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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Ultrafast formation of domain walls of a charge density wave in SmTe 3

We study ultrafast x-ray diffraction on the charge density wave (CDW) of SmTe 3 using an x-ray free-electron laser. The high momentum and time resolution afforded by the x-ray laser enabled capturing fine wave-vector and time-dependent features of the CDW that originate from fast (in time) and sharp (in real space) variations of the CDW lattice distortion, which we attribute to an inversion of the order parameter. These domain inversions occur near the surface and are caused by the short penetration depth of the near-infrared pump with the wavelength centered at 800 nm, resulting in CDW domain walls perpendicular to the sample surface. These domain walls break the CDW long-range order on the scale of the x-ray probe depth, controlled experimentally by the x-ray incidence angle and suppress the diffraction intensity of the CDW for times much longer than the ~1–ps recovery of the electronic gap observed in time and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We model the spatial and temporal dependences of the order parameter using a simple Ginzburg-Landau model with all the parameters obtained from the published literature. We find reasonable agreement between the calculated and the measured diffraction across the momentum, time, fluence, and incidence angle dependence without adjusting any parameters. In conclusion, we reconstruct the spatial and temporal dependences of the lattice order parameter and find that at long times, depending on the pump fluence, multiple domain walls remain at distances of a few nanometers from the surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Unifying femtosecond and picosecond single-pulse magnetic switching in Gd-Fe-Co

Many questions are still open regarding the physical mechanisms behind the magnetic switching in Gd-Fe-Co alloys by single optical pulses. Phenomenological models suggest a femtosecond scale exchange relaxation between sublattice magnetization as the driving mechanism for switching. The recent observation of thermally induced switching in Gd-Fe-Co by using both several picosecond optical laser pulse as well as electric current pulses has questioned this previous understanding. This has raised the question of whether or not the same switching mechanics are acting at the femtosecond and picosecond scales. In this work, we aim at filling this gap in the understanding of the switching mechanisms behind thermal single-pulse switching. To that end, we have studied experimentally thermal single-pulse switching in Gd-Fe-Co alloys, for a wide range of system parameters, such as composition, laser power, and pulse duration. We provide a quantitative description of the switching dynamics using atomistic spin dynamics methods with excellent agreement between the model and our experiments across a wide range of parameters and timescales, ranging from femtoseconds to picoseconds. Furthermore, we find distinct element-specific damping parameters as a key ingredient for switching with long picosecond pulses and argue that switching with pulse durations as long as 15 ps is possible due to a low damping constant of Gd. Our findings can be easily extended to speed up dynamics in other contexts where ferrimagnetic Gd-Fe-Co alloys have been already demonstrated to show fast and energy-efficient processes, e.g., domain-wall motion in a track and spin-orbit torque switching in spintronics devices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Atomlike interaction and optically tunable giant band-gap renormalization in large-area atomically thin MoS2

Coulomb interactions in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides can be dynamically engineered by exploiting the dielectric environment to control the optical and electronic properties. Here we demonstrate an optically tunable giant band-gap renormalization (BGR) ~1200 and 850 meV from the edge of the conduction band and complete suppression of the exciton absorption in large-area single-layer (1L) and three-layer (3L) MoS2, respectively. The observed giant BGR is two orders of magnitude larger than that in the conventional semiconductors, and it persists for tens of ps. Strikingly, our results demonstrate photoinduced transparency at the electronic band gap using an intense optical field at room temperature. Exciton bleach recovery in 1L and 3L show a contrasting fluence-dependent response, demonstrating the layer-dependent optical tuning of exciton lifetime in a way that would be both reversible and real time. We find that the optical band gap (exciton resonance peak) shows a transient redshift followed by an anomalous blueshift from the lowest energy point as a function of the photo-generated carrier density. The observed exciton energy shift is analogous to atom-atom interactions, and it varies as a Lennard-Jones like potential as a function of the interexciton separation.

