Peer Revenue Impact factor: volatile

Papers

Fresh from arXiv, typeset properly. Highlighted words trade on the market.

Physics Physics

physics Watch Physics (sign in to use)

Wednesday 22 October

Chemical Physics

How Accurate Are DFT Forces? Unexpectedly Large Uncertainties in Molecular Datasets

Training of general-purpose machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) relies on large datasets with properties usually computed with density functional theory (DFT). A pre-requisite for accurate MLIPs is that the DFT data are well converged to minimize numerical errors. A possible symptom of errors in DFT force components is nonzero net force. Here, we consider net forces in datasets including SPICE, Transition1x, ANI-1x, ANI-1xbb, AIMNet2, QCML, and OMol25. Several of these datasets suffer from significant nonzero DFT net forces. We also quantify individual force component errors by comparison to recomputed forces using more reliable DFT settings at the same level of theory, and we find significant discrepancies in force components averaging from 1.7 meV/Å in the SPICE dataset to 33.2 meV/Å in the ANI-1x dataset. These findings underscore the importance of well converged DFT data as increasingly accurate MLIP architectures become available.
Read the full abstract

All authors Domantas Kuryla, Fabian Berger, Gábor Csányi, Angelos Michaelides

Plasma Physics · Cross-listed from astro-ph.HE

Coupling of neutrino beam-driven MHD waves and resonant instabilities in rotating magnetoplasmas with neutrino two-flavor oscillations

We present an analysis of neutrino-driven magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves and instabilities in a rotating magnetoplasma with weak neutrino interactions. We show that neutrino-driven shear Alfvén and oblique magnetosonic waves can be coupled by the Coriolis force, forming new wave modes affected by this force, as well as neutrino beam and two neutrino flavor oscillations. Our work extends previous theories by demonstrating that shear Alfvén waves are influenced by neutrino effects and by identifying instabilities resulting from resonant interactions with both a streaming neutrino beam and flavor oscillations. We find that the Coriolis force, plasma density, and magnetic field strength significantly affect the profiles of instability growth rates. Such a growth rate for magnetosonic waves appears much higher than the Alfvén wave, implying that magnetosonic waves provide a superior mechanism for energy extraction from the neutrino beam. For typical parameters relevant to the protoneutron star surface, the instability time for magnetosonic waves may vary in the range 0.09-0.14 s, which is within the predicted time of the neutrino-driven explosion (0.3 s after bounce) reported in the recent three-dimensional MHD simulations of core-collapse supernovae. Our findings may shed new light on the physical mechanisms underlying core-collapse supernovae.
Read the full abstract

Instrumentation and Detectors

Afterpulse prediction for SUBMET experiment

The SUB-Millicharge ExperimenT (SUBMET) investigates an unexplored parameter space of millicharged particles with mass $m_\chi < $ 1.6 GeV/c$^2$ and charge $Q_\chi < 10^{-3}e$. The detector consists of an Eljen-200 plastic scintillator coupled to a Hamamatsu Photonics R7725 photomultiplier tube (PMT). PMT afterpulses, delayed pulses produced after an energetic pulse, have been observed in the SUBMET readout system, especially following primary pulses with a large area. We present a prediction method for afterpulse rates based on measurable parameters, which reproduces the observed rate with approximately 20% precision. This approach enables a better understanding of afterpulse contributions and, consequently, improves the reliability of background predictions.
Read the full abstract

All authors Claudio Campagnari, Sungwoong Cho, Suyong Choi, Seokju Chung, Matthew Citron, Ryan De Los Santos, Albert De Roeck, Martin Gastal, Seungkyu Ha, Andy Haas, Christopher Scott Hill, Byeong Jin Hong, Haeyun Hwang, Insung Hwang, Hoyong Jeong, Minseo Kim, Hyunki Moon, Jayashri Padmanaban, Ryan Schmitz, Changhyun Seo, David Stuart, Juan Salvador Tafoya Vargas, Eunil Won, Jae Hyeok Yoo, Jinseok Yoo, Ayman Youssef, Ahmad Zaraket, Haitham Zaraket, Collin Zheng

Optics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.str-el

Temperature-invariant magneto-optical Kerr effect in a noncollinear antiferromagnet

