Ultraviolet Regime Research Articles

Renormalization group in six-derivative quantum gravity

The exact one-loop beta functions for the four-derivative terms (Weyl tensor squared, Ricci scalar squared and the Gauss-Bonnet) are derived for the minimal six-derivative quantum gravity (QG) theory in four spacetime dimensions. The calculation is performed by means of the Barvinsky and Vilkovisky generalized Schwinger-DeWitt technique. With this result we gain, for the first time, the full set of the relevant beta functions in a super-renormalizable model of QG. The complete set of renormalization group (RG) equations, including also those for the Newton and the cosmological constant, is solved explicitly in the general case and for the six-derivative Lee-Wick (LW) quantum gravity proposed in a previous paper by two of the authors. In the ultraviolet regime, the minimal theory is shown to be asymptotically free and describes free gravitons in Minkowski or (anti-) de Sitter ((A)dS) backgrounds, depending on the initial conditions for the RG equations. The ghostlike states appear in complex conjugate pairs at any energy scale consistently with the LW prescription. However, owing to the running, these ghosts may become tachyons. We argue that an extension of the theory that involves operators cubic in Riemann tensor may change the beta functions and hence be capable of overcoming this problem.

Deposition of conformal thin film coatings on sawtooth substrates using ion bombardment

When a nominally flat surface is bombarded with a broad ion beam at oblique incidence, nanoscale ripples often develop on the surface. For high angles of incidence, surfaces typically develop into a terraced form at the late stages of their time evolution. In the present work, this process is exploited to prevent unwanted smoothing of ordered terraced substrates during the deposition of thin films. A Si surface prepatterned with a 500 nm pitch binary grating structure was bombarded at oblique incidence by a low energy Xe+ ion beam to establish an ordered terraced topography. Subsequently, Si/SiO2 bilayers were deposited on the surface, and further oblique incidence Xe+ bombardment was performed following the deposition of each Si layer to re-establish the ordered terraced topography. Self-organized processes, such as in the present work, that only require exposure of a surface to a plasma or ion source have the potential to provide a simple and inexpensive route for fabricating large-area nanostructured surfaces. The presented procedure has potential applications in the fabrication of multilayer blazed gratings for use in the extreme ultraviolet or soft x-ray regimes.

Interaction of charged particles with a graphene monolayer modeled as a set of electronic oscillators

We assess the applicability of the oscillator model to evaluate the energy loss of a fast charged particle incident on graphene. We study the cases of a parallel and perpendicular trajectory of the particle. We focus on two frequency regimes for graphene’s electron response: the optical regime, which is dominated by two types of oscillators with non-dispersing frequencies in the ultraviolet regime, and the terahertz (THz) regime, which is dominated by a strongly dispersing sheet plasmon mode in doped graphene. In the latter regime, we invoke the kinematic resonance condition for a parallel trajectory, and we propose a method for averaging the energy loss for a perpendicular trajectory. We show that the oscillator model provides analytical expressions, which give results in generally good agreement with a dielectric-response approach to the same problem, even in the THz regime.

A review of high-resolution microscopic ghost imaging with a low-dose pseudothermal light.

High-resolution imaging is an important issue in various fields of scientific researches and engineering applications. Pseudothermal ghost imaging is one of the subfields of quantum imaging, providing new capabilities beyond conventional imaging methods. Also, it can provide a new viewpoint of imaging physical mechanisms. In this review, we explain the major ideas of pseudothermal ghost imaging, restricting the very important case of high-resolution imaging. We analyse the strategies which can significantly improve the image quality in pseudothermal ghost imaging. It may apply for merging it with common optical imaging methods in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) or X-ray spectral regime for driving the applications to a wider audience in bioscience and nano-physics.

Structural, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of new TiXY (X = F and Cl; Y = S, Se and Te) Janus monolayers: A first-principles study

Extensive investigations have been carried out to search for new multifunctional two-dimensional (2D) materials with intriguing electronic and magnetic properties. In this paper we investigate novel Janus monolayers using first-principles calculations, which may be created by halogenation of the titanium dichalcogenide (TiCh2) single layers. We employ the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method to solve the self-consistent Kohn–Sham equations. The exchange–correlation potentials are described with the Wu–Cohen scheme. Our simulations assert that the TiFSe, TiClS, and TiClSe monolayers show the half-metallicity, resulting from the metallic spin-up channel and semiconductor spin-down channel. In contrast the TiFS, TiFTe, and TiClTe layers exhibit metallic nature in both spin channels. Significant magnetization with total spin magnetic moments ranging from 0.812 to 1.010 μB may be obtained, which are produced mainly by the spin-polarization of the Ti-3d orbital. The absorption coefficient spectra suggest a wide band absorption from infrared to ultraviolet regimes, with large values of the order of 105/cm. Results obtained herein suggest that the TiXCh (X = F and Cl; Ch = S, Se and Te) may be prospective candidates for applications in nano spintronic and optoelectronic devices.