2D semiconductors↗

Vibrational response and temperature of shock-compressed Pt: In situ extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements to 325 GPa

Single pulse (~100 ps duration) extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements were obtained in laser shocked Pt to examine atomic vibrational properties and to determine temperatures for shock pressures from 72-325 GPa. Pt x-ray absorption spectra were recorded while a planar shock wave was propagating through the Pt sample. The absorption spectrum corresponding to the shocked Pt was obtained by subtracting the ambient Pt contribution from the measured absorption spectrum. Fits to the shocked state EXAFS data provided Pt lattice parameters consistent with the known Pt Hugoniot and the mean squared relative displacements (MSRDs) for nearest neighbor Pt atoms. Pt temperatures in the shocked state, estimated from the MSRDs using the correlated Debye model and correlated Einstein models, were consistent with both the Hugoniot temperatures calculated by integration along the Hugoniot and with the Hugoniot temperatures from published first-principles calculations. However, the agreement between the Hugoniot temperatures from EXAFS measurements and the calculated Hugoniot temperatures is not as good above 200 GPa, likely due to anharmonic effects. Furthermore, the present results demonstrate that single-pulse synchrotron EXAFS measurements in laser-shocked solids are useful for quantitative temperature determination and for examination of vibrational properties, including anharmonicity, at extreme pressure-temperature conditions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

X-ray diffraction study of phase transformation dynamics of Fe and Fe-Si alloys along the shock Hugoniot using an x-ray free electron laser

The x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) enables probing a highly compressed material response at the subnanosecond timescale. Here we exploit the ultrafast XFEL pulse to combine reflection x-ray diffraction and laser-driven shock compression to perform a study of the phase transformation and stability in Fe and Fe-Si alloys. Our approach enables us to observe that solid-solid phase transformations occur in Fe and Fe- Si 8.5 wt % in ≤ 130 ps at ~ 130 GPa; no transformation is observed in Fe- Si 16 wt % up to 110 GPa. Density functional theory calculations predict similar phase relations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ultrafast perturbation of magnetic domains by optical pumping in a ferromagnetic multilayer

Ultrafast optical pumping of spatially nonuniform magnetic textures is known to induce far-from-equilibrium spin transport effects. Here, we use ultrafast x-ray diffraction with unprecedented dynamic range to study the laser-induced dynamics of labyrinth domain networks in ferromagnetic CoFe/Ni multilayers. We detected azimuthally isotropic, odd order, magnetic diffraction rings up to fifth order. The amplitudes of all three diffraction rings quench to different degrees within 1.6 ps. In addition, all three of the detected diffraction rings both broaden by 15% and radially contract by 6% during the quench process. We are able to rigorously quantify a 31% ultrafast broadening of the domain walls via Fourier analysis of the order-dependent quenching of the three detected diffraction rings. Here, the broadening of the diffraction rings is interpreted as a reduction in the domain coherence length, but the shift in the ring radius, while unambiguous in its occurrence, remains unexplained. In particular, we demonstrate that a radial shift explained by domain-wall broadening can be ruled out. With the unprecedented dynamic range of our data, our results provide convincing evidence that labyrinth domain structures are spatially perturbed at ultrafast speeds under far-from-equilibrium conditions, albeit the mechanism inducing the perturbations remains yet to be clarified.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Energy-valley-dependent charge transfer in few-layer transition metal dichalcogenide heterostructures

The effect of the energy valley on interlayer charge transfer in transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) heterostructures is studied by transient absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory. First-principles calculations confirm that the Λ min valley in the conduction band of few-layer WSe 2 evolves from above its K valley in the monolayer (1L) to below it in 4L. Heterostructure samples of nL–WSe 2 /1L–MoS 2 , where n = 1,2,3, and 4, are obtained by mechanical exfoliation and dry transfer. Photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals a thickness-dependent WSe 2 band structure and efficient interlayer charge transfer. Transient absorption measurements show that the electron transfer time from the Λ min valley of 4L WSe 2 to the K valley of MoS 2 is on the order of 30 ps. This process is much slower than the K-K charge transfer in 1L/1L TMD heterostructures. Furthermore, the momentum-indirect interlayer excitons formed after charge transfer have lifetimes >1 ns.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Intrinsic electric quadrupole moment of the K π = 8 - isomeric state in Hf 178

