High-frequency microwave cavity design for high-mass dark matter axion searches

The haloscope based on the TM_(010)mode cavity is a well-established technique for detecting QCD axions.However,the method has limitations in detecting high-mass axion due to significant volume loss in the high-frequency cavity.Utilizing a higher-order mode cavity can effectively reduce the volume loss of the high-frequency cavity.The rotatable dielectric pieces as a tuning mechanism can compensate for the degradation of the form factor of the higher-order mode.Nevertheless,the introduction of dielectric causes additional volume loss.To address these issues,this paper proposes a novel design scheme by adding a central metal rod to the higher-order mode cavity tuned by dielectrics,which improves the performance of the haloscope due to the increased effective volume of the cavity detector.The superiority of the novel design is demonstrated by comparing its simulated performance with previous designs.Moreover,the feasibility of the scheme is verified by the full-wave simulation results of the mechanical design model.

Ultrafast Condensed Matter Physics at Attoseconds

Our understanding of how photons couple to different degrees of freedom in solids forms the bedrock of ultrafast physics and materials sciences.In this review,the emergent ultrafast dynamics in condensed matter at the attosecond timescale have been intensively discussed.In particular,the focus is put on recent developments of attosecond dynamics of charge,exciton,and magnetism.New concepts and indispensable role of interactions among multiple degrees of freedom in solids are highlighted.Applications of attosecond electronic metrology and future prospects toward attosecond dynamics in condensed matter are further discussed.These pioneering studies promise future development of advanced attosecond science and technology such as attosecond lasers,laser medical engineering,and ultrafast electronic devices.

FPGA and computer-vision-based atom tracking technology for scanning probe microscopy

Atom tracking technology enhanced with innovative algorithms has been implemented in this study,utilizing a comprehensive suite of controllers and software independently developed domestically.Leveraging an on-board field-programmable gate array(FPGA)with a core frequency of 100 MHz,our system facilitates reading and writing operations across 16 channels,performing discrete incremental proportional-integral-derivative(PID)calculations within 3.4 microseconds.Building upon this foundation,gradient and extremum algorithms are further integrated,incorporating circular and spiral scanning modes with a horizontal movement accuracy of 0.38 pm.This integration enhances the real-time performance and significantly increases the accuracy of atom tracking.Atom tracking achieves an equivalent precision of at least 142 pm on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite(HOPG)surface under room temperature atmospheric conditions.Through applying computer vision and image processing algorithms,atom tracking can be used when scanning a large area.The techniques primarily consist of two algorithms:the region of interest(ROI)-based feature matching algorithm,which achieves 97.92%accuracy,and the feature description-based matching algorithm,with an impressive 99.99%accuracy.Both implementation approaches have been tested for scanner drift measurements,and these technologies are scalable and applicable in various domains of scanning probe microscopy with broad application prospects in the field of nanoengineering.

Capturing the non-equilibrium state in light–matter–free-electron interactions through ultrafast transmission electron microscopy

Ultrafast transmission electron microscope(UTEM) with the multimodality of time-resolved diffraction, imaging,and spectroscopy provides a unique platform to reveal the fundamental features associated with the interaction between free electrons and matter. In this review, we summarize the principles, instrumentation, and recent developments of the UTEM and its applications in capturing dynamic processes and non-equilibrium transient states. The combination of the transmission electron microscope with a femtosecond laser via the pump–probe method guarantees the high spatiotemporal resolution, allowing the investigation of the transient process in real, reciprocal and energy spaces. Ultrafast structural dynamics can be studied by diffraction and imaging methods, revealing the coherent acoustic phonon generation and photoinduced phase transition process. In the energy dimension, time-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy enables the examination of the intrinsic electronic dynamics of materials, while the photon-induced near-field electron microscopy extends the application of the UTEM to the imaging of optical near fields with high real-space resolution. It is noted that light–free-electron interactions have the ability to shape electron wave packets in both longitudinal and transverse directions, showing the potential application in the generation of attosecond electron pulses and vortex electron beams.

