Papers

We investigate the behavior of Einstein crystals in noncommutative backgrounds described by the Snyder and Snyder-de Sitter models. Possible novel effects, which may arise in realistic systems such as diamond crystals, are analyzed within a thermodynamical framework. We show that noncommutativity influences the key thermodynamic quantities, including internal energy and specific heat. These corrections can be directly related to modifications of the underlying uncertainty relations, of the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) and generalized extended uncertainty principle (GEUP) types.

In this paper, we first devise a geometrical model, featuring a torus-like flux rope based on the shape of 3DCORE model. The global shape of the torus is an ellipse, while the cross sections are circular along the torus. The thinnest point is located between the Sun center and photosphere. Deflections and inclination are considered as well. Using multiwavelength observations from perspectives of Earth, Ahead-STEREO (STA), and Solar Orbiter, we apply the model to three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions and tracking of the filament eruption, which was associated with a flare and a coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2024 October 8. The morphology, direction, and true velocity ($\sim$433 km/s) of the eruptive filament are obtained. It is found that the filament propagates nonradially, deflecting slightly eastward by $\sim$10 degrees and significantly southward by $\sim$40 degrees. Trajectory of the filament in the ecliptic plane reveals that the filament moves toward STA. The true direction of the eruptive filament using imaging and spectral observations is mutually verified by 3D reconstructions. The heliocentric distance of the filament increases from $\sim$1.68 to $\sim$2.94 solar radii within 35 minutes. Based on the results of 3D reconstructions, the true speed of the CME leading edge is evaluated to be 1046$-$1145 km/s.

For large-scale superconducting quantum technology, e.g. quantum computing, the homogeneity of wafer-scale superconducting thin films is vital for consistent performance of the fabricated devices. Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy as a contactless and non-destructive measurement technique is a powerful tool to characterize the superconducting films. In this work, a set of niobium titanium nitride (NbTiN) thin films on 4-inch and 6-inch silicon wafers, grown via plasma-enhanced magnetron sputtering, are investigated via THz spectroscopy: full wafers are mapped at room temperatures and exemplary segments are characterized at cryogenic temperatures. The deviations in observed sheet resistance depend on the used deposition device and the film thickness. While the deviations in superconducting sheet kinetic inductance match those of the normal-state sheet resistance, the critical temperature and energy gap exhibit little variation. This THz mapping technique demonstrates the feasibility of evaluating wafer-scale superconducting thin films before lithography, facilitating preparation of the thin films for reproducible device fabrication.

In this work, we demonstrate that shock solutions in the Israel-Stewart framework lose regularity once the shock velocity reaches a critical value, and a discontinuity emerges in the solution, which can be interpreted as a second shock wave. This subshock arises as a consequence of the finite speed of information propagation inherent to the Israel-Stewart theory. We then perform numerical simulations to confirm the breakdown of solution continuity. Subsequently, we propose two regularization procedures to extend the domain of continuous shock solutions. The first employs a third-order extension, which introduces new kinetic fields, while the second incorporates a small numerical bulk viscosity. Both methods effectively increase the maximum propagation speed of the Israel-Stewart theory and extend the range over which regular shock solutions exist. Thus, we confirm that this loss of regularity is a direct consequence of the Israel-Stewart framework. These results suggest that Israel-Stewart theory may not provide an adequate description of ultra-relativistic shock waves.

(In,Ga)N layers are grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on GaN templates. We introduce a two-step protocol that involves switching the growth conditions from initially N-stable to metal-stable. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction as well as scanning electron and atomic force microscopy reveal that the first step results in a rough intermediate surface with open pits, whereas the final surface is smooth. The narrow linewidth of the photoluminescence band indicates an excellent compositional homogeneity of the upper layer. Its in-plane lattice constant is determined to be $\approx$3.26 Åfrom X-ray diffraction measurements. This combination of favorable properties makes these layers attractive as pseudo-substrates for the growth of red-emitting (In,Ga)N light-emitting diodes. In particular, the approach presented here does not require any complex external processing and is, thus, scalable and economical.