The lifetime of the 9 - state in the rotational band based on the 4.0 s, K π = 8 - , isomeric state ( 178 Hf m 1 ) from the decay of the 31-yr isomer ( 178 Hf m 2 ) was determined to be 99(2) ps by means of the fast-timing technique using two LaBr 3 (Ce) scintillators. The δ (E2/M1) mixing ratios of the ΔI = 1 γ rays depopulating levels in this band were deduced from γ-γ angular correlations by using a 178 Hf m 2 radioactive source located at the center of the Gammasphere HPGe detector array. The new results, together with previous spectroscopic information, provide a different way to extract the intrinsic quadrupole moment of Q 0 = 6.45 (14) eb for the 178 Hf m 1 band. A possible explanation for the reduction of the 178 Hf m 1 nuclear charge radius is presented.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Lifetime measurements of states of S 35 , S 36 , S 37 , and S 38 using the AGATA γ -ray tracking spectrometer

Lifetimes or lifetime limits of a small number of excited states of the sulfur isotopes with mass numbers A = 35 , 36, 37, and 38 have been measured using the differential recoil-distance method. The isotopes of sulfur were populated in binary grazing reactions initiated by a beam of 36 S ions of energy 225 MeV incident on a thin 208 Pb target which was mounted in the Cologne plunger apparatus. The combination of the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer and an early implementation of the AGATA γ-ray tracking array was used to detect γ rays in coincidence with projectile-like nuclear species. Lifetime measurements of populated states were measured within the range from about 1 to 100 ps. The number of states for which lifetime measurements or lifetime limits were possible was limited by statistics. For 35 S, the lifetime was determined for the first 1/2 + state at 1572 keV; the result is compared with a previous published lifetime value. The lifetime of the 3 - state of 36 S at 4193 keV was determined and compared with earlier measurements. No previous lifetime information exists for the (6 + ) state at 6690 keV; a lifetime measurement with large associated error was made in the present work. For 37 S, the states for which lifetime limits were established were those at 646 keV with J π = 3/2 - and at 2776 keV with J π = 11/2 - ; there are no previously published lifetime values for excited states of 37 S. Finally, a lifetime limit was established for the J π =(6 + ) state of 38 S at 3675 keV; no lifetime information exists for this state in the literature. Measured lifetime values were compared with the results of state-of-the-art shell-model calculations based on the PSDPF, SDPF-U, and FSU effective interactions. In addition, nuclear magnetic-dipole and electric-quadrupole moments, branching ratios, mixing ratios, and electromagnetic transition rates, where available, have been compared with shell-model values. The current work suffers from poor statistics; nevertheless, lifetime values and limits have been possible, allowing a useful discussion of the ability of state-of-the-art shell-model calculations to reproduce the experimental results.

electromagnetic transitions↗

𝐵⁡(𝐸⁢2) measurements in the yrast band of 28 Mg: Implications for the 𝑁 = 20 island of inversion

High-precision lifetime measurements in 28 Mg were performed to study neutron shell evolution in Mg isotopes and the onset of the N = 20 island of inversion. Here, using both the recoil distance and Doppler shift attenuation methods, five lifetimes were measured in addition to six upper limits. The observation of two long-lived, negative-parity states demonstrate the importance of studying Mg isotopes for the contribution of intruder configurations to sd-shell nuclei. Lifetimes of the $2^+_1$ and $4^+_1$ states of 1.81(5) ps and 172⁢($^{+11}_{–10}$) stat.⁢ (4) stop. ⁢(8) feed.⁢ (4) targ. fs, respectively, demonstrate a loss of collectivity with increasing spin in the yrast band, permitting for distinguishing between current theoretical models. These measurements also highlight the progression of yrast structure across the Mg isotopic chain from rotational at N = 12 to large shape mixing at N = 16 and back to collective behavior at N = 20 but with dominating intruder configurations.