Influence of exchange bias on spin torque ferromagnetic resonance for quantification of spin–orbit torque efficiency

Antiferromagnet(AFM)/ferromagnet(FM)heterostructure is a popular system for studying the spin–orbit torque(SOT)of AFMs.However,the interfacial exchange bias field induces that the magnetization in FM layer is noncollinear to the external magnetic field,namely the magnetic moment drag effect,which further influences the characteristic of SOT efficiency.In this work,we study the SOT efficiencies of IrMn/NiFe bilayers with strong interfacial exchange bias by using spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance(ST-FMR)method.A full analysis on the AFM/FM systems with exchange bias is performed,and the angular dependence of magnetization on external magnetic field is determined through the minimum rule of free energy.The ST-FMR results can be well fitted by this model.We obtained the relative accurate SOT efficiencyξ_(DL)=0.058 for the IrMn film.This work provides a useful method to analyze the angular dependence of ST-FMR results and facilitates the accurate measurement of SOT efficiency for the AFM/FM heterostructures with strong exchange bias.

Optical-Microwave Entanglement Paves the Way for Distributed Quantum Computation

Over the past few years,quantum computation based on superconducting circuits has achieved remarkable progress.A milestone occurred in 2019 when Google released Sycamore,a processor with 54 qubits,and claimed quantum supremacy by performing in just 100 s a specific computation which would take a classical supercomputer,as stated by Google’s team,10000 years to complete.[1]In 2021,a strong quantum advantage was demonstrated by Pan and his colleagues from the University of Science and Technology of China,using a quantum processor named Zuchongzhi,which has 66 functional qubits.[2]This year,the record of the number of quantum qubits has been lifted to 127 qubits.[3]Indeed,the number of qubits is limited to a few hundreds due to the finite space of dilution refrigerators,where the superconducting qubits must be placed to be isolated from thermal noise.However,this number is still several orders of magnitude away from the requirement of quantum error correction,which is essential for general-purpose quantum computers.[4–8].

Interstitial Doping of SnO_(2) Film with Li for Indium-Free Transparent Conductor

SnO_(2)films exhibit significant potential as cost-effective and high electron mobility substitutes for In_(2)O_(3)films.In this study,Li is incorporated into the interstitial site of the SnO_(2)lattice resulting in an exceptionally low resistivity of 2.028×10^(-3)Ω·cm along with a high carrier concentration of 1.398×10^(20)cm^(-3)and carrier mobility of 22.02 cm^(2)/V·s.

Development of a monochromatic crystal backlight imager for the recent double-cone ignition experiments

We developed a monochromatic crystal backlight imaging system for the double-cone ignition(DCI) scheme, employing a spherically bent quartz crystal. This system was used to measure the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the head-on colliding plasma from the two compressing cones in the DCI experiments. The influence of laser parameters on the x-ray backlighter intensity and spatial resolution of the imaging system was investigated. The imaging system had a spatial resolution of 10 μm when employing a CCD detector. Experiments demonstrated that the system can obtain time-resolved radiographic images with high quality, enabling the precise measurement of the shape, size, and density distribution of the plasma.

Kinetic Limits of Graphite Anode for Fast‑Charging Lithium‑Ion Batteries

Fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are highly required,especially in reducing the mileage anxiety of the widespread electric vehicles.One of the biggest bottlenecks lies in the sluggish kinetics of the Li^(+)intercalation into the graphite anode;slow intercalation will lead to lithium metal plating,severe side reactions,and safety concerns.The premise to solve these problems is to fully understand the reaction pathways and rate-determining steps of graphite during fast Li^(+)intercalation.Herein,we compare the Li^(+)diffusion through the graphite particle,interface,and electrode,uncover the structure of the lithiated graphite at high current densities,and correlate them with the reaction kinetics and electrochemical performances.It is found that the rate-determining steps are highly dependent on the particle size,interphase property,and electrode configuration.Insufficient Li^(+)diffusion leads to high polarization,incomplete intercalation,and the coexistence of several staging structures.Interfacial Li^(+)diffusion and electrode transportation are the main rate-determining steps if the particle size is less than 10μm.The former is highly dependent on the electrolyte chemistry and can be enhanced by constructing a fluorinated interphase.Our findings enrich the understanding of the graphite structural evolution during rapid Li^(+)intercalation,decipher the bottleneck for the sluggish reaction kinetics,and provide strategic guidelines to boost the fast-charging performance of graphite anode.

