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FESOM2-JAX v1.0: a differentiable shadow of the ocean-sea-ice model FESOM2, cast onto GPUs
Authors:
Nikolay V. Koldunov,
Sergey Danilov,
Suvarchal Cheedela,
Dmitry Sidorenko,
Sebastian Beyer,
Patrick Scholz,
Ivan Kuznetsov,
Jan Streffing,
Aleksei Koldunov,
Dmitrii Pantiukhin,
Svetlana N. Loza,
Thomas Jung
Abstract:
We present FESOM2-JAX, a Python re-implementation of the Finite-volumE Sea ice-Ocean Model (FESOM2) in JAX. The model retains the unstructured-mesh, cell-vertex finite-volume formulation of the original, runs unchanged from a laptop CPU to 256 GPUs, and is end-to-end differentiable. FESOM2-JAX is a code shadow of the Fortran model: a projection onto the Python ecosystem, translated with large lang…
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We present FESOM2-JAX, a Python re-implementation of the Finite-volumE Sea ice-Ocean Model (FESOM2) in JAX. The model retains the unstructured-mesh, cell-vertex finite-volume formulation of the original, runs unchanged from a laptop CPU to 256 GPUs, and is end-to-end differentiable. FESOM2-JAX is a code shadow of the Fortran model: a projection onto the Python ecosystem, translated with large language models and verified kernel by kernel against the original. It is built to lower the barrier to experimentation, from new numerics and parameterizations to gradient-based calibration and hybrid physics-machine-learning components, while remaining close enough to the original so that what is developed in the shadow can be transferred back. In a 1958-2019 hindcast at 1$^{\circ}$ equivalent resolution with identical physics and forcing, the mean states of the JAX and Fortran versions differ from each other by two orders of magnitude less than either differs from observations, and the two runs agree for six decades in global temperature, salinity, heat content, and sea ice. The complete 1$^{\circ}$ configuration fits on a single GPU, a node of four GH200 superchips integrates $\sim$113 simulated years per wall-clock day, and meshes of up to 7.4 million surface vertices ($\sim$5 km) scale to 128 GPUs. What limits the model is communication rather than arithmetic. What the shadow adds to the original is the gradient: a single reverse-mode pass through the full time loop returns the sensitivity of a model diagnostic to a parameter at every mesh vertex, verified against finite differences. To our knowledge, FESOM2-JAX is the first global ocean-sea-ice model of CMIP-class complexity written natively in a differentiable framework, and the first on an unstructured mesh.
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Submitted 2 August, 2026;
originally announced August 2026.
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Dynamics and geometry of the inner sub-parsec-scale jet in 3C 279 observed with the Event Horizon Telescope
Authors:
Hendrik Mueller,
Sebastiano D. von Fellenberg,
Ai-Ling Zeng,
Paul Tiede,
Thomas P. Krichbaum,
Roman Gold,
Tuomas Savolainen,
Jae-Young Kim,
Sijia Peng,
Teresa Toscano,
Michael Janssen,
Boris Georgiev,
Dhanya G. Nair,
Iniyan Natarajan,
Lindy Blackburn,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruiz,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Juan Carlos Algaba,
Rohan Ganesh Amanaganti,
Richard Anantua,
Eleni Antonopoulou,
Keiichi Asada,
Rebecca Azulay
, et al. (253 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The 2021 Event Horizon Telescope observations resolve the innermost jet region of the blazar 3C279 with unprecedented detail. The reconstructed images consistently reveal a compact core elongated nearly orthogonal to the large-scale jet axis. This rarely observed morphology recurs across multiple epochs and from 22-230 GHz and is therefore intrinsic rather than an imaging artifact. Geometric model…
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The 2021 Event Horizon Telescope observations resolve the innermost jet region of the blazar 3C279 with unprecedented detail. The reconstructed images consistently reveal a compact core elongated nearly orthogonal to the large-scale jet axis. This rarely observed morphology recurs across multiple epochs and from 22-230 GHz and is therefore intrinsic rather than an imaging artifact. Geometric model fitting identifies several components with apparent speeds up to 10c, requiring bulk Lorentz factors greater than 10.3 and constraining viewing angles to extremely small values (smaller than one degree). Rest-frame brightness temperatures are systematically low (between 10^9 and 10^10 K), consistent with optically thin emission at 230 GHz. These results suggest that the jet bends toward the observer on sub-parsec scales, producing strong relativistic beaming. Possible drivers of the observed jet bending and temporal evolution include the jet's interaction with the interstellar medium, kink or Kelvin--Helmholtz instabilities, magnetic reconnection near the horizon, or binary-induced precession. However, the current temporal coverage of VLBI data remains insufficient to distinguish between these mechanisms. Continued multifrequency VLBI monitoring will be essential to constraining the dynamics and geometry of the jet base in 3C279.
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Submitted 17 July, 2026;
originally announced July 2026.
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Evolution Fine-Tuning: Learning to Discover Across 371 Optimization Tasks
Authors:
Young-Jun Lee,
Seungone Kim,
Minki Kang,
Alistair Cheong Liang Chuen,
Zerui Chen,
Seungho Han,
Taehee Jung,
Dongyeop Kang
Abstract:
Would experience designing faster GPU kernels also help close in on a long-standing open mathematical conjecture? Large Language Models (LLMs) integrated into evolutionary search have recently produced state-of-the-art solutions on optimization tasks, including open mathematical conjectures, GPU kernel design, scientific law discovery, and combinatorial puzzles. To achieve this, prior work applied…
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Would experience designing faster GPU kernels also help close in on a long-standing open mathematical conjecture? Large Language Models (LLMs) integrated into evolutionary search have recently produced state-of-the-art solutions on optimization tasks, including open mathematical conjectures, GPU kernel design, scientific law discovery, and combinatorial puzzles. To achieve this, prior work applied search scaffolds to one target task at a time, so every new problem is approached from scratch and the experience accumulated during search is discarded once the model finishes its attempt. This leaves the capability of iteratively evolving a solution (e.g., knowing which part to mutate and how, deciding when to backtrack) entirely in the scaffold rather than in the model itself. Whether the model itself could acquire this capability and reuse it across different tasks has been largely unexamined. To address this, we introduce Evolution Fine-Tuning (EFT), a mid-training paradigm that teaches LLMs to evolve solutions across tasks by converting evolutionary search trajectories into supervision. We construct Finch Collection, a 156K-trajectory dataset spanning 10 domains and 371 optimization tasks, and fine-tune open-source LLMs from 2B to 9B parameters. Empirically, EFT confers cross-task generalization: across 22 held-out tasks, our models surpass their base counterparts by 10.22% on average. Furthermore, when paired with test-time RL, our model matches state-of-the-art performance on two circle-packing tasks and outperforms its base-model counterpart on the Erdős minimum-overlap problem. EFT thus serves as a "practice phase" for general-purpose discovery agents that do not solve new problems from scratch.
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Submitted 27 June, 2026;
originally announced June 2026.
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Broadband multiwavelength properties of the archetypal blazar 3C 279 during the 2017 Event Horizon Telescope campaign
Authors:
G. Principe,
J. C. Algaba,
E. Aviano,
W. Y. Cheong,
K. Hada,
D. Haggard,
A. Hahn,
S. G. Jorstad,
E. V. Kravchenko,
Y. Kovalev,
S. S. Lee,
M. Lisakov,
S. Markoff,
A. P. Marscher,
M. Sasada,
P. Voitsik,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruiz,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Richard Anantua,
Eleni Antonopoulou,
Keiichi Asada,
Rebecca Azulay,
Anne-Kathrin Baczko
, et al. (508 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The archetypal blazar 3C 279 hosts a prominent relativistic jet and exhibits strong broadband variability across the electromagnetic spectrum. In April 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observed 3C 279, alongside one of the most extensive quasi-simultaneous multiwavelength (MWL) campaigns ever conducted. With the aim of investigating the physical processes governing 3C 279, we analyzed indiv…
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The archetypal blazar 3C 279 hosts a prominent relativistic jet and exhibits strong broadband variability across the electromagnetic spectrum. In April 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observed 3C 279, alongside one of the most extensive quasi-simultaneous multiwavelength (MWL) campaigns ever conducted. With the aim of investigating the physical processes governing 3C 279, we analyzed individual observations and multiband light curves, and constructed a new quasi-simultaneous MWL spectrum. We also performed phenomenological modeling using the turbulent extreme multi-zone (TEMZ) model to constrain the fundamental physical properties of the source. The EHT observations reveal a clear flux increase in the innermost core between April 5 and 11, 2017. Over a broader timescale, radio measurements at longer wavelengths show concurrent enhancements in core flux and polarization around mid-April, coinciding with the ejection of a superluminal knot. Record UV-optical flares with strong polarization variability occurred in late March, followed by gamma-ray activity that declined before the end of the EHT observing period. During this interval, the source remained in a low X-ray state and showed no detectable VHE emission. The TEMZ modeling suggests that the broadband spectrum and variability of 3C 279 can be explained within a jet scenario in which turbulent plasma cells are compressed by a stationary conical shock. However, alternative interpretations, such as magnetic reconnection or a moving shock-in-jet event, remain plausible. This coordinated MWL campaign advances our understanding of the origin of jet and gamma-ray emission in 3C 279, while also providing a comprehensive publicly available dataset that will serve as a valuable reference for future studies.
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Submitted 24 June, 2026;
originally announced June 2026.
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Giant Nonequilibrium Fluctuations at a Reactive Surface
Authors:
Hyun Tae Jung,
Hyungjun Kim,
Alejandro L. Garcia,
Andrew J. Nonaka,
John B. Bell,
Ishan Srivastava,
Changho Kim
Abstract:
We investigate whether giant fluctuations in a gas can induce corresponding fluctuations on a reactive surface in contact with the gas. Numerical simulations of a minimal heterogeneous catalytic reactor demonstrate that such fluctuations indeed emerge on the surface, with spatial correlations extending over micrometer scales. These fluctuations originate from the dependence of the adsorption rate…
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We investigate whether giant fluctuations in a gas can induce corresponding fluctuations on a reactive surface in contact with the gas. Numerical simulations of a minimal heterogeneous catalytic reactor demonstrate that such fluctuations indeed emerge on the surface, with spatial correlations extending over micrometer scales. These fluctuations originate from the dependence of the adsorption rate on the reactant partial pressure. As a result, the surface-coverage structure factor mirrors that of the partial pressure, exhibiting similar enhancement and roll-off behavior across wave numbers.
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Submitted 17 June, 2026;
originally announced June 2026.
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CMIP-Forge: An Agentic System that Retrieves, Computes, and Self-Reviews Climate Science
Authors:
Dmitrii Pantiukhin,
Boris Shapkin,
Ivan Kuznetsov,
Thomas Jung,
Nikolay Koldunov
Abstract:
The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) has generated thousands of peer-reviewed publications documenting model configurations, evaluation procedures, emergent constraints, and projection uncertainties. As the community transitions toward CMIP7, efficiently extracting and operationalizing this unstructured knowledge alongside live data analysis represents a critical bottleneck. H…
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The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) has generated thousands of peer-reviewed publications documenting model configurations, evaluation procedures, emergent constraints, and projection uncertainties. As the community transitions toward CMIP7, efficiently extracting and operationalizing this unstructured knowledge alongside live data analysis represents a critical bottleneck. Here we present CMIP-Forge, a hybrid retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and autonomous analysis system that bridges the gap between scientific literature and Earth System Grid Federation (ESGF) data archives. The system pairs a curated corpus of 6,581 CMIP6-related open-access publications (101,828 indexed chunks) with an agentic pipeline in which a tool-augmented worker plans and executes Python workflows over live climate data, while a panel of independent reviewer models audits its methodology end to end. CMIP-Forge introduces a multi-layered Defense-in-Depth architecture that enforces physical and methodological invariants through executable mechanisms: Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) static analysis, audited scientific primitives, and an autonomous adversarial peer-review protocol. We demonstrate the system's capabilities through end-to-end autonomous research pipelines spanning atmospheric teleconnections, ocean dynamics, regional extremes, and global warming projections. An agentic analysis system grounded in peer-reviewed literature, constrained by automated code guardrails, and audited by an independent adversarial review loop can complete complex climate-research workflows autonomously. The same experiments expose concrete failure modes of the review loop (sycophantic regression, REVISE verdicts that are never resolved, and the submission of stub code for review), each diagnosable from the immutable telemetry and provenance record released with the article.
