arXiv subjects

J. Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to J. Zhao.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Storage, Accumulation and Deceleration of Secondary Beams for Nuclear Astrophysics

Low-energy investigations on rare ion beams are often limited by the available intensity and purity of the ion species in focus. Here, we present the first application of a technique that combines in-flight production at relativistic energies with subsequent secondary beam storage, accumulation and finally deceleration to the energy of interest. Using the FRS and ESR facilities at GSI, this scheme was pioneered to provide a secondary beam of $^{118}$Te$^{52+}$ for the measurement of nuclear proton-capture at energies of 6 and 7 MeV/u. The technique provided stored beam intensities of about $10^6$ ions at high purity and brilliance, representing a major step towards low-energy nuclear physics studies using rare ion beams.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Improving the Understanding of Subsurface Structure and Dynamics of Solar Active Regions (A white paper submitted to the decadal survey for solar and space Physics (Heliophysics) -- SSPH 2024-2033)

The goal of helioseismology is to provide accurate information about the Sun's interior from the observations of the wave field at its surface. In the last three decades, both global and local helioseismology studies have made significant advances and breakthroughs in solar physics. However, 3-d mapping of the structure and dynamics of sunspots and active regions below the surface has been a challenging task and are among the longest standing and intriguing puzzles of solar physics due to the complexity of the turbulent and dynamic nature of sunspots. Thus the key problems that need to be addressed during the next decade are: (i) Understanding the wave excitation mechanisms in the quiet Sun and magnetic regions, (ii) Characterizing the wave propagation and transformation in strong and inclined magnetic field regions and understanding the magnetic portals in the chromosphere, (iii) Improving helioseismology techniques and investigating the whole life cycle of active regions, from magnetic flux emergence to dissipation, and (iv) Detecting helioseismic signature of the magnetic flux of active regions before it becomes visible on the surface so as to provide warnings several days before the emergence. For a transformative progress on these problems require full disk, simultaneous Doppler and vector magnetic field measurements of the photosphere up to the chromosphere with a spatial resolution of about 2 arc-sec as well as large-scale radiative MHD simulations of the plasma dynamics from the sub-photosphere to the chromosphere.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2023

Microscopic description of $α$, $2α$, and cluster decays of $^{216-220}$Rn and $^{220-224}$Ra

Alpha and cluster decays are analyzed for heavy nuclei located above $^{208}$Pb on the chart of nuclides: $^{216-220}$Rn and $^{220-224}$Ra, that are also candidates for observing the $2 α$ decay mode. A microscopic theoretical approach based on relativistic Energy Density Functionals (EDF), is used to compute axially-symmetric deformation energy surfaces as functions of quadrupole, octupole and hexadecupole collective coordinates. Dynamical least-action paths for specific decay modes are calculated on the corresponding potential energy surfaces. The effective collective inertia is determined using the perturbative cranking approximation, and zero-point and rotational energy corrections are included in the model. The predicted half-lives for $α$-decay are within one order of magnitude of the experimental values. In the case of single $α$ emission, the nuclei considered in the present study exhibit least-action paths that differ significantly up to the scission point. The differences in alpha-decay lifetimes are not only driven by Q values, but also by variances of the least-action paths prior to scission. In contrast, the $2 α$ decay mode presents very similar paths from equilibrium to scission, and the differences in lifetimes are mainly driven by the corresponding Q values. The predicted $^{14}$C cluster decay half-lives are within three orders of magnitudes of the empirical values, and point to a much more complex pattern compared to the alpha-decay mode.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2023

Machine Learning based tool for CMS RPC currents quality monitoring

The muon system of the CERN Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment includes more than a thousand Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC). They are gaseous detectors operated in the hostile environment of the CMS underground cavern on the Large Hadron Collider where pp luminosities of up to $2\times 10^{34}$ $\text{cm}^{-2}\text{s}^{-1}$ are routinely achieved. The CMS RPC system performance is constantly monitored and the detector is regularly maintained to ensure stable operation. The main monitorable characteristics are dark current, efficiency for muon detection, noise rate etc. Herein we describe an automated tool for CMS RPC current monitoring which uses Machine Learning techniques. We further elaborate on the dedicated generalized linear model proposed already and add autoencoder models for self-consistent predictions as well as hybrid models to allow for RPC current predictions in a distant future.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Interplay of structure and magnetism in LuFe4Ge2 tuned by hydrostatic pressure

