Burin Asavapibhop, Didier Auguste, Margherita Buizza Avanzini, Andrej Babic, Jingzhi Bai, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Roberto Barbera, Andrea Barresi , et al. (1114 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) started physics data taking on 26 August 2025. JUNO consists of a 20-kton liquid scintillator central detector, surrounded by a 35 kton water pool serving as a Cherenkov veto, and almost 1000 m$^2$ of plastic scintillator veto on top. The detector is located in a shallow underground laboratory with an overburden of 1800 m.w.e. This paper present… ▽ More The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) started physics data taking on 26 August 2025. JUNO consists of a 20-kton liquid scintillator central detector, surrounded by a 35 kton water pool serving as a Cherenkov veto, and almost 1000 m$^2$ of plastic scintillator veto on top. The detector is located in a shallow underground laboratory with an overburden of 1800 m.w.e. This paper presents the performance results of the detector, extensively studied during the commissioning of the water phase, the subsequent liquid scintillator filling phase, and the first physics runs. The liquid scintillator achieved an attenuation length of 20.6 m at 430 nm, while the high coverage PMT system and scintillator together yielded about 1785 photoelectrons per MeV of energy deposit at the detector centre, measured using the 2.223 MeV $γ$ from neutron captures on hydrogen with an Am-C calibration source. The reconstructed energy resolution is 3.4% for two 0.511 MeV $γ$ at the detector centre and 2.9% for the 0.93 MeV quenched Po-214 alpha decays from natural radioactive sources. The energy nonlinearity is calibrated to better than 1%. Intrinsic contaminations of U-238 and Th-232 in the liquid scintillator are below 10$^{-16}$ g/g, assuming secular equilibrium. The water Cherenkov detector achieves a muon detection efficiency better than 99.9% for muons traversing the liquid scintillator volume. During the initial science runs, the data acquisition duty cycle exceeded 97.8%, demonstrating the excellent stability and readiness of JUNO for high-precision neutrino physics. △ Less

Submitted 18 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 38 pages, 23 figures

Ligand Engineering for Precise Control of Ultrathin CsPbI3 Nanoplatelet Superlattices for Efficient Light-Emitting Diodes

Authors: Jongbeom Kim, Woo Hyeon Jeong, Junzhi Ye, Allison Nicole Arber, Vikram, Donghan Kim, Yi-Teng Huang, Yixin Wang, Dongeun Kim, Dongryeol Lee, Chia-Yu Chang, Xinyu Shen, Sung Yong Bae, Ashish Gaurav, Akshay Rao, Henry J. Snaith, M. Saiful Islam, Bo Ram Lee, Myoung Hoon Song, Robert L. Z. Hoye

Abstract: Strongly-confined perovskite nanoplatelets (PeNPLs) offer opportunities not found in conventional isotropic nanocubes, especially in producing linearly polarized light, as well as enhancing outcoupling through control over the transition dipole moment. But this requires ultrathin nanoplatelets with three or fewer monolayers of PbI6 octahedra across the thickness, which are challenging to synthesis… ▽ More Strongly-confined perovskite nanoplatelets (PeNPLs) offer opportunities not found in conventional isotropic nanocubes, especially in producing linearly polarized light, as well as enhancing outcoupling through control over the transition dipole moment. But this requires ultrathin nanoplatelets with three or fewer monolayers of PbI6 octahedra across the thickness, which are challenging to synthesise uniformly, and their luminescence is strongly affected by surface defects. Together, these limit the performance of ultrathin PeNPLs in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Here, we address these challenges with an ancillary ligand engineering strategy. We demonstrate that ligands with phosphoryl functional groups strongly bind to the perovskite surface, while having an organic backbone that is not sterically bulky ensures high ligand density. By modulating nucleation and growth, these ancillary ligands lead to monodisperse PeNPLs that stack more uniformly when self-assembled into superlattices, with suppressed agglomeration. As a result, from edge-up PeNPL superlattices, we achieve enhanced degree of polarization, while from face-down PeNPL superlattices, we achieve enhanced outcoupling that results in LEDs with 13.1% external quantum efficiency, the highest reported for ultrathin PeNPL LEDs. This work establishes ancillary ligand-induced synthesis as a decisive route to achieve uniform nanoplatelets with robust orientation control, enabling full utilization of the multifunctionality of anisotropic PeNPLs. △ Less

Submitted 23 January, 2026; v1 submitted 14 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 25 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

