Weak Coupling Constants Research Articles

Quantum vortex phases of charged pion condensates induced by rotation in a magnetic field

Using the relativistic complex scalar field model with a repulsive self-interaction, we discuss the ground state structure of charged pion condensation under the coexistence of parallel rotation and magnetic field. Our previous study found that the density distribution profile of the condensates is a supergiant quantum vortex phase and change with rotational speed and coupling constant. In this work, we further discover vortex lattice structures in the condensates under conditions of small rotation and strong coupling constant. This mechanism can be thought of as electrical superconductivity: Vortex lattices are created to better adapt to changes in rotation and interaction. Furthermore, large rotation and weak coupling constant are more likely to cause the vortex lattices to be destroyed and form a giant quantum vortex similar to a doughnut. We expect this phenomenon can be observed in the relativistic noncentral heavy ion collisions with large rotation and strong magnetic field. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Spirobifluorene Mediating the Spin–Spin Coupling of Nitronyl Nitroxide Diradicals

To investigate the mechanism of this spiro conjugation magnetic behavior, we designed and synthesized three diradicals─22'SBF-NN, 44'SBF-NN, and 27SBF-NN. They are bridged by spirobifluorene and nitronyl nitroxide (NN) diradicals as the spin centers. Notably, by SQUID and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) zero-field splitting data analyses, the 22'SBF-NN and 27SBF-NN diradicals exhibit intramolecular, distinctly antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling, with 2J(22'SBF-NN)/kB = -5.86 K and 2J(27SBF-NN)/kB = -24.6 K, respectively. The AF of 22'SBF-NN is opposite to that predicted by the spin density alternation rule based on Hund's rule. Diradical intramolecular conjugation coupling bridged by spiro-carbon conjugation is discussed, in which the 22'SBF-NN is smaller than that of 27SBF-NN, corresponding to the room-temperature EPR characterization. This spiro conjugation is weaker than the traditional planar conjugation and generally leads to a weaker spin-spin coupling in the helical biradical molecule. The EPR spectrum of the 44'SBF-NN diradical shows a deformed nine-line curve, indicating intramolecular exchange coupling. The density functional theory calculation gives a very weak coupling constant of 2Jcalc/kB = 0.06 K, with ferromagnetic (FM) interaction as the proof, which is consistent with the spin-polarized prediction. Further analysis of magnetic susceptibility χm and VT-EPR data shows that there is indeed an extremely weak FM interaction in the 44' position diradical. We find the bridge, which is a 44' substituted SBF structure, blocks the conjugation and contains a larger twist in steric hindrance, which also hampers sufficient spin density delocalization, resulting in a much weaker spin coupling interaction. Combined with the analysis of molecular orbital calculation results, the anomalous intramolecular AF coupling mechanism of 22'SBF-NN is further explained.

Double echo symmetry-based REDOR and RESPDOR pulse sequences for proton detected measurements of heteronuclear dipolar coupling constants

1H{X} symmetry-based rotational echo double resonance pulse sequences (S-REDOR) and symmetry-based rotational echo saturation pulse double resonance (S-RESPDOR) solid-state NMR experiments have found widespread application for 1H detected measurements of difference NMR spectra, dipolar coupling constants, and internuclear distances under conditions of fast magic angle spinning (MAS). In these experiments the supercycled R412 (SR412) symmetry-based recoupling pulse sequence is typically applied to the 1H spins to reintroduce heteronuclear dipolar couplings. However, the timing of SR412 and other symmetry-based pulse sequences must be precisely synchronized with the rotation of the sample, otherwise, the evolution of 1H CSA and other interactions will not be properly refocused. For this reason, significant distortions are often observed in experimental dipolar dephasing difference curves obtained with S-REDOR or S-RESPDOR pulse sequences. Here we introduce a family of double echo (DE) S-REDOR/S-RESPDOR pulse sequences that function in an analogous manner to the recently introduced t1-noise eliminated (TONE) family of dipolar heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (D-HMQC) pulse sequences. Through numerical simulations and experiments the DE S-REDOR/S-RESPDOR sequences are shown to provide dephasing difference curves similar to those obtained with S-REDOR/S-RESPDOR. However, the DE sequences are more robust to the deviations of the MAS frequency from the ideal value that occurs during typical solid-state NMR experiments. The DE sequences are shown to provide more reliable 1H detected dipolar dephasing difference curves for nuclei such as 15N (with isotopic labelling), 183W and 35Cl. The double echo sequences are therefore recommended to be used in place of conventional S-REDOR/S-RESPDOR sequences for measurement of weak dipolar coupling constants and long-range distances.