LuFe$_4$Ge$_2$ crystallizes in the ZrFe$_4$Si$_2$-type structure, hosting chains of Fe-tetrahedra giving rise to geometric frustration and low-dimensionality. The compound orders antiferromagnetically at around 36 K accompanied by a simultaneous structural transition from a tetragonal to an orthorhombic phase. The hydrostatic pressure dependence of the magnetic and structural transitions is investigated using electrical-transport, ac magnetic-susceptibility, ac calorimetry, M$\ddot{\rm o}$ssbauer, muon-spin relaxation ($μ$SR), and x-ray diffraction measurements. External pressure suppresses the first-order transition to the antiferromagnetic phase (AFM1) around 1.8 GPa. The structural transition is largely unaffected by pressure and remains between 30 to 35 K for pressures up to 2 GPa. A second antiferromagnetic phase (AFM2) is observed at higher pressures. The transition from the paramagnetic to the AFM2 phase is of second-order nature and appears to be connected to the structural transition. The magnetic volume fraction obtained from $μ$SR and M$\ddot{\rm o}$ssbauer measurements reveal that the entire sample undergoes magnetic ordering in both magnetic phases. In addition, similar low-temperature muon-precession frequencies in AFM1 and AFM2 phases point at similar ordered moments and magnetic structures in both phases. Our results further indicate enhanced magnetic fluctuations in the pressure induced AFM2 phase. The experimental observations together with density functional theory calculations suggest that the magnetic and structural order parameters in LuFe$_4$Ge$_2$ are linked by magnetic frustration, causing the simultaneous magneto-structural transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

RPC based tracking system at CERN GIF++ facility

With the HL-LHC upgrade of the LHC machine, an increase of the instantaneous luminosity by a factor of five is expected and the current detection systems need to be validated for such working conditions to ensure stable data taking. At the CERN Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF++) many muon detectors undergo such studies, but the high gamma background can pose a challenge to the muon trigger system which is exposed to many fake hits from the gamma background. A tracking system using RPCs is implemented to clean the fake hits, taking profit of the high muon efficiency of these chambers. This work will present the tracking system configuration, used detector analysis algorithm and results.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Seismic Monitoring of the Sun's Far Hemisphere: A Crucial Component in Future Space Weather Forecasting (A White Paper Submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) -- SSPH 2024-2033)

The purpose of this white paper is to put together a coherent vision for the role of helioseismic monitoring of magnetic activity in the Sun's far hemisphere that will contribute to improving space weather forecasting as well as fundamental research in the coming decade. Our goal fits into the broader context of helioseismology in solar research for any number of endeavors when helioseismic monitors may be the sole synoptic view of the Sun's far hemisphere. It is intended to foster a growing understanding of solar activity, as realistically monitored in both hemispheres, and its relationship to all known aspects of the near-Earth and terrestrial environment. Some of the questions and goals that can be fruitfully pursued through seismic monitoring of farside solar activity in the coming decade include: What is the relationship between helioseismic signatures and their associated magnetic configurations, and how is this relationship connected to the solar EUV irradiance over the period of a solar rotation?; How can helioseismic monitoring contribute to data-driven global magnetic-field models for precise space weather forecasting?; What can helioseismic monitors tell us about prospects of a flare, CME or high-speed stream that impacts the terrestrial environment over the period of a solar rotation?; How does the inclusion of farside information contribute to forecasts of interplanetary space weather and the environments to be encountered by human crews in interplanetary space? Thus, it is crucial for the development of farside monitoring of the Sun be continued into the next decade either through ground-based or space-borne observations.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2022

Fission dynamics, dissipation and clustering at finite temperature

The saddle-to-scission dynamics of the induced fission process is explored using a microscopic finite-temperature model based on time-dependent nuclear density functional theory (TDDFT), that allows to follow the evolution of local temperature along fission trajectories. Starting from a temperature that corresponds to the experimental excitation energy of the compound system, the model propagates the nucleons along isentropic paths toward scission. For the four illustrative cases of induced fission of $^{240}$Pu, $^{234}$U, $^{244}$Cm, and $^{250}$Cf, characteristic fission trajectories are considered, and the partition of the total energy into various kinetic and potential energy contributions at scission is analyzed, with special emphasis on the energy dissipated along the fission path and the prescission kinetic energy. The model is also applied to the dynamics of neck formation and rupture, characterized by the formation of few-nucleon clusters in the low-density region between the nascent fragments.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

High-Q Resonances Governed by the Quasi-Bound States in the Continuum in All-Dielectric Metasurfaces