Orientation-Controlled Large-Area Epitaxial PbI2 Thin Films with Tunable Optical Properties.

Lead iodide (PbI2) as a layered material has emerged as an excellent candidate for optoelectronics in the visible and ultraviolet regime. Micrometer-sized flakes synthesized by mechanical exfoliation from bulk crystals or by physical vapor deposition have shown a plethora of applications from low-threshold lasing at room temperature to high-performance photodetectors with large responsivity and faster response. However, large-area centimeter-sized growth of epitaxial thin films of PbI2 with well-controlled orientation has been challenging. Additionally, the nature of grain boundaries in epitaxial thin films of PbI2 remains elusive. Here, we use mica as a model substrate to unravel the growth mechanism of large-area epitaxial PbI2 thin films. The partial growth leading to uncoalesced domains reveals the existence of inversion domain boundaries in epitaxial PbI2 thin films on mica. Combining the experimental results with first-principles calculations, we also develop an understanding of the thermodynamic and kinetic factors that govern the growth mechanism, which paves the way for the synthesis of high-quality large-area PbI2 on other substrates and heterostructures of PbI2 on single-crystalline graphene. The ability to reproducibly synthesize high-quality large-area thin films with precise control over orientation and tunable optical properties could open up unique and hitherto unavailable opportunities for the use of PbI2 and its heterostructures in optoelectronics, twistronics, substrate engineering, and strain engineering.

Characterization of angularly resolved EUV emission from 2-µm-wavelength laser-driven Sn plasmas using preformed liquid disk targets

The emission properties of tin plasmas, produced by the irradiation of preformed liquid tin targets by several-ns-long 2 µm-wavelength laser pulses, are studied in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) regime. In a two-pulse scheme, a pre-pulse laser is first used to deform tin microdroplets into thin, extended disks before the main (2 µm) pulse creates the EUV-emitting plasma. Irradiating 30- to 300 µm-diameter targets with 2 µm laser pulses, we find that the efficiency in creating EUV light around 13.5 nm follows the fraction of laser light that overlaps with the target. Next, the effects of a change in 2 µm drive laser intensity (0.6–1.8 × 1011 W cm−2) and pulse duration (3.7–7.4 ns) are studied. It is found that the angular dependence of the emission of light within a 2% bandwidth around 13.5 nm and within the backward 2π hemisphere around the incoming laser beam is almost independent of intensity and duration of the 2 µm drive laser. With increasing target diameter, the emission in this 2% bandwidth becomes increasingly anisotropic, with a greater fraction of light being emitted into the hemisphere of the incoming laser beam. For direct comparison, a similar set of experiments is performed with a 1 µm-wavelength drive laser. Emission spectra, recorded in a 5.5–25.5 nm wavelength range, show significant self-absorption of light around 13.5 nm in the 1 µm case, while in the 2 µm case only an opacity-related broadening of the spectral feature at 13.5 nm is observed. This work demonstrates the enhanced capabilities and performance of 2 µm-driven plasmas produced from disk targets when compared to 1 µm-driven plasmas, providing strong motivation for the use of 2 µm lasers as drive lasers in future high-power sources of EUV light.

