arXiv subjects

A. Nayak

Publications and source records attributed to A. Nayak.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Bjorken Initial Energy Density and Viscous Longitudinal Hydrodynamic Evolution in Xe-Xe Collisions

We present a systematic study of the Bjorken initial energy density in Xe-Xe collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.44$ TeV, estimated using charged-particle multiplicity data and a generalized transverse overlap geometry applicable beyond the most central collisions. The dependence of the extracted energy density is examined by adopting both a constant formation time and a centrality-dependent formation time derived from Pb-Pb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02$ TeV. Corresponding Bjorken energy density estimates for Pb-Pb collisions are also presented for comparison. Taking the Bjorken energy density and formation time as initial conditions, the subsequent longitudinal evolution of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) formed in these collisions is studied. Both ideal and first-order viscous boost-invariant hydrodynamics are employed to assess the influence of dissipation. We observe that viscous effects slow the longitudinal expansion and lead to entropy production dominated by early-time dynamics. The lifetime of the QGP is observed to increase with centrality and is substantially enhanced by viscous effects. These effects are highly sensitive to the choice of formation time, particularly in peripheral collisions. A comparative analysis of Xe-Xe and Pb-Pb collisions demonstrates that the longitudinal evolution is primarily controlled by the initial energy density scale set by the Bjorken prescription. Consequently, when this scale is comparable, both systems exhibit nearly identical evolution patterns, while appreciable distinctions emerge in peripheral collisions due to system-size and geometric effects.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Attosecond spectroscopy using vacuum-ultraviolet pulses emitted from laser-driven semiconductors

Strongly laser-driven semiconductor crystals offer substantial advantages for the study of many-body physics and ultrafast optoelectronics via the high harmonic generation process. While this phenomenon has been employed to investigate the dynamics of solids in the presence of strong laser fields, its potential to be utilized as an attosecond light source has remained unexploited. Here, we demonstrate that the high harmonics generated through the interaction of mid--infrared pulses with a ZnO crystal leads to the production of attosecond pulses, that can be used to trace the ultrafast ionization dynamics of alkali metals. In a cross--correlation approach, we photoionize Cesium atoms with the vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) high-harmonics in the presence of a mid-infrared laser field. We observe strong oscillations of the photoelectron yield originating from the instantaneous polarization of the atoms by the laser field. The phase of the oscillations encodes the attosecond synchronization of the ionizing high-harmonics and is used for attosecond pulse metrology. This light source opens a new spectral window for attosecond spectroscopy, paving the way for studies of systems with low ionization potentials including neutral atoms, molecules and solids. Additionally, our results highlight the significance of the source for generating non--classical massively entangled light states in the visible--VUV spectral region.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Two-XUV-photon double ionization of Neon studied at the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI-ALPS)

Two XUV-photon double ionization of Ne, induced by an intense few-pulse attosecond train with a ~ 4 fs envelope duration is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The experiment is performed at ELI-ALPS utilizing the recently constructed 10 Hz gas phase high-order harmonic generation SYLOS GHHG-COMPACT beamline. A total pulse energy up to ~1 μJ generated in Argon in conjunction with high reflectivity optics in the XUV region, allowed the observation of the doubly charged state of Ne induced by 40 eV central XUV photon energies. The interaction of the intense attosecond pulse train with Ne is also theoretically studied via a second-order time dependent perturbation theory equations-of-motion. The results of this work, combined with the feasibility of conducting XUV-pump-XUV-probe experiments, constitute a powerful tool for many potential applications. Those include attosecond pulse metrology as well as time resolved investigations of the dynamics underlying direct and sequential double ionization and their electron correlation effects.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2021

