Showing 1–50 of 63 results for author: Kwon, H

In-situ Time-domain Physical Adjoint Optimization of Complex Wave Dynamics

Authors: Hoyeong Kwon, Arunn Suntharalingam, Laureano Bulus-Rossini, Tsampikos Kottos

Abstract: Direct optimization of complex wave dynamics through the intrinsic evolution of physical systems is fundamentally limited by the lack of directly accessible gradients. Adjoint methods provide an exact route to gradient computation and have enabled optimization in numerical solvers and, more recently, in frequency-domain physical platforms. Yet their extension to the time domain has remained out of… ▽ More Direct optimization of complex wave dynamics through the intrinsic evolution of physical systems is fundamentally limited by the lack of directly accessible gradients. Adjoint methods provide an exact route to gradient computation and have enabled optimization in numerical solvers and, more recently, in frequency-domain physical platforms. Yet their extension to the time domain has remained out of reach, as reproducing time-reversed propagation appears to require non-causal operations or compensating gain. Here we develop a protocol and experimentally demonstrate that time-domain adjoint dynamics can be realized in-situ in linear physical systems without gain, non-causal elements, or auxiliary backward networks. By combining time remapping with a transformation of system variables, we obtain a physically realizable adjoint evolution that constructs gradients from measurable signals. We experimentally demonstrate the approach in a complex RLC network, realizing in-situ optimization for time-dependent objectives, including time-windowed and broadband responses. This framework unifies physical optimization by enabling both system parameters and source excitations to be optimized within the same platform. Our results close the gap between adjoint theory and physical implementation, establishing a general foundation for hardware-native, in-situ temporal optimization across a broad class of complex dynamical systems. △ Less

Submitted 19 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Comments: 10 pages, 4 figures

Inverse-Designed Lithium Niobate Wavelength Demultiplexer via Birefringent Effective Index Approximation

Authors: Chihyeon Kim, Minho Choi, Munseong Bae, Hyounghan Kwon, Haejun Chung

Abstract: Inverse design of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic devices is computationally demanding because optical birefringence and fabrication-induced slanted sidewalls generally require three-dimensional electromagnetic models. We introduce a birefringent effective-index (BEI) method to reduce this problem to two dimensions while retaining polarization-dependent slab confinement and a representat… ▽ More Inverse design of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic devices is computationally demanding because optical birefringence and fabrication-induced slanted sidewalls generally require three-dimensional electromagnetic models. We introduce a birefringent effective-index (BEI) method to reduce this problem to two dimensions while retaining polarization-dependent slab confinement and a representative cross section of the etched geometry. The method is integrated with adjoint topology optimization and fabrication constraints to design a 30 x 10 um demultiplexer that routes 1550 and 775 nm light to separate output ports. Quantitative comparisons with three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations establish the accuracy and etch-depth dependence of the reduced model. The fabricated device provides mean signal-to-crosstalk ratios of 13.9 dB across 1540-1560 nm and 13.3 dB across 770-780 nm. A two-stage cascaded configuration increases the output extinction ratio to 26.8 dB in the telecom band and 20.3 dB in the near-visible band. This fabrication-aware reduced-dimensional approach enables optimizations of the multifunctional photonic devices for nonlinear optical and quantum applications on the TFLN platform. △ Less

Submitted 13 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Comments: 32 pages, 7 figures, Supporting Information (23 figures)

Universal zero-crosstalk photonic integration via slab-engineered mode hybridization

Authors: Kyungtae Kim, Yoseph Shin, Seungyong Lee, Inki Kim, Hyeyoon Jeon, Jibaek Song, Minseop Lee, Sanghyeon Kim, Hyounghan Kwon, Hojoong Jung, Sangsik Kim

Abstract: Photonic integrated circuits have emerged as a scalable platform for optical computing, communication, and quantum technologies, where high-fidelity optical processing is essential. However, as photonic systems scale in complexity, inter-channel crosstalk accumulates across cascaded components, fundamentally degrading signal fidelity, limiting system-level performance, and constraining integration… ▽ More Photonic integrated circuits have emerged as a scalable platform for optical computing, communication, and quantum technologies, where high-fidelity optical processing is essential. However, as photonic systems scale in complexity, inter-channel crosstalk accumulates across cascaded components, fundamentally degrading signal fidelity, limiting system-level performance, and constraining integration density. Existing crosstalk-suppression strategies rely on specialized nanostructures or platform-specific designs, hindering their adoption in standard foundry processes and across diverse material systems. Here we establish a universal and foundry-compatible route to eliminating crosstalk based on slab-engineered mode hybridization in standard rib waveguides. By tailoring the slab thickness, mode hybridization induces anisotropic modal perturbations that enable complete cancellation of coupling between adjacent waveguides. We experimentally demonstrate zero-crosstalk across diverse material platforms, including silicon-on-insulator, silicon nitride, thin-film lithium niobate, and germanium-on-insulator, spanning wavelengths from the visible to the mid-infrared. Our approach provides a manufacturable route toward scalable, high-fidelity, and high-density photonic integration, overcoming the long-standing trade-off between signal fidelity and integration density in large-scale photonic systems. △ Less

Submitted 27 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 10 pages, 4 figures

A Levitated Random Telegraph Noise Spectrometer

Authors: Molly Message, Bianca C. J. Uy, Katie O'Flynn, Yugang Ren, Muddassar Rashid, Jonathan D. Pritchett, Qiongyuan Wu, Hyukjoon Kwon, Benjamin A. Stickler, James Millen

Abstract: Random Telegraph Noise is a ubiquitous process manifesting across technology and the natural world. It is characterized by random jumps between two distinct states with Poissonian waiting times, and is the origin of 1/f noise. Understanding and characterizing this noise is critical for the reliable operation of micro-, nano- and quantum-technologies. In this work we probe random telegraph noise us… ▽ More Random Telegraph Noise is a ubiquitous process manifesting across technology and the natural world. It is characterized by random jumps between two distinct states with Poissonian waiting times, and is the origin of 1/f noise. Understanding and characterizing this noise is critical for the reliable operation of micro-, nano- and quantum-technologies. In this work we probe random telegraph noise using a levitated microparticle sensor whose dynamics are driven almost entirely by this non-white source of noise. We observe a startling resonant behaviour, characterized by a thousand-fold increase in the underdamped sensor's position fluctuations, enabling us to measure the spectral properties of the noise over six decades of timescale. This work not only provides a unique way to probe random telegraph noise, but also demonstrates a platform for studying non-equilibrium stochastic dynamics in the presence of realistic non-white noise, with applications from biology to social behaviour. △ Less

Submitted 26 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 7 Figures, 19 pages (single-column), feel free to give comments!

Scalable Liquid-Crystal Integrated Silicon Nitride Photonic Circuits for Reconfigurable Quantum Interference

Authors: Chunghyun Ahn, Yongjin Hwang, Sangbaek Lee, Jinil Lee, Hyunjin Ko, Sunghyun Moon, Hojoong Jung, Hyun-Yong Yu, Se-Um Kim, Hyounghan Kwon

Abstract: Integrated quantum photonics requires compact, efficient, and low-power phase modulators. While silicon nitride (SiN) is a promising platform, existing modulators suffer from high power consumption, thermal crosstalk, or high driving voltages. Liquid crystal (LC) offers a compelling alternative because of the large index changes and industrial maturity. However, their suitability for supporting va… ▽ More Integrated quantum photonics requires compact, efficient, and low-power phase modulators. While silicon nitride (SiN) is a promising platform, existing modulators suffer from high power consumption, thermal crosstalk, or high driving voltages. Liquid crystal (LC) offers a compelling alternative because of the large index changes and industrial maturity. However, their suitability for supporting various applications in the photonic quantum system has not been experimentally confirmed.Here, we report the first experimental demonstration that LC-based phase modulators integrated on a SiN platform show highly visible quantum interference. We fabricated a liquid-crystal integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer (LC-MZI) that achieved CMOS-compatible performance with V_pi * L < 1 V-mm. In two-photon interference experiments, the devices exhibited high-visibility quantum interference (~98.5%) with voltage-tunable phase control. Furthermore, we validated the scalability of our approach by demonstrating wafer-scale fabrication using stepper lithography. This work establishes LC-integrated SiN photonics as a scalable, reconfigurable, and energy-efficient platform for quantum photonic circuits. △ Less

Submitted 8 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 22 pages, 5 figures. Final version for submission

Predicting Euler Characteristics and Constructing Topological Structure Using Machine Learning Techniques

Authors: Gyunghun Yu, Seong Min Park, Han Gyu Yoon, Tae Jung Moon, Jun Woo Choi, Hee Young Kwon, Changyeon Won

Abstract: This study proposes a novel approach to extract topological properties, specifically the Euler characteristic, from input images using neural networks without relying on large pre-existing datasets but with a single geometric image. Inspired by solid-state physics, where topological properties of magnetic structures are derived from spin field analysis, our model generates a unit vector field from… ▽ More This study proposes a novel approach to extract topological properties, specifically the Euler characteristic, from input images using neural networks without relying on large pre-existing datasets but with a single geometric image. Inspired by solid-state physics, where topological properties of magnetic structures are derived from spin field analysis, our model generates a unit vector field from an image, interpreted as a spin configuration. The Euler characteristic is then predicted by computing the skyrmion number of this generated spin configuration. Remarkably, the network learns to construct chiral magnetic textures without access to ground-truth chiral spin configurations, relying instead on only a single, simple geometric image and the straightforward skyrmion number computation. Furthermore, spin configurations generated by independently trained networks can be non-unique due to inherent degrees of freedom. To constrain these degrees of freedom and further refine the spin configuration, we incorporate a magnetic Hamiltonian, comprising exchange interaction, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction, and anisotropy, as an additional, physics-informed loss function. We validate the model's efficacy on complex geometrical shapes and demonstrate its applicability to practical tasks. △ Less

Submitted 1 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: Corresponding authors: Hee Young Kwon and Changyeon Won

Autonomous Quantum Error Correction of Spin-Oscillator Hybrid Qubits

Authors: Sungjoo Cho, Ju-yeon Gyhm, Hyukjoon Kwon, Hyunseok Jeong

Abstract: We propose a novel measurement-free scheme for stabilizing a spin-oscillator hybrid qubit via autonomous quantum error correction. The engineered Lindbladian renders the code space into an attractive steady-state subspace, realized by coupling the storage mode to a rapidly cooled bath through a controlled beam-splitter and spin-dependent displacement interactions. The continuous variable-discrete… ▽ More We propose a novel measurement-free scheme for stabilizing a spin-oscillator hybrid qubit via autonomous quantum error correction. The engineered Lindbladian renders the code space into an attractive steady-state subspace, realized by coupling the storage mode to a rapidly cooled bath through a controlled beam-splitter and spin-dependent displacement interactions. The continuous variable-discrete variable hybrid approach to autonomous quantum error correction preserves the hardware efficiency of conventional dissipation engineering while simplifying the required system-bath coupling. The construction is compatible with simple logical gates and leverages primitives already demonstrated in experimental platforms, such as trapped-ion systems, suggesting a practical route to hardware-efficient, noise-biased logical qubits without repeated syndrome measurements and feedforward. △ Less

