Papers

It is now possible to directly measure the accelerations that arise from the distribution of (dark) matter in the Milky Way. These acceleration-based measurements of the local dark matter density are now becoming competitive with estimates obtained through traditional kinematic techniques such as Jeans modeling. While classical methods can now draw on the positions and velocities of many millions of stars, recent acceleration-based studies have used fewer than 100 sources, yet achieve comparable precision. A key limitation of kinematic approaches is their reliance on assumptions of dynamical equilibrium and symmetry; direct acceleration measurements do not inherently suffer from this constraint. We find that, for the specific problem of estimating the local dark matter density, a single direct acceleration measurement can provide information comparable to $\sim$10$^5$ stars. We test the theoretical performance of direct acceleration techniques and Jeans modeling in estimating the local dark matter density using hydrodynamical N-body simulations of a MW-like galaxy, both in isolation and including a Sagittarius-like dwarf to generate disequilibrium. In the equilibrium scenario, Jeans modeling requires one thousand times more sources to achieve the same precision as the direct acceleration approach. This confirms that the per-source information advantage is intrinsic, and does not require disequilibrium to manifest. However, in the perturbed disk, the acceleration-based approach outperforms the Jeans analysis regardless of how many stars are available, due to significant bias in the result inferred from kinematics alone. Our results support earlier findings that non-equilibrium dynamics in the Galactic disk cause Jeans-based methods to systematically overestimate the local dark matter density; we show that this issue may also be present in other types of kinematic studies.

We investigate the phase structure, hadron masses, and topological susceptibility in the two-flavor and two-color QCD (QC$_2$D) medium, particularly focusing on the $U(1)_A$ axial anomaly effects. To this end, we employ the linear sigma model, and hadron fluctuations are incorporated through the functional renormalization group method. We establish in detail an effective potential that respects symmetries of QC$_2$D at finite quark chemical potential, $\mu_q$: $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R$ chiral, $U(1)$ baryon-number, parity and time-reversal symmetries. We find that the $U(1)_A$ anomaly couplings for mesons at finite temperature are enhanced with increasing $\mu_q$, while that of the baryons are not too sensitive to $\mu_q$. Despite the anomaly enhancement, we find that the topological susceptibility at larger $\mu_q$ is always suppressed regardless of the temperature, following chiral restoration. We also find that mass degeneracies of the chiral partners are well realized at higher temperatures and densities by the chiral restoration. Our findings are expected to provide useful information on properties of the $U(1)_A$ anomaly in medium for sign-problem-free lattice simulations of QC$_2$D.

Far-from-equilibrium plasmas require nonlinear Coulomb collisions, but direct three-dimensional Hermite discretization of the Landau operator needs an impractical dense tensor. By porting quantum chemistry Coulomb-integral methods, we reduce the six-dimensional integrals to one-center Coulomb moments and separable exponential-sum contractions. This gives a four-order-of-magnitude working-memory reduction and enables nonlinear relaxation tests. Numerical simulations preserve invariants and show that finite-basis linearization changes relaxation and produces a fourfold angular error.

Exploring exotic quantum metallic states beyond Landau's Fermi liquid theory remains a central focus in condensed matter physics. Such non-Fermi liquid behavior is mostly observed near quantum criticality, yet growing attention is directed toward extended NFL phases with intrinsic quantum fluctuations rooted in the extended ground state. While these extended NFL states have been previously reported only in a limited set of d- and f-electron systems, realizing a single, highly tunable platform capable of exhibiting multiple resistance exponent values is essential for uncovering the connection between the resistance exponent and the dominant quantum fluctuations coupled to quasiparticles. However, corresponding experimental progress remains elusive. Here, we report the observation of tunable extended non-Fermi liquid behavior in twisted double bilayer graphene encapsulated by aligned hBN layers. This NFL phase spans a broad range of carrier densities and exhibiting a carrier density dependent resistance exponent. Combined with temperature dependent resistance, magnetotransport and differential resistance measurements, these findings support a scenario where strong quantum fluctuations emerge from the interplay between localized and itinerant carriers. Our work establishes a highly tunable platform beyond conventional frameworks to investigate the organizing principles of non-Fermi liquid physics manifested in diverse behaviors.