Modified strong-coupling treatment of a spin- 12 Heisenberg trimerized chain developed from the exactly solved Ising-Heisenberg diamond chain

Quantum spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg trimerized chain with strong intradimer and weak monomer-dimer coupling constants is studied using the novel many-body perturbation expansion, which is developed from the exactly solved spin-1/2 Ising-Heisenberg diamond chain preserving correlations between all interacting spins of the trimerized chain unlike the standard perturbation scheme developed on the grounds of noninteracting spin monomers and dimers. The Heisenberg trimerized chain shows the intermediate one-third plateau, which was also observed in the magnetization curve of the polymeric compound Cu$_3$(P$_2$O$_6$OH)$_2$ affording its experimental realization. Within the modified strong-coupling method we have obtained the effective Hamiltonians for the magnetic-field range from zero to one-third plateau, and from one-third plateau to the saturation magnetization. The second-order perturbation theory shows reliable results even for the moderate ratio between weaker dimer-monomer and stronger intradimer coupling constants. We have also examined thermodynamic properties and recovered the low-temperature peak in the specific heat. The accuracy of the developed method is tested through a comparison with numerical density-matrix renormalization group and quantum Monte Carlo simulations. Using the results for the effective Hamiltonian we suggest straightforward procedure for finding the microscopic parameters of one-dimensional trimerized magnetic compounds with strong intradimer and weak monomer-dimer couplings. We found the refined values for the coupling constants of Cu$_3$(P$_2$O$_6$OH)$_2$ by matching the theoretical results with the available experimental data for the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields.

Measurement of the neutron decay electron-antineutrino angular correlation by the aCORN experiment

The aCORN experiment measures the neutron decay electron-antineutrino correlation ($a$-coefficient) using a novel method based on an asymmetry in proton time-of-flight for events where the beta electron and recoil proton are detected in delayed coincidence. We report the data analysis and result from the second run at the NIST Center for Neutron Research, using the high-flux cold neutron beam on the new NG-C neutron guide end position: $a = -0.10758 \pm 0.00136 (\mbox{stat}) \pm 0.00148 (\mbox{sys})$. This is consistent within uncertainties with the result from the first aCORN run on the NG-6 cold neutron beam. Combining the two aCORN runs we obtain $a = -0.10782 \pm 0.00124 (\mbox{stat}) \pm 0.00133 (\mbox{sys})$, which has an overall relative standard uncertainty of 1.7 \%. The corresponding result for the ratio of weak coupling constants $\lambda = G_A/G_V$ is $\lambda = -1.2796\pm 0.0062$.

Synthesis, Structural Features and Physical Properties of a Family of Triply Bridged Dinuclear 3d-4f Complexes

New dinuclear MII-LnIII complexes of general formulas [Cu(µ-L)(µ-OAc)Ln(NO3)2]·CH3CN·H2O (LnIII = Gd (1), Tb (2), Dy (3) and Er (4)), [Ni(CH3CN)(µ-L)(µ-OAc)Ln(NO3)2]·CH3CN (LnIII = Nd (5), Gd (6), Tb (7), Dy (8), Er (9) and Y (10)) and [Co(CH3CN)(µ-L)(µ-OAc)Ln(NO3)2]·CH3CN (LnIII = Gd (11), Tb (12), Dy (13), Er (14) and Y (15)) were prepared from the compartmental ligand N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-3-formyl-5-bromo-benzyl)ethylenediamine (H2L). In all these complexes, the transition metal ions occupy the internal N2O2 coordination site of the ligand, whereas the LnIII ions lie in the O4 external site. Both metallic ions are connected by an acetate bridge, giving rise to triple mixed diphenoxido/acetate bridged MIILnIII compounds. Direct current (dc) magnetic measurements allow the study of the magnetic exchange interactions between the 3d and 4f metal ions, which is supported by density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations for the GdIII-based counterparts. Due to the weak ferromagnetic exchange coupling constants obtained both experimentally and theoretically, the magneto-thermal properties of the less anisotropic systems (compounds 1 and 6) are also studied. Alternating current (ac)magnetic measurements reveal the occurrence of slight frequency dependency of the out-of-phase signal for complexes 8, 9 and 13, while complex 15 displays well-defined maximums below ~6 K.