Prospects for geoneutrino detection with JUNO

Authors: Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Fengpeng An, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Didier Auguste, Marcel Büchner, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger, Svetlana Biktemerova, Thilo Birkenfeld, Simon Blyth , et al. (605 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Geoneutrinos, which are antineutrinos emitted during the decay of long-lived radioactive elements inside Earth, serve as a unique tool for studying the composition and heat budget of our planet. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) experiment in China, which has recently completed construction, is expected to collect a sample comparable in size to the entire existing world geoneutr… ▽ More Geoneutrinos, which are antineutrinos emitted during the decay of long-lived radioactive elements inside Earth, serve as a unique tool for studying the composition and heat budget of our planet. The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) experiment in China, which has recently completed construction, is expected to collect a sample comparable in size to the entire existing world geoneutrino dataset in less than a year. This paper presents an updated estimation of sensitivity to geoneutrinos of JUNO using the best knowledge available to date about the experimental site, the surrounding nuclear reactors, the detector response uncertainties, and the constraints expected from the TAO satellite detector. To facilitate comparison with present and future geological models, our results cover a wide range of predicted signal strengths. Despite the significant background from reactor antineutrinos, the experiment will measure the total geoneutrino flux with a precision comparable to that of existing experiments within its first few years, ultimately achieving a world-leading precision of about 8% over ten years. The large statistics of JUNO will also allow separation of the Uranium-238 and Thorium-232 contributions with unprecedented precision, providing crucial constraints on models of formation and composition of Earth. Observation of the mantle signal above the lithospheric flux will be possible but challenging. For models with the highest predicted mantle concentrations of heat-producing elements, a 3-sigma detection over six years requires knowledge of the lithospheric flux to within 15%. Together with complementary measurements from other locations, the geoneutrino results of JUNO will offer cutting-edge, high-precision insights into the interior of Earth, of fundamental importance to both the geoscience and neutrino physics communities. △ Less

Submitted 10 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 32 pages, with 13 figures and 5 tables

Design and characterization of a photosensor system for the RELICS experiment

Authors: Jijun Yang, Ruize Li, Chang Cai, Guocai Chen, Jiangyu Chen, Huayu Dai, Rundong Fang, Fei Gao, Jingfan Gu, Xiaoran Guo, Jiheng Guo, Gaojun Jin, Fali Ju, Yanzhou Hao, Yang Lei, Kaihang Li, Meng Li, Minhua Li, Shengchao Li, Siyin Li, Tao Li, Qing Lin, Jiajun Liu, Sheng Lv, Guang Luo , et al. (23 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: In this paper, we present the design and characterization of a photosensor system developed for the RELICS experiment. An extended dynamic range base was designed to mitigate photomultiplier tube (PMT) saturation caused by intense cosmic muon backgrounds in the surface-level RELICS detector. The system employs dual readout from the anode and the seventh dynode to extend the linear response range o… ▽ More In this paper, we present the design and characterization of a photosensor system developed for the RELICS experiment. An extended dynamic range base was designed to mitigate photomultiplier tube (PMT) saturation caused by intense cosmic muon backgrounds in the surface-level RELICS detector. The system employs dual readout from the anode and the seventh dynode to extend the linear response range of the PMT. In particular, our characterization and measurements of Hamamatsu R8520-406 PMTs confirm stable operation under positive high-voltage bias, extending the linear response range by more than an order of magnitude. Furthermore, a model of PMT saturation and recovery was developed to evaluate the influence of cosmic muon signals in the RELICS detector. The results demonstrate the system capability to detect coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering signals under surface-level cosmic backgrounds, and suggest the potential to extend the scientific reach of RELICS to MeV-scale interactions. △ Less

Submitted 19 February, 2026; v1 submitted 28 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Comments: 19 pages, 13 figures. v3: updated to address the referees' comments, fixed author list typo. Journal reference added

Journal ref: JINST 21 (2026) 2, P02039

Design, waterproofing, and mass production of the 3-inch PMT frontend system of JUNO

Authors: Jilei Xu, Miao He, Cédric Cerna, Yongbo Huang, Thomas Adam, Shakeel Ahmad, Rizwan Ahmed, Fengpeng An, Costas Andreopoulos, Giuseppe Andronico, João Pedro Athayde Marcondes de André, Nikolay Anfimov, Vito Antonelli, Tatiana Antoshkina, Didier Auguste, Weidong Bai, Nikita Balashov, Andrea Barresi, Davide Basilico, Eric Baussan, Marco Beretta, Antonio Bergnoli, Nikita Bessonov, Daniel Bick, Lukas Bieger , et al. (609 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: Over 25,600 3-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) have been instrumented for the central detector of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory. Each PMT is equipped with a high-voltage divider and a frontend cable with waterproof sealing. Groups of sixteen PMTs are connected to the underwater frontend readout electronics via specialized multi-channel waterproof connectors. This paper outlines th… ▽ More Over 25,600 3-inch photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) have been instrumented for the central detector of the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory. Each PMT is equipped with a high-voltage divider and a frontend cable with waterproof sealing. Groups of sixteen PMTs are connected to the underwater frontend readout electronics via specialized multi-channel waterproof connectors. This paper outlines the design and mass production processes for the high-voltage divider, the cable and connector, as well as the waterproof potting of the PMT bases. The results of the acceptance tests of all the integrated PMTs are also presented. △ Less

Submitted 22 January, 2026; v1 submitted 7 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Non-local mass superpositions and optical clock interferometry in atomic ensemble quantum networks

