Coherence Length Research Articles

Comparative analysis of phase coherence length in polycrystalline CdO films on two distinct substrates

The role of substrates in thin film growth encompasses structural and morphological characteristics which, as a consequence, can also affect electronic properties. This article reports studies on the structural, morphological, and magnetotransport properties of Cadmium Oxide (CdO) films grown on two distinct substrates, amorphous glass, and crystalline silicon, by spray pyrolysis technique. The crystallinity of CdO grown on Silicon (CdO/Si) is higher as compared to the CdO grown on glass (CdO/glass), although CdO/Si morphology presents a dome-like surface. In both cases, samples showed exponential behavior in the electrical resistance curves in the temperature ranges between 1.9 K to 300 K and negative magnetoresistance, due to the weak localization effect, for temperatures lower than 110 K. The highest electronic mobility for CdO/Si is attributed to the better crystallinity of the domes. The weak localization effect is correlated by the 3D Kawabata model, fitting the magnetoresistance curves to determine the phase coherence length over a temperature range of 4.2 K to 100 K. Despite the huge differences in the morphological and electrical properties, the linear behavior of temperature-dependent phase coherence length, attributed to the electron-electron interaction in this temperature range, is found to be independent of the employed substrate. This remarkable result indicates the potential application of the low-cost spray pyrolysis technique for producing high-speed photodetectors.

Drag on Cylinders Moving in Superfluid 3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^3$$\\end{document}He-B as the Dimension Spans the Coherence Length

Vibrating probes when immersed in a fluid can provide powerful tools for characterising the surrounding medium. In superfluid 3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^3$$\\end{document}He-B, a condensate of Cooper pairs, the dissipation arising from the scattering of quasiparticle excitations from a mechanical oscillator provides the basis of extremely sensitive thermometry and bolometry at sub-millikelvin temperatures. The unique properties of the Andreev reflection process in this condensate also assist by providing a significantly enhanced dissipation. While existing models for such damping on an oscillating cylinder have been verified experimentally, they are valid only for flows with scales much greater than the coherence length of 3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^3$$\\end{document}He, which is of the order of a hundred nanometres. With our increasing proficiency in fabricating nanosized oscillators, which can be readily used in this superfluid, there is a pressing need for the development of new models that account for the modification of the flow around these smaller oscillators. Here we report preliminary results on measurements of the damping in superfluid 3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^3$$\\end{document}He-B of a range of cylindrical nanosized oscillators with radii comparable to the coherence length and outline a model for calculating the associated drag.

On the generation of optical third-harmonic through quasi-phase-matching in quadratic nonlinear crystals

We investigate the simultaneous processes of optical frequency doubling and sum frequency generation in quasi-phase-matched quadratically nonlinear crystals. Specifically, we focus on lattices with domain thicknesses corresponding to the coherence lengths of the two cascaded parametric processes and explore the realistic scenario of a single crystal containing sequential domain segments, each independently satisfying quasi-phase-matching for optical frequency doubling and summing, respectively. We demonstrate that high conversion efficiencies to the third harmonic can be obtained from an arbitrary fundamental wavelength.

Evolution of current-carrying string networks

Cosmic string networks are expected to form in early Universe phase transitions via the Kibble mechanism and are unavoidable in several Beyond the Standard Model theories. While most predictions of observational signals of string networks assume featureless Abelian-Higgs or Nambu-Goto string networks, in many such extensions the networks can carry additional degrees of freedom, including charges and currents; these are often generically known as superconducting strings. All such degrees of freedom can impact the evolution of the networks and therefore their observational signatures. We report on the results of 20483 field theory simulations of the evolution of a current-carrying network of strings, highlighting the different scaling behaviours of the network in the radiation and matter eras. We also report the first numerical measurements of the coherence length scales for the charge and current and of the condensate equation of state, and show that the latter mainly depends on the expansion rate, with chirality occurring for the matter era. Qualitatively, the fact that the matter era is the optimal expansion rate for these networks to reach scaling is in agreement with recent analytic modelling.