Submitted 28 May, 2026; v1 submitted 13 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Global well-posedness of the one-phase Muskat problem with surface tension

Authors: Hongjie Dong, Hyunwoo Kwon

Abstract: In this paper, we establish the global well-posedness of the one-phase Muskat problem with surface tension for small initial data. This problem describes the motion of the interface separating a wet region from a dry region within a porous medium, a process governed by Darcy's law. Although physically essential, the inclusion of surface tension introduces an additional challenge. We prove that if… ▽ More In this paper, we establish the global well-posedness of the one-phase Muskat problem with surface tension for small initial data. This problem describes the motion of the interface separating a wet region from a dry region within a porous medium, a process governed by Darcy's law. Although physically essential, the inclusion of surface tension introduces an additional challenge. We prove that if the initial free boundary is sufficiently small in $H^s$, $s>d/2+1$, then the problem admits a unique global strong solution. Moreover, the solution converges to zero in Lipschitz norm as $t\rightarrow\infty$. To the best of our knowledge, this work constitutes the first global well-posedness result for the one-phase Muskat problem with surface tension. △ Less

Submitted 7 May, 2026; v1 submitted 7 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: 40 pages; v3. added references and fixed some typo

MSC Class: 35R35; 35Q35; 35D35; 76B03

High-Fidelity Transcranial Ultrasound Multi-focal Stimulation via Physics-Aware Hologram Technique

Authors: Moon Hwan Lee, Mohd. Afzal Khan, Akm Ashiquzzaman, Eunbin Lee, Jonghun Lee, Euiheon Chung, Hyuk-Sang Kwon, Jae Youn Hwang

Abstract: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) offers non-invasive deep-brain neuromodulation with high spatial precision, but reliably generating complex multi-target acoustic fields through the skull remains challenging. Here, we introduce a physics-aware hologram technique that directly generates fabrication-ready holographic implementations while preserving consistency between numerical field synth… ▽ More Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) offers non-invasive deep-brain neuromodulation with high spatial precision, but reliably generating complex multi-target acoustic fields through the skull remains challenging. Here, we introduce a physics-aware hologram technique that directly generates fabrication-ready holographic implementations while preserving consistency between numerical field synthesis and physical acoustic realization. The method enables single-, dual-, and tri-focal transcranial stimulation patterns and was validated through in silico simulations, ex vivo skull measurements, and in vivo experiments. Compared with representative state-of-the-art methods, the proposed approach improved focal reconstruction and energy confinement at intended targets while reducing off-target acoustic leakage. In a neuropathic-pain mouse model, simultaneous bilateral stimulation of thalamic nuclei reduced c-Fos expression and showed preliminary improvements in pain-related behavioral responses. These findings support the use of fabrication-consistent holographic design for spatially localized and reproducible multi-target transcranial neuromodulation. △ Less

Submitted 2 July, 2026; v1 submitted 24 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Comments: Accepted for publication in Brain Stimulation. This version incorporates revisions made during peer review

Nonlinear Electro-Optic Visible Photonic Circuits for Solid-State Quantum Defects

Authors: Yongchan Park, Yong Soo Lee, Hansol Kim, Jaepil Park, Junhyung Lee, Hye-yoon Jeon, Jinil Lee, Yong-gwon Kim, Yeeun Choi, Min-Kyo Seo, Dae-Hwan Ahn, Hojoong Jung, Dongyeon Daniel Kang, Hyounghan Kwon

Abstract: Integrated visible photonic engines for solid-state quantum defects provide a foundation for scalable quantum networks. While miniaturization is advancing, active manipulation remains limited by the difficulty of achieving simultaneous milliwatt-scale visible light generation and high-contrast modulation. Despite extensive efforts, the concurrent chip-scale realization of nonlinear frequency conve… ▽ More Integrated visible photonic engines for solid-state quantum defects provide a foundation for scalable quantum networks. While miniaturization is advancing, active manipulation remains limited by the difficulty of achieving simultaneous milliwatt-scale visible light generation and high-contrast modulation. Despite extensive efforts, the concurrent chip-scale realization of nonlinear frequency conversion and fast temporal gating for high-fidelity quantum control has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate a monolithic thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform integrating periodically poled frequency conversion with GHz-bandwidth electro-optic (EO) switching. The device delivers off-chip green-light power exceeding 1 mW with an extinction ratio (ER) of 42.2 dB, enabling coherent spin control and time-resolved lifetime measurements of individual nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond through nanosecond gating. System performance is validated through pulsed optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR), Rabi oscillations, and Ramsey interference, supported by time-tagged photon counting with nanosecond resolution. By unifying sufficient nonlinear light generation with high-speed active manipulation, this platform establishes a scalable framework for the realization of high-rate quantum communication nodes. △ Less

Submitted 23 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Shallow quantum circuit for generating extremely low-entangled approximate state designs

Authors: Wonjun Lee, Minki Hhan, Gil Young Cho, Hyukjoon Kwon

Abstract: Random quantum states have various applications in quantum information science. We discover a new ensemble of quantum states that serve as an $ε$-approximate state $t$-design while possessing extremely low entanglement, magic, and coherence. These resources can reach their theoretical lower bounds, $Ω(\log (t/ε))$, which are also proven in this work. This implies that for fixed $t$ and $ε$, entang… ▽ More Random quantum states have various applications in quantum information science. We discover a new ensemble of quantum states that serve as an $ε$-approximate state $t$-design while possessing extremely low entanglement, magic, and coherence. These resources can reach their theoretical lower bounds, $Ω(\log (t/ε))$, which are also proven in this work. This implies that for fixed $t$ and $ε$, entanglement, magic, and coherence do not scale with the system size, i.e., $O(1)$ with respect to the total number of qubits $n$. Moreover, we explicitly construct an ancilla-free shallow quantum circuit for generating such states by transforming $k$-qubit approximate state designs into $n$-qubit ones without increasing the support size. The depth of such a quantum circuit, $O(t [\log t]^3 \log n \log(1/ε))$, is the most efficient among existing algorithms without ancilla qubits. A class of quantum circuits proposed in our work offers reduced cost for classical simulation of random quantum states, leading to potential applications in quantum information processing. As a concrete example, we propose classical shadow tomography using an estimator with superpositions between only two states, from which almost all quantum states can be efficiently certified by requiring only $O(1)$ measurements and classical post-processing time. △ Less

Submitted 24 December, 2025; v1 submitted 23 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Comments: 7 pages, 2 figures, 1 table + 33-page supplementary information

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 150603 (2026)

Parallel-plate chambers as radiation-hard detectors for time-based beam diagnostics in carbon-ion radiotherapy

Authors: Na Hye Kwon, Sung Woon Choi, Soo Rim Han, Yongdo Yun, Min Cheol Han, Chae-Seon Hong, Ho Jin Kim, Ho Lee, Changhwan Kim, Do Won Kim, Woong Sub Koom, Jin Sung Kim, N. Carolino, L. Lopes, Dong Wook Kim, Paulo J. R. Fonte

Abstract: Accurate range verification of carbon ion beams is critical for the precision and safety of charged particle radiotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using a parallel-plate ionization chamber for real-time, time-based diagnostic monitoring of carbon ion beams. The chamber featured a 0.4 mm gas gap defined by metallic electrodes and was filled with carbon dioxide (CO$_2$), a non… ▽ More Accurate range verification of carbon ion beams is critical for the precision and safety of charged particle radiotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using a parallel-plate ionization chamber for real-time, time-based diagnostic monitoring of carbon ion beams. The chamber featured a 0.4 mm gas gap defined by metallic electrodes and was filled with carbon dioxide (CO$_2$), a non-polymerizing gas suitable for high-rate applications. Timing precision was assessed via self-correlation analysis, yielding a precision approaching one picosecond for one-second acquisitions under clinically relevant beam conditions. This level of timing accuracy translates to a water-equivalent range uncertainty of approximately 1 mm, which meets the recommended clinical tolerance for carbon ion therapy. Furthermore, the kinetic energy of the beam at the synchrotron extraction point was determined from the measured orbital period, with results consistently within 1 MeV/nucleon of the nominal energy. These findings demonstrate the potential of parallel-plate chambers for precise, real-time energy and range verification in clinical carbon ion beam quality assurance. △ Less

Submitted 16 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Comments: 14 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A

Integrated bright source of polarization-entangled photons using lithium niobate photonic chips

Authors: Changhyun Kim, Hansol Kim, Minho Choi, Junhyung Lee, Yongchan Park, Sunghyun Moon, Jinil Lee, Hyeon Hwang, Min-Kyo Seo, Yoon-Ho Kim, Yong-Su Kim, Hojoong Jung, Hyounghan Kwon

Abstract: Quantum photonics has rapidly advanced as a key area for developing quantum technologies by harnessing photons' inherent quantum characteristics, particularly entanglement. Generation of entangled photon pairs, known as Bell states, is crucial for quantum communications, precision sensing, and quantum computing. While bulk quantum optical setups have provided foundational progress, integrated quan… ▽ More Quantum photonics has rapidly advanced as a key area for developing quantum technologies by harnessing photons' inherent quantum characteristics, particularly entanglement. Generation of entangled photon pairs, known as Bell states, is crucial for quantum communications, precision sensing, and quantum computing. While bulk quantum optical setups have provided foundational progress, integrated quantum photonic platforms now offer superior scalability, efficiency, and integrative potential. In this study, we demonstrate a compact and bright source of polarization-entangled Bell state utilizing continuous-wave pumping on thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) integrated photonics. Our periodically poled lithium niobate device achieves on-chip brightness of photon pair generation rate of 508.5 MHz/mW, surpassing other integrated platforms including silicon photonics. This demonstration marks the first realization of polarization entanglement on TFLN platforms. Experimentally measured metrics confirm high-quality entangled photon pairs with a purity of 0.901, a concurrence of 0.9, and a fidelity of 0.944. We expect our compact quantum devices to have great potential for advancing quantum communication systems and photonic quantum technologies. △ Less

Submitted 30 June, 2025; originally announced June 2025.

