arXiv subjects

Changjian Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Changjian Zhang.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Constrained LTL Specification Learning from Examples

Temporal logic specifications play an important role in a wide range of software analysis tasks, such as model checking, automated synthesis, program comprehension, and runtime monitoring. Given a set of positive and negative examples, specified as traces, LTL learning is the problem of synthesizing a specification, in linear temporal logic (LTL), that evaluates to true over the positive traces and false over the negative ones. In this paper, we propose a new type of LTL learning problem called constrained LTL learning, where the user, in addition to positive and negative examples, is given an option to specify one or more constraints over the properties of the LTL formula to be learned. We demonstrate that the ability to specify these additional constraints significantly increases the range of applications for LTL learning, and also allows efficient generation of LTL formulas that satisfy certain desirable properties (such as minimality). We propose an approach for solving the constrained LTL learning problem through an encoding in first-order relational logic and reduction to an instance of the maximal satisfiability (MaxSAT) problem. An experimental evaluation demonstrates that ATLAS, an implementation of our proposed approach, is able to solve new types of learning problems while performing better than or competitively with the state-of-the-art tools in LTL learning.

cs.SE↗

arXiv2024

Tolerance of Reinforcement Learning Controllers against Deviations in Cyber Physical Systems

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) with reinforcement learning (RL)-based controllers are increasingly being deployed in complex physical environments such as autonomous vehicles, the Internet-of-Things(IoT), and smart cities. An important property of a CPS is tolerance; i.e., its ability to function safely under possible disturbances and uncertainties in the actual operation. In this paper, we introduce a new, expressive notion of tolerance that describes how well a controller is capable of satisfying a desired system requirement, specified using Signal Temporal Logic (STL), under possible deviations in the system. Based on this definition, we propose a novel analysis problem, called the tolerance falsification problem, which involves finding small deviations that result in a violation of the given requirement. We present a novel, two-layer simulation-based analysis framework and a novel search heuristic for finding small tolerance violations. To evaluate our approach, we construct a set of benchmark problems where system parameters can be configured to represent different types of uncertainties and disturbancesin the system. Our evaluation shows that our falsification approach and heuristic can effectively find small tolerance violations.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2024

Investigating Robustness in Cyber-Physical Systems: Specification-Centric Analysis in the face of System Deviations

The adoption of cyber-physical systems (CPS) is on the rise in complex physical environments, encompassing domains such as autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart cities. A critical attribute of CPS is robustness, denoting its capacity to operate safely despite potential disruptions and uncertainties in the operating environment. This paper proposes a novel specification-based robustness, which characterizes the effectiveness of a controller in meeting a specified system requirement, articulated through Signal Temporal Logic (STL) while accounting for possible deviations in the system. This paper also proposes the robustness falsification problem based on the definition, which involves identifying minor deviations capable of violating the specified requirement. We present an innovative two-layer simulation-based analysis framework designed to identify subtle robustness violations. To assess our methodology, we devise a series of benchmark problems wherein system parameters can be adjusted to emulate various forms of uncertainties and disturbances. Initial evaluations indicate that our falsification approach proficiently identifies robustness violations, providing valuable insights for comparing robustness between conventional and reinforcement learning (RL)-based controllers

eess.SY↗

arXiv2023

Runtime Resolution of Feature Interactions through Adaptive Requirement Weakening

The feature interaction problem occurs when two or more independently developed components interact with each other in unanticipated ways, resulting in undesirable system behaviors. Feature interaction problems remain a challenge for emerging domains in cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as the Internet of Things and autonomous drones. Existing techniques for resolving feature interactions take a "winner-takes-all" approach, where one out of the conflicting features is selected as the most desirable one, and the rest are disabled. However, when multiple of the conflicting features fulfill important system requirements, being forced to select one of them can result in an undesirable system outcome. In this paper, we propose a new resolution approach that allows all of the conflicting features to continue to partially fulfill their requirements during the resolution process. In particular, our approach leverages the idea of adaptive requirement weakening, which involves one or more features temporarily weakening their level of performance in order to co-exist with the other features in a consistent manner. Given feature requirements specified in Signal Temporal Logic (STL), we propose an automated method and a runtime architecture for automatically weakening the requirements to resolve a conflict. We demonstrate our approach through case studies on feature interactions in autonomous drones.

