arXiv subjects

J. Pan

Publications and source records attributed to J. Pan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Integrated photonics enables continuous-beam electron phase modulation

The ability to tailor laser light on a chip using integrated photonics has allowed for extensive control over fundamental light-matter interactions in manifold quantum systems including atoms, trapped ions, quantum dots, and defect centers. Free electrons, enabling high-resolution microscopy for decades, are increasingly becoming the subject of laser-based quantum manipulation. Using free-space optical excitation and intense laser pulses, this has led to the observation of free-electron quantum walks, attosecond electron pulses, and imaging of electromagnetic fields. Enhancing the interaction with electron beams through chip-based photonics promises unique applications in nanoscale quantum control and sensing, but has yet to enter electron microscopy. Here, we merge integrated photonics with electron microscopy, demonstrating coherent phase modulation of an electron beam using a silicon nitride microresonator driven by a continuous-wave laser. The high-Q factor (~$10^6$) cavity enhancement and a waveguide designed for phase matching lead to efficient electron-light scattering at unprecedentedly low, few-microwatt optical powers. Specifically, we fully deplete the initial electron state at a cavity-coupled power of 6 $μ$W and create >500 photon sidebands for only 38 mW in the bus waveguide. Moreover, we demonstrate $μ$eV electron energy gain spectroscopy (EEGS). Providing simultaneous optical and electronic spectroscopy of the resonant cavity, the fiber-coupled photonic structures feature single-mode electron-light interaction with full control over the input and output channels. This approach establishes a versatile framework for exploring free-electron quantum optics, with future developments in strong coupling, local quantum probing, and electron-photon entanglement. Our results highlight the potential of integrated photonics to efficiently interface free electrons and light.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Observation of Topological Superconductivity in a Stoichiometric Transition Metal Dichalcogenide 2M-WS2

Topological superconductors (TSCs) are unconventional superconductors with bulk superconducting gap and in-gap Majorana states on the boundary that may be used as topological qubits for quantum computation. Despite their importance in both fundamental research and applications, natural TSCs are very rare. Here, combining state of the art synchrotron and laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we investigated a stoichiometric transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), 2M-WS2 with a superconducting transition temperature of 8.8 K (the highest among all TMDs in the natural form up to date) and observed distinctive topological surface states (TSSs). Furthermore, in the superconducting state, we found that the TSSs acquired a nodeless superconducting gap with similar magnitude as that of the bulk states. These discoveries not only evidence 2M-WS2 as an intrinsic TSC without the need of sensitive composition tuning or sophisticated heterostructures fabrication, but also provide an ideal platform for device applications thanks to its van der Waals layered structure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Diverse polarization angle swings from a repeating fast radio burst source

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration radio transients of unknown origin. Two possible mechanisms that could generate extremely coherent emission from FRBs invoke neutron star magnetospheres or relativistic shocks far from the central energy source. Detailed polarization observations may help us to understand the emission mechanism. However, the available FRB polarization data have been perplexing, because they show a host of polarimetric properties, including either a constant polarization angle during each burst for some repeaters or variable polarization angles in some other apparently one-off events. Here we report observations of 15 bursts from FRB 180301 and find various polarization angle swings in seven of them. The diversity of the polarization angle features of these bursts is consistent with a magnetospheric origin of the radio emission, and disfavours the radiation models invoking relativistic shocks.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2020

Quantum Entanglement and Thermal Behavior in Charged-Current Weak Interactions

We show that quantum entanglement between causally separated regions of a nucleon in antineutrino-nucleon scattering manifests itself as a thermal component in the resulting pion momentum distribution. For antineutrino scattering coherently from the (carbon) nucleus as a whole, this thermal component is absent, as expected by our quantum entanglement thermalization proposition. These phenomena, which have been observed in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider, and in electromagnetic deep inelastic scattering, are now for the first time shown to exist in electroweak interactions as well.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Precision Measurement of the Beam-Normal Single-Spin Asymmetry in Forward-Angle Elastic Electron-Proton Scattering

A beam-normal single-spin asymmetry generated in the scattering of transversely polarized electrons from unpolarized nucleons is an observable related to the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange process. We report a 2% precision measurement of the beam-normal single-spin asymmetry in elastic electron-proton scattering with a mean scattering angle of theta_lab = 7.9 degrees and a mean energy of 1.149 GeV. The asymmetry result is B_n = -5.194 +- 0.067 (stat) +- 0.082 (syst) ppm. This is the most precise measurement of this quantity available to date and therefore provides a stringent test of two-photon exchange models at far-forward scattering angles (theta_lab -> 0) where they should be most reliable.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2020

