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S. He

Publications and source records attributed to S. He.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Investigation of the linear and mode-coupled flow harmonics in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{\textit{s}_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

Flow harmonics ($\textit{v}_{n}$) of the Fourier expansion for the azimuthal distributions of hadrons are commonly employed to quantify the azimuthal anisotropy of particle production relative to the collision symmetry planes. While lower order Fourier coefficients ($\textit{v}_{2}$ and $\textit{v}_{3}$) are more directly related to the corresponding eccentricities of the initial state, the higher-order flow harmonics ($\textit{v}_{n>3}$) can be induced by a mode-coupled response to the lower-order anisotropies, in addition to a linear response to the same-order anisotropies. These higher-order flow harmonics and their linear and mode-coupled contributions can be used to more precisely constrain the initial conditions and the transport properties of the medium in theoretical models. The multiparticle azimuthal cumulant method is used to measure the linear and mode-coupled contributions in the higher-order anisotropic flow, the mode-coupled response coefficients, and the correlations of the event plane angles for charged particles as functions of centrality and transverse momentum in Au+Au collisions at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy $\sqrt{\textit{s}_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV. The results are compared to similar LHC measurements as well as to several viscous hydrodynamic calculations with varying initial conditions.

nucl-ex↗

Beam energy dependence of net-$Λ$ fluctuations measured by the STAR experiment at RHIC

The measurements of particle multiplicity distributions have generated considerable interest in understanding the fluctuations of conserved quantum numbers in the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) hadronization regime, in particular near a possible critical point and near the chemical freeze-out. We report the measurement of efficiency and centrality bin width corrected cumulant ratios ($C_{2}/C_{1}$, $C_{3}/C_{2}$) of net-$Λ$ distributions, in the context of both strangeness and baryon number conservation, as a function of collision energy, centrality and rapidity. The results are for Au + Au collisions at five beam energies ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4 and 200 GeV) recorded with the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR). We compare our results to the Poisson and negative binomial (NBD) expectations, as well as to Ultra-relativistic Quantum Molecular Dynamics (UrQMD) and Hadron Resonance Gas (HRG) model predictions. Both NBD and Poisson baselines agree with data within the statistical and systematic uncertainties. The ratios of the measured cumulants show no features of critical fluctuations. The chemical freeze-out temperatures extracted from a recent HRG calculation, which was successfully used to describe the net-proton, net-kaon and net-charge data, indicate $Λ$ freeze-out conditions similar to those of kaons. However, large deviations are found when comparing to temperatures obtained from net-proton fluctuations. The net-$Λ$ cumulants show a weak, but finite, dependence on the rapidity coverage in the acceptance of the detector, which can be attributed to quantum number conservation.

nucl-ex↗

Underlying event measurements in $p$+$p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}= 200 $ GeV at RHIC

Particle production sensitive to non-factorizable and non-perturbative processes that contribute to the underlying event associated with a high transverse momentum ($p_{T}$) jet in proton+proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$=200 GeV is studied with the STAR detector. Each event is divided into three regions based on the azimuthal angle with respect to the highest-$p_{T}$ jet direction: in the leading jet direction ("Toward"), opposite to the leading jet ("Away"), and perpendicular to the leading jet ("Transverse"). In the Transverse region, the average charged particle density is found to be between 0.4 and 0.6 and the mean transverse momentum, $\langle p_{T}\rangle$, between 0.5-0.7 GeV/$c$ for particles with $p_{T}$$>$0.2 GeV/$c$ at mid-pseudorapidity ($|η|$$<$1) and jet $p_{T}$$>$15 GeV/$c$. Both average particle density and $\langle p_{T}\rangle$ depend weakly on the leading jet $p_{T}$. Closer inspection of the Transverse region hints that contributions to the underlying event from initial- and final-state radiation are significantly smaller in these collisions than at the higher energies, up to 13 TeV, recorded at the LHC. Underlying event measurements associated with a high-$p_{T}$ jet will contribute to our understanding of QCD processes at hard and soft scales at RHIC energies, as well as provide constraints to modeling of underlying event dynamics.

nucl-ex↗

Superstructure-induced splitting of Dirac cones in silicene

Atomic scale engineering of two-dimensional materials could create devices with rich physical and chemical properties. External periodic potentials can enable the manipulation of the electronic band structures of materials. A prototypical system is 3x3-silicene/Ag(111), which has substrate-induced periodic modulations. Recent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements revealed six Dirac cone pairs at the Brillouin zone boundary of Ag(111), but their origin remains unclear [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, 14656 (2016)]. We used linear dichroism angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, the tight-binding model, and first-principles calculations to reveal that these Dirac cones mainly derive from the original cones at the K (K') points of free-standing silicene. The Dirac cones of free-standing silicene are split by external periodic potentials that originate from the substrate-overlayer interaction. Our results not only confirm the origin of the Dirac cones in the 3x3-silicene/Ag(111) system, but also provide a powerful route to manipulate the electronic structures of two-dimensional materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Discovery of Weyl nodal lines in a single-layer ferromagnet