Continuous-variable source-independent quantum random number generators offer the highest generation rates among semi-device-independent protocols. In reality, the protocol design is limited due to permissible measurement configurations. In this work, we propose a rigorous security proof framework that accommodates general, infinite-dimensional positive-operator-valued measures. Building upon the numerical security proof framework, we evaluate the randomness lower bound by maximizing the eavesdropper's guessing probability. Specifically, we transform the inherently infinite-dimensional semidefinite program in Fock space into a tractable finite-dimensional one, rigorously proving that latter provides a strict upper bound to the guessing probability of the original infinite-dimensional problem. Our framework showcases its capability by certifying secure randomness using unbalanced homodyne detection with only a single quadrature measurement, thereby bypassing the traditional requirement of measuring two conjugate quadratures such as $X$ and $P$. We experimentally validate our protocol on an optical platform using vacuum and weak coherent states, achieving a maximum secure randomness extraction of 1.11 bits per sample and an ultra-high generation rate of 1.776 Gbps. This work provides a flexible design for practical, high-speed quantum random number generators.

The nature of the quantum spin liquid (QSL) phase in the frustrated $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg model on the triangular lattice remains an open and actively debated problem. In this work, we employ the infinite projected entangled-pair state (PEPS) to systematically investigate the model under different symmetry constraints. Our simulations reveal a direct transition from the $120^\circ$ Néel state to a putative QSL at $J_2/J_1\approx 0.08$, signaled by the collapse of magnetic order. We further show that, through either an appropriate unitary rotation or spontaneous spin long-range order, the stripe antiferromagnetic phase can also be accurately captured within the infinite PEPS framework. A central focus of our study is the role played by the PEPS symmetry in approximating the QSL ground-state sandwiched between the two magnetic phases. We first found that a fully-symmetric topological $\mathbb{Z}_2$ Resonating Valence Bond state, which can be written as a simple PEPS with bond dimension $D=3$, exhibits a reasonably good variational energy. Motivated by this finding, we have further constructed generic $\mathbb{Z}_2$-symmetric PEPS of larger bond dimension (up to $D=7$). We found that, under wavefunction optimization, spinons condense and, simultaneously, topological vison excitations get confined, hence precluding $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological order. This strongly indicates the gapless (or critical) nature of the QSL phase, which is most naturally consistent with a U(1) Dirac spin liquid scenario.

Discoveries of numerous exoplanets by various methods enable detailed characterization including bulk density. Formation and evolution pathways of planets can thus be probed in the mass-radius and mass-density diagrams. We develop a framework to identify dominant processes shaping parameter space in these diagrams by integrating previous studies. These include interior structure models, gas accretion/retention recipes, and photoevaporative and collisional mass losses. We find that the distribution of planets in the diagrams is diversified by two evolution processes: photoevaporative and collisional mass losses, and the properties of planets before experiencing these processes are consistent with predictions of standard core accretion. In particular, collisional mass growth and loss move planets to the parameter space, which is otherwise occupied by water-dominated (i.e., nearly pure water) planets, gathering non-necessity of invoking such planets. A potentially high abundance of water-rich planets are possible with the ice-to-rock ratio capped at $1/3$, similar to solar system comets. We propose a new classification scheme and apply to observed exoplanets. The classification scheme recovers four canonical planet types widely used in the literature and is expended to eight classes in total due to evolution processes. We divide formation and evolution pathways into four stages (core formation, gas accretion, collisional mass growth and loss, and photoevaporation) and trace how planets populate in the mass-radius and mass-density diagrams with time. We apply the framework to habitable zone planets and discuss possible predictions. This work emphasizes the importance of precise mass and radius measurements, especially for small-sized, potentially habitable planets.