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Submitted 10 June, 2026;
originally announced June 2026.
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A Jet from a Nearly Dormant Black Hole
Authors:
Xiaopeng Cheng,
Hai Yang,
Jun Yang,
Xiaofeng Li,
Feng Yuan,
Rusen Lu,
Hyunwook Ro,
Bong Won Sohn,
Lulu Fan,
Yihang Zhang,
Wen Chen,
Niu Liu,
John E. Conway,
Taehyun Jung
Abstract:
Most galaxies host supermassive black holes (SMBHs) that remain weakly accreting or dormant for much of their lifetimes. At the lowest accretion rates, these systems may represent the transition between active nuclei and dormant black holes, but whether they can still launch collimated jets remains unclear. The nuclei in our Galaxy (\sgra) and M31 are key examples of this regime, although no clear…
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Most galaxies host supermassive black holes (SMBHs) that remain weakly accreting or dormant for much of their lifetimes. At the lowest accretion rates, these systems may represent the transition between active nuclei and dormant black holes, but whether they can still launch collimated jets remains unclear. The nuclei in our Galaxy (\sgra) and M31 are key examples of this regime, although no clear jet structure has yet been detected in either source. Here we report multi-frequency very long baseline interferometric observations of \Msixty\ (NGC~4649), a nearby elliptical galaxy hosting a nearly dormant SMBH with an Eddington ratio of $\sim10^{-8}$. We detect a compact two-sided jet with an unusually steep synchrotron spectrum, demonstrating that collimated outflows can persist even under nearly dormant accretion conditions. The apparent radio core exhibits an unprecedentedly steep frequency-dependent position shift toward the SMBH, locating the central engine only $\sim57\,μ$as, corresponding to a projected distance of $\sim10$ Schwarzschild radii, upstream of the 8.37-GHz core. The observed jet morphology and steep core-shift behaviour are reproduced by general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic and radiative-transfer simulations, indicating a magnetically dominated, non-equipartition jet-launching region that departs from the standard conical equipartition picture. These results provide direct observational evidence that jet production can survive near the dormant SMBHs and establish \Msixty\ as a unique laboratory for probing jet formation on event-horizon scales in the lowest-accretion SMBH regime.
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Submitted 10 June, 2026;
originally announced June 2026.
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An Ocean Model Ported by a Large Language Model: Experience and Lessons from FESOM2 (Fortran to C to C++/Kokkos)
Authors:
Nikolay V. Koldunov,
Suvarchal K. Cheedela,
Sergey Danilov,
Dmitry Sidorenko,
Sebastian Beyer,
Thomas Jung
Abstract:
Large language models (LLMs) can translate and modify source code, and have been shown to do so for codes of different complexity. Whether they can port a complete, production geophysical model to a different language without degrading its physics has not been established. We demonstrate that LLM-assisted code translation can preserve the physics of a complete production ocean model while moving i…
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Large language models (LLMs) can translate and modify source code, and have been shown to do so for codes of different complexity. Whether they can port a complete, production geophysical model to a different language without degrading its physics has not been established. We demonstrate that LLM-assisted code translation can preserve the physics of a complete production ocean model while moving it into a modern performance-portable form. We report our experience using an agentic LLM coding assistant, directed by domain experts, to port the FESOM2 unstructured mesh ocean--sea-ice model (about 74000 lines of core Fortran) first to C and then to C++/Kokkos for performance portability across CPUs and GPUs. We describe the practices that proved necessary, what worked and what did not, and the failure modes that we encountered. Three practices mattered most: translating in two stages that separate reproducing the numerics (Fortran to a clean C reference) from introducing parallelism (C to Kokkos); requiring a strictly literal translation in which the assistant was not permitted to ``improve'' the source; and validating each stage against an acceptance criterion suited to it.
The C port reproduces the original Fortran at the level of long-term simulation statistics over five years. The Kokkos port is bit-for-bit identical to the C reference on CPU and statistically close on GPU over multi-year runs. On eddy-rich meshes up to 7.4 million surface vertices a single A100 GPU node runs 1.6--3.7 times faster than a CPU node, reaching the 1-2 simulated-years-per-day required for production integrations. The result is more than a single GPU port: by following a clear validation procedure, an LLM moved a full Fortran ocean model into another language and onto accelerators while preserving its physics in a matter of weeks.
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Submitted 9 June, 2026;
originally announced June 2026.
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The Identity Trap in EEG Foundation Models: A Diagnostic Audit
Authors:
Jun-You Lin,
Ying Choon Wu,
Tzyy-Ping Jung
Abstract:
Objective. EEG foundation models (FMs) report strong accuracy on clinical resting-state EEG. However, high accuracy under subject-disjoint cross-validation remains ambiguous: it can reflect a genuine clinical biomarker, or subject-identity features that correlate with the label. We name this the Identity Trap and ask whether it can be diagnosed at the representation level before fine-tuning.
App…
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Objective. EEG foundation models (FMs) report strong accuracy on clinical resting-state EEG. However, high accuracy under subject-disjoint cross-validation remains ambiguous: it can reflect a genuine clinical biomarker, or subject-identity features that correlate with the label. We name this the Identity Trap and ask whether it can be diagnosed at the representation level before fine-tuning.
Approach. We propose FMScope, a frozen-representation protocol packaging five diagnostics: variance decomposition, subject-axis erasure, aperiodic 1/f ablation, layer-wise label probing, and within-subject direction consistency. We apply it to three pretrained FMs (LaBraM, CBraMod, REVE) across four datasets in a 2x2 layout: subject relation of label x presence of a consensus cross-subject EEG marker.
Main results. (i) The Identity Trap is universal: frozen subject-variance is 13-89x a random null in 12/12 pairs, rising in all 12 under fine-tuning (+10 to +63 pp). This dominance is a removable linear axis: erasing it improves label decoding where the label varies within subject (+6 to +12 pp in primary cells; +4 to +27 pp across external cohorts). (ii) Aperiodic 1/f is one subject carrier: removing it drops the subject probe by 9-19 pp on LaBraM and CBraMod. REVE saturates subject identity without measurable aperiodic dependence. (iii) Fine-tuning amplifies label-variance only in cells with a literature-established cross-subject marker.
Significance. The Identity Trap is a physically-grounded instance of shortcut learning: the preferred cue has a measurable physiological component, and subject-disjoint splitting alone cannot rule it out. FMScope separates gains reflecting a biological marker from those reflecting subject identity.
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Submitted 4 June, 2026;
originally announced June 2026.
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The Celestial Reference Frame at K Band: The CRF-K-2025 Catalog
Authors:
David Gordon,
Aletha de Witt,
Christopher S. Jacobs,
Hana Krasna,
Alessandra Bertarini,
Jamie McCallum,
Jonathan Quick,
Cristina Garcia-Miro,
Taehyun Jung,
Jeffrey A. Hodgson,
Whee Yeon Cheong,
Sang-Sung Lee,
Do-Young Byun
Abstract:
We present an updated K band (24 GHz) celestial reference frame (CRF) constructed from 3.5 million Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations collected during 211 observing epochs between May 2002 and December 2025 using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the HARTRAO-HOBART26 baseline, the HARTRAO-YEBES40M baseline, and the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) augmented with several other VLBI s…
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We present an updated K band (24 GHz) celestial reference frame (CRF) constructed from 3.5 million Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations collected during 211 observing epochs between May 2002 and December 2025 using the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the HARTRAO-HOBART26 baseline, the HARTRAO-YEBES40M baseline, and the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) augmented with several other VLBI stations. We have successfully observed and determined precise angular coordinates for 1317 compact extragalactic radio sources, essentially quasars, covering the full sky. This updated K band catalog is designated as CRF-K-2025. The precision of CRF-K-2025 is characterized by median scaled uncertainties of 60 and 104 micro-arc-seconds in right ascension and declination, respectively. The increase in number of observations and sensitivity over earlier K band campaigns has resulted in a catalog with 493 additional sources and a precision approximately 25% better than the ICRF3-K catalog, and similar to the ICRF3-SX catalog. At K band, these quasar radio sources generally show less extended emission than at lower frequencies and thus can potentially provide a more stable long term celestial reference frame than at the standard S/X (2.3/8.4 GHz) observing bands of ICRF3-SX.
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Submitted 26 May, 2026;
originally announced May 2026.
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Full-polarization millimeter wavelength variability of Sagittarius A* during the 2018 EHT campaign
Authors:
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruiz,
Jasmin E. Washington,
Nicola Marchili,
Iván Martí-Vidal,
Ciriaco Goddi,
Maciek Wielgus,
Alejandro Mus,
Angelo Ricarte,
Daniel P. Marrone,
León D. S. Salas,
Yuhei Iwata,
Douglas F. Carlos,
Alexandra J. Tetarenko,
Kotaro Moriyama,
Vedant Dhruv,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Juan Carlos Algaba,
Richard Anantua,
Keiichi Asada,
Rebecca Azulay,
Uwe Bach,
Anne-Kathrin Baczko,
David Ball
, et al. (250 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Sagittarius A* (Srg A*), the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, provides a unique laboratory to study accretion dynamics and plasma processes near the event horizon. We investigated the variability and polarization properties of Srg A* using ALMA observations during the 2018 Event Horizon Telescope campaign. We analyzed high-cadence full-polarization light curves from ALMA at…
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Sagittarius A* (Srg A*), the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, provides a unique laboratory to study accretion dynamics and plasma processes near the event horizon. We investigated the variability and polarization properties of Srg A* using ALMA observations during the 2018 Event Horizon Telescope campaign. We analyzed high-cadence full-polarization light curves from ALMA at millimeter wavelengths, performed time-series analysis, and investigated the temporal behavior during an X-ray flare observed by Chandra on 2018 April 24. The variability characteristics are compared with expectations from standard accretion flow models. We find low variability in total intensity ($σ/μ< 10\%$), but significantly higher variability in linear and circular polarization (~ 30% and ~ 50%, respectively). A time-series analysis reveals red-noise variability, with power spectral densities between -2 and -3 across all Stokes parameters. Polarized intensity shows stable intra-day timescales, while total intensity exhibits more variable timescales, suggesting distinct emission regions, with polarization likely arising from a coherent structure. On April 24, a statistically significant inter-band delay in polarized intensity coincides with a near-simultaneous X-ray and millimeter peak that deviates from the typical delayed flare scenario. This event also features enhanced millimeter variability and coherent polarization loop evolution. The observed simultaneity challenges standard models of transient synchrotron emission with cooling delays, favoring instead a scenario of continuous energy injection in an optically thin region. Our results offer new constraints on the physical mechanisms driving variability in Srg A*, and provide key observational input for refining theoretical models of accretion and plasma behavior in the vicinity of supermassive black holes.
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Submitted 11 April, 2026;
originally announced April 2026.
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"Help Me, But Don't Track Me": Intervention Timing and Privacy Boundaries for Process-Aware AI Tutors
Authors:
Jane Hanqi Li,
Yuhong Zhang,
Jiaqi Liu,
Tzyy-Ping Jung,
Amy Eguchi
Abstract:
As generative AI (GenAI) tools are increasingly used as informal tutors for mathematics learning, future systems may become more proactive and process-aware in deciding when and how to offer support. Yet such support raises an important design tension: help that is timely may also feel interruptive or overly monitoring. To inform the design of process-aware AI tutors, we surveyed 330 secondary sch…
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As generative AI (GenAI) tools are increasingly used as informal tutors for mathematics learning, future systems may become more proactive and process-aware in deciding when and how to offer support. Yet such support raises an important design tension: help that is timely may also feel interruptive or overly monitoring. To inform the design of process-aware AI tutors, we surveyed 330 secondary school students in China (Grades 7--11) about their preferred tutoring behaviors, attitudes toward proactive intervention, and acceptable use of learning-process data. We found three design-relevant patterns. First, students preferred autonomy-preserving support, such as hints over direct answers. Second, they favored graduated proactive support over constant interruption, preferring small hints first and stronger assistance only as needed. Third, they drew clear privacy boundaries around learning-process data: students were comfortable with problem-solving steps and mistake patterns, but substantially less comfortable with attention- or behavior-related signals. Together, these findings offer early empirical guidance for designing AI tutors that balance timely support with learner agency, and personalization with perceived privacy boundaries in K-12 contexts.
