Application of the inhomogeneous Lippmann-Schwinger equation to inverse scattering problems

In this paper we present a hybrid approach to numerically solve two-dimensional electromagnetic inverse scattering problems, whereby the unknown scatterer is hosted by a possibly inhomogeneous background. The approach is `hybrid' in that it merges a qualitative and a quantitative method to optimize the way of exploiting the a priori information on the background within the inversion procedure, thus improving the quality of the reconstruction and reducing the data amount necessary for a satisfactory result. In the qualitative step, this a priori knowledge is utilized to implement the linear sampling method in its near-field formulation for an inhomogeneous background, in order to identify the region where the scatterer is located. On the other hand, the same a priori information is also encoded in the quantitative step by extending and applying the contrast source inversion method to what we call the `inhomogeneous Lippmann-Schwinger equation': the latter is a generalization of the classical Lippmann-Schwinger equation to the case of an inhomogeneous background, and in our paper is deduced from the differential formulation of the direct scattering problem to provide the reconstruction algorithm with an appropriate theoretical basis. Then, the point values of the refractive index are computed only in the region identified by the linear sampling method at the previous step. The effectiveness of this hybrid approach is supported by numerical simulations presented at the end of the paper.Comment: accepted in SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematic

NMR study of the Superconducting gap variation near the Mott transition in Cs3_{3}C60_{60}

Former extensive studies of superconductivity in the \textit{A}$_{3}$C$_{60}$ compounds, where \textit{A} is an alkali, have led to consider that Bardeen Cooper Schrieffer (BCS) electron-phonon pairing prevails in those compounds, though the incidence of electronic Coulomb repulsion has been highly debated. The discovery of two isomeric fulleride compounds Cs$_{3}$C$_{60}$ which exhibit a transition with pressure from a Mott insulator (MI) to a superconducting (SC) state clearly re-opens that question. Using pressure ($p$) as a single control parameter of the C$_{60}$ balls lattice spacing, one can now study the progressive evolution of the SC properties when the electronic correlations are increased towards the critical pressure $p_{c}$ of the Mott transition. We have used $^{13}$C and $^{133}$Cs NMR measurements on the cubic phase A15-Cs$_{3}$C$_{60}$ just above $p_{c}=5.0(3)$ kbar, where the SC transition temperature $T_{c}$ displays a dome shape with decreasing cell volume. From the $T$ dependence below $T_{c}$ of the nuclear spin lattice relaxation rate $(T_{1})^{-1}$ we determine the electronic excitations in the SC state, that is $2\Delta$, the SC gap value. We find that $2\Delta$ increases with decreasing $p$ towards $p_{c}$, where $T_{c}$ decreases on the SC dome, so that $2\Delta /k_{B}T_{c}$ increases regularly upon approaching the Mott transition. These results bring clear evidence that the increasing correlations near the Mott transition are not significantly detrimental to SC. They rather suggest that repulsive electron interactions might even reinforce elecron-phonon SC, being then partly responsible for the large $T_{c}$ values, as proposed by theoretical models taking the electronic correlations as a key ingredient.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Supplemental Materia

Structure and dynamics of the fullerene polymer Li4 C60 studied with neutron scattering

The two-dimensional polymer structure and lattice dynamics of the superionic conductor Li4 C60 are investigated by neutron diffraction and spectroscopy. The peculiar bonding architecture of this compound is definitely confirmed through the precise localisation of the carbon atoms involved in the intermolecular bonds. The spectral features of this phase are revealed through ab-initio lattice dynamics calculations and inelastic neutron scattering experiments. The neutron observables are found to be in very good agreement with the simulations which predict a partial charge transfer from the Li atoms to the C60 cage. The absence of a well defined band associated to one category of the Li atoms in the experimental spectrum suggests that this species is not ordered even at the lowest temperatures. The calculations predict an unstable Li sublattice at a temperature of 200 K, that we relate to the large ionic diffusivity of this system. This specificity is discussed in terms of coupling between the low frequency optic modes of the Li ions to the soft structure of the polymer.Comment: 29 pages, 13 Figure

Elucidation of copper environment in a Cu-Cr-Fe oxide catalyst through in situ high-resolution XANES investigation

Copper containing materials are widely used in a range of catalytic applications. Here, we report the use of Cu K-edge high resolution XANES to determine the local site symmetry of copper ions during the thermal treatment of a Cu-Cr-Fe oxide catalyst. We exploited the Cu K-edge XANES spectral features, in particular the correlation between area under the pre-edge peak and its position to determine the local environment of Cu2+ ions. The information gained from this investigation rules out the presence of Cu2+ ions in a tetrahedral or square planar geometry, a mixture of these sites, or in a reduced oxidation state. Evidence is presented that the Cu2+ ions in the Cu-Cr-Fe oxide system are present in a distorted octahedral environment

Mott Transition in the A15 Phase of Cs3C60 : Absence of a Pseudogap and Charge Order

We present a detailed NMR study of the insulator-to-metal transition induced by an applied pressure p in the A15 phase of Cs3C60. We evidence that the insulating antiferromagnetic (AFM) and superconducting (SC) phases coexist only in a narrow p range. At fixed p, in the metallic state above the SC transition T-c, the Cs-133 and C-13 NMR spin-lattice relaxation data are seemingly governed by a pseudogaplike feature. We prove that this feature, also seen in the (CsNMR)-Cs-133 shift data, is rather a signature of the Mott transition which broadens and smears out progressively for increasing (p,T). The analysis of the variation of the quadrupole splitting nu(Q) of the Cs-133 NMR spectrum precludes any cell symmetry change at the Mott transition and only monitors a weak variation of the lattice parameter. These results open an opportunity to consider theoretically the Mott transition in a multiorbital three-dimensional system well beyond its critical point.Peer reviewe