20 ≤ A ≤ 38↗

Production of b b ¯ at forward rapidity in p + p collisions at s = 510 GeV

The cross section of bottom quark-antiquark ( b b ¯ ) production in p + p collisions at s = 510 GeV is measured with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The results are based on the yield of high mass, like-sign muon pairs measured within the PHENIX muon arm acceptance ( 1.2 < | y | < 2.2 ). The b b ¯ signal is extracted from like-sign dimuons by utilizing the unique properties of neutral B meson oscillation. We report a differential cross section of d σ b b ¯ → μ ± μ ± / d y = 0.16 ± 0.01 ( stat ) ± 0.02 ( syst ) ± 0.02 ( global ) nb for like-sign muons in the rapidity and p T ranges 1.2 < | y | < 2.2 and p T > 1 GeV / c , and dimuon mass of 5 – 10 GeV / c 2 . The extrapolated total cross section at this energy for b b ¯ production is 13.1 ± 0.6 ( stat ) ± 1.5 ( syst ) ± 2.7 ( global ) μ b . The total cross section is compared to a perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculation and is consistent within uncertainties. The azimuthal opening angle between muon pairs from b b ¯ decays and their p T distributions are compared to distributions generated using ps pythia 6, which includes next-to-leading order processes. The azimuthal correlations and pair p T distribution are not very well described by pythia calculations, but are still consistent within uncertainties. Flavor creation and flavor excitation subprocesses are favored over gluon splitting.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Measurement of the B s 0 → μ + μ - decay properties and search for the B 0 → μ + μ - and B s 0 → μ + μ - γ decays

An improved measurement of the decay $B^0_S$ → $μ^+μ^-$ and searches for the decays $B^0$ → $μ^+μ^+$ and $B^0_S$ → $μ^+μ^-γ$ are performed at the LHCb experiment using data collected in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 7, 8 and 13 TeV. corresponding to integrated luminosities of 1, 2 and 6 fb -1 , respectively. The $B^0_S$ → $μ^+μ^-$ branching fraction and effective lifetime are measured to be $\mathscr{B}$($B^0_S$ → $μ^+μ^-$) = (3.09$^{(+0.46+0.15)}_{(-0.43-0.11)}$) x 10 -9 and $τ(B^0_s →μ^+μ^-)$ = (2.07 ± 0.29 ± 0.03) ps, respectively, where the uncertainties include both statistical and systematic contributions. No significant signal for $B^0$ → $μ^+μ^-$ and $B^0_S$ → $μ^+μ^-γ$ decays is found and the upper limits $\mathscr{B}$($B^0$ → $μ^+μ^-$) < 2.6 x 10 -10 and $B^0_S$ → $μ^+μ^-γ$ < 2.0 x 10 -9 at 95% confidence level are determined, where the latter is limited to the range $m_{μμ}$ > 4.9 GeV/c 2 . Additionally, the ratio between the $B^0$ → $μ^+μ^-$ and $B^0_S$ → $μ^+μ^-$ branching fractions is measured to be $\mathscr{R}_{μ+μ-}$ < 0.095 at 95% confidence level. The results are in agreement with the Standard Model predictions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Measurement of the Λ hyperon lifetime