Formation of quaternary all-d-metal Heusler alloy by Co doping fcc type Ni_(2)MnV and mechanical grinding induced B2–fcc transformation

The structure of the all-d-metal alloy Ni_(50-x)Co_(x)Mn_(25)V_(25)(x=0–50)is investigated by using theoretical and experimental methods.The first-principles calculations indicate that the most stable structure of the Ni_2MnV alloy is face-centered cubic (fcc)type structure with ferrimagnetic state and the equilibrium lattice constant is 3.60A,which is in agreement with the experimental result.It is remarkable that replacing partial Ni with Co can turn the alloy from the fcc structure to the B2-type Heusler structure as Co content x>37 by using the melting spinning method,implying that the d–d hybridization between Co/Mn elements and low-valent elements V stabilizes the Heusler structure.The Curie temperature T_(C) of all-dmetal Heuser alloy Ni_(50-x)Co_(x)Mn_(25)V_(25)(x>37)increases almost linearly with the increase of Co due to that the interaction of Co–Mn is stronger than that of Ni–Mn.A magnetic transition from ferromagnetic state to weak magnetic state accompanying with grinding stress induced transformation from B2 to the dual-phase of B2 and fcc has been observed in these all-d-metal Heusler alloys.This phase transformation and magnetic change provide a guide to overcome the brittleness and make the all-d-metal Heusler alloy interesting in stress and magnetic driving structural transition.

Regulated electronic structure and improved electrocatalytic performances of S-doped FeWO4 for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

The exploration of active and long-lived oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)catalysts for the commercialization of zinc-air batteries are of immense significance but challenging.Herein,the sulfur doped FeWO_(4)embedded in the multi-dimensional nitrogen-doped carbon structure(S-FeWO_(4)/NC)was successfully synthesized.The doped S atoms optimized the charge distribution in FeWO_(4)and enhanced the intrinsic activity.At the same time,S doping accelerated the formation of reaction intermediates during the adsorption reduction of O_(2)on the surface of S-FeWO_(4)/NC.Accordingly,the S-FeWO_(4)/NC catalyst showed more positive half-wave potential(0.85 V)and better stability than that of the FeWO_(4)/NC catalyst.Furthermore,the S-FeWO_(4)/NC-based zinc-air battery exhibited considerable power density of 150.3m W cm^(-2),high specific capacity of 912.7 m A h g^(-1),and prominent cycle stability up to 220 h.This work provides an assistance to the development of cheap and efficient tungsten-based oxygen reduction catalysts and the promotion of its application in the zinc-air battery.

Optimization of large-area YBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7-δ)thin films by pulsed laser deposition for planar microwave devices

This paper presents high quality YBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7-δ)(YBCO)thin films on LaAlO_(3)substrate for microwave devices prepared by pulsed laser deposition(PLD).The double-sided YBCO films cover a large area and have been optimized for key parameters relevant to microwave device applications,such as surface morphology and surface resistance(R_(s)).This was achieved by improving the target quality and increasing the oxygen pressure during deposition,respectively.To evaluate the suitability of the YBCO films for microwave devices,a pair of microwave filters based on microstrip fabricated on films from this work and a commercial company were compared.The results show that the YBCO films in this work could completely meet the requirements for microwave devices.

Recent progress on fabrication and flat-band physics in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides moiré superlattices

Moiré superlattices are formed when overlaying two materials with a slight mismatch in twist angle or lattice constant. They provide a novel platform for the study of strong electronic correlations and non-trivial band topology, where emergent phenomena such as correlated insulating states, unconventional superconductivity, and quantum anomalous Hall effect are discovered. In this review, we focus on the semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs) based moiré systems that host intriguing flat-band physics. We first review the exfoliation methods of two-dimensional materials and the fabrication technique of their moiré structures. Secondly, we overview the progress of the optically excited moiré excitons, which render the main discovery in the early experiments on TMD moiré systems. We then introduce the formation mechanism of flat bands and their potential in the quantum simulation of the Hubbard model with tunable doping, degeneracies, and correlation strength. Finally, we briefly discuss the challenges and future perspectives of this field.