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Submitted 2 May, 2026; v1 submitted 3 February, 2026;
originally announced April 2026.
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Bipartite Solution to the Lithium Problem
Authors:
Sougata Ganguly,
Tae Hyun Jung,
Tae-Sun Park,
Chang Sub Shin
Abstract:
The primordial lithium problem remains a persistent motivation for new-physics modifications of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, yet the precision of the observed deuterium abundance now places strong constraints on such attempts. This indicates that the challenge is not simply to reduce $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, but to realize the correlated shifts among light-element abundances required to do so without spoil…
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The primordial lithium problem remains a persistent motivation for new-physics modifications of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, yet the precision of the observed deuterium abundance now places strong constraints on such attempts. This indicates that the challenge is not simply to reduce $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$, but to realize the correlated shifts among light-element abundances required to do so without spoiling deuterium. We investigate this issue in a concrete two-step decay scenario involving two unstable particles undergoing sequential late decays. In the first stage, a majoron with lifetime $τ_J \sim 10\,\text{--}\,10^4\,\mathrm{sec}$ decays predominantly into neutrinos, increasing the neutron abundance and thereby reducing the primordial $^{7}\mathrm{Li}+\!{}^{7}\mathrm{Be}$ yield. This mechanism, however, simultaneously drives deuterium above the observationally allowed range. In the second stage, an axion-like particle with a longer lifetime $τ_φ\gtrsim 10^5\,\mathrm{sec}$ decays into photons, inducing late-time photodissociation that compensates the excess deuterium without erasing the earlier reduction of lithium, while further amplifying the depletion of $^{7}\mathrm{Li}+\!{}^{7}\mathrm{Be}$. Although the setup is model-dependent, it serves as an explicit proof of concept that the lithium abundance can be lowered consistently with current deuterium constraints. More broadly, our analysis highlights that a viable resolution may require a nontrivial combination of decay channels and decay epochs, and clarifies the pattern of abundance response that successful late-decay scenarios must achieve.
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Submitted 21 April, 2026; v1 submitted 1 April, 2026;
originally announced April 2026.
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Revisiting QCD-induced little inflation with chiral density wave state and its implications on pulsar timing array gravitational-wave signals
Authors:
Tae Hyun Jung,
Seyong Kim,
Jong-Wan Lee,
Chang Sub Shin,
Hee Beom Yang
Abstract:
We revisit QCD-induced little inflation in which the Universe starts with a large baryon chemical potential and undergoes a strong first-order QCD phase transition, generating an observable stochastic gravitational-wave background in the nano-Hz range relevant for pulsar timing array (PTA) observations. We point out that the conventional homogeneous transition from the quark-gluon plasma phase to…
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We revisit QCD-induced little inflation in which the Universe starts with a large baryon chemical potential and undergoes a strong first-order QCD phase transition, generating an observable stochastic gravitational-wave background in the nano-Hz range relevant for pulsar timing array (PTA) observations. We point out that the conventional homogeneous transition from the quark-gluon plasma phase to the hadronic gas phase faces an unavoidable difficulty in achieving the required strength of supercooling for the observed baryon density. This motivates us to explore whether a qualitatively different phase structure at a large baryon chemical potential can alter the relation between the baryon density and the chemical potential, and thereby modify the supercooling history of the transition. Using the nucleon-meson model with isoscalar vector mesons, we determine the critical and spinodal structure of the chiral density wave (CDW) phase in the $(μ_B, T)$ plane. We find that the CDW phase exhibits a nontrivial structure and can remain metastable down to a low baryon density in a certain region of the parameter space. Taking into account the subsequent liquid-gas transition and phase separation, however, the released latent heat is too small to realize a viable QCD-induced little inflation scenario and its associated PTA-scale gravitational-wave signal. Our analysis sharpens the conditions under which QCD phase transitions may act as cosmological sources of nano-Hz gravitational waves, while clarifying the possible cosmological relevance of inhomogeneous QCD phases.
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Submitted 31 March, 2026;
originally announced March 2026.
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A High-frequency Geodetic VLBI Experiment for Optical Clock Comparison
Authors:
Monia Negusini,
Myoung-Sun Heo,
Cecilia Clivati,
Shuangjing Xu,
Roberto Ricci,
Taehyun Jung,
Buseung Cho,
Matteo Stagni,
Claudio Bortolotti,
Giuseppe Maccaferri,
Federico Perini,
Mauro Roma,
Do-Young Byun,
Do-Heung Je,
Marco Pizzocaro,
Davide Calonico,
Elena Cantoni,
Giancarlo Cerretto,
Stefano Condio,
Giovanni A. Costanzo,
Simone Donadello,
Irene Goti,
Michele Gozzelino,
Alberto Mura,
Filippo Levi
, et al. (18 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
An intercontinental metrological clock comparison between Italy and the Republic of Korea was performed by means of geodetic K-band VLBI observations. The comparison involved the hydrogen masers (H-masers) used at Medicina and Sejong radio telescopes. The same clocks were simultaneously compared by a satellite link and by high-precision optical clocks maintained at the National Metrology Institute…
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An intercontinental metrological clock comparison between Italy and the Republic of Korea was performed by means of geodetic K-band VLBI observations. The comparison involved the hydrogen masers (H-masers) used at Medicina and Sejong radio telescopes. The same clocks were simultaneously compared by a satellite link and by high-precision optical clocks maintained at the National Metrology Institutes, KRISS in Korea and INRIM in Italy, and delivered to VLBI antennas via optical fiber. The H-masers frequency difference was estimated by extrapolating the clock rate from VLBI data using two geodetic VLBI software. This was subsequently compared with clock differences derived by satellite link and by local optical clocks. Results obtained with different approaches were in agreement at the level of $10^{-15}$ s/s. This pilot study demonstrates that standard high-frequency (K-band) geodetic VLBI campaigns could be a viable approach to conduct intercontinental clock comparisons, now only possible via satellite links. This uncertainty can be reduced thanks to the planned installation of new-generation, broadband, high-frequency receivers on the involved telescopes. K/Q/W-band geodetic observations will allow an improvement of the accuracy of the resulting group delays through broad bandwidth synthesis from 20 to 100 GHz. Furthermore, the Frequency Phase Transfer (FPT) method will also be explored together with the use of PCAL systems installed at the radio telescopes to improve phase stability and thus allow a better estimation of the station clock parameters.
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Submitted 24 March, 2026;
originally announced March 2026.
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A Unified Origin of Faraday Rotation toward 3C 84: The Circumnuclear Ambient Medium within the Parsec-Scale Bondi Radius of the Host Galaxy NGC 1275
Authors:
Minchul Kam,
Jongho Park,
Sascha Trippe,
Do-Young Byun,
Keiichi Asada,
Hiroshi Nagai,
Motoki Kino,
Luis Ho,
Andrew Fabian,
Jeffrey Hodgson,
Kunwoo Yi,
Kenji Toma,
Junghwan Oh,
Taehyun Jung
Abstract:
We present multi-frequency polarimetric observations of 3C 84 obtained with the Korean VLBI Network at 43-141 GHz, the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, and the High Sensitivity Array at 8 GHz from 2015 to 2024. We find that the Faraday rotation measure (RM) decreases systematically with distance from the black hole over 1-8 pc, following a single power-law trend of RM proportional to r^{-2.7+/-…
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We present multi-frequency polarimetric observations of 3C 84 obtained with the Korean VLBI Network at 43-141 GHz, the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, and the High Sensitivity Array at 8 GHz from 2015 to 2024. We find that the Faraday rotation measure (RM) decreases systematically with distance from the black hole over 1-8 pc, following a single power-law trend of RM proportional to r^{-2.7+/-0.2}. Notably, RM measurements from earlier studies across the same distance range follow the same relation. This consistency across epochs, frequencies, and independent datasets indicates a common and stable external Faraday screen. These results naturally identify the circumnuclear ambient medium within the parsec-scale Bondi radius of the host galaxy NGC 1275 as the origin of the Faraday rotation, thereby resolving a long-standing question about its physical origin. From the RM profile, we derive radial distributions of the electron density and magnetic-field strength in the circumnuclear ambient medium that are consistent with independent constraints. The derived density lies below that of the free-free absorption disk and, when extrapolated inward, remains below the density of the broad-line region. The magnetic-field strength gradually increases from 0.1-1.5 microgauss at the Bondi radius to milligauss-to-gauss levels toward the black hole, providing the first spatially resolved constraint on the magnetic-field strength at parsec-scale distances in an elliptical galaxy. Together, these results present a spatially resolved and physically consistent picture of the circumnuclear environment in NGC 1275.
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Submitted 17 March, 2026;
originally announced March 2026.
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A Hierarchical Multi-Agent System for Autonomous Discovery in Geoscientific Data Archives
Authors:
Dmitrii Pantiukhin,
Ivan Kuznetsov,
Boris Shapkin,
Antonia Anna Jost,
Thomas Jung,
Nikolay Koldunov
Abstract:
The rapid accumulation of Earth science data has created a significant scalability challenge; while repositories like PANGAEA host vast collections of datasets, citation metrics indicate that a substantial portion remains underutilized, limiting data reusability. Here we present PANGAEA-GPT, a hierarchical multi-agent framework designed for autonomous data discovery and analysis. Unlike standard L…
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The rapid accumulation of Earth science data has created a significant scalability challenge; while repositories like PANGAEA host vast collections of datasets, citation metrics indicate that a substantial portion remains underutilized, limiting data reusability. Here we present PANGAEA-GPT, a hierarchical multi-agent framework designed for autonomous data discovery and analysis. Unlike standard Large Language Model (LLM) wrappers, our architecture implements a centralized Supervisor-Worker topology with strict data-type-aware routing, sandboxed deterministic code execution, and self-correction via execution feedback, enabling agents to diagnose and resolve runtime errors. Through use-case scenarios spanning physical oceanography and ecology, we demonstrate the system's capacity to execute complex, multi-step workflows with minimal human intervention. This framework provides a methodology for querying and analyzing heterogeneous repository data through coordinated agent workflows.
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Submitted 24 February, 2026;
originally announced February 2026.
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Enhanced Accessibility for Mobile Indoor Navigation
Authors:
Johannes Wortmann,
Bernd Schäufele,
Konstantin Klipp,
Ilja Radusch,
Katharina Blaß,
Thomas Jung
Abstract:
The navigation of indoor spaces poses difficult challenges for individuals with visual impairments, as it requires processing of sensory information, dealing with uncertainties, and relying on assistance. To tackle these challenges, we present an indoor navigation app that places importance on accessibility for visually impaired users. Our approach involves a combination of user interviews and an…
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The navigation of indoor spaces poses difficult challenges for individuals with visual impairments, as it requires processing of sensory information, dealing with uncertainties, and relying on assistance. To tackle these challenges, we present an indoor navigation app that places importance on accessibility for visually impaired users. Our approach involves a combination of user interviews and an analysis of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. With this approach, we are able to gather invaluable insights and identify design requirements for the development of an indoor navigation app. Based on these insights, we develop an indoor navigation app that prioritizes accessibility, integrating enhanced features to meet the needs of visually impaired users. The usability of the app is being thoroughly evaluated through tests involving both visually impaired and sighted users. Initial feedback has been positive, with users appreciating the inclusive user interface and the usability with a wide range of accessibility tools and Android device settings.
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Submitted 29 January, 2026;
originally announced February 2026.
