Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.22331/q-2026-02-09-1998
Dylan Laplace Mermoud, Andrea Simonetto, Sourour Elloumi
We present a quantum variational algorithm based on a novel circuit that generates all permutations that can be spanned by one- and two-qubits permutation gates. The construction of the circuits follows from group-theoretical results, most importantly the Bruhat decomposition of the group generated by the cx gates. These circuits require a number of qubits that scale logarithmically with the permutation dimension, and are therefore employable in near-term applications. We further augment the circuits with ancilla qubits to enlarge their span, and with these we build ansatze to tackle permutation-based optimization problems such as quadratic assignment problems, and graph isomorphisms. The resulting quantum algorithm, QuPer, is competitive with respect to classical heuristics and we could simulate its behavior up to a problem with 256 variables, requiring 20 qubits.
{"title":"Variational quantum algorithms for permutation-based combinatorial problems: Optimal ansatz generation with applications to quadratic assignment problems and beyond","authors":"Dylan Laplace Mermoud, Andrea Simonetto, Sourour Elloumi","doi":"10.22331/q-2026-02-09-1998","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2026-02-09-1998","url":null,"abstract":"We present a quantum variational algorithm based on a novel circuit that generates all permutations that can be spanned by one- and two-qubits permutation gates. The construction of the circuits follows from group-theoretical results, most importantly the Bruhat decomposition of the group generated by the cx gates. These circuits require a number of qubits that scale logarithmically with the permutation dimension, and are therefore employable in near-term applications. We further augment the circuits with ancilla qubits to enlarge their span, and with these we build ansatze to tackle permutation-based optimization problems such as quadratic assignment problems, and graph isomorphisms. The resulting quantum algorithm, QuPer, is competitive with respect to classical heuristics and we could simulate its behavior up to a problem with 256 variables, requiring 20 qubits.","PeriodicalId":20807,"journal":{"name":"Quantum","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138509","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We investigate chaotic dynamics in extremal black holes by analyzing the motion of massless particles in both Reissner-Nordström and Kerr geometries. Two complementary approaches (i) taking the extremal limit of non-extremal solutions and (ii) working directly in the extremal background, yield consistent results. We find that, contrary to naive extrapolation of the Maldacena-Shenker-Stanford (MSS) chaos bound, the Lyapunov exponent remains positive even at zero temperature. For Reissner-Nordström black holes, chaos diminishes but persists at extremality, while for Kerr black holes it strengthens with increasing spin. These results demonstrate that extremal black holes exhibit residual chaotic dynamics that violate the MSS bound, establishing them as qualitatively distinct dynamical phases of gravity.
{"title":"Chaotic Dynamics in Extremal Black Holes: A Challenge to the Chaos Bound","authors":"Surojit Dalui, Chiranjeeb Singha, Krishnakanta Bhattacharya","doi":"10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2026.140256","url":null,"abstract":"We investigate chaotic dynamics in extremal black holes by analyzing the motion of massless particles in both Reissner-Nordström and Kerr geometries. Two complementary approaches (i) taking the extremal limit of non-extremal solutions and (ii) working directly in the extremal background, yield consistent results. We find that, contrary to naive extrapolation of the Maldacena-Shenker-Stanford (MSS) chaos bound, the Lyapunov exponent remains positive even at zero temperature. For Reissner-Nordström black holes, chaos diminishes but persists at extremality, while for Kerr black holes it strengthens with increasing spin. These results demonstrate that extremal black holes exhibit residual chaotic dynamics that violate the MSS bound, establishing them as qualitatively distinct dynamical phases of gravity.","PeriodicalId":20162,"journal":{"name":"Physics Letters B","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202556235
M. De Leo, M. Zoccali, J. Olivares-Carvajal, B. Acosta-Tripailao, F. Gran, R. Contreras-Ramos
Context. In hierarchical structure formation, the content of a galaxy is determined both by its in-situ processes and by material added via accretions. Globular clusters, in particular, represent a window into the study of the different merger events that a galaxy has undergone. Establishing the correct classification of in-situ and accreted tracers, and distinguishing the various progenitors that contributed to the accreted population are important tools to deepen our understanding of galactic formation and evolution.Aims. This study aims to refine our knowledge of the Milky Way’s assembly history by examining the dynamics of its globular cluster population and establishing an updated classification among in-situ objects and the different merger events identified.Methods. We used a custom-built orbit integrator to derive precise orbital parameters, integrals of motions and adiabatic invariants for the globular cluster sample studied. By properly accounting for the rotating bar, which transforms the underlying model into a time-varying potential, we performed a complete dynamical characterisation of the globular clusters.Results. We present a new catalogue of clear associations between globular clusters and structures (both in-situ and accreted) in the Milky Way, along with a full table of derived parameters. Using all available dynamical information, we attributed previously unassociated or misclassified globular clusters to different progenitors, including those responsible for the Aleph, Antaeus, Cetus, Elqui, and Typhon merger events.Conclusions. Using a custom-built orbit integrator and properly accounting for the time-varying nature of the Milky Way potential, we demonstrate the depth of information that can be extracted from a purely dynamical analysis of the Galaxy’s globular clusters. Merging our dynamical analysis with complementary chronochemical studies, will allow us to uncover the remaining secrets of the accretion history of the Milky Way.