The realization of high-Q resonances in a silicon metasurface with various broken-symmetry blocks is reported. Theoretical analysis reveals that the sharp resonances in the metasurfaces originate from symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum (BIC) and the magnetic dipole dominates these peculiar states. A smaller size of the defect in the broken-symmetry block gives rise to the resonance with a larger Q factor. Importantly, this relationship can be tuned by changing the structural parameter, resulting from the modulation of the topological configuration of BICs. Consequently, a Q factor of more than 3,000 can be easily achieved by optimizing dimensions of the nanostructure. At this sharp resonance, the intensity of the third harmonic generation signal in the patterned structure can be 368 times larger than that of the flat silicon film. The proposed strategy and underlying theory can open up new avenues to realize ultrasharp resonances, which may promote the development of the potential meta-devices for nonlinearity, lasing action, and sensing.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2022

Dynamical synthesis of 4He in the scission phase of nuclear fission

In the exothermic process of fission decay, an atomic nucleus splits into two or more independent fragments. Several aspects of nuclear fission are not properly understood, in particular the formation of the neck between the nascent fragments, and the subsequent mechanism of scission into two or more independent fragments. Using an implementation of time-dependent density functional theory, based on a relativistic energy density functional and including pairing correlations, we analyze the final phase of the process of induced fission of $^{240}$Pu, and show that the time-scale of neck formation coincides with the assembly of two $α$-like clusters (less than 1 zs = 10$^{-21}$ s). Because of its much larger binding energy, the dynamical synthesis of 4He in the neck predominates over other light clusters, e.g., $^3$H and $^6$He. At the instant of scission the neck ruptures exactly between the two $α$-like clusters, which separate because of the Coulomb repulsion and are eventually absorbed by the two emerging fragments. The newly proposed mechanism of light charged clusters formation at scission provides a natural explanation of ternary fission.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Microscopic analysis of induced nuclear fission dynamics

The dynamics of low-energy induced fission is explored using a consistent microscopic framework that combines the time-dependent generator coordinate method (TDGCM) and time-dependent nuclear density functional theory (TDDFT). While the former presents a fully quantum mechanical approach that describes the entire fission process as an adiabatic evolution of collective degrees of freedom, the latter models the dissipative dynamics of the final stage of fission by propagating the nucleons independently toward scission and beyond. By combining the two methods, based on the same nuclear energy density functional and pairing interaction, we perform an illustrative calculation of the charge distribution of yields and total kinetic energy for induced fission of $^{240}$Pu. For the saddle-to-scission phase a set of initial points for the TDDFT evolution is selected along an iso-energy curve beyond the outer fission barrier on the deformation energy surface, and the TDGCM is used to calculate the probability that the collective wave function reaches these points at different times. Fission observables are computed with both methods and compared with available data. The relative merits of including quantum fluctuations (TDGCM) and the one-body dissipation mechanism (TDDFT) are discussed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Uniaxial Pressure Induced Stripe Order Rotation in La$_{1.88}$Sr$_{0.12}$CuO$_4$

Static stripe order is detrimental to superconductivity. Yet, it has been proposed that transverse stripe fluctuations may enhance the inter-stripe Josephson coupling and thus promote superconductivity. Direct experimental studies of stripe dynamics, however, remain difficult. From a strong-coupling perspective, transverse stripe fluctuations are realized in the form of dynamic "kinks" -- sideways shifting stripe sections. Here, we show how modest uniaxial pressure tuning reorganizes directional kink alignment. Our starting point is La$_{1.88}$Sr$_{0.12}$CuO$_4$, where transverse kink ordering results in a rotation of stripe order away from the crystal axis. Application of mild uniaxial pressure changes the ordering pattern and pins the stripe order to the crystal axis. This reordering occurs at a much weaker pressure than that to detwin the stripe domains and suggests a rather weak transverse stripe stiffness. Weak spatial stiffness and transverse quantum fluctuations are likely key prerequisites for stripes to coexist with superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

$μ$SR study of unconventional pairing symmetry in the quasi-1D Na$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$ superconductor

We report the finding of a novel pairing state in a newly discovered superconductor Na$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$. This material has a noncentrosymmetric quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure and is superconducting at $T_{\mathrm{C}}\sim$ 8.0 K. We find that the magnetic penetration depth data suggests the presence of a nodal line $p_z$-wave pairing state with zero magnetic moment using transverse-field muon-spin rotation (TF-$μ$SR) measurements. The nodal gap observed in Na$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$ compound is consistent with that observed in isostructural (K,Cs)$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$ compounds using TF-$μ$SR measurements. The observed pairing state is consistent with a three-band model spin-fluctuation calculation, which reveals the $S_z=0$ spin-triplet pairing state with the $\sin k_z$ pairing symmetry. The long-sought search for chiral superconductivity with topological applications could be aided by such a novel triplet $S_z=0$ $p$-wave pairing state.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Antinodal kink in the band dispersion of electron-doped cuprate ${\rm La}_{2-x}{\rm Ce}_x{\rm CuO}_{4\pmδ}$

