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Saturday 6 December

Physics and Society

Demographic Dependence of Vaccine Adoption under Opinion Persuasion

Inspired by contagion models of social belief formation, we develop an epistemically-informed modeling framework, SIS-Vo, in which vaccine-related information propagates on a signed opinion network. Our model allows for heterogeneous treatment effects of policy messages across subpopulations through demographic-specific responses. We derive fixed-point characterizations of the healthy (disease-free) and endemic equilibria of this model, and obtain conditions for local stability of the healthy state in terms of the contact network and opinion-dependent vaccination capacities. Using numerical simulations, we illustrate how suitably targeted policy interventions, acting through opinion dynamics, can stabilize the epidemic process by moving the system towards the healthy regime. The SIS-Vo framework thus provides a natural basis for control-theoretic analysis of vaccination policies that remain robust even when misinformation targets specific subgroups.
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All authors Alessandro Casu, Camilla Quaresmini, Robin Delabays, Lewis Mitchell, Philip E. Paré

Fluid Dynamics

Reynolds effects on transition to turbulence for hypersonic expansion and compression corner flows

This experimental and numerical study examines transition to turbulence for a Cone-Cylinder-Flare geometry at Mach 7 and across a broad Reynolds number range. The focus is set on both attached boundary layers and separated shock-boundary layer interactions. The campaign is conducted in the R2Ch facility. Unsteady wall pressure fluctuations and high-speed schlieren images are analysed using data-driven techniques and compared with base flow computations and global linear stability analysis. The results distinguish two transition regimes. At high Reynolds numbers, transition is dominated by the second Mack mode and its non-linear interactions on the cone. High-frequency wall pressure measurements and schlieren imaging permit the capture of both fundamental waves and their non-linear harmonics. Non-linear interaction regions are resolved with unprecedented detail, clarifying the boundary-layer state before rapid breakdown at reattachment. At lower Reynolds numbers, the transition scenario is more intricate, marked by the coexistence of low- and high-frequency modes. A complex coupling between separated flow and convective instabilities is revealed, with trapped acoustic waves inside the recirculation region measured experimentally for the first time. Their linear origin is demonstrated through global stability analysis, and a simple acoustic duct model is provided to predict their frequencies. These waves offer a new interpretation of low-frequency pressure signatures and suggest a mechanism for energy transfer from high to low frequencies, ultimately driving transition on the flare. The findings advance understanding of hypersonic boundary-layer transition and its dependence on Reynolds number and flow separation.
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All authors Clément Caillaud, Mathieu Lugrin, Nicolas Severac, Sébastien Esquieu

Classical Physics · Cross-listed from gr-qc

On Spavieri's conundrum or the shadow of the twin paradox – A submission to the One-Way Linear Effect (OWLE) Award

We deal with a problem concerning a supposed inconsistency in the special relativistic treatment of the so-called linear Sagnac effect. It is shown that, under modern clothes, the root of the difficulty perceived by some authors lies in their uneasiness with the standard solution of the twin paradox. In particular, since the linear Sagnac effect is an absolute effect, no tinkering with conventionality of simultaneity, so far as it preserves the physical content of special relativity, would get us out of the supposed trouble.
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Applied Physics

High-Efficiency Isolator-Free Magnetron Power Combining Method Based on H-Plane Tee Coupling and Peer-to-Peer Locking

Magnetrons are widely used as high-performance microwave sources in microwave heating, microwave chemistry, and microwave power transmission due to their high efficiency, low cost, and compact size advantages. However, the output power of a single magnetron is limited by its resonant cavities, posing a physical constraint. High-efficiency coherent power combining based on the injection-locking technique effectively overcomes this limitation and meets the demand for higher output power. Nevertheless, using isolators, such as circulators, introduces significant insertion loss, and the injection signal sources and phase shifters increase the system size, cost, and complexity in a conventional magnetron power combining (MPC) system. A novel method is proposed to utilize the coupling between two ports of an H-plane tee to achieve peer-to-peer injection locking magnetrons. Meanwhile, an asymmetric phase compensation is realized using a section of waveguide to adjust the magnetron output characteristics. Theoretical and numerical analyses provided qualitative insight into the system output behavior. Subsequently, an experimental system was developed for verification. In the experiments, the system achieved maximum microwave power combining efficiencies 90.2%, 93.6%, and 93.6% at electrical waveguide lengths corresponding to 90, 135, and 225, with output powers of 1650, 1260, and 1610 W, respectively, without the use of any isolators or external injection sources. The experimental results show good agreement with numerical calculations. This method offers the advantages of low cost, compact size, and low loss, providing a new approach for developing high-performance MPC systems in the future.
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All authors Shaoyue Wang, Xu Zhu, Xiaojie Chen, Da He, Zhongqi He, Liping Yan, Changjun Liu