High-order phase-dependent asymmetry in the above-threshold ionization plateau

Above-threshold ionization spectra from cesium are measured as a function of the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) using laser pulses centered at 3.1 $μ$m wavelength. The directional asymmetry in the energy spectra of backscattered electrons oscillates three times, rather than once, as the CEP is changed from $0$ to $2π$. Using the improved strong-field approximation, we show that the unusual behavior arises from the interference of few quantum orbits. We discuss the conditions for observing the high-order CEP dependence, and draw an analogy with time-domain holography with electron wave packets.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Polarization shaping of high-order harmonics in laser-aligned molecules

The present work reports on the generation of short-pulse coherent extreme ultraviolet radiation of controlled polarization. The proposed strategy is based on high-order harmonics generated in pre-aligned molecules. Field-free molecular alignment produced by a short linearly-polarized infrared laser pulse is used to break the isotropy of a gas medium. Driving the aligned molecules by a circularly-polarized infrared pulse allows to transfer the anisotropy of the medium to the polarization of the generated harmonic light. The ellipticity of the latter is controlled by adjusting the angular distribution of the molecules at the time they interact with the driving pulse. Extreme ultraviolet radiation produced with high degree of ellipticity (close to circular) is demonstrated.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2018

Multiple ionization of argon via xuv-photon absorption induced by 20-gigawatt high-harmonic pulses

We report the observation of multiple ionization of Argon through multi-XUV-photon absorption induced by an unprecedentedly powerful laser driven high-harmonic-generation source. Comparing the measured intensity dependence of the yield of the different Argon charge states with numerical calculations we can infer the different channels -direct and sequential- underlying the interaction. While such studies were feasible so far only with FEL sources, this work connects highly-non-linear-XUV-processes with the ultra-short time scales, inherent to the harmonic pulses, and highlights the advanced perspectives of emerging large scale laser research infrastructures.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2013

High-Altitude Ballooning Program at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics

We have begun a program of high altitude ballooning at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. Recent advances in balloons as well as in electronics have made possible scientific payloads at costs accessible to university departments. The primary purpose of this activity is to test low-cost ultraviolet (UV) payloads for eventual space flight, but to also explore phenomena occurring in the upper atmosphere, including sprites and meteorite impacts, using balloon-borne payloads. This paper discusses the results of three tethered balloon experiments carried out at the CREST campus of IIA, Hosakote and our plans for the future. We also describe the stages of payload development for these experiments.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2009

Recognizing well-parenthesized expressions in the streaming model

Motivated by a concrete problem and with the goal of understanding the sense in which the complexity of streaming algorithms is related to the complexity of formal languages, we investigate the problem Dyck(s) of checking matching parentheses, with $s$ different types of parenthesis. We present a one-pass randomized streaming algorithm for Dyck(2) with space $\Order(\sqrt{n}\log n)$, time per letter $\polylog (n)$, and one-sided error. We prove that this one-pass algorithm is optimal, up to a $\polylog n$ factor, even when two-sided error is allowed. For the lower bound, we prove a direct sum result on hard instances by following the "information cost" approach, but with a few twists. Indeed, we play a subtle game between public and private coins. This mixture between public and private coins results from a balancing act between the direct sum result and a combinatorial lower bound for the base case. Surprisingly, the space requirement shrinks drastically if we have access to the input stream in reverse. We present a two-pass randomized streaming algorithm for Dyck(2) with space $\Order((\log n)^2)$, time $\polylog (n)$ and one-sided error, where the second pass is in the reverse direction. Both algorithms can be extended to Dyck(s) since this problem is reducible to Dyck(2) for a suitable notion of reduction in the streaming model.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2004

Comment on "Probabilistic Quantum Memories"

This is a comment on two wrong Phys. Rev. Letters papers by C.A. Trugenberger. Trugenberger claimed that quantum registers could be used as exponentially large "associative" memories. We show that his scheme is no better than one where the quantum register is replaced with a classical one of equal size. We also point out that the Holevo bound and more recent bounds on "quantum random access codes" pretty much rule out powerful memories (for classical information) based on quantum states.

quant-ph↗