Authors: Charles Fromonteil, Denis V. Vasilyev, Torsten V. Zache, Klemens Hammerer, Ana Maria Rey, Jun Ye, Hannes Pichler, Peter Zoller

Abstract: Quantum networks are emerging as powerful platforms for sensing, communication, and fundamental tests of physics. We propose a programmable quantum sensing network based on entangled atomic ensembles, where optical clock qubits emulate mass superpositions in atom and atom-clock interferometry. Our approach uniquely combines scalability to large atom numbers with minimal control requirements, relyi… ▽ More Quantum networks are emerging as powerful platforms for sensing, communication, and fundamental tests of physics. We propose a programmable quantum sensing network based on entangled atomic ensembles, where optical clock qubits emulate mass superpositions in atom and atom-clock interferometry. Our approach uniquely combines scalability to large atom numbers with minimal control requirements, relying only on collective addressing of internal atomic states. This enables the creation of both non-local and local superpositions with spatial separations beyond those achievable in conventional interferometry. Starting from Bell-type seed states distributed via photonic channels, collective operations within atomic ensembles coherently build many-body mass superpositions sensitive to gravitational redshift. The resulting architecture realizes a non-local Ramsey interferometer, with gravitationally induced phase shifts observable in network-based interference patterns. Beyond extending the spatial reach of mass superpositions, our scheme establishes a scalable, programmable platform to probe the interface of quantum mechanics and gravity, and offers a new experimental pathway to test atom and atom-clock interferometer proposals in a network-based quantum laboratory. △ Less

Submitted 23 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

The CEPC Clock Issue and Finetuning of the Circumference

Authors: Dou Wang, Jie Gao, Jianchun Wang, Dapeng Jin, Xiaohao Cui, Ge Lei, Cai Meng, Wei Wei, Jingbo Ye, Yiwei Wang, Jiyuan Zhai, Yuhui Li, Zhonghui Ma, Jun Hu, Shengsen Sun, Xiaolong Wang

Abstract: The CEPC clock issue is related with the RF frequency coordination between the various accelerator systems and may affect the operation modes of both the accelerator and the detector. The timing structure of CEPC has been restudied with the collaboration of the accelerator team and the detector team. After discussions between two sides, the CEPC bunch structure is set such that the spacings betwee… ▽ More The CEPC clock issue is related with the RF frequency coordination between the various accelerator systems and may affect the operation modes of both the accelerator and the detector. The timing structure of CEPC has been restudied with the collaboration of the accelerator team and the detector team. After discussions between two sides, the CEPC bunch structure is set such that the spacings between adjacent bunches in any CEPC operation mode are integer numbers of 23.08 ns. The master CEPC clock will be provided by the accelerator to the detector systems with a frequency of 43.33 MHz, synchronous to the beam. The CEPC detector system relies on the clock to sample physics signal at the right time. It was found that if the circumference of CEPC is slightly changed to 99955.418 m, not only is the orbit length closer to 100 km, but also the detector would benefit more for the first 10-year operation. △ Less

Submitted 23 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Thermal Cycling Reliability of Hybrid Pixel Sensor Modules for The ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector

Authors: Y. Li, A. Aboulhorma, M. Ait Tamlihat, H. M. Alfanda, N. Atanov, O. Atanova, I. Azzouzi, J. Barreiro Guimarães Da Costa, T. Beau, D. Benchekroun, F. Bendebba, Y. Bimgdi, A. Blot, A. Boikov, J. Bonis, D. Boumediene, C. Brito, A. S. Brogna, A. M. Burger, L. Cadamuro, Y. Cai, N. Cartalade, R. Casanova Mohr, Y. Che, X. Chen , et al. (203 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The reliability of bump connection structures has become a critical aspect of future silicon detectors for particle physics. The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) for the ATLAS experiment at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider will require 8032 hybrid pixel sensor modules, composed of two Low Gain Avalanche Diode sensors bump-bonded to two readout ASICs and glued to a passive PCB. The… ▽ More The reliability of bump connection structures has become a critical aspect of future silicon detectors for particle physics. The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) for the ATLAS experiment at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider will require 8032 hybrid pixel sensor modules, composed of two Low Gain Avalanche Diode sensors bump-bonded to two readout ASICs and glued to a passive PCB. The detector will operate at low temperature (-30 degrees Celsius) to mitigate the impact of irradiation. The thermomechanical reliability of flip-chip bump connections in HGTD modules is a critical concern, particularly due to their characteristically lower bump density (pixel pitch dimensions of 1.3 mm by 1.3 mm). This paper elaborates on the challenges arising from this design characteristic. Finite element analysis and experimental testing were employed to investigate failure modes in the flip-chip bump structures under thermal cycling from -45 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius and to guide the module redesign. The optimized design demonstrates significantly enhanced robustness and is projected to fulfill the full lifetime requirements of the HGTD. △ Less

Submitted 17 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Comments: 15 pages, 12 figures, 7 tables