Noncollinear antiferromagnets exhibit anomalous Hall and magneto-optical Kerr effects driven by Berry curvature despite negligible net magnetization, promising ultrafast spintronic applications. While both effects are theoretically expected to reveal the intrinsic Berry curvature that serves as a spintronic memory bit, their quantitative interpretation is complicated by additional temperature-dependent contributions superimposed on the magnetic order parameter: extrinsic skew scattering in dc Hall transport, and optical-resonance effects in visible-wavelength Kerr measurements. Here we perform polar Kerr measurements at the infrared telecommunication wavelength (1550 nm) on epitaxial, stoichiometric Mn3NiN single crystal films, revealing for the first time a spontaneous Kerr signal that remains stable within a few percent over a 200 K range below the Néel temperature. This temperature-invariant intrinsic Kerr response contrasts with the strongly temperature-dependent anomalous Hall effect in the same sample dominated by extrinsic skew scattering. Our findings establish infrared Kerr effect as a robust, local probe of Berry curvature in noncollinear antiferromagnets, enabling quantitative characterization and advancing antiferromagnetic spintronic technologies.
Read the full abstract

All authors Camron Farhang, Weihang Lu, Yuchuan Yao, Pratap Pal, Shaofeng Han, Jian-Guo Zheng, Hua Chen, Chang-Beom Eom, Jing Xia

Optics

High Uniformity GaN Micro-pyramids and Platelets by Selective Area Growth

The development of uniform GaN micro-pyramids and platelets via selective area growth is a critical step toward advancing III-nitride device technologies, particularly for micro-light-emitting diode applications. This work investigates the origins of morphological non-uniformity in micro-pyramids and micro-platelets grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). We observe that a direct one-step growth approach leads to significant growth rate inhomogeneity across arrays. To shed light on this issue, we examine the mechanisms driving non-uniformity and explore process modifications aimed at mitigating these effects. Building on these insights, we propose a controlled multi-step growth strategy that combines sequen-tial growth and thermal treatment phases. This approach is demonstrated to enhance surface morphology and structural regularity. The work contributes to the broader objective of enabling scalable, high-precision GaN microstructure fabrication for next-generation optoelectronic applications.
Read the full abstract

All authors Changhao Li, Vitaly Z. Zubialevich, Peter J. Parbrook, Brian Corbett, Zhi Li

Plasma Physics

Modification of ion-temperature-gradient turbulence by impurities in stellarator plasmas

Recent nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations have shown that impurities can strongly modify the turbulent heat flux in stellarator plasmas. Here, the ion-temperature-gradient (ITG) dispersion relation in a plasma containing impurities is analytically solved in certain limits and an expression for the modification of the ITG growth rate by impurities is derived. The analytical expression is the sum of three terms corresponding to three different physical causes (impurity density gradient, impurity temperature gradient and dilution) of the change in the growth rate. The scalings predicted analytically for the modification of the growth rate are shown to be reproduced by linear gyrokinetic simulations. The conditions for reduction or increase of the ITG growth by impurities are also correctly predicted by the analytical solution to the dispersion relation. Finally, a remarkable correlation is found between the analytical expression for the modification of the growth rate and the modification of the turbulent heat flux obtained from nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations.
Read the full abstract

All authors Ivan Calvo, Felix I. Parra, Hanne Thienpondt, Jose Manuel Garcia-Regaña

Fluid Dynamics · Cross-listed from math.AP

Classical Euler flows generate the strong Guderley imploding shock wave

We prove that Guderley's self-similar imploding shock solution for the compressible Euler equations with ideal–gas law ($\gamma>1$) arises from classical, radially symmetric, shock–free data. For such data prescribed at initial time $\mathrm{T_{in}} < 0$, we prove that the flow remains smooth up to a first singular time $t=\mathrm{T}_* \in (\mathrm{T_{in}}, 0)$, where a preshock forms with a $C^{1/3}$ cusp in the fast acoustic variable. From this preshock a unique, initially weak, regular shock is born, whose strength can be made arbitrarily large on a controlled time interval; the front then deforms onto the Guderley shock and implodes at the origin at the collapse time $t=0$. There exists a matching time $t=\mathrm{T_{fin}} \in (\mathrm{T}_*,0)$ such that on $[\mathrm{T_{fin}},0)$ the solution coincides exactly with the classical Guderley self–similar profile, and at $t=\mathrm{T_{fin}}$ the shock trajectory matches the self–similar front to all orders. As $t \to 0^-$, the Euler solution implodes at the center, and continues for $t>0$ as a reflected blast wave, providing a global-in-time unique Euler solution which evolves from regular initial conditions.
Read the full abstract

