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At least 19 records

Laser Spectroscopy of Exotic Atoms and Molecules Containing Octupole-Deformed Nuclei

This project investigated the nuclear, atomic, and molecular structure of exotic atoms and molecules containing actinide isotopes. These short-lived radioactive systems are challenging to produce and study in the laboratory, yet they offer unique opportunities for fundamental science. These nuclei are predicted to exhibit pear-shaped (octupole) deformation, a rare collective nuclear behavior that dramatically enhances their sensitivity to fundamental physics phenomena such as time-reversal- and parity-violating effects. Such enhancements make them ideal probes for exploring open questions in our understanding of the universe such as the origin of the matter–antimatter asymmetry of the universe. To realize these measurements, the project led the development of a new laser spectroscopy experiment at MIT, and later commissioned at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University: the Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy Experiment (RISE). RISE combines the spectroscopic precision of collinear laser spectroscopy with the sensitivity of particle-detection techniques, enabling measurements of rare isotopes produced at rates as low as a few ions per second. The beamline was designed, built, and installed, and was successfully commissioned at FRIB during the grant period. RISE is now a permanent capability of the FRIB facility, and has produced several results on the study of rare atoms and molecules for nuclear structure and fundamental symmetries. In parallel with the FRIB program, the project contributed to the first precision laser-spectroscopy measurements of short-lived radioactive molecules. Working with international collaborators at CERN's ISOLDE facility, the team conducted pioneering experiments on radium monofluoride (RaF) and actinium monofluoride (AcF). The results from this work have been published in major journals of science, including Nature, Science, Nature Physics, Nature Communications, and Physical Review Letters. These findings have guided future experiments on the laser cooling of radioactive molecules, opening a new platform for precision tests of fundamental symmetries.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA

Ultrathin Boron Growth onto Nanodiamond Surfaces via Electrophilic Boron Precursors

Diamond as a templating substrate is largely unexplored, and the unique properties of diamond, including its large bandgap, thermal conductance, and lack of cytotoxicity, makes it versatile in emergent technologies in medicine and quantum sensing. Surface termination of an inert diamond substrate and its chemical reactivity are key in generating new bonds for nucleation and growth of an overlayer material. Oxidized high-pressure high temperature (HPHT) nanodiamonds (NDs) are largely terminated by alcohols that act as nucleophiles to initiate covalent bond formation when an electrophilic reactant is available. In this work, we demonstrate a templated synthesis of ultrathin boron on ND surfaces using trigonal boron compounds. Boron trichloride (BCl 3 ), boron tribromide (BBr 3 ), and borane (BH 3 ) were found to react with ND substrates at room temperature in inert conditions. BBr 3 and BCl 3 were highly reactive with the diamond surface, and sheet-like structures were produced and verified with electron microscopy. Surface-sensitive spectroscopies were used to probe the molecular and atomic structure of the ND constructs’ surface, and quantification showed the boron shell was less than 1 nm thick after 1–24 h reactions. Observation of the reaction supports a self-terminating mechanism, similar to atomic layer deposition growth, and is likely due to the quenching of alcohols on the diamond surface. X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that boron-termination generated midgap electronic states that were originally predicted by density functional theory (DFT) several years ago. DFT also predicted a negative electron surface, which has yet to be confirmed experimentally here. The boron-diamond nanostructures were found to aggregate in dichloromethane and were dispersed in various solvents and characterized with dynamic light scattering for future cell imaging or cancer therapy applications using boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The unique templating mechanism based on nucleophilic alcohols and electrophilic trigonal precursors allows for covalent bond formation and will be of interest to researchers using diamond for quantum sensing, additive manufacturing, BNCT, and potentially as an electron emitter.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

A continuous symmetry breaking measure for finite clusters using Jensen-Shannon divergence

