When holography meets coherent diffraction imaging.

PubMed

Latychevskaia, Tatiana; Longchamp, Jean-Nicolas; Fink, Hans-Werner

2012-12-17

The phase problem is inherent to crystallographic, astronomical and optical imaging where only the intensity of the scattered signal is detected and the phase information is lost and must somehow be recovered to reconstruct the object's structure. Modern imaging techniques at the molecular scale rely on utilizing novel coherent light sources like X-ray free electron lasers for the ultimate goal of visualizing such objects as individual biomolecules rather than crystals. Here, unlike in the case of crystals where structures can be solved by model building and phase refinement, the phase distribution of the wave scattered by an individual molecule must directly be recovered. There are two well-known solutions to the phase problem: holography and coherent diffraction imaging (CDI). Both techniques have their pros and cons. In holography, the reconstruction of the scattered complex-valued object wave is directly provided by a well-defined reference wave that must cover the entire detector area which often is an experimental challenge. CDI provides the highest possible, only wavelength limited, resolution, but the phase recovery is an iterative process which requires some pre-defined information about the object and whose outcome is not always uniquely-defined. Moreover, the diffraction patterns must be recorded under oversampling conditions, a pre-requisite to be able to solve the phase problem. Here, we report how holography and CDI can be merged into one superior technique: holographic coherent diffraction imaging (HCDI). An inline hologram can be recorded by employing a modified CDI experimental scheme. We demonstrate that the amplitude of the Fourier transform of an inline hologram is related to the complex-valued visibility, thus providing information on both, the amplitude and the phase of the scattered wave in the plane of the diffraction pattern. With the phase information available, the condition of oversampling the diffraction patterns can be relaxed, and the phase problem can be solved in a fast and unambiguous manner. We demonstrate the reconstruction of various diffraction patterns of objects recorded with visible light as well as with low-energy electrons. Although we have demonstrated our HCDI method using laser light and low-energy electrons, it can also be applied to any other coherent radiation such as X-rays or high-energy electrons.

Beam shaping to improve the free-electron laser performance at the Linac Coherent Light Source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ding, Y.; Bane, K. L. F.; Colocho, W.

2016-10-27

A new operating mode has been developed for the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) in which we shape the longitudinal phase space of the electron beam. This mode of operation is realized using a horizontal collimator located in the middle of the first bunch compressor to truncate the head and tail of the beam. With this method, the electron beam longitudinal phase space and current profile are reshaped, and improvement in lasing performance can be realized. As a result, we present experimental studies at the LCLS of the beam shaping effects on the free-electron laser performance.

Phase retrieval by coherent modulation imaging.

PubMed

Zhang, Fucai; Chen, Bo; Morrison, Graeme R; Vila-Comamala, Joan; Guizar-Sicairos, Manuel; Robinson, Ian K

2016-11-18

Phase retrieval is a long-standing problem in imaging when only the intensity of the wavefield can be recorded. Coherent diffraction imaging is a lensless technique that uses iterative algorithms to recover amplitude and phase contrast images from diffraction intensity data. For general samples, phase retrieval from a single-diffraction pattern has been an algorithmic and experimental challenge. Here we report a method of phase retrieval that uses a known modulation of the sample exit wave. This coherent modulation imaging method removes inherent ambiguities of coherent diffraction imaging and uses a reliable, rapidly converging iterative algorithm involving three planes. It works for extended samples, does not require tight support for convergence and relaxes dynamic range requirements on the detector. Coherent modulation imaging provides a robust method for imaging in materials and biological science, while its single-shot capability will benefit the investigation of dynamical processes with pulsed sources, such as X-ray free-electron lasers.

Formation and interaction of multiple coherent phase space structures in plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakad, Amar; Kakad, Bharati; Omura, Yoshiharu

2017-06-01

The head-on collision of multiple counter-propagating coherent phase space structures associated with the ion acoustic solitary waves (IASWs) in plasmas composed of hot electrons and cold ions is studied here by using one-dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulation. The chains of counter-propagating IASWs are generated in the plasma by injecting the Gaussian perturbations in the equilibrium electron and ion densities. The head-on collisions of the counter-propagating electron and ion phase space structures associated with IASWs are allowed by considering the periodic boundary condition in the simulation. Our simulation shows that the phase space structures are less significantly affected by their collision with each other. They emerge out from each other by retaining their characteristics, so that they follow soliton type behavior. We also find that the electrons trapped within these IASW potentials are accelerated, while the ions are decelerated during the course of their collisions.

Nonadiabatic Dynamics May Be Probed through Electronic Coherence in Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Bennett, Kochise; Kowalewski, Markus; Mukamel, Shaul

2016-02-09

We present a hierarchy of Fermi golden rules (FGRs) that incorporate strongly coupled electronic/nuclear dynamics in time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) signals at different levels of theory. Expansion in the joint electronic and nuclear eigenbasis yields the numerically most challenging exact FGR (eFGR). The quasistatic Fermi Golden Rule (qsFGR) neglects nuclear motion during the photoionization process but takes into account electronic coherences as well as populations initially present in the pumped matter as well as those generated internally by coupling between electronic surfaces. The standard semiclassical Fermi Golden Rule (scFGR) neglects the electronic coherences and the nuclear kinetic energy during the ionizing pulse altogether, yielding the classical Condon approximation. The coherence contributions depend on the phase-profile of the ionizing field, allowing coherent control of TRPES signals. The photoelectron spectrum from model systems is simulated using these three levels of theory. The eFGR and the qsFGR show temporal oscillations originating from the electronic or vibrational coherences generated as the nuclear wave packet traverses a conical intersection. These oscillations, which are missed by the scFGR, directly reveal the time-evolving splitting between electronic states of the neutral molecule in the curve-crossing regime.

Research of the Electron Cyclotron Emission with Vortex Property excited by high power high frequency Gyrotron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goto, Yuki; Kubo, Shin; Tsujimura, Tohru; Takubo, Hidenori

2017-10-01

Recently, it has been shown that the radiation from a single electron in cyclotron motion has vortex property. Although the cyclotron emission exists universally in nature, the vortex property has not been featured because this property is normally cancelled out due to the randomness in gyro-phase of electrons and the development of detection of the vortex property has not been well motivated. In this research, we are developing a method to generate the vortex radiation from electrons in cyclotron motion with controlled gyro-phase. Electron that rotates around the uniform static magnetic field is accelerated by right-hand circular polarized (RHCP) radiation resonantly when the cyclotron frequency coincides with the applied RHCP radiation frequency. A large number of electrons can be coherently accelerated in gyro-phase by a RHCP high power radiation so that these electrons can radiate coherent emission with vortex feature. We will show that vortex radiation created by purely rotating electrons for the first time.

Coherent beam combining in atmospheric channels using gated backscatter.

PubMed

Naeh, Itay; Katzir, Abraham

2016-02-01

This paper introduces the concept of atmospheric channels and describes a possible approach for the coherent beam combining of lasers of an optical phased array (OPA) in a turbulent atmosphere. By using the recently introduced sparse spectrum harmonic augmentation method, a comprehensive simulative investigation was performed and the exceptional properties of the atmospheric channels were numerically demonstrated. Among the interesting properties are the ability to guide light in a confined manner in a refractive channel, the ability to gather different sources to the same channel, and the ability to maintain a constant relative phase within the channel between several sources. The newly introduced guiding properties combined with a suggested method for channel probing and phase measurement by aerosol backscattered radiation allows coherence improvement of the phased array's elements and energy refocusing at the location of the channel in order to increase power in the bucket without feedback from the target. The method relies on the electronic focusing, electronic scanning, and time gating of the OPA, combined with elements of the relative phase measurements.

Route to Coherent Electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goulielmakis, Eleftherios

2017-04-01

Laser-driven generation of coherent radiation in bulk solids extending up to the extreme ultraviolet part of the spectrum has recently open up completely new possibilities for study of electronic phenomena which lie beyond the scope of standard condensed phase physics spectroscopies. I will present how previous and new tools of attosecond metrology can now allow us to gain detailed insight into the fundamental microscopic processes responsible for the EUV emission in solids. We will show that this emission is in reality a macroscopic probe of nanoscale intraband coherent electric currents the frequency of which is extending into multiPetahertz range. On the basis of these findings, I will try to persuade you that we are now entering the realm of coherent electronics. A regime in which electronic circuitry can be conceived on the atomic level and where electronic properties of materials can be accessed and controlled on attosecond time scales.

Single-shot coherent diffraction imaging of microbunched relativistic electron beams for free-electron laser applications.

PubMed

Marinelli, A; Dunning, M; Weathersby, S; Hemsing, E; Xiang, D; Andonian, G; O'Shea, F; Miao, Jianwei; Hast, C; Rosenzweig, J B

2013-03-01

With the advent of coherent x rays provided by the x-ray free-electron laser (FEL), strong interest has been kindled in sophisticated diffraction imaging techniques. In this Letter, we exploit such techniques for the diagnosis of the density distribution of the intense electron beams typically utilized in an x-ray FEL itself. We have implemented this method by analyzing the far-field coherent transition radiation emitted by an inverse-FEL microbunched electron beam. This analysis utilizes an oversampling phase retrieval method on the transition radiation angular spectrum to reconstruct the transverse spatial distribution of the electron beam. This application of diffraction imaging represents a significant advance in electron beam physics, having critical applications to the diagnosis of high-brightness beams, as well as the collective microbunching instabilities afflicting these systems.

Electron Beam Instrumentation Techniques Using Coherent Radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, D. X.

1997-05-01

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in short electron bunches for different applications such as short wavelength FELs, linear colliders, advanced accelerators such as laser or plasma wakefield accelerators, and Compton backscattering X-ray sources. A short bunch length is needed to meet various requirements such as high peak current, low momentum spread, high luminosity, small ratio of bunch length to plasma wavelength, or accurate timing. Meanwhile, much progress has been made on photoinjectors and different magnetic and RF bunching schemes to produce very short bunches. Measurement of those short bunches becomes essential to develop, characterize, and operate such demanding machines. Conventionally, bunch duration of short electron bunches is measured by transverse RF deflecting cavities or streak camera. With such devices it becomes very challenging to measure bunch length down to a few hundred femtoseconds. Many frequency domain techniques have been recently developed, based on a relation between bunch profile and coherent radiation spectrum. These techniques provide excellent performance for short bunches. In this paper, coherent radiation and its applications to bunch length measurement will be discussed. A strategy for bunch length control at Jefferson Lab will be presented, which includes a noninvasive coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) monitor, a zero-phasing technique used to calibrate the CSR detector, and phase transfer measurement used to correct RF phase drifts.

Photoinduced discommensuration of the commensurate charge-density wave phase in 1 T -Ta S2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanimura, Katsumi

2018-06-01

The dynamics induced by femtosecond-laser excitation of the commensurate phase of the charge-density wave (CDW) in 1 T -Ta S2 have been studied using both time-resolved electron diffraction and the time-resolved spectroscopy of coherent-phonon dynamics. Electron diffraction results show that the commensurate CDW phase is transformed into a new phase with CDW order that is similar to the nearly commensurate phase with threshold-type transition rates; the threshold excitation density of 0.2 per 13 Ta atoms is evaluated. Coherent-phonon spectroscopy results show that, together with the amplitude mode of CDW with a frequency of 2.41 THz, two other modes with frequencies of 2.34 and 2.07 THz are excited in the photoexcited commensurate CDW phase over a timescale of several tens of picoseconds after excitation. Spectroscopic, temporal, and excitation-intensity dependent characteristics of the three coherent phonons reveal that a photoinduced decomposition of the commensurate CDW order into an ensemble of domains with different CDW orders is induced before the CDW-phase transition occurs. The physics underlying the photoinduced decomposition and evolution into discommensurations responsible for the CDW-order transformation are discussed.

Coherent Charge Transport in Ballistic InSb Nanowire Josephson Junctions

PubMed Central

Li, S.; Kang, N.; Fan, D. X.; Wang, L. B.; Huang, Y. Q.; Caroff, P.; Xu, H. Q.

2016-01-01

Hybrid InSb nanowire-superconductor devices are promising for investigating Majorana modes and topological quantum computation in solid-state devices. An experimental realisation of ballistic, phase-coherent superconductor-nanowire hybrid devices is a necessary step towards engineering topological superconducting electronics. Here, we report on a low-temperature transport study of Josephson junction devices fabricated from InSb nanowires grown by molecular-beam epitaxy and provide a clear evidence for phase-coherent, ballistic charge transport through the nanowires in the junctions. We demonstrate that our devices show gate-tunable proximity-induced supercurrent and clear signatures of multiple Andreev reflections in the differential conductance, indicating phase-coherent transport within the junctions. We also observe periodic modulations of the critical current that can be associated with the Fabry-Pérot interference in the nanowires in the ballistic transport regime. Our work shows that the InSb nanowires grown by molecular-beam epitaxy are of excellent material quality and hybrid superconducting devices made from these nanowires are highly desirable for investigation of the novel physics in topological states of matter and for applications in topological quantum electronics. PMID:27102689

Coherent generation of symmetry-forbidden phonons by light-induced electron-phonon interactions in magnetite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borroni, S.; Baldini, E.; Katukuri, V. M.; Mann, A.; Parlinski, K.; Legut, D.; Arrell, C.; van Mourik, F.; Teyssier, J.; Kozlowski, A.; Piekarz, P.; Yazyev, O. V.; Oleś, A. M.; Lorenzana, J.; Carbone, F.

2017-09-01

Symmetry breaking across phase transitions often causes changes in selection rules and emergence of optical modes which can be detected via spectroscopic techniques or generated coherently in pump-probe experiments. In second-order or weakly first-order transitions, fluctuations of the ordering field are present above the ordering temperature, giving rise to intriguing precursor phenomena, such as critical opalescence. Here, we demonstrate that in magnetite (Fe3O4 ) light excitation couples to the critical fluctuations of the charge order and coherently generates structural modes of the ordered phase above the critical temperature of the Verwey transition. Our findings are obtained by detecting coherent oscillations of the optical constants through ultrafast broadband spectroscopy and analyzing their dependence on temperature. To unveil the coupling between the structural modes and the electronic excitations, at the origin of the Verwey transition, we combine our results from pump-probe experiments with spontaneous Raman scattering data and theoretical calculations of both the phonon dispersion curves and the optical constants. Our methodology represents an effective tool to study the real-time dynamics of critical fluctuations across phase transitions.

Ultrafast large-amplitude relocation of electronic charge in ionic crystals

PubMed Central

Zamponi, Flavio; Rothhardt, Philip; Stingl, Johannes; Woerner, Michael; Elsaesser, Thomas

2012-01-01

The interplay of vibrational motion and electronic charge relocation in an ionic hydrogen-bonded crystal is mapped by X-ray powder diffraction with a 100 fs time resolution. Photoexcitation of the prototype material KH2PO4 induces coherent low-frequency motions of the PO4 tetrahedra in the electronically excited state of the crystal while the average atomic positions remain unchanged. Time-dependent maps of electron density derived from the diffraction data demonstrate an oscillatory relocation of electronic charge with a spatial amplitude two orders of magnitude larger than the underlying vibrational lattice motions. Coherent longitudinal optical and tranverse optical phonon motions that dephase on a time scale of several picoseconds, drive the charge relocation, similar to a soft (transverse optical) mode driven phase transition between the ferro- and paraelectric phase of KH2PO4. PMID:22431621

Efficient Computation of Coherent Synchrotron Radiation Taking into Account 6D Phase Space Distribution of Emitting Electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chubar, O.; Couprie, M.-E.

2007-01-01

CPU-efficient method for calculation of the frequency domain electric field of Coherent Synchrotron Radiation (CSR) taking into account 6D phase space distribution of electrons in a bunch is proposed. As an application example, calculation results of the CSR emitted by an electron bunch with small longitudinal and large transverse sizes are presented. Such situation can be realized in storage rings or ERLs by transverse deflection of the electron bunches in special crab-type RF cavities, i.e. using the technique proposed for the generation of femtosecond X-ray pulses (A. Zholents et. al., 1999). The computation, performed for the parameters of the SOLEIL storage ring, shows that if the transverse size of electron bunch is larger than the diffraction limit for single-electron SR at a given wavelength — this affects the angular distribution of the CSR at this wavelength and reduces the coherent flux. Nevertheless, for transverse bunch dimensions up to several millimeters and a longitudinal bunch size smaller than hundred micrometers, the resulting CSR flux in the far infrared spectral range is still many orders of magnitude higher than the flux of incoherent SR, and therefore can be considered for practical use.

Coherent-Radiation Spectroscopy of Few-Femtosecond Electron Bunches Using a Middle-Infrared Prism Spectrometer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maxwell, T. J.; Behrens, C.; Ding, Y.

2013-10-28

Modern, high-brightness electron beams such as those from plasma wakefield accelerators and free-electron laser linacs continue the drive to ever-shorter bunch durations. In low-charge operation ( ~ 20 pC ), bunches shorter than 10 fs are reported at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Though suffering from a loss of phase information, spectral diagnostics remain appealing as compact, low-cost bunch duration monitors suitable for deployment in beam dynamics studies and operations instrumentation. Progress in middle-infrared (MIR) imaging has led to the development of a single-shot, MIR prism spectrometer to characterize the corresponding LCLS coherent beam radiation power spectrum for few-femtosecondmore » scale bunch length monitoring. In this Letter, we report on the spectrometer installation as well as the temporal reconstruction of 3 to 60 fs-long LCLS electron bunch profiles using single-shot coherent transition radiation spectra.« less

Generation of Langmuir wave supercontinuum by phase-preserving equilibration of plasmons with irreversible wave-particle interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eiichirou, Kawamori

2018-04-01

We report the observation of supercontinuum of Langmuir plasma waves, that exhibits broad power spectrum having significant spatio-temporal coherence grown from a monochromatic seed-wave, in one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The Langmuir wave supercontinuum (LWSC) is formed when the seed wave excites side-band fields efficiently by the modulational instabilities. Its identification is achieved by the use of the tricoherence analysis, which detects four wave mixings (FWMs) of plasmons (plasma wave quanta), and evaluation of the first order coherence, which is a measure of temporal coherence, of the wave electric fields. The irreversible evolution to the coherent LWSC from the seed wave is realized by the wave-particle interactions causing stochastic electron motions in the phase space and the coherence of LWSC is maintained by the phase-preserving FWMs of plasmons. The LWSC corresponds to a quasi Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal mode.

Manipulating quantum coherence of charge states in interacting double-dot Aharonov–Bohm interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Jinshuang; Wang, Shikuan; Zhou, Jiahuan; Zhang, Wei-Min; Yan, YiJing

2018-04-01

We investigate the dynamics of charge-state coherence in a degenerate double-dot Aharonov–Bohm interferometer with finite inter-dot Coulomb interactions. The quantum coherence of the charge states is found to be sensitive to the transport setup configurations, involving both the single-electron impurity channels and the Coulomb-assisted ones. We numerically demonstrate the emergence of a complete coherence between the two charge states, with the relative phase being continuously controllable through the magnetic flux. Interestingly, a fully coherent charge qubit arises at the double-dots electron pair tunneling resonance condition, where the chemical potential of one electrode is tuned at the center between a single-electron impurity channel and the related Coulomb-assisted channel. This pure quantum state of charge qubit could be experimentally realized at the current–voltage characteristic turnover position, where differential conductance sign changes. We further elaborate the underlying mechanism for both the real-time and the stationary charge-states coherence in the double-dot systems of study.

Long-lived coherence in carotenoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, J. A.; Cannon, E.; Van Dao, L.; Hannaford, P.; Quiney, H. M.; Nugent, K. A.

2010-08-01

We use two-colour vibronic coherence spectroscopy to observe long-lived vibrational coherences in the ground electronic state of carotenoid molecules, with decoherence times in excess of 1 ps. Lycopene and spheroidene were studied isolated in solution, and within the LH2 light-harvesting complex extracted from purple bacteria. The vibrational coherence time is shown to increase significantly for the carotenoid in the complex, providing further support to previous assertions that long-lived electronic coherences in light-harvesting complexes are facilitated by in-phase motion of the chromophores and surrounding proteins. Using this technique, we are also able to follow the evolution of excited state coherences and find that for carotenoids in the light-harvesting complex the langS2|S0rang superposition remains coherent for more than 70 fs. In addition to the implications of this long electronic decoherence time, the extended coherence allows us to observe the evolution of the excited state wavepacket. These experiments reveal an enhancement of the vibronic coupling to the first vibrational level of the C-C stretching mode and/or methyl-rocking mode in the ground electronic state 70 fs after the initial excitation. These observations open the door to future experiments and modelling that may be able to resolve the relaxation dynamics of carotenoids in solution and in natural light-harvesting systems.

Estimating the entropy and quantifying the impurity of a swarm of surface-hopping trajectories: A new perspective on decoherence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ouyang, Wenjun; Subotnik, Joseph E., E-mail: subotnik@sas.upenn.edu

2014-05-28

In this article, we consider the intrinsic entropy of Tully's fewest switches surface hopping (FSSH) algorithm (as estimated by the impurity of the density matrix) [J. Chem. Phys. 93, 1061 (1990)]. We show that, even for a closed system, the total impurity of a FSSH calculation increases in time (rather than stays constant). This apparent failure of the FSSH algorithm can be traced back to an incorrect, approximate treatment of the electronic coherence between wavepackets moving along different potential energy surfaces. This incorrect treatment of electronic coherence also prevents the FSSH algorithm from correctly describing wavepacket recoherences (which is amore » well established limitation of the FSSH method). Nevertheless, despite these limitations, the FSSH algorithm often predicts accurate observables because the electronic coherence density is modulated by a phase factor which varies rapidly in phase space and which often integrates to almost zero. Adding “decoherence” events on top of a FSSH calculation completely destroys the incorrect FSSH electronic coherence and effectively sets the Poincaré recurrence time for wavepacket recoherence to infinity; this modification usually increases FSSH accuracy (assuming there are no recoherences) while also offering long-time stability for trajectories. In practice, we show that introducing “decoherence” events does not change the total FSSH impurity significantly, but does lead to more accurate evaluations of the impurity of the electronic subsystem.« less

Multiple Quantum Phase Transitions in a two-dimensional superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergeal, Nicolas; Biscaras, J.; Hurand, S.; Feuillet-Palma, C.; Lesueur, J.; Budhani, R. C.; Rastogi, A.; Caprara, S.; Grilli, M.

2013-03-01

We studied the magnetic field driven Quantum Phase Transition (QPT) in electrostatically gated superconducting LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces. Through finite size scaling analysis, we showed that it belongs to the (2 +1)D XY model universality class. The system can be described as a disordered array of superconducting islands coupled by a two dimensional electron gas (2DEG). Depending on the 2DEG conductance tuned by the gate voltage, the QPT is single (corresponding to the long range phase coherence in the whole array) or double (one related to local phase coherence, the other one to the array). By retrieving the coherence length critical exponent ν, we showed that the QPT can be ``clean'' or ``dirty'' according to the Harris criteria, depending on whether the phase coherence length is smaller or larger than the island size. The overall behaviour is well described by a model of coupled superconducting puddles in the framework of the fermionic scenario of 2D superconducting QPT.

Electronic transport in low dimensions: Carbon nanotubes and mesoscopic silver wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghanem, Tarek Khairy

This thesis explores the physics of low-dimensional electronic conductors using two materials systems, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and lithographically-defined silver nanowires. In order to understand the intrinsic electronic properties of CNTs, it is important to eliminate the contact effects from the measurements. Here, this is accomplished by using a conductive-tip atomic force microscope cantilever as a local electrode in order to obtain length dependent transport properties. The CNT-movable electrode contact is fully characterized, and is largely independent of voltage bias conditions, and independent of the contact force beyond a certain threshold. The contact is affected by the fine positioning of the cantilever relative to the CNT due to parasitic lateral motion of the cantilever during the loading cycle, which, if not controlled, can lead to non-monotonic behavior of contact resistance vs. force. Length dependent transport measurements are reported for several metallic and semiconducting CNTs. The resistance versus length R(L) of semiconducting CNTs is linear in the on state. For the depleted state R(L) is linear for long channel lengths, but non-linear for short channel lengths due to the long depletion lengths in one-dimensional semiconductors. Transport remains diffusive under all depletion conditions, due to both low disorder and high temperature. The study of quantum corrections to classical conductivity in mesoscopic conductors is an essential tool for understanding phase coherence in these systems. A long standing discrepancy between theory and experiment regards the phase coherence time, which is expected theoretically to grow as a power law at low temperatures, but is experimentally found to saturate. The origins of this saturation have been debated for the last decade, with the main contenders being intrinsic decoherence by zero-point fluctuations of the electrons, and decoherence by dilute magnetic impurities. Here, the phase coherence time in quasi-one-dimensional silver wires is measured. The phase coherence times obtained from the weak localization correction to the conductivity at low magnetic field show saturation, while those obtained from universal conductance fluctuations at high field do not. This indicates that, for these samples, the origin of phase coherence time saturation obtained from weak localization is extrinsic, due to the presence of dilute magnetic impurities.

Coherent control of plasma dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Zhaohan

2014-10-01

The concept of coherent control - precise measurement or determination of a process through control of the phase of an applied oscillating field - has been applied to numerous systems with great success. Here, we demonstrate the use of coherent control on plasma dynamics in a laser wakefield electron acceleration experiment. A tightly focused femtosecond laser pulse (10 mJ, 35 fs) was used to generate electron beams by plasma wakefield acceleration in the density down ramp. The technique is based on optimization of the electron beam using a deformable mirror adaptive optical system with an iterative evolutionary genetic algorithm. The image of the electrons on a scintillator screen was processed and used in a fitness function as direct feedback for the optimization algorithm. This coherent manipulation of the laser wavefront leads to orders of magnitude improvement to the electron beam properties such as the peak charge and beam divergence. The laser beam optimized to generate the best electron beam was not the one with the ``best'' focal spot. When a particular wavefront of laser light interacts with plasma, it can affect the plasma wave structures and trapping conditions of the electrons in a complex way. For example, Raman forward scattering, envelope self-modulation, relativistic self-focusing, and relativistic self-phase modulation and many other nonlinear interactions modify both the pulse envelope and phase as the pulse propagates, in a way that cannot be easily predicted and that subsequently dictates the formation of plasma waves. The optimal wavefront could be successfully determined via the heuristic search under laser-plasma conditions that were not known a priori. Control and shaping of the electron energy distribution was found to be less effective, but was still possible. Particle-in-cell simulations were performed to show that the mode structure of the laser beam can affect the plasma wave structure and trapping conditions of electrons, which subsequently produces electron beams with a different divergence. The proof-of-principle demonstration of coherent control for plasmas opens new possibilities for future laser-based accelerators and their applications. This study should also enable a significantly improved understanding of the complex dynamics of laser plasma interactions. This work was supported by DARPA under Contract No. N66001-11-1-4208, the NSF under Contract No. 0935197 and MCubed at the University of Michigan.

Evidence for photo-induced monoclinic metallic VO{sub 2} under high pressure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsieh, Wen-Pin, E-mail: wphsieh@stanford.edu; Mao, Wendy L.; Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305

2014-01-13

We combine ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy with a diamond-anvil cell to decouple the insulator-metal electronic transition from the lattice symmetry changing structural transition in the archetypal strongly correlated material vanadium dioxide. Coherent phonon spectroscopy enables tracking of the photo-excited phonon vibrational frequencies of the low temperature, monoclinic (M{sub 1})-insulating phase that transforms into the metallic, tetragonal rutile structured phase at high temperature or via non-thermal photo-excitations. We find that in contrast with ambient pressure experiments where strong photo-excitation promptly induces the electronic transition along with changes in the lattice symmetry, at high pressure, the coherent phonons of the monoclinic (M{sub 1})more » phase are still clearly observed upon the photo-driven phase transition to a metallic state. These results demonstrate the possibility of synthesizing and studying transient phases under extreme conditions.« less

Electron ptychographic phase imaging of light elements in crystalline materials using Wigner distribution deconvolution

DOE PAGES

Yang, Hao; MacLaren, Ian; Jones, Lewys; ...

2017-04-01

Recent development in fast pixelated detector technology has allowed a two dimensional diffraction pattern to be recorded at every probe position of a two dimensional raster scan in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), forming an information-rich four dimensional (4D) dataset. Electron ptychography has been shown to enable efficient coherent phase imaging of weakly scattering objects from a 4D dataset recorded using a focused electron probe, which is optimised for simultaneous incoherent Z-contrast imaging and spectroscopy in STEM. Thus coherent phase contrast and incoherent Z-contrast imaging modes can be efficiently combined to provide a good sensitivity of both light andmore » heavy elements at atomic resolution. Here, we explore the application of electron ptychography for atomic resolution imaging of strongly scattering crystalline specimens, and present experiments on imaging crystalline specimens including samples containing defects, under dynamical channelling conditions using an aberration corrected microscope. A ptychographic reconstruction method called Wigner distribution deconvolution (WDD) was implemented. Our experimental results and simulation results suggest that ptychography provides a readily interpretable phase image and great sensitivity for imaging light elements at atomic resolution in relatively thin crystalline materials.« less

Self-referenced locking of optical coherence by single-detector electronic-frequency tagging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shay, T. M.; Benham, Vincent; Spring, Justin; Ward, Benjamin; Ghebremichael, F.; Culpepper, Mark A.; Sanchez, Anthony D.; Baker, J. T.; Pilkington, D.; Berdine, Richard

2006-02-01

We report a novel coherent beam combining technique. This is the first actively phase locked optical fiber array that eliminates the need for a separate reference beam. In addition, only a single photodetector is required. The far-field central spot of the array is imaged onto the photodetector to produce the phase control loop signals. Each leg of the fiber array is phase modulated with a separate RF frequency, thus tagging the optical phase shift for each leg by a separate RF frequency. The optical phase errors for the individual array legs are separated in the electronic domain. In contrast with the previous active phase locking techniques, in our system the reference beam is spatially overlapped with all the RF modulated fiber leg beams onto a single detector. The phase shift between the optical wave in the reference leg and in the RF modulated legs is measured separately in the electronic domain and the phase error signal is feedback to the LiNbO 3 phase modulator for that leg to minimize the phase error for that leg relative to the reference leg. The advantages of this technique are 1) the elimination of the reference beam and beam combination optics and 2) the electronic separation of the phase error signals without any degradation of the phase locking accuracy. We will present the first theoretical model for self-referenced LOCSET and describe experimental results for a 3 x 3 array.

Path-separated electron interferometry in a scanning transmission electron microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasin, Fehmi S.; Harvey, Tyler R.; Chess, Jordan J.; Pierce, Jordan S.; McMorran, Benjamin J.

2018-05-01

We report a path-separated electron interferometer within a scanning transmission electron microscope. In this setup, we use a nanofabricated grating as an amplitude-division beamsplitter to prepare multiple spatially separated, coherent electron probe beams. We achieve path separations of 30 nm. We pass the  +1 diffraction order probe through amorphous carbon while passing the 0th and  ‑1 orders through vacuum. The probes are then made to interfere via imaging optics, and we observe an interference pattern at the CCD detector with up to 39.7% fringe visibility. We show preliminary experimental results in which the interference pattern was recorded during a 1D scan of the diffracted probes across a test phase object. These results qualitatively agree with a modeled interference predicted by an independent measurement of the specimen thickness. This experimental design can potentially be applied to phase contrast imaging and fundamental physics experiments, such as an exploration of electron wave packet coherence length.

Dual-comb spectroscopy of molecular electronic transitions in condensed phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Byungmoon; Yoon, Tai Hyun; Cho, Minhaeng

2018-03-01

Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) utilizes two phase-locked optical frequency combs to allow scanless acquisition of spectra using only a single point detector. Although recent DCS measurements demonstrate rapid acquisition of absolutely calibrated spectral lines with unprecedented precision and accuracy, complex phase-locking schemes and multiple coherent averaging present significant challenges for widespread adoption of DCS. Here, we demonstrate Global Positioning System (GPS) disciplined DCS of a molecular electronic transition in solution at around 800 nm, where the absorption spectrum is recovered by using a single time-domain interferogram. We anticipate that this simplified dual-comb technique with absolute time interval measurement and ultrabroad bandwidth will allow adoption of DCS to tackle molecular dynamics investigation through its implementation in time-resolved nonlinear spectroscopic studies and coherent multidimensional spectroscopy of coupled chromophore systems.

A study of electron transfer using a three-level system coupled to an ohmic bath

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Takasu, Masako; Chandler, David

1993-01-01

Electron transfer is studied using a multi-level system coupled to a bosonic bath. Two body correlation functions are obtained using both exact enumeration of spin paths and Monte Carlo simulation. It was found that the phase boundary for the coherent-incoherent transition lies at a smaller friction in the asymmetric two-level model than in the symmetric two-level model. A similar coherent-incoherent transition is observed for three-level system.

Direct measurement of the pulse duration and frequency chirp of seeded XUV free electron laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azima, Armin; Bödewadt, Jörn; Becker, Oliver; Düsterer, Stefan; Ekanayake, Nagitha; Ivanov, Rosen; Kazemi, Mehdi M.; Lamberto Lazzarino, Leslie; Lechner, Christoph; Maltezopoulos, Theophilos; Manschwetus, Bastian; Miltchev, Velizar; Müller, Jost; Plath, Tim; Przystawik, Andreas; Wieland, Marek; Assmann, Ralph; Hartl, Ingmar; Laarmann, Tim; Rossbach, Jörg; Wurth, Wilfried; Drescher, Markus

2018-01-01

We report on a direct time-domain measurement of the temporal properties of a seeded free-electron laser pulse in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. Utilizing the oscillating electromagnetic field of terahertz radiation, a single-shot THz streak-camera was applied for measuring the duration as well as spectral phase of the generated intense XUV pulses. The experiment was conducted at FLASH, the free electron laser user facility at DESY in Hamburg, Germany. In contrast to indirect methods, this approach directly resolves and visualizes the frequency chirp of a seeded free-electron laser (FEL) pulse. The reported diagnostic capability is a prerequisite to tailor amplitude, phase and frequency distributions of FEL beams on demand. In particular, it opens up a new window of opportunities for advanced coherent spectroscopic studies making use of the high degree of temporal coherence expected from a seeded FEL pulse.

Phase retrieval by coherent modulation imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Fucai; Chen, Bo; Morrison, Graeme R.

Phase retrieval is a long-standing problem in imaging when only the intensity of the wavefield can be recorded. Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a lensless technique that uses iterative algorithms to recover amplitude and phase contrast images from diffraction intensity data. For general samples, phase retrieval from a single diffraction pattern has been an algorithmic and experimental challenge. Here we report a method of phase retrieval that uses a known modulation of the sample exit-wave. This coherent modulation imaging (CMI) method removes inherent ambiguities of CDI and uses a reliable, rapidly converging iterative algorithm involving three planes. It works formore » extended samples, does not require tight support for convergence, and relaxes dynamic range requirements on the detector. CMI provides a robust method for imaging in materials and biological science, while its single-shot capability will benefit the investigation of dynamical processes with pulsed sources, such as X-ray free electron laser.« less

Phase retrieval by coherent modulation imaging

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Fucai; Chen, Bo; Morrison, Graeme R.; ...

2016-11-18

Phase retrieval is a long-standing problem in imaging when only the intensity of the wavefield can be recorded. Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a lensless technique that uses iterative algorithms to recover amplitude and phase contrast images from diffraction intensity data. For general samples, phase retrieval from a single diffraction pattern has been an algorithmic and experimental challenge. Here we report a method of phase retrieval that uses a known modulation of the sample exit-wave. This coherent modulation imaging (CMI) method removes inherent ambiguities of CDI and uses a reliable, rapidly converging iterative algorithm involving three planes. It works formore » extended samples, does not require tight support for convergence, and relaxes dynamic range requirements on the detector. CMI provides a robust method for imaging in materials and biological science, while its single-shot capability will benefit the investigation of dynamical processes with pulsed sources, such as X-ray free electron laser.« less

Reentrant Phase Coherence in Superconducting Nanowire Composites.

PubMed

Ansermet, Diane; Petrović, Alexander P; He, Shikun; Chernyshov, Dmitri; Hoesch, Moritz; Salloum, Diala; Gougeon, Patrick; Potel, Michel; Boeri, Lilia; Andersen, Ole Krogh; Panagopoulos, Christos

2016-01-26

The short coherence lengths characteristic of low-dimensional superconductors are associated with usefully high critical fields or temperatures. Unfortunately, such materials are often sensitive to disorder and suffer from phase fluctuations in the superconducting order parameter which diverge with temperature T, magnetic field H, or current I. We propose an approach to overcome synthesis and fluctuation problems: building superconductors from inhomogeneous composites of nanofilaments. Macroscopic crystals of quasi-one-dimensional Na2-δMo6Se6 featuring Na vacancy disorder (δ ≈ 0.2) are shown to behave as percolative networks of superconducting nanowires. Long-range order is established via transverse coupling between individual one-dimensional filaments, yet phase coherence remains unstable to fluctuations and localization in the zero (T,H,I) limit. However, a region of reentrant phase coherence develops upon raising (T,H,I). We attribute this phenomenon to an enhancement of the transverse coupling due to electron delocalization. Our observations of reentrant phase coherence coincide with a peak in the Josephson energy EJ at nonzero (T,H,I), which we estimate using a simple analytical model for a disordered anisotropic superconductor. Na2-δMo6Se6 is therefore a blueprint for a future generation of nanofilamentary superconductors with inbuilt resilience to phase fluctuations at elevated (T,H,I).

Label-free imaging of the dynamics of cell-to-cell string-like structure bridging in the free-space by low-coherent quantitative phase microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamauchi, Toyohiko; Iwai, Hidenao; Yamashita, Yutaka

2013-03-01

We succeeded in utilizing our low-coherent quantitative phase microscopy (LC-QPM) to achieve label-free and three-dimensional imaging of string-like structures bridging the free-space between live cells. In past studies, three dimensional morphology of the string-like structures between cells had been investigated by electron microscopies and fluorescence microscopies and these structures were called "membrane nanotubes" or "tunneling nanotubes." However, use of electron microscopy inevitably kills these cells and fluorescence microscopy is itself a potentially invasive method. To achieve noninvasive imaging of live cells, we applied our LC-QPM which is a reflection-type, phase resolved and full-field interference microscope employing a low-coherent light source. LC-QPM is able to visualize the three-dimensional morphology of live cells without labeling by means of low-coherence interferometry. The lateral (diffraction limit) and longitudinal (coherence-length) spatial resolution of LC-QPM were respectively 0.49 and 0.93 micrometers and the repeatability of the phase measurement was 0.02 radians (1.0 nm). We successfully obtained three-dimensional morphology of live cultured epithelial cells (cell type: HeLa, derived from cervix cancer) and were able to clearly observe the individual string-like structures interconnecting the cells. When we performed volumetric imaging, a 80 micrometer by 60 micrometer by 6.5 micrometer volume was scanned every 5.67 seconds and 70 frames of a three-dimensional movie were recorded for a duration of 397 seconds. Moreover, the optical phase images gave us detailed information about the three-dimensional morphology of the string-like structure at sub-wavelength resolution. We believe that our LC-QPM will be a useful tool for the study of three-dimensional morphology of live cells.

Ab Initio Predictions of Hexagonal Zr(B,C,N) Polymorphs for Coherent Interface Design

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hu, Chongze; Huang, Jingsong; Sumpter, Bobby G.

2017-10-27

Density functional theory calculations are used to explore hexagonal (HX) NiAs-like polymorphs of Zr(B,C,N) and compare with corresponding Zr(B,C,N) Hagg-like face-centered cubic rocksalt (B1) phases. While all predicted compounds are mechanically stable according to the Born-Huang criteria, only HX Zr(C,N) are found dynamically stable from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and lattice dynamics calculations. HX ZrN emerges as a candidate structure with ground state energy, elastic constants, and extrinsic mechanical parameters comparable with those of B1 ZrN. Ab initio band structure and semi-classical Boltzmann transport calculations predict a metallic character and a monotonic increase in electrical conductivity with the numbermore » of valence electrons. Electronic structure calculations indicate that the HX phases gain their stability and mechanical attributes by Zr d- non-metal p hybridization and by broadening of Zr d bands. Furthermore, it is shown that the HX ZrN phase provides a low-energy coherent interface model for connecting B1 ZrN domains, with significant energetic advantage over an atomistic interface model derived from high resolution transmission electron microscopy images. The ab initio characterizations provided herein should aid the experimental identification of non-Hagg-like hard phases. Furthermore, the results can also enrich the variety of crystalline phases potentially available for designing coherent interfaces in superhard nanostructured materials and in materials with multilayer characteristics.« less

The growth mechanism of grain boundary carbide in Alloy 690

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Hui, E-mail: huili@shu.edu.cn; Institute of Materials, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072; Xia, Shuang

2013-07-15

The growth mechanism of grain boundary M{sub 23}C{sub 6} carbides in nickel base Alloy 690 after aging at 715 °C was investigated by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The grain boundary carbides have coherent orientation relationship with only one side of the matrix. The incoherent phase interface between M{sub 23}C{sub 6} and matrix was curved, and did not lie on any specific crystal plane. The M{sub 23}C{sub 6} carbide transforms from the matrix phase directly at the incoherent interface. The flat coherent phase interface generally lies on low index crystal planes, such as (011) and (111) planes. The M{sub 23}C{submore » 6} carbide transforms from a transition phase found at curved coherent phase interface. The transition phase has a complex hexagonal crystal structure, and has coherent orientation relationship with matrix and M{sub 23}C{sub 6}: (111){sub matrix}//(0001){sub transition}//(111){sub carbide}, <112{sup ¯}>{sub matrix}//<21{sup ¯}10>{sub transition}//<112{sup ¯}>{sub carbide}. The crystal lattice constants of transition phase are c{sub transition}=√(3)×a{sub matrix} and a{sub transition}=√(6)/2×a{sub matrix}. Based on the experimental results, the growth mechanism of M{sub 23}C{sub 6} and the formation mechanism of transition phase are discussed. - Highlights: • A transition phase was observed at the coherent interfaces of M{sub 23}C{sub 6} and matrix. • The transition phase has hexagonal structure, and is coherent with matrix and M{sub 23}C{sub 6}. • The M{sub 23}C{sub 6} transforms from the matrix directly at the incoherent phase interface.« less

Emergence of Quantum Phase-Slip Behaviour in Superconducting NbN Nanowires: DC Electrical Transport and Fabrication Technologies.

PubMed

Constantino, Nicolas G N; Anwar, Muhammad Shahbaz; Kennedy, Oscar W; Dang, Manyu; Warburton, Paul A; Fenton, Jonathan C

2018-06-16

Superconducting nanowires undergoing quantum phase-slips have potential for impact in electronic devices, with a high-accuracy quantum current standard among a possible toolbox of novel components. A key element of developing such technologies is to understand the requirements for, and control the production of, superconducting nanowires that undergo coherent quantum phase-slips. We present three fabrication technologies, based on using electron-beam lithography or neon focussed ion-beam lithography, for defining narrow superconducting nanowires, and have used these to create nanowires in niobium nitride with widths in the range of 20⁻250 nm. We present characterisation of the nanowires using DC electrical transport at temperatures down to 300 mK. We demonstrate that a range of different behaviours may be obtained in different nanowires, including bulk-like superconducting properties with critical-current features, the observation of phase-slip centres and the observation of zero conductance below a critical voltage, characteristic of coherent quantum phase-slips. We observe critical voltages up to 5 mV, an order of magnitude larger than other reports to date. The different prominence of quantum phase-slip effects in the various nanowires may be understood as arising from the differing importance of quantum fluctuations. Control of the nanowire properties will pave the way for routine fabrication of coherent quantum phase-slip nanowire devices for technology applications.

Phase-locking and coherent power combining of broadband linearly chirped optical waves.

PubMed

Satyan, Naresh; Vasilyev, Arseny; Rakuljic, George; White, Jeffrey O; Yariv, Amnon

2012-11-05

We propose, analyze and demonstrate the optoelectronic phase-locking of optical waves whose frequencies are chirped continuously and rapidly with time. The optical waves are derived from a common optoelectronic swept-frequency laser based on a semiconductor laser in a negative feedback loop, with a precisely linear frequency chirp of 400 GHz in 2 ms. In contrast to monochromatic waves, a differential delay between two linearly chirped optical waves results in a mutual frequency difference, and an acoustooptic frequency shifter is therefore used to phase-lock the two waves. We demonstrate and characterize homodyne and heterodyne optical phase-locked loops with rapidly chirped waves, and show the ability to precisely control the phase of the chirped optical waveform using a digital electronic oscillator. A loop bandwidth of ~ 60 kHz, and a residual phase error variance of < 0.01 rad(2) between the chirped waves is obtained. Further, we demonstrate the simultaneous phase-locking of two optical paths to a common master waveform, and the ability to electronically control the resultant two-element optical phased array. The results of this work enable coherent power combining of high-power fiber amplifiers-where a rapidly chirping seed laser reduces stimulated Brillouin scattering-and electronic beam steering of chirped optical waves.

Phase contrast: the frontier of x-ray and electron imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwu, Y.; Margaritondo, G.

2013-12-01

Phase contrast has been a fundamental component of microscopy since the early 1940s. In broad terms, it refers to the formation of images using not the combination of wave intensities but their amplitudes with the corresponding phase factors. The impact on visible microscopy of biological specimens has been major. This contrast mechanism is now playing an increasingly important role in other kinds of microscopy, notably those based on electrons or x-rays. It notably solves the background problem of weak absorption contrast. New breakthroughs and new techniques are continuously produced, unfortunately unknown to most of the scientists that could exploit them. The present special cluster issue of reviews was inspired by this situation. The case of x-rays is very interesting. Phase contrast requires a high degree of longitudinal and lateral coherence. But conventional x-ray sources are not coherent. The progress of synchrotron sources yielded high coherence as a key byproduct—and started a rapid expansion of phase contrast radiology. No review—or cluster of reviews—can possibly cover all the facets of the recent progress. Without trying to be absolutely comprehensive, the present special cluster issue touches a variety of issues, giving a very broad picture. Liu et al review in general terms the different phase-based hard-x-ray techniques, with an interesting variety of examples. Then, Suortti et al and Wang et al present more specialized overviews of crystal and grating based x-ray imaging techniques, very powerful in the analysis of biological specimens. Mokso et al discuss the many facets of tomography using phase effects, expanding the picture of tomographic reconstruction of the three previous reviews. Wu et al treat the rapid progress in hard-x-ray focusing and its impact on radiology and tomography for materials science and biomedical research. The next two reviews deal with special and very interesting classes of applications. Specifically, Lee et al discuss the use of the new radiology techniques in the study of liquids, and Coan et al present the progress in phase-contrast radiology analysis of real patients. Although x-ray imaging is the main focus of the special cluster issue, the picture would not be complete without a view on the parallel and very exciting developments in electron microscopy. The last review, by Wu et al , is dedicated indeed to this broader picture, presenting recent progress in Zernike-related electron phase contrast. We trust that the special cluster issue will not only update readers on the evolution of a very important class of experimental techniques, but also prepare them for the forthcoming developments. We are indeed at the threshold of another revolution. The recently inaugurated first x-ray free electron lasers bring, together with many other record performances, full lateral coherence and excellent longitudinal coherence. The first imaging experiments show in practice their impact, and indicate that this field, far from saturating its progress, is ready for new major breakthroughs.

Coherent diffractive imaging of single helium nanodroplets with a high harmonic generation source.

PubMed

Rupp, Daniela; Monserud, Nils; Langbehn, Bruno; Sauppe, Mario; Zimmermann, Julian; Ovcharenko, Yevheniy; Möller, Thomas; Frassetto, Fabio; Poletto, Luca; Trabattoni, Andrea; Calegari, Francesca; Nisoli, Mauro; Sander, Katharina; Peltz, Christian; J Vrakking, Marc; Fennel, Thomas; Rouzée, Arnaud

2017-09-08

Coherent diffractive imaging of individual free nanoparticles has opened routes for the in situ analysis of their transient structural, optical, and electronic properties. So far, single-shot single-particle diffraction was assumed to be feasible only at extreme ultraviolet and X-ray free-electron lasers, restricting this research field to large-scale facilities. Here we demonstrate single-shot imaging of isolated helium nanodroplets using extreme ultraviolet pulses from a femtosecond-laser-driven high harmonic source. We obtain bright wide-angle scattering patterns, that allow us to uniquely identify hitherto unresolved prolate shapes of superfluid helium droplets. Our results mark the advent of single-shot gas-phase nanoscopy with lab-based short-wavelength pulses and pave the way to ultrafast coherent diffractive imaging with phase-controlled multicolor fields and attosecond pulses.Diffraction imaging studies of free individual nanoparticles have so far been restricted to XUV and X-ray free - electron laser facilities. Here the authors demonstrate the possibility of using table-top XUV laser sources to image prolate shapes of superfluid helium droplets.

Coherent pump pulses in Double Electron Electron Resonance Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Tait, Claudia E.; Stoll, Stefan

2016-01-01

The recent introduction of shaped pulses to Double Electron Electron Resonance (DEER) spectroscopy has led to significant enhancements in sensitivity through increased excitation bandwidths and improved control over spin dynamics. The application of DEER has so far relied on the presence of an incoherent pump channel to average out most undesired coherent effects of the pump pulse(s) on the observer spins. However, in fully coherent EPR spectrometers that are increasingly used to generate shaped pulses, the presence of coherent pump pulses means that these effects need to be explicitly considered. In this paper, we examine the effects of coherent rectangular and sech/tanh pump pulses in DEER experiments with up to three pump pulses. We show that, even in the absence of significant overlap of the observer and pump pulse excitation bandwidths, coherence transfer pathways involving both types of pulses generate spin echoes of considerable intensity. These echoes introduce artefacts, which, if not identified and removed, can easily lead to misinterpretation. We demonstrate that the observed echoes can be quantitatively modelled using a simple spin quantum dynamics approach that includes instrumental transfer functions. Based on an analysis of the echo crossing artefacts, we propose efficient phase cycling schemes for their suppression. This enables the use of advanced DEER experiments, characterized by high sensitivity and increased accuracy for long-distance measurements, on novel fully coherent EPR spectrometers. PMID:27339858

Energy spectra of quantum rings.

PubMed

Fuhrer, A; Lüscher, S; Ihn, T; Heinzel, T; Ensslin, K; Wegscheider, W; Bichler, M

2001-10-25

Quantum mechanical experiments in ring geometries have long fascinated physicists. Open rings connected to leads, for example, allow the observation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, one of the best examples of quantum mechanical phase coherence. The phase coherence of electrons travelling through a quantum dot embedded in one arm of an open ring has also been demonstrated. The energy spectra of closed rings have only recently been studied by optical spectroscopy. The prediction that they allow persistent current has been explored in various experiments. Here we report magnetotransport experiments on closed rings in the Coulomb blockade regime. Our experiments show that a microscopic understanding of energy levels, so far limited to few-electron quantum dots, can be extended to a many-electron system. A semiclassical interpretation of our results indicates that electron motion in the rings is governed by regular rather than chaotic motion, an unexplored regime in many-electron quantum dots. This opens a way to experiments where even more complex structures can be investigated at a quantum mechanical level.

Two-Color Coherent Control of Femtosecond Above-Threshold Photoemission from a Tungsten Nanotip.

PubMed

Förster, Michael; Paschen, Timo; Krüger, Michael; Lemell, Christoph; Wachter, Georg; Libisch, Florian; Madlener, Thomas; Burgdörfer, Joachim; Hommelhoff, Peter

2016-11-18

We demonstrate coherent control of multiphoton and above-threshold photoemission from a single solid-state nanoemitter driven by a fundamental and a weak second harmonic laser pulse. Depending on the relative phase of the two pulses, electron emission is modulated with a contrast of the oscillating current signal of up to 94%. Electron spectra reveal that all observed photon orders are affected simultaneously and similarly. We confirm that photoemission takes place within 10 fs. Accompanying simulations indicate that the current modulation with its large contrast results from two interfering quantum pathways leading to electron emission.

Coherent manipulation of photons and electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Lu

In modern physics, coherent manipulation of photons and electrons has been intensively studied, and may have important applications in classical and quantum information processing. In this dissertation, we consider some interesting schemes to realize photonic and electronic coherent manipulation. In order to coherently manipulate photons, electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) systems have been widely adopted because the optical response of EIT systems can be controlled by the laser-induced atomic coherence. In the second chapter, we theoretically investigate image storage in hot-vapor EIT media. A so-called 4f system is adopted for imaging, and an atomic vapor cell is placed over the transform plane. The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of an object in the object plane can thus be transformed into atomic Raman coherence according to the idea of "light storage". We investigate how the stored diffraction pattern evolves under diffusion and discuss the essence of the stability of its dark spots. Our result indicates under appropriate conditions that an image can be reconstructed with high fidelity. The main reason for this procedure is the fact that diffusion of opposite-phase components of the diffraction pattern interfere destructively. In the third chapter, we show theoretical evidence that EIT systems can function as optically addressed spatial light modulators with megahertz modulation rates. The transverse spatial properties of continuous-wave probe fields can be modulated rapidly using two-dimensional optical patterns. To exemplify our proposal, we study real-time generation and manipulation of Laguerre-Gaussian beams by means of phase or amplitude modulation using flat-top image-bearing pulse trains as coupling fields in low-cost hot-vapor EIT systems. In order to coherently manipulate electrons, we consider graphene systems, including single-layer graphene and bilayer graphene, which have recently attracted considerable attention. Due to the long coherence length and electrically tunable Fermi levels, electrons in graphene systems have some photon-like behaviors, and could be coherently manipulated. Therefore, in the fourth chapter, we theorize that at a sharp electrostatic step potential in graphene massless Dirac fermions can obtain Goos-Hanchen-like shifts under total internal reflection. Also, we study coherent propagation of the quasiparticles along a sharp graphene p-n-p waveguide, and derive novel dispersion relations for the guided modes. Consequently, coherent graphene-based devices, e.g., movable mirrors, buffers and memories, induced only by the electric field effects may be proposed. Finally, we theoretically investigate the coherent propagation of massive chiral fermions along a sharp bilayer graphene p-n-p waveguide, and indicate that the guided quasiparticles can be coherently slowed, stored and retrieved based on tunable electric field effects. Controlling group velocity in the bilayer graphene p-n-p waveguide is accomplished via interband tunneling through the p-n interfaces, and does not depend on the bandgap opening.

Direct single-shot phase retrieval from the diffraction pattern of separated objects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leshem, Ben; Xu, Rui; Dallal, Yehonatan

The non-crystallographic phase problem arises in numerous scientific and technological fields. An important application is coherent diffractive imaging. Recent advances in X-ray free-electron lasers allow capturing of the diffraction pattern from a single nanoparticle before it disintegrates, in so-called ‘diffraction before destruction’ experiments. Presently, the phase is reconstructed by iterative algorithms, imposing a non-convex computational challenge, or by Fourier holography, requiring a well-characterized reference field. Here we present a convex scheme for single-shot phase retrieval for two (or more) sufficiently separated objects, demonstrated in two dimensions. In our approach, the objects serve as unknown references to one another, reducing themore » phase problem to a solvable set of linear equations. We establish our method numerically and experimentally in the optical domain and demonstrate a proof-of-principle single-shot coherent diffractive imaging using X-ray free-electron lasers pulses. Lastly, our scheme alleviates several limitations of current methods, offering a new pathway towards direct reconstruction of complex objects.« less

Direct single-shot phase retrieval from the diffraction pattern of separated objects

DOE PAGES

Leshem, Ben; Xu, Rui; Dallal, Yehonatan; ...

2016-02-22

The non-crystallographic phase problem arises in numerous scientific and technological fields. An important application is coherent diffractive imaging. Recent advances in X-ray free-electron lasers allow capturing of the diffraction pattern from a single nanoparticle before it disintegrates, in so-called ‘diffraction before destruction’ experiments. Presently, the phase is reconstructed by iterative algorithms, imposing a non-convex computational challenge, or by Fourier holography, requiring a well-characterized reference field. Here we present a convex scheme for single-shot phase retrieval for two (or more) sufficiently separated objects, demonstrated in two dimensions. In our approach, the objects serve as unknown references to one another, reducing themore » phase problem to a solvable set of linear equations. We establish our method numerically and experimentally in the optical domain and demonstrate a proof-of-principle single-shot coherent diffractive imaging using X-ray free-electron lasers pulses. Lastly, our scheme alleviates several limitations of current methods, offering a new pathway towards direct reconstruction of complex objects.« less

New trend in electron holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanigaki, Toshiaki; Harada, Ken; Murakami, Yasukazu; Niitsu, Kodai; Akashi, Tetsuya; Takahashi, Yoshio; Sugawara, Akira; Shindo, Daisuke

2016-06-01

Electron holography using a coherent electron wave is a promising technique for high-resolution visualization of electromagnetic fields in and around objects. The capability of electron holography has been enhanced by the development of new technologies and has thus become an even more powerful tool for exploring scientific frontiers. This review introduces these technologies including split-illumination electron holography and vector-field electron tomography. Split-illumination electron holography, which uses separated coherent waves, overcomes the limits imposed by the lateral coherence requirement for electron waves in electron holography. Areas that are difficult to observe using conventional electron holography are now observable. Exemplified applications include observing a singular magnetic domain wall in electrical steel sheets, local magnetizations at anti-phase boundaries, and electrostatic potentials in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. Vector-field electron tomography can be used to visualize magnetic vectors in three dimensions. Two components of the vectors are reconstructed using dual-axis tomography, and the remaining one is calculated using div B   =  0. A high-voltage electron microscope can be used to achieve precise magnetic reconstruction. For example, magnetic vortices have been visualized using a 1 MV holography electron microscope.

Resolution enhancement in coherent x-ray diffraction imaging by overcoming instrumental noise.

PubMed

Kim, Chan; Kim, Yoonhee; Song, Changyong; Kim, Sang Soo; Kim, Sunam; Kang, Hyon Chol; Hwu, Yeukuang; Tsuei, Ku-Ding; Liang, Keng San; Noh, Do Young

2014-11-17

We report that reference objects, strong scatterers neighboring weak phase objects, enhance the phase retrieval and spatial resolution in coherent x-ray diffraction imaging (CDI). A CDI experiment with Au nano-particles exhibited that the reference objects amplified the signal-to-noise ratio in the diffraction intensity at large diffraction angles, which significantly enhanced the image resolution. The interference between the diffracted x-ray from reference objects and a specimen also improved the retrieval of the phase of the diffraction signal. The enhancement was applied to image NiO nano-particles and a mitochondrion and confirmed in a simulation with a bacteria phantom. We expect that the proposed method will be of great help in imaging weakly scattering soft matters using coherent x-ray sources including x-ray free electron lasers.

Materials science in the time domain using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging

DOE PAGES

Robinson, Ian; Clark, Jesse; Harder, Ross

2016-03-14

Materials are generally classified by a phase diagram which displays their properties as a function of external state variables, typically temperature and pressure. A new dimension that is relatively unexplored is time: a rich variety of new materials can become accessible in the transient period following laser excitation from the ground state. The timescale of nanoseconds to femtoseconds, is ripe for investigation using x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) methods. There is no shortage of materials suitable for time-resolved materials-science exploration. Oxides alone represent most of the minerals making up the Earth's crust, catalysts, ferroelectrics, corrosion products and electronically ordered materials suchmore » as superconductors, to name a few. Some of the elements have metastable phase diagrams with predicted new phases. There are some examples known already: an oxide 'hidden phase' living only nanoseconds and an electronically ordered excited phase of fullerene C 60, lasting only femtoseconds. In a completely general way, optically excited states of materials can be probed with Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, both below the damage threshold and in the destructive regime. Lastly, prospective methods for carrying out such XFEL experiments are discussed.« less

Cryogenic coherent X-ray diffraction imaging of biological samples at SACLA: a correlative approach with cryo-electron and light microscopy.

PubMed

Takayama, Yuki; Yonekura, Koji

2016-03-01

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging at cryogenic temperature (cryo-CXDI) allows the analysis of internal structures of unstained, non-crystalline, whole biological samples in micrometre to sub-micrometre dimensions. Targets include cells and cell organelles. This approach involves preparing frozen-hydrated samples under controlled humidity, transferring the samples to a cryo-stage inside a vacuum chamber of a diffractometer, and then exposing the samples to coherent X-rays. Since 2012, cryo-coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) experiments have been carried out with the X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) at the SPring-8 Ångstrom Compact free-electron LAser (SACLA) facility in Japan. Complementary use of cryo-electron microscopy and/or light microscopy is highly beneficial for both pre-checking samples and studying the integrity or nature of the sample. This article reports the authors' experience in cryo-XFEL-CDI of biological cells and organelles at SACLA, and describes an attempt towards reliable and higher-resolution reconstructions, including signal enhancement with strong scatterers and Patterson-search phasing.

Nanometer-scale characterization of laser-driven plasmas, compression, shocks and phase transitions, by coherent small angle x-ray scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kluge, Thomas

2015-11-01

Combining ultra-intense short-pulse and high-energy long-pulse lasers, with brilliant coherent hard X-ray FELs, such as the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) under construction at the HED Instrument of European XFEL, or MEC at LCLS, holds the promise to revolutionize our understanding of many High Energy Density Physics phenomena. Examples include the relativistic electron generation, transport, and bulk plasma response, and ionization dynamics and heating in relativistic laser-matter interactions, or the dynamics of laser-driven shocks, quasi-isentropic compression, and the kinetics of phase transitions at high pressure. A particularly promising new technique is the use of coherent X-ray diffraction to characterize electron density correlations, and by resonant scattering to characterize the distribution of specific charge-state ions, either on the ultrafast time scale of the laser interaction, or associated with hydrodynamic motion. As well one can image slight density changes arising from phase transitions inside of shock-compressed high pressure matter. The feasibility of coherent diffraction techniques in laser-driven matter will be discussed. including recent results from demonstration experiments at MEC. Among other things, very sharp density changes from laser-driven compression are observed, having an effective step width of 10 nm or smaller. This compares to a resolution of several hundred nm achievedpreviously with phase contrast imaging. and on behalf of HIBEF User Consortium, for the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields at the European XFEL.

Restrictions on the Quasi-Linear Description of Electron-Chorus Interaction in the Earth's Magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khazanov, George V.; Sibeck, David G.

2013-01-01

The interaction of electrons with coherent chorus waves in the random phase approximation can be described as quasi-linear diffusion for waves with amplitudes below some limit. The limit is calculated for relativistic and non-relativistic electrons. For stronger waves, the friction force should be taken into account.

Coherent electronic wave packet motion in C(60) controlled by the waveform and polarization of few-cycle laser fields.

PubMed

Li, H; Mignolet, B; Wachter, G; Skruszewicz, S; Zherebtsov, S; Süssmann, F; Kessel, A; Trushin, S A; Kling, Nora G; Kübel, M; Ahn, B; Kim, D; Ben-Itzhak, I; Cocke, C L; Fennel, T; Tiggesbäumker, J; Meiwes-Broer, K-H; Lemell, C; Burgdörfer, J; Levine, R D; Remacle, F; Kling, M F

2015-03-27

Strong laser fields can be used to trigger an ultrafast molecular response that involves electronic excitation and ionization dynamics. Here, we report on the experimental control of the spatial localization of the electronic excitation in the C_{60} fullerene exerted by an intense few-cycle (4 fs) pulse at 720 nm. The control is achieved by tailoring the carrier-envelope phase and the polarization of the laser pulse. We find that the maxima and minima of the photoemission-asymmetry parameter along the laser-polarization axis are synchronized with the localization of the coherent electronic wave packet at around the time of ionization.

Electron beams in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aschwanden, Markus J.; Dennis, Brian R.; Benz, Arnold O.

1994-01-01

A list of publications resulting from this program includes 'The Timing of Electron Beam Signatures in Hard X-Ray and Radio: Solar Flare Observations by BATSE/Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory and PHOENIX'; 'Coherent-Phase or Random-Phase Acceleration of Electron Beams in Solar Flares'; 'Particle Acceleration in Flares'; 'Chromospheric Evaporation and Decimetric Radio Emission in Solar Flares'; 'Sequences of Correlated Hard X-Ray and Type 3 Bursts During Solar Flares'; and 'Solar Electron Beams Detected in Hard X-Rays and Radiowaves.' Abstracts and reprints of each are attached to this report.

Multi-kW coherent combining of fiber lasers seeded with pseudo random phase modulated light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores, Angel; Ehrehreich, Thomas; Holten, Roger; Anderson, Brian; Dajani, Iyad

2016-03-01

We report efficient coherent beam combining of five kilowatt-class fiber amplifiers with a diffractive optical element (DOE). Based on a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration, the amplifiers were seeded with pseudo random phase modulated light. Each non-polarization maintaining fiber amplifier was optically path length matched and provides approximately 1.2 kW of near diffraction-limited output power (measured M2<1.1). Consequently, a low power sample of each laser was utilized for active linear polarization control. A low power sample of the combined beam after the DOE provided an error signal for active phase locking which was performed via Locking of Optical Coherence by Single-Detector Electronic-Frequency Tagging (LOCSET). After phase stabilization, the beams were coherently combined via the 1x5 DOE. A total combined output power of 4.9 kW was achieved with 82% combining efficiency and excellent beam quality (M2<1.1). The intrinsic DOE splitter loss was 5%. Similarly, losses due in part to non-ideal polarization, ASE content, uncorrelated wavefront errors, and misalignment errors contributed to the efficiency reduction.