Chemical Physics · Cross-listed from astro-ph.SR

Collisional Excitation in Space: Recent Advances and Future Challenges in the JWST Era

This perspective offers a viewpoint on how the challenges of molecular scattering investigations of astrophysical interest have evolved in recent years. Computational progress has steadily expanded collisional databases and provided essential tools for modeling non-LTE astronomical regions. However, the observational leap enabled by the JWST and new observational facilities has revealed critical gaps in these databases. In this framework, two major frontiers emerge: the characterization of collisional processes involving heavy projectiles, and the treatment of ro-vibrational excitation. The significant computational effort of these investigations emphasizes the need to test and develop robust theoretical methods and approximations, capable of extending the census of collisional coefficients required for reliable astrophysical modeling. Recent developments in these directions are outlined, with particular attention to their application and their potential to broaden the coverage of molecular systems and physical environments.
Read the full abstract

Applied Physics · Cross-listed from quant-ph

Addressing spins at the clock transitions with a frequency- and bandwidth-tunable superconducting resonator

Solid-state spin ensembles addressed via superconducting circuits are promising candidates for quantum memory applications, offering multimodal storage capability and second-long coherence times at their clock transition. Implementing practical memory schemes requires dynamic control over both the resonator frequency and bandwidth. In this letter, we report measurements of a superconducting resonator whose frequency can be tuned by passing a DC current through the high-kinetic-inductance thin film, and whose bandwidth can be tuned by parametric coupling to a low-Q buffer resonator. Using this resonator, we address an ensemble of bismuth donors at their clock transition, measuring a Hahn-echo coherence time of 450 ms. We demonstrate RF driving of the bismuth donor hyperfine transitions, as well as dynamic bandwidth control of the resonator.
Read the full abstract

All authors Yutian Wen, V. Ranjan, T. Lorriaux, D. Vion, B. Huard, A. Bienfait, E. Flurin, P. Bertet

Applied Physics

T2 mapping at 0.55 T using Ultra-Fast Spin Echo MRI

Low-field T2 mapping MRI can democratize neuropediatric imaging by improving accessibility and providing quantitative biomarkers of brain development. Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of high-resolution T2 mapping using a single-shot fast spin-echo (SS-FSE) sequence at 0.55~T in a healthy control cohort. Study Type: Prospective single-center study. Population: In vivo: ten healthy adults (18–43~years, 5 females/5 males). In vitro: NIST Phantom. Field strength/sequence: Multi-echo ultra-fast spin-echo at 0.55~T and 1.5~T. Assessment: Feasibility was first assessed in vitro using the NIST Phantom, comparing T2 relaxation times to spectrometer references at 0.55~T. Acquisition and T2-fitting parameters optimized in vitro were applied in vivo. Repeatability was evaluated by atlas-based analysis of white matter (WM) and cortical grey matter (GM) regions. Coefficients of variation (CoV) were computed across runs, sessions, and subjects. Statistical Tests: Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction ($\alpha = 0.05/n_{ROI}$) assessed CoV differences. Pearson correlation coefficients quantified T2 associations. Results: In vitro, mono-exponential fitting under Gaussian–Rician noise yielded deviations $<12\%$ from reference values. In vivo, inter-subject CoV was 5.2% (WM) and 17.7% (GM), comparable to 1.5~T. Mean T2 times were 118~ms (WM) and 188~ms (GM) at 0.55~T, with a 16.5-minute acquisition. Conclusion: A rapid, robust high-resolution T2 mapping protocol at 0.55~T for HASTE MRI is presented, employing Gaussian noise-based fitting. We report the first normative T2 values for healthy adult brains at 0.55~T, demonstrating technical feasibility and reliability.
Read the full abstract

All authors Margaux Roulet, Hamza Kebiri, Busra Bulut, Vladyslav Zalevskyi, Thomas Sanchez, Jean-Baptiste Ledoux, Vincent Dunet, Mériam Koob, Tom Hilbert, Tobias Kober, Erick J Canales-Rodriguez, Meritxell Bach Cuadra

Data Analysis and Statistics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Dara: Automated multiple-hypothesis phase identification and refinement from powder X-ray diffraction

Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a foundational technique for characterizing crystalline materials. However, the reliable interpretation of XRD patterns, particularly in multiphase systems, remains a manual and expertise-demanding task. As a characterization method that only provides structural information, multiple reference phases can often be fit to a single pattern, leading to potential misinterpretation when alternative solutions are overlooked. To ease humans' efforts and address the challenge, we introduce Dara (Data-driven Automated Rietveld Analysis), a framework designed to automate the robust identification and refinement of multiple phases from powder XRD data. Dara performs an exhaustive tree search over all plausible phase combinations within a given chemical space and validates each hypothesis using a robust Rietveld refinement routine (BGMN). Key features include structural database filtering, automatic clustering of isostructural phases during tree expansion, peak-matching-based scoring to identify promising phases for refinement. When ambiguity exists, Dara generates multiple hypothesis which can then be decided between by human experts or with further characteriztion tools. By enhancing the reliability and accuracy of phase identification, Dara enables scalable analysis of realistic complex XRD patterns and provides a foundation for integration into multimodal characterization workflows, moving toward fully self-driving materials discovery.
Read the full abstract

All authors Yuxing Fei, Matthew J. McDermott, Christopher L. Rom, Shilong Wang, Gerbrand Ceder

Fluid Dynamics

Exact results for dissipation and steady creeping flow in three-dimensional chiral active fluids

Chiral active fluids consist of self-spinning particles that rotate due to continuous energy injection at the microscopic scale (e.g. by activity or an external field). The hydrodynamics of such fluids is described by antisymmetric contributions in the viscosity tensor - called odd viscosity - which are allowed by symmetry due to the presence of a non-trivial spin angular momentum density. By generalising the Helmholtz minimum dissipation theorem to systems with odd viscosity, we show that incompressible three-dimensional odd fluids in the presence of sources that induce flow (e.g. surfaces that impose boundary conditions) admit a unique solution for their steady flow fields at low Reynolds number. Furthermore, we prove that such flows dissipate more energy than ordinary Stokes flow, provided that the flow field is affected by odd viscosity. As an example, we consider a model fluid described by one shear viscosity and one odd viscosity in the creeping flow regime. We explicitly compute the stress tensor for a fluid subjected to a point-force density. Finally, we compute exact results for the pressure and flow fields around a translating and rotating spherical particle from their singularity representations. From these solutions and our extended Helmholtz theorem, we explain why a translating sphere dissipates more energy when odd viscosity is present, whereas a rotating sphere does not.
Read the full abstract

Optics

Detuning Tunable OAM Generation via Double-$\Lambda$ Four-Wave Mixing in Hot Rubidium Vapor

We demonstrate detuning-tunable generation of orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) light using a double Lambda four-wave-mixing (FWM) process in Doppler broadened rubidium vapor. Two near-resonant pumps on the D1 line drive non degenerate FWM that produces bright probe conjugate beams whose transverse modes evolve with pump detuning. A paraxial density-matrix model coupled to split-step propagation predicts detuning-dependent spatial gain shaping that sets the OAM content; experiments with a mode cleaned pump laser and a 12-mm AR-coated vapor cell validate these predictions. We quantify mode formation by imaging, spectroscopy, and power measurements, and verify OAM conservation between the generated beams. The results establish resonant atomic vapor as a compact, tunable platform for structured-light generation with applications to high-dimensional quantum communications and imaging.
Read the full abstract

All authors Shahar Monsa, Michael Shulinder, Shmuel Sternklar, Eliran Talker

Chemical Physics

Manning-type potential induced by kink scatterings with phonons in molecular chains with hyperbolic double-well substrates

A rescaled Manning potential is obtained in the analysis of scatterings of small- amplitude excitations with a kink defect. The generic model is a nonlinear Klein- Gordon Hamiltonian describing a one-dimensional chain of identical molecules, sub- jected to an hyperbolic single-particle substrate potential. To account for isotope effects that are likely to affect characteristic equilibrium parameters of the molec- ular chain, including the lattice spacing (i.e. the characteristic intermolecuar dis- tance) and/or the barrier height, the hyperbolic substrate potential is endowed with a real parameter whose variation makes it suitable for the description of molecu- lar excitations in a broad range of systems with inversion symmetry. These include hydrogen-bonded molecular crystals, {\alpha}-helix proteins, long polymer chains and two- state quantum-tunneling systems in general. Double-well models with deformable profiles are relevant in physical contexts where the equilibrium configurations are sensitive to atomic or molecular substitutions, dilution, solvation and so on.
Read the full abstract