Frequency stability of $2.5\times10^{-17}$ in a Si cavity with AlGaAs crystalline mirrors

Authors: Dahyeon Lee, Zoey Z. Hu, Ben Lewis, Alexander Aeppli, Kyungtae Kim, Zhibin Yao, Thomas Legero, Daniele Nicolodi, Fritz Riehle, Uwe Sterr, Jun Ye

Abstract: Developments in ultrastable lasers have fueled remarkable advances in optical frequency metrology and quantum science. A key ingredient in further improving laser frequency stability is the use of low-noise mirror materials such as AlGaAs crystalline coatings. However, excess noise observed with these coatings limits the performance of cryogenic silicon cavities with AlGaAs mirrors to similar leve… ▽ More Developments in ultrastable lasers have fueled remarkable advances in optical frequency metrology and quantum science. A key ingredient in further improving laser frequency stability is the use of low-noise mirror materials such as AlGaAs crystalline coatings. However, excess noise observed with these coatings limits the performance of cryogenic silicon cavities with AlGaAs mirrors to similar levels achieved with conventional dielectric coatings. With a new pair of crystalline coated mirrors in a 6-cm-long cryogenic silicon cavity operated at 17 K, we demonstrate a clear advantage of crystalline coatings over dielectric coatings. The achieved fractional frequency stability of $2.5 \times 10^{-17}$ at 10 s is four times better than expected for dielectric mirrors and corresponds to more than tenfold reduction in the coating mechanical loss factor. We also combine two silicon cavities to demonstrate optical frequency averaging for enhanced stability. In addition, we present a long-term frequency drift record of four cryogenic silicon cavities measured over several years. These results open up realistic prospects for cavity-stabilized lasers with $10^{-18}$ fractional stability, as well as an all-optical timescale with continuously operating optical local oscillators. △ Less

Submitted 16 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Generalizable Holographic Reconstruction via Amplitude-Only Diffusion Priors

Authors: Jeongsol Kim, Chanseok Lee, Jongin You, Jong Chul Ye, Mooseok Jang

Abstract: Phase retrieval in inline holography is a fundamental yet ill-posed inverse problem due to the nonlinear coupling between amplitude and phase in coherent imaging. We present a novel off-the-shelf solution that leverages a diffusion model trained solely on object amplitude to recover both amplitude and phase from diffraction intensities. Using a predictor-corrector sampling framework with separate… ▽ More Phase retrieval in inline holography is a fundamental yet ill-posed inverse problem due to the nonlinear coupling between amplitude and phase in coherent imaging. We present a novel off-the-shelf solution that leverages a diffusion model trained solely on object amplitude to recover both amplitude and phase from diffraction intensities. Using a predictor-corrector sampling framework with separate likelihood gradients for amplitude and phase, our method enables complex field reconstruction without requiring ground-truth phase data for training. We validate the proposed approach through extensive simulations and experiments, demonstrating robust generalization across diverse object shapes, imaging system configurations, and modalities, including lensless setups. Notably, a diffusion prior trained on simple amplitude data (e.g., polystyrene beads) successfully reconstructs complex biological tissue structures, highlighting the method's adaptability. This framework provides a cost-effective, generalizable solution for nonlinear inverse problems in computational imaging, and establishes a foundation for broader coherent imaging applications beyond holography. △ Less

Submitted 11 November, 2025; v1 submitted 16 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Comments: Keywords: Diffusion model, phase retrieval, inline-holography, inverse problem

Machine Learning Integrated Near-Infrared Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Accurate Strain-Level Virus Identification

Authors: Na Zhang, Ziyang Wang, Xielin Wang, Gabriel A. Vázquez-Lizardi, Paula Piñeiro Varela, Dorleta Jimenez de Aberasturi, David E. Sanchez, Nestor Perea-Lopez, Samuel Lin, Ryeanne Ricker, Edgar Dimitrov, Alexander J. Sredenschek, Kalana D. Halanayake, Yin-Ting Yeh, Julian A. Mintz, Jiarong Ye, Sharon Xiaolei Huang, Huaguang Lu, Elodie Ghedin, Danielle Reifsnyder Hickey, Luis M. Liz-Marzán, Shengxi Huang, Mauricio Terrones

Abstract: Strain-level identification of viruses is critical for effective public health responses to potential outbreaks, yet current diagnostic methods often lack the necessary speed or sensitivity. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) offers great potential for fast and precise virus clarification through unique vibrational fingerprints of biological components. However, existing protocols typicall… ▽ More Strain-level identification of viruses is critical for effective public health responses to potential outbreaks, yet current diagnostic methods often lack the necessary speed or sensitivity. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) offers great potential for fast and precise virus clarification through unique vibrational fingerprints of biological components. However, existing protocols typically operate outside of the tissue's transparent near-infrared (NIR) window, and are further limited by the intrinsic complexity of clinical viral samples, which complicates spectral analysis and recognition. Here, we report an artificial intelligence (AI)-empowered NIR-SERS platform that integrates machine learning with a rationally designed hybrid substrate: gold nanostars (AuNSt) coupled with gold-coated carbon nanotube arrays (AuCNT). This architecture generates highly localized plasmonic hot spots resonant tuned to NIR excitation, as confirmed by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), enabling effective signal amplification from viral components. Our system and protocols provide accurate classification of respiratory viruses, including influenza viruses and coronaviruses, not only at the type and subtype levels, but also the more challenging strain level. This approach overcomes the plasmonic mismatch in conventional SERS and the lack of generalizability in AI-driven diagnostics. It shows promise for enhancing rapid virus detection and identification of novel strains and outbreak response capabilities, thus potentially addressing critical challenges in global public health preparedness. △ Less