Medical Physics

Alterations of brain tissue structural complexity and disorder in Parkinson disease (PD): Fractal, multifractal, fractal transformation, and disorder strength analyses

Parkinson disease (PD) is marked by progressive neurodegeneration, yet early and subtle structural alterations in brain tissue remain difficult to detect with conventional imaging and analytical methods. Fractal and multifractal frameworks offer a principled way to quantify complex biological architecture, but their diagnostic utility in PD has been largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the fractal and multifractal characteristics of human brain tissues to identify structural alterations associated with PD. Alongside conventional fractal and multifractal analysis, we employed a recently developed fractal functional distribution method that transforms distributions into a Gaussian form, thereby enhancing quantification. Using this combined approach, we found notable deviations across multiple distribution metrics in PD samples, offering potential for quantitative staging and diagnostic applications. The multifractal analysis revealed threshold-dependent variations in intensity-based measures, which are linked to the sparsity and heterogeneity of neural tissue and suggestive of potential biomarker value. Additionally, we applied inverse participation ratio (IPR) analysis to assess structural disorder, demonstrating that larger IPR pixel sizes correlate with increased structural complexity during disease progression. These complementary analyses outline a multi-layered quantitative profile of PD-related tissue disruption, offering a foundation for earlier, objective assessment of disease-associated microstructural change.
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All authors Santanu Maity, Mousa Alrubayan, Mohammad Moshahid Khan, Prabhakar Pradhan

Optics

Dual-comb correlation spectroscopy reveals laser dynamics

Laser dynamics underpin a broad range of modern photonic technologies and continue to reveal rich nonlinear behaviors. However, existing spectroscopic tools, most notably time-stretched dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopy (TS-DFT), remain limited in spectral resolution, accuracy, and their ability to capture continuous waveforms and complex field dynamics. Here, we introduce dual-comb correlation spectroscopy (DCCS) as a powerful approach for resolving fast and intricate laser behaviors that are inaccessible to TS-DFT and conventional spectrometers. By correlating two sequences of heterodyne spectra produced by mixing a test laser with a pair of optical combs, DCCS enables rapid (e.g., 1 us) and high-resolution (0.08 pm) spectral retrieval over broad optical bandwidths. Leveraging these capabilities, we reveal mode-hopping and mode-competition dynamics in continuous-wave lasers, as well as the buildup process of a mode-locked laser. These results establish DCCS as a versatile and complementary tool to TS-DFT for exploring transient, broadband, and previously unresolvable behaviors in lasers and other time-evolving optical systems.
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All authors Xiuxiu Zhang, Zhuoren Wan, Yuling Sheng, Ming Yan, Yuan Chen, Zijian Wang, Zhaoyang Wen, Min Li, Heping Zeng

Optics

In-series Multimode Interference Sensors and Fabry-Perot Interferometers for Enhanced Wavelength Shift Resolving Capabilities

We report on the development of a refractive index sensor obtained by using a singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS) structure and a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) set into an in-series configuration. Due to the self-imaging phenomenon, the SMS structure - formed by splicing a no-core fiber between two singlemode fibers -, provides a broad spectral peak whose central wavelength position is sensitive to variations in the refractive index of the medium surrounding the fiber. In turn, thanks to the in-series SMS-FPI configuration, the sensor's reflection spectrum exhibits the SMS spectral signature modulated by FPI fringes. This readily allows for reducing the width of the spectral features monitored during the sensing measurements, thus enhancing the capabilities of adequately resolving the corresponding spectral shifts. The FPIs reported in this investigation have been fabricated by using two different methods, namely by forming an air-gap FPI between the cleaved ends of two singlemode optical fibers, and by casting a polymeric film onto a connectorized fiber end tip. In the first configuration, the distance between the two cleaved fiber ends could be varied to tune the FPI's free spectral range, hence allowing for tailoring the widths of the spectral oscillations to be monitored during the sensing measurements. Alternatively, the second configuration, while avoiding the use of motorized translation stages, provides a more versatile option for applications. Thus, we understand that our work expands the application of multimode interference and FPIs in sensing scenarios, providing new opportunities for probing physical and chemical parameters by exploring their combined response.
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All authors João G. M. de Carvalho, Luiz D. C. Silva, Flavio A. M. Marques, Alexandre A. C. Cotta, Jefferson E. Tsuchida, Julio C. Ugucioni, Silésia C. da Silva, Leomar S. Marques, Diego C. Fuzatto, Alexandre Bessa dos Santos, Cristiano M. B. Cordeiro, Limin Xiao, Jonas H. Osório