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Locating the missing large-scale emission in the jet of M87* with short EHT baselines
Authors:
Boris Georgiev,
Paul Tiede,
Sebastiano D. von Fellenberg,
Michael Janssen,
Iniyan Natarajan,
Lindy Blackburn,
Jongho Park,
Erandi Chavez,
Andrew T. West,
Kotaro Moriyama,
Jun Yi Koay,
Hendrik Müller,
Dhanya G. Nair,
Avery E. Broderick,
Maciek Wielgus,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruíz,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Juan Carlos Algaba,
Richard Anantua,
Keiichi Asada,
Rebecca Azulay,
Uwe Bach,
Anne-Kathrin Baczko
, et al. (258 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
In Very-Long Baseline Interferometric arrays, nearly co-located stations probe the largest scales and typically cannot resolve the observed source. In the absence of large-scale structure, closure phases constructed with these stations are zero and, since they are independent of station-based errors, they can be used to probe data issues. Here, we show with an expansion about co-located stations,…
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In Very-Long Baseline Interferometric arrays, nearly co-located stations probe the largest scales and typically cannot resolve the observed source. In the absence of large-scale structure, closure phases constructed with these stations are zero and, since they are independent of station-based errors, they can be used to probe data issues. Here, we show with an expansion about co-located stations, how these trivial closure phases become non-zero with brightness distribution on smaller scales than their short baseline would suggest. When applied to sources that are made up of a bright compact and large-scale diffuse component, the trivial closure phases directly measure the centroid relative to the compact source and higher-order image moments. We present a technique to measure these image moments with minimal model assumptions and validate it on synthetic Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) data. We then apply this technique to 2017 and 2018 EHT observations of M87* and find a weak preference for extended emission in the direction of the large-scale jet. We also apply it to 2021 EHT data and measure the source centroid about 1 mas northwest of the compact ring, consistent with the jet observed at lower frequencies.
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Submitted 19 January, 2026;
originally announced January 2026.
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Ring Asymmetry and Spin in M87*
Authors:
Vadim Bernshteyn,
Nicholas S. Conroy,
Michi Bauböck,
Paul Tiede,
Abhishek V. Joshi,
Ben S. Prather,
Charles F. Gammie,
the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration,
:,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruíz,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Juan Carlos Algaba,
Richard Anantua,
Keiichi Asada,
Rebecca Azulay,
Anne-Kathrin Baczko,
David Ball,
Bidisha Bandyopadhyay,
John Barrett,
Bradford A. Benson,
Dan Bintley,
Lindy Blackburn,
Raymond Blundell
, et al. (241 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) images of the supermassive black hole M87* depict an asymmetric ring of emission. General relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) models of M87* and its accretion disk predict that the amplitude and location of the ring's peak brightness asymmetry should fluctuate due to turbulence in the source plasma. We compare the observed distribution of brightness asymmetry amp…
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Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) images of the supermassive black hole M87* depict an asymmetric ring of emission. General relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) models of M87* and its accretion disk predict that the amplitude and location of the ring's peak brightness asymmetry should fluctuate due to turbulence in the source plasma. We compare the observed distribution of brightness asymmetry amplitudes to the simulated distribution in GRMHD models, across varying black hole spin $a_{*}$. We show that, for strongly magnetized (MAD) models, three epochs of EHT data marginally disfavor $|a_{*}| \lesssim 0.2$. This is consistent with the Blandford-Znajek model for M87's jet, which predicts that M87* should have nonzero spin. We show quantitatively how future observations could improve spin constraints, and discuss how improved spin constraints could distinguish between differing jet-launching mechanisms and black hole growth scenarios.
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Submitted 1 April, 2026; v1 submitted 1 January, 2026;
originally announced January 2026.
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A Technical Policy Blueprint for Trustworthy Decentralized AI
Authors:
Hasan Kassem,
Orion Banks,
Omar Benjelloun,
Sergen Cansiz,
Brandon Edwards,
Patrick Foley,
Inken Hagestedt,
Taeho Jung,
Peter Kairouz,
Marco Lorenzi,
Peter Mattson,
Prakash Moorthy,
Ann K Novakowski,
Michael O'Connor,
Bruno Rodrigues,
Holger Roth,
Micah Sheller,
Dimitris Stripelis,
Renato Umeton,
Marc Vesin,
Wenbin Zhang,
Mic Bowman,
Alexandros Karargyris
Abstract:
Decentralized AI systems, such as federated learning, can play a critical role in further unlocking AI asset marketplaces (e.g., healthcare data marketplaces) thanks to increased asset privacy protection. Unlocking this big potential necessitates governance mechanisms that are transparent, scalable, and verifiable. However current governance approaches rely on bespoke, infrastructure-specific poli…
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Decentralized AI systems, such as federated learning, can play a critical role in further unlocking AI asset marketplaces (e.g., healthcare data marketplaces) thanks to increased asset privacy protection. Unlocking this big potential necessitates governance mechanisms that are transparent, scalable, and verifiable. However current governance approaches rely on bespoke, infrastructure-specific policies that hinder asset interoperability and trust among systems. We are proposing a Technical Policy Blueprint that encodes governance requirements as policy-as-code objects and separates asset policy verification from asset policy enforcement. In this architecture the Policy Engine verifies evidence (e.g., identities, signatures, payments, trusted-hardware attestations) and issues capability packages. Asset Guardians (e.g. data guardians, model guardians, computation guardians, etc.) enforce access or execution solely based on these capability packages. This core concept of decoupling policy processing from capabilities enables governance to evolve without reconfiguring AI infrastructure, thus creating an approach that is transparent, auditable, and resilient to change.
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Submitted 25 May, 2026; v1 submitted 7 December, 2025;
originally announced December 2025.
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Probing jet base emission of M87* with the 2021 Event Horizon Telescope observations
Authors:
Saurabh,
Hendrik Müller,
Sebastiano D. von Fellenberg,
Paul Tiede,
Michael Janssen,
Lindy Blackburn,
Avery E. Broderick,
Erandi Chavez,
Boris Georgiev,
Thomas P. Krichbaum,
Kotaro Moriyama,
Dhanya G. Nair,
Iniyan Natarajan,
Jongho Park,
Andrew Thomas West,
Maciek Wielgus,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruíz,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Juan Carlos Algaba,
Richard Anantua,
Keiichi Asada,
Rebecca Azulay,
Uwe Bach
, et al. (260 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We investigate the presence and spatial characteristics of the jet base emission in M87* at 230 GHz, enabled by the enhanced uv coverage in the 2021 Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations. The addition of the 12-m Kitt Peak Telescope and NOEMA provides two key intermediate-length baselines to SMT and the IRAM 30-m, giving sensitivity to emission structures at scales of $\sim250~μ$as and…
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We investigate the presence and spatial characteristics of the jet base emission in M87* at 230 GHz, enabled by the enhanced uv coverage in the 2021 Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations. The addition of the 12-m Kitt Peak Telescope and NOEMA provides two key intermediate-length baselines to SMT and the IRAM 30-m, giving sensitivity to emission structures at scales of $\sim250~μ$as and $\sim2500~μ$as (0.02 pc and 0.2 pc). Without these baselines, earlier EHT observations lacked the capability to constrain emission on large scales, where a "missing flux" of order $\sim1$ Jy is expected. To probe these scales, we analyzed closure phases, robust against station-based gain errors, and modeled the jet base emission using a simple Gaussian offset from the compact ring emission at separations $>100~μ$as. Our analysis reveals a Gaussian feature centered at ($Δ$RA $\approx320~μ$as, $Δ$Dec $\approx60~μ$as), a projected separation of $\approx5500$ AU, with a flux density of only $\sim60$ mJy, implying that most of the missing flux in previous studies must arise from larger scales. Brighter emission at these scales is ruled out, and the data do not favor more complex models. This component aligns with the inferred direction of the large-scale jet and is consistent with emission from the jet base. While our findings indicate detectable jet base emission at 230 GHz, coverage from only two intermediate baselines limits reconstruction of its morphology. We therefore treat the recovered Gaussian as an upper limit on the jet base flux density. Future EHT observations with expanded intermediate-baseline coverage will be essential to constrain the structure and nature of this component.
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Submitted 1 December, 2025;
originally announced December 2025.
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Remote epitaxial frustration
Authors:
Taehwan Jung,
Nicholas Hagopian,
Anshu Sirohi,
Quinn Campbell,
Chengye Dong,
Zachary T. LaDuca,
Tamalika Samanta,
Joshua Robinson,
Paul M. Voyles,
Jason K. Kawasaki
Abstract:
Remote epitaxy relaxes the constraints of conventional epitaxy, to enable low defect density, chemically abrupt heterostructures and exfoliation of single crystalline membranes. However, definitive evidence for a true remote mechanism remains elusive because most experiments can be explained by alternative mechanism that are macroscopically indistinguishable from true remote epitaxy. Using GdAuGe…
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Remote epitaxy relaxes the constraints of conventional epitaxy, to enable low defect density, chemically abrupt heterostructures and exfoliation of single crystalline membranes. However, definitive evidence for a true remote mechanism remains elusive because most experiments can be explained by alternative mechanism that are macroscopically indistinguishable from true remote epitaxy. Using GdAuGe films grown on graphene/SiC (0001), we present two signatures that cannot be explained by the leading alternatives to the remote mechanism: (1) a few atomic layer thick disordered interlayer at the GdAuGe/graphene interface and (2) a $30\degree$ rotated epitaxial relationship between the GdAuGe film and the SiC substrate. Density functional theory calculations indicate these signatures arise from remote epitaxial \textit{frustration}, a competition amongst epitaxy to the remotely screened substrate, to graphene, and to the graphene-induced interfacial reconstruction. Tuning the amplitudes and periodicities of these competing potentials provides new opportunities to intentionally disrupt long-range order.
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Submitted 7 December, 2025;
originally announced December 2025.
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A Decentralized Retrieval Augmented Generation System with Source Reliabilities Secured on Blockchain
Authors:
Yining Lu,
Wenyi Tang,
Max Johnson,
Taeho Jung,
Meng Jiang
Abstract:
Existing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems typically use a centralized architecture, causing a high cost of data collection, integration, and management, as well as privacy concerns. There is a great need for a decentralized RAG system that enables foundation models to utilize information directly from data owners who maintain full control over their sources. However, decentralization b…
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Existing retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems typically use a centralized architecture, causing a high cost of data collection, integration, and management, as well as privacy concerns. There is a great need for a decentralized RAG system that enables foundation models to utilize information directly from data owners who maintain full control over their sources. However, decentralization brings a challenge: the numerous independent data sources vary significantly in reliability, which can diminish retrieval accuracy and response quality. To address this, our decentralized RAG system has a novel reliability scoring mechanism that dynamically evaluates each source based on the quality of responses it contributes to generate and prioritizes high-quality sources during retrieval. To ensure transparency and trust, the scoring process is securely managed through blockchain-based smart contracts, creating verifiable and tamper-proof reliability records without relying on a central authority. We evaluate our decentralized system with two Llama models (3B and 8B) in two simulated environments where six data sources have different levels of reliability. Our system achieves a +10.7\% performance improvement over its centralized counterpart in the real world-like unreliable data environments. Notably, it approaches the upper-bound performance of centralized systems under ideally reliable data environments. The decentralized infrastructure enables secure and trustworthy scoring management, achieving approximately 56\% marginal cost savings through batched update operations. Our code and system are open-sourced at github.com/yining610/Reliable-dRAG.
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Submitted 10 November, 2025;
originally announced November 2025.
