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At least 127 records · Page 7

Entanglement entropy of a color flux tube in (2+1)D Yang-Mills theory

We construct a novel flux tube entanglement entropy (FTE 2 ), defined as the excess entanglement entropy relative to the vacuum of a region of color flux stretching between a heavy quark-anti-quark pair in pure gauge Yang-Mills theory. We show that FTE 2 can be expressed in terms of correlators of Polyakov loops, is manifestly gauge-invariant, and therefore free of the ambiguities in computations of the entanglement entropy in gauge theories related to the choice of the center algebra. Employing the replica trick, we compute FTE 2 for SU(2) Yang-Mills theory in (2+1)D and demonstrate that it is finite in the continuum limit. We explore the properties of FTE 2 for a half-slab geometry, which allows us to vary the width and location of the slab, and the extent to which the slab cross-cuts the color flux tube. Following the intuition provided by computations of FTE 2 in (1+1)D, and in a thin string model, we examine the extent to which our FTE 2 results can be interpreted as the sum of an internal color entropy and a vibrational entropy corresponding to the transverse excitations of the string.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Higgs-confinement transitions in QCD from symmetry protected topological phases

In gauge theories with fundamental matter there is typically no sharp way to distinguish confining and Higgs regimes, e.g. using generalized global symmetries acting on loop order parameters. It is standard lore that these two regimes are continuously connected, as has been explicitly demonstrated in certain lattice and continuum models. We point out that Higgsing and confinement sometimes lead to distinct symmetry protected topological (SPT) phases -- necessarily separated by a phase transition -- for ordinary global symmetries. We present explicit examples in 3+1 dimensions, obtained by adding elementary Higgs fields and Yukawa couplings to QCD while preserving parity P and time reversal T. In a suitable scheme, the confining phases of these theories are trivial SPTs, while their Higgs phases are characterized by non-trivial P- and T-invariant theta-angles θ f , θ g = π for flavor or gravity background gauge fields, i.e. they are topological insulators or superconductors. Finally, we consider conventional three-flavor QCD (without elementary Higgs fields) at finite U(1) B baryon-number chemical potential μ B , which preserves P and T. At very large μ B , three-flavor QCD is known to be a completely Higgsed color superconductor that also spontaneously breaks U(1) B . We argue that this high-density phase is in fact a gapless SPT, with a gravitational theta-angle θ g = π that safely co-exists with the U(1) B Nambu-Goldstone boson. We explain why this SPT motivates unexpected transitions in the QCD phase diagram, as well as anomalous surface modes at the boundary of quark-matter cores inside neutron stars.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

HST WFC3 Observations of Uranus' 2014 Storm Clouds and Comparison with VLT/SINFONI and IRTF/Spex Observations

