arXiv subjects

C. Huang

Publications and source records attributed to C. Huang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Non-local thermodynamic equilibrium effects determine the upper atmospheric temperature structure of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b

Several results indicate that the atmospheric temperature of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b in the main line formation region is a few thousand degrees higher than predicted by self-consistent models. We test whether non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects are responsible for the presumably higher temperature. We employ the Cloudy NLTE radiative transfer code to self-consistently compute the upper atmospheric temperature-pressure (TP) profile of KELT-9b, assuming solar metallicity. The Cloudy NLTE TP profile is $\approx$2000 K hotter than that obtained with previous models assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). In particular, in the 1-10$^{-7}$ bar range the temperature increases from $\approx$4000 K to $\approx$8500 K, remaining roughly constant at lower pressures. We find that the high temperature in the upper atmosphere of KELT-9b is driven principally by NLTE effects modifying the Fe and Mg level populations, which strongly influence the atmospheric thermal balance. We employ Cloudy to compute LTE and NLTE synthetic transmission spectra on the basis of the TP profiles computed in LTE and NLTE, respectively, finding that the NLTE model generally produces stronger absorption lines than the LTE model (up to 30%), which is largest in the ultraviolet. We compare the NLTE synthetic transmission spectrum with the observed H$α$ and H$β$ line profiles obtaining an excellent match, thus supporting our results. The NLTE synthetic transmission spectrum can be used to guide future observations aiming at detecting features in the planet's transmission spectrum. Metals, such as Mg and Fe, and NLTE effects shape the upper atmospheric temperature structure of KELT-9b and thus affect the mass-loss rates derived from it. Finally, our results call for checking whether this is the case also of cooler planets.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

Light Quantum Control of Persisting Higgs Modes in Iron-Based Superconductors

The Higgs mechanism, i.e., spontaneous symmetry breaking of the quantum vacuum, is a cross-disciplinary principle, universal for understanding dark energy, antimatter and quantum materials, from superconductivity to magnetism. Yet, Higgs modes in one-band superconductors (SCs) are currently under debate due to their competition with charge-density fluctuations. A distinct Higgs mode, controllable by terahertz (THz) laser pulses, can arise in multi-band, unconventional SCs via strong {\em interband} Coulomb interaction, but is yet to be accessed. Here we both discover and demonstrate quantum control of such collective mode in iron-based high-temperature superconductors. Using two-pulse, phase coherent THz spectroscopy, we observe a tunable and coherent 2$Δ_{\mathrm{SC}}$ amplitude oscillation of the complex order parameter in such SC with coupled lower and upper bands. The nonlinear dependence of the amplitude mode oscillations on the THz driving fields is distinct from any one-band and conventional SC results: we observe a large nonlinear change of resonance strength, yet with a persisting mode frequency. We argue that this result provides compelling evidence for a transient coupling between the electron and hole amplitude modes via strong interband coherent interaction. To support this scenario, we perform quantum kinetic modeling of a hybrid Higgs mechanism without invoking extra disorder or phonons. In addition to distinguishing between collective modes and charge fluctuations, the light quantum control of multiband SCs can be extended to probe and manipulate many-body entanglement and hidden symmetries in different quantum materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Detection of the hydrogen Balmer lines in the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-33b

Ultra-hot Jupiters (UHJs) are highly irradiated giant exoplanets with extremely high day-side temperatures, which lead to thermal dissociation of most of the molecular species. It is expected that the neutral hydrogen atom is one of the main species in the upper atmospheres of ultra-hot Jupiters. Neutral hydrogen has been detected in several UHJs by observing its Balmer line absorption. Here, we report four transit observations of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-33b, performed with the CARMENES and HARPS-North spectrographs, and the detection of the H$α$, H$β$, and H$γ$ lines in the planetary transmission spectrum. The combined H$α$ transmission spectrum of the four transits has an absorption depth of 0.99$\pm$0.05 %, which corresponds to an effective radius of 1.31$\pm$0.01 Rp . The strong H$α$ absorption indicates that the line probes the high-altitude thermosphere. We further fitted the three Balmer lines using the PAWN model, assuming that the atmosphere is hydrodynamic and in LTE. We retrieved a thermosphere temperature $12200^{+1300}_{-1000}$ K and a mass-loss rate ${\rm \dot{M}}=10^{11.8^{+0.6}_{-0.5}}$ g/s. The retrieved large mass-loss rate is compatible with the "Balmer-driven" atmospheric escape scenario, in which the stellar Balmer continua radiation in the near-ultraviolet is substantially absorbed by the excited hydrogen atoms in the planetary thermosphere.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2020

Geometric unification theory of the grand unification and gravitational interactions and new physics