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New Bounds on Heavy QCD Axions from Big Bang Nucleosynthesis
Authors:
Tae Hyun Jung,
Takemichi Okui,
Kohsaku Tobioka,
Jiabao Wang
Abstract:
We study Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) constraints on heavy QCD axions. BBN offers a powerful probe of new physics that modifies the neutron-to-proton ratio during the process, thanks to the precisely measured primordial Helium-4 abundance. A heavy QCD axion provides an attractive target for this probe, because not only is it a well-motivated hypothetical particle by the strong CP problem, but al…
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We study Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) constraints on heavy QCD axions. BBN offers a powerful probe of new physics that modifies the neutron-to-proton ratio during the process, thanks to the precisely measured primordial Helium-4 abundance. A heavy QCD axion provides an attractive target for this probe, because not only is it a well-motivated hypothetical particle by the strong CP problem, but also it dominantly decays to hadrons if kinematically allowed. A range of its lifetime is thus excluded where the hadronic decays would significantly alter the neutron-to-proton ratio. We compute axion-induced modification of the neutron-to-proton ratio, and obtain robust upper bounds on the axion lifetimes, as low as 0.017 s for the axion mass higher than 300 MeV. Remarkably, this is stronger than projected future CMB bounds via $N_{\rm eff}$. Our bounds are largely insensitive to uncertainties in hadronic cross sections and the axion's branching fractions into various hadrons, as well as to the precise value of the initial axion abundance. We also incorporate, for the first time, several key improvements, such as scattering processes by energetic $K_L$ and secondary hadrons, that can also be important for studying general hadronic injections during BBN, not limited to those from axion decays.
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Submitted 9 March, 2026; v1 submitted 27 October, 2025;
originally announced October 2025.
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Thermodynamically Consistent Incorporation of the Langmuir Adsorption Model into Compressible Fluctuating Hydrodynamics
Authors:
Hyun Tae Jung,
Hyungjun Kim,
Alejandro L. Garcia,
Andrew J. Nonaka,
John B. Bell,
Ishan Srivastava,
Changho Kim
Abstract:
For a gas-solid interfacial system where chemical species undergo reversible adsorption, we develop a mesoscopic stochastic modeling method that simulates both gas-phase hydrodynamics and surface coverage dynamics by coupling the Langmuir adsorption model with compressible fluctuating hydrodynamics. To this end, we derive a thermodynamically consistent mass-energy update scheme that accounts for h…
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For a gas-solid interfacial system where chemical species undergo reversible adsorption, we develop a mesoscopic stochastic modeling method that simulates both gas-phase hydrodynamics and surface coverage dynamics by coupling the Langmuir adsorption model with compressible fluctuating hydrodynamics. To this end, we derive a thermodynamically consistent mass-energy update scheme that accounts for how the mass and energy variables in the gas and surface subsystems should be updated according to the changes in the number of molecules of each species in each subsystem due to adsorption and desorption events. By performing a stochastic analysis for the ideal Langmuir model and the full hydrodynamic system, we analytically confirm that our mass-energy update scheme captures thermodynamic equilibrium predicted by equilibrium statistical mechanics. We find that an internal energy correction term is needed, which is attributed to the difference in the mean kinetic energy of gas molecules colliding with the surface from that computed from the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. By performing an equilibrium simulation study for an ideal gas mixture of CO and Ar with CO undergoing reversible adsorption, we validate our overall simulation method and implementation.
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Submitted 17 October, 2025;
originally announced October 2025.
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Ferroelectric amplitude switching and continuous memory
Authors:
Gye-Hyeon Kim,
Tae Hyun Jung,
Seungjoon Sun,
Jung Kyu Lee,
Jaewoo Han,
P. Karuna Kumari,
Jin-Hyun Choi,
Hansol Lee,
Tae Heon Kim,
Yoon Seok Oh,
Seung Chul Chae,
Se Young Park,
Sang Mo Yang,
Changhee Sohn
Abstract:
Although ferroelectric systems inherently exhibit binary switching behavior, recent advances in analog memory device have spurred growing interest in achieving continuous memory states. In this work, we demonstrate ferroelectric amplitude switching at the mesoscopic scale in compositionally graded Ba1-xSrxTiO3 heterostructures, enabling continuous modulation of polarization magnitude without alter…
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Although ferroelectric systems inherently exhibit binary switching behavior, recent advances in analog memory device have spurred growing interest in achieving continuous memory states. In this work, we demonstrate ferroelectric amplitude switching at the mesoscopic scale in compositionally graded Ba1-xSrxTiO3 heterostructures, enabling continuous modulation of polarization magnitude without altering its direction, which we defined as amplitude switching. Using switching current measurement, piezoresponse force microscopy and Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire simulations, we reveal that compositionally graded ferroelectric heterostructure can possess amplitude switching behavior through a double well potential with flattened minima. This behavior supports stable, continuous polarization states and establishes a new platform for analog memory applications. These findings introduce amplitude switching as a new dynamic of the order parameter, paving the way for energy-efficient and reliable analog memory systems.
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Submitted 16 October, 2025;
originally announced October 2025.
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Climate Knowledge in Large Language Models
Authors:
Ivan Kuznetsov,
Jacopo Grassi,
Dmitrii Pantiukhin,
Boris Shapkin,
Thomas Jung,
Nikolay Koldunov
Abstract:
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly deployed for climate-related applications, where understanding internal climatological knowledge is crucial for reliability and misinformation risk assessment. Despite growing adoption, the capacity of LLMs to recall climate normals from parametric knowledge remains largely uncharacterized. We investigate the capacity of contemporary LLMs to recall cli…
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Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly deployed for climate-related applications, where understanding internal climatological knowledge is crucial for reliability and misinformation risk assessment. Despite growing adoption, the capacity of LLMs to recall climate normals from parametric knowledge remains largely uncharacterized. We investigate the capacity of contemporary LLMs to recall climate normals without external retrieval, focusing on a prototypical query: mean July 2-m air temperature 1991-2020 at specified locations. We construct a global grid of queries at 1° resolution land points, providing coordinates and location descriptors, and validate responses against ERA5 reanalysis. Results show that LLMs encode non-trivial climate structure, capturing latitudinal and topographic patterns, with root-mean-square errors of 3-6 °C and biases of $\pm$1 °C. However, spatially coherent errors remain, particularly in mountains and high latitudes. Performance degrades sharply above 1500 m, where RMSE reaches 5-13 °C compared to 2-4 °C at lower elevations. We find that including geographic context (country, city, region) reduces errors by 27% on average, with larger models being most sensitive to location descriptors. While models capture the global mean magnitude of observed warming between 1950-1974 and 2000-2024, they fail to reproduce spatial patterns of temperature change, which directly relate to assessing climate change. This limitation highlights that while LLMs may capture present-day climate distributions, they struggle to represent the regional and local expression of long-term shifts in temperature essential for understanding climate dynamics. Our evaluation framework provides a reproducible benchmark for quantifying parametric climate knowledge in LLMs and complements existing climate communication assessments.
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Submitted 9 October, 2025;
originally announced October 2025.
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When Thoughts Meet Facts: Reusable Reasoning for Long-Context LMs
Authors:
Soyeong Jeong,
Taehee Jung,
Sung Ju Hwang,
Joo-Kyung Kim,
Dongyeop Kang
Abstract:
Recent Long-Context Language Models (LCLMs) can process hundreds of thousands of tokens in a single prompt, enabling new opportunities for knowledge-intensive multi-hop reasoning by integrating large sets of retrieved documents or, in some cases, directly all necessary information. However, simply feeding more documents into the context window fails to capture how evidence should be connected. We…
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Recent Long-Context Language Models (LCLMs) can process hundreds of thousands of tokens in a single prompt, enabling new opportunities for knowledge-intensive multi-hop reasoning by integrating large sets of retrieved documents or, in some cases, directly all necessary information. However, simply feeding more documents into the context window fails to capture how evidence should be connected. We address this gap with thought templates, which recast reasoning as reusable thought caches, derived from prior problem solving traces, structuring how evidence is combined and guiding multi-hop inference with factual documents. To keep these templates effective, we propose an update strategy that iteratively refines templates derived from training data through natural-language feedback. Across diverse benchmarks and LCLM families, our approach delivers consistent gains over strong baselines in both retrieval-based and retrieval-free settings. Furthermore, we show that optimized templates can be distilled into smaller open-source models, demonstrating its broad applicability and transparent reasoning reuse. We refer to our framework as Thought Template Augmented LCLMs (ToTAL).
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Submitted 28 April, 2026; v1 submitted 8 October, 2025;
originally announced October 2025.
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Analysis of an Architecture for Integrated Sensing and Communication in 5G OpenRAN
Authors:
Daniel Lindenschmitt,
Tobias Jung,
Prudhvi Kumar Kakani,
Torsten Reissland,
Norman Franchi,
Hans D. Schotten
Abstract:
This paper analyzes the functional requirements and architectural considerations for Integrated Sensing and Communication ( ISAC) in a 5G Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) environment, with emphasis on secure and modular deployment. Focusing on a mono-static, half-duplex sensing approach, it evaluates radar setup options, signal types, and processing placement within the Radio Access Network ( R…
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This paper analyzes the functional requirements and architectural considerations for Integrated Sensing and Communication ( ISAC) in a 5G Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) environment, with emphasis on secure and modular deployment. Focusing on a mono-static, half-duplex sensing approach, it evaluates radar setup options, signal types, and processing placement within the Radio Access Network ( RAN), considering performance and security implications. The proposed architecture minimizes hardware modifications by leveraging sniffer Radio Units (RU s) and existing OpenRAN fronthaul interfaces, while protecting sensitive In-phase and Quadrature (I/Q) data and control traffic against potential attacks. Security threats, such as passive sensing, spoofing, and privacy violations, are mapped to mitigation strategies within the OpenRAN framework. The result is a deployment blueprint applicable to both Public Land Mobile Networks ( PLMNs) and Non-Public Networks (NPNs), supporting future 6G ISAC capabilities in a standards-compliant manner.
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Submitted 21 September, 2025;
originally announced September 2025.
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IMU-Enhanced EEG Motion Artifact Removal with Fine-Tuned Large Brain Models
Authors:
Yuhong Zhang,
Xusheng Zhu,
Yuchen Xu,
ChiaEn Lu,
Hsinyu Shih,
Gert Cauwenberghs,
Tzyy-Ping Jung
Abstract:
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive method for measuring brain activity with high temporal resolution; however, EEG signals often exhibit low signal-to-noise ratios because of contamination from physiological and environmental artifacts. One of the major challenges hindering the real-world deployment of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) involves the frequent occurrence of motion-related…
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Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive method for measuring brain activity with high temporal resolution; however, EEG signals often exhibit low signal-to-noise ratios because of contamination from physiological and environmental artifacts. One of the major challenges hindering the real-world deployment of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) involves the frequent occurrence of motion-related EEG artifacts. Most prior studies on EEG motion artifact removal rely on single-modality approaches, such as Artifact Subspace Reconstruction (ASR) and Independent Component Analysis (ICA), without incorporating simultaneously recorded modalities like inertial measurement units (IMUs), which directly capture the extent and dynamics of motion. This work proposes a fine-tuned large brain model (LaBraM)-based correlation attention mapping method that leverages spatial channel relationships in IMU data to identify motion-related artifacts in EEG signals. The fine-tuned model contains approximately 9.2 million parameters and uses 5.9 hours of EEG and IMU recordings for training, just 0.2346\% of the 2500 hours used to train the base model. We compare our results against the established ASR-ICA benchmark across varying time scales and motion activities, showing that incorporating IMU reference signals significantly improves robustness under diverse motion scenarios.
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Submitted 31 August, 2025;
originally announced September 2025.
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Consistent $N_{\rm eff}$ fitting in big bang nucleosynthesis analysis
Authors:
Sougata Ganguly,
Tae Hyun Jung,
Seokhoon Yun
Abstract:
The effective number of neutrino species, $N_{\rm eff}$, serves as a key fitting parameter extensively employed in cosmological studies. In this work, we point out a fundamental inconsistency in the conventional treatment of $N_{\rm eff}$ in big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), particularly regarding its applicability to new physics scenarios where $ΔN_{\rm eff}$, the deviation of $N_{\rm eff}$ from th…
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The effective number of neutrino species, $N_{\rm eff}$, serves as a key fitting parameter extensively employed in cosmological studies. In this work, we point out a fundamental inconsistency in the conventional treatment of $N_{\rm eff}$ in big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN), particularly regarding its applicability to new physics scenarios where $ΔN_{\rm eff}$, the deviation of $N_{\rm eff}$ from the standard BBN prediction, is negative. To ensure consistent interpretation, it is imperative to either restrict the allowed range of $N_{\rm eff}$ or systematically adjust neutrino-induced reaction rates based on physically motivated assumptions. As a concrete example, we consider a simple scenario in which a negative $ΔN_{\rm eff}$ arises from entropy injection into the electromagnetic sector due to the decay of long-lived particles after neutrino decoupling. This process dilutes the neutrino density and suppresses the rate of neutrino-driven neutron-proton conversion. Under this assumption, we demonstrate that the resulting BBN constraints on $N_{\rm eff}$ deviate significantly from those obtained by the conventional, but unphysical, extrapolation of dark radiation scenarios into the $ΔN_{\rm eff} < 0$ regime.