Optically phase-locked electronic speckle pattern interferometer system performance for vibration measurement in random displacement fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moran, Steve E.; Lugannani, Robert; Craig, Peter N.; Law, Robert L.

1989-02-01

An analysis is made of the performance of an optically phase-locked electronic speckle pattern interferometer in the presence of random noise displacements. Expressions for the phase-locked speckle contrast for single-frame imagery and the composite rms exposure for two sequentially subtracted frames are obtained in terms of the phase-locked composite and single-frame fringe functions. The noise fringe functions are evaluated for stationary, coherence-separable noise displacements obeying Gauss-Markov temporal statistics. The theoretical findings presented here are qualitatively supported by experimental results.

Ultrafast monoenergetic electron source by optical waveform control of surface plasmons.

PubMed

Dombi, Péter; Rácz, Péter

2008-03-03

We propose coherent control of photoelectron acceleration at metal surfaces mediated by surface plasmon polaritons. A high degree of spectral and spatial control of the emission process can be exercised by amplitude and phase controlling the optical waveform (including the carrier-envelope phase) of the plasmon generating few-cycle laser pulse. Numerical results show that the emitted electron beam is highly directional and monoenergetic suggesting applications in contemporary ultrafast methods where ultrashort, well-behaved electron pulses are required.

Coherent quantum phase slip.

PubMed

Astafiev, O V; Ioffe, L B; Kafanov, S; Pashkin, Yu A; Arutyunov, K Yu; Shahar, D; Cohen, O; Tsai, J S

2012-04-18

A hundred years after the discovery of superconductivity, one fundamental prediction of the theory, coherent quantum phase slip (CQPS), has not been observed. CQPS is a phenomenon exactly dual to the Josephson effect; whereas the latter is a coherent transfer of charges between superconducting leads, the former is a coherent transfer of vortices or fluxes across a superconducting wire. In contrast to previously reported observations of incoherent phase slip, CQPS has been only a subject of theoretical study. Its experimental demonstration is made difficult by quasiparticle dissipation due to gapless excitations in nanowires or in vortex cores. This difficulty might be overcome by using certain strongly disordered superconductors near the superconductor-insulator transition. Here we report direct observation of CQPS in a narrow segment of a superconducting loop made of strongly disordered indium oxide; the effect is made manifest through the superposition of quantum states with different numbers of flux quanta. As with the Josephson effect, our observation should lead to new applications in superconducting electronics and quantum metrology.

Order, criticality, and excitations in the extended Falicov-Kimball model.

PubMed

Ejima, S; Kaneko, T; Ohta, Y; Fehske, H

2014-01-17

Using exact numerical techniques, we investigate the nature of excitonic (electron-hole) bound states and the development of exciton coherence in the one-dimensional half-filled extended Falicov-Kimball model. The ground-state phase diagram of the model exhibits, besides band-insulator and staggered orbital ordered phases, an excitonic insulator (EI) with power-law correlations. The criticality of the EI state shows up in the von Neumann entropy. The anomalous spectral function and condensation amplitude provide the binding energy and coherence length of the electron-hole pairs which, on their part, point towards a Coulomb interaction driven crossover from BCS-like electron-hole pairing fluctuations to tightly bound excitons. We show that while a mass imbalance between electrons and holes does not affect the location of the BCS-BEC crossover regime, it favors staggered orbital ordering to the disadvantage of the EI. Within the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) regime, the quasiparticle dispersion develops a flat valence-band top, in accord with the experimental finding for Ta2NiSe5.

Mode locking of electron spin coherences in singly charged quantum dots.

PubMed

Greilich, A; Yakovlev, D R; Shabaev, A; Efros, Al L; Yugova, I A; Oulton, R; Stavarache, V; Reuter, D; Wieck, A; Bayer, M

2006-07-21

The fast dephasing of electron spins in an ensemble of quantum dots is detrimental for applications in quantum information processing. We show here that dephasing can be overcome by using a periodic train of light pulses to synchronize the phases of the precessing spins, and we demonstrate this effect in an ensemble of singly charged (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots. This mode locking leads to constructive interference of contributions to Faraday rotation and presents potential applications based on robust quantum coherence within an ensemble of dots.

Theory of electronic phase locking of an optical array without a reference beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shay, Thomas M.

2006-08-01

The first theory for two novel coherent beam combination architectures that are the first electronic beam combination architectures that completely eliminate the need for a separate reference beam are presented. Detailed theoretical models are developed and presented for the first time.

Experimental evidence of coherent transport.

PubMed

Flores-Olmedo, E; Martínez-Argüello, A M; Martínez-Mares, M; Báez, G; Franco-Villafañe, J A; Méndez-Sánchez, R A

2016-04-28

Coherent transport phenomena are difficult to observe due to several sources of decoherence. For instance, in the electronic transport through quantum devices the thermal smearing and dephasing, the latter induced by inelastic scattering by phonons or impurities, destroy phase coherence. In other wave systems, the temperature and dephasing may not destroy the coherence and can then be used to observe the underlying wave behaviour of the coherent phenomena. Here, we observe coherent transmission of mechanical waves through a two-dimensional elastic Sinai billiard with two waveguides. The flexural-wave transmission, performed by non-contact means, shows the quantization when a new mode becomes open. These measurements agree with the theoretical predictions of the simplest model highlighting the universal character of the transmission fluctuations.

Experimental evidence of coherent transport

PubMed Central

Flores-Olmedo, E.; Martínez-Argüello, A. M.; Martínez-Mares, M.; Báez, G.; Franco-Villafañe, J. A.; Méndez-Sánchez, R. A.

2016-01-01

Coherent transport phenomena are difficult to observe due to several sources of decoherence. For instance, in the electronic transport through quantum devices the thermal smearing and dephasing, the latter induced by inelastic scattering by phonons or impurities, destroy phase coherence. In other wave systems, the temperature and dephasing may not destroy the coherence and can then be used to observe the underlying wave behaviour of the coherent phenomena. Here, we observe coherent transmission of mechanical waves through a two-dimensional elastic Sinai billiard with two waveguides. The flexural-wave transmission, performed by non-contact means, shows the quantization when a new mode becomes open. These measurements agree with the theoretical predictions of the simplest model highlighting the universal character of the transmission fluctuations. PMID:27121226

Small-scale plasma, magnetic, and neutral density fluctuations in the nightside Venus ionosphere

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hoegy, W.R.; Brace, L.H.; Kasprazak, W.T.

1990-04-01

Pioneer Venus orbiter measurements have shown that coherent small-scale waves exist in the electron density, the electron temperature, and the magnetic field in the lower ionosphere of Venus just downstream of the solar terminator (Brace et al., 1983). The waves become less regular and less coherent at larger solar zenith angles, and Brace et al. suggested that these structures may have evolved from the terminator waves as they are convected into the nightside ionosphere, driven by the day-to-night plasma pressure gradient. In this paper the authors describe the changes in wave characteristics with solar zenith angle and show that themore » neutral gas also has related wave characteristics, probably because of atmospheric gravity waves. The plasma pressure exceeds the magnetic pressure in the nightside ionosphere at these altitudes, and thus the magnetic field is carried along and controlled by the turbulent motion of the plasma, but the wavelike nature of the thermosphere may also be coupled to the plasma and magnetic structure. They show that there is a significant coherence between the ionosphere, thermosphere, and magnetic parameters at altitudes below about 185 km, a coherence which weakens in the antisolar region. The electron temperature and density are approximately 180{degree} out of phase and consistently exhibit the highest correlation of any pair of variables. Waves in the electron and neutral densities are moderately correlated on most orbits, but with a phase difference that varies within each orbit. The average electron temperature is higher when the average magnetic field is more horizontal; however, the correlation between temperature and dip angle does not extend to individual wave structures observed within a satellite pass, particularly in the antisolar region.« less

Evolution from BCS superconductivity to Bose condensation: Calculation of the zero-temperature phase coherence length

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pistolesi, F.; Strinati, G.C.

1996-06-01

We consider a fermionic system at zero temperature interacting through an effective nonretarded potential of the type introduced by Nozi{grave e}res and Schmitt-Rink, and calculate the {ital phase} coherence length {xi}{sub phase} (associated with the spatial fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter) by exploiting a functional-integral formulation for the correlation functions and the associated loop expansion. This formulation is especially suited to follow the evolution of the fermionic system from a BCS-type superconductor for weak coupling to a Bose-condensed system for strong coupling, since in the latter limit a {ital direct} mapping of the original fermionic system onto an effectivemore » system of bosons with a residual boson-boson interaction can be established. Explicit calculations are performed at the one-loop order. The phase coherence length {xi}{sub phase} is compared with the coherence length {xi}{sub pair} for two-electron correlation, which is relevant to distinguish the weak- ({ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{gt}1) from the strong- ({ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{lt}1) coupling limits ({ital k}{sub {ital F}} being the Fermi wave vector) {ital as} {ital well} {ital as} to follow the crossover in between. It is shown that {xi}{sub phase} coincides with {xi}{sub pair} down to {ital k}{sub {ital F}}{xi}{sub pair}{approx_equal}10, {xi}{sub pair} in turn coinciding with the Pippard coherence length. In the strong-coupling limit we find instead that {xi}{sub phase}{gt}{xi}{sub pair}, with {xi}{sub pair} coinciding with the radius of the bound-electron pair. From the mapping onto an effective system of bosons in the strong-coupling limit we further relate {xi}{sub pair} with the {open_quote}{open_quote}range{close_quote}{close_quote} of the residual boson-boson interaction, which is physically the only significant length associated with the dynamics of the bosonic system. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less

Evidence of an Improper Displacive Phase Transition in Cd2 Re2 O7 via Time-Resolved Coherent Phonon Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harter, J. W.; Kennes, D. M.; Chu, H.; de la Torre, A.; Zhao, Z. Y.; Yan, J.-Q.; Mandrus, D. G.; Millis, A. J.; Hsieh, D.

2018-01-01

We have used a combination of ultrafast coherent phonon spectroscopy, ultrafast thermometry, and time-dependent Landau theory to study the inversion symmetry breaking phase transition at Tc=200 K in the strongly spin-orbit coupled correlated metal Cd2 Re2 O7 . We establish that the structural distortion at Tc is a secondary effect through the absence of any softening of its associated phonon mode, which supports a purely electronically driven mechanism. However, the phonon lifetime exhibits an anomalously strong temperature dependence that decreases linearly to zero near Tc. We show that this behavior naturally explains the spurious appearance of phonon softening in previous Raman spectroscopy experiments and should be a prevalent feature of correlated electron systems with linearly coupled order parameters.

Phase-breaking effect on polaron transport in organic conjugated polymers

DOE PAGES

Meng, Ruixuan; Yin, Sun; Zheng, Yujun; ...

2017-06-15

Despite intense investigations and many accepted viewpoints on theory and experiment, the coherent and incoherent carrier transport in organic semiconductors remains an unsettled topic due to the strong electron-phonon coupling. Based on the tight-binding Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model combined with a non-adiabatic dynamics method, we study the effect of phase-breaking on polaron transport by introducing a group of phase-breaking factors into π-electron wave-functions in organic conjugated polymers. Two approaches are applied: the modification of the transfer integral and the phase-breaking addition to the wave-function. Within the former, it is found that a single site phase-breaking can trap a polaron. However, withmore » a larger regular phase-breaking a polaron becomes more delocalized and lighter. Additionally, a group of disordered phase-breaking factors can make the polaron disperse in transport process. Within the latter approach, we show that the phase-breaking can render the delocalized state in valence band discrete and the state in the gap more localized. Consequently, the phase-breaking frequency and intensity can reduce the stability of a polaron. Furthermore, the phase-breaking in organic systems is the main factor that degrades the coherent transport and destroys the carrier stability.« less

Phase-breaking effect on polaron transport in organic conjugated polymers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meng, Ruixuan; Yin, Sun; Zheng, Yujun

Despite intense investigations and many accepted viewpoints on theory and experiment, the coherent and incoherent carrier transport in organic semiconductors remains an unsettled topic due to the strong electron-phonon coupling. Based on the tight-binding Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model combined with a non-adiabatic dynamics method, we study the effect of phase-breaking on polaron transport by introducing a group of phase-breaking factors into π-electron wave-functions in organic conjugated polymers. Two approaches are applied: the modification of the transfer integral and the phase-breaking addition to the wave-function. Within the former, it is found that a single site phase-breaking can trap a polaron. However, withmore » a larger regular phase-breaking a polaron becomes more delocalized and lighter. Additionally, a group of disordered phase-breaking factors can make the polaron disperse in transport process. Within the latter approach, we show that the phase-breaking can render the delocalized state in valence band discrete and the state in the gap more localized. Consequently, the phase-breaking frequency and intensity can reduce the stability of a polaron. Furthermore, the phase-breaking in organic systems is the main factor that degrades the coherent transport and destroys the carrier stability.« less

Coherent control of plasma dynamics by feedback-optimized wavefront manipulation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

He, Z.-H.; Hou, B.; Gao, G.

2015-05-15

Plasmas generated by an intense laser pulse can support coherent structures such as large amplitude wakefield that can affect the outcome of an experiment. We investigate the coherent control of plasma dynamics by feedback-optimized wavefront manipulation using a deformable mirror. The experimental outcome is directly used as feedback in an evolutionary algorithm for optimization of the phase front of the driving laser pulse. In this paper, we applied this method to two different experiments: (i) acceleration of electrons in laser driven plasma waves and (ii) self-compression of optical pulses induced by ionization nonlinearity. The manipulation of the laser wavefront leadsmore » to orders of magnitude improvement to electron beam properties such as the peak charge, beam divergence, and transverse emittance. The demonstration of coherent control for plasmas opens new possibilities for future laser-based accelerators and their applications.« less

Measurement of transverse emittance and coherence of double-gate field emitter array cathodes

PubMed Central

Tsujino, Soichiro; Das Kanungo, Prat; Monshipouri, Mahta; Lee, Chiwon; Miller, R.J. Dwayne

2016-01-01

Achieving small transverse beam emittance is important for high brightness cathodes for free electron lasers and electron diffraction and imaging experiments. Double-gate field emitter arrays with on-chip focussing electrode, operating with electrical switching or near infrared laser excitation, have been studied as cathodes that are competitive with photocathodes excited by ultraviolet lasers, but the experimental demonstration of the low emittance has been elusive. Here we demonstrate this for a field emitter array with an optimized double-gate structure by directly measuring the beam characteristics. Further we show the successful application of the double-gate field emitter array to observe the low-energy electron beam diffraction from suspended graphene in minimal setup. The observed low emittance and long coherence length are in good agreement with theory. These results demonstrate that our all-metal double-gate field emitters are highly promising for applications that demand extremely low-electron bunch-phase space volume and large transverse coherence. PMID:28008918

Measurement of transverse emittance and coherence of double-gate field emitter array cathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsujino, Soichiro; Das Kanungo, Prat; Monshipouri, Mahta; Lee, Chiwon; Miller, R. J. Dwayne

2016-12-01

Achieving small transverse beam emittance is important for high brightness cathodes for free electron lasers and electron diffraction and imaging experiments. Double-gate field emitter arrays with on-chip focussing electrode, operating with electrical switching or near infrared laser excitation, have been studied as cathodes that are competitive with photocathodes excited by ultraviolet lasers, but the experimental demonstration of the low emittance has been elusive. Here we demonstrate this for a field emitter array with an optimized double-gate structure by directly measuring the beam characteristics. Further we show the successful application of the double-gate field emitter array to observe the low-energy electron beam diffraction from suspended graphene in minimal setup. The observed low emittance and long coherence length are in good agreement with theory. These results demonstrate that our all-metal double-gate field emitters are highly promising for applications that demand extremely low-electron bunch-phase space volume and large transverse coherence.

Equivalence of time and aperture domain additive noise in ultrasound coherence.

PubMed

Bottenus, Nick B; Trahey, Gregg E

2015-01-01

Ultrasonic echoes backscattered from diffuse media, recorded by an array transducer and appropriately focused, demonstrate coherence predicted by the van Cittert-Zernike theorem. Additive noise signals from off-axis scattering, reverberation, phase aberration, and electronic (thermal) noise can all superimpose incoherent or partially coherent signals onto the recorded echoes, altering the measured coherence. An expression is derived to describe the effect of uncorrelated random channel noise in terms of the noise-to-signal ratio. Equivalent descriptions are made in the aperture dimension to describe uncorrelated magnitude and phase apodizations of the array. Binary apodization is specifically described as an example of magnitude apodization and adjustments are presented to minimize the artifacts caused by finite signal length. The effects of additive noise are explored in short-lag spatial coherence imaging, an image formation technique that integrates the calculated coherence curve of acquired signals up to a small fraction of the array length for each lateral and axial location. A derivation of the expected contrast as a function of noise-to-signal ratio is provided and validation is performed in simulation.

Evidence for a vibrational phase-dependent isotope effect on the photochemistry of vision.

PubMed

Schnedermann, C; Yang, X; Liebel, M; Spillane, K M; Lugtenburg, J; Fernández, I; Valentini, A; Schapiro, I; Olivucci, M; Kukura, P; Mathies, R A

2018-04-01

Vibronic coupling is key to efficient energy flow in molecular systems and a critical component of most mechanisms invoking quantum effects in biological processes. Despite increasing evidence for coherent coupling of electronic states being mediated by vibrational motion, it is not clear how and to what degree properties associated with vibrational coherence such as phase and coupling of atomic motion can impact the efficiency of light-induced processes under natural, incoherent illumination. Here, we show that deuteration of the H 11 -C 11 =C 12 -H 12 double-bond of the 11-cis retinal chromophore in the visual pigment rhodopsin significantly and unexpectedly alters the photoisomerization yield while inducing smaller changes in the ultrafast isomerization dynamics assignable to known isotope effects. Combination of these results with non-adiabatic molecular dynamics simulations reveals a vibrational phase-dependent isotope effect that we suggest is an intrinsic attribute of vibronically coherent photochemical processes.

Ultrafast studies of coexisting electronic order in cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinton, James; Thewalt, Eric; Alpichshev, Zhanybek; Sternbach, Aaron; McLeod, Alex; Ji, L.; Veit, Mike; Dorrow, Chelsey; Koralek, Jake; Xhao, Xudong; Barisic, Neven; Kemper, Alexander; Gedik, Nuh; Greven, Martin; Basov, Dimitri; Orenstein, Joe

The cuprate family of high temperature superconductors displays a variety of electronic phases which emerge when charge carriers are added to the antiferromagnetic parent compound. These electronic phases are characterized by subtle differences in the low energy electronic excitations. Ultrafast time-resolved reflectivity (TRR) provides an ideal tool for investigating the cuprate phase diagram, as small changes in the electronic structure can produce significant contrast in the non-equilibrium reflectivity. Here we present TRR measurements of cuprate superconductors, focusing on the model single-layer cuprate HgBa2CuO4+δ. We observe a cusp-like feature in the quasiparticle lifetime near the superconducting transition temperature Tc. This feature can be understood using a model of coherently-mixed charge-density wave and superconducting pairing. We propose extending this technique to the nanoscale using ultrafast scattering scanning near-field microscopy (u-SNOM). This will allow us to explore how these electronic phases coexist and compete in real-space.

Attosecond electron pulse trains and quantum state reconstruction in ultrafast transmission electron microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Priebe, Katharina E.; Rathje, Christopher; Yalunin, Sergey V.; Hohage, Thorsten; Feist, Armin; Schäfer, Sascha; Ropers, Claus

2017-12-01

Ultrafast electron and X-ray imaging and spectroscopy are the basis for an ongoing revolution in the understanding of dynamical atomic-scale processes in matter. The underlying technology relies heavily on laser science for the generation and characterization of ever shorter pulses. Recent findings suggest that ultrafast electron microscopy with attosecond-structured wavefunctions may be feasible. However, such future technologies call for means to both prepare and fully analyse the corresponding free-electron quantum states. Here, we introduce a framework for the preparation, coherent manipulation and characterization of free-electron quantum states, experimentally demonstrating attosecond electron pulse trains. Phase-locked optical fields coherently control the electron wavefunction along the beam direction. We establish a new variant of quantum state tomography—`SQUIRRELS'—for free-electron ensembles. The ability to tailor and quantitatively map electron quantum states will promote the nanoscale study of electron-matter entanglement and new forms of ultrafast electron microscopy down to the attosecond regime.

Coherent control in bulk and nanostructure semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sipe, John E.; van Driel, Henry M.

1998-04-01

Laser light has been used as a probe of atoms, molecules, and solids since the invention of the laser. The use of laser light in a more active role, to modify and process surfaces, and initiate chemical reactions, followed shortly thereafter. But usually it is the intensity and the directionality of the laser light that is employed, not necessarily its coherence, and not particularly the fact that it has a well-defined phase. 'Coherence control' can be broadly understood as the set of processes whereby light modifies matter in a way that is critically dependent on the incident light beams possessing well-defined phases. While in a laser matter is manipulated to produce light of the desired properties, in coherent control light is manipulated -- in particular, its phase and intensity is adjusted -- to produce a material response of the desired type. Of the various coherent control processes that are currently being investigated, some involve a transition in the material medium from an initial state to a final state by two or more possible processes. With each of these is associated a quantum mechanical amplitude, and hence the probability for the transition can show interference effects between the two amplitudes, just as in the familiar two-slit interference experiment the probability for the electron to be observed at a given position involves a probability that is the square of the sum of two amplitudes. In quantum interference control (QUIC), the relative phase of the two amplitudes is adjusted by adjusting the relative phase of two polarizations of a single beam, or the relative phase of two beams at different frequencies. It is this particular type of coherent control that is of interest in this communication.

Multi-dimensional optimization of a terawatt seeded tapered Free Electron Laser with a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm

DOE PAGES

Wu, Juhao; Hu, Newman; Setiawan, Hananiel; ...

2016-11-20

There is a great interest in generating high-power hard X-ray Free Electron Laser (FEL) in the terawatt (TW) level that can enable coherent diffraction imaging of complex molecules like proteins and probe fundamental high-field physics. A feasibility study of producing such X-ray pulses was carried out in this paper employing a configuration beginning with a Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission FEL, followed by a “self-seeding” crystal monochromator generating a fully coherent seed, and finishing with a long tapered undulator where the coherent seed recombines with the electron bunch and is amplified to high power. The undulator tapering profile, the phase advance inmore » the undulator break sections, the quadrupole focusing strength, etc. are parameters to be optimized. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) is adopted for this multi-dimensional optimization. Concrete examples are given for LINAC Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and LCLS-II-type systems. Finally, analytical estimate is also developed to cross check the simulation and optimization results as a quick and complimentary tool.« less

Coherent diffractive imaging using randomly coded masks

DOE PAGES

Seaberg, Matthew H.; d'Aspremont, Alexandre; Turner, Joshua J.

2015-12-07

We experimentally demonstrate an extension to coherent diffractive imaging that encodes additional information through the use of a series of randomly coded masks, removing the need for typical object-domain constraints while guaranteeing a unique solution to the phase retrieval problem. Phase retrieval is performed using a numerical convex relaxation routine known as “PhaseCut,” an iterative algorithm known for its stability and for its ability to find the global solution, which can be found efficiently and which is robust to noise. As a result, the experiment is performed using a laser diode at 532.2 nm, enabling rapid prototyping for future X-raymore » synchrotron and even free electron laser experiments.« less

Coherent diffractive imaging using randomly coded masks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Seaberg, Matthew H., E-mail: seaberg@slac.stanford.edu; Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025; D'Aspremont, Alexandre

2015-12-07

We experimentally demonstrate an extension to coherent diffractive imaging that encodes additional information through the use of a series of randomly coded masks, removing the need for typical object-domain constraints while guaranteeing a unique solution to the phase retrieval problem. Phase retrieval is performed using a numerical convex relaxation routine known as “PhaseCut,” an iterative algorithm known for its stability and for its ability to find the global solution, which can be found efficiently and which is robust to noise. The experiment is performed using a laser diode at 532.2 nm, enabling rapid prototyping for future X-ray synchrotron and even freemore » electron laser experiments.« less

Multiple quantum criticality in a two-dimensional superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biscaras, J.; Bergeal, N.; Hurand, S.; Feuillet-Palma, C.; Rastogi, A.; Budhani, R. C.; Grilli, M.; Caprara, S.; Lesueur, J.

2013-06-01

The diverse phenomena associated with the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) that occurs at oxide interfaces include, among others, exceptional carrier mobilities, magnetism and superconductivity. Although these have mostly been the focus of interest for potential future applications, they also offer an opportunity for studying more fundamental quantum many-body effects. Here, we examine the magnetic-field-driven quantum phase transition that occurs in electrostatically gated superconducting LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces. Through a finite-size scaling analysis, we show that it belongs to the (2+1)D XY model universality class. The system can be described as a disordered array of superconducting puddles coupled by a 2DEG and, depending on its conductance, the observed critical behaviour is single (corresponding to the long-range phase coherence in the whole array) or double (one related to local phase coherence, the other one to the array). A phase diagram illustrating the dependence of the critical field on the 2DEG conductance is constructed, and shown to agree with theoretical proposals. Moreover, by retrieving the coherence-length critical exponent ν, we show that the quantum critical behaviour can be clean or dirty according to the Harris criterion, depending on whether the phase-coherence length is smaller or larger than the size of the puddles.

Multiple quantum criticality in a two-dimensional superconductor.

PubMed

Biscaras, J; Bergeal, N; Hurand, S; Feuillet-Palma, C; Rastogi, A; Budhani, R C; Grilli, M; Caprara, S; Lesueur, J

2013-06-01

The diverse phenomena associated with the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) that occurs at oxide interfaces include, among others, exceptional carrier mobilities, magnetism and superconductivity. Although these have mostly been the focus of interest for potential future applications, they also offer an opportunity for studying more fundamental quantum many-body effects. Here, we examine the magnetic-field-driven quantum phase transition that occurs in electrostatically gated superconducting LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces. Through a finite-size scaling analysis, we show that it belongs to the (2+1)D XY model universality class. The system can be described as a disordered array of superconducting puddles coupled by a 2DEG and, depending on its conductance, the observed critical behaviour is single (corresponding to the long-range phase coherence in the whole array) or double (one related to local phase coherence, the other one to the array). A phase diagram illustrating the dependence of the critical field on the 2DEG conductance is constructed, and shown to agree with theoretical proposals. Moreover, by retrieving the coherence-length critical exponent ν, we show that the quantum critical behaviour can be clean or dirty according to the Harris criterion, depending on whether the phase-coherence length is smaller or larger than the size of the puddles.

Controlling charge transport mechanisms in molecular junctions: Distilling thermally induced hopping from coherent-resonant conduction.

PubMed

Kim, Hyehwang; Segal, Dvira

2017-04-28

The electrical conductance of molecular junctions may depend strongly on the temperature and weakly on molecular length, under two distinct mechanisms: phase-coherent resonant conduction, with charges proceeding via delocalized molecular orbitals, and incoherent thermally assisted multi-step hopping. While in the case of coherent conduction, the temperature dependence arises from the broadening of the Fermi distribution in the metal electrodes, in the latter case it corresponds to electron-vibration interaction effects on the junction. With the objective to distill the thermally activated hopping component, thus exposing intrinsic electron-vibration interaction phenomena on the junction, we suggest the design of molecular junctions with "spacers," extended anchoring groups that act to filter out phase-coherent resonant electrons. Specifically, we study the electrical conductance of fixed-gap and variable-gap junctions that include a tunneling block, with spacers at the boundaries. Using numerical simulations and analytical considerations, we demonstrate that in our design, resonant conduction is suppressed. As a result, the electrical conductance is dominated by two (rather than three) mechanisms: superexchange (deep tunneling) and multi-step thermally induced hopping. We further exemplify our analysis on DNA junctions with an A:T block serving as a tunneling barrier. Here, we show that the electrical conductance is insensitive to the number of G:C base-pairs at the boundaries. This indicates that the tunneling-to-hopping crossover revealed in such sequences truly corresponds to the properties of the A:T barrier.

Nanoscale phase engineering of thermal transport with a Josephson heat modulator.

PubMed

Fornieri, Antonio; Blanc, Christophe; Bosisio, Riccardo; D'Ambrosio, Sophie; Giazotto, Francesco

2016-03-01

Macroscopic quantum phase coherence has one of its pivotal expressions in the Josephson effect, which manifests itself both in charge and energy transport. The ability to master the amount of heat transferred through two tunnel-coupled superconductors by tuning their phase difference is the core of coherent caloritronics, and is expected to be a key tool in a number of nanoscience fields, including solid-state cooling, thermal isolation, radiation detection, quantum information and thermal logic. Here, we show the realization of the first balanced Josephson heat modulator designed to offer full control at the nanoscale over the phase-coherent component of thermal currents. Our device provides magnetic-flux-dependent temperature modulations up to 40 mK in amplitude with a maximum of the flux-to-temperature transfer coefficient reaching 200 mK per flux quantum at a bath temperature of 25 mK. Foremost, it demonstrates the exact correspondence in the phase engineering of charge and heat currents, breaking ground for advanced caloritronic nanodevices such as thermal splitters, heat pumps and time-dependent electronic engines.

Coherently coupled high-power fiber arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderegg, Jesse; Brosnan, Stephen; Cheung, Eric; Epp, Paul; Hammons, Dennis; Komine, Hiroshi; Weber, Mark; Wickham, Michael

2006-02-01

A four-element fiber array has demonstrated 470 watts of coherently phased, linearly polarized light energy in a single far-field spot. Each element consists of a single-mode fiber-amplifier chain. Phase control of each element is achieved with a Lithium-Niobate phase modulator. A master laser provides a linearly polarized, narrow linewidth signal that is split into five channels. Four channels are individually amplified using polarization maintaining fiber power amplifiers. The fifth channel is used as a reference arm. It is frequency shifted and then combined interferometrically with a portion of each channel's signal. Detectors sense the heterodyne modulation signal, and an electronics circuit measures the relative phase for each channel. Compensating adjustments are then made to each channel's phase modulator. This effort represents the results of a multi-year effort to achieve high power from a single element fiber amplifier and to understand the important issues involved in coherently combining many individual elements to obtain sufficient optical power for directed energy weapons. Northrop Grumman Corporation and the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office jointly sponsored this work.

Nanoscale phase engineering of thermal transport with a Josephson heat modulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fornieri, Antonio; Blanc, Christophe; Bosisio, Riccardo; D'Ambrosio, Sophie; Giazotto, Francesco

2016-03-01

Macroscopic quantum phase coherence has one of its pivotal expressions in the Josephson effect, which manifests itself both in charge and energy transport. The ability to master the amount of heat transferred through two tunnel-coupled superconductors by tuning their phase difference is the core of coherent caloritronics, and is expected to be a key tool in a number of nanoscience fields, including solid-state cooling, thermal isolation, radiation detection, quantum information and thermal logic. Here, we show the realization of the first balanced Josephson heat modulator designed to offer full control at the nanoscale over the phase-coherent component of thermal currents. Our device provides magnetic-flux-dependent temperature modulations up to 40 mK in amplitude with a maximum of the flux-to-temperature transfer coefficient reaching 200 mK per flux quantum at a bath temperature of 25 mK. Foremost, it demonstrates the exact correspondence in the phase engineering of charge and heat currents, breaking ground for advanced caloritronic nanodevices such as thermal splitters, heat pumps and time-dependent electronic engines.

Commissioning of the 112 MHz SRF Gun and 500 MHz bunching cavities for the CeC PoP Linac

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belomestnykh, S.; Ben-Zvi, I.; Brutus, J. C.

The Coherent electron Cooling Proof-of-Principle (CeC PoP) experiment at BNL includes a short electron linac. During Phase 1, a 112 MHz superconducting RF photo-emission gun and two 500 MHz normal conducting bunching cavities were installed and are under commissioning. The paper describes the Phase1 linac layout and presents commissioning results for the cavities and associated RF, cryogenic and other sub-systems

Recent Advances in Radio and Optical Propagation for Modern Communications, Navigation and Detection Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-04-01

of coherent detection techniques (e.g. laser and optical heterodyning, sensitive to phase fluctuations caused by atmospheric turbulence). The...ATMOSPHERIC OPTICAL EFFECTS 2.1 Atmospheric Refraction The index of refraction n = c/v, with c = velocity of propagation in a vacuum and v ’n air , is... oscillating electrons reradiate and the net effect is to change the phase of the advancing wave. When sufficient molecules are present the moving electrons

Quantum Femtosecond Magnetism: Phase Transition in Step with Light in a Strongly Correlated Manganese Oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jigang

2014-03-01

Research of non-equilibrium phase transitions of strongly correlated electrons is built around addressing an outstanding challenge: how to achieve ultrafast manipulation of competing magnetic/electronic phases and reveal thermodynamically hidden orders at highly non-thermal, femtosecond timescales? Recently we reveal a new paradigm called quantum femtosecond magnetism-photoinduced femtosecond magnetic phase transitions driven by quantum spin flip fluctuations correlated with laser-excited inter-atomic coherent bonding. We demonstrate an antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) switching during about 100 fs laser pulses in a colossal magneto-resistive manganese oxide. Our results show a huge photoinduced femtosecond spin generation, measured by magnetic circular dichroism, with photo-excitation threshold behavior absent in the picosecond dynamics. This reveals an initial quantum coherent regime of magnetism, while the optical polarization/coherence still interacts with the spins to initiate local FM correlations that compete with the surrounding AFM matrix. Our results thus provide a framework that explores quantum non-equilibrium kinetics to drive phase transitions between exotic ground states in strongly correlated elecrons, and raise fundamental questions regarding some accepted rules, such as free energy and adiabatic potential surface. This work is in collaboration with Tianqi Li, Aaron Patz, Leonidas Mouchliadis, Jiaqiang Yan, Thomas A. Lograsso, Ilias E. Perakis. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (contract no. DMR-1055352). Material synthesis at the Ames Laboratory was supported by the US Department of Energy-Basic Energy Sciences (contract no. DE-AC02-7CH11358).

Role of spin polarization in FM/Al/FM trilayer film at low temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Ning; Webb, Richard

2014-03-01

Measurements of electronic transport in diffusive FM/normal metal/FM trilayer film are performed at temperature ranging from 2K to 300K to determine the behavior of the spin polarized current in normal metal under the influence of quantum phase coherence and spin-orbital interaction. Ten samples of Hall bar with length of 200 micron and width of 20 micron are fabricated through e-beam lithography followed by e-gun evaporation of Ni0.8Fe0.2, aluminum and Ni0.8Fe0.2 with different thickness (5nm to 45nm) in vacuum. At low temperature of 4.2K, coherent backscattering, Rashba spin-orbital interaction and spin flip scattering of conduction electrons contribute to magnetoresistance at low field. Quantitative analysis of magnetoresistance shows transition between weak localization and weak anti-localization for samples with different thickness ratio, which indicates the spin polarization actually affects the phase coherence length and spin-orbital scattering length. However, at temperature between 50K and 300K, only the spin polarization dominates the magnetoresistance.

Intrinsic Orbital Angular Momentum States of Neutrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cappelletti, Ronald L.; Jach, Terrence; Vinson, John

2018-03-01

It has been shown that single-particle wave functions, of both photons and electrons, can be created with a phase vortex, i.e., an intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM). A recent experiment has claimed similar success using neutrons [C. W. Clark et al., Nature, 525, 504 (2015), 10.1038/nature15265]. We show that their results are insufficient to unambiguously demonstrate OAM, and they can be fully explained as phase contrast interference patterns. Furthermore, given the small transverse coherence length of the neutrons in the original experiment, the probability that any neutron was placed in an OAM state is vanishingly small. We highlight the importance of the relative size of the coherence length, which presents a unique challenge for neutron experiments compared to electron or photon work, and we suggest improvements for the creation of neutron OAM states.

Holography and coherent diffraction with low-energy electrons: A route towards structural biology at the single molecule level.

PubMed

Latychevskaia, Tatiana; Longchamp, Jean-Nicolas; Escher, Conrad; Fink, Hans-Werner

2015-12-01

The current state of the art in structural biology is led by NMR, X-ray crystallography and TEM investigations. These powerful tools however all rely on averaging over a large ensemble of molecules. Here, we present an alternative concept aiming at structural analysis at the single molecule level. We show that by combining electron holography and coherent diffraction imaging estimations concerning the phase of the scattered wave become needless as the phase information is extracted from the data directly and unambiguously. Performed with low-energy electrons the resolution of this lens-less microscope is just limited by the De Broglie wavelength of the electron wave and the numerical aperture, given by detector geometry. In imaging freestanding graphene, a resolution of 2Å has been achieved revealing the 660.000 unit cells of the graphene sheet from a single data set. Once applied to individual biomolecules the method shall ultimately allow for non-destructive imaging and imports the potential to distinguish between different conformations of proteins with atomic resolution. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Quantitative Imaging of Single Unstained Magnetotactic Bacteria by Coherent X-ray Diffraction Microscopy.

PubMed

Fan, Jiadong; Sun, Zhibin; Zhang, Jian; Huang, Qingjie; Yao, Shengkun; Zong, Yunbing; Kohmura, Yoshiki; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Liu, Hong; Jiang, Huaidong

2015-06-16

Novel coherent diffraction microscopy provides a powerful lensless imaging method to obtain a better understanding of the microorganism at the nanoscale. Here we demonstrated quantitative imaging of intact unstained magnetotactic bacteria using coherent X-ray diffraction microscopy combined with an iterative phase retrieval algorithm. Although the signal-to-noise ratio of the X-ray diffraction pattern from single magnetotactic bacterium is weak due to low-scattering ability of biomaterials, an 18.6 nm half-period resolution of reconstructed image was achieved by using a hybrid input-output phase retrieval algorithm. On the basis of the quantitative reconstructed images, the morphology and some intracellular structures, such as nucleoid, polyβ-hydroxybutyrate granules, and magnetosomes, were identified, which were also confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. With the benefit from the quantifiability of coherent diffraction imaging, for the first time to our knowledge, an average density of magnetotactic bacteria was calculated to be ∼1.19 g/cm(3). This technique has a wide range of applications, especially in quantitative imaging of low-scattering biomaterials and multicomponent materials at nanoscale resolution. Combined with the cryogenic technique or X-ray free electron lasers, the method could image cells in a hydrated condition, which helps to maintain their natural structure.

Stripe-like nanoscale structural phase separation in superconducting BaPb 1-xBi xO 3

DOE PAGES

Giraldo-Gallo, P.; Zhang, Y.; Parra, C.; ...

2015-09-16

The phase diagram of BaPb 1-xBi xO 3 exhibits a superconducting “dome” in the proximity of a charge density wave phase. For the superconducting compositions, the material coexists as two structural polymorphs. Here we show, via high resolution transmission electron microscopy, that the structural dimorphism is accommodated in the form of partially disordered nanoscale stripes. Identification of the morphology of the nanoscale structural phase separation enables determination of the associated length scales, which we compare to the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length. Thus, we find that the maximum T c occurs when the superconducting coherence length matches the width of the partiallymore » disordered stripes, implying a connection between the structural phase separation and the shape of the superconducting dome.« less

Ultra-low noise optical phase-locked loop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayotte, Simon; Babin, André; Costin, François

2014-03-01

The relative phase between two fiber lasers is controlled via a high performance optical phase-locked loop (OPLL). Two parameters are of particular importance for the design: the intrinsic phase noise of the laser (i.e. its linewidth) and a high-gain, low-noise electronic locking loop. In this work, one of the lowest phase noise fiber lasers commercially available was selected (i.e. NP Photonics Rock fiber laser module), with sub-kHz linewidth at 1550.12 nm. However, the fast tuning mechanism of such lasers is through stretching its cavity length with a piezoelectric transducer which has a few 10s kHz bandwidth. To further increase the locking loop bandwidth to several MHz, a second tuning mechanism is used by adding a Lithium Niobate phase modulator in the laser signal path. The OPLL is thus divided into two locking loops, a slow loop acting on the laser piezoelectric transducer and a fast loop acting on the phase modulator. The beat signal between the two phase-locked lasers yields a highly pure sine wave with an integrated phase error of 0.0012 rad. This is orders of magnitude lower than similar existing systems such as the Laser Synthesizer used for distribution of photonic local oscillator (LO) for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array radio telescope in Chile. Other applications for ultra-low noise OPLL include coherent power combining, Brillouin sensing, light detection and ranging (LIDAR), fiber optic gyroscopes, phased array antenna and beam steering, generation of LOs for next generation coherent communication systems, coherent analog optical links, terahertz generation and coherent spectroscopy.

Coherent control of the route of magnetic phases in quasi-1D armchair graphene nanoribbons via doping in the presence of electronic correlations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinh Hoi, Bui; Yarmohammadi, Mohsen; Davoudiniya, Masoumeh

2018-03-01

In this work, we show that the magnetic phase transition in both semiconducting and metallic armchair graphene nanoribbons would be observed in the presence of electronic dopant. However, the mutual interactions between electrons are also considered based on theoretically tight-binding and Hubbard model calculations considering nearest neighbors within the framework of Green's function technique. This work showed that charge concentration of dopant in such system depending on the weak and strong mutual repulsions plays a crucial role in determining the magnetic phase. It follows from the obtained results that the ground state turns paramagnetic in a range of carrier concentrations by neglecting the electronic correlations. The inclusion of a Coulombic repulsion between electrons stops the phase transition and system remains in its ground state antiferromagnetic phase. Furthermore, we concluded that magnetic phases are insensitive to the electron-electron interaction at all weak and strong concentrations of dopant. In addition, this paper provides a controllable gap engineering by doping and inclusion of electron-electron repulsions for further studies on such system as a new potential nanomaterial for magnetic graphene nanoribbon-based applications.

Influence of the carrier-envelope phase of few-cycle pulses on ponderomotive surface-plasmon electron acceleration.

PubMed

Irvine, S E; Dombi, P; Farkas, Gy; Elezzabi, A Y

2006-10-06

Control over basic processes through the electric field of a light wave can lead to new knowledge of fundamental light-matter interaction phenomena. We demonstrate, for the first time, that surface-plasmon (SP) electron acceleration can be coherently controlled through the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of an excitation optical pulse. Analysis indicates that the physical origin of the CEP sensitivity arises from the electron's ponderomotive interaction with the oscillating electromagnetic field of the SP wave. The ponderomotive electron acceleration mechanism provides sensitive (nJ energies), high-contrast, single-shot CEP measurement capability of few-cycle laser pulses.

Coherent acoustic phonons in nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dekorsy, T.; Taubert, R.; Hudert, F.; Bartels, A.; Habenicht, A.; Merkt, F.; Leiderer, P.; Köhler, K.; Schmitz, J.; Wagner, J.

2008-02-01

Phonons are considered as a most important origin of scattering and dissipation for electronic coherence in nanostructures. The generation of coherent acoustic phonons with femtosecond laser pulses opens the possibility to control phonon dynamics in amplitude and phase. We demonstrate a new experimental technique based on two synchronized femtosecond lasers with GHz repetition rate to study the dynamics of coherently generated acoustic phonons in semiconductor heterostructures with high sensitivity. High-speed synchronous optical sampling (ASOPS) enables to scan a time-delay of 1 ns with 100 fs time resolution with a frequency in the kHz range without a moving part in the set-up. We investigate the dynamics of coherent zone-folded acoustic phonons in semiconductor superlattices (GaAs/AlAs and GaSb/InAs) and of coherent vibration of metallic nanostructures of non-spherical shape using ASOPS.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meng, Xiangyu; Shi, Xianbo; Wang, Yong

The mutual optical intensity (MOI) model is extended to include the propagation of partially coherent radiation through non-ideal mirrors. The propagation of the MOI from the incident to the exit plane of the mirror is realised by local ray tracing. The effects of figure errors can be expressed as phase shifts obtained by either the phase projection approach or the direct path length method. Using the MOI model, the effects of figure errors are studied for diffraction-limited cases using elliptical cylinder mirrors. Figure errors with low spatial frequencies can vary the intensity distribution, redistribute the local coherence function and distortmore » the wavefront, but have no effect on the global degree of coherence. The MOI model is benchmarked againstHYBRIDand the multi-electronSynchrotron Radiation Workshop(SRW) code. The results show that the MOI model gives accurate results under different coherence conditions of the beam. Other than intensity profiles, the MOI model can also provide the wavefront and the local coherence function at any location along the beamline. The capability of tuning the trade-off between accuracy and efficiency makes the MOI model an ideal tool for beamline design and optimization.« less

Direct observation of ultrafast many-body electron dynamics in an ultracold Rydberg gas

PubMed Central

Takei, Nobuyuki; Sommer, Christian; Genes, Claudiu; Pupillo, Guido; Goto, Haruka; Koyasu, Kuniaki; Chiba, Hisashi; Weidemüller, Matthias; Ohmori, Kenji

2016-01-01

Many-body correlations govern a variety of important quantum phenomena such as the emergence of superconductivity and magnetism. Understanding quantum many-body systems is thus one of the central goals of modern sciences. Here we demonstrate an experimental approach towards this goal by utilizing an ultracold Rydberg gas generated with a broadband picosecond laser pulse. We follow the ultrafast evolution of its electronic coherence by time-domain Ramsey interferometry with attosecond precision. The observed electronic coherence shows an ultrafast oscillation with a period of 1 femtosecond, whose phase shift on the attosecond timescale is consistent with many-body correlations among Rydberg atoms beyond mean-field approximations. This coherent and ultrafast many-body dynamics is actively controlled by tuning the orbital size and population of the Rydberg state, as well as the mean atomic distance. Our approach will offer a versatile platform to observe and manipulate non-equilibrium dynamics of quantum many-body systems on the ultrafast timescale. PMID:27849054

Coherent exciton-vibrational dynamics and energy transfer in conjugated organics

DOE PAGES

Nelson, Tammie R.; Ondarse-Alvarez, Dianelys; Oldani, Nicolas; ...

2018-06-13

Coherence, signifying concurrent electron-vibrational dynamics in complex natural and man-made systems, is currently a subject of intense study. Understanding this phenomenon is important when designing carrier transport in optoelectronic materials. Here, excited state dynamics simulations reveal a ubiquitous pattern in the evolution of photoexcitations for a broad range of molecular systems. Symmetries of the wavefunctions define a specific form of the non-adiabatic coupling that drives quantum transitions between excited states, leading to a collective asymmetric vibrational excitation coupled to the electronic system. This promotes periodic oscillatory evolution of the wavefunctions, preserving specific phase and amplitude relations across the ensemble ofmore » trajectories. The simple model proposed here explains the appearance of coherent exciton-vibrational dynamics due to non-adiabatic transitions, which is universal across multiple molecular systems. The observed relationships between electronic wavefunctions and the resulting functionalities allows us to understand, and potentially manipulate, excited state dynamics and energy transfer in molecular materials.« less

Coherent exciton-vibrational dynamics and energy transfer in conjugated organics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nelson, Tammie R.; Ondarse-Alvarez, Dianelys; Oldani, Nicolas

Coherence, signifying concurrent electron-vibrational dynamics in complex natural and man-made systems, is currently a subject of intense study. Understanding this phenomenon is important when designing carrier transport in optoelectronic materials. Here, excited state dynamics simulations reveal a ubiquitous pattern in the evolution of photoexcitations for a broad range of molecular systems. Symmetries of the wavefunctions define a specific form of the non-adiabatic coupling that drives quantum transitions between excited states, leading to a collective asymmetric vibrational excitation coupled to the electronic system. This promotes periodic oscillatory evolution of the wavefunctions, preserving specific phase and amplitude relations across the ensemble ofmore » trajectories. The simple model proposed here explains the appearance of coherent exciton-vibrational dynamics due to non-adiabatic transitions, which is universal across multiple molecular systems. The observed relationships between electronic wavefunctions and the resulting functionalities allows us to understand, and potentially manipulate, excited state dynamics and energy transfer in molecular materials.« less

Simulation of emission and propagation of coherent synchrotron radiation wave fronts using the methods of wave optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chubar, O.

2006-09-01

The paper describes methods of efficient calculation of spontaneous synchrotron radiation (SR) by relativistic electrons in storage rings, and propagation of this radiation through optical elements and drift spaces of beamlines, using the principles of wave optics. In addition to the SR from one electron, incoherent and coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) emitted by electron bunches is treated. CPU-efficient CSR calculation method taking into account 6D phase space distribution of electrons in a bunch is proposed. The properties of CSR emitted by electron bunches with small longitudinal and large transverse size are studied numerically (such situation can be realized in storage rings e.g. by transverse deflection of the electron bunches in special RF cavities). It is shown that if the transverse size of a bunch is much larger than the diffraction limit for single-electron SR at a given wavelength - it affects the angular distribution of the CSR at this wavelength and reduces the coherent flux. Nevertheless, for transverse bunch dimensions up to several millimeters and the longitudinal bunch size smaller than hundred micrometers, the resulting CSR flux in the far infrared spectral range is still many orders of magnitude higher than the flux of incoherent SR.

Quantum coherent control of the photoelectron angular distribution in bichromatic-field ionization of atomic neon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gryzlova, E. V.; Grum-Grzhimailo, A. N.; Staroselskaya, E. I.; Douguet, N.; Bartschat, K.

2018-01-01

We investigate the coherent control of the photoelectron angular distribution in bichromatic atomic ionization. Neon is selected as target since it is one of the most popular systems in current gas-phase experiments with free-electron lasers (FELSs). In particular, we tackle practical questions, such as the role of the fine-structure splitting, the pulse length, and the intensity. Time-dependent and stationary perturbation theory are employed, and we also solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in a single-active electron model. We consider neon ionized by a FEL pulse whose fundamental frequency is in resonance with either 2 p -3 s or 2 p -4 s excitation. The contribution of the nonresonant two-photon process and its potential constructive or destructive role for quantum coherent control is investigated.

Observation of coherently enhanced tunable narrow-band terahertz transition radiation from a relativistic sub-picosecond electron bunch train

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Piot, P.; Maxwell, T. J.; Accelerator Physics Center, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, Illinois 60510

2011-06-27

We experimentally demonstrate the production of narrow-band ({delta}f/f{approx_equal}20% at f{approx_equal}0.5THz) transition radiation with tunable frequency over [0.37, 0.86] THz. The radiation is produced as a train of sub-picosecond relativistic electron bunches transits at the vacuum-aluminum interface of an aluminum converter screen. The bunch train is generated via a transverse-to-longitudinal phase space exchange technique. We also show a possible application of modulated beams to extend the dynamical range of a popular bunch length diagnostic technique based on the spectral analysis of coherent radiation.

Multiple crossovers and coherent states in a Mott-Peierls insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nájera, O.; Civelli, M.; Dobrosavljević, V.; Rozenberg, M. J.

2018-01-01

We consider the dimer Hubbard model within dynamical mean-field theory to study the interplay and competition between Mott and Peierls physics. We describe the various metal-insulator transition lines of the phase diagram and the breakdown of the different solutions that occur along them. We focus on the specific issue of the debated Mott-Peierls insulator crossover and describe the systematic evolution of the electronic structure across the phase diagram. We found that at low intradimer hopping, the emerging local magnetic moments can unbind above a characteristic singlet temperature T*. Upon increasing the interdimer hopping, subtle changes occur in the electronic structure. Notably, we find Hubbard bands of a mix character with coherent and incoherent excitations. We argue that this state might be relevant for materials such as VO2 and its signatures may be observed in spectroscopic studies, and possibly through pump-probe experiments.

3D Diffraction Microscope Provides a First Deep View

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miao, Jianwei

2005-03-01

When a coherent diffraction pattern is sampled at a spacing sufficiently finer than the Bragg peak frequency (i.e. the inverse of the sample size), the phase information is in principle encoded inside the diffraction pattern, and can be directly retrieved by using an iterative process. In combination of this oversampling phasing method with either coherent X-rays or electrons, a novel form of diffraction microscopy has recently been developed to image nanoscale materials and biological structures. In this talk, I will present the principle of the oversampling method, discuss the first experimental demonstration of this microscope, and illustrate some applications in nanoscience and biology.

Coherent convergent-beam time-resolved X-ray diffraction

PubMed Central

Spence, John C. H.; Zatsepin, Nadia A.; Li, Chufeng

2014-01-01

The use of coherent X-ray lasers for structural biology allows the use of nanometre diameter X-ray beams with large beam divergence. Their application to the structure analysis of protein nanocrystals and single particles raises new challenges and opportunities. We discuss the form of these coherent convergent-beam (CCB) hard X-ray diffraction patterns and their potential use for time-resolved crystallography, normally achieved by Laue (polychromatic) diffraction, for which the monochromatic laser radiation of a free-electron X-ray laser is unsuitable. We discuss the possibility of obtaining single-shot, angle-integrated rocking curves from CCB patterns, and the dependence of the resulting patterns on the focused beam coordinate when the beam diameter is larger or smaller than a nanocrystal, or smaller than one unit cell. We show how structure factor phase information is provided at overlapping interfering orders and how a common phase origin between different shots may be obtained. Their use in refinement of the phase-sensitive intensity between overlapping orders is suggested. PMID:24914153

Three-dimensional generalization of the Van Cittert-Zernike theorem to wave and particle scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zarubin, Alexander M.

1993-07-01

Coherence properties of primary partially coherent radiations (light, X-rays and particles) elastically scattered from a 3D object consisting of a collection of electrons and nuclei are analyzed in the Fresnel diffraction region and in the far field. The behaviour of the cross-spectral density of the scattered radiation transverse and along to the local direction of propagation is shown to be described by respectively the 3D Fourier and Fresnel transform of the generalized radiance function of a scattering secondary source associated with the object. A relativistic correct expression is derived for the mutual coherence function of radiation which takes account of the dispersive propagation of particle beams in vacuum. An effect of the spatial coherence of radiation on the temporal one is found; in the Fresnel diffraction region, in distinction to the field, both the longitudinal spatial coherence and the spectral width of radiation affect the longitudinal coherence. A solution of the 3D inverse scattering problem for partially coherent radiation is presented. It is shown that squared modulus of the scattering potential and its 2D projections can be reconstructed from measurements of the modulus and phase of the degree of transverse spatial coherence of the scattered radiation. The results provide a theoretical basis for new methods of image formation and structure analysis in X-ray, electron, ion, and neutron optics.

ARPES Study on the Strongly Correlated Iron Chalcogenides Fe1+ySexTe1-x

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhongkai

2014-03-01

The level of electronic correlation has been one of the key questions in understanding the nature of iron-based superconductivity. Using Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES), we systematically investigated the correlation level in the iron chalcogenide family Fe1+ySexTe1-x. For the parent compound Fe1.02Te, we discovered ``peak-dip-hump'' spectra with heavily renormalized quasiparticles in the low temperature antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, characteristic of coherent polarons seen in other correlated materials with complex electronic and lattice interactions. As the temperature (or Se ratio x) increases and Fe1.02SexTe1-x is in the paramagnetic (PM) phase, we observed dissociation behavior of polarons, suggestive of connection between the weakening electron-phonon coupling and AFM. Further increase of x leads to an incoherent to coherent crossover in the electronic structure, indicating a reduction in the electronic correlation as the superconductivity emerges. Furthermore, the reduction of the electronic correlation in Fe1+ySexTe1-x evolves in an orbital-dependent way, where the dxy orbital is influenced most significantly. At the other end of the phase diagram (FeSe) where the single crystal is not stable, we have studied the MBE-grown thin film which also reveals orbital-dependent strong correlation in the electronic structure. Our findings provide a quantitative comprehension on the correlation level and its evolution on the phase diagram of Fe1+ySexTe1-x. We discuss the physical scenarios leading to strong correlations and its connection to superconductivity.

Evidence of multimicrometric coherent γ' precipitates in a hot-forged γ-γ' nickel-based superalloy.

PubMed

Charpagne, M-A; Vennéguès, P; Billot, T; Franchet, J-M; Bozzolo, N

2016-07-01

This paper demonstrates the existence of large γ' precipitates (several micrometres in diameter) that are coherent with their surrounding matrix grain in a commercial γ-γ' nickel-based superalloy. The use of combined energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analyses allowed for revealing that surprising feature, which was then confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Coherency for such large second-phase particles is supported by a very low crystal lattice misfit between the two phases, which was confirmed thanks to X-ray diffractograms and TEM selected area electron diffraction patterns. Dynamic recrystallization of polycrystalline γ-γ' nickel-based superalloys has been extensively studied in terms of mechanisms and kinetics. As in many materials with low stacking fault energy, under forging conditions, the main softening mechanism is discontinuous dynamic recrystallization. This mechanism occurs with preferential nucleation on the grain boundaries of the deformed matrix. The latter is then being consumed by the growth of the newly formed grains of low energy and by nucleation that keeps generating new grains. In the case of sub-solvus forging, large γ' particles usually pin the migrating boundaries and thus limit grain growth to a size which is determined by the distribution of second-phase particles, in good agreement with the Smith-Zener model. Under particular circumstances, the driving force associated with the difference in stored energy between the growing grains and the matrix can be large enough that the pinning forces can be overcome, and some grains can then reach much larger grain sizes. In the latter exceptional case, some intragranular primary γ' particles can be observed, although they are almost exclusively located on grain boundaries and triple junctions otherwise. In both cases, primary precipitates have no special orientation relationship with the surrounding matrix grain(s). This paper demonstrates the existence of high fractions of large γ' precipitate (several micrometres in diameter) that are coherent with their surrounding matrix grain, in a commercial γ-γ' nickel-based superalloy. Such a configuration is very surprising, because there is apparently no reason for the coherency of such particles. © 2016 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2016 Royal Microscopical Society.

How Correlated is the FeSe /SrTiO3 System?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandal, Subhasish; Zhang, Peng; Ismail-Beigi, Sohrab; Haule, K.

2017-08-01

Recent observation of ˜10 times higher critical temperature in a FeSe monolayer compared with its bulk phase has drawn a great deal of attention because the electronic structure in the monolayer phase appears to be different than bulk FeSe. Using a combination of density functional theory and dynamical mean field theory, we find electronic correlations have important effects on the predicted atomic-scale geometry and the electronic structure of the monolayer FeSe on SrTiO3 . The electronic correlations are dominantly controlled by the Se-Fe-Se angle either in the bulk phase or the monolayer phase. But the angle sensitivity increases and the orbital differentiation decreases in the monolayer phase compared to the bulk phase. The correlations are more dependent on Hund's J than Hubbard U . The observed orbital selective incoherence to coherence crossover with temperature confirms the Hund's metallic nature of the monolayer FeSe. We also find electron doping by oxygen vacancies in SrTiO3 increases the correlation strength, especially in the dx y orbital by reducing the Se-Fe-Se angle.

Decoherence of high-energy electrons in weakly disordered quantum Hall edge states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nigg, Simon E.; Lunde, Anders Mathias

2016-07-01

We investigate theoretically the phase coherence of electron transport in edge states of the integer quantum Hall effect at filling factor ν =2 , in the presence of disorder and inter edge state Coulomb interaction. Within a Fokker-Planck approach, we calculate analytically the visibility of the Aharonov-Bohm oscillations of the current through an electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer. In agreement with recent experiments, we find that the visibility is independent of the energy of the current-carrying electrons injected high above the Fermi sea. Instead, it is the amount of disorder at the edge that sets the phase space available for inter edge state energy exchange and thereby controls the visibility suppression.

Two-dimensional Electronic Double-Quantum Coherence Spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Kim, Jeongho; Mukamel, Shaul

2009-01-01

CONSPECTUS The theory of electronic structure of many-electron systems like molecules is extraordinarily complicated. A lot can be learned by considering how electron density is distributed, on average, in the average field of the other electrons in the system. That is, mean field theory. However, to describe quantitatively chemical bonds, reactions, and spectroscopy requires consideration of the way that electrons avoid each other by the way they move; this is called electron correlation (or in physics, the many-body problem for fermions). While great progress has been made in theory, there is a need for incisive experimental tests that can be undertaken for large molecular systems in the condensed phase. Here we report a two-dimensional (2D) optical coherent spectroscopy that correlates the double excited electronic states to constituent single excited states. The technique, termed two-dimensional double-coherence spectroscopy (2D-DQCS), makes use of multiple, time-ordered ultrashort coherent optical pulses to create double- and single-quantum coherences over time intervals between the pulses. The resulting two-dimensional electronic spectrum maps the energy correlation between the first excited state and two-photon allowed double-quantum states. The principle of the experiment is that when the energy of the double-quantum state, viewed in simple models as a double HOMO to LUMO excitation, equals twice that of a single excitation, then no signal is radiated. However, electron-electron interactions—a combination of exchange interactions and electron correlation—in real systems generates a signal that reveals precisely how the energy of the double-quantum resonance differs from twice the single-quantum resonance. The energy shift measured in this experiment reveals how the second excitation is perturbed by both the presence of the first excitation and the way that the other electrons in the system have responded to the presence of that first excitation. We compare a series of organic dye molecules and find that the energy offset for adding a second electronic excitation to the system relative to the first excitation is on the order of tens of milli-electronvolts, and it depends quite sensitively on molecular geometry. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of 2D-DQCS for elucidating quantitative information about electron-electron interactions, many-electron wavefunctions, and electron correlation in electronic excited states and excitons. PMID:19552412

Electron heating and thermal relaxation of gold nanorods revealed by two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy.

PubMed

Lietard, Aude; Hsieh, Cho-Shuen; Rhee, Hanju; Cho, Minhaeng

2018-03-01

To elucidate the complex interplay between the size and shape of gold nanorods and their electronic, photothermal, and optical properties for molecular imaging, photothermal therapy, and optoelectronic devices, it is a prerequisite to characterize ultrafast electron dynamics in gold nanorods. Time-resolved transient absorption (TA) studies of plasmonic electrons in various nanostructures have revealed the time scales for electron heating, lattice vibrational excitation, and phonon relaxation processes in condensed phases. However, because linear spectroscopic and time-resolved TA signals are vulnerable to inhomogeneous line-broadening, pure dephasing and direct electron heating effects are difficult to observe. Here we show that femtosecond two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, with its unprecedented time resolution and phase sensitivity, can be used to collect direct experimental evidence for ultrafast electron heating, anomalously strong coherent and transient electronic plasmonic responses, and homogenous dephasing processes resulting from electron-vibration couplings even for polydisperse gold nanorods.

Small Business Innovations (MISER)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Lightwave Electronics Corporation, Mountain View, CA, developed the Series 120 and 122 non-planner diode pumped ring lasers based on a low noise ring laser with voltage tuning that they delivered to Jet Propulsion Laboratory under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract. The voltage tuning feature allows "phase-locking" the lasers, making them "electronic," similar to radio and microwave electronic oscillators. The Series 120 and 122 can be applied to fiber sensing, coherent communications and laser radar.

X-ray comb generation from nuclear-resonance-stabilized x-ray free-electron laser oscillator for fundamental physics and precision metrology

DOE PAGES

Adams, B.  W.; Kim, K. -J.

2015-03-31

An x-ray free-electron laser oscillator (XFELO) is a next-generation x-ray source, similar to free-electron laser oscillators at VUV and longer wavelengths but using crystals as high-reflectivity x-ray mirrors. Each output pulse from an XFELO is fully coherent with high spectral purity. The temporal coherence length can further be increased drastically, from picoseconds to microseconds or even longer, by phase-locking successive XFELO output pulses, using the narrow nuclear resonance lines of nuclei such as ⁵⁷Fe as a reference. We show that the phase fluctuation due to the seismic activities is controllable and that due to spontaneous emission is small. The fluctuationmore » of electron-bunch spacing contributes mainly to the envelope fluctuation but not to the phase fluctuation. By counting the number of standing-wave maxima formed by the output of the nuclear-resonance-stabilized (NRS) XFELO over an optically known length, the wavelength of the nuclear resonance can be accurately measured, possibly leading to a new length or frequency standard at x-ray wavelengths. A NRS-XFELO will be an ideal source for experimental x-ray quantum optics as well as other fundamental physics. The technique can be refined for other, narrower resonances such as ¹⁸¹Ta or ⁴⁵Sc.« less

A two-step method for retrieving the longitudinal profile of an electron bunch from its coherent radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pelliccia, Daniele; Sen, Tanaji

2014-11-01

The coherent radiation emitted by an electron bunch provides a diagnostic signal that can be used to estimate its longitudinal distribution. Commonly only the amplitude of the intensity spectrum can be measured and the associated phase must be calculated to obtain the bunch profile. Very recently an iterative method was proposed to retrieve this phase. However ambiguities associated with non-uniqueness of the solution are always present in the phase retrieval procedure. Here we present a method to overcome the ambiguity problem by first performing multiple independent runs of the phase retrieval procedure and then second, sorting the good solutions by means of cross-correlation analysis. Results obtained with simulated bunches of various shapes and experimental measured spectra are presented, discussed and compared with the established Kramers-Kronig method. It is shown that even when the effect of the ambiguities is strong, as is the case for a double peak in the profile, the cross-correlation post-processing is able to filter out unwanted solutions. We show that, unlike the Kramers-Kronig method, the combined approach presented is able to faithfully reconstruct complicated bunch profiles.

Magnetofermionic condensate in two dimensions

PubMed Central

Kulik, L. V.; Zhuravlev, A. S.; Dickmann, S.; Gorbunov, A. V.; Timofeev, V. B.; Kukushkin, I. V.; Schmult, S.