A quantitative measure of symmetry breaking is introduced that allows the quantification of which symmetries are most strongly broken due to the introduction of some kind of defect in a perfect structure. The method uses a statistical approach based on the Jensen-Shannon divergence. The measure is calculated by comparing the transformed atomic density function with its original. Software code is presented that carries the calculations out numerically using Monte Carlo methods. The behavior of this symmetry breaking measure is tested for various cases including finite size crystallites (where the surfaces break the crystallographic symmetry), atomic displacements from high symmetry positions, and collective motions of atoms due to rotations of rigid octahedra. Finally, the approach provides a powerful tool for assessing local symmetry breaking and offers new insights that can help researchers understand how different structural distortions affect different symmetry operations.

atomic & molecular structure

Direct structural retrieval from gas-phase ultrafast diffraction data using a genetic algorithm

Ultrafast scattering techniques such as ultrafast electron diffraction and ultrafast x-ray diffraction have been utilized to elucidate the structural dynamics, reaction intermediates, and final products in molecular reactions following photoexcitation. The time-dependent structures are typically not directly retrieved from the experimental data, but they rely on comparison with calculations. The genetic algorithm (GA), a global optimization strategy, can be used to retrieve the molecular structures directly from diffraction patterns without any theoretical input. However, the robustness of the GA with respect to real experimental conditions such as a limited momentum transfer range, noise, and artifacts has not been studied in detail. In this work, we characterize the performance of the GA with simulated data that mimic realistic experimental conditions. We have developed and implemented a variant of the GA specific to diffraction measurements which performs better in the presence of imperfect data compared to the standard implementation of the GA. We demonstrate this method with both synthetic data and experimental ultrafast electron diffraction data on the UV-induced photodissociation of trifluoroiodomethane (C⁢F 3⁡ I) molecules.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

Probing coherent electronic superpositions of singly and doubly excited states of krypton with extreme-ultraviolet four-wave-mixing spectroscopy

Radiative nonlinear four-wave mixing can monitor the evolution of electronic wave packets, providing access to lifetimes and quantifying the light-induced couplings between excited states. In this article, we report the observation of quantum beats in an autoionizing electronic wave packet in krypton, probed using this technique. Analysis of the signal reveals that these beats originate from the contribution of previously unassigned, doubly excited states interacting with singly excited ones. We introduce a minimal theoretical model, based on multichannel quantum-defect theory, which quantitatively reproduces both the wave-packet dynamics and the static spectrum. This work combines a versatile, noncommensurate XUV-IR-based experimental scheme with a tractable model, establishing a powerful approach for the metrology and control of complex, correlated electronic states.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering with squeezed light: CARS for quantum-enhanced spectroscopy and imaging

We theoretically investigate quantum-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) using squeezed light to amplify vibrational transition rates at low photon flux. Quantum sensing approaches are needed for nondestructive nanometrology such as in bioimaging where reduced photodamage is desired while retaining resolution and sensitivity. We analyze both single-mode squeezing applied to the pump field and two-mode squeezing between the pump and Stokes fields. We also show that the ordering of displacement and squeezing operations—whether displacement precedes squeezing or squeezing precedes displacement—has an impact on the resulting CARS transition amplitudes due to a difference in the photon number and the quantum-enhancement coefficients, with the latter offering a stronger enhancement in the case of two modes squeezing of the pump and Stokes under experimentally accessible conditions. Furthermore, our calculations capture these quantum enhancements through the intrinsic photon-number correlations of squeezed light, eliminating the need for interferometric detection or higher pump powers that are otherwise required to reach comparable sensitivities in classical CARS. Finally, we outline a quantum plasmonic extension of our model in which local field enhancements caused by surface plasmon excitation in metallic nanoparticles can be incorporated via mode-selective field amplification factors, offering a pathway toward combining squeezed-light quantum optics with surface-enhanced nanoscale spectroscopy and imaging.