Dynamic chaos in the kicked “photon-qubit atom”

We study dynamics of a qubit coupled to a single photon mode in a high-quality resonator. For a weak coupling constant the qubit and photon form a long-lived bound state which may be called as a “photon-qubit atom”. We consider the stability and chaotic dynamics of the photon-qubit atom under the action of short electromagnetic pulses. The photon oscillator considered in the classical approximation. We plot the Poincare surface to indicate the appearance of the chaotic behaviour. It is shown that depending on the qubit and field parameters the system may be demonstrating the chaotic behaviour.

Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of redox active cyanide-bridged trinuclear Ru-M2 (M = Co, Ni, Cu) complexes

Three redox active cyanide-bridged trinuclear complexes trans-(DMAP)4Ru(μ-CN)2- [M(PY5Me2)]2[PF6]4 (M = Co (1), Ni (2), Cu (3)) {DMAP = 4-dimethylamino-pyridine, PY5Me2 = 2,6-bis(1,1-bis(2-pyridyl)ethyl)pyridine} were designed, synthesized and fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectrum, cyclic voltammetry and magnetic measurement. Due to the Jahn-Teller effect of CuII ion, the structure of compound 3 shows peculiar disordered configuration. Cyclic voltammograms show that compounds 1 and 2 possess redox-active Co and Ni centers except for the Ru center. Magnetic measurements show compound 1 behaves as paramagnetism with strong magnetic anisotropy of CoII ion and compound 2 has a very weak anti-ferromagnetic coupling constant, but compound 3 is only simple paramagnetism.

On uncorrelated inter-monomer Förster energy transfer in Fenna-Matthews-Olson complexes.

The Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) light-harvesting antenna protein of green sulfur bacteria is a long-studied pigment-protein complex which funnels energy from the chlorosome to the reaction centre where photochemistry takes place. The structure of the FMO protein from Chlorobaculum tepidum is known as a homotrimeric complex containing eight bacteriochlorophyll a per monomer. Owing to this structure FMO has strong intra-monomer and weak inter-monomer electronic coupling constants. While long-lived (sub-picosecond) coherences within a monomer have been a prevalent topic of study over the past decade, various experimental evidence supports the presence of subsequent inter-monomer energy transfer on a picosecond time scale. The latter has been neglected by most authors in recent years by considering only sub-picosecond time scales or assuming that the inter-monomer coupling between low-energy states is too weak to warrant consideration of the entire trimer. However, Förster theory predicts that energy transfer of the order of picoseconds is possible even for very weak (less than 5 cm-1) electronic coupling between chromophores. This work reviews experimental data (with a focus on emission and hole-burned spectra) and simulations of exciton dynamics which demonstrate inter-monomer energy transfer. It is shown that the lowest energy 825 nm absorbance band cannot be properly described by a single excitonic state. The energy transfer through FMO is modelled by generalized Förster theory using a non-Markovian, reduced density matrix approach to describe the electronic structure. The disorder-averaged inter-monomer transfer time across the 825 nm band is about 27 ps. While only isolated FMO proteins are presented, the presence of inter-monomer energy transfer in the context of the overall photosystem is also briefly discussed.

Neutron spin rotation measurements

The neutron spin rotation (NSR) collaboration used parity-violating spin rotation of transversely polarized neutrons transmitted through a 0.5 m liquid helium target to constrain weak coupling constants between nucleons. While consistent with theoretical expectation, the upper limit set by this measurement on the rotation angle is limited by statistical uncertainties. The NSR collaboration is preparing a new measurement to improve this statistically-limited result by about an order of magnitude. In addition to using the new high-flux NG-C beam at the NIST Center for Neutron Research, the apparatus was upgraded to take advantage of the larger-area and more divergent NG-C beam. Significant improvements are also being made to the cryogenic design. Details of these improvements and readiness of the upgraded apparatus are presented. We also comment on how recent theoretical work combining effective field theory techniques with the 1/Nc expansion of QCD along with previous NN weak measurements can be used to make a prediction for dϕ/dz in 4He. An experiment using the same apparatus with a room-temperature target was carried out at LANSCE to place limits on parity-conserving rotations from possible fifth-force interactions to complement previous studies. We sought this interaction using a slow neutron polarimeter that passed transversely polarized slow neutrons by unpolarized slabs of material arranged so that this interaction would tilt the plane of polarization and develop a component along the neutron momentum. The results of this measurement and its impact on the neutron-matter coupling gA2 from such an interaction are presented. The NSR collaboration is also preparing a new measurement that uses an upgraded version of the room-temperature target to be run on the NG-C beamline; and it is expected to constrain gA2 by at least two additional orders of magnitude for λc between 1 cm and 1 μm.