2016-01-01

Coherent condensate states of particles obeying either Bose or Fermi statistics are in the focus of interest in modern physics. Here we report on condensation of collective excitations with Bose statistics, cyclotron magnetoexcitons, in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron system in a magnetic field. At low temperatures, the dense non-equilibrium ensemble of long-lived triplet magnetoexcitons exhibits both a drastic reduction in the viscosity and a steep enhancement in the response to the external electromagnetic field. The observed effects are related to formation of a super-absorbing state interacting coherently with the electromagnetic field. Simultaneously, the electrons below the Fermi level form a super-emitting state. The effects are explicable from the viewpoint of a coherent condensate phase in a non-equilibrium system of two-dimensional fermions with a fully quantized energy spectrum. The condensation occurs in the space of vectors of magnetic translations, a property providing a completely new landscape for future physical investigations. PMID:27848969

Visualizing heavy fermion confinement and Pauli-limited superconductivity in layered CeCoIn 5

DOE PAGES

Gyenis, András; Feldman, Benjamin E.; Randeria, Mallika T.; ...

2018-02-07

Layered material structures play a key role in enhancing electron–electron interactions to create correlated metallic phases that can transform into unconventional superconducting states. The quasi-two-dimensional electronic properties of such compounds are often inferred indirectly through examination of bulk properties. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy to directly probe in cross-section the quasi-two-dimensional electronic states of the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn 5. Our measurements reveal the strong confined nature of quasiparticles, anisotropy of tunneling characteristics, and layer-by-layer modulated behavior of the precursor pseudogap gap phase. In the interlayer coupled superconducting state, the orientation of line defects relative to the d-wave ordermore » parameter determines whether in-gap states form due to scattering. Spectroscopic imaging of the anisotropic magnetic vortex cores directly characterizes the short interlayer superconducting coherence length and shows an electronic phase separation near the upper critical in-plane magnetic field, consistent with a Pauli-limited first-order phase transition into a pseudogap phase.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gyenis, András; Feldman, Benjamin E.; Randeria, Mallika T.

Layered material structures play a key role in enhancing electron–electron interactions to create correlated metallic phases that can transform into unconventional superconducting states. The quasi-two-dimensional electronic properties of such compounds are often inferred indirectly through examination of bulk properties. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy to directly probe in cross-section the quasi-two-dimensional electronic states of the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn 5. Our measurements reveal the strong confined nature of quasiparticles, anisotropy of tunneling characteristics, and layer-by-layer modulated behavior of the precursor pseudogap gap phase. In the interlayer coupled superconducting state, the orientation of line defects relative to the d-wave ordermore » parameter determines whether in-gap states form due to scattering. Spectroscopic imaging of the anisotropic magnetic vortex cores directly characterizes the short interlayer superconducting coherence length and shows an electronic phase separation near the upper critical in-plane magnetic field, consistent with a Pauli-limited first-order phase transition into a pseudogap phase.« less

On the correct implementation of Fermi-Dirac statistics and electron trapping in nonlinear electrostatic plane wave propagation in collisionless plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schamel, Hans; Eliasson, Bengt

2016-05-01

Quantum statistics and electron trapping have a decisive influence on the propagation characteristics of coherent stationary electrostatic waves. The description of these strictly nonlinear structures, which are of electron hole type and violate linear Vlasov theory due to the particle trapping at any excitation amplitude, is obtained by a correct reduction of the three-dimensional Fermi-Dirac distribution function to one dimension and by a proper incorporation of trapping. For small but finite amplitudes, the holes become of cnoidal wave type and the electron density is shown to be described by a ϕ ( x ) 1 / 2 rather than a ϕ ( x ) expansion, where ϕ ( x ) is the electrostatic potential. The general coefficients are presented for a degenerate plasma as well as the quantum statistical analogue to these steady state coherent structures, including the shape of ϕ ( x ) and the nonlinear dispersion relation, which describes their phase velocity.

Polymer planar lightwave circuit based hybrid-integrated coherent receiver for advanced modulation signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jin; Han, Yang; Liang, Zhongcheng; Chen, Yongjin

2012-11-01

Applying coherent detection technique to advanced modulation formats makes it possible to electronically compensate the signal impairments. A key issue for a successful deployment of coherent detection technique is the availability of cost-efficient and compact integrated receivers, which are composed of an optical 90° hybrid mixer and four photodiodes (PDs). In this work, three different types of optical hybrids are fabricated with polymer planar lightwave circuit (PLC), and hybridly integrated with four vertical backside illuminated III-V PDs. Their performances, such as the insertion loss, the transmission imbalance, the polarization dependence and the phase deviation of 90° hybrid will be discussed.

Prospects for Practical Applications of a Discharge Chemical HF Laser as a Coherent Source for IR Holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedotov, O. G.; Fomin, V. M.

2018-02-01

Preliminary experimental results on recording of phase and amplitude holograms using the radiation of electric-discharge HF lasers are presented, and prospects for applications of such lasers in diagnostics of various objects are discussed. It is shown that lasers with homogeneous working medium may generate coherent radiation with a coherence length of greater than 6 m in the absence of mode selection. Methods for control of spatial distribution of electron concentration in excimer and discharge chemical HF (DF) lasers and distributions of the main combustible components are considered. Deposition of holographic identification marks on artworks is studied.

Linac coherent light source (LCLS) undulator RF BPM system.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lill, R.; Waldschmidt, G.; Morrison, L.

2006-01-01

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) will be the world's first x-ray free-electron laser (FEL) when it becomes operational in 2009. The LCLS is currently in the construction phase. The beam position monitor (BPM) system planned for the LCLS undulator will incorporate a high-resolution X-band cavity BPM system described in this paper. The BPM system will provide high-resolution measurements of the electron beam trajectory on a pulse-to-pulse basis and over many shots. The X-band cavity BPM size, simple fabrication, and high resolution make it an ideal choice for LCLS beam position detection. We will discuss the system specifications, design, andmore » prototype test results.« less

Linac Coherent Light Source Undulator RF BPM System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lill, R.M.; Morrison, L.H.; Waldschmidt, G.J.

2007-04-17

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) will be the world's first x-ray free-electron laser (FEL) when it becomes operational in 2009. The LCLS is currently in the construction phase. The beam position monitor (BPM) system planned for the LCLS undulator will incorporate a high-resolution X-band cavity BPM system described in this paper. The BPM system will provide high-resolution measurements of the electron beam trajectory on a pulse-to-pulse basis and over many shots. The X-band cavity BPM size, simple fabrication, and high resolution make it an ideal choice for LCLS beam position detection. We will discuss the system specifications, design, andmore » prototype test results.« less

Coherent quantum control of internal conversion: {S}_{2}\\;\\leftrightarrow \\;{S}_{1} in pyrazine via {S}_{0}\\;\\to \\;{S}_{2}/{S}_{1} weak field excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grinev, Timur; Shapiro, Moshe; Brumer, Paul

2015-09-01

Coherent control of internal conversion (IC) between the first (S1) and second (S2) singlet excited electronic states in pyrazine, where the S2 state is populated from the ground singlet electronic state S0 by weak field excitation, is examined. Control is implemented by shaping the laser which excites S2. Excitation and IC are considered simultaneously, using the recently introduced resonance-based control approach. Highly successful control is achieved by optimizing both the amplitude and phase profiles of the laser spectrum. The dependence of control on the properties of resonances in S2 is demonstrated.

Picosecond phase-velocity dispersion of hypersonic phonons imaged with ultrafast electron microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cremons, Daniel R.; Du, Daniel X.; Flannigan, David J.

We describe the direct imaging—with four-dimensional ultrafast electron microscopy—of the emergence, evolution, dispersion, and decay of photoexcited, hypersonic coherent acoustic phonons in nanoscale germanium wedges. Coherent strain waves generated via ultrafast in situ photoexcitation were imaged propagating with initial phase velocities of up to 35 km/s across discrete micrometer-scale crystal regions. We then observe that, while each wave front travels at a constant velocity, the entire wave train evolves with a time-varying phase-velocity dispersion, displaying a single-exponential decay to the longitudinal speed of sound (5 km/s) and with a mean lifetime of 280 ps. We also find that the wavemore » trains propagate along a single in-plane direction oriented parallel to striations introduced during specimen preparation, independent of crystallographic direction. Elastic-plate modeling indicates the dynamics arise from excitation of a single, symmetric (dilatational) guided acoustic mode. Further, by precisely determining the experiment time-zero position with a plasma-lensing method, we find that wave-front emergence occurs approximately 100 ps after femtosecond photoexcitation, which matches well with Auger recombination times in germanium. We conclude by discussing the similarities between the imaged hypersonic strain-wave dynamics and electron/hole plasma-wave dynamics in strongly photoexcited semiconductors.« less

Picosecond phase-velocity dispersion of hypersonic phonons imaged with ultrafast electron microscopy

DOE PAGES

Cremons, Daniel R.; Du, Daniel X.; Flannigan, David J.

2017-12-05

We describe the direct imaging—with four-dimensional ultrafast electron microscopy—of the emergence, evolution, dispersion, and decay of photoexcited, hypersonic coherent acoustic phonons in nanoscale germanium wedges. Coherent strain waves generated via ultrafast in situ photoexcitation were imaged propagating with initial phase velocities of up to 35 km/s across discrete micrometer-scale crystal regions. We then observe that, while each wave front travels at a constant velocity, the entire wave train evolves with a time-varying phase-velocity dispersion, displaying a single-exponential decay to the longitudinal speed of sound (5 km/s) and with a mean lifetime of 280 ps. We also find that the wavemore » trains propagate along a single in-plane direction oriented parallel to striations introduced during specimen preparation, independent of crystallographic direction. Elastic-plate modeling indicates the dynamics arise from excitation of a single, symmetric (dilatational) guided acoustic mode. Further, by precisely determining the experiment time-zero position with a plasma-lensing method, we find that wave-front emergence occurs approximately 100 ps after femtosecond photoexcitation, which matches well with Auger recombination times in germanium. We conclude by discussing the similarities between the imaged hypersonic strain-wave dynamics and electron/hole plasma-wave dynamics in strongly photoexcited semiconductors.« less

Dark-field phase retrieval under the constraint of the Friedel symmetry in coherent X-ray diffraction imaging.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Amane; Sekiguchi, Yuki; Takayama, Yuki; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Nakasako, Masayoshi

2014-11-17

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) is a lensless imaging technique that is suitable for visualizing the structures of non-crystalline particles with micrometer to sub-micrometer dimensions from material science and biology. One of the difficulties inherent to CXDI structural analyses is the reconstruction of electron density maps of specimen particles from diffraction patterns because saturated detector pixels and a beam stopper result in missing data in small-angle regions. To overcome this difficulty, the dark-field phase-retrieval (DFPR) method has been proposed. The DFPR method reconstructs electron density maps from diffraction data, which are modified by multiplying Gaussian masks with an observed diffraction pattern in the high-angle regions. In this paper, we incorporated Friedel centrosymmetry for diffraction patterns into the DFPR method to provide a constraint for the phase-retrieval calculation. A set of model simulations demonstrated that this constraint dramatically improved the probability of reconstructing correct electron density maps from diffraction patterns that were missing data in the small-angle region. In addition, the DFPR method with the constraint was applied successfully to experimentally obtained diffraction patterns with significant quantities of missing data. We also discuss this method's limitations with respect to the level of Poisson noise in X-ray detection.

X-ray phase contrast imaging of biological specimens with femtosecond pulses of betatron radiation from a compact laser plasma wakefield accelerator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kneip, S.; Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109; McGuffey, C.

2011-08-29

We show that x-rays from a recently demonstrated table top source of bright, ultrafast, coherent synchrotron radiation [Kneip et al., Nat. Phys. 6, 980 (2010)] can be applied to phase contrast imaging of biological specimens. Our scheme is based on focusing a high power short pulse laser in a tenuous gas jet, setting up a plasma wakefield accelerator that accelerates and wiggles electrons analogously to a conventional synchrotron, but on the centimeter rather than tens of meter scale. We use the scheme to record absorption and phase contrast images of a tetra fish, damselfly and yellow jacket, in particular highlightingmore » the contrast enhancement achievable with the simple propagation technique of phase contrast imaging. Coherence and ultrafast pulse duration will allow for the study of various aspects of biomechanics.« less

Mutual optical intensity propagation through non-ideal mirrors

DOE PAGES

Meng, Xiangyu; Shi, Xianbo; Wang, Yong; ...

2017-08-18

The mutual optical intensity (MOI) model is extended to include the propagation of partially coherent radiation through non-ideal mirrors. The propagation of the MOI from the incident to the exit plane of the mirror is realised by local ray tracing. The effects of figure errors can be expressed as phase shifts obtained by either the phase projection approach or the direct path length method. Using the MOI model, the effects of figure errors are studied for diffraction-limited cases using elliptical cylinder mirrors. Figure errors with low spatial frequencies can vary the intensity distribution, redistribute the local coherence function and distortmore » the wavefront, but have no effect on the global degree of coherence. The MOI model is benchmarked againstHYBRIDand the multi-electronSynchrotron Radiation Workshop(SRW) code. The results show that the MOI model gives accurate results under different coherence conditions of the beam. Other than intensity profiles, the MOI model can also provide the wavefront and the local coherence function at any location along the beamline. The capability of tuning the trade-off between accuracy and efficiency makes the MOI model an ideal tool for beamline design and optimization.« less

A protocol for searching the most probable phase-retrieved maps in coherent X-ray diffraction imaging by exploiting the relationship between convergence of the retrieved phase and success of calculation.

PubMed

Sekiguchi, Yuki; Hashimoto, Saki; Kobayashi, Amane; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Nakasako, Masayoshi

2017-09-01

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) is a technique for visualizing the structures of non-crystalline particles with size in the submicrometer to micrometer range in material sciences and biology. In the structural analysis of CXDI, the electron density map of a specimen particle projected along the direction of the incident X-rays can be reconstructed only from the diffraction pattern by using phase-retrieval (PR) algorithms. However, in practice, the reconstruction, relying entirely on the computational procedure, sometimes fails because diffraction patterns miss the data in small-angle regions owing to the beam stop and saturation of the detector pixels, and are modified by Poisson noise in X-ray detection. To date, X-ray free-electron lasers have allowed us to collect a large number of diffraction patterns within a short period of time. Therefore, the reconstruction of correct electron density maps is the bottleneck for efficiently conducting structure analyses of non-crystalline particles. To automatically address the correctness of retrieved electron density maps, a data analysis protocol to extract the most probable electron density maps from a set of maps retrieved from 1000 different random seeds for a single diffraction pattern is proposed. Through monitoring the variations of the phase values during PR calculations, the tendency for the PR calculations to succeed when the retrieved phase sets converged on a certain value was found. On the other hand, if the phase set was in persistent variation, the PR calculation tended to fail to yield the correct electron density map. To quantify this tendency, here a figure of merit for the variation of the phase values during PR calculation is introduced. In addition, a PR protocol to evaluate the similarity between a map of the highest figure of merit and other independently reconstructed maps is proposed. The protocol is implemented and practically examined in the structure analyses for diffraction patterns from aggregates of gold colloidal particles. Furthermore, the feasibility of the protocol in the structure analysis of organelles from biological cells is examined.

Tapered undulator for SASE FELs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fawley, William M.; Huang, Zhirong; Kim, Kwang-Je

We discuss the use of tapered undulators to enhance the performance of free-electron lasers (FELs) based upon self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE), where the radiation tends to have a relatively broad bandwidth, limited temporal phase coherence, and large amplitude fluctuations. Using the polychromatic FEL simulation code GINGER, we numerically demonstrate the effectiveness of a tapered undulator for parameters corresponding to the existing Argonne low-energy undulator test line (LEUTL) FEL. We also study possible tapering options for proposed x-ray FELs such as the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS).

Methods, systems, and apparatus for storage, transfer and/or control of information via matter wave dynamics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vestergaard Hau, Lene (Inventor)

2012-01-01

Methods, systems and apparatus for generating atomic traps, and for storing, controlling and transferring information between first and second spatially separated phase-coherent objects, or using a single phase-coherent object. For plural objects, both phase-coherent objects have a macroscopic occupation of a particular quantum state by identical bosons or identical BCS-paired fermions. The information may be optical information, and the phase-coherent object(s) may be Bose-Einstein condensates, superfluids, or superconductors. The information is stored in the first phase-coherent object at a first storage time and recovered from the second phase-coherent object, or the same first phase-coherent object, at a second revival time. In one example, an integrated silicon wafer-based optical buffer includes an electrolytic atom source to provide the phase-coherent object(s), a nanoscale atomic trap for the phase-coherent object(s), and semiconductor-based optical sources to cool the phase-coherent object(s) and provide coupling fields for storage and transfer of optical information.

Probing electron delays in above-threshold ionization

DOE PAGES

Zipp, Lucas J.; Natan, Adi; Bucksbaum, Philip H.

2014-11-21

Recent experiments have revealed attosecond delays in the emission of electrons from atoms ionized by extreme UV light, offering a glimpse into the ultrafast nature of light-induced electron dynamics. In this work, we extend these measurements to the strong-field above-threshold ionization (ATI) regime, by measuring delays in the photoemission of electrons from argon in the presence of an intense laser field. We probe the ATI process with a weak coherent reference, at half the laser frequency. The interfering ionization signal reveals the relative spectral phase of adjacent ATI channels, with an equivalent resolution of a few attoseconds. These relative delaysmore » depend on the strong field, and approach zero at higher intensity. Our phase measurements of ATI electrons show how strong fields alter ionization dynamics in atoms.« less

Demonstration of Cascaded Modulator-Chicane Microbunching of a Relativistic Electron Beam

DOE PAGES

Sudar, N.; Musumeci, P.; Gadjev, I.; ...

2018-03-15

Here, we present results of an experiment showing the first successful demonstration of a cascaded microbunching scheme. Two modulator-chicane prebunchers arranged in series and a high power mid-IR laser seed are used to modulate a 52 MeV electron beam into a train of sharp microbunches phase locked to the external drive laser. This configuration is shown to greatly improve matching of the beam into the small longitudinal phase space acceptance of short-wavelength accelerators. We demonstrate trapping of nearly all (96%) of the electrons in a strongly tapered inverse free-electron laser accelerator, with an order-of-magnitude reduction in injection losses compared tomore » the classical single-buncher scheme. These results represent a critical advance in laser-based longitudinal phase space manipulations and find application in high gradient advanced acceleration as well as in high peak and average power coherent radiation sources.« less

Spectral Interferometry with Electron Microscopes

PubMed Central

Talebi, Nahid

2016-01-01

Interference patterns are not only a defining characteristic of waves, but also have several applications; characterization of coherent processes and holography. Spatial holography with electron waves, has paved the way towards space-resolved characterization of magnetic domains and electrostatic potentials with angstrom spatial resolution. Another impetus in electron microscopy has been introduced by ultrafast electron microscopy which uses pulses of sub-picosecond durations for probing a laser induced excitation of the sample. However, attosecond temporal resolution has not yet been reported, merely due to the statistical distribution of arrival times of electrons at the sample, with respect to the laser time reference. This is however, the very time resolution which will be needed for performing time-frequency analysis. These difficulties are addressed here by proposing a new methodology to improve the synchronization between electron and optical excitations through introducing an efficient electron-driven photon source. We use focused transition radiation of the electron as a pump for the sample. Due to the nature of transition radiation, the process is coherent. This technique allows us to perform spectral interferometry with electron microscopes, with applications in retrieving the phase of electron-induced polarizations and reconstructing dynamics of the induced vector potential. PMID:27649932

Magnetic exchange bias of more than 1 Tesla in a natural mineral intergrowth.

PubMed

McEnroe, Suzanne A; Carter-Stiglitz, Brian; Harrison, Richard J; Robinson, Peter; Fabian, Karl; McCammon, Catherine

2007-10-01

Magnetic exchange bias is a phenomenon whereby the hysteresis loop of a 'soft' magnetic phase is shifted by an amount H(E) along the applied field axis owing to its interaction with a 'hard' magnetic phase. Since the discovery of exchange bias fifty years ago, the development of a general theory has been hampered by the uncertain nature of the interfaces between the hard and soft phases, commonly between an antiferromagnetic phase and a ferro- or ferrimagnetic phase. Exchange bias continues to be the subject of investigation because of its technological applications and because it is now possible to manipulate magnetic materials at the nanoscale. Here we present the first documented example of exchange bias of significant magnitude (>1 T) in a natural mineral. We demonstrate that exchange bias in this system is due to the interaction between coherently intergrown magnetic phases formed through a natural process of phase separation during slow cooling over millions of years. Transmission electron microscopy studies show that these intergrowths have a known crystallographic orientation with a known crystallographic structure and that the interfaces are coherent.

Quantum decoherence in electronic current flowing through carbon nanotubes induced by thermal atomic vibrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishizeki, Keisuke; Sasaoka, Kenji; Konabe, Satoru; Souma, Satofumi; Yamamoto, Takahiro

2018-06-01

We theoretically investigate quantum decoherence in electronic currents flowing through metallic carbon nanotubes caused by thermal atomic vibrations using the time-dependent Schrödinger equation for an open system. We reveal that the quantum coherence of conduction electrons decays exponentially with tube length at a fixed temperature, and that the decay rate increases with temperature. We also find that the phase relaxation length due to the thermal atomic vibrations is inversely proportional to temperature.

Enhancement of thermoelectric properties in the Nb–Co–Sn half-Heusler/Heusler system through spontaneous inclusion of a coherent second phase

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buffon, Malinda L. C., E-mail: mandibuffon@mrl.ucsb.edu; Verma, Nisha; Lamontagne, Leo

Half-Heusler XYZ compounds with an 18 valence electron count are promising thermoelectric materials, being thermally and chemically stable, deriving from relatively earth-abundant components, and possessing appropriate electrical transport properties. The typical drawback with this family of compounds is their high thermal conductivity. A strategy for reducing thermal conductivity is through the inclusion of secondary phases designed to minimize negative impact on other properties. Here, we achieve this through the addition of excess Co to half-Heusler NbCoSn, which introduces precipitates of a semi-coherent NbCo{sub 2}Sn Heusler phase. A series of NbCo{sub 1+x}Sn materials are characterized here using X-ray and neutron diffractionmore » studies and electron microscopy. Electrical and thermal transport measurements and electronic structure calculations are used to understand property evolution. We find that annealing has an important role to play in determining antisite ordering and properties. Antisite disorder in the as-prepared samples improves thermoelectric performance through the reduction of thermal conductivity, but annealing during the measurement degrades properties to resemble those of the annealed samples. Similar to the more widely studied TiNi{sub 1+x}Sn system, Co addition to the NbCoSn phase results in improved thermoelectric performance through a decrease in thermal conductivity which results in a 20% improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit, zT.« less

The nonlinear gyroresonance interaction between energetic electrons and coherent VLF waves propagating at an arbitrary angle with respect to the earth's magnetic field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bell, T. F.

1984-01-01

A theory is presented of the nonlinear gyroresonance interaction that takes place in the magnetosphere between energetic electrons and coherent VLF waves propagating in the whistler mode at an arbitrary angle psi with respect to the earth's magnetic field B-sub-0. Particularly examined is the phase trapping (PT) mechanism believed to be responsible for the generation of VLF emissions. It is concluded that near the magnetic equatorial plane gradients of psi may play a very important part in the PT process for nonducted waves. Predictions of a higher threshold value for PT for nonducted waves generally agree with experimental data concerning VLF emission triggering by nonducted waves.

Phase-driven collapse of the Cooper condensate in a nanosized superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ronzani, Alberto; D'Ambrosio, Sophie; Virtanen, Pauli; Giazotto, Francesco; Altimiras, Carles

2017-12-01

Superconductivity can be understood in terms of a phase transition from an uncorrelated electron gas to a condensate of Cooper pairs in which the relative phases of the constituent electrons are coherent over macroscopic length scales. The degree of correlation is quantified by a complex-valued order parameter, whose amplitude is proportional to the strength of the pairing potential in the condensate. Supercurrent-carrying states are associated with nonzero values of the spatial gradient of the phase. The pairing potential and several physical observables of the Cooper condensate can be manipulated by means of temperature, current bias, dishomogeneities in the chemical composition, or application of a magnetic field. Here we show evidence of complete suppression of the energy gap in the local density of quasiparticle states (DOS) of a superconducting nanowire upon establishing a phase difference equal to π over a length scale comparable to the superconducting coherence length. These observations are consistent with a complete collapse of the pairing potential in the center of the wire, in accordance with theoretical modeling based on the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity in diffusive systems. Our spectroscopic data, fully exploring the phase-biased states of the condensate, highlight the profound effect that extreme phase gradients exert on the amplitude of the pairing potential. Moreover, the sharp magnetic response (up to 27 mV/Φ0) observed near the onset of the superconducting gap collapse regime is exploited to realize magnetic flux detectors with noise-equivalent resolution as low as 260 n Φ0/√{Hz} .

Electron holography—basics and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lichte, Hannes; Lehmann, Michael

2008-01-01

Despite the huge progress achieved recently by means of the corrector for aberrations, allowing now a true atomic resolution of 0.1 nm, hence making it an unrivalled tool for nanoscience, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suffers from a severe drawback: in a conventional electron micrograph only a poor phase contrast can be achieved, i.e. phase structures are virtually invisible. Therefore, conventional TEM is nearly blind for electric and magnetic fields, which are pure phase objects. Since such fields provoked by the atomic structure, e.g. of semiconductors and ferroelectrics, largely determine the solid state properties, hence the importance for high technology applications, substantial object information is missing. Electron holography in TEM offers the solution: by superposition with a coherent reference wave, a hologram is recorded, from which the image wave can be completely reconstructed by amplitude and phase. Now the object is displayed quantitatively in two separate images: one representing the amplitude, the other the phase. From the phase image, electric and magnetic fields can be determined quantitatively in the range from micrometre down to atomic dimensions by all wave optical methods that one can think of, both in real space and in Fourier space. Electron holography is pure wave optics. Therefore, we discuss the basics of coherence and interference, the implementation into a TEM, the path of rays for recording holograms as well as the limits in lateral and signal resolution. We outline the methods of reconstructing the wave by numerical image processing and procedures for extracting the object properties of interest. Furthermore, we present a broad spectrum of applications both at mesoscopic and atomic dimensions. This paper gives an overview of the state of the art pointing at the needs for further development. It is also meant as encouragement for those who refrain from holography, thinking that it can only be performed by specialists in highly specialized laboratories. In fact, a modern TEM built for atomic resolution and equipped with a field emitter or a Schottky emitter, well aligned by a skilled operator, can deliver good holograms. Running commercially available image processing software and mathematics programs on a laptop-computer is sufficient for reconstruction of the amplitude and phase images and extracting desirable object information.

Physics of lateral triple quantum-dot molecules with controlled electron numbers.

PubMed

Hsieh, Chang-Yu; Shim, Yun-Pil; Korkusinski, Marek; Hawrylak, Pawel

2012-11-01

We review the recent progress in theory and experiments with lateral triple quantum dots with controlled electron numbers down to one electron in each dot. The theory covers electronic and spin properties as a function of topology, number of electrons, gate voltage and external magnetic field. The orbital Hund's rules and Nagaoka ferromagnetism, magnetic frustration and chirality, interplay of quantum interference and electron-electron interactions and geometrical phases are described and related to charging and transport spectroscopy. Fabrication techniques and recent experiments are covered, as well as potential applications of triple quantum-dot molecule in coherent control, spin manipulation and quantum computation.

Will spin-relaxation times in molecular magnets permit quantum information processing?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardavan, Arzhang

2007-03-01

Certain computational tasks can be efficiently implemented using quantum logic, in which the information-carrying elements are permitted to exist in quantum superpositions. To achieve this in practice, a physical system that is suitable for embodying quantum bits (qubits) must be identified. Some proposed scenarios employ electron spins in the solid state, for example phosphorous donors in silicon, quantum dots, heterostructures and endohedral fullerenes, motivated by the long electron-spin relaxation times exhibited by these systems. An alternative electron-spin based proposal exploits the large number of quantum states and the non-degenerate transitions available in high spin molecular magnets. Although these advantages have stimulated vigorous research in molecular magnets, the key question of whether the intrinsic spin relaxation times are long enough has hitherto remained unaddressed. Using X-band pulsed electron spin resonance, we measure the intrinsic spin-lattice (T1) and phase coherence (T2) relaxation times in molecular nanomagnets for the first time. In Cr7M heterometallic wheels, with M = Ni and Mn, phase coherence relaxation is dominated by the coupling of the electron spin to protons within the molecule. In deuterated samples T2 reaches 3 μs at low temperatures, which is several orders of magnitude longer than the duration of spin manipulations, satisfying a prerequisite for the deployment of molecular nanomagnets in quantum information applications.

Attosecond transient absorption of a bound wave packet coupled to a smooth continuum

DOE PAGES

Dahlström, Jan Marcus; Pabst, Stefan; Lindroth, Eva

2017-10-16

Here, we investigate the possibility of using transient absorption of a coherent bound electron wave packet in hydrogen as an attosecond pulse characterization technique. In a recent work, we have shown that photoionization of such a coherent bound electron wave packet opens up for pulse characterization with unprecedented temporal accuracy—independent of the atomic structure—with maximal photoemission at all kinetic energies given a wave packet with zero relative phase. Here, we perform numerical propagation of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and analytical calculations based on perturbation theory to show that the energy-resolved maximal absorption of photons from the attosecond pulse does not uniquely occur at a zero relative phase of the initial wave packet. Instead, maximal absorption occurs at different relative wave packet phases, distributed as a non-monotonous function with a smoothmore » $$-\\pi /2$$ shift across the central photon energy (given a Fourier-limited Gaussian pulse). Similar results are also found in helium. Our finding is surprising, because it implies that the energy-resolved photoelectrons are not mapped one-to-one with the energy-resolved absorbed photons of the attosecond pulse.« less

Attosecond transient absorption of a bound wave packet coupled to a smooth continuum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dahlström, Jan Marcus; Pabst, Stefan; Lindroth, Eva

Here, we investigate the possibility of using transient absorption of a coherent bound electron wave packet in hydrogen as an attosecond pulse characterization technique. In a recent work, we have shown that photoionization of such a coherent bound electron wave packet opens up for pulse characterization with unprecedented temporal accuracy—independent of the atomic structure—with maximal photoemission at all kinetic energies given a wave packet with zero relative phase. Here, we perform numerical propagation of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and analytical calculations based on perturbation theory to show that the energy-resolved maximal absorption of photons from the attosecond pulse does not uniquely occur at a zero relative phase of the initial wave packet. Instead, maximal absorption occurs at different relative wave packet phases, distributed as a non-monotonous function with a smoothmore » $$-\\pi /2$$ shift across the central photon energy (given a Fourier-limited Gaussian pulse). Similar results are also found in helium. Our finding is surprising, because it implies that the energy-resolved photoelectrons are not mapped one-to-one with the energy-resolved absorbed photons of the attosecond pulse.« less

CHAIRMAN'S FOREWORD: First International Symposium on Advanced Nanodevices and Nanotechnology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoyagi, Yoshinobu; Goodnick, Stephen M.

2008-03-01

This volume of Journal of Physics: Conference Series contains selected papers from the First International Symposium on Advanced Nanodevices and Nanotechnology. This conference is a merging of the two previous series New Phenomena in Mesoscopic Structures and the Surfaces and Interfaces of Mesoscopic Devices. This year's conference was held 2-7 December 2007 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott on the Kohala coast of the big island of Hawaii. The scope of ISANN spans nano-fabrication through complex phase coherent mesoscopic systems including nano-transistors and nano-scale characterization. Topics of interest included: Nano-scale fabrication (high-resolution electron lithography, FIB nano-patterning SFM lithography, SFM stimulated growth, novel patterning, nano-imprint lithography, special etching, and SAMs) Nano-characterization (SFM characterization, BEEM, optical studies of nanostructures, tunneling, properties of discrete impurities, phase coherence, noise, THz studies, electro-luminescence in small structures) Nano-devices (ultra-scaled FETs, quantum SETs, RTDs, ferromagnetic, and spin devices, superlattice arrays, IR detectors with quantum dots and wires, quantum point contacts, non-equilibrium transport, simulation, ballistic transport, molecular electronic devices, carbon nanotubes, spin selection devices, spin-coupled quantum dots, nano-magnetics) Quantum coherent transport (quantum Hall effect, ballistic quantum systems, quantum computing implementations and theory, magnetic spin systems, quantum NEMs) Mesoscopic structures (quantum wires and dots, chaos, non-equilibrium transport, instabilities, nano-electro-mechanical systems, mesoscopic Josephson effects, phase coherence and breaking, Kondo effect) Systems of nano-devices (QCAs, systolic SET processors, quantum neural nets, adaptive effects in circuits, molecular circuits, NEMs) Nanomaterials (nanotubes, nanowires, organic and molecular materials, self-assembled nanowires, organic devices) Nano-bio-electronics (electronic properties of biological structures on the nanoscale) We were very pleased and honored to have the opportunity to organize the first International Symposium on Advanced Nanodevices and Nanotechnology. The conference benefited from 14 invited speakers, whose topics spanned the above list, and a total of 90 registered attendees. The largest contingent was from Japan, followed closely by the USA. We wish to particularly thank the sponsors for the meeting: Arizona State University on the US side, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, through their 151 Committee, on the Japanese side. We would also like to thank Dr Koji Ishibashi, of RIKEN, for his assistance in the organization of the conference, and Professor David K Ferry for serving as the Editor for the ISANN Proceedings. Yoshinobu Aoyagi and Stephen M Goodnick Conference Co-Chairs

Experimental geometry for simultaneous beam characterization and sample imaging allowing for pink beam Fourier transform holography or coherent diffractive imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Flewett, Samuel; Eisebitt, Stefan

2011-02-20

One consequence of the self-amplified stimulated emission process used to generate x rays in free electron lasers (FELs) is the intrinsic shot-to-shot variance in the wavelength and temporal coherence. In order to optimize the results from diffractive imaging experiments at FEL sources, it will be advantageous to acquire a means of collecting coherence and spectral information simultaneously with the diffraction pattern from the sample we wish to study. We present a holographic mask geometry, including a grating structure, which can be used to extract both temporal and spatial coherence information alongside the sample scatter from each individual FEL shot andmore » also allows for the real space reconstruction of the sample using either Fourier transform holography or iterative phase retrieval.« less

Coherence penalty functional: A simple method for adding decoherence in Ehrenfest dynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akimov, Alexey V., E-mail: alexvakimov@gmail.com, E-mail: oleg.prezhdo@rochester.edu; Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973; Long, Run

2014-05-21

We present a new semiclassical approach for description of decoherence in electronically non-adiabatic molecular dynamics. The method is formulated on the grounds of the Ehrenfest dynamics and the Meyer-Miller-Thoss-Stock mapping of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation onto a fully classical Hamiltonian representation. We introduce a coherence penalty functional (CPF) that accounts for decoherence effects by randomizing the wavefunction phase and penalizing development of coherences in regions of strong non-adiabatic coupling. The performance of the method is demonstrated with several model and realistic systems. Compared to other semiclassical methods tested, the CPF method eliminates artificial interference and improves agreement with the fullymore » quantum calculations on the models. When applied to study electron transfer dynamics in the nanoscale systems, the method shows an improved accuracy of the predicted time scales. The simplicity and high computational efficiency of the CPF approach make it a perfect practical candidate for applications in realistic systems.« less

Ultrafast electron diffraction and electron microscopy: present status and future prospects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishchenko, A. A.; Aseyev, S. A.; Bagratashvili, V. N.; Panchenko, V. Ya; Ryabov, E. A.

2014-07-01

Acting as complementary research tools, high time-resolved spectroscopy and diffractometry techniques proceeding from various physical principles open up new possibilities for studying matter with necessary integration of the 'structure-dynamics-function' triad in physics, chemistry, biology and materials science. Since the 1980s, a new field of research has started at the leading research laboratories, aimed at developing means of filming the coherent dynamics of nuclei in molecules and fast processes in biological objects ('atomic and molecular movies'). The utilization of ultrashort laser pulse sources has significantly modified traditional electron beam approaches to and provided high space-time resolution for the study of materials. Diffraction methods using frame-by-frame filming and the development of the main principles of the study of coherent dynamics of atoms have paved the way to observing wave packet dynamics, the intermediate states of reaction centers, and the dynamics of electrons in molecules, thus allowing a transition from the kinetics to the dynamics of the phase trajectories of molecules in the investigation of chemical reactions.

Laser pulses for coherent xuv Raman excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenman, Loren; Koch, Christiane P.; Whaley, K. Birgitta

2015-07-01

We combine multichannel electronic structure theory with quantum optimal control to derive femtosecond-time-scale Raman pulse sequences that coherently populate a valence excited state. For a neon atom, Raman target populations of up to 13% are obtained. Superpositions of the ground and valence Raman states with a controllable relative phase are found to be reachable with up to 4.5% population and arbitrary phase control facilitated by the pump pulse carrier-envelope phase. Analysis of the optimized pulse structure reveals a sequential mechanism in which the valence excitation is reached via a fast (femtosecond) population transfer through an intermediate resonance state in the continuum rather than avoiding intermediate-state population with simultaneous or counterintuitive (stimulated Raman adiabatic passage) pulse sequences. Our results open a route to coupling valence excitations and core-hole excitations in molecules and aggregates that locally address specific atoms and represent an initial step towards realization of multidimensional spectroscopy in the xuv and x-ray regimes.

X-ray laser–induced electron dynamics observed by femtosecond diffraction from nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene

PubMed Central

Abbey, Brian; Dilanian, Ruben A.; Darmanin, Connie; Ryan, Rebecca A.; Putkunz, Corey T.; Martin, Andrew V.; Wood, David; Streltsov, Victor; Jones, Michael W. M.; Gaffney, Naylyn; Hofmann, Felix; Williams, Garth J.; Boutet, Sébastien; Messerschmidt, Marc; Seibert, M. Marvin; Williams, Sophie; Curwood, Evan; Balaur, Eugeniu; Peele, Andrew G.; Nugent, Keith A.; Quiney, Harry M.

2016-01-01

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) deliver x-ray pulses with a coherent flux that is approximately eight orders of magnitude greater than that available from a modern third-generation synchrotron source. The power density of an XFEL pulse may be so high that it can modify the electronic properties of a sample on a femtosecond time scale. Exploration of the interaction of intense coherent x-ray pulses and matter is both of intrinsic scientific interest and of critical importance to the interpretation of experiments that probe the structures of materials using high-brightness femtosecond XFEL pulses. We report observations of the diffraction of extremely intense 32-fs nanofocused x-ray pulses by a powder sample of crystalline C60. We find that the diffraction pattern at the highest available incident power significantly differs from the one obtained using either third-generation synchrotron sources or XFEL sources operating at low output power and does not correspond to the diffraction pattern expected from any known phase of crystalline C60. We interpret these data as evidence of a long-range, coherent dynamic electronic distortion that is driven by the interaction of the periodic array of C60 molecular targets with intense x-ray pulses of femtosecond duration. PMID:27626076

Coherent multi-dimensional spectroscopy at optical frequencies in a single beam with optical readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiler, Hélène; Palato, Samuel; Kambhampati, Patanjali

2017-09-01

Ultrafast coherent multi-dimensional spectroscopies form a powerful set of techniques to unravel complex processes, ranging from light-harvesting, chemical exchange in biological systems to many-body interactions in quantum-confined materials. Yet these spectroscopies remain complex to implement at the high frequencies of vibrational and electronic transitions, thereby limiting their widespread use. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of two-dimensional spectroscopy at optical frequencies in a single beam. Femtosecond optical pulses are spectrally broadened to a relevant bandwidth and subsequently shaped into phase coherent pulse trains. By suitably modulating the phases of the pulses within the beam, we show that it is possible to directly read out the relevant optical signals. This work shows that one needs neither complex beam geometries nor complex detection schemes in order to measure two-dimensional spectra at optical frequencies. Our setup provides not only a simplified experimental design over standard two-dimensional spectrometers but its optical readout also enables novel applications in microscopy.

Phase retrieval for crystalline specimens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnal, Romain A.; Millane, Rick P.

2017-09-01

The recent availability of ultra-bright and ultra-short X-rays pulses from new sources called x-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has introduced a new paradigm in X-ray crystallography. Called "diffraction-before-destruction," this paradigm addresses the main problems that plague crystallography using synchrotron sources. However, the phase problem of coherent diffraction imaging remains: one has to retrieve the phase of the measured diffraction amplitude in order to reconstruct the object. Fibrous and membrane proteins that crystallize in 1D and 2D crystals can now potentially be used for data collection with free-electron lasers. The crystallographic phase problem with such crystalline specimens is eased as the Fourier amplitude can be sampled more finely than at the Bragg sampling along one or two directions. Here we characterise uniqueness of the phase problem for different types of crystalline specimen. Simulated ab initio phase retrieval using iterative projection algorithms for 2D crystals is presented.

Long-range spin coherence in a strongly coupled all-electronic dot-cavity system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferguson, Michael Sven; Oehri, David; Rössler, Clemens; Ihn, Thomas; Ensslin, Klaus; Blatter, Gianni; Zilberberg, Oded

2017-12-01

We present a theoretical analysis of spin-coherent electronic transport across a mesoscopic dot-cavity system. Such spin-coherent transport has been recently demonstrated in an experiment with a dot-cavity hybrid implemented in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas [C. Rössler et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 166603 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.166603] and its spectroscopic signatures have been interpreted in terms of a competition between Kondo-type dot-lead and molecular-type dot-cavity singlet formation. Our analysis brings forward all the transport features observed in the experiments and supports the claim that a spin-coherent molecular singlet forms across the full extent of the dot-cavity device. Our model analysis includes (i) a single-particle numerical investigation of the two-dimensional geometry, its quantum-coral-type eigenstates, and associated spectroscopic transport features, (ii) the derivation of an effective interacting model based on the observations of the numerical and experimental studies, and (iii) the prediction of transport characteristics through the device using a combination of a master-equation approach on top of exact eigenstates of the dot-cavity system, and an equation-of-motion analysis that includes Kondo physics. The latter provides additional temperature scaling predictions for the many-body phase transition between molecular- and Kondo-singlet formation and its associated transport signatures.

Injection locking method for Raman beams in atom interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zi, Fei; Deng, Jianing; Zeng, Daji; Li, Tong; Sun, Mingli; Zhang, Xian; Huang, Kaikai; Lu, Xuanhui

2018-03-01

We present a novel method to generate two phase-locked beams with a frequency offset of 6.834 GHz. The output of the master laser is firstly modulated by an electric optical modulator (EOM), and then further injected into an Extended Cavity Diode Lasers (ECDL) which is used to filter out the unwanted mode and amplify the laser power. By locking to the first-order lower sideband of the modulated master laser, the average variance of the phase fluctuations is 5.6 x 10-3 rad2 , which implies phase coherence of 99.44% between the master laser and the slave ECDL. The line width of the beat notes is less than 1Hz. For the long term stability, with the delicate design of the electronic controller in ECDL, the phase coherence of the two laser beams can be stabilized over 200 hours without any adjustment. The Raman system is applicable for gravity detection with a preliminary sensitivity Δg/g of 4.5 x 10-7 for interrogation time of 1500 s.

The separation of vibrational coherence from ground- and excited-electronic states in P3HT film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Yin; Hellmann, Christoph; Stingelin, Natalie; Scholes, Gregory D.

2015-06-01

Concurrence of the vibrational coherence and ultrafast electron transfer has been observed in polymer/fullerene blends. However, it is difficult to experimentally investigate the role that the excited-state vibrational coherence plays during the electron transfer process since vibrational coherence from the ground- and excited-electronic states is usually temporally and spectrally overlapped. Here, we performed 2-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2D ES) measurements on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films. By Fourier transforming the whole 2D ES datasets ( S ( λ 1 , T ˜ 2 , λ 3 ) ) along the population time ( T ˜ 2 ) axis, we develop and propose a protocol capable of separating vibrational coherence from the ground- and excited-electronic states in 3D rephasing and nonrephasing beating maps ( S ( λ 1 , ν ˜ 2 , λ 3 ) ). We found that the vibrational coherence from pure excited electronic states appears at positive frequency ( + ν ˜ 2 ) in the rephasing beating map and at negative frequency ( - ν ˜ 2 ) in the nonrephasing beating map. Furthermore, we also found that vibrational coherence from excited electronic state had a long dephasing time of 244 fs. The long-lived excited-state vibrational coherence indicates that coherence may be involved in the electron transfer process. Our findings not only shed light on the mechanism of ultrafast electron transfer in organic photovoltaics but also are beneficial for the study of the coherence effect on photoexcited dynamics in other systems.

Apparatus and method for compensating for electron beam emittance in synchronizing light sources

DOEpatents

Neil, George R.

1996-01-01

A focused optical beam is used to change the path length of the core electrons in electron light sources thereby boosting their efficiency of conversion of electron beam energy to light. Both coherent light in the free electron laser and incoherent light in the synchrotron is boosted by this technique. By changing the path length of the core electrons by the proper amount, the core electrons are caused to stay in phase with the electrons in the outer distribution of the electron beam. This increases the fraction of the electron beam energy that is converted to light thereby improving the efficiency of conversion of energy to light and therefore boosting the power output of the free electron laser and synchrotron.

Apparatus and method for compensating for electron beam emittance in synchronizing light sources

DOEpatents

Neil, G.R.

1996-07-30

A focused optical beam is used to change the path length of the core electrons in electron light sources thereby boosting their efficiency of conversion of electron beam energy to light. Both coherent light in the free electron laser and incoherent light in the synchrotron is boosted by this technique. By changing the path length of the core electrons by the proper amount, the core electrons are caused to stay in phase with the electrons in the outer distribution of the electron beam. This increases the fraction of the electron beam energy that is converted to light thereby improving the efficiency of conversion of energy to light and therefore boosting the power output of the free electron laser and synchrotron. 4 figs.

Coherent coupling between Vanadyl Phthalocyanine spin ensemble and microwave photons: towards integration of molecular spin qubits into quantum circuits.

PubMed

Bonizzoni, C; Ghirri, A; Atzori, M; Sorace, L; Sessoli, R; Affronte, M

2017-10-12

Electron spins are ideal two-level systems that may couple with microwave photons so that, under specific conditions, coherent spin-photon states can be realized. This represents a fundamental step for the transfer and the manipulation of quantum information. Along with spin impurities in solids, molecular spins in concentrated phases have recently shown coherent dynamics under microwave stimuli. Here we show that it is possible to obtain high cooperativity regime between a molecular Vanadyl Phthalocyanine (VOPc) spin ensemble and a high quality factor superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (YBCO) coplanar resonator at 0.5 K. This demonstrates that molecular spin centers can be successfully integrated in hybrid quantum devices.

Coherent control of the formation of cold heteronuclear molecules by photoassociation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Lima, Emanuel F.

2017-01-01

We consider the formation of cold diatomic molecules in the electronic ground state by photoassociation of atoms of dissimilar species. A combination of two transition pathways from the free colliding pair of atoms to a bound vibrational level of the electronic molecular ground state is envisioned. The first pathway consists of a pump-dump scheme with two time-delayed laser pulses in the near-infrared frequency domain. The pump pulse drives the transition to a bound vibrational level of an excited electronic state, while the dump pulse transfers the population to a bound vibrational level of the electronic ground state. The second pathway takes advantage of the existing permanent dipole moment and employs a single pulse in the far-infrared domain to drive the transition from the unbound atoms directly to a bound vibrational level in the electronic ground state. We show that this scheme offers the possibility to coherently control the photoassociation yield by manipulating the relative phase and timing of the pulses. The photoassociation mechanism is illustrated for the formation of cold LiCs molecules.

Three-wave electron vortex lattices for measuring nanofields.

PubMed

Dwyer, C; Boothroyd, C B; Chang, S L Y; Dunin-Borkowski, R E

2015-01-01

It is demonstrated how an electron-optical arrangement consisting of two electron biprisms can be used to generate three-wave vortex lattices with effective lattice spacings between 0.1 and 1 nm. The presence of vortices in these lattices was verified by using a third biprism to perform direct phase measurements via off-axis electron holography. The use of three-wave lattices for nanoscale electromagnetic field measurements via vortex interferometry is discussed, including the accuracy of vortex position measurements and the interpretation of three-wave vortex lattices in the presence of partial spatial coherence. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of IR-driven electron dynamics in a charge transfer model system.

PubMed

Falge, Mirjam; Fröbel, Friedrich Georg; Engel, Volker; Gräfe, Stefanie

2017-08-02

If the adiabatic approximation is valid, electrons smoothly adapt to molecular geometry changes. In contrast, as a characteristic of diabatic dynamics, the electron density does not follow the nuclear motion. Recently, we have shown that the asymmetry in time-resolved photoelectron spectra serves as a tool to distinguish between these dynamics [Falge et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2012, 3, 2617]. Here, we investigate the influence of an additional, moderately intense infrared (IR) laser field, as often applied in attosecond time-resolved experiments, on such asymmetries. This is done using a simple model for coupled electronic-nuclear motion. We calculate time-resolved photoelectron spectra and their asymmetries and demonstrate that the spectra directly map the bound electron-nuclear dynamics. From the asymmetries, we can trace the IR field-induced population transfer and both the field-driven and intrinsic (non-)adiabatic dynamics. This holds true when considering superposition states accompanied by electronic coherences. The latter are observable in the asymmetries for sufficiently short XUV pulses to coherently probe the coupled states. It is thus documented that the asymmetry is a measure for phases in bound electron wave packets and non-adiabatic dynamics.

Towards quantification of vibronic coupling in photosynthetic antenna complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, V. P.; Westberg, M.; Wang, C.; Dahlberg, P. D.; Gellen, T.; Gardiner, A. T.; Cogdell, R. J.; Engel, G. S.

2015-06-01

Photosynthetic antenna complexes harvest sunlight and efficiently transport energy to the reaction center where charge separation powers biochemical energy storage. The discovery of existence of long lived quantum coherence during energy transfer has sparked the discussion on the role of quantum coherence on the energy transfer efficiency. Early works assigned observed coherences to electronic states, and theoretical studies showed that electronic coherences could affect energy transfer efficiency—by either enhancing or suppressing transfer. However, the nature of coherences has been fiercely debated as coherences only report the energy gap between the states that generate coherence signals. Recent works have suggested that either the coherences observed in photosynthetic antenna complexes arise from vibrational wave packets on the ground state or, alternatively, coherences arise from mixed electronic and vibrational states. Understanding origin of coherences is important for designing molecules for efficient light harvesting. Here, we give a direct experimental observation from a mutant of LH2, which does not have B800 chromophores, to distinguish between electronic, vibrational, and vibronic coherence. We also present a minimal theoretical model to characterize the coherences both in the two limiting cases of purely vibrational and purely electronic coherence as well as in the intermediate, vibronic regime.

Journal of Computational Electronics: Proceedings of the International Workshop on Computational Electronics (8th) (IWCE-8), Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, 15-18 October 2001. Volume 1, Issue 1-2

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

the fully coupled electrical and optical sys- of carrier is assumed and the minority carriers are not tems in VCSELs (Oyafuso et al. 2000). separated...evolution times the cosine function in Mn 𔃺 5 ++.(1) weakly depends on the phase space variables. With the increase of the time, the cosine term...can also be applied in phase - coherent devices. Our approach is useful to To obtain S(0) we just have to integrate A Q2 over the study noise in a wide

Electronic Griffiths phase and quantum interference in disordered heavy-fermion systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnida, Daniel

2018-02-01

We investigated the specific heat and electrical resistivity of disordered heavy-fermion systems Ce2Co0.8Si3.2 and Ce2Co0.4Rh0.4Si3.2 . Results show that pronounced non-Fermi-liquid behavior in these Kondo disordered compounds originates from approaching metal-insulator transition rather than from proximity to magnetic instability. Power-law divergence of the local Kondo temperature distribution, P (TK) , in the limit of TK→0 , and clear signature of the quantum interference corrections in the resistivity detected deep below the onset of Kondo coherent state, point to electronic Griffiths phase formation in the studied compounds.

Electronic structure and exchange interactions in diluted semimagnetic semiconductors (Zn,Co)Se and (Zn,Mn)Se

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mašek, J.

1991-05-01

A comparative study of the electronic structure of (Zn,Co)Se and (Zn,Mn)Se is done by using a tight-binding version of the coherent potential approximation. The densities of states, relevant for a photoemission experiment, are calculated for a magnetically disordered phase. The exchange constant Jpd is obtained from the splitting of the valence band top in the ferromagnetic phase of the mixed crystal; Jdd is estimated from the energy of a spin reversal. We explain the large exchange constant in the Co-based systems as a result of efficient hybridization of the d-states with the valence band.

Breakdown of the independent electron picture in mesoscopic samples at low temperatures: The hunt for the Unicorn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, R. A.

1998-03-01

A variety of experiments are discussed where, at low temperatures, it appears that the non-interacting picture of electrons in a Fermi liquid description of a mesoscopic sample is breaking down. Specifically, experiments on the temperature dependence of the phase-coherence time, energy relaxation rate, spin-flip scattering time, persistent currents in normal metals and transmission through a barrier in the fractional quantum Hall regime all display low-temperature properties which can not be accounted for in the independent electron picture.

Defect-driven localization crossovers in MBE-grown La-doped SrSn O3 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tianqi; Thoutam, Laxman Raju; Prakash, Abhinav; Nunn, William; Haugstad, Greg; Jalan, Bharat

2017-11-01

Through systematic control of cation stoichiometry using a hybrid molecular beam epitaxy method, we show a crossover from weak to strong localization of electronic carriers in La-doped SrSn O3 films on LaAl O3 (001). We demonstrate that substrate-induced dislocations in these films can have a strong influence on the electron phase coherence length resulting in two-dimensional to three-dimensional weak localization crossover. We discuss the correlation between electronic transport, and defects associated with nonstoichiometry and dislocations.

Cryo-scanning transmission electron tomography of vitrified cells.

PubMed

Wolf, Sharon Grayer; Houben, Lothar; Elbaum, Michael

2014-04-01

Cryo-electron tomography (CET) of fully hydrated, vitrified biological specimens has emerged as a vital tool for biological research. For cellular studies, the conventional imaging modality of transmission electron microscopy places stringent constraints on sample thickness because of its dependence on phase coherence for contrast generation. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using scanning transmission electron microscopy for cryo-tomography of unstained vitrified specimens (CSTET). We compare CSTET and CET for the imaging of whole bacteria and human tissue culture cells, finding favorable contrast and detail in the CSTET reconstructions. Particularly at high sample tilts, the CSTET signals contain more informative data than energy-filtered CET phase contrast images, resulting in improved depth resolution. Careful control over dose delivery permits relatively high cumulative exposures before the onset of observable beam damage. The increase in acceptable specimen thickness broadens the applicability of electron cryo-tomography.

Ultrafast structural and electronic dynamics of the metallic phase in a layered manganite

PubMed Central

Piazza, L.; Ma, C.; Yang, H. X.; Mann, A.; Zhu, Y.; Li, J. Q.; Carbone, F.

2013-01-01

The transition between different states in manganites can be driven by various external stimuli. Controlling these transitions with light opens the possibility to investigate the microscopic path through which they evolve. We performed femtosecond (fs) transmission electron microscopy on a bi-layered manganite to study its response to ultrafast photoexcitation. We show that a photoinduced temperature jump launches a pressure wave that provokes coherent oscillations of the lattice parameters, detected via ultrafast electron diffraction. Their impact on the electronic structure are monitored via ultrafast electron energy loss spectroscopy, revealing the dynamics of the different orbitals in response to specific structural distortions. PMID:26913564

Symmetry breaking by quantum coherence in single electron attachment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishnakumar, E.; Prabhudesai, Vaibhav S.; Mason, Nigel J.

2018-02-01

Quantum coherence-induced effects in atomic and molecular systems are the basis of several proposals for laser-based control of chemical reactions. So far, these rely on coherent photon beams inducing coherent reaction pathways that may interfere with one another, to achieve the desired outcome. This concept has been successfully exploited for removing the inversion symmetry in the dissociation of homonuclear diatomic molecules, but it remains to be seen if such quantum coherent effects can also be generated by the interaction of incoherent electrons with such molecules. Here we show that resonant electron attachment to H2 and the subsequent dissociation into H (n = 2) + H- is asymmetric about the inter-nuclear axis, whereas the asymmetry in D2 is far less pronounced. We explain this observation as due to attachment of a single electron resulting in a coherent superposition of two resonances of opposite parity. In addition to exemplifying a new quantum coherent process, our observation of coherent quantum dynamics involves the active participation of all three electrons and two nuclei, which could provide new tools for studying electron correlations as a means to control chemical processes, and demonstrates the role of coherent effects in electron-induced chemistry.

Active control of bright electron beams with RF optics for femtosecond microscopy

DOE PAGES

Williams, J.; Zhou, F.; Sun, T.; ...

2017-08-01

A frontier challenge in implementing femtosecond electron microscopy is to gain precise optical control of intense beams to mitigate collective space charge effects for significantly improving the throughput. In this paper, we explore the flexible uses of an RF cavity as a longitudinal lens in a high-intensity beam column for condensing the electron beams both temporally and spectrally, relevant to the design of ultrafast electron microscopy. Through the introduction of a novel atomic grating approach for characterization of electron bunch phase space and control optics, we elucidate the principles for predicting and controlling the phase space dynamics to reach optimalmore » compressions at various electron densities and generating conditions. We provide strategies to identify high-brightness modes, achieving ~100 fs and ~1 eV resolutions with 10 6 electrons per bunch, and establish the scaling of performance for different bunch charges. These results benchmark the sensitivity and resolution from the fundamental beam brightness perspective and also validate the adaptive optics concept to enable delicate control of the density-dependent phase space structures to optimize the performance, including delivering ultrashort, monochromatic, high-dose, or coherent electron bunches.« less

Active control of bright electron beams with RF optics for femtosecond microscopy

PubMed Central

Williams, J.; Zhou, F.; Sun, T.; Tao, Z.; Chang, K.; Makino, K.; Berz, M.; Duxbury, P. M.; Ruan, C.-Y.

2017-01-01

A frontier challenge in implementing femtosecond electron microscopy is to gain precise optical control of intense beams to mitigate collective space charge effects for significantly improving the throughput. Here, we explore the flexible uses of an RF cavity as a longitudinal lens in a high-intensity beam column for condensing the electron beams both temporally and spectrally, relevant to the design of ultrafast electron microscopy. Through the introduction of a novel atomic grating approach for characterization of electron bunch phase space and control optics, we elucidate the principles for predicting and controlling the phase space dynamics to reach optimal compressions at various electron densities and generating conditions. We provide strategies to identify high-brightness modes, achieving ∼100 fs and ∼1 eV resolutions with 106 electrons per bunch, and establish the scaling of performance for different bunch charges. These results benchmark the sensitivity and resolution from the fundamental beam brightness perspective and also validate the adaptive optics concept to enable delicate control of the density-dependent phase space structures to optimize the performance, including delivering ultrashort, monochromatic, high-dose, or coherent electron bunches. PMID:28868325

Coherent Bichromatic Force Deflection of Molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozyryev, Ivan; Baum, Louis; Aldridge, Leland; Yu, Phelan; Eyler, Edward E.; Doyle, John M.

2018-02-01

We demonstrate the effect of the coherent optical bichromatic force on a molecule, the polar free radical strontium monohydroxide (SrOH). A dual-frequency retroreflected laser beam addressing the X˜2Σ+↔A˜2Π1 /2 electronic transition coherently imparts momentum onto a cryogenic beam of SrOH. This directional photon exchange creates a bichromatic force that transversely deflects the molecules. By adjusting the relative phase between the forward and counterpropagating laser beams we reverse the direction of the applied force. A momentum transfer of 70 ℏk is achieved with minimal loss of molecules to dark states. Modeling of the bichromatic force is performed via direct numerical solution of the time-dependent density matrix and is compared with experimental observations. Our results open the door to further coherent manipulation of molecular motion, including the efficient optical deceleration of diatomic and polyatomic molecules with complex level structures.

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Control of the angular distribution of the radiation emitted by phase-locked laser arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kachurin, O. R.; Lebedev, F. V.; Napartovich, M. A.; Khlynov, M. E.

1991-03-01

A numerical investigation was made of the influence of the number and packing density of a linear array of periodically arranged coherent sources on the efficiency of redistributing the radiation power from the side lobes to the main lobe of the angular distribution of the emitted radiation by using a binary phase corrector mounted in the image-doubling plane. The results are given of experimental investigations of a new device for improving the radiation pattern of phase-locked laser arrays.

Coherent Transport in a Linear Triple Quantum Dot Made from a Pure-Phase InAs Nanowire.

PubMed

Wang, Ji-Yin; Huang, Shaoyun; Huang, Guang-Yao; Pan, Dong; Zhao, Jianhua; Xu, H Q

2017-07-12

A highly tunable linear triple quantum dot (TQD) device is realized in a single-crystalline pure-phase InAs nanowire using a local finger gate technique. The electrical measurements show that the charge stability diagram of the TQD can be represented by three kinds of current lines of different slopes and a simulation performed based on a capacitance matrix model confirms the experiment. We show that each current line observable in the charge stability diagram is associated with a case where a QD is on resonance with the Fermi level of the source and drain reservoirs. At a triple point where two current lines of different slopes move together but show anticrossing, two QDs are on resonance with the Fermi level of the reservoirs. We demonstrate that an energetically degenerated quadruple point at which all three QDs are on resonance with the Fermi level of the reservoirs can be built by moving two separated triple points together via sophistically tuning of energy levels in the three QDs. We also demonstrate the achievement of direct coherent electron transfer between the two remote QDs in the TQD, realizing a long-distance coherent quantum bus operation. Such a long-distance coherent coupling could be used to investigate coherent spin teleportation and superexchange effects and to construct a spin qubit with an improved long coherent time and with spin state detection solely by sensing the charge states.

Engineering coherence among excited states in synthetic heterodimer systems.

PubMed

Hayes, Dugan; Griffin, Graham B; Engel, Gregory S

2013-06-21

The design principles that support persistent electronic coherence in biological light-harvesting systems are obscured by the complexity of such systems. Some electronic coherences in these systems survive for hundreds of femtoseconds at physiological temperatures, suggesting that coherent dynamics may play a role in photosynthetic energy transfer. Coherent effects may increase energy transfer efficiency relative to strictly incoherent transfer mechanisms. Simple, tractable, manipulable model systems are required in order to probe the fundamental physics underlying these persistent electronic coherences, but to date, these quantum effects have not been observed in small molecules. We have engineered a series of rigid synthetic heterodimers that can serve as such a model system and observed quantum beating signals in their two-dimensional electronic spectra consistent with the presence of persistent electronic coherences.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lingerfelt, David B.; Lestrange, Patrick J.; Radler, Joseph J.

Materials and molecular systems exhibiting long-lived electronic coherence can facilitate coherent transport, opening the door to efficient charge and energy transport beyond traditional methods. Recently, signatures of a possible coherent, recurrent electronic motion were identified in femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy experiments on a binuclear platinum complex, where a persistent periodic beating in the transient absorption signal’s anisotropy was observed. In this study, we investigate the excitonic dynamics that underlie the suspected electronic coherence for a series of binuclear platinum complexes exhibiting a range of interplatinum distances. Results suggest that the long-lived coherence can only result when competitive electronic couplings are inmore » balance. At longer Pt-Pt distances, the electronic couplings between the two halves of the binuclear system weaken, and exciton localization and recombination is favored on short time scales. For short Pt-Pt distances, electronic couplings between the states in the coherent superposition are stronger than the coupling with other excitonic states, leading to long-lived coherence.« less

Energy-resolved attosecond interferometric photoemission from Ag(111) and Au(111) surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrosio, M. J.; Thumm, U.

2018-04-01

Photoelectron emission from solid surfaces induced by attosecond pulse trains into the electric field of delayed phase-coherent infrared (IR) pulses allows the surface-specific observation of energy-resolved electronic phase accumulations and photoemission delays. We quantum-mechanically modeled interferometric photoemission spectra from the (111) surfaces of Au and Ag, including background contributions from secondary electrons and direct emission by the IR pulse, and adjusted parameters of our model to energy-resolved photoelectron spectra recently measured at a synchrotron light source by Roth et al. [J. Electron Spectrosc. 224, 84 (2018), 10.1016/j.elspec.2017.05.008]. Our calculated spectra and photoelectron phase shifts are in fair agreement with the experimental data of Locher et al. [Optica 2, 405 (2015), 10.1364/OPTICA.2.000405]. Our model's not reproducing the measured energy-dependent oscillations of the Ag(111) photoemission phases may be interpreted as evidence for subtle band-structure effects on the final-state photoelectron-surface interaction not accounted for in our simulation.

Time-resolved imaging of the microbunching instability and energy spread at the Linac Coherent Light Source

DOE PAGES

Ratner, D.; Behrens, C.; Ding, Y.; ...

2015-03-09

The microbunching instability (MBI) is a well known problem for high brightness electron beams and has been observed at accelerator facilities around the world. Free-electron lasers (FELs) are particularly susceptible to MBI, which can distort the longitudinal phase space and increase the beam’s slice energy spread (SES). Past studies of MBI at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) relied on optical transition radiation to infer the existence of microbunching. With the development of the x-band transverse deflecting cavity (XTCAV), we can for the first time directly image the longitudinal phase space at the end of the accelerator and complete amore » comprehensive study of MBI, revealing both detailed MBI behavior as well as insights into mitigation schemes. The fine time resolution of the XTCAV also provides the first LCLS measurements of the final SES, a critical parameter for many advanced FEL schemes. As a result, detailed MBI and SES measurements can aid in understanding MBI mechanisms, benchmarking simulation codes, and designing future high- brightness accelerators.« less

Coherent and incoherent phase stabilities of thermoelectric rocksalt IV-VI semiconductor alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doak, Jeff W.; Wolverton, C.

