A simple route to prepare supramolecular block copolymers using telechelic polystyrene/polydimethyls
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Obando, Alejandro Guillen↗
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Near surface defects: Cause of deficit between internal and external open-circuit voltage in solar cells
The presence of interface recombination in a complex multilayered thin-film solar structure causes a disparity between the internal open-circuit voltage (V OC,in ), measured by photoluminescence, and the external open-circuit voltage (V OC,ex ) i.e. an additional V OC deficit. Higher V OC,ex value aim require a comprehensive understanding of connection between V OC deficit and interface recombination. Here, a deep near-surface defect model at the absorber/buffer interface is developed for copper indium di-selenide solar cells grown under Cu excess conditions to explain the disparity between V OC ,in and V OC,ex . The model is based on experimental analysis of admittance spectroscopy and deep-level transient spectroscopy, which show the signature of deep acceptor defect. Further, temperature-dependent current-voltage measurements confirm the presence of near surface defects as the cause of interface recombination. The numerical simulations show strong decrease in the local V OC ,in near the absorber/buffer interface leading to a V OC deficit in the device. This loss mechanism leads to interface recombination without a reduced interface bandgap or Fermi level pinning. Further, these findings demonstrate that the V OC ,in measurements alone can be inconclusive and might conceal the information on interface recombination pathways, establishing the need for complementary techniques like temperature dependent current voltage measurements to identify the cause of interface recombination in the devices.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
A thermodynamic evaluation of metal halides for the recrystallization of Cu(In,Ga)Se 2
CdTe films are deposited at low temperatures and recrystallized to photovoltaic device quality using CdCl 2 treatments, leading to competitive manufacturing costs. Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) typically requires high-temperature, low-rate depositions to produce high-efficiency devices, resulting in higher costs. A similar metal halide treatment of CIGS has been demonstrated by us previously for some metal halide sources. To understand and optimize the process, a thermodynamic evaluation of candidate metal halides for such treatments is presented as a guide for their selection. By comparing bond dissociation energies, mono- and di-halide compounds are proposed to be ideal compounds to act as transport agents. Known recrystallization and temperature reduction benefits by Ag alloying suggests that Ag-halides should be used to aid transport of all species. The high vapor pressure and mobility of Ga compounds still poses a problem for metal halide treatment resulting in Ga etching and removal of intentional Ga gradients. Less severe but similar issues with In compounds may occur. As a result, Cu compounds have low vapor pressures which may limit transport, however, Cu is highly mobile in CIGS and recrystallization still occurs.
14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
Chain extension epoxide polymerization to well‐defined block polymers using a N‐Al Lewis pair catalyst
Block polyethers comprised of poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEG or PEO) segments form the basis of ABA-type PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO poloxamer materials. The inverse architecture with an internal hydrophilic PEO segment flanked by hydrophobic blocks can be difficult to prepare with control of architecture by use of traditional anionic polymerization. These oxyanionic polymerizations are plagued by chain-transfer-to-monomer side reactions that occur with substituted epoxides such as propylene oxide (PO). Herein, we report a new method for the preparation of block polymers through a controlled polymerization involving a N-Al Lewis adduct catalyst and an aluminum alkoxide macroinitiator. The Lewis pair catalyst was able to chain-extend commercial PEO macroinitiators to prepare di-, tri-, and pentablock polyethers with low dispersity and reasonable monomer tolerance. Chain extension was confirmed using size exclusion chromatography and diffusion ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In conclusion, the resulting block polymers were additionally analyzed with small-angle X-ray scattering to correlate the morphology to molecular architecture.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Zwitterionic Photocurable Resin for High‐Resolution 3D Printing of Ultralow‐Fouling Microstructures
High‐resolution 3D printing technologies are enabling a new generation of microstructured materials for applications where biocompatibility is critical. However, most conventional 3D‐printable resins yield materials that exhibit trade‐offs between antifouling properties and mechanical robustness, limiting their applicability in living systems. In nature, zwitterionic surface groups form tightly bound hydration layers that act as effective barriers against protein and cell attachment. Inspired by this strategy, a zwitterionic acrylamide‐based photoresist—carboxybetaine di‐methacrylamide (CBDA)—is developed for projection‐based vat photopolymerization, enabling the fabrication of complex microarchitectures with exceptional antifouling properties. The bifunctional monomer allows the formation of dense, cross‐linked networks that resist swelling while maintaining a high density of zwitterionic groups. Printed structures exhibit strong resistance to protein and cell adhesion, as confirmed by porcine blood assays, alongside robust mechanical performance. As a demonstration, a tubular structure featuring a negative Poisson's ratio lattice is printed to showcase structural fidelity and versatility. This resin formulation offers a broadly applicable strategy for fabricating microscale devices and surfaces where antifouling performance and structural integrity are both essential—spanning biomedical interfaces, soft robotics, and beyond.
