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DOE OSTI2023

Machine learning-based jet and event classification at the Electron-Ion Collider with applications to hadron structure and spin physics

We explore machine learning-based jet and event identification at the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC). We study the effectiveness of machine learning-based classifiers at relatively low EIC energies, focusing on (i) identifying the flavor of the jet and (ii) identifying the underlying hard process of the event. We propose applications of our machine learning-based jet identification in the key research areas at the future EIC and current Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider program, including enhancing constraints on (transverse momentum dependent) parton distribution functions, improving experimental access to transverse spin asymmetries, studying photon structure, and quantifying the modification of hadrons and jets in the cold nuclear matter environment in electron-nucleus collisions. We establish first benchmarks and contrast the estimated performance of flavor tagging at the EIC with that at the Large Hadron Collider. We perform studies relevant to aspects of detector design including particle identification, charge information, and minimum transverse momentum capabilities. Additionally, we study the impact of using full event information instead of using only information associated with the identified jet. These methods can be deployed either on suitably accurate Monte Carlo event generators, or, for several applications, directly on experimental data. We provide an outlook for ultimately connecting these machine learning-based methods with first principles calculations in quantum chromodynamics.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Dephasing in Fluxonium Qubits from Coherent Quantum Phase Slips

Phase slips occur across all Josephson junctions (JJs) at a rate that increases with the impedance of the junction. In superconducting qubits composed of JJ-array superinductors—such as fluxonium—phase slips in the array can lead to decoherence. In particular, phase-slip processes at the individual array junctions can coherently interfere, each with an Aharonov-Casher phase that depends on the offset charges of the array islands. These coherent quantum phase slips (CQPS) perturbatively modify the qubit frequency, and therefore charge noise on the array islands will lead to dephasing. By varying the impedance of the array junctions, we design a set of fluxonium qubits in which the expected phase-slip rate within the JJ array changes by several orders of magnitude. We characterize the coherence times of these qubits and demonstrate that the scaling of CQPS-induced dephasing rates agrees with our theoretical model. Furthermore, we perform noise spectroscopy of two qubits in regimes dominated by either CQPS or flux noise. We find that the noise power spectrum associated with CQPS dephasing appears to be featureless at low frequencies and not 1 / f . Numerical simulations indicate that this behavior is consistent with charge noise generated by charge-parity fluctuations within the array. Our findings broadly inform JJ-array-design trade-offs, relevant for the numerous superconducting-qubit designs employing JJ-array superinductors. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗

DOE OSTI2018

Stochastic nature of magnetic processes studied by full-field soft X-ray microscopy

In nanomagnetism, one of the crucial scientific questions is whether magnetic behaviors are deterministic or stochastic on a nanoscale. Apart from the exciting physical issue, this question is also of paramount highest relevance for using magnetic materials in a wealth of technological applications such as magnetic storage and sensor devices. In the past, the research on the stochasticity of a magnetic process has been mainly done by macroscopic measurements, which only offer ensemble-averaged information. To give more accurate answer for the question and to fully understand related underlying physics, the direct observation of statistical behaviors in magnetic structures and magnetic phenomena utilizing advanced characterization techniques is highly required. One of the ideal tools for such study is a full-field soft X-ray microscope since it enables imaging of magnetic structures on the large field of view within a few seconds. Here in this paper, we review the stochastic behaviors of various magnetic processes including magnetization reversal process in thin films, magnetic domain wall motions in nanowires, and magnetic vortex formations in nanodisks studied by full-field soft X-ray microscopy. The origin triggering the stochastic nature witnessed in each magnetic process and the way to control the intrinsic nature are also discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2016

Magnon-based logic in a multi-terminal YIG/Pt nanostructure

Boolean logic is the foundation of modern digital information processing. Recently, there has been a growing interest in phenomena based on pure spin currents, which allows to move from charge to spin based logic gates. We study a proof-of-principle logic device based on the ferrimagnetic insulator Yttrium Iron Garnet, with Pt strips acting as injectors and detectors for non-equilibrium magnons. We experimentally observe incoherent superposition of magnons generated by different injectors. This allows to implement a fully functional majority gate, enabling multiple logic operations (AND and OR) in one and the same device. Clocking frequencies of the order of several GHz and straightforward down-scaling make our device promising for applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2019