Applied Physics · Cross-listed from quant-ph

Twisted Superconducting Quantum Diodes for High Fidelity Anharmonic Qubits

In superconducting circuits, bidirectional signal propagation can cause back-reflections and back-action that couple environmental noise back to coherent elements, degrading fidelity. Nonreciprocal superconducting diodes provide an intrinsic route to suppress such backscattering at the circuit level. However, their diode efficiency and quantum integration remain limited. Here, we realize a quantum diode in twisted NbSe2 under in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields. A mere 1 degree twist yields an efficiency enhancement over pristine devices, reaching 27.6 percent. Quantum simulations reveal that this intermediate efficiency, well below 100 percent ideal, is both experimentally practical and optimal for preserving qubit anharmonicity and stabilizing two-level systems. These findings show that maximal rectification is not always beneficial for quantum information, establishing a new principle for designing the fundamental properties of twisted superconductors towards low-power, high-fidelity quantum circuits.
Read the full abstract

All authors Han Zhong, Denis Kochan, Igor Zutic, Yingying Wu

Fluid Dynamics

Generalized Gauss-Jacobi rules for discrete velocity method in Multiscale Flow Simulations

The discrete velocity method (DVM) is a powerful framework for simulating gas flows across continuum to rarefied regimes, yet its efficiency remains limited by existing quadrature rules. Conventional infinite-domain quadratures, such as Gauss-Hermite, distribute velocity nodes globally and perform well near equilibrium but fail under strong nonequilibrium conditions. In contrast, finite-interval quadratures, such as Newton-Cotes, enable local refinement but lose efficiency near equilibrium. To overcome these limitations, we propose a generalized Gauss-Jacobi quadrature (GGJQ) for DVM, built upon a new class of adjustable weight functions. This framework systematically constructs one- to three-dimensional quadratures and maps the velocity space into polar or spherical coordinates, enabling flexible and adaptive discretization. The GGJQ accurately captures both near-equilibrium and highly rarefied regimes, as well as low- and high-Mach flows, achieving superior computational efficiency without compromising accuracy. Numerical experiments over a broad range of Knudsen numbers confirm that GGJQ consistently outperforms traditional Newton-Cotes and Gauss-Hermite schemes, offering a robust and efficient quadrature strategy for multiscale kinetic simulations.
Read the full abstract

All authors Lu Wang, Lingyun Deng, Guanqing Wang, Hong Liang, Jiangrong Xu

Optics

The Eckhaus instability: from initial to final stages

A systematic analysis of the Eckhaus instability in the one-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau equation is presented. The analysis is based on numerical integration of the equation in a large (xt)-domain. The initial conditions correspond to a stationary, unstable spatially periodic solution perturbed by "noise." The latter consists of a set of spatially periodic modes with small amplitudes and random phases. The evolution of the solution is examined by analyzing and comparing the dynamics of three key characteristics: the solution itself, its spatial spectrum, and the value of the Lyapunov functional. All calculations exhibit four distinct, mutually agreed, well-defined regimes: (i) rapid decay of stable perturbations; (ii) latent changes, when the solution and the Lyapunov functional undergo minimal alterations while the Fourier spectrum concentrates around the most unstable perturbations; (iii) a phase-slip period, characterized by a sharp decrease in the Lyapunov functional; (iv) slow relaxation to a final stable state.
Read the full abstract

Optics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.mes-hall

Universal valley filtering via uniform dissipation and velocity contrast

Valley, as a ubiquitous degree of freedom in lattices, has found wide applications in both electronic and classical-wave devices in recent years. However, achieving valley-polarized states, a prerequisite for valley-based operations, still remains challenging. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a universal non-Hermitian mechanism for valley filtering using only uniform background dissipation, which creates a propagation length contrast between valleys through their intrinsic group velocity differences. We implement this concept in an acoustic crystal, observing switchable and robust valley polarization of sound through large-scale field mapping. Remarkably, our approach is solely based on uniform loss, without the need for any special lattice structures, tailored excitations, or external fields. We further provide designs of our non-Hermitian valley filter on photonic and electronic platforms. Our results offer a simple and effective solution to valley-polarized state generation and may advance the development of novel valley-based devices in both classical and quantum regimes.
Read the full abstract

All authors Sijie Yue, Wentao Xie, Kai Shao, Hong-yu Zou, Bingbing Wang, Hong-xiang Sun, Y. X. Zhao, Wei Chen, Haoran Xue

