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At least 919 records · Page 51

Optimized low-depth quantum circuits for molecular electronic structure using a separable-pair approximation

We present a classically tractable model that leads to optimized low-depth quantum circuits leveraging separable-pair approximations. The obtained circuits are well suited as a baseline circuit for emerging quantum hardware and can, in the long term, provide significantly improved initial states for quantum algorithms. The associated wave functions can be represented with linear memory requirement, which allows classical optimization of the circuits and naturally defines a minimum benchmark for quantum algorithms. In this work we employ directly determined pair-natural orbitals within a basis-set-free approach. This leads to accurate representation of the one- and many-body parts for weakly correlated systems and we explicitly illustrate how the model can be integrated into other quantum algorithms for stronger correlated systems.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Temperature-dependent anisotropies of upper critical field and London penetration depth

In this work, we show on a few examples of one-band materials with spheroidal Fermi surfaces and anisotropic order parameters that anisotropies γ H of the upper critical field and γ λ of the London penetration depth depend on temperature, a feature commonly attributed to multiband superconductors. The parameters γ H and γ λ may have opposite temperature dependences or may change in the same direction depending on the Fermi-surface shape and on the character of the gap nodes. For two-band systems, the behavior of anisotropies is affected by the ratios of bands densities of states, Fermi velocities, anisotropies, and order parameters. Lastly, we investigate in detail the conditions determining the directions of temperature dependences of the two anisotropy factors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Analysis of the London penetration depth in Ni-doped CaKFe 4 As 4

We report combined experimental and theoretical analysis of superconductivity in CaK(Fe 1-x Ni x ) 4 As 4 (CaK1144) for $x = 0$, 0.017, and 0.034. To obtain the superfluid density $ρ = [1 + Δλ_L$($T$)/$λ_L(0)]^{-2}$, the temperature dependence of the London penetration depth $Δλ_L$ ($T$) was measured by using a tunnel-diode resonator (TDR) and the results agreed with the microwave coplanar resonator (MWR) with the small differences accounted for by considering a three orders of magnitude higher frequency of MWR. The absolute value of $λ_L (T«T_c) ≈ λ_L (0)$ was measured by using MWR, $λ_L (5 K) ≈ 170 ± 20$ nm, which agreed well with the NV centers in diamond optical magnetometry that gave $λ_L (5 K) ≈ 196 ± 12$ nm. The experimental results are analyzed within the Eliashberg theory, showing that the superconductivity of CaK1144 is well described by the nodeless $s_±$ order parameter and that upon Ni doping the interband interaction increases.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Temperature dependence of London penetration depth anisotropy in superconductors with anisotropic order parameters

Here, we study the effects of anisotropic order parameters on the temperature dependence of London penetration depth anisotropy γ λ ( T ) . After MgB 2 , this dependence is commonly attributed to distinct gaps on multiband Fermi surfaces in superconductors. We have found, however, that the anisotropy parameter may depend on temperature also in one-band materials with anisotropic order parameters Δ ( T , k F ) ; a few such examples are given. We have also found that for different order parameters, the temperature dependence of Δ ( T ) / Δ ( 0 ) can be represented with good accuracy by the interpolation suggested by Einzel, which simplifies considerably the evaluation of γ λ ( T ) . Of particular interest are mixed order parameters of two symmetries for which γ λ ( T ) may go through a maximum for a certain relative weight of two phases. Also, for this case we find that the ratio Δ max ( 0 ) / T c may exceed substantially the weak-coupling limit of 1.76. It, however, does not imply strong coupling; rather, it is due to significantly anisotropic angular variation of Δ .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Intermediate scattering potential strength in electron-irradiated YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ from London penetration depth measurements

Temperature-dependent London penetration depth, λ(T), of a high quality optimally-doped YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ single crystal was measured using tunnel-diode-resonator technique. Controlled artificial disorder was induced by low-temperature 20 K irradiation by 2.5 MeV electrons at two large doses of 3.8 x 10 19 and 5.3 x 10 19 electrons per cm 2 . The irradiation caused significant suppression of the superconductor's critical temperature, T c , from 94.6 K to 90.0 K, and to 78.7 K, respectively. The low-temperature behavior of λ(T) evolves from a T-linear in pristine state to a T 2 behavior after irradiation, expected for a line-nodal d-wave superconductor. However, the original theory that explained such behavior assumed a unitary limit of the scattering potential, whereas usually in normal metals and semiconductors, Born scattering is sufficient to describe the experiment. To estimate the scattering potential strength, we calculated the superfluid density, ρ s (t = T/T c ) = λ 2 (0)/λ 2 (T), varying the amount and strength of non-magnetic scattering using a self-consistent t-matrix theory. Fitting the obtained curves to a power law, ρ s = 1 - Rt n , and to a polynomial, ρ s = 1 - At - Bt 2 , and comparing the coefficients n in one set and A and B in another with the experimental values, we estimate the phase shift to be around 70 and 65°, respectively. We correlate this result with the evolution of the density of states with nonmagnetic disorder.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Comment on 'Precision global measurements of London penetration depth in FeTe0.58Se0.42'