Parity-Violating Inelastic Electron-Proton Scattering at Low $Q^2$ Above the Resonance Region

We report the measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry for the inelastic scattering of electrons from the proton, at $Q^2 = 0.082$ GeV$^2$ and $ W = 2.23$ GeV, above the resonance region. The result $A_{\rm Inel} = - 13.5 \pm 2.0 ({\rm stat}) \pm 3.9 ({\rm syst})$~ppm agrees with theoretical calculations, and helps to validate the modeling of the $γZ$ interference structure functions $F_1^{γZ}$ and $F_2^{γZ}$ used in those calculations, which are also used for determination of the two-boson exchange box diagram ($\Box_{γZ}$) contribution to parity-violating elastic scattering measurements. A positive parity-violating asymmetry for inclusive $π^-$ production was observed, as well as positive beam-normal single-spin asymmetry for scattered electrons and a negative beam-normal single-spin asymmetry for inclusive $π^-$ production.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Precision Measurement of the Weak Charge of the Proton

The fields of particle and nuclear physics have undertaken extensive programs to search for evidence of physics beyond that explained by current theories. The observation of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider completed the set of particles predicted by the Standard Model (SM), currently the best description of fundamental particles and forces. However, the theory's limitations include a failure to predict fundamental parameters and the inability to account for dark matter/energy, gravity, and the matter-antimater asymmetry in the universe, among other phenomena. Given the lack of additional particles found so far through direct searches in the post-Higgs era, indirect searches utilizing precise measurements of well predicted SM observables allow highly targeted alternative tests for physics beyond the SM. Indirect searches have the potential to reach mass/energy scales beyond those directly accessible by today's high-energy accelerators. The value of the weak charge of the proton Q_W^p is an example of such an indirect search, as it sets the strength of the proton's interaction with particles via the well-predicted neutral electroweak force. Parity violation (invariance under spatial inversion (x,y,z) -> (-x,-y,-z)) is violated only in the weak interaction, thus providing a unique tool to isolate the weak interaction in order to measure the proton's weak charge. Here we report Q_W^p=0.0719+-0.0045, as extracted from our measured parity-violating (PV) polarized electron-proton scattering asymmetry, A_ep=-226.5+-9.3 ppb. Our value of Q_W^p is in excellent agreement with the SM, and sets multi-TeV-scale constraints on any semi-leptonic PV physics not described within the SM.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2019

Observation of Multiphoton Frequency Conversion in Superconducting Circuits

Multiphoton up/down conversion in a transmon circuit, driven by a pair of microwaves tuned near and far off the qubit resonance, has been observed. The experimental realization of these high order non-linear processes is accomplished in the three-photon regime, when the transmon is coupled to weak bichromatic microwave fields with the same Rabi frequencies. A many-mode Floquet formalism, with longitudinal coupling, is used to simulate the quantum interferences in the absorption spectrum that manifest the multiphoton pumping processes in the transmon qubit. An intuitive graph theoretic approach is used to introduce effective Hamiltonians that elucidate main features of the Floquet results. The analytical solutions also illustrate how controllability is achievable for desired single- or multiphoton pumping processes in a wide frequency range.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Study of Light Backgrounds from Relativistic Electrons in Air Light-Guides

The MOLLER experiment proposed at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility plans a precision low energy determination of the weak mixing angle via the measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in the scattering of high energy longitudinally polarized electrons from electrons bound in a liquid hydrogen target (Møller scattering). A relative measure of the scattering rate is planned to be obtained by intercepting the Møller scattered electrons with a circular array of thin fused silica tiles attached to air light guides, which facilitate the transport of Cherenkov photons generated within the tiles to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). The scattered flux will also pass through the light guides of downstream tiles, generating additional Cherenkov as well as scintillation light and is a potential background. In order to estimate the rate of these backgrounds, a gas-filled tube detector was designed and deployed in an electron beam at the MAMI facility at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. Described in this paper is the design of a detector to measure separately the scintillation and Cherenkov responses of gas mixtures from relativistic electrons, the results of studies of several gas mixtures with comparisons to simulations, and conclusions about the implications for the design of the MOLLER detector apparatus.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Doping evolution of the superconducting gap structure in heavily hole-doped Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$: heat transport study