Using the emission of muonic x-rays as a spectroscopic tool for the investigation of the local chemistry of elements

There are several techniques providing quantitative elemental analysis, but very few capable of identifying both the concentration and chemical state of elements. This study presents a systematic investigation of the properties of the X-rays emitted after the atomic capture of negatively charged muons. The probability rates of the muonic transitions possess sensitivity to the electronic structure of materials, thus making the muonic X-ray Emission Spectroscopy complementary to the X-ray Absorption and Emission techniques for the study of the chemistry of elements, and able of unparalleled analysis in case of elements bearing low atomic numbers. This qualitative method is applied to the characterization of light elements-based, energy-relevant materials involved in the reaction of hydrogen desorption from the reactive hydride composite Ca(BH4)2-Mg2NiH4. The origin of the influence of the band-structure on the muonic atom is discussed and the observed effects are attributed to the contribution of the electronic structure to the screening and to the momentum distribution in the muon cascade

Comparing C-60 and C-70 as acceptor in organic solar cells : Influence of the electronic structure and aggregation size on the photovoltaic characteristics

The difference in aggregation size of the C-60 and C-70 fullerenes affect the photovoltaic performance of devices assembled in the so-called bilayer architecture with poly [2,7-(9,9- dioctyl- dibenzosilole)- alt-4,7- bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzo- 2,1,3- thiadiazole] (PSiF-DBT) as the electron donor material. Despite the better performance of the C-70 devices, which is related to the high absorption coefficient in the visible range and the superior charge transport properties, the short-circuit current variation upon annealing treatment at 100 degrees C is approximately twice bigger when the C-60 is the acceptor. We attribute this effect to the tendency of C-60 in form smaller aggregate domains relatively to the C-70. The increased roughness on the polymeric surface after annealing results in an enhanced donor/acceptor contact area and assists the fullerene diffusion deeper inside the polymeric layer. This effect leads to a better mixing between donor and acceptor species and create a interpenetrating layer close to the so-called bulk heterojunction. Since C-60 forms smaller aggregates, this mechanism is more pronounced for this molecule. Therefore, a significant variation in the performance of the C-60 devices is observed after this kind of treatment. Density Functional Theory calculations of the potential energy of interaction between two fullerene molecules and X-Ray measurements gives evidences to support this idea. In addition, combining spectrally resolved external quantum efficiency measurements with optical modeling our results also indicate the occurrence of the bilayer interfacial mixing for PSiF-DBT/C-60.Peer reviewe

Deepening the knowledge of ros1 rearrangements in non-small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis, treatment, resistance and concomitant alterations

ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) rearrangements are reported in about 1–2% of non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). After efficacy of crizotinib was demonstrated, identification of ROS1 translocations in advanced disease became fundamental to give patients the chance of specific and effective treatment. Different methods are available for detection of rearrangements, and probably the real prevalence of ROS1 rearrangements is higher than that reported in literature, as our capacity to detect gene rearrangements is improving. In particular, with next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, we are currently able to assess multiple genes simultaneously with increasing sensitivity. This is leading to overcome the “single oncogenic driver” paradigm, and in the very near future, the co-existence of multiple drivers will probably emerge more frequently and represent a therapeutic issue. Since recently, crizotinib has been the only available therapy, but today, many other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are emerging and seem promising both in first and subsequent lines of treatment. Indeed, novel inhibitors are also able to overcome resistance mutations to crizotinib, hypothesizing a possible sequential strategy also in ROS1-rearranged disease. In this review, we will focus on ROS1 rearrangements, dealing with diagnostic aspects, new therapeutic options, resistance issues and the coexistence of ROS1 translocations with other molecular alterations

Dissecting Tumor Growth: The Role of Cancer Stem Cells in Drug Resistance and Recurrence

Emerging evidence suggests that a small subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is responsible for initiation, progression, and metastasis cascade in tumors. CSCs share characteristics with normal stem cells, i.e., self-renewal and differentiation potential, suggesting that they can drive cancer progression. Consequently, targeting CSCs to prevent tumor growth or regrowth might offer a chance to lead the fight against cancer. CSCs create their niche, a specific area within tissue with a unique microenvironment that sustains their vital functions. Interactions between CSCs and their niches play a critical role in regulating CSCs’ self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Differences observed in the frequency of CSCs, due to the phenotypic plasticity of many cancer cells, remain a challenge in cancer therapeutics, since CSCs can modulate their transcriptional activities into a more stem-like state to protect themselves from destruction. This plasticity represents an essential step for future therapeutic approaches. Regarding self-renewal, CSCs are modulated by the same molecular pathways found in normal stem cells, such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Notch signaling, and Hedgehog signaling. Another key characteristic of CSCs is their resistance to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, due to their capacity to rest in a quiescent state. This review will analyze the primary mechanisms involved in CSC tumorigenesis, with particular attention to the roles of CSCs in tumor progression in benign and malignant diseases; and will examine future perspectives on the identification of new markers to better control tumorigenesis, as well as dissecting the metastasis process