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Submitted 23 April, 2026; v1 submitted 31 July, 2025;
originally announced July 2025.
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Graph Representations for Reading Comprehension Analysis using Large Language Model and Eye-Tracking Biomarker
Authors:
Yuhong Zhang,
Jialu Li,
Shilai Yang,
Yuchen Xu,
Gert Cauwenberghs,
Tzyy-Ping Jung
Abstract:
Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill in human cognitive development. With the advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs), there is a growing need to compare how humans and LLMs understand language across different contexts and apply this understanding to functional tasks such as inference, emotion interpretation, and information retrieval. Our previous work used LLMs and human biomarkers…
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Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill in human cognitive development. With the advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs), there is a growing need to compare how humans and LLMs understand language across different contexts and apply this understanding to functional tasks such as inference, emotion interpretation, and information retrieval. Our previous work used LLMs and human biomarkers to study the reading comprehension process. The results showed that the biomarkers corresponding to words with high and low relevance to the inference target, as labeled by the LLMs, exhibited distinct patterns, particularly when validated using eye-tracking data. However, focusing solely on individual words limited the depth of understanding, which made the conclusions somewhat simplistic despite their potential significance. This study used an LLM-based AI agent to group words from a reading passage into nodes and edges, forming a graph-based text representation based on semantic meaning and question-oriented prompts. We then compare the distribution of eye fixations on important nodes and edges. Our findings indicate that LLMs exhibit high consistency in language understanding at the level of graph topological structure. These results build on our previous findings and offer insights into effective human-AI co-learning strategies.
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Submitted 16 July, 2025;
originally announced July 2025.
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The Amazon Nova Family of Models: Technical Report and Model Card
Authors:
Amazon AGI,
Aaron Langford,
Aayush Shah,
Abhanshu Gupta,
Abhimanyu Bhatter,
Abhinav Goyal,
Abhinav Mathur,
Abhinav Mohanty,
Abhishek Kumar,
Abhishek Sethi,
Abi Komma,
Abner Pena,
Achin Jain,
Adam Kunysz,
Adam Opyrchal,
Adarsh Singh,
Aditya Rawal,
Adok Achar Budihal Prasad,
Adrià de Gispert,
Agnika Kumar,
Aishwarya Aryamane,
Ajay Nair,
Akilan M,
Akshaya Iyengar,
Akshaya Vishnu Kudlu Shanbhogue
, et al. (761 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We present Amazon Nova, a new generation of state-of-the-art foundation models that deliver frontier intelligence and industry-leading price performance. Amazon Nova Pro is a highly-capable multimodal model with the best combination of accuracy, speed, and cost for a wide range of tasks. Amazon Nova Lite is a low-cost multimodal model that is lightning fast for processing images, video, documents…
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We present Amazon Nova, a new generation of state-of-the-art foundation models that deliver frontier intelligence and industry-leading price performance. Amazon Nova Pro is a highly-capable multimodal model with the best combination of accuracy, speed, and cost for a wide range of tasks. Amazon Nova Lite is a low-cost multimodal model that is lightning fast for processing images, video, documents and text. Amazon Nova Micro is a text-only model that delivers our lowest-latency responses at very low cost. Amazon Nova Canvas is an image generation model that creates professional grade images with rich customization controls. Amazon Nova Reel is a video generation model offering high-quality outputs, customization, and motion control. Our models were built responsibly and with a commitment to customer trust, security, and reliability. We report benchmarking results for core capabilities, agentic performance, long context, functional adaptation, runtime performance, and human evaluation.
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Submitted 17 March, 2025;
originally announced June 2025.
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From Theory to Application: Fine-Tuning Large EEG Model with Real-World Stress Data
Authors:
Siwen Wang,
Shitou Zhang,
Wan-Lin Chen,
Dung Truong,
Tzyy-Ping Jung
Abstract:
Recent advancements in Large Language Models have inspired the development of foundation models across various domains. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of Large EEG Models (LEMs) by fine-tuning LaBraM, a state-of-the-art foundation EEG model, on a real-world stress classification dataset collected in a graduate classroom. Unlike previous studies that primarily evaluate LEMs using data from…
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Recent advancements in Large Language Models have inspired the development of foundation models across various domains. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of Large EEG Models (LEMs) by fine-tuning LaBraM, a state-of-the-art foundation EEG model, on a real-world stress classification dataset collected in a graduate classroom. Unlike previous studies that primarily evaluate LEMs using data from controlled clinical settings, our work assesses their applicability to real-world environments. We train a binary classifier that distinguishes between normal and elevated stress states using resting-state EEG data recorded from 18 graduate students during a class session. The best-performing fine-tuned model achieves a balanced accuracy of 90.47% with a 5-second window, significantly outperforming traditional stress classifiers in both accuracy and inference efficiency. We further evaluate the robustness of the fine-tuned LEM under random data shuffling and reduced channel counts. These results demonstrate the capability of LEMs to effectively process real-world EEG data and highlight their potential to revolutionize brain-computer interface applications by shifting the focus from model-centric to data-centric design.
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Submitted 28 May, 2025;
originally announced May 2025.
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Origin of the ring ellipticity in the black hole images of M87*
Authors:
Rohan Dahale,
Ilje Cho,
Kotaro Moriyama,
Kaj Wiik,
Paul Tiede,
José L. Gómez,
Chi-kwan Chan,
Roman Gold,
Vadim Y. Bernshteyn,
Marianna Foschi,
Britton Jeter,
Hung-Yi Pu,
Boris Georgiev,
Abhishek V. Joshi,
Alejandro Cruz-Osorio,
Iniyan Natarajan,
Avery E. Broderick,
León D. S. Salas,
Koushik Chatterjee,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruíz,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Juan Carlos Algaba,
Richard Anantua
, et al. (251 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We investigate the origin of the elliptical ring structure observed in the images of the supermassive black hole M87*, aiming to disentangle contributions from gravitational, astrophysical, and imaging effects. Leveraging the enhanced capabilities of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) 2018 array, including improved $(u,v)$-coverage from the Greenland Telescope, we measure the ring's ellipticity usi…
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We investigate the origin of the elliptical ring structure observed in the images of the supermassive black hole M87*, aiming to disentangle contributions from gravitational, astrophysical, and imaging effects. Leveraging the enhanced capabilities of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) 2018 array, including improved $(u,v)$-coverage from the Greenland Telescope, we measure the ring's ellipticity using five independent imaging methods, obtaining a consistent average value of $τ= 0.08_{-0.02}^{+0.03}$ with a position angle $ξ= 50.1_{-7.6}^{+6.2}$ degrees. To interpret this measurement, we compare against General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations spanning a wide range of physical parameters including thermal or non-thermal electron distribution function, spins, and ion-to-electron temperature ratios in both low and high-density regions. We find no statistically significant correlation between spin and ellipticity in GRMHD images. Instead, we identify a correlation between ellipticity and the fraction of non-ring emission, particularly in non-thermal models and models with higher jet emission. These results indicate that the ellipticity measured from the \m87 emission structure is consistent with that expected from simulations of turbulent accretion flows around black holes, where it is dominated by astrophysical effects rather than gravitational ones. Future high-resolution imaging, including space very long baseline interferometry and long-term monitoring, will be essential to isolate gravitational signatures from astrophysical effects.
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Submitted 15 May, 2025;
originally announced May 2025.
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Web3DB: Web 3.0 RDBMS for Individual Data Ownership
Authors:
Shankha Shubhra Mukherjee,
Wenyi Tang,
Gustavo Prado Fenzi Aniceto,
Jake Chandler,
WenZhan Song,
Taeho Jung
Abstract:
This paper introduces Web3DB, a decentralized relational database management system (RDBMS) designed to align with the principles of Web 3.0, addressing critical shortcomings of traditional centralized DBMS, such as data privacy, security vulnerabilities, and single points of failure. Several similar systems have been proposed, but they are not compatible with the legacy systems based on RDBMS. Mo…
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This paper introduces Web3DB, a decentralized relational database management system (RDBMS) designed to align with the principles of Web 3.0, addressing critical shortcomings of traditional centralized DBMS, such as data privacy, security vulnerabilities, and single points of failure. Several similar systems have been proposed, but they are not compatible with the legacy systems based on RDBMS. Motivated by the necessity for enhanced data sovereignty and the decentralization of data control, Web3DB leverages blockchain technology for fine-grained access control and utilizes decentralized data storage. This system leverages a novel, modular architecture that contributes to enhanced flexibility, scalability, and user-centric functionality. Central to the Web3DB innovation is its decentralized query execution, which uses cryptographic sortition and blockchain verification to ensure secure and fair query processing across network nodes. The motivation for integrating relational databases within decentralized DBMS primarily stems from the need to combine the robustness and ease of use of relational database structures with the benefits of decentralization. This paper outlines the architecture of Web3DB, its practical implementation, and the system's ability to support SQL-like operations on relational data, manage multi-tenancy, and facilitate open data sharing, setting new standards for decentralized databases in the Web 3.0 era.
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Submitted 3 April, 2025;
originally announced April 2025.
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First frequency phase transfer from the 3 mm to the 1 mm band on an Earth-sized baseline
Authors:
Sara Issaoun,
Dominic W. Pesce,
María J. Rioja,
Richard Dodson,
Lindy Blackburn,
Garrett K. Keating,
Sheperd S. Doeleman,
Bong Won Sohn,
Wu Jiang,
Dan Hoak,
Wei Yu,
Pablo Torne,
Ramprasad Rao,
Remo P. J. Tilanus,
Iván Martí-Vidal,
Taehyun Jung,
Garret Fitzpatrick,
Miguel Sánchez-Portal,
Salvador Sánchez,
Jonathan Weintroub,
Mark Gurwell,
Carsten Kramer,
Carlos Durán,
David John,
Juan L. Santaren
, et al. (11 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Frequency Phase Transfer (FPT) is a technique designed to increase coherence and sensitivity in radio interferometry by making use of the non-dispersive nature of the troposphere to calibrate high-frequency data using solutions derived at a lower frequency. While the Korean VLBI Network has pioneered the use of simultaneous multi-band systems for routine FPT up to an observing frequency of 130 GHz…
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Frequency Phase Transfer (FPT) is a technique designed to increase coherence and sensitivity in radio interferometry by making use of the non-dispersive nature of the troposphere to calibrate high-frequency data using solutions derived at a lower frequency. While the Korean VLBI Network has pioneered the use of simultaneous multi-band systems for routine FPT up to an observing frequency of 130 GHz, this technique remains largely untested in the (sub)millimeter regime. A recent effort has been made to outfit dual-band systems at (sub)millimeter observatories participating in the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and to test the feasibility and performance of FPT up to the observing frequencies of the EHT. We present the results of simultaneous dual-frequency observations conducted in January 2024 on an Earth-sized baseline between the IRAM 30-m in Spain and the JCMT and SMA in Hawai`i. We performed simultaneous observations at 86 and 215 GHz on the bright sources J0958+6533 and OJ287, with strong detections obtained at both frequencies. We observe a strong correlation between the interferometric phases at the two frequencies, matching the trend expected for atmospheric fluctuations and demonstrating for the first time the viability of FPT for VLBI at a wavelength of $\sim$1 millimeter. We show that the application of FPT systematically increases the 215 GHz coherence on all averaging timescales. In addition, the use of the co-located JCMT and SMA as a single dual-frequency station demonstrates the feasibility of paired-antenna FPT for VLBI for the first time, with implications for future array capabilities (e.g., ALMA sub-arraying and ngVLA calibration strategies).