{"title":"Globular clusters in ORBIT: Complete dynamical characterisation of the Milky Way globular cluster population through updated orbital reconstruction","authors":"M. De Leo, M. Zoccali, J. Olivares-Carvajal, B. Acosta-Tripailao, F. Gran, R. Contreras-Ramos","doi":"10.1051/0004-6361/202556235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202556235","url":null,"abstract":"<i>Context<i/>. In hierarchical structure formation, the content of a galaxy is determined both by its in-situ processes and by material added via accretions. Globular clusters, in particular, represent a window into the study of the different merger events that a galaxy has undergone. Establishing the correct classification of in-situ and accreted tracers, and distinguishing the various progenitors that contributed to the accreted population are important tools to deepen our understanding of galactic formation and evolution.<i>Aims<i/>. This study aims to refine our knowledge of the Milky Way’s assembly history by examining the dynamics of its globular cluster population and establishing an updated classification among in-situ objects and the different merger events identified.<i>Methods<i/>. We used a custom-built orbit integrator to derive precise orbital parameters, integrals of motions and adiabatic invariants for the globular cluster sample studied. By properly accounting for the rotating bar, which transforms the underlying model into a time-varying potential, we performed a complete dynamical characterisation of the globular clusters.<i>Results<i/>. We present a new catalogue of clear associations between globular clusters and structures (both in-situ and accreted) in the Milky Way, along with a full table of derived parameters. Using all available dynamical information, we attributed previously unassociated or misclassified globular clusters to different progenitors, including those responsible for the Aleph, Antaeus, Cetus, Elqui, and Typhon merger events.<i>Conclusions<i/>. Using a custom-built orbit integrator and properly accounting for the time-varying nature of the Milky Way potential, we demonstrate the depth of information that can be extracted from a purely dynamical analysis of the Galaxy’s globular clusters. Merging our dynamical analysis with complementary chronochemical studies, will allow us to uncover the remaining secrets of the accretion history of the Milky Way.","PeriodicalId":8571,"journal":{"name":"Astronomy & Astrophysics","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1088/1361-6382/ae3e4b
Dipayan Mukherjee, Harkirat Singh Sahota and S Shankaranarayanan
Building upon our recently established correspondence between quantum cosmology and the hydrogen atom (Sahota et al 2025 arXiv:2505.16863 [gr-qc]), we investigate the specific sector of a negative cosmological constant ( ) in a flat FLRW Universe with dust. While the positive Λ sector (Sahota et al 2025 arXiv:2505.16863 [gr-qc]) yields a continuous spectrum and a single bounce, we show here that the negative Λ sector leads to a discrete spectrum of energy eigenvalues, effectively quantizing the cosmological constant. Within this dual description, the operator-ordering ambiguity parameter appears as the azimuthal quantum number of the hydrogen atom. A skewed Bohr correspondence emerges for the bound states, matching classical evolution at large volumes but deviating near the bounce. By constructing wave packets from these bound states, we demonstrate that the classical Big Bang and Big Crunch singularities are resolved, and the Universe oscillates between quantum bounces and classical turnaround points. The expectation values of the observables indicate a cyclic Universe—with vanishing Hubble parameter at turnarounds—undergoing quantum bounces. This exactly solvable model offers a tractable setting to explore quantum gravitational effects in cosmology. We analyze the properties of this cyclic Universe, contrasting its bound-state dynamics with the scattering states of the de Sitter case.
