arXiv subjects

M. Li

Publications and source records attributed to M. Li.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Photoelectron interferometry with spectrally shaped polychromatic infrared pulses

Laser-assisted photoelectron interferometry is a cornerstone of attosecond science, first used to characterize attosecond pulse trains and later to study photoionization dynamics. Extending this method to spectrally shaped polychromatic infrared probe fields enables encoding of information across multiple interferometric pathways within the photoelectron spectrum. Here, we experimentally demonstrate laser-assisted photoelectron interferometry using a spectrally shaped polychromatic infrared probe field composed of five distinct spectral components forming a Golomb ruler in the frequency domain. The measured interferograms exhibit multiple beating frequencies that agree with theoretical calculations, demonstrating the simultaneous encoding of multiple laser-assisted quantum beats in a single measurement. A quantitative analysis of the beating amplitudes shows that the strongly modulated temporal profile of the polychromatic probe introduces intensity- and delay-dependent distortions of the quantum beats that cannot be explained by second-order perturbation theory. These results establish the conditions required for the quantitative interpretation of polychromatic photoelectron interferometry and highlight the opportunities offered by spectro-temporal engineering of the probe field for future developments in attosecond science.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2026

Comparing non-local granular fluid continuum models for silo discharge: Toward clogging prediction

Non-local constitutive theories have received increasing attention in continuum descriptions of granular flows. However, these models have not been systematically compared for silo discharge within a unified numerical framework. We address this gap with two-dimensional finite-volume method (FVM) simulations of silo discharge using the Basilisk platform. We first validate our FVM implementation of the dynamic non-local granular fluidity (NGF) model against the material point method results of Dunatunga & Kamrin (J. Fluid Mech., 2022, 940, A14), obtaining quantitative agreement. Second, we relate the discharge rate $Q$ to the outlet-to-particle size ratio $D/d$ and the non-local amplitude $A$. From the simulated $Q$, we then evaluate the clogging probability $J(D/d, A)$ within the probabilistic framework of Janda et al. (Europhys. Lett. 84 (4), 44002). The predicted $J$ decays exponentially with $D/d$, consistent with the experimental trend of Janda et al. (Europhys. Lett. 84 (4), 44002). Rather than directly predicting flow arrest, our approach captures the continuous probabilistic transition. Finally, within the same numerical framework and using identical values of $A$, we compare several non-local constitutive models, including several linearised variants that we derive. Almost all models predict a reduction in the discharge rate with increasing $A$, yet significant quantitative differences are observed among the models. The results are further classified into groups according to their predicted flow behaviour, revealing close correspondences among certain formulations. Notably, using the non-local amplitudes reported in the literature [Bouzid et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 238301), Henann & Kamrin (Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 110(17))] yields near-zero discharge rates. Ill-posed issues are discussed. The implementation of all models is open-sourced and computationally efficient.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2026

Electron Injection and Beam Dynamics in a Laser Wakefield Acceleration Driven by Laser Pulses Carrying Orbital Angular Momentum

Laser pulses carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) provide a new degree of freedom for controlling plasma-based accelerators. Here, we demonstrate experimentally laser wakefield acceler- ation driven by OAM laser pulses, producing electron beams with distinct broad-band energy spectra and angularly structured phase space. The measured spectra exhibit a two-beamlet structure with correlated angular dispersion, indicating injection occurring at multiple azimuthal phases of the plasma wake. Particle-in-cell simulations reproduced the observed spectral features and revealed helical electron trajectories driven by the OAM-induced wakefields. These results show that the phase structure of the laser driver can shape electron injection and acceleration dynamics, opening a route toward optimal control of beam structure in compact laser-driven accelerators.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2026

First Synchrotron Injection Attempt into The SuperKEKB High Energy Ring

A synchrotron injection scheme for the SuperKEKB electron high-energy ring (HER) was implemented and experimentally evaluated as the first attempt with a top-up injection during beam collisions. The lattice at the HER injection point was configured to provide a large horizontal dispersion of -1.6 m, and the injection beam energy was accordingly set to +0.6% above the ring energy. Since the beam extraction system is located near the injection point, the optics design was constrained to ensure compatibility with its requirements. A systematic tuning procedure of the injection parameters has been established with turn-by-turn BPMs(TbT-BPMs) in the ring, by which the betatron amplitude of the injected beam was successfully removed. Using optimized ring optics, synchrotron injection into the HER was successfully demonstrated, followed by the establishment of stable collisions and the production of luminosity.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2026

Measuring quasiparticle dynamics for particle impact reconstruction in a superconducting qubit chip