Plasma Physics

Detailed study of non-equilibrium characteristics of quasi-neutral TNSA plasmas

In an experiment performed in November 2022 at the petawatt (PW) laser facility at Vega III located in Salamanca-Spain, we have studied the successful production of several radioisotopes using protons accelerated by the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) mechanism (Rodrigues et al. [1]). The experimental proton energy distribution recorded on a shot-to-shot basis and confirmed in a follow up experiment (K. Batani et al. [2]), allowed us to derive the number of nuclear reactions taking place in different targets on a single shot. From this analysis, using the ratio of the yields 11C/7Be, we obtained an effective "single shot" temperature of the TNSA plasma. We used this value to evaluate the yield of alpha particles from the reaction p + 11B -> 3 alpha which may reach (1.6 +/- 0.5) x 10^9 alpha particles in 2pi. From the fluctuations of the protons and the fusion yields, we derived a "TNSA-Equation of State" (EoS), The deviation of such "EoS" from the classical ideal gas limit is well reproduced by the soliton solution of the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation for each shot.
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All authors Zhe Zhu, A. Bonasera, D. Batani, M. R. D. Rodrigues, K. Batani, J.A. Pérez-Hernández, M. Ehret, E. Filippov, H. Larreur, D. Molloy, G. G. Rapisarda, D. Lattuada, G. L. Guardo, C. Verona, Fe. Consoli, G. Petringa, A. McNamee, M. La Cognata, S. Palmerini, R. De Angelis, G. A. P. Cirrone, V. Istokskaia, R. Lera, L. Volpe, D. Giulietti, S. Agarwal, M. Krupka, S. Singh, Jun Xu

Applied Physics

Frequency-modulated enhancement of microwave resonator sensing

We use the Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique to characterize the frequency stability of a microwave-frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator-based sensor. The multi-mode acoustic resonator is integrated in a notch geometry with a transmission line, all fabricated on Y-cut lithium niobate. We measure the amplitude and phase of the resonator transfer function and the PDH signal across the resonator full spectral range. We use these measurements to emphasize the differences between the PDH measurement and a standard Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) technique. As compared to a PLL, we demonstrate that PDH is insensitive to phase error and exhibits a reduced Allan deviation of the center frequency measurement, in each case by up to an order of magnitude. The method rejects spurious effects and background frequency drift, demonstrating the enhancements possible with PDH-based measurements, which can be realized in a wide range of microwave-frequency resonator-based sensors and devices.
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All authors Pranaya Kishore Rath, James D. Philips, Taekwan Yoon, Kent R. Shirer, Arash Fereidouni, Johannes Pollanen

Optics · Cross-listed from quant-ph

Spin-photon Qubits for Scalable Quantum Network

Solid-state quantum light sources offer a scalable pathway for interfacing stationary spin qubits with flying photonic qubits, forming the backbone of future quantum networks. Telecom-band spin-photonic qubits, operating in the 1260-1675 nm wavelength range, are particularly well-suited for long-distance quantum communication due to minimal loss in standard optical fibers. Achieving scalability, however, hinges on fulfilling several stringent criteria: coherent spin-state control, deterministic and indistinguishable single-photon emission, and integration with nanophotonic structures that enhance radiative properties, such as lifetime, coherence, and photon indistinguishability. This study explores the state-of-the-art spin-photonic qubits across solid-state platforms, including diamond color centers, silicon carbide defect centers, quantum dots, and two-dimensional materials. Special attention is given to silicon-based emitters, particularly G, T, C- and Ci-centers, which promise monolithic integration with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology and telecom-band operation. We classify these systems based on spin-photon interface availability, CMOS process compatibility, and emitter scalability. We also discuss recent advances in cavity quantum electrodynamics (cQED), including Purcell enhancement and quality factor engineering in integrated photonic (circuits) environments. The work highlights emerging demonstrations of quantum networking over metropolitan scales and outlines the trajectory toward chip-scale quantum photonic integrated circuits (QPICs). It combines deterministic emitter creation, coherent spin manipulation, and quantum information processing. These developments pave the way for global quantum networks, enabling secure communication, distributed quantum computing, and quantum-enhanced sensing.
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All authors Md Sakibul Islam, Kuldeep Singh, Yunhe Zhao, Nitesh Singh, Wayesh Qarony