基于我们最近建立的量子宇宙学和氢原子之间的对应关系（Sahota et al 2025 arXiv:2505.16863 [gr-qc]），我们研究了一个平坦的FLRW宇宙中负宇宙常数（）的特定部分。当正的Λ扇区（Sahota et al 2025 arXiv:2505.16863 [gr-qc]）产生连续光谱和单一反弹时，我们在这里表明负的Λ扇区导致能量特征值的离散谱，有效地量化了宇宙常数。在这种对偶描述中，算子序模糊参数表现为氢原子的方位量子数。束缚态出现了扭曲的玻尔对应，在大体积下与经典演化相匹配，但在弹跳附近偏离。通过从这些束缚态构造波包，我们证明了经典的大爆炸和大压缩奇点是解决的，宇宙在量子弹跳和经典周转点之间振荡。可观测值的期望值表明，一个循环的宇宙正在经历量子反弹，而哈勃参数在转弯时消失。这个完全可解的模型为探索宇宙学中的量子引力效应提供了一个易于处理的环境。我们分析了这个循环宇宙的性质，对比了它的束缚态动力学和de Sitter情况下的散射态。
{"title":"Quantum cosmology as a hydrogen atom: discrete Λ and cyclic universes from Wheeler–DeWitt quantization","authors":"Dipayan Mukherjee, Harkirat Singh Sahota and S Shankaranarayanan","doi":"10.1088/1361-6382/ae3e4b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6382/ae3e4b","url":null,"abstract":"Building upon our recently established correspondence between quantum cosmology and the hydrogen atom (Sahota et al 2025 arXiv:2505.16863 [gr-qc]), we investigate the specific sector of a negative cosmological constant ( ) in a flat FLRW Universe with dust. While the positive Λ sector (Sahota et al 2025 arXiv:2505.16863 [gr-qc]) yields a continuous spectrum and a single bounce, we show here that the negative Λ sector leads to a discrete spectrum of energy eigenvalues, effectively quantizing the cosmological constant. Within this dual description, the operator-ordering ambiguity parameter appears as the azimuthal quantum number of the hydrogen atom. A skewed Bohr correspondence emerges for the bound states, matching classical evolution at large volumes but deviating near the bounce. By constructing wave packets from these bound states, we demonstrate that the classical Big Bang and Big Crunch singularities are resolved, and the Universe oscillates between quantum bounces and classical turnaround points. The expectation values of the observables indicate a cyclic Universe—with vanishing Hubble parameter at turnarounds—undergoing quantum bounces. This exactly solvable model offers a tractable setting to explore quantum gravitational effects in cosmology. We analyze the properties of this cyclic Universe, contrasting its bound-state dynamics with the scattering states of the de Sitter case.","PeriodicalId":10282,"journal":{"name":"Classical and Quantum Gravity","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1038/s41567-026-03177-8
Yuejun Shen, Chutian Chen, Haoran Ma, Ashley P. Saunders, Christian Heide, Fang Liu, Grant M. Rotskoff, Jiaojian Shi, Aaron M. Lindenberg
The work required to drive a system from one state to another comprises both the equilibrium free energy difference and the dissipation associated with irreversibility. As physical processes—such as computing—approach fast limits, calculating this excess dissipation becomes increasingly critical. Yet, precisely quantifying dissipation, more specifically, entropy production, in strongly driven, time-dependent, realistic nanoscale systems remains a considerable challenge. Consequently, previous studies have largely been limited to either idealized Markovian systems under time-dependent driving or non-Markovian steady-state systems under constant driving. Here we measure the full dynamics of trajectory-level entropy production in a non-stationary, non-Markovian material arising from time-dependent driving. We use machine learning to extract the entropy produced by a quantum dot stochastically blinking under a stepwise control protocol. The entropy produced corresponds to the loss of memory in the material as the carrier distribution evolves. In addition, our approach quantifies both information insertion and dissipation under a quenched protocol. This work demonstrates a simple and effective approach for visualizing dissipation dynamics following a fast quench and serves as a stepping stone towards optimizing energy costs in the control of real materials and devices.