Development of decay energy spectroscopy for radio impurity analysis

Authors: J. S. Chung, O. Gileva, C. Ha, J. A Jeon, H. B. Kim, H. L. Kim, Y. H. Kim, H. J. Kim, M. B Kim, D. H. Kwon, D. S. Leonard, D. Y. Lee, Y. C. Lee, H. S. Lim, K. R. Woo, J. Y. Yang

Abstract: We present the development of a decay energy spectroscopy (DES) method for the analysis of radioactive impurities using magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs). The DES system was designed to analyze radionuclides, such as Ra-226, Th-228, and their daughter nuclides, in materials like copper, commonly used in rare-event search experiments. We tested the DES system with a gold foil absorber measuring 20x… ▽ More We present the development of a decay energy spectroscopy (DES) method for the analysis of radioactive impurities using magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs). The DES system was designed to analyze radionuclides, such as Ra-226, Th-228, and their daughter nuclides, in materials like copper, commonly used in rare-event search experiments. We tested the DES system with a gold foil absorber measuring 20x20x0.05 mm^3, large enough to accommodate a significant drop of source solution. Using this large absorber and an MMC sensor, we conducted a long-term measurement over ten days of live time, requiring 11 ADR cooling cycles. The combined spectrum achieved an energy resolution of 45 keV FWHM, sufficient to identify most alpha and DES peaks of interest. Specific decay events from radionuclide contaminants in the absorber were identified. This experiment confirms the capability of the DES system to measure alpha decay chains of Ra-226 and Th-228, offering a promising method for radio-impurity evaluation in ultra-low background experiments. △ Less

Submitted 4 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

Comments: 5 pages, 5 figures

Noninvasive In vivo Estimation of HbA1c Based on Beer Lambert Model from Photoplethysmogram Using Only Two Wavelengths

Authors: Mrinmoy Sarker Turja, Tae Ho Kwon, Hyoungkeun Kim, Ki Doo Kim

Abstract: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is the most important factor in diabetes control. Since HbA1c reflects the average blood glucose level over the preceding three months, it is unaffected by the patient's activity level or diet before the test. Noninvasive HbA1c measurement reduces both the pain and complications associated with fingertip piercing to collect blood. Photoplethysmography is helpful for mea… ▽ More Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is the most important factor in diabetes control. Since HbA1c reflects the average blood glucose level over the preceding three months, it is unaffected by the patient's activity level or diet before the test. Noninvasive HbA1c measurement reduces both the pain and complications associated with fingertip piercing to collect blood. Photoplethysmography is helpful for measuring HbA1c without blood samples. Herein, only two wavelengths (615 and 525 nm) were used to estimate HbA1c noninvasively, where two different ratio calibrations were applied and performances were compared to a work that uses three wavelengths. For the fingertip type, the Pearson r values for HbA1c estimates are 0.896 and 0.905 considering ratio calibrations for blood vessel and whole finger models, respectively. Using another value (HbA1c) calibration in addition to ratio calibrations, we can improve this performance, such that the Pearson r values of HbA1c levels are 0.929 and 0.930 for blood vessel and whole finger models, respectively. In the previous study using three wavelengths, the Pearson r values were 0.916 and 0.959 for the blood-vessel and whole-finger models, respectively. Here, the RCF of SpO2 estimation is 0.986 when SpO2 ratio calibration is applied, while in the previous study, the RCF values of SpO2 estimation were 0.983 and 0.986 for the blood-vessel and whole finger models, respectively. Thus, we show that HbA1c estimation using only two wavelengths has comparable performance to previous studies. △ Less

Submitted 4 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

Comments: 17 pages, 8 figures

Report number: KMU-202006-HR-237

Journal ref: Applied Sciences 13, no. 6 (2023): 3626

Fabrication of a 3D mode size converter for efficient edge coupling in photonic integrated circuits

Authors: Hyeong-Soon Jang, Hyungjun Heo, Sangin Kim, Hyeon Hwang, Hansuek Lee, Min-Kyo Seo, Hyounghan Kwon, Sang-Wook Han, Hojoong Jung

Abstract: We demonstrate efficient edge couplers by fabricating a 3D mode size converter on a lithium niobate-on-insulator photonic platform. The 3D mode size converter is fabricated using an etching process that employs a Si external mask to provide height variation and adjust the width variation through tapering patterns via lithography. The measured edge coupling efficiency with a 3D mode size converter… ▽ More We demonstrate efficient edge couplers by fabricating a 3D mode size converter on a lithium niobate-on-insulator photonic platform. The 3D mode size converter is fabricated using an etching process that employs a Si external mask to provide height variation and adjust the width variation through tapering patterns via lithography. The measured edge coupling efficiency with a 3D mode size converter was approximately 1.16 dB/facet for the TE mode and approximately 0.71 dB/facet for the TM mode at a wavelength of 1550 nm. △ Less

Submitted 25 November, 2024; originally announced November 2024.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures

Copper-based disordered plasmonic system with dense nanoisland morphology

Authors: Tlek Tapani, Roman Krahne, Vincenzo Caligiuri, Andrea Griesi, Yurii P. Ivanov, Massimo Cuscuna, Gianluca Balestra, Haifeng Lin, Anastasiia Sapunova, Paolo Franceschini, Andrea Tognazzi, Costantino De Angelis, Giorgio Divitini, Hyunah Kwon, Peer Fischer, Nicolo Maccaferri, Denis Garoli

Abstract: Dry synthesis is a highly versatile method for the fabrication of nanoporous metal films, since it enables easy and reproducible deposition of single or multi-layer(s) of nanostructured materials that can find intriguing applications in plasmonics, photochemistry and photocatalysis, to name a few. Here, we extend the use of this methodology to the preparation of copper nanoislands that represent a… ▽ More Dry synthesis is a highly versatile method for the fabrication of nanoporous metal films, since it enables easy and reproducible deposition of single or multi-layer(s) of nanostructured materials that can find intriguing applications in plasmonics, photochemistry and photocatalysis, to name a few. Here, we extend the use of this methodology to the preparation of copper nanoislands that represent an affordable and versatile example of disordered plasmonic substrate. We perform detailed characterizations of the system using several techniques such as spectroscopic ellipsometry, cathodoluminescence, electron energy loss spectroscopy, ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy and second-harmonic generation with the aim to investigate the optical properties of these systems in an unprecedented systematic way. Our study represents the starting point for future applications of this new disordered plasmonic system ranging from sensing to photochemistry and photocatalysis. △ Less

Submitted 27 January, 2025; v1 submitted 2 November, 2024; originally announced November 2024.

Development of MMC-based lithium molybdate cryogenic calorimeters for AMoRE-II

Authors: A. Agrawal, V. V. Alenkov, P. Aryal, H. Bae, J. Beyer, B. Bhandari, R. S. Boiko, K. Boonin, O. Buzanov, C. R. Byeon, N. Chanthima, M. K. Cheoun, J. S. Choe, S. Choi, S. Choudhury, J. S. Chung, F. A. Danevich, M. Djamal, D. Drung, C. Enss, A. Fleischmann, A. M. Gangapshev, L. Gastaldo, Y. M. Gavrilyuk, A. M. Gezhaev , et al. (84 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The AMoRE collaboration searches for neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo using molybdate scintillating crystals via low temperature thermal calorimetric detection. The early phases of the experiment, AMoRE-pilot and AMoRE-I, have demonstrated competitive discovery potential. Presently, the AMoRE-II experiment, featuring a large detector array with about 90 kg of $^{100}$Mo isotope, is und… ▽ More The AMoRE collaboration searches for neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo using molybdate scintillating crystals via low temperature thermal calorimetric detection. The early phases of the experiment, AMoRE-pilot and AMoRE-I, have demonstrated competitive discovery potential. Presently, the AMoRE-II experiment, featuring a large detector array with about 90 kg of $^{100}$Mo isotope, is under construction. This paper discusses the baseline design and characterization of the lithium molybdate cryogenic calorimeters to be used in the AMoRE-II detector modules. The results from prototype setups that incorporate new housing structures and two different crystal masses (316 g and 517 - 521 g), operated at 10 mK temperature, show energy resolutions (FWHM) of 7.55 - 8.82 keV at the 2.615 MeV $^{208}$Tl $γ$ line, and effective light detection of 0.79 - 0.96 keV/MeV. The simultaneous heat and light detection enables clear separation of alpha particles with a discrimination power of 12.37 - 19.50 at the energy region around $^6$Li(n, $α$)$^3$H with Q-value = 4.785 MeV. Promising detector performances were demonstrated at temperatures as high as 30 mK, which relaxes the temperature constraints for operating the large AMoRE-II array. △ Less

Submitted 3 March, 2025; v1 submitted 16 July, 2024; originally announced July 2024.

Journal ref: Eur. Phys. J. C 85, 172 (2025)

Projected background and sensitivity of AMoRE-II

Authors: A. Agrawal, V. V. Alenkov, P. Aryal, J. Beyer, B. Bhandari, R. S. Boiko, K. Boonin, O. Buzanov, C. R. Byeon, N. Chanthima, M. K. Cheoun, J. S. Choe, Seonho Choi, S. Choudhury, J. S. Chung, F. A. Danevich, M. Djamal, D. Drung, C. Enss, A. Fleischmann, A. M. Gangapshev, L. Gastaldo, Y. M. Gavrilyuk, A. M. Gezhaev, O. Gileva , et al. (81 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: AMoRE-II aims to search for neutrinoless double beta decay with an array of 423 Li$_2$$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals operating in the cryogenic system as the main phase of the Advanced Molybdenum-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE). AMoRE has been planned to operate in three phases: AMoRE-pilot, AMoRE-I, and AMoRE-II. AMoRE-II is currently being installed at the Yemi Underground Laboratory, located ap… ▽ More AMoRE-II aims to search for neutrinoless double beta decay with an array of 423 Li$_2$$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals operating in the cryogenic system as the main phase of the Advanced Molybdenum-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE). AMoRE has been planned to operate in three phases: AMoRE-pilot, AMoRE-I, and AMoRE-II. AMoRE-II is currently being installed at the Yemi Underground Laboratory, located approximately 1000 meters deep in Jeongseon, Korea. The goal of AMoRE-II is to reach up to $T^{0νββ}_{1/2}$ $\sim$ 6 $\times$ 10$^{26}$ years, corresponding to an effective Majorana mass of 15 - 29 meV, covering all the inverted mass hierarchy regions. To achieve this, the background level of the experimental configurations and possible background sources of gamma and beta events should be well understood. We have intensively performed Monte Carlo simulations using the GEANT4 toolkit in all the experimental configurations with potential sources. We report the estimated background level that meets the 10$^{-4}$counts/(keV$\cdot$kg$\cdot$yr) requirement for AMoRE-II in the region of interest (ROI) and show the projected half-life sensitivity based on the simulation study. △ Less

Submitted 14 October, 2024; v1 submitted 13 June, 2024; originally announced June 2024.