To study interstellar gas and grain chemistry, gas-phase astrochemical models have been developed since the early 1980s and gas-grain models since the 1990s. Each published model includes various assumptions mainly for surface processes. In this paper, we compare recently added mechanisms for grain surface chemistry, namely, non-diffusive chemistry, radiolysis, and chemical desorption. Several formalisms for these processes have been added to our astrochemical model Nautilus, and we tested them, comparing the predicted gas-phase and ice abundances. Our predictions are also compared to gas and ice observed compositions. Our main findings are that radiolysis itself does not influence the results. Non-diffusive chemistry can have an impact on the gas-phase and ice species, but it depends on the adopted formalism. In particular, the one of Shingledecker & Herbst (2018) changes the main reservoirs of the species in the ices, impacting the species in the gas-phase as well. The adopted formalism for chemical desorption can produce differences in the gas-phase by up to a factor of ten. Last, our standard model, without non-diffusive chemistry and with the chemical desorption from Fredon et al. (2021), produces the best results in relation to observed gas-phase abundances, while the ice observed agreement is unchanged. The formalism for some grain surface processes are important even for gas-phase abundances. More experiments are needed to constrain their efficiency, however. For the chemical desorption, each formalism relies on an uncertain parameter, which is the fraction of the energy actually delivered to the products, that can be adjusted to reproduce the experiments.

Grover's algorithm is one of the most significant quantum algorithms, enabling the search for a marked element in an unsorted database quadratically faster than classical search algorithms. We utilize Groves's algorithm to detect the edges of a digital image faster than any classical edge detection methods. The high success probability of our method in detecting image edges, compared to most existing quantum edge detection methods, makes it a more suitable candidate for use in the presence of noise on current quantum devices. We implemented our model for the $2\times 2$ blocks of the image using a two-qubit Qiskit circuit with the QASM simulator and the noisy IBM Sydney(fake) device, making it suitable for most of the current NISQ devices.

The path optimization method is applied to the Stephanov model and the chiral random matrix model, both of which share several properties with QCD, to mitigate the sign problem caused by the fermion determinant. The Stephanov model serves as a prototypical model of finite-density QCD, while the chiral random matrix model represents an ideal system featuring the Silver Blaze phenomenon. We show that the path optimization successfully improves the average phase factor in the Stephanov model at high chemical potential, reproducing the analytical results with reduced statistical errors. However, it fails to improve the average phase factor in the Stephanov model at low chemical potential, as well as in the chiral random matrix model. This tendency in the phase factor behavior seems to be closely related to the global sign problem.

Non-Gaussianity is an essential resource for genuine quantum advantages in continuous-variable quantum systems and is regarded as a counterpart of the magic resource in discrete-variable systems. Recently, an exact correspondence between non-Gaussianity (NG) and the magic resource was identified within the Gottesman–Kitaev–Preskill (GKP) encoding framework. Whether such a relation persists beyond GKP encoding, however, remains unclear. Here, we address this question in the cat-code setting. By comparing the Wigner logarithmic negativity (WLN) and a magic measure defined from a phase-operator basis, we analyze the resource geometry of non-degenerate $d$-peaked cat states. We find that cat codes do not inherit the global value-preserving GKP magic–NG equivalence, but their asymptotic WLN geometry allows a constructive local alignment with the magic-measure geometry. Specifically, under a distinguished SU($d$) asymptotic cat code, we establish a sector-dependent alignment between WLN level sets and magic-measure level sets based on their intrinsic local geometries. These results identify both the global incompatibility and the locally constructive relation between magic and non-Gaussian resources in cat codes, suggesting a geometry-based approach to resource correspondences beyond the GKP framework.