{"title":"Non-equilibrium entropy production and information dissipation in a non-Markovian quantum dot","authors":"Yuejun Shen, Chutian Chen, Haoran Ma, Ashley P. Saunders, Christian Heide, Fang Liu, Grant M. Rotskoff, Jiaojian Shi, Aaron M. Lindenberg","doi":"10.1038/s41567-026-03177-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-026-03177-8","url":null,"abstract":"The work required to drive a system from one state to another comprises both the equilibrium free energy difference and the dissipation associated with irreversibility. As physical processes—such as computing—approach fast limits, calculating this excess dissipation becomes increasingly critical. Yet, precisely quantifying dissipation, more specifically, entropy production, in strongly driven, time-dependent, realistic nanoscale systems remains a considerable challenge. Consequently, previous studies have largely been limited to either idealized Markovian systems under time-dependent driving or non-Markovian steady-state systems under constant driving. Here we measure the full dynamics of trajectory-level entropy production in a non-stationary, non-Markovian material arising from time-dependent driving. We use machine learning to extract the entropy produced by a quantum dot stochastically blinking under a stepwise control protocol. The entropy produced corresponds to the loss of memory in the material as the carrier distribution evolves. In addition, our approach quantifies both information insertion and dissipation under a quenched protocol. This work demonstrates a simple and effective approach for visualizing dissipation dynamics following a fast quench and serves as a stepping stone towards optimizing energy costs in the control of real materials and devices.","PeriodicalId":19100,"journal":{"name":"Nature Physics","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":19.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146152302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1038/s41550-026-02775-z
Craig R. Walton, Laura K. Rogers, Amy Bonsor, Rob Spaargaren, Oliver Shorttle, Maria Schönbächler
A crucial factor governing the habitability of exoplanets is the availability of bioessential elements such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P), which foster prebiotic chemistry and sustain life after its emergence. However, concentrations of P and N in planetary mantles vary, owing to initial availability and oxidation conditions during planet formation, and thus their characterization and availability in planetary environments are challenging. Here we use a core-formation model to show that moderate oxygen fugacity during core formation is the key parameter to the availability of these two elements, with the existence of a narrow ‘chemical Goldilocks zone’ that allows both P and N to be present with the right abundances in the mantle. Earth falls within this zone, whereas planets with more reducing/oxidizing conditions will sequester P/N into the core, hindering their availability for life. Future observations refining estimates of the oxygen fugacity prevalent during exoplanet core formation will be crucial to properly evaluate exoplanetary habitability and correctly interpret possible biosignatures.