Vertical Distribution of Optical Turbulence at the Peak Terskol Observatory and Mount Kurapdag

Atmospheric turbulence characteristics are essential in determining the quality of astronomical images and implementing adaptive optics systems. In this study, the vertical distributions of optical turbulence at the Peak Terskol observatory (43.27472°N 42.50083°E, 3127 m a.s.l.) using the Era-5 reanalysis and scintillation measurements are investigated. For the closest reanalysis grid node to the observatory, vertical profiles of the structural constant of the air refractive index turbulent fluctuations Cn2 were obtained. The calculated Cn2(z) vertical profiles are compared with the vertical distribution of turbulence intensity obtained from tomographic measurements with a Shack–Hartmann sensor. The atmospheric coherence length at the location of Terskol Peak was estimated. Using a combination of atmospheric models and paramaterization schemes of turbulence, Cn2(z) profiles at Mt. Kurapdag were obtained. The values of atmospheric coherence length at Peak Terskol are compared with estimated values of this length at the ten astronomical sites, including Ali, Lenghu and Daocheng.

Coherent exchange-coupled nonlocal Kondo impurities

Quantum dots exhibit a variety of strongly correlated effects, e.g., they can emulate localized magnetic impurities that form a Kondo singlet with their surrounding environment. Interestingly, in double-dot setups, such magnetic impurities couple to each other by direct Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction, which wins over the Kondo physics. In this work, we investigate a double-dot device where the dots are coupled via off-resonant ballistic modes, dubbed electronic cavity modes. Within this cavity-double-dot system, we study, using variational matrix product state techniques, the competition between Kondo formation and the combined coherent orbital hybridization and RKKY-like interaction that the cavity facilitates. Specifically, we find that Kondo can form on each dot individually whereby the cavity can either (i) destroy the Kondo via the RKKY that mediates a singlet state on the two dots, or (ii) lead to an exotic orbital macrsoscopic superposition of the Kondo forming on each of the dots. We dub the latter “Kondo cat”. En route to this key finding, we rigorously study the many-body phase diagram of the system, as well as compare it with the case of coupling the dots via an incoherent RKKY channel. The realization of a Kondo cat can facilitate applications in metrology, and reveal the spin coherence length in mesoscopic devices. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Superstrength permanent magnets with iron-based superconductors by data- and researcher-driven process design

Iron-based high-temperature (high-Tc) superconductors have good potential to serve as materials in next-generation superstrength quasipermanent magnets owing to their distinctive topological and superconducting properties. However, their unconventional high-Tc superconductivity paradoxically associates with anisotropic pairing and short coherence lengths, causing challenges by inhibiting supercurrent transport at grain boundaries in polycrystalline materials. In this study, we employ machine learning to manipulate intricate polycrystalline microstructures through a process design that integrates researcher- and data-driven approaches via tailored software. Our approach results in a bulk Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 permanent magnet with a magnetic field that is 2.7 times stronger than that previously reported. Additionally, we demonstrate magnetic field stability exceeding 0.1 ppm/h for a practical 1.5 T permanent magnet, which is a vital aspect of medical magnetic resonance imaging. Nanostructural analysis reveals contrasting outcomes from data- and researcher-driven processes, showing that high-density defects and bipolarized grain boundary spacing distributions are primary contributors to the magnet’s exceptional strength and stability.

Superfluidity in neutrino clusters

We study the formation of a superfluid condensate of neutrinos inside a neutrino cluster. The attractive interaction between neutrinos is mediated by a scalar boson which is lighter than a neutrino. We consider the appearance of neutrino bound states consisting of particles with oppositely directed spins. The gap equation for such a system is derived. Based on numerical simulations of the neutrino distribution in a cluster, we find the phase transition temperature and the coherence length inside such a cluster for various parameters of the system. The constraints on the parameters of the Yukawa interaction, resulting in the neutrino superfluidity, are derived. We obtain that the cosmic neutrino background can contribute to the superfluid condensate inside a neutrino cluster having realistic characteristics. The mechanism of the neutrino cluster cooling in the early universe, based on the plasmons Čerenkov radiation, is proposed.