Atomic & molecular structure

Overcoming photobleaching in imaging of single barium atoms in a solid xenon matrix

Neutrinoless double beta decay is one of the most sensitive probes for new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. One of the isotopes under investigation is 136 Xe, which would double beta decay into 136 Ba. Detecting the single 136 Ba daughter provides a sort of ultimate tool in the discrimination against backgrounds. Previous work demonstrated the ability to perform single atom imaging of Ba atoms in a single-vacancy site of a solid xenon matrix. In this paper, the effort to identify signal from individual barium atoms is extended to Ba atoms in a hexa-vacancy site in the matrix and is achieved despite increased photobleaching in this site. Abrupt fluorescence turn-off of a single Ba atom is also observed. Significant recovery of fluorescence signal lost through photobleaching is demonstrated upon annealing of Ba deposits in the Xe ice. Following annealing, it is observed that Ba atoms in the hexa-vacancy site exhibit antibleaching while Ba atoms in the tetra-vacancy site exhibit bleaching. This may be evidence for a matrix site transfer upon laser excitation. Our findings offer a path of continued research toward tagging of Ba daughters in all significant sites in solid xenon.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND

Transmission spectroscopy of CF 4 molecules in intense x-ray fields

The nonlinear interaction of x rays with matter is at the heart of understanding and controlling ultrafast molecular dynamics from an atom-specific viewpoint, providing new scientific and analytical opportunities to explore the structure and dynamics of small quantum systems. At increasingly high x-ray intensity, the sensitivity of ultrashort x-ray pulses to specific electronic states and emerging short-lived transient intermediates is of particular relevance for our understanding of fundamental multiphoton absorption processes. In this work, intense x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) pulses at the European XFEL are combined with a gas cell and grating spectrometer for a high-intensity transmission spectroscopy study of multiphoton-induced ultrafast molecular fragmentation dynamics in CF 4 . This approach unlocks the direct intrapulse observation of transient fragments, including neutral atoms, by their characteristic absorption lines in the transmitted broadband x-ray spectrum. The dynamics with and without initially producing fluorine 𝐾-shell holes are studied by tuning the central photon energy. The absorption spectra are measured at different FEL intensities to observe nonlinear effects. Transient isolated fluorine atoms and ions are spectroscopically recorded within the ultrashort pulse duration of a few tens of femtoseconds. An isosbestic point that signifies the correlated transition between intact neutral CF 4 molecules and charged atomic fragments is observed near the fluorine 𝐾 edge. The dissociation dynamics and the multiphoton absorption-induced dynamics encoded in the spectra are theoretically interpreted. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of high-intensity x-ray transmission spectroscopy to study ultrafast molecular dynamics with sensitivity to specific intermediate species and their electronic structure.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

From bulk to surface: Structure and dynamics of amorphous alumina from deep potential molecular dynamics

Understanding the atomic-scale structure and dynamics of amorphous oxide surfaces is essential for interpreting their chemical reactivity, mechanical stability, and interfacial behavior, yet direct experimental characterization remains challenging. We employ Deep Potential (DP) molecular dynamics to generate large-scale, ab initio -quality models of amorphous Al 2 O 3 bulk glasses and melt-quenched free surfaces, enabling a quantitative analysis of both structure and relaxation dynamics with statistical confidence inaccessible to direct ab initio simulation. The trained DP model reproduces experimental liquid and glass structure, captures the cooling-rate dependence of the bulk glass transition, and corrects systematic biases in the polyhedral populations predicted by widely used classical force fields. At the free surface, mass density recovers to bulk values over ~10 Å, while local coordination requires a slightly wider subsurface region to fully converge. The outermost layer is oxygen-enriched, exhibits altered polyhedral connectivity with contracted Al–O bonds, and hosts a broad population of under-coordinated motifs (notably AlO 3 and OAl 2 ) whose abundances are governed by glass stability. These under-coordinated surface motifs exhibit distinct vibrational signatures and occur as locally paired Lewis acid and Brønsted base sites consistent with bond-valence compensation, yet remain spatially dispersed rather than aggregating into extended clusters. Despite this pronounced structural heterogeneity, surface relaxation and the glass-transition temperature remain comparable to their bulk counterparts, suggesting that the disordered surface is kinetically stable once formed. Together, these results establish a molecular-level picture of amorphous alumina surfaces and demonstrate the capability of machine-learned potentials to resolve structure–property relationships in disordered oxide interfaces.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Runtime performance of a GAMESS quantum chemistry application offloaded to GPUs