cs.SE↗

arXiv2019

Electron-hole Hybridization in Bilayer Graphene

Band structure determines the motion of electrons in a solid, giving rise to exotic phenomena when properly engineered. Drawing an analogy between electrons and photons, artificially designed optical lattices indicate the possibility of a similar band modulation effect in graphene systems. Yet due to the fermionic nature of electrons, modulated electronic systems promise far richer categories of behaviors than those found in optical lattices. Here, we uncovered a strong modulation of electronic states in bilayer graphene subject to periodic potentials. We observed for the first time the hybridization of electron and hole sub-bands, resulting in local band gaps at both primary and secondary charge neutrality points. Such hybridization leads to the formation of flat bands, enabling the study of correlated effects in graphene systems. This work may also offer a viable platform to form and continuously tune Majorana zero modes, which is important to the realization of topological quantum computation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Twistable electronics with dynamically rotatable heterostructures

The electronic properties of two-dimensional materials and their heterostructures can be dramatically altered by varying the relative angle between the layers. This makes it theoretically possible to realize a new class of twistable electronics in which device properties can be manipulated on-demand by simply rotating the structure. Here, we demonstrate a new device architecture in which a layered heterostructure can be dynamically twisted, in situ. We study graphene encapsulated by boron nitride where at small rotation angles the device characteristics are dominated by coupling to a large wavelength Moiré superlattice. The ability to investigate arbitrary rotation angle in a single device reveals new features in the optical, mechanical and electronic response in this system. Our results establish the capability to fabricate twistable electronic devices with dynamically tunable properties.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Near-unity quantum yield from carbon nanotube excitons coupled to plasmonic nanocavities

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are promising absorbers and emitters to enable novel photonic and optoelectronic applications but are also known to severely suffer from low optical quantum yields. Here we demonstrate SWCNTs excitons coupled to plasmonic nanocavities reaching deeply into the Purcell regime with FP=234 (average FP=76), near unity quantum yields of 70% (average 41%), and a photon emission rate of 1.7 MHz into the first lens. The measured ultra-narrow exciton linewidth (18 micro eV) implies furthermore generation of indistinguishable single photons from a SWCNT. To demonstrate utility beyond quantum light sources we show that nanocavity-coupled SWCNTs perform as single-molecule thermometers detecting plasmonically induced heat (Delta T=150K) in a unique interplay of excitons, phonons, and plasmons at the nanoscale.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Radiative Lifetimes of Excitons and Trions in Monolayers of Metal Dichalcogenide MoS2

We present results on the radiative lifetimes of excitons and trions in a monolayer of metal dichalcogenide MoS2. The small exciton radius and the large exciton optical oscillator strength result in radiative lifetimes in the 0.18-0.30 ps range for excitons that have small in-plane momenta and couple to radiation. Average lifetimes of thermally distributed excitons depend linearly on the exciton temperature and can be in the few picoseconds range at small temperatures and more than a nanosecond near room temperature. Localized excitons exhibit lifetimes in the same range and the lifetime increases as the localization length decreases. The radiative lifetimes of trions are in the hundreds of picosecond range and increase with the increase in the trion momentum. Average lifetimes of thermally distributed trions increase with the trion temperature as the trions acquire thermal energy and larger momenta. We expect our theoretical results to be applicable to most other 2D transition metal dichalcogenides.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Surface Recombination Limited Lifetimes of Photoexcited Carriers in Few-Layer Transition Metal Dichalcogenide MoS2

We present results on photoexcited carrier lifetimes in few-layer transition metal dichalcogenide MoS2 using nondegenerate ultrafast optical pump-probe technique. Our results show a sharp increase of the carrier lifetimes with the number of layers in the sample. Carrier lifetimes increase from few tens of picoseconds in monolayer samples to more than a nanosecond in 10-layer samples. The inverse carrier lifetime was found to scale according to the probability of the carriers being present at the surface layers, as given by the carrier wavefunction in few layer samples, which can be treated as quantum wells. The carrier lifetimes were found to be largely independent of the temperature and the inverse carrier lifetimes scaled linearly with the photoexcited carrier density. These observations are consistent with defect-assisted carrier recombination, in which the capture of electrons and holes by defects occurs via Auger scatterings. Our results suggest that carrier lifetimes in few-layer samples are surface recombination limited due to the much larger defect densities at the surface layers compared to the inner layers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Ultrafast Response of Monolayer Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) Photodetectors