In November 2014 Uranus was observed with the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument of the Hubble Space Telescope as part of the Hubble 2020: Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program, OPAL. OPAL annually maps Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune (and will also map Saturn from 2018) in several visible near- infrared wavelength filters. The Uranus 2014 OPAL observations were made on the 89th November at a time when a huge cloud complex, first observed by de Pater et al. (2015) and subsequently tracked by professional and amateur astronomers (Sayanagi et al., 2016), was present at 30-40deg N. We imaged the entire visible atmosphere, including the storm system, in seven filters spanning 467924 nm, capturing variations in the coloration of Uranus clouds and also vertical distribution due to wavelength dependent changes in Rayleigh scattering and methane absorption optical depth. Here we analyse these new HST observations with the NEMESIS radiative-transfer and retrieval code in multiple-scattering mode to determine the vertical cloud structure in and around the storm cloud system. The same storm system was also observed in the H-band (1.4-1.8 micrometers) with the SINFONI Integral Field Unit Spectrometer on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) on 31st October and 11th November, reported by Irwin et al. (2016, 10.1016j.icarus.2015.09.010). To constrain better the cloud particle sizes and scattering properties over a wide wavelength range we also conducted a limb-darkening analysis of the background cloud structure in the 30-40deg N latitude band by simultaneously fitting: a) these HSTOPAL observations at a range of zenith angles; b) the VLTSINFONI observations at a range of zenith angles; and c) IRTFSpeX observations of this latitude band made in 2009 at a single zenith angle of 23deg, spanning the wavelength range 0.8-1.8 micrometers (Irwin et al., 2015, 10.1016j.icarus.2014.12.020). We find that the HST observations, and the combined HSTVLTIRTF observations at all locations are well modelled with a three-component cloud comprised of: 1) a vertically thin, but optically thick deep tropospheric cloud at a pressure of approximately 2 bars; 2) a methane-ice cloud based at the methane-condensation level of approximately 1.23 bar, with variable vertical extent; and 3) a vertically extended tropospheric haze, also based at the methane-condensation level of 1.23 bar. We find that modelling both haze and tropospheric cloud with particles having an effective radius of approximately 0.1 micron provides a good fit the observations, although for the tropospheric cloud, particles with an effective radius as large as 1.0 micron provide a similarly good fit. We find that the particles in both the tropospheric cloud and haze are more scattering at short wave- lengths, giving them a blue color, but are more absorbing at longer wavelengths, especially for the tropospheric haze. We find that the spectra of the storm clouds are well modelled by localized thickening and vertical extension of the methane-ice cloud. For the particles in the storm clouds, which we assume to be composed of methane ice particles, we find that their mean radii must lie somewhere in the range 0. 1 1. 0 m. We find that the high clouds have low integrated opacity, and that streamers reminiscent of convective thunderstorm anvils are confined to levels deeper than 1 bar. These results argue against vigorous moist convective origins for the cloud features.

atmospheres↗

Corrugated Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors and Arrays

Quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) have many advantages in infrared detection, mainly due to the mature Ill-V material technology. The employment of the corrugation structure further advances the technology by providing a simple, yet efficient light-coupling scheme. A C-QWIP enjoys the same flexibility as a detector with intrinsic normal incident absorption. In this paper, we will discuss the utilities of C-QWIPs in different applications, including two-color detection and polarization-sensitive detection. Besides practical applications, C-QWIPs are also useful in detector characterization. They can be used for measuring the absorption coefficient of light propagating parallel to the layers under bias and providing information on the energy resolved photoconductive gain. These two quantities have never been measured before. Based on the corrugation design, we have made several modifications that further improve the detector sensitivity without increasing its complexity. Other than the C-QWIP structure, we also continue searching for other sensitive detector architectures. In a quantum grid infrared photodetector, 3-dimensional electron confinement can be achieved, with which the detector is able to absorb light in all directions. At the same time, the photoconductive gain can also be improved. We further improve the design using a blazed structure. All the experimental results are supported by a rigorous electromagnetic modal transmission-line theory developed especially for these types of structures. Preliminary thermal imaging using C-QWIP FPAs validates the advantages of the present approach.

Choi, K. K.↗

Chemical preintercalation synthesis approach for the formation of new layered tungsten oxides

Tungsten oxide, WO 3 ·nH 2 O, is a unique layered oxide material that offers enhanced performance in electrochromic and energy storage applications. Herein, we report the formation of a new, never previously synthesized, Na-containing layered tungsten oxide phase, Na 0.20 WO 3 ·0.81H 2 O, using a chemical preintercalation approach. The structure and composition of this novel phase were investigated via microscopy, spectroscopy, and diffraction methods. Electrochemical cycling of Na 0.20 WO 3 ·0.81H 2 O electrodes revealed initial discharge capacities of 37.43 mAh g -1 , 480.8 mAh g -1 , and 253.2 mAh g -1 in aqueous H 2 SO 4 cells (potential window of - 0.2–0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl), non-aqueous Li-ion cells (potential window of 0.1–4.0 V vs. Li/Li + ), and non-aqueous Na-ion cells (potential window of 0.1–4.0 V vs. Na/Na + ), respectively. Additionally, a reversible, pressure-induced color change from pale yellow to dark brown/black was observed for the Na 0.20 WO 3 ·0.81H 2 O sample when it was placed under pressures of 1000 psi or higher. Our results demonstrate the viability of chemical preintercalation synthesis approach to produce new oxide phases with interesting functional properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Pluto: Fluidized Transport of Tholins by Heating of the Subsurface