We reply to the Comment by Klein, Rodière, and Marcenat [ Phys. Rev. B 86 066501 (2012)] on our paper [ Phys. Rev. B 84 174502 (2011)]. Our work was motivated by Klein et al. [ Phys. Rev. B 82 184506 (2010)]. In their paper, Klein et al. have attributed a factor of 5 difference in the value of the London penetration depth obtained from their tunnel diode resonator (TDR) measurements and calculated from the “field of first penetration”to the surface roughness, although they have not verified it experimentally. In our paper, we have studied the effects of deliberately introduced surface roughness and found that its effects are minor and cannot be responsible for the difference of such magnitude. Instead, we suggest that the value of the field of first penetration measured with Hall arrays cannot be used to extract a true lower critical field due to several reasons outlined in our Reply. We emphasize that the accuracy of the calibration procedure of the TDR technique has been carefully verified in several prior studies and our work on FeTe0.58Se0.42 further confirms it. We show that in their Comment, Klein et al. use wrong arguments of the universal behavior of the superfluid density in the gapless limit, because it is inapplicable for the multiband superconductors. We also discuss the applicability of the clean-limit γ model and the influence of the disorder on the obtained results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evolution of London penetration depth with scattering in single crystals of K1-xNaxFe2As2

London penetration depth, λ(T), was measured in single crystals of K1-xNaxFe2As2, x=0 and 0.07, down to temperatures of 50 mK, ~Tc/50. Isovalent substitution of Na for K significantly increases impurity scattering, with ρ(Tc) rising from 0.2 to 2.2 μΩ cm, and leads to a suppression of Tc from 3.5 to 2.8 K. At the same time, a close to T-linear Δλ(T) in pure samples changes to almost T2 in the substituted samples. The behavior never becomes exponential as expected for the accidental nodes, as opposed to T2 dependence in superconductors with symmetry imposed line nodes. The superfluid density in the full temperature range follows a simple clean and dirty d-wave dependence, for pure and substituted samples, respectively. This result contradicts suggestions of multiband scenarios with strongly different gap structure on four sheets of the Fermi surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Spatially resolved penetration depth measurements and vortex manipulation in the ferromagnetic superconductor ErNi 2 B 2 C

We present a local probe study of the magnetic superconductor ErNi 2 B 2 C, using magnetic force microscopy at sub-Kelvin temperatures. ErNi 2 B 2 C is an ideal system to explore the effects of concomitant superconductivity and ferromagnetism. At 500 mK, far below the transition to a weakly ferromagnetic state, we directly observe a structured magnetic background on the micrometer scale. We determine spatially resolved absolute values of the magnetic penetration depth λ and study its temperature dependence as the system undergoes magnetic phase transitions from paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic, and to weak ferromagnetic, all within the superconducting regime. We estimate the absolute pinning force of Abrikosov vortices, which shows a position dependence and temperature dependence as well, and discuss the possibility of the purported spontaneous vortex formation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Probing the superconducting gap symmetry of α - PdBi 2 : A penetration depth study

In this paper, we report measurements of the in-plane London penetration depth λ in single crystals of the α - PdBi 2 superconductor—the α-phase counterpart of the putative topological superconductor β - PdBi 2 , down to 0.35 K using a high-resolution tunnel-diode-based technique. Both λ and superfluid density ρ s exhibit an exponential behavior for T ≤ 0.35T c , with Δ(0) /k B T c ~ 2.0, ΔC/γT c ~ 2.0, and λ(0) ~ 140 nm, showing that α - PdBi 2 is a moderately coupling, fully gapped superconductor. Finally, the values of Δ(0) and ΔC/γT c are consistent with each other via strong-coupling corrections.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