Femtosecond covariance spectroscopy

The success of nonlinear optics relies largely on pulse-to-pulse consistency. In contrast, covariance-based techniques used in photoionization electron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry have shown that a wealth of information can be extracted from noise that is lost when averaging multiple measurements. Here, we apply covariance-based detection to nonlinear optical spectroscopy, and show that noise in a femtosecond laser is not necessarily a liability to be mitigated, but can act as a unique and powerful asset. As a proof of principle we apply this approach to the process of stimulated Raman scattering in α-quartz. Our results demonstrate how nonlinear processes in the sample can encode correlations between the spectral components of ultrashort pulses with uncorrelated stochastic fluctuations. This in turn provides richer information compared with the standard nonlinear optics techniques that are based on averages over many repetitions with well-behaved laser pulses. These proof-of-principle results suggest that covariance-based nonlinear spectroscopy will improve the applicability of fs nonlinear spectroscopy in wavelength ranges where stable, transform-limited pulses are not available, such as X-ray free-electron lasers which naturally have spectrally noisy pulses ideally suited for this approach.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2012

NLO Vector Boson Production With Light Jets

In this contribution we present recent progress in the computation of next-to-leading order (NLO) QCD corrections for the production of an electroweak vector boson in association with jets at hadron colliders. We focus on results obtained using the virtual matrix element library BlackHat in conjunction with SHERPA, focusing on results relevant to understanding the background to top production. The production of a vector boson in association with several jets at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is an important background for other Standard Model processes as well as new physics signals. In particular, the production of a W boson in association with many jets is an important background for processes involving one or more top quarks. Precise predictions for the backgrounds are crucial to measurement of top-quark processes. Vector boson production in association with multiple jets is also a very important background for many SUSY searches, as it mimics the signatures of many typical decay chains. Here we will discuss how polarization information can be used as an additional handle to differentiate top pair production from 'prompt' W-boson production. More generally, ratios of observables, for example for events containing a W boson versus those containing a Z boson, are expected to be better-behaved as many uncertainties cancel in such ratios. Precise calculation of ratios, along with measurement of one of the two processes in the ratio, can be used in data-driven techniques for estimating backgrounds.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Quantum mixed state compiling

The task of learning a quantum circuit to prepare a given mixed state is a fundamental quantum subroutine. We present a variational quantum algorithm (VQA) to learn mixed states which is suitable for near-term hardware. Our algorithm represents a generalization of previous VQAs that aimed at learning preparation circuits for pure states. We consider two different ansätze for compiling the target state; the first is based on learning a purification of the state and the second on representing it as a convex combination of pure states. In both cases, the resources required to store and manipulate the compiled state grow with the rank of the approximation. Thus, by learning a lower rank approximation of the target state, our algorithm provides a means of compressing a state for more efficient processing. As a byproduct of our algorithm, one effectively learns the principal components of the target state, and hence our algorithm further provides a new method for principal component analysis. We investigate the efficacy of our algorithm through extensive numerical implementations, showing that typical random states and thermal states of many body systems may be learnt this way. Additionally, we demonstrate on quantum hardware how our algorithm can be used to study hardware noise-induced states.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2025

Mechanical Resonant Sensing of Spin Texture Dynamics in a 2D Antiferromagnet

Abstract The coupling between the spin degrees of freedom and macroscopic mechanical motions, including striction, shearing, and rotation, has attracted wide interest with applications in actuation, transduction, and information processing. Experiments so far have established the mechanical responses to the long‐range ordered or isolated single spin states. However, it remains elusive whether mechanical motions can couple to a different type of magnetic structure, the non‐collinear spin textures, which exhibit nanoscale spatial variations of spin (domain walls, skyrmions,etc.) and are promising candidates to realize high‐speed computing devices. Here, collective spin texture dynamics is detected with nanoelectromechanical resonators fabricated from 2D antiferromagnetic (AFM) MnPS 3 with 10 −9 strain sensitivity. By examining radio frequency mechanical oscillations under magnetic fields, new magnetic transitions are identified with sharp dips in resonant frequency. They are attributed to collective AFM domain wall motions as supported by the analytical modeling of magnetostriction and large‐scale spin‐dynamics simulations. Additionally, an abnormally large modulation in the mechanical nonlinearity at the transition field infers a fluid‐like response due to ultrafast domain motion. The work establishes a strong coupling between spin texture and mechanical dynamics, laying the foundation for electromechanical manipulation of spin texture and developing quantum hybrid devices.