High-power Dicke quantum batteries (QBs) typically exploit collective superradiance, whereas intrinsic matter-matter interactions are conventionally considered detrimental. Here, we propose a counterintuitive paradigm: these interactions can be controlled and repurposed as a synergistic resource to enhance charging power and capacity. In the low-excitation limit, transverse interactions induce collective spin squeezing, causing critical mode softening and an exponential enhancement of effective coupling, which significantly boosts charging power. At higher excitations, these interactions act as a macroscopic nonlinear torque. By appropriately aligning this torque, we effectively lower phase-space dynamical barriers, guiding the system along optimal rapid-charging paths. Importantly, this cooperative enhancement remains highly robust under realistic dissipation, outperforming ideal, dissipationless Dicke QBs in specific regimes. Our results provide a blueprint for exploiting matter interactions to design dissipation-resistant, high-performance many-body QBs.

Although higgsinos are well motivated to be light from the viewpoint of naturalness, they remain difficult to detect experimentally because they interact only through electroweak interactions and typically possess a compressed mass spectrum. While higgsino dark matter can be efficiently probed by direct detection experiments when gauginos are relatively light, the sensitivity rapidly deteriorates for heavier gauginos due to the suppression of higgsino-gaugino mixing. In this paper, we investigate the prospects for probing light higgsinos through future electroweak precision measurements. Focusing on scenarios in which charginos and neutralinos are the only light electroweakly interacting superparticles, we evaluate their contributions to the electroweak oblique parameters as well as to the precision observables $M_W$ and $\sin^2\theta_{\mathrm{eff}}$. We compare the projected sensitivities of future $e^+e^-$ colliders with those of dark matter direct detection experiments. We find that future electroweak precision measurements provide a powerful probe of higgsinos with masses $\lesssim 500~\mathrm{GeV}$, including parameter regions with highly compressed spectra and spin-independent scattering cross sections below the neutrino fog. On the other hand, dark matter direct detection experiments are particularly sensitive to scenarios with larger charged-neutral mass splittings induced by higgsino-gaugino mixing, and can probe higgsino dark matter all the way up to the thermal relic mass of $\simeq 1~\mathrm{TeV}$. Our results demonstrate the strong complementarity between electroweak precision measurements and dark matter direct detection experiments in exploring light higgsinos and testing supersymmetric scenarios motivated by naturalness.

Fast qubit readout conventionally encodes state information in a dispersive frequency shift. Here we formulate a linewidth-encoded quantum non-demolition measurement channel in which the qubit state enters the external radiative amplitude, equivalently a state-dependent Lindblad jump operator. Starting from an empty cavity, we show analytically that this dissipative channel imprints state information on the output field at $O(t)$, whereas standard dispersive readout starts at $O(t^2)$ because it requires intracavity buildup and conditional phase accumulation. This short-time scaling produces faster matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio accumulation and persists in finite-resource comparisons, including photon-number limits, external-linewidth budgets, cavity depletion, and pulse-optimized dispersive baselines. We further outline an auxiliary-mode route that converts a qubit-state-dependent auxiliary susceptibility into a state-dependent linewidth. These results identify engineered dissipation as an information-carrying resource for fast quantum non-demolition readout.

Concurrence is one of the most well-known entanglement measures. We show that, for arbitrary bipartite states, the lower bound of concurrence induced by symmetric measurements is always tighter than the one obtain from realignment. Besides, we derive an extended version of lower bound of concurrence induced by symmetric measurements, which can also be experimentally identified without state tomography, and further present a corresponding lower bound of genuine tripartite entanglement concurrence.

Landau–de Gennes theory provides a successful continuum description of nematic order and topological defects, but connecting its phenomenological coefficients to microscopic molecular properties remains challenging in lyotropic liquid crystals. They often exhibit strong elastic anisotropy and, as is the case in lyotropic chromonics, defect cores are much larger than characteristic molecular length scales. A self consistent field theory for fixed length wormlike chains is introduced to describe the effects of chain flexibility and of density–nematic order coupling on equilibrium uniform and defected states. Results show that while the coupling between density and nematic director is weak, a stronger density–degree of order coupling softens collective nematic fluctuations, controls the limit of stability of the nematic phase, and modifies the magnitudes and anisotropy of the correlation lengths. Near a $+1/2$ disclination, density deviations relative to the uniform state are shown to be large, and modify the extent of the core. Further, the director profile is anisotropic. The defect core size is found to scale approximately linearly with the bulk correlation length, a trend also observed in an augmented Landau–de Gennes model. These results provide microscopic insight on how chain density and flexibility couple to nematic order, and point to an augmented Landau–de Gennes model for lyotropic liquid crystals.