New Horizons images of Pluto show evidence of the transport of the colored non-ice component across the surface, with substantial accumulations in some areas of low elevation. The non-ice component is presumed to be tholin produced in the atmosphere as a precipitating aerosol, in the surface ices by photolysis or radiolysis, or both. We model the surface layer of N2 ice with varying amounts of incorporated tholin particles to explore the heating within the ice that occurs by the solid-state greenhouse effect. We find that in plausible models of the contaminated N2 surface ice the triple point temperature (63.15K) is reached at a depth of approximately less than 1m. At that depth the confining pressure of the ice column is much less than the triple point pressure (12.52 kPa), so N2 should convert to the gas phase, exerting pressure on the overburden. When the gas pressure exceeds the strength of the confining ice, a breakout on the surface will occur, fluidizing fragments of ice and its contaminants that are then free to flow downhill, rafted on entrained gas, similar in some ways to the pyroclastic volcanic phenomenon known as nuée ardente. The digital elevation map of Pluto made from stereo images shows some surface regions that may have been stripped of the N2 layer, exposing H2O ice (presumed to be bedrock) below, with a corresponding accumulation of dark material that was that was the previously entrained particulate tholin. Accumulations of tholin are found associated with some of the fossae, and some cover preexisting topography to depths of up to a few hundred meters.

New Horizons↗

Chiral spin symmetry and the QCD phase diagram

Lattice QCD simulations with chirally symmetric quarks have recently established approximate SU(2) CS and SU(2N F ) symmetries of the quantum effective action in a temperature range above the chiral crossover T ch , in which color-electric interactions between quarks dominate the dynamics. We show that such an intermediate temperature range between the chirally broken and plasma regimes is fully consistent with published screening mass spectra, which demonstrate the breakdown of thermal perturbation theory at the crossover between the partonic and the chiral spin symmetric regime at T s ~(2–3)T ch . From the known behavior of screening masses with baryon chemical potential, we deduce qualitatively how this chiral spin symmetric band extends into the QCD phase diagram. In the cold and dense region, we propose parity doubled baryons as possible candidates for chiral spin symmetric matter. This represents a special case of quarkyonic matter with confinement and restored chiral symmetry, and can smoothly transform to quark matter at sufficiently high densities. Finally, we discuss the potential of dilepton spectra to identify such matter forms.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Simulating single-particle dynamics in magnetized plasmas: The RMF code

The RMF (Rotating Magnetic Field) code is designed to calculate the motion of a charged particle in a given electromagnetic field. It integrates Hamilton’s equations in cylindrical coordinates using an adaptive predictor-corrector double-precision variable-coefficient ordinary differential equation solver for speed and accuracy. RMF has multiple capabilities for the field. Particle motion is initialized by specifying the position and velocity vectors. Here, the six-dimensional state vector and derived quantities are saved as functions of time. A post-processing graphics code, XDRAW, is used on the stored output to plot up to 12 windows of any two quantities using different colors to denote successive time intervals. Multiple cases of RMF may be run in parallel and perform data mining on the results. Recent features are a synthetic diagnostic for simulating the observations of charge-exchange-neutral energy distributions and RF grids to explore a Fermi acceleration parallel to static magnetic fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Jupiters North Equatorial Belt Expansion and Thermal Wave Activity Ahead of Junos Arrival.

The dark colors of Jupiter's North Equatorial Belt (NEB, 7-17degN) appeared to expand northward into the neighboring one in 2015, consistent with a 35 year cycle. Inversions of thermal-IR imaging from the Very Large Telescope revealed a moderate warming and reduction of aerosol opacity at the cloud tops at 17-20degN, suggesting subsidence and drying in the expanded sector. Two new thermal waves were identified during this period: (i) an upper tropospheric thermal wave (wave number 16-17, amplitude 2.5 K at 170 mbar) in the mid-NEB that was anticorrelated with haze reflectivity; and (ii) a stratospheric wave (wave number 13-14, amplitude 7.3 K at 5 mbar) at 20-30degN. Both were quasi-stationary, confined to regions of eastward zonal flow, and are morphologically similar to waves observed during previous expansion events.