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2023

Colors of entangled two-photon absorption

Multiphoton absorption of entangled photons offers ways for obtaining unique information about chemical and biological processes. Measurements with entangled photons may enable sensing biological signatures with high selectivity and at very low light levels to protect against photodamage. In this paper, we present a theoretical and experimental study of the excitation wavelength dependence of the entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA) process in a molecular system, which provides insights into how entanglement affects molecular spectra. We demonstrate that the ETPA excitation spectrum can be different from that of classical TPA as well as that for one-photon resonant absorption (OPA) with photons of doubled frequency. These results are modeled by assuming the ETPA cross-section is governed by a two-photon excited state radiative linewidth rather than by electron-phonon interactions, and this leads to excitation spectra that match the observed results. Further, we find that the two-photon-allowed states with highest TPA and ETPA intensities have high electronic entanglements, with ETPA especially favoring states with the longest radiative lifetimes. These results provide concepts for the development of quantum light–based spectroscopy and microscopy that will lead to much higher efficiency of ETPA sensors and low-intensity detection schemes.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

DOE OSTI2014

Modelling and analysis of turbulent datasets using Auto Regressive Moving Average processes

We introduce a novel way to extract information from turbulent datasets by applying an Auto Regressive Moving Average (ARMA) statistical analysis. Such analysis goes well beyond the analysis of the mean flow and of the fluctuations and links the behavior of the recorded time series to a discrete version of a stochastic differential equation which is able to describe the correlation structure in the dataset. We introduce a new index Υ that measures the difference between the resulting analysis and the Obukhov model of turbulence, the simplest stochastic model reproducing both Richardson law and the Kolmogorov spectrum. We test the method on datasets measured in a von Kármán swirling flow experiment. We found that the ARMA analysis is well correlated with spatial structures of the flow, and can discriminate between two different flows with comparable mean velocities, obtained by changing the forcing. Moreover, we show that the Υ is highest in regions where shear layer vortices are present, thereby establishing a link between deviations from the Kolmogorov model and coherent structures. These deviations are consistent with the ones observed by computing the Hurst exponents for the same time series. We show that some salient features of the analysis are preserved when considering global instead of local observables. Finally, we analyze flow configurations with multistability features where the ARMA technique is efficient in discriminating different stability branches of the system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2025

Logical error rates for the surface code under a mixed coherent and stochastic circuit-level noise model inspired by trapped ions

With fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) on the horizon, it is critical to understand sources of logical errors in plausible hardware implementations of quantum error-correcting codes. Detailed error modeling of computational instructions on particular FTQC architectures will enable the better prediction of error propagation in FT-encoded quantum circuits while revealing where greater attention is needed in hardware design. In this work, we consider logical error rates for the surface code implemented on a hypothetical grid-based trapped-ion quantum charge-coupled device architecture. Specifically, we construct logical channels for the idling surface code and examine its diamond error under a mixed coherent and stochastic circuit-level noise model inspired by trapped ions. We include the coherent dephasing noise that is known to accumulate during physical qubit idling and transport in these systems, determining idling and transport durations using the time-resolved output of an open-source trapped-ion surface code compiler. To estimate expectation values of logical Pauli observables following hardware circuits containing non-Clifford sources of noise, we utilize a Monte Carlo technique to sample from an underlying quasiprobability distribution of Clifford circuits that we independently simulate in a phase-sensitive fashion. We verify error suppression up to code distance 𝑑 = 11 at coherent dephasing rates near and below those of current-generation trapped-ion quantum computers and find that logical error rates align with those of analogous fully stochastic simulations in this regime. Exploring higher dephasing rates at 𝑑 = 3−5, we find evidence for growing coherent rotations about all three logical Pauli axes, increased diagonal logical error process matrix elements relative to those of stochastic simulations, and a reduced dephasing rate threshold. Overall, our work paves a way toward realistic hardware emulation of small fault-tolerant quantum processes, e.g., members of an FTQC instruction set.