Submitted 11 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Characterization of SiPMs at 40 K for neutrino coherent detection based on pure CsI

Authors: Tao Liu, Xilei Sun, Fengjiao Luo, Jingbo Ye, Bo Zheng, Cong Guo, Zhilong Hou, Rongbin Zhou, Aiqin Gao, Lei Cao, Bo Zhang, Sijia Han

Abstract: Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), as the core photoelectric sensor for coherent neutrino detection in low-temperature pure CsI, its working performance directly determines the measurement accuracy of the scintillator light yield. Our previous research has fully demonstrated the performance of pure CsI at liquid nitrogen temperature. More intriguingly, its performance is expected to be even better at… ▽ More Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), as the core photoelectric sensor for coherent neutrino detection in low-temperature pure CsI, its working performance directly determines the measurement accuracy of the scintillator light yield. Our previous research has fully demonstrated the performance of pure CsI at liquid nitrogen temperature. More intriguingly, its performance is expected to be even better at 40 K. However, the performance characteristics of SiPM in the 40 K temperature range still remain to be explored. In this study, a self-developed adjustable temperature control system ranging from 30 K to 293 K was built to investigate the key performance parameters of SiPM at different temperatures, such as single photoelectron spectrum, gain, breakdown voltage, dark count rate, after-pulse, internal crosstalk, and single photoelectron resolution. Special emphasis was placed on examining the key performance parameters of SiPM in the 40 K temperature range to evaluate its feasibility for light yield measurement in this temperature range. The results show that this study obtained the parameter variation trends and optimal working conditions of 3 types of SiPM at different temperatures, thereby improving the sensitivity of the detector. This research provides important technical support for low-temperature detection in neutrino physics experiments. △ Less

Submitted 28 October, 2025; v1 submitted 2 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

MolErr2Fix: Benchmarking LLM Trustworthiness in Chemistry via Modular Error Detection, Localization, Explanation, and Revision

Authors: Yuyang Wu, Jinhui Ye, Shuhao Zhang, Lu Dai, Yonatan Bisk, Olexandr Isayev

Abstract: Large Language Models (LLMs) have shown growing potential in molecular sciences, but they often produce chemically inaccurate descriptions and struggle to recognize or justify potential errors. This raises important concerns about their robustness and reliability in scientific applications. To support more rigorous evaluation of LLMs in chemical reasoning, we present the MolErr2Fix benchmark, desi… ▽ More Large Language Models (LLMs) have shown growing potential in molecular sciences, but they often produce chemically inaccurate descriptions and struggle to recognize or justify potential errors. This raises important concerns about their robustness and reliability in scientific applications. To support more rigorous evaluation of LLMs in chemical reasoning, we present the MolErr2Fix benchmark, designed to assess LLMs on error detection and correction in molecular descriptions. Unlike existing benchmarks focused on molecule-to-text generation or property prediction, MolErr2Fix emphasizes fine-grained chemical understanding. It tasks LLMs with identifying, localizing, explaining, and revising potential structural and semantic errors in molecular descriptions. Specifically, MolErr2Fix consists of 1,193 fine-grained annotated error instances. Each instance contains quadruple annotations, i.e,. (error type, span location, the explanation, and the correction). These tasks are intended to reflect the types of reasoning and verification required in real-world chemical communication. Evaluations of current state-of-the-art LLMs reveal notable performance gaps, underscoring the need for more robust chemical reasoning capabilities. MolErr2Fix provides a focused benchmark for evaluating such capabilities and aims to support progress toward more reliable and chemically informed language models. All annotations and an accompanying evaluation API will be publicly released to facilitate future research. △ Less

Submitted 27 October, 2025; v1 submitted 26 August, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Comments: 9 pages

Journal ref: EMNLP2025

High-Efficiency Quantum-State Detection of ThF$^+$ with Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Asymmetric Dissociation

Authors: Kia Boon Ng, Sun Yool Park, Anzhou Wang, Addison Hartman, Patricia Hector Hernandez, Rohan Kompella, Lan Cheng, Stephan Malbrunot-Ettenauer, Jun Ye, Eric A. Cornell