We study quasinormal modes (QNMs) of a minimally coupled massless scalar field on four-dimensional Schwarzschild–anti-de Sitter black holes using a Chebyshev spectral method. After compactifying the exterior domain, the radial problem is formulated as a quadratic matrix pencil in the dimensionless frequency. For the standard Dirichlet, or vanishing-field, boundary condition at the conformal AdS boundary, we reproduce the known scalar spectra across small, intermediate, and large black holes, including long overtone sequences and the expected approach to pure-AdS normal modes in the small black hole limit. We then deform the AdS boundary condition by imposing a generalized relation between the two independent asymptotic coefficients of the massless scalar. This deformation is treated as a generalized coefficient boundary condition for the massless scalar, and not as the usual alternative quantization for scalars in the Breitenlohner-Freedman window. The Dirichlet endpoint recovers the stable standard spectrum. For every non-Dirichlet value examined, and for representative small, intermediate, and large black holes, we find an additional mode with positive imaginary part, signaling a boundary-condition-induced instability. A near-Dirichlet refinement finds no finite critical angle down to the smallest deformation probed.

Aims. We investigate the evolution of X-ray reverberation lags in the black hole X-ray binary Swift J1727.8-1613 during its 2023 outburst, with the aim of probing the inner accretion flow geometry across spectral states. Methods. We analyzed NICER observations covering the low-hard state (LHS) and hard-intermediate state (HIMS). The time lags were computed using Fourier-based techniques, and we constructed lag-frequency and lag-energy spectra. To obtain a robust estimate of the soft lag amplitude, we focused on a frequency range in which the reverberation signal dominates and remains stable, thereby minimizing contamination from hard lags and phase-wrapping effects. Results. The soft lag amplitude increases rapidly from the LHS to the early HIMS and then stays near 10 ms throughout the HIMS. In the frequency range in which reverberation lags prevail, the lag shows little dependence on Fourier frequency. On the other hand, the observed low-frequency lags change from hard-lag dominated to soft-lag dominated, with amplitudes comparable to those measured at higher frequencies. Conclusions. These results suggest that the reverberation lag varies little during the HIMS, consistent with a relatively stable inner accretion geometry during this state. The apparent evolution of the lag amplitude from the LHS to the HIMS can be largely explained by the diminishing effect of hard lags and does not necessarily require significant changes in the intrinsic light-travel timescale. Swift J1727.8-1613 therefore provides a case in which the reverberation signal can be studied with reduced contamination over a broad frequency range, offering new insight into the evolution of the accretion geometry in black hole X-ray binaries.

Altermagnets enable spin-split transport without stray magnetic fields, yet converting their momentum-dependent spin splitting into a strong tunnel-junction response requires interface-selected tunneling channels. Here, using density functional theory combined with nonequilibrium Green's function calculations, we demonstrate giant multistate resistance switching in CrSb/$\alpha$-In$_2$Se$_3$ altermagnetic multiferroic tunnel junctions. The response is governed not by the bulk spin splitting of CrSb alone, but by a symmetry-selected interfacial mechanism in which Cr/Sb terminations and h-BN or graphene insertion layers determine spin-channel matching, while ferroelectric polarization reshapes the electrostatic barrier. Symmetric and asymmetric terminations reverse the correspondence between parallel/antiparallel Néel-vector configurations and high-/low-resistance states, showing that the actual alignment of interfacial Cr moments selects the dominant tunneling channels. Monolayer-In$_2$Se$_3$ junctions exhibit four nonvolatile resistance states, with tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) and tunneling electroresistance (TER) reaching 1626% and 2206%, respectively, and increasing to 9576% and 4144% upon Fermi-level shifting. Finite-bias calculations further reveal robust spin filtering and tunable spin-polarized currents. Extending the barrier to bilayer In$_2$Se$_3$ introduces interlayer polarization coupling, enabling eight resistance states with maximum TMR and TER values of $3.77\times10^{4}\%$ and $4.18\times10^{5}\%$, respectively. These results establish interface symmetry, spin-channel matching, and ferroelectric barrier reconstruction as design principles for stray-field-free multistate spintronic tunnel devices.