Quantum benchmarking↗

DOE OSTI2021

Single photon sources with near unity collection efficiencies by deterministic placement of quantum dots in nanoantennas

Deterministic coupling between photonic nodes in a quantum network is an essential step toward implementing various quantum technologies. The omnidirectionality of free-standing emitters, however, makes this coupling highly inefficient, in particular if the distant nodes are coupled via low numerical aperture (NA) channels such as optical fibers. This limitation requires placing quantum emitters in nanoantennas that can direct the photons into the channels with very high efficiency. Moreover, to be able to scale such technologies to a large number of channels, the placing of the emitters should be deterministic. In this work, we present a method for directly locating single free-standing quantum emitters with high spatial accuracy at the center of highly directional bullseye metal–dielectric nanoantennas. We further employ non-blinking, high quantum yield colloidal quantum dots for on-demand single-photon emission that is uncompromised by instabilities or non-radiative exciton recombination processes. Taken together, this approach results in a record-high collection efficiency of 85% of the single photons into a low NA of 0.5, setting the stage for efficient coupling between on-chip, room temperature nanoantenna-emitter devices and a fiber or a remote free-space node without the need for additional optics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Time series, correlation matrices and random matrix models

In this set of five lectures the authors have presented techniques to analyze open classical and quantum systems using correlation matrices. For diverse reasons we shall see that random matrices play an important role to describe a null hypothesis or a minimum information hypothesis for the description of a quantum system or subsystem. In the former case various forms of correlation matrices of time series associated with the classical observables of some system. The fact that such series are necessarily finite, inevitably introduces noise and this finite time influence lead to a random or stochastic component in these time series. By consequence random correlation matrices have a random component, and corresponding ensembles are used. In the latter we use random matrices to describe high temperature environment or uncontrolled perturbations, ensembles of differing chaotic systems etc. The common theme of the lectures is thus the importance of random matrix theory in a wide range of fields in and around physics.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2019

Curvature distribution and autocorrelations in elliptic cylinders and cones

Not all micro-vessels (MV) are traditionally circular and there are examples of elliptic cylindrical MVs in life sciences, particularly if projected with a slant. Similarly, certain biological structures, ferroelectric liquid crystals, aluminum oxide clusters and witherite crystallites’ crosssection appear to be elliptical cones. We studied the mean curvature (H) distribution of these elliptic morphological structures with geometric parameter such as eccentricity; e (ratio of semi-minor to semi-major axes) and a measure of how much diagonal section deviates from circularity and height (h) in case of cones. By means of topographical cues, we defined the curvature-curvature autocorrelation function (gk) and applied this notion to mean curvature (H) of circular and elliptical cylinders and cones. The Fourier transform of correlation function, i.e. “curvature factor” is analogous to “structure factor (or Patterson function)” in X-ray and neutron scattering intensity. It elucidates critically important information related to surface curvature fluctuation relevant to shape (geometry), network and phase transformation. The latter is induced by cells under mechanical stress, occurring in many soft systems (polymeric liquid crystals, foams, bubbles) and biological tissues, particularly cell walls of primary and branched vessels bed in microvasculature that distributes blood within tissue during hypertension and migraines. This perspective is useful in a sustained release of angiogenic/vasculogenic factors and relevant for precision medicine and engineered microvessels and tissues in vitro and in vivo extended cellular processes. The quantitative analysis carried out in this work facilitates our understanding of the mechanical mechanisms associated with thrombosis during surgery that typically occur in bent or stretched MVs due to microenvironment such as localized shear stresses and biochemical factors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2022

Numerical Investigation of the Spark Discharge Process in a Crossflow

The present study numerically investigates the spark discharge process under crossflow conditions using a thermal equilibrium plasma solver that fully couples the electromagnetic physics and fluid dynamics in a computational framework. Numerical results are validated by the comparison with experimental data. Here, the spark discharge experiment is performed in a constant volume vessel using an inductive coil ignition system for automotive applications, and the evolution of the spark channel is measured using high-speed imaging. The crossflow in the gap between the spark-plug electrodes is generated by a rotating fan with two different fan speeds, and the flow velocity across the gap is characterized by particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver is employed to simulate the crossflow and provide the flow field variables (velocity, pressure, temperature) to the plasma solver. The crossflow velocity predicted in the flow simulation agrees well with the PIV data in that the non-uniform velocity profiles at monitoring points are reproduced by the CFD code. With the crossflow initialization in the plasma solver, the simulated spark discharge process from the breakdown to spark discharge matches the experimental data, including the voltage and circuit waveforms and the high-speed images of the spark channel evolution. The stretch of spark channel captured by plasma simulations agrees with the measured data. The plasma simulation reveals that the mean temperature of the spark channel is maintained at 5000 K during the discharge phase, and the temperature varies along the spark channel so that the highest value is obtained at the spark root on the center electrode. Overall, the results presented in this paper are meant to provide valuable information about the properties of the plasma generated by the spark discharge.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2015