This paper discovers geometric unification theory of the grand unification and gravitational interactions and their new physics according to the general fiber bundle theory, symmetry and so on. Consequently, the research of this paper is based on the exact scientific bases of mathematics and physics. The Lagrangians of the grand unification and gravitational interactions are unifiedly deduced from quantitative causal principle (QCP) and satisfy the gauge invariant principle of general gauge fields interacting with Fermion and/or boson fields. The geometry and physics meanings of gauge invariant property of different physical systems are revealed, and it is discovered that all the Lagrangians of the four fundamental physics interactions are composed of the invariant quantities in corresponding spacetime structures. The difficulties that fundamental physics interactions and Noether theorem are not able to be unifiedly given and investigated are overcome, the geometric unification theory and origins of the four fundamental physics interactions and Noether theorem are shown by QCP, their two-order general Euler-Lagrange Equations and corresponding Noether conservation currents are derived in general curved spacetime. This paper further deduces QCP from symmetric principle. Consequently, geometric unification theory of the grand unification and gravitation theories and Noether theorem based on symmetric principle and the new physics are given in this paper. This paper further gives the unification of QCP and symmetric principle. Thus, this paper opens a door to both study and give new developments of geometric unification theory of physics laws, and using the new geometric unification theory, a lot of research works about different branches of physics can be anew done and expressed simpler with different symmetric characters.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2020

Ultrafast Control of Excitonic Rashba Fine Structure by Phonon Coherences in a Metal Halide Perovskite CH$_3$NH$_3$PbI$_3$

We discover hidden Rashba fine structure in CH$_3$NH$_3$PbI$_3$ and demonstrate its quantum control by vibrational coherence through symmetry-selective vibronic (electron-phonon) coupling. Above a critical threshold of a single-cycle terahertz pump field, a Raman phonon mode distinctly modulates the middle excitonic states with {\em persistent} coherence for more than ten times longer than the ones on two sides that predominately couple to infrared phonons. These vibronic quantum beats, together with first-principles modeling of phonon periodically modulated Rashba parameters, identify a {\em three-fold} excitonic fine structure splitting, i.e., optically-forbidden, degenerate dark states in between two bright ones. Harnessing of vibronic quantum coherence and symmetry inspires light-perovskite quantum control and sub-THz-cycle "Rashba engineering" of spin-split bands for ultimate multi-function device.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Light-Driven Raman Coherence as a Non-Thermal Route to Ultrafast Topology Switching

A grand challenge underlies the entire field of topology-enabled quantum logic and information science: how to establish topological control principles driven by quantum coherence and understand the time-dependence of such periodic driving? Here we demonstrate a THz pulse-induced phase transition in Dirac materials that is periodically driven by vibrational coherence due to excitation of the lowest Raman-active mode. Above a critical field threshold, there emerges a long-lived metastable phase with unique Raman coherent phonon-assisted switching dynamics, absent for optical pumping. The switching also manifest itself by non-thermal spectral shape, relaxation slowing down near the Lifshitz transition where the critical Dirac point (DP) occurs, and diminishing signals at the same temperature that the Berry curvature induced Anomalous Hall Effect varnishes. These results, together with first-principles modeling, identify a mode-selective Raman coupling that drives the system from strong to weak topological insulators, STI to WTI, with a Dirac semimetal phase established at a critical atomic displacement controlled by the phonon pumping. Harnessing of vibrational coherence can be extended to steer symmetry-breaking transitions, i.e., Dirac to Weyl ones, with implications on THz topological quantum gate and error correction applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Discovery of Terahertz Second Harmonic Generation from Lightwave Acceleration of Symmetry--Breaking Nonlinear Supercurrents

We report terahertz (THz) second harmonic generation (SHG) in superconductors (SC) with inversion symmetric equilibrium states that forbid even-order nonlinearities. Such SHG signal is observed in single-pulse emission by periodic driving with a multi-cycle THz electric field tuned below the SC energy gap and vanishes above the SC critical temperature. We explain the microscopic physics by a dynamical symmetry breaking principle at sub-THz-cycle by using quantum kinetic modeling of the interplay between strong THz-lightwave nonlinearity and pulse propagation. The resulting non-zero integrated pulse area inside the SC drives lightwave nonlinear supercurrents due to sub--cycle Cooper pair acceleration, in contrast to d.c.-biased superconductors, which can be controlled by the bandstructure and the THz pump field.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Universal Uncertainty Principle in Different Quantum Theories