The two critical temperatures conundrum in La$_{1.83}$Sr$_{0.17}$CuO$_4$

The in-plane and out-of-plane superconducting stiffness of La_{1.83}Sr_{0.17}CuO_4La1.83Sr0.17CuO4 rings appear to vanish at different transition temperatures, which contradicts thermodynamical expectation. In addition, we observe a surprisingly strong dependence of the out-of-plane stiffness transition on sample width. With evidence from Monte Carlo simulations, this effect is explained by very small ratio \alphaα of inter-plane over intra-plane Josephson couplings. For three dimensional rings of millimeter dimensions, a crossover from layered three dimensional to quasi one dimensional behavior occurs at temperatures near the thermodynamic transition temperature {T_{c}}Tc, and the out-of-plane stiffness appears to vanish below {T_{c}}Tc by a temperature shift of order \alpha L_a/{\xi^{\parallel}}αLa/ξ∥, where L_a/{\xi^{\parallel}}La/ξ∥ is the sample’s width over coherence length. Including the effects of layer-correlated disorder, the measured temperature shifts can be fit by a value of \alpha=4.1× 10^{-5}α=4.1×10−5, near {T_{c}}Tc, which is significantly lower than its previously measured value near zero temperature.

Ultra-robust informational metasurfaces based on spatial coherence structures engineering

Optical information transmission is vital in modern optics and photonics due to its concurrent and multi-dimensional nature, leading to tremendous applications such as optical microscopy, holography, and optical sensing. Conventional optical information transmission technologies suffer from bulky optical setup and information loss/crosstalk when meeting scatterers or obstacles in the light path. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally realize the simultaneous manipulation of the coherence lengths and coherence structures of the light beams with the disordered metasurfaces. The ultra-robust optical information transmission and self-reconstruction can be realized by the generated partially coherent beam with modulated coherence structure even 93% of light is recklessly obstructed during light transmission, which brings new light to robust optical information transmission with a single metasurface. Our method provides a generic principle for the generalized coherence manipulation on the photonic platform and displays a variety of functionalities advancing capabilities in optical information transmission such as meta-holography and imaging in disordered and perturbative media.

Localized Superconductivity in LaB6 Hexaboride with Dynamic Charge Stripes

Type II superconductivity with Tc ∼ 6 K is discovered in LaB6. The critical fields are determined and the estimates for the coherence length ξ(0) ∼ 240 Å, the Ginzburg−Landau parameter κGL ∼ 2, and the electron–phonon coupling constant λe−ph ≈ 0.75 are obtained. Precision X-ray diffraction studies at T = 30 K reveal three-dimensional charge-stripe structures in LaB6. The scenario of superconductivity localized near filamentary channels with a fluctuating electron density arising in the lanthanum hexaboride matrix is discussed.

Controllable Andreev Bound States in Bilayer Graphene Josephson Junctions from Short to Long Junction Limits.

We demonstrate that the mode number of Andreev bound states in bilayer graphene Josephson junctions can be modulated by controlling the superconducting coherence length insitu. By exploiting the quadratic band dispersion of bilayer graphene, we control the Fermi velocity and thus the coherence length via the application of electrostatic gating. Tunneling spectroscopy of the Andreev bound states reveals a crossover from short to long Josephson junction regimes as we approach the charge neutral point of the bilayer graphene. Furthermore, analysis of different mode numbers of the Andreev energy spectrum allows us to estimate the phase-dependent Josephson current quantitatively. Our Letter provides a new way for studying multimode Andreev levels by tuning the Fermi velocity.

Optical turbulence profiling at the Table Mountain Facility with the Laser Communication Relay Demonstration GEO downlink

We report the first measurement of the atmospheric optical turbulence profile using the transmitted beam from a satellite laser communication terminal. A ring image next generation scintillation sensor (RINGSS) instrument for turbulence profiling, as described in Tokovinin [MNRAS 502, 747 (2021)10.1093/mnras/staa4049], was deployed at the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Table Mountain Facility (TMF) in California. The optical turbulence profile was measured with the downlink optical beam from the Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) geostationary satellite. LCRD conducts links with the Optical Communication Telescope Laboratory ground station and the RINGSS instrument was co-located at TMF to conduct measurements. Turbulence profiles were measured at day and night and atmospheric coherence lengths were compared with other turbulence monitors such as a solar scintillometer and Polaris motion monitor. RINGSS sensitivity to boundary layer turbulence, a feature not provided by many profilers, is also shown to agree with a boundary layer scintillometer at TMF (R = 0.85). Diurnal evolution of optical turbulence and measured profiles are presented. The correlation of RINGSS with other turbulence monitors (R = 0.75 − 0.86) demonstrates the concept of free-space optical communications turbulence profiling, which could be adopted as a way to support optical ground stations in a future Geostationary feeder link network. These results also provide further evidence that RINGSS, a relatively new instrument concept, correlates well with other instruments in daytime and nighttime turbulence.