Using Nab to determine correlations in unpolarized neutron decay

The Nab experiment will measure the ratio of the weak axial-vector and vector coupling constants $\lambda=g_A/g_V$ with precision $\delta\lambda/\lambda\sim3\times10^{-4}$ and search for a Fierz term $b_F$ at a level $\Delta b_F<10^{-3}$. The Nab detection system uses thick, large area, segmented silicon detectors to very precisely determine the decay proton's time of flight and the decay electron's energy in coincidence and reconstruct the correlation between the antineutrino and electron momenta. Excellent understanding of systematic effects affecting timing and energy reconstruction using this detection system are required. To explore these effects, a series of ex situ studies have been undertaken, including a search for a Fierz term at a less sensitive level of $\Delta b_F<10^{-2}$ in the beta decay of $^{45}$Ca using the UCNA spectrometer.

Search for vector-boson resonances decaying to a top quark and bottom quark in the lepton plus jets final state in pp collisions at [formula omitted] with the ATLAS detector

A search for new charged massive gauge bosons, W′, is performed with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Data were collected in proton–proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of s=13 TeV and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb−1. This analysis searches for W′ bosons in the W′→tb¯ decay channel in final states with an electron or muon plus jets. The search covers resonance masses between 0.5 and 5.0 TeV and considers right-handed W′ bosons. No significant deviation from the Standard Model (SM) expectation is observed and upper limits are set on the W′→tb¯ cross section times branching ratio and the W′ boson effective couplings as a function of the W′ boson mass. For right-handed W′ bosons with coupling to the SM particles equal to the SM weak coupling constant, masses below 3.15 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level. This search is also combined with a previously published ATLAS result for W′→tb¯ in the fully hadronic final state. Using the combined searches, right-handed W′ bosons with masses below 3.25 TeV are excluded at the 95% confidence level.

Fast neutrino flavor conversion: Roles of dense matter and spectrum crossing

The flavor conversion of a neutrino usually occurs at densities $\lesssim G_F^{-1} \omega$, whether in the ordinary matter or the neutrino medium, and on time/distance scales of order $\omega^{-1}$, where $G_F$ is the Fermi weak coupling constant and $\omega$ is the vacuum oscillation frequency of the neutrino. In 2005 Sawyer and more recently both he and other groups have shown that neutrino flavor conversions can occur on scales much shorter than $\omega^{-1}$ in a very dense, anisotropic neutrino gas such as that in a core-collapse supernova or a binary neutron star merger. It has also been suggested that the fast neutrino flavor conversion require a crossing in the electron lepton number (ELN) angular distribution or spectrum. We study a few simple analytical models with which we elucidate the roles of the dense matter and the ELN spectrum crossing in neutrino fast flavor conversions. We show that a large matter density can induce fast neutrino flavor conversions in certain astrophysical scenarios such as at the early epoch of a core-collapse supernova.

Synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties and DFT calculations of a mononuclear copper(II) complex: Relevance of halogen bonding for magnetic interaction

The synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties and DFT calculations of a new mononuclear copper(II) complex containing a pyrazole-based ligand are reported. In the crystal structure of the [CuCl2L2] complex (L = Ethyl 5-amino-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate), a network of hydrogen bonds connects the molecular units in the crystal packing. The magnetic studies revealed predominant antiferromagnetic interactions among molecular units. Since there are multiple intermolecular contacts that can act as pathway for magnetic interactions, DFT calculations revealed the fundamental role of N–H⋯Cl short intermolecular contacts in magnetic behavior. Supported by DFT calculation, the magnetic data above 7.0 K was modeled as a regular Heisenberg chain (H=-2J∑i=1n-1S→Ai·S→Ai+1) resulting in a weak magnetic coupling constant (J) of −2.6 cm−1. Below this temperature, an unusual magnetic behavior for mononuclear copper(II) complexes was observed: divergence between zero-field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetic susceptibilities and magnetic hysteresis cycles at low temperatures attributed to spin canting along the chain.