2012-10-01

Nanostructures formed by phase separation improve the thermoelectric figure of merit in lead chalcogenide semiconductor alloys, with coherent nanostructures giving larger improvements than incoherent nanostructures. However, large coherency strains in these alloys drastically alter the thermodynamics of phase stability. Incoherent phase stability can be easily inferred from an equilibrium phase diagram, but coherent phase stability is more difficult to assess experimentally. Therefore, we use density functional theory calculations to investigate the coherent and incoherent phase stability of the IV-VI rocksalt semiconductor alloy systems Pb(S,Te), Pb(Te,Se), Pb(Se,S), (Pb,Sn)Te, (Sn,Ge)Te, and (Ge,Pb)Te. Here we use the term coherent to indicate that there is a common and unbroken lattice between the phases under consideration, and we use the term incoherent to indicate that the lattices of coexisting phases are unconstrained and allowed to take on equilibrium volumes. We find that the thermodynamic ground state of all of the IV-VI pseudobinary systems studied is incoherent phase separation. We also find that the coherency strain energy, previously neglected in studies of these IV-VI alloys, is lowest along [111] (in contrast to most fcc metals) and is a large fraction of the thermodynamic driving force for incoherent phase separation in all systems. The driving force for coherent phase separation is significantly reduced, and we find that coherent nanostructures can only form at low temperatures where kinetics may prohibit their precipitation. Furthermore, by calculating the energies of ordered structures for these systems we find that the coherent phase stability of most IV-VI systems favors ordering over spinodal decomposition. Our results suggest that experimental reports of spinodal decomposition in the IV-VI rocksalt alloys should be re-examined.

Using the phase-space imager to analyze partially coherent imaging systems: bright-field, phase contrast, differential interference contrast, differential phase contrast, and spiral phase contrast

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehta, Shalin B.; Sheppard, Colin J. R.

2010-05-01

Various methods that use large illumination aperture (i.e. partially coherent illumination) have been developed for making transparent (i.e. phase) specimens visible. These methods were developed to provide qualitative contrast rather than quantitative measurement-coherent illumination has been relied upon for quantitative phase analysis. Partially coherent illumination has some important advantages over coherent illumination and can be used for measurement of the specimen's phase distribution. However, quantitative analysis and image computation in partially coherent systems have not been explored fully due to the lack of a general, physically insightful and computationally efficient model of image formation. We have developed a phase-space model that satisfies these requirements. In this paper, we employ this model (called the phase-space imager) to elucidate five different partially coherent systems mentioned in the title. We compute images of an optical fiber under these systems and verify some of them with experimental images. These results and simulated images of a general phase profile are used to compare the contrast and the resolution of the imaging systems. We show that, for quantitative phase imaging of a thin specimen with matched illumination, differential phase contrast offers linear transfer of specimen information to the image. We also show that the edge enhancement properties of spiral phase contrast are compromised significantly as the coherence of illumination is reduced. The results demonstrate that the phase-space imager model provides a useful framework for analysis, calibration, and design of partially coherent imaging methods.

Coherence Conversion for Optimized Resolution in Optical Measurements - Example of Femtosecond Time Resolution Using the Transverse Coherence of 100-Picosecond X-Rays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adams, Bernhard W.

2015-01-01

A way is proposed to obtain a femtosecond time resolution over a picosecond range in x-ray spectroscopic measurements where the light source and the detector are much slower than that. It is based on the invariance of the modulus of the Fourier transform to object translations. The method geometrically correlates time in the sample with x-ray amplitudes over a spatial coordinate, and then takes the optical Fourier transform through far-field diffraction. Thus, explicitly time-invariant intensities that encode the time evolution of the sample can be measured with a slow detector. This corresponds to a phase-space transformation that converts the transversemore » coherence to become effective in the longitudinal direction. Because synchrotron-radiation sources have highly anisotropic coherence properties with about $10^5$ longitudinal electromagnetic-field modes at 1 eV bandwidth, but only tens to hundreds transverse modes, coherence conversion can drastically improve the time resolution. Reconstruction of the femtosecond time evolution in the sample from the Fourier intensities is subject to a phase ambiguity that is well-known in crystallography. However, a way is presented to resolve it that is not available in that discipline. Finally, data from a demonstration experiment are presented. The same concept can be used to obtain attosecond time resolution with an x-ray free-electron laser.« less

Electron-neutrino scattering off nuclei from two different theoretical perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martini, M.; Jachowicz, N.; Ericson, M.; Pandey, V.; Van Cuyck, T.; Van Dessel, N.

2016-07-01

We analyze charged-current electron-neutrino cross sections on carbon. We consider two different theoretical approaches, on one hand the continuum random phase approximation (CRPA) which allows a description of giant resonances and quasielastic excitations, on the other hand the RPA-based calculations which are able to describe multinucleon emission and coherent and incoherent pion production as well as quasielastic excitations. We compare the two approaches in the genuine quasielastic channel, and find a satisfactory agreement between them at large energies while at low energies the collective giant resonances show up only in the CRPA approach. We also compare electron-neutrino cross sections with the corresponding muon-neutrino ones in order to investigate the impact of the different charged-lepton masses. Finally, restricting to the RPA-based approach, we compare the sum of quasielastic, multinucleon emission, coherent, and incoherent one-pion production cross sections (folded with the electron-neutrino T2K flux) with the charged-current inclusive electron-neutrino differential cross sections on carbon measured by T2K. We find a good agreement with the data. The multinucleon component is needed in order to reproduce the T2K electron-neutrino inclusive cross sections.

Analysis of a Novel Diffractive Scanning Wire Beam Position Monitor (BPM) for Discriminative Profiling of Electron Vs. X Ray Beams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tatchyn, Roman; /SLAC

2011-09-01

Recent numerical studies of Free Electron Lasers (FELs) operating in the Self Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) regime indicate a large sensitivity of the gain to the degree of transverse overlap (and associated phase coherence) between the electron and photon beams traveling down the insertion device. Simulations of actual systems imply that accurate detection and correction for this relative loss of overlap, rather than correction for the absolute departure of the electron beam from a fixed axis, is the preferred function of an FEL amplifier's Beam Position Monitor (BPM) and corrector systems. In this note we propose a novel diffractive BPMmore » with the capability of simultaneously detecting and resolving the absolute (and relative) transverse positions and profiles of electron and x-ray beams co-propagating through an undulator. We derive the equations governing the performance of the BPM and examine its predicted performance for the SLAC Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), viz., for profiling multi-GeV electron bunches co-propagating with one-to-several-hundred keV x-ray beams. Selected research and development (r&d) tasks for fabricating and testing the proposed BPM are discussed.« less

Phase noise suppression for coherent optical block transmission systems: a unified framework.

PubMed

Yang, Chuanchuan; Yang, Feng; Wang, Ziyu

2011-08-29

A unified framework for phase noise suppression is proposed in this paper, which could be applied in any coherent optical block transmission systems, including coherent optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (CO-OFDM), coherent optical single-carrier frequency-domain equalization block transmission (CO-SCFDE), etc. Based on adaptive modeling of phase noise, unified observation equations for different coherent optical block transmission systems are constructed, which lead to unified phase noise estimation and suppression. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposal is powerful in mitigating laser phase noise.

Nanometres-resolution Kikuchi patterns from materials science specimens with transmission electron forward scatter diffraction in the scanning electron microscope.

PubMed

Brodusch, N; Demers, H; Gauvin, R

2013-04-01

A charge-coupled device camera of an electron backscattered diffraction system in a scanning electron microscope was positioned below a thin specimen and transmission Kikuchi patterns were collected. Contrary to electron backscattered diffraction, transmission electron forward scatter diffraction provides phase identification and orientation mapping at the nanoscale. The minimum Pd particle size for which a Kikuchi diffraction pattern was detected and indexed reliably was 5.6 nm. An orientation mapping resolution of 5 nm was measured at 30 kV. The resolution obtained with transmission electron forward scatter diffraction was of the same order of magnitude than that reported in electron nanodiffraction in the transmission electron microscope. An energy dispersive spectrometer X-ray map and a transmission electron forward scatter diffraction orientation map were acquired simultaneously. The high-resolution chemical, phase and orientation maps provided at once information on the chemical form, orientation and coherency of precipitates in an aluminium-lithium 2099 alloy. © 2013 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2013 Royal Microscopical Society.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robinson, Ian; Clark, Jesse; Harder, Ross

Materials are generally classified by a phase diagram which displays their properties as a function of external state variables, typically temperature and pressure. A new dimension that is relatively unexplored is time: a rich variety of new materials can become accessible in the transient period following laser excitation from the ground state. The timescale of nanoseconds to femtoseconds, is ripe for investigation using x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) methods. There is no shortage of materials suitable for time-resolved materials-science exploration. Oxides alone represent most of the minerals making up the Earth's crust, catalysts, ferroelectrics, corrosion products and electronically ordered materials suchmore » as superconductors, to name a few. Some of the elements have metastable phase diagrams with predicted new phases. There are some examples known already: an oxide 'hidden phase' living only nanoseconds and an electronically ordered excited phase of fullerene C 60, lasting only femtoseconds. In a completely general way, optically excited states of materials can be probed with Bragg coherent diffraction imaging, both below the damage threshold and in the destructive regime. Lastly, prospective methods for carrying out such XFEL experiments are discussed.« less

Spatial phase-shift dual-beam speckle interferometry.

PubMed

Gao, Xinya; Yang, Lianxiang; Wang, Yonghong; Zhang, Boyang; Dan, Xizuo; Li, Junrui; Wu, Sijin

2018-01-20

The spatial phase-shift technique has been successfully applied to an out-of-plane speckle interferometry system. Its application to a pure in-plane sensitive system has not been reported yet. This paper presents a novel optical configuration that enables the application of the spatial phase-shift technique to pure in-plane sensitive dual-beam speckle interferometry. The new spatial phase-shift dual-beam speckle interferometry (SPS-DBSP) uses a dual-beam in-plane electronic speckle pattern interferometry configuration with individual aperture shears, avoiding the interference in the object plane by the use of a low-coherence source, and different optical paths. The measured object is illuminated by two incoherent beams that are generated by a delay line, which is larger than the coherence length of the laser. The two beams reflected from the object surface interfere with each other at the CCD plane because of different optical paths. A spatial phase shift is introduced by the angle between the two apertures when they are mapped to the same optical axis. The phase of the in-plane deformation can directly be extracted from the speckle patterns by the Fourier transform method. The capability of SPS-DBSI is demonstrated by theoretical discussion as well as experiments.

Coherent and tunable terahertz radiation from graphene surface plasmon polaritons excited by an electron beam

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Shenggang, E-mail: liusg@uestc.edu.cn; Hu, Min; Chen, Xiaoxing

2014-05-19

Although surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) resonance in graphene can be tuned in the terahertz regime, transforming such SPPs into coherent terahertz radiation has not been achieved. Here, we propose a graphene-based coherent terahertz radiation source with greatly enhanced intensity. The radiation works at room temperature, it is tunable and can cover the whole terahertz regime. The radiation intensity generated with this method is 400 times stronger than that from SPPs at a conventional dielectric or semiconducting surface and is comparable to that from the most advanced photonics source such as a quantum cascade laser. The physical mechanism for this strongmore » radiation is presented. The phase diagrams defining the parameters range for the occurrence of radiation is also shown.« less

Coherent radio-frequency detection for narrowband direct comb spectroscopy.

PubMed

Anstie, James D; Perrella, Christopher; Light, Philip S; Luiten, Andre N

2016-02-22

We demonstrate a scheme for coherent narrowband direct optical frequency comb spectroscopy. An extended cavity diode laser is injection locked to a single mode of an optical frequency comb, frequency shifted, and used as a local oscillator to optically down-mix the interrogating comb on a fast photodetector. The high spectral coherence of the injection lock generates a microwave frequency comb at the output of the photodiode with very narrow features, enabling spectral information to be further down-mixed to RF frequencies, allowing optical transmittance and phase to be obtained using electronics commonly found in the lab. We demonstrate two methods for achieving this step: a serial mode-by-mode approach and a parallel dual-comb approach, with the Cs D1 transition at 894 nm as a test case.

Method to generate a pulse train of few-cycle coherent radiation

DOE PAGES

Garcia, Bryant; Hemsing, Erik; Raubenheimer, Tor; ...

2016-09-06

We develop a method to generate a long pulse train of few-cycle coherent radiation by modulating an electron beam with a high power laser. The large energy modulation disperses the beam in a radiating undulator and leads to the production of phase-locked few-cycle coherent radiation pulses. These pulses are produced at a high harmonic of the modulating laser, and are longitudinally separated by the modulating laser wavelength. Here, we discuss an analytical model for this scheme and investigate the temporal and spectral properties of this radiation. This model is compared with numerical simulation results using the unaveraged code Puffin. Wemore » examine various harmful effects and how they might be avoided, as well as a possible experimental realization of this scheme.« less

Simulation of Forward and Inverse X-ray Scattering From Shocked Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barber, John; Marksteiner, Quinn; Barnes, Cris

2012-02-01

The next generation of high-intensity, coherent light sources should generate sufficient brilliance to perform in-situ coherent x-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) of shocked materials. In this work, we present beginning-to-end simulations of this process. This includes the calculation of the partially-coherent intensity profiles of self-amplified stimulated emission (SASE) x-ray free electron lasers (XFELs), as well as the use of simulated, shocked molecular-dynamics-based samples to predict the evolution of the resulting diffraction patterns. In addition, we will explore the corresponding inverse problem by performing iterative phase retrieval to generate reconstructed images of the simulated sample. The development of these methods in the context of materials under extreme conditions should provide crucial insights into the design and capabilities of shocked in-situ imaging experiments.

A comprehensive simulation framework for imaging single particles and biomolecules at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Chun Hong; Yurkov, Mikhail V.; Schneidmiller, Evgeny A.; Samoylova, Liubov; Buzmakov, Alexey; Jurek, Zoltan; Ziaja, Beata; Santra, Robin; Loh, N. Duane; Tschentscher, Thomas; Mancuso, Adrian P.

2016-04-01

The advent of newer, brighter, and more coherent X-ray sources, such as X-ray Free-Electron Lasers (XFELs), represents a tremendous growth in the potential to apply coherent X-rays to determine the structure of materials from the micron-scale down to the Angstrom-scale. There is a significant need for a multi-physics simulation framework to perform source-to-detector simulations for a single particle imaging experiment, including (i) the multidimensional simulation of the X-ray source; (ii) simulation of the wave-optics propagation of the coherent XFEL beams; (iii) atomistic modelling of photon-material interactions; (iv) simulation of the time-dependent diffraction process, including incoherent scattering; (v) assembling noisy and incomplete diffraction intensities into a three-dimensional data set using the Expansion-Maximisation-Compression (EMC) algorithm and (vi) phase retrieval to obtain structural information. We demonstrate the framework by simulating a single-particle experiment for a nitrogenase iron protein using parameters of the SPB/SFX instrument of the European XFEL. This exercise demonstrably yields interpretable consequences for structure determination that are crucial yet currently unavailable for experiment design.

Wakefields in Coherent Synchrotron Radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Billinghurst, Brant E.; Bergstrom, J. C.; Baribeau, C.; Batten, T.; Dallin, L.; May, Tim E.; Vogt, J. M.; Wurtz, Ward A.; Warnock, Robert L.; Bizzozero, D. A.; Kramer, S.; Michaelian, K. H.

2016-06-01

When the electron bunches in a storage ring are sufficiently short the electrons act coherently producing radiation several orders of magnitude more intense than normal synchrotron radiation. This is referred to as Coherent Syncrotron Radiation (CSR). Due to the potential of CSR to provide a good source of Terahertz radiation for our users, the Canadian Light Source (CLS) has been researching the production and application of CSR. CSR has been produced at the CLS for many years, and has been used for a number of applications. However, resonances that permeate the spectrum at wavenumber intervals of 0.074 cm-1, and are highly stable under changes in the machine setup, have hampered some experiments. Analogous resonances were predicted long ago in an idealized theory. Through experiments and further calculations we elucidate the resonance and wakefield mechanisms in the CLS vacuum chamber. The wakefield is observed directly in the 30-110 GHz range by rf diodes. These results are consistent with observations made by the interferometer in the THz range. Also discussed will be some practical examples of the application of CSR for the study of condensed phase samples using both transmission and Photoacoustic techniques.

Multidimensional Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of Vibrational Coherence in Biopolyenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buckup, Tiago; Motzkus, Marcus

2014-04-01

Multidimensional femtosecond time-resolved vibrational coherence spectroscopy allows one to investigate the evolution of vibrational coherence in electronic excited states. Methods such as pump-degenerate four-wave mixing and pump-impulsive vibrational spectroscopy combine an initial ultrashort laser pulse with a nonlinear probing sequence to reinduce vibrational coherence exclusively in the excited states. By carefully exploiting specific electronic resonances, one can detect vibrational coherence from 0 cm-1 to over 2,000 cm-1 and map its evolution. This review focuses on the observation and mapping of high-frequency vibrational coherence for all-trans biological polyenes such as β-carotene, lycopene, retinal, and retinal Schiff base. We discuss the role of molecular symmetry in vibrational coherence activity in the S1 electronic state and the interplay of coupling between electronic states and vibrational coherence.

Phase-space evolution of x-ray coherence in phase-sensitive imaging.

PubMed

Wu, Xizeng; Liu, Hong

2008-08-01

X-ray coherence evolution in the imaging process plays a key role for x-ray phase-sensitive imaging. In this work we present a phase-space formulation for the phase-sensitive imaging. The theory is reformulated in terms of the cross-spectral density and associated Wigner distribution. The phase-space formulation enables an explicit and quantitative account of partial coherence effects on phase-sensitive imaging. The presented formulas for x-ray spectral density at the detector can be used for performing accurate phase retrieval and optimizing the phase-contrast visibility. The concept of phase-space shearing length derived from this phase-space formulation clarifies the spatial coherence requirement for phase-sensitive imaging with incoherent sources. The theory has been applied to x-ray Talbot interferometric imaging as well. The peak coherence condition derived reveals new insights into three-grating-based Talbot-interferometric imaging and gratings-based x-ray dark-field imaging.

Ultrafast evolution and transient phases of a prototype out-of-equilibrium Mott–Hubbard material

DOE PAGES

Lantz, G.; Mansart, B.; Grieger, D.; ...

2017-01-09

Photoexcited strongly correlated materials is attracting growing interest since their rich phase diagram often translates into an equally rich out-of-equilibrium behavior, including non-thermal phases and photoinduced phase transitions. With femtosecond optical pulses, electronic and lattice degrees of freedom can be transiently decoupled, giving the opportunity of stabilizing new states of matter inaccessible by quasi-adiabatic pathways. We present a study of the ultrafast non-equilibrium evolution of the prototype Mott-Hubbard material V 2O 3, which presents a transient non-thermal phase developing immediately after photoexcitation and lasting few picoseconds. For both the insulating and the metallic phase, the formation of the transient configurationmore » is triggered by the excitation of electrons into the bonding a 1g orbital, and is then stabilized by a lattice distortion characterized by a marked hardening of the A 1g coherent phonon. Furthermore, this configuration is in stark contrast with the thermally accessible ones - the A 1g phonon frequency actually softens when heating the material. Our results show the importance of selective electron-lattice interplay for the ultrafast control of material parameters, and are of particular relevance for the optical manipulation of strongly correlated systems, whose electronic and structural properties are often strongly intertwinned.« less

Ultrafast evolution and transient phases of a prototype out-of-equilibrium Mott–Hubbard material

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lantz, G.; Mansart, B.; Grieger, D.

Photoexcited strongly correlated materials is attracting growing interest since their rich phase diagram often translates into an equally rich out-of-equilibrium behavior, including non-thermal phases and photoinduced phase transitions. With femtosecond optical pulses, electronic and lattice degrees of freedom can be transiently decoupled, giving the opportunity of stabilizing new states of matter inaccessible by quasi-adiabatic pathways. We present a study of the ultrafast non-equilibrium evolution of the prototype Mott-Hubbard material V 2O 3, which presents a transient non-thermal phase developing immediately after photoexcitation and lasting few picoseconds. For both the insulating and the metallic phase, the formation of the transient configurationmore » is triggered by the excitation of electrons into the bonding a 1g orbital, and is then stabilized by a lattice distortion characterized by a marked hardening of the A 1g coherent phonon. Furthermore, this configuration is in stark contrast with the thermally accessible ones - the A 1g phonon frequency actually softens when heating the material. Our results show the importance of selective electron-lattice interplay for the ultrafast control of material parameters, and are of particular relevance for the optical manipulation of strongly correlated systems, whose electronic and structural properties are often strongly intertwinned.« less

Sub-cycle control of terahertz high-harmonic generation by dynamical Bloch oscillations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schubert, O.; Hohenleutner, M.; Langer, F.; Urbanek, B.; Lange, C.; Huttner, U.; Golde, D.; Meier, T.; Kira, M.; Koch, S. W.; Huber, R.

2014-02-01

Ultrafast charge transport in strongly biased semiconductors is at the heart of high-speed electronics, electro-optics and fundamental solid-state physics. Intense light pulses in the terahertz spectral range have opened fascinating vistas. Because terahertz photon energies are far below typical electronic interband resonances, a stable electromagnetic waveform may serve as a precisely adjustable bias. Novel quantum phenomena have been anticipated for terahertz amplitudes, reaching atomic field strengths. We exploit controlled (multi-)terahertz waveforms with peak fields of 72 MV cm-1 to drive coherent interband polarization combined with dynamical Bloch oscillations in semiconducting gallium selenide. These dynamics entail the emission of phase-stable high-harmonic transients, covering the entire terahertz-to-visible spectral domain between 0.1 and 675 THz. Quantum interference of different ionization paths of accelerated charge carriers is controlled via the waveform of the driving field and explained by a quantum theory of inter- and intraband dynamics. Our results pave the way towards all-coherent terahertz-rate electronics.

Tunable High-Intensity Electron Bunch Train Production Based on Nonlinear Longitudinal Space Charge Oscillation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhen; Yan, Lixin; Du, Yingchao; Zhou, Zheng; Su, Xiaolu; Zheng, Lianmin; Wang, Dong; Tian, Qili; Wang, Wei; Shi, Jiaru; Chen, Huaibi; Huang, Wenhui; Gai, Wei; Tang, Chuanxiang

2016-05-01

High-intensity trains of electron bunches with tunable picosecond spacing are produced and measured experimentally with the goal of generating terahertz (THz) radiation. By imposing an initial density modulation on a relativistic electron beam and controlling the charge density over the beam propagation, density spikes of several-hundred-ampere peak current in the temporal profile, which are several times higher than the initial amplitudes, have been observed for the first time. We also demonstrate that the periodic spacing of the bunch train can be varied continuously either by tuning launching phase of a radio-frequency gun or by tuning the compression of a downstream magnetic chicane. Narrow-band coherent THz radiation from the bunch train was also measured with μ J -level energies and tunable central frequency of the spectrum in the range of ˜0.5 to 1.6 THz. Our results pave the way towards generating mJ-level narrow-band coherent THz radiation and driving high-gradient wakefield-based acceleration.

Tunable High-Intensity Electron Bunch Train Production Based on Nonlinear Longitudinal Space Charge Oscillation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Zhen; Yan, Lixin; Du, Yingchao

2016-05-05

High-intensity trains of electron bunches with tunable picosecond spacing are produced and measured experimentally with the goal of generating terahertz (THz) radiation. By imposing an initial density modulation on a relativistic electron beam and controlling the charge density over the beam propagation, density spikes of several-hundred-ampere peak current in the temporal profile, which are several times higher than the initial amplitudes, have been observed for the first time. We also demonstrate that the periodic spacing of the bunch train can be varied continuously either by tuning launching phase of a radiofrequency gun or by tuning the compression of a downstreammore » magnetic chicane. Narrow-band coherent THz radiation from the bunch train was also measured with μJ-level energies and tunable central frequency of the spectrum in the range of ~0.5 to 1.6 THz. Our results pave the way towards generating mJ-level narrow-band coherent THz radiation and driving high-gradient wakefield-based acceleration.« less

Reversible beam heater for suppression of microbunching instability by transverse gradient undulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Tao; Qin, Weilun; Wang, Dong; Huang, Zhirong

2017-08-01

The microbunching instability driven by beam collective effects in a linear accelerator of a free-electron laser (FEL) facility significantly degrades the electron beam quality and FEL performance. A conventional method to suppress this instability is to introduce an additional uncorrelated energy spread by laser-electron interaction, which has been successfully operated in the Linac Coherent Light Source and Fermi@Elettra, etc. Some other ideas are recently proposed to suppress the instability without increasing energy spread, which could benefit the seeded FEL schemes. In this paper, we propose a reversible electron beam heater using two transverse gradient undulators to suppress the microbunching instability. This scheme introduces both an energy spread increase and a transverse-to-longitudinal phase space coupling, which suppress the microbunching instabilities driven by both longitudinal space charge and coherent synchrotron radiation before and within the system. Finally the induced energy spread increase and emittance growth are reversed. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are presented to verify the feasibility of the scheme and indicate the capability to improve the seeded FEL radiation performance.

Reversible beam heater for suppression of microbunching instability by transverse gradient undulators

DOE PAGES

Liu, Tao; Qin, Weilun; Wang, Dong; ...

2017-08-02

The microbunching instability driven by beam collective effects in a linear accelerator of a free-electron laser (FEL) facility significantly degrades the electron beam quality and FEL performance. A conventional method to suppress this instability is to introduce an additional uncorrelated energy spread by laser-electron interaction, which has been successfully operated in the Linac Coherent Light Source and Fermi@Elettra, etc. Some other ideas are recently proposed to suppress the instability without increasing energy spread, which could benefit the seeded FEL schemes. In this paper, we propose a reversible electron beam heater using two transverse gradient undulators to suppress the microbunching instability.more » This scheme introduces both an energy spread increase and a transverse-to-longitudinal phase space coupling, which suppress the microbunching instabilities driven by both longitudinal space charge and coherent synchrotron radiation before and within the system. Finally the induced energy spread increase and emittance growth are reversed. In conclusion, theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are presented to verify the feasibility of the scheme and indicate the capability to improve the seeded FEL radiation performance.« less

Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage preparation of a coherent superposition of ThO H3Δ1 states for an improved electron electric-dipole-moment measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panda, C. D.; O'Leary, B. R.; West, A. D.; Baron, J.; Hess, P. W.; Hoffman, C.; Kirilov, E.; Overstreet, C. B.; West, E. P.; DeMille, D.; Doyle, J. M.; Gabrielse, G.

2016-05-01

Experimental searches for the electron electric-dipole moment (EDM) probe new physics beyond the standard model. The current best EDM limit was set by the ACME Collaboration [Science 343, 269 (2014), 10.1126/science.1248213], constraining time-reversal symmetry (T ) violating physics at the TeV energy scale. ACME used optical pumping to prepare a coherent superposition of ThO H3Δ1 states that have aligned electron spins. Spin precession due to the molecule's internal electric field was measured to extract the EDM. We report here on an improved method for preparing this spin-aligned state of the electron by using stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP). We demonstrate a transfer efficiency of 75 %±5 % , representing a significant gain in signal for a next-generation EDM experiment. We discuss the particularities of implementing STIRAP in systems such as ours, where molecular ensembles with large phase-space distributions are transferred via weak molecular transitions with limited laser power and limited optical access.

Characterization of the Microstructure of the Compositionally Complex Alloy Al1Mo0.5Nb1Ta0.5Ti1Zr1 (Postprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

limited to X-ray diffraction ( XRD ) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The alloy was reported to contain two bcc phases with similar lattice...it appears that the interface between the two phases is fairly coherent. Interestingly, the XRD study described in [8] suggested that there were two...line-scan shown in (h). 3 Distribution A. Approved for public reledifference in lattice parameter measurements realized in bulk samples ( XRD ) vs

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: On the gravitational-deceleration initiation of the phase transition of gas to a Bose condensate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivlin, L. A.

2008-01-01

A scenario of the experiment on the observation of the isothermal Bose condensation of cooled gas with increasing the concentration of atoms caused by the deceleration of a vertical atomic beam in the gravitational field resulting in a decrease in the phase transition critical temperature below the gas temperature is considered. Coherent phenomena accompanying the evolution of the Bose condensate during further beam deceleration are pointed out.

Ferritic Alloys with Extreme Creep Resistance via Coherent Hierarchical Precipitates

PubMed Central

Song, Gian; Sun, Zhiqian; Li, Lin; Xu, Xiandong; Rawlings, Michael; Liebscher, Christian H.; Clausen, Bjørn; Poplawsky, Jonathan; Leonard, Donovan N.; Huang, Shenyan; Teng, Zhenke; Liu, Chain T.; Asta, Mark D.; Gao, Yanfei; Dunand, David C.; Ghosh, Gautam; Chen, Mingwei; Fine, Morris E.; Liaw, Peter K.

2015-01-01

There have been numerous efforts to develop creep-resistant materials strengthened by incoherent particles at high temperatures and stresses in response to future energy needs for steam turbines in thermal-power plants. However, the microstructural instability of the incoherent-particle-strengthened ferritic steels limits their application to temperatures below 900 K. Here, we report a novel ferritic alloy with the excellent creep resistance enhanced by coherent hierarchical precipitates, using the integrated experimental (transmission-electron microscopy/scanning-transmission-electron microscopy, in-situ neutron diffraction, and atom-probe tomography) and theoretical (crystal-plasticity finite-element modeling) approaches. This alloy is strengthened by nano-scaled L21-Ni2TiAl (Heusler phase)-based precipitates, which themselves contain coherent nano-scaled B2 zones. These coherent hierarchical precipitates are uniformly distributed within the Fe matrix. Our hierarchical structure material exhibits the superior creep resistance at 973 K in terms of the minimal creep rate, which is four orders of magnitude lower than that of conventional ferritic steels. These results provide a new alloy-design strategy using the novel concept of hierarchical precipitates and the fundamental science for developing creep-resistant ferritic alloys. The present research will broaden the applications of ferritic alloys to higher temperatures. PMID:26548303

Ferritic Alloys with Extreme Creep Resistance via Coherent Hierarchical Precipitates

DOE PAGES

Song, Gian; Sun, Zhiqian; Li, Lin; ...

2015-11-09

There have been numerous efforts to develop creep-resistant materials strengthened by incoherent particles at high temperatures and stresses in response to future energy needs for steam turbines in thermal-power plants. However, the microstructural instability of the incoherent-particle-strengthened ferritic steels limits their application to temperatures below 900 K. Here, we report a novel ferritic alloy with the excellent creep resistance enhanced by coherent hierarchical precipitates, using the integrated experimental (transmission-electron microscopy/scanning-transmission-electron microscopy, in-situ neutron diffraction, and atom-probe tomography) and theoretical (crystal-plasticity finite-element modeling) approaches. This alloy is strengthened by nano-scaled L21-Ni2TiAl (Heusler phase)-based precipitates, which themselves contain coherent nano-scaled B2 zones.more » These coherent hierarchical precipitates are uniformly distributed within the Fe matrix. Our hierarchical structure material exhibits the superior creep resistance at 973 K in terms of the minimal creep rate, which is four orders of magnitude lower than that of conventional ferritic steels. These results provide a new alloy-design strategy using the novel concept of hierarchical precipitates and the fundamental science for developing creep-resistant ferritic alloys. Finally, the present research will broaden the applications of ferritic alloys to higher temperatures.« less

Disorder induced spin coherence in polyfluorene thin film semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Richard G.; van Schooten, Kipp; Malissa, Hans; Waters, David P.; Lupton, John M.; Boehme, Christoph

2014-03-01

Charge carrier spins in polymeric organic semiconductors significantly influence magneto-optoelectronic properties of these materials. In particular, spin relaxation times influence magnetoresistance and electroluminescence. We have studied the role of structural and electronic disorder in polaron spin-relaxation times. As a model polymer, we used polyfluorene, which can exist in two distinct morphologies: an amorphous (glassy) and an ordered (beta) phase. The phases can be controlled in thin films by preparation parameters and verified by photoluminescence spectroscopy. We conducted pulsed electrically detected magnetic resonance (pEDMR) measurements to determine spin-dephasing times by transient current measurements under bipolar charge carrier injection conditions and a forward bias. The measurements showed that, contrary to intuition, spin-dephasing times increase with material disorder. We attribute this behavior to a reduction in hyperfine field strength for carriers in the glassy phase due to increased structural disorder in the hydrogenated side chains, leading to longer spin coherence times. We acknowledge support by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Award #DE-SC0000909.

Coherent diffraction imaging of non-isolated object with apodized illumination.

PubMed

Khakurel, Krishna P; Kimura, Takashi; Joti, Yasumasa; Matsuyama, Satoshi; Yamauchi, Kazuto; Nishino, Yoshinori

2015-11-02

Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is an established lensless imaging method widely used at the x-ray regime applicable to the imaging of non-periodic materials. Conventional CDI can practically image isolated objects only, which hinders the broader application of the method. We present the imaging of non-isolated objects by employing recently proposed "non-scanning" apodized-illumination CDI at an optical wavelength. We realized isolated apodized illumination with a specially designed optical configuration and succeeded in imaging phase objects as well as amplitude objects. The non-scanning nature of the method is important particularly in imaging live cells and tissues, where fast imaging is required for non-isolated objects, and is an advantage over ptychography. We believe that our result of phase contrast imaging at an optical wavelength can be extended to the quantitative phase imaging of cells and tissues. The method also provides the feasibility of the lensless single-shot imaging of extended objects with x-ray free-electron lasers.

A quantum diffractor for thermal flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

José Martínez-Pérez, Maria; Giazotto, Francesco

2014-04-01

Macroscopic phase coherence between weakly coupled superconductors leads to peculiar interference phenomena. Among these, magnetic flux-driven diffraction might be produced, in full analogy to light diffraction through a rectangular slit. This can be experimentally revealed by the electric current and, notably, also by the heat current transmitted through the circuit. The former was observed more than 50 years ago and represented the first experimental evidence of the phase-coherent nature of the Josephson effect, whereas the second one was still lacking. Here we demonstrate the existence of heat diffraction by measuring the modulation of the electronic temperature of a small metallic electrode nearby-contacted to a thermally biased short Josephson junction subjected to an in-plane magnetic field. The observed temperature dependence exhibits symmetry under magnetic flux reversal, and clear resemblance with a Fraunhofer-like modulation pattern. Our approach, joined to widespread methods for phase-biasing superconducting circuits, might represent an effective tool for controlling the thermal flux in nanoscale devices.

DEVELOPMENT OF SHORT UNDULATORS FOR ELECTRON-BEAM-RADIATION INTERACTION STUDIES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Piot, P.; Andorf, M. B.; Fagerberg, G.

Interaction of an electron beam with external field or its own radiation has widespread applications ranging from coherent-radiation generation, phase space cooling or formation of temporally-structured beams. An efficient coupling mechanism between an electron beam and radiation field relies on the use of a magnetic undulator. In this contribution we detail our plans to build short (11-period) undulators with 7-cm period refurbishing parts of the aladdin U3 undulator [1]. Possible use of these undulators at available test facilities to support experiments relevant to cooling techniques and radiation sources are outlined.

Self-consistent chaos in a mean-field Hamiltonian model of fluids and plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

del-Castillo-Negrete, D.; Firpo, Marie-Christine

2002-11-01

We present a mean-field Hamiltonian model that describes the collective dynamics of marginally stable fluids and plasmas. In plasmas, the model describes the self-consistent evolution of electron holes and clumps in phase space. In fluids, the model describes the dynamics of vortices with negative and positive circulation in shear flows. The mean-field nature of the system makes it a tractable model to study the dynamics of large degrees-of-freedom, coupled Hamiltonian systems. Here we focus in the role of self-consistent chaos in the formation and destruction of phase space coherent structures. Numerical simulations in the finite N and in the Narrow kinetic limit (where N is the number of particles) show the existence of coherent, rotating dipole states. We approximate the dipole as two macroparticles, and show that the N = 2 limit has a family of rotating integrable solutions described by a one degree-of-freedom nontwist Hamiltonian. The coherence of the dipole is explained in terms of a parametric resonance between the rotation frequency of the macroparticles and the oscillation frequency of the self-consistent mean field. For a class of initial conditions, the mean field exhibits a self-consistent, elliptic-hyperbolic bifurcation that leads to the destruction of the dipole and violent mixing of the phase space.

Coherent Control of Scattering Processes in Semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wehner, M. U.

1998-03-01

On a timescale which compares to the duration of single scattering events, the relaxation of optical excitations in semiconductors has to be described by the quantum kinetic theory. Instead of simple scattering rates this theory delivers a non-Markovian dephasing. Related memory effects have so far been observed for the case of electron-LO-phonon scattering in four-wave-mixing experiments on GaAs at T = 77 K using 15 fs pulses (L. Bányai, D.B. Tran Thoai, E. Reitsamer, H. Haug, D. Steinbach, M.U. Wehner, T. Marschner, M. Wegener and W. Stolz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 75), 2188 (1995). It is crucial for the quantum kinetic time regime that scattering processes must not be considered as completed and irreversibel. The reversibility of the scattering shortly after optical excitation is demonstrated in four-wave-mixing experiments using coherent control. By adjusting the relative phase of two phase-locked pulses, the non-Markovian phonon oscillations observed in Ref.1 can be either suppressed or amplified (M. U. Wehner, M. H. Ulm, D. S. Chemla and M. Wegener, Phys. Rev. Lett. submitted). The behavior of the coherently controlled scattering amplitude is discussed using a simple model Hamiltonian, which describes the variation of the phonon oscillations in amplitude and phase very well.

Multichannel heterodyning for wideband interferometry, correlation and signal processing

DOEpatents

Erskine, David J.

1999-01-01

A method of signal processing a high bandwidth signal by coherently subdividing it into many narrow bandwidth channels which are individually processed at lower frequencies in a parallel manner. Autocorrelation and correlations can be performed using reference frequencies which may drift slowly with time, reducing cost of device. Coordinated adjustment of channel phases alters temporal and spectral behavior of net signal process more precisely than a channel used individually. This is a method of implementing precision long coherent delays, interferometers, and filters for high bandwidth optical or microwave signals using low bandwidth electronics. High bandwidth signals can be recorded, mathematically manipulated, and synthesized.

Multichannel heterodyning for wideband interferometry, correlation and signal processing

DOEpatents

Erskine, D.J.

1999-08-24

A method is disclosed of signal processing a high bandwidth signal by coherently subdividing it into many narrow bandwidth channels which are individually processed at lower frequencies in a parallel manner. Autocorrelation and correlations can be performed using reference frequencies which may drift slowly with time, reducing cost of device. Coordinated adjustment of channel phases alters temporal and spectral behavior of net signal process more precisely than a channel used individually. This is a method of implementing precision long coherent delays, interferometers, and filters for high bandwidth optical or microwave signals using low bandwidth electronics. High bandwidth signals can be recorded, mathematically manipulated, and synthesized. 50 figs.

Observation of superradiant synchrotron radiation in the terahertz region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Billinghurst, B. E.; Bergstrom, J. C.; Dallin, L.; de Jong, M.; May, T. E.; Vogt, J. M.; Wurtz, W. A.

2013-06-01

We report the first high-resolution measurement of superradiance, using coherent synchrotron radiation in the terahertz region from the Canadian Light Source synchrotron and a Michelson interferometer with a nominal frequency resolution of 0.00096cm-1. Superradiance arises when a high degree of phase coherence exists between the radiation fields of the individual electron bunches, and manifests itself as a series of narrow spectral peaks at harmonics of the bunch frequency. We observe an enhancement factor of 16 at the spectral peaks, limited by the interferometer resolution. The spectral distribution and relative amplitudes of the superradiant peaks are modified by altering the pattern of bunches along the bunch train.

Spin manipulation and spin-lattice interaction in magnetic colloidal quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moro, Fabrizio; Turyanska, Lyudmila; Granwehr, Josef; Patanè, Amalia

2014-11-01

We report on the spin-lattice interaction and coherent manipulation of electron spins in Mn-doped colloidal PbS quantum dots (QDs) by electron spin resonance. We show that the phase memory time,TM , is limited by Mn-Mn dipolar interactions, hyperfine interactions of the protons (1H) on the QD capping ligands with Mn ions in their proximity (<1 nm), and surface phonons originating from thermal fluctuations of the capping ligands. In the low Mn concentration limit and at low temperature, we achieve a long phase memory time constant TM˜0.9 μ s , thus enabling the observation of Rabi oscillations. Our findings suggest routes to the rational design of magnetic colloidal QDs with phase memory times exceeding the current limits of relevance for the implementation of QDs as qubits in quantum information processing.

Femtosecond profiling of shaped x-ray pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffmann, M. C.; Grguraš, I.; Behrens, C.; Bostedt, C.; Bozek, J.; Bromberger, H.; Coffee, R.; Costello, J. T.; DiMauro, L. F.; Ding, Y.; Doumy, G.; Helml, W.; Ilchen, M.; Kienberger, R.; Lee, S.; Maier, A. R.; Mazza, T.; Meyer, M.; Messerschmidt, M.; Schorb, S.; Schweinberger, W.; Zhang, K.; Cavalieri, A. L.

2018-03-01

Arbitrary manipulation of the temporal and spectral properties of x-ray pulses at free-electron lasers would revolutionize many experimental applications. At the Linac Coherent Light Source at Stanford National Accelerator Laboratory, the momentum phase-space of the free-electron laser driving electron bunch can be tuned to emit a pair of x-ray pulses with independently variable photon energy and femtosecond delay. However, while accelerator parameters can easily be adjusted to tune the electron bunch phase-space, the final impact of these actuators on the x-ray pulse cannot be predicted with sufficient precision. Furthermore, shot-to-shot instabilities that distort the pulse shape unpredictably cannot be fully suppressed. Therefore, the ability to directly characterize the x-rays is essential to ensure precise and consistent control. In this work, we have generated x-ray pulse pairs via electron bunch shaping and characterized them on a single-shot basis with femtosecond resolution through time-resolved photoelectron streaking spectroscopy. This achievement completes an important step toward future x-ray pulse shaping techniques.

Femtosecond time-domain observation of atmospheric absorption in the near-infrared spectrum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammond, T. J.; Monchocé, Sylvain; Zhang, Chunmei; Brown, Graham G.; Corkum, P. B.; Villeneuve, D. M.

2016-12-01

As light propagates through a medium, absorption caused by electronic or rovibrational transitions is evident in the transmitted spectrum. The incident electromagnetic field polarizes the medium and the absorption is due to the imaginary part of the linear susceptibility. In the time domain, the field establishes a coherence in the medium that radiates out of phase with the initial field. This coherence can persist for tens of picoseconds in atmospheric molecules such as H2O . We propagate a few-cycle laser pulse centered at 1.8 μ m through the atmosphere and measure the long-lasting molecular coherence in the time domain by high-order harmonic cross correlation. The measured optical free-induction decay of the pulse is compared with a calculation based on the calculated rovibrational spectrum of H2O absorption.

Emerging opportunities in structural biology with X-ray free-electron lasers

PubMed Central

Schlichting, Ilme; Miao, Jianwei

2012-01-01

X-ray free-electron lasers (X-FELs) produce X-ray pulses with extremely brilliant peak intensity and ultrashort pulse duration. It has been proposed that radiation damage can be “outrun” by using an ultra intense and short X-FEL pulse that passes a biological sample before the onset of significant radiation damage. The concept of “diffraction-before-destruction” has been demonstrated recently at the Linac Coherent Light Source, the first operational hard X-ray FEL, for protein nanocrystals and giant virus particles. The continuous diffraction patterns from single particles allow solving the classical “phase problem” by the oversampling method with iterative algorithms. If enough data are collected from many identical copies of a (biological) particle, its three-dimensional structure can be reconstructed. We review the current status and future prospects of serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) and single-particle coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) with X-FELs. PMID:22922042

Limited role of spectra in dynamo theory: coherent versus random dynamos.

PubMed

Tobias, Steven M; Cattaneo, Fausto

2008-09-19

We discuss the importance of phase information and coherence times in determining the dynamo properties of turbulent flows. We compare the kinematic dynamo properties of three flows with the same energy spectrum. The first flow is dominated by coherent structures with nontrivial phase information and long eddy coherence times, the second has random phases and long-coherence time, the third has nontrivial phase information, but short coherence time. We demonstrate that the first flow is the most efficient kinematic dynamo, owing to the presence of sustained stretching and constructive folding. We argue that these results place limitations on the possible inferences of the dynamo properties of flows from the use of spectra alone, and that the role of coherent structures must always be accounted for.

Detection of magnetic circular dichroism in amorphous materials utilizing a single-crystalline overlayer

DOE PAGES

Lin, J.; Zhong, X. Y.; Song, C.; ...

2017-12-27

Physicists are fascinated with topological defects in solid-state materials, because by breaking the translational symmetry they offer emerging properties that are not present in their parental phases. For example, edge dislocations—the 2π phase-winding topological defects—in antiferromagnetic NiO crystals can exhibit ferromagnetic behaviors. Herein, we study how these defects could give rise to exotic topological orders when they interact with a high energy electron beam. To probe this interaction, we formed a coherent electron nanobeam in a scanning transmission electron microscope and recorded the far-field transmitted patterns as the beam steps through the edge dislocation core in [001] NiO. Surprisingly, wemore » found the amplitude patterns of the <020> Bragg disks evolve in a similar manner to the evolution of an annular solar eclipse. Using the ptychographic technique, we recovered the missing phase information in the diffraction plane and revealed the topological phase vortices in the diffracted beams. Through atomic topological defects, the wave function of electrons can be converted from plane wave to electron vortex. This approach provides a new perspective for boosting the collection efficiency of magnetic circular dichroism spectra with high spatial resolution and understanding the relationship between symmetry breaking and exotic property of individual topological defect at atomic level.« less

Detection of magnetic circular dichroism in amorphous materials utilizing a single-crystalline overlayer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, J.; Zhong, X. Y.; Song, C.

Physicists are fascinated with topological defects in solid-state materials, because by breaking the translational symmetry they offer emerging properties that are not present in their parental phases. For example, edge dislocations—the 2π phase-winding topological defects—in antiferromagnetic NiO crystals can exhibit ferromagnetic behaviors. Herein, we study how these defects could give rise to exotic topological orders when they interact with a high energy electron beam. To probe this interaction, we formed a coherent electron nanobeam in a scanning transmission electron microscope and recorded the far-field transmitted patterns as the beam steps through the edge dislocation core in [001] NiO. Surprisingly, wemore » found the amplitude patterns of the <020> Bragg disks evolve in a similar manner to the evolution of an annular solar eclipse. Using the ptychographic technique, we recovered the missing phase information in the diffraction plane and revealed the topological phase vortices in the diffracted beams. Through atomic topological defects, the wave function of electrons can be converted from plane wave to electron vortex. This approach provides a new perspective for boosting the collection efficiency of magnetic circular dichroism spectra with high spatial resolution and understanding the relationship between symmetry breaking and exotic property of individual topological defect at atomic level.« less

Two-color vibrational, femtosecond, fully resonant electronically enhanced CARS (FREE-CARS) of gas-phase nitric oxide.

PubMed

Stauffer, Hans U; Roy, Sukesh; Schmidt, Jacob B; Wrzesinski, Paul J; Gord, James R

2016-09-28

A resonantly enhanced, two-color, femtosecond time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) approach is demonstrated and used to explore the nature of the frequency- and time-dependent signals produced by gas-phase nitric oxide (NO). Through careful selection of the input pulse wavelengths, this fully resonant electronically enhanced CARS (FREE-CARS) scheme allows rovibronic-state-resolved observation of time-dependent rovibrational wavepackets propagating on the vibrationally excited ground-state potential energy surface of this diatomic species. Despite the use of broadband, ultrafast time-resolved input pulses, high spectral resolution of gas-phase rovibronic transitions is observed in the FREE-CARS signal, dictated by the electronic dephasing timescales of these states. Analysis and computational simulation of the time-dependent spectra observed as a function of pump-Stokes and Stokes-probe delays provide insight into the rotationally resolved wavepacket motion observed on the excited-state and vibrationally excited ground-state potential energy surfaces of NO, respectively.

Selenium single-wavelength anomalous diffraction de novo phasing using an X-ray-free electron laser

DOE PAGES

Hunter, Mark S.; Yoon, Chun Hong; DeMirci, Hasan; ...

2016-11-04

Structural information about biological macromolecules near the atomic scale provides important insight into the functions of these molecules. To date, X-ray crystallography has been the predominant method used for macromolecular structure determination. However, challenges exist when solving structures with X-rays, including the phase problem and radiation damage. X-ray-free electron lasers (X-ray FELs) have enabled collection of diffraction information before the onset of radiation damage, yet the majority of structures solved at X-ray FELs have been phased using external information via molecular replacement. De novo phasing at X-ray FELs has proven challenging due in part to per-pulse variations in intensity andmore » wavelength. Here we report the solution of a selenobiotinyl-streptavidin structure using phases obtained by the anomalous diffraction of selenium measured at a single wavelength (Se-SAD) at the Linac Coherent Light Source. Finally, our results demonstrate Se-SAD, routinely employed at synchrotrons for novel structure determination, is now possible at X-ray FELs.« less

Observation of quasi-coherent edge fluctuations in Ohmic plasmas on National Spherical Torus Experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Banerjee, Santanu; Diallo, A.; Zweben, S. J.

A quasi-coherent edge density mode with frequency f{sub mode} ∼ 40 kHz is observed in Ohmic plasmas in National Spherical Torus Experiment using the gas puff imaging diagnostic. This mode is located predominantly just inside the separatrix, with a maximum fluctuation amplitude significantly higher than that of the broadband turbulence in the same frequency range. The quasi-coherent mode has a poloidal wavelength λ{sub pol} ∼ 16 cm and a poloidal phase velocity of V{sub pol} ∼ 4.9 ± 0.3 km s{sup −1} in the electron diamagnetic direction, which are similar to the characteristics expected from a linear drift-wave-like mode in the edge. This is the first observation of amore » quasi-coherent edge mode in an Ohmic diverted tokamak, and so may be useful for validating tokamak edge turbulence codes.« less

Structure and properties of fixed joints formed by ultrasonic-assisted friction-stir welding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fortuna, S. V., E-mail: s-fortuna@ispms.ru; Ivanov, K. V., E-mail: ikv@ispms.ru; Eliseev, A. A., E-mail: alan@ispms.ru

2015-10-27

This paper deals with structure and properties of aluminum alloy 7475 and its joints obtained by friction stir welding including under ultrasonic action. Microhardness measurements show that ultrasonic action increases strength properties of the joints. Optical and transmission electron microscopy reveals that this effect is related to the precipitation of tertiary coherent S-and T-phase particles.

Quantum Phases at the Nanoscale

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-07-20

Sapienza" Roma. (Ital)y and Consejo perpendicular magnetic field, independent Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y electrons occupy Landau levels...Electromodulation of charge transfer and Departamento de Fisica Teorica de la the breathing mode of C60 on graphite Materia Condensada, Spain Miriam del...Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid- epitaxial ferromagnetic metal [4], exhibiting CSIC. Spain coherent dynamics that persist over time scales

Mechanisms of decoherence in electron microscopy.

PubMed

Howie, A

2011-06-01

The understanding and where possible the minimisation of decoherence mechanisms in electron microscopy were first studied in plasmon loss, diffraction contrast images but are of even more acute relevance in high resolution TEM phase contrast imaging and electron holography. With the development of phase retrieval techniques they merit further attention particularly when their effect cannot be eliminated by currently available energy filters. The roles of electronic excitation, thermal diffuse scattering, transition radiation and bremsstrahlung are examined here not only in the specimen but also in the electron optical column. Terahertz-range aloof beam electronic excitation appears to account satisfactorily for recent observations of decoherence in electron holography. An apparent low frequency divergence can emerge for the calculated classical bremsstrahlung event probability but can be ignored for photon wavelengths exceeding the required coherence distance or path lengths in the equipment. Most bremsstrahlung event probabilities are negligibly important except possibly in large-angle bending magnets or mandolin systems. A more reliable procedure for subtracting thermal diffuse scattering from diffraction pattern intensities is proposed. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phase-Sensitive Reflective Imaging Device in the mm-wave and Terahertz Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallerano, Gian Piero; Doria, Andrea; Germini, Marzia; Giovenale, Emilio; Messina, Giovanni; Spassovsky, Ivan P.

2009-12-01

Two Free Electron Laser sources have been developed at ENEA-Frascati for a variety of applications: A Compact Free Electron Laser (C-FEL) that provides coherent radiation in the frequency range between 90 and 150 GHz Gallerano et al. (Infrared Phys. and Techn. 40:161, 1999), and a second source, FEL-CATS, which utilizes a peculiar radio-frequency structure to generate coherent emission in the range 0.4 to 0.7 THz Doria et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett 93:264801, 2004). The high peak power of several kW in 15 to 50 ps pulses, makes these sources particularly suitable for the assessment of exposure limits in biological systems and for long range detection. In this paper we present a phase-sensitive reflective imaging device in the mm-wave and THz regions, which has proven to be a valuable tool in the biological Ramundo-Orlando et al. (Bioelectromagnetics 28:587-598, 2007), environmental Doria et al. (2005) and art conservation fields Gallerano et al. (2008). Different setups have been tested at different levels of spatial resolution to image objects from a few centimeter square to larger sizes. Images have been compared to identify and characterize the contrast mechanism.

Coexistence of multiphase superconductivity and ferromagnetism in lithiated iron selenide hydroxide [(L i1 -xF ex) OH ]FeSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urban, Christian; Valmianski, Ilya; Pachmayr, Ursula; Basaran, Ali C.; Johrendt, Dirk; Schuller, Ivan K.

2018-01-01

We present experimental evidence for (a) multiphase superconductivity and (b) coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in a single structural phase of lithiated iron selenide hydroxide [(L i1 -xF ex )OH]FeSe. Magnetic field modulated microwave spectroscopy data confirms superconductivity with at least two distinct transition temperatures attributed to well-defined superconducting phases at TSC 1=40 ±2 K and TSC 2=35 ±2 K. Magnetometry data for the upper critical fields reveal a change in the magnetic order (TM=12 K) below TSC 1 and TSC 2 that is consistent with ferromagnetism. This occurs because the superconducting coherence length is much smaller than the structural coherence length, allowing for several different electronic and magnetic states on a single crystallite. The results give insight into the physics of complex multinary materials, where several phenomena governed by different characteristic length scales coexist.

Coherent diffractive imaging of solid state reactions in zinc oxide crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leake, Steven J.; Harder, Ross; Robinson, Ian K.

2011-11-01

We investigated the doping of zinc oxide (ZnO) microcrystals with iron and nickel via in situ coherent x-ray diffractive imaging (CXDI) in vacuum. Evaporated thin metal films were deposited onto the ZnO microcrystals. A single crystal was selected and tracked through annealing cycles. A solid state reaction was observed in both iron and nickel experiments using CXDI. A combination of the shrink wrap and guided hybrid-input-output phasing methods were applied to retrieve the electron density. The resolution was 33 nm (half order) determined via the phase retrieval transfer function. The resulting images are nevertheless sensitive to sub-angstrom displacements. The exterior of the microcrystal was found to degrade dramatically. The annealing of ZnO microcrystals coated with metal thin films proved an unsuitable doping method. In addition the observed defect structure of one crystal was attributed to the presence of an array of defects and was found to change upon annealing.

Terahertz Sum-Frequency Excitation of a Raman-Active Phonon.

PubMed

Maehrlein, Sebastian; Paarmann, Alexander; Wolf, Martin; Kampfrath, Tobias

2017-09-22

In stimulated Raman scattering, two incident optical waves induce a force oscillating at the difference of the two light frequencies. This process has enabled important applications such as the excitation and coherent control of phonons and magnons by femtosecond laser pulses. Here, we experimentally and theoretically demonstrate the so far neglected up-conversion counterpart of this process: THz sum-frequency excitation of a Raman-active phonon mode, which is tantamount to two-photon absorption by an optical transition between two adjacent vibrational levels. Coherent control of an optical lattice vibration of diamond is achieved by an intense terahertz pulse whose spectrum is centered at half the phonon frequency of 40 THz. Remarkably, the carrier-envelope phase of the THz pulse is directly transferred into the phase of the lattice vibration. New prospects in general infrared spectroscopy, action spectroscopy, and lattice trajectory control in the electronic ground state emerge.

Hilbert and Blaschke phases in the temporal coherence function of stationary broadband light.

PubMed

Fernández-Pousa, Carlos R; Maestre, Haroldo; Torregrosa, Adrián J; Capmany, Juan

2008-10-27

We show that the minimal phase of the temporal coherence function gamma (tau) of stationary light having a partially-coherent symmetric spectral peak can be computed as a relative logarithmic Hilbert transform of its amplitude with respect to its asymptotic behavior. The procedure is applied to experimental data from amplified spontaneous emission broadband sources in the 1.55 microm band with subpicosecond coherence times, providing examples of degrees of coherence with both minimal and non-minimal phase. In the latter case, the Blaschke phase is retrieved and the position of the Blaschke zeros determined.

Interfacial Coupling and Electronic Structure of Two-Dimensional Silicon Grown on the Ag(111) Surface at High Temperature.

PubMed

Feng, Jiagui; Wagner, Sean R; Zhang, Pengpeng

2015-06-18

Freestanding silicene, a monolayer of Si arranged in a honeycomb structure, has been predicted to give rise to massless Dirac fermions, akin to graphene. However, Si structures grown on a supporting substrate can show properties that strongly deviate from the freestanding case. Here, combining scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and differential conductance mapping, we show that the electrical properties of the (√3 x √3) phase of few-layer Si grown on Ag(111) strongly depend on film thickness, where the electron phase coherence length decreases and the free-electron-like surface state gradually diminishes when approaching the interface. These features are presumably attributable to the inelastic inter-band electron-electron scattering originating from the overlap between the surface state, interface state and the bulk state of the substrate. We further demonstrate that the intrinsic electronic structure of the as grown (√3 x √3) phase is identical to that of the (√3 x √3)R30° reconstructed Ag on Si(111), both of which exhibit the parabolic energy-momentum dispersion relation with comparable electron effective masses. These findings highlight the essential role of interfacial coupling on the properties of two-dimensional Si structures grown on supporting substrates, which should be thoroughly scrutinized in pursuit of silicene.

Substantially Enhancing Quantum Coherence of Electrons in Graphene via Electron-Plasmon Coupling.

PubMed

Cheng, Guanghui; Qin, Wei; Lin, Meng-Hsien; Wei, Laiming; Fan, Xiaodong; Zhang, Huayang; Gwo, Shangjr; Zeng, Changgan; Hou, J G; Zhang, Zhenyu

2017-10-13

The interplays between different quasiparticles in solids lay the foundation for a wide spectrum of intriguing quantum effects, yet how the collective plasmon excitations affect the quantum transport of electrons remains largely unexplored. Here we provide the first demonstration that when the electron-plasmon coupling is introduced, the quantum coherence of electrons in graphene is substantially enhanced with the quantum coherence length almost tripled. We further develop a microscopic model to interpret the striking observations, emphasizing the vital role of the graphene plasmons in suppressing electron-electron dephasing. The novel and transformative concept of plasmon-enhanced quantum coherence sheds new insight into interquasiparticle interactions, and further extends a new dimension to exploit nontrivial quantum phenomena and devices in solid systems.

Nature and evolution of incommensurate charge order in manganites visualized with cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy

PubMed Central

Savitzky, Benjamin H.; Admasu, Alemayehu S.; Kim, Jaewook; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Hovden, Robert; Kourkoutis, Lena F.

2018-01-01

Incommensurate charge order in hole-doped oxides is intertwined with exotic phenomena such as colossal magnetoresistance, high-temperature superconductivity, and electronic nematicity. Here, we map, at atomic resolution, the nature of incommensurate charge–lattice order in a manganite using scanning transmission electron microscopy at room temperature and cryogenic temperature (∼93 K). In diffraction, the ordering wave vector changes upon cooling, a behavior typically associated with incommensurate order. However, using real space measurements, we discover that the ordered state forms lattice-locked regions over a few wavelengths interspersed with phase defects and changing periodicity. The cations undergo picometer-scale (∼6 pm to 11 pm) transverse displacements, suggesting that charge–lattice coupling is strong. We further unearth phase inhomogeneity in the periodic lattice displacements at room temperature, and emergent phase coherence at 93 K. Such local phase variations govern the long-range correlations of the charge-ordered state and locally change the periodicity of the modulations, resulting in wave vector shifts in reciprocal space. These atomically resolved observations underscore the importance of lattice coupling and phase inhomogeneity, and provide a microscopic explanation for putative “incommensurate” order in hole-doped oxides. PMID:29382750

Coherent Fe-rich nano-scale perovskite oxide phase in epitaxial Sr2FeMoO6 films grown on cubic and scandate substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deniz, Hakan; Preziosi, Daniele; Alexe, Marin; Hesse, Dietrich

2017-01-01

We report the growth of high-quality epitaxial Sr2FeMoO6 (SFMO) thin films on various unconventional oxide substrates, such as TbScO3, DyScO3, and Sr2Al0.3Ga0.7TaO6 (SAGT) as well as on the most commonly used one, SrTiO3 (STO), by pulsed laser deposition. The films were found to contain a foreign nano-scale phase coherently embedded inside the SFMO film matrix. Through energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we identified the foreign phase to be Sr2-xFe1+yMo1-yO6, an off-stoichiometric derivative of the SFMO compound with Fe rich content (y ≈ 0.6) and a fairly identical crystal structure to SFMO. The films on STO and SAGT exhibited very good magnetic properties with high Curie temperature values. All the samples have fairly good conducting behavior albeit the presence of a foreign phase. Despite the relatively large number of items of the foreign phase, there is no significant deterioration in the properties of the SFMO films. We discuss in detail how magneto-transport properties are affected by the foreign phase.

Effect of Sn addition on hot tearing susceptibility of AXJ530 alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hai-kuo, Dong; Feng, Wang; Zhi, Wang; Jin-kun, Liu; Zheng, Liu; Ping-li, Mao

2018-03-01

The effects of different Sn additions (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt%) on hot tearing susceptibility (HTS) of AXJ530 alloy were studied using ‘T-shaped’ hot tearing mold at a pouring temperature of 700 °C and a mold temperature of 200 °C and paraffin permeation method. The dendrite coherency temperature was obtained by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA), and phases evolution, microstructures and morphology of the crack zone of AXJ530-xSn alloys were also investigated by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The experimental results show that the HTS of AXJ530-xSn alloys increases with Sn additions up to 1.0 wt%, and then exhibits a slight decrease with further Sn additions up to 2.0 wt%. The Sn additions into AXJ530 alloy can first form CaMgSn phase with high melting point, reduce amount of α-Mg+(Mg,Al)2Ca eutectic phase, increase the dendrite coherency temperature, decrease the thickness of liquid film and the feeding ability at the end of solidification, resulting in the rise of the HTS. However, the improvement in hot tearing resistance for AXJ530-2.0Sn alloy can be attributed to the grain refinement, lower dendrite coherency temperature and formation of the Mg17Al12 phase with a low melting point to feed more readily at the end of solidification, which improves the state of dendrite and the feeding channel.

Coherent Electron Transfer at the Ag / Graphite Heterojunction Interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Shijing; Dai, Yanan; Zhang, Shengmin; Liu, Liming; Zhao, Jin; Petek, Hrvoje

2018-03-01

Charge transfer in transduction of light to electrical or chemical energy at heterojunctions of metals with semiconductors or semimetals is believed to occur by photogenerated hot electrons in metal undergoing incoherent internal photoemission through the heterojunction interface. Charge transfer, however, can also occur coherently by dipole coupling of electronic bands at the heterojunction interface. Microscopic physical insights into how transfer occurs can be elucidated by following the coherent polarization of the donor and acceptor states on the time scale of electronic dephasing. By time-resolved multiphoton photoemission spectroscopy (MPP), we investigate the coherent electron transfer from an interface state that forms upon chemisorption of Ag nanoclusters onto graphite to a σ symmetry interlayer band of graphite. Multidimensional MPP spectroscopy reveals a resonant two-photon transition, which dephases within 10 fs completing the coherent transfer.

Electrical control of flying spin precession in chiral 1D edge states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nakajima, Takashi; Komiyama, Susumu; Lin, Kuan-Ting

2013-12-04

Electrical control and detection of spin precession are experimentally demonstrated by using spin-resolved edge states in the integer quantum Hall regime. Spin precession is triggered at a corner of a biased metal gate, where electron orbital motion makes a sharp turn leading to a nonadiabatic change in the effective magnetic field via spin-orbit interaction. The phase of precession is controlled by the group velocity of edge-state electrons tuned by gate bias voltage: Spin-FET-like coherent control of spin precession is thus realized by all-electrical means.

Manipulating ion-atom collisions with coherent electromagnetic radiation.