Jupiter↗

Entanglement and confinement in coupled quantum systems

We study some general properties of coupled quantum systems. We consider simple interactions between two copies of identical Hamiltonians such as the SYK model, Pauli spin chains with random magnetic field and harmonic oscillators. Such couplings make the ground states close to the thermofield double states of the uncoupled Hamiltonians. For the coupled SYK model, we push the numerical computation further towards the thermodynamic limit so that an extrapolation in the size of the system is possible. We find good agreement between the extrapolated numerical result and the analytic result in the large-q limit. We also consider the coupled gauged matrix model and vector model, and argue that the deconfinement is associated with the loss of the entanglement, similarly to the previous observation for the coupled SYK model. The understanding of the microscopic mechanism of the confinement/deconfinement transition enables us to estimate the quantum entanglement precisely, and backs up the dual gravity interpretation which relates the deconfinement to the disappearance of the wormhole. Our results demonstrate the importance of the entanglement between the color degrees of freedom in the emergence of the bulk geometry from quantum field theory via holography.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Entanglement entropy of a color flux tube in (1+1)D Yang–Mills theory

In recent work Amorosso et al. (2024), we computed a novel flux tube entanglement entropy (FTE) of the color flux tube stretched between a heavy quark-antiquark pair on a Euclidean lattice in (2+1)D Yang–Mills theory. Our numerical results suggested that FTE can be partitioned into an internal color entanglement entropy and a vibrational entropy corresponding to the transverse excitations of a QCD string, with the latter described by a thin string model. Since the color flux tube does not have transverse excitations in (1+1)D Yang–Mills theory, we use this simpler framework to perform an exact analytical computation of the contribution of the internal color degrees of freedom to FTE. For the multipartite partitioning of the color flux tube, we find the remarkable result that FTE depends only on the dimension of the color group representation and the number of times the flux tube crosses the boundary between the traced and untraced spatial regions but not on the string length. Our proof is independent of whether the replica and region boundaries on the lattice are placed on vertices or in plaquette centers.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Improved Radiative Recombination in AlInGaP LEDs

Direct-emitting red and amber LEDs based on the AlInGaP material system offer a higher efficacy potential than phosphor-converted (pc) red and amber LEDs due to the absence of Stokes losses. Direct red LEDs (~610-620nm) are increasingly used in color-mixed and color-tunable illumination applications, where they have a significant advantage over pc-red LEDs, with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and narrower emission enabling higher luminous efficacy of radiation (LER). Still, adoption is limited as the complexities associated with mixing different emitters offset the value of the efficacy gain. Adoption of direct amber LEDs (~580-595nm) in illumination applications is virtually non-existent due to their lower PCE and the availability of very efficient pc-amber emitters, which suffer less from Stokes loss and LER penalties associated with the broader bandwidth than pc-red. Further improvement in PCE of direct red and amber LEDs is needed to achieve wider adoption and ultimately enable more energy savings than possible with pc-LEDs. In this project, Lumileds has developed improved high-power amber and red LEDs incorporating tensile-strain barriers into the active region to improve carrier confinement and thereby increase external quantum efficiency (EQE). This approach is most beneficial for the short (amber) end of the AlInGaP wavelength range where carrier confinement is lowest. An EQE of 22% was achieved for amber LEDs, exceeding the project target of 20%

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Surface-binding molecular multipods strengthen the halide perovskite lattice and boost luminescence