Summary Computational chemistry is at the forefront of solving urgent societal problems, such as polymer upcycling and carbon capture. The complexity of modeling these processes at appropriate length and time scales is mainly manifested in the number and types of chemical species involved in the reactions and may require models of several thousand atoms and large basis sets to accurately capture the chemical complexity and heterogeneity in the physical and chemical processes. The quantum chemistry package General Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure System (GAMESS) has a wide array of methods that can efficiently and accurately treat complex chemical systems. In this work, we have used the GAMESS Effective Fragment Molecule Orbital (EFMO) method for electronic structure calculation of a challenging mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) model surrounded by about 4700 water molecules to investigate the strong scaling and GPU offloading on hybrid CPU‐GPU nodes. Experiments were performed on the Perlmutter platform at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center. Good strong scaling and load balancing have been observed on up to 88 hybrid nodes for different settings of the execution parameters for the calculation considered here. When GPUs are oversubscribed by offloading work from multiple CPU processes, using the NVIDIA multi‐process service (MPS) has consistently reduced time to solution and energy consumed. Additionally, for some configuration parameter settings, oversubscription with MPS improved performance by up to 5.8% over the case without oversubscription.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Spectral scheme for atomic structure calculations in density functional theory

In this study, we present a spectral scheme for atomic structure calculations in pseudopotential Kohn-Sham density functional theory. In particular, after applying an exponential transformation of the radial coordinates, we employ global polynomial interpolation on a Chebyshev grid, with derivative operators approximated using the Chebyshev differentiation matrix, and integrations using Clenshaw-Curtis quadrature. We demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the scheme through spin-polarized and unpolarized calculations for representative atoms, while considering local, semilocal, and hybrid exchange-correlation functionals. In particular, we find that $\mathcal{O}$(200) grid points are sufficient to achieve an accuracy of 1 microhartree in the eigenvalues for optimized norm conserving Vanderbilt pseudopotentials spanning the periodic table from atomic number Ζ = 1 to 83.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

Synthetic Pathways to gamma-Graphyne and Related Allotropes of Carbon

Graphynes, two-dimensional carbon lattices combining sp 1 and sp 2 hybridized atoms, were predicted theoretically more than three decades ago, but few structures have been realized to date. These carbons are believed to possess remarkable mechanical and electronic properties, including high charge carrier mobilities comparable to those in graphene (10 4 to 10 5 cm 2 V -1 s -1 ). Unlike graphene, certain graphynes are predicted to be intrinsic semiconductors. Among these intriguing structures, γ-graphyne stands out as the structurally simplest and most symmetric sp 1 /sp 2 lattice. γ-Graphyne was first theorized in 1987. In contrast with graphene, γ-graphyne will be a semiconductor with a small band gap suitable for fabrication of electronic devices. This solves one of the fundamental problems of carbon-based electronics, the necessity for inducing a band gap in graphene. γ-Graphyne has the potential to form the basis for the next generation of carbon-based electronics operating at speeds unattainable by traditional silicon chips. Unlike silicon, γ-graphyne is a direct band gap semiconductor, and it will feature exceptional strength comparable to that of other 2D carbon allotropes. Such combination of properties may enable a new generation of highly efficient, ultra-light and flexible solar cells. Despite being a potentially “magical” material, γ-graphyne remained synthetically elusive for over three decades. The primary goals of this project were: (1) Synthesis of bulk γ-graphyne phases through solution-phase 2D polymerizations; (2) Experimental exploration of the physical and chemical properties of γ-graphyne; and (3) Mechanistic and theoretical studies of the novel chemical transformations developed in Goal 1. Common pyrolytic and vapor-deposition methodologies used for the synthesis of graphitic allotropes are unsuitable for graphyne and other sp 1 -contaning structures, as acetylenes readily convert to graphene and amorphous carbon at high temperatures. In contrast, this proposal is based on solution-based 2D polymerization. The major advantages of this approach over the traditional high temperature techniques are the potential to adjust the structure of the material with atomic precision, and the possibility of using structurally complex and relatively fragile repeat units. The outcomes of this research can revolutionize carbon nanotechnology, expanding the field’s structural toolbox beyond primarily graphitic and benzenoid structures. Understanding the chemistry of sp 1 carbon allotropes can lead to entirely new classes of structures with unique properties, including graphyne ribbons, nanotubes, quantum dots, and heterostructures with other 2D materials. Furthermore, the development of reliable and robust synthetic pathways towards periodic covalent molecular sheets with atomically precise structures shall have a profound impact on chemistry and materials science.

