Embedded Program Annotations for WCET Analysis

We present __builtin_ais_annot(), a user-friendly, versatile way to transfer annotations (also known as flow facts) written on the source code level to the machine code level. To do so, we couple two tools often used during the development of safety-critical hard real-time systems, the formally verified C compiler CompCert and the static WCET analyzer aiT. CompCert stores the AIS annotations given via __builtin_ais_annot() in a special section of the ELF binary, which can later be extracted automatically by aiT

Randomisation of Pulse Phases for Unambiguous and Robust Quantum Sensing

We develop theoretically and demonstrate experimentally a universal dynamical decoupling method for robust quantum sensing with unambiguous signal identification. Our method uses randomisation of control pulses to suppress simultaneously two types of errors in the measured spectra that would otherwise lead to false signal identification. These are spurious responses due to finite-width $\pi$ pulses, as well as signal distortion caused by $\pi$ pulse imperfections. For the cases of nanoscale nuclear spin sensing and AC magnetometry, we benchmark the performance of the protocol with a single nitrogen vacancy centre in diamond against widely used non-randomised pulse sequences. Our method is general and can be combined with existing multipulse quantum sensing sequences to enhance their performance

Attosecond screening dynamics mediated by electron-localization

Transition metals with their densely confined and strongly coupled valence electrons are key constituents of many materials with unconventional properties, such as high-Tc superconductors, Mott insulators and transition-metal dichalcogenides. Strong electron interaction offers a fast and efficient lever to manipulate their properties with light, creating promising potential for next-generation electronics. However, the underlying dynamics is a fast and intricate interplay of polarization and screening effects, which is poorly understood. It is hidden below the femtosecond timescale of electronic thermalization, which follows the light-induced excitation. Here, we investigate the many-body electron dynamics in transition metals before thermalization sets in. We combine the sensitivity of intra-shell transitions to screening effects with attosecond time resolution to uncover the interplay of photo-absorption and screening. First-principles time-dependent calculations allow us to assign our experimental observations to ultrafast electronic localization on d-orbitals. The latter modifies the whole electronic structure as well as the collective dynamic response of the system on a timescale much faster than the light-field cycle. Our results demonstrate a possibility for steering the electronic properties of solids prior to electron thermalization, suggesting that the ultimate speed of electronic phase transitions is limited only by the duration of the controlling laser pulse. Furthermore, external control of the local electronic density serves as a fine tool for testing state-of-the art models of electron-electron interactions. We anticipate our study to facilitate further investigations of electronic phase transitions, laser-metal interactions and photo-absorption in correlated electron systems on its natural timescale

Pulsar Timing Probes of Primordial Black Holes and Subhalos

Pulsars act as accurate clocks, sensitive to gravitational redshift and acceleration induced by transiting clumps of matter. We study the sensitivity of pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) to single transiting compact objects, focusing on primordial black holes and compact subhalos in the mass range from $10^{-12} M _{\odot}$ to well above $100~M_\odot$. We find that the Square Kilometer Array can constrain such objects to be a subdominant component of the dark matter over this entire mass range, with sensitivity to a dark matter sub-component reaching the sub-percent level over significant parts of this range. We also find that PTAs offer an opportunity to probe substantially less dense objects than lensing because of the large effective radius over which such objects can be observed, and we quantify the subhalo concentration parameters which can be constrained.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figure

Formation of visual memories controlled by gamma power phase-locked to alpha oscillations

Neuronal oscillations provide a window for understanding the brain dynamics that organize the flow of information from sensory to memory areas. While it has been suggested that gamma power reflects feedforward processing and alpha oscillations feedback control, it remains unknown how these oscillations dynamically interact. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) data was acquired from healthy subjects who were cued to either remember or not remember presented pictures. Our analysis revealed that in anticipation of a picture to be remembered, alpha power decreased while the cross-frequency coupling between gamma power and alpha phase increased. A measure of directionality between alpha phase and gamma power predicted individual ability to encode memory: stronger control of alpha phase over gamma power was associated with better memory. These findings demonstrate that encoding of visual information is reflected by a state determined by the interaction between alpha and gamma activity