PubMed

Kirchner, Tom

2002-08-26

Laser-assisted ion-atom collisions are considered in terms of a nonperturbative quantum mechanical description of the electronic motion. It is shown for the system He(2+) - H at 2 keV/amu that the collision dynamics depend strongly on the initial phase of the laser field and the applied wavelength. Whereas electronic transitions are caused by the concurrent action of the field and the projectile ion at relatively low frequencies, they can be separated into modified collisional capture and field ionization events in the region above the one-photon ionization threshold.

X-ray Laser Animated Fly-Through

ScienceCinema

None

2018-01-16

Take a tour with an electron's-eye-view through SLAC's revolutionary new X-ray laser facility with this 5 1/2 minute animation. See how the X-ray pulses are generated using the world's longest linear accelerator along with unique arrays of machinery specially designed for this one-of-a-kind tool. For more than 40 years, SLAC's two-mile-long linear accelerator (or linac) linac has produced high-energy electrons for cutting-edge physics experiments. Now, SLAC's linac has entered a new phase of its career with the creation of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS).

Selectivity of Electronic Coherence and Attosecond Ionization Delays in Strong-Field Double Ionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Yuki; Reduzzi, Maurizio; Chang, Kristina F.; Timmers, Henry; Neumark, Daniel M.; Leone, Stephen R.

2018-06-01

Experiments are presented on real-time probing of coherent electron dynamics in xenon initiated by strong-field double ionization. Attosecond transient absorption measurements allow for characterization of electronic coherences as well as relative ionization timings in multiple electronic states of Xe+ and Xe2 + . A high degree of coherence g =0.4 is observed between P3 2 0-P3 0 0 of Xe2 + , whereas for other possible pairs of states the coherences are below the detection limits of the experiments. A comparison of the experimental results with numerical simulations based on an uncorrelated electron-emission model shows that the coherences produced by strong-field double ionization are more selective than predicted. Surprisingly short ionization time delays, 0.85 fs, 0.64 fs, and 0.75 fs relative to Xe+ formation, are also measured for the P2 3 , P0 3 , and P1 3 states of Xe2 + , respectively. Both the unpredicted selectivity in the formation of coherence and the subfemtosecond time delays of specific states provide new insight into correlated electron dynamics in strong-field double ionization.

Measuring short electron bunch lengths using coherent smith-purcell radiation

DOEpatents

Nguyen, Dinh C.

1999-01-01

A method is provided for directly determining the length of sub-picosecond electron bunches. A metallic grating is formed with a groove spacing greater than a length expected for the electron bunches. The electron bunches are passed over the metallic grating to generate coherent and incoherent Smith-Purcell radiation. The angular distribution of the coherent Smith-Purcell radiation is then mapped to directly deduce the length of the electron bunches.

Measuring short electron bunch lengths using coherent Smith-Purcell radiation

DOEpatents

Nguyen, D.C.

1999-03-30

A method is provided for directly determining the length of sub-picosecond electron bunches. A metallic grating is formed with a groove spacing greater than a length expected for the electron bunches. The electron bunches are passed over the metallic grating to generate coherent and incoherent Smith-Purcell radiation. The angular distribution of the coherent Smith-Purcell radiation is then mapped to directly deduce the length of the electron bunches. 8 figs.

Echo-Enabled X-Ray Vortex Generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemsing, E.; Marinelli, A.

2012-11-01

A technique to generate high-brightness electromagnetic vortices with tunable topological charge at extreme ultraviolet and x-ray wavelengths is described. Based on a modified version of echo-enabled harmonic generation for free-electron lasers, the technique uses two lasers and two chicanes to produce high-harmonic microbunching of a relativistic electron beam with a corkscrew distribution that matches the instantaneous helical phase structure of the x-ray vortex. The strongly correlated electron distribution emerges from an efficient three-dimensional recoherence effect in the echo-enabled harmonic generation transport line and can emit fully coherent vortices in a downstream radiator for access to new research in x-ray science.

A comprehensive simulation framework for imaging single particles and biomolecules at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser

PubMed Central

Yoon, Chun Hong; Yurkov, Mikhail V.; Schneidmiller, Evgeny A.; Samoylova, Liubov; Buzmakov, Alexey; Jurek, Zoltan; Ziaja, Beata; Santra, Robin; Loh, N. Duane; Tschentscher, Thomas; Mancuso, Adrian P.

2016-01-01

The advent of newer, brighter, and more coherent X-ray sources, such as X-ray Free-Electron Lasers (XFELs), represents a tremendous growth in the potential to apply coherent X-rays to determine the structure of materials from the micron-scale down to the Angstrom-scale. There is a significant need for a multi-physics simulation framework to perform source-to-detector simulations for a single particle imaging experiment, including (i) the multidimensional simulation of the X-ray source; (ii) simulation of the wave-optics propagation of the coherent XFEL beams; (iii) atomistic modelling of photon-material interactions; (iv) simulation of the time-dependent diffraction process, including incoherent scattering; (v) assembling noisy and incomplete diffraction intensities into a three-dimensional data set using the Expansion-Maximisation-Compression (EMC) algorithm and (vi) phase retrieval to obtain structural information. We demonstrate the framework by simulating a single-particle experiment for a nitrogenase iron protein using parameters of the SPB/SFX instrument of the European XFEL. This exercise demonstrably yields interpretable consequences for structure determination that are crucial yet currently unavailable for experiment design. PMID:27109208

A comprehensive simulation framework for imaging single particles and biomolecules at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoon, Chun Hong; Yurkov, Mikhail V.; Schneidmiller, Evgeny A.

The advent of newer, brighter, and more coherent X-ray sources, such as X-ray Free-Electron Lasers (XFELs), represents a tremendous growth in the potential to apply coherent X-rays to determine the structure of materials from the micron-scale down to the Angstrom-scale. There is a significant need for a multi-physics simulation framework to perform source-to-detector simulations for a single particle imaging experiment, including (i) the multidimensional simulation of the X-ray source; (ii) simulation of the wave-optics propagation of the coherent XFEL beams; (iii) atomistic modelling of photon-material interactions; (iv) simulation of the time-dependent diffraction process, including incoherent scattering; (v) assembling noisy andmore » incomplete diffraction intensities into a three-dimensional data set using the Expansion-Maximisation-Compression (EMC) algorithm and (vi) phase retrieval to obtain structural information. Furthermore, we demonstrate the framework by simulating a single-particle experiment for a nitrogenase iron protein using parameters of the SPB/SFX instrument of the European XFEL. This exercise demonstrably yields interpretable consequences for structure determination that are crucial yet currently unavailable for experiment design.« less

A comprehensive simulation framework for imaging single particles and biomolecules at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser

DOE PAGES

Yoon, Chun Hong; Yurkov, Mikhail V.; Schneidmiller, Evgeny A.; ...

2016-04-25

The advent of newer, brighter, and more coherent X-ray sources, such as X-ray Free-Electron Lasers (XFELs), represents a tremendous growth in the potential to apply coherent X-rays to determine the structure of materials from the micron-scale down to the Angstrom-scale. There is a significant need for a multi-physics simulation framework to perform source-to-detector simulations for a single particle imaging experiment, including (i) the multidimensional simulation of the X-ray source; (ii) simulation of the wave-optics propagation of the coherent XFEL beams; (iii) atomistic modelling of photon-material interactions; (iv) simulation of the time-dependent diffraction process, including incoherent scattering; (v) assembling noisy andmore » incomplete diffraction intensities into a three-dimensional data set using the Expansion-Maximisation-Compression (EMC) algorithm and (vi) phase retrieval to obtain structural information. Furthermore, we demonstrate the framework by simulating a single-particle experiment for a nitrogenase iron protein using parameters of the SPB/SFX instrument of the European XFEL. This exercise demonstrably yields interpretable consequences for structure determination that are crucial yet currently unavailable for experiment design.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Song, Gian; Sun, Zhiqian; Li, Lin

There have been numerous efforts to develop creep-resistant materials strengthened by incoherent particles at high temperatures and stresses in response to future energy needs for steam turbines in thermal-power plants. However, the microstructural instability of the incoherent-particle-strengthened ferritic steels limits their application to temperatures below 900 K. Here, we report a novel ferritic alloy with the excellent creep resistance enhanced by coherent hierarchical precipitates, using the integrated experimental (transmission-electron microscopy/scanning-transmission-electron microscopy, in-situ neutron diffraction, and atom-probe tomography) and theoretical (crystal-plasticity finite-element modeling) approaches. This alloy is strengthened by nano-scaled L21-Ni2TiAl (Heusler phase)-based precipitates, which themselves contain coherent nano-scaled B2 zones.more » These coherent hierarchical precipitates are uniformly distributed within the Fe matrix. Our hierarchical structure material exhibits the superior creep resistance at 973 K in terms of the minimal creep rate, which is four orders of magnitude lower than that of conventional ferritic steels. These results provide a new alloy-design strategy using the novel concept of hierarchical precipitates and the fundamental science for developing creep-resistant ferritic alloys. Finally, the present research will broaden the applications of ferritic alloys to higher temperatures.« less

Quantum switching of π-electron rotations in a nonplanar chiral molecule by using linearly polarized UV laser pulses.

PubMed

Mineo, Hirobumi; Yamaki, Masahiro; Teranishi, Yoshiaki; Hayashi, Michitoshi; Lin, Sheng Hsien; Fujimura, Yuichi

2012-09-05

Nonplanar chiral aromatic molecules are candidates for use as building blocks of multidimensional switching devices because the π electrons can generate ring currents with a variety of directions. We employed (P)-2,2'-biphenol because four patterns of π-electron rotations along the two phenol rings are possible and theoretically determine how quantum switching of the π-electron rotations can be realized. We found that each rotational pattern can be driven by a coherent excitation of two electronic states under two conditions: one is the symmetry of the electronic states and the other is their relative phase. On the basis of the results of quantum dynamics simulations, we propose a quantum control method for sequential switching among the four rotational patterns that can be performed by using ultrashort overlapped pump and dump pulses with properly selected relative phases and photon polarization directions. The results serve as a theoretical basis for the design of confined ultrafast switching of ring currents of nonplanar molecules and further current-induced magnetic fluxes of more sophisticated systems.

Beyond the Quantum Hall Effect: New Phases of 2D Electrons at High Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisenstein, James

2007-03-01

In this talk I will discuss recent experiments on high mobility single and double layer 2D electron systems in which collective phases lying outside the usual quantum Hall effect paradigm have been detected and studied. For example, in single layer 2D systems near half-filling of highly excited Landau levels new states characterized by a massive anisotropy in the electrical resistivity of the sample are observed at very low temperature. The anisotropy has been widely interpreted as the signature of a new class of correlated electron phases which incorporate a stripe-like charge density modulation. Orientational ordering of small striped domains at low temperatures accounts for the resistive anisotropy and is reminiscent of the isotropic-to-nematic phase transition in classical liquid crystals. Double layer 2D electron systems possess collective phases not present in single layer systems. In particular, when the total number of electrons in the bilayer equals the degeneracy of a single Landau level, an unusual phase appears at small layer separation. This phase possesses a novel broken symmetry, spontaneous interlayer phase coherence, which has a number of dramatic experimental signatures. The interlayer tunneling conductance develops a strong and very sharp resonance around zero bias resembling the dc Josephson effect. At the same time, both the longitudinal and Hall resistances of the sample vanish at low temperatures when currents are driven in opposite directions through the two layers. These, and other observations are broadly consistent with theories in which the broken symmetry phase can equivalently be described as a pseudospin ferromagnet or an (imperfect) excitonic superfluid. This work reflects a collaboration with M.P. Lilly, K.B. Cooper, I.B. Spielman, M. Kellogg, L.A. Tracy, L.N. Pfeiffer, and K.W. West.

Effects of Different Quantum Coherence on the Pump-Probe Polarization Anisotropy of Photosynthetic Light-Harvesting Complexes: A Computational Study.

PubMed

Bai, Shuming; Song, Kai; Shi, Qiang

2015-05-21

Observations of oscillatory features in the 2D spectra of several photosynthetic complexes have led to diverged opinions on their origins, including electronic coherence, vibrational coherence, and vibronic coherence. In this work, effects of these different types of quantum coherence on ultrafast pump-probe polarization anisotropy are investigated and distinguished. We first simulate the isotropic pump-probe signal and anisotropy decay of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex using a model with only electronic coherence at low temperature and obtain the same coherence time as in the previous experiment. Then, three model dimer systems with different prespecified quantum coherence are simulated, and the results show that their different spectral characteristics can be used to determine the type of coherence during the spectral process. Finally, we simulate model systems with different electronic-vibrational couplings and reveal the condition in which long time vibronic coherence can be observed in systems like the FMO complex.

Multi-band magnetotransport in exfoliated thin films of Cu x Bi2Se3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexander-Webber, J. A.; Huang, J.; Beilsten-Edmands, J.; Čermák, P.; Drašar, Č.; Nicholas, R. J.; Coldea, A. I.

2018-04-01

We report magnetotransport studies in thin (<100 nm) exfoliated films of Cu x Bi2Se3 and we detect an unusual electronic transition at low temperatures. Bulk crystals show weak superconductivity with T_c∼3.5 K and a possible electronic phase transition around 200 K. Following exfoliation, superconductivity is supressed and a strongly temperature dependent multi-band conductivity is observed for T  <  30 K. This transition between competing conducting channels may be enhanced due to the presence of electronic ordering, and could be affected by the presence of an effective internal stress due to Cu intercalation. By fitting to the weak antilocalisation conductivity correction at low magnetic fields we confirm that the low temperature regime maintains a quantum phase coherence length Lφ> 100 nm indicating the presence of topologically protected surface states.

Diffusion by one wave and by many waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albert, J. M.

2010-03-01

Radiation belt electrons and chorus waves are an outstanding instance of the important role cyclotron resonant wave-particle interactions play in the magnetosphere. Chorus waves are particularly complex, often occurring with large amplitude, narrowband but drifting frequency and fine structure. Nevertheless, modeling their effect on radiation belt electrons with bounce-averaged broadband quasi-linear theory seems to yield reasonable results. It is known that coherent interactions with monochromatic waves can cause particle diffusion, as well as radically different phase bunching and phase trapping behavior. Here the two formulations of diffusion, while conceptually different, are shown to give identical diffusion coefficients, in the narrowband limit of quasi-linear theory. It is further shown that suitably averaging the monochromatic diffusion coefficients over frequency and wave normal angle parameters reproduces the full broadband quasi-linear results. This may account for the rather surprising success of quasi-linear theory in modeling radiation belt electrons undergoing diffusion by chorus waves.

Structural evolution of epitaxial SrCoO x films near topotactic phase transition

DOE PAGES

Jeen, Hyoung Jeen; Lee, Ho Nyung

2015-12-18

Control of oxygen stoichiometry in complex oxides via topotactic phase transition is an interesting avenue to not only modifying the physical properties, but utilizing in many energy technologies, such as energy storage and catalysts. However, detailed structural evolution in the close proximity of the topotactic phase transition in multivalent oxides has not been much studied. In this work, we used strontium cobaltites (SrCoO x) epitaxially grown by pulsed laser epitaxy (PLE) as a model system to study the oxidation-driven evolution of the structure, electronic, and magnetic properties. We grew coherently strained SrCoO 2.5thin films and performed post-annealing at various temperaturesmore » for topotactic conversion into the perovskite phase (SrCoO 3-δ). We clearly observed significant changes in electronic transport, magnetism, and microstructure near the critical temperature for the topotactic transformation from the brownmillerite to the perovskite phase. Furthermore, the overall crystallinity was well maintained without much structural degradation, indicating that topotactic phase control can be a useful tool to control the physical properties repeatedly via redox reactions.« less

longitudinal space charge assisted echo seeding of a free electron laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hacker, Kirsten

2015-05-01

Seed lasers are employed to improve the temporal coherence of free-electron laser light. However, when seed pulses are short relative to the particle bunch, the noisy, temporally incoherent radiation from the un-seeded electrons can overwhelm the coherent, seeded radiation. In this paper a new seeding mechanism to improve the contrast between coherent and incoherent free electron laser radiation is employed together with a novel, simplified echo-seeding method. The concept relies on a combination of longitudinal space charge wakes and an echo-seeding technique to make a short, coherent pulse of FEL light together with noise background suppression. Several different simulation codes are used to illustrate the concept with conditions at the soft x-ray Free-electron LASer in Hamburg, FLASH. The impacts of coherent synchrotron radiation, intra beam scattering, and high peak current operation are investigated.

Focal Spot and Wavefront Sensing of an X-Ray Free Electron laser using Ronchi shearing interferometry

DOE PAGES

Nagler, Bob; Aquila, Andrew; Boutet, Sebastien; ...

2017-10-20

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) is an X-ray source of unmatched brilliance, that is advancing many scientific fields at a rapid pace. The highest peak intensities that are routinely produced at LCLS take place at the Coherent X-ray Imaging (CXI) instrument, which can produce spotsize at the order of 100 nm, and such spotsizes and intensities are crucial for experiments ranging from coherent diffractive imaging, non-linear x-ray optics and high field physics, and single molecule imaging. Nevertheless, a full characterisation of this beam has up to now not been performed. In this paper we for the first time characterisemore » this nanofocused beam in both phase and intensity using a Ronchi Shearing Interferometric technique. The method is fast, in-situ, uses a straightforward optimization algoritm, and is insensitive to spatial jitter.« less

Nonlocal thermoelectric effects and nonlocal Onsager relations in a three-terminal proximity-coupled superconductor-ferromagnet device.

PubMed

Machon, P; Eschrig, M; Belzig, W

2013-01-25

We study thermal and charge transport in a three-terminal setup consisting of one superconducting and two ferromagnetic contacts. We predict that the simultaneous presence of spin filtering and of spin-dependent scattering phase shifts at each of the two interfaces will lead to very large nonlocal thermoelectric effects both in clean and in disordered systems. The symmetries of thermal and electric transport coefficients are related to fundamental thermodynamic principles by the Onsager reciprocity. Our results show that a nonlocal version of the Onsager relations for thermoelectric currents holds in a three-terminal quantum coherent ferromagnet-superconductor heterostructure including a spin-dependent crossed Andreev reflection and coherent electron transfer processes.

Three-dimensional imaging of dislocation dynamics during the hydriding phase transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulvestad, A.; Welland, M. J.; Cha, W.; Liu, Y.; Kim, J. W.; Harder, R.; Maxey, E.; Clark, J. N.; Highland, M. J.; You, H.; Zapol, P.; Hruszkewycz, S. O.; Stephenson, G. B.

2017-05-01

Crystallographic imperfections significantly alter material properties and their response to external stimuli, including solute-induced phase transformations. Despite recent progress in imaging defects using electron and X-ray techniques, in situ three-dimensional imaging of defect dynamics remains challenging. Here, we use Bragg coherent diffractive imaging to image defects during the hydriding phase transformation of palladium nanocrystals. During constant-pressure experiments we observe that the phase transformation begins after dislocation nucleation close to the phase boundary in particles larger than 300 nm. The three-dimensional phase morphology suggests that the hydrogen-rich phase is more similar to a spherical cap on the hydrogen-poor phase than to the core-shell model commonly assumed. We substantiate this using three-dimensional phase field modelling, demonstrating how phase morphology affects the critical size for dislocation nucleation. Our results reveal how particle size and phase morphology affects transformations in the PdH system.

Phase-tunable temperature amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paolucci, F.; Marchegiani, G.; Strambini, E.; Giazotto, F.

2017-06-01

Coherent caloritronics, the thermal counterpart of coherent electronics, has drawn growing attention since the discovery of heat interference in 2012. Thermal interferometers, diodes, transistors and nano-valves have been theoretically proposed and experimentally demonstrated by exploiting the quantum phase difference between two superconductors coupled through a Josephson junction. So far, the quantum-phase modulator has been realized in the form of a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) or a superconducting quantum interference proximity transistor (SQUIPT). Thence, an external magnetic field is necessary in order to manipulate the heat transport. Here, we theoretically propose the first on-chip fully thermal caloritronic device: the phase-tunable temperature amplifier (PTA). Taking advantage of a recently discovered thermoelectric effect in spin-split superconductors coupled to a spin-polarized system, we generate the magnetic flux controlling the transport through a temperature-biased SQUIPT by applying a temperature gradient. We simulate the behavior of the device and define a number of figures of merit in full analogy with voltage amplifiers. Notably, our architecture ensures almost infinite input thermal impedance, maximum gain of about 11 and efficiency reaching the 95%. This concept paves the way for applications in radiation sensing, thermal logics and quantum information.

Laser phase control of high-order harmonic generation at large internuclear distance: the H+ -H2+ system.

PubMed

Bandrauk, André D; Barmaki, Samira; Kamta, Gerard Lagmago

2007-01-05

Exact (Born-Oppenheimer) 3-D numerical solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation are obtained for the one electron linear H+-H2+ atom-molecule system at large internuclear distance R in interaction with two-cycles intense (I>10(14) W cm(-2)) 800 nm laser pulses. High-order harmonic generation (HHG) spectra are obtained with an energy cutoff larger than the atomic maximum of I(p)+3U(p), where I(p) is the ionization potential and U(p) is the ponderomotive energy. At large R, this extended cutoff is shown to be related to the nature of electron transfer, whose direction is shown to depend critically on the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of the ultrashort pulse. Constructive and destructive interferences in the HHG spectrum resulting from coherent superpositions of electronic states in the H+-H2+ system are interpreted in terms of multiple electron trajectories extracted from a time profile analysis.

New insights on boundary plasma turbulence and the Quasi-Coherent Mode in Alcator C-Mod using a Mirror Langmuir Probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Labombard, Brian

2013-10-01

A ``Mirror Langmuir Probe'' (MLP) diagnostic has been used to interrogate edge plasma profiles and turbulence in Alcator C-Mod with unprecedented detail, yielding fundamental insights on the Quasi-Coherent Mode (QCM) - a mode that regulates plasma density and impurities in EDA H-modes without ELMs. The MLP employs a fast-switching, self-adapting bias scheme, recording density, electron temperature and plasma potential simultaneously at high bandwidth (~1 MHz) on each of four separate electrodes on a scanning probe. Temporal dynamics are followed in detail; wavenumber-frequency spectra and phase relationships are readily deduced. Poloidal field fluctuations are recorded separately with a two-coil, scanning probe. Results from ohmic L-mode and H-mode plasmas are reported, including key observations of the QCM: The QCM lives in a region of positive radial electric field, with a mode width (~3 mm) that spans open and closed field line regions. Remarkably large amplitude (~30%), sinusoidal bursts in density, electron temperature and plasma potential fluctuations are observed that are in phase; potential lags density by at most 10 degrees. Propagation velocity of the mode corresponds to the sum of local E × B and electron diamagnetic drift velocities - quantities that are deduced directly from time-averaged profiles. Poloidal magnetic field fluctuations project to parallel current densities of ~5 amps/cm2 in the mode layer, with significant parallel electromagnetic induction. Electron force balance is examined, unambiguously identifying the mode type. It is found that fluctuations in parallel electron pressure gradient are roughly balanced by the sum of electrostatic and electromotive forces. Thus the primary mode structure of the QCM is that of a drift-Alfven wave. Work supported by US DoE award DE-FC02-99ER54512.

Quantifying Neural Oscillatory Synchronization: A Comparison between Spectral Coherence and Phase-Locking Value Approaches

PubMed Central

Lowet, Eric; Roberts, Mark J.; Bonizzi, Pietro; Karel, Joël; De Weerd, Peter

2016-01-01

Synchronization or phase-locking between oscillating neuronal groups is considered to be important for coordination of information among cortical networks. Spectral coherence is a commonly used approach to quantify phase locking between neural signals. We systematically explored the validity of spectral coherence measures for quantifying synchronization among neural oscillators. To that aim, we simulated coupled oscillatory signals that exhibited synchronization dynamics using an abstract phase-oscillator model as well as interacting gamma-generating spiking neural networks. We found that, within a large parameter range, the spectral coherence measure deviated substantially from the expected phase-locking. Moreover, spectral coherence did not converge to the expected value with increasing signal-to-noise ratio. We found that spectral coherence particularly failed when oscillators were in the partially (intermittent) synchronized state, which we expect to be the most likely state for neural synchronization. The failure was due to the fast frequency and amplitude changes induced by synchronization forces. We then investigated whether spectral coherence reflected the information flow among networks measured by transfer entropy (TE) of spike trains. We found that spectral coherence failed to robustly reflect changes in synchrony-mediated information flow between neural networks in many instances. As an alternative approach we explored a phase-locking value (PLV) method based on the reconstruction of the instantaneous phase. As one approach for reconstructing instantaneous phase, we used the Hilbert Transform (HT) preceded by Singular Spectrum Decomposition (SSD) of the signal. PLV estimates have broad applicability as they do not rely on stationarity, and, unlike spectral coherence, they enable more accurate estimations of oscillatory synchronization across a wide range of different synchronization regimes, and better tracking of synchronization-mediated information flow among networks. PMID:26745498

Coherent control at its most fundamental: carrier-envelope-phase-dependent electron localization in photodissociation of a H2(+) molecular ion beam target.

PubMed

Rathje, T; Sayler, A M; Zeng, S; Wustelt, P; Figger, H; Esry, B D; Paulus, G G

2013-08-30

Measurements and calculations of the absolute carrier-envelope-phase (CEP) effects in the photodissociation of the simplest molecule, H2(+), with a 4.5-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulse at intensities up to (4±2)×10(14)  W/cm2 are presented. Localization of the electron with respect to the two nuclei (during the dissociation process) is controlled via the CEP of the ultrashort laser pulses. In contrast to previous CEP-dependent experiments with neutral molecules, the dissociation of the molecular ions is not preceded by a photoionization process, which strongly influences the CEP dependence. Kinematically complete data are obtained by time- and position-resolved coincidence detection. The phase dependence is determined by a single-shot phase measurement correlated to the detection of the dissociation fragments. The experimental results show quantitative agreement with ab initio 3D time-dependent Schrödinger equation calculations that include nuclear vibration and rotation.

Multichannel Phase and Power Detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, Samuel; Lux, James; McMaster, Robert; Boas, Amy

2006-01-01

An electronic signal-processing system determines the phases of input signals arriving in multiple channels, relative to the phase of a reference signal with which the input signals are known to be coherent in both phase and frequency. The system also gives an estimate of the power levels of the input signals. A prototype of the system has four input channels that handle signals at a frequency of 9.5 MHz, but the basic principles of design and operation are extensible to other signal frequencies and greater numbers of channels. The prototype system consists mostly of three parts: An analog-to-digital-converter (ADC) board, which coherently digitizes the input signals in synchronism with the reference signal and performs some simple processing; A digital signal processor (DSP) in the form of a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) board, which performs most of the phase- and power-measurement computations on the digital samples generated by the ADC board; and A carrier board, which allows a personal computer to retrieve the phase and power data. The DSP contains four independent phase-only tracking loops, each of which tracks the phase of one of the preprocessed input signals relative to that of the reference signal (see figure). The phase values computed by these loops are averaged over intervals, the length of which is chosen to obtain output from the DSP at a desired rate. In addition, a simple sum of squares is computed for each channel as an estimate of the power of the signal in that channel. The relative phases and the power level estimates computed by the DSP could be used for diverse purposes in different settings. For example, if the input signals come from different elements of a phased-array antenna, the phases could be used as indications of the direction of arrival of a received signal and/or as feedback for electronic or mechanical beam steering. The power levels could be used as feedback for automatic gain control in preprocessing of incoming signals. For another example, the system could be used to measure the phases and power levels of outputs of multiple power amplifiers to enable adjustment of the amplifiers for optimal power combining.

Fourier phase in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Uttam, Shikhar; Liu, Yang

2015-12-01

Phase of an electromagnetic wave propagating through a sample-of-interest is well understood in the context of quantitative phase imaging in transmission-mode microscopy. In the past decade, Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography has been used to extend quantitative phase imaging to the reflection-mode. Unlike transmission-mode electromagnetic phase, however, the origin and characteristics of reflection-mode Fourier phase are poorly understood, especially in samples with a slowly varying refractive index. In this paper, the general theory of Fourier phase from first principles is presented, and it is shown that Fourier phase is a joint estimate of subresolution offset and mean spatial frequency of the coherence-gated sample refractive index. It is also shown that both spectral-domain phase microscopy and depth-resolved spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy are special cases of this general theory. Analytical expressions are provided for both, and simulations are presented to explain and support the theoretical results. These results are further used to show how Fourier phase allows the estimation of an axial mean spatial frequency profile of the sample, along with depth-resolved characterization of localized optical density change and sample heterogeneity. Finally, a Fourier phase-based explanation of Doppler optical coherence tomography is also provided.

Method and apparatus for coherent burst ranging

DOEpatents

Wachter, Eric A.; Fisher, Walter G.

1998-01-01

A high resolution ranging method is described utilizing a novel modulated waveform, hereafter referred to as coherent burst modulation. In the coherent burst method, high frequency modulation of an acoustic or electromagnetic transmitter, such as a laser, is performed at a modulation frequency. This modulation frequency is transmitted quasi-continuously in the form of interrupted bursts of radiation. Energy from the transmitter is directed onto a target, interacts with the target, and the returning energy is collected. The encoded burst pattern contained in the collected return signal is detected coherently by a receiver that is tuned so as to be principally sensitive to the modulation frequency. The receiver signal is processed to determine target range using both time-of-flight of the burst envelope and phase shift of the high frequency modulation. This approach effectively decouples the maximum unambiguous range and range resolution relationship of earlier methods, thereby allowing high precision ranging to be conducted at arbitrarily long distances using at least one burst of encoded energy. The use of a receiver tuned to the high frequency modulation contained within the coherent burst vastly improves both sensitivity in the detection of the target return signal and rejection of background interferences, such as ambient acoustic or electromagnetic noise. Simultaneous transmission at several energies (or wavelengths) is possible by encoding each energy with a separate modulation frequency or pattern; electronic demodulation at the receiver allows the return pattern for each energy to be monitored independently. Radial velocity of a target can also be determined by monitoring change in phase shift of the return signal as a function of time.

Method and apparatus for coherent burst ranging

DOEpatents

Wachter, E.A.; Fisher, W.G.

1998-04-28

A high resolution ranging method is described utilizing a novel modulated waveform, hereafter referred to as coherent burst modulation. In the coherent burst method, high frequency modulation of an acoustic or electromagnetic transmitter, such as a laser, is performed at a modulation frequency. This modulation frequency is transmitted quasi-continuously in the form of interrupted bursts of radiation. Energy from the transmitter is directed onto a target, interacts with the target, and the returning energy is collected. The encoded burst pattern contained in the collected return signal is detected coherently by a receiver that is tuned so as to be principally sensitive to the modulation frequency. The receiver signal is processed to determine target range using both time-of-flight of the burst envelope and phase shift of the high frequency modulation. This approach effectively decouples the maximum unambiguous range and range resolution relationship of earlier methods, thereby allowing high precision ranging to be conducted at arbitrarily long distances using at least one burst of encoded energy. The use of a receiver tuned to the high frequency modulation contained within the coherent burst vastly improves both sensitivity in the detection of the target return signal and rejection of background interferences, such as ambient acoustic or electromagnetic noise. Simultaneous transmission at several energies (or wavelengths) is possible by encoding each energy with a separate modulation frequency or pattern; electronic demodulation at the receiver allows the return pattern for each energy to be monitored independently. Radial velocity of a target can also be determined by monitoring change in phase shift of the return signal as a function of time. 12 figs.

Two-Electron Transfer Pathways.

PubMed

Lin, Jiaxing; Balamurugan, D; Zhang, Peng; Skourtis, Spiros S; Beratan, David N

2015-06-18

The frontiers of electron-transfer chemistry demand that we develop theoretical frameworks to describe the delivery of multiple electrons, atoms, and ions in molecular systems. When electrons move over long distances through high barriers, where the probability for thermal population of oxidized or reduced bridge-localized states is very small, the electrons will tunnel from the donor (D) to acceptor (A), facilitated by bridge-mediated superexchange interactions. If the stable donor and acceptor redox states on D and A differ by two electrons, it is possible that the electrons will propagate coherently from D to A. While structure-function relations for single-electron superexchange in molecules are well established, strategies to manipulate the coherent flow of multiple electrons are largely unknown. In contrast to one-electron superexchange, two-electron superexchange involves both one- and two-electron virtual intermediate states, the number of virtual intermediates increases very rapidly with system size, and multiple classes of pathways interfere with one another. In the study described here, we developed simple superexchange models for two-electron transfer. We explored how the bridge structure and energetics influence multielectron superexchange, and we compared two-electron superexchange interactions to single-electron superexchange. Multielectron superexchange introduces interference between singly and doubly oxidized (or reduced) bridge virtual states, so that even simple linear donor-bridge-acceptor systems have pathway topologies that resemble those seen for one-electron superexchange through bridges with multiple parallel pathways. The simple model systems studied here exhibit a richness that is amenable to experimental exploration by manipulating the multiple pathways, pathway crosstalk, and changes in the number of donor and acceptor species. The features that emerge from these studies may assist in developing new strategies to deliver multiple electrons in condensed-phase redox systems, including multiple-electron redox species, multimetallic/multielectron redox catalysts, and multiexciton excited states.

Ultra-bright pulsed electron beam with low longitudinal emittance

DOEpatents

Zolotorev, Max

2010-07-13

A high-brightness pulsed electron source, which has the potential for many useful applications in electron microscopy, inverse photo-emission, low energy electron scattering experiments, and electron holography has been described. The source makes use of Cs atoms in an atomic beam. The source is cycled beginning with a laser pulse that excites a single Cs atom on average to a band of high-lying Rydberg nP states. The resulting valence electron Rydberg wave packet evolves in a nearly classical Kepler orbit. When the electron reaches apogee, an electric field pulse is applied that ionizes the atom and accelerates the electron away from its parent ion. The collection of electron wave packets thus generated in a series of cycles can occupy a phase volume near the quantum limit and it can possess very high brightness. Each wave packet can exhibit a considerable degree of coherence.

Tracing the phase of focused broadband laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoff, Dominik; Krüger, Michael; Maisenbacher, Lothar; Sayler, A. M.; Paulus, Gerhard G.; Hommelhoff, Peter

2017-10-01

Precise knowledge of the behaviour of the phase of light in a focused beam is fundamental to understanding and controlling laser-driven processes. More than a hundred years ago, an axial phase anomaly for focused monochromatic light beams was discovered and is now commonly known as the Gouy phase. Recent theoretical work has brought into question the validity of applying this monochromatic phase formulation to the broadband pulses becoming ubiquitous today. Based on electron backscattering at sharp nanometre-scale metal tips, a method is available to measure light fields with sub-wavelength spatial resolution and sub-optical-cycle time resolution. Here we report such a direct, three-dimensional measurement of the spatial dependence of the optical phase of a focused, 4-fs, near-infrared pulsed laser beam. The observed optical phase deviates substantially from the monochromatic Gouy phase--exhibiting a much more complex spatial dependence, both along the propagation axis and in the radial direction. In our measurements, these significant deviations are the rule and not the exception for focused, broadband laser pulses. Therefore, we expect wide ramifications for all broadband laser-matter interactions, such as in high-harmonic and attosecond pulse generation, femtochemistry, ophthalmological optical coherence tomography and light-wave electronics.

Measuring finite-range phase coherence in an optical lattice using Talbot interferometry

PubMed Central

Santra, Bodhaditya; Baals, Christian; Labouvie, Ralf; Bhattacherjee, Aranya B.; Pelster, Axel; Ott, Herwig

2017-01-01

One of the important goals of present research is to control and manipulate coherence in a broad variety of systems, such as semiconductor spintronics, biological photosynthetic systems, superconducting qubits and complex atomic networks. Over the past decades, interferometry of atoms and molecules has proven to be a powerful tool to explore coherence. Here we demonstrate a near-field interferometer based on the Talbot effect, which allows us to measure finite-range phase coherence of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. We apply this interferometer to study the build-up of phase coherence after a quantum quench of a Bose–Einstein condensate residing in a one-dimensional optical lattice. Our technique of measuring finite-range phase coherence is generic, easy to adopt and can be applied in practically all lattice experiments without further modifications. PMID:28580941

Science at the Time-scale of the Electron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murnane, Margaret

2010-03-01

Replace this text with your abstract Ever since the invention of the laser 50 years ago and its application in nonlinear optics, scientists have been striving to extend coherent laser beams into the x-ray region of the spectrum. Very recently however, the prospects for tabletop coherent sources, with attosecond pulse durations, at very short wavelengths even in the hard x-ray region of the spectrum at wavelengths < 1nm, have brightened considerably. These advances are possible by taking nonlinear optics techniques to an extreme, and are the direct result of a new ability to manipulate electrons on the fastest, attosecond, time-scales of our natural world. My talk will discuss new experimental data that demonstrates high harmonic generation of laser-like, fully coherent, 10 attosecond duration, soft x-ray beams at photon energies around 0.5keV. Several applications will also be discussed, including making a movie of how electron orbitals in a molecule change shape as a molecule breaks apart, following how fast a magnetic material can flip orientation, understanding how fast heat flows in a nanocircuit, or building a microscope without lenses. [4pt] [1] T. Popmintchev et al., ``Phase matched upconversion of coherent ultrafast laser light into the soft and hard x-ray regions of the spectrum'', PNAS 106, 10516 (2009). [0pt] [2] C. LaOVorakiat et al., ``Ultrafast Soft X-Ray Magneto-Optics at the M-edge Using a Tabletop High-Harmonic Source'', Physical Review Letters 103, 257402 (2009). [0pt] [3] M. Siemens et al. ``Measurement of quasi-ballistic heat transport across nanoscale interfaces using ultrafast coherent soft x-ray beams'', Nature Materials 9, 26 (2010). [0pt] [4] K. Raines et al., ``Three-dimensional structure determination from a single view,'' Nature 463, 214 (2010). [0pt] [5] W. Li et al., ``Time-resolved Probing of Dynamics in Polyatomic Molecules using High Harmonic Generation'', Science 322, 1207 (2008).

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Xiangyu

The ordering transformation occurring in a model Ni-Cr-W superalloy during prolonged exposure to proper temperature has been investigated systematically. It is demonstrated that nanometer-sized precipitates with a DO{sub 22} structure can precipitate in the Ni-Cr-W alloy by means of simple aging treatment at 650–700 °C. The mechanism of transformation to DO{sub 22} superlattice has been determined to be continuous ordering based on the results of high resolution transmission electron microscopy investigation and variation trend in Vickers microhardness. Different variants of DO{sub 22} phase can coexist in the matrix with no signs of overaging as aging time increases, indicating it hasmore » a high thermal stability. The precipitates of DO{sub 22} superlattice has been found to be of ellipsoidal shape which results in the greatest reduction of strain energy. The interfaces between DO{sub 22} precipitates and matrix have been revealed to be coherent at the atomic scale, resulting in considerable coherency strain attributing to the lattice misfit between DO{sub 22} particle and matrix. Because of the high-density nanometer-sized DO{sub 22} phase, the microhardness of the alloy has been improved remarkably after aging treatment. - Graphical abstract: Different variants of the DO{sub 22} superlattice can coexist in the matrix, and the interface between precipitate and the matrix remain coherence at the atomic scale. The three dimensional form of the DO{sub 22} precipitates constructed from three mutually perpendicular projections is an ellipsoidal stick, and the directions of elongations are along the longest axis of the unit cell for DO{sub 22} phase. - Highlights: •The DO{sub 22} phase precipitated in the Ni-Cr-W alloy has a high thermal stability. •The morphology of DO{sub 22} superlattice has been determined to be ellipsoid. •The interface between DO{sub 22} phase and matrix are fully coherent at the atomic scale. •Different variants of DO{sub 22} phase occur equiprobably. •The alloy strength can be improved dramatically by the nanoscale DO{sub 22} particles.« less

Electronic structure of the bismuth family of high-temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Donglai

High temperature superconductivity remains the central intellectual problem in condensed matter physics fifteen years after its discovery. Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) directly probes the electronic structure, and has played an important role in the field of high temperature superconductors. With the recent advances in sample growth and the photoemission technique, we are able to study the electronic structure in great detail, and address regimes that were previously inaccessible. This thesis work contains systematic photoemission studies of the electronic structure of the Bi-family of high temperature superconductors, which include the single-layer system (Bi2201), the bi-layer system (Bi2212), and the tri-layer system (Bi2223). We show that, unlike conventional BCS superconductors, phase coherence information emerges in the single particle excitation spectrum of high temperature superconductors as the superconducting peak in Bi2212. The universality and various properties of this superconducting peak are studied in various systems. We argue that the origin of the superconducting peak may provide the key to understanding the mechanism of High-Tc superconductors. In addition, we identified a new experimental energy scale in the bilayer material, the anisotropic intra-bilayer coupling energy. For a long time, it was predicted that this energy scale would cause bilayer band splitting. We observe this phenomenon, for the first time, in heavily overdoped Bi2212. This new observation requires the revision of the previous picture of the electronic excitation in the Brillouin zone boundary. As the first ARPES study of a trilayer system, various detailed electronic properties of Bi2223 are examined. We show that, comparing with Bi2212, both superconducting gap and relative superconducting peak intensity become larger in Bi2223, however, the strength of the interlayer coupling within each unit cell is possibly weaker. These results suggest that the large superconducting phase transition temperature in a high temperature superconductor is associated with parameters that cause both large pairing strength and strong phase coherence in the system. The number of CuO2 layers in each unit cell is just one of the factors that affect these parameters.

Electronic Structure Calculation of Permanent Magnets using the KKR Green's Function Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doi, Shotaro; Akai, Hisazumi

2014-03-01

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of permanent magnetic materials, especially Nd2Fe14B, are investigated theoretically using the KKR Green's function method. Important physical quantities in magnetism, such as magnetic moment, Curie temperature, and anisotropy constant, which are obtained from electronics structure calculations in both cases of atomic-sphere-approximation and full-potential treatment, are compared with past band structure calculations and experiments. The site preference of heavy rare-earth impurities are also evaluated through the calculation of formation energy with the use of coherent potential approximations. Further, the development of electronic structure calculation code using the screened KKR for large super-cells, which is aimed at studying the electronic structure of realistic microstructures (e.g. grain boundary phase), is introduced with some test calculations.

Electronic and elastic mode locking in charge density wave conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zettl, A.

1986-12-01

Mode locking phenomena are investigated in the charge density wave (CDW) materials NbSe 3 and TaS 3. The joint application of ac and dc electric fields results in free running and mode locked solutions for the CDW drift velocity, with associated ac-induced dynamic coherence lengths ξ D(ac) on the order of several hundred microns. The electronic response couples directly to the elastic properties of the crystal, with corresponding free running and mode locked solutions for the velocity of sound. Phase slip center-induced discontinuities in the CDW phase velocity lead to mode locked solutions with period doubling routes to chaos, and noisy precursor effects at bifurcation points. These results are discussed in terms of simple models of CDW domain synchronization, and internal CDW dynamics.

Practical somewhat-secure quantum somewhat-homomorphic encryption with coherent states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Si-Hui; Ouyang, Yingkai; Rohde, Peter P.

2018-04-01

We present a scheme for implementing homomorphic encryption on coherent states encoded using phase-shift keys. The encryption operations require only rotations in phase space, which commute with computations in the code space performed via passive linear optics, and with generalized nonlinear phase operations that are polynomials of the photon-number operator in the code space. This encoding scheme can thus be applied to any computation with coherent-state inputs, and the computation proceeds via a combination of passive linear optics and generalized nonlinear phase operations. An example of such a computation is matrix multiplication, whereby a vector representing coherent-state amplitudes is multiplied by a matrix representing a linear optics network, yielding a new vector of coherent-state amplitudes. By finding an orthogonal partitioning of the support of our encoded states, we quantify the security of our scheme via the indistinguishability of the encrypted code words. While we focus on coherent-state encodings, we expect that this phase-key encoding technique could apply to any continuous-variable computation scheme where the phase-shift operator commutes with the computation.

Coherence recovery mechanisms of quantum Hall edge states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goremykina, Anna S.; Sukhorukov, Eugene V.

2018-03-01

This paper is motivated by an unexpected observation in a recent experiment [S. Tewari et al., Phys. Rev. B 93, 035420 (2016)., 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.035420], where a robust coherence recovery, starting from a certain energy, was detected for an electron injected into a quantum Hall edge at a filling factor of 2. After passing through a quantum dot, the electron then tunnels into the edge with a subsequent propagation towards a symmetric Mach-Zender interferometer (MZI). Afterwards, the visibility of Aharonov-Bohm (AB) oscillations is measured. An earlier study, based on the bosonization framework with a linear spectrum of the edge excitations, predicted a decay of the visibility with increasing energy. We associate this result with the destructive interference of the two quasiparticles (charge and neutral modes), formed at the edge out of the incoming electron wave packet (WP). However, in reality, it might be suppressed due to an imbalance between the quasiparticles, for instance, in the presence of dispersion and/or dissipation. This idea could also be explored further experimentally by applying a periodic potential to the arms of the MZI and thus creating the imbalance. Yet another possibility to restore phase coherence, also based on dispersion and dissipation, accounts for a drop in the energy density of the electron WP by the time it arrives at the interferometer, leading to a significantly smaller dephasing inside it. We then show that the energy density is defined by a parameter completely independent of the injected energy, which naturally explains the emergence of threshold energy in the experiment.

Interfacial Coupling and Electronic Structure of Two-Dimensional Silicon Grown on the Ag(111) Surface at High Temperature

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, Jiagui; Wagner, Sean R.; Zhang, Pengpeng

Freestanding silicene, a monolayer of Si arranged in a honeycomb structure, has been predicted to give rise to massless Dirac fermions, akin to graphene. However, Si structures grown on a supporting substrate can show properties that strongly deviate from the freestanding case. Here, combining scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and differential conductance mapping, we show that the electrical properties of the (√3 x √3) phase of few-layer Si grown on Ag(111) strongly depend on film thickness, where the electron phase coherence length decreases and the free-electron-like surface state gradually diminishes when approaching the interface. These features are presumably attributable to the inelasticmore » inter-band electron-electron scattering originating from the overlap between the surface state, interface state and the bulk state of the substrate. We further demonstrate that the intrinsic electronic structure of the as grown (√3 x √3) phase is identical to that of the (√3 x √3) R30° reconstructed Ag on Si(111), both of which exhibit the parabolic energy-momentum dispersion relation with comparable electron effective masses. Lastly, these findings highlight the essential role of interfacial coupling on the properties of two-dimensional Si structures grown on supporting substrates, which should be thoroughly scrutinized in pursuit of silicene.« less

Electron and hole dynamics in the electronic and structural phase transitions of VO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haglund, Richard

2015-03-01

The ultrafast, optically induced insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) and the associated structural phase transition (SPT) in vanadium dioxide (VO2) have been studied for over a decade. However, only recently have effects due to the combined presence of electron-hole pairs and injected electrons been observed. Here we compare and contrast IMT dynamics when both hot electrons and optically excited electron-hole pairs are involved, in (1) thin films of VO2 overlaid by a thin gold foil, in which hot electrons are generated by 1.5 eV photons absorbed in the foil and accelerated through the VO2 by an applied electric field; (2) VO2 nanoparticles covered with a sparse mesh of gold nanoparticles averaging 20-30 nm in diameter in which hot electrons are generated by resonant excitation and decay of the localized surface plasmon; and (3) bare VO2 thin films excited by intense near-single-cycle THz pulses. In the first case, the IMT is driven by excitation of the bulk gold plasmon, and the SPT appears on a few-picosecond time scale. In the second case, density-functional calculations indicate that above a critical carrier density, the addition of a single electron to a 27-unit supercell drives the catastrophic collapse of the coherent phonon associated with, and leading to, the SPT. In the third case, sub-bandgap-energy photons (approximately 0.1 eV) initiate the IMT, but exhibit the same sub-100 femtosecond switching time and coherent phonon dynamics as observed when the IMT is initiated by 1.5 eV photons. This suggests that the underlying mechanism must be quite different, possibly THz-field induced interband tunneling of spatially separated electron-hole pairs. The implications of these findings for ultrafast switching in opto-electronic devices - such as hybrid VO2 silicon ring resonators - are briefly considered. Support from the National Science Foundation (DMR-1207407), the Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy (DE-FG02-01ER45916) and the Defense Threat-Reduction Agency (HDTRA1-10-1-0047) for these studies is gratefully acknowledged.

Note: Coherent resonances observed in the dissociative electron attachment to carbon monoxide

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Xu-Dong; Xuan, Chuan-Jin; Tian, Shan Xi, E-mail: sxtian@ustc.edu.cn

Succeeding our previous finding about coherent interference of the resonant states of CO{sup −} formed by the low-energy electron attachment [Tian et al. Phys. Rev. A 88, 012708 (2013)], here we provide further evidence of the coherent interference. The completely backward distributions of the O{sup −} fragment of the temporary CO{sup −} are observed with anion velocity map imaging technique in an electron energy range of 11.3–12.6 eV and explained as the results of the coherent interferences of three resonant states. Furthermore, the state configuration of the interference is changed with the increase of electron attachment energy.

Femtosecond profiling of shaped x-ray pulses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hoffmann, M. C.; Grguras, I.; Behrens, C.

Arbitrary manipulation of the temporal and spectral properties of x-ray pulses at free-electron lasers would revolutionize many experimental applications. At the Linac Coherent Light Source at Stanford National Accelerator Laboratory, the momentum phase-space of the free-electron laser driving electron bunch can be tuned to emit a pair of x-ray pulses with independently variable photon energy and femtosecond delay. However, while accelerator parameters can easily be adjusted to tune the electron bunch phase-space, the final impact of these actuators on the x-ray pulse cannot be predicted with sufficient precision. Furthermore, shot-to-shot instabilities that distort the pulse shape unpredictably cannot be fullymore » suppressed. Therefore, the ability to directly characterize the x-rays is essential to ensure precise and consistent control. In this work, we have generated x-ray pulse pairs via electron bunch shaping and characterized them on a single-shot basis with femtosecond resolution through time-resolved photoelectron streaking spectroscopy. Furthermore, this achievement completes an important step toward future x-ray pulse shaping techniques.« less

Femtosecond profiling of shaped x-ray pulses

DOE PAGES

Hoffmann, M. C.; Grguras, I.; Behrens, C.; ...

2018-03-26

Arbitrary manipulation of the temporal and spectral properties of x-ray pulses at free-electron lasers would revolutionize many experimental applications. At the Linac Coherent Light Source at Stanford National Accelerator Laboratory, the momentum phase-space of the free-electron laser driving electron bunch can be tuned to emit a pair of x-ray pulses with independently variable photon energy and femtosecond delay. However, while accelerator parameters can easily be adjusted to tune the electron bunch phase-space, the final impact of these actuators on the x-ray pulse cannot be predicted with sufficient precision. Furthermore, shot-to-shot instabilities that distort the pulse shape unpredictably cannot be fullymore » suppressed. Therefore, the ability to directly characterize the x-rays is essential to ensure precise and consistent control. In this work, we have generated x-ray pulse pairs via electron bunch shaping and characterized them on a single-shot basis with femtosecond resolution through time-resolved photoelectron streaking spectroscopy. Furthermore, this achievement completes an important step toward future x-ray pulse shaping techniques.« less

Effect of subaperture beamforming on phase coherence imaging.

PubMed

Hasegawa, Hideyuki; Kanai, Hiroshi

2014-11-01

High-frame-rate echocardiography using unfocused transmit beams and parallel receive beamforming is a promising method for evaluation of cardiac function, such as imaging of rapid propagation of vibration of the heart wall resulting from electrical stimulation of the myocardium. In this technique, high temporal resolution is realized at the expense of spatial resolution and contrast. The phase coherence factor has been developed to improve spatial resolution and contrast in ultrasonography. It evaluates the variance in phases of echo signals received by individual transducer elements after delay compensation, as in the conventional delay-andsum beamforming process. However, the phase coherence factor suppresses speckle echoes because phases of speckle echoes fluctuate as a result of interference of echoes. In the present study, the receiving aperture was divided into several subapertures, and conventional delay-and-sum beamforming was performed with respect to each subaperture to suppress echoes from scatterers except for that at a focal point. After subaperture beamforming, the phase coherence factor was obtained from beamformed RF signals from respective subapertures. By means of this procedure, undesirable echoes, which can interfere with the echo from a focal point, can be suppressed by subaperture beamforming, and the suppression of the phase coherence factor resulting from phase fluctuation caused by such interference can be avoided. In the present study, the effect of subaperture beamforming in high-frame-rate echocardiography with the phase coherence factor was evaluated using a phantom. By applying subaperture beamforming, the average intensity of speckle echoes from a diffuse scattering medium was significantly higher (-39.9 dB) than that obtained without subaperture beamforming (-48.7 dB). As for spatial resolution, the width at half-maximum of the lateral echo amplitude profile obtained without the phase coherence factor was 1.06 mm. By using the phase coherence factor, spatial resolution was improved significantly, and subaperture beamforming achieved a better spatial resolution of 0.75 mm than that of 0.78 mm obtained without subaperture beamforming.

Coherent Optical Communications: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kikuchi, Kazuro

Coherent optical fiber communications were studied extensively in the 1980s mainly because high sensitivity of coherent receivers could elongate the unrepeated transmission distance; however, their research and development have been interrupted for nearly 20 years behind the rapid progress in high-capacity wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) systems using erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). In 2005, the demonstration of digital carrier phase estimation in coherent receivers has stimulated a widespread interest in coherent optical communications again. This is due to the fact that the digital coherent receiver enables us to employ a variety of spectrally efficient modulation formats such as M-ary phase-shift keying (PSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) without relying upon a rather complicated optical phase-locked loop. In addition, since the phase information is preserved after detection, we can realize electrical post-processing functions such as compensation for chromatic dispersion and polarization-mode dispersion in the digital domain. These advantages of the born-again coherent receiver have enormous potential for innovating existing optical communication systems. In this chapter, after reviewing the 20-year history of coherent optical communication systems, we describe the principle of operation of coherent detection, the concept of the digital coherent receiver, and its performance evaluation. Finally, challenges for the future are summarized.

Quantum coherence spectroscopy reveals complex dynamics in bacterial light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2).

PubMed

Harel, Elad; Engel, Gregory S

2012-01-17

Light-harvesting antenna complexes transfer energy from sunlight to photosynthetic reaction centers where charge separation drives cellular metabolism. The process through which pigments transfer excitation energy involves a complex choreography of coherent and incoherent processes mediated by the surrounding protein and solvent environment. The recent discovery of coherent dynamics in photosynthetic light-harvesting antennae has motivated many theoretical models exploring effects of interference in energy transfer phenomena. In this work, we provide experimental evidence of long-lived quantum coherence between the spectrally separated B800 and B850 rings of the light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) of purple bacteria. Spectrally resolved maps of the detuning, dephasing, and the amplitude of electronic coupling between excitons reveal that different relaxation pathways act in concert for optimal transfer efficiency. Furthermore, maps of the phase of the signal suggest that quantum mechanical interference between different energy transfer pathways may be important even at ambient temperature. Such interference at a product state has already been shown to enhance the quantum efficiency of transfer in theoretical models of closed loop systems such as LH2.

Quantum coherence spectroscopy reveals complex dynamics in bacterial light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2)

PubMed Central

Harel, Elad; Engel, Gregory S.

2012-01-01

Light-harvesting antenna complexes transfer energy from sunlight to photosynthetic reaction centers where charge separation drives cellular metabolism. The process through which pigments transfer excitation energy involves a complex choreography of coherent and incoherent processes mediated by the surrounding protein and solvent environment. The recent discovery of coherent dynamics in photosynthetic light-harvesting antennae has motivated many theoretical models exploring effects of interference in energy transfer phenomena. In this work, we provide experimental evidence of long-lived quantum coherence between the spectrally separated B800 and B850 rings of the light-harvesting complex 2 (LH2) of purple bacteria. Spectrally resolved maps of the detuning, dephasing, and the amplitude of electronic coupling between excitons reveal that different relaxation pathways act in concert for optimal transfer efficiency. Furthermore, maps of the phase of the signal suggest that quantum mechanical interference between different energy transfer pathways may be important even at ambient temperature. Such interference at a product state has already been shown to enhance the quantum efficiency of transfer in theoretical models of closed loop systems such as LH2. PMID:22215585

Proximity coupling in superconductor-graphene heterostructures.

PubMed

Lee, Gil-Ho; Lee, Hu-Jong

2018-05-01

This review discusses the electronic properties and the prospective research directions of superconductor-graphene heterostructures. The basic electronic properties of graphene are introduced to highlight the unique possibility of combining two seemingly unrelated physics, superconductivity and relativity. We then focus on graphene-based Josephson junctions, one of the most versatile superconducting quantum devices. The various theoretical methods that have been developed to describe graphene Josephson junctions are examined, together with their advantages and limitations, followed by a discussion on the advances in device fabrication and the relevant length scales. The phase-sensitive properties and phase-particle dynamics of graphene Josephson junctions are examined to provide an understanding of the underlying mechanisms of Josephson coupling via graphene. Thereafter, microscopic transport of correlated quasiparticles produced by Andreev reflections at superconducting interfaces and their phase-coherent behaviors are discussed. Quantum phase transitions studied with graphene as an electrostatically tunable 2D platform are reviewed. The interplay between proximity-induced superconductivity and the quantum-Hall phase is discussed as a possible route to study topological superconductivity and non-Abelian physics. Finally, a brief summary on the prospective future research directions is given.

Proximity coupling in superconductor-graphene heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Gil-Ho; Lee, Hu-Jong

2018-05-01

This review discusses the electronic properties and the prospective research directions of superconductor-graphene heterostructures. The basic electronic properties of graphene are introduced to highlight the unique possibility of combining two seemingly unrelated physics, superconductivity and relativity. We then focus on graphene-based Josephson junctions, one of the most versatile superconducting quantum devices. The various theoretical methods that have been developed to describe graphene Josephson junctions are examined, together with their advantages and limitations, followed by a discussion on the advances in device fabrication and the relevant length scales. The phase-sensitive properties and phase-particle dynamics of graphene Josephson junctions are examined to provide an understanding of the underlying mechanisms of Josephson coupling via graphene. Thereafter, microscopic transport of correlated quasiparticles produced by Andreev reflections at superconducting interfaces and their phase-coherent behaviors are discussed. Quantum phase transitions studied with graphene as an electrostatically tunable 2D platform are reviewed. The interplay between proximity-induced superconductivity and the quantum-Hall phase is discussed as a possible route to study topological superconductivity and non-Abelian physics. Finally, a brief summary on the prospective future research directions is given.

0-π phase-controllable thermal Josephson junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fornieri, Antonio; Timossi, Giuliano; Virtanen, Pauli; Solinas, Paolo; Giazotto, Francesco

2017-05-01

Two superconductors coupled by a weak link support an equilibrium Josephson electrical current that depends on the phase difference ϕ between the superconducting condensates. Yet, when a temperature gradient is imposed across the junction, the Josephson effect manifests itself through a coherent component of the heat current that flows opposite to the thermal gradient for |ϕ| < π/2 (refs 2-4). The direction of both the Josephson charge and heat currents can be inverted by adding a π shift to ϕ. In the static electrical case, this effect has been obtained in a few systems, for example via a ferromagnetic coupling or a non-equilibrium distribution in the weak link. These structures opened new possibilities for superconducting quantum logic and ultralow-power superconducting computers. Here, we report the first experimental realization of a thermal Josephson junction whose phase bias can be controlled from 0 to π. This is obtained thanks to a superconducting quantum interferometer that allows full control of the direction of the coherent energy transfer through the junction. This possibility, in conjunction with the completely superconducting nature of our system, provides temperature modulations with an unprecedented amplitude of ∼100 mK and transfer coefficients exceeding 1 K per flux quantum at 25 mK. Then, this quantum structure represents a fundamental step towards the realization of caloritronic logic components such as thermal transistors, switches and memory devices. These elements, combined with heat interferometers and diodes, would complete the thermal conversion of the most important phase-coherent electronic devices and benefit cryogenic microcircuits requiring energy management, such as quantum computing architectures and radiation sensors.

Intermolecular electron transfer from intramolecular excitation and coherent acoustic phonon generation in a hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer solid

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rury, Aaron S., E-mail: arury@usc.edu; Sorenson, Shayne; Dawlaty, Jahan M.

2016-03-14

Organic materials that produce coherent lattice phonon excitations in response to external stimuli may provide next generation solutions in a wide range of applications. However, for these materials to lead to functional devices in technology, a full understanding of the possible driving forces of coherent lattice phonon generation must be attained. To facilitate the achievement of this goal, we have undertaken an optical spectroscopic study of an organic charge-transfer material formed from the ubiquitous reduction-oxidation pair hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone. Upon pumping this material, known as quinhydrone, on its intermolecular charge transfer resonance as well as an intramolecular resonance of p-benzoquinone,more » we find sub-cm{sup −1} oscillations whose dispersion with probe energy resembles that of a coherent acoustic phonon that we argue is coherently excited following changes in the electron density of quinhydrone. Using the dynamical information from these ultrafast pump-probe measurements, we find that the fastest process we can resolve does not change whether we pump quinhydrone at either energy. Electron-phonon coupling from both ultrafast coherent vibrational and steady-state resonance Raman spectroscopies allows us to determine that intramolecular electronic excitation of p-benzoquinone also drives the electron transfer process in quinhydrone. These results demonstrate the wide range of electronic excitations of the parent of molecules found in many functional organic materials that can drive coherent lattice phonon excitations useful for applications in electronics, photonics, and information technology.« less

Intermolecular electron transfer from intramolecular excitation and coherent acoustic phonon generation in a hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer solid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rury, Aaron S.; Sorenson, Shayne; Dawlaty, Jahan M.

2016-03-01

Organic materials that produce coherent lattice phonon excitations in response to external stimuli may provide next generation solutions in a wide range of applications. However, for these materials to lead to functional devices in technology, a full understanding of the possible driving forces of coherent lattice phonon generation must be attained. To facilitate the achievement of this goal, we have undertaken an optical spectroscopic study of an organic charge-transfer material formed from the ubiquitous reduction-oxidation pair hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone. Upon pumping this material, known as quinhydrone, on its intermolecular charge transfer resonance as well as an intramolecular resonance of p-benzoquinone, we find sub-cm-1 oscillations whose dispersion with probe energy resembles that of a coherent acoustic phonon that we argue is coherently excited following changes in the electron density of quinhydrone. Using the dynamical information from these ultrafast pump-probe measurements, we find that the fastest process we can resolve does not change whether we pump quinhydrone at either energy. Electron-phonon coupling from both ultrafast coherent vibrational and steady-state resonance Raman spectroscopies allows us to determine that intramolecular electronic excitation of p-benzoquinone also drives the electron transfer process in quinhydrone. These results demonstrate the wide range of electronic excitations of the parent of molecules found in many functional organic materials that can drive coherent lattice phonon excitations useful for applications in electronics, photonics, and information technology.

Interactions électron-électron dans les fils mésoscopiques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pierre, F.

Electron-electron interactions in mesoscopic wires In metallic thin films, the screening of Coulomb interactions is less efficient than in bulk metals because of electron elastic scattering from film boundaries, lattice defects, and impurities. As a consequence, at sub-kelvin temperatures, electron-electron interactions are expected to be the dominant inelastic process undergone by electrons, which determines energy exchange and limits the electronic phase coherence. We present in this book three experiments that probe inelastic collisions experienced by electrons at low temperature, in order to find out their mechanism. In the first part, we present a series of measurements of the energy distribution function of electrons in copper, gold and silver wires driven in a steady-state, out of equilibrium situation. These experiments reveal the rate at which electrons exchange energy. These results are compared in the second part with the temperature dependence of the phase coherence time of electrons tau_{φ}, which is deduced from the magnetoresistance of long wires. The phase coherence of electrons is limited by all inelastic collisions, independently of the energy exchanged. Different mechanisms to account for the energy exchange rate and dephasing times are proposed and compared with experiments. In the third part, we present measurements of the conductance of a long tunnel junction between an aluminum wire and a ground plane. The dip in the conductance at zero voltage is expected from the theory of electron-electron interactions. To compare measurements and theoretical predictions, we rephrase the microscopic theory of electron-electron interactions in terms of an electromagnetic impedance, as is done for the phenomenological theory of Coulomb blockade. Dans les couches minces métalliques, l'écrantage des interactions coulombiennes entre électrons est moins efficace que dans les métaux massifs en raison des chocs élastiques que subissent les électrons sur les parois, les défauts du réseau cristallin et les impuretés. Aux températures inférieures au kelvin, il est prédit que ces interactions électron-électron sont à l'origine de la plupart des collisions inélastiques subies par les électrons, et déterminent donc les échanges d'énergie et l'extension de la cohérence de phase. Nous présentons dans cet ouvrage trois expériences qui sondent les interactions inélastiques subies par les électrons dans les métaux diffusifs à basse température, afin d'en élucider le mécanisme. Dans la première partie, nous présentons une série de mesures de la fonction de distribution en énergie des électrons dans des fils mésoscopiques d'argent, de cuivre et d'or placés dans un régime stationnaire hors-équilibre. Ces expériences permettent d'accéder au taux d'échange d'énergie entre électrons. Ces résultats sont comparés dans la deuxième partie avec la dépendance en température du temps de cohérence de phase des électrons tau_{φ}, que l'on déduit de la mesure de la magnétorésistance de longs fils. La cohérence de phase des électrons dépend du taux total de collisions inélastiques, indépendamment de l'énergie échangée. Nous discutons divers mécanismes d'interaction pour rendre compte à la fois des mesures des taux d'échange d'énergie et du temps de cohérence de phase, et les comparons quantitativement aux résultats expérimentaux. La troisième partie est consacrée à la mesure de la conductance d'une longue jonction tunnel entre un fil d'aluminium et un plan de masse. La diminution de cette conductance à tension nulle est un effet attendu des interactions électron-électron. Pour comparer mesures et prédictions théoriques, nous avons reformulé les prédictions du calcul microscopique des interactions entre électrons en terme d'impédance électromagnétique, dans un langage similaire à celui utilisé pour la théorie phénoménologique du blocage de Coulomb.

