Flexible Low-Temperature Zinc Ion Hybrid Capacitor with Ultra-long Cycle Life Based on Fe-MnO Electrode.

Zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) are expected to become the next generation of energy storage devices, highly anticipated for their battery-like performance and lower cost. However, because of their unmanageable structural deformation and inadequate cycling capabilities, they face significant difficulties and challenges in practical production and applications. In this paper, we developed and assembled a flexible solid-state zinc ion hybrid capacitor, which utilizes a gel electrolyte, activated carbon (AC) as the anode, and porous Fe doped MnO (Fe-MnO) as the cathode.

Hollow metal tubes for efficient electron manipulation using terahertz surface waves.

Compact electron sources have been instrumental in multidiscipline sciences including fundamental physics, oncology treatments, and advanced industries. Of particular interest is the terahertz-driven electron manipulation that holds great promise for an efficient high gradient of multi-GeV/m inside a regular dielectric-lined waveguide (DLW). The recent study relying on terahertz surface waves has demonstrated both high terahertz energy and improved coupling efficiency with the DLW.

Coherent surface plasmon polariton amplification via free-electron pumping.

Surface plasmonics with its unique confinement of light is expected to be a cornerstone for future compact radiation sources and integrated photonics devices. The energy transfer between light and matter is a defining aspect that underlies recent studies on optical surface-wave-mediated spontaneous emissions. However, coherent stimulated emission of free electrons, which is essential for free-electron light sources, and its dynamical amplification process remain to be disclosed in a clear, unambiguous and calibrated manner.

Generation of electromagnetic solitons with angular momentum.

The optical vortex has been widely studied owing to its specific characteristics such as the orbital angular momentum, hollow intensity distribution, and topological charge. We report the generation of electromagnetic solitons with angular momentum and the conversion of angular momentum via a circularly polarized (CP) laser and underdense plasma interactions on the basis of three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We find that when a CP laser is incident into the underdense plasma, a longitudinal current will be induced off the laser axis, which is critical for the angular momentum conversion.

Guiding and emission of milijoule single-cycle THz pulse from laser-driven wire-like targets.

The miscellaneous applications of terahertz have called for an urgent demand of a super intense terahertz source. Here, we demonstrate the capability of femtosecond laser-driven wires as an efficient ultra-intense terahertz source using 700 mJ laser pulses. When focused onto a wire target, coherent THz generation took place in the miniaturized gyrotron-like undulator where emitted electrons move in the radial electric field spontaneously created on wire surface.

Self-Organized Kilotesla Magnetic-Tube Array in an Expanding Spherical Plasma Irradiated by kHz Femtosecond Laser Pulses.

By using a millijoule kHz femtosecond laser pulse to irradiate a preformed expanding spherical plasma, which is driven by a prepulse with intensity of 1×10^{14}  W/cm^{2}, we observe fast-electron-mediated filamentary structures and an accompanying self-organized magnetic-tube array with 2000 T via time-resolved magneto-optical polarization rotation measurements. We reveal that these periodical filamentary structures predominantly originate from ejected energetic electron flows from the inner denser region of the spherical plasma, which will induce the electron Weibel instability and magnetic field organization and amplification in the expanding plasma in 2 ps. These results open new paths to investigate amplification of intense magnetic fields and the radiation signature from gamma-ray bursts just by means of a much smaller and robust experimental platform.

Corona discharge induced snow formation in a cloud chamber.

Artificial rainmaking is in strong demand especially in arid regions. Traditional methods of seeding various Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) into the clouds are costly and not environment friendly. Possible solutions based on ionization were proposed more than 100 years ago but there is still a lack of convincing verification or evidence.

Picosecond laser-induced water condensation in a cloud chamber.

We investigated water condensation in a laboratory cloud chamber induced by picosecond (ps) laser pulses at ~350 ps (800 nm/1-1000 Hz) with a maximum peak power of ~25 MW. The peak power was much lower than the critical power for self-focusing in air (~3-10 GW depending on the pulse duration). Sparks, airflow and snow formation were observed under different laser energies or repetition rates.