3D printing↗
Direct Higgs-top CP-phase measurement with $t\overline{t}h$ at the 14 TeV LHC and 100 TeV FCC
The study of the Higgs boson’s properties is a cornerstone of the LHC and future collider programs. In this paper, we examine the potential to directly probe the Higgs-top interaction strength and CP-structure in the $t\overline{t}h$ channel with the Higgs boson decaying to bottom-quark pairs and top-quarks in the di-leptonic mode. We adopt the BDRS algorithm to tag the boosted Higgs and exploit the M 2 -assisted reconstruction to compute observables sensitive to the CP-phase at the $t\bar{t}$ rest frame, where the new physics sensitivity can be enhanced. Performing a side-band analysis at the LHC to control the continuum $t\bar{t}b\bar{b}$ background, we find that the Higgs-top strength and CP-phase can be probed up to δ κt ≲ 20% and |a| ≲ 36° at 95% CL, respectively. We also derive that a similar analysis at a 100 TeV future collider could further improve the precision to δ κt ≲ 1% and |a| ≲ 1.5° where the CP-odd observables play a crucial role, boosting the sensitivity on the CP-phase
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
Testing the lepton content of the proton at HERA and EIC
Although protons are baryons with an overall vanishing lepton number, they possess a non-trivial leptonic content arising from quantum fluctuations which can be described by lepton parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton. These PDFs have been recently computed and can be used to define lepton-induced processes at high-energy colliders. In this article, we propose a novel way to test the computation of lepton PDFs of the proton by analyzing both non-resonant di-lepton and resonant Z gauge boson production processes induced by leptons within the proton at proton-electron colliders like HERA and EIC. Despite the fact that lepton PDFs of the proton are known to be small, this work demonstrates that both processes imply a measurable yield of events at HERA and EIC, which could be used to test these PDFs.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Measurement of the Z boson production cross-section in pp collisions at $ \sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV
The first measurement of the Z boson production cross-section at centre-of-mass energy $\sqrt{s}$ = 5.02 TeV in the forward region is reported, using pp collision data collected by the LHCb experiment in year 2017, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 100 ± 2 pb –1 . The production cross-section is measured for final-state muons in the pseudorapidity range 2.0 < η < 4.5 with transverse momentum p T > 20 GeV/c. The integrated cross-section is determined to be ${\sigma}_{Z\to \mu +\mu -}=39.6\pm 0.7\left(\textrm{stat}\right)\pm 0.6\left(\textrm{syst}\right)\pm 0.8\left(\textrm{lumi}\right)\textrm{pb}$ for the di-muon invariant mass in the range 60 < M μμ < 120 GeV/c 2 . This result and the differential cross-section results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions at next-to-next-to-leading order in the strong coupling constant. Based on a previous LHCb measurement of the Z boson production cross-section in pPb collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 5.02 TeV, the nuclear modification factor RpPb is measured for the first time at this energy. The measured values are ${1.2}_{-0.3}^{+0.5}$ (stat) ± 0.1(syst) in the forward region (1.53 < ${y}_{\mu}^{\ast }$ < 4.03) and ${3.6}_{-0.9}^{+1.6}$ (stat) ± 0.2(syst) in the backward region (–4.97 < ${y}_{\mu}^{\ast }$ < –2.47), where ${y}_{\mu}^{\ast }$ represents the muon rapidity in the centre-of-mass frame.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Probing exotic triple Higgs couplings at the LHC
In extended Higgs sectors that exhibit alignment without decoupling, the additional scalars are allowed to have large couplings to the Standard Model Higgs. We show that current nonresonant di-Higgs searches can be straightforwardly adapted to look for additional Higgses in these scenarios, where pair production of non-SM Higgses can be enhanced. For concreteness, we study pair production of exotic Higgses in the context of an almost inert two Higgs doublet model, where alignment is explained through an approximate $\mathbb{Z}_2$ symmetry under which the additional scalars are odd. In this context, the smallness of the $\mathbb Z_2$ violating parameter suppresses single production of exotic Higgses, but it does not prevent a sizeable trilinear coupling $hHH$ between the SM Higgs ($h$) and the additional states ($H$). We study the process $pp\rightarrow h^* \rightarrow HH$ in the final states of $b\bar b b \bar b$, $b\bar b\gamma\gamma$, and multi-leptons. We find that at the HL-LHC these modes could be sensitive to masses of the additional neutral scalars in the range $130\mbox{ GeV} \lesssim m_H \lesssim 290\mbox{ GeV}$.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Search for a new $Z$' gauge boson in 4$μ$ events with the ATLAS experiment