Applied Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.mes-hall

Robust AC vector sensing at zero magnetic field with pentacene

Quantum sensors based on electronic spins have emerged as powerful probes of microwave-frequency fields. Among other solid-state platforms, spins in molecular crystals offer a range of advantages, from high spin density to functionalization via chemical tunability. Here, we demonstrate microwave vector magnetometry using the photoexcited spin triplet of deuterated pentacene molecules, operating at zero external magnetic field and room temperature. We achieve full three-dimensional microwave field reconstruction by detecting the Rabi frequencies of anisotropic spin-triplet transitions associated with two crystallographic orientations of pentacene in naphthalene crystals. We further introduce a phase alternated protocol that extends the rotating-frame coherence time by an order of magnitude and enables sensitivities of $1~\mu\mathrm{T}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ with sub-micrometer spatial resolution. These results establish pentacene-based molecular spins as a practical and high-performance platform for microwave quantum sensing, and the control techniques are broadly applicable to other molecular and solid-state spin systems.
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All authors Boning Li, Garrett Heller, Jungbae Yoon, Alexander Ungar, Hao Tang, Guoqing Wang, Patrick Hautle, Yifan Quan, Paola Cappellaro

Applied Physics

A Wideband Tri-Band Shared-Aperture Antenna Array for 5G and 6G Applications

This work presents a wideband tri-band shared-aperture antenna array covering the 5G mid-band and 6G centimetric band. The challenge of scattering and coupling suppression is holistically addressed across the wide bands. Guided by characteristic mode analysis (CMA), a segmented spiral radiator is developed to mitigate high-frequency scattering and coupling while maintaining low-frequency radiation performance. Compared with a conventional tube radiator, the proposed spiral achieves a reduced radar cross-section (RCS) over 4.7-21.5 GHz (128.2%). With the aid of serial resonators, the segmented-spiral dipole achieves impedance matching in the low band (LB, 3.05-4.68 GHz, 42.2%), covering the 5G band (3.3-4.2 GHz), while additional suppressors further reduce cross-band coupling. The middle band (MB) and high band (HB) antennas operate at 6.2-10.0 GHz (46.9%) and 10.0-15.6 GHz (43.8%), respectively, collectively covering the anticipated 5G-Advanced and 6G bands (6.425-15.35 GHz). Both the MB and HB antennas employ a planar magnetoelectric (ME) dipole structure to avoid common-mode resonances within the LB and MB and to minimize cross-band scattering in the HB. The proposed array maintains undistorted radiation patterns and better than 20 dB port isolation between any two ports across all three bands.
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All authors Shang-Yi Sun, Can Ding, Hai-Han Sun, Alessio Monti, Y. Jay Guo

Physics and Society

How Withheld Punishment Sustains Anti-Democratic Behavior in an Evolutionary Game

Democratic backsliding is often framed as a contest between defenders and disruptors of democratic institutions. That framing can miss a third response, withholding punishment from disruptors while penalizing defenders who confront them. We model the three responses as strategies in an evolutionary game, track their shares with replicator dynamics, and assume defenders beat disruptors head-to-head but have a payoff disadvantage among non-punishers even when disruptors are absent. If the third response cannot spread among disruptors, a payoff condition draws the population toward the classical May–Leonard heteroclinic cycle, a rock–paper–scissors succession in which disruption repeatedly becomes rare, then widespread. If that response can, a threshold on its payoff advantage over disruptors determines whether all three coexist or defenders alone vanish. In finite-population simulations, sustained resurgence requires reintroducing lost strategies. Our contribution is to show how two separately documented political tendencies, if combined, can sustain disruption despite defenders' head-to-head advantage over disruptors.
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Medical Physics

Fast and Robust T1 Mapping Based on a 3D Dual-Echo UTE Sequence (PETALUTE) for SPION Biodistribution Assessment