Contact symmetries and Hamiltonian thermodynamics

It has been shown that contact geometry is the proper framework underlying classical thermodynamics and that thermodynamic fluctuations are captured by an additional metric structure related to Fisher’s Information Matrix. In this work we analyse several unaddressed aspects about the application of contact and metric geometry to thermodynamics. We consider here the Thermodynamic Phase Space and start by investigating the role of gauge transformations and Legendre symmetries for metric contact manifolds and their significance in thermodynamics. Then we present a novel mathematical characterization of first order phase transitions as equilibrium processes on the Thermodynamic Phase Space for which the Legendre symmetry is broken. Moreover, we use contact Hamiltonian dynamics to represent thermodynamic processes in a way that resembles the classical Hamiltonian formulation of conservative mechanics and we show that the relevant Hamiltonian coincides with the irreversible entropy production along thermodynamic processes. Therefore, we use such property to give a geometric definition of thermodynamically admissible fluctuations according to the Second Law of thermodynamics. Finally, we show that the length of a curve describing a thermodynamic process measures its entropy production.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2015

Tunable Photoluminescent Core/Shell Cu(+)-Doped ZnSe/ZnS Quantum Dots Codoped with Al(3+), Ga(3+), or In(3+).

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with stable, oxidation resistant, and tunable photoluminescence (PL) are highly desired for various applications including solid-state lighting and biological labeling. However, many current systems for visible light emission involve the use of toxic Cd. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of codoped core/shell ZnSe/ZnS QDs with tunable PL maxima spanning 430-570 nm (average full width at half-maximum of 80 nm) and broad emission extending to 700 nm, through the use of Cu(+) as the primary dopant and trivalent cations (Al(3+), Ga(3+), and In(3+)) as codopants. Furthermore, we developed a unique thiol-based bidentate ligand that significantly improved PL intensity, long-term stability, and resilience to postsynthetic processing. Through comprehensive experimental and computational studies based on steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and density functional theory (DFT), we show that the tunable PL of this system is the result of energy level modification to donor and/or acceptor recombination pathways. By incorporating these findings with local structure information obtained from extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies, we generate a complete energetic model accounting for the photophysical processes in these unique QDs. With the understanding of optical, structural, and electronic properties we gain in this study, this successful codoping strategy may be applied to other QD or related systems to tune the optical properties of semiconductors while maintaining low toxicity.

Cooper, Jason K↗

DOE OSTI2019

Characterization of high-explosive detonations using broadband infrared external cavity quantum cascade laser absorption spectroscopy

Infrared laser absorption spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for probing physical and chemical properties of high explosive detonations. A broadly-tunable swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser (ECQCL) operating in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) spectral region is used to measure transmission through explosive fireballs generated from 14 g charges of 4 different explosive types detonated in an enclosed chamber. Analysis of time-resolved transmission and emission at a 2 µs sampling rate shows the evolution of fireball infrared opacity in the first 10 ms after detonation. Broadband high-resolution absorption spectra acquired over the spectral range 2050-2300 cm -1 (4.35-4.88 µm) at a 100 Hz rate are used to measure properties of fireball evolution over longer time scales out to 100 s. Path-integrated concentrations of combustion products CO, CO 2 , H 2 O, and N 2 O are measured and show evolutions over multiple time scales and significant differences between explosive types. Spectral analysis is used to characterize gas temperature and to measure broadband attenuation from absorption and scattering of particulates. In conclusion, analysis of the results provides information on the MWIR optical properties, gaseous detonation/combustion products, and particulates throughout the explosive process including initial detonation, fireball expansion and cooling, and diffusive mixing in the chamber.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