Quasiparticle poisoning following particle impacts poses a significant challenge to the development of fault-tolerant superconducting quantum computers, as a sudden excess of quasiparticles can simultaneously degrade the coherence of multiple qubits across large device arrays. In this work, we present a statistical analysis that models the time evolution of radiation-induced qubit energy relaxation through quasiparticle density dynamics. This study provides insight into quasiparticle loss processes by distinguishing between recombination and trapping decay channels and assessing their respective impact on qubit performance. We precisely measure quasiparticle recombination in multiple transmon qubits and uncover an unexpected dependence of qubit relaxation dynamics on deposited energy. By linking correlated relaxation events across qubits to ballistic phonon propagation, we introduce a statistical localization approach to extract the energy deposited in the substrate, which is in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulation. This work establishes the quantitative framework for using an arbitrary subset of superconducting transmon qubits in a QPU as energy-resolving witness particle detectors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Nebular Phase Evolution of SN 2023ixf (I): From Circumstellar Infrared Echo to the onset of in-situ Dust Formation in a Type II Supernova

We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic observations of the Type II supernova SN 2023ixf spanning 150 to 750 days, combined with published early-time optical and infrared photometry, and JWST NIRSpec and MIRI spectroscopy, to disentangle circumstellar echo emission from newly formed internal dust. The combined dataset reveals an early infrared excess by 1.8 days, a broad secondary NIR rebrightening over about 89 to 175 days, progressive attenuation of the red wing of H-alpha from about 132 days, and CO emission detected by about 217 days. We identify the onset of H-alpha asymmetry as the first direct signature for internal dust formation, and modeling of the H-alpha profile over 140 to 418 days yields an internal silicate-equivalent dust mass of about 1.5e-6 to 6e-5 solar masses. By contrast, the early infrared evolution is best interpreted as echo-dominated: the 1.8 to 33.6 day excess is consistent with a radiative-flash infrared echo from pre-existing circumstellar dust, while the 89 to 175 day rebrightening is more naturally explained by a more extended echo arising from structured wind material. JWST spectral energy distribution modeling further reveals a multi-component infrared continuum in which a cold graphite component traces lingering echo emission, while a colder silicate-bearing component grows to about 2e-3 solar masses, providing the strongest late-time spectral energy distribution evidence that internal CDS/ejecta dust becomes substantial. SN 2023ixf therefore provides one of the clearest time-resolved case studies of dust signatures in a Type II supernova, linking early circumstellar reprocessing with increasingly important in situ dust formation.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2026

MIGHTEE/COSMOS-3D: The discovery of three spectroscopically confirmed radio-selected star-forming galaxies at z=4.9-5.6

Radio observations offer a dust-independent probe of star formation and active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity, but sufficiently deep data are required to access the crossover luminosity between these processes at high redshift ($z>4.5$). We present three spectroscopically confirmed high-redshift radio sources (HzRSs) detected at 1.3 GHz at $z=4.9$-$5.6$, with radio luminosities spanning $L_{\rm 1.3 \, GHz}\approx2$-$5\times10^{24} \, \rm W \, Hz^{-1}$. These sources were first identified as high-redshift candidates through spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting of archival Hubble, JWST NIRCam+MIRI, and ground-based photometry, and then spectroscopically confirmed via the $\rm H\,\alpha$ emission line using wide-field slitless spectroscopy from JWST COSMOS-3D. The star formation rates (SFRs) measured from SED fitting, the $\rm H\,\alpha$ flux, and the 1.3 GHz luminosity, span $\sim100$-$1800\, M_{\odot} \, \rm yr^{-1}$, demonstrating broad agreement between these SFR tracers. We find that these three sources lie either on or $0.5$-1.0 dex above the star-forming main sequence at $z=4$-6 and have undergone a recent burst of star formation. The sources have extended rest-UV/optical morphologies with no evidence for a dominant point source component, indicating that an AGN is unlikely to dominate their rest-UV and optical emission. Two of the sources have complex, multi-component rest-frame UV/optical morphologies, suggesting that their starbursts may be triggered by merging activity. These HzRSs open up a new window towards probing radio emission powered by star formation alone at $z> 4.5$, representing a remarkable opportunity to begin tracing star formation, independent of dust, in the early Universe.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2026

Cyclotron Radiation Signal Characterization in Resonant Cavities for the Project 8 Neutrino Mass Experiment