We investigate the Thouless pumping dynamics of nonlinear gap solitons and attempt to realize topological Chern number switching by modulating nonlinear parameters and varying the ramping rate of the relative phase between periodic potentials. We find that gap solitons can undergo nonlinear instabilities accompanied by finite Bogoliubov excitations under near-adiabatic ramping. Such finite Bogoliubov excitations induce the particle loss of the solitons, leading to reversed propagation directions that signals the occurrence of Chern number switching with analyzing the correspondence between soliton chemical potential and Bloch topological energy band. Our findings offer a feasible strategy for manipulating the Thouless pump dynamics of gap solitons mediated by finite Bogoliubov excitations, with implications for topological quantum transport and quantum computing applications.

Camera-based quantum imaging detects spatially correlated photon pairs from spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). Conventional covariance methods typically require tens of thousands of frames to extract weak correlations from noise. While thick crystals can increase photon flux, they generate photon pairs from multiple emission positions within the crystal, producing multiple correlation centers with complex pairing geometries. In addition, conventional covariance methods assume a single pre-selected correlation center and cannot fully exploit these distributed correlations. We demonstrate that kurtosis difference, a fourth-order statistic measuring tail similarity, effectively discriminates correlated pixel pairs even when correlation coefficients remain low. Weighting covariance by an exponential function of absolute kurtosis difference can select symmetric pixels while preserving true coincidences. This kurtosis weighting automatically identifies correlated pairs within a broad search region and accommodates multiple pairing geometries without requiring precise correlation center calibration. At 5000 frames, our method yields a contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) exceeding 7, whereas standard covariance remains below 2. Compared with standard covariance, the method reduces the acquisition time by 40-fold and could enable practical quantum imaging in sparse correlated-photon regimes.

This paper explores the holographic Casimir effect associated with parallel spherical defects. The gravity dual is dominated by the AdS soliton with connected EOW branes at small widths, transitioning to AdS space with disconnected EOW branes as the width increases. Consequently, the holographic Casimir effect undergoes a first-order phase transition and vanishes in the disconnected phase. This new behavior highlights a significant difference from free theories, holographic parallel plane defects, and hyperbolic defects. Additionally, we confirm that the free theories adhere to the holographic bound for the Casimir effect in the case of parallel spherical defects. Interestingly, we observe that cosmic censorship provides a holographic interpretation of the attractive nature of the Casimir force when identical boundary conditions are imposed on both parallel surfaces. The repulsive Casimir force is associated with the bulk spacetime containing a naked singularity, which is generally considered forbidden. Additionally, we argue that topological censorship offers a natural explanation for why the vacuum of parallel defects is dual to the AdS soliton.

Studying the ordered phases and quantum supercritical low-temperature regime at the vicinity of the deconfinement transition point in 1D easy-axis XXZ ferromagnet, we suggest their interpretations according to the corresponding dominant lowest-energy excitations. We show, that the two ordered phases are governed by magnons, while the quantum supercritical regime is governed by kinks. Within this framework the Ising model is treated in detail.

We develop a new analytical model describing the radiative and dynamical structure of an accretion-powered X-ray pulsar, including relativistic effects and a detailed representation of the rotational and magnetic geometry of the neutron star and the two accretion columns. The model provides for the first time a simultaneous calculation of both the phase-averaged spectrum and the pulse profile for an accretion-powered X-ray pulsar. The X-ray continuum spectrum is calculated using the analytical model of Becker & Wolff (2022), which assumes a conical accretion column geometry. The trajectory of the radiation escaping from the two columns is tracked through the curved spacetime using the Schwarzschild metric. The angular distribution of the radiation escaping from the surfaces of the columns (the beaming pattern) is represented using a set of "laser-like" emission directions, with associated amplitudes, called weight coefficients, that each contribute "sub-profiles" to the observed pulse profile. The sub-profiles provide basis functions that are used to fit the observed pulse profile. This yields a set of weight coefficients that determine the beaming pattern of the emission from the accretion column. We use the new model to analyze NuSTAR data for Her X-1, allowing the determination of the temperature, accretion rate, and magnetic field strength, as well as the rotational inclination angle and the latitudes of the two magnetic poles. The method also yields the beaming pattern of the emission, hence providing for the first time a self-consistent phenomenological description of the physical and radiative structures of the two accretion columns.