Phase-insensitive storage of coherences by reversible mapping onto long-lived populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mieth, Simon; Genov, Genko T.; Yatsenko, Leonid P.; Vitanov, Nikolay V.; Halfmann, Thomas

2016-01-01

We theoretically develop and experimentally demonstrate a coherence population mapping (CPM) protocol to store atomic coherences in long-lived populations, enabling storage times far beyond the typically very short decoherence times of quantum systems. The amplitude and phase of an atomic coherence is written onto the populations of a three-state system by specifically designed sequences of radiation pulses from two coupling fields. As an important feature, the CPM sequences enable a retrieval efficiency, which is insensitive to the phase of the initial coherence. The information is preserved in every individual atom of the medium, enabling applications in purely homogeneously or inhomogeneously broadened ensembles even when stochastic phase jumps are the main source of decoherence. We experimentally confirm the theoretical predictions by applying CPM for storage of atomic coherences in a doped solid, reaching storage times in the regime of 1 min.

Role of coherence and delocalization in photo-induced electron transfer at organic interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abramavicius, V.; Pranculis, V.; Melianas, A.; Inganäs, O.; Gulbinas, V.; Abramavicius, D.

2016-09-01

Photo-induced charge transfer at molecular heterojunctions has gained particular interest due to the development of organic solar cells (OSC) based on blends of electron donating and accepting materials. While charge transfer between donor and acceptor molecules can be described by Marcus theory, additional carrier delocalization and coherent propagation might play the dominant role. Here, we describe ultrafast charge separation at the interface of a conjugated polymer and an aggregate of the fullerene derivative PCBM using the stochastic Schrödinger equation (SSE) and reveal the complex time evolution of electron transfer, mediated by electronic coherence and delocalization. By fitting the model to ultrafast charge separation experiments, we estimate the extent of electron delocalization and establish the transition from coherent electron propagation to incoherent hopping. Our results indicate that even a relatively weak coupling between PCBM molecules is sufficient to facilitate electron delocalization and efficient charge separation at organic interfaces.

Exploring coherent electron excitation and migration dynamics by electron diffraction with ultrashort X-ray pulses.

PubMed

Yuan, Kai-Jun; Bandrauk, André D

2017-10-04

Exploring ultrafast charge migration is of great importance in biological and chemical reactions. We present a scheme to monitor attosecond charge migration in molecules by electron diffraction with spatial and temporal resolutions from ab initio numerical simulations. An ultraviolet pulse creates a coherent superposition of electronic states, after which a time-delayed attosecond X-ray pulse is used to ionize the molecule. It is found that diffraction patterns in the X-ray photoelectron spectra show an asymmetric structure, which is dependent on the time delay between the pump-probe pulses, encoding the information of molecular orbital symmetry and chemical bonding. We describe these phenomena by developing an electronic time-dependent ultrafast molecular photoionization model of a coherent superposition state. The periodical distortion of electron diffraction patterns illustrates the evolution of the electronic coherence, providing a tool for attosecond imaging of ultrafast molecular reaction processes.

Spatially resolved measurements of two-dimensional turbulent structures in DIII-D plasmas

DOE PAGES

Zemedkun, Samuel E.; Che, S.; Chen, Y.; ...

2015-12-21

Here, two-dimensional observations of spatially-coherent electron temperature fluctuations at drift wave scales (k ~1 cm -1) have been made using the electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) diagnostic on the DIII-D tokamak. These measurements enable the extraction of spectral properties, including poloidal dispersion relations. Temperature fluctuation levels are found to be ˜ T e/< T e > = 1.2%, and the phase velocity of the fluctuations is found to be constant across frequencies, consistent with modes having real frequencies low compared to the rotation-induced Doppler shifts. Comparisons with radially global linear gyrokinetic simulations suggest that the observed modes may be trappedmore » electron modes (TEM).« less

Flying radio frequency undulator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuzikov, S. V.; Vikharev, A. A.; Savilov, A. V.

2014-07-21

A concept for the room-temperature rf undulator, designed to produce coherent X-ray radiation by means of a relatively low-energy electron beam and pulsed mm-wavelength radiation, is proposed. The “flying” undulator is a high-power short rf pulse co-propagating together with a relativistic electron bunch in a helically corrugated waveguide. The electrons wiggle in the rf field of the −1st spatial harmonic with the phase velocity directed in the opposite direction in respect to the bunch velocity, so that particles can irradiate high-frequency Compton's photons. A high group velocity (close to the speed of light) ensures long cooperative motion of the particlesmore » and the co-propagating rf pulse.« less

A rocket radiobeacon experiment on the electron concentration profile measurements in the bottomside of the ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sinelnikov, V. M.; Lvova, G. P.; Guliaeva, T. L.; Pakhomov, S. V.; Glotov, A. P.

The possibility of measuring the electron density profile in the height interval 70-110 km with a two-frequency coherent transmitter set mounted on a 'small' geophysical rocket of type M-100 is investigated. Results are presented of measurements using the phase Doppler method carried out at middle latitudes in May 1979 and February 1980. Good consistency of the profiles measured for the D and E regions of the ionosphere with those of IRI is not always obtained, even when the correct helio and geophysic conditions of the experiments are given for calculations with IRI.

Current rectification in a double quantum dot through fermionic reservoir engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malz, Daniel; Nunnenkamp, Andreas

2018-04-01

Reservoir engineering is a powerful tool for the robust generation of quantum states or transport properties. Using both a weak-coupling quantum master equation and the exact solution, we show that directional transport of electrons through a double quantum dot can be achieved through an appropriately designed electronic environment. Directionality is attained through the interference of coherent and dissipative coupling. The relative phase is tuned with an external magnetic field, such that directionality can be reversed, as well as turned on and off dynamically. Our work introduces fermionic-reservoir engineering, paving the way to a new class of nanoelectronic devices.

Fourier phase in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Uttam, Shikhar; Liu, Yang

2015-01-01

Phase of an electromagnetic wave propagating through a sample-of-interest is well understood in the context of quantitative phase imaging in transmission-mode microscopy. In the past decade, Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography has been used to extend quantitative phase imaging to the reflection-mode. Unlike transmission-mode electromagnetic phase, however, the origin and characteristics of reflection-mode Fourier phase are poorly understood, especially in samples with a slowly varying refractive index. In this paper, the general theory of Fourier phase from first principles is presented, and it is shown that Fourier phase is a joint estimate of subresolution offset and mean spatial frequency of the coherence-gated sample refractive index. It is also shown that both spectral-domain phase microscopy and depth-resolved spatial-domain low-coherence quantitative phase microscopy are special cases of this general theory. Analytical expressions are provided for both, and simulations are presented to explain and support the theoretical results. These results are further used to show how Fourier phase allows the estimation of an axial mean spatial frequency profile of the sample, along with depth-resolved characterization of localized optical density change and sample heterogeneity. Finally, a Fourier phase-based explanation of Doppler optical coherence tomography is also provided. PMID:26831383

Nature and evolution of incommensurate charge order in manganites visualized with cryogenic scanning transmission electron microscopy.

PubMed

El Baggari, Ismail; Savitzky, Benjamin H; Admasu, Alemayehu S; Kim, Jaewook; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Hovden, Robert; Kourkoutis, Lena F

2018-02-13

Incommensurate charge order in hole-doped oxides is intertwined with exotic phenomena such as colossal magnetoresistance, high-temperature superconductivity, and electronic nematicity. Here, we map, at atomic resolution, the nature of incommensurate charge-lattice order in a manganite using scanning transmission electron microscopy at room temperature and cryogenic temperature ([Formula: see text]93 K). In diffraction, the ordering wave vector changes upon cooling, a behavior typically associated with incommensurate order. However, using real space measurements, we discover that the ordered state forms lattice-locked regions over a few wavelengths interspersed with phase defects and changing periodicity. The cations undergo picometer-scale ([Formula: see text]6 pm to 11 pm) transverse displacements, suggesting that charge-lattice coupling is strong. We further unearth phase inhomogeneity in the periodic lattice displacements at room temperature, and emergent phase coherence at 93 K. Such local phase variations govern the long-range correlations of the charge-ordered state and locally change the periodicity of the modulations, resulting in wave vector shifts in reciprocal space. These atomically resolved observations underscore the importance of lattice coupling and phase inhomogeneity, and provide a microscopic explanation for putative "incommensurate" order in hole-doped oxides. Copyright © 2018 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

Electron Acoustic Waves in Pure Ion Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderegg, F.; Driscoll, C. F.; Dubin, D. H. E.; O'Neil, T. M.

2009-11-01

Electron Acoustic Waves (EAW) are the low frequency branch of electrostatic plasma waves. These waves exist in neutralized plasmas, pure electron plasmas and in pure ion plasmasfootnotetextF. Anderegg et al., PRL 102, 095001 (2009) and PoP 16, 055705 (2009). (where the name is deceptive). Here, we observe standing mθ= 0 mz= 1 EAWs in a pure ion plasma column. At small amplitude, the EAWs have a phase velocity vph ˜1.4 v, and the frequencies are in close agreement with theory. At moderate amplitudes, waves can be excited over a broad range of frequencies, with observed phase velocities in the range of 1.4 v <=vph <=2.1 v. This frequency variability comes from the plasma adjusting its velocity distribution so as to make the EAW resonant with the drive frequency. Our wave-coherent laser-induced fluorescence diagnostic shows that particles slower than vph oscillate in phase with the wave, while particles moving faster than vph oscillate 180^o out of phase with the wave. From a fluid perspective, this gives an unusual negative dynamical compressibility. That is, the wave pressure oscillations are 180^o out of phase from the density oscillations, almost fully canceling the electrostatic restoring force, giving the low and malleable frequency.

A theory of Jovian decameter radiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldstein, M. L.; Sharma, R. R.; Papadopoulos, K.; Ben-Ari, M.; Eviatar, A.

1983-01-01

A theory of the Jovian decameter radiation is presented based on the assumed existence of beams of energetic electrons in the inner Jovian magnetosphere. Beam-like electron distributions are shown to be unstable to the growth of both upper hybrid and lower hybrid electrostatic waves. The upconversion of these waves to fast extraordinary mode electromagnetic radiation is calculated by using a fluid model. Two possibilities are considered. First, a random phase approximation is made which leads to a very conservative estimate of intensity that can be expected in decameter radiation. The alternative possibility is also considered, viz, that the upconversion process is coherent. A comparison of both processes suggests that an incoherent interaction may be adequate to account for the observed intensity of decametric radiation, except perhaps near the peak of the spectrum (8 MHz). The coherent process is intrinsically more efficient and can easily produce the observed intensity near 8 MHz if only 0.01% of the energy in the beam is converted to electrostatic energy.

Resonantly enhanced method for generation of tunable, coherent vacuum ultraviolet radiation

DOEpatents

Glownia, James H.; Sander, Robert K.

1985-01-01

Carbon Monoxide vapor is used to generate coherent, tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation by third-harmonic generation using a single tunable dye laser. The presence of a nearby electronic level resonantly enhances the nonlinear susceptibility of this molecule allowing efficient generation of the vuv light at modest pump laser intensities, thereby reducing the importance of a six-photon multiple-photon ionization process which is also resonantly enhanced by the same electronic level but to higher order. By choosing the pump radiation wavelength to be of shorter wavelength than individual vibronic levels used to extend tunability stepwise from 154.4 to 124.6 nm, and the intensity to be low enough, multiple-photon ionization can be eliminated. Excitation spectra of the third-harmonic emission output exhibit shifts to shorter wavelength and broadening with increasing CO pressure due to phase matching effects. Increasing the carbon monoxide pressure, therefore, allows the substantial filling in of gaps arising from the stepwise tuning thereby providing almost continuous tunability over the quoted range of wavelength emitted.

Strongly aligned gas-phase molecules at free-electron lasers

DOE PAGES

Kierspel, Thomas; Wiese, Joss; Mullins, Terry; ...

2015-09-16

Here, we demonstrate a novel experimental implementation to strongly align molecules at full repetition rates of free-electron lasers. We utilized the available in-house laser system at the coherent x-ray imaging beamline at the linac coherent light source. Chirped laser pulses, i.e., the direct output from the regenerative amplifier of the Ti:Sa chirped pulse amplification laser system, were used to strongly align 2, 5-diiodothiophene molecules in a molecular beam. The alignment laser pulses had pulse energies of a few mJ and a pulse duration of 94 ps. A degree of alignment ofmore » $$\\langle {\\mathrm{cos}}^{2}{\\theta }_{2{\\rm{D}}}\\rangle =0.85$$ was measured, limited by the intrinsic temperature of the molecular beam rather than by the available laser system. With the general availability of synchronized chirped-pulse-amplified near-infrared laser systems at short-wavelength laser facilities, our approach allows for the universal preparation of molecules tightly fixed in space for experiments with x-ray pulses.« less

Coherent Control of Nanoscale Ballistic Currents in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide ReS2.

PubMed

Cui, Qiannan; Zhao, Hui

2015-04-28

Transition metal dichalcogenides are predicted to outperform traditional semiconductors in ballistic devices with nanoscale channel lengths. So far, experimental studies on charge transport in transition metal dichalcogenides are limited to the diffusive regime. Here we show, using ReS2 as an example, all-optical injection, detection, and coherent control of ballistic currents. By utilizing quantum interference between one-photon and two-photon interband transition pathways, ballistic currents are injected in ReS2 thin film samples by a pair of femtosecond laser pulses. We find that the current decays on an ultrafast time scale, resulting in an electron transport of only a fraction of one nanometer. Following the relaxation of the initially injected momentum, backward motion of the electrons for about 1 ps is observed, driven by the Coulomb force from the oppositely moved holes. We also show that the injected current can be controlled by the phase of the laser pulses. These results demonstrate a new platform to study ballistic transport of nonequilibrium carriers in transition metal dichalcogenides.

Resonantly enhanced method for generation of tunable, coherent vacuum-ultraviolet radiation

DOEpatents

Glownia, J.H.; Sander, R.K.

1982-06-29

Carbon Monoxide vapor is used to generate coherent, tunable vacuum ultraviolet radiation by third-harmonic generation using a single tunable dye laser. The presence of a nearby electronic level resonantly enhances the nonlinear susceptibility of this molecule allowing efficient generation of the vuv light at modest pump laser intensities, thereby reducing the importance of a six-photon multiple-photon ionization process which is also resonantly enhanced by the same electronic level but no higher order. By choosing the pump radiation wavelength to be of shorter wavelength than individual vibronic levels used to extend tunability stepwise from 154.4 to 124.6 nm, and the intensity to be low enough, multiple-photon ionization can be eliminated. Excitation spectra of the third-harmonic emission output exhibit shifts to shorter wavelength and broadening with increasing CO pressure due to phase matching effects. Increasing the carbon monoxide pressure, therefore, allows the substantial filling in of gaps arising from the stepwise tuning thereby providing almost continuous tunability over the quoted range of wavelength emitted.

Plasma turbulence and coherent structures in the polar cap observed by the ICI-2 sounding rocket

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spicher, A.; Miloch, W. J.; Clausen, L. B. N.; Moen, J. I.

2015-12-01

The electron density data from the ICI-2 sounding rocket experiment in the high-latitude F region ionosphere are analyzed using the higher-order spectra and higher-order statistics. Two regions of enhanced fluctuations are chosen for detailed analysis: the trailing edge of a polar cap patch and an electron density enhancement associated with particle precipitation. While these two regions exhibit similar power spectra, our analysis reveals that their internal structures are significantly different. The structures on the edge of the polar cap patch are likely due to nonlinear wave interactions since this region is characterized by intermittency and significant coherent mode coupling. The plasma enhancement subjected to precipitation, however, exhibits stronger random characteristics with uncorrelated phases of density fluctuations. These results suggest that particle precipitation plays a fundamental role in ionospheric plasma structuring creating turbulent-like structures. We discuss the physical mechanisms that cause plasma structuring as well as the possible processes for the low-frequency part of the spectrum in terms of plasma instabilities.

Bright half-cycle optical radiation from relativistic wavebreaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miao, Bo; Goers, Andy; Hine, George; Feder, Linus; Salehi, Fatholah; Wahlstrand, Jared; Milchberg, Howard

2015-11-01

Wavebreaking injection of electrons into relativistic plasma wakes generated in near-critical density hydrogen plasmas by sub-terawatt laser pulses is observed to generate an extremely energetic and ultra-broadband radiation flash. The flash is coherent, with a bandwidth of Δλ / λ ~ 0 . 7 consistent with half-cycle optical emission of duration ~ 1 fs from violent unidirectional acceleration of electrons to light speed from rest over a distance much less than the radiated wavelength. We studied the temporal duration and coherence of the flash by interfering it in the frequency domain with a well-characterized Xe supercontinuum pulse. Fringes across the full flash spectrum were observed with high visibility, and the extracted flash spectral phase supports it being a nearly transform-limited pulse. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of bright half-cycle optical emission. This research is supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the US Department of Energy, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Light-field-driven currents in graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Higuchi, Takuya; Heide, Christian; Ullmann, Konrad; Weber, Heiko B.; Hommelhoff, Peter

2017-10-01

The ability to steer electrons using the strong electromagnetic field of light has opened up the possibility of controlling electron dynamics on the sub-femtosecond (less than 10-15 seconds) timescale. In dielectrics and semiconductors, various light-field-driven effects have been explored, including high-harmonic generation, sub-optical-cycle interband population transfer and the non-perturbative change of the transient polarizability. In contrast, much less is known about light-field-driven electron dynamics in narrow-bandgap systems or in conductors, in which screening due to free carriers or light absorption hinders the application of strong optical fields. Graphene is a promising platform with which to achieve light-field-driven control of electrons in a conducting material, because of its broadband and ultrafast optical response, weak screening and high damage threshold. Here we show that a current induced in monolayer graphene by two-cycle laser pulses is sensitive to the electric-field waveform, that is, to the exact shape of the optical carrier field of the pulse, which is controlled by the carrier-envelope phase, with a precision on the attosecond (10-18 seconds) timescale. Such a current, dependent on the carrier-envelope phase, shows a striking reversal of the direction of the current as a function of the driving field amplitude at about two volts per nanometre. This reversal indicates a transition of light-matter interaction from the weak-field (photon-driven) regime to the strong-field (light-field-driven) regime, where the intraband dynamics influence interband transitions. We show that in this strong-field regime the electron dynamics are governed by sub-optical-cycle Landau-Zener-Stückelberg interference, composed of coherent repeated Landau-Zener transitions on the femtosecond timescale. Furthermore, the influence of this sub-optical-cycle interference can be controlled with the laser polarization state. These coherent electron dynamics in graphene take place on a hitherto unexplored timescale, faster than electron-electron scattering (tens of femtoseconds) and electron-phonon scattering (hundreds of femtoseconds). We expect these results to have direct ramifications for band-structure tomography and light-field-driven petahertz electronics.

Light-field-driven currents in graphene.

PubMed

Higuchi, Takuya; Heide, Christian; Ullmann, Konrad; Weber, Heiko B; Hommelhoff, Peter

2017-10-12

The ability to steer electrons using the strong electromagnetic field of light has opened up the possibility of controlling electron dynamics on the sub-femtosecond (less than 10 -15 seconds) timescale. In dielectrics and semiconductors, various light-field-driven effects have been explored, including high-harmonic generation, sub-optical-cycle interband population transfer and the non-perturbative change of the transient polarizability. In contrast, much less is known about light-field-driven electron dynamics in narrow-bandgap systems or in conductors, in which screening due to free carriers or light absorption hinders the application of strong optical fields. Graphene is a promising platform with which to achieve light-field-driven control of electrons in a conducting material, because of its broadband and ultrafast optical response, weak screening and high damage threshold. Here we show that a current induced in monolayer graphene by two-cycle laser pulses is sensitive to the electric-field waveform, that is, to the exact shape of the optical carrier field of the pulse, which is controlled by the carrier-envelope phase, with a precision on the attosecond (10 -18 seconds) timescale. Such a current, dependent on the carrier-envelope phase, shows a striking reversal of the direction of the current as a function of the driving field amplitude at about two volts per nanometre. This reversal indicates a transition of light-matter interaction from the weak-field (photon-driven) regime to the strong-field (light-field-driven) regime, where the intraband dynamics influence interband transitions. We show that in this strong-field regime the electron dynamics are governed by sub-optical-cycle Landau-Zener-Stückelberg interference, composed of coherent repeated Landau-Zener transitions on the femtosecond timescale. Furthermore, the influence of this sub-optical-cycle interference can be controlled with the laser polarization state. These coherent electron dynamics in graphene take place on a hitherto unexplored timescale, faster than electron-electron scattering (tens of femtoseconds) and electron-phonon scattering (hundreds of femtoseconds). We expect these results to have direct ramifications for band-structure tomography and light-field-driven petahertz electronics.

Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy in the Time Domain: Studies of Ultrafast Molecular Processes in the Condensed Phase.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joo, Taiha

Ultrafast molecular processes in the condensed phase at room temperature are studied in the time domain by four wave mixing spectroscopy. The structure/dynamics of various quantum states can be studied by varying the time ordering of the incident fields, their polarization, their colors, etc. In one, time-resolved coherent Stokes Raman spectroscopy of benzene is investigated at room temperature. The reorientational correlation time of benzene as well as the T_2 time of the nu _1 ring-breathing mode have been measured by using two different polarization geometries. Bohr frequency difference beats have also been resolved between the nu_1 modes of ^ {12}C_6H_6 and ^{12}C_5^{13 }CH_6.. The dephasing dynamics of the nu _1 ring-breathing mode of neat benzene is studied by time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. Ultrafast time resolution reveals deviation from the conventional exponential decay. The correlation time, tau _{rm c}, and the rms magnitude, Delta, of the Bohr frequency modulation are determined for the process responsible for the vibrational dephasing by Kubo dephasing function analysis. The electronic dephasing of two oxazine dyes in ethylene glycol at room temperature is investigated by photon echo experiments. It was found that at least two stochastic processes are responsible for the observed electronic dephasing. Both fast (homogeneous) and slow (inhomogeneous) dynamics are recovered using Kubo line shape analysis. Moreover, the slow dynamics is found to spectrally diffuse over the inhomogeneous distribution on the time scale around a picosecond. Time-resolved degenerate four wave mixing signal of dyes in a population measurement geometry is reported. The vibrational coherences both in the ground and excited electronic states produced strong oscillations in the signal together with the usual population decay from the excited electronic state. Absolute frequencies and their dephasing times of the vibrational modes at ~590 cm^{-1} are obtained. Finally, a new inverse transform procedure is presented that calculates the absorption band (ABS) from an experimental Raman excitation profile (REP). An iterative solution is sought for an integral Hilbert transform relation. An exact ABS is recovered regardless of the starting ABS when sufficient iterations are performed.

Coherent diffraction imaging analysis of shape-controlled nanoparticles with focused hard X-ray free-electron laser pulses.

PubMed

Takahashi, Yukio; Suzuki, Akihiro; Zettsu, Nobuyuki; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Takayama, Yuki; Sekiguchi, Yuki; Kobayashi, Amane; Yamamoto, Masaki; Nakasako, Masayoshi

2013-01-01

We report the first demonstration of the coherent diffraction imaging analysis of nanoparticles using focused hard X-ray free-electron laser pulses, allowing us to analyze the size distribution of particles as well as the electron density projection of individual particles. We measured 1000 single-shot coherent X-ray diffraction patterns of shape-controlled Ag nanocubes and Au/Ag nanoboxes and estimated the edge length from the speckle size of the coherent diffraction patterns. We then reconstructed the two-dimensional electron density projection with sub-10 nm resolution from selected coherent diffraction patterns. This method enables the simultaneous analysis of the size distribution of synthesized nanoparticles and the structures of particles at nanoscale resolution to address correlations between individual structures of components and the statistical properties in heterogeneous systems such as nanoparticles and cells.

Nanostructure and giant magnetoresistive properties of granular systems.

PubMed

Kooi, B J; Vystavel, T; De Hosson, J T

2001-03-01

This article aims to make a connection between the microstructures of various nanostructured alloys and giant magnetoresistive (GMR) properties. The GMR behavior of nanoclusters embedded in a nonmagnetic matrix differs considerably from an alloy with the content of a magnetic phase above the percolation threshold; that is to say, an increase of GMR effect upon going from 300 to 10 K for the former and a decrease of the GMR effect for the latter. The following materials systems were examined with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and magnetoelectrical resistance measurements: magnetic Co and CoFe nanoclusters in a Au matrix, NiFe clusters in a Cu matrix, and NiFe/Cu spinodal decomposition waves with interconnection of the magnetic phase. After annealing (> or = 300 degrees C), Co particles in Au become semi- or incoherent, whereas under other conditions and in all other systems, the interfaces remain coherent. This state of coherency at the interface between magnetic particles and a nonmagnetic matrix turned out to have a detectable influence on the GMR behavior.

Coherence and phase synchrony analyses of EEG signals in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): A study of functional brain connectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Handayani, Nita; Haryanto, Freddy; Khotimah, Siti Nurul; Arif, Idam; Taruno, Warsito Purwo

2018-03-01

This paper presents an EEG study for coherence and phase synchrony in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. MCI is characterized by cognitive decline, which is an early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive impairment. EEG coherence is a statistical measure of correlation between signals from electrodes spatially separated on the scalp. The magnitude of phase synchrony is expressed in the phase locking value (PLV), a statistical measure of neuronal connectivity in the human brain. Brain signals were recorded using an Emotiv Epoc 14-channel wireless EEG at a sampling frequency of 128 Hz. In this study, we used 22 elderly subjects consisted of 10 MCI subjects and 12 healthy subjects as control group. The coherence between each electrode pair was measured for all frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta). In the MCI subjects, the value of coherence and phase synchrony was generally lower than in the healthy subjects especially in the beta frequency. A decline of intrahemisphere coherence in the MCI subjects occurred in the left temporo-parietal-occipital region. The pattern of decline in MCI coherence is associated with decreased cholinergic connectivity along the path that connects the temporal, occipital, and parietal areas of the brain to the frontal area of the brain. EEG coherence and phase synchrony are able to distinguish persons who suffer AD in the early stages from healthy elderly subjects.

Skyrmion formation and optical spin-Hall effect in an expanding coherent cloud of indirect excitons.

PubMed

Vishnevsky, D V; Flayac, H; Nalitov, A V; Solnyshkov, D D; Gippius, N A; Malpuech, G

2013-06-14

We provide a theoretical description of the polarization pattern and phase singularities experimentally evidenced recently in a condensate of indirect excitons [H. High et al., Nature 483, 584 (2012)]. We show that the averaging of the electron and hole orbital motion leads to a comparable spin-orbit interaction for both types of carriers. We demonstrate that the interplay between a radial coherent flux of bright indirect excitons and the Dresselhaus spin-orbit interaction results in the formation of spin domains and of topological defects similar to Skyrmions. We reproduce qualitatively all the features of the experimental data and obtain a polarization pattern as in the optical spin-Hall effect despite the different symmetry of the spin-orbit interactions.

Transient Evolutional Dynamics of Quantum-Dot Molecular Phase Coherence for Sensitive Optical Switching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Jian Qi; Gu, Jing

2018-04-01

Atomic phase coherence (quantum interference) in a multilevel atomic gas exhibits a number of interesting phenomena. Such an atomic quantum coherence effect can be generalized to a quantum-dot molecular dielectric. Two quantum dots form a quantum-dot molecule, which can be described by a three-level Λ-configuration model { |0> ,|1> ,|2> } , i.e., the ground state of the molecule is the lower level |0> and the highly degenerate electronic states in the two quantum dots are the two upper levels |1> ,|2> . The electromagnetic characteristics due to the |0>-|1> transition can be controllably manipulated by a tunable gate voltage (control field) that drives the |2>-|1> transition. When the gate voltage is switched on, the quantum-dot molecular state can evolve from one steady state (i.e., |0>-|1> two-level dressed state) to another steady state (i.e., three-level coherent-population-trapping state). In this process, the electromagnetic characteristics of a quantum-dot molecular dielectric, which is modified by the gate voltage, will also evolve. In this study, the transient evolutional behavior of the susceptibility of a quantum-dot molecular thin film and its reflection spectrum are treated by using the density matrix formulation of the multilevel systems. The present field-tunable and frequency-sensitive electromagnetic characteristics of a quantum-dot molecular thin film, which are sensitive to the applied gate voltage, can be utilized to design optical switching devices.

Vibrational and Nonadiabatic Coherence in 2D Electronic Spectroscopy, the Jahn-Teller Effect, and Energy Transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jonas, David M.

2018-04-01

Femtosecond two-dimensional (2D) Fourier transform spectroscopy generates and probes several types of coherence that characterize the couplings between vibrational and electronic motions. These couplings have been studied in molecules with Jahn-Teller conical intersections, pseudo-Jahn-Teller funnels, dimers, molecular aggregates, photosynthetic light harvesting complexes, and photosynthetic reaction centers. All have closely related Hamiltonians and at least two types of vibrations, including one that is decoupled from the electronic dynamics and one that is nonadiabatically coupled. Polarized pulse sequences can often be used to distinguish these types of vibrations. Electronic coherences are rapidly obscured by inhomogeneous dephasing. The longest-lived coherences in these systems arise from delocalized vibrations on the ground electronic state that are enhanced by a nonadiabatic Raman excitation process. These characterize the initial excited-state dynamics. 2D oscillation maps are beginning to isolate the medium lifetime vibronic coherences that report on subsequent stages of the excited-state dynamics.

Controlling electron beam-induced structure modifications and cation exchange in cadmium sulfide-copper sulfide heterostructured nanorods.

PubMed

Zheng, Haimei; Sadtler, Bryce; Habenicht, Carsten; Freitag, Bert; Alivisatos, A Paul; Kisielowski, Christian

2013-11-01

The atomic structure and interfaces of CdS/Cu2S heterostructured nanorods are investigated with the aberration-corrected TEAM 0.5 electron microscope operated at 80 kV and 300 kV applying in-line holography and complementary techniques. Cu2S exhibits a low-chalcocite structure in pristine CdS/Cu2S nanorods. Under electron beam irradiation the Cu2S phase transforms into a high-chalcocite phase while the CdS phase maintains its wurtzite structure. Time-resolved experiments reveal that Cu(+)-Cd(2+) cation exchange at the CdS/Cu2S interfaces is stimulated by the electron beam and proceeds within an undisturbed and coherent sulfur sub-lattice. A variation of the electron beam current provides an efficient way to control and exploit such irreversible solid-state chemical processes that provide unique information about system dynamics at the atomic scale. Specifically, we show that the electron beam-induced copper-cadmium exchange is site specific and anisotropic. A resulting displacement of the CdS/Cu2S interfaces caused by beam-induced cation interdiffusion equals within a factor of 3-10 previously reported Cu diffusion length measurements in heterostructured CdS/Cu2S thin film solar cells with an activation energy of 0.96 eV. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phase noise optimization in temporal phase-shifting digital holography with partial coherence light sources and its application in quantitative cell imaging.

PubMed

Remmersmann, Christian; Stürwald, Stephan; Kemper, Björn; Langehanenberg, Patrik; von Bally, Gert

2009-03-10

In temporal phase-shifting-based digital holographic microscopy, high-resolution phase contrast imaging requires optimized conditions for hologram recording and phase retrieval. To optimize the phase resolution, for the example of a variable three-step algorithm, a theoretical analysis on statistical errors, digitalization errors, uncorrelated errors, and errors due to a misaligned temporal phase shift is carried out. In a second step the theoretically predicted results are compared to the measured phase noise obtained from comparative experimental investigations with several coherent and partially coherent light sources. Finally, the applicability for noise reduction is demonstrated by quantitative phase contrast imaging of pancreas tumor cells.

Investigation of Synthetic Mg(1.3)V(1.7)O4 Spinel with MgO Inclusions: Case Study of a Spinel with an Apparently occupied Interstitial Site

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Uchida, Hinako; Righter, Kevin; Lavina, Barbara; Nowell, Matthew M.; Wright, Stuart I.; Downs, Robert T.; Yang, Hexiong

2007-01-01

A magnesium vanadate spinel crystal, ideally MgV2O4, synthesized at 1 bar, 1200 C and equilibrated under FMQ + 1.3 log f(sub o2) condition, was investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe, and electron backscatter (EBSD). The initial X-ray structure refinements gave tetrahedral and octahedral site occupancies, along with the presence of 0.053 apfu Mg at an interstitial octahedral site . Back-scattered electron (BSE) images and electron microprobe analyses revealed the existence of an Mg-rich phase in the spinel matrix, which was too small (less than or equal to 3microns) for an accurate chemical determination. The EBSD analysis combined with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscop[y (XEDS) suggested that the Mg-rich inclusions are periclase oriented coherently with the spinel matrix. The final structure refinements were optimized by subtracting the X-ray intensity contributions (approx. 9%) of periclase reflections, which eliminated the interstitial Mg. This study provides insight into possible origins of refined interstitial cations reported in the the literature for spinel, and points to the difficulty of using only X-ray diffraction data to distinguish a spinel with interstitial cations from one with coherently oriented MgO inclusions.

Evaluation of partial coherence correction in X-ray ptychography

DOE PAGES

Burdet, Nicolas; Shi, Xiaowen; Parks, Daniel; ...

2015-02-23

Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging (CDI) and X-ray ptychography both heavily rely on the high degree of spatial coherence of the X-ray illumination for sufficient experimental data quality for reconstruction convergence. Nevertheless, the majority of the available synchrotron undulator sources have a limited degree of partial coherence, leading to reduced data quality and a lower speckle contrast in the coherent diffraction patterns. It is still an open question whether experimentalists should compromise the coherence properties of an X-ray source in exchange for a higher flux density at a sample, especially when some materials of scientific interest are relatively weak scatterers. Amore » previous study has suggested that in CDI, the best strategy for the study of strong phase objects is to maintain a high degree of coherence of the illuminating X-rays because of the broadening of solution space resulting from the strong phase structures. In this article, we demonstrate the first systematic analysis of the effectiveness of partial coherence correction in ptychography as a function of the coherence properties, degree of complexity of illumination (degree of phase diversity of the probe) and sample phase complexity. We have also performed analysis of how well ptychographic algorithms refine X-ray probe and complex coherence functions when those variables are unknown at the start of reconstructions, for noise-free simulated data, in the case of both real-valued and highly-complex objects.« less

Coherent properties of a tunable low-energy electron-matter-wave source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pooch, A.; Seidling, M.; Kerker, N.; Röpke, R.; Rembold, A.; Chang, W. T.; Hwang, I. S.; Stibor, A.

2018-01-01

A general challenge in various quantum experiments and applications is to develop suitable sources for coherent particles. In particular, recent progress in microscopy, interferometry, metrology, decoherence measurements, and chip-based applications rely on intensive, tunable, coherent sources for free low-energy electron-matter waves. In most cases, the electrons get field emitted from a metal nanotip, where its radius and geometry toward a counter electrode determines the field distribution and the emission voltage. A higher emission is often connected to faster electrons with smaller de Broglie wavelengths, requiring larger pattern magnification after matter-wave diffraction or interferometry. This can be prevented with a well-known setup consisting of two counter electrodes that allow independent setting of the beam intensity and velocity. However, it needs to be tested if the coherent properties of such a source are preserved after the acceleration and deceleration of the electrons. Here, we study the coherence of the beam in a biprism interferometer with a single atom tip electron field emitter if the particle velocity and wavelength varies after emission. With a Wien filter measurement and a contrast correlation analysis we demonstrate that the intensity of the source at a certain particle wavelength can be enhanced up to a factor of 6.4 without changing the transverse and longitudinal coherence of the electron beam. In addition, the energy width of the single atom tip emitter was measured to be 377 meV, corresponding to a longitudinal coherence length of 82 nm. The design has potential applications in interferometry, microscopy, and sensor technology.

Quantum Nuclear Dynamics Pumped and Probed by Ultrafast Polarization Controlled Steering of a Coherent Electronic State in LiH.

PubMed

Nikodem, Astrid; Levine, R D; Remacle, F

2016-05-19

The quantum wave packet dynamics following a coherent electronic excitation of LiH by an ultrashort, polarized, strong one-cycle infrared optical pulse is computed on several electronic states using a grid method. The coupling to the strong field of the pump and the probe pulses is included in the Hamiltonian used to solve the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. The polarization of the pump pulse allows us to control the localization in time and in space of the nonequilibrium coherent electronic motion and the subsequent nuclear dynamics. We show that transient absorption, resulting from the interaction of the total molecular dipole with the electric fields of the pump and the probe, is a very versatile probe of the different time scales of the vibronic dynamics. It allows probing both the ultrashort, femtosecond time scale of the electronic coherences as well as the longer dozens of femtoseconds time scales of the nuclear motion on the excited electronic states. The ultrafast beatings of the electronic coherences in space and in time are shown to be modulated by the different periods of the nuclear motion.

Differential phase optical coherence probe for depth-resolved detection of photothermal response in tissue.

PubMed

Telenkov, Sergey A; Dave, Digant P; Sethuraman, Shriram; Akkin, Taner; Milner, Thomas E

2004-01-07

We describe a differential phase low-coherence interferometric probe for non-invasive, quantitative imaging of photothermal phenomena in biological materials. Our detection method utilizes principles of optical coherence tomography with differential phase measurement of interference fringe signals. A dual-channel optical low-coherence probe is used to analyse laser-induced thermoelastic and thermorefractive effects in tissue with micrometre axial resolution and nanometre sensitivity. We demonstrate an application of the technique using tissue phantoms and ex-vivo tissue specimens of rodent dorsal skin.

An Enhanced Non-Coherent Pre-Filter Design for Tracking Error Estimation in GNSS Receivers.

PubMed

Luo, Zhibin; Ding, Jicheng; Zhao, Lin; Wu, Mouyan

2017-11-18

Tracking error estimation is of great importance in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers. Any inaccurate estimation for tracking error will decrease the signal tracking ability of signal tracking loops and the accuracies of position fixing, velocity determination, and timing. Tracking error estimation can be done by traditional discriminator, or Kalman filter-based pre-filter. The pre-filter can be divided into two categories: coherent and non-coherent. This paper focuses on the performance improvements of non-coherent pre-filter. Firstly, the signal characteristics of coherent and non-coherent integration-which are the basis of tracking error estimation-are analyzed in detail. After that, the probability distribution of estimation noise of four-quadrant arctangent (ATAN2) discriminator is derived according to the mathematical model of coherent integration. Secondly, the statistical property of observation noise of non-coherent pre-filter is studied through Monte Carlo simulation to set the observation noise variance matrix correctly. Thirdly, a simple fault detection and exclusion (FDE) structure is introduced to the non-coherent pre-filter design, and thus its effective working range for carrier phase error estimation extends from (-0.25 cycle, 0.25 cycle) to (-0.5 cycle, 0.5 cycle). Finally, the estimation accuracies of discriminator, coherent pre-filter, and the enhanced non-coherent pre-filter are evaluated comprehensively through the carefully designed experiment scenario. The pre-filter outperforms traditional discriminator in estimation accuracy. In a highly dynamic scenario, the enhanced non-coherent pre-filter provides accuracy improvements of 41.6%, 46.4%, and 50.36% for carrier phase error, carrier frequency error, and code phase error estimation, respectively, when compared with coherent pre-filter. The enhanced non-coherent pre-filter outperforms the coherent pre-filter in code phase error estimation when carrier-to-noise density ratio is less than 28.8 dB-Hz, in carrier frequency error estimation when carrier-to-noise density ratio is less than 20 dB-Hz, and in carrier phase error estimation when carrier-to-noise density belongs to (15, 23) dB-Hz ∪ (26, 50) dB-Hz.

An Enhanced Non-Coherent Pre-Filter Design for Tracking Error Estimation in GNSS Receivers

PubMed Central

Luo, Zhibin; Ding, Jicheng; Zhao, Lin; Wu, Mouyan

2017-01-01

Tracking error estimation is of great importance in global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers. Any inaccurate estimation for tracking error will decrease the signal tracking ability of signal tracking loops and the accuracies of position fixing, velocity determination, and timing. Tracking error estimation can be done by traditional discriminator, or Kalman filter-based pre-filter. The pre-filter can be divided into two categories: coherent and non-coherent. This paper focuses on the performance improvements of non-coherent pre-filter. Firstly, the signal characteristics of coherent and non-coherent integration—which are the basis of tracking error estimation—are analyzed in detail. After that, the probability distribution of estimation noise of four-quadrant arctangent (ATAN2) discriminator is derived according to the mathematical model of coherent integration. Secondly, the statistical property of observation noise of non-coherent pre-filter is studied through Monte Carlo simulation to set the observation noise variance matrix correctly. Thirdly, a simple fault detection and exclusion (FDE) structure is introduced to the non-coherent pre-filter design, and thus its effective working range for carrier phase error estimation extends from (−0.25 cycle, 0.25 cycle) to (−0.5 cycle, 0.5 cycle). Finally, the estimation accuracies of discriminator, coherent pre-filter, and the enhanced non-coherent pre-filter are evaluated comprehensively through the carefully designed experiment scenario. The pre-filter outperforms traditional discriminator in estimation accuracy. In a highly dynamic scenario, the enhanced non-coherent pre-filter provides accuracy improvements of 41.6%, 46.4%, and 50.36% for carrier phase error, carrier frequency error, and code phase error estimation, respectively, when compared with coherent pre-filter. The enhanced non-coherent pre-filter outperforms the coherent pre-filter in code phase error estimation when carrier-to-noise density ratio is less than 28.8 dB-Hz, in carrier frequency error estimation when carrier-to-noise density ratio is less than 20 dB-Hz, and in carrier phase error estimation when carrier-to-noise density belongs to (15, 23) dB-Hz ∪ (26, 50) dB-Hz. PMID:29156581

Coplanar semiconductor-metal circuitry defined on few-layer MoTe2 via polymorphic heteroepitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Ji Ho; Heo, Hoseok; Si, Saerom; Kim, Yong Hyeon; Noh, Hyeong Rae; Song, Kyung; Kim, Juho; Lee, Chang-Soo; Seo, Seung-Young; Kim, Dong-Hwi; Kim, Hyoung Kug; Yeom, Han Woong; Kim, Tae-Hwan; Choi, Si-Young; Kim, Jun Sung; Jo, Moon-Ho

2017-11-01

Crystal polymorphism selectively stabilizes the electronic phase of atomically thin transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) as metallic or semiconducting, suggesting the potential to integrate these polymorphs as circuit components in two-dimensional electronic circuitry. Developing a selective and sequential growth strategy for such two-dimensional polymorphs in the vapour phase is a critical step in this endeavour. Here, we report on the polymorphic integration of distinct metallic (1T‧) and semiconducting (2H) MoTe2 crystals within the same atomic planes by heteroepitaxy. The realized polymorphic coplanar contact is atomically coherent, and its barrier potential is spatially tight-confined over a length of only a few nanometres, with a lowest contact barrier height of ∼25 meV. We also demonstrate the generality of our synthetic integration approach for other TMDC polymorph films with large areas.

Anomalous Hall Resistance in Bilayer Electron Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezawa, Z. F.; Suzuki, S.; Tsitsishvili, G.

2007-04-01

Interlayer phase coherence has revealed various novel features in bilayer quantum Hall (QH) systems. It is shown to make the QH resistance vanish instead of developing a Hall plateau in a bilayer counterflow geometry. It also induces another anomalous QH resistance discovered in a drag experiment. These theoretical results explain recent experimental data due to Kellogg et al. [PRL 93 (2004) 036801;PRL 88 (2002) 126804] and Tutuc et al.[PRL 93 (2004) 036802].

Nuclear spin cooling by electric dipole spin resonance and coherent population trapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ai-Xian; Duan, Su-Qing; Zhang, Wei

2017-09-01

Nuclear spin fluctuation suppression is a key issue in preserving electron coherence for quantum information/computation. We propose an efficient way of nuclear spin cooling in semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) by the coherent population trapping (CPT) and the electric dipole spin resonance (EDSR) induced by optical fields and ac electric fields. The EDSR can enhance the spin flip-flop rate and may bring out bistability under certain conditions. By tuning the optical fields, we can avoid the EDSR induced bistability and obtain highly polarized nuclear spin state, which results in long electron coherence time. With the help of CPT and EDSR, an enhancement of 1500 times of the electron coherence time can been obtained after a 500 ns preparation time.

Classification and assessment of retrieved electron density maps in coherent X-ray diffraction imaging using multivariate analysis.

PubMed

Sekiguchi, Yuki; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Nakasako, Masayoshi

2016-01-01

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) is one of the techniques used to visualize structures of non-crystalline particles of micrometer to submicrometer size from materials and biological science. In the structural analysis of CXDI, the electron density map of a sample particle can theoretically be reconstructed from a diffraction pattern by using phase-retrieval (PR) algorithms. However, in practice, the reconstruction is difficult because diffraction patterns are affected by Poisson noise and miss data in small-angle regions due to the beam stop and the saturation of detector pixels. In contrast to X-ray protein crystallography, in which the phases of diffracted waves are experimentally estimated, phase retrieval in CXDI relies entirely on the computational procedure driven by the PR algorithms. Thus, objective criteria and methods to assess the accuracy of retrieved electron density maps are necessary in addition to conventional parameters monitoring the convergence of PR calculations. Here, a data analysis scheme, named ASURA, is proposed which selects the most probable electron density maps from a set of maps retrieved from 1000 different random seeds for a diffraction pattern. Each electron density map composed of J pixels is expressed as a point in a J-dimensional space. Principal component analysis is applied to describe characteristics in the distribution of the maps in the J-dimensional space. When the distribution is characterized by a small number of principal components, the distribution is classified using the k-means clustering method. The classified maps are evaluated by several parameters to assess the quality of the maps. Using the proposed scheme, structure analysis of a diffraction pattern from a non-crystalline particle is conducted in two stages: estimation of the overall shape and determination of the fine structure inside the support shape. In each stage, the most accurate and probable density maps are objectively selected. The validity of the proposed scheme is examined by application to diffraction data that were obtained from an aggregate of metal particles and a biological specimen at the XFEL facility SACLA using custom-made diffraction apparatus.

Kinetic theory for the ion humps at the foot of the Earth's bow shock

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jovanovic, D.; Krasnoselskikh, V. V.

2009-10-15

The nonlinear kinetic theory is presented for the ion acoustic perturbations at the foot of the Earth's quasiperpendicular bow shock, that is characterized by weakly magnetized electrons and unmagnetized ions. The streaming ions, due to the reflection of the solar wind ions from the shock, provide the free energy source for the linear instability of the acoustic wave. In the fully nonlinear regime, a coherent localized solution is found in the form of a stationary ion hump, which is traveling with the velocity close to the phase velocity of the linear mode. The structure is supported by the nonlinearities comingmore » from the increased population of the resonant beam ions, trapped in the self-consistent potential. As their size in the direction perpendicular to the local magnetic field is somewhat smaller that the electron Larmor radius and much larger that the Debye length, their spatial properties are determined by the effects of the magnetic field on weakly magnetized electrons. These coherent structures provide a theoretical explanation for the bipolar electric pulses, observed upstream of the shock by Polar and Cluster satellite missions.« less

Coherent Raman detected electron spin resonance spectroscopy of metalloproteins: linking electron spin resonance and magnetic circular dichroism.

PubMed

Bingham, Stephen J; Wolverson, Daniel; Thomson, Andrew J

2008-12-01

The simultaneous excitation of paramagnetic molecules with optical (laser) and microwave radiation in the presence of a magnetic field can cause an amplitude, or phase, modulation of the transmitted light at the microwave frequency. The detection of this modulation indicates the presence of coupled optical and ESR transitions. The phenomenon can be viewed as a coherent Raman effect or, in most cases, as a microwave frequency modulation of the magnetic circular dichroism by the precessing magnetization. By allowing the optical and magnetic properties of a transition metal ion centre to be correlated, it becomes possible to deconvolute the overlapping optical or ESR spectra of multiple centres in a protein or of multiple chemical forms of a particular centre. The same correlation capability also allows the relative orientation of the magnetic and optical anisotropies of each species to be measured, even when the species cannot be obtained in a crystalline form. Such measurements provide constraints on electronic structure calculations. The capabilities of the method are illustrated by data from the dimeric mixed-valence Cu(A) centre of nitrous oxide reductase (N(2)OR) from Paracoccus pantotrophus.

Mode-Locked Multichromatic X-Rays in a Seeded Free-Electron Laser for Single-Shot X-Ray Spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xiang, Dao; Ding, Yuantao; Raubenheimer, Tor

2012-05-10

We present the promise of generating gigawatt mode-locked multichromatic x rays in a seeded free-electron laser (FEL). We show that, by using a laser to imprint periodic modulation in electron beam phase space, a single-frequency coherent seed can be amplified and further translated to a mode-locked multichromatic output in an FEL. With this configuration the FEL output consists of a train of mode-locked ultrashort pulses which span a wide frequency gap with a series of equally spaced sharp lines. These gigawatt multichromatic x rays may potentially allow one to explore the structure and dynamics of a large number of atomicmore » states simultaneously. The feasibility of generating mode-locked x rays ranging from carbon K edge ({approx}284 eV) to copper L{sub 3} edge ({approx}931 eV) is confirmed with numerical simulation using the realistic parameters of the linac coherent light source (LCLS) and LCLS-II. We anticipate that the mode-locked multichromatic x rays in FELs may open up new opportunities in x-ray spectroscopy (i.e. resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, time-resolved scattering and spectroscopy, etc.).« less

Holonomic Quantum Control with Continuous Variable Systems.

PubMed

Albert, Victor V; Shu, Chi; Krastanov, Stefan; Shen, Chao; Liu, Ren-Bao; Yang, Zhen-Biao; Schoelkopf, Robert J; Mirrahimi, Mazyar; Devoret, Michel H; Jiang, Liang

2016-04-08

Universal computation of a quantum system consisting of superpositions of well-separated coherent states of multiple harmonic oscillators can be achieved by three families of adiabatic holonomic gates. The first gate consists of moving a coherent state around a closed path in phase space, resulting in a relative Berry phase between that state and the other states. The second gate consists of "colliding" two coherent states of the same oscillator, resulting in coherent population transfer between them. The third gate is an effective controlled-phase gate on coherent states of two different oscillators. Such gates should be realizable via reservoir engineering of systems that support tunable nonlinearities, such as trapped ions and circuit QED.

Amplification of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization at 200 GHz by Arbitrary Pulse Shaping of the Electron Spin Saturation Profile.

PubMed

Kaminker, Ilia; Han, Songi

2018-06-07

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) takes center stage in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a tool to amplify its signal by orders of magnitude through the transfer of polarization from electron to nuclear spins. In contrast to modern NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) that extensively rely on pulses for spin manipulation in the time domain, the current mainstream DNP technology exclusively relies on monochromatic continuous wave (CW) irradiation. This study introduces arbitrary phase shaped pulses that constitute a train of coherent chirp pulses in the time domain at 200 GHz (7 T) to dramatically enhance the saturation bandwidth and DNP performance compared to CW DNP, yielding up to 500-fold in NMR signal enhancements. The observed improvement is attributed to the recruitment of additional electron spins contributing to DNP via the cross-effect mechanism, as experimentally confirmed by two-frequency pump-probe electron-electron double resonance (ELDOR).

Dissipative time-dependent quantum transport theory: Quantum interference and phonon induced decoherence dynamics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Yu, E-mail: zhy@yangtze.hku.hk; Chen, GuanHua, E-mail: ghc@everest.hku.hk; Yam, ChiYung

2015-04-28

A time-dependent inelastic electron transport theory for strong electron-phonon interaction is established via the equations of motion method combined with the small polaron transformation. In this work, the dissipation via electron-phonon coupling is taken into account in the strong coupling regime, which validates the small polaron transformation. The corresponding equations of motion are developed, which are used to study the quantum interference effect and phonon-induced decoherence dynamics in molecular junctions. Numerical studies show clearly quantum interference effect of the transport electrons through two quasi-degenerate states with different couplings to the leads. We also found that the quantum interference can bemore » suppressed by the electron-phonon interaction where the phase coherence is destroyed by phonon scattering. This indicates the importance of electron-phonon interaction in systems with prominent quantum interference effect.« less

Vibrational frequencies and dephasing times in excited electronic states by femtosecond time-resolved four-wave mixing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joo, Taiha; Albrecht, A. C.

1993-06-01

Time-resolved degenerate four-wave mixing (TRDFWM) for an electronically resonant system in a phase-matching configuration that measures population decay is reported. Because the spectral width of input light exceeds the vibrational Bohr frequency of a strong Raman active mode, the vibrational coherence produces strong oscillations in the TRDFWM signal together with the usual population decay from the excited electronic state. The data are analyzed in terms of a four-level system: ground and excited electronic states each split by a vibrational quantum of a Raman active mode. Absolute frequencies and their dephasing times of the vibrational modes at ≈590 cm -1 are obtained for the excited as well as the ground electronic state. The vibrational dephasing rate in the excited electronic state is about an order of magnitude faster than that in the ground state, the origin of which is speculated upon.

Superconductivity driven by pairing of the coherent parts of the physical electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Yuehua; Zhang, Chao

2018-03-01

How the superconductivity in unconventional superconductors emerges from the diverse mother normal states is still a big puzzle. Whatever the mother normal states are the superconductivity is normal with BCS-like behaviours of the paired quasiparticles in condensation. To reconcile the diverse mother normal states and the normal superconductivity in unconventional superconductors, we revisit a proposal that the emergence of the low-energy coherent parts of the physical electrons, which survive from the interaction correlations, is an essential prerequisite for superconductivity. The superconductivity is driven by the pair condensation of these coherent parts of the physical electrons. Moreover the incoherent parts of the physical electrons can enhance the superconducting transition temperature Tc although they are not in driving role in the emergence of the superconductivity. Some experimental responses of the coherent parts of the physical electrons are predicted.

Quantum coherence selective 2D Raman–2D electronic spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Spencer, Austin P.; Hutson, William O.; Harel, Elad

2017-01-01

Electronic and vibrational correlations report on the dynamics and structure of molecular species, yet revealing these correlations experimentally has proved extremely challenging. Here, we demonstrate a method that probes correlations between states within the vibrational and electronic manifold with quantum coherence selectivity. Specifically, we measure a fully coherent four-dimensional spectrum which simultaneously encodes vibrational–vibrational, electronic–vibrational and electronic–electronic interactions. By combining near-impulsive resonant and non-resonant excitation, the desired fifth-order signal of a complex organic molecule in solution is measured free of unwanted lower-order contamination. A critical feature of this method is electronic and vibrational frequency resolution, enabling isolation and assignment of individual quantum coherence pathways. The vibronic structure of the system is then revealed within an otherwise broad and featureless 2D electronic spectrum. This method is suited for studying elusive quantum effects in which electronic transitions strongly couple to phonons and vibrations, such as energy transfer in photosynthetic pigment–protein complexes. PMID:28281541

Accessing the exceptional points of parity-time symmetric acoustics

PubMed Central

Shi, Chengzhi; Dubois, Marc; Chen, Yun; Cheng, Lei; Ramezani, Hamidreza; Wang, Yuan; Zhang, Xiang

2016-01-01

Parity-time (PT) symmetric systems experience phase transition between PT exact and broken phases at exceptional point. These PT phase transitions contribute significantly to the design of single mode lasers, coherent perfect absorbers, isolators, and diodes. However, such exceptional points are extremely difficult to access in practice because of the dispersive behaviour of most loss and gain materials required in PT symmetric systems. Here we introduce a method to systematically tame these exceptional points and control PT phases. Our experimental demonstration hinges on an active acoustic element that realizes a complex-valued potential and simultaneously controls the multiple interference in the structure. The manipulation of exceptional points offers new routes to broaden applications for PT symmetric physics in acoustics, optics, microwaves and electronics, which are essential for sensing, communication and imaging. PMID:27025443

Attosecond control of electrons emitted from a nanoscale metal tip.

PubMed

Krüger, Michael; Schenk, Markus; Hommelhoff, Peter

2011-07-06

Attosecond science is based on steering electrons with the electric field of well controlled femtosecond laser pulses. It has led to the generation of extreme-ultraviolet pulses with a duration of less than 100 attoseconds (ref. 3; 1 as = 10(-18) s), to the measurement of intramolecular dynamics (by diffraction of an electron taken from the molecule under scrutiny) and to ultrafast electron holography. All these effects have been observed with atoms or molecules in the gas phase. Electrons liberated from solids by few-cycle laser pulses are also predicted to show a strong light-phase sensitivity, but only very small effects have been observed. Here we report that the spectra of electrons undergoing photoemission from a nanometre-scale tungsten tip show a dependence on the carrier-envelope phase of the laser, with a current modulation of up to 100 per cent. Depending on the carrier-envelope phase, electrons are emitted either from a single sub-500-attosecond interval of the 6-femtosecond laser pulse, or from two such intervals; the latter case leads to spectral interference. We also show that coherent elastic re-scattering of liberated electrons takes place at the metal surface. Owing to field enhancement at the tip, a simple laser oscillator reaches the peak electric field strengths required for attosecond experiments at 100-megahertz repetition rates, rendering complex amplified laser systems dispensable. Practically, this work represents a simple, extremely sensitive carrier-envelope phase sensor, which could be shrunk in volume to about one cubic centimetre. Our results indicate that the attosecond techniques developed with (and for) atoms and molecules can also be used with solids. In particular, we foresee subfemtosecond, subnanometre probing of collective electron dynamics (such as plasmon polaritons) in solid-state systems ranging in scale from mesoscopic solids to clusters and to single protruding atoms. ©2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

Numerical analysis of azimuthal rotating spokes in a crossed-field discharge plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawashima, R.; Hara, K.; Komurasaki, K.

2018-03-01

Low-frequency rotating spokes are obtained in a cross-field discharge plasma using two-dimensional numerical simulations. A particle-fluid hybrid model is used to model the plasma flow in a configuration similar to a Hall thruster. It has been reported that the drift-diffusion approximation for an electron fluid results in an ill-conditioned matrix when solving for the potential because of the differences in the electron mobilities across the magnetic field and in the direction of the E × B drift. In this paper, we employ a hyperbolic approach that enables stable calculation, namely, better iterative convergence of the electron fluid model. Our simulation results show a coherent rotating structure propagating in the E × B direction with a phase velocity of 2500 m s‑1, which agrees with experimental data. The phase velocity obtained from the numerical simulations shows good agreement with that predicted by the dispersion relation of the gradient drift instability.

Communication: Coherences observed in vivo in photosynthetic bacteria using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dahlberg, Peter D.; Norris, Graham J.; Wang, Cheng; Viswanathan, Subha; Singh, Ved P.; Engel, Gregory S.

2015-09-01

Energy transfer through large disordered antenna networks in photosynthetic organisms can occur with a quantum efficiency of nearly 100%. This energy transfer is facilitated by the electronic structure of the photosynthetic antennae as well as interactions between electronic states and the surrounding environment. Coherences in time-domain spectroscopy provide a fine probe of how a system interacts with its surroundings. In two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, coherences can appear on both the ground and excited state surfaces revealing detailed information regarding electronic structure, system-bath coupling, energy transfer, and energetic coupling in complex chemical systems. Numerous studies have revealed coherences in isolated photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes, but these coherences have not been observed in vivo due to the small amplitude of these signals and the intense scatter from whole cells. Here, we present data acquired using ultrafast video-acquisition gradient-assisted photon echo spectroscopy to observe quantum beating signals from coherences in vivo. Experiments were conducted on isolated light harvesting complex II (LH2) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, whole cells of R. sphaeroides, and whole cells of R. sphaeroides grown in 30% deuterated media. A vibronic coherence was observed following laser excitation at ambient temperature between the B850 and the B850∗ states of LH2 in each of the 3 samples with a lifetime of ˜40-60 fs.

Phase noise reduction by optical phase-locked loop for a coherent bichromatic laser based on the injection-locking technique.

PubMed

Wu, C F; Yan, X S; Huang, J Q; Zhang, J W; Wang, L J

2018-01-01

We present a coherent bichromatic laser system with low phase noise. An optical injection process is used to generate coherent laser beams with a frequency difference of 9.192 631 77 GHz using an electro-optical modulator. An optical phase-locked loop is then applied to reduce the phase noise. The phase noise of the beat note is -41, -81, -98, -83, and -95 dBrad 2 /Hz at the offset frequencies of 1 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, and 1 MHz, respectively. Compared to a system that uses optical injection alone, the phase noise is reduced by up to 20-30 dB in the low-frequency range, and the intermodulation effect on the continuous atomic clock is reduced by an order of magnitude. This configuration can adjust the intensities and polarizations of the laser beams independently and reduce the phase noise caused by environmental disturbances and optical injection, which may be useful for application to atomic coherence experiments.

Phase noise reduction by optical phase-locked loop for a coherent bichromatic laser based on the injection-locking technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, C. F.; Yan, X. S.; Huang, J. Q.; Zhang, J. W.; Wang, L. J.

2018-01-01

We present a coherent bichromatic laser system with low phase noise. An optical injection process is used to generate coherent laser beams with a frequency difference of 9.192 631 77 GHz using an electro-optical modulator. An optical phase-locked loop is then applied to reduce the phase noise. The phase noise of the beat note is -41, -81, -98, -83, and -95 dBrad2/Hz at the offset frequencies of 1 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, and 1 MHz, respectively. Compared to a system that uses optical injection alone, the phase noise is reduced by up to 20-30 dB in the low-frequency range, and the intermodulation effect on the continuous atomic clock is reduced by an order of magnitude. This configuration can adjust the intensities and polarizations of the laser beams independently and reduce the phase noise caused by environmental disturbances and optical injection, which may be useful for application to atomic coherence experiments.

Active control on high-order coherence and statistic characterization on random phase fluctuation of two classical point sources.

PubMed

Hong, Peilong; Li, Liming; Liu, Jianji; Zhang, Guoquan

2016-03-29

Young's double-slit or two-beam interference is of fundamental importance to understand various interference effects, in which the stationary phase difference between two beams plays the key role in the first-order coherence. Different from the case of first-order coherence, in the high-order optical coherence the statistic behavior of the optical phase will play the key role. In this article, by employing a fundamental interfering configuration with two classical point sources, we showed that the high- order optical coherence between two classical point sources can be actively designed by controlling the statistic behavior of the relative phase difference between two point sources. Synchronous position Nth-order subwavelength interference with an effective wavelength of λ/M was demonstrated, in which λ is the wavelength of point sources and M is an integer not larger than N. Interestingly, we found that the synchronous position Nth-order interference fringe fingerprints the statistic trace of random phase fluctuation of two classical point sources, therefore, it provides an effective way to characterize the statistic properties of phase fluctuation for incoherent light sources.

Solar physical vapor deposition preparation and microstructural characterization of TiO2 based nanophases for dye-sensitized solar cell applications.

PubMed

Negrea, Denis; Ducu, Catalin; Moga, Sorin; Malinovschi, Viorel; Monty, Claude J A; Vasile, Bogdan; Dorobantu, Dorel; Enachescu, Marian

2012-11-01

Titanium dioxide exists in three crystalline phases: anatase, rutile and brookite. Although rutile is thermodynamically more stable, anatase is considered as the most favorable phase for photocatalysis and solar energy conversion. Recent studies have shown a significant improvement of light harvesting and overall solar conversion efficiency of anatase nanoparticles in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) when using a mixture of anatase and rutile phases (10-15% rutile). TiO2 nanopowders have been prepared by a solar physical vapor deposition process (SPVD). This method has been developed in Odeillo-Font Romeu France using "heliotron" solar reactors working under concentrated sunlight in 2 kW solar furnaces. By controlling reactor's atmosphere type (air/argon) and gas pressure, several types of anatase/rutile nanophases have been obtained with slightly different microstructural properties and morphological characteristics. X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD) were performed on precursor and on the SPVD obtained nanopowders. Information concerning their phase composition and coherence diffraction domain (crystallites size and strain) was obtained. Nanopowders morphology has been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

FIBER AND INTEGRATED OPTICS, LASER APPLICATIONS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Optical components for the analysis and formation of the transverse mode composition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golub, M. A.; Sisakyan, I. N.; Soĭfer, V. A.; Uvarov, G. V.

1989-04-01

Theoretical and experimental investigations are reported of new mode optical components (elements) which are analogs of sinusoidal phase diffraction gratings with a variable modulation depth. Expressions are derived for nonlinear predistortion and depth of modulation, which are essential for effective operation of amplitude and phase mode optical components in devices used for analysis and formation of the transverse mode composition of coherent radiation. An estimate is obtained of the energy efficiency of phase and amplitude mode optical components, and a comparison is made with the results of an experimental investigation of a set of phase optical components matched to Gauss-Laguerre modes. It is shown that the improvement in the energy efficiency of phase mode components, compared with amplitude components, is the same as the improvement achieved using a phase diifraction grating, compared with amplitude grating with the same depth of modulation.