We performed systematic thermal conductivity measurements on heavily hole-doped Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ single crystals with 0.747 $\leq x \leq$ 0.974. At $x$ = 0.747, the $κ_0/T$ is negligible, indicating nodeless superconducting gap. A small residual linear term $κ_0/T$ ($\approx$ 0.035 mW/K$^2$ cm) appears at $x$ = 0.826, and it increases slowly up to $x$ = 0.974, followed by a drastic increase of more than 20 times to the pure KFe$_2$As$_2$ ($x$ = 1.0). This doping dependence of $κ_0/T$ clearly shows that the nodal gap appears near $x = 0.8$, likely associated with the change of Fermi surface topology. The small values of $κ_0/T$ from $x$ = 0.826 to 0.974 support a "$\curlyvee$"-shaped nodal $s$-wave gap recently revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiments at $x$ = 0.9. Furthermore, the drastic increase of $κ_0/T$ from $x$ = 0.974 to 1.0 is inconsistent with a symmetry-imposed $d$-wave gap in KFe$_2$As$_2$, and the possible nodal gap structure in KFe$_2$As$_2$ is discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Drastic pressure effect on the extremely large magnetoresistance in WTe2: quantum oscillation study

The quantum oscillations of the magnetoresistance under ambient and high pressure have been studied for WTe$_2$ single crystals, in which extremely large magnetoresistance was discovered recently. By analyzing the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, four Fermi surfaces are identified, and two of them are found to persist to high pressure. The sizes of these two pockets are comparable, but show increasing difference with pressure. At 0.3 K and in 14.5 T, the magnetoresistance decreases drastically from 1.25 $\times$ $10^5$\% under ambient pressure to 7.47 $\times$ $10^3$\% under 23.6 kbar, which is likely caused by the relative change of Fermi surfaces. These results support the scenario that the perfect balance between the electron and hole populations is the origin of the extremely large magnetoresistance in WTe$_2$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Microphase transitions of block copolymer/homopolymer under shear flow

Cell dynamics simulation is used to investigate the phase behavior of block copolymer/homopolymer mixture subjected to a steady shear flow. Phase transitions occur from transverse to parallel and then to perpendicular lamellar structure with an increase of shear rate and this is the result of interaction between the shear flow and the concentration fluctuation. Rheological properties, such as normal stress differences and shear viscosity, are all closely related with the direction of the lamellae. Furthermore, we specifically explore the phase behavior and the order parameter under weak and strong shear of two different initial states, and realize the importance of the thermal history. It is necessary to apply the shear field at the appropriate time if we want to get what we want. These results provide an easy method to create ordered, defect-free materials in experiment and engineering technology through imposing shear flow.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2015

Superconductivity at 2.5 K in new transition-metal chalcogenide Ta2PdSe5

We report the synthesis and superconducting properties of a new transition-metal chalcogenide Ta$_2$PdSe$_5$. The measurements of resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat reveal that Ta$_2$PdSe$_5$ is a bulk superconductor with $T_c$ $\simeq$ 2.5 K. The zero-field electronic specific heat in the superconducting state can be fitted with a two-gap BCS model. The upper critical field $H_{c2}$ shows a linear temperature dependence, and the value of $H_{c2}$(0) is much higher than the estimated Pauli limiting field $H_{c2}^{P}$ and orbital limiting field $H_{c2}^{orb}$. All these results of specific heat and upper critical field suggest that Ta$_2$PdSe$_5$ is a multi-band superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Nodal superconductivity and superconducting dome in new layered superconductor Ta4Pd3Te16

We measured the low-temperature thermal conductivity of a new layered superconductor with quasi-one-dimensional characteristics, the ternary telluride Ta$_4$Pd$_3$Te$_{16}$ with transition temperature $T_c \approx$ 4.3 K. The significant residual linear term of thermal conductivity in zero magnetic field and its rapid field dependence provide evidences for nodes in the superconducting gap. By measuring resistivity under pressures, we reveal a superconducting dome in the temperature-pressure phase diagram. The existence of gap nodes and superconducting dome suggests unconventional superconductivity in Ta$_4$Pd$_3$Te$_{16}$, which may relate to a charge-density wave instability in this low-dimensional compound.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