The strong light emission and absorption exhibited by single atomic layer transitional metal dichalcogenides in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range makes them attractive for optoelectronic applications. In this work, using two-pulse photovoltage correlation technique, we show that monolayer molybdenum disulfide photodetector can have intrinsic response times as short as 3 ps implying photodetection bandwidths as wide as 300 GHz. The fast photodetector response is a result of the short electron-hole and exciton lifetimes in this material. Recombination of photoexcited carriers in most two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides is dominated by non-radiative processes, most notable among which is Auger scattering. The fast response time, and the ease of fabrication of these devices, make them interesting for low-cost ultrafast optical communication links.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Fast Exciton Annihilation by Capture of Electrons or Holes by Defects via Auger Scattering in Monolayer Metal Dichalcogenides

The strong Coulomb interactions and the small exciton radii in two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides can result in very fast capture of electrons and holes of excitons by mid-gap defects from Auger processes. In the Auger processes considered here, an exciton is annihilated at a defect site with the capture of the electron (or the hole) by the defect and the hole (or the electron) is scattered to a high energy. In the case of excitons, the probability of finding an electron and a hole near each other is enhanced many folds compared to the case of free uncorrelated electrons and holes. Consequently, the rate of carrier capture by defects from Auger scattering for excitons in metal dichalcogenides can be 100-1000 times larger than for uncorrelated electrons and holes for carrier densities in the $10^{11}$-$10^{12}$ cm$^{-2}$ range. We calculate the capture times of electrons and holes by defects and show that the capture times can be in the sub-picosecond to a few picoseconds range. The capture rates exhibit linear as well as quadratic dependence on the exciton density. These fast time scales agree well with the recent experimental observations, and point to the importance of controlling defects in metal dichalcogenides for optoelectronic applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Ultrafast Dynamics of Defect-Assisted Electron-Hole Recombination in Monolayer MoS2

In this letter, we present non-degenerate ultrafast optical pump-probe studies of the carrier recombination dynamics in MoS$_{2}$ monolayers. By tuning the probe to wavelengths much longer than the exciton line, we make the probe transmission sensitive to the total population of photoexcited electrons and holes. Our measurement reveals two distinct time scales over which the photoexcited electrons and holes recombine; a fast time scale that lasts $\sim$2 ps and a slow time scale that lasts longer than $\sim$100 ps. The temperature and the pump fluence dependence of the observed carrier dynamics are consistent with defect-assisted recombination as being the dominant mechanism for electron-hole recombination in which the electrons and holes are captured by defects via Auger processes. Strong Coulomb interactions in two dimensional atomic materials, together with strong electron and hole correlations in two dimensional metal dichalcogenides, make Auger processes particularly effective for carrier capture by defects. We present a model for carrier recombination dynamics that quantitatively explains all features of our data for different temperatures and pump fluences. The theoretical estimates for the rate constants for Auger carrier capture are in good agreement with the experimentally determined values. Our results underscore the important role played by Auger processes in two dimensional atomic materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Absorption of Light by Excitons and Trions in Monolayers of Metal Dichalcogenide MoS$_{2}$: Experiments and Theory

We measure the optical absorption spectra and optical conductivities of excitons and trions in monolayers of metal dichalcogenide MoS$_{2}$ and compare the results with theoretical models. Our results show that the Wannier-Mott model for excitons, with modifications to account for small exciton radii and large exciton relative wavefunction spread in momentum space, phase space blocking due to Pauli exclusion in doped materials, and wavevector dependent dielectric constant, gives results that agree well with experiments. The measured exciton optical absorption spectra are used to obtain experimental estimates for the exciton radii that fall in the $7-10Å$ range and agree well with theory. The measured trion optical absorption spectra are used to obtain values for the trion radii that also agree well with theory. The measured values of the exciton and trion radii correspond to binding energies that are in good agreement with values obtained from first principles calculations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Temperature Renormalization of Optical Spectra of Monolayer MoS2

Newly measured optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra reveal substantial frequency shifts of both exciton and trion peaks as monolayer MoS2 is cooled from 363 K to 4 K. First-principles simulations using the GW-Bethe-Salpeter Equation approach satisfactorily reproduce these frequency shifts by incorporating many-electron interactions and the thermal expansion of the in-plane lattice constant. Studying these temperature effects in monolayer MoS2 is crucial for rectifying the results of room-temperature experiments with the previous predictions of zero-temperature-limit simulations. Moreover, we estimate that the thermal expansion coefficient of monolayer MoS2 is around 25% less than that of bulk counterpart by tracking the frequency shifts of the exciton or trion peaks in optical spectra. This may serve as a convenient way to estimate thermal expansion coefficients of general two-dimensional chalcogenides.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