New result for the neutron β -asymmetry parameter A0 from UCNA

The neutron $\beta$-decay asymmetry parameter $A_0$ defines the correlation between the spin of the neutron and the momentum of the emitted electron, which determines $\lambda=\frac{g_{A}}{g_{V}}$, the ratio of the axial-vector to vector weak coupling constants. The UCNA Experiment, located at the Ultracold Neutron facility at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, is the first to measure such a correlation coefficient using ultracold neutrons (UCN). Following improvements to the systematic uncertainties and increased statistics, we report the new result $A_0 = -0.12054(44)_{\mathrm{stat}}(68)_{\mathrm{syst}}$ which yields $\lambda\equiv \frac{g_{A}}{g_{V}}=-1.2783(22)$. Combination with the previous UCNA result and accounting for correlated systematic uncertainties produces $A_0=-0.12015(34)_{\mathrm{stat}}(63)_{\mathrm{syst}}$ and $\lambda\equiv \frac{g_{A}}{g_{V}}=-1.2772(20)$.

Improved description of the 2νββ -decay and a possibility to determine the effective axial-vector coupling constant

An improved formalism of the two-neutrino double-beta decay ($2\nu\beta\beta$-decay) rate is presented, which takes into account the dependence of energy denominators on lepton energies via the Taylor expansion. Till now, only the leading term in this expansion has been considered. The revised $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay rate and differential characteristics depend on additional phase-space factors weighted by the ratios of $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay nuclear matrix elements with different powers of the energy denominator. For nuclei of experimental interest all phase-space factors are calculated by using exact Dirac wave functions with finite nuclear size and electron screening. For isotopes with measured $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay half-life the involved nuclear matrix elements are determined within the quasiparticle random phase approximation with partial isospin restoration. The importance of correction terms to the $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay rate due to Taylor expansion is established and the modification of shape of single and summed electron energy distributions is discussed. It is found that the improved calculation of the $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay predicts slightly suppressed $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay background to the neutrinoless double-beta decay signal. Further, a novel approach to determine the value of effective weak-coupling constant in nuclear medium $g^{\rm eff}_{\rm A}$ is proposed.

Spectral shapes of forbidden argon β decays as background component for rare-event searches

The spectral shape of the electrons from the two first-forbidden unique decays of 39Ar and 42Ar were calculated for the first time to the next-to-leading order. Especially the spectral shape of the 39Ar decay can be used to characterize this background component for dark matter searches based on argon. Alternatively, due to the low thresholds of these experiments, the spectral shape can be investigated over a wide energy range with high statistics and thus allow a sensitive comparison with the theoretical predictions, in particular at low electron energies where the shape of the computed β spectrum has a slight dependence on the value of the weak axial-vector coupling constant.

To fit Fermi’s weak coupling constant with three gravitational constants

By considering three virtual gravitational constants assumed to be associated with gravitational, electromagnetic and strong interactions, Fermi’s weak coupling constant can be shown to be a natural manifestation of microscopic quantum gravity. As our approach is heuristic and completely different from the current methods of estimating the Newtonian gravitational constant, concerning the call of ‘Ideas lab 2016’ organized by NSF, we appeal for inclusion of this theoretical work as a project under the unification scheme. Estimated magnitudes of Fermi’s weak coupling constant and Newtonian gravitational constant are 1.44021X10(-62) J.m3 and 6.679856X10(-11) m3/kg/sec2 respectively.

Directions for model building from asymptotic safety

Building on recent advances in the understanding of gauge-Yukawa theories we explore possibilities to UV-complete the Standard Model in an asymptotically safe manner. Minimal extensions are based on a large flavor sector of additional fermions coupled to a scalar singlet matrix field. We find that asymptotic safety requires fermions in higher representations of SU(3)C × SU(2)L. Possible signatures at colliders are worked out and include R-hadron searches, diboson signatures and the evolution of the strong and weak coupling constants.

Electron-phonon coupling in topological surface states: The role of polar optical modes

The use of topological edge states for spintronic applications could be severely hampered by limited lifetimes due to intrinsic many-body interactions, in particular electron-phonon coupling. Previous works to determine the intrinsic coupling strength did not provide a coherent answer. Here, the electron-phonon interaction in the metallic surface state of 3D topological insulators is revised within a first principles framework. For the archetypical cases of Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3, we find an overall weak coupling constant of less than 0.15, but with a characteristic energy dependence. Derived electronic self-energies compare favorably with previous angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy results. The prevailing coupling is carried by optical modes of polar character, which is weakly screened by the metallic surface state and can be reduced by doping into bulk bands. We do not find any indication of a strong coupling to the A1g mode or the presence of a Kohn anomaly in the surface phonon spectrum. The weak intrinsic electron-phonon coupling guarantees long-lived quasiparticles at elevated temperatures.