The Q_weak Experimental Apparatus

The Jefferson Lab Q_weak experiment determined the weak charge of the proton by measuring the parity-violating elastic scattering asymmetry of longitudinally polarized electrons from an unpolarized liquid hydrogen target at small momentum transfer. A custom apparatus was designed for this experiment to meet the technical challenges presented by the smallest and most precise ${\vec{e}}$p asymmetry ever measured. Technical milestones were achieved at Jefferson Lab in target power, beam current, beam helicity reversal rate, polarimetry, detected rates, and control of helicity-correlated beam properties. The experiment employed 180 microA of 89% longitudinally polarized electrons whose helicity was reversed 960 times per second. The electrons were accelerated to 1.16 GeV and directed to a beamline with extensive instrumentation to measure helicity-correlated beam properties that can induce false asymmetries. Moller and Compton polarimetry were used to measure the electron beam polarization to better than 1%. The electron beam was incident on a 34.4 cm liquid hydrogen target. After passing through a triple collimator system, scattered electrons between 5.8 degrees and 11.6 degrees were bent in the toroidal magnetic field of a resistive copper-coil magnet. The electrons inside this acceptance were focused onto eight fused silica Cerenkov detectors arrayed symmetrically around the beam axis. A total scattered electron rate of about 7 GHz was incident on the detector array. The detectors were read out in integrating mode by custom-built low-noise pre-amplifiers and 18-bit sampling ADC modules. The momentum transfer Q^2 = 0.025 GeV^2 was determined using dedicated low-current (~100 pA) measurements with a set of drift chambers before (and a set of drift chambers and trigger scintillation counters after) the toroidal magnet.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2015

Heat transport in RbFe2As2 single crystal: evidence for nodal superconducting gap

The in-plane thermal conductivity of iron-based superconductor RbFe$_2$As$_2$ single crystal ($T_c \approx$ 2.1 K) was measured down to 100 mK. In zero field, the observation of a significant residual linear term $κ_0/T$ = 0.65 mW K$^{-2}$ cm$^{-1}$ provides clear evidence for nodal superdonducting gap. The field dependence of $κ_0/T$ is similar to that of its sister compound CsFe$_2$As$_2$ with comparable residual resistivity $ρ_0$, and lies between the dirty and clean KFe$_2$As$_2$. These results suggest that the (K,Rb,Cs)Fe$_2$As$_2$ serial superconductors have a common nodal gap structure.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Multi-gap nodeless superconductivity in nickel chalcogenide TlNi2Se2

Low-temperature thermal conductivity measurements were performed on single crystals of TlNi$_2$Se$_2$, a nickel-chalcogenide heavy-electron superconductor with $T_c$ $\simeq$ 3.7 K. In zero field, the residual electronic contribution at $T$ $\rightarrow$ 0 K ($κ_0/T$) was well separated from the total thermal conductivity, which is less than 0.45\% of its normal-state value. Such a tiny residual $κ_0/T$ is unlikely contributed by the nodal quasiparticles. Nodeless gap structure is supported by the very weak field dependence of $κ_0(H)/T$ in low magnetic fields. In the whole field range, $κ_0(H)/T$ exhibits an "$S$"-shape curve, as in the case of nickel pnictides BaNi$_2$As$_2$ and SrNi$_2$P$_2$. This common feature of nickel-based superconductors can be explained by multiple nodeless superconducting gaps.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Quantum transport evidence for a three-dimensional Dirac semimetal phase in Cd3As2

The material termed three-dimensional (3D) Dirac semimetal has attracted great interests recently, since it is an electronic analogue to two-dimensional graphene. Starting from this novel phase, various topologically distinct phases may be obtained, such as topological insulator, Weyl semimetal, quantum spin Hall insulator, and topological superconductor. Soon after the theoretical predictions, the angle-resolve photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy experiments gave evidences for 3D Dirac points in Na3Bi and Cd3As2. Here we report quantum transport properties of Cd3As2 single crystal in magnetic field. A sizable linear quantum magnetoresistance is observed at high temperature. With decreasing temperature, the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations appear in both longitudinal resistance Rxx and transverse Hall resistance Rxy. From the strong oscillatory component ΔRxx, the linear dependence of Landau index n on 1/B gives an n-axis intercept 0.58. Our quantum transport result clearly reveals a nontrivial π Berry's phase, thus provides strong bulk evidence for a 3D Dirac semimetal phase in Cd3As2. This may open new perspectives for its use in electronic devices.

cond-mat.str-el↗