The study of the Earth's behavior has greatly benefited from the widespread deployment of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), enabling large-scale monitoring of crustal deformation and long-term geophysical trends. In this work, we focus on the North American region, where complex tectonic activity, particularly along the western margin, requires methods capable of processing and analyzing large collections of GNSS time series distributed across extensive spatial domains. Analyzing the full GNSS network provides a coherent view of deformation across multiple scales, allowing detection of long-wavelength signals, subtle intraplate strain and regionally consistent velocity fields that are difficult to capture through local or subsampled analyses. Despite the availability of such data, existing methodologies remain computationally prohibitive for large-scale analyses across this region (or others). To address this limitation, we introduce a highly scalable framework (implemented in open-source software) that enables inference on crustal deformation across the full North American GNSS network using standard computational resources. The proposed method achieves substantial computational gains while maintaining inferential performance comparable to existing approaches and confirms existing tectonic trends, thereby supporting efficient large-scale monitoring and contributing to ongoing efforts toward "Open Science".

It has been recently argued that in semi-classical gravity, a minimal 2-sphere is not a horizon but a tiny throat of a wormhole, such as the Damour–Solodukhin wormhole (DSWH), with a free parameter $\lambda \neq 0$ separating it from a Schwarxzschild black hole (BH) ($\lambda =0$). As shown by DS, their horizonless WH can mimic many properties of a black hole (BH). Assuming that observing a BH mimicker is equivalent to observing a BH itself, we ask the question as to which identity of the object, a WH or a BH, an observer is likely to observe in a single experiment. To answer this, we introduce Tangherlini's new concept of indeterminacy in the gravitational field by portraying the field as a refractive medium. We then postulate that the identity of the observed object will depend on the probabilistic outcome of photon motion probing the object. The probabilities will be described by Fresnel reflection ($R$) and transmission ($T$) coefficients derived by Tangherlini on the basis of a non-quantum statistical indeterminacy of photon motion in ordinary optical media. By adapting this approach to a gravitational "effective optical medium," we obtain two intriguing results: (i) The Fresnel coefficients at the DSWH throat are independent of mass $M$ but dependent solely on the parameter $\lambda \neq 0$. (ii) Depending on the location of the observer, what is a DSWH to one observer may appear as a BH to another observer for the same value of $\lambda \neq 0$.

We present a formulation of the special theory of relativity which bears on F.A. Lindemann's assertion that this theory could have been reached "by pure logic soon after Isaac Newton". We start with the "intuitively plausible" pair of Galilean spatial transformations. These simple relations possess a rich structure of ten properties. From these, one discerns an axiomatic structure (and a synchrony convention) leading to the well-known Lorentz-type transformations which contain a universal constant, $V^2$. Analysis of Fizeau's experiment (1851) shows that $V^2 = c^2$, where $c$ is the speed of light in vacuo. Hence one obtains the Lorentz transformation. Requisites for such a formulation (Galileo's relativity principle, analytical mechanics, the method of changing a postulate, etc.) emerged during the 1600s and 1700s. These observations provide a framework for Lindemann's assertion. We also consider inertially-moving systems of charge, and derive electromagnetic field equations and a force law by applying the Lorentz-type transformations to the theory of electrostatics. The results are independent of any choice of units, and from their dependence on $V^2$ one can infer how certain phenomena manifest in each of the three possible types of space-time.