Spectral-domain ghost imaging enables high-resolution spectroscopy with a single-pixel detector. The technique does not rely on spectrally resolved detectors, which makes it inherently robust against turbulence and particularly adapted to weak-light conditions. These features are very attractive for spectral imaging in the mid-infrared region which hosts numerous molecular absorption features but lacks highly sensitive detectors. The implementation of spectral ghost imaging in the mid-infrared has however been limited by the absence of suitable light sources and detectors capable of generating and measuring spectral fluctuations in real time. Here, we demonstrate spectral-domain computational ghost imaging in the mid-infrared based on a nonlinear frequency downconversion scheme. Pre-programmed spectral patterns imposed on broadband light at 1.5 mm using a programmable spectral filter are transferred into the mid-infrared through difference-frequency generation in a nonlinear crystal. This enables computational ghost spectroscopy with a spectral resolution of 0.62 cm-1 using a single-pixel mid-infrared detector. The method is flexible, broadly applicable and, as proof of concept, we demonstrate ghost spectroscopy in mid-wavelength infrared and long-wavelength infrared bands using the nonlinear frequency conversion in chirped-poling lithium niobate and ZnGeP2 crystals, respectively. Our approach provides a new avenue for mid-infrared spectroscopy, remote sensing and spectral imaging.

Achieving optical isolation requires breaking symmetry between forward- and backward-propagating light, a long-standing challenge at the nanoscale in the absence of magnetic fields. Here we theoretically demonstrate electrically tunable nonreciprocal phonon-plasmon polaritons in a graphene/$\alpha$-MoO$_3$/SiC heterostructure operating in the mid-infrared. A dc current in graphene induces a wavevector-dependent Doppler shift that breaks reciprocity and generates strong directional asymmetry in hybrid plasmon-phonon propagation. In the reciprocal regime, hybridization between graphene plasmons and hyperbolic phonon polaritons in $\alpha$-MoO$_3$, further shaped by the SiC substrate, enables gate-controlled transitions of isofrequency contours, including canalization along orthogonal crystal axes. At drift velocities of 5% of the Fermi velocity, the system exhibits pronounced momentum-dependent nonreciprocity with contrast reaching $\sim$ 0.3, while directions orthogonal to the drift remain unaffected due to symmetry imposed constraints. Real-space calculations confirm that this momentum-space asymmetry translates into directional near-field intensity modulation. These results establish current-biased van der Waals heterostructures as a platform for electrically tunable, magnet-free nonreciprocal nanophotonics in the mid-infrared.

Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state conventionally emerges via a second-order phase transition driven by finite magnetization. Here we show that a spin-orbit-coupled nanowire proximitized to $d$-wave altermagnets – with zero net magnetization – can realize topological FFLO states through a first-order transition, marked by a sharp sign-reversing superconducting diode effect. The altermagnetic field generates band-resolved competing pairing channels, giving rise to a double-valley free energy landscape whose global minimum switches discontinuously. It consequently leads to a first-order topological FFLO transition with simultaneous jumps in the Cooper pairing amplitude and finite center-of-mass momentum. Remarkably, this discontinuous topological reconfiguration substantially enhances the diode efficiency and drives a characteristic sharp sign reversal across the transition. The mechanism of such exotic phenomena is captured by Ginzburg–Landau theory. Our results provide a field-free altermagnetic route to topological FFLO states and identify their direct transport fingerprint.