Control of electron spin decoherence in nuclear spin baths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ren-Bao

2011-03-01

Nuclear spin baths are a main mechanism of decoherence of spin qubits in solid-state systems, such as quantum dots and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers of diamond. The decoherence results from entanglement between the electron and nuclear spins, established by quantum evolution of the bath conditioned on the electron spin state. When the electron spin is flipped, the conditional bath evolution is manipulated. Such manipulation of bath through control of the electron spin not only leads to preservation of the center spin coherence but also demonstrates quantum nature of the bath. In an NV center system, the electron spin effectively interacts with hundreds of 13 C nuclear spins. Under repeated flip control (dynamical decoupling), the electron spin coherence can be preserved for a long time (> 1 ms) . Thereforesomecharacteristicoscillations , duetocouplingtoabonded 13 C nuclear spin pair (a dimer), are imprinted on the electron spin coherence profile, which are very sensitive to the position and orientation of the dimer. With such finger-print oscillations, a dimer can be uniquely identified. Thus, we propose magnetometry with single-nucleus sensitivity and atomic resolution, using NV center spin coherence to identify single molecules. Through the center spin coherence, we could also explore the many-body physics in an interacting spin bath. The information of elementary excitations and many-body correlations can be extracted from the center spin coherence under many-pulse dynamical decoupling control. Another application of the preserved spin coherence is identifying quantumness of a spin bath through the back-action of the electron spin to the bath. We show that the multiple transition of an NV center in a nuclear spin bath can have longer coherence time than the single transition does, when the classical noises due to inhomogeneous broadening is removed by spin echo. This counter-intuitive result unambiguously demonstrates the quantumness of the nuclear spin bath. This work was supported by Hong Kong RGC/GRF CUHK402207, CUHK402209, and CUHK402410. The author acknowledges collaboration with Nan Zhao, Jian-Liang Hu, Sai Wah Ho, Jones T. K. Wan, and Jiangfeng Du.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alexanian, Moorad

The fidelity for cloning coherent states is improved over that provided by optimal Gaussian and non-Gaussian cloners for the subset of coherent states that are prepared with known phases. Gaussian quantum cloning duplicates all coherent states with an optimal fidelity of 2/3. Non-Gaussian cloners give optimal single-clone fidelity for a symmetric 1-to-2 cloner of 0.6826. Coherent states that have known phases can be cloned with a fidelity of 4/5. The latter is realized by a combination of two beam splitters and a four-wave mixer operated in the nonlinear regime, all of which are realized by interaction Hamiltonians that are quadraticmore » in the photon operators. Therefore, the known Gaussian devices for cloning coherent states are extended when cloning coherent states with known phases by considering a nonbalanced beam splitter at the input side of the amplifier.« less

Beam combining and SBS suppression in white noise and pseudo-random modulated amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, Brian; Flores, Angel; Holten, Roger; Ehrenreich, Thomas; Dajani, Iyad

2015-03-01

White noise phase modulation (WNS) and pseudo-random binary sequence phase modulation (PRBS) are effective techniques for mitigation of nonlinear effects such as stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS); thereby paving the way for higher power narrow linewidth fiber amplifiers. However, detailed studies comparing both coherent beam combination and the SBS suppression of these phase modulation schemes have not been reported. In this study an active fiber cutback experiment is performed comparing the enhancement factor of a PRBS and WNS broadened seed as a function of linewidth and fiber length. Furthermore, two WNS and PRBS modulated fiber lasers are coherently combined to measure and compare the fringe visibility and coherence length as a function of optical path length difference. Notably, the discrete frequency comb of PRBS modulation provides a beam combining re-coherence effect where the lasers periodically come back into phase. Significantly, this may reduce path length matching complexity in coherently combined fiber laser systems.

Coherence properties of the radiation from FLASH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneidmiller, E. A.; Yurkov, M. V.

2016-02-01

Free electron LASer in Hamburg is the first free electron laser user facility operating in the vacuum ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelength range. Many user experiments require knowledge of the spatial and temporal coherence properties of the radiation. In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of the coherence properties of the radiation for the fundamental and for the higher odd frequency harmonics. We show that temporal and spatial coherence reach their maxima close to the free electron laser (FEL) saturation but may degrade significantly in the post-saturation regime. We also find that the pointing stability of short FEL pulses is limited due to the fact that nonazimuthal FEL eigenmodes are not sufficiently suppressed. We discuss possible ways for improving the degree of transverse coherence and the pointing stability.

The optimization of self-phased arrays for diurnal motion tracking of synchronous satellites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Theobold, D. M.; Hodge, D. B.

1977-01-01

The diurnal motion of a synchronous satellite necessitates mechanical tracking when a large aperture, high gain antenna is employed at the earth terminal. An alternative solution to this tracking problem is to use a self phased array consisting of a number of fixed pointed elements, each with moderate directivity. Non-mechanical tracking and adequate directive gain are achieved electronically by phase coherent summing of the element outputs. The element beamwidths provide overlapping area coverage of the satellite motion but introduce a diurnal variation into the array gain. The optimum element beamwidth and pointing direction of these elements can be obtained under the condition that the array gain is maximized simultaneously with the minimization of the diurnal variation.

The interfacial orientation relationship of oxide nanoparticles in a hafnium-containing oxide dispersion-strengthened austenitic stainless steel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Miao, Yinbin, E-mail: miao2@illinois.edu; Mo, Kun; Cui, Bai

2015-03-15

This work reports comprehensive investigations on the orientation relationship of the oxide nanoparticles in a hafnium-containing austenitic oxide dispersion-strengthened 316 stainless steel. The phases of the oxide nanoparticles were determined by a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy–electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atom probe tomography and synchrotron X-ray diffraction to be complex Y–Ti–Hf–O compounds with similar crystal structures, including bixbyite Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}, fluorite Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}–HfO{sub 2} solid solution and pyrochlore (or fluorite) Y{sub 2}(Ti,Hf){sub 2−x}O{sub 7−x}. High resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to characterize the particle–matrix interfaces. Two different coherency relationships along with one axis-parallel relation between themore » oxide nanoparticles and the steel matrix were found. The size of the nanoparticles significantly influences the orientation relationship. The results provide insight into the relationship of these nanoparticles with the matrix, which has implications for interpreting material properties as well as responses to radiation. - Highlights: • The oxide nanoparticles in a hafnium-containing austenitic ODS were characterized. • The nanoparticles are Y–Hf–Ti–O enriched phases according to APT and STEM–EDS. • Two coherency and an axis-parallel orientation relationships were found by HR-TEM. • Particle size has a prominent effect on the orientation relationship (OR). • Formation mechanism of the oxide nanoparticles was discussed based on the ORs.« less

Longitudinal space charge assisted echo seeding of a free-electron laser with laser-spoiler noise suppression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hacker, Kirsten

2014-09-01

Seed lasers are employed to improve the temporal coherence of free-electron laser (FEL) light. However, when these seed pulses are short relative to the particle bunch, the noisy, temporally incoherent radiation from the unseeded electrons can overwhelm the coherent, seeded radiation. In this paper, a technique to seed a particle bunch with an external laser is presented in which a new mechanism to improve the contrast between coherent and incoherent free electron laser radiation is employed together with a novel, simplified echo-seeding method. The concept relies on a combination of longitudinal space charge wakes and an echo-seeding technique to make a short, coherent pulse of FEL light together with noise background suppression. Several different simulation codes are used to illustrate the concept with conditions at the soft x-ray free-electron laser in Hamburg, FLASH.

The coherence lifetime-borrowing effect in vibronically coupled molecular aggregates under non-perturbative system-environment interactions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeh, Shu-Hao; Engel, Gregory S.; Kais, Sabre

Recently it has been suggested that the long-lived coherences in some photosynthetic pigment-protein systems, such as the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex, could be attributed to the mixing of the pigments' electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom. In order to verify whether this is the case and to understand its underlying mechanism, a theoretical model capable of including both the electronic excitations and intramolecular vibrational modes of the pigments is necessary. Our model simultaneously considers the electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom, treating the system-environment interactions non-perturbatively by implementing the hierarchical equations of motion approach. Here we report the simulated two-dimensional electronic spectra of vibronically coupled molecular dimers to demonstrate how the electronic coherence lifetimes can be extended by borrowing the lifetime from the vibrational coherences. Funded by Qatar National Research Fund and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute.

High harmonic generation in rare gas solids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reis, David

2015-05-01

There has recently been renewed interest in the interaction of strong optical fields with large band-gap solids. The response is known to involve the attosecond dynamics of the electrons and includes the generation of non-perturbative high-order harmonics. However, the detailed mechanism remain a matter of intense debate. Here we report on high harmonic generation in rare gas solids as compared to a dilute gas. The measured spectrum in the solid exhibits a secondary plateau and a subsequent high-energy cut-off that extends well beyond the gas phase, while the ellipticity dependence is simlar to the gas phase and suggests importance of coherent single-site recombination.

Rf system for the NSLS coherent infrared radiation source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Broome, W.; Biscardi, R.; Keane, J.

1995-05-01

The existing NSLS X-ray Lithography Source (XLS Phase I) is being considered for a coherent synchrotron radiation source. The existing 211 MHz warm cavity will be replaced with a 5-cell 2856 MHz superconducting RF cavity, driven by a series of 2 kW klystrons. The RF system will provide a total V{sub RF} of 1.5 MV to produce {sigma}{sub L} = 0.3 mm electron bunches at an energy of 150 MeV. Superconducting technology significantly reduces the required space and power needed to achieve the higher voltage. It is the purpose of this paper to describe the superconducting RF system and cavity,more » power requirements, and cavity design parameters such as input coupling, Quality Factor, and Higher Order Modes.« less

Nanoscale self-templating for oxide epitaxy with large symmetry mismatch

DOE PAGES

Gao, Xiang; Lee, Shinbuhm; Nichols, John A.; ...

2016-12-02

Direct observations using scanning transmission electron microscopy unveil an intriguing interfacial bi-layer that enables epitaxial growth of a strain-free, monoclinic, bronze-phase VO 2(B) thin film on a perovskite SrTiO 3 (STO) substrate. For this study, we observe an ultrathin (2–3 unit cells) interlayer best described as highly strained VO 2(B) nanodomains combined with an extra (Ti,V)O 2 layer on the TiO 2 terminated STO (001) surface. By forming a fully coherent interface with the STO substrate and a semi-coherent interface with the strain-free epitaxial VO 2(B) film above, the interfacial bi-layer enables the epitaxial connection of the two materials despitemore » their large symmetry and lattice mismatch.« less

Coherent combining of pulsed fiber amplifiers in the nonlinear chirp regime with intra-pulse phase control.

PubMed

Palese, Stephen; Cheung, Eric; Goodno, Gregory; Shih, Chun-Ching; Di Teodoro, Fabio; McComb, Timothy; Weber, Mark

2012-03-26

Two high pulse contrast (> 95 dB) polarization maintaining all-fiber amplifier chains were coherently combined to generate 0.42 mJ, 1 ns 25 kHz pulses with 79% efficiency despite 38 radians of intra-pulse phase distortion. A recursive intra-pulse phase compensation method was utilized to correct for the large nonlinear chirp providing a path for improved coherent waveform control of nanosecond pulse trains.

Coherent control of double deflected anomalous modes in ultrathin trapezoid-shaped slit metasurface.

PubMed

Zhu, Z; Liu, H; Wang, D; Li, Y X; Guan, C Y; Zhang, H; Shi, J H

2016-11-22

Coherent light-matter interaction in ultrathin metamaterials has been demonstrated to dynamically modulate intensity, polarization and propagation direction of light. The gradient metasurface with a transverse phase variation usually exhibits an anomalous refracted beam of light dictated by so-called generalized Snell's law. However, less attention has been paid to coherent control of the metasurface with multiple anomalous refracted beams. Here we propose an ultrathin gradient metasurface with single trapezoid-shaped slot antenna as its building block that allows one normal and two deflected transmitted beams. It is numerically demonstrated that such metasurface with multiple scattering modes can be coherently controlled to modulate output intensities by changing the relative phase difference between two counterpropagating coherent beams. Each mode can be coherently switched on/off and two deflected anomalous beams can be synchronously dictated by the phase difference. The coherent control effect in the trapezoid-shaped slit metasurface will offer a promising opportunity for multichannel signals modulation, multichannel sensing and wave front shaping.

Coherent control of double deflected anomalous modes in ultrathin trapezoid-shaped slit metasurface

PubMed Central

Zhu, Z.; Liu, H.; Wang, D.; Li, Y. X.; Guan, C. Y.; Zhang, H.; Shi, J. H.

2016-01-01

Coherent light-matter interaction in ultrathin metamaterials has been demonstrated to dynamically modulate intensity, polarization and propagation direction of light. The gradient metasurface with a transverse phase variation usually exhibits an anomalous refracted beam of light dictated by so-called generalized Snell’s law. However, less attention has been paid to coherent control of the metasurface with multiple anomalous refracted beams. Here we propose an ultrathin gradient metasurface with single trapezoid-shaped slot antenna as its building block that allows one normal and two deflected transmitted beams. It is numerically demonstrated that such metasurface with multiple scattering modes can be coherently controlled to modulate output intensities by changing the relative phase difference between two counterpropagating coherent beams. Each mode can be coherently switched on/off and two deflected anomalous beams can be synchronously dictated by the phase difference. The coherent control effect in the trapezoid-shaped slit metasurface will offer a promising opportunity for multichannel signals modulation, multichannel sensing and wave front shaping. PMID:27874053

NATO Advanced Study Institute Granular Nanoelectronics Held in Ciocco, Italy on 23 July-4 August 1990. Poster Abstracts

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-08-04

approximation. The equations are solved with a finite - difference approximation scheme. A particular analysis has been devoted to the choice of the initial...closely spaced M. Grundmann, and D. Bimberg, Institut far Landau levels. With increasing field, the finiteness of Festkdrperphysik der Technischen...1990). formalism for phase coherent conductance between 4 F. Stern and W. E. Howard, Phys. Rev. 163, 816 different electron reservoirs: within the

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Speckle suppression using a liquid-crystal cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreev, A. L.; Kompanets, I. N.; Minchenko, M. V.; Pozhidaev, E. P.; Andreeva, T. B.

2008-12-01

A simple method for suppressing speckles in images produced by laser projectors is proposed. The coherence of the laser beam and, therefore, speckles can be destroyed when the beam passes through an electrooptical cell in which a special ferroelectric liquid crystal is used as a modulating medium. The effect is achieved due to the spatially inhomogeneous phase modulation of light when specially shaped bipolar electric pulses are applied to the cell.

A quantum-dot spin qubit with coherence limited by charge noise and fidelity higher than 99.9%

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoneda, Jun; Takeda, Kenta; Otsuka, Tomohiro; Nakajima, Takashi; Delbecq, Matthieu R.; Allison, Giles; Honda, Takumu; Kodera, Tetsuo; Oda, Shunri; Hoshi, Yusuke; Usami, Noritaka; Itoh, Kohei M.; Tarucha, Seigo

2018-02-01

The isolation of qubits from noise sources, such as surrounding nuclear spins and spin-electric susceptibility1-4, has enabled extensions of quantum coherence times in recent pivotal advances towards the concrete implementation of spin-based quantum computation. In fact, the possibility of achieving enhanced quantum coherence has been substantially doubted for nanostructures due to the characteristic high degree of background charge fluctuations5-7. Still, a sizeable spin-electric coupling will be needed in realistic multiple-qubit systems to address single-spin and spin-spin manipulations8-10. Here, we realize a single-electron spin qubit with an isotopically enriched phase coherence time (20 μs)11,12 and fast electrical control speed (up to 30 MHz) mediated by extrinsic spin-electric coupling. Using rapid spin rotations, we reveal that the free-evolution dephasing is caused by charge noise—rather than conventional magnetic noise—as highlighted by a 1/f spectrum extended over seven decades of frequency. The qubit exhibits superior performance with single-qubit gate fidelities exceeding 99.9% on average, offering a promising route to large-scale spin-qubit systems with fault-tolerant controllability.

Optical manipulation of valley pseudospin

DOE PAGES

Ye, Ziliang; Sun, Dezheng; Heinz, Tony F.

2016-09-19

The coherent manipulation of spin and pseudospin underlies existing and emerging quantum technologies, including quantum communication and quantum computation. Valley polarization, associated with the occupancy of degenerate, but quantum mechanically distinct valleys in momentum space, closely resembles spin polarization and has been proposed as a pseudospin carrier for the future quantum electronics. Valley exciton polarization has been created in the transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers using excitation by circularly polarized light and has been detected both optically and electrically. In addition, the existence of coherence in the valley pseudospin has been identified experimentally. The manipulation of such valley coherence has, however,more » remained out of reach. In this paper, we demonstrate all-optical control of the valley coherence by means of the pseudomagnetic field associated with the optical Stark effect. Using below-bandgap circularly polarized light, we rotate the valley exciton pseudospin in monolayer WSe 2 on the femtosecond timescale. Both the direction and speed of the rotation can be manipulated optically by tuning the dynamic phase of excitons in opposite valleys. Finally, this study unveils the possibility of generation, manipulation, and detection of the valley pseudospin by coupling to photons.« less

Quantum-dot-in-perovskite solids.

PubMed

Ning, Zhijun; Gong, Xiwen; Comin, Riccardo; Walters, Grant; Fan, Fengjia; Voznyy, Oleksandr; Yassitepe, Emre; Buin, Andrei; Hoogland, Sjoerd; Sargent, Edward H

2015-07-16

Heteroepitaxy-atomically aligned growth of a crystalline film atop a different crystalline substrate-is the basis of electrically driven lasers, multijunction solar cells, and blue-light-emitting diodes. Crystalline coherence is preserved even when atomic identity is modulated, a fact that is the critical enabler of quantum wells, wires, and dots. The interfacial quality achieved as a result of heteroepitaxial growth allows new combinations of materials with complementary properties, which enables the design and realization of functionalities that are not available in the single-phase constituents. Here we show that organohalide perovskites and preformed colloidal quantum dots, combined in the solution phase, produce epitaxially aligned 'dots-in-a-matrix' crystals. Using transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, we reveal heterocrystals as large as about 60 nanometres and containing at least 20 mutually aligned dots that inherit the crystalline orientation of the perovskite matrix. The heterocrystals exhibit remarkable optoelectronic properties that are traceable to their atom-scale crystalline coherence: photoelectrons and holes generated in the larger-bandgap perovskites are transferred with 80% efficiency to become excitons in the quantum dot nanocrystals, which exploit the excellent photocarrier diffusion of perovskites to produce bright-light emission from infrared-bandgap quantum-tuned materials. By combining the electrical transport properties of the perovskite matrix with the high radiative efficiency of the quantum dots, we engineer a new platform to advance solution-processed infrared optoelectronics.

Intermittent nature of solar wind turbulence near the Earth's bow shock: phase coherence and non-Gaussianity.

PubMed

Koga, D; Chian, A C-L; Miranda, R A; Rempel, E L

2007-04-01

The link between phase coherence and non-Gaussian statistics is investigated using magnetic field data observed in the solar wind turbulence near the Earth's bow shock. The phase coherence index Cphi, which characterizes the degree of phase correlation (i.e., nonlinear wave-wave interactions) among scales, displays a behavior similar to kurtosis and reflects a departure from Gaussianity in the probability density functions of magnetic field fluctuations. This demonstrates that nonlinear interactions among scales are the origin of intermittency in the magnetic field turbulence.

Digital phase demodulation for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Strum, R.; Stiles, D.; Long, C.; Rakhman, A.; Blokland, W.; Winder, D.; Riemer, B.; Wendel, M.

2018-03-01

We describe a digital phase demodulation scheme for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors by employing a simple generation of phase-shifted signals at the interrogation interferometer. The scheme allows a real-time calibration process and offers capability of measuring large variations (up to the coherence of the light source) at the bandwidth that is only limited by the data acquisition system. The proposed phase demodulation method is analytically derived and its validity and performance are experimentally verified using fiber-optic Fabry-Perot sensors for measurement of strains and vibrations.

Quantum coherent π-electron rotations in a non-planar chiral molecule induced by using a linearly polarized UV laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mineo, Hirobumi; Fujimura, Yuichi

2015-06-01

We propose an ultrafast quantum switching method of π-electron rotations, which are switched among four rotational patterns in a nonplanar chiral aromatic molecule (P)-2,2’- biphenol and perform the sequential switching among four rotational patterns which are performed by the overlapped pump-dump laser pulses. Coherent π-electron dynamics are generated by applying the linearly polarized UV pulse laser to create a pair of coherent quasidegenerated excited states. We also plot the time-dependent π-electron ring current, and discussed ring current transfer between two aromatic rings.

Anisotropic charge density wave in layered 1 T - TiS e 2

DOE PAGES

Qiao, Qiao; Zhou, Songsong; Tao, Jing; ...

2017-10-04

We present a three-dimensional study on the anisotropy of the charge density wave (CDW) in 1T-TiSe 2, by means of in situ atomically resolved electron microscopy at cryogenic temperatures in both reciprocal and real spaces. Using coherent nanoelectron diffraction, we observed short-range coherence of the in-plane CDW component while the long-range coherence of out-of-plane CDW component remains intact. An in-plane CDW coherence length of ~10 nm and an out-of-plane CDW coherence length of 17.5 nm, as a lower bound, were determined. The electron modulation was observed using electron energy-loss spectroscopy and verified by an orbital-projected density of states. Our integratedmore » approach reveals anisotropic CDW domains at the nanoscale, and illustrates electron modulation-induced symmetry breaking of a two-dimensional material in three dimensions, offering an opportunity to study the effect of reduced dimensionality in strongly correlated systems.« less

Subfemtosecond directional control of chemical processes in molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alnaser, Ali S.; Litvinyuk, Igor V.

2017-02-01

Laser pulses with a waveform-controlled electric field and broken inversion symmetry establish the opportunity to achieve directional control of molecular processes on a subfemtosecond timescale. Several techniques could be used to break the inversion symmetry of an electric field. The most common ones include combining a fundamental laser frequency with its second harmonic or with higher -frequency pulses (or pulse trains) as well as using few-cycle pulses with known carrier-envelope phase (CEP). In the case of CEP, control over chemical transformations, typically occurring on a timescale of many femtoseconds, is driven by much faster sub-cycle processes of subfemtosecond to few-femtosecond duration. This is possible because electrons are much lighter than nuclei and fast electron motion is coupled to the much slower nuclear motion. The control originates from populating coherent superpositions of different electronic or vibrational states with relative phases that are dependent on the CEP or phase offset between components of a two-color pulse. In this paper, we review the recent progress made in the directional control over chemical processes, driven by intense few-cycle laser pulses a of waveform-tailored electric field, in different molecules.

Interplay of oxygen octahedral rotations and electronic instabilities in strontium ruthenate Ruddlesden-Poppers from first principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voss, Johannes; Fennie, Craig J.

2011-03-01

The Ruddlesden-Popper ruthenates Sr n+1 Ru n O3 n + 1 display a broad range of electronic phases including p -wave superconductivity, electronic nematicity, and ferromagnetism. Elucidating the role of the number of perovskite blocks, n , in the realization of these differently ordered electronic states remains a challenge. Additionally dramatic experimental advances now enable the atomic scale growth of these complex oxide thin films on a variety of substrates coherently, allowing for the application of tunable epitaxial strain and subsequently the ability to control structural distortions such as oxygen octahedral rotations. Here we investigate from first principles the effect of oxygen octahedral rotations on the electronic structure of Sr 2 Ru O4 and Sr 3 Ru 2 O7 . We discuss possible implications for the physics of the bulk systems and point towards new effects in thin films.

Ultrashort high-brightness pulses from storage rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Shaukat

2017-09-01

The brightness of short-wavelength radiation from accelerator-based sources can be increased by coherent emission in which the radiation intensity scales with the number of contributing electrons squared. This requires a microbunched longitudinal electron distribution, which is the case in free-electron lasers. The brightness of light sources based on electron storage rings was steadily improved, but could profit further from coherent emission. The modulation of the electron energy by a continuous-wave laser field may provide steady-state microbunching in the infrared regime. For shorter wavelengths, the energy modulation can be converted into a temporary density modulation by a dispersive chicane. One particular goal is coherent emission from a very short "slice" within an electron bunch in order to produce ultrashort radiation pulses with high brightness.

Radio science electron density profiles of lunar ionosphere based on the service module of circumlunar return and reentry spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, M.; Han, S.; Ping, J.; Tang, G.; Zhang, Q.

2017-09-01

The existence of lunar ionosphere has been under debate for a long time. Radio occultation experiments had been performed by both Luna 19/22 and SELENE missions and electron column density of lunar ionosphere was provided. The Apollo 14 mission also acquired the electron density with in situ measurements. But the results of these missions don't well-matched. In order to explore the lunar ionosphere, radio occultation with the service module of Chinese circumlunar return and reentry spacecraft has been performing. One coherent S-band and X-band radio signals were recorded by China deep space stations, and local correlation was adopted to compute carrier phases of both signals. Based on the above work, the electron density profiles of lunar ionosphere was obtained and analyzed.

Short wavelength limits of current shot noise suppression

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nause, Ariel, E-mail: arielnau@post.tau.ac.il; Dyunin, Egor; Gover, Avraham

Shot noise in electron beam was assumed to be one of the features beyond control of accelerator physics. Current results attained in experiments at Accelerator Test Facility in Brookhaven and Linac Coherent Light Source in Stanford suggest that the control of the shot noise in electron beam (and therefore of spontaneous radiation and Self Amplified Spontaneous Emission of Free Electron Lasers) is feasible at least in the visible range of the spectrum. Here, we present a general linear formulation for collective micro-dynamics of e-beam noise and its control. Specifically, we compare two schemes for current noise suppression: a quarter plasmamore » wavelength drift section and a combined drift/dispersive (transverse magnetic field) section. We examine and compare their limits of applicability at short wavelengths via considerations of electron phase-spread and the related Landau damping effect.« less

Correlation of electronic structure and magnetic moment in Ga1-xMnxN : First-principles, mean field and high temperature series expansions calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masrour, R.; Hlil, E. K.

2016-08-01

Self-consistent ab initio calculations based on density-functional theory and using both full potential linearized augmented plane wave and Korring-Kohn-Rostoker-coherent potential approximation methods, are performed to investigate both electronic and magnetic properties of the Ga1-xMnxN system. Magnetic moments considered to lie along (001) axes are computed. Obtained data from ab initio calculations are used as input for the high temperature series expansions (HTSEs) calculations to compute other magnetic parameters such as the magnetic phase diagram and the critical exponent. The increasing of the dilution x in this system has allowed to verify a series of HTSEs predictions on the possibility of ferromagnetism in dilute magnetic insulators and to demonstrate that the interaction changes from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic passing through the spins glace phase.

Temperature and magnetic field effects on electron transport through DNA molecules in a two-dimensional four-channel system.

PubMed

Joe, Yong S; Lee, Sun H; Hedin, Eric R; Kim, Young D

2013-06-01

We utilize a two-dimensional four-channel DNA model, with a tight-binding (TB) Hamiltonian, and investigate the temperature and the magnetic field dependence of the transport behavior of a short DNA molecule. Random variation of the hopping integrals due to the thermal structural disorder, which partially destroy phase coherence of electrons and reduce quantum interference, leads to a reduction of the localization length and causes suppressed overall transmission. We also incorporate a variation of magnetic field flux density into the hopping integrals as a phase factor and observe Aharonov-Bohm (AB) oscillations in the transmission. It is shown that for non-zero magnetic flux, the transmission zero leaves the real-energy axis and moves up into the complex-energy plane. We also point out that the hydrogen bonds between the base pair with flux variations play a role to determine the periodicity of AB oscillations in the transmission.

Microstructures responsible for the invar and permalloy effects in Fe-Ni alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ustinovshchikov, Yu. I.; Shabanova, I. N.; Lomova, N. V.

2015-05-01

The experimental studies of Fe68Ni32 and Fe23Ni77 alloys by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray electron spectroscopy show that the ordering-separation phase transition in these alloys occurs in a temperature range near 600°C. At temperatures higher than the transition temperature, the ordering energy of the alloy is positive, and the structures contain clusters enriched in one of the components. After heat treatment at the temperatures where the invar effect in the Fe68Ni32 alloy is maximal, a modulated microstructure forms. Below the transition temperature, the ordering energy is negative, which provides a tendency to formation of chemical compounds. After aging at these temperatures (where the Fe23Ni77 alloy exhibits high permalloy properties), highly dispersed completely coherent particles of the FeNi3 phase with structure L12 precipitate in a solid solution.

Electron Holes in phase-space: what they are and why they matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchinson, I. H.

2016-10-01

Plasma electron holes are soliton-like electric potential structures sustained self-consistently by a deficit of phase-space density on trapped orbits. They are a class of Bernstein Green and Kruskal (BGK)-mode phase-space vortices, long studied in basic analytic and computational theory and observed in some experiments. Recently it has become clear from space-craft observations that isolated potential structures with the character of electron holes constitute an important component of space-plasma turbulence. Modern computational simulations of collisionless plasmas also often observe electron holes to form as a nonlinear consequence of kinetic electron instabilities. This tutorial will explain the basic theory of electron hole structure, trace the development of the understanding of electron holes, and survey some of the observational evidence for their significance. It was found early on that unmagnetized multidimensional simulations of electron two-stream instabilities do not show the long lived holes that appear in one dimension. Deliberately-created 1-D slab holes in multiple dimensions experience a transverse instability unless the guiding magnetic field is strong enough. Analysis has yet to identify unequivocally the instability mechanism and threshold; but it can show that spherically symmetric holes in 3-D without magnetic field are essentially impossible. Recent simulations have studied holes' formation, self-acceleration, merging, splitting, and growth. Analytic understanding of many of these phenomena is gained from the kinematics of the hole regarded as a coherent entity, accounting for the plasma momentum changes it induces, and especially the interaction with the ions. Electron holes can travel at up to approximately the electron thermal speed, but not slower (relative to ions) than several times the ion acoustic speed. Some notable current research questions will be described.

Temporal evolution of oscillations and synchrony in GPi/muscle pairs in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Hurtado, José M; Rubchinsky, Leonid L; Sigvardt, Karen A; Wheelock, Vicki L; Pappas, Conrad T E

2005-03-01

Both standard spectral analysis and time-dependent phase correlation techniques were applied to 27 pairs of tremor-related single units in the globus pallidus internus (GPi) and EMG of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) undergoing stereotactic neurosurgery. Over long time-scales (approximately 60 s), GPi tremor-related units were statistically coherent with restricted regions of the peripheral musculature displaying tremor. The distribution of pooled coherence across all pairs supports a classification of GPi cell/EMG oscillatory pairs into coherent or noncoherent. Analysis using approximately 2-s sliding windows shows that oscillatory activity in both GPi tremor units and muscles occurs intermittently over time. For brain/muscle pairs that are coherent, there is partial overlap in the times of oscillatory activity but, in most cases, no significant correlation between the times of oscillatory subepisodes in the two signals. Phase locking between coherent pairs occurs transiently; however, the phase delay is similar for different phase-locking subepisodes. Noncoherent pairs also show episodes of transient phase locking, but they occurred less frequently, and no preferred phase delay was seen across subepisodes. Tremor oscillations in pallidum and EMGs are punctuated by phase slips, which were classified as synchronizing or desynchronizing depending on their effect on phase locking. In coherent pairs, the incidence of synchronizing slips is higher than desynchronizing slips, whereas no significant difference was seen for noncoherent pairs. The results of this quantitative characterization of parkinsonian tremor provide a foundation for hypotheses about the structure and dynamical functioning of basal ganglia motor control networks involved in tremor generation.

An X-band phase-locked relativistic backward wave oscillator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Y.; Science and Technology on High Power Microwave Laboratory, Mianyang 621900; Li, Z. H.

2015-08-15

For the purpose of coherent high power microwave combining at high frequency band, an X-band phase-locked relativistic backward wave oscillator is presented and investigated. The phase-locking of the oscillator is accomplished by modulation of the electron beam before it reaches the oscillator. To produce a bunched beam with an acceptable injected RF power requirement, an overmoded input cavity is employed to provide initial density modulation. And a buncher cavity is introduced to further increase the modulation depth. When the beam enters the oscillator, the modulation depth is enough to lock the frequency and phase of the output microwave generated bymore » the oscillator. Particle-in-cell simulation shows that an input power of 90 kW is sufficient to lock the frequency and phase of 1.5 GW output microwave with locking bandwidth of 60 MHz.« less

Advanced Gouy phase high harmonics interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mustary, M. H.; Laban, D. E.; Wood, J. B. O.; Palmer, A. J.; Holdsworth, J.; Litvinyuk, I. V.; Sang, R. T.

2018-05-01

We describe an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) interferometric technique that can resolve ∼100 zeptoseconds (10‑21 s) delay between high harmonic emissions from two successive sources separated spatially along the laser propagation in a single Gaussian beam focus. Several improvements on our earlier work have been implemented in the advanced interferometer. In this paper, we report on the design, characterization and optimization of the advanced Gouy phase interferometer. Temporal coherence for both atomic argon and molecular hydrogen gases has been observed for several harmonic orders. It has been shown that phase shift of XUV pulses mainly originates from the emission time delay due to the Gouy phase in the laser focus and the observed interference is independent of the generating medium. This interferometer can be a useful tool for measuring the relative phase shift between any two gas species and for studying ultrafast dynamics of their electronic and nuclear motion.

Concentrating the phase of a coherent state by means of probabilistic amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Usuga, Mario A.; Müller, Christian R.; Wittmann, Christoffer; Marek, Petr; Filip, Radim; Marquardt, Christoph; Leuchs, Gerd; Andersen, Ulrik L.

2011-10-01

We discuss the recent implementation of phase concentration of an optical coherent state by use of a probabilistic noiseless amplifier. The operation of the amplifier is described pictorially with phase space diagrams, and the experimental results are outlined.

The effect of exit beam phase aberrations on parallel beam coherent x-ray reconstructions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hruszkewycz, S. O.; Harder, R.; Xiao, X.; Fuoss, P. H.

2010-12-01

Diffraction artifacts from imperfect x-ray windows near the sample are an important consideration in the design of coherent x-ray diffraction measurements. In this study, we used simulated and experimental diffraction patterns in two and three dimensions to explore the effect of phase imperfections in a beryllium window (such as a void or inclusion) on the convergence behavior of phasing algorithms and on the ultimate reconstruction. A predictive relationship between beam wavelength, sample size, and window position was derived to explain the dependence of reconstruction quality on beryllium defect size. Defects corresponding to this prediction cause the most damage to the sample exit wave and induce signature error oscillations during phasing that can be used as a fingerprint of experimental x-ray window artifacts. The relationship between x-ray window imperfection size and coherent x-ray diffractive imaging reconstruction quality explored in this work can play an important role in designing high-resolution in situ coherent imaging instrumentation and will help interpret the phasing behavior of coherent diffraction measured in these in situ environments.

The effect of exit beam phase aberrations on parallel beam coherent x-ray reconstructions.

PubMed

Hruszkewycz, S O; Harder, R; Xiao, X; Fuoss, P H

2010-12-01

Diffraction artifacts from imperfect x-ray windows near the sample are an important consideration in the design of coherent x-ray diffraction measurements. In this study, we used simulated and experimental diffraction patterns in two and three dimensions to explore the effect of phase imperfections in a beryllium window (such as a void or inclusion) on the convergence behavior of phasing algorithms and on the ultimate reconstruction. A predictive relationship between beam wavelength, sample size, and window position was derived to explain the dependence of reconstruction quality on beryllium defect size. Defects corresponding to this prediction cause the most damage to the sample exit wave and induce signature error oscillations during phasing that can be used as a fingerprint of experimental x-ray window artifacts. The relationship between x-ray window imperfection size and coherent x-ray diffractive imaging reconstruction quality explored in this work can play an important role in designing high-resolution in situ coherent imaging instrumentation and will help interpret the phasing behavior of coherent diffraction measured in these in situ environments.

Ultrafast X-Ray Diffraction Studies of the Phase Transitions and Equation of State of Scandium Shock Compressed to 82 GPa

DOE PAGES

Briggs, R.; Gorman, M. G.; Coleman, A. L.; ...

2017-01-09

Using x-ray diffraction at the Linac Coherent Light Source x-ray free-electron laser, we have determined simultaneously and self-consistently the phase transitions and equation of state (EOS) of the lightest transition metal, scandium, under shock compression. On compression scandium undergoes a structural phase transition between 32 and 35 GPa to the same bcc structure seen at high temperatures at ambient pressures, and then a further transition at 46 GPa to the incommensurate host-guest polymorph found above 21 GPa in static compression at room temperature. Furthermore, shock melting of the host-guest phase is observed between 53 and 72 GPa with the disappearancemore » of Bragg scattering and the growth of a broad asymmetric diffraction peak from the high-density liquid.« less

Ultrafast X-Ray Diffraction Studies of the Phase Transitions and Equation of State of Scandium Shock Compressed to 82 GPa.

PubMed

Briggs, R; Gorman, M G; Coleman, A L; McWilliams, R S; McBride, E E; McGonegle, D; Wark, J S; Peacock, L; Rothman, S; Macleod, S G; Bolme, C A; Gleason, A E; Collins, G W; Eggert, J H; Fratanduono, D E; Smith, R F; Galtier, E; Granados, E; Lee, H J; Nagler, B; Nam, I; Xing, Z; McMahon, M I

2017-01-13

Using x-ray diffraction at the Linac Coherent Light Source x-ray free-electron laser, we have determined simultaneously and self-consistently the phase transitions and equation of state (EOS) of the lightest transition metal, scandium, under shock compression. On compression scandium undergoes a structural phase transition between 32 and 35 GPa to the same bcc structure seen at high temperatures at ambient pressures, and then a further transition at 46 GPa to the incommensurate host-guest polymorph found above 21 GPa in static compression at room temperature. Shock melting of the host-guest phase is observed between 53 and 72 GPa with the disappearance of Bragg scattering and the growth of a broad asymmetric diffraction peak from the high-density liquid.

Phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography-based vibrometry using a highly phase-stable akinetic swept laser source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Applegate, Brian E.; Park, Jesung; Carbajal, Esteban

Phase-sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PhOCT) is an emerging tool for in vivo investigation of the vibratory function of the intact middle and inner ear. PhOCT is able to resolve micron scale tissue morphology in three dimensions as well as measure picometer scale motion at each spatial position. Most PhOCT systems to date have relied upon the phase stability offered by spectrometer detection. On the other hand swept laser source based PhOCT offers a number of advantages including balanced detection, long imaging depths, and high imaging speeds. Unfortunately the inherent phase instability of traditional swept laser sources has necessitated complex usermore » developed hardware/software solutions to restore phase sensitivity. Here we present recent results using a prototype swept laser that overcomes these issues. The akinetic swept laser is electronically tuned and precisely controls sweeps without any mechanical movement, which results in high phase stability. We have developed an optical fiber based PhOCT system around the akinetic laser source that had a 1550 nm center wavelength and a sweep rate of 140 kHz. The stability of the system was measured to be 4.4 pm with a calibrated reflector, thus demonstrating near shot noise limited performance. Using this PhOCT system, we have acquired structural and vibratory measurements of the middle ear in a mouse model, post mortem. The quality of the results suggest that the akinetic laser source is a superior laser source for PhOCT with many advantages that greatly reduces the required complexity of the imaging system.« less

Compact low-cost detection electronics for optical coherence imaging

PubMed Central

Akcay, A. C.; Lee, K. S.; Furenlid, L. R.; Costa, M. A.; Rolland, J. P.

2015-01-01

A compact and low-cost detection electronics scheme for optical coherence imaging is demonstrated. The performance of the designed electronics is analyzed in comparison to a commercial lock-in amplifier of equal bandwidth. Images of a fresh-onion sample are presented for each detection configuration. PMID:26617422

Phase-Sensitive Coherence and the Classical-Quantum Boundary in Ghost Imaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erkmen, Baris I.; Hardy, Nicholas D.; Venkatraman, Dheera; Wong, Franco N. C.; Shapiro, Jeffrey H.

2011-01-01

The theory of partial coherence has a long and storied history in classical statistical optics. the vast majority of this work addresses fields that are statistically stationary in time, hence their complex envelopes only have phase-insensitive correlations. The quantum optics of squeezed-state generation, however, depends on nonlinear interactions producing baseband field operators with phase-insensitive and phase-sensitive correlations. Utilizing quantum light to enhance imaging has been a topic of considerable current interest, much of it involving biphotons, i.e., streams of entangled-photon pairs. Biphotons have been employed for quantum versions of optical coherence tomography, ghost imaging, holography, and lithography. However, their seemingly quantum features have been mimicked with classical-sate light, questioning wherein lies the classical-quantum boundary. We have shown, for the case of Gaussian-state light, that this boundary is intimately connected to the theory of phase-sensitive partial coherence. Here we present that theory, contrasting it with the familiar case of phase-insensitive partial coherence, and use it to elucidate the classical-quantum boundary of ghost imaging. We show, both theoretically and experimentally, that classical phase-sensitive light produces ghost imaging most closely mimicking those obtained in biphotons, and we derived the spatial resolution, image contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio of a standoff-sensing ghost imager, taking into account target-induced speckle.

Technological Challenges to X-Ray FELs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nuhn, Heinz-Dieter

1999-09-16

There is strong interest in the development of x-ray free electron lasers (x-ray FELs). The interest is driven by the scientific opportunities provided by intense, coherent x-rays. An x-ray FEL has all the characteristics of a fourth-generation source: brightness several orders of magnitude greater than presently achieved in third-generation sources, full transverse coherence, and sub-picosecond long pulses. The SLAC and DESY laboratories have presented detailed design studies for X-Ray FEL user facilities around the 0.1 nm wavelength-regime (LCLS at SLAC, TESLA X-Ray FEL at DESY). Both laboratories are engaged in proof-of-principle experiments are longer wavelengths (TTF FEL Phase I atmore » 71 nm, VISA at 600-800 nm) with results expected in 1999. The technologies needed to achieve the proposed performances are those of bright electron sources, of acceleration systems capable of preserving the brightness of the source, and of undulators capable of meeting the magnetic and mechanical tolerances that are required for operation in the SASE mode. This paper discusses the technological challenges presented by the X-Ray FEL projects.« less

Noise Analysis of Simultaneous Quantum Key Distribution and Classical Communication Scheme Using a True Local Oscillator

DOE PAGES

Qi, Bing; Lim, Charles Ci Wen

2018-05-07

Recently, we proposed a simultaneous quantum and classical communication (SQCC) protocol where random numbers for quantum key distribution and bits for classical communication are encoded on the same weak coherent pulse and decoded by the same coherent receiver. Such a scheme could be appealing in practice since a single coherent communication system can be used for multiple purposes. However, previous studies show that the SQCC protocol can tolerate only very small phase noise. This makes it incompatible with the coherent communication scheme using a true local oscillator (LO), which presents a relatively high phase noise due to the fact thatmore » the signal and the LO are generated from two independent lasers. We improve the phase noise tolerance of the SQCC scheme using a true LO by adopting a refined noise model where phase noises originating from different sources are treated differently: on the one hand, phase noise associated with the coherent receiver may be regarded as trusted noise since the detector can be calibrated locally and the photon statistics of the detected signals can be determined from the measurement results; on the other hand, phase noise due to the instability of fiber interferometers may be regarded as untrusted noise since its randomness (from the adversary’s point of view) is hard to justify. Simulation results show the tolerable phase noise in this refined noise model is significantly higher than that in the previous study, where all of the phase noises are assumed to be untrusted. In conclusion, we conduct an experiment to show that the required phase stability can be achieved in a coherent communication system using a true LO.« less

Noise Analysis of Simultaneous Quantum Key Distribution and Classical Communication Scheme Using a True Local Oscillator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qi, Bing; Lim, Charles Ci Wen

Recently, we proposed a simultaneous quantum and classical communication (SQCC) protocol where random numbers for quantum key distribution and bits for classical communication are encoded on the same weak coherent pulse and decoded by the same coherent receiver. Such a scheme could be appealing in practice since a single coherent communication system can be used for multiple purposes. However, previous studies show that the SQCC protocol can tolerate only very small phase noise. This makes it incompatible with the coherent communication scheme using a true local oscillator (LO), which presents a relatively high phase noise due to the fact thatmore » the signal and the LO are generated from two independent lasers. We improve the phase noise tolerance of the SQCC scheme using a true LO by adopting a refined noise model where phase noises originating from different sources are treated differently: on the one hand, phase noise associated with the coherent receiver may be regarded as trusted noise since the detector can be calibrated locally and the photon statistics of the detected signals can be determined from the measurement results; on the other hand, phase noise due to the instability of fiber interferometers may be regarded as untrusted noise since its randomness (from the adversary’s point of view) is hard to justify. Simulation results show the tolerable phase noise in this refined noise model is significantly higher than that in the previous study, where all of the phase noises are assumed to be untrusted. In conclusion, we conduct an experiment to show that the required phase stability can be achieved in a coherent communication system using a true LO.« less

Noise Analysis of Simultaneous Quantum Key Distribution and Classical Communication Scheme Using a True Local Oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Bing; Lim, Charles Ci Wen

2018-05-01

Recently, we proposed a simultaneous quantum and classical communication (SQCC) protocol where random numbers for quantum key distribution and bits for classical communication are encoded on the same weak coherent pulse and decoded by the same coherent receiver. Such a scheme could be appealing in practice since a single coherent communication system can be used for multiple purposes. However, previous studies show that the SQCC protocol can tolerate only very small phase noise. This makes it incompatible with the coherent communication scheme using a true local oscillator (LO), which presents a relatively high phase noise due to the fact that the signal and the LO are generated from two independent lasers. We improve the phase noise tolerance of the SQCC scheme using a true LO by adopting a refined noise model where phase noises originating from different sources are treated differently: on the one hand, phase noise associated with the coherent receiver may be regarded as trusted noise since the detector can be calibrated locally and the photon statistics of the detected signals can be determined from the measurement results; on the other hand, phase noise due to the instability of fiber interferometers may be regarded as untrusted noise since its randomness (from the adversary's point of view) is hard to justify. Simulation results show the tolerable phase noise in this refined noise model is significantly higher than that in the previous study, where all of the phase noises are assumed to be untrusted. We conduct an experiment to show that the required phase stability can be achieved in a coherent communication system using a true LO.

Investigation of Space Based Solid State Coherent Lidar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Amzajerdian, Farzin

2002-01-01

This report describes the work performed over the period of October 1, 1997 through March 31, 2001. Under this contract, UAH/CAO participated in defining and designing the SPAce Readiness Coherent Lidar Experiment (SPARCLE) mission, and developed the instrument's optical subsystem. This work was performed in collaborative fashion with NASA/MSFC engineers at both UAH/CAO and NASA/MSFC facilities. Earlier work by the UAH/CAO had produced a preliminary top-level system design for the Shuttle lidar instrument meeting the proposed mission performance requirements and the Space Shuttle Hitchhiker canister volume constraints. The UAH/CAO system design efforts had concentrated on the optical and mechanical designs of the instrument. The instrument electronics were also addressed, and the major electronic components and their interfaces defined. The instrument design concept was mainly based on the state of the transmitter and local oscillator laser development at NASA Langley Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and utilized several lidar-related technologies that were either developed or evaluated by the NASA/MSFC and UAH/CAO scientists. UAH/CAO has developed a comprehensive coherent lidar numerical model capable of analyzing the performance of different instrument and mission concepts. This model uses the instrument configuration, atmospheric conditions and current velocity estimation theory to provide prediction of instrument performance during different phases of operation. This model can also optimize the design parameters of the instrument.

Charge transport in molecular junctions: From tunneling to hopping with the probe technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kilgour, Michael; Segal, Dvira

2015-07-01

We demonstrate that a simple phenomenological approach can be used to simulate electronic conduction in molecular wires under thermal effects induced by the surrounding environment. This "Landauer-Büttiker's probe technique" can properly replicate different transport mechanisms, phase coherent nonresonant tunneling, ballistic behavior, and hopping conduction. Specifically, our simulations with the probe method recover the following central characteristics of charge transfer in molecular wires: (i) the electrical conductance of short wires falls off exponentially with molecular length, a manifestation of the tunneling (superexchange) mechanism. Hopping dynamics overtakes superexchange in long wires demonstrating an ohmic-like behavior. (ii) In off-resonance situations, weak dephasing effects facilitate charge transfer, but under large dephasing, the electrical conductance is suppressed. (iii) At high enough temperatures, kBT/ɛB > 1/25, with ɛB as the molecular-barrier height, the current is enhanced by a thermal activation (Arrhenius) factor. However, this enhancement takes place for both coherent and incoherent electrons and it does not readily indicate on the underlying mechanism. (iv) At finite-bias, dephasing effects may impede conduction in resonant situations. We further show that memory (non-Markovian) effects can be implemented within the Landauer-Büttiker's probe technique to model the interaction of electrons with a structured environment. Finally, we examine experimental results of electron transfer in conjugated molecular wires and show that our computational approach can reasonably reproduce reported values to provide mechanistic information.

Compressive sensing for single-shot two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harel, E.; Spencer, A.; Spokoyny, B.

2017-02-01

In this work, we explore the use of compressive sensing for the rapid acquisition of two-dimensional optical spectra that encodes the electronic structure and ultrafast dynamics of condensed-phase molecular species. Specifically, we have developed a means to combine multiplexed single-element detection and single-shot and phase-resolved two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy. The method described, which we call Single Point Array Reconstruction by Spatial Encoding (SPARSE) eliminates the need for costly array detectors while speeding up acquisition by several orders of magnitude compared to scanning methods. Physical implementation of SPARSE is facilitated by combining spatiotemporal encoding of the nonlinear optical response and signal modulation by a high-speed digital micromirror device. We demonstrate the approach by investigating a well-characterized cyanine molecule and a photosynthetic pigment-protein complex. Hadamard and compressive sensing algorithms are demonstrated, with the latter achieving compression factors as high as ten. Both show good agreement with directly detected spectra. We envision a myriad of applications in nonlinear spectroscopy using SPARSE with broadband femtosecond light sources in so-far unexplored regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Long-term maintenance of the carrier-envelope phase coherence of a femtosecond laser.

PubMed

Kim, Eok Bong; Lee, Jae-Hwan; Lee, Won-Kyu; Luu, Tran Trung; Nam, Chang Hee

2010-12-06

The long-term carrier-envelope phase (CEP) coherence of a femtosecond laser with same pulse-to-pulse CEP value, obtained using the direct locking method, is demonstrated by employing a quasi-common-path interferometer (QPI). For the evaluation of the CEP stability, the phase noise properties of a femtosecond laser with the CEP stabilized using a QPI are compared with those obtained using a Mach-Zehnder f-2f interferometer, for which the phase power spectral density and the Allan deviation were calculated from the beat signals of the interferometers. With the improved CEP stability, the long-term CEP coherent signal with an accumulated phase noise well below 1 radian can be maintained for more than 56 hours, i.e., the CEP coherence is preserved without a phase cycle slip for more than 1.6 × 10(13) pulses at a repetition rate of 80 MHz. The relative stability is also estimated to be approximately 1.4 × 10(-22) at a central wavelength of 790 nm.

Partially coherent polarized atmospheric transmission characteristics and application technology research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Qiang; Gao, Duorui; Liu, Zhi; Chen, Chunyi; Lou, Yan; Jiang, Huilin

2014-11-01

Based on partially coherent polarized light transmission characteristics of the atmosphere, an intensity expression of completely coherent flashing light is derived from Andrews scale modulation method. According to the generalized Huygens-Fresnel principle and Rytov theory, the phase fluctuation structure function is obtained on condition that the refractive index profile in the atmosphere meet Von Karman spectrum, then get the arrival Angle fluctuation variance. Through the RMS beam width of gaussian beams in turbulent atmosphere, deviation angle formula of fully coherent gaussian beams in turbulence atmosphere is attained, then get the RMS beam width of partially coherent and derivation angle expression of GSM beam in turbulent atmosphere. Combined with transmission properties of radial polarized laser beam, cross spectral density matrix of partially coherent radially polarized light can be gained by using generalized huygens-fresnel principle. And light intensity and polarization after transmission can be known according to the unity of coherence and polarization theory. On the basis of the analysis model and numerical simulation, the simulation results show that: the light spot caused by atmospheric turbulence of partially coherent polarization will be superior to completely polarized light.Taking advantage of this feature, designed a new wireless suppression technology of atmospheric turbulence, that is the optimization criterion of initial degree of coherent light beam. The optimal initial degree of coherent light beam will change along with the change of atmospheric turbulence conditions,make control the beam's initial degree of coherence to realize the initial degree of coherence of light beam in real time and dynamic control. A spatial phase screen before emission aperture of fully coherent light is to generate the partially coherent light, liquid crystal spatial light modulator is is a preferable way to realize the dynamic random phase. Finally look future of the application research of partially coherent light.

Digital phase demodulation for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Y.; Strum, R.; Stiles, D.

In this paper, we describe a digital phase demodulation scheme for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors by employing a simple generation of phase-shifted signals at the interrogation interferometer. The scheme allows a real-time calibration process and offers capability of measuring large variations (up to the coherence of the light source) at the bandwidth that is only limited by the data acquisition system. Finally, the proposed phase demodulation method is analytically derived and its validity and performance are experimentally verified using fiber-optic Fabry–Perot sensors for measurement of strains and vibrations.

Digital phase demodulation for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors

DOE PAGES

Liu, Y.; Strum, R.; Stiles, D.; ...

2017-11-20

In this paper, we describe a digital phase demodulation scheme for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors by employing a simple generation of phase-shifted signals at the interrogation interferometer. The scheme allows a real-time calibration process and offers capability of measuring large variations (up to the coherence of the light source) at the bandwidth that is only limited by the data acquisition system. Finally, the proposed phase demodulation method is analytically derived and its validity and performance are experimentally verified using fiber-optic Fabry–Perot sensors for measurement of strains and vibrations.

Is back-electron transfer process in Betaine-30 coherent?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rafiq, Shahnawaz; Scholes, Gregory D.

2017-09-01

The possible role of coherent vibrational motion in ultrafast photo-induced electron transfer remains unclear despite considerable experimental and theoretical advances. We revisited this problem by tracking the back-electron transfer (bET) process in Betaine-30 with broadband pump-probe spectroscopy. Dephasing time constant of certain high-frequency vibrations as a function of solvent shows a trend similar to the ET rates. In the purview of Bixon-Jortner model, high-frequency quantum vibrations bridge the reactant-product energy gap by providing activationless vibronic channels. Such interaction reduces the effective coupling significantly and thereby the coherence effects are eliminated due to energy gap fluctuations, making the back-electron transfer incoherent.

Disorder-Induced Quantum Beats in Two-Dimensional Spectra of Excitonically Coupled Molecules

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Butkus, Vytautas; Dong, Hui; Fleming, Graham R.

2016-01-21

Here, a study is presented showing the conditions when long-lived electronic quantum coherences originating from recently proposed inhomogeneous broadening mechanism are enhanced and reflected in the two-dimensional electronic spectra of the excitonically coupled molecular dimer. We show that depending on the amount of inhomogeneous broadening, the excitonically coupled molecular system can establish long-lived electronic coherences, caused by a disordered subensemble, for which the dephasing due to static energy disorder becomes significantly reduced. On the basis of these considerations, we present explanations for why the electronic or vibrational coherences were or were not observed in a range of recent experiments.

Carrier-envelope phase-dependent atomic coherence and quantum beats

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu Ying; State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071; Yang Xiaoxue

2007-07-15

It is shown that the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of few-cycle laser pulses has profound effects on the bound-state atomic coherence even in the weak-field regime where both tunneling and multiphoton ionization hardly take place. The atomic coherence thus produced is shown to be able to be mapped onto the CEP-dependent signal of quantum beats (and other quantum-interference phenomena) and hence might be used to extract information about and ultimately to measure the carrier-envelope phase.

Nanomodulated electron beams via electron diffraction and emittance exchange for coherent x-ray generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nanni, E. A.; Graves, W. S.; Moncton, D. E.

2018-01-01

We present a new method for generation of relativistic electron beams with current modulation on the nanometer scale and below. The current modulation is produced by diffracting relativistic electrons in single crystal Si, accelerating the diffracted beam and imaging the crystal structure, then transferring the image into the temporal dimension via emittance exchange. The modulation period can be tuned by adjusting electron optics after diffraction. This tunable longitudinal modulation can have a period as short as a few angstroms, enabling production of coherent hard x-rays from a source based on inverse Compton scattering with total accelerator length of approximately ten meters. Electron beam simulations from cathode emission through diffraction, acceleration, and image formation with variable magnification are presented along with estimates of the coherent x-ray output properties.

Pairing versus phase coherence of doped holes in distinct quantum spin backgrounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zheng; Sheng, D. N.; Weng, Zheng-Yu

2018-03-01

We examine the pairing structure of holes injected into two distinct spin backgrounds: a short-range antiferromagnetic phase versus a symmetry protected topological phase. Based on density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) simulation, we find that although there is a strong binding between two holes in both phases, phase fluctuations can significantly influence the pair-pair correlation depending on the spin-spin correlation in the background. Here the phase fluctuation is identified as an intrinsic string operator nonlocally controlled by the spins. We show that while the pairing amplitude is generally large, the coherent Cooper pairing can be substantially weakened by the phase fluctuation in the symmetry-protected topological phase, in contrast to the short-range antiferromagnetic phase. It provides an example of a non-BCS mechanism for pairing, in which the paring phase coherence is determined by the underlying spin state self-consistently, bearing an interesting resemblance to the pseudogap physics in the cuprate.

Basic concepts of quantum interference and electron transport in single-molecule electronics.

PubMed

Lambert, C J

2015-02-21

This tutorial outlines the basic theoretical concepts and tools which underpin the fundamentals of phase-coherent electron transport through single molecules. The key quantity of interest is the transmission coefficient T(E), which yields the electrical conductance, current-voltage relations, the thermopower S and the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT of single-molecule devices. Since T(E) is strongly affected by quantum interference (QI), three manifestations of QI in single-molecules are discussed, namely Mach-Zehnder interferometry, Breit-Wigner resonances and Fano resonances. A simple MATLAB code is provided, which allows the novice reader to explore QI in multi-branched structures described by a tight-binding (Hückel) Hamiltonian. More generally, the strengths and limitations of materials-specific transport modelling based on density functional theory are discussed.

Internal structure of multiphase zinc-blende wurtzite gallium nitride nanowires.

PubMed

Jacobs, B W; Ayres, V M; Crimp, M A; McElroy, K

2008-10-08

In this paper, the internal structure of novel multiphase gallium nitride nanowires in which multiple zinc-blende and wurtzite crystalline domains grow simultaneously along the entire length of the nanowire is investigated. Orientation relationships within the multiphase nanowires are identified using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy of nanowire cross-sections fabricated with a focused ion beam system. A coherent interface between the zinc-blende and wurtzite phases is identified. A mechanism for catalyst-free vapor-solid multiphase nanowire nucleation and growth is proposed.

Research Laboratory of Electronics Progress Report Number 134

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-31

Optical Pulse Compression," J. Opt. Soc. Am. 8 4:1404 (1987); C.H. Bito Cruz, P.C. Becker, R.L Fork, and C.V. Shank, ’Phase Correction of Femtosecond...sented at the IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optical the inputs to the external cavity, and coherence of Society ( LEOS ) Annual Conference, San Jose, the output...with second- image (8 GHz frequency) in which complex polar- epoch measurements of the dMe stars AD Leo , EV ization structure is evident. We will use

Coherent Leinard-Wiechert fields produced by FELs (free-electron laser). Technical report, 14 January 1981-13 January 1982

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elias, L.R.

1981-12-01

Results are presented of a three-dimensional numerical analysis of the radiation fields produced in a free-electron laser. The method used here to obtain the spatial and temporal behavior of the radiated fields is based on the coherent superposition of the radiated fields is based on the coherent superposition of the exact Lienard-Wiechert fields produced by each electron in the beam. Interference effects are responsible for the narrow angular radiation patterns obtained and for the high degree of monochromaticity of the radiated fields.

Storm-time radiation belt electron dynamics: Repeatability in the outer radiation belt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murphy, K. R.; Mann, I. R.; Rae, J.; Watt, C.; Boyd, A. J.; Turner, D. L.; Claudepierre, S. G.; Baker, D. N.; Spence, H. E.; Reeves, G. D.; Blake, J. B.; Fennell, J. F.

2017-12-01

During intervals of enhanced solar wind driving the outer radiation belt becomes extremely dynamic leading to geomagnetic storms. During these storms the flux of energetic electrons can vary by over 4 orders of magnitude. Despite recent advances in understanding the nature of competing storm-time electron loss and acceleration processes the dynamic behavior of the outer radiation belt remains poorly understood; the outer radiation belt can exhibit either no change, an enhancement, or depletion in radiation belt electrons. Using a new analysis of the total radiation belt electron content, calculated from the Van Allen probes phase space density (PSD), we statistically analyze the time-dependent and global response of the outer radiation belt during storms. We demonstrate that by removing adiabatic effects there is a clear and repeatable sequence of events in storm-time radiation belt electron dynamics. Namely, the relativistic (μ=1000 MeV/G) and ultra-relativistic (μ=4000 MeV/G) electron populations can be separated into two phases; an initial phase dominated by loss followed by a second phase dominated by acceleration. At lower energies, the radiation belt seed population of electrons (μ=150 MeV/G) shows no evidence of loss but rather a net enhancement during storms. Further, we investigate the dependence of electron dynamics as a function of the second adiabatic invariant, K. These results demonstrate a global coherency in the dynamics of the source, relativistic and ultra-relativistic electron populations as function of the second adiabatic invariant K. This analysis demonstrates two key aspects of storm-time radiation belt electron dynamics. First, the radiation belt responds repeatably to solar wind driving during geomagnetic storms. Second, the response of the radiation belt is energy dependent, relativistic electrons behaving differently than lower energy seed electrons. These results have important implications in radiation belt research. In particular, the repeatability in electron dynamics coupled with observations of processes leading to electron loss (EMIC waves) and acceleration (VLF or ULF waves) can be used to diagnose the relative importance of physical processes in radiation belt dynamics during storms.

Application of Soft Computing in Coherent Communications Phase Synchronization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drake, Jeffrey T.; Prasad, Nadipuram R.

2000-01-01

The use of soft computing techniques in coherent communications phase synchronization provides an alternative to analytical or hard computing methods. This paper discusses a novel use of Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS) for phase synchronization in coherent communications systems utilizing Multiple Phase Shift Keying (MPSK) modulation. A brief overview of the M-PSK digital communications bandpass modulation technique is presented and it's requisite need for phase synchronization is discussed. We briefly describe the hybrid platform developed by Jang that incorporates fuzzy/neural structures namely the, Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Interference Systems (ANFIS). We then discuss application of ANFIS to phase estimation for M-PSK. The modeling of both explicit, and implicit phase estimation schemes for M-PSK symbols with unknown structure are discussed. Performance results from simulation of the above scheme is presented.

Solar flare ionization in the mesosphere observed by coherent-scatter radar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, J. W.; Bowhill, S. A.

1986-01-01

The coherent-scatter technique, as used with the Urbana radar, is able to measure relative changes in electron density at one altitude during the progress of a solar flare when that altitude contains a statistically steady turbulent layer. This work describes the analysis of Urbana coherent-scatter data from the times of 13 solar flares in the period from 1978 to 1983. Previous methods of measuring electron density changes in the D-region are summarized. Models of X-ray spectra, photoionization rates, and ion-recombination reaction schemes are reviewed. The coherent-scatter technique is briefly described, and a model is developed which relates changes in scattered power to changes in electron density. An analysis technique is developed using X-ray flux data from geostationary satellites and coherent scatter data from the Urbana radar which empirically distinguishes between proposed D-region ion-chemical schemes, and estimates the nonflare ion-pair production rate.

Opposition effect of the Moon from LROC WAC data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velikodsky, Yu. I.; Korokhin, V. V.; Shkuratov, Yu. G.; Kaydash, V. G.; Videen, Gorden

2016-09-01

LROC WAC images acquired in 5 bands of the visible spectral range were used to study the opposition effect for two mare and two highland regions near the lunar equator. Opposition phase curves were extracted from the images containing the opposition by separating the phase-curve effect from the albedo pattern by comparing WAC images at different phase angles (from 0° to 30°). Akimov's photometric function and the NASA Digital Terrain Model GLD100 were used in the processing. It was found that phase-curve slopes at small phase angles directly correlate with albedo, while at larger phase angles, they are anti-correlated. We suggest a parameter to characterize the coherent-backscattering component of the lunar opposition surge, which is defined as the maximum phase angle for which the opposition-surge slope increases with growing albedo. The width of the coherent-backscattering opposition effect varies from approximately 1.2° for highlands in red light to 3.9° for maria in blue light. The parameter depends on albedo, which is in agreement with the coherent-backscattering theory. The maximum amplitude of the coherent opposition effect is estimated to be near 8%. Maps of albedo and phase-curve slope at phase angles larger than those, at which the coherent-backscattering occurs, were built for the areas under study. Absolute calibration of WAC images was compared with Earth-based observations: the WAC-determined albedo is very close to the mean lunar albedo calculated using available Earth-based observations.

Data processing software suite SITENNO for coherent X-ray diffraction imaging using the X-ray free-electron laser SACLA.