Lunar positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) is moving from concept to hardware, ESA's Moonlight/LCNS, NovaMoon reference stations, LunaNet, and Coordinated Lunar Time, all reducing to one estimation core: fix the orbits and clocks of the lunar infrastructure and tie them to an Earth/inertial frame. We ask which measurements make a surface station's absolute position observable, and prove the answer. In a snapshot batch fit, the internal observables (station-to-satellite and inter-satellite ranging plus clock-sync) constrain only relative geometry and leave a six-dimensional rigid-body datum defect: three translations and three rotations of the cluster. The clocks are fully observable, so the defect is purely positional, and closing it needs a tie to the Earth frame. Two such ties exist and are not interchangeable. An indirect tie (Earth-to-satellite ranging through the constellation) reaches the station only when the satellite geometry is rich; a direct tie (an Earth-baseline VLBI delay to the station beacon) fixes it regardless. This gives a conditional design law, not a single number: VLBI restores absolute observability when the constellation cannot supply it, and merely sharpens the bound when it can. For a sparse three-satellite constellation the station lies in the null space of the Fisher information until VLBI is added, reaching a Cramer-Rao bound of 20.1 m; for a rich six-satellite constellation VLBI tightens the bound from 23.2 m to 9.7 m. A single-epoch baseline informs at most two of three axes, so the datum closes at three non-collinear Earth stations. The Gauss-Newton estimator attains the bound (efficiency 1.02), with a 91x median station-error improvement in the sparse regime. The FIM/CRLB engine is validated against NumPy and published closed forms; the lunar application stays modelled, every figure deterministic and reproducible.

The coordination of prices in economics is one of the most complex phenomena. In particular, the classical and neoclassical approaches related to the economic theory provide some insights into such a complex coordination based on different formulations. However, these formulations have not been successful for explaining simple mechanisms to understand and predict a set of prices that theoretically clears all markets. Consequently, elementary cellular automata can contribute to clarify such a coordination problem by using simple computational rules to describe the theoretical bases of the classical and neoclassical economics. Therefore, we propose to use this type of cellular automata for explaining different escenarios of price coordination in which simple rules of price interactions generate stable and unstable patterns of coordination. We used an explorative data analysis based on the Shannon entropy for computing the uncertainty related to such generated patterns of coordination, and a Monte Carlo simulation approximation based on a Spearman correlation for evaluating the statistical significance of such price coordination. Findings suggested that the classical economics provides a consistent approach for understanding the coordination of prices because it emphasizes human interactions based on logical choices related to an objective data. On the other hand, the neoclassical approach does not propose any type of mechanism for describing the price coordination. The neoclassical individual is just a spectator and receiver of the unpredictable and supposed event of price coordination. As a result, by modeling the economic theory based on computational concepts, we reveal facts and believes behind the classical and neoclassical economics.

We use the relativity principle to complete axiomatic reconstructions of quantum mechanics (QM) via information-theoretic principles that are based on Darrigol's "discreteness" requirement or its equivalent, e.g., Brukner & Zeilinger's Information Invariance & Continuity or Khrennikov's quantum action invariance principle. In this approach to the quantum reconstruction program (QRP), the Hilbert space kinematics of QM is derived most fundamentally from the experimentally motivated postulate of "discreteness," rendering QM a principle theory as defined by Einstein. Special relativity is also a principle theory, since its Lorentz transformation kinematics is derived from the experimentally motivated light postulate. While special relativity has a compelling fundamental principle (relativity principle) to account for its experimentally motivated light postulate, QRP has not produced a compelling fundamental principle to account for its experimentally motivated "discreteness" requirement. We complete QRP by showing how the "discreteness" requirement is necessitated by the relativity principle and Planck's radiation law, just like the light postulate is necessitated by the relativity principle and Maxwell's equations. Accordingly, the fundamental explanans for time dilation, length contraction, quantum superposition, and entanglement is the relativity principle. Phenomenologically speaking, the relativity principle is "the equality of all perspectives." Thus, quantum entanglement isn't evidence for the violation of intersubjective agreement or the need to abandon factive or objective models of reality, as in relational interpretations of QM. It is evidence that reality is not a fragmented collage of different subjective experiences from different perspectives, it's a comprehensive and coherent integration of those different subjective experiences per the equality of all perspectives.

