Rapid Neutrino Cooling in the Neutron Star MXB 1659-29.

We show that the neutron star in the transient system MXB 1659-29 has a core neutrino luminosity that substantially exceeds that of the modified Urca reactions (i.e., n+n→n+p+e^{-}+ν[over ¯]_{e} and inverse) and is consistent with the direct Urca (n→p+e^{-}+ν[over ¯]_{e} and inverse) reaction occurring in a small fraction of the core.

Quantitative Tomography for Continuous Variable Quantum Systems.

We present a continuous variable tomography scheme that reconstructs the Husimi Q function (Wigner function) by Lagrange interpolation, using measurements of the Q function (Wigner function) at the Padua points, conjectured to be optimal sampling points for two dimensional reconstruction. Our approach drastically reduces the number of measurements required compared to using equidistant points on a regular grid, although reanalysis of such experiments is possible. The reconstruction algorithm produces a reconstructed function with exponentially decreasing error and quasilinear runtime in the number of Padua points.

Enhancing Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics via Antisqueezing: Synthetic Ultrastrong Coupling.

We present and analyze a method where parametric (two-photon) driving of a cavity is used to exponentially enhance the light-matter coupling in a generic cavity QED setup, with time-dependent control. Our method allows one to enhance weak-coupling systems, such that they enter the strong coupling regime (where the coupling exceeds dissipative rates) and even the ultrastrong coupling regime (where the coupling is comparable to the cavity frequency). As an example, we show how the scheme allows one to use a weak-coupling system to adiabatically prepare the highly entangled ground state of the ultrastrong coupling system.

Is electroweak baryogenesis dead?

Electroweak baryogenesis is severely challenged in its traditional settings: the minimal supersymmetric standard model, and in more general two Higgs doublet models. Fine tuning of parameters is required, or large couplings leading to a Landau pole at scales just above the new physics introduced. The situation is somewhat better in models with a singlet scalar coupling to the Higgs so as to give a strongly first-order phase transition due to a tree-level barrier, but even in this case no UV complete models had been demonstrated to give successful baryogenesis.

Two-component structural phase-field crystal models for graphene symmetries.

We extend the three-point XPFC model of Seymour & Provatas (Seymour & Provatas 2016 , 035447 (doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.93.

Impact of vacuum stability, perturbativity and XENON1T on global fits of and scalar singlet dark matter.

Scalar singlet dark matter is one of the simplest and most predictive realisations of the WIMP (weakly-interacting massive particle) idea. Although the model is constrained from all directions by the latest experimental data, it still has viable regions of parameter space. Another compelling aspect of scalar singlets is their ability to stabilise the electroweak vacuum.

Generation of 1/f noise from a broken-symmetry model for the arbitrary absolute pitch of musical melodies.

A model is presented to generate power spectrum noise with intensity proportional to 1/f  as a function of frequency f. The model arises from a broken-symmetry variable, which corresponds to absolute pitch, where fluctuations occur in an attempt to restore that symmetry, influenced by interactions in the creation of musical melodies.

Multi-scale quantification of tissue behavior during amniote embryo axis elongation.

Embryonic axis elongation is a complex multi-tissue morphogenetic process responsible for the formation of the posterior part of the amniote body. How movements and growth are coordinated between the different posterior tissues (e.g.

Quantum Synchronization Blockade: Energy Quantization Hinders Synchronization of Identical Oscillators.

Classically, the tendency towards spontaneous synchronization is strongest if the natural frequencies of the self-oscillators are as close as possible. We show that this wisdom fails in the deep quantum regime, where the uncertainty of amplitude narrows down to the level of single quanta. Under these circumstances identical self-oscillators cannot synchronize and detuning their frequencies can actually help synchronization.

Measuring Spatially Resolved Collective Ionic Transport on Lithium Battery Cathodes Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

One of the main challenges in improving fast charging lithium-ion batteries is the development of suitable active materials for cathodes and anodes. Many materials suffer from unacceptable structural changes under high currents and/or low intrinsic conductivities. Experimental measurements are required to optimize these properties, but few techniques are able to spatially resolve ionic transport properties at small length scales.

A general method for baseline-removal in ultrafast electron powder diffraction data using the dual-tree complex wavelet transform.

The general problem of background subtraction in ultrafast electron powder diffraction (UEPD) is presented with a focus on the diffraction patterns obtained from materials of moderately complex structure which contain many overlapping peaks and effectively no scattering vector regions that can be considered exclusively background. We compare the performance of background subtraction algorithms based on discrete and dual-tree complex (DTCWT) wavelet transforms when applied to simulated UEPD data on the M1-R phase transition in VO with a time-varying background. We find that the DTCWT approach is capable of extracting intensities that are accurate to better than 2% across the whole range of scattering vector simulated, effectively independent of delay time.

Quantum state readout of individual quantum dots by electrostatic force detection.

Electric charge detection by atomic force microscopy (AFM) with single-electron resolution (e-EFM) is a promising way to investigate the electronic level structure of individual quantum dots (QDs). The oscillating AFM tip modulates the energy of the QDs, causing single electrons to tunnel between QDs and an electrode. The resulting oscillating electrostatic force changes the resonant frequency and damping of the AFM cantilever, enabling electrometry with a single-electron sensitivity.

Status of the scalar singlet dark matter model.