Active ballistic orbital transport in Ni/Pt heterostructure

Orbital current, defined as the orbital character of Bloch states in solids, can travel with larger coherence length through a broader range of materials than its spin counterpart, facilitating a robust, higher density and energy efficient information transmission. Hence, active control of orbital transport plays a pivotal role in the progress of the evolving field of quantum information technology. Unlike spin angular momentum, orbital angular momentum couples to phonon angular momentum efficiently via orbital-crystal momentum (L-k) coupling, allowing us to control orbital transport through crystal field potential mediated angular momentum transfer. Here, leveraging the orbital dependant efficient L-k coupling, we have experimentally demonstrated the active control of orbital current velocity in Ni/Pt heterostructure. We observe terahertz emission from Ni/Pt heterostructure via long-range ballistic orbital transport, as evidenced by the delay, and chirping in the emitted THz pulse correlating with increased Pt thickness. Additionally, we also have identified a critical energy density required to overcome collisions in orbital transport, enabling a swifter flow of orbital current. Femtosecond light driven active control of the ballistic orbital transport lays the foundation for the development of dynamic optorbitronics for transmitting information over extended distance.

Analysis of Constraints on the Remote Application of Inverse Synthetic Aperture Laser Radar.

In order to achieve the remote application of inverse synthetic aperture laser radar for high resolution spatial situational awareness, it is essential to analyze the main factors that restrict its remote application. This study combines the range equation of inverse synthetic aperture lidar with the stimulated Brillouin threshold power equation to investigate the variation of laser transmitting power with distance. Additionally, by utilizing the excited Brillouin threshold power equation, laser linewidth formula, and pulse width characteristics of pulse signal, we examine the variation law of laser coherence that meets corresponding power requirements at different distances. The results indicate that a detection distance of 22 km and below can be achieved using continuous fiber lasers without compensation. Coherence compensation is necessary for distances between 22 km and 57 km. For distances ranging from 57 km to 3000 km, pulsed solid-state lasers are used to analyze coherence and conclude that imaging non-cooperative targets within this range is feasible. It is observed that coherence compensation is required from 57 km to 2179 km, becoming more challenging after 2000 km. Furthermore, pulsed solid-state lasers can still be utilized for imaging cooperative targets within a range of 2179-3273 km; however, coherence compensation remains necessary and becomes increasingly difficult. Finally, several coherent length compensation schemes are proposed in order to extend the imaging range of inverse synthetic aperture LiDAR to approximately 3000 km.

Layer-Dependent Superconductivity in Iron-Based Superconductors CsCa2Fe4As4F2 and CaKFe4As4.

In the quasi-two-dimensional superconductor NbSe2, the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) is layer-dependent, decreasing by about 60% in the monolayer limit. However, for the extremely anisotropic copper-based high-Tc superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi-2212), the Tc of the monolayer is almost identical with that of its bulk counterpart. To clarify the effect of dimensionality on superconductivity, here, we successfully fabricate ultrathin flakes of iron-based high-Tc superconductors CsCa2Fe4As4F2 and CaKFe4As4. It is found that the Tc of monolayer CsCa2Fe4As4F2 (after tuning to the optimal doping by ionic liquid gating) is about 20% lower than that of the bulk crystal, while the Tc of three-layer CaKFe4As4 decreases by 46%, showing a more pronounced dimensional effect than that of CsCa2Fe4As4F2. By carefully examining their anisotropy and the c-axis coherence length, we reveal the general trend and empirical law of the layer-dependent superconductivity in these quasi-two-dimensional superconductors.