Produced by the interaction between the “pulsar wind” powered by the rotational energy of a neutron star and its surroundings, the study of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) provides vital insight into the physics of neutron star magnetospheres and ultra-relativistic outflows. Spatially-resolved studies of the continuum and polarized radio emission of these sources are vital for understanding the production of $e^\pm$ in the magnetospheres of neutron stars, the acceleration of these particles (and potentially baryons) to $\gtrsim10^{15}~{\rm eV}$ energies, and their propagation within the PWN and in the surrounding interstellar medium. The significant improvements in sensitivity, dynamic range, timing capabilities offered by the Square Kilometer Array have the potential to greatly improve our understanding of the origin of some of the highest energy particles produced in the Milky Way.

In this paper we prove, both mathematically and through a simulation, how the Quantum Amplitude Estimation algorithm can obtain quadratic improvements with respect to the Monte Carlo method in gradient-based stochastic optimization, highlighting the central role of the Quantum Phase Estimation concentration guarantee in achieving the predicted advantage.

We report on multiband photometric and spectroscopic observations of SN 2023rve, a nearby Type II supernova (SN II) discovered in galaxy NGC 1097 (D=15.4 $\pm$ 3.2 Mpc). Nearby SNe II provide constraints on late-stage evolution and progenitor mass loss, particularly the role of circumstellar material (CSM) in shaping SN II observables. SN 2023rve peaks with an absolute V-band magnitude of -17.1 and declines at a rate of 0.90 $\pm$ 0.02 mag/50 days during the plateau. The bolometric light curve implies a $^{56}$Ni mass of $0.0064 M_\odot$. Using hydrodynamic light-curve modeling, we infer an intermediate-mass progenitor ($\sim14-18 M_\odot$), a low explosion energy of 0.27$\times10^{51}$ ergs, and a dense CSM component with radial extent of $2900 R_\odot$ and density parameter of $10^{18}$ g cm$^{-1}$. This supports growing evidence that enhanced pre-SN mass loss influences the diversity of SNe II. The nebular spectra of SN 2023rve show narrow He I lines and an absence of [O I] lines unprecedented among Type II SNe. Comparison with other SNe II shows that only two other known objects, both with higher velocities, lack oxygen signatures at similar epochs, <10% of the sample. The lack of oxygen emission combined with low explosion energy, a long plateau, and a small synthesized nickel mass may be consistent with partial fallback of material onto the compact remnant. We also discuss alternative explanations for the suppressed oxygen emission, including dust formation, oxygen-calcium mixing, and ongoing CSM interaction.

We present an enhanced random-phase-approximation–local-density-approximation (e-RPA-LDA) model for the stopping power of ions that is valid over a wide range of conditions, from cold solids through warm dense matter to high-energy-density plasmas. The electronic stopping is computed from the RPA dielectric response in the local-density approximation over an average-atom electron density obtained in a muffin-tin potential with the Flexible Atomic Code, augmented by four corrections to the earlier RPA-LDA model of Wang et al.: a strong-collision correction for large-momentum-transfer events, a static local-field correction for electron correlations, an electron-binding correction, and the higher-order Barkas and Bloch terms. The resulting proton stopping powers agree with the NIST PSTAR and IAEA databases across the periodic table and for compounds – providing a physics-based alternative to semi-empirical codes such as SRIM – and reproduce the limited published plasma data, including charged-particle transport-workshop benchmarks, time-dependent DFT calculations, and the first measurements of enhanced light-ion stopping in plasmas. We further extend the model to a complete total stopping power for protons and alpha particles by adding nuclear and ionic (elastic ion-ion) stopping to the electronic term, yielding a continuous, self-consistent description of energy deposition from cold matter to hot dense plasmas. Because the average-atom treatment includes contributions from all electrons – unlike Kohn-Sham DFT – while remaining computationally efficient and applicable to low- and high-Z targets at arbitrary temperature and degeneracy, the model is well suited to inertial fusion and high-energy-density science. The computational framework is available on GitHub (https://github.com/dedx-erpa/dedx), with tabulated stopping powers and ranges in the data/ subdirectory.