PubMed

Sekiguchi, Yuki; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Takayama, Yuki; Nakasako, Masayoshi

2014-05-01

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging is a promising technique for visualizing the structures of non-crystalline particles with dimensions of micrometers to sub-micrometers. Recently, X-ray free-electron laser sources have enabled efficient experiments in the `diffraction before destruction' scheme. Diffraction experiments have been conducted at SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free-electron LAser (SACLA) using the custom-made diffraction apparatus KOTOBUKI-1 and two multiport CCD detectors. In the experiments, ten thousands of single-shot diffraction patterns can be collected within several hours. Then, diffraction patterns with significant levels of intensity suitable for structural analysis must be found, direct-beam positions in diffraction patterns determined, diffraction patterns from the two CCD detectors merged, and phase-retrieval calculations for structural analyses performed. A software suite named SITENNO has been developed to semi-automatically apply the four-step processing to a huge number of diffraction data. Here, details of the algorithm used in the suite are described and the performance for approximately 9000 diffraction patterns collected from cuboid-shaped copper oxide particles reported. Using the SITENNO suite, it is possible to conduct experiments with data processing immediately after the data collection, and to characterize the size distribution and internal structures of the non-crystalline particles.

Data processing software suite SITENNO for coherent X-ray diffraction imaging using the X-ray free-electron laser SACLA

PubMed Central

Sekiguchi, Yuki; Oroguchi, Tomotaka; Takayama, Yuki; Nakasako, Masayoshi

2014-01-01

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging is a promising technique for visualizing the structures of non-crystalline particles with dimensions of micrometers to sub-micrometers. Recently, X-ray free-electron laser sources have enabled efficient experiments in the ‘diffraction before destruction’ scheme. Diffraction experiments have been conducted at SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free-electron LAser (SACLA) using the custom-made diffraction apparatus KOTOBUKI-1 and two multiport CCD detectors. In the experiments, ten thousands of single-shot diffraction patterns can be collected within several hours. Then, diffraction patterns with significant levels of intensity suitable for structural analysis must be found, direct-beam positions in diffraction patterns determined, diffraction patterns from the two CCD detectors merged, and phase-retrieval calculations for structural analyses performed. A software suite named SITENNO has been developed to semi-automatically apply the four-step processing to a huge number of diffraction data. Here, details of the algorithm used in the suite are described and the performance for approximately 9000 diffraction patterns collected from cuboid-shaped copper oxide particles reported. Using the SITENNO suite, it is possible to conduct experiments with data processing immediately after the data collection, and to characterize the size distribution and internal structures of the non-crystalline particles. PMID:24763651

Experimental evidence of phase coherence of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the solar wind: GEOTAIL satellite data.

PubMed

Koga, D; Chian, A C-L; Hada, T; Rempel, E L

2008-02-13

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is commonly observed in the solar wind. Nonlinear interactions among MHD waves are likely to produce finite correlation of the wave phases. For discussions of various transport processes of energetic particles, it is fundamentally important to determine whether the wave phases are randomly distributed (as assumed in the quasi-linear theory) or have a finite coherence. Using a method based on the surrogate data technique, we analysed the GEOTAIL magnetic field data to evaluate the phase coherence in MHD turbulence in the Earth's foreshock region. The results demonstrate the existence of finite phase correlation, indicating that nonlinear wave-wave interactions are in progress.

CHAIRMEN'S FOREWORD: The Seventh International Conference on New Phenomena in Mesoscopic Structures & The Fifth International Conference on Surfaces and Interfaces of Mesoscopic Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoyagi, Yoshinobu; Goodnick, Stephen M.

2006-05-01

This special issue of the Journal of Physics: Conference Series contains the proceedings of the joint Seventh International Conference on New Phenomena in Mesoscopic Structures and Fifth International Conference on Surfaces and Interfaces of Mesoscopic Devices, which was held from November 27th - December 2nd, 2005, at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. The string of these conferences dates back to the first one in 1989. Of special importance is that this year's conference was dedicated to Professor Gottfried Landwehr, in recognition of his many outstanding contributions to semiconductor physics. A personal tribute to Prof Landwehr by Dr K von Klitzing leads off this issue. The scope of NPMS-7/SIMD-5 spans nano-fabrication through complex phase coherent mesoscopic systems including nano-transistors and nano-scale characterization. Topics of interest include: •Nanoscale fabrication: high-resolution electron lithography, FIB nano-patterning, scanning- force-microscopy (SFM) lithography, SFM-stimulated growth, novel patterning, nano-imprint lithography, special etching, and self-assembled monolayers •Nanocharacterization: SFM characterization, ballistic-electron emission microscopy (BEEM), optical studies of nanostructures, tunneling, properties of discrete impurities, phase coherence, noise, THz studies, and electro-luminescence in small structures •Nanodevices: ultra-scaled FETs, quantum single-electron transistors (SETS), resonant tunneling diodes, ferromagnetic and spin devices, superlattice arrays, IR detectors with quantum dots and wires, quantum point contacts, non-equilibrium transport, simulation, ballistic transport, molecular electronic devices, carbon nanotubes, spin selection devices, spin-coupled quantum dots, and nanomagnetics •Quantum-coherent transport: the quantum Hall effect, ballistic quantum systems, quantum-computing implementations and theory, and magnetic spin systems •Mesoscopic structures: quantum wires and dots, quantum chaos, non-equilibrium transport, instabilities, nano-electro-mechanical systems, mesoscopic Josephson effects, phase coherence and breaking, and the Kondo effect •Systems of nanodevices: Quantum cellular automata, systolic SET processors, quantum neural nets, adaptive effects in circuits, and molecular circuits •Nanomaterials: nanotubes, nanowires, organic and molecular materials, self-assembled nano wires, and organic devices •Nanobioelectronics: electronic properties of biological structures on the nanoscale. This year's conference was organized by Prof Stephen Goodnick, Arizona State University, and Prof Yoshinobu Aoyagi, Tokyo Institute of Technology. The conference benefited from 14 invited speakers, whose topics spanned the above list, and a total of 97 registered attendees. The largest contingent was from Japan, followed closely by the US. In total, there were 49 from Japan, 31 fiom the US, and 17 from Europe. The organizers want to especially thank the sponsors for the meeting: The Office of Naval Research, the Army Research Office, and Arizona State University on the US side, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, through their 151 Committee, on the Japanese side. PROGRAM COMMITTEE •Prof Gerhard Abstreiter, Technical University of Munich •Prof Tsuneya Ando, Tokyo Institute of Technology •Prof John Barker, University of Glasgow •Prof Jonathan Bird, the University at Buffalo •Prof Robert Blick, University of Wisconsin •Prof David Ferry, Chair, Arizona State University •Dr Yoshiro Hirayama, NTT Basic Research Laboratories •Dr Koji Ishibashi, RIKEN •Prof Carlo Jacoboni, University of Modena •Prof David Janes, Purdue University •Prof Friedl Kuchar, University of Leoben •Prof K. Matsumoto, Osaka University •Prof Wolfgang Porod, Notre Dame University •Prof Michiharu Tabe, Shizuoka University •Prof Joachim Wolter, Eindhoven Institute of Technology •Prof Lukas Worschech, University of Würzburg •Dr Naoki Yokoyama, Fujitsu Research

Strong Quantum Coherence between Fermi Liquid Mahan Excitons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, J.; Stevens, C. E.; Liu, C.; Dey, P.; McIntyre, C.; Turkowski, V.; Reno, J. L.; Hilton, D. J.; Karaiskaj, D.

2016-04-01

In modulation doped quantum wells, the excitons are formed as a result of the interactions of the charged holes with the electrons at the Fermi edge in the conduction band, leading to the so-called "Mahan excitons." The binding energy of Mahan excitons is expected to be greatly reduced and any quantum coherence destroyed as a result of the screening and electron-electron interactions. Surprisingly, we observe strong quantum coherence between the heavy hole and light hole excitons. Such correlations are revealed by the dominating cross-diagonal peaks in both one-quantum and two-quantum two-dimensional Fourier transform spectra. Theoretical simulations based on the optical Bloch equations where many-body effects are included phenomenologically reproduce well the experimental spectra. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations provide insight into the underlying physics and attribute the observed strong quantum coherence to a significantly reduced screening length and collective excitations of the many-electron system.

Strong Quantum Coherence between Fermi Liquid Mahan Excitons.

PubMed

Paul, J; Stevens, C E; Liu, C; Dey, P; McIntyre, C; Turkowski, V; Reno, J L; Hilton, D J; Karaiskaj, D

2016-04-15

In modulation doped quantum wells, the excitons are formed as a result of the interactions of the charged holes with the electrons at the Fermi edge in the conduction band, leading to the so-called "Mahan excitons." The binding energy of Mahan excitons is expected to be greatly reduced and any quantum coherence destroyed as a result of the screening and electron-electron interactions. Surprisingly, we observe strong quantum coherence between the heavy hole and light hole excitons. Such correlations are revealed by the dominating cross-diagonal peaks in both one-quantum and two-quantum two-dimensional Fourier transform spectra. Theoretical simulations based on the optical Bloch equations where many-body effects are included phenomenologically reproduce well the experimental spectra. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations provide insight into the underlying physics and attribute the observed strong quantum coherence to a significantly reduced screening length and collective excitations of the many-electron system.

Single-electron pulses for ultrafast diffraction

PubMed Central

Aidelsburger, M.; Kirchner, F. O.; Krausz, F.; Baum, P.

2010-01-01

Visualization of atomic-scale structural motion by ultrafast electron diffraction and microscopy requires electron packets of shortest duration and highest coherence. We report on the generation and application of single-electron pulses for this purpose. Photoelectric emission from metal surfaces is studied with tunable ultraviolet pulses in the femtosecond regime. The bandwidth, efficiency, coherence, and electron pulse duration are investigated in dependence on excitation wavelength, intensity, and laser bandwidth. At photon energies close to the cathode’s work function, the electron pulse duration shortens significantly and approaches a threshold that is determined by interplay of the optical pulse width and the acceleration field. An optimized choice of laser wavelength and bandwidth results in sub-100-fs electron pulses. We demonstrate single-electron diffraction from polycrystalline diamond films and reveal the favorable influences of matched photon energies on the coherence volume of single-electron wave packets. We discuss the consequences of our findings for the physics of the photoelectric effect and for applications of single-electron pulses in ultrafast 4D imaging of structural dynamics. PMID:21041681

Theoretical prediction of a rotating magnon wave packet in ferromagnets.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Ryo; Murakami, Shuichi

2011-05-13

We theoretically show that the magnon wave packet has a rotational motion in two ways: a self-rotation and a motion along the boundary of the sample (edge current). They are similar to the cyclotron motion of electrons, but unlike electrons the magnons have no charge and the rotation is not due to the Lorentz force. These rotational motions are caused by the Berry phase in momentum space from the magnon band structure. Furthermore, the rotational motion of the magnon gives an additional correction term to the magnon Hall effect. We also discuss the Berry curvature effect in the classical limit of long-wavelength magnetostatic spin waves having macroscopic coherence length.

Decoherence-induced conductivity in the one-dimensional Anderson model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stegmann, Thomas; Wolf, Dietrich E.; Ujsághy, Orsolya

We study the effect of decoherence on the electron transport in the one-dimensional Anderson model by means of a statistical model [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. In this model decoherence bonds are randomly distributed within the system, at which the electron phase is randomized completely. Afterwards, the transport quantity of interest (e.g. resistance or conductance) is ensemble averaged over the decoherence configurations. Averaging the resistance of the sample, the calculation can be performed analytically. In the thermodynamic limit, we find a decoherence-driven transition from the quantum-coherent localized regime to the Ohmic regime at a critical decoherence density, which is determinedmore » by the second-order generalized Lyapunov exponent (GLE) [4].« less

2-D modeling of dual-mode acoustic phonon excitation of a triangular nanoplate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tai, Po-Tse; Yu, Pyng; Tang, Jau

2010-08-01

In this theoretical work, we investigated coherent phonon excitation of a triangular nanoplate based on 2-D Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattice model. Based on the two-temperature model commonly used in description of laser heating of metals, we considered two kinds of forces related to electronic and lattice stresses. Based on extensive simulation and analysis, we identified two major planar phonon modes, namely, a standing wave mode related to the triangle bisector and another mode corresponding to half of the side length. This work elucidates the roles of laser-induced electronic stress and lattice stress in controlling the initial phase and the amplitude ratio between these two phonon modes.

Monitoring nonadiabatic avoided crossing dynamics in molecules by ultrafast X-ray diffraction

DOE PAGES

Kowalewski, Markus; Bennett, Kochise; Mukamel, Shaul

2017-05-26

We examine time-resolved X-ray diffraction from molecules in the gas phase which undergo nonadiabatic avoided-crossing dynamics involving strongly coupled electrons and nuclei. Several contributions to the signal are identified, representing (in decreasing strength) elastic scattering, contributions of the electronic coherences created by nonadiabatic couplings in the avoided crossing regime, and inelastic scattering. The former probes the charge density and delivers direct information on the evolving molecular geometry. The latter two contributions are weaker and carry spatial information through the transition charge densities (off-diagonal elements of the charge-density operator). Furthermore, simulations are presented for the nonadiabatic harpooning process in the excitedmore » state of sodium fluoride.« less

Nature does not rely on long-lived electronic quantum coherence for photosynthetic energy transfer.

PubMed

Duan, Hong-Guang; Prokhorenko, Valentyn I; Cogdell, Richard J; Ashraf, Khuram; Stevens, Amy L; Thorwart, Michael; Miller, R J Dwayne

2017-08-08

During the first steps of photosynthesis, the energy of impinging solar photons is transformed into electronic excitation energy of the light-harvesting biomolecular complexes. The subsequent energy transfer to the reaction center is commonly rationalized in terms of excitons moving on a grid of biomolecular chromophores on typical timescales [Formula: see text]100 fs. Today's understanding of the energy transfer includes the fact that the excitons are delocalized over a few neighboring sites, but the role of quantum coherence is considered as irrelevant for the transfer dynamics because it typically decays within a few tens of femtoseconds. This orthodox picture of incoherent energy transfer between clusters of a few pigments sharing delocalized excitons has been challenged by ultrafast optical spectroscopy experiments with the Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein, in which interference oscillatory signals up to 1.5 ps were reported and interpreted as direct evidence of exceptionally long-lived electronic quantum coherence. Here, we show that the optical 2D photon echo spectra of this complex at ambient temperature in aqueous solution do not provide evidence of any long-lived electronic quantum coherence, but confirm the orthodox view of rapidly decaying electronic quantum coherence on a timescale of 60 fs. Our results can be considered as generic and give no hint that electronic quantum coherence plays any biofunctional role in real photoactive biomolecular complexes. Because in this structurally well-defined protein the distances between bacteriochlorophylls are comparable to those of other light-harvesting complexes, we anticipate that this finding is general and directly applies to even larger photoactive biomolecular complexes.

Nature does not rely on long-lived electronic quantum coherence for photosynthetic energy transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duan, Hong-Guang; Prokhorenko, Valentyn I.; Cogdell, Richard J.; Ashraf, Khuram; Stevens, Amy L.; Thorwart, Michael; Miller, R. J. Dwayne

2017-08-01

During the first steps of photosynthesis, the energy of impinging solar photons is transformed into electronic excitation energy of the light-harvesting biomolecular complexes. The subsequent energy transfer to the reaction center is commonly rationalized in terms of excitons moving on a grid of biomolecular chromophores on typical timescales <<100 fs. Today’s understanding of the energy transfer includes the fact that the excitons are delocalized over a few neighboring sites, but the role of quantum coherence is considered as irrelevant for the transfer dynamics because it typically decays within a few tens of femtoseconds. This orthodox picture of incoherent energy transfer between clusters of a few pigments sharing delocalized excitons has been challenged by ultrafast optical spectroscopy experiments with the Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein, in which interference oscillatory signals up to 1.5 ps were reported and interpreted as direct evidence of exceptionally long-lived electronic quantum coherence. Here, we show that the optical 2D photon echo spectra of this complex at ambient temperature in aqueous solution do not provide evidence of any long-lived electronic quantum coherence, but confirm the orthodox view of rapidly decaying electronic quantum coherence on a timescale of 60 fs. Our results can be considered as generic and give no hint that electronic quantum coherence plays any biofunctional role in real photoactive biomolecular complexes. Because in this structurally well-defined protein the distances between bacteriochlorophylls are comparable to those of other light-harvesting complexes, we anticipate that this finding is general and directly applies to even larger photoactive biomolecular complexes.

Tetragonal and collapsed-tetragonal phases of CaFe2As2 : A view from angle-resolved photoemission and dynamical mean-field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Roekeghem, Ambroise; Richard, Pierre; Shi, Xun; Wu, Shangfei; Zeng, Lingkun; Saparov, Bayrammurad; Ohtsubo, Yoshiyuki; Qian, Tian; Sefat, Athena S.; Biermann, Silke; Ding, Hong

2016-06-01

We present a study of the tetragonal to collapsed-tetragonal transition of CaFe2As2 using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and dynamical mean field theory-based electronic structure calculations. We observe that the collapsed-tetragonal phase exhibits reduced correlations and a higher coherence temperature due to the stronger Fe-As hybridization. Furthermore, a comparison of measured photoemission spectra and theoretical spectral functions shows that momentum-dependent corrections to the density functional band structure are essential for the description of low-energy quasiparticle dispersions. We introduce those using the recently proposed combined "screened exchange + dynamical mean field theory" scheme.

Quantum entanglement and spin control in silicon nanocrystal.

PubMed

Berec, Vesna

2012-01-01

Selective coherence control and electrically mediated exchange coupling of single electron spin between triplet and singlet states using numerically derived optimal control of proton pulses is demonstrated. We obtained spatial confinement below size of the Bohr radius for proton spin chain FWHM. Precise manipulation of individual spins and polarization of electron spin states are analyzed via proton induced emission and controlled population of energy shells in pure (29)Si nanocrystal. Entangled quantum states of channeled proton trajectories are mapped in transverse and angular phase space of (29)Si <100> axial channel alignment in order to avoid transversal excitations. Proton density and proton energy as impact parameter functions are characterized in single particle density matrix via discretization of diagonal and nearest off-diagonal elements. We combined high field and low densities (1 MeV/92 nm) to create inseparable quantum state by superimposing the hyperpolarizationed proton spin chain with electron spin of (29)Si. Quantum discretization of density of states (DOS) was performed by the Monte Carlo simulation method using numerical solutions of proton equations of motion. Distribution of gaussian coherent states is obtained by continuous modulation of individual spin phase and amplitude. Obtained results allow precise engineering and faithful mapping of spin states. This would provide the effective quantum key distribution (QKD) and transmission of quantum information over remote distances between quantum memory centers for scalable quantum communication network. Furthermore, obtained results give insights in application of channeled protons subatomic microscopy as a complete versatile scanning-probe system capable of both quantum engineering of charged particle states and characterization of quantum states below diffraction limit linear and in-depth resolution.PACS NUMBERS: 03.65.Ud, 03.67.Bg, 61.85.+p, 67.30.hj.

Theory of Electron, Phonon and Spin Transport in Nanoscale Quantum Devices.

PubMed

Sadeghi, Hatef

2018-06-21

At the level of fundamental science, it was recently demonstrated that molecular wires can mediate long-range phase-coherent tunnelling with remarkably low attenuation over a few nanometre even at room temperature. Furthermore, a large mean free path has been observed in graphene and other graphene-like two-dimensional materials. These create the possibility of using quantum and phonon interference to engineer electron and phonon transport for wide range of applications such as molecular switches, sensors, piezoelectricity, thermoelectricity and thermal management. To understand transport properties of such devices, it is crucial to calculate their electronic and phononic transmission coefficients. The aim of this tutorial article is to review the state-of-art theoretical and mathematical techniques to treat electron, phonon and spin transport in nanoscale molecular junctions. This helps not only to explain new phenomenon observed experimentally but also provides a vital design tool to develop novel nanoscale quantum devices. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Controlling competing orders via nonequilibrium acoustic phonons: Emergence of anisotropic effective electronic temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schütt, Michael; Orth, Peter P.; Levchenko, Alex; Fernandes, Rafael M.

2018-01-01

Ultrafast perturbations offer a unique tool to manipulate correlated systems due to their ability to promote transient behaviors with no equilibrium counterpart. A widely employed strategy is the excitation of coherent optical phonons, as they can cause significant changes in the electronic structure and interactions on short time scales. One of the issues, however, is the inevitable heating that accompanies these resonant excitations. Here, we explore a promising alternative route: the nonequilibrium excitation of acoustic phonons, which, due to their low excitation energies, generally lead to less heating. We demonstrate that driving acoustic phonons leads to the remarkable phenomenon of a momentum-dependent effective temperature, by which electronic states at different regions of the Fermi surface are subject to distinct local temperatures. Such an anisotropic effective electronic temperature can have a profound effect on the delicate balance between competing ordered states in unconventional superconductors, opening a so far unexplored avenue to control correlated phases.

Quasiparticle Interference Studies of Quantum Materials.

PubMed

Avraham, Nurit; Reiner, Jonathan; Kumar-Nayak, Abhay; Morali, Noam; Batabyal, Rajib; Yan, Binghai; Beidenkopf, Haim

2018-06-03

Exotic electronic states are realized in novel quantum materials. This field is revolutionized by the topological classification of materials. Such compounds necessarily host unique states on their boundaries. Scanning tunneling microscopy studies of these surface states have provided a wealth of spectroscopic characterization, with the successful cooperation of ab initio calculations. The method of quasiparticle interference imaging proves to be particularly useful for probing the dispersion relation of the surface bands. Herein, how a variety of additional fundamental electronic properties can be probed via this method is reviewed. It is demonstrated how quasiparticle interference measurements entail mesoscopic size quantization and the electronic phase coherence in semiconducting nanowires; helical spin protection and energy-momentum fluctuations in a topological insulator; and the structure of the Bloch wave function and the relative insusceptibility of topological electronic states to surface potential in a topological Weyl semimetal. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Yong; Xing, Qingfeng; Straszheim, Warren E.

Here, we report how the superconducting phase forms in pseudo-single-crystal K xFe 2-ySe 2. In situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation reveals that, as an order-disorder transition occurs, on cooling, most of the high-temperature iron-vacancy-disordered phase gradually changes into the iron-vacancy-ordered phase whereas a small quantity of the high-temperature phase retains its structure and aggregates to the stripes with more iron concentration but less potassium concentration compared to the iron-vacancy-ordered phase. The stripes that are generally recognized as the superconducting phase are actually formed as a remnant of the high-temperature phase with a compositional change after an “imperfect” order-disorder transition.more » It should be emphasized that the phase separation in pseudo-single-crystal K xFe 2-ySe 2 is caused by the iron-vacancy order-disorder transition. The shrinkage of the high-temperature phase and the expansion of the newly created iron-vacancy-ordered phase during the phase separation rule out the mechanism of spinodal decomposition proposed in an early report [Wang et al, Phys. Rev. B 91, 064513 (2015)]. Since the formation of the superconducting phase relies on the occurrence of the iron-vacancy order-disorder transition, it is impossible to synthesize a pure superconducting phase by a conventional solid state reaction or melt growth. By focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy, we further demonstrate that the superconducting phase forms a contiguous three-dimensional architecture composed of parallelepipeds that have a coherent orientation relationship with the iron-vacancy-ordered phase.« less

Femtosecond gas phase electron diffraction with MeV electrons.

PubMed

Yang, Jie; Guehr, Markus; Vecchione, Theodore; Robinson, Matthew S; Li, Renkai; Hartmann, Nick; Shen, Xiaozhe; Coffee, Ryan; Corbett, Jeff; Fry, Alan; Gaffney, Kelly; Gorkhover, Tais; Hast, Carsten; Jobe, Keith; Makasyuk, Igor; Reid, Alexander; Robinson, Joseph; Vetter, Sharon; Wang, Fenglin; Weathersby, Stephen; Yoneda, Charles; Wang, Xijie; Centurion, Martin

2016-12-16

We present results on ultrafast gas electron diffraction (UGED) experiments with femtosecond resolution using the MeV electron gun at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. UGED is a promising method to investigate molecular dynamics in the gas phase because electron pulses can probe the structure with a high spatial resolution. Until recently, however, it was not possible for UGED to reach the relevant timescale for the motion of the nuclei during a molecular reaction. Using MeV electron pulses has allowed us to overcome the main challenges in reaching femtosecond resolution, namely delivering short electron pulses on a gas target, overcoming the effect of velocity mismatch between pump laser pulses and the probe electron pulses, and maintaining a low timing jitter. At electron kinetic energies above 3 MeV, the velocity mismatch between laser and electron pulses becomes negligible. The relativistic electrons are also less susceptible to temporal broadening due to the Coulomb force. One of the challenges of diffraction with relativistic electrons is that the small de Broglie wavelength results in very small diffraction angles. In this paper we describe the new setup and its characterization, including capturing static diffraction patterns of molecules in the gas phase, finding time-zero with sub-picosecond accuracy and first time-resolved diffraction experiments. The new device can achieve a temporal resolution of 100 fs root-mean-square, and sub-angstrom spatial resolution. The collimation of the beam is sufficient to measure the diffraction pattern, and the transverse coherence is on the order of 2 nm. Currently, the temporal resolution is limited both by the pulse duration of the electron pulse on target and by the timing jitter, while the spatial resolution is limited by the average electron beam current and the signal-to-noise ratio of the detection system. We also discuss plans for improving both the temporal resolution and the spatial resolution.

Nanomodulated electron beams via electron diffraction and emittance exchange for coherent x-ray generation

DOE PAGES

Nanni, E. A.; Graves, W. S.; Moncton, D. E.

2018-01-19

We present a new method for generation of relativistic electron beams with current modulation on the nanometer scale and below. The current modulation is produced by diffracting relativistic electrons in single crystal Si, accelerating the diffracted beam and imaging the crystal structure, then transferring the image into the temporal dimension via emittance exchange. The modulation period can be tuned by adjusting electron optics after diffraction. This tunable longitudinal modulation can have a period as short as a few angstroms, enabling production of coherent hard x-rays from a source based on inverse Compton scattering with total accelerator length of approximately tenmore » meters. Electron beam simulations from cathode emission through diffraction, acceleration, and image formation with variable magnification are presented along with estimates of the coherent x-ray output properties.« less

Nanomodulated electron beams via electron diffraction and emittance exchange for coherent x-ray generation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nanni, E. A.; Graves, W. S.; Moncton, D. E.

We present a new method for generation of relativistic electron beams with current modulation on the nanometer scale and below. The current modulation is produced by diffracting relativistic electrons in single crystal Si, accelerating the diffracted beam and imaging the crystal structure, then transferring the image into the temporal dimension via emittance exchange. The modulation period can be tuned by adjusting electron optics after diffraction. This tunable longitudinal modulation can have a period as short as a few angstroms, enabling production of coherent hard x-rays from a source based on inverse Compton scattering with total accelerator length of approximately tenmore » meters. Electron beam simulations from cathode emission through diffraction, acceleration, and image formation with variable magnification are presented along with estimates of the coherent x-ray output properties.« less

Electron coherent diffraction tomography of a nanocrystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dronyak, Roman; Liang, Keng S.; Tsai, Jin-Sheng; Stetsko, Yuri P.; Lee, Ting-Kuo; Chen, Fu-Rong

2010-05-01

Coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) with electron or x-ray sources is a promising technique for investigating the structure of nanoparticles down to the atomic scale. In electron CDI, a two-dimensional reconstruction is demonstrated using highly coherent illumination from a field-emission gun as a source of electrons. In a three-dimensional (3D) electron CDI, we experimentally determine the morphology of a single MgO nanocrystal using the Bragg diffraction geometry. An iterative algorithm is applied to invert the 3D diffraction pattern about a (200) reflection of the nanoparticle measured at an angular range of 1.8°. The results reveal a 3D image of the sample at ˜8 nm resolution, and agree with a simulation. Our work demonstrates an alternative approach to obtain the 3D structure of nanocrystals with an electron microscope.

Atmospheric propagation and combining of high-power lasers.

PubMed

Nelson, W; Sprangle, P; Davis, C C

2016-03-01

In this paper, we analyze beam combining and atmospheric propagation of high-power lasers for directed-energy (DE) applications. The large linewidths inherent in high-power fiber and slab lasers cause random phase and intensity fluctuations that occur on subnanosecond time scales. Coherently combining these high-power lasers would involve instruments capable of precise phase control and operation at rates greater than ∼10  GHz. To the best of our knowledge, this technology does not currently exist. This presents a challenging problem when attempting to phase lock high-power lasers that is not encountered when phase locking low-power lasers, for example, at milliwatt power levels. Regardless, we demonstrate that even if instruments are developed that can precisely control the phase of high-power lasers, coherent combining is problematic for DE applications. The dephasing effects of atmospheric turbulence typically encountered in DE applications will degrade the coherent properties of the beam before it reaches the target. Through simulations, we find that coherent beam combining in moderate turbulence and over multikilometer propagation distances has little advantage over incoherent combining. Additionally, in cases of strong turbulence and multikilometer propagation ranges, we find nearly indistinguishable intensity profiles and virtually no difference in the energy on the target between coherently and incoherently combined laser beams. Consequently, we find that coherent beam combining at the transmitter plane is ineffective under typical atmospheric conditions.

Dependence of weak interaction rates on the nuclear composition during stellar core collapse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furusawa, Shun; Nagakura, Hiroki; Sumiyoshi, Kohsuke; Kato, Chinami; Yamada, Shoichi

2017-02-01

We investigate the influences of the nuclear composition on the weak interaction rates of heavy nuclei during the core collapse of massive stars. The nuclear abundances in nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE) are calculated by some equation of state (EOS) models including in-medium effects on nuclear masses. We systematically examine the sensitivities of electron capture and neutrino-nucleus scattering on heavy nuclei to the nuclear shell effects and the single-nucleus approximation. We find that the washout of the shell effect at high temperatures brings significant change to weak rates by smoothing the nuclear abundance distribution: the electron capture rate decreases by ˜20 % in the early phase and increases by ˜40 % in the late phase at most, while the cross section for neutrino-nucleus scattering is reduced by ˜15 % . This is because the open-shell nuclei become abundant instead of those with closed neutron shells as the shell effects disappear. We also find that the single-nucleus description based on the average values leads to underestimations of weak rates. Electron captures and neutrino coherent scattering on heavy nuclei are reduced by ˜80 % in the early phase and by ˜5 % in the late phase, respectively. These results indicate that NSE like EOS accounting for shell washout is indispensable for the reliable estimation of weak interaction rates in simulations of core-collapse supernovae.

Communication: Vibrational and vibronic coherences in the two dimensional spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear motion.

PubMed

Albert, Julian; Falge, Mirjam; Gomez, Sandra; Sola, Ignacio R; Hildenbrand, Heiko; Engel, Volker

2015-07-28

We theoretically investigate the photon-echo spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear quantum dynamics. Two situations are treated. In the first case, the Born-Oppenheimer (adiabatic) approximation holds. It is then possible to interpret the two-dimensional (2D) spectra in terms of vibrational motion taking place in different electronic states. In particular, pure vibrational coherences which are related to oscillations in the time-dependent third-order polarization can be identified. This concept fails in the second case, where strong non-adiabatic coupling leads to the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer-approximation. Then, the 2D-spectra reveal a complicated vibronic structure and vibrational coherences cannot be disentangled from the electronic motion.

Communication: Vibrational and vibronic coherences in the two dimensional spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear motion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Albert, Julian; Falge, Mirjam; Hildenbrand, Heiko

2015-07-28

We theoretically investigate the photon-echo spectroscopy of coupled electron-nuclear quantum dynamics. Two situations are treated. In the first case, the Born-Oppenheimer (adiabatic) approximation holds. It is then possible to interpret the two-dimensional (2D) spectra in terms of vibrational motion taking place in different electronic states. In particular, pure vibrational coherences which are related to oscillations in the time-dependent third-order polarization can be identified. This concept fails in the second case, where strong non-adiabatic coupling leads to the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer-approximation. Then, the 2D-spectra reveal a complicated vibronic structure and vibrational coherences cannot be disentangled from the electronic motion.

Real time en face Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography with direct hardware frequency demodulation

PubMed Central

Biedermann, Benjamin R.; Wieser, Wolfgang; Eigenwillig, Christoph M.; Palte, Gesa; Adler, Desmond C.; Srinivasan, Vivek J.; Fujimoto, James G.; Huber, Robert

2009-01-01

We demonstrate en face swept source optical coherence tomography (ss-OCT) without requiring a Fourier transformation step. The electronic optical coherence tomography (OCT) interference signal from a k-space linear Fourier domain mode-locked laser is mixed with an adjustable local oscillator, yielding the analytic reflectance signal from one image depth for each frequency sweep of the laser. Furthermore, a method for arbitrarily shaping the spectral intensity profile of the laser is presented, without requiring the step of numerical apodization. In combination, these two techniques enable sampling of the in-phase and quadrature signal with a slow analog-to-digital converter and allow for real-time display of en face projections even for highest axial scan rates. Image data generated with this technique is compared to en face images extracted from a three-dimensional OCT data set. This technique can allow for real-time visualization of arbitrarily oriented en face planes for the purpose of alignment, registration, or operator-guided survey scans while simultaneously maintaining the full capability of high-speed volumetric ss-OCT functionality. PMID:18978919

Determination of scattering structures from spatial coherence measurements.

PubMed

Zarubin, A M

1996-03-01

A new method of structure determination and microscopic imaging with short-wavelength radiations (charged particles, X-rays, neutrons), based on measurements of the modulus and the phase of the degree of spatial coherence of the scattered radiation, is developed. The underlying principle of the method--transfer of structural information about the scattering potential via spatial coherence of the secondary (scattering) source of radiation formed by this potential--is expressed by the generalization of the van Cittert-Zernike theorem to wave and particle scattering [A.M. Zarubin, Opt. Commun. 100 (1993) 491; Opt. Commun. 102 (1993) 543]. Shearing interferometric techniques are proposed for implementing the above measurements; the limits of spatial resolution attainable by reconstruction of the absolute square of a 3D scattering potential and its 2D projections from the measurements are analyzed. It is shown theoretically that 3D imaging with atomic resolution can be realized in a "synthetic aperture" electron or ion microscope and that a 3D resolution of about 6 nm can be obtained with a "synthetic aperture" X-ray microscope. A proof-of-principle optical experiment is presented.

Coherent Response of Two Dimensional Electron Gas probed by Two Dimensional Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, Jagannath

Advent of ultrashort lasers made it possible to probe various scattering phenomena in materials that occur in a time scale on the order of few femtoseconds to several tens of picoseconds. Nonlinear optical spectroscopy techniques, such as pump-probe, transient four wave mixing (TFWM), etc., are very common to study the carrier dynamics in various material systems. In time domain, the transient FWM uses several ultrashort pulses separated by time delays to obtain the information of dephasing and population relaxation times, which are very important parameters that govern the carrier dynamics of materials. A recently developed multidimensional nonlinear optical spectroscopy is an enhanced version of TFWM which keeps track of two time delays simultaneously and correlate them in the frequency domain with the aid of Fourier transform in a two dimensional map. Using this technique, the nonlinear complex signal field is characterized both in amplitude and phase. Furthermore, this technique allows us to identify the coupling between resonances which are rather difficult to interpret from time domain measurements. This work focuses on the study of the coherent response of a two dimensional electron gas formed in a modulation doped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well both at zero and at high magnetic fields. In modulation doped quantum wells, the excitons are formed as a result of the inter- actions of the charged holes with the electrons at the Fermi edge in the conduction band, leading to the formation of Mahan excitons, which is also referred to as Fermi edge singularity (FES). Polarization and temperature dependent rephasing 2DFT spectra in combination with TI-FWM measurements, provides insight into the dephasing mechanism of the heavy hole (HH) Mahan exciton. In addition to that strong quantum coherence between the HH and LH Mahan excitons is observed, which is rather surprising at this high doping concentration. The binding energy of Mahan excitons is expected to be greatly reduced and any quantum coherence be destroyed as a result of the screening and electron-electron interactions. Such correlations are revealed by the dominating cross-diagonal peaks in both one-quantum and two-quantum 2DFT spectra. Theoretical simulations based on the optical Bloch Equations (OBE) where many-body effects are included phenomenologically, corroborate the experimental results. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations provide insight into the underlying physics and attribute the observed strong quantum coherence to a significantly reduced screening length and collective excitations of the many-electron system. Furthermore, in semiconductors under the application of magnetic field, the energy states in conduction and valence bands become quantized and Landau levels are formed. We observe optical excitation originating from different Landau levels in the absorption spectra in an undoped and a modulation doped quantum wells. 2DFT measurements in magnetic field up to 25 Tesla have been performed and the spectra reveal distinct difference in the line shapes in the two samples. In addition, strong coherent coupling between landau levels is observed in the undoped sample. In order to gain deeper understanding of the observations, the experimental results are further supported with TD-DFT calculation.

Quantitative phase imaging method based on an analytical nonparaxial partially coherent phase optical transfer function.

PubMed

Bao, Yijun; Gaylord, Thomas K

2016-11-01

Multifilter phase imaging with partially coherent light (MFPI-PC) is a promising new quantitative phase imaging method. However, the existing MFPI-PC method is based on the paraxial approximation. In the present work, an analytical nonparaxial partially coherent phase optical transfer function is derived. This enables the MFPI-PC to be extended to the realistic nonparaxial case. Simulations over a wide range of test phase objects as well as experimental measurements on a microlens array verify higher levels of imaging accuracy compared to the paraxial method. Unlike the paraxial version, the nonparaxial MFPI-PC with obliquity factor correction exhibits no systematic error. In addition, due to its analytical expression, the increase in computation time compared to the paraxial version is negligible.

Ultrafast far-infrared studies of vanadates &mdash Multiple routes for an insulator to metal transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Mengkun

The metal insulator transition in vanadates has been studied for decades and yet new discoveries still spring up revealing new physics, especially among two of the most studied members: Vanadium sesquioxide (V20 3) and Vanadium dioxide (VO2). Although subtleties abound, both of the materials have first order insulator to metal phase transitions that are considered to be related to strong electron-electron (e-e) correlation. Further, ultrafast spectroscopy of strongly correlated materials has generated great interest in the field given the potential to dynamically distinguish the difference between electronic (spin) response versus lattice responses due to the associated characteristic energy and time scales. In this thesis, I mainly focus on utilizing ultrafast optical and THz spectroscopy to study phase transition dynamics in high quality V20 3 and VO2 thin films epitaxially grown on different substrates. The main findings of the thesis are: (1) Despite the fact that the insulator to metal transition (IMT) in V203 is electron-correlation driven, lattice distortion plays an important role. Coherent oscillations in the far-infrared conductivity are observed resulting from coherent acoustic phonon modulation of the bandwidth W. The same order of lattice distortion induces less of an effect on the electron transport in VO2 in comparison to V203. This is directly related to the difference in latent heat of the phase transitions in VO2 and V203. (2) It is possible for the IMT to occur with very little structural change in epitaxial strained VO2 films, like in the case of Cr doped or strained V203. However, in V02, this necessitates a large strain which is only possible by clamping to a substrate with larger c axis parameter through epitaxial growth. This is demonstrated for VO 2 films on TiO2 substrates. (3) Initiating an ultrafast photo-induced insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) is not only possible with above bandgap excitation, but also possible with high-field far-infrared excitation. With the help of the field enhancement in metamaterial split ring resonator gaps, we obtain picosecond THz electric field transients of several MV/cm which is sufficient to drive the insulator to metal transition in V02.

Emergence of coherence and the dynamics of quantum phase transitions

PubMed Central

Braun, Simon; Friesdorf, Mathis; Hodgman, Sean S.; Schreiber, Michael; Ronzheimer, Jens Philipp; Riera, Arnau; del Rey, Marco; Bloch, Immanuel; Eisert, Jens

2015-01-01

The dynamics of quantum phase transitions pose one of the most challenging problems in modern many-body physics. Here, we study a prototypical example in a clean and well-controlled ultracold atom setup by observing the emergence of coherence when crossing the Mott insulator to superfluid quantum phase transition. In the 1D Bose–Hubbard model, we find perfect agreement between experimental observations and numerical simulations for the resulting coherence length. We, thereby, perform a largely certified analog quantum simulation of this strongly correlated system reaching beyond the regime of free quasiparticles. Experimentally, we additionally explore the emergence of coherence in higher dimensions, where no classical simulations are available, as well as for negative temperatures. For intermediate quench velocities, we observe a power-law behavior of the coherence length, reminiscent of the Kibble–Zurek mechanism. However, we find nonuniversal exponents that cannot be captured by this mechanism or any other known model. PMID:25775515

On the nonlinear trapping nature of undamped, coherent structures in collisionless plasmas and its impact on stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schamel, Hans; Mandal, Debraj; Sharma, Devendra

2017-03-01

An outstanding notion for collisionless plasmas is the essential nonlinear character of their coherent structures, which in the stationary, weak amplitude limit are described by a continuum of cnoidal electron and ion hole modes governed by a multiparametric nonlinear dispersion relation. The well-known discrete structure of undamped linear plasma modes is seamlessly embedded in this nonlinear continuum as the microscopic texture of plasma begins to reveal itself in the high temperature collisionless plasma limit. This transforms the linear-threshold-based operating mechanism of plasma turbulence into a fundamental nonlinear, multifaceted one. Based on a comprehensive three-level description of increasing profundity, a proof of this novel dictum is presented, which makes use of the joint properties of such structures, their coherency and stationarity, and uses in succession a fluid, linear Vlasov and a full Vlasov description. It unifies discrete and continuum limits by resolving the inevitable resonant region and shows that coherent electrostatic equilibria are generally controlled by kinetic particle trapping and are hence fundamentally nonlinear. By forging a link between damped and growing wave solutions, these modes render plasma stability complex and difficult to evaluate due to the entangled pattern of the stability boundary in function and parameter space, respectively. A direct consequence is the existence of negative energy modes of arbitrarily small amplitudes in the subcritical region of the two-stream instability as well as the failure of linear Landau (Vlasov, van Kampen) theory, whenever resonant particles are involved, in addressing the onset of instability in a current-carrying plasma. Responsible for this subtle phase space behavior is hence the thresholdless omnipresence of the trapping nonlinearity originating from coherency. A high resolution, exact-mass-ratio, multispecies, and collisionless plasma simulation is employed to illustrate exemplarily how tiny seed fluctuations in phase-space can act as a triggering agent for a subcritical plasma excitation verifying an access to these modes in the noisy, collisionless plasma limit.

Energization of Radiation Belt Electrons by High and Low Azimuthal Mode Number Poloidal Mode ULF Waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hudson, M. K.; Brito, T.; Elkington, S. R.; Kress, B. T.; Liang, Y.

2011-12-01

CME-shock and CIR-driven geomagnetic storms are characterized by enhanced ULF wave activity in the magnetosphere. This enhanced ULF wave power produces both coherent and diffusive transport and energization, as well as pitch angle modification of radiation belt electrons in drift resonance with azimuthally propagating ULF waves. Recent observations of two CME-driven storms1,2 have suggested that poloidal mode waves with both low and high azimuthal mode number may be efficient at accelerating radiation belt electrons. We extend up to m = 50 the analysis of Ozeke and Mann3 who examined drift resonance for poloidal modes up to m = 40. We calculate radial diffusion coefficients for source population electrons in the 50 -500 keV range, and continued resonance with lower m-numbers at higher energies for ULF waves in the Pc 5, 0.4 - 10 mHz range. We use an analytic model for ULF waves superimposed on a compressed dipole, developed for equatorial plane studies by Elkington et al.4 and extended to 3D by Perry et al.4 Assuming a power spectrum which varies as ω-2, consistent with earlier observations, we find greater efficiency for radial transport and acceleration at lower m number where there is greater power for drift resonance at a given frequency. This assumption is consistent with 3D global MHD simulations using the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry code which we have carried out for realistic solar wind driving conditions during storms. Coherent interaction with ULF waves can also occur at a rate which exceeds nominal radial diffusion estimates but is slower than prompt injection on a drift time scale. Depending on initial electron drift phase, some electrons are accelerated due to the westward azimuthal electric field Eφ, while others are decelerated by eastward Eφ, decreasing their pitch angle. A subset of trapped electrons are seen to precipitate to the atmosphere in 3D LFM simulations, showing modulation at the coherent poloidal mode ULF wave frequency in both simulations and MINIS balloon observations for the January 21, 2005 CME-driven storm. Thus Pc 5 poloidal mode ULF waves cause competing increase and decrease in relativistic electron flux. The relative efficiencies of both coherent and diffusive processes will be examined. 1Zong et al., JGR, doi:10.1029/2009JA014393, 2009. 2Tan et al., JGR, doi:10.1029/2010JA016226, 2011. 3Ozeke and Mann, JGR, doi:10.1029/2007JA012468, 2008. 4Elkington et al., doi:10.1029/2001JA009202, 2003, 2003. 5Perry et al., doi:10.1029/2004JA010760, 2005.

Multiobjective optimization design of an rf gun based electron diffraction beam line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulliford, Colwyn; Bartnik, Adam; Bazarov, Ivan; Maxson, Jared

2017-03-01

Multiobjective genetic algorithm optimizations of a single-shot ultrafast electron diffraction beam line comprised of a 100 MV /m 1.6-cell normal conducting rf (NCRF) gun, as well as a nine-cell 2 π /3 bunching cavity placed between two solenoids, have been performed. These include optimization of the normalized transverse emittance as a function of bunch charge, as well as optimization of the transverse coherence length as a function of the rms bunch length of the beam at the sample location for a fixed charge of 1 06 electrons. Analysis of the resulting solutions is discussed in terms of the relevant scaling laws, and a detailed description of one of the resulting solutions from the coherence length optimizations is given. For a charge of 1 06 electrons and final beam sizes of σx≥25 μ m and σt≈5 fs , we found a relative coherence length of Lc ,x/σx≈0.07 using direct optimization of the coherence length. Additionally, based on optimizations of the emittance as a function of final bunch length, we estimate the relative coherence length for bunch lengths of 30 and 100 fs to be roughly 0.1 and 0.2 nm /μ m , respectively. Finally, using the scaling of the optimal emittance with bunch charge, for a charge of 1 05 electrons, we estimate relative coherence lengths of 0.3, 0.5, and 0.92 nm /μ m for final bunch lengths of 5, 30 and 100 fs, respectively.

Extremely Coherent Microwave Emission from Spin Torque Oscillator Stabilized by Phase Locked Loop

PubMed Central

Tamaru, Shingo; Kubota, Hitoshi; Yakushiji, Kay; Yuasa, Shinji; Fukushima, Akio

2015-01-01

Spin torque oscillator (STO) has been attracting a great deal of attention as a candidate for the next generation microwave signal sources for various modern electronics systems since its advent. However, the phase noise of STOs under free running oscillation is still too large to be used in practical microwave applications, thus an industrially viable means to stabilize its oscillation has been strongly sought. Here we demonstrate implementation of a phase locked loop using a STO as a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates a 7.344 GHz microwave signal stabilized by a 153 MHz reference signal. Spectrum measurement showed successful phase locking of the microwave signal to the reference signal, characterized by an extremely narrow oscillation peak with a linewidth of less than the measurement limit of 1 Hz. This demonstration should be a major breakthrough toward various practical applications of STOs. PMID:26658880

Boundary perturbations coupled to core 3/2 tearing modes on the DIII-D tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tobias, B.; Yu, L.; Domier, C. W.; Luhmann, N. C., Jr.; Austin, M. E.; Paz-Soldan, C.; Turnbull, A. D.; Classen, I. G. J.; the DIII-D Team

2013-09-01

High confinement (H-mode) discharges on the DIII-D tokamak are routinely subject to the formation of long-lived, non-disruptive magnetic islands that degrade confinement and limit fusion performance. Simultaneous, 2D measurement of electron temperature fluctuations in the core and edge regions allows for reconstruction of the radially resolved poloidal mode number spectrum and phase of the global plasma response associated with these modes. Coherent, n = 2 excursions of the plasma boundary are found to be the result of coupling to an n = 2, kink-like mode which arises locked in phase to the 3/2 island chain. This coupling dictates the relative phase of the displacement at the boundary with respect to the tearing mode. This unambiguous phase relationship, for which no counter-examples are observed, is presented as a test for modeling of the perturbed fields to be expected outside the confined plasma.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hunter, Mark S.; Yoon, Chun Hong; DeMirci, Hasan

Structural information about biological macromolecules near the atomic scale provides important insight into the functions of these molecules. To date, X-ray crystallography has been the predominant method used for macromolecular structure determination. However, challenges exist when solving structures with X-rays, including the phase problem and radiation damage. X-ray-free electron lasers (X-ray FELs) have enabled collection of diffraction information before the onset of radiation damage, yet the majority of structures solved at X-ray FELs have been phased using external information via molecular replacement. De novo phasing at X-ray FELs has proven challenging due in part to per-pulse variations in intensity andmore » wavelength. Here we report the solution of a selenobiotinyl-streptavidin structure using phases obtained by the anomalous diffraction of selenium measured at a single wavelength (Se-SAD) at the Linac Coherent Light Source. Finally, our results demonstrate Se-SAD, routinely employed at synchrotrons for novel structure determination, is now possible at X-ray FELs.« less

A very high frequency radio interferometer for investigating ionospheric disturbances using geostationary satellites. Determination of changes in exospheric electron content by a comparison of group delay and Faraday rotation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Terry, R.; Flaherty, B. J.; Dubroff, R. E.

1972-01-01

The theory and development of a VHF correlation radio interferometer for investigating ionospheric disturbances are discussed. The system was developed to receive signals from the geostationary Applications Technology Satellites. Amplitude and phase variations of the signal passing through the ionosphere can be detected by this instrument. The system consists of two superheterodyne receivers separated by a distance known as the baseline of the system. Since the system is a phase sensitive instrument, the local oscillators of the two receivers must be phase coherent. This is accomplished by using phase-locked loops for generating the local oscillators. The two signals from the separate receivers are cross-correlated by multiplying the two signals together and then time averaging the result. The sensitivity of the instrument is increased by off-setting one of the local oscillators by a small amount.

Time domain analysis of coherent terahertz synchrotron radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hübers, H.-W.; Semenov, A.; Holldack, K.; Schade, U.; Wüstefeld, G.; Gol'tsman, G.

2005-10-01

The time structure of coherent terahertz synchrotron radiation at the electron storage ring of the Berliner Elektronensynchrotron und Speicherring Gesellschaft has been analyzed with a fast superconducting hot-electron bolometer. The emission from a single bunch of electrons was found to last ˜1500ps at frequencies around 0.4THz, which is much longer than the length of an electron bunch in the time domain (˜5ps). It is suggested that this is caused by multiple reflections at the walls of the beam line. The quadratic increase of the power with the number of electrons in the bunch as predicted for coherent synchrotron radiation and the transition from stable to bursting radiation were determined from a single storage ring fill pattern of bunches with different populations.

Evolution of singularities in a partially coherent vortex beam.

PubMed

van Dijk, Thomas; Visser, Taco D

2009-04-01

We study the evolution of phase singularities and coherence singularities in a Laguerre-Gauss beam that is rendered partially coherent by letting it pass through a spatial light modulator. The original beam has an on-axis minumum of intensity--a phase singularity--that transforms into a maximum of the far-field intensity. In contrast, although the original beam has no coherence singularities, such singularities are found to develop as the beam propagates. This disappearance of one kind of singularity and the gradual appearance of another is illustrated with numerical examples.

Coherent states for the quantum complete rigid rotor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fontanari, Daniele; Sadovskií, Dmitrií A.

2018-07-01

Motivated by the possibility to describe orientations of quantum triaxial rigid rotors, such as molecules, with respect to both internal (body-fixed) and external (laboratory) frames, we go through the theory of coherent states and design the appropriate family of coherent states on T∗ SO(3) , the classical phase space of the freely rotating rigid body (the Euler top). We pay particular attention to the resolution of identity property in order to establish the explicit relation between the parameters of the coherent states and classical phase-space variables, actions and angles.

Two-Color Nonlinear Spectroscopy for the Rapid Acquisition of Coherent Dynamics.

PubMed

Senlik, S Seckin; Policht, Veronica R; Ogilvie, Jennifer P

2015-07-02

There has been considerable recent interest in the observation of coherent dynamics in photosynthetic systems by 2D electronic spectroscopy (2DES). In particular, coherences that persist during the "waiting time" in a 2DES experiment have been attributed to electronic, vibrational, and vibronic origins in various systems. The typical method for characterizing these coherent dynamics requires the acquisition of 2DES spectra as a function of waiting time, essentially a 3DES measurement. Such experiments require lengthy data acquisition times that degrade the signal-to-noise of the recorded coherent dynamics. We present a rapid and high signal-to-noise pulse-shaping-based approach for the characterization of coherent dynamics. Using chlorophyll a, we demonstrate that this method retains much of the information content of a 3DES measurement and provides insight into the physical origin of the coherent dynamics, distinguishing between ground and excited state coherences. It also enables high resolution determination of ground and excited state frequencies.

Direct measurement of cyclotron coherence times of high-mobility two-dimensional electron gases.

PubMed

Wang, X; Hilton, D J; Reno, J L; Mittleman, D M; Kono, J

2010-06-07

We have observed long-lived (approximately 30 ps) coherent oscillations of charge carriers due to cyclotron resonance (CR) in high-mobility two-dimensional electrons in GaAs in perpendicular magnetic fields using time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. The observed coherent oscillations were fitted well by sinusoids with exponentially-decaying amplitudes, through which we were able to provide direct and precise measures for the decay times and oscillation frequencies simultaneously. This method thus overcomes the CR saturation effect, which is known to prevent determination of true CR linewidths in high-mobility electron systems using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

The Stonehenge technique. A method for aligning coherent bremsstrahlung radiators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Livingston, Ken

2009-05-01

This paper describes a technique for the alignment of crystal radiators used to produce high energy, linearly polarized photons via coherent bremsstrahlung scattering at electron beam facilities. In these experiments the crystal is mounted on a goniometer which is used to adjust its orientation relative to the electron beam. The angles and equations which relate the crystal lattice, goniometer and electron beam direction are presented here, and the method of alignment is illustrated with data taken at MAMI (the Mainz microtron). A practical guide to setting up a coherent bremsstrahlung facility and installing new crystals using this technique is also included.

Coherent Optical Transients and Spectral Line Narrowing Phenomena in Four Wave Mixing Spectroscopies: Theoretical and Experimental Studies.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dugan, Mark Allen

1990-08-01

The theoretical basis for new signal transients and spectral features generated in field correlated four wave mixing (4WM) spectroscopies is developed. Special attention is given to those signal responses that are sensitive to phase/amplitude correlation among the input driving fields and not simply their intensity correlation. Thus, the cases of incoherent broadband excitation and of coherent short pulsed excitation will be discussed and compared. Applications to the coherent Raman spectroscopies, both electronically nonresonant and fully resonant, are analyzed. Novel interferometric oscillatory behavior is exposed in terms of field-matter detuning beats and matter-matter bi-level and tri-level quantum beats. In addition new detuning resonances are found that have sub-material linewidths and lock onto the mode frequency of the driven chromophore. These spectral features are a member of a class of bichromophore resonant lineshapes arising from nonlinear mixing with correlated driving fields. The origin of such bichromophore resonances can be based on a coupling between two field-matter superposition states driven by correlated fields on separate chromophores. Analytic results are presented and modelled to anticipate the experimental results presented in a following chapter. The onset of resolvable homogeneous electronic memory is reported in room temperature solutions of dye molecules. A narrowing of the homogeneous linewidths with increasing concentration of these dye solutions is observed in sub-picosecond photon echo experiments. This effect is attributed to aggregation which results in a delocalization of the electronic states over several molecules. Ultra -fast spectral diffusion in these dye aggregates is observed in stimulated photon echo measurements. Aggregate bands, seen in the linear absorption spectrum only at high concentrations, can be probed in more dilute solutions with nonlinear four wave mixing.

Impurity-limited resistance and phase interference of localized impurities under quasi-one dimensional nano-structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sano, Nobuyuki, E-mail: sano@esys.tsukuba.ac.jp

2015-12-28

The impurity-limited resistance and the effect of the phase interference among localized multiple impurities in the quasi-one dimensional (quasi-1D) nanowire structures are systematically investigated under the framework of the scattering theory. We derive theoretical expressions of the impurity-limited resistance in the nanowire under the linear response regime from the Landauer formula and from the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) with the relaxation time approximation. We show that the formula from the BTE exactly coincides with that from the Landauer approach with the weak-scattering limit when the energy spectrum of the in-coming electrons from the reservoirs is narrow and, thus, point outmore » a possibility that the distinction of the impurity-limited resistances derived from the Landauer formula and that of the BTE could be made clear. The derived formulas are applied to the quasi-1D nanowires doped with multiple localized impurities with short-range scattering potential and the validity of various approximations on the resistance are discussed. It is shown that impurity scattering becomes so strong under the nanowire structures that the weak-scattering limit breaks down in most cases. Thus, both phase interference and phase randomization simultaneously play a crucial role in determining the impurity-limited resistance even under the fully coherent framework. When the impurity separation along the wire axis direction is small, the constructive phase interference dominates and the resistance is much greater than the average resistance. As the separation becomes larger, however, it approaches the series resistance of the single-impurity resistance due to the phase randomization. Furthermore, under the uniform configuration of impurities, the space-average resistance of multiple impurities at room temperature is very close to the series resistance of the single-impurity resistance, and thus, each impurity could be regarded as an independent scattering center. The physical origin of this “self-averaging” under the fully coherent environments is attributed to the broadness of the energy spectrum of the in-coming electrons from the reservoirs.« less

Shaping the beam profile of a partially coherent beam by a phase aperture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Gaofeng; Cai, Yangjian; Chen, Jun

2011-08-01

By use of a tensor method, an analytical formula for a partially coherent Gaussian Schell-model (GSM) beam truncated by a circular phase aperture propagating through a paraxial ABCD optical system is derived. The propagation properties of a GSM beam truncated by a circular phase aperture in free space are studied numerically. It is found that the circular phase aperture can be used to shape the beam profile of a GSM beam and generate partially coherent dark hollow or flat-topped beam, which is useful in many applications, e.g., optical trapping, free-space optical communication, and material thermal processing. The propagation factor of a GSM beam truncated by a circular phase aperture is also analyzed.

Long-term stable coherent beam combination of independent femtosecond Yb-fiber lasers.

PubMed

Tian, Haochen; Song, Youjian; Meng, Fei; Fang, Zhanjun; Hu, Minglie; Wang, Chingyue

2016-11-15

We demonstrate coherent beam combination between independent femtosecond Yb-fiber lasers by using the active phase locking of relative pulse timing and the carrier envelope phase based on a balanced optical cross-correlator and extracavity acoustic optical frequency shifter, respectively. The broadband quantum noise of femtosecond fiber lasers is suppressed via precise cavity dispersion control, instead of complicated high-bandwidth phase-locked loop design. Because of reduced quantum noise and a simplified phase-locked loop, stable phase locking that lasts for 1 hour has been obtained, as verified via both spectral interferometry and far-field beam interferometry. The approach can be applied to coherent pulse synthesis, as well as to remote frequency comb connection, allowing a practical all-fiber configuration.

Anomalous Phase Change in [(GeTe)2/(Sb2Te3)]20 Superlattice Observed by Coherent Phonon Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makino, K.; Saito, Y.; Mitrofanov, K.; Tominaga, J.; Kolobov, A. V.; Nakano, T.; Fons, P.; Hase, M.

The temperature-dependent ultrafast coherent phonon dynamics of topological (GeTe)2/(Sb2Te3) super lattice phase change memory material was investigated. By comparing with Ge-Sb-Te alloy, a clear contrast suggesting the unique phase change behavior was found.

Coherent control schemes for the photoionization of neon and helium in the Extreme Ultraviolet spectral region.

PubMed

Giannessi, Luca; Allaria, Enrico; Prince, Kevin C; Callegari, Carlo; Sansone, Giuseppe; Ueda, Kiyoshi; Morishita, Toru; Liu, Chien Nan; Grum-Grzhimailo, Alexei N; Gryzlova, Elena V; Douguet, Nicolas; Bartschat, Klaus

2018-05-17

The seeded Free-Electron Laser (FEL) FERMI is the first source of short-wavelength light possessing the full coherence of optical lasers, together with the extreme power available from FELs. FERMI provides longitudinally coherent radiation in the Extreme Ultraviolet and soft x-ray spectral regions, and therefore opens up wide new fields of investigation in physics. We first propose experiments exploiting this property to provide coherent control of the photoionization of neon and helium, carry out numerical calculations to find optimum experimental parameters, and then describe how these experiments may be realized. The approach uses bichromatic illumination of a target and measurement of the products of the interaction, analogous to previous Brumer-Shapiro-type experiments in the optical spectral range. We describe operational schemes for the FERMI FEL, and simulate the conditions necessary to produce light at the fundamental and second or third harmonic frequencies, and to control the phase with respect to the fundamental. We conclude that a quantitative description of the phenomena is extremely challenging for present state-of-the-art theoretical and computational methods, and further development is necessary. Furthermore, the intensity available may already be excessive for the experiments proposed on helium. Perspectives for further development are discussed.

Geometric and dynamic perspectives on phase-coherent and noncoherent chaos.

PubMed

Zou, Yong; Donner, Reik V; Kurths, Jürgen

2012-03-01

Statistically distinguishing between phase-coherent and noncoherent chaotic dynamics from time series is a contemporary problem in nonlinear sciences. In this work, we propose different measures based on recurrence properties of recorded trajectories, which characterize the underlying systems from both geometric and dynamic viewpoints. The potentials of the individual measures for discriminating phase-coherent and noncoherent chaotic oscillations are discussed. A detailed numerical analysis is performed for the chaotic Rössler system, which displays both types of chaos as one control parameter is varied, and the Mackey-Glass system as an example of a time-delay system with noncoherent chaos. Our results demonstrate that especially geometric measures from recurrence network analysis are well suited for tracing transitions between spiral- and screw-type chaos, a common route from phase-coherent to noncoherent chaos also found in other nonlinear oscillators. A detailed explanation of the observed behavior in terms of attractor geometry is given.

Phase coherence induced by correlated disorder.

PubMed

Hong, Hyunsuk; O'Keeffe, Kevin P; Strogatz, Steven H

2016-02-01

We consider a mean-field model of coupled phase oscillators with quenched disorder in the coupling strengths and natural frequencies. When these two kinds of disorder are uncorrelated (and when the positive and negative couplings are equal in number and strength), it is known that phase coherence cannot occur and synchronization is absent. Here we explore the effects of correlating the disorder. Specifically, we assume that any given oscillator either attracts or repels all the others, and that the sign of the interaction is deterministically correlated with the given oscillator's natural frequency. For symmetrically correlated disorder with zero mean, we find that the system spontaneously synchronizes, once the width of the frequency distribution falls below a critical value. For asymmetrically correlated disorder, the model displays coherent traveling waves: the complex order parameter becomes nonzero and rotates with constant frequency different from the system's mean natural frequency. Thus, in both cases, correlated disorder can trigger phase coherence.

Phase-and-amplitude recovery from a single phase-contrast image using partially spatially coherent x-ray radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beltran, Mario A.; Paganin, David M.; Pelliccia, Daniele

2018-05-01

A simple method of phase-and-amplitude extraction is derived that corrects for image blurring induced by partially spatially coherent incident illumination using only a single intensity image as input. The method is based on Fresnel diffraction theory for the case of high Fresnel number, merged with the space-frequency description formalism used to quantify partially coherent fields and assumes the object under study is composed of a single-material. A priori knowledge of the object’s complex refractive index and information obtained by characterizing the spatial coherence of the source is required. The algorithm was applied to propagation-based phase-contrast data measured with a laboratory-based micro-focus x-ray source. The blurring due to the finite spatial extent of the source is embedded within the algorithm as a simple correction term to the so-called Paganin algorithm and is also numerically stable in the presence of noise.

Bosonic Confinement and Coherence in Disordered Nanodiamond Arrays.

PubMed

Zhang, Gufei; Samuely, Tomas; Du, Hongchu; Xu, Zheng; Liu, Liwang; Onufriienko, Oleksandr; May, Paul W; Vanacken, Johan; Szabó, Pavol; Kačmarčík, Jozef; Yuan, Haifeng; Samuely, Peter; Dunin-Borkowski, Rafal E; Hofkens, Johan; Moshchalkov, Victor V

2017-11-28

In the presence of disorder, superconductivity exhibits short-range characteristics linked to localized Cooper pairs which are responsible for anomalous phase transitions and the emergence of quantum states such as the bosonic insulating state. Complementary to well-studied homogeneously disordered superconductors, superconductor-normal hybrid arrays provide tunable realizations of the degree of granular disorder for studying anomalous quantum phase transitions. Here, we investigate the superconductor-bosonic dirty metal transition in disordered nanodiamond arrays as a function of the dispersion of intergrain spacing, which ranges from angstroms to micrometers. By monitoring the evolved superconducting gaps and diminished coherence peaks in the single-quasiparticle density of states, we link the destruction of the superconducting state and the emergence of bosonic dirty metallic state to breaking of the global phase coherence and persistence of the localized Cooper pairs. The observed resistive bosonic phase transitions are well modeled using a series-parallel circuit in the framework of bosonic confinement and coherence.