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) such as ferumoxytol are promising theranostic agents detectable with MRI. Relaxation time mapping offers reproducible, quantitative biomarkers of SPION distribution, but conventional methods suffer from susceptibility artifacts, long echo times, and extended scan durations, limiting accurate quantification. This study developed a fast, B1-corrected T1-mapping protocol using PETALUTE, a 3D dual-echo ultrashort-echo MRI sequence with a rosette k-space trajectory and variable flip-angle acquisition for quantitative ferumoxytol imaging. Agarose phantoms containing 0-5000 ppm ferumoxytol were scanned at 7T with PETALUTE and vendor-supplied RARE-VTR. PETALUTE T1 maps were derived from two flip angles (4 deg and 20 deg), and mean R1 values were correlated with ferumoxytol concentration. For in vivo feasibility, mice bearing 4T1 mammary and flank tumors were scanned 24 h post-injection (ferumoxytol: n=2, 40 mg/kg; control: n=1). Regions of interest in muscle and tumors were analyzed to compare T1 and R1 values obtained with both methods. PETALUTE produced positive contrast for all phantom concentrations except 5000 ppm, whereas RARE-VTR did not. PETALUTE demonstrated a significant linear correlation between R1 and ferumoxytol concentration (R=0.975, p<0.01), in contrast to RARE-VTR (R=0.672, p=0.144). In vivo, PETALUTE enabled high-resolution, whole-abdominal imaging in 4 min 19 s. Ferumoxytol-injected mice showed T1 shortening in flank tumors, consistent with iron uptake, and PETALUTE revealed elevated T1 value with preserved T2*-weighted signal in one mammary tumor. PETALUTE-based T1 mapping provides fast, quantitative, positive-contrast ferumoxytol imaging with greater spatial coverage and a wider usable concentration range than conventional RARE-VTR.
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All authors Zhen Jiang, Stephen Sawiak, Alexandra Lipka, Xin Shen, Uzay Emir, Ali Özen, Mark Chiew, Justin Geise, Joseph Speth, Deng-Yuan Chang, Jessica Veenstra, Mitchell Gabalski, Luis Solorio, Gregory Tamer Jr., Matthew Scarpelli

Biological Physics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.soft

Protocol to evaluate the viscoelastic response of a polymer suspension to an active agent via oscillatory shear rheometry

Microorganisms inhabit viscoelastic environments, where their locomotion can deform polymers and trigger local complex viscoelastic responses. However, a systematic approach to quantify such responses remains lacking. Here, we propose a protocol that maps the shear effect induced by an active agent to oscillatory shear rheometry. The central idea is to establish a correspondence between the mean shear rate generated by swimming and that produced by an oscillating plate. In this mapping, the swimming velocity and active stress are translated into an effective oscillation frequency and strain amplitude. The resulting viscoelastic response can then be evaluated by standard oscillatory rheometry. The protocol is validated using lattice Boltzmann simulations of a squirmer embedded in polymer solutions. Our framework is generic and can be naturally extended to active microrheology, providing a pathway to quantify swimmer-induced viscoelasticity.
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Applied Physics

Physics-based Full-band GaN High-Electron-Mobility Transistor Simulation Suggests Upper Bound of LO Phonon Lifetime

Intrinsic limits to device performance arise from fundamental material properties that define the best achievable operation, independent of engineering constraints. In GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), hot longitudinal optical (LO) phonons can act as an intrinsic performance bottleneck by reducing electron saturation velocity, output current, and transconductance, which are key device metrics. While bulk GaN studies report LO phonon lifetimes of approximately 1 ps, leading to strong nonequilibrium phonon populations, ungated heterostructures show much shorter lifetimes of only tens of femtoseconds. Because direct measurement inside a HEMT channel is challenging, the true impact of hot phonons remains uncertain. Using full-band transport simulations of a fabricated GaN HEMT, we show that LO phonon lifetimes must be less than about 40 fs to reproduce measured I-V characteristics, consistent with ultrafast decay observed in GaN heterostructures. We further demonstrate that even these ultrafast lifetimes are not sufficient to eliminate hot phonon effects: the residual nonequilibrium LO population continues to limit the current density at high bias. Moreover, when the LO phonon lifetime exceeds a few tens of femtoseconds, a pronounced hot phonon bottleneck emerges, leading to substantial current-density suppression that is inconsistent with experiment.
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All authors Ankan Ghosh Dastider, Matt Grupen, Ashwin Tunga, Shaloo Rakheja

Applied Physics

Curation and Dissemination of Complex Multi-modal Data Sets for Radiation Detection, Localization, and Tracking

The PANDAWN sensor network in Chicago, IL, is a state-of-the-art test-bed for networked, multi-modal sensing. It integrates AI/data science methods into its operation, from data acquisition to automated data labeling and curation workflows. The curation and dissemination of diverse multi-modal data sets will enable the development of new radiological/nuclear (R/N) detection, localization, and tracking algorithms, and methods relevant across the nonproliferation mission space. This paper first introduces the PANDAWN sensor network and the features that make it stand out from previous multi-modal data acquisition efforts. We then review the various data streams acquired on the PANDAWN nodes, and present the implementation of an automated data curation pipeline that includes the labeling of radiation and contextual data streams. We finally provide a short overview of different studies that leveraged the curated data sets.
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All authors Nicolas Abgrall, Mark S. Bandstra, Reynold J. Cooper, Marco Salathe, Brian J. Quiter, Rajesh Sankaran, Yongho Kim, Sean Shahkarami