Abstract: Efficient quantum-state detection is crucial for many precision control experiments, such as the ongoing effort to probe the electron's electric dipole moment using trapped molecular $^{232}\mathrm{ThF}^+$ ions at JILA. While quantum state detection through state-selective photodissociation has been successfully implemented on this molecule, progress has been hindered by low dissociation efficienc… ▽ More Efficient quantum-state detection is crucial for many precision control experiments, such as the ongoing effort to probe the electron's electric dipole moment using trapped molecular $^{232}\mathrm{ThF}^+$ ions at JILA. While quantum state detection through state-selective photodissociation has been successfully implemented on this molecule, progress has been hindered by low dissociation efficiency. In this work, we perform spectroscopy on the molecule to identify excited states that facilitate more efficient photodissociation. For the most favorable transition, we achieve a dissociation efficiency of 57(14)% with quantum state selectivity. Additionally, we discuss several state detection protocols that leverage favorable excited states that will facilitate simultaneous readout of all EDM relevant states, allowing further improvement of overall statistics. △ Less

Submitted 6 August, 2025; originally announced August 2025.

Frequency reproducibility of solid-state Th-229 nuclear clocks

Authors: Tian Ooi, Jack F. Doyle, Chuankun Zhang, Jacob S. Higgins, Jun Ye, Kjeld Beeks, Tomas Sikorsky, Thorsten Schumm

Abstract: Solid-state $^{229}$Th nuclear clocks are set to provide new opportunities for precision metrology and fundamental physics. Taking advantage of a nuclear transition's inherent low sensitivity to its environment, orders of magnitude more emitters can be hosted in a solid-state crystal compared to current optical lattice atomic clocks. Furthermore, solid-state systems needing only simple thermal con… ▽ More Solid-state $^{229}$Th nuclear clocks are set to provide new opportunities for precision metrology and fundamental physics. Taking advantage of a nuclear transition's inherent low sensitivity to its environment, orders of magnitude more emitters can be hosted in a solid-state crystal compared to current optical lattice atomic clocks. Furthermore, solid-state systems needing only simple thermal control are key to the development of field-deployable compact clocks. In this work, we explore and characterize the frequency reproducibility of the $^{229}$Th:CaF$_2$ nuclear clock transition, a key performance metric for all clocks. We measure the transition linewidth and center frequency as a function of the doping concentration, temperature, and time. We report the concentration-dependent inhomogeneous linewidth of the nuclear transition, limited by the intrinsic host crystal properties. We determine an optimal working temperature for the $^{229}$Th:CaF$_2$ nuclear clock at 195(5) K where the first-order thermal sensitivity vanishes. This would enable in-situ temperature co-sensing using different quadrupole-split lines, reducing the temperature-induced systematic shift below the 10$^{-18}$ fractional frequency uncertainty level. At 195 K, the reproducibility of the nuclear transition frequency is 280 Hz (fractionally $1.4\times10^{-13}$) for two differently doped $^{229}$Th:CaF$_2$ crystals over four months. These results form the foundation for understanding, controlling, and harnessing the coherent nuclear excitation of $^{229}$Th in solid-state hosts, and for their applications in constraining temporal variations of fundamental constants. △ Less

Submitted 1 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Comments: 11 pages, 4 figures, 1 extended data figure

NEO-PGA: Nonvolatile electro-optically programmable gate array

Authors: Rui Chen, Andrew Tang, Jayita Dutta, Virat Tara, Julian Ye, Zhuoran Fang, Arka Majumdar

Abstract: Programmable photonic integrated circuits (PICs) offer a unique opportunity to create a flexible platform, akin to electronic field programmable gate array (FPGA). These photonic PGAs can implement versatile functionalities for applications ranging from optical interconnects to microwave photonics. However, state-of-the-art programmable photonics relies predominantly on volatile thermo-optic tunin… ▽ More Programmable photonic integrated circuits (PICs) offer a unique opportunity to create a flexible platform, akin to electronic field programmable gate array (FPGA). These photonic PGAs can implement versatile functionalities for applications ranging from optical interconnects to microwave photonics. However, state-of-the-art programmable photonics relies predominantly on volatile thermo-optic tuning, which suffers from high static power consumption, large footprints, and thermal crosstalk. All these dramatically limit the gate density and pose a fundamental limit to the scalability. Chalcogenide-based phase-change materials (PCMs) offer a superior alternative due to their nonvolatility and substantial optical contrast, though challenges such as optical loss, and bit precision severely limited their application in large-scale PICs. Here, we demonstrate precise, multi-bit, low-loss tuning of the emerging PCM Sb2Se3 using a closed-loop, "program-and-verify" method. Electrically reconfigurable PCM-integrated silicon photonic gates are implemented on a 300mm silicon photonic platform, using circulating and forward Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) meshes. In the circulating mesh, we realize broadband optical switching fabrics and high-Q coupled resonators with unprecedented local control of coupling rates, which further enable exploration of coupled-cavity systems. The forward mesh supports self-configurable MZIs that sort two orthogonal beams to different ports. These results showcase a new type of scalable photonic PGA enabled by PCMs, offering a pathway toward general-purpose, on-chip programmable photonic systems. △ Less

Submitted 23 June, 2025; originally announced June 2025.