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Submitted 25 February, 2025;
originally announced February 2025.
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Enhanced imaging of M87*: Simulations with the EHT and extended-KVN
Authors:
Ilje Cho,
Jongho Park,
Do-Young Byun,
Taehyun Jung,
Lindy Blackburn,
Freek Roelofs,
Andrew Chael,
Dominic W. Pesce,
Sheperd S. Doeleman,
Sara Issaoun,
Jae-Young Kim,
Junhan Kim,
Jose L. Gomez,
Keiichi Asada,
Bong Won Sohn,
Sang-Sung Lee,
Jongsoo Kim,
Sascha Trippe,
Aeree Chung
Abstract:
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has successfully revealed the shadow of the supermassive black hole, M87*, with an unprecedented angular resolution of approximately 20 uas at 230 GHz. However, because of limited short baseline lengths, the EHT has been constrained in its ability to recover larger scale jet structures. The extended Korean VLBI Network (eKVN) is committed to joining the EHT from 2…
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The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has successfully revealed the shadow of the supermassive black hole, M87*, with an unprecedented angular resolution of approximately 20 uas at 230 GHz. However, because of limited short baseline lengths, the EHT has been constrained in its ability to recover larger scale jet structures. The extended Korean VLBI Network (eKVN) is committed to joining the EHT from 2024 that can improve short baseline coverage. This study evaluates the impact of the participation of eKVN in the EHT on the recovery of the M87* jet. Synthetic data, derived from a simulated M87* model, were observed using both the EHT and the combined EHT+eKVN arrays, followed by image reconstructions from both configurations. The results indicate that the inclusion of eKVN significantly improves the recovery of jet structures by reducing residual noise. Furthermore, jackknife tests, in which one or two EHT telescopes were omitted - simulating potential data loss due to poor weather - demonstrate that eKVN effectively compensates for these missing telescopes, particularly in short baseline coverage. Multi-frequency synthesis imaging at 86-230 GHz shows that the EHT+eKVN array enhances the recovered spectral index distribution compared to the EHT alone and improves image reconstruction at each frequency over single-frequency imaging. As the EHT continues to expand its array configuration and observing capabilities to probe black hole physics more in depth, the integration of eKVN into the EHT will significantly enhance the stability of observational results and improve image fidelity. This advancement will be particularly valuable for future regular monitoring observations, where consistent data quality is essential.
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Submitted 20 January, 2025;
originally announced January 2025.
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The putative center in NGC 1052
Authors:
Anne-Kathrin Baczko,
Matthias Kadler,
Eduardo Ros,
Christian M. Fromm,
Maciek Wielgus,
Manel Perucho,
Thomas P. Krichbaum,
Mislav Baloković,
Lindy Blackburn,
Chi-kwan Chan,
Sara Issaoun,
Michael Janssen,
Luca Ricci,
Kazunori Akiyama,
Ezequiel Albentosa-Ruíz,
Antxon Alberdi,
Walter Alef,
Juan Carlos Algaba,
Richard Anantua,
Keiichi Asada,
Rebecca Azulay,
Uwe Bach,
David Ball,
Bidisha Bandyopadhyay,
John Barrett
, et al. (262 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
Many active galaxies harbor powerful relativistic jets, however, the detailed mechanisms of their formation and acceleration remain poorly understood. To investigate the area of jet acceleration and collimation with the highest available angular resolution, we study the innermost region of the bipolar jet in the nearby low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) galaxy NGC 1052. We combine…
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Many active galaxies harbor powerful relativistic jets, however, the detailed mechanisms of their formation and acceleration remain poorly understood. To investigate the area of jet acceleration and collimation with the highest available angular resolution, we study the innermost region of the bipolar jet in the nearby low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) galaxy NGC 1052. We combined observations of NGC 1052 taken with VLBA, GMVA, and EHT over one week in the spring of 2017. For the first time, NGC 1052 was detected with the EHT, providing a size of the central region in-between both jet bases of 250 RS (Schwarzschild radii) perpendicular to the jet axes. This size estimate supports previous studies of the jets expansion profile which suggest two breaks of the profile at around 300 RS and 10000 RS distances to the core. Furthermore, we estimated the magnetic field to be 1.25 Gauss at a distance of 22 μas from the central engine by fitting a synchrotron-self absorption spectrum to the innermost emission feature, which shows a spectral turn-over at about 130 GHz. Assuming a purely poloidal magnetic field, this implies an upper limit on the magnetic field strength at the event horizon of 26000 Gauss, which is consistent with previous measurements. The complex, low-brightness, double-sided jet structure in NGC 1052 makes it a challenge to detect the source at millimeter (mm) wavelengths. However, our first EHT observations have demonstrated that detection is possible up to at least 230 GHz. This study offers a glimpse through the dense surrounding torus and into the innermost central region, where the jets are formed. This has enabled us to finally resolve this region and provide improved constraints on its expansion and magnetic field strength.
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Submitted 15 January, 2025;
originally announced January 2025.
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Optical frequency comb integration in radio telescopes: advancing signal generation and phase calibration
Authors:
Minji Hyun,
Changmin Ahn,
Junyong Choi,
Jihoon Baek,
Woosong Jeong,
Do-Heung Je,
Do-Young Byun,
Jan Wagner,
Myoung-Sun Heo,
Taehyun Jung,
Jungwon Kim
Abstract:
Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) enables high-angular-resolution observations in astronomy and geodesy by synthesizing a virtual telescope with baselines spanning hundreds to thousands of kilometres. Achieving high instrumental phase stability in VLBI relies on the generation of high-quality, atomic-referenced RF local oscillator (LO) and RF-comb signals for the effective downconversion of…
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Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) enables high-angular-resolution observations in astronomy and geodesy by synthesizing a virtual telescope with baselines spanning hundreds to thousands of kilometres. Achieving high instrumental phase stability in VLBI relies on the generation of high-quality, atomic-referenced RF local oscillator (LO) and RF-comb signals for the effective downconversion of celestial RF signals and precise phase calibration, respectively. As observing frequencies move into higher ranges with wider bandwidth, conventional electronic methods face significant challenges in maintaining the quality of these signals. Here, we demonstrate that an optical frequency comb (OFC) can be used as a versatile tool to generate and distribute low-noise and atomic-referenced RF-comb and RF-LO signals in the VLBI telescope. Hydrogen maser-stabilized optical pulses are transmitted over a timing-stabilized fibre link from the observatory building to the VLBI receiver system at the telescope, where photodetection converts them into the required RF-comb and RF-LO signals. In VLBI test observation, we successfully detected VLBI fringes and extracted the RF-combs characteristics in a format suitable for VLBI instrumental phase calibration. These results highlight the high potential of OFC-based technology for enhancing next-generation broadband VLBI measurements, advancing astrophysical research and facilitating intercontinental clock comparison.
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Submitted 9 January, 2025;
originally announced January 2025.
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A multi-frequency study of sub-parsec jets with the Event Horizon Telescope
Authors:
Jan Röder,
Maciek Wielgus,
Andrei P. Lobanov,
Thomas P. Krichbaum,
Dhanya G. Nair,
Sang-Sung Lee,
Eduardo Ros,
Vincent L. Fish,
Lindy Blackburn,
Chi-kwan Chan,
Sara Issaoun,
Michael Janssen,
Michael D. Johnson,
Sheperd S. Doeleman,
Geoffrey C. Bower,
Geoffrey B. Crew,
Remo P. J. Tilanus,
Tuomas Savolainen,
C. M. Violette Impellizzeri,
Antxon Alberdi,
Anne-Kathrin Baczko,
José L. Gómez,
Ru-Sen Lu,
Georgios F. Paraschos,
Efthalia Traianou
, et al. (265 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The 2017 observing campaign of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) delivered the first very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images at the observing frequency of 230 GHz, leading to a number of unique studies on black holes and relativistic jets from active galactic nuclei (AGN). In total, eighteen sources were observed: the main science targets, Sgr A* and M87 along with various calibrators. We…
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The 2017 observing campaign of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) delivered the first very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images at the observing frequency of 230 GHz, leading to a number of unique studies on black holes and relativistic jets from active galactic nuclei (AGN). In total, eighteen sources were observed: the main science targets, Sgr A* and M87 along with various calibrators. We investigated the morphology of the sixteen AGN in the EHT 2017 data set, focusing on the properties of the VLBI cores: size, flux density, and brightness temperature. We studied their dependence on the observing frequency in order to compare it with the Blandford-Königl (BK) jet model. We modeled the source structure of seven AGN in the EHT 2017 data set using linearly polarized circular Gaussian components and collected results for the other nine AGN from dedicated EHT publications, complemented by lower frequency data in the 2-86 GHz range. Then, we studied the dependences of the VLBI core flux density, size, and brightness temperature on the frequency measured in the AGN host frame. We compared the observations with the BK jet model and estimated the magnetic field strength dependence on the distance from the central black hole. Our results indicate a deviation from the standard BK model, particularly in the decrease of the brightness temperature with the observing frequency. Either bulk acceleration of the jet material, energy transfer from the magnetic field to the particles, or both are required to explain the observations.
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Submitted 9 January, 2025;
originally announced January 2025.
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What happens when supercooling is terminated by curvature flipping of the effective potential?
Authors:
Tomasz P. Dutka,
Tae Hyun Jung,
Chang Sub Shin
Abstract:
We explore the nature of a certain type of supercooled phase transition, where the supercooling is guaranteed to end due to the curvature of the finite-temperature effective potential at the origin experiencing a sign flip at some temperature. In such models the potential barrier trapping the scalar field at the meta-stable origin is quickly vanishing at the temperature scale of the phase transiti…
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We explore the nature of a certain type of supercooled phase transition, where the supercooling is guaranteed to end due to the curvature of the finite-temperature effective potential at the origin experiencing a sign flip at some temperature. In such models the potential barrier trapping the scalar field at the meta-stable origin is quickly vanishing at the temperature scale of the phase transition. It is therefore not immediately clear if critical bubbles are able to form, or whether the field will simply transition over the barrier and smoothly roll down to the true minimum. To address this question, we perform lattice simulations of a scalar potential exhibiting supercooling, with a small barrier around the origin, and qualitatively determine the fate of the phase transition. Our simulations indicate that, owing to the required flatness of the potential, the scalar field remains trapped around the origin such that the phase transition generically proceeds via the nucleation and expansion of true-vacuum bubbles. We comment on the possible gravitational wave signals one might expect in a concrete toy model and discuss the parameter space in which bubble percolation is and isn't expected.
Animated versions of Figures 6 through 9 can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhT9Np0-FMHBjkejei0bb9qbxbWKHAUXf
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Submitted 17 April, 2025; v1 submitted 20 December, 2024;
originally announced December 2024.
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Radio Follow-up Observations of SN 2023ixf by Japanese and Korean VLBIs
Authors:
Yuhei Iwata,
Masanori Akimoto,
Tomoki Matsuoka,
Keiichi Maeda,
Yoshinori Yonekura,
Nozomu Tominaga,
Takashi J. Moriya,
Kenta Fujisawa,
Kotaro Niinuma,
Sung-Chul Yoon,
Jae-Joon Lee,
Taehyun Jung,
Do-Young Byun
Abstract:
We report on radio follow-up observations of the nearby Type II supernova, SN 2023ixf, spanning from 1.7 to 269.9 days after the explosion, conducted using three very long baseline interferometers (VLBIs), which are the Japanese VLBI Network (JVN), the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA), and the Korean VLBI Network (KVN). In three observation epochs (152.3, 206.1, and 269.9 days), we dete…
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We report on radio follow-up observations of the nearby Type II supernova, SN 2023ixf, spanning from 1.7 to 269.9 days after the explosion, conducted using three very long baseline interferometers (VLBIs), which are the Japanese VLBI Network (JVN), the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA), and the Korean VLBI Network (KVN). In three observation epochs (152.3, 206.1, and 269.9 days), we detected emission at the 6.9 and 8.4 GHz bands, with a flux density of $\sim 5$ mJy. The flux density reached a peak at around 206.1 days, which is longer than the timescale to reach the peak observed in typical Type II supernovae. Based on the analytical model of radio emission, our late-time detections were inferred to be due to the decreasing optical depth. In this case, the mass-loss rate of the progenitor is estimated to have increased from $\sim 10^{-6} - 10^{-5}\, M_{\odot}\,{\rm yr^{-1}}$ to $\sim 10^{-4}\, M_{\odot}\,{\rm yr^{-1}}$ between 28 and 6 years before the explosion. Our radio constraints are also consistent with the mass-loss rate to produce a confined circumstellar medium proposed by previous studies, which suggest that the mass-loss rate increased from $\sim 10^{-4}\, M_{\odot}\,{\rm yr^{-1}}$ to $\gtrsim 10^{-2}\, M_{\odot}\,{\rm yr^{-1}}$ in the last few years before the explosion.