ASASSN-14lp: two possible solutions for the observed ultraviolet suppression

ABSTRACT We test the adequacy of ultraviolet (UV) spectra for characterizing the outer structure of Type Ia supernova (SN) ejecta. For this purpose, we perform spectroscopic analysis for ASASSN-14lp, a normal SN Ia showing low continuum in the mid-UV regime. To explain the strong UV suppression, two possible origins have been investigated by mapping the chemical profiles over a significant part of their ejecta. We fit the spectral time series with mid-UV coverage obtained before and around maximum light by HST, supplemented with ground-based optical observations for the earliest epochs. The synthetic spectra are calculated with the one-dimensional MC radiative transfer code tardis from self-consistent ejecta models. Among several physical parameters, we constrain the abundance profiles of nine chemical elements. We find that a distribution of 56Ni (and other iron-group elements) that extends towards the highest velocities reproduces the observed UV flux well. The presence of radioactive material in the outer layers of the ejecta, if confirmed, implies strong constraints on the possible explosion scenarios. We investigate the impact of the inferred 56Ni distribution on the early light curves with the radiative transfer code turtls, and confront the results with the observed light curves of ASASSN-14lp. The inferred abundances are not in conflict with the observed photometry. We also test whether the UV suppression can be reproduced if the radiation at the photosphere is significantly lower in the UV regime than the pure Planck function. In this case, solar metallicity might be sufficient enough at the highest velocities to reproduce the UV suppression.

Multi-wavelength view of the galactic black-hole binary GRS 1716–249

The origins of X-ray and radio emissions during an X-ray binary outburst are comparatively better understood than those of ultraviolet, optical and infrared radiation. This is because multiple competing mechanisms peak in these mid-energy ranges. Ascertaining the true emission mechanism and segregating the contribution of different mechanisms, if present, is important for correct understanding of the energetics of the system and hence its geometry. We have studied the multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution of the galactic X-ray binary GRS 1716-249 ranging from near infrared (0.0005 keV) to hard X-rays (120 keV) using observations from AstroSat, Swift, and Mount Abu Infrared Observatory. Broadband spectral fitting suggests that the irradiated accretion disk dominates emission in ultraviolet and optical regimes. The near infrared emission exhibits some excess than the prediction of the irradiated disk model, which is most likely due to Synchrotron emission from jets as suggested by radio emission. Irradiation of the inner disk by the hard X-ray emission from the Corona also plays a significant role in accounting for the soft X-ray emission.

Impact of the ERF on the structure and evolution of SNRs

ABSTRACT We carry out 1D hydrodynamical simulations of the evolution of a spherically symmetric supernova remnant (SNR) subject to an external radiation field (ERF) that influences the cooling and heating rates of the gas. We consider homogeneous media with ambient hydrogen number densities nH, 0 of 0.1 and 1 cm−3 permeated by an average radiation field including the cosmic microwave, extragalactic, and Galactic backgrounds, attenuated by an effective column density NH, eff from 1018 to 1021 cm−2. Our results may be classified into two broad categories: at low NH, eff, the ERF presents little absorption in the ultraviolet (ionizing) regime, and all the ’unshielded’ cases feature an equilibrium temperature Teq ∼ 7000 K below which the ambient gas cannot cool further. In this scenario, the SNR develops a nearly isothermal shock profile whose shell becomes thicker over time. At higher NH, eff, the ERF is heavily absorbed in the UV range, yielding a roughly constant heating function for temperatures ≲ 104 K. These ‘shielded’ cases develop a thin, cold and dense shell throughout their evolution. Energy and momentum injection to the medium do not change significantly between both scenarios, albeit luminosity is higher and more uniformly distributed over the shell for unshielded SNR.

Symmetry Violation in Bichromatic Ionization by a Free-Electron Laser: Photoelectron Angular Distribution and Spin Polarization

A fundamental phenomenon of coherent control is investigated theoretically using the example of neon photoionization by the bichromatic field of a free-electron laser. A system exposed to coherent fields with commensurable frequencies loses some symmetry, which manifests itself in the angular distribution and spin polarization of the electron emission. We predict several such effects, for example, the violation of symmetry with respect to the plane perpendicular to the polarization vector of the second harmonic and the appearance of new components of spin polarization. Furthermore, we predict a very efficient control of spin polarization via manipulation of the phase between the harmonics. Experimental observation of these effects is accessible with modern free-electron lasers operating in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength regime.

Titan in Transit: Ultraviolet Stellar Occultation Observations Reveal a Complex Atmospheric Structure

Abstract Transit spectroscopy is a key tool for exoplanet atmospheric characterization. However, transit spectrum observations can be limited by aerosol extinction when gas opacities are weak. The ultraviolet wavelength range contains a variety of strong molecular and atomic features, potentially enabling gas species detection even when atmospheric hazes are present. To understand the interplay between aerosol extinction and ultraviolet molecular opacities, we investigate transmission through the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan during an occultation observed with the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (UVIS) on board NASA’s Cassini orbiter. We analyze the derived ultraviolet transit spectrum of Titan using exoplanet-relevant atmospheric retrieval models that both include and exclude treatments for hazes. Our retrieved gas column densities are consistent with previous studies analyzing UVIS occultation data. Despite the apparent haze impact on the underlying occultation data, our treatments fail to correctly characterize the haze in fits derived from simulated transit observations. This suggests that oversimplified haze parameterizations can hinder detection of atmospheric hazes in transit. Our work indicates that continued characterization of exoplanets in the ultraviolet wavelength regime can provide novel atmospheric constraints even if transit spectra are dominated by haze extinction at longer wavelengths.