{"title":"The chemical habitability of Earth and rocky planets prescribed by core formation","authors":"Craig R. Walton, Laura K. Rogers, Amy Bonsor, Rob Spaargaren, Oliver Shorttle, Maria Schönbächler","doi":"10.1038/s41550-026-02775-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-026-02775-z","url":null,"abstract":"A crucial factor governing the habitability of exoplanets is the availability of bioessential elements such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P), which foster prebiotic chemistry and sustain life after its emergence. However, concentrations of P and N in planetary mantles vary, owing to initial availability and oxidation conditions during planet formation, and thus their characterization and availability in planetary environments are challenging. Here we use a core-formation model to show that moderate oxygen fugacity during core formation is the key parameter to the availability of these two elements, with the existence of a narrow ‘chemical Goldilocks zone’ that allows both P and N to be present with the right abundances in the mantle. Earth falls within this zone, whereas planets with more reducing/oxidizing conditions will sequester P/N into the core, hindering their availability for life. Future observations refining estimates of the oxygen fugacity prevalent during exoplanet core formation will be crucial to properly evaluate exoplanetary habitability and correctly interpret possible biosignatures.","PeriodicalId":18778,"journal":{"name":"Nature Astronomy","volume":"91 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146152305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02733
Paolo Maran,Abhiram Rajan,Francesco Ceccarelli,Roberto Osellame,Petra Paiè,Alessia Candeo,Francesca Bragheri,Andrea Bassi
Advanced optical microscopy techniques, such as structured illumination microscopy (SIM), often rely on precise and complex illumination setups, which can be challenging to implement and maintain. Integrated optics can offer compact, stable, and easy-to-align alternatives, enabling efficient light manipulation for advanced imaging applications. We present an integrated photonic device that generates structured illumination patterns directly within an optical microscope. The device incorporates optical waveguides in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer configuration, generating two separate coherent point sources with controlled amplitudes and phases. When optically conjugated to the pupil plane of a conventional widefield microscope, the device generates sinusoidal illumination patterns in the object plane, which can be translated and modulated via the Mach–Zehnder interferometer. We demonstrate that amplitude modulation enables (i) optical sectioning in HiLo (High and Low Frequency Illumination) microscopy and (ii) controlled structured illumination contrast across multiple wavelengths, making the system adaptable for multicolor SIM. Our results highlight the potential of integrated photonics as a compact and robust approach for advanced microscopy techniques, contributing to the development of simplified, high-resolution structured illumination imaging in biomedical and materials science applications.
{"title":"Amplitude- and Phase-Programmable Dual-Color Photonic Chip for High-Contrast Structured Illumination Microscopy","authors":"Paolo Maran,Abhiram Rajan,Francesco Ceccarelli,Roberto Osellame,Petra Paiè,Alessia Candeo,Francesca Bragheri,Andrea Bassi","doi":"10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02733","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.5c02733","url":null,"abstract":"Advanced optical microscopy techniques, such as structured illumination microscopy (SIM), often rely on precise and complex illumination setups, which can be challenging to implement and maintain. Integrated optics can offer compact, stable, and easy-to-align alternatives, enabling efficient light manipulation for advanced imaging applications. We present an integrated photonic device that generates structured illumination patterns directly within an optical microscope. The device incorporates optical waveguides in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer configuration, generating two separate coherent point sources with controlled amplitudes and phases. When optically conjugated to the pupil plane of a conventional widefield microscope, the device generates sinusoidal illumination patterns in the object plane, which can be translated and modulated via the Mach–Zehnder interferometer. We demonstrate that amplitude modulation enables (i) optical sectioning in HiLo (High and Low Frequency Illumination) microscopy and (ii) controlled structured illumination contrast across multiple wavelengths, making the system adaptable for multicolor SIM. Our results highlight the potential of integrated photonics as a compact and robust approach for advanced microscopy techniques, contributing to the development of simplified, high-resolution structured illumination imaging in biomedical and materials science applications.","PeriodicalId":23,"journal":{"name":"ACS Photonics","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hua Wang, Han Liu, Wei Zheng, Teng Long, Yan Liang, William W. Yu, Chuanjian Zhou
Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) offer exceptional optoelectronic properties but suffer from poor stability, limiting their practical use. Silica (SiO 2 ) encapsulation can improve the thermal and photostability of CsPbBr 3 PQDs, yet conventional methods relying on slow tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) condensation under ambient humidity yield low‐density shells that permit moisture penetration and rapid degradation under harsh conditions. Here, we present a ligand‐assisted reprecipitation (LARP) strategy in which decylphosphonic acid (DPA) replaces oleic acid (OA) as the surface ligand to enable in situ SiO 2 encapsulation. The intrinsic acidity of DPA self‐catalyzes TEOS hydrolysis, driving the formation of a cross‐linked Si‐O‐Si network and producing dense, uniform SiO 2 shells directly on the PQD surface. The resulting DPA‐CsPbBr 3 QDs@SiO 2 retain 91.8% of their initial photoluminescence intensity after 18 min of ultrasonic treatment in water, far exceeding the 12.7% retention of OA‐CsPbBr 3 QDs@SiO 2 . They also exhibit excellent photostability and X‐ray stability. Embedding these PQDs in hydroxyl‐terminated polysiloxane enables the fabrication of flexible scintillator films with high stability and spatial resolution for X‐ray imaging. This simple, low‐cost, and scalable approach offers a versatile route to robust PQDs for advanced optoelectronic applications.