Reducing the size of perovskite crystals to confine excitons and passivating surface defects has fueled a significant advance in the luminescence efficiency of perovskite light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, the persistent gap between the optical limit of electroluminescence efficiency and the photoluminescence efficiency of colloidal perovskite nanocrystals (PeNCs) suggests that defect passivation alone is not sufficient to achieve highly efficient colloidal PeNC-LEDs. Here, we present a materials approach to controlling the dynamic nature of the perovskite surface. Our experimental and theoretical studies reveal that conjugated molecular multipods (CMMs) adsorb onto the perovskite surface by multipodal hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, strengthening the near-surface perovskite lattice and reducing ionic fluctuations which are related to nonradiative recombination. The CMM treatment strengthens the perovskite lattice and suppresses its dynamic disorder, resulting in a near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield of PeNC films and a high external quantum efficiency (26.1%) of PeNC-LED with pure green emission that matches the Rec.2020 color standard for next-generation vivid displays.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cold, warm, and hot gas in the late-stage merger NGC 7252

We present the first observations of the neutral hydrogen distribution and x-ray emission in the prototypical merger remnant NGC 7252, the 'Atoms-for-Peace' galaxy. These data are supplemented by accurate B and R surface photometry, reaching a limit of mu(sub B) = 26.5 mag/sq arcsec, and images taken through a narrow-band H alpha filter. We find all of the 2 x 10(exp 9)/sq h solar mass of atomic gas to be restricted to the outer, tidal regions of this system (H(sub zero) = 100 h km/s/Mpc). By contrast, the molecular gas traced by the (12)CO(1 approaches zero) map of Wang et al. (1992) is confined to an inner rotating disk of radius 7 seconds and has an H alpha counterpart. The gap between the atomic and molecular gas distributions is filled in by diffuse H alpha emission and perhaps by x-ray emission. The velocity field of the atomic gas in the tidal tails indicates that they are swinging through space in the same sense as the rotation of the inner gas disk. The H I at the apparent base of the northwestern tail seems to be falling back toward the main body of the galaxy, yet there is no H I associated with this main stellar body: This suggests ongoing efficient conversion of the atomic gas into other phases in this region. The H alpha velocity anomalies previously found in the remnant body may be produced in part by the combination of tail-related, noncircular motions and the inner gas-disk rotation. Both tidal tails have bluer B-R colors than the main body of the remnant, with the bluest regions coinciding with peaks in the gas column density. Each tail contains one giant H II region near the end of its optical light distribution. These H II regions are associated with large concentrations of gas and stars that approach the sizes and gas contents of dwarf galaxies. The H I extends beyond the end of the optical tails and reaches projected distances of 62/h kpc east and 120/h kpc northwest from the center. We discuss the possible relevance of these data to : (1) the transformation of merged spirals into ellipticls; (2) the generation of ripples by returning tidal material; and (3) the formation of bound stellar systems from tidally torn material.

Hibbard, J. E.↗

Automated Waterbox Inspection for Nuclear Power Plants Using Computer Vision - Based Change Detection

Nuclear power plant waterboxes require regular inspection for leaks, missing components, and structural damage during maintenance outages. Traditional manual inspection is time-consuming and poses safety risks from confined space entry. We developed an automated computer vision system for drone-based waterbox inspection in partnership with Florida Light and Power. Our approach uses feature detection and matching to identify critical changes between baseline and current inspection images, automatically flagging additions (leaks/debris), removals (missing plugs), and translations (displaced components) while compensating for drone movement and environmental variations. We systematically evaluated six feature matching methods, from classical approaches (SIFT+BF) to state-of-the-art neural networks (SuperPoint+SuperGlue), using both standard benchmarks (HPatches) and waterbox-specific validation with real-world augmentations. SuperPoint+SuperGlue achieved superior performance with 7.82 pixels RMSE and 100% success rate—2.8x better accuracy than our baseline. While the pre-trained model has commercial licensing restrictions for nuclear deployment, our findings validate this architecture for custom training. We implemented a real-time GUI demonstrating the SIFT+BF approach for immediate deployment, processing drone feeds at 30 FPS with color-coded change visualization. Future work includes training a custom SuperPoint+SuperGlue model on waterbox data and integrating Vision-Language Models for automated reporting and maintenance guidance.