Computational Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.stat-mech

Time crystalline solitons and their stochastic dynamics in a driven-dissipative \phi^4 model

Periodically driven systems provide unique opportunities to investigate the dynamics of topological excitations far from equilibrium. In this paper, we report a time-crystalline soliton (TCS) state in a driven-dissipative $\phi^4$ model. This state exhibits spontaneous breaking of discrete time-translational symmetry while simultaneously displaying spatial soliton behavior. During time evolution, the soliton pattern periodically oscillates between kink and anti-kink configurations. We further study TCS dynamics under noise, demonstrating that soliton random walk can induce a dynamical transition between two distinct $Z_2$ symmetry-breaking time-crystalline phases in time domain. Finally, we examine the annihilation of two spatially separated TCSs under noise. Importantly, in contrast to the confined behavior of time-crystalline monopoles reported in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 056502 (2023)], the dynamics of time-crystalline solitons is deconfined despite the nonequilibrium nature of our model: the statistically averaged annihilation time scales as a power law with the solitons' initial separation.
Read the full abstract

Fluid Dynamics

From Interface Dynamics to Darcy Scale Description of Multiphase Flow in Porous Media

An outstanding characteristic of porous media, desired in many applications, is the large surface area, which facilitates solid-fluid interactions, making porous media an extreme case in colloid and interface science. In two-fluid systems, wetting and the balance of capillary and viscous forces control fluid displacement processes, leading to a wide range of complex flow regimes with rich spatio-temporal dynamics. Macroscopic two-phase flow is historically described through the phenomenological extensions of Darcy's law. Besides many other shortcomings and inconsistencies, it covers only connected pathway flow in the capillary-dominated flow regime in a rigorous manner while other flow regimes with moving interfaces and associated topological changes are entirely implicit. Given the lack of adequate descriptions, upscaling multiphase flow from pore to Darcy scale represents a long-standing challenge paving into the fields of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and integral geometry. In this review, we compare novel concepts which have been largely motivated by experimental insights, enabled by significant advances in pore-scale imaging and modeling over the last decade.
Read the full abstract

All authors Steffen Berg, Ryan T. Armstrong, Maja Rücker, Alex Hansen, Signe Kjelstrup, Dick Bedeaux

Fluid Dynamics

Statistical State Dynamics of Couette MHD Turbulence

The roll streak structure (RSS) is ubiquitous in shear flow turbulence and is fundamental to the dynamics of the self-sustaining process (SSP) maintaining the turbulent state. The formation and maintenance of the RSS in wall-bounded shear flow suggest the presence of an underlying instability that has recently been identified using statistical state dynamics (SSD). Due to the parallelism between the Navier-Stokes equation and the induction equation, it is reasonable to inquire whether the RSS in wall-bounded shear flow has a counterpart in the MHD equations formulated as an SSD. In this work we show that this is the case and that an analytic solution for the composite velocitymagnetic field RSS in the MHD SSD also arises from an instability, that this instability equilibrates to either a fixed point or to a turbulent state, that these turbulent statistical equilibria may be self sustaining, and that both the fixed point and the turbulent states may correspond to large scale coherent dynamos.
Read the full abstract

Chemical Physics

Ab Initio Calculations of the Static and Dynamic Polarizability of BaOH

We present high-precision ab initio calculations of the static and dynamic polarizability of the barium monohydroxide ($^{138}$BaOH) molecule, using relativistic coupled-cluster theory. By thoroughly investigating the dependence of the calculated polarizabilities on computational parameters (basis set size, treatment of relativity, level of treatment of electron correlation, and vibrational corrections), a procedure to determine uncertainties is constructed and applied. The dipole moment of BaOH is also calculated and compared to experiment, confirming the accuracy of the predicted polarizabilities. The static and dynamic ($\lambda=1064\;\text{nm}$) polarizability was calculated for both the ground state and the (010) vibrational bending mode, the latter state being particularly interesting for a wide range of quantum experiments. The ground state static polarizabilities were calculated to be 200.8(24) a.u. and 297(5) a.u. for the parallel and perpendicular components respectively.
Read the full abstract

All authors E. H. Prinsen, A. Borschevsky, S. Hoekstra, A. K. Dutta, S. Chakraborty, B. J. Schellenberg, L. F. Pašteka, I. A. Aucar

Chemical Physics

Unveiling chiral electron-photon correlation effects in circularly polarized optical devices