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Submitted 11 November, 2024;
originally announced November 2024.
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First Very Long Baseline Interferometry Detections at 870μm
Authors:
Alexander W. Raymond,
Sheperd S. Doeleman,
Keiichi Asada,
Lindy Blackburn,
Geoffrey C. Bower,
Michael Bremer,
Dominique Broguiere,
Ming-Tang Chen,
Geoffrey B. Crew,
Sven Dornbusch,
Vincent L. Fish,
Roberto García,
Olivier Gentaz,
Ciriaco Goddi,
Chih-Chiang Han,
Michael H. Hecht,
Yau-De Huang,
Michael Janssen,
Garrett K. Keating,
Jun Yi Koay,
Thomas P. Krichbaum,
Wen-Ping Lo,
Satoki Matsushita,
Lynn D. Matthews,
James M. Moran
, et al. (254 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
The first very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) detections at 870$μ$m wavelength (345$\,$GHz frequency) are reported, achieving the highest diffraction-limited angular resolution yet obtained from the surface of the Earth, and the highest-frequency example of the VLBI technique to date. These include strong detections for multiple sources observed on inter-continental baselines between telescop…
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The first very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) detections at 870$μ$m wavelength (345$\,$GHz frequency) are reported, achieving the highest diffraction-limited angular resolution yet obtained from the surface of the Earth, and the highest-frequency example of the VLBI technique to date. These include strong detections for multiple sources observed on inter-continental baselines between telescopes in Chile, Hawaii, and Spain, obtained during observations in October 2018. The longest-baseline detections approach 11$\,$G$λ$ corresponding to an angular resolution, or fringe spacing, of 19$μ$as. The Allan deviation of the visibility phase at 870$μ$m is comparable to that at 1.3$\,$mm on the relevant integration time scales between 2 and 100$\,$s. The detections confirm that the sensitivity and signal chain stability of stations in the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) array are suitable for VLBI observations at 870$μ$m. Operation at this short wavelength, combined with anticipated enhancements of the EHT, will lead to a unique high angular resolution instrument for black hole studies, capable of resolving the event horizons of supermassive black holes in both space and time.
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Submitted 9 October, 2024;
originally announced October 2024.
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Robustness of AI-based weather forecasts in a changing climate
Authors:
Thomas Rackow,
Nikolay Koldunov,
Christian Lessig,
Irina Sandu,
Mihai Alexe,
Matthew Chantry,
Mariana Clare,
Jesper Dramsch,
Florian Pappenberger,
Xabier Pedruzo-Bagazgoitia,
Steffen Tietsche,
Thomas Jung
Abstract:
Data-driven machine learning models for weather forecasting have made transformational progress in the last 1-2 years, with state-of-the-art ones now outperforming the best physics-based models for a wide range of skill scores. Given the strong links between weather and climate modelling, this raises the question whether machine learning models could also revolutionize climate science, for example…
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Data-driven machine learning models for weather forecasting have made transformational progress in the last 1-2 years, with state-of-the-art ones now outperforming the best physics-based models for a wide range of skill scores. Given the strong links between weather and climate modelling, this raises the question whether machine learning models could also revolutionize climate science, for example by informing mitigation and adaptation to climate change or to generate larger ensembles for more robust uncertainty estimates. Here, we show that current state-of-the-art machine learning models trained for weather forecasting in present-day climate produce skillful forecasts across different climate states corresponding to pre-industrial, present-day, and future 2.9K warmer climates. This indicates that the dynamics shaping the weather on short timescales may not differ fundamentally in a changing climate. It also demonstrates out-of-distribution generalization capabilities of the machine learning models that are a critical prerequisite for climate applications. Nonetheless, two of the models show a global-mean cold bias in the forecasts for the future warmer climate state, i.e. they drift towards the colder present-day climate they have been trained for. A similar result is obtained for the pre-industrial case where two out of three models show a warming. We discuss possible remedies for these biases and analyze their spatial distribution, revealing complex warming and cooling patterns that are partly related to missing ocean-sea ice and land surface information in the training data. Despite these current limitations, our results suggest that data-driven machine learning models will provide powerful tools for climate science and transform established approaches by complementing conventional physics-based models.
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Submitted 27 September, 2024;
originally announced September 2024.
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A Geodetic and Astrometric VLBI Experiment at 22/43/88/132 GHz
Authors:
Shuangjing Xu,
Taehyun Jung,
Bo Zhang,
Ming Hui Xu,
Do-Young Byun,
Xuan He,
Nobuyuki Sakai,
Oleg Titov,
Fengchun Shu,
Hyo-Ryoung Kim,
Jungho Cho,
Sung-Moon Yoo,
Byung-Kyu Choi,
Woo Kyoung Lee,
Yan Sun,
Xiaofeng Mai,
Guangli Wang
Abstract:
Extending geodetic and astrometric Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations from traditional centimeter wavebands to millimeter wavebands offers numerous scientific potentials and benefits. However, it was considered quite challenging due to various factors, including the increased effects of atmospheric opacity and turbulence at millimeter wavelengths. Here, we present the results of…
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Extending geodetic and astrometric Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations from traditional centimeter wavebands to millimeter wavebands offers numerous scientific potentials and benefits. However, it was considered quite challenging due to various factors, including the increased effects of atmospheric opacity and turbulence at millimeter wavelengths. Here, we present the results of the first geodetic-mode VLBI experiment, simultaneously observing 82 sources at 22/43/88/132 GHz (K/Q/W/D bands) using the Korean VLBI Network (KVN). We introduced the frequency phase transfer (FPT) method to geodetic VLBI analysis, an approach for calibrating atmospheric phase fluctuations at higher frequencies by transferring phase solutions from lower frequencies. With a 2-minute scan, FPT improved the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of most fringes, some by over 100%, thereby enhancing the detection rate of weak sources at millimeter wavebands. Additionally, FPT reduced systematic errors in group delay and delay rate, with the weighted root-mean-squares (WRMS) of the post-fitting residuals decreasing from 25.0 ps to 20.5 ps at the W band and from 39.3 ps to 27.6 ps at the D band. There were no notable differences observed in calibrating atmospheric phase fluctuations at the K band (WRMS = 12.4 ps) and Q band (WRMS = 11.8 ps) with the KVN baselines. This experiment demonstrated that the millimeter waveband can be used for geodetic and astrometric applications with high precision.
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Submitted 11 September, 2024;
originally announced September 2024.
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Primordial black holes from an interrupted phase transition
Authors:
Wen-Yuan Ai,
Lucien Heurtier,
Tae Hyun Jung
Abstract:
We propose a new mechanism of primordial black hole formation via an interrupted phase transition during the early matter-dominated stage of reheating after inflation. In reheating, induced by the decay of a pressureless fluid dominating the Universe at the end of inflation, dubbed as reheaton, the temperature of the radiation bath typically increases, reaching a maximum temperature $T_{\rm max}$,…
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We propose a new mechanism of primordial black hole formation via an interrupted phase transition during the early matter-dominated stage of reheating after inflation. In reheating, induced by the decay of a pressureless fluid dominating the Universe at the end of inflation, dubbed as reheaton, the temperature of the radiation bath typically increases, reaching a maximum temperature $T_{\rm max}$, and then decreases. We consider a first-order phase transition induced by the increase of the temperature that is aborted as $T_{\rm max}$ is higher than the critical temperature but not sufficiently high for the bubble nucleation rate to overcome the expansion of the Universe. Although bubbles never fully occupy the space, some may be nucleated and expand until the temperature once again decreases to the critical temperature. We argue that these bubbles shrink and disappear as the temperature drops further, leaving behind macroscopic spherical regions with positive density perturbations. These perturbed regions accrete the surrounding matter (reheatons) and eventually collapse into primordial black holes whose mass continues to grow until the onset of radiation domination. We estimate the abundance of these primordial black holes in terms of the bubble nucleation rate at $T_{\rm max}$, and demonstrate that the abundance can be significantly large from a phenomenological perspective.
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Submitted 27 January, 2026; v1 submitted 3 September, 2024;
originally announced September 2024.
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Emerging AI-based weather prediction models as downscaling tools
Authors:
Nikolay Koldunov,
Thomas Rackow,
Christian Lessig,
Sergey Danilov,
Suvarchal K. Cheedela,
Dmitry Sidorenko,
Irina Sandu,
Thomas Jung
Abstract:
The demand for high-resolution information on climate change is critical for accurate projections and decision-making. Presently, this need is addressed through high-resolution climate models or downscaling. High-resolution models are computationally demanding and creating ensemble simulations with them is typically prohibitively expensive. Downscaling methods are more affordable but are typically…
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The demand for high-resolution information on climate change is critical for accurate projections and decision-making. Presently, this need is addressed through high-resolution climate models or downscaling. High-resolution models are computationally demanding and creating ensemble simulations with them is typically prohibitively expensive. Downscaling methods are more affordable but are typically limited to small regions. This study proposes the use of existing AI-based numerical weather prediction systems (AI-NWP) to perform global downscaling of climate information from low-resolution climate models. Our results demonstrate that AI-NWP initalized from low-resolution initial conditions can develop detailed forecasts closely resembling the resolution of the training data using a one day lead time. We constructed year-long atmospheric fields using AI-NWP forecasts initialized from smoothed ERA5 and low-resolution CMIP6 models. Our analysis for 2-metre temperature indicates that AI-NWP can generate high-quality, long-term datasets and potentially perform bias correction, bringing climate model outputs closer to observed data. The study highlights the potential for off-the-shelf AI-NWP to enhance climate data downscaling, offering a simple and computationally efficient alternative to traditional downscaling techniques. The downscaled data can be used either directly for localized climate information or as boundary conditions for further dynamical downscaling.
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Submitted 25 June, 2024;
originally announced June 2024.
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Cold Seeded Epitaxy and Flexomagnetism in Smooth GdAuGe Membranes Exfoliated from graphene/Ge(111)
Authors:
Z LaDuca,
T Samanta,
N Hagopian,
T Jung,
K Su,
K Genser,
K M Rabe,
P M Voyles,
M S Arnold,
J K Kawasaki
Abstract:
Remote and van der Waals epitaxy are promising approaches for synthesizing single crystalline membranes for flexible electronics and discovery of new properties via extreme strain; however, a fundamental challenge is that most materials do not wet the graphene surface. We develop a cold seed approach for synthesizing smooth intermetallic films on graphene that can be exfoliated to form few nanomet…
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Remote and van der Waals epitaxy are promising approaches for synthesizing single crystalline membranes for flexible electronics and discovery of new properties via extreme strain; however, a fundamental challenge is that most materials do not wet the graphene surface. We develop a cold seed approach for synthesizing smooth intermetallic films on graphene that can be exfoliated to form few nanometer thick single crystalline membranes. Our seeded GdAuGe films have narrow x-ray rocking curve widths of 9-24 arc seconds, which is two orders of magnitude lower than their counterparts grown by typical high temperature methods, and have atomically sharp interfaces observed by transmission electron microscopy. Upon exfoliation and rippling, strain gradients in GdAuGe membranes induce an antiferromagnetic to ferri/ferromagnetic transition. Our smooth, ultrathin membranes provide a clean platform for discovering new flexomagnetic effects in quantum materials.
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Submitted 8 June, 2024;
originally announced June 2024.