Evaluation of the relativistic redshift in frequency standards at KRISS

Authors: Jisun Lee, Jay Hyoun Kwon, Chang Yong Park, Huidong Kim, In-Mook Choi, Jin Wan Chung, Won-Kyu Lee

Abstract: Relativistic redshift correction should be accurately considered in frequency comparisons between frequency standards. In this study, we evaluated the relativistic redshift at Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) using three different methods, depending on whether the approach was traditional or modern or whether the geopotential model was global or local. The results of the t… ▽ More Relativistic redshift correction should be accurately considered in frequency comparisons between frequency standards. In this study, we evaluated the relativistic redshift at Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) using three different methods, depending on whether the approach was traditional or modern or whether the geopotential model was global or local. The results of the three methods agreed well with one another, and the height of an Yb optical lattice clock (KRISS-Yb1) was determined to be 75.15 m with an uncertainty of 0.04 m with respect to the conventionally adopted equipotential surface W0(CGPM), the value of which is defined to be 62 636 856.0 m2/s2. Accordingly, the relativistic redshift of KRISS-Yb1 was evaluated to be 8.193(4)x10-15. These data are applicable to the frequency standards at KRISS, one of which regularly participates in the calibration of the International Atomic Time (TAI). △ Less

Submitted 10 January, 2024; originally announced January 2024.

Comments: accepted in Metrologia

Dry synthesis of bi-layer nanoporous metal films as plasmonic metamaterial

Authors: Vincenzo Caligiuri, Hyunah Kwon, Andrea Griesi, Yurii P. Ivanov, Andrea Schirato, Alessandro Alabastri, Massimo Cuscunà, Gianluca Balestra, Antonio De Luca, Tlek Tapani, Haifeng Lin, Nicolo Maccaferri, Roman Krahne, Giorgio Divitini, Peer Fischer, Denis Garoli

Abstract: Nanoporous metals are a class of nanostructured materials finding extensive applications in multiple fields thanks to their unique properties attributed to their high surface area and interconnected nanoscale ligaments. They can be pre-pared following different strategies, but the deposition of an arbitrary pure porous metal is still challenging. Recently, a dry synthesis of nanoporous films based… ▽ More Nanoporous metals are a class of nanostructured materials finding extensive applications in multiple fields thanks to their unique properties attributed to their high surface area and interconnected nanoscale ligaments. They can be pre-pared following different strategies, but the deposition of an arbitrary pure porous metal is still challenging. Recently, a dry synthesis of nanoporous films based on the plasma treat-ment of metal thin layers deposited by physical vapour deposition has been demonstrated, as a general route to form pure nanoporous films from a large set of metals. An interest-ing aspect related to this approach is the possibility to apply the same methodology to deposit the porous films as a multilayer. In this way, it is possible to explore the properties of different porous metals in close contact. As demonstrated in this paper, interesting plasmonic properties emerge in a nanoporous Au-Ag bi-layer. The versatility of the method coupled with the possibility to include many different metals, provides an opportunity to tailor their optical resonances and to exploit the chemical and mechanical properties of compo-nents, which is of great interest to applications ranging from sensing, to photochemistry and photocatalysis. △ Less

Submitted 27 December, 2023; v1 submitted 24 December, 2023; originally announced December 2023.

PhysRFANet: Physics-Guided Neural Network for Real-Time Prediction of Thermal Effect During Radiofrequency Ablation Treatment

Authors: Minwoo Shin, Minjee Seo, Seonaeng Cho, Juil Park, Joon Ho Kwon, Deukhee Lee, Kyungho Yoon

Abstract: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a widely used minimally invasive technique for ablating solid tumors. Achieving precise personalized treatment necessitates feedback information on in situ thermal effects induced by the RFA procedure. While computer simulation facilitates the prediction of electrical and thermal phenomena associated with RFA, its practical implementation in clinical settings is hi… ▽ More Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a widely used minimally invasive technique for ablating solid tumors. Achieving precise personalized treatment necessitates feedback information on in situ thermal effects induced by the RFA procedure. While computer simulation facilitates the prediction of electrical and thermal phenomena associated with RFA, its practical implementation in clinical settings is hindered by high computational demands. In this paper, we propose a physics-guided neural network model, named PhysRFANet, to enable real-time prediction of thermal effect during RFA treatment. The networks, designed for predicting temperature distribution and the corresponding ablation lesion, were trained using biophysical computational models that integrated electrostatics, bio-heat transfer, and cell necrosis, alongside magnetic resonance (MR) images of breast cancer patients. Validation of the computational model was performed through experiments on ex vivo bovine liver tissue. Our model demonstrated a 96% Dice score in predicting the lesion volume and an RMSE of 0.4854 for temperature distribution when tested with foreseen tumor images. Notably, even with unforeseen images, it achieved a 93% Dice score for the ablation lesion and an RMSE of 0.6783 for temperature distribution. All networks were capable of inferring results within 10 ms. The presented technique, applied to optimize the placement of the electrode for a specific target region, holds significant promise in enhancing the safety and efficacy of RFA treatments. △ Less

Submitted 21 December, 2023; originally announced December 2023.

De novo Design of Polymer Electrolytes with High Conductivity using GPT-based and Diffusion-based Generative Models

Authors: Zhenze Yang, Weike Ye, Xiangyun Lei, Daniel Schweigert, Ha-Kyung Kwon, Arash Khajeh

Abstract: Solid polymer electrolytes hold significant promise as materials for next-generation batteries due to their superior safety performance, enhanced specific energy, and extended lifespans compared to liquid electrolytes. However, the material's low ionic conductivity impedes its commercialization, and the vast polymer space poses significant challenges for the screening and design. In this study, we… ▽ More Solid polymer electrolytes hold significant promise as materials for next-generation batteries due to their superior safety performance, enhanced specific energy, and extended lifespans compared to liquid electrolytes. However, the material's low ionic conductivity impedes its commercialization, and the vast polymer space poses significant challenges for the screening and design. In this study, we assess the capabilities of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for the de novo design of polymer electrolytes. To optimize the generation, we compare different deep learning architectures, including both GPT-based and diffusion-based models, and benchmark the results with hyperparameter tuning. We further employ various evaluation metrics and full-atom molecular dynamics simulations to assess the performance of different generative model architectures and to validate the top candidates produced by each model. Out of only 45 candidates being tested, we discovered 17 polymers that achieve superior ionic conductivity better than any other polymers in our database, with some of them doubling the conductivity value. In addition, by adopting a pretraining and fine-tuning methodology, we significantly improve the efficacy of our generative models, achieving quicker convergence, enhanced performance with limited data, and greater diversity. Using the proposed method, we can easily generate a large number of novel, diverse, and valid polymers, with a chance of synthesizability, enabling us to identify promising candidates with markedly improved efficiency. △ Less

Submitted 7 March, 2024; v1 submitted 11 December, 2023; originally announced December 2023.

A Self-Improvable Polymer Discovery Framework Based on Conditional Generative Model

Authors: Arash Khajeh, Xiangyun Lei, Weike Ye, Zhenze Yang, Daniel Schweigert, Ha-Kyung Kwon

Abstract: In this work, we introduce a polymer discovery platform to efficiently design polymers with tailored properties, exemplified by the discovery of high-performance polymer electrolytes. The platform integrates three core components: a conditioned generative model, a computational evaluation module, and a feedback mechanism, creating a self-improving system for material innovation. To demonstrate the… ▽ More In this work, we introduce a polymer discovery platform to efficiently design polymers with tailored properties, exemplified by the discovery of high-performance polymer electrolytes. The platform integrates three core components: a conditioned generative model, a computational evaluation module, and a feedback mechanism, creating a self-improving system for material innovation. To demonstrate the efficacy of this platform, it is used to design polymer electrolyte materials with high ionic conductivity. A simple conditional generative model, based on the minGPT architecture, can effectively generate candidate polymers that exhibit a mean ionic conductivity that is significantly greater than those in the original training set. This approach, coupled with molecular dynamics simulations (MD) for testing and a specifically planned acquisition mechanism, allows the platform to refine its output iteratively. Notably, after the first iteration, we observed an increase in both the mean and the lower bound of the ionic conductivity of the new polymer candidates. The platform's effectiveness is underscored by the identification of 14 polymer repeating units, each displaying a computed ionic conductivity surpassing that of Polyethylene Oxide (PEO). The performance of these polymers in MD simulations verifies the platform's efficacy in generating potential polymer candidate materials. Acknowledging current limitations, future work will focus on enhancing modeling techniques, evaluation processes, and acquisition strategies, aiming for broader applicability in polymer science and machine learning. △ Less

Submitted 15 July, 2024; v1 submitted 6 December, 2023; originally announced December 2023.

Interfacial-Water-Modulated Photoluminescence of Single-Layer WS$_2$ on Mica

Authors: Yanghee Kim, Haneul Kang, Myongin Song, Hyuksang Kwon, Sunmin Ryu

Abstract: Because of their bandgap tunability and strong light-matter interactions, two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are considered promising candidates for next-generation optoelectronic devices. However, their photophysical properties are greatly affected by environments because of their 2D nature. In this work, we report that the photoluminescence (PL) of single-layer WS$_2$ is substantially affected… ▽ More Because of their bandgap tunability and strong light-matter interactions, two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are considered promising candidates for next-generation optoelectronic devices. However, their photophysical properties are greatly affected by environments because of their 2D nature. In this work, we report that the photoluminescence (PL) of single-layer WS$_2$ is substantially affected by interfacial water that is inevitably present between itself and supporting mica substrates. Using PL spectroscopy and wide-field imaging, we show that the emission signals from A excitons and their negative trions decreased at distinctively different rates with increasing excitation power, which can be attributed to the more efficient annihilation between excitons than trions. By gas-controlled PL imaging, we also prove that interfacial water converts trions into excitons by depleting native negative charges through an oxygen reduction reaction, which renders excited WS$_2$ more susceptible to nonradiative decay via exciton-exciton annihilation. Understanding the roles of nanoscopic water in complex low-dimensional materials will eventually contribute to devising their novel functions and devices. △ Less

Submitted 8 February, 2023; originally announced February 2023.