The effect of plasma-$β$ on the heating mechanisms during magnetic reconnection in partially ionized low solar atmosphere

Authors: Abdullah Zafar, Lei Ni, Kaifeng Kang, Guanchong Cheng, Jing Ye, Jun Lin, Ahmad Ali, Nadia Imtiaz

Abstract: We performed numerical simulations of magnetic reconnection with different strength of magnetic fields from the solar photosphere to the upper chromosphere. The main emphasis is to identify dominant mechanisms for heating plasmas in the reconnection region under different plasma-$β$ conditions in the partially ionized low solar atmosphere. The numerical results show that more plasmoids are generat… ▽ More We performed numerical simulations of magnetic reconnection with different strength of magnetic fields from the solar photosphere to the upper chromosphere. The main emphasis is to identify dominant mechanisms for heating plasmas in the reconnection region under different plasma-$β$ conditions in the partially ionized low solar atmosphere. The numerical results show that more plasmoids are generated in a lower $β$ reconnection event. The frequent coalescence of these plasmoids leads to a significant enhancement of turbulence and compression heating, which becomes the dominant mechanism for heating plasma in a lower plasma-$β$ reconnection process. The average power density of the compression heating (Q$_{comp}$) decreases with increasing initial plasma-$β$ as a power function: Q$_{comp} \sim β_{0}^{-a}$, where the value $a$ is $1.9$ in the photosphere and decreases to about 1.29 in the upper chromosphere. In the photosphere and lower chromosphere, the joule heating contributed by electron-neutral collisions Q$_{en}=η_{en} J^2$ eventually dominates over the compression heating when the initial plasma-$β$ is larger than the critical value $β_{0-critical} = 8$. In the upper chromosphere, the ambipolar diffusion heating and the viscous heating will become equally important as the compression heating when the initial plasma-$β$ is larger than the critical value $β_{0-critical} = 0.5$. These results indicate that the compression heating caused by turbulent reconnection mediated with plasmoids is likely the major heating mechanism for the small-scale reconnection events with stronger magnetic fields such as active region EBs and UV bursts. However, the heating caused by the partial ionization effects can not be ignored for those reconnection events with weaker magnetic fields such as quiet Sun EBs and cold surges. △ Less

Submitted 21 June, 2025; originally announced June 2025.

Enhanced Stability and Linearly Polarized Emission from CsPbI$_3$ Perovskite Nanoplatelets through A-site Cation Engineering

Authors: Woo Hyeon Jeong, Junzhi Ye, Jongbeom Kim, Rui Xu, Xinyu Shen, Chia-Yu Chang, Eilidh L. Quinn, Myoung Hoon Song, Peter Nellist, Henry J. Snaith, Yunwei Zhang, Bo Ram Lee, Robert L. Z. Hoye

Abstract: The anisotropy of perovskite nanoplatelets (PeNPLs) opens up many opportunities in optoelectronics, including enabling the emission of linearly polarized light. But the limited stability of PeNPLs is a pressing challenge, especially for red-emitting CsPbI$_3$. Herein, we address this limitation by alloying FA into the perovskite cuboctahedral site. Unlike Cs/FA alloying in bulk thin films or nonco… ▽ More The anisotropy of perovskite nanoplatelets (PeNPLs) opens up many opportunities in optoelectronics, including enabling the emission of linearly polarized light. But the limited stability of PeNPLs is a pressing challenge, especially for red-emitting CsPbI$_3$. Herein, we address this limitation by alloying FA into the perovskite cuboctahedral site. Unlike Cs/FA alloying in bulk thin films or nonconfined nanocubes, FA incorporation in nanoplatelets requires meticulous control over the reaction conditions, given that nanoplatelets are obtained in kinetically-driven growth regimes instead of thermodynamically-driven conditions. Through in-situ photoluminescence (PL) measurements, we find that excess FA leads to uncontrolled growth, where phase-impurities and nanoplatelets of multiple thicknesses co-exist. Restricting the FA content to up to 25% Cs substitution enables monodisperse PeNPLs, and increases the PL quantum yield (from 53% to 61%), exciton lifetime (from 18 ns to 27 ns), and stability in ambient air (from ~2 days to >7 days) compared to CsPbI$_3$. This arises due to hydrogen bonding between FA and the oleate and oleylammonium ligands, anchoring them to the surface to improve optoelectronic properties and stability. The reduction in non-radiative recombination, improvement in the nanoplatelet aspect ratio, and higher ligand density lead to FA-containing PeNPLs more effectively forming edge-up superlattices, enhancing the PL degree of linear polarization from 5.1% (CsPbI$_3$) to 9.4% (Cs$_{0.75}$FA$_{0.25}$PbI$_3$). These fundamental insights show how the stability limitations of PeNPLs could be addressed, and these materials grown more precisely to improve their performance as polarized light emitters, critical for utilizing them in next-generation display, bioimaging and communications applications. △ Less

Submitted 28 May, 2025; originally announced May 2025.