Strong coupling with circularly polarized vacuum fluctuations offers a viable route to manipulate molecular chirality. While experiments are advancing toward the realization of chiral cavities, a mean-field theoretical framework for describing electron-photon interaction in this platform has been missing. Here, we present a mean-field theory that can be systematically improved to capture the chiral correlation effects responsible for the enantioselective power of chiral light. We use strong coupling Møller-Plesset perturbation theory for accessing the excitation manifold of electrons and chiral virtual photons. We apply the developed methods to selected chiral systems and show that the mean-field theory captures cavity frequency dispersion, but fails to describe the chiral discrimination arising from coupled electron-photon excitations.
Read the full abstract

All authors Yassir El Moutaoukal, Rosario R. Riso, Andrea Bianchi, Henrik Koch

Optics

Observation of counterion binding in the inner Helmholtz layer at the ionic surfactant-water interface

Understanding specific ion adsorption within the inner Helmholtz layer remains central to electrochemistry yet experimentally elusive. Here we directly quantify counterion adsorption and extract the associated thermodynamic parameters within the inner Helmholtz layer using phase-sensitive sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy (PS-SFVS). Using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a model ionic surfactant, we determine the Na+ and DS- surface densities by simultaneously analyzing interfacial free OH response and the diffuse-layer SF signal, from which the adsorption thermodynamic parameters are derived. We then construct an adsorption phase diagram that maps the evolution of Na+ and DS- species in the compact layer as functions of bulk NaCl and SDS concentrations, revealing a continuous increase in surface ion pairing. The DS-: Na+ pairing ratio gradually decreases with increasing NaCl and approaches 2.8 at the supersaturation state prior to surface nucleation. These results establish PS-SFVS as a quantitative probe of ion-headgroup correlations in charged interfaces and reveal the thermodynamic mechanism underlying counterion-mediated interfacial ordering, with broad implications for electrolyte design, biomembrane stability, and soft-matter assembly.
Read the full abstract

Computational Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.dis-nn

Demonstrating Real Advantage of Machine-Learning-Enhanced Monte Carlo for Combinatorial Optimization

Combinatorial optimization problems are central to both practical applications and the development of optimization methods. While classical and quantum algorithms have been refined over decades, machine learning–assisted approaches are comparatively recent and have not yet consistently outperformed simple, state-of-the-art classical methods. Here, we focus on a class of Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problems, specifically the challenge of finding minimum energy configurations in three-dimensional Ising spin glasses. We use a Global Annealing Monte Carlo algorithm that integrates standard local moves with global moves proposed via machine learning. We show that local moves play a crucial role in achieving optimal performance. Benchmarking against Simulated Annealing and Population Annealing, we demonstrate that Global Annealing not only surpasses the performance of Simulated Annealing but also exhibits greater robustness than Population Annealing, maintaining effectiveness across problem hardness and system size without hyperparameter tuning. These results provide clear and robust evidence that a machine learning–assisted optimization method can exceed the capabilities of classical state-of-the-art techniques in a combinatorial optimization setting.
Read the full abstract

Plasma Physics

Microtearing Turbulence and Its Role in High-Density-Gradient Plasmas in Wendelstein 7-X

Gyrokinetic simulations reveal that microtearing mode (MTM) turbulence dominates transport in a Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) discharge characterized by large density gradients, moderate temperature gradients, and low plasma beta. This conclusion is supported by the close agreement between simulated and experimentally measured heat and particle fluxes. The emergence of MTMs is attributed to the absence of competing instabilities – such as ion temperature gradient modes and density-gradient-driven trapped-electron modes – under these plasma conditions, together with the stabilizing influence of the W7-X max-J magnetic configuration. Furthermore, moderate collisionality and low magnetic shear are found to facilitate MTM onset. These findings advance the understanding of high-density-gradient regimes, which are essential for achieving high-performance operation in W7-X plasmas.
Read the full abstract

All authors H. Cu-Castillo, A. Bañón Navarro, G. Merlo, F. Reimold, T. Romba, O. Ford, S. Bannmann, L. Vanó, M. Wappl, J. Geiger, A. Zocco, F. Jenko, the W7-X team

Fluid Dynamics

Real-time identification of parametric sloshing-induced heat and mass transfer in a horizontally oriented cylindrical tank