Comments: 15 pages, 4 figures

Machine Learning-based Signal Quality Assessment for Cardiac Volume Monitoring in Electrical Impedance Tomography

Authors: Chang Min Hyun, Tae Jun Jang, Jeongchan Nam, Hyeuknam Kwon, Kiwan Jeon, Kyunghun Lee

Abstract: Owing to recent advances in thoracic electrical impedance tomography, a patient's hemodynamic function can be noninvasively and continuously estimated in real-time by surveilling a cardiac volume signal associated with stroke volume and cardiac output. In clinical applications, however, a cardiac volume signal is often of low quality, mainly because of the patient's deliberate movements or inevita… ▽ More Owing to recent advances in thoracic electrical impedance tomography, a patient's hemodynamic function can be noninvasively and continuously estimated in real-time by surveilling a cardiac volume signal associated with stroke volume and cardiac output. In clinical applications, however, a cardiac volume signal is often of low quality, mainly because of the patient's deliberate movements or inevitable motions during clinical interventions. This study aims to develop a signal quality indexing method that assesses the influence of motion artifacts on transient cardiac volume signals. The assessment is performed on each cardiac cycle to take advantage of the periodicity and regularity in cardiac volume changes. Time intervals are identified using the synchronized electrocardiography system. We apply divergent machine-learning methods, which can be sorted into discriminative-model and manifold-learning approaches. The use of machine-learning could be suitable for our real-time monitoring application that requires fast inference and automation as well as high accuracy. In the clinical environment, the proposed method can be utilized to provide immediate warnings so that clinicians can minimize confusion regarding patients' conditions, reduce clinical resource utilization, and improve the confidence level of the monitoring system. Numerous experiments using actual EIT data validate the capability of cardiac volume signals degraded by motion artifacts to be accurately and automatically assessed in real-time by machine learning. The best model achieved an accuracy of 0.95, positive and negative predictive values of 0.96 and 0.86, sensitivity of 0.98, specificity of 0.77, and AUC of 0.96. △ Less

Submitted 4 January, 2023; originally announced January 2023.

Informatics-Driven Selection of Polymers for Fuel-Cell Applications

Authors: Huan Tran, Kuan-Hsuan Shen, Shivank Shukla, Ha-Kyung Kwon, Rampi Ramprasad

Abstract: Modern fuel cell technologies use Nafion as the material of choice for the proton exchange membrane (PEM) and as the binding material (ionomer), used to assemble the catalyst layers of the anode and cathode. These applications demand high proton conductivity as well as other requirements. For example, PEM is expected to block electrons, oxygen, and hydrogen from penetrating and diffusing while the… ▽ More Modern fuel cell technologies use Nafion as the material of choice for the proton exchange membrane (PEM) and as the binding material (ionomer), used to assemble the catalyst layers of the anode and cathode. These applications demand high proton conductivity as well as other requirements. For example, PEM is expected to block electrons, oxygen, and hydrogen from penetrating and diffusing while the anode/cathode ionomer should allow hydrogen/oxygen to move easily, so that they can reach the catalyst nanoparticles. Given some of the well-known limits of Nafion, such as low glass-transition temperature, the community is in the midst of an active search for Nafion replacements. In this work, we present an informatics-based scheme to search large polymer chemical spaces, which includes establishing a list of properties needed for the targeted applications, developing predictive machine-learning models for these properties, defining a search space, and using the developed models to screen the search space. Using the scheme, we have identified 60 new polymer candidates for PEM, anode ionomer, and cathode ionomer that we hope will be advanced to the next step, i.e., validating the designs through synthesis and testing. The proposed informatics scheme is generic, and can be used to select polymers for multiple applications in the future. △ Less

Submitted 26 December, 2022; originally announced December 2022.

Comments: in press, JPCC

Journal ref: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 127, 977 (2023)

A hybrid quantum photonic interface for $^{171}$Yb solid-state qubits

Authors: Chun-Ju Wu, Daniel Riedel, Andrei Ruskuc, Ding Zhong, Hyounghan Kwon, Andrei Faraon

Abstract: $^{171}$Yb$^{3+}$ in YVO$_4$ is a promising candidate for building quantum networks with good optical addressability, excellent spin properties and a secondary nuclear-spin quantum register. However, the associated long optical lifetime necessitates coupling to optical resonators for faster emission of single photons and to facilitate control of single $^{171}$Yb ions. Previously, single $^{171}… ▽ More $^{171}$Yb$^{3+}$ in YVO$_4$ is a promising candidate for building quantum networks with good optical addressability, excellent spin properties and a secondary nuclear-spin quantum register. However, the associated long optical lifetime necessitates coupling to optical resonators for faster emission of single photons and to facilitate control of single $^{171}$Yb ions. Previously, single $^{171}$Yb ions were addressed by coupling them to monolithic photonic crystal cavities fabricated via lengthy focused ion beam milling. Here, we design and fabricate a hybrid platform based on ions coupled to the evanescently decaying field of a GaAs photonic crystal cavity. We experimentally detect and demonstrate coherent optical control of single $^{171}$Yb ions. For the most strongly coupled ions, we find a 64 fold reduction in lifetime. The results show a promising route towards a quantum network with $^{171}$Yb:YVO$_4$ using a highly scalable platform. △ Less

Submitted 4 December, 2022; originally announced December 2022.

Adaptive Basis Sets for Practical Quantum Computing

Authors: Hyuk-Yong Kwon, Gregory M. Curtin, Zachary Morrow, C. T. Kelley, Elena Jakubikova

Abstract: Electronic structure calculations on small systems such as H$_2$, H$_2$O, LiH, and BeH$_2$ with chemical accuracy are still a challenge for the current generation of the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. One of the reasons is that due to the device limitations, only minimal basis sets are commonly applied in quantum chemical calculations, which allow one to keep the number of qubits… ▽ More Electronic structure calculations on small systems such as H$_2$, H$_2$O, LiH, and BeH$_2$ with chemical accuracy are still a challenge for the current generation of the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. One of the reasons is that due to the device limitations, only minimal basis sets are commonly applied in quantum chemical calculations, which allow one to keep the number of qubits employed in the calculations at minimum. However, the use of minimal basis sets leads to very large errors in the computed molecular energies as well as potential energy surface shapes. One way to increase the accuracy of electronic structure calculations is through the development of small basis sets better suited for quantum computing. In this work, we show that the use of adaptive basis sets, in which exponents and contraction coefficients depend on molecular structure, provide an easy way to dramatically improve the accuracy of quantum chemical calculations without the need to increase the basis set size and thus the number of qubits utilized in quantum circuits. As a proof of principle, we optimize an adaptive minimal basis set for quantum computing calculations on an H$_2$ molecule, in which exponents and contraction coefficients depend on the H-H distance, and apply it to the generation of H$_2$ potential energy surface on IBM-Q quantum devices. The adaptive minimal basis set reaches the accuracy of the double-zeta basis sets, thus allowing one to perform double-zeta quality calculations on quantum devices without the need to utilize twice as many qubits in simulations. This approach can be extended to other molecular systems and larger basis sets in a straightforward manner. △ Less

Submitted 11 November, 2022; originally announced November 2022.

Comments: 31 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, and 75 references

Status and performance of the AMoRE-I experiment on neutrinoless double beta decay

Authors: H. B. Kim, D. H. Ha, E. J. Jeon, J. A. Jeon, H. S. Jo, C. S. Kang, W. G. Kang, H. S. Kim, S. C. Kim, S. G. Kim, S. K. Kim, S. R. Kim, W. T. Kim, Y. D. Kim, Y. H. Kim, D. H. Kwon, E. S. Lee, H. J. Lee, H. S. Lee, J. S. Lee, M. H. Lee, S. W. Lee, Y. C. Lee, D. S. Leonard, H. S. Lim , et al. (10 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: AMoRE is an international project to search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo using a detection technology consisting of magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs) and molybdenum-based scintillating crystals. Data collection has begun for the current AMORE-I phase of the project, an upgrade from the previous pilot phase. AMoRE-I employs thirteen $^\mathrm{48depl.}$Ca$^{100}$MoO$_4$ cryst… ▽ More AMoRE is an international project to search for the neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo using a detection technology consisting of magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs) and molybdenum-based scintillating crystals. Data collection has begun for the current AMORE-I phase of the project, an upgrade from the previous pilot phase. AMoRE-I employs thirteen $^\mathrm{48depl.}$Ca$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals and five Li$_2$$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals for a total crystal mass of 6.2 kg. Each detector module contains a scintillating crystal with two MMC channels for heat and light detection. We report the present status of the experiment and the performance of the detector modules. △ Less

Submitted 5 November, 2022; originally announced November 2022.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures, published in Journal of Low Temperature Physics (2022)

A lab scale experiment for keV sterile neutrino search

Authors: Y. C. Lee, H. B. Kim, H. L. Kim, S. K. Kim, Y. H. Kim, D. H. Kwon, H. S. Lim, H. S. Park, K. R. Woo, Y. S. Yoon

Abstract: We developed a simple small-scale experiment to measure the beta decay spectrum of $^{3}$H. The aim of this research is to investigate the presence of sterile neutrinos in the keV region. Tritium nuclei were embedded in a 1$\times$1$\times$1 cm$^3$ LiF crystal from the $^6$Li(n,$α$)$^3$H reaction. The energy of the beta electrons absorbed in the LiF crystal was measured with a magnetic microcalori… ▽ More We developed a simple small-scale experiment to measure the beta decay spectrum of $^{3}$H. The aim of this research is to investigate the presence of sterile neutrinos in the keV region. Tritium nuclei were embedded in a 1$\times$1$\times$1 cm$^3$ LiF crystal from the $^6$Li(n,$α$)$^3$H reaction. The energy of the beta electrons absorbed in the LiF crystal was measured with a magnetic microcalorimeter at 40 mK. We report a new method of sample preparation, experiments, and analysis of $^3$H beta measurements. The spectrum of a 10-hour measurement agrees well with the expected spectrum of $^3$H beta decay. The analysis results indicate that this method can be used to search for keV-scale sterile neutrinos. △ Less

Submitted 21 October, 2022; v1 submitted 20 October, 2022; originally announced October 2022.

A cloud platform for automating and sharing analysis of raw simulation data from high throughput polymer molecular dynamics simulations

Authors: Tian Xie, Ha-Kyung Kwon, Daniel Schweigert, Sheng Gong, Arthur France-Lanord, Arash Khajeh, Emily Crabb, Michael Puzon, Chris Fajardo, Will Powelson, Yang Shao-Horn, Jeffrey C. Grossman

Abstract: Open material databases storing hundreds of thousands of material structures and their corresponding properties have become the cornerstone of modern computational materials science. Yet, the raw outputs of the simulations, such as the trajectories from molecular dynamics simulations and charge densities from density functional theory calculations, are generally not shared due to their huge size.… ▽ More Open material databases storing hundreds of thousands of material structures and their corresponding properties have become the cornerstone of modern computational materials science. Yet, the raw outputs of the simulations, such as the trajectories from molecular dynamics simulations and charge densities from density functional theory calculations, are generally not shared due to their huge size. In this work, we describe a cloud-based platform to facilitate the sharing of raw data and enable the fast post-processing in the cloud to extract new properties defined by the user. As an initial demonstration, our database currently includes 6286 molecular dynamics trajectories for amorphous polymer electrolytes and 5.7 terabytes of data. We create a public analysis library at https://github.com/TRI-AMDD/htp_md to extract multiple properties from the raw data, using both expert designed functions and machine learning models. The analysis is run automatically with computation in the cloud, and results then populate a database that can be accessed publicly. Our platform encourages users to contribute both new trajectory data and analysis functions via public interfaces. Newly analyzed properties will be incorporated into the database. Finally, we create a front-end user interface at https://www.htpmd.matr.io for browsing and visualization of our data. We envision the platform to be a new way of sharing raw data and new insights for the computational materials science community. △ Less

Submitted 2 August, 2022; originally announced August 2022.