2D polymerization

Vanadium Substitution Dictates H Atom Uptake at Lindqvist-type Polyoxotungstates

Understanding how modification of molecular structures changes the thermochemistry of H atom uptake can provide design criteria for the formation of highly active catalysts for reductive transformations. Herein, we describe the effect of doping an atomically precise polyoxotungstate with vanadium on proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactivity. The Lindqvist-type polyoxotungstate [W 6 O 19 ] 2– displays reversible redox chemistry, which was found to be unchanged in the presence of acid, indicating an inability to couple reduction with protonation. However, the incorporation of a single vanadium center into the structure significantly changes the reactivity, and the potential required for one-electron reduction of [VW 5 O 19 ] 3– was shown to vary with the strength of the acid added. Construction of a potential-pK a diagram allowed assessment of the thermodynamics of H atom uptake, indicating BDFE(O–H) ≈ 64 kcal/mol, while chemical synthesis of the reduced/protonated derivative (TBA) 3 [VW 5 O 19 H] was used to probe the position of protonation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Building molecular model series from heterogeneous CryoEM structures using Gaussian mixture models and deep neural networks

Cryogenic electron microscopy (CryoEM) produces structures of macromolecules at near-atomic resolution. However, building molecular models with good stereochemical geometry from those structures can be challenging and time-consuming, especially when many structures are obtained from datasets with conformational heterogeneity. Here we present a model refinement protocol that automatically generates series of molecular models from CryoEM datasets, which describe the dynamics of the macromolecular system and have near-perfect geometry scores. This method makes it easier to interpret the movement of the protein complex from heterogeneity analysis and to compare the structural dynamics observed from CryoEM data with results from other experimental and simulation techniques.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

A new self-adaptive reconstruction method to identify defects through Wigner–Seitz approach

A new self-adaptive reconstruction method based on local atomic structure at any given molecular dynamics (MD) step has been developed in this article. The method can be used in Wigner–Seitz defect analysis approach to correctly and efficiently explore the information of both point defects and complex defect clusters (e.g. dislocation loops and voids) formed after a displacement cascade where the cascade interacts with grain boundaries and/or dislocations. The algorithm and validation are provided in detail. Results for identification of radiation defects during and after cascades interacting with a dislocation network show that the new method can well recognize all simple and complex defects and defect clusters. Thus, this new method provides a totally new way to explore the density and size of radiation defects at atomic scale after complex MD evolution processes, providing correct information to understand and predict radiation damage in materials through atomic simulations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS

Programmable simulations of molecules and materials with reconfigurable quantum processors