This paper presents a search for a new Z' vector gauge boson with the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider using pp collision data collected at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139 fb -1 . The new gauge boson Z' is predicted by Lμ - Lτ models to address observed phenomena that cannot be explained by the Standard Model. The search examines the four-muon (4μ) final state, using a deep learning neural network classifier to separate the Z' signal from the Standard Model background events. The di-muon invariant masses in the 4μ events are used to extract the Z' resonance signature. No significant excess of events is observed over the predicted background. Upper limits at a 95% confidence level on the Z' production cross-section times the decay branching fraction of pp → Z'μμ → 4μ are set from 0.31 to 4.3 fb for the Z' mass ranging from 5 to 81 GeV. The corresponding common coupling strengths, g Z' , of the Z' boson to the second and third generation leptons above 0.003 – 0.2 have been excluded.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
$t\bar{t}b\bar{b}$ at the LHC: on the size of corrections and b -jet definitions
We report on the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the production of a $t\bar t$ pair in association with two heavy-flavour jets. We concentrate on the di-lepton $t\bar t$ decay channel at the LHC with $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV. The computation is based on pp → $e^+ν_eμ^-\bar{ν}_μb\bar{b}b\bar{b}$ matrix elements and includes all resonant and non-resonant diagrams, interferences and off-shell effects of the top quark and the W gauge boson. As it is customary for such studies, results are presented in the form of inclusive and differential fiducial cross sections. We extensively investigate the dependence of our results upon variation of renormalisation and factorisation scales and parton distribution functions in the quest for an accurate estimate of the theoretical uncertainties. We additionally study the impact of the contributions induced by the bottom-quark parton density. Results presented here are particularly relevant for measurements of $t\bar{t}H(H → b\bar{b})$ and the determination of the Higgs coupling to the top quark. In addition, they might be used for precise measurements of the top-quark fiducial cross sections and to investigate top-quark decay modelling at the LHC.
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
A new Monte Carlo generator for BSM physics in B → K*ℓ+ℓ− decays with an application to lepton non-universality in angular distributions
Abstract Within the widely used EvtGen framework, we have added a new event generator model forB → K * ℓ + ℓ − with improved standard model (SM) decay amplitudes and possible BSM physics contributions, which are implemented in the operator product expansion in terms of Wilson coefficients. This event generator can then be used to estimate the statistical sensitivity of a simulated experiment to the most general BSM signal resulting from dimension-six operators. We describe the advantages and potential of the newly developed ‘Sibidanov Physics Generator’ in improving the experimental sensitivity of searches for lepton non-universal BSM physics and clarifying signatures. The new generator can properly simulate BSM scenarios, interference between SM and BSM amplitudes, and correlations between different BSM observables as well as acceptance bias. We show that exploiting such correlations substantially improves experimental sensitivity. As a demonstration of the utility of the MC generator, we examine the prospects for improved measurements of lepton non-universality in angular distributions forB→K * ℓ + ℓ − decays from the expected 50 ab −1 data set of the Belle II experiment, using a four-dimensional unbinned maximum likelihood fit. We describe promising experimental signatures and correlations between observables. The use of lepton-universality violating ∆-observables significantly reduces uncertainties in the SM expectations due to QCD and resonance effects and is ideally suited for Belle II with the large data sets expected in the next decade. Thanks to the clean experimental environment of ane + e − machine, Belle II should be able to probe BSM physics in the Wilson coefficientsC 7 and$$ {C}_7^{\prime } $$ C 7 ′ , which appear at lowq 2 in the di-electron channel.