Solar flares are intense energy release events in the solar atmosphere that may pose significant space weather hazards, which makes developing reliable prediction models essential. Although deep learning methods, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), demonstrate strong predictive performance when using solar magnetograms, their scientific credibility is undermined by a lack of physical interpretability. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) offers a potential solution. However, current XAI studies in solar flare prediction are largely qualitative and lack systematic, theory-based, quantitative validation. We present a quantitative XAI framework that can decipher the physical basis of CNN-based solar flare prediction models. Using gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM), we identify model-focused regions (MFRs) in solar magnetograms. Then, we perform two key analyses to evaluate the predictive capability of magnetic parameters derived from MFRs and to quantitatively characterize their magnetic complexity. Our results reveal a strong physical correlation between MFRs and flare occurrence. Specifically, magnetic features extracted from MFRs demonstrate high predictive power for flares. Flare-producing active regions are characterized by magnetically complex configurations that are dominated by a single polarity rather than by balanced or purely unipolar structures. This finding is consistent with established physical theories of magnetic systems prone to flares. Our results suggest that CNNs can learn physically meaningful representations when trained on large-scale observations. Integrating XAI with quantitative magnetic field analysis improves the physical interpretability of deep learning-based flare prediction models, making them useful tools for prediction and modeling investigation in solar physics.

Using X-ray tomography, we compare granular packings prepared under buoyancy-reduced effective gravity with normal gravity packings of particles with systematically varied friction. We show that reducing gravity lowers the random loose packing limit in a manner analogous to increasing friction. Granular packings under reduced gravity and with enhanced friction exhibit identical volume distributions, compactivity, and entropy, indicating that both routes sample statistically equivalent Edwards volume ensembles of mechanically stable states. This equivalence originates from a common relaxation of the mechanical stability constraint: under both conditions, fewer particles are required to participate in the underlying load-bearing bridge structures, leading to a lower contact-number requirement and a higher density of mechanically stable states. Nevertheless, reduced gravity retains a distinct contact-scale signature through more isotropic contact orientations. These findings identify gravity as a physical control governing the statistical accessibility of mechanically stable states within the Edwards framework and provide a unified statistical description of granular packings formed through different physical routes.

With the rapid surge in lunar exploration and the planned expansion of cislunar infrastructure, cislunar space has become a strategic focal point for global aerospace activities. This proliferation of spacecraft heightens the risk of fragmentation events, such as unintended explosions or orbital collisions which serve as the primary source of hazardous orbital debris. Given the potential threat these fragments pose to mission safety and long-term orbital sustainability, it is imperative to investigate their dynamical behavior within the Earth-Moon system. This study evaluates the dispersion of debris clouds following potential breakup events on Distant Retrograde Orbits (DROs) over a 30-day propagation period. The Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP) model is used to construct the reference orbits, while the NASA Standard Breakup Model is applied to simulate fragment generation at multiple locations along three DROs of varying sizes. These fragments are then propagated using the Bicircular Restricted Four-Body Problem (BCR4BP) for 30 days. To account for the variability of these events, multiple initial positions along each orbit are analyzed to capture a comprehensive range of post-explosion scenarios. Our analysis quantifies the fate of fragments within this window, specifically focusing on the escape mechanisms and the percentages of debris that either depart from the Earth-Moon gravitational sphere of influence or impact the lunar surface. Furthermore, we introduce an analytical approach to assess the potential collision risk to resident space objects operating within the vicinity of the parent orbit. The results provide insights into debris evolution and offer a foundation for developing safety guidelines for future cislunar activities.

Snap-through in slender elastic structures is often viewed as a sudden transition between stable configurations, yet the pathway taken during this transition can differ fundamentally. A structure may snap while preserving symmetry, or first lose symmetry and pass through an asymmetric state before reaching its final configuration. What selects between these pathways remains less well understood, especially when the geometry and loading are themselves symmetric. Here, we show that snap-through symmetry can be programmed by reordering competing bifurcations in folded elastic ribbons. We study an elastic ribbon with two localized folds placed symmetrically about the midpoint and show that varying the fold position changes the relative order of two instabilities: a symmetry-breaking pitchfork bifurcation and a saddle-node bifurcation on the symmetry-preserving branch. When the pitchfork bifurcation occurs first, the ribbon loses symmetry before snapping and follows an asymmetric pathway. Conversely, when the saddle-node bifurcation occurs first, the ribbon loses stability while remaining on the symmetric branch, resulting in a symmetry-preserving transition. Combining experiments, discrete differential geometry simulations and numerical continuation, we map this exchange in bifurcation ordering and construct a phase diagram that predicts the switch between asymmetric and symmetric snap-through regimes. A reduced-order double-mass von Mises truss model captures the same mechanism as a generic competition between symmetry-breaking and symmetry-preserving instabilities. These results establish bifurcation reordering as a geometric mechanism for programming snap-through pathways in slender elastic structures, offering a design principle for multistable systems, morphing structures and instability-based mechanical devices.

We develop a topology-specific theory of polyelectrolyte coacervation using the random phase approximation and apply it to both simple and complex coacervation. Our results for stars and dendrimers show that more compact chain topologies display a greater propensity for liquid-liquid phase separation, as a function of both Bjerrum length and salt concentration. For mixtures of different topologies, we demonstrate that differences in polymer topology alone are sufficient to drive multiphase coacervation of polyelectrolytes, which we rationalize in terms of an effective $\chi$ parameter. Analysis of a simplified global phase diagram reveals that the propensity for such topology-driven phase separation is largest at a finite molecular weight. Overall, our results establish polymer topology as a powerful design lever for tuning the phase diagram of charged macromolecules independently of molecular weight, net charge, and monomer chemistry, since changes in topology enable fine-tuning of the effective charge density without altering these molecular characteristics.

Quartet correlations in neutron-rich Te isotopes are investigated within the quartet Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) framework. Taking $^{100}$Sn as an inert core, we consider two valence protons and valence neutrons occupying the $2d_{5/2} \oplus 1g_{7/2}$ model space, and solve the quartet BCS variational equations with a charge-independent isovector pairing interaction. The effective pairing strength is constrained from empirical neutron pairing gaps in the Te isotopic chain. We find that the valence quartet number increases as the valence neutron number is enlarged from $N_{\rm val}=2$ to $14$. The same increasing behavior is also found for the condensed quartet component. The proton occupation of the $1g_{7/2}$ orbit is strongly enhanced relative to the conventional like-particle BCS reference and is driven close to the degeneracy-weighted limit. These results suggest that additional valence neutrons enhance the quartet admixture in the correlated quartet BCS state, while redistributing the fixed proton weight from pair-like configurations to quartet configurations.

Iterating the Dyson equation with the static part of the self-energy leads to a concise and possibly improved expression of the one-body reduced density matrix from any self-energy approximation. Here we apply the procedure to Hedin's $GW$ approximation. The non-iterated $GW$ based density matrix was already known to yield accurate density matrices for molecular systems. We show that the Dyson-equation-based procedure is equivalent to the so-called variational Z-vector approach applied to the Random-Phase approximation energy functional, but only in the case of a Hartree-Fock mean-field starting point. When a generalized Kohn-Sham scheme is employed instead, the two approaches differ. By comparing the density matrix for a benchmark set of 34 small molecules to coupled-cluster reference values, we conclude that the iterated Dyson equation indeed produces improved density matrices for molecular systems. Interestingly, we observe that the excitation rank of the reference coupled-cluster matters much and that the inclusion of triple excitations (CCSDT) quantitatively changes the conclusions of the benchmark as compared to single and double excitations coupled-cluster (CCSD).

Using geometric singular perturbation theory, we construct stationary, periodic, front-type far-from-equilibrium patterns in a cross-diffusion model for plant growth under the influence of toxicity. We show how existing techniques for the analysis of far-from-equilibrium patterns in one spatial dimension can be extended to include cross-diffusion terms and prove the existence of a one-parameter family of these patterns. For a general cross-diffusion model class, we show when front-type patterns may appear depending on the shape of the critical manifold, which is determined by the specific properties of the reaction terms.

We construct a kinetic theory for the shear viscosity of dense binary fluid mixtures of strongly-interacting dipolar hard spheres. We derive an expression for the pairwise correlations in the binary mixtures that is accurate up to packing fractions around 0.35. The approach is based on Enskog-Thorne theory, and inspired by the theory for dense pure fluids developed by Pousaneh and de Wijn. It relies on effective coupling parameters obtained from the pure fluids combined with mixing rules and a heuristic expression for the collision integral. We compare our results to viscosities obtained numerically from molecular-dynamics simulations of dipolar hard-sphere fluids. Our expression for the shear viscosity of the binary mixtures captures the density and composition dependent behavior of the binary dipolar fluids up to packing fraction of $\xi \lesssim 0.3$ without any mixture-derived fit parameters.

Motion-mediated trapped-ion interactions commonly coordinate state-dependent forces on both target ions. Sequential optical access reduces the number of concurrent target channels but makes the relative phase between disjoint force windows a control variable. We derive a complex near-resonant description in which each window generates a displacement vector and ordered symplectic products between vectors on different ions produce the ZZ phase. Only relative boundary phases affect this area; a common phase shift is a gauge transformation. Building on the experimental precedent for alternating single-ion addressing, we develop matched-envelope phase and contrast controls that isolate this boundary-phase dependence without target-window overlap or hidden force in the dark gaps. The analysis separates phase generation from differential closure, projector-common motion, deterministic local-Z phases, spectator coupling, and control-parameter transfer. A conditional-Ramsey sequence gives continuous and reset contrasts of 0.998 and 0.996, with a reset-induced phase separation of 0.581 rad modulo $\pi/2$. In the representative comparison, sequential control uses fewer concurrent target channels but greater normalized force action than independently calibrated simultaneous control. All results are model-level estimates within the stated Lamb-Dicke, rotating-wave, and apparatus-input limits.

The lunar gravitational-wave antenna concept uses the Moon as a resonant detector instrumented with precision seismometers, targeting the decihertz band between ground- and space-based observatories. We propose a compact monolithic fused-silica torsional-X seismometer that re-engineers garden-gate acceleration-to-rotation transduction for this regime through a high-tension dual-fiber suspension. Its designed millihertz-scale resonance and ultra-low mechanical dissipation enable a nearly order-of-magnitude improvement around $0.1\,\mathrm{Hz}$ compared with existing lunar seismometer concepts. Achieving this performance requires room-temperature operation, where fused-silica exhibits low mechanical loss, together with subdominant actuation noise. We demonstrate a room-temperature vacuum prototype validating the operating principle and core mechanical design, and derive requirements for a future lunar implementation capable of approaching the target sensitivity.

Learned dynamical proposals can generate configurations without providing a tractable endpoint density. Nonequilibrium path probabilities offer a way to correct such proposals, but correction alone does not determine their ability to connect separated regions. We introduce Neural Non-Equilibrium Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (NHMC), which combines conditional momentum distributions with reversible, volume preserving dynamics. The forward–reverse path ratio gives the work used for training, importance weighting, normalizer estimation, and Metropolis correction. We then construct a configuration space round-trip kernel whose reverse and forward paths share an intermediate configuration. Conditional on that configuration, its path record update is independence Metropolis–Hastings. We compare its stationary inter-region flow with the flow obtained under exact conditional matching and bound their difference by the conditional path mismatch. This separates errors in the conditional proposal from dependence between the endpoint region and the intermediate configuration. Many well calculations test normalizers and mode probabilities; a controlled lattice $\phi^4$ calculation compares ideal and accepted inter-sector flows and measures sector relaxation. In two dimensional $U(1)$, $\mathrm{SU}(2)$, and $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ gauge theories, corrected path weight estimates reproduce finite volume Wilson loops; $U(1)$ topological susceptibilities are also compared with analytic predictions across several lattice volumes.

We develop a comprehensive relativistic framework for geometrically thin, optically thick Shakura–Sunyaev $\alpha$-viscous accretion disks around rotating Hayward regular black holes embedded in a quintessence dark energy (DE) field. The static, spherically symmetric building blocks of our spacetime are each exact solutions of the Einstein field equations, sourced respectively by the Hayward non-linear electromagnetic field and a quintessence fluid with equation-of-state parameter $\omega<-1/3$; we combine and rotate them following standard practice for this class of models, and we are explicit throughout about the resulting metric's phenomenological status. Abandoning the stress-free inner boundary of the Novikov–Thorne–Page (NTP) model, we analytically incorporate a non-zero viscous torque $\Tcal_{\rm in}$ at the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) via the relativistic vertical epicyclic frequency $\Obot(r)$. We prove that the bolometric efficiency $\eta=[1-E(\rISCO)]\times100\,\%$ is strictly independent of the viscosity parameter $\alpha$ but sensitive to both the Hayward length scale $l$ and the DE density $\rho_0$, establishing a rigorous two-observable degeneracy-breaking strategy. At benchmark parameters ($j=0.4$, $l=0.5M_{\BH}$, $\rho_0=2\times10^{-4}$), the combined geometry yields $\eta=8.71\,\%$, substantially above the vacuum Kerr value $7.51\,\%$ at the same spin. The viscosity correction $\delta\Fcal/\Fcal_{\rm NTP}$ diverges at $r\to\rISCO^+$, amplified by the geometric odification of the boundary pressure: the viscosity amplification ratio rises from $0.80$–$4.52\,\%$ (vacuum Kerr) to $0.87$–$6.76\,\%$ (Hayward+DE) at $\alpha=0.1$, providing a clean, monotonic observational discriminator accessible to NICER and NuSTAR, independent of the bulk spectral normalisation.

A systematic comparison of local and global linear gyrokinetic simulations of micro-tearing modes (MTMs) is performed using the GENE code. The analysis spans diverse plasma parameters, including the core regions with normal and weak magnetic shear, as well as the pedestal region with the strong plasma non-uniformity. The global simulations reveal a distinct MTM type characterized by a `parity mixing' mode structure, which can be significantly destabilized by trapped electrons. Moreover, in contrast to electrostatic drift wave instabilities, the current layer width ($ \Delta _c $) is identified as the crucial factor determining the importance of global effects. The MTM in the core region exhibits the slab-like feature with narrow $ \Delta _c $, leading to high consistency between local and global results. However, in the pedestal region, the steep pressure gradient broadens $\Delta_c$, driving quantitative deviations when $\Delta_c$ becomes comparable to the plasma pressure gradient scale length. For high-$n$ MTMs, $ \Delta _c $ can exceed the distance between adjacent mode rational surfaces. The resulted overlapping of current layers enhances the toroidal mode coupling effect, accounting for the substantial discrepancies observed between local and global simulations.

Green roofs are increasingly promoted as nature-based measures for reducing building energy demand, yet their performance in New Zealand's oceanic climates and under future weather remains insufficiently quantified. This condensed study compares an extensive green roof with a conventional bare roof on a standardized single-storey dwelling in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. Dynamic annual simulations were conducted in DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus using present-day EnergyPlus Weather files and 2050 weather files generated with CCWorldWeatherGen. All non-roof building parameters were held constant so that differences in total fuel consumption (TFC) for heating and cooling could be attributed to the roof system. Under present weather, annual TFC decreased by approximately 3.1% in Auckland, 2.3% in Christchurch, and 1.5% in Wellington. Under 2050 weather, the corresponding reductions were 3.3%, 2.6%, and 1.1%. Summer benefits were larger in Auckland and Christchurch, reaching about 9.0% and 5.6%, respectively, in 2050, but remained marginal in Wellington. The findings show that green roofs can provide modest annual energy savings in oceanic climates, with stronger value as a summer heat-mitigation measure in warmer locations. Performance is strongly climate-dependent and should not be generalized without local simulation or field validation.