A new, more precise measurement of the Λ hyperon lifetime is performed using a large data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=5.02 TeV with ALICE. The Λ and $\bar{Λ}$ hyperons are reconstructed at midrapidity using their two-body weak decay channel Λ→p+π - and $\bar{Λ}$→$\bar{p}$+π + . The measured value of the Λ lifetime is τ Λ =[261.07±0.37(stat.)±0.72(syst.)] ps. The relative difference between the lifetime of Λ and $\bar{Λ}$, which represents an important test of CPT invariance in the strangeness sector, is also measured. The obtained value (τ Λ -τ $\bar{Λ}$ )/τ Λ =0.0013±0.0028(stat.)±0.0021(syst.) is consistent with zero within the uncertainties. Both measurements of the Λ hyperon lifetime and of the relative difference between τ Λ and τ $\bar{Λ}$ are in agreement with the corresponding world averages of the Particle Data Group and about a factor of three more precise.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Precision measurement of the Ξ b − baryon lifetime

A sample of p p collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.5 fb − 1 and collected by the LHCb experiment during LHC Run 2, is used to measure the ratio of the lifetime of the Ξ b − baryon to that of the Λ b 0 baryon, r τ ≡ τ Ξ b − / τ Λ b 0 . The value r τ = 1.076 ± 0.013 ± 0.006 is obtained, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This value is averaged with the corresponding value from Run 1 to obtain r τ Run 1 , 2 = 1.078 ± 0.012 ± 0.007 . Multiplying by the world-average value of the Λ b 0 lifetime yields τ Ξ b − Run 1 , 2 = 1.578 ± 0.018 ± 0.010 ± 0.011 ps , where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and due to the limited knowledge of the Λ b 0 lifetime. This measurement improves the precision of the current world average of the Ξ b − lifetime by about a factor of 2, and is in good agreement with the most recent theoretical predictions. © 2024 CERN, for the LHCb Collaboration 2024 CERN

Aaij, R. (ORCID:0000000305331952)↗

Transport of an intense proton beam from a cone-structured target through plastic foam with unique proton source modeling

Laser-accelerated proton beams are applicable to several research areas within high-energy density science, including warm dense matter generation, proton radiography, and inertial confinement fusion, which all involve transport of the beam through matter. Here, we report on experimental measurements of intense proton beam transport through plastic foam blocks. The intense proton beam was accelerated by the 10 ps, 700 $\textit{J}$ OMEGA EP laser irradiating a curved foil target, and focused by an attached hollow cone. The protons then entered the foam block of density 0.38 g/cm 3 and thickness 0.55 or 1.00 mm. At the rear of the foam block, a Cu layer revealed the cross section of the intense beam via proton- and hot electron-induced Cu-K α emission. Images of x-ray emission show a bright spot on the rear Cu film indicative of a forward-directed beam without major breakup. 2D fluid-PIC simulations of the transport were conducted using a unique multi-injection source model incorporating energy-dependent beam divergence. Along with postprocessed calculations of the Cu – $K_α$ emission profile, simulations showed that protons retain their ballistic transport through the foam and are able to heat the foam up to several keV in temperature. The total experimental emission profile for the 1.0 mm foam agrees qualitatively with the simulated profile, suggesting that the protons indeed retain their beamlike qualities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Spectral studies of soft x-ray radiation of laser-produced plasma of various target materials in a wide spectral range

Here, the work is devoted to experimental study of soft X-ray radiation spectra of laser produced plasma in a wide spectral range 5–100 Å at the “Kamerton” facility (GPI) with pulse duration 70 ps, pulse energy 1–5 J, wavelength 0.53 microns at which the laser intensity (power flux density) of 7×10 14 – 3.5×10 15 W/cm 2 was achieved. A spectrograph was used, which had transmission diffraction gratings with a ratio of the elementary gap to the period of the structure of 0.25 and 0.41. Detection was performed on both UV-4 X-ray photo film and Fuji TR fluorescent imaging plate. Solid samples from Al, Si, Ti, Cu, Ta and W were used as targets. The ionization states of the plasma corresponding to various electron temperatures were calculated, which made it possible to estimate the electron temperature by comparison these calculation results with the experimentally obtained spectra. The estimated electron temperature, which depends on the laser pulse energy and the target material, varied within the range of 100–450 eV. To verify the correctness of the temperature estimations obtained by such comparison a numerical simulation of plasma radiation was carried out by the use of PrismSPECT computer program. It was found that the results of this simulation are in a good agreement with estimations on the base of experimentally obtained spectra. The analysis of these spectra showed that tantalum, tungsten or titanium targets are the best candidates among the tested ones for the use of laser produced plasma as a radiation source in the "water window" spectral range (23–44 Å) for applications in biology and medicine.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Experimental evidence of early-time saturation of the ion-Weibel instability in counterstreaming plasmas of CH, Al, and Cu