Many experimental methods in physics require understanding radiation from single particles into non-trivial electromagnetic mode structures. Such characterization is critical for Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy (CRES), an advancing new measurement technique that has the potential to greatly benefit fundamental physics measurements. In CRES, charged particles emit cyclotron radiation at frequencies that provide their energy measurement. As a notable example, the Project 8 experiment aims to kinematically infer the neutrino mass by measuring the energies of electrons emitted in tritium beta decay using CRES. In near-term realizations of Project 8, resonant cylindrical cavities will be used for CRES readout, in a configuration with a magnetic field oriented along the symmetry axis, and electrons following helical cyclotron trajectories confined to the cavity interior. The physics of electromagnetic radiation in these environments is complicated, since it involves both the motion of the emitting particle and the mode structure imposed by the cavity. In this work, we derive and validate an analytic model for how an oscillating, trapped electron radiates into cavity modes, and the power and frequency content of the radiation that can be read out from these events. These results can be used to guide the design of cavities for future CRES and other experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Beam-test evaluation of pre-production Low Gain Avalanche Detectors for the ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector

The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) will be installed in the ATLAS experiment as part of the Phase-II upgrade for the High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). It will mitigate pile-up effects in the forward region, and measure per bunch luminosity. The design of HGTD is based on Low Gain Avalanche Detector (LGAD) sensors. This paper presents the results of beam-test campaigns conducted at CERN and DESY in 2023 and 2024 on single LGADs from HGTD pre-production test structures, before and after neutron irradiation up to fluences of $2.5 \times 10^{15}~\mathrm{n_{eq}/cm^2}$. The tested LGADs can meet HGTD requirements in terms of charge collection, time resolution, and hit efficiency, even under HL-LHC end-of-life conditions, supporting their deployment in the final detector.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Thermal Cycling Reliability of Hybrid Pixel Sensor Modules for The ATLAS High Granularity Timing Detector

The reliability of bump connection structures has become a critical aspect of future silicon detectors for particle physics. The High Granularity Timing Detector (HGTD) for the ATLAS experiment at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider will require 8032 hybrid pixel sensor modules, composed of two Low Gain Avalanche Diode sensors bump-bonded to two readout ASICs and glued to a passive PCB. The detector will operate at low temperature (-30 degrees Celsius) to mitigate the impact of irradiation. The thermomechanical reliability of flip-chip bump connections in HGTD modules is a critical concern, particularly due to their characteristically lower bump density (pixel pitch dimensions of 1.3 mm by 1.3 mm). This paper elaborates on the challenges arising from this design characteristic. Finite element analysis and experimental testing were employed to investigate failure modes in the flip-chip bump structures under thermal cycling from -45 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius and to guide the module redesign. The optimized design demonstrates significantly enhanced robustness and is projected to fulfill the full lifetime requirements of the HGTD.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Cryogenic geometric anti-spring vibration isolation system

The combination of low temperature and low vibration levels is key for ultrasensitive sensing applications such as scanning probe microscopy, large-mass quantum mechanics, and gravitational wave detection. Unfortunately, closed-cycle cryostats using pulse tube or GM coolers introduce strong low-frequency vibrations starting at 1 Hz. Mass-spring systems allow passive isolation, but for low-frequency applications the required spring constants and masses become impractical. Blade-based geometric anti-spring systems are compact isolators that operate from sub-Hz frequencies, but have not been demonstrated at cryogenic temperatures. Here, we characterize a geometric anti-spring system tuned to operate at cryogenic temperatures. Our cryogenic filter uses radially arranged titanium blade springs whose effective spring constant can be tuned in-situ using a magnetic actuator. Our system achieves a vertical resonance frequency of 185 mHz at 7K, which allows reduction of vibrations at the problematic 1 Hz cooler frequency by an order of magnitude.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Response of asymmetric nuclear matter studied with a finite number of particles

We investigate the ground-state properties of asymmetric nuclear matter and its response to a static perturbation using the density functional theory framework. Our method, which extends the finite-nucleon-number technique of arXiv:2211.07986 to the case of isospin-asymmetric matter, allows to study the impact of external isoscalar and isovector fields on the system. In particular, the densities and static response functions in the different isospin channels, and as a function of isospin asymmetry, are evaluated. Finite-size effects are discussed by comparing with Random Phase Approximation predictions in the thermodynamic limit. A peculiar non-monotonic behavior of the isovector response function is analyzed.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2025

Imaging-spectroscopy diagnosis of the giant sloshing spiral in the Virgo cluster with the Einstein Probe Follow-up X-ray Telescope

We performed deep X-ray observations of the Virgo cluster using the Einstein Probe Follow-up X-ray Telescope (EP-FXT) with a total exposure of 295 ks. Leveraging the large field of view (FoV) and low particle background of EP-FXT, the image reveals a giant spiral feature connecting the cold fronts in the northwest and southeast, forming a coherent structure consistent with earlier results from XMM-Newton and Suzaku. We also present two-dimensional maps of temperature, metallicity, and entropy across the Virgo Cluster, covering a FoV of approximately 28.5 arcmin. These maps clearly show a spiral structure with high density, low temperature, high metallicity, and low entropy. The results support a scenario where the spiral morphology arises from gas sloshing driven by a minor merger. Additionally, EP-FXT temperature measurements agree well with XMM-Newton data within uncertainties.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2025