Comments: 21 pages, 7 figures

Dispersive readout of a high-Q encapsulated micromechanical resonator

Authors: Nicholas E. Bousse, Stephen E. Kuenstner, James M. L. Miller, Hyun-Keun Kwon, Gabrielle D. Vukasin, John D. Teufel, Thomas W. Kenny

Abstract: Encapsulated bulk mode microresonators in the megahertz range are used in commercial timekeeping and sensing applications but their performance is limited by the current state of the art of readout methods. We demonstrate a readout using dispersive coupling between a high-Q encapsulated bulk mode micromechanical resonator and a lumped element microwave resonator that is implemented with commercial… ▽ More Encapsulated bulk mode microresonators in the megahertz range are used in commercial timekeeping and sensing applications but their performance is limited by the current state of the art of readout methods. We demonstrate a readout using dispersive coupling between a high-Q encapsulated bulk mode micromechanical resonator and a lumped element microwave resonator that is implemented with commercially available components and standard printed circuit board fabrication methods and operates at room temperature and pressure. A frequency domain measurement of the microwave readout system yields a displacement resolution of $522 \, \mathrm{fm/\sqrt{Hz}}$, which demonstrates an improvement over the state of the art of displacement measurement in bulk-mode encapsulated microresonators. This approach can be readily implemented in cryogenic measurements, allowing for future work characterizing the thermomechanical noise of encapsulated bulk mode resonators at cryogenic temperatures. △ Less

Submitted 21 August, 2022; v1 submitted 17 July, 2022; originally announced July 2022.

Journal ref: Appl. Phys. Lett. 121, 073503 (2022)

Instability and nonuniqueness for the $2d$ Euler equations in vorticity form, after M. Vishik

Authors: Dallas Albritton, Elia Brué, Maria Colombo, Camillo De Lellis, Vikram Giri, Maximilian Janisch, Hyunju Kwon

Abstract: In this expository work, we present Vishik's theorem on non-unique weak solutions to the two-dimensional Euler equations on the whole space, \[ \partial_t ω+ u \cdot \nabla ω= f \, , \quad u = \frac{1}{2π} \frac{x^\perp}{|x|^2} \ast ω\, , \] with initial vorticity $ω_0 \in L^1 \cap L^p$ and $f \in L^1_t (L^1 \cap L^p)_x$, $p < \infty$. His theorem demonstrates, in particular, the sharpness of th… ▽ More In this expository work, we present Vishik's theorem on non-unique weak solutions to the two-dimensional Euler equations on the whole space, \[ \partial_t ω+ u \cdot \nabla ω= f \, , \quad u = \frac{1}{2π} \frac{x^\perp}{|x|^2} \ast ω\, , \] with initial vorticity $ω_0 \in L^1 \cap L^p$ and $f \in L^1_t (L^1 \cap L^p)_x$, $p < \infty$. His theorem demonstrates, in particular, the sharpness of the Yudovich class. An important intermediate step is the rigorous construction of an unstable vortex, which is of independent physical and mathematical interest. We follow the strategy of Vishik but allow ourselves certain deviations in the proof and substantial deviations in our presentation, which emphasizes the underlying dynamical point of view. △ Less

Submitted 29 March, 2023; v1 submitted 9 December, 2021; originally announced December 2021.

Comments: v1-v3: See previous versions. v4: Final or near-final version, post-acceptance in Annals of Mathematics Studies. Added a new section containing a formal expansion for the unstable eigenfunctions. Corrected mistakes kindly pointed out by A. Kiselev

MSC Class: 35Q31; 35Q35

Towards maximally electromagnetically chiral scatterers at optical frequencies

Authors: X. Garcia Santiago, M. Hammerschmidt, J. Sachs, S. Burger, H. Kwon, M. Knöller, T. Arens, P. Fischer, I. Fernandez-Corbaton, C. Rockstuhl

Abstract: Designing objects with predefined optical properties is a task of fundamental importance for nanophotonics, and chirality is a prototypical example of such a property, with applications ranging from photochemistry to nonlinear photonics. A measure of electromagnetic chirality with a well-defined upper bound has recently been proposed. Here, we optimize the shape of silver helices at discrete frequ… ▽ More Designing objects with predefined optical properties is a task of fundamental importance for nanophotonics, and chirality is a prototypical example of such a property, with applications ranging from photochemistry to nonlinear photonics. A measure of electromagnetic chirality with a well-defined upper bound has recently been proposed. Here, we optimize the shape of silver helices at discrete frequencies ranging from the far infrared to the optical band. Gaussian process optimization, taking into account also shape derivative information of the helices scattering response, is used to maximize the electromagnetic chirality. We show that the theoretical designs achieve more than 90 percent of the upper bound of em-chirality for wavelenghts \SI{3}{\micro\meter} or larger, while their performance decreases towards the optical band. We fabricate and characterize helices for operation at \SI{800}{\nano\meter}, and identify some of the imperfections that affect the performance. Our work motivates further research both on the theoretical and fabrication sides to unlock potential applications of objects with large electromagnetic chirality at optical frequencies, such as helicity filtering glasses. We show that, at \SI{3}{\micro\meter}, a thin slab of randomly oriented helices can absorb 99 percent of the light of one helicity while absorbing only 9 percent of the opposite helicity. △ Less

Submitted 16 December, 2021; v1 submitted 8 December, 2021; originally announced December 2021.

Journal ref: ACS Photon. 9, 1954 (2022)

Three-year annual modulation search with COSINE-100

Authors: COSINE-100 Collaboration, :, G. Adhikari, E. Barbosa de Souza, N. Carlin, J. J. Choi, S. Choi, A. C. Ezeribe, L. E. França, C. Ha, I. S. Hahn, S. J. Hollick, E. J. Jeon, J. H. Jo, H. W. Joo, W. G. Kang, M. Kauer, H. Kim, H. J. Kim, J. Kim, K. W. Kim, S. H. Kim, S. K. Kim, W. K. Kim, Y. D. Kim , et al. (34 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: COSINE-100 is a direct detection dark matter experiment that aims to test DAMA/LIBRA's claim of dark matter discovery by searching for a dark matter-induced annual modulation signal with NaI(Tl) detectors. We present new constraints on the annual modulation signal from a dataset with a 2.82 yr livetime utilizing an active mass of 61.3 kg, for a total exposure of 173 kg$\cdot$yr. This new result fe… ▽ More COSINE-100 is a direct detection dark matter experiment that aims to test DAMA/LIBRA's claim of dark matter discovery by searching for a dark matter-induced annual modulation signal with NaI(Tl) detectors. We present new constraints on the annual modulation signal from a dataset with a 2.82 yr livetime utilizing an active mass of 61.3 kg, for a total exposure of 173 kg$\cdot$yr. This new result features an improved event selection that allows for both lowering the energy threshold to 1 keV and a more precise time-dependent background model. In the 1-6 keV and 2-6 keV energy intervals, we observe best-fit values for the modulation amplitude of 0.0067$\pm$0.0042 and 0.0051$\pm$0.0047 counts/(day$\cdot$kg$\cdot$keV), respectively, with a phase fixed at 152.5 days. △ Less

Submitted 28 October, 2022; v1 submitted 16 November, 2021; originally announced November 2021.

Comments: 11 pages, 8 figures

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. D 106, 052005 (2022)

Highly stable, reactive and ultrapure nanoporous metallic films

Authors: Hyunah Kwon, Hannah-Noa Barad, Alex Ricardo Silva Olaya, Mariana Alarcon-Correa, Kersten Hahn, Gunther Richter, Gunther Wittstock, Peer Fischer

Abstract: Nanoporous metals possess unique properties attributed to their high surface area and interconnected nanoscale ligaments. They are mostly fabricated by wet synthetic methods involving solution-based dealloying processes whose purity is compromised by residual amounts of the less noble metal. Here, we demonstrate a novel dry synthesis method to produce nanoporous metals, which is based on the plasm… ▽ More Nanoporous metals possess unique properties attributed to their high surface area and interconnected nanoscale ligaments. They are mostly fabricated by wet synthetic methods involving solution-based dealloying processes whose purity is compromised by residual amounts of the less noble metal. Here, we demonstrate a novel dry synthesis method to produce nanoporous metals, which is based on the plasma treatment of metal nanoparticles formed by physical vapor deposition. Our approach is general and can be applied to many metals including non-noble ones. The resultant nanoporous metallic films are impurity-free and possess highly curved ligaments and nanopores. The metal films are remarkably robust with many catalytically active sites, which is highly promising for electrocatalytic applications. △ Less

Submitted 9 June, 2022; v1 submitted 10 November, 2021; originally announced November 2021.

Comments: 40 pages (including 13 pages of supplementary information), 5 figures, submitted

Simulation of large-area metasurfaces with a distributed transition matrix method

Authors: Jinhie Skarda, Rahul Trivedi, Logan Su, Diego Ahmad-Stein, Hyounghan Kwon, Seunghoon Han, Shanhui Fan, Jelena Vučković

Abstract: Inverse design of large-area metasurfaces can potentially exploit the full parameter space that such devices offer and achieve highly efficient multifunctional flat optical elements. However, since practically useful flat optics elements are large in the linear dimension, an accurate simulation of their scattering properties is challenging. Here, we demonstrate a method to compute accurate simulat… ▽ More Inverse design of large-area metasurfaces can potentially exploit the full parameter space that such devices offer and achieve highly efficient multifunctional flat optical elements. However, since practically useful flat optics elements are large in the linear dimension, an accurate simulation of their scattering properties is challenging. Here, we demonstrate a method to compute accurate simulations and gradients of large-area metasurfaces. Our approach relies on two key ingredients - a simulation distribution strategy that allows a linear reduction in the simulation time with number of compute (GPU) nodes and an efficient single-node computation using the Transition-matrix (T-matrix) method. We demonstrate ability to perform a distributed simulation of large-area, while accurately accounting for scatterer-scatterer interactions significantly beyond the locally periodic approximation, and efficiently compute gradients with respect to the metasurface design parameters. This scalable and accurate metasurface simulation method opens the door to gradient-based optimization of full large-area metasurfaces. △ Less

Submitted 21 February, 2022; v1 submitted 21 July, 2021; originally announced July 2021.