Indentation is a practical technique for probing the mechanical properties of soft materials such as elastomers and gels when standard tests are difficult, destructive, or simply cannot be performed in situ. Here, deep indentation of a half space made from an isotropic, incompressible one term Ogden hyperelastic solid is analysed for an indenter in the form of a rigid circular rod of radius R and that is either flat-bottomed or has a hemispherical tip. Numerical simulations reveal that a limit state is achieved when the indent depth D much exceeds the radius R of the rod and the indentation force F scales as F = e̱ta} E D^2, where e̱ta} is a dimensionless coefficient and E is the Young s modulus of the solid. The magnitude of e̱ta} increases with the degree of strain stiffening of the hyperelastic solid but is almost insensitive to the headshape of the rod and to the level of Coulomb friction at the interface with the solid. A high level of strain stiffening of the Ogden solid at finite strain implies that the level of strain at the indenter tip is small up to a large value of D/R, thereby protecting the solid from failure and penetration. Directly ahead of the indenter tip the contours of strain energy density are approximately spheroidal in shape and far ahead the Boussinesq solution is recovered. The limit state of deep indentation is compared to that of cavity expansion; whilst several qualitative features are shared, the two limit states differ in their kinematic fields and in their sensitivity to the degree of strain stiffening in the Ogden solid.

We investigate the repetitive Penrose process for charged particles in an initially extremal Kerr–Newman black hole and develop a nonlinear iterative framework in which the black-hole mass, angular momentum, electric charge, and irreducible mass are updated after every extraction event. By imposing the triple turning-point condition, we obtain an analytic solution of the conservation equations, allowing the entire extraction sequence to be followed self-consistently. The dynamics are governed by two electromagnetic couplings. The coupling $\hat Q\hat q_0$ determines whether the incident particle can continue to access the ergoregion and therefore controls the termination of the repetitive process, whereas $\hat Q\hat q_1$ governs the depth of the negative-energy states and the extraction efficiency. An attractive interaction ($\hat Q\hat q_1<0$) significantly enhances both the energy return on investment and the energy utilization efficiency and, above a critical charge, produces a transient increase of the dimensionless spin despite the continuous loss of angular momentum. We identify a four-region structure in the captured-particle charge parameter space. Near the critical charge $\hat q_1\simeq-54.85405$, the evolution approaches the reversible Christodoulou–Ruffini limit with the energy utilization efficiency approaching unity while the black hole remains sub-extremal. Beyond this point the irreducible mass decreases, indicating the breakdown of the test-particle approximation. Unlike the repetitive Penrose process in the extremal Reissner–Nordström spacetime, the Kerr–Newman black hole can evolve through the neutral state and reverse the sign of its electric charge without violating the area theorem or cosmic censorship, demonstrating that the discharge barrier found in the Reissner–Nordström case is not a generic property of charged black holes.

Generative AI and high-throughput DFT pipelines propose millions of inorganic crystal structures, but lack a calibrated reference frame against experimentally realized chemistry. Here we embed 167,500 Inorganic Crystal Structure Database entries in a continuous structural-similarity space, partition it into graph communities, and replay them in time. Experimental discovery shows strong structural memory: 82.9% of new formulas enter pre-existing communities; new-community formation falls from 40.2% (1930s) to 2.6% (2010s). The communities are chemically meaningful, positively identifying nine textbook field-defining renaissances, including cuprates, colossal-magnetoresistance manganites, MAX phases, and Li-ion battery cathodes. Projecting GNoME, MatterGen-public, Materials Project, JARVIS-DFT, and Alexandria-PBE into frozen historical maps yields a cutoff-robust ordering: held-out ICSD > MatterGen > {GNoME ~ MP-theoretical} > JARVIS > Alexandria. Structural departure from experimental basins is not specific to generative AI but general across the tested computed sets. Combining structural proximity with reduced-formula precedent defines a historical synthesizability prior for triaging computed materials.