46 - INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AN↗

A multi-chord, two-color interferometer using Hilbert transform phase detection for measuring electron density in spheromak plasmas

A new, four-chord, CO 2 /He–Ne heterodyne interferometer has been designed and built for measuring line-averaged plasma density in the HIT-SI3 and subsequent HIT-SIU sustained spheromak devices. The two-color system successfully eliminates vibration-induced errors caused by mirrors that are secured to the vacuum chamber and is able to resolve electron densities ne in the full operating range of 10 18 –10 20 m –3 in both experiments with an integrated error of 4.7 × 10 17 m –2 . Here, data are presented from high toroidal current plasma discharges, showing the time evolution of electron densities n e and j Φ /n e along multiple chords.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

MARCI-observed clouds in the Hellas Basin during northern hemisphere summer on Mars: Interpretation with the NASA/Ames Legacy Mars Global Climate Model

We present a study that is motivated by a population of water ice clouds in the Hellas Basin that has been observed by the MARs Color Imager (MARCI) instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) to persist throughout the majority of Northern Hemisphere (NH) summer. Although water ice clouds are present in Hellas at very low opacities throughout NH spring, they noticeably thicken after L(sub s) 60° and continue to do so until their peak optical thickness is attained at L(sub s) ~120°. They dissipate rapidly from L(sub s) 120° to 150°, and by L(sub s) 150°, the only clouds in Hellas are on the southern side of the basin and are indistinguishable from the polar hood clouds. We use the NASA/Ames Legacy Mars Global Climate Model (GCM), which is supported by the Agency’s Mars Climate Modeling Center, to investigate the dynamical and microphysical mechanisms that control the formation and evolution of Hellas water ice clouds. We show that water is transported from the North Polar Residual Cap (NPRC) southward across the equator and into the Hellas region. Water vapor is confined down low by cloud formation in the aphelion cloud belt, thus limiting the effectiveness of transport by the zonal mean overturning circulation (i.e., the Hadley cell). Thus, contrary to the commonly held conceptual understanding that the Hadley cell controls cross-equatorial water transport during this season, we show that the southward transport of water is done primarily in the vapor phase by stationary eddies at nearly all latitudes, including across the equator. Clouds form near the surface in the basin as moist air mixes with cold polar air on the western side of Hellas and are subsequently transported clockwise around the north side of the basin by the low-level cyclonic circulation. The simulated Hellas clouds have small particle sizes (~3–5 μm), are very low, and exist as long as the NPRC is exposed.

M. A. Kahre↗

Usability Evaluation of a Flight-Deck Airflow Hazard Visualization System

Many aircraft accidents each year are caused by encounters with unseen airflow hazards near the ground, such as vortices, downdrafts, low level wind shear, microbursts, or turbulence from surrounding vegetation or structures near the landing site. These hazards can be dangerous even to airliners; there have been hundreds of fatalities in the United States in the last two decades attributable to airliner encounters with microbursts and low level wind shear alone. However, helicopters are especially vulnerable to airflow hazards because they often have to operate in confined spaces and under operationally stressful conditions (such as emergency search and rescue, military or shipboard operations). Providing helicopter pilots with an augmented-reality display visualizing local airflow hazards may be of significant benefit. However, the form such a visualization might take, and whether it does indeed provide a benefit, had not been studied before our experiment. We recruited experienced military and civilian helicopter pilots for a preliminary usability study to evaluate a prototype augmented-reality visualization system. The study had two goals: first, to assess the efficacy of presenting airflow data in flight; and second, to obtain expert feedback on sample presentations of hazard indicators to refine our design choices. The study addressed the optimal way to provide critical safety information to the pilot, what level of detail to provide, whether to display specific aerodynamic causes or potential effects only, and how to safely and effectively shift the locus of attention during a high-workload task. Three-dimensional visual cues, with varying shape, color, transparency, texture, depth cueing, and use of motion, depicting regions of hazardous airflow, were developed and presented to the pilots. The study results indicated that such a visualization system could be of significant value in improving safety during critical takeoff and landing operations, and also gave clear indications of the best design choices in producing the hazard visual cues.

Aragon, Cecilia R.↗