Aging properties of the voter model with long-range interactions

We investigate the aging properties of the one-dimensional voter model with long-range interactions in its ordering kinetics. In this system, an agent, Si=±1 , positioned at a lattice vertex i, copies the state of another one located at a distance r, selected randomly with a probability P(r)∝r−α . Employing both analytical and numerical methods, we compute the two-time correlation function G(r;t,s) ( t⩾s ) between the state of a variable Si at time s and that of another one, at distance r, at time t. At time t, the memory of an agent of its former state at time s, expressed by the autocorrelation function A(t,s)=G(r=0;t,s) , decays algebraically for α > 1 as [L(t)/L(s)]−λ , where L is a time-increasing coherence length and λ is the Fisher–Huse exponent. We find λ = 1 for α > 2, and λ=1/(α−1) for 1<α⩽2 . For α⩽1 , instead, there is an exponential decay, as in the mean field. Then, in contrast with what is known for the related Ising model, here we find that λ increases upon decreasing α. The space-dependent correlation G(r;t,s) obeys a scaling symmetry G(r;t,s)=g[r/L(s);L(t)/L(s)] for α > 2. Similarly, for 1<α⩽2 , one has G(r;t,s)=g[r/L(t);L(t)/L(s)] , where the length L regulating two-time correlations now differs from the coherence length as L∝Lδ , with δ=1+2(2−α) .

Transmission characteristics of partially coherent pin-like optical vortex beams in oceanic turbulence

Based on the Rytov approximation theory, the analytical formulae for the mode detection probability and channel capacity of the partially coherent pin-like optical (PCPO) vortex beams propagating in oceanic turbulence are obtained. The effects of light source parameters and oceanic turbulence parameters on the transmission characteristics of the PCPO vortex beams are analyzed in detail by numerical simulations. According to numerical results, a larger spatial coherence length of the partially coherent source endows the beams with a superior channel capacity performance while accompanied by a decrease in transmission robustness. Meanwhile, PCPO vortex beam with greater phase modulation power parameter and longer wavelength is conducive to enhancing the transmission quality through oceanic turbulence. In addition, the channel capacity of the system can be effectively augmented with the increase of the dissipation rate of kinetic energy per unit mass of fluid, the anisotropy factor, the inner scale radius and the decrease of the mean square temperature dissipation rate, the temperature-salinity contribution ratio. The results also indicate that PCPO vortex beam is a better candidate than Gaussian vortex beam for long-distance transmission. This paper provides a theoretical reference for studying an underwater communication link using PCPO vortex beams as the transmission carrier.

Spectrally Resolved Exciton Polarizability for Understanding Charge Generation in Organic Bulk Hetero-Junction Diodes.

Despite decades of research, the dominant charge generation mechanism in organic bulk heterojunction (BHJ) devices is not completely understood. While the local dielectric environments of the photoexcited molecules are important for exciton dissociation, conventional characterizations cannot separately measure the polarizability of electron-donor and electron-acceptor, respectively, in their blends, making it difficult to decipher the spectrally different charge generation efficiencies in organic BHJ devices. Here, by spectrally resolved electroabsorption spectroscopy, we report extraction of the excited state polarizability for individual donors and acceptors in a series of organic blend films. Regardless of the donor and acceptor, we discovered that larger exciton polarizability is linked to larger π-π coherence length and faster charge transfer across the heterojunction, which fundamentally explains the origin of the higher charge generation efficiency near 100% in the BHJ photodiodes. We also show that the molecular packing of the donor and acceptor influence each other, resulting in a synergetic enhancement in the exciton polarizability.

Penetration depth and critical fields in superconducting NbTi thin films grown by co-sputtering at room temperature

We present a study on the superconducting properties of 300 nm thick NbTi thin films grown by co-sputtering on silicon substrates at room temperature. The samples exhibit a Nb (50 at%) and Ti (50 at%) chemical composition, revealing a polycrystalline structure textured along the (110) axis of the body-centered cubic structure. The measured superconducting critical temperature (T c ) was 9.65 K, and the upper critical field extrapolated to zero temperature reached approximately 15 T, resulting in a coherence length at zero temperature of approximately 4.7 nm. The penetration depth was determined through local magnetic force microscopy measurements conducted at temperatures from 4.25 to 7 K. The obtained values range from (250 ± 15) nm at 4.25 K to (370 ± 20) nm at 7 K. Extrapolating these measurements to zero temperature, we obtained an estimated value of (230 ± 20) nm. To extend the performance and potential applications of NbTi, we additionally grew a 150 nm thick sample on flexible polyimide. In this case, we observed that the films preserved their superconducting properties, displaying a decrease in T c to 9.2 K and a similar upper critical field compared to samples grown on silicon. The feasibility of growing NbTi alloys at room temperature, with superconducting parameters comparable to or superior to metallic Nb for the upper critical field, renders this system promising for cryogenic applications, particularly in the development of high-performance electronic devices on both rigid and flexible substrates.