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted great attention and spurred rapid development in both fundamental research and device applications. The search for exotic physical properties, such as magnetic and topological order, in 2D materials could enable the realization of novel quantum devices and is therefore at the forefront of materials science. Here, we report the discovery of two-fold degenerate Weyl nodal lines in a 2D ferromagnetic material, a single-layer gadolinium-silver compound, based on combined angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements and theoretical calculations. These Weyl nodal lines are symmetry protected and thus robust against external perturbations. The coexistence of magnetic and topological order in a 2D material is likely to inform ongoing efforts to devise and realize novel nanospintronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Quantum propulsion and trapping of nano-objects by inhomogeneity-induced lateral Casimir forces

Lateral Casimir force near a laterally-inhomogeneous plate is first revealed by both rigorous simulations and proximity approximations. The inhomogeneity-induced lateral Casimir force provides a novel method to control the lateral motion of nano-objects above the plate, and makes source-free manipulations of them possible. When incorporated with the Casimir repulsion in a fluid, the lateral Casimir force is shown to dominate over Brownian motion and enables long-distance quantum propulsion and firm quantum trapping of nano-objects. Gratings of varying filling factors to mimic micro-scale inhomogeneity also confirm those effects. The idea to design asymmetric distributions of nano-structures paves the way to sophisticated tailoring of the lateral Casimir force.

physics.optics↗

Reentrant Phase Coherence in Superconducting Nanowire Composites

The short coherence lengths characteristic of low-dimensional superconductors are associated with usefully high critical fields or temperatures. Unfortunately, such materials are often sensitive to disorder and suffer from phase fluctuations in the superconducting order parameter which diverge with temperature $T$, magnetic field $H$ or current $I$. We propose an approach to overcome synthesis and fluctuation problems: building superconductors from inhomogeneous composites of nanofilaments. Macroscopic crystals of quasi-one-dimensional Na$_{2-δ}$Mo$_6$Se$_6$ featuring Na vacancy disorder ($δ\approx$~0.2) are shown to behave as percolative networks of superconducting nanowires. Long range order is established via transverse coupling between individual one-dimensional filaments, yet phase coherence remains unstable to fluctuations and localization in the zero-($T$,$H$,$I$) limit. However, a region of reentrant phase coherence develops upon raising ($T$,$H$,$I$). We attribute this phenomenon to an enhancement of the transverse coupling due to electron delocalization. Our observations of reentrant phase coherence coincide with a peak in the Josephson energy $E_J$ at non-zero ($T$,$H$,$I$), which we estimate using a simple analytical model for a disordered anisotropic superconductor. Na$_{2-δ}$Mo$_6$Se$_6$ is therefore a blueprint for a future generation of nanofilamentary superconductors with inbuilt resilience to phase fluctuations at elevated ($T$,$H$,$I$).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Inhomogeneity-related cutoff dependence of the Casimir energy and stress

The cutoff dependence of the Casimir energy and stress is studied using the Green's function method for a system that is piecewise-smoothly inhomogeneous along one dimension. The asymptotic cylinder kernel expansions of the energy and stress are obtained, with some extra cutoff terms that are induced by the inhomogeneity. Introducing interfaces to the system one by one shows how those cutoff terms emerge and illuminates their physical interpretations. Based on that, we propose a subtraction scheme to address the problem of the remaining cutoff dependence in the Casimir stress in an inhomogeneous medium, and show that the nontouching Casimir force between two separated bodies is cutoff independent. The cancellation of the electric and magnetic contributions to the surface divergence near a perfectly conducting wall is found to be incomplete in the case of inhomogeneity.

physics.optics↗

Creating a zero-order resonator using an optical surface transformation

A novel zero-order resonator has been designed by an optical surface transformation (OST) method. The resonator proposed here has many novel features. Firstly, the mode volume can be very small (e.g. in the subwavelength scale). Secondly, the resonator is open (no reflecting walls are utilized) and resonant effects can be found in a continuous spectrum (i.e. a continuum of eigenmodes). Thirdly, we only need one homogenous medium to realize the proposed resonator. The shape of the resonator can be a ring structure of arbitrary shape. In addition to the natural applications (e.g. optical storage) of an optical resonator, we also suggest some other applications of our novel optical open resonator (e.g. power combination, squeezing electromagnetic energy in the free space).

physics.optics↗

Extending the scanning angle of a phased array antenna by using a null-space medium

By introducing a columnar null-space region as the reference space, we design a radome that can extend the scanning angle of a phased array antenna (PAA) by a predetermined relationship (e.g. a linear relationship between the incident angle and steered output angle can be achieved). After some approximation, we only need two homogeneous materials to construct the proposed radome layer by layer. This kind of medium is called a null-space medium, which has been studied and fabricated for realizing hyper-lenses and some other devices. Numerical simulations verify the performance of our radome.