Clogging-flowing transition of granular media in a two-dimensional vertical pipe

We experimentally and numerically investigate the clogging behavior of granular materials in a two-dimensional vertical pipe. The nonmonotonicity of clogging probability found in a cylindrical vertical pipe [L\'opez et al., Phys. Rev. E 102, 010902 (2020)] is also observed in the two-dimensional case. We numerically demonstrate that the clogging probability strongly correlates with the friction coefficient $\mu$ in addition to the pipe-to-particle diameter ratio $D/d$. We thus construct a clogging-flowing $D/d$-$\mu$ phase diagram within the $2<D/d<3$ range. Finally, by analyzing the geometrical arrangements of particles and using a simple analysis of forces and torques, we are able to predict the clogging-flowing transition in the $D/d$-$\mu$ phase diagram and explain the mechanism of the observed counterintuitive nonmonotonicity in more detail. We demonstrate that for pipe clogging, friction-mediated force and torque equilibrium are essential for arch formation.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2025

Antenna Arrays for CRES-based Neutrino Mass Measurement

CRES is a technique for precision measurements of kinetic energies of charged particles, pioneered by the Project 8 experiment to measure the neutrino mass using the tritium endpoint method. It was recently employed for the first time to measure the molecular tritium spectrum and place a limit on the neutrino mass using a cm$^3$-scale detector. Future direct neutrino mass experiments are developing the technique to overcome the systematic and statistical limitations of current detectors. This paper describes one such approach, namely the use of antenna arrays for CRES in free space. Phenomenology, detector design, simulation, and performance estimates are discussed, culminating with an example design with a projected sensitivity of $m_{\beta} < 0.04 \ \mathrm{eV}/c^2$. Prototype antenna array measurements are also shown for a demonstrator-scale setup as a benchmark for the simulation. By consolidating these results, this paper serves as a comprehensive reference for the development and performance of antenna arrays for CRES.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Dynamics of Magnetic Evaporative Beamline Cooling for Preparation of Cold Atomic Beams

The most sensitive direct neutrino mass searches today are based on measurement of the endpoint of the beta spectrum of tritium to infer limits on the mass of the unobserved neutrino. To avoid the smearing associated with the distribution of molecular final states in the T-He molecule, the next generation of these experiments will need to employ atomic (T) rather than molecular (T$_{2}$) tritium sources, at currents of at least 10$^{15}$ atoms per second. Following production, atomic T can be trapped in gravitational and/or magnetic bottles for beta spectrum experiments, if and only if it can first be cooled to millikelvin temperatures. Accomplishing this cooling presents substantial technological challenges. The Project 8 collaboration is developing a technique based on magnetic evaporative cooling along a beamline (MECB) for the purpose of cooling T to feed a magneto-gravitational trap that also serves as a cyclotron radiation emission spectroscope. Initial tests of the approach are planned in a pathfinder apparatus using atomic Li. This paper presents a method for analyzing the dynamics of the MECB technique, and applies these calculations to the design of systems for cooling and slowing of atomic Li and T. A scheme is outlined that could provide a current of T at the millikelvin temperatures required for the Project 8 neutrino mass search.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Calorimetric Wire Detector for Measurement of Atomic Hydrogen Beams

A calorimetric detector for minimally disruptive measurements of atomic hydrogen beams is described. The calorimeter measures heat released by the recombination of hydrogen atoms into molecules on a thin wire. As a demonstration, the angular distribution of a beam with a peak intensity of $\approx 10^{16} \,{\rm{atoms}}/{(\rm{cm}^2 \rm{s})}$ is measured by translating the wire across the beam. The data agree well with an analytic model of the beam from the thermal hydrogen atom source. Using the beam shape model, the relative intensity of the beam can be determined to 5% precision or better at any angle.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Real-Time Analysis of Nanoscale Dynamics in Membrane Protein Insertion via Single-Molecule Imaging

Membrane proteins often need to be inserted into or attached on the cell membrane to perform their functions. Understanding their transmembrane topology and conformational dynamics during insertion is crucial for elucidating their roles. However, it remains challenging to monitor nanoscale changes in insertion depth of individual proteins in membranes. Here, we introduce two single molecule imaging methods, SIFA and LipoFRET, designed for in vitro observation of the nanoscale architecture of membrane proteins within membranes. These methods have demonstrated their efficacy in studying biomolecules interacting with bio-membranes with sub-nanometer precision.

physics.bio-ph↗