{"title":"Dense Silica Encapsulation of Perovskite Quantum Dots via Decylphosphonic Acid Self‐Catalysis for Robust X‐ray Scintillators","authors":"Hua Wang, Han Liu, Wei Zheng, Teng Long, Yan Liang, William W. Yu, Chuanjian Zhou","doi":"10.1002/lpor.202502814","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202502814","url":null,"abstract":"Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) offer exceptional optoelectronic properties but suffer from poor stability, limiting their practical use. Silica (SiO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> ) encapsulation can improve the thermal and photostability of CsPbBr <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> PQDs, yet conventional methods relying on slow tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) condensation under ambient humidity yield low‐density shells that permit moisture penetration and rapid degradation under harsh conditions. Here, we present a ligand‐assisted reprecipitation (LARP) strategy in which decylphosphonic acid (DPA) replaces oleic acid (OA) as the surface ligand to enable in situ SiO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> encapsulation. The intrinsic acidity of DPA self‐catalyzes TEOS hydrolysis, driving the formation of a cross‐linked Si‐O‐Si network and producing dense, uniform SiO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> shells directly on the PQD surface. The resulting DPA‐CsPbBr <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> QDs@SiO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> retain 91.8% of their initial photoluminescence intensity after 18 min of ultrasonic treatment in water, far exceeding the 12.7% retention of OA‐CsPbBr <jats:sub>3</jats:sub> QDs@SiO <jats:sub>2</jats:sub> . They also exhibit excellent photostability and X‐ray stability. Embedding these PQDs in hydroxyl‐terminated polysiloxane enables the fabrication of flexible scintillator films with high stability and spatial resolution for X‐ray imaging. This simple, low‐cost, and scalable approach offers a versatile route to robust PQDs for advanced optoelectronic applications.","PeriodicalId":204,"journal":{"name":"Laser & Photonics Reviews","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Damian M. Suski, Maria Cywińska, Julianna Winnik, Michał Józwik, Piotr Zdańkowski, Azeem Ahmad, Balpreet S. Ahluwalia, Maciej Trusiak
Widefield interferometry offers non‐destructive, scalable nanometrology for semiconductor photonics, but prevailing pipelines require multi‐frame scanning (or phase‐shifting) and postprocessing of reconstructed noise‐limited phase, and do not provide single‐shot, geometry‐level uncertainties. We introduce an uncertainty‐aware Bayesian computational imaging framework that estimates semiconductor waveguide geometry (e.g., height and width) directly from a single widefield interferogram, coupling an end‐to‐end intensity forward model with Dynamic Nested Sampling to return full posterior distributions and model evidence. Operating in the intensity domain avoids noise transfer to reconstructed topography and remains reliable under low‐signal and sub‐pixel fringe‐shift conditions. Working in a widefield mode is a vital advantage of our Bayesian method, due to fully developed statistics over many pixels in a large field of view, significantly reducing the estimation uncertainties. We successfully validate performance in simulations showing sub‐nanometer height precision and nanometric width accuracy, and in experiments on a metrologically certified 15 nm calibration step and a rib waveguide (design height 8 nm). The framework is model‐agnostic and, given an appropriate forward model and priors, is in principle extendable to other nanostructures. By unifying single‐shot acquisition with probabilistic inference, we establish Bayesian computational nanometrology as a potential route to widefield, uncertainty‐quantified measurements for semiconductor nanophotonics and process‐level monitoring.