Unconventional plasmonic sensitization of graphene in mid-infrared

Light–matter interaction in graphene can be engineered and substantially enhanced through plasmonic sensitization, which has led to numerous applications in photodetection, sensing, photocatalysis and spectroscopy. The majority of these designs have relied on conventional plasmonic materials such as gold, silver and aluminum. This limits the implementation of such devices to the ultraviolet and visible regimes of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, for many practical applications, including those relevant to security and defense, the development of new strategies and materials for sensing and detection of infra red (IR) light is crucial. Here we use surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), for direct visualization and estimation of enhanced light–matter interaction in graphene in the mid-IR regime, through sensitization by an unconventional plasmonic material. Specifically, we fabricate a hybrid device consisting of a single layer graphene and a two-dimensional array of nanodiscs of aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO), which is a highly doped semiconductor, exhibiting plasmonic resonance in the mid-IR. We find that the enhancement in the SERS signal of graphene is of similar magnitude to what has been achieved previously in the visible using conventional plasmonic materials. Our results establish the potential of such hybrid systems for graphene-based optical and optoelectronic applications in the mid-IR.

Asymptotic freedom and higher derivative gauge theories

The ultraviolet completion of gauge theories by higher derivative terms can dramatically change their behavior at high energies. The requirement of asymptotic freedom imposes very stringent constraints that are only satisfied by a small family of higher derivative theories. If the number of derivatives is large enough (n > 4) the theory is strongly interacting both at extreme infrared and ultraviolet regimes whereas it remains asymptotically free for a low number of extra derivatives (n ⩽ 4). In all cases the theory improves its ultraviolet behavior leading in some cases to ultraviolet finite theories with vanishing β-function. The usual consistency problems associated to the presence of extra ghosts in higher derivative theories may not harm asymptotically free theories because in that case the effective masses of such ghosts are running to infinity in the ultraviolet limit.

Strain-driven modulation of the electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of [formula omitted]-antimonene monolayer: A hybrid functional study

Electronic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of the β-antimonene (β-Sb) monolayer under the external biaxial strain effects are fully investigated through the first-principles calculations. The studied two-dimensional (2D) system is dynamically and structurally stable as examined via phonon spectrum and cohesive energy. At equilibrium, the β-Sb single layer exhibits an indirect band gap of 1.310 and 1.786 eV as predicted by the PBE and HSE06 functionals, respectively. Applying external strain may induce the indirect–direct gap transition and significant variation of the energy gap. The calculated optical spectra indicate the enhancement of the optical absorption in a wide energy range from infrared to ultraviolet as induced by the applied strain. In the visible and ultraviolet regime, the absorption coefficient can reach values as large as 82.700 (104/cm) and 91.458 (104/cm). Results suggest that the thermoelectric performance may be improved considerably by applying proper external strain with the figure of merit reaching a value of 0.665. Our work demonstrates that the external biaxial strains may be an effective method to make the β-Sb monolayer prospective 2D material for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications.

Correspondence between the twisted N=2 super-Yang-Mills and conformal Baulieu-Singer theories

We characterize the correspondence between the twisted $N=2$ super-Yang-Mills theory and the Baulieu-Singer topological theory quantized in the self-dual Landau gauges. While the first is based on an on-shell supersymmetry, the second is based on an off-shell Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin symmetry. Because of the equivariant cohomology, the twisted $N=2$ in the ultraviolet regime and Baulieu-Singer theories share the same observables, the Donaldson invariants for 4-manifolds. The triviality of the Gribov copies in the Baulieu-Singer theory in these gauges shows that working in the instanton moduli space on the twisted $N=2$ side is equivalent to working in the self-dual gauges on the Baulieu-Singer one. After proving the vanishing of the $\beta$ function in the Baulieu-Singer theory, we conclude that the twisted $N=2$ in the ultraviolet regime, in any Riemannian manifold, is correspondent to the Baulieu-Singer theory in the self-dual Landau gauges -- a conformal gauge theory defined in Euclidean flat space.