Plasma Physics

3D PIC Simulations on Hall Thruster Electron Drift Instability: Influence of Magnetic Field on Electron Transport

Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are employed to investigate electron transport characteristics in Hall thrusters, with particular focus on how magnetic field configuration affects the electron transport due to electron drift instabilities. Comparing analytic and realistic magnetic field models reveals significant differences in electron transport patterns, where radial variations in field strength lead to asymmetric transport enhanced in low-field regions. The derived effective electron mobility shows agreement with direct simulation diagnoses, and the obtained two-dimensional transport profiles provide a foundation for developing more accurate reduced-dimensional models.
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Friday 5 December

Optics

A Reduced Action Integral for Photon-Photon Interactions in Vacuum

Electromagnetic waves propagating through vacuum can polarize virtual electron-positron pairs; this polarization, in turn, nonlinearly modifies their propagation. A semi-classical nonlinear wave equation describing the propagation is derived from the Euler–Heisenberg Lagrangian density, which captures vacuum polarization effects up to the one-loop level. Here, we present a reduced-action-integral approach that enables rapid modeling of nonlinear phenomena arising from the Euler–Heisenberg Lagrangian. Application of the variational principle to the reduced action provides equations of motion for familiar light-pulse parameters, such as spot size, phase, polarization, and phase-front curvature, without requiring full-field simulations. Three examples demonstrate the utility of the approach: phase modulation, birefringence, and frequency mixing.
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History and Philosophy of Physics

A catalog of old globes in Spanish public collections

This paper presents the first catalog of celestial and terrestrial globes, as well as armillary spheres and orreries, produced before 1900 and preserved in Spanish public institutions. Most globes have an English or French origin, predominantly from the late 18th or 19th centuries. We highlight a few outstanding examples, including an early metallic terrestrial globe, a mysterious blue celestial manuscript globe, the oldest preserved Spanish printed globe, and some interesting clockwork pieces. While Spain has not been a major producer of globes, it does preserve around two hundred historical globes in public collections, including several remarkable pieces.
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Biological Physics

Modular connectivity in neural networks emerges from Poisson noise-motivated regularisation, and promotes robustness and compositional generalisation

Circuits in the brain commonly exhibit modular architectures that factorise complex tasks, resulting in the ability to compositionally generalise and reduce catastrophic forgetting. In contrast, artificial neural networks (ANNs) appear to mix all processing, because modular solutions are difficult to find as they are vanishing subspaces in the space of possible solutions. Here, we draw inspiration from fault-tolerant computation and the Poisson-like firing of real neurons to show that activity-dependent neural noise, combined with nonlinear neural responses, drives the emergence of solutions that reflect an accurate understanding of modular tasks, corresponding to acquisition of a correct world model. We find that noise-driven modularisation can be recapitulated by a deterministic regulariser that multiplicatively combines weights and activations, revealing rich phenomenology not captured in linear networks or by standard regularisation methods. Though the emergence of modular structure requires sufficiently many training samples (exponential in the number of modular task dimensions), we show that pre-modularised ANNs exhibit superior noise-robustness and the ability to generalise and extrapolate well beyond training data, compared to ANNs without such inductive biases. Together, our work demonstrates a regulariser and architectures that could encourage modularity emergence to yield functional benefits.
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Data Analysis and Statistics · Cross-listed from cs.LG

Phase transitions reveal hierarchical structure in deep neural networks

Training Deep Neural Networks relies on the model converging on a high-dimensional, non-convex loss landscape toward a good minimum. Yet, much of the phenomenology of training remains ill understood. We focus on three seemingly disparate observations: the occurrence of phase transitions reminiscent of statistical physics, the ubiquity of saddle points, and phenomenon of mode connectivity relevant for model merging. We unify these within a single explanatory framework, the geometry of the loss and error landscapes. We analytically show that phase transitions in DNN learning are governed by saddle points in the loss landscape. Building on this insight, we introduce a simple, fast, and easy to implement algorithm that uses the L2 regularizer as a tool to probe the geometry of error landscapes. We apply it to confirm mode connectivity in DNNs trained on the MNIST dataset by efficiently finding paths that connect global minima. We then show numerically that saddle points induce transitions between models that encode distinct digit classes. Our work establishes the geometric origin of key training phenomena in DNNs and reveals a hierarchy of accuracy basins analogous to phases in statistical physics.
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Fluid Dynamics · Cross-listed from cond-mat.soft