Comments: 19 pages, 5 figures

Atomic Coherence of 2 minutes and Instability of 1.5E-18 at 1 s in a Wannier-Stark Lattice Clock

Authors: Kyungtae Kim, Alexander Aeppli, William Warfield, Anjun Chu, Ana Maria Rey, Jun Ye

Abstract: We explore the limits of atomic coherence and measurement precision in a 87Sr optical lattice clock. We perform a detailed characterization of key effects, including lattice Raman scattering and atomic collisions in a shallow lattice configuration, determining a 174(28) s 3P0 clock state lifetime. Investigation of atomic coherence across a range of lattice depths and atomic densities reveals decoh… ▽ More We explore the limits of atomic coherence and measurement precision in a 87Sr optical lattice clock. We perform a detailed characterization of key effects, including lattice Raman scattering and atomic collisions in a shallow lattice configuration, determining a 174(28) s 3P0 clock state lifetime. Investigation of atomic coherence across a range of lattice depths and atomic densities reveals decoherence mechanisms related to photon scattering and atomic interaction. At a reduced density, we observe a coherence time of 118(9) s, approaching the fundamental limit set by spontaneous emission. Guided by this coherence understanding, we demonstrate a clock instability of 1.5E-18 at 1 s in fractional frequency units. Our results are important for further advancing the state-of-the-art of an optical lattice clock for fundamental physics applications. △ Less

Submitted 9 May, 2025; originally announced May 2025.

Clock precision beyond the Standard Quantum Limit at $10^{-18}$ level

Authors: Y. A. Yang, Maya Miklos, Yee Ming Tso, Stella Kraus, Joonseok Hur, Jun Ye

Abstract: Optical atomic clocks with unrivaled precision and accuracy have advanced the frontier of precision measurement science and opened new avenues for exploring fundamental physics. A fundamental limitation on clock precision is the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL), which stems from the uncorrelated projection noise of each atom. State-of-the-art optical lattice clocks interrogate large ensembles to minim… ▽ More Optical atomic clocks with unrivaled precision and accuracy have advanced the frontier of precision measurement science and opened new avenues for exploring fundamental physics. A fundamental limitation on clock precision is the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL), which stems from the uncorrelated projection noise of each atom. State-of-the-art optical lattice clocks interrogate large ensembles to minimize the SQL, but density-dependent frequency shifts pose challenges to scaling the atom number. The SQL can be surpassed, however, by leveraging entanglement, though it remains an open problem to achieve quantum advantage from spin squeezing at state-of-the-art stability levels. Here we demonstrate clock performance beyond the SQL, achieving a fractional frequency precision of 1.1 $\times 10^{-18}$ for a single spin-squeezed clock. With cavity-based quantum nondemolition (QND) measurements, we prepare two spin-squeezed ensembles of $\sim$30,000 strontium atoms confined in a two-dimensional optical lattice. A synchronous clock comparison with an interrogation time of 61 ms achieves a metrological improvement of 2.0(2) dB beyond the SQL, after correcting for state preparation and measurement errors. These results establish the most precise entanglement-enhanced clock to date and offer a powerful platform for exploring the interplay of gravity and quantum entanglement. △ Less

Submitted 7 May, 2025; originally announced May 2025.

Comments: 6 pages, 4 figures

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 193202 (2025)

Thermal properties of zero sound in asymmetric nuclear matter

Authors: Jing Ye, Wei-Zhou Jiang

Abstract: The zero-sound modes at finite temperature are investigated with the relativistic random phase approximation to signal the uncertainty of the equation of state (EOS) of asymmetric nuclear matter. It is observed that in typically selected stiff and soft relativistic mean-field (RMF) models, zero-sound modes arise at low temperature, whereas increasing the temperature gradually breaks the zero sound… ▽ More The zero-sound modes at finite temperature are investigated with the relativistic random phase approximation to signal the uncertainty of the equation of state (EOS) of asymmetric nuclear matter. It is observed that in typically selected stiff and soft relativistic mean-field (RMF) models, zero-sound modes arise at low temperature, whereas increasing the temperature gradually breaks the zero sound in soft models, with a smaller density range compared to stiff models. At high density, the presence or absence of zero sound turns out to be correspondingly the character of the stiff or soft RMF EOS. More strikingly, we find by analyzing the dispersion relation and sound velocity that at finite temperature the zero-sound modes in RMF models with the stiff EOS undergo a thermal bifurcation, resulting in the transform of zero sound into the first sound at some momentum $Q>T$. The thermally bifurcated sound branch in the stiff models and the zero-sound branch in the soft models are both highly sensitive to the slope of the symmetry energy, providing promising signals for the pending high-density symmetry energies. In addition, it is found that there exists a nonlinear dispersion relation for both the stiff and soft models that supports the zero sound in the relatively lower density region. △ Less

Submitted 6 May, 2025; originally announced May 2025.