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements have established the phenomenon of kink in band dispersion of high-$T_{\rm c}$ cuprate superconductors. However, systematic studies of the kink in electron-doped cuprates are still lacking experimentally. We performed $in$-$situ$ ARPES measurements on ${\rm La}_{2-x}{\rm Ce}_x{\rm CuO}_{4\pmδ}$ (LCCO) thin films over a wide electron doping ($n$) range from 0.05 to 0.23. While the nodal kink is nearly invisible, an antinodal kink around 45 meV, surviving above 200 K, is observed for $n\sim0.05-0.19$, whose position is roughly independent of doping. The fact that the antinodal kink observed at high temperatures and in the highly overdoped region favors the phonon mechanism with contributions from the Cu-O bond-stretching mode and the out-of-plane oxygen buckling mode. Our results also suggest that the antinodal kink of LCCO is only weakly coupled to its superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Machine-Learning Enabled Search for The Next-Generation Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The development of active catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) made from low-cost materials constitutes a crucial challenge in the utilization of hydrogen energy. Earth-abundant molybdenum disulfide (MoS$_2$) has been discovered recently with good activity and stability for HER. In this report, we employed the hydrothermal technique for MoS$_2$ synthesis which is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach and has the potential for future mass production. To investigate the structure-property relationship, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and various electrochemical characterizations have been conducted. A strong correlation between the material structure and the HER performance has been observed. Moreover, machine-learning (ML) techniques were built and subsequently used within a Bayesian Optimization framework to validate the optimal parameter combinations for synthesizing high-quality MoS$_2$ catalyst within the limited parameter space. The model will be able to guide the wet chemical synthesis of MoS$_2$ and produce the most effective HER catalyst eventually.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Survival of itinerant excitations and quantum spin state transitions in YbMgGaO$_4$ with chemical disorder

A recent focus of quantum spin liquid (QSL) studies is how disorder/randomness in a QSL candidate affects its true magnetic ground state. The ultimate question is whether the QSL survives disorder or the disorder leads to a "spin-liquid-like" state, such as the proposed random-singlet (RS) state. Since disorder is a standard feature of most QSL candidates, this question represents a major challenge for QSL candidates. YbMgGaO$_4$, a triangular lattice antiferromagnet with effective spin-1/2 Yb$^{3+}$ ions, is an ideal system to address this question, since it shows no long-range magnetic ordering with Mg/Ga site disorder. Despite the intensive study, it remains unresolved as to whether YbMgGaO$_4$ is a QSL or in the RS state. Here, through ultralow-temperature thermal conductivity and magnetic torque measurements, plus specific heat and DC magnetization data, we observed a residual $κ_0/T$ term and series of quantum spin state transitions in the zero temperature limit for YbMgGaO$_4$. These observations strongly suggest that a QSL state with itinerant excitations and quantum spin fluctuations survives disorder in YbMgGaO$_4$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Mn ions' site and valence in PbTiO$_{3}$ based on the native vacancy defects

Mn ions' doping site and valence were studied in PbTiO$_{3}$ (PT) with the native vacancy defects by the first-principles calculations. Firstly, the native vacancy defects of Pb, O and Ti in PT were investigated and it was found that Pb vacancy is preferred to others. And then the growth of Mn doped PT should be preferred to Mn ion substituting for an A-site Pb ion with +3 valence when Pb is deficient under equilibrium conditions driven solely by minimization of the formation energy, and this could result in a larger lattice distortion of PT. In addition, when Mn enters the Pb site, the electronegativity of O becomes weaker which makes the domain movement easier in PT to improve the performance of PT, while Mn ion substitution for a B-site Ti ion is the opposite.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Suppression of Antiferromagnetism in Electron-Doped Cuprate $T'$-${\rm La}_{2-x}{\rm Ce}_x\rm {CuO}_{4\pmδ}$

We performed systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements $in$-$situ$ on $T'$-${\rm La}_{2-x}{\rm Ce}_x\rm {CuO}_{4\pmδ}$ (LCCO) thin films over the extended doping range prepared by the refined ozone/vacuum annealing method. Electron doping level ($n$), estimated from the measured Fermi surface volume, varies from 0.05 to 0.23, which covers the whole superconducting dome. We observed an absence of the insulating behavior around $n \sim$ 0.05 and the Fermi surface reconstruction shifted to $n \sim$ 0.11 in LCCO compared to that of other electron-doped cuprates at around 0.15, suggesting that antiferromagnetism is strongly suppressed in this material. The possible explanation may lie in the enhanced -$t'$ /$t$ in LCCO for the largest $\rm{La^{3+}}$ ionic radius among all the Lanthanide elements.

cond-mat.supr-con↗