This paper deduces universal uncertainty principle in different quantum theories after about one century of proposing uncertainty principle by Heisenberg, i.e., new universal uncertainty principle of any orders of physical quantities in quantum physics, overcomes the difficulty that current quantum computer, quantum communication, quantum control, quantum mechanics and so on theories cannot give exact values of general uncertainty of any orders of physical quantities, further gives all relevant different expressions of the universal uncertainty principle and their applications. In fact, our studies are consistent with current theories and physical factual experiments, e.g., relevant to hydrogen atom physics experiments. Using the new universal uncertainty principle, people can give all applications to atomic physics, quantum mechanics, quantum communication, quantum calculations, quantum computer and so on.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

An Isolated Microlens Observed from K2, Spitzer and Earth

We present the result of microlensing event MOA-2016-BLG-290, which received observations from the two-wheel Kepler (K2), Spitzer, as well as ground-based observatories. A joint analysis of data from K2 and the ground leads to two degenerate solutions of the lens mass and distance. This degeneracy is effectively broken once the (partial) Spitzer light curve is included. Altogether, the lens is found to be an extremely low-mass star located in the Galactic bulge. MOA-2016-BLG-290 is the first microlensing event for which we have signals from three well-separated ($\sim1$ AU) locations. It demonstrates the power of two-satellite microlensing experiment in reducing the ambiguity of lens properties, as pointed out independently by S. Refsdal and A. Gould several decades ago.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2016

General intrinsic theory of general large $N_{c}$ QCD, SU(3) QCD, SU(2) hadron-dynamics and U(1) QED gauge field theories in general field theory and progress towards solving the nucleon spin crisis

This paper gives general intrinsic theory of general large $N_{c}$ QCD, SU(3) QCD, SU(2) hadron-dynamics and U(1) QED gauge field theories in general field theory and progress towards solving the nucleon spin crisis, i.e., presents general large $N_{c}$ QCD's inner structures, gauge invariant angular momenta and new corresponding Coulomb theorem in quark-gluon field interaction systems based on general field theory, and naturally deduces the gauge invariant spin and orbital angular momentum operators of quark and gauge fields with $SU(N_{c})$ gauge symmetry by Noether theorem in general field theory. In the general large $N_{c}$ QCD, we discover not only the general covariant transverse and parallel conditions ( namely, non-Abelian divergence and curl ), but also that this general system has good intrinsic symmetry characteristics. Specially, this paper's generally decomposing gauge potential theory presents a new technique, it should play a votal role in future physics research. Therefore, this paper breakthroughs the some huge difficulties in the nucleon spin crisis and opens a door of researching on lots of strong interacting systems with different symmetric properties, which is popularly interesting, and keeps both the gauge invariance and their angular momentum commutation relations so that their theories are consistent. Especially, the achieved results here can be utilized to calculate the general QCD strong interactions and to give the precise predictions that can be exactly measured by current particle physics experiments due to their gauge invariant properties etc.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Path to AWAKE: Evolution of the concept

This report describes the conceptual steps in reaching the design of the AWAKE experiment currently under construction at CERN. We start with an introduction to plasma wakefield acceleration and the motivation for using proton drivers. We then describe the self-modulation instability --- a key to an early realization of the concept. This is then followed by the historical development of the experimental design, where the critical issues that arose and their solutions are described. We conclude with the design of the experiment as it is being realized at CERN and some words on the future outlook. A summary of the AWAKE design and construction status as presented in this conference is given in [1].

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

Developing high energy mode-locked fiber laser at 2 micron

While dissipative soliton operation has successfully improved the pulse energy of 1 μm and 1.5 μm fiber lasers to tens of nanojoules, it is still hard to scale the pulse energy of dissipative solitons at 2 μm due to the anomalous dispersion of the gain fiber. Based on theoretical simulation, we analyze intracavity dynamics of dissipative solitons (DSs) and propose that gain fiber should be condensed to short length in order to scale the pulse energy of 2 μm DSs. The simulation predicts pulse energy of over 10 nJ for 2 μm dissipative solitons, comparable to that achieved in the 1 μm and 1.5 μm regimes. Experimental operation generates stable 2 μm DSs from a linear cavity with pulse energy of 4.9 nJ and dechirped pulse duration of 579 fs. These results advance our understanding of mode-locked fiber laser at different wavelengths and lay an important step in achieving high energy ultrafast laser pulses from anomalous dispersion gain media at 2 μm.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Universal super-replication of unitary gates

Quantum states obey an asymptotic no-cloning theorem, stating that no deterministic machine can reliably replicate generic sequences of identically prepared pure states. In stark contrast, we show that generic sequences of unitary gates can be replicated deterministically at nearly quadratic rates, with an error vanishing on most inputs except for an exponentially small fraction. The result is not in contradiction with the no-cloning theorem, since the impossibility of deterministically transforming pure states into unitary gates prevents the application of the gate replication protocol to states. In addition to gate replication, we show that $N$ parallel uses of a completely unknown unitary gate can be compressed into a single gate acting on $O(\log N)$ qubits, leading to an exponential reduction of the amount of quantum communication needed to implement the gate remotely.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration: a path to the future of high-energy particle physics