The collisionless ion-Weibel instability is a leading candidate mechanism for the formation of collisionless shocks in many astrophysical systems, where the typical distance between particle collisions is much larger than the system size. Multiple laboratory experiments aimed at studying this process utilize laser-driven (I≳10 15 W/cm 2 ), counterstreaming plasma flows (V≲ 2000 km/s) to create conditions unstable to Weibel-filamentation and growth. This technique intrinsically produces temporally varying plasma conditions at the midplane of the interaction where Weibel-driven B fields are generated and studied. Experiments discussed herein demonstrate robust formation of Weibel-driven B fields under multiple plasma conditions using CH, Al, and Cu plasmas. Linear theory based on benchmarked radiation-hydrodynamic FLASH calculations is compared with Fourier analyses of proton images taken ~5–6 linear growth times into the evolution. Our new analyses presented here indicate that the low-density, high-velocity plasma-conditions present during the first linear-growth time (~300–500 ps) sets the spectral characteristics of Weibel filaments during the entire evolution. It is shown that the dominant wavelength (~300 μm) at saturation persists well into the nonlinear phase, consistent with theory under these experimental conditions. However, estimates of B-field strength, while difficult to determine accurately due to the path-integrated nature of proton imaging, are shown to be in the ~10–30 T range, an order of magnitude above the expected saturation limit in homogenous plamas but consistent with enhanced B fields in the midplane due to temporally varying plasma conditions in experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Laser-direct-drive fusion target design with a high- Z gradient-density pusher shell

Laser-direct-drive fusion target designs with solid deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel, a high-Z gradient-density pusher shell (GDPS), and a Au-coated foam layer have been investigated through both 1D and 2D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations. Compared with conventional low-Z ablators and DT-push-on-DT targets, these GDPS targets possess certain advantages of being instability-resistant implosions that can be high adiabat (α ≥ 8) and low hot-spot and pusher-shell convergence (CR hs ≈ 22 and CR PS ≈ 17), and have a low implosion velocity (v imp < 3 × 10 7 cm/s). Using symmetric drive with laser energies of 1.9 to 2.5 MJ, 1D LILAC simulations of these GDPS implosions can result in neutron yields corresponding to >~50–MJ energy, even with reduced laser absorption due to the cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) effect. Two-dimensional DRACO simulations show that these GDPS targets can still ignite and deliver neutron yields from 4 to ~10 MJ even if CBET is present, while traditional DT-push-on-DT targets normally fail due to the CBET-induced reduction of ablation pressure. If CBET is mitigated, these GDPS targets are expected to produce neutron yields of >20 MJ at a driven laser energy of ~2 MJ. Here are the key factors behind the robust ignition and moderate energy gain of such GDPS implosions are as follows: (1) The high initial density of the high-Z pusher shell can be placed at a very high adiabat while the DT fuel is maintained at a relatively low-entropy state; therefore, such implosions can still provide enough compression ρR >1 g/cm 2 for sufficient confinement; (2) the high-Z layer significantly reduces heat-conduction loss from the hot spot since thermal conductivity scales as ~1/Z; and (3) possible radiation trapping may offer an additional advantage for reducing energy loss from such high-Z targets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