Band gap and emission wavelength tuning of Sr-doped BaTiO3 (BST) perovskites for high-efficiency visible-light emitters and solar cells

A numerical full-potential linearized augmented plane method within density functional theory is performed to study the electronic structure include, energy band gap, total and partial density of states and chemical bonding as well as optical constants of Ba1−xSrxTiO3 (BST) (0≤ x ≤ 1) crystalizes in the paraelectric and ferroelectric phases. Results obtained using the improved [Koller-Tran-Blaha]-mBJ potential show excellent agreement with the experimental data. It is observed that the band gap in BST crystals increases with increasing Sr dopants due to the resonant interaction of O_2p orbitals mixed with co-doping Sr_4d states with the top of the valence band. BST exhibits a direct band gap at x range ~0.04–0.88 covering the wavelengths range ~397–436 nm within the visible spectrum region. The dielectric functions and optical constants such as refractive index, reflectivity and absorption coefficient are computed for radiation range 0–10 eV in comparison with measured data. The critical-point energies in various optical spectra are due to interband transitions from occupied O_2p states and little admixture of Sr_4p/d and Ba_4p orbitals localize in the top of the valence band to unoccupied Ti_3d, Sr_4p, and Ba_4d orbitals localize in the bottom of the conduction band. Excellent ultraviolet absorption (~4–8 eV) and visible regime transparency are achieved. BaSrTiO3 (BST) perovskite is a promising candidate for manufacturing low-cost high-efficiency solar cells and designing of novel sources of light operating in the visible spectrum region.

Biomass and Leaf Acclimations to Ultraviolet Solar Radiation in Juvenile Plants of Coffea arabica and C. canephora.

Despite the negative impacts of increased ultraviolet radiation intensity on plants, these organisms continue to grow and produce under the increased environmental UV levels. We hypothesized that ambient UV intensity can generate acclimations in plant growth, leaf morphology, and photochemical functioning in modern genotypes of Coffea arabica and C. canephora. Coffee plants were cultivated for ca. six months in a mini greenhouse under either near ambient (UVam) or reduced (UVre) ultraviolet regimes. At the plant scale, C. canephora was substantially more impacted by UVam when compared to C. arabica, investing more carbon in all juvenile plant components than under UVre. When subjected to UVam, both species showed anatomic adjustments at the leaf scale, such as increases in stomatal density in C. canephora, at the abaxial and adaxial cuticles in both species, and abaxial epidermal thickening in C. arabica, although without apparent impact on the thickness of palisade and spongy parenchyma. Surprisingly, C. arabica showed more efficient energy dissipation mechanism under UVam than C. canephora. UVam promoted elevated protective carotenoid content and a greater use of energy through photochemistry in both species, as reflected in the photochemical quenching increases. This was associated with an altered chlorophyll a/b ratio (significantly only in C. arabica) that likely promoted a greater capability to light energy capture. Therefore, UV levels promoted different modifications between the two Coffea sp. regarding plant biomass production and leaf morphology, including a few photochemical differences between species, suggesting that modifications at plant and leaf scale acted as an acclimation response to actual UV intensity.

Local Nets of Von Neumann Algebras in the Sine\u2013Gordon Model

The Haag–Kastler net of local von Neumann algebras is constructed in the ultraviolet finite regime of the Sine–Gordon model, and its equivalence with the massive Thirring model is proved. In contrast to other authors, we do not add an auxiliary mass term, and we work completely in Lorentzian signature. The construction is based on the functional formalism for perturbative Algebraic Quantum Field Theory together with estimates originally derived within Constructive Quantum Field Theory and adapted to Lorentzian signature. The paper extends previous work by two of us.

Improved gas-jet based extreme ultraviolet, soft X-ray laser plasma source.

We present a new nozzle design for an improved brilliance of laser-produced gas plasmas emitting in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet spectral regime. A rotationally asymmetric gas jet is formed by employing two closely adjacent nozzles facing each other under the angle of 45°. The generated three-dimensional gas density distribution is tomographically analyzed using a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor. A comparison with numerical simulations accomplishes an optimization of the nozzle arrangement. The colliding gas jets create an optimized gas distribution with increased density, leading to a significant brilliance enhancement of the extreme ultraviolet, soft X-ray plasma.