A General Strategy for Ordered Carrier Transport of Quasi‑2D and 3D Perovskite Films for Giant Self‑Powered Photoresponse and Ultrahigh Stability

Organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite materials have been focusing more attention in the field of self-powered photodetectors due to their superb photoelectric properties.However,a universal growth approach is required and challenging to realize vertically oriented growth and grain boundary fusion of 2D and 3D perovskite grains to promote ordered carrier transport,which determines superior photoresponse and high stability.Herein,a general thermal-pressed(TP)strategy is designed to solve the above issues,achieving uniaxial orientation and single-grain penetration along the film thickness direction.It constructs the efficient channel for ordered carrier transport between two electrodes.Combining of the improved crystal quality and lower trap-state density,the quasi-2D and 3D perovskite-based self-powered photodetector devices(with/without hole transport layer)all exhibit giant and stable photoresponse in a wide spectrum range and specific wavelength laser.For the MAPbI_(3)-based self-powered photodetectors,the largest R_(λ) value is as high as 0.57 A W^(−1)at 760 nm,which is larger than most reported results.Meanwhile,under laser illumination(532 nm),the FPEA_(2)MA_(4)Pb_(5)I_(16)-based device exhibits a high responsivity(0.4 A W^(−1)) value,which is one of the best results in 2DRP self-powered photodetectors.In addition,fast response,ultralow detection limit,and markedly improved humidity,optical and heat stabilities are clearly demonstrated for these TP-based devices.

Focused-ion-beam assisted technique for achieving high pressure by uniaxial-pressure devices

Uniaxial pressure or strain can introduce a symmetry-breaking distortion on the lattice and may alter the ground states of a material. Compared to hydrostatic pressure, a unique feature of the uniaxial-pressure measurements is that a tensile force can be applied and thus a “negative” pressure can be achieved. In doing so, both ends of the sample are usually glued on the frame of the uniaxial-pressure device. The maximum force that can be applied onto the sample is sometimes limited by the shear strength of the glue, the quality of the interface between the sample and the glue, etc. Here we use focused ion beam to reduce the width of the middle part of the sample, which can significantly increase the effective pressure applied on the sample. By applying this technique to a home-made piezobender-based uniaxial-pressure device, we can easily increase the effective pressure by one or two orders of magnitude as shown by the change of the superconducting transition temperature of an iron-based superconductor. Our method thus provides a possible way to increase the upper limit of the pressure for the uniaxial-pressure devices.

Determination of Work Function for p-and n-Type 4H-SiC Single Crystals via Scanning Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

Silicon carbide(SiC) is a promising platform for fabricating high-voltage, high-frequency and high-temperature electronic devices such as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors in which many junctions or interfaces are involved. The work function(WF) plays an essential role in these devices. However, studies of the effect of conductive type and polar surfaces on the WF of SiC are limited. Here, we report the measurement of WFs of Si-and C-terminated polar surfaces for both p-type and n-type conductive 4H-SiC single crystals by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy(SKPFM). The results show that p-type SiC exhibits a higher WF than n-type SiC.The WF of a C-terminated polar surface is higher than that of a Si-terminated polar surface, which is further confirmed by first-principles calculations. By revealing this long-standing knowledge gap, our work facilitates the fabrication and development of SiC-based electronic devices, which have tremendous potential applications in electric vehicles, photovoltaics, and so on. This work also shows that SKPFM is a good method for identifying polar surfaces of SiC and other polar materials nondestructively, quickly and conveniently.

Local Rotational Jamming and Multi-Stage Hyperuniformities in an Active Spinner System

An active system consisting of many self-spinning dimers is simulated, and a distinct local rotational jamming transition is observed as the density increases. In the low density regime, the system stays in an absorbing state,in which each dimer rotates independently subject to the applied torque;while in the high density regime,a fraction of the dimers become rotationally jammed into local clusters, and the system exhibits microphaseseparation like two-phase morphologies. For high enough densities, the system becomes completely jammed in both rotational and translational degrees of freedom. Such a simple system is found to exhibit rich and multiscale disordered hyperuniformities among the above phases: the absorbing state shows a critical hyperuniformity of the strongest class and subcritically preserves the vanishing density fluctuation scaling up to some length scale;the locally jammed state shows a two-phase hyperuniformity conversely beyond some length scale with respect to the phase cluster sizes;the totally jammed state appears to be a monomer crystal, but intrinsically loses large-scale hyperuniformity. These results are inspiring for designing novel phase-separation and disordered hyperuniform systems through dynamical organization.

Ultrafast two-dimensional x-ray imager with temporal fiducial pulses for laser-produced plasmas

It is challenging to make an ultrafast diagnosis of the temporal evolution of small and short-lived plasma in two dimensions. To overcome this difficulty, we have developed a well-timed diagnostic utilizing an x-ray streak camera equipped with a row of multi-pinhole arrays. By processing multiple sets of one-dimensional streaked image data acquired from various pinholes, we are capable of reconstructing high-resolution two-dimensional images with a temporal resolution of 38 ps and a spatial resolution of 18 μm. The temporal fiducial pulses accessed from external sources can advance the precise timing and accurately determine the arrival time of the laser. Moreover, it can correct the nonlinear sweeping speed of the streak camera. The effectiveness of this diagnostic has been successfully verified at the Shenguang-II laser facility,providing an indispensable tool for observing complex physical phenomena, such as the implosion process of laser-fusion experiments.

Pluggable multitask diffractive neural networks based on cascaded metasurfaces

Optical neural networks have significant advantages in terms of power consumption,parallelism,and high computing speed,which has intrigued extensive attention in both academic and engineering communities.It has been considered as one of the powerful tools in promoting the fields of imaging processing and object recognition.However,the existing optical system architecture cannot be reconstructed to the realization of multi-functional artificial intelligence systems simultaneously.To push the development of this issue,we propose the pluggable diffractive neural networks(P-DNN),a general paradigm resorting to the cascaded metasurfaces,which can be applied to recognize various tasks by switching internal plug-ins.As the proof-of-principle,the recognition functions of six types of handwritten digits and six types of fashions are numerical simulated and experimental demonstrated at near-infrared regimes.Encouragingly,the proposed paradigm not only improves the flexibility of the optical neural networks but paves the new route for achieving high-speed,low-power and versatile artificial intelligence systems.

High energy density in ultra-thick and flexible electrodes enabled by designed conductive agent/binder composite

Thick electrodes can increase incorporation of active electrode materials by diminishing the proportion of inactive constituents,improving the overall energy density of batteries.However,thick electrodes fabricated using the conventional slurry casting approach frequently exhibit an exacerbated accumulation of carbon additives and binders on their surfaces,invariably leading to compromised electrochemical properties.In this study,we introduce a designed conductive agent/binder composite synthesized from carbon nanotube and polytetrafluoroethylene.This agent/binder composite facilitates production of dry-process-prepared ultra-thick electrodes endowed with a three-dimensional and uniformly distributed percolative architecture,ensuring superior electronic conductivity and remarkable mechanical resilience.Using this approach,ultra-thick LiCoO_(2)(LCO) electrodes demonstrated superior cycling performance and rate capabilities,registering an impressive loading capacity of up to 101.4 mg/cm^(2),signifying a 242% increase in battery energy density.In another analytical endeavor,time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy was used to clarify the distribution of cathode electrolyte interphase(CEI) in cycled LCO electrodes.The results provide unprecedented evidence explaining the intricate correlation between CEI generation and carbon distribution,highlighting the intrinsic advantages of the proposed dry-process approach in fine-tu ning the CEI,with excellent cycling performance in batteries equipped with ultra-thick electrodes.