Comments: Paper revised to better highlight the novelty, which is in the low-overhead distribution method

Alpha backgrounds in the AMoRE-Pilot experiment

Authors: V. Alenkov, H. W. Bae, J. Beyer, R. S. Boiko, K. Boonin, O. Buzanov, N. Chanthima, M. K. Cheoun, S. H. Choi, F. A. Danevich, M. Djamal, D. Drung, C. Enss, A. Fleischmann, A. Gangapshev, L. Gastaldo, Yu. M. Gavriljuk, A. Gezhaev, V. D. Grigoryeva, V. Gurentsov, D. H. Ha, C. Ha, E. J. Ha, I. Hahn, E. J. Jeon , et al. (81 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Advanced Mo-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE)-Pilot experiment is an initial phase of the AMoRE search for neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo, with the purpose of investigating the level and sources of backgrounds. Searches for neutrinoless double beta decay generally require ultimately low backgrounds. Surface $α$ decays on the crystals themselves or nearby materials can deposit… ▽ More The Advanced Mo-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE)-Pilot experiment is an initial phase of the AMoRE search for neutrinoless double beta decay of $^{100}$Mo, with the purpose of investigating the level and sources of backgrounds. Searches for neutrinoless double beta decay generally require ultimately low backgrounds. Surface $α$ decays on the crystals themselves or nearby materials can deposit a continuum of energies that can be as high as the $Q$-value of the decay itself and may fall in the region of interest (ROI). To understand these background events, we studied backgrounds from radioactive contaminations internal to and on the surface of the crystals or nearby materials with Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulations. In this study, we report on the measured $α$ energy spectra fitted with the corresponding simulated spectra for six crystal detectors, where sources of background contributions could be identified through high energy $α$ peaks and continuum parts in the energy spectrum for both internal and surface contaminations. We determine the low-energy contributions from internal and surface $α$ contaminations by extrapolating from the $α$ background fitting model. △ Less

Submitted 5 December, 2022; v1 submitted 16 July, 2021; originally announced July 2021.

Field-gradient measurement using a Stern-Gerlach atomic interferometer with butterfly geometry

Authors: Changhun Oh, Hyukjoon Kwon, Liang Jiang, M. S. Kim

Abstract: Atomic interferometers have been studied as a promising device for precise sensing of external fields. Among various configurations, a particular configuration with a butterfly-shaped geometry has been designed to sensitively probe field gradients. We introduce a Stern-Gerlach (SG) butterfly interferometer by incorporating magnetic field in the conventional butterfly-shaped configuration. Atomic t… ▽ More Atomic interferometers have been studied as a promising device for precise sensing of external fields. Among various configurations, a particular configuration with a butterfly-shaped geometry has been designed to sensitively probe field gradients. We introduce a Stern-Gerlach (SG) butterfly interferometer by incorporating magnetic field in the conventional butterfly-shaped configuration. Atomic trajectories of the interferometer can be flexibly adjusted by controlling magnetic fields to increase the sensitivity of the interferometer, while the conventional butterfly interferometer using Raman transitions can be understood as a special case. We also show that the SG interferometer can keep high contrast against a misalignment in position and momentum caused by the field gradient. △ Less

Submitted 17 November, 2020; originally announced November 2020.

Comments: 9 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review A

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. A 102, 053321 (2020)

Phase change dynamics and 2-dimensional 4-bit memory in Ge2Sb2Te5 via telecom-band encoding

Authors: Gary A. Sevison, Shiva Farzinazar, Joshua A. Burrow, Christopher Perez, Heungdong Kwon, Jaeho Lee, Mehdi Asheghi, Kenneth E. Goodson, Andrew Sarangan, Joshua Hendrickson, Imad Agha

Abstract: As modern computing gets continuously pushed up against the von Neumann Bottleneck -- limiting the ultimate speeds for data transfer and computation -- new computing methods are needed in order to bypass this issue and keep our computer's evolution moving forward, such as hybrid computing with an optical co-processor, all-optical computing, or photonic neuromorphic computing. In any of these proto… ▽ More As modern computing gets continuously pushed up against the von Neumann Bottleneck -- limiting the ultimate speeds for data transfer and computation -- new computing methods are needed in order to bypass this issue and keep our computer's evolution moving forward, such as hybrid computing with an optical co-processor, all-optical computing, or photonic neuromorphic computing. In any of these protocols, we require an optical memory: either a multilevel/accumulator memory, or a computational memory. Here, we propose and demonstrate a 2-dimensional 4-bit fully optical non-volatile memory using Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) phase change materials, with encoding via a 1550 nm laser. Using the telecom-band laser, we are able to reach deeper into the material due to the low-loss nature of GST at this wavelength range, hence increasing the number of optical write/read levels compared to previous demonstrations, while simultaneously staying within acceptable read/write energies. We verify our design and experimental results via rigorous numerical simulations based on finite element and nucleation theory, and we successfully write and read a string of characters using direct hexadecimal encoding. △ Less

Submitted 7 October, 2019; originally announced November 2019.

Indirect but Efficient: Laser-Excited Electrons Can Drive Ultrafast Polarization Switching in Ferroelectric Materials

Authors: Chao Lian, Zulfikhar A. Ali, Hyuna Kwon, Bryan M. Wong

Abstract: To enhance the efficiency of next-generation ferroelectric (FE) electronic devices, new techniques for controlling ferroelectric polarization switching are required. While most prior studies have attempted to induce polarization switching via the excitation of phonons, these experimental techniques required intricate and expensive terahertz sources and have not been completely successful. Here, we… ▽ More To enhance the efficiency of next-generation ferroelectric (FE) electronic devices, new techniques for controlling ferroelectric polarization switching are required. While most prior studies have attempted to induce polarization switching via the excitation of phonons, these experimental techniques required intricate and expensive terahertz sources and have not been completely successful. Here, we propose a new mechanism for rapidly and efficiently switching the FE polarization via laser-tuning of the underlying dynamical potential energy surface. Using time-dependent density functional calculations, we observe an ultrafast switching of the FE polarization in BaTiO3 within 200 fs. A laser pulse can induce a charge density redistribution that reduces the original FE charge order. This excitation results in both desirable and highly directional ionic forces that are always opposite to the original FE displacements. Our new mechanism enables the reversible switching of the FE polarization with optical pulses that can be produced from existing 800 nm experimental laser sources. △ Less

Submitted 7 June, 2019; originally announced June 2019.

Journal ref: J. Phys. Chem. Lett.2019, 10, 3402

First Results from the AMoRE-Pilot neutrinoless double beta decay experiment

Authors: V. Alenkov, H. W. Bae, J. Beyer, R. S. Boiko, K. Boonin, O. Buzanov, N. Chanthima, M. K. Cheoun, D. M. Chernyak, J. S. Choe, S. Choi, F. A. Danevich, M. Djamal, D. Drung, C. Enss, A. Fleischmann, A. M. Gangapshev, L. Gastaldo, Yu. M. Gavriljuk, A. M. Gezhaev, V. D. Grigoryeva, V. I. Gurentsov, O. Gylova, C. Ha, D. H. Ha , et al. (84 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The Advanced Molybdenum-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE) aims to search for neutrinoless double beta decay (0$νββ$) of $^{100}$Mo with $\sim$100 kg of $^{100}$Mo-enriched molybdenum embedded in cryogenic detectors with a dual heat and light readout. At the current, pilot stage of the AMoRE project we employ six calcium molybdate crystals with a total mass of 1.9 kg, produced from $^{48}$Ca-de… ▽ More The Advanced Molybdenum-based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE) aims to search for neutrinoless double beta decay (0$νββ$) of $^{100}$Mo with $\sim$100 kg of $^{100}$Mo-enriched molybdenum embedded in cryogenic detectors with a dual heat and light readout. At the current, pilot stage of the AMoRE project we employ six calcium molybdate crystals with a total mass of 1.9 kg, produced from $^{48}$Ca-depleted calcium and $^{100}$Mo-enriched molybdenum ($^{48\textrm{depl}}$Ca$^{100}$MoO$_4$). The simultaneous detection of heat(phonon) and scintillation (photon) signals is realized with high resolution metallic magnetic calorimeter sensors that operate at milli-Kelvin temperatures. This stage of the project is carried out in the Yangyang underground laboratory at a depth of 700 m. We report first results from the AMoRE-Pilot $0νββ$ search with a 111 kg$\cdot$d live exposure of $^{48\textrm{depl}}$Ca$^{100}$MoO$_4$ crystals. No evidence for $0νββ$ decay of $^{100}$Mo is found, and a upper limit is set for the half-life of 0$νββ$ of $^{100}$Mo of $T^{0ν}_{1/2} > 9.5\times10^{22}$ y at 90% C.L.. This limit corresponds to an effective Majorana neutrino mass limit in the range $\langle m_{ββ}\rangle\le(1.2-2.1)$ eV. △ Less

Submitted 7 May, 2019; v1 submitted 22 March, 2019; originally announced March 2019.

High-index dielectric metasurfaces performing mathematical operations

Authors: Andrea Cordaro, Hoyeong Kwon, Dimitrios Sounas, A. Femius Koenderink, Andrea Alù, Albert Polman

Abstract: Image processing and edge detection are at the core of several newly emerging technologies, such as augmented reality, autonomous driving and more generally object recognition. Image processing is typically performed digitally using integrated electronic circuits and algorithms, implying fundamental size and speed limitations, as well as significant power needs. On the other hand, it can also be p… ▽ More Image processing and edge detection are at the core of several newly emerging technologies, such as augmented reality, autonomous driving and more generally object recognition. Image processing is typically performed digitally using integrated electronic circuits and algorithms, implying fundamental size and speed limitations, as well as significant power needs. On the other hand, it can also be performed in a low-power analog fashion using Fourier optics, requiring however bulky optical components. Here, we introduce dielectric metasurfaces that perform optical image edge detection in the analog domain using a subwavelength geometry that can be readily integrated with detectors. The metasurface is composed of a suitably engineered array of nanobeams designed to perform either 1st- or 2nd-order spatial differentiation. We experimentally demonstrate the 2nd-derivative operation on an input image, showing the potential of all-optical edge detection using a silicon metasurface geometry working at a numerical aperture as large as 0.35. △ Less

Submitted 20 March, 2019; originally announced March 2019.