One of the simplest viable models for dark matter is an additional neutral scalar, stabilised by a symmetry. Using the GAMBIT package and combining results from four independent samplers, we present Bayesian and frequentist global fits of this model. We vary the singlet mass and coupling along with 13 nuisance parameters, including nuclear uncertainties relevant for direct detection, the local dark matter density, and selected quark masses and couplings.

Bootstrapping a Five-Loop Amplitude Using Steinmann Relations.

The analytic structure of scattering amplitudes is restricted by Steinmann relations, which enforce the vanishing of certain discontinuities of discontinuities. We show that these relations dramatically simplify the function space for the hexagon function bootstrap in planar maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. Armed with this simplification, along with the constraints of dual conformal symmetry and Regge exponentiation, we obtain the complete five-loop six-particle amplitude.

Sensitivity measurement of a cantilever-based surface stress sensor.

A detailed analysis of the temporal surface stress evolution for potential-driven adsorption of ions is discussed. A gold-coated cantilever is used to simultaneously measure the change in surface stress as well as the current response during an applied potential step. In this electrochemical configuration, the cantilever acts as the working electrode, a platinum wire as the counter electrode, and the Ag/AgCl (sat.

Quantum Backaction Evading Measurement of Collective Mechanical Modes.

The standard quantum limit constrains the precision of an oscillator position measurement. It arises from a balance between the imprecision and the quantum backaction of the measurement. However, a measurement of only a single quadrature of the oscillator can evade the backaction and be made with arbitrary precision.

Selective in situ potential-assisted SAM formation on multi electrode arrays.

The selective modification of individual components in a biosensor array is challenging. To address this challenge, we present a generalizable approach to selectively modify and characterize individual gold surfaces in an array, in an in situ manner. This is achieved by taking advantage of the potential dependent adsorption/desorption of surface-modified organic molecules.

Customized MFM probes with high lateral resolution.

Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) is a widely used technique for magnetic imaging. Besides its advantages such as the high spatial resolution and the easy use in the characterization of relevant applied materials, the main handicaps of the technique are the lack of control over the tip stray field and poor lateral resolution when working under standard conditions. In this work, we present a convenient route to prepare high-performance MFM probes with sub-10 nm (sub-25 nm) topographic (magnetic) lateral resolution by following an easy and quick low-cost approach.

Speeding up Adiabatic Quantum State Transfer by Using Dressed States.

We develop new pulse schemes to significantly speed up adiabatic state transfer protocols. Our general strategy involves adding corrections to an initial control Hamiltonian that harness nonadiabatic transitions. These corrections define a set of dressed states that the system follows exactly during the state transfer.

Phase-field model for collective cell migration.

We construct a phase-field model for collective cell migration based on a Ginzburg-Landau free-energy formulation. We model adhesion, surface tension, repulsion, coattraction, and polarization, enabling us to follow the cells' morphologies and the effect of their membranes fluctuations on collective motion. We were able to measure the tissue surface tension as a function of the individual cell cortical tension and adhesion and identify a density threshold for cell-sheet formation.

Enhanced nonlinear interactions in quantum optomechanics via mechanical amplification.

The quantum nonlinear regime of optomechanics is reached when nonlinear effects of the radiation pressure interaction are observed at the single-photon level. This requires couplings larger than the mechanical frequency and cavity-damping rate, and is difficult to achieve experimentally. Here we show how to exponentially enhance the single-photon optomechanical coupling strength using only additional linear resources.

Adsorption of PTCDA and C₆₀ on KBr(001): electrostatic interaction versus electronic hybridization.

The adsorption of functional molecules on insulator surfaces is of great interest to molecular and organic electronics. Here, we present a systematic investigation of the geometric and electronic properties of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic-3,4,9,10-dianhydride (PTCDA) and C60 on KBr(001) using density functional theory and non-contact atomic force microscopy to reveal the interplay of interactions between aromatic molecules and insulating substrates. Energetic and structural details are discussed, as well as electronic structures, e.

Topological phase transitions and chiral inelastic transport induced by the squeezing of light.

There is enormous interest in engineering topological photonic systems. Despite intense activity, most works on topological photonic states (and more generally bosonic states) amount in the end to replicating a well-known fermionic single-particle Hamiltonian. Here we show how the squeezing of light can lead to the formation of qualitatively new kinds of topological states.

Experimental evidence of weak excluded volume effects for nanochannel confined DNA.

We present experimental demonstration that weak excluded volume effects arise in DNA nanochannel confinement. In particular, by performing measurements of the variance in chain extension as a function of nanochannel dimension for effective channel size ranging from 305 nm to 453 nm, we show that the scaling of the variance in extension with channel size rejects the de Gennes scaling ~ in favor of ~ using uncertainty at the 95% confidence level. We also show how simulations and confinement spectroscopy can be combined to reduce molecular weight dispersity effects arising from shearing, photocleavage, and nonuniform staining of DNA.

Fast Quantum Nondemolition Readout by Parametric Modulation of Longitudinal Qubit-Oscillator Interaction.

We show how to realize fast and high-fidelity quantum nondemolition qubit readout using longitudinal qubit-oscillator interaction. This is accomplished by modulating the longitudinal coupling at the cavity frequency. The qubit-oscillator interaction then acts as a qubit-state dependent drive on the cavity, a situation that is fundamentally different from the standard dispersive case.