Unlocking the full potential of jumping condensation on microstructured surfaces

Water condensation on superhydrophobic surfaces can generate spontaneous droplet jumping, enabling rapid condensate removal and improved thermal and mass transfer. Although this effect has been extensively demonstrated on densely packed nanostructures, the capability of microscale textures to support jumping condensation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that engineered microscale conical arrays can achieve efficient microdroplet jumping and reveal a previously unreported spacing-dependent critical transition between jumping and non-jumping regimes. In the jumping regime, by varying only the cone pitch, we identify a geometric threshold below which sub-10 micron droplets are rapidly removed, and above which jumping is suppressed, resulting in slower dynamics and larger departing droplets. In situ optical and environmental scanning electron microscopies reveal the mechanistic origin of this transition: dense arrays favour full Cassie droplets, which depart cleanly, while wider spacing favours partial Cassie droplets that retain a localized wet region initiating new nucleation. From these results, we construct a geometry-wetting design map linking microstructure spacing, droplet morphology, and nucleation density. These findings establish design principles for scalable, mechanically robust microstructured surfaces capable of high-performance condensation management for anti-fogging, water harvesting, and heat-transfer applications.
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All authors Mariia S. Kiseleva, Tytti Karki, Mika Latikka, Parham Koochak, Sakari Lepikko, Maja Vuckovac, Tomi Koskinen, Ramesh Raju, Ville P. Jokinen, Jiazheng Liu, Nenad Miljkovic, Jaakko V.I. Timonen, Ilkka Tittonen, Robin H. A. Ras

Plasma Physics

A one-dimensional reduced plasma model for the electrical treeing

Plasma models, consisting of advection-diffusion Partial Differential Equations coupled with chemical reactions, are widely adopted to describe corona, streamers and dielectric barrier discharges. However, the complex geometry of the electrical treeing represents an obstacle for numerical simulations. We develop a reduced one-dimensional formulation of a plasma model for the electrical treeing, describing the evolution of charge concentrations under the effect of an electric field. The reduced system consists of weakly coupled advection-diffusion-reaction equations for charge concentrations inside the treeing and on the dielectric surface, coupled with production-destruction Ordinary Differential Equations for the dipole moment. A numerical scheme based on Finite Volumes and Patankar-type methods allows efficient simulations, while preserving key physical properties. The model is tested on increasingly complex geometries, from a straight line to a realistic electrical treeing.
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Physics and Society

Analysis of the Sybil defense of Duniter-based cryptocurrencies

Duniter-based cryptocurrencies, which are providing a kind of universal basic income, are using a system called "Web of Trust" based on a social network whose evolution is subject to graph theoretical rules, time constraints and a licence in order to avoid large Sybil attacks. We investigate in this article the largest size of a Sybil attack that a simplified version of the graph theoretical rules of a Web of Trust can undergo depending on the number of attackers and on the parameters of the system. We show that even if in theory, without considering social and time constraints, this system cannot in general prevent huge attacks, in the real-world case of a Duniter-based cryptocurrency (with thousands of users), the system can prevent attacks of large size with only graph theoretical rules.
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Instrumentation and Detectors

Filters and Redundancies: An Exploration of Novel Coherent Noise Filters for High Energy Physics

This work presents radiation-tolerant implementations for the SALSA front-end readout ASIC through redundancy methods applied to two median-finding algorithms designed for coherent noise suppression. Bit-wise Median Finder (BWMF) and Combinatorial Sum Median Finder (CSMF) were implemented in TSMC \SI{65}{\nano\meter} and evaluated in terms of area, power, and latency. Three redundancy techniques were applied in this work to compare their impact: simple TMR, full TMR, and temporal TMR (TTMR). The simple and full TMR approach was applied in both algorithms to establish comparisons and TTMR was applied to CSMF as an improvement. The results indicate that the BWMF achieves efficient performance in terms of area and power under the simple TMR scheme, but exhibits significantly higher power consumption when using the more robust full TMR approach. The TTMR technique, in turn, offers reliable fault tolerance while maintaining a feasible balance between area and power.
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All authors Felipe Costa, Nicolas Guimarães, Guilherme Milani, Bruno Sanches, Irakli Mandjavidze, Damien Neyret, Wilhelmus Van Noije