In-plane magnetic penetration depth of superconducting CaKFe 4 As 4

Here, the temperature dependence of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth (λ ab ) in an extensively characterized sample of superconducting CaKFe 4 As 4 (T c ≃35K) was investigated using muon-spin rotation (μSR). A comparison of λ –2 ab (T) measured by μSR with the one inferred from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data confirms the presence of multiple gaps at the Fermi level. An agreement between μSR and ARPES requires the presence of additional bands, which are not resolved by ARPES experiments. These bands are characterized by small superconducting gaps with an average zero-temperature value of Δ 0 =2.4(2)meV. Our data suggest that in CaKFe 4 As 4 the s ± order parameter symmetry acquires a more sophisticated form by allowing a sign change not only between electron and hole pockets, but also within pockets of similar type.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Nodeless superconductivity in the type-II Dirac semimetal PdTe 2 : London penetration depth and pairing-symmetry analysis

Superconducting gap structure was probed in type-II Dirac semimetal PdTe 2 by measuring the London penetration depth using the tunnel diode resonator technique. At low temperatures, the data for two samples are well described by a weak-coupling exponential fit yielding λ( T = 0) = 230 nm as the only fit parameter at a fixed Δ(0)/ T c ≈ 1.76, and the calculated superfluid density is consistent with a fully gapped superconducting state characterized by a single gap scale. Electrical resistivity measurements for in-plane and inter-plane current directions find very low and nearly temperature-independent normal-state anisotropy. The temperature dependence of resistivity is typical for conventional phonon scattering in metals. Here, we compare these experimental results with expectations from a detailed theoretical symmetry analysis and reduce the number of possible superconducting pairing states in PdTe 2 to only three nodeless candidates: a regular, topologically trivial s-wave pairing, and two distinct odd-parity triplet states that both can be topologically nontrivial depending on the microscopic interactions driving the superconducting instability.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Dependence of the absolute value of the penetration depth in ( Ba 1 – x K x ) Fe 2 As 2 on doping

Here, we report magnetic force microscopy (MFM) measurements on the iron-based superconductor Ba 1–x K x Fe 2 As 2 . By measuring locally the Meissner repulsion with the magnetic MFM tip, we determine the absolute value of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth (λ ab ) in underdoped, optimally doped, and overdoped samples. The results suggest an abrupt increase of λ ab as doping is increased from x opt , which is potentially related to the presence of a quantum critical point. The response of superconducting vortices to magnetic forces exerted by the MFM tip for x = 0.19 and 0.58 is compatible with previously observed structural symmetries at those doping levels.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Testing hadronic-model predictions of depth of maximum of air-shower profiles and ground-particle signals using hybrid data of the Pierre Auger Observatory

We test the predictions of hadronic interaction models regarding the depth of maximum of air-shower profiles, X max , and ground-particle signals in water-Cherenkov detectors at 1000 m from the shower core, S ( 1000 ) , using the data from the fluorescence and surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The test consists of fitting the measured two-dimensional ( S ( 1000 ) , X max ) distributions using templates for simulated air showers produced with hadronic interaction models pos-, et--04, 2.3d and leaving the scales of predicted X max and the signals from hadronic component at ground as free-fit parameters. The method relies on the assumption that the mass composition remains the same at all zenith angles, while the longitudinal shower development and attenuation of ground signal depend on the mass composition in a correlated way. The analysis was applied to 2239 events detected by both the fluorescence and surface detectors of the Pierre Auger Observatory with energies between 10 18.5 eV to 10 19.0 eV and zenith angles below 60°. We found, that within the assumptions of the method, the best description of the data is achieved if the predictions of the hadronic interaction models are shifted to deeper X max values and larger hadronic signals at all zenith angles. Given the magnitude of the shifts and the data sample size, the statistical significance of the improvement of data description using the modifications considered in the paper is larger than 5 σ even for any linear combination of experimental systematic uncertainties. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Search for photons above 10 18 eV by simultaneously measuring the atmospheric depth and the muon content of air showers at the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is the most sensitive instrument to detect photons with energies above 1 0 17 eV . It measures extensive air showers generated by ultrahigh energy cosmic rays using a hybrid technique that exploits the combination of a fluorescence detector with a ground array of particle detectors. The signatures of a photon-induced air shower are a larger atmospheric depth of the shower maximum ( X max ) and a steeper lateral distribution function, along with a lower number of muons with respect to the bulk of hadron-induced cascades. In this work, a new analysis technique in the energy interval between 1 and 30 EeV ( 1 EeV = 1 0 18 eV ) has been developed by combining the fluorescence detector-based measurement of X max with the specific features of the surface detector signal through a parameter related to the air shower muon content, derived from the universality of the air shower development. No evidence of a statistically significant signal due to photon primaries was found using data collected in about 12 years of operation. Thus, upper bounds to the integral photon flux have been set using a detailed calculation of the detector exposure, in combination with a data-driven background estimation. The derived 95% confidence level upper limits are 0.0403, 0.01113, 0.0035, 0.0023, and 0.0021 km − 2 sr − 1 yr − 1 above 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 EeV, respectively, leading to the most stringent upper limits on the photon flux in the EeV range. Compared with past results, the upper limits were improved by about 40% for the lowest energy threshold and by a factor 3 above 3 EeV, where no candidates were found and the expected background is negligible. The presented limits can be used to probe the assumptions on chemical composition of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and allow for the constraint of the mass and lifetime phase space of super-heavy dark matter particles. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Measurement of the depth of maximum of air-shower profiles with energies between 10 18.5 and 10 20 eV using the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory and deep learning