physics.optics↗

Transforming magnets

Based on the form-invariant of Maxwell's equations under coordinate transformations, we extend the theory of transformation optics to transformation magneto-statics, which can design magnets through coordinate transformations. Some novel DC magnetic field illusions created by magnets (e.g. shirking magnets, cancelling magnets and overlapping magnets) are designed and verified by numerical simulations. Our research will open a new door to designing magnets and controlling DC magnetic fields.

physics.class-ph↗

Static magnetic field concentration and enhancement using magnetic materials with positive permeability

In this paper a novel compressor for static magnetic fields is proposed based on finite embedded transformation optics. When the DC magnetic field passes through the designed device, the magnetic field can be compressed inside the device. After it passes through the device, one can obtain an enhanced static magnetic field behind the output surface of the device (in a free space region). We can also combine our compressor with some other structures to get a higher static magnetic field enhancement in a free space region. In contrast with other devices based on transformation optics for enhancing static magnetic fields, our device is not a closed structure and thus has some special applications (e.g., for controlling magnetic nano-particles for gene and drag delivery). The designed compressor can be constructed by using currently available materials or DC meta-materials with positive permeability. Numerical simulation verifies good performance of our device.

physics.class-ph↗

Graphene nano-ribbon waveguides

Graphene as a one-atom-thick platform for infrared metamaterial plays an important role in optical science and engineering. Here we study the unique properties of some plasmonic waveguides based on graphene nano-ribbon. It is found that a graphene ribbon of finite width leads to the occurrence of coupled edge mode. The single-mode region of a single freestanding graphene ribbon is identified at a fixed frequency of 30 THz. A low-loss waveguide structure, consisting of a graphene layer, a silica buffer layer and silicon substrate is proposed to reduce the propagation loss and obtain a high figure of merit for future integration of waveguide devices. Furthermore, two coupled ribbon configurations, namely, side-side coupling and top-bottom coupling, are investigated. As a device example, a nano-ring cavity of ultra-small size is designed.

physics.optics↗

A concentrator for static magnetic field

We propose a compact passive device as a super-concentrator to create an extremely high uniform static magnetic field over 50T in a large two-dimensional free space from a weak background magnetic field. Such an amazing thing becomes possible for the first time, thanks to space-folded transformation and metamaterials for static magnetic fields. Finite element method (FEM) is utilized to verify the performance of the proposed device.

physics.optics↗

Amorphous Silicon Solar cells with a Core-Shell Nanograting Structure

We systematically investigate the optical behaviors of an amorphous silicon solar cell based on a core-shell nanograting structure. The horizontally propagating Bloch waves and Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP) waves lead to significant absorption enhancements and consequently short-circuit current enhancements of this structure, compared with the conventional planar one. The perpendicular carrier collection makes this structure optically thick and electronically thin. An optimal design is achieved through full-field numerical simulation, and physical explanation is given. Our numerical results show that this configuration has ultrabroadband, omnidirectional and polarization-insensitive responses, and has a great potential in photovoltaics.

physics.optics↗

Mode Coupling in a Tapered Slow Light Waveguide

Metamaterials with simultaneous negative permittivity and negative permeability (also called left-handed materials) open new avenues to achieving unprecedented physical properties and functionality unattainable with naturally occurring materials. It has been predicted that a metamaterial slab waveguide can slow down light significantly (even to zero velocity) as the thickness of the core layer approaches a critical thickness. Here we show that coupling between the forward and backward modes becomes significant near the critical thickness due to the good matching of the wavevectors and modal profiles of the two modes. Physical explanation and impact of this coupling are given.

physics.optics↗

Study of Hadron Scattering Using an Asymmetric Box

We propose to study hadron-hadron scattering using lattice QCD in an asymmetric box which allows one to access more non-degenerate low-momentum modes for a given volume. The conventional Lüscher's formula applicable in a symmetric box is modified accordingly. To illustrate the feasibility of this approach, pion-pion elastic scattering phase shifts in the I=2, J=0 channel are calculated within quenched approximation using improved gauge and Wilson fermion actions on anisotropic lattices in an asymmetric box. After the chiral and continuum extrapolation, we find that our quenched results for the scattering phase shifts in this channel are consistent with the experimental data when the three-momentum of the pion is below 300MeV. Agreement is also found when compared with previous theoretical results from lattice and other means. Moreover, with the usage of asymmetric volume, we are able to compute the scattering phases in the low-momentum range (pion three momentum less than about 350MeV in the center of mass frame) for over a dozen values of the pion three-momenta, much more than using the conventional symmetric box with comparable volume.

hep-lat↗

Nanoscale Lasers Based on Carbon Peapods

A scheme of nanoscale lasers based on the so-called carbon peapods is examined in details. Since there is considerable cylindrical empty space in the middle of a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT), it can serve as a laser resonant cavity that consists of two highly reflecting, alignment “mirrors” separated by some distance. These mirrors refer to the ordered arrays of C60 inside SWCNTs, which have photonic bandgap structures. Meanwhile, ideally single-mode lasers are supposed to be produced in the nanoscale resonant cavity.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