Optics

Lensless and Lossless HoloVAM

We report the first successful fabrication of three-dimensional models using our fully lensless holographic volumetric additive manufacturing (HoloVAM) platform. In this configuration, tomographic light fields are generated directly from a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) and delivered into a rotating vial of photopolymer without any imaging optics, relays, or index-matching bath. Building on the HoloTile framework for tiled Fourier holography and point-spread function (PSF) shaping, the system creates volumetric dose distributions with high photon efficiency and well-controlled axial propagation. Using a simple acrylate resin formulation and a minimalized optical train, we demonstrate reproducible fabrication of complex geometries. These results establish lensless HoloVAM as a practical and mechanically minimal route to volumetric fabrication, opening a new pathway toward compact and application-flexible VAM devices.
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Optics

Dispersion Engineering of Planar Sub-millimeter Wave Waveguides and Resonators with Low Radiation Loss

Mm-wave and THz superconducting circuits find numerous applications in areas ranging from quantum information and sensing to high-energy physics. Planar THz transmission lines and resonators are fabrication-friendly, compact, and scalable, and they can be efficiently interfaced with external signals and controls. However, planar circuits radiate strongly at high frequencies, which precludes their use in loss-sensitive applications. Here, we present the design and characterization of planar dispersion-engineered transmission lines that effectively suppress radiation leakage in desired mm-wave bands. We extend this concept to design planar resonators with extremely low radiation leakage, resulting in radiation Q-factors above 106 at 553 GHz. Low-loss planar THz circuitry will impact many application domains, including broadband communications, quantum information, radio astronomy, and cosmology.
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Physics and Society

On the Effect of Missing Transmission Chain Information in Agent-Based Models: Outcomes of Superspreading Events and Workplace Transmission

Agent-based models (ABMs) have emerged as distinguished tools for epidemic modeling due to their ability to capture detailed human contact patterns and can, thus, support decision-makers in times of outbreaks and epidemics. However, as a result of missing correspondingly resolved data transmission events are often modeled based on simplified assumptions. In this article, we present a framework to assess the impact of these simplifications on epidemic prediction outcomes, considering superspreading and workplace transmission events. We couple the VADERE microsimulation model with the large-scale MEmilio-ABM and compare the outcomes of four outbreak events after 10 days of simulation in a synthetic city district generated from German census data. In a restaurant superspreading event, where up to four households share tables, we observe 17.2 % more infections on day 10 after the outbreak. The difference increases to 46.0 % more infections when using the simplified initialization in a setting where only two households share tables. We observe similar outcomes (41.3 % vs. 9.3 % more infections) for two workplace settings with different mixing patterns between teams at work. In addition to the aggregated difference, we show differences in spatial dynamics and transmission trees obtained with complete or reduced outbreak information. We observe differences between simplified and fully detailed initializations that become more pronounced when the subnetworks in the outbreak setting are mixing less. In consequence and aside from classical calibration of models, the significant outcome differences should drive us to develop a more profound understanding of how and where simplified assumptions about transmission events are adequate.
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All authors Sascha Korf, Sophia Johanna Wagner, Gerta Köster, Martin J. Kühn

Chemical Physics

Why are diffuse atomic orbitals needed for accurate electronic wave functions of even neutral molecules?

An accurate description of electron correlation energies in molecules requires either basis set extrapolation or the use of explicitly-correlated wave functions that address the deficiencies of standard determinantal expansions at short interelectronic distances. Practical and robust explicitly-correlated F12 methods require the use of standard or specialized atomic orbital (AO) basis sets that include diffuse AOs, even for neutral species. Although modern reduced-scaling formulations of explicitly-correlated many-body methods have become routinely applicable to molecules with hundreds of atoms, application of F12 methods to large molecular systems can be severely hampered due to the onset of ill-conditioning spurred by the presence of diffuse AOs in the F12-appropriate orbital basis sets. Here we re-examine why diffuse AOs are necessary for application of F12 methods. To help such an investigation, we developed a dual-basis formulation of traditional and F12 coupled-cluster singles and doubles (CCSD) methods in which the reference (occupied) and correlating (virtual) orbitals are expanded in separate AO basis sets. Our conclusion is that diffuse AOs are fundamentally important for the traditional (non-F12) description of dynamical correlation; the necessity of diffuse AOs in F12 calculations arises indirectly due to the dramatic reduction of the basis set error by the F12 terms such that the error due to the lack of diffuse AOs becomes comparable to the residual basis set incompleteness. The dual-basis CC methods are suggested as an important candidate formalism for accurate (in particular, F12) reduced-scaling many-body methods in extended systems.
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