Active Willis metamaterials for ultra-compact non-reciprocal linear acoustic devices

Authors: Yuxin Zhai, Hyung-Suk Kwon, Bogdan-Ioan Popa

Abstract: Willis materials are complex media characterized by four macroscopic material parameters, the conventional mass density, and bulk modulus and two additional Willis coupling terms, which have been shown to enable unsurpassed control over the propagation of mechanical waves. However, virtually all previous studies on Willis materials involved passive structures which have been shown to have limitati… ▽ More Willis materials are complex media characterized by four macroscopic material parameters, the conventional mass density, and bulk modulus and two additional Willis coupling terms, which have been shown to enable unsurpassed control over the propagation of mechanical waves. However, virtually all previous studies on Willis materials involved passive structures which have been shown to have limitations in terms of achievable Willis coupling terms. In this article, we show experimentally that linear active Willis metamaterials breaking these constraints enable highly non-reciprocal sound transport in very subwavelength structures, a feature unachievable through other methods. Furthermore, we present an experimental procedure to extract the effective material parameters expressed in terms of acoustic polarizabilities for media in which the Willis coupling terms are allowed to vary independently. The approach presented here will enable a new generation of Willis materials for enhanced sound control and improved acoustic imaging and signal processing. △ Less

Submitted 21 January, 2019; v1 submitted 9 January, 2019; originally announced January 2019.

Comments: 5 pages, 5 figures

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. B 99, 220301 (2019)

Compact Folded Metasurface Spectrometer

Authors: MohammadSadegh Faraji-Dana, Ehsan Arbabi, Amir Arbabi, Seyedeh Mahsa Kamali, Hyounghan Kwon, Andrei Faraon

Abstract: Recent advances in optical metasurfaces enable control of the wavefront, polarization and dispersion of optical waves beyond the capabilities of conventional diffractive optics. An optical design space that is poised to highly benefit from these developments is the folded optics architecture where light is confined between reflective surfaces and the wavefront is controlled at the reflective inter… ▽ More Recent advances in optical metasurfaces enable control of the wavefront, polarization and dispersion of optical waves beyond the capabilities of conventional diffractive optics. An optical design space that is poised to highly benefit from these developments is the folded optics architecture where light is confined between reflective surfaces and the wavefront is controlled at the reflective interfaces. In this manuscript we introduce the concept of folded metasurface optics by demonstrating a compact high resolution optical spectrometer made from a 1-mm-thick glass slab with a volume of 7 cubic millimeters. The spectrometer has a resolution of 1.2 nm, resolving more than 80 spectral points in a 100-nm bandwidth centered around 810 nm. The device is composed of three different reflective dielectric metasurfaces, all fabricated in a single lithographic step on one side of a transparent optical substrate, which simultaneously acts as the propagation space for light. An image sensor, parallel to the spectrometer substrate, can be directly integrated on top of it to achieve a compact mono- lithic device including all the active and passive components. Multiple spectrometers, with similar or different characteristics and operation bandwidths may also be integrated on the same chip and fabricated in a batch process, significantly reducing their costs and increas- ing their functionalities and integration potential. In addition, the folded metasystems design can be applied to many optical systems, such as optical signal processors, interferometers, hyperspectral imagers and computational optical systems, significantly reducing their sizes and increasing their mechanical robustness and potential for integration. △ Less

Submitted 28 July, 2018; originally announced July 2018.

Direct Visualization of Thermal Conductivity Suppression Due to Enhanced Phonon Scattering Near Individual Grain Boundaries

Authors: Aditya Sood, Ramez Cheaito, Tingyu Bai, Heungdong Kwon, Yekan Wang, Chao Li, Luke Yates, Thomas Bougher, Samuel Graham, Mehdi Asheghi, Mark Goorsky, Kenneth E. Goodson

Abstract: Understanding the impact of lattice imperfections on nanoscale thermal transport is crucial for diverse applications ranging from thermal management to energy conversion. Grain boundaries (GBs) are ubiquitous defects in polycrystalline materials, which scatter phonons and reduce thermal conductivity. Historically, their impact on heat conduction has been studied indirectly through spatially-averag… ▽ More Understanding the impact of lattice imperfections on nanoscale thermal transport is crucial for diverse applications ranging from thermal management to energy conversion. Grain boundaries (GBs) are ubiquitous defects in polycrystalline materials, which scatter phonons and reduce thermal conductivity. Historically, their impact on heat conduction has been studied indirectly through spatially-averaged measurements, that provide little information about phonon transport near a single GB. Here, using spatially-resolved time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) measurements in combination with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), we make localized measurements of thermal conductivity within few μm of individual GBs in boron-doped polycrystalline diamond. We observe strongly suppressed thermal transport near GBs, a reduction in conductivity from ~1000 W/m-K at the center of large grains to ~400 W/m-K in the immediate vicinity of GBs. Furthermore, we show that this reduction in conductivity is measured up to ~10 μm away from a GB. A theoretical model is proposed that captures the local reduction in phonon mean-free-paths due to strongly diffuse phonon scattering at the disordered grain boundaries. Our results provide a new framework for understanding phonon-defect interactions in nanomaterials, with implications for the use of high thermal conductivity polycrystalline materials as heat sinks in electronics thermal management. △ Less

Submitted 29 July, 2018; v1 submitted 11 April, 2018; originally announced April 2018.

Comments: This document is the unedited Author's version of a submitted work that was subsequently accepted for publication in Nano Letters, copyright American Chemical Society after peer review. To access the final edited and published work see this URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b00534. Version 2: Updates Supplementary Figs S1 and S3. The journal published version is correct

Journal ref: Nano Lett. 2018, 18 (6), pp 3466-3472

Generation of photoluminescent ultrashort carbon nanotubes through nanoscale exciton localization at sp3 -defect sites

Authors: Noémie Danné, Mijin Kim, Antoine Godin, Hyejin Kwon, Zhenghong Gao, Xiaojian Wu, Nicolai Hartmann, Stephen Doorn, Brahim Lounis, Yuhuang Wang, Laurent Cognet

Abstract: The intrinsic near-infrared photoluminescence observed in long single walled carbon nanotubes is systematically quenched in ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes (usCNTs, below 100 nm length) due to their short dimension as compared to the exciton diffusion length. It would however be key for number of applications to have such tiny nanostructure displaying photoluminescence emission to comple… ▽ More The intrinsic near-infrared photoluminescence observed in long single walled carbon nanotubes is systematically quenched in ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes (usCNTs, below 100 nm length) due to their short dimension as compared to the exciton diffusion length. It would however be key for number of applications to have such tiny nanostructure displaying photoluminescence emission to complement their unique physical, chemical and biological properties. Here we demonstrate that intense photoluminescence can be created in usCNTs (~40 nm length) upon incorporation of emissive sp3-defect sites in order to trap excitons. Using super-resolution imaging at <25 nm resolution, we directly reveal the localization of excitons at the defect sites on individual usCNTs. They are found preferentially localized at nanotube ends which can be separated by less than 40 nm and behave as independent emitters. The demonstration and control of bright near-infrared photoluminescence in usCNTs through exciton trapping opens the possibility to engineering tiny carbon nanotubes for applications in various domains of research including quantum optics and bioimaging. △ Less

Submitted 9 March, 2018; originally announced March 2018.

Nanoscale spectroscopic studies of two different physical origins of the tip-enhanced force: dipole and thermal

Authors: Junghoon Jahng, Sung Park, Will A. Morrison, Hyuksang Kwon, Derek Nowak, Eric O. Potma, Eun Seong Lee

Abstract: When light illuminates the junction formed between a sharp metal tip and a sample, different mechanisms can con-tribute to the measured photo-induced force simultaneously. Of particular interest are the instantaneous force be-tween the induced dipoles in the tip and in the sample and the force related to thermal heating of the junction. A key difference between these two force mechanisms is their… ▽ More When light illuminates the junction formed between a sharp metal tip and a sample, different mechanisms can con-tribute to the measured photo-induced force simultaneously. Of particular interest are the instantaneous force be-tween the induced dipoles in the tip and in the sample and the force related to thermal heating of the junction. A key difference between these two force mechanisms is their spectral behaviors. The magnitude of the thermal response follows a dissipative Lorentzian lineshape, which measures the heat exchange between light and matter, while the induced dipole response exhibits a dispersive spectrum and relates to the real part of the material polarizability. Be-cause the two interactions are sometimes comparable in magnitude, the origin of the nanoscale chemical selectivity in the recently developed photo-induced force microscopy (PiFM) is often unclear. Here, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally how light absorption followed by nanoscale thermal expansion generates a photo-induced force in PiFM. Furthermore, we explain how this thermal force can be distinguished from the induced dipole force by tuning the relaxation time of samples. Our analysis presented here helps the interpretation of nanoscale chemical measure-ments of heterogeneous materials and sheds light on the nature of light-matter coupling in van der Waals materials. △ Less

Submitted 7 March, 2018; v1 submitted 7 November, 2017; originally announced November 2017.

Comments: 17 pages, 10 figures

Graphene quantum dots prevent alpha-synucleinopathy in Parkinson's disease

Authors: Donghoon Kim, Je Min Yoo, Heehong Hwang, Junghee Lee, Su Hyun Lee, Seung Pil Yun, Myung Jin Park, MinJun Lee, Seulah Choi, Sang Ho Kwon, Saebom Lee, Seung-Hwan Kwon, Sangjune Kim, Yong Joo Park, Misaki Kinoshita, Young-Ho Lee, Seokmin Shin, Seung R. Paik, Sung Joong Lee, Seulki Lee, Byung Hee Hong, Han Seok Ko

Abstract: While the emerging evidence indicates that the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is strongly correlated to the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates, there has been no clinical success in anti-aggregation agents for the disease to date. Here we show that graphene quantum dots (GQDs) exhibit anti-amyloid activity via direct interaction with α-syn. Employing biophysical, biochemi… ▽ More While the emerging evidence indicates that the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is strongly correlated to the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates, there has been no clinical success in anti-aggregation agents for the disease to date. Here we show that graphene quantum dots (GQDs) exhibit anti-amyloid activity via direct interaction with α-syn. Employing biophysical, biochemical, and cell-based assays as well as molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we find that GQDs have notable potency in not only inhibiting fibrillization of α-syn but also disaggregating mature fibrils in a time-dependent manner. Remarkably, GQDs rescue neuronal death and synaptic loss, reduce Lewy body (LB)/Lewy neurite (LN) formation, ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunctions, and prevent neuron-to-neuron transmission of α-syn pathology induced by α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) in neurons. In addition, in vivo administration of GQDs protects against α-syn PFFs-induced loss of dopamine neurons, LB/LN pathology, and behavioural deficits through the penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The finding that GQDs function as an anti-aggregation agent provides a promising novel therapeutic target for the treatment of PD and related α-synucleinopathies. △ Less

Submitted 9 July, 2018; v1 submitted 17 October, 2017; originally announced October 2017.