Simulations of quantum chemistry and quantum materials are believed to be among the most important applications of quantum information processors. However, realizing practical quantum advantage for such problems is challenging because of the prohibitive computational cost of programming typical problems into quantum hardware. Here we introduce a simulation framework for strongly correlated quantum systems represented by model spin Hamiltonians that uses reconfigurable qubit architectures to simulate real-time dynamics in a programmable way. Our approach also introduces an algorithm for extracting chemically relevant spectral properties via classical co-processing of quantum measurement results. We develop a digital–analogue simulation toolbox for efficient Hamiltonian time evolution using digital Floquet engineering and hardware-optimized multi-qubit operations to accurately realize complex spin–spin interactions. As an example, we propose an implementation based on Rydberg atom arrays. In addition, we show how detailed spectral information can be extracted from the dynamics through snapshot measurements and single-ancilla control, enabling the evaluation of excitation energies and finite-temperature susceptibilities from a single dataset. To illustrate the approach, we show how to use the method to compute key properties of a polynuclear transition-metal catalyst and two-dimensional magnetic materials.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS

A modular and extensible CHARMM-compatible model for all-atom simulation of polypeptoids

Peptoids (N-substituted glycines) are a class of sequence-defined synthetic peptidomimetic polymers with applications including drug delivery, catalysis, and biomimicry. Classical molecular simulations have been used to predict and understand the conformational dynamics of single chains and their self-assembly into morphologies including sheets, tubes, spheres, and fibrils. The CGenFF-NTOID model based on the CHARMM General Force Field has demonstrated success in accurate all-atom molecular modeling of peptoid structure and thermodynamics. Extension of this force field to new peptoid side chains has historically required reparameterization of side chain bonded interactions against ab initio data. This fitting protocol improves the accuracy of the force field but is also burdensome and precludes modular extensibility of the model to arbitrary peptoid sequences. In this work, we develop and demonstrate a Modular Side Chain CGenFF-NTOID (MoSiC-CGenFF-NTOID) as an extension of CGenFF-NTOID employing a modular decomposition of the peptoid backbone and side chain parameterizations, wherein arbitrary side chains within the large family of substituted methyl groups (i.e., –CH 3 , –CH 2 R, –CHRR', and –CRR'R") are directly ported from CGenFF. We validate this approach against ab initio calculations and experimental data to develop a MoSiC-CGenFF-NTOID model for all 20 natural amino acid side chains along with 13 commonly used synthetic side chains and present an extensible paradigm to efficiently determine whether a novel side chain can be directly incorporated into the model or whether refitting of the CGenFF parameters is warranted. We make the model freely available to the community along with a tool to perform automated initial structure generation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH

Quantum simulations of nuclear resonances with variational methods

Background: The many-body nature of nuclear physics problems poses significant computational challenges. These challenges become even more pronounced when studying the resonance states of nuclear systems, which are governed by the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. Quantum computing, particularly for quantum many-body systems, offers a promising alternative, especially within the constraints of current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. Purpose: This work aims to simulate nuclear resonances using quantum algorithms by developing a variational framework compatible with non-Hermitian Hamiltonians and implementing it fully on a quantum simulator. Methods: We employ the complex scaling technique to extract resonance positions classically and adapt it for quantum simulations using a two-step algorithm. First, we transform the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian into a Hermitian form by using the energy variance as a cost function within a variational framework. Second, we perform 𝜃-trajectory calculations to determine optimal resonance positions in the complex energy plane. To address resource constraints on NISQ devices, we utilize Gray code (GC) encoding to reduce qubit requirements. Results: We first validate our approach using a schematic potential model that mimics a nuclear potential, successfully reproducing known resonance energies with high fidelity. We then extend the method to a more realistic 𝛼−𝛼 nuclear potential and compute the 𝐷- and 𝐺-wave resonance energies with a basis size of 𝑁=16, using only four qubits. The quantum simulation results closely match the classical values, demonstrating the feasibility of our approach. Conclusions: This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the complete 𝜃-trajectory method can be implemented on a quantum computer without relying on any classical input beyond the Hamiltonian. The results establish a scalable and efficient quantum framework for simulating resonance phenomena in nuclear systems. This work represents a significant step toward quantum simulations of open quantum systems and lays the foundation for future investigations into resonance structures in nuclear, atomic, and molecular physics.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS