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At least 379 records · Page 21

Time-Resolved Line Shapes of Single Quantum Emitters via Machine Learned Photon Correlations

Solid-state single-photon emitters (SPEs) are quantum light sources that combine atomlike optical properties with solid-state integration and fabrication capabilities. SPEs are hindered by spectral diffusion, where the emitter’s surrounding environment induces random energy fluctuations. Timescales of spectral diffusion span nanoseconds to minutes and require probing single emitters to remove ensemble averaging. Photon correlation Fourier spectroscopy (PCFS) can be used to measure time-resolved single emitter line shapes, but is hindered by poor signal-to-noise ratio in the measured correlation functions at early times due to low photon counts. Here, we develop a framework to simulate PCFS correlation functions directly from diffusing spectra that match well with experimental data for single colloidal quantum dots. We use these simulated datasets to train a deep ensemble autoencoder machine learning model that outputs accurate, noiseless, and probabilistic reconstructions of the noisy correlations. Using this model, we obtain reconstructed time-resolved single dot emission line shapes at timescales as low as 10 ns, which are otherwise completely obscured by noise. This enables PCFS to extract optical coherence times on the same timescales as Hong-Ou-Mandel two-photon interference, but with the advantage of providing spectral information in addition to estimates of photon indistinguishability. Further, our machine learning approach is broadly applicable to different photon correlation spectroscopy techniques and SPE systems, offering an enhanced tool for probing single emitter line shapes on previously inaccessible timescales.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Gutzwiller hybrid quantum-classical computing approach for correlated materials

Rapid progress in noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computing technology has led to the development of novel resource-efficient hybrid quantum-classical algorithms, such as the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE), that can address open challenges in quantum chemistry, physics, and material science. Proof-of-principle quantum chemistry simulations for small molecules have been demonstrated on NISQ devices. While several approaches have been theoretically proposed for correlated materials, NISQ simulations of interacting periodic models on current quantum devices have not yet been demonstrated. Here, we develop a hybrid quantum-classical simulation framework for correlated electron systems based on the Gutzwiller variational embedding approach. We implement this framework on Rigetti quantum processing units (QPUs) and apply it to the periodic Anderson model, which describes a correlated heavy electron band hybridizing with noninteracting conduction electrons. Our simulation results quantitatively reproduce the known ground state quantum phase diagram including metallic, Kondo and Mott insulating phases. This is the first fully self-consistent hybrid quantum-classical simulation of an infinite correlated lattice model executed on QPUs, demonstrating that the Gutzwiller hybrid quantum-classical embedding framework is a powerful approach to simulate correlated materials on NISQ hardware. This benchmark study also puts forth a concrete pathway towards practical quantum advantage on NISQ devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Shot noise and universal Fano factor as a characterization of strongly correlated metals

Shot noise measures out-of-equilibrium current fluctuations and is a powerful tool to probe the nature of current-carrying excitations in quantum systems. Recent shot-noise measurements in the heavy-fermion strange metal YbRh 2 Si 2 exhibit a strong suppression of the Fano factor ( F )—the ratio of the current noise to the average current in the dc limit. This system is representative of metals in which electron correlations are extremely strong. Here we carry out the first theoretical study on the shot noise of diffusive metals in the regime of strong correlations. A Boltzmann-Langevin equation formulation is constructed in a quasiparticle description in the presence of strong correlations. We find that F = 3 / 4 in such a correlation regime. Thus, we establish the aforementioned Fano factor as universal to Fermi liquids, and we show that the Fano factor suppression observed in experiments on YbRh 2 Si 2 necessitates a loss of the quasiparticles. Our work opens the door to systematic theoretical studies of shot noise as a means of characterizing strongly correlated metallic phases and materials. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Wang, Yiming (ORCID:0000000277582921)↗

Correlated Noise Estimation with Quantum Sensor Networks

We address the metrological problem of estimating collective stochastic properties imprinted on a network of quantum sensors. Canonical examples include center-of-mass quadrature fluctuations in a system of bosonic modes and correlated dephasing in an ensemble of qubits (e.g., spins), bosons, or fermions. We develop a theoretical framework to determine the limits of correlated (weak) noise estimation with quantum sensor networks and reveal the requirements for entanglement advantage. Notably, an advantage emerges from the synergistic interplay between quantum correlations of the sensors and “classical” correlations of the noises. Here, we determine optimal entangled probe states and identify a sensing protocol—reminiscent of a many-body echo—that achieves the fundamental limits of measurement sensitivity for a broad class of problems, unveiling a route toward entanglement-enhanced metrology of correlated many-body phenomena.

Quantum metrology↗

Correlation-aware binning for small-angle neutron scattering via Gaussian-process inference

Binning in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is typically performed empirically, with fixed parameters chosen for convenience rather than statistical optimality. Such practices often fail to balance statistical precision and spatial resolution, leading to inconsistencies across instruments and datasets. Here we establish a correlation-aware framework that determines the optimal bin width from first principles by extending the classical Freedman–Diaconis (FD) rule to account for inter-bin correlations with a Gaussian process. In this formulation, the scattering intensity is treated as a smooth stochastic field whose statistical coherence is described by a covariance matrix. Analytical expressions of errors derived from this model yield closed-form criteria that separate the total deviation into contributions from counting noise, aliasing distortion and curvature-dependent correlation effects. Expressed in reduced variables, the resulting dimensionless error surface reveals a continuous transition from the uncorrelated FD regime to the correlation-dominated limit, providing a unified description of noise suppression and resolution control. Because the formulation depends only on the profile characteristics of scattering intensity I(Q), specifically its average intensity and first- and second-order derivatives, it applies generally to any SANS measurement regardless of sample, instrument or geometry. Experimental validation using small- and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering data confirms the predicted scaling behavior, demonstrating that correlation-aware inference systematically reduces mean-squared error and enables information-efficient reproducible data reduction across materials and instruments.

Tung, Chi-Huan [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000221972074)↗

Correlation-Aided Robust Decentralized Dynamic State Estimation of Power Systems with Unknown Control Inputs

This paper proposes a correlation-aided robust adaptive unscented Kalman filter for power system decentralized dynamic state estimation with unknown inputs, termed as robust AUKF-UI. The temporal and spatial correlations among the unknown inputs are used to derive a vector auto-regressive (VAR) model in an adaptive manner. This VAR model is further integrated together with state transition and measurement models for joint state and unknown inputs estimation. This allows taking into account the implicit cross-correlations between the states and the unknown inputs. As a result, the rank requirement for unknown input vector estimation is relaxed and the local generator frequency measurement is not required. The temporal correlations of time series innovation vectors, predicted state and input vectors are also leveraged by the robust AUKFUI to detect, identify and process bad data. Without these correlations, it is very challenging to address bad data with unknown inputs. Simulation results carried out on the IEEE 39-bus system demonstrate that the proposed robust AUKF-UI achieves much better results than other methods in the presence of low measurement redundancy, strong nonlinearity, and bad data.

Zhao, Junbo↗

Modeling of Supercritical CO2 Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers Under Extreme Conditions. Part I: Correlation Development

Abstract High-temperature supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles are promising possibilities for future stationary power generation and hybrid electric propulsion applications. Heat exchangers are critical components in supercritical CO2 thermal cycles and require accurate correlations and comprehensive performance modeling under extreme temperatures and pressures. In this paper (Part I), new Colburn and friction factor correlations are developed to quantify shell-side heat transfer and friction characteristics of flow within heat exchangers in the shell-and-tube configuration. Using experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) data sets from existing literature, multivariate regression analysis is conducted to achieve correlations that capture the effect of multiple critical geometric parameters. These correlations offer superior accuracy and versatility as compared to previous studies and predict the thermohydraulic performance of about 90% of the existing experimental and CFD data within ±15%. Supplementary thermohydraulic performance data are acquired from CFD simulations with supercritical CO2 as working fluid to validate the developed correlations and demonstrate its capability to be applied to supercrtical CO2 heat exchangers.

Engineering↗

Low-energy quasi-circular electron correlations with charge order wavelength in Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ

Most resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) studies of dynamic charge order correlations in the cuprates have focused on the high-symmetry directions of the copper oxide plane. However, scattering along other in-plane directions should not be ignored as it may help understand, for example, the origin of charge order correlations or the isotropic scattering resulting in strange metal behavior. Our RIXS experiments reveal dynamic charge correlations over the qx-qy scattering plane in underdoped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ . Tracking the softening of the RIXS-measured bond-stretching phonon, we show that these dynamic correlations exist at energies below approximately 70 meV and are centered around a quasi-circular manifold in the q x -q y scattering plane with radius equal to the magnitude of the charge order wave vector, q CO . This phonon-tracking procedure also allows us to rule out fluctuations of short-range directional charge order (i.e., centered around [q x = ±q CO , q y = 0] and [q x = 0, q y = ±q CO ]) as the origin of the observed correlations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Correlated insulator of excitons in WSe 2 /WS 2 moiré superlattices

A panoply of unconventional electronic states has been observed in moiré superlattices. Engineering similar bosonic phases remains, however, largely unexplored. We report the observation of a bosonic correlated insulator in tungsten diselenide/tungsten disulfide (WSe 2 /WS 2 ) moiré superlattices composed of excitons, that is, tightly bound electron-hole pairs. We develop a pump probe spectroscopy method that we use to observe an exciton incompressible state at exciton filling ν ex = 1 and charge neutrality, indicating a correlated insulator of excitons. With varying charge density, the bosonic correlated insulator continuously transitions into an electron correlated insulator at charge filling ν e = 1, suggesting a mixed correlated insulating state between the two limits. Our studies establish semiconducting moiré superlattices as an intriguing platform for engineering bosonic phases.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

Azimuthal correlations of prompt D mesons with charged particles in pp and p–Pb collisions at \({\sqrt{s_\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02\ \hbox {TeV}\)

The measurement of the azimuthal-correlation function of prompt D mesons with charged particles in pp collisions at \(\sqrt{s} =5.02\ \hbox {TeV}\) and p–Pb collisions at \(\sqrt{s_{\mathrm{NN}}} = 5.02\ \hbox {TeV}\) with the ALICE detector at the LHC is reported. The \(\mathrm{D}^{0}\) , \(\mathrm{D}^{+} \) , and \(\mathrm{D}^{*+} \) mesons, together with their charge conjugates, were reconstructed at midrapidity in the transverse momentum interval \(3< p_\mathrm{T} < 24\ \hbox {GeV}/c\) and correlated with charged particles having \(p_\mathrm{T} > 0.3\ \hbox {GeV}/c\) and pseudorapidity \(|\eta | < 0.8\) . The properties of the correlation peaks appearing in the near- and away-side regions (for \(\Delta \varphi \approx 0\) and \(\Delta \varphi \approx \pi \) , respectively) were extracted via a fit to the azimuthal correlation functions. The shape of the correlation functions and the near- and away-side peak features are found to be consistent in pp and p–Pb collisions, showing no modifications due to nuclear effects within uncertainties. The results are compared with predictions from Monte Carlo simulations performed with the PYTHIA, POWHEG+PYTHIA, HERWIG, and EPOS 3 event generators.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Angular correlations in pA collisions from CGC: multiplicity and mean transverse momentum dependence of $$v_2$$

Abstract Within the dense-dilute Color Glass Condensate approach, and using the Golec–Biernat–Wuesthoff model for the dipole scattering amplitude, we calculate $$v_2^2$$ v 2 2 as well as the correlations between $$v_2^2$$ v 2 2 and both the total multiplicity and the mean transverse momentum of produced particles. We find that the correlations are generally very small consistent with the observations. We note an interesting sharp change in the value of $$v^2_2$$ v 2 2 as well as of its correlations as a function of the width of the transverse momentum bin. This crossover is associated with the change from Bose enhancement dominance of the correlation for narrow bin to HBT dominated correlations for larger bin width.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurements of differential two-particle number and transverse momentum correlation functions in pp collisions at $\sqrt{\textit{s}}$ = 13 TeV

Differential two-particle normalized cumulants (R 2 ) and transverse momentum correlations (P 2 ) are measured as a function of the relative pseudorapidity and azimuthal angle difference (Δη, Δφ) of charged particle pairs in minimum bias pp collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The measurements use charged hadrons in the pseudorapidity region of |η| < 0.8 and the transverse momentum range 0.2 < p T < 2.0 in order to focus on soft multiparticle interactions and to complement prior measurements of these correlation functions in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions. The correlation functions are reported for both unlike-sign and like-sign pairs and their charge-independent and charge-dependent combinations. Both the R 2 and P 2 measured in pp collisions exhibit features qualitatively similar to those observed in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions. The Δη and Δφ root mean square widths of the near-side peak of the correlation functions are evaluated and compared with those observed in p–Pb and Pb–Pb collisions and show smooth evolution with the multiplicity of charged particles produced in the collision. The comparison of the measured correlation functions with predictions from PYTHIA8 shows that this model qualitatively captures their basic structure and characteristics but feature important differences. In addition, the R$^{CD}_{2}$ is used to determine the charge balance function of hadrons produced within the detector acceptance of the measurements. The integral of the balance function is found to be compatible with those reported by a previous measurement in Pb–Pb collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The Cosmological Bootstrap: Spinning correlators from symmetries and factorization

We extend the cosmological bootstrap to correlators involving massless spinning particles, focusing on spin-1 and spin-2. In de Sitter space, these correlators are constrained both by symmetries and by locality. In particular, the de Sitter isometries become conformal symmetries on the future boundary of the spacetime, which are reflected in a set of Ward identities that the boundary correlators must satisfy. We solve these Ward identities by acting with weight-shifting operators on scalar seed solutions. Using this weight-shifting approach, we derive three- and four-point correlators of massless spin-1 and spin-2 fields with conformally coupled scalars. Four-point functions arising from tree-level exchange are singular in particular kinematic configurations, and the coefficients of these singularities satisfy certain factorization properties. We show that in many cases these factorization limits fix the structure of the correlators uniquely, without having to solve the conformal Ward identities. The additional constraint of locality for massless spinning particles manifests itself as current conservation on the boundary. We find that the four-point functions only satisfy current conservation if the s, t, and u-channels are related to each other, leading to nontrivial constraints on the couplings between the conserved currents and other operators in the theory. For spin-1 currents this implies charge conservation, while for spin-2 currents we recover the equivalence principle from a purely boundary perspective. For multiple spin-1 fields, we recover the structure of Yang--Mills theory. Finally, we apply our methods to slow-roll inflation and derive a few phenomenologically relevant scalar-tensor three-point functions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

String correlators on $\text{AdS}_3$: Analytic structure and dual CFT

We continue our study of string correlators on Euclidean \text{AdS}_3 AdS 3 with pure NS-NS flux. The worldsheet and spacetime correlators have a rich analytic structure, which we analyse completely for genus 0 four-point functions. We show that correlators exhibit a simple behaviour near their singularities. The spacetime correlators are meromorphic functions in the \mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{R}) S L ( 2 , ℝ ) -spins, whose pole structure is shown to agree with the prediction of a recent proposal for the dual \text{CFT}_2 CFT 2 . Moreover, we also compute the residues of the spacetime correlators for some of the poles exactly and find again a perfect match with the proposal for the dual \text{CFT}_2 CFT 2 , thereby checking the duality for some non-trivial four-point functions exactly. Our computations simplify drastically in the tensionless limit of \mathrm{AdS}_3 \times \mathrm{S}^3 \times \mathbb{T}^4 A d S 3 × S 3 × 𝕋 4 where the behaviour near the poles gives in fact the exact answer. This paper is the third in a series with several installments.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

3D CFD Model Validation Using Benchmark Data of 1/16th Scaled VHTR Upper Plenum and Development of Wall Heat-Transfer Correlation For Laminar Flow

With support from the U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Nuclear Energy’s (DOE-NE’s) Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, an effort has been pursued to support high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology development and its modeling and simulation needs. There is a particular need for advanced modeling and simulation tools to predict thermal-fluid behavior in the nuclear reactor primary system, especially in the core and the lower and upper plena, during safety-related transients. In this report, two main such activities are presented relevant to the HTGRs: (1) three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation using benchmark data from the upper plenum of Texas A&M University’s 1/16th scaled very-high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR), and (2) development of wall heat-transfer correlation for laminar flow in a wall-heated pipe. The CFD tool validation exercises can be helpful to choose the models and CFD tools to simulate and design specific components of the HTRGs such as upper plenum where jet mixing is a complex phenomenon. In a loss of forced circulation event, the laminar flow can be observed during the development of natural circulation flow. This work includes the development and validation of heat transfer correlations for laminar flow using the Nek5000 CFD code due to limited available experimental data for laminar flow conditions to guide low-order models (1D). In this report, the flow characteristics of a single isothermal jet discharging into the upper plenum was investigated using the Nek5000 Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) CFD tool. Several numerical simulations were performed for various jet-discharged Reynolds numbers ranging from 3,413 to 12,819. A grid-independent study was performed. The numerical results of mean velocity, root-mean-square fluctuating velocity, and Reynolds stress were compared against the benchmark data. Good agreement was obtained between simulated and measured data for axial mean velocities, except near the upper plenum hemisphere. The maximum predicted errors for axial mean velocities at various normalized coolant channel diameter heights of 1, 5, and 10 are 1.56%, 1.88%, and 3.82%, respectively. In addition, the predicted root-mean-square fluctuating velocity and Reynolds stress are qualitatively in agreement with the experimental data. The Nek5000 code was used to develop wall-heat transfer correlation for laminar flow in a cylindrical tube. Several simulations were performed for various Reynolds flow and wall-heat fluxes. A new heat transfer correlation was developed using data from Nek5000 simulation results and regression functions in Matlab. The developed heat transfer correlation is valid for various Reynolds flows from 200 to 2000. The predicted R² value for model fit was 0.875, which ensures that 87.5% of the model data lies on the Nek5000 data. Moreover, a machine learning (ML) tool was used to train and test the Nek5000 data. A good fit of the ML-based model was observed with the test data.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Correlation of Injury Simulation with Clinical Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury

This report contains a summary of our efforts to correlate head injury simulations predicting intracranial fluid cavitation with clinical assessments of brain injury from blunt impact to the head. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, collected on traumatic brain injury (TBI) subjects by researchers at the MIND Institute of New Mexico, was acquired for the current work. Specific blunt impact TBI case histories were selected from the TBI data for further study and possible correlation with simulation. Both group and single-subject case histories were examined. We found one single-subject case that was particularly suited for correlation with simulation. Diffusion tensor image (DTI) analysis of the TBI subject identified white matter regions within the brain displaying reductions in fractional anisotropy (FA), an indicator of local damage to the white matter axonal structures. Analysis of functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) data collected on this individual identified localized regions of the brain displaying hypoactivity, another indicator of brain injury. We conducted high fidelity simulations of head impact experienced by the TBI subject using the Sandia head-neck-torso model and the shock physics computer code CTH. Intracranial fluid cavitation predictions were compared with maps of DTI fractional anisotropy and fMRI hypoactivity to assess whether a possible correlation exists. The ultimate goal of this work is to assess whether one can correlate simulation predictions of intracranial fluid cavitation with the brain injured sites identified by the fMRI and DTI analyses. The outcome of this effort is described in this report.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Extended Gutzwiller Approximation for Nonlocal Electron-Electron and Electron-Boson Correlations (I): The Theory

Understanding electron-electron and electron-photon correlations is central to uncovering the fundamental mechanisms governing material properties, particularly in systems where strong interactions give rise to emergent phenomena such as superconductivity, magnetism, and polaritonic effects. These correlations play a pivotal role in cavity quantum materials, where hybridized light-matter states enable quantum control over electronic properties. However, capturing both local and nonlocal correlations in these systems presents a significant theoretical challenge. In this work, we extend the Gutzwiller wavefunction method to include nonlocal electron-photon and electron-electron interactions, providing a unified framework to study the intricate interplay between these effects. Our approach accurately captures the long-range correlations induced by photon exchange, enabling the exploration of exotic quantum phases and the effects of cavity coupling on electronic structure. By benchmarking the method across coupling regimes, we reveal the critical role of nonlocal correlations in stabilizing phases, such as superconducting and insulating states, that are inaccessible through local interactions alone. This generalized Gutzwiller framework offers a versatile tool for understanding and designing materials that harness the transformative potential of strong light-matter coupling.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Search for Correlations between Turbulence and Star Formation in LITTLE THINGS Dwarf Irregular Galaxies

Turbulence has the potential for creating gas density enhancements that initiate cloud and star formation (SF), and it can be generated locally by SF. To study the connection between turbulence and SF, we looked for relationships between SF traced by FUV images, and gas turbulence traced by kinetic energy density (KED) and velocity dispersion (v {sub disp}) in the LITTLE THINGS sample of nearby dIrr galaxies. We performed 2D cross-correlations between FUV and KED images, measured cross-correlations in annuli to produce correlation coefficients as a function of radius, and determined the cumulative distribution function of the cross-correlation value. We also plotted on a pixel-by-pixel basis the locally excess KED, v {sub disp}, and H i mass surface density, Σ{sub HI}, as determined from the respective values with the radial profiles subtracted, versus the excess SF rate density Σ{sub SFR}, for all regions with positive excess Σ{sub SFR}. We found that Σ{sub SFR} and KED are poorly correlated. The excess KED associated with SF implies a ∼0.5% efficiency for supernova energy to pump local H i turbulence on the scale of the resolution here, which is a factor of ∼2 too small for all of the turbulence on a galactic scale. The excess v {sub disp} in SF regions is also small, only ∼0.37 km s{sup −1}. The local excess in Σ{sub HI} corresponding to an excess in Σ{sub SFR} is consistent with a H i consumption time of ∼1.6 Gyr in the inner parts of the galaxies. The similarity between this timescale and the consumption time for CO implies that CO-dark molecular gas has comparable mass to H i in the inner disks.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