Vertical forcing of partially filled tanks can induce parametric sloshing. Under non-isothermal conditions, the resulting mixing can disrupt the thermal stratification between liquid and vapor, leading to enhanced heat and mass transfer and large pressure fluctuations. This work presents an experimental investigation of sloshing-induced heat and mass transfer in a horizontally oriented cylindrical tank under vertical harmonic excitation. This configuration is particularly relevant for cryogenic fuel storage in aircraft and ground transportation, yet its thermodynamic response under parametric sloshing remains largely uncharacterized. The present study provides the first experimental characterization of the sloshing-induced pressure drop and associated heat and mass transfer in this geometry. Decoupled isothermal and non-isothermal experimental campaigns are carried out across multiple fill levels and forcing amplitudes, near resonance of the first longitudinal symmetric mode $(2,0)$, using a hydrofluoroether fluid (3M Novec HFE-7000). To quantify heat and mass transfer, a lumped thermodynamic model is combined with an Augmented-state Extended Kalman Filter (AEKF), enabling real-time, time-resolved inference of Nusselt numbers. A critical forcing threshold is identified: below it, the fluid remains quiescent and thermally stratified; above it, parametric resonance drives strong sloshing, complete thermal destratification, and a rapid pressure drop. At 50% fill, the dominant (2,0) response intermittently alternates with a planar $(1,0)$ mode, indicating subharmonic mode interaction. The inferred Nusselt numbers increase by several orders of magnitude after destratification, and pressure-rate analysis confirms that condensation governs the pressure evolution.
Read the full abstract

All authors Samuel Akatchi Ahizi, Francisco Monteiro, Ramon Abarca, Miguel Alfonso Mendez

Computational Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.quant-gas

Quantum Monte Carlo study of low-dimensional Fermi fluids of dipolar atoms

Fermionic cold atoms in optical traps provide viable quantum simulators of correlation effects in electronic systems. For dressed Rydberg atoms in two-dimensional traps with out-of-plane dipole moments, a realistic model of the pairwise interaction is of repulsive dipolar $1/r^3$ form at long range, softened to a constant at short range. This study provides parameterizations of fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo energy data for ferromagnetic (one-component) and paramagnetic (two-component) two-dimensional homogeneous Fermi fluids of interacting dipolar atoms. We find itinerant ferromagnetism to be unstable within our parameter spaces for dipolar interactions both with and without softening. Our parameterization of the energy as a function of density will enable density functional theory to support experimental studies of inhomogeneous fermionic cold atom systems.
Read the full abstract

All authors Clio Johnson, Neil D. Drummond, James P. Hague, Calum MacCormick

Optics

Acceleration gradients in dielectric laser accelerators with triangular-shaped gratings

The study investigated transparent on-chip structures with a rectangular profile and triangular profiles with grating ridge base angles of $\alpha = 36^\circ$, $30^\circ$, and $20^\circ$. Each triangular structure had both left- and right-handed profile orientations. For all variants, a modified version with a reflective gold coating was additionally considered. The maximum energy gains and accelerating gradients were determined and quantified for all structure classes: transparent and reflective (with both rectangular and triangular profiles).
Read the full abstract

All authors O.O. Svystunov, I.V. Beznosenko, A.V. Vasyliev, R.R. Kniaziev, G.V. Sotnikov

Chemical Physics

Mechanism of the electrochemical hydrogenation of graphene

The electrochemical hydrogenation of graphene induces a robust and reversible conductor-insulator transition, of strong interest in logic-and-memory applications. However, its mechanism remains unknown. Here we show that it proceeds as a reduction reaction in which proton adsorption competes with the formation of H2 molecules via an Eley-Rideal process. Graphene's electrochemical hydrogenation is up to $10^6$ times faster than alternative hydrogenation methods and is fully reversible via the oxidative desorption of protons. We demonstrate that the proton reduction rate in defect-free graphene can be enhanced by an order of magnitude by the introduction of nanoscale corrugations in its lattice, and that the substitution of protons for deuterons results both in lower potentials for the hydrogenation process and in a more stable compound. Our results pave the way to investigating the chemisorption of ions in 2D materials at high electric fields, opening a new avenue to control these materials' electronic properties.
Read the full abstract

All authors Y.-C. Soong, H. Li, Y. Fu, J. Tong, S. Huang, X. Zhang, E. Griffin, E. Hoenig, M. Alhashmi, Y. Li, D. Bahamon, J. Zhong, A. Summerfield, R. N. Costa Filho, C. Sevik, R. Gorbachev, E. C. Neyts, L. F. Vega, F. M. Peeters, M. Lozada-Hidalgo