We report an investigation of the mass composition of cosmic rays with energies from 3 to 100 EeV ( 1 EeV = 10 18 eV ) using the distributions of the depth of shower maximum X max . The analysis relies on ∼ 50 , 000 events recorded by the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory and a deep-learning-based reconstruction algorithm. Above energies of 5 EeV, the dataset offers a 10-fold increase in statistics with respect to fluorescence measurements at the Observatory. After cross-calibration using the fluorescence detector, this enables the first measurement of the evolution of the mean and the standard deviation of the X max distributions up to 100 EeV. Our findings are threefold: (i) The evolution of the mean logarithmic mass toward a heavier composition with increasing energy can be confirmed and is extended to 100 EeV. (ii) The evolution of the fluctuations of X max toward a heavier and purer composition with increasing energy can be confirmed with high statistics. We report a rather heavy composition and small fluctuations in X max at the highest energies. (iii) We find indications for a characteristic structure beyond a constant change in the mean logarithmic mass, featuring three breaks that are observed in proximity to the ankle, instep, and suppression features in the energy spectrum. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Depth of maximum of air-shower profiles at the Pierre Auger Observatory. I. Measurements at energies above $10^{17.8}$ eV

We report a study of the distributions of the depth of maximum, X max , of extensive air-shower profiles with energies above 10 17.8 eV as observed with the fluorescence telescopes of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The analysis method for selecting a data sample with minimal sampling bias is described in detail as well as the experimental cross-checks and systematic uncertainties. Furthermore, we discuss the detector acceptance and the resolution of the X max measurement and provide parametrizations thereof as a function of energy. Finally, the energy dependence of the mean and standard deviation of the X max distributions are compared to air-shower simulations for different nuclear primaries and interpreted in terms of the mean and variance of the logarithmic mass distribution at the top of the atmosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Depth of maximum of air-shower profiles at the Pierre Auger Observatory. II. Composition implications

Using the data taken at the Pierre Auger Observatory between December 2004 and December 2012, we have examined the implications of the distributions of depths of atmospheric shower maximum (Xmax), using a hybrid technique, for composition and hadronic interaction models. We do this by fitting the distributions with predictions from a variety of hadronic interaction models for variations in the composition of the primary cosmic rays and examining the quality of the fit. Regardless of what interaction model is assumed, we find that our data are not well described by a mix of protons and iron nuclei over most of the energy range. Acceptable fits can be obtained when intermediate masses are included, and when this is done consistent results for the proton and iron-nuclei contributions can be found using the available models. We observe a strong energy dependence of the resulting proton fractions, and find no support from any of the models for a significant contribution from iron nuclei. However, we also observe a significant disagreement between the models with respect to the relative contributions of the intermediate components.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Experimental observation of the stratified electrothermal instability on aluminum with thickness greater than a skin depth

A direct observation of the stratified electrothermal instability on the surface of thick metal is reported. Aluminum rods coated with 70 μm Parylene-N were driven to 1 MA in 100 ns, with the metal thicker than the skin depth. Here, the dielectric coating suppressed plasma formation, enabling persistent observation of discrete azimuthally correlated stratified thermal perturbations perpendicular to the current whose wave numbers, k, grew exponentially with rate γ (k) = 0.06 ns -1 - (0.4 ns -1 μm 2 ra d -2 ) k 2 in ~ 1 g/cm 3 , ~ 7000 K aluminum.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