New acceleration technology is mandatory for the future elucidation of fundamental particles and their interactions. A promising approach is to exploit the properties of plasmas. Past research has focused on creating large-amplitude plasma waves by injecting an intense laser pulse or an electron bunch into the plasma. However, the maximum energy gain of electrons accelerated in a single plasma stage is limited by the energy of the driver. Proton bunches are the most promising drivers of wakefields to accelerate electrons to the TeV energy scale in a single stage. An experimental program at CERN -- the AWAKE experiment -- has been launched to study in detail the important physical processes and to demonstrate the power of proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration. Here we review the physical principles and some experimental considerations for a future proton-driven plasma wakefield accelerator.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Tracking Back the Solar Wind to its Photospheric Footpoints from Wind Observations -- A Statistical Study

It is of great importance to track the solar wind back to its photospheric source region and identify the related current sheets; this will provide key information for investigating the origin and predictions of the solar wind. We report a statistical study relating the photospheric footpoint motion and in-situ observation of current sheets in the solar wind. We used the potential force-free source--surface (PFSS) model and the daily synoptic charts to trace the solar wind back from 1 AU, as observed by the Wind spacecraft, to the solar surface. As the footpoints move along the solar surface we obtain a time series of the jump times between different points. These jumps can be within a cell and between adjacent cells. We obtained the distribution of the jump times and the distribution for a subset of the jump times in which only jumps between adjacent cells were counted. For both cases, the distributions clearly show two populations. These distributions are compared with the distribution of in-situ current sheets reported in an earlier work of Miao Peng and Li (2011). Its implications on the origin of the current sheets are discussed.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Interaction of Epithelial Cells with Surfaces and Surfaces Decorated by Molecules

A detailed understanding of the interface between living cells and substrate materials is of rising importance in many fields of medicine, biology and biotechnology. Cells at interfaces often form epithelia. The physical barrier that they form is one of their main functions. It is governed by the properties of the networks forming the cytoskeleton systems and by cell-to-cell contacts. Different substrates with varying surface properties modify the migration velocity of the cells. On the one hand one can change the materials composition. Organic and inorganic materials induce differing migration velocities in the same cell system. Within the same class of materials, a change of the surface stiffness or of the surface energy modifies the migration velocity, too. For our cell adhesion studies a variety of different, homogeneous substrates were used (polymers, bio-polymers, metals, oxides). In addition, an effective lithographic method, Polymer Blend Lithography (PBL), is reported, to produce patterned Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAM) on solid substrates featuring two or three different chemical functionalities. This we achieve without the use of conventional lithography like e-beam or UV lithography, only by using self-organization. These surfaces are decorated with a Teflon-like and with an amino-functionalized molecular layer. The resulting pattern is a copy of a previously created self-organized polymer pattern, featuring a scalable lateral domain size in the sub-micron range down below 100 nanometers. The resulting monolayer pattern features a high chemical and biofunctional contrast with feature sizes in the range of cell adhesion complexes like e.g. focal adhesion points.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2008

Beam loading in the nonlinear regime of plasma-based acceleration

A theory that describes how to load negative charge into a nonlinear, three-dimensional plasma wakefield is presented. In this regime, a laser or an electron beam blows out the plasma electrons and creates a nearly spherical ion channel, which is modified by the presence of the beam load. Analytical solutions for the fields and the shape of the ion channel are derived. It is shown that very high beam-loading efficiency can be achieved, while the energy spread of the bunch is conserved. The theoretical results are verified with the Particle-In-Cell code OSIRIS.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2008

One-to-one full scale simulations of laser wakefield acceleration using QuickPIC

We use the quasi-static particle-in-cell code QuickPIC to perform full-scale, one-to-one LWFA numerical experiments, with parameters that closely follow current experimental conditions. The propagation of state-of-the-art laser pulses in both preformed and uniform plasma channels is examined. We show that the presence of the channel is important whenever the laser self-modulations do not dominate the propagation. We examine the acceleration of an externally injected electron beam in the wake generated by 10 J laser pulses, showing that by using ten-centimeter-scale plasma channels it is possible to accelerate electrons to more than 4 GeV. A comparison between QuickPIC and 2D OSIRIS is provided. Good qualitative agreement between the two codes is found, but the 2D full PIC simulations fail to predict the correct laser and wakefield amplitudes.

physics.plasm-ph↗