{"title":"Uncertainty‐Aware Bayesian Computational Imaging for Single‐Shot Widefield Interferometric Nanometrology","authors":"Damian M. Suski, Maria Cywińska, Julianna Winnik, Michał Józwik, Piotr Zdańkowski, Azeem Ahmad, Balpreet S. Ahluwalia, Maciej Trusiak","doi":"10.1002/lpor.202503158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202503158","url":null,"abstract":"Widefield interferometry offers non‐destructive, scalable nanometrology for semiconductor photonics, but prevailing pipelines require multi‐frame scanning (or phase‐shifting) and postprocessing of reconstructed noise‐limited phase, and do not provide single‐shot, geometry‐level uncertainties. We introduce an uncertainty‐aware Bayesian computational imaging framework that estimates semiconductor waveguide geometry (e.g., height and width) directly from a single widefield interferogram, coupling an end‐to‐end intensity forward model with Dynamic Nested Sampling to return full posterior distributions and model evidence. Operating in the intensity domain avoids noise transfer to reconstructed topography and remains reliable under low‐signal and sub‐pixel fringe‐shift conditions. Working in a widefield mode is a vital advantage of our Bayesian method, due to fully developed statistics over many pixels in a large field of view, significantly reducing the estimation uncertainties. We successfully validate performance in simulations showing sub‐nanometer height precision and nanometric width accuracy, and in experiments on a metrologically certified 15 nm calibration step and a rib waveguide (design height 8 nm). The framework is model‐agnostic and, given an appropriate forward model and priors, is in principle extendable to other nanostructures. By unifying single‐shot acquisition with probabilistic inference, we establish Bayesian computational nanometrology as a potential route to widefield, uncertainty‐quantified measurements for semiconductor nanophotonics and process‐level monitoring.","PeriodicalId":204,"journal":{"name":"Laser & Photonics Reviews","volume":"91 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In an era characterized by exponential digital growth and escalating cybersecurity threats, traditional encryption methods grapple with issues such as quantum vulnerability and static electromagnetic limitations. This paper introduces a transformative reconfigurable metasurfacebased pixel‐wise visual cryptography (VC) framework. By integrating field‐programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), the system dynamically encodes secrets into noise‐like visual keys (VKs), which unveil content solely through electromagnetic superposition. Treating each 2 × 2 pixel as an independent encryption unit, it enables fine‐grained control and real‐time key reconfiguration, emulating the “one‐time pad” principle to resist brute‐force, machine‐learning, and replay attacks. The pixel‐wise encoding overcomes the coarse resolution constraints of traditional visual secret sharing, facilitating high‐fidelity encoding of complex content, including alphanumeric text and high‐resolution images. Experimental results demonstrate its robust performance, exhibiting notable tolerance to phase noise and reliable decryption even in the presence of partial hologram damage. This framework ensures information‐theoretic security by eliminating statistical correlations between encryption cycles, outperforming traditional visual secret sharing (VSS) in resisting partial key interception.
{"title":"Reconfigurable Metasurface‐Driven Pixel‐Wise Visual Cryptography for High‐Security Dynamic Encryption","authors":"Longpan Wang, Yuhua Chen, Baiyue Wang, Yue Yin, Xuetao Gan, Xudong Bai, Zhenfei Li, Fuli Zhang, Ji Zhou","doi":"10.1002/lpor.202502960","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.202502960","url":null,"abstract":"In an era characterized by exponential digital growth and escalating cybersecurity threats, traditional encryption methods grapple with issues such as quantum vulnerability and static electromagnetic limitations. This paper introduces a transformative reconfigurable metasurfacebased pixel‐wise visual cryptography (VC) framework. By integrating field‐programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), the system dynamically encodes secrets into noise‐like visual keys (VKs), which unveil content solely through electromagnetic superposition. Treating each 2 × 2 pixel as an independent encryption unit, it enables fine‐grained control and real‐time key reconfiguration, emulating the “one‐time pad” principle to resist brute‐force, machine‐learning, and replay attacks. The pixel‐wise encoding overcomes the coarse resolution constraints of traditional visual secret sharing, facilitating high‐fidelity encoding of complex content, including alphanumeric text and high‐resolution images. Experimental results demonstrate its robust performance, exhibiting notable tolerance to phase noise and reliable decryption even in the presence of partial hologram damage. This framework ensures information‐theoretic security by eliminating statistical correlations between encryption cycles, outperforming traditional visual secret sharing (VSS) in resisting partial key interception.","PeriodicalId":204,"journal":{"name":"Laser & Photonics Reviews","volume":"73 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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