Calculating the Climatology and Anomalies of Surface Cloud Radiative Effect Using Cloud Property Histograms and Cloud Radiative Kernels

Cloud radiative kernels(CRK)built with radiative transfer models have been widely used to analyze the cloud radiative effect on top of atmosphere(TOA)fluxes,and it is expected that the CRKs would also be useful in the analyses of surface radiative fluxes,which determines the regional surface temperature change and variability.In this study,CRKs at the surface and TOA were built using the Rapid Radiative Transfer Model(RRTM).Longwave cloud radiative effect(CRE)at the surface is primarily driven by cloud base properties,while TOA CRE is primarily decided by cloud top properties.For this reason,the standard version of surface CRK is a function of latitude,longitude,month,cloud optical thickness(τ)and cloud base pressure(CBP),and the TOA CRK is a function of latitude,longitude,month,τand cloud top pressure(CTP).Considering that the cloud property histograms provided by climate models are functions of CTP instead of CBP at present,the surface CRKs on CBP-τhistograms were converted to CTP-τfields using the statistical relationship between CTP,CBP andτobtained from collocated CloudSat and MODIS observations.For both climate model outputs and satellites observations,the climatology of surface CRE and cloud-induced surface radiative anomalies calculated with the surface CRKs and cloud property histograms are well correlated with those calculated from surface radiative fluxes.The cloud-induced surface radiative anomalies reproduced by surface CRKs and MODIS cloud property histograms are not affected by spurious trends that appear in Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System(CERES)surface irradiances products.

Two-dimensional materials for tunable and nonlinear metaoptics

Metaoptics formed by ultrathin and planar building blocks enable compact and efficient optical devices that manipulate light at the nanoscale.The development of tunable metaoptics holds the promise of miniaturized and efficient optical systems that can dynamically adapt to changing conditions or requirements,propelling innovations in fields ranging from telecommunication and imaging to quantum computing and sensing.Two-dimensional(2D)materials show strong promise in enabling tunable metaoptics due to their exceptional electronic and optical properties from the quantum confinement within the atomically thin layers.In this review,we discuss the recent advancements and challenges of 2D material-based tunable metaoptics in both linear and nonlinear regimes and provide an outlook for prospects in this rapidly advancing area.

Terahertz spin dynamics in rare-earth orthoferrites

Recent interest in developing fast spintronic devices and laser-controllable magnetic solids has sparked tremendous experimental and theoretical efforts to understand and manipulate ultrafast dynamics in materials.Studies of spin dynamics in the terahertz(THz)frequency range are particularly important for elucidating microscopic pathways toward novel device functionalities.Here,we review THz phenomena related to spin dynamics in rare-earth orthoferrites,a class of materials promising for antiferromagnetic spintronics.We expand this topic into a description of four key elements.(1)We start by describing THz spectroscopy of spin excitations for probing magnetic phase transitions in thermal equilibrium.While acoustic magnons are useful indicators of spin reorientation transitions,electromagnons that arise from dynamic magnetoelectric couplings serve as a signature of inversion-symmetry-breaking phases at low temperatures.(2)We then review the strong laser driving scenario,where the system is excited far from equilibrium and thereby subject to modifications to the free-energy landscape.Microscopic pathways for ultrafast laser manipulation of magnetic order are discussed.(3)Furthermore,we review a variety of protocols to manipulate coherent THz magnons in time and space,which are useful capabilities for antiferromagnetic spintronic applications.(4)Finally,new insights into the connection between dynamic magnetic coupling in condensed matter and the Dicke superradiant phase transition in quantum optics are provided.By presenting a review on an array of THz spin phenomena occurring in a single class of materials,we hope to trigger interdisciplinary efforts that actively seek connections between subfields of spintronics,which will facilitate the invention of new protocols of active spin control and quantum phase engineering.