Physics↗
Flavoured axions in the tail of B q → μ+μ- and B → γ* form factors
We discuss how LHC di-muon data collected to study B q → μμ can be used to constrain light particles with flavour-violating couplings to b -quarks. Focussing on the case of a flavoured QCD axion, a , we compute the decay rates for B q → μμa and the SM background process B q → μμγ near the kinematic endpoint. These rates depend on non-perturbative B q → γ (*) form factors with on- or off-shell photons. The off-shell form factors — relevant for generic searches for beyond-the-SM particles — are discussed in full generality and computed with QCD sum rules for the first time. This includes an extension to the low-lying resonance region using a multiple subtracted dispersion relation. With these results, we analyse available LHCb data to obtain the sensitivity on B q → μμa at present and future runs. We find that the full LHCb dataset alone will allow to probe axion-coupling scales of the order of 10 6 GeV for both b → d and b → s transitions. As a spin-off application of the off-shell form factors we further analyse the case of light, Beyond the Standard Model, vectors.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Leptonic cascade decays of a heavy Higgs boson through vectorlike leptons at the LHC
We demonstrate the potential of fully leptonic cascade decays of a heavy neutral Higgs boson through vectorlike leptons as a simultaneous probe for extended Higgs sectors and extra matter particles at the LHC. The processes we explore are unique in that their event topologies lead to di-boson-like leptonic final states with a lepton pair which does not reconstruct the mass of a gauge boson. By recasting existing $2\ell$ + $E^{\text{miss}}_{R}$ and $3/4\ell$ searches channels using run2 data from the LHC we obtain model independent bounds on the masses of heavy scalars and vectorlike leptons and use these results to explore future prospects at the HL-LHC. Our results can be directly applied to any kind of new physics scenarios sharing the final states and the event topology. For concreteness, we apply our results to a benchmark scenario: a two Higgs doublet model type-II augmented with vectorlike leptons. Remarkably, even with current data the sensitivity of our analysis shows a reach for masses of a heavy neutral Higgs and vectorlike leptons up to 2 TeV and 1.5 TeV, respectively. Even for low tan β ≳ 1, the analysis retains sensitivity to heavy Higgs masses slightly above 1 TeV. The future sensitivities at the HL-LHC extend the reach for heavy Higgses and new leptons to 2.7 TeV and 2 TeV, respectively.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
A closer look at isodoublet vector leptoquark solution to the ${R}_{D^{\left(\ast \right)}}$ anomaly
We discuss a model with a SU(2) L doublet vector leptoquark (LQ), motivated by the recent experimental results relating to the lepton universality of $\overline{B}$ → D$^{(*)}$$τ\overline{ν}_τ$ We find that scalar operators predicted by the LQ are favored to explain the deviations, taking into account the recent LHCb result. We investigate the extensive phenomenology of the model and conclude that B s → $τ\overline{τ}$, B → $Kτ\overline{τ}$, B u → $τ\overline{ν}_τ$ and high-p T di- τ lepton signatures at the LHC will probe the interesting parameter region in the near future.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Forecasting dark showers at Belle II
Dark showers from strongly interacting dark sectors that confine at the GeV scale can give rise to novel signatures at e + e - colliders. In this work, we study the sensitivity of B factory experiments to dark showers produced through an effective interaction arising from a heavy off-shell mediator. We show that a prospective search for displaced vertices from GeV-scale long-lived particles at Belle II can improve the sensitivity to dark showers substantially compared to an existing search at BaBar. We compare the sensitivity of searches for displaced signals to searches for promptly produced resonances at BaBar and KLOE and calculate sensitivity projections for a single-photon search at Belle II to invisible dark showers produced through an effective interaction. The underlying structure of the effective interaction can be resolved at higher-energy experiments, where the mediator can be produced on-shell. To study the resulting constraints, we update electroweak precision bounds on kinetically mixed Z' bosons and reinterpret a search for low-mass di-muon resonances at LHCb in terms of dark showers. We find that LHCb and Belle II are most sensitive to different particle decay lengths, underscoring the complementarity of LHC and intensity frontier experiments.
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
Column separation of tetravalent cerium fission products from trivalent rare earth radio-isotopes
Rapid and efficient isolation of individual rare earth element (REE) radioisotopes from complex mixtures is necessary to support the fields of nuclear forensics, medical isotope production and nuclear physics measurements. The separations must be robust and generate sufficiently high purity samples for subsequent radiological analysis. Current methodologies utilize a laborious two step Ce(IV)-iodate precipitation followed by Ce(IV)-nitrate di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid/n-heptane extraction. This work reports an alternative method to isolate Ce fission product isotopes equilibrated with milligrams of cold carrier, from the remaining REE’s using a Ce(IV)/LN-resin (Eichrom Technologies) based separation. Optimization of Ce(IV) loading, REE(III) elution volume and subsequent Ce(III) stripping step utilized 166m Ho tracer. Mixed fission product experiments provided a further test of this LN-resin method, with analysis of purified 141/144 Ce, 147 Nd and 91 Y. Overall, while decontamination factors were lower for the LN-resin method, (vs. the combined precipitation/extraction) the simplicity of the technique and the satisfactory fission product analysis results point to the efficacy of this method.
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
Alkylation of lignin-derived aromatic oxygenates with cyclic alcohols on acidic zeolites
Moderately strong BAS and spacious microporous environments (i.e., large-pore acidic zeolites HBEA and HY) are important criteria for efficient alkylation of phenols with cyclic alcohols and alkenes, while very strong BAS appear to be responsible for catalyst deactivation. BAS confined in HBEA and HY pores show substantially higher turnover frequencies compared to solids without molecularly sized pore constraints. HBEA favors the formation of mono-alkylates, while enhanced formation of di-alkylates is observed on HY. Dehydration of alcohols always dominates over the alkylation at the onset of the reaction. Carbenium ions, the direct electrophile for aromatic oxygenates, are produced mainly from the adsorption and protonation of olefins. The present study shows that for the alkylation of phenols and cyclic alcohols in apolar liquids, the alcohol concentration should be kept low to avoid the formation of unreactive surface dimers and mitigate their inhibitory effects on olefin adsorption and protonation.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