275 research outputs found

    Attosecond spectroscopy of bio-chemically relevant molecules

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    Understanding the role of the electron dynamics in the photochemistry of bio-chemically relevant molecules is key to getting access to the fundamental physical processes leading to damage, mutation and, more generally, to the alteration of the final biological functions. Sudden ionization of a large molecule has been proven to activate a sub-femtosecond charge flow throughout the molecular backbone, purely guided by electronic coherences, which could ultimately affect the photochemical response of the molecule at later times. We can follow this ultrafast charge flow in real time by exploiting the extreme time resolution provided by attosecond light sources. In this work recent advances in attosecond molecular physics are presented with particular focus on the investigation of bio-relevant molecules

    New symmetries of the chiral Potts model

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    In this paper a hithertho unknown symmetry of the three-state chiral Potts model is found consisting of two coupled Temperley-Lieb algebras. From these we can construct new superintegrable models. One realisation is in terms of a staggered isotropic XY spin chain. Further we investigate the importance of the algebra for the existence of mutually commuting charges. This leads us to a natural generalisation of the boost-operator, which generates the charges.Comment: 19 pages, improved notation, made the text easier to read, corrected some typo

    Quantum Symmetries and Marginal Deformations

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    We study the symmetries of the N=1 exactly marginal deformations of N=4 Super Yang-Mills theory. For generic values of the parameters, these deformations are known to break the SU(3) part of the R-symmetry group down to a discrete subgroup. However, a closer look from the perspective of quantum groups reveals that the Lagrangian is in fact invariant under a certain Hopf algebra which is a non-standard quantum deformation of the algebra of functions on SU(3). Our discussion is motivated by the desire to better understand why these theories have significant differences from N=4 SYM regarding the planar integrability (or rather lack thereof) of the spin chains encoding their spectrum. However, our construction works at the level of the classical Lagrangian, without relying on the language of spin chains. Our approach might eventually provide a better understanding of the finiteness properties of these theories as well as help in the construction of their AdS/CFT duals.Comment: 1+40 pages. v2: minor clarifications and references added. v3: Added an appendix, fixed minor typo

    Attosecond correlated electron dynamics at C<sub>60</sub> giant plasmon resonance

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    Fullerenes have unique physical and chemical properties that are associated with their delocalized conjugated electronic structure. Among them, there is a giant ultra-broadband - and therefore ultrafast - plasmon resonance, which for C60 is in the extreme-ultraviolet energy range. While this peculiar resonance has attracted considerable interest for the potential downscaling of nanoplasmonic applications such as sensing, drug delivery and photocatalysis at the atomic level, its electronic character has remained elusive. The ultrafast decay time of this collective excitation demands attosecond techniques for real-time access to the photoinduced dynamics. Here, we uncover the role of electron correlations in the giant plasmon resonance of C60 by employing attosecond photoemission chronoscopy. We find a characteristic photoemission delay of up to 200 attoseconds pertaining to the plasmon that is purely induced by coherent large-scale correlations. This result provides novel insight into the quantum nature of plasmonic resonances, and sets a benchmark for advancing nanoplasmonic applications

    Magnetism and Ion Diffusion in Honeycomb Layered Oxide K2_2Ni2_2TeO6_6: First Time Study by Muon Spin Rotation & Neutron Scattering

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    In the quest of finding novel and efficient batteries, a great interest has raised in K-based honeycomb layer oxide materials both for their fundamental properties and potential applications. A key issue in the realization of efficient batteries based on such compounds, is to understand the K-ion diffusion mechanism. However, investigation of potassium-ion (K+^+) dynamics in materials using magneto-spin properties has so far been challenging, due to its inherently weak nuclear magnetic moment, in contrast to other alkali ions such as lithium and sodium. Spin-polarised muons, having a high gyromagnetic ratio, make the muon spin rotation and relaxation (μ\mu+SR) technique ideal for probing ions dynamics in weak magneto-spin moment materials. Here we report the magnetic properties and K+ dynamics in honeycomb layered oxide material of the K2_2Ni2_2TeO6_6 using μ\mu+SR measurements. Our low-temperature μ\mu+SR results together with, with complementary magnetic susceptibility, find an antiferromagnetic transition at 26 K. Further μ\mu+SR studies performed at higher temperatures reveal that potassium ions (K+^+) become mobile above 250 K and the activation energy for the diffusion process is Ea = 121(13) meV. This is the first time that K+ dynamics in potassium-based battery materials has been measured using μ\mu+SR. Finally our results also indicate an interesting possibility that K-ion self diffusion occurs predominantly at the surface of the powder particles. This opens future possibilities for improving ion diffusion and device performance using nano-structuring.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure

    Role of the Renner-Teller effect after core hole excitation in the dissociation dynamics of carbon dioxide dication

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    The fragmentation of the doubly-charged carbon dioxide molecule is studied after photoexcitation to the C 1s 12π u and O 1s 12π u states using a multicoincidence ion-imaging technique. The bent component of the Renner- Teller split states populated in the 1s→ π* resonant excitation at both the carbon and oxygen 1sionization edges opens pathways to potential surfaces in highly bent geometries in the dication. Evidence for a complete deformation of the molecule is found in the coincident detection of C+ and O+2 ions. The distinct alignment of this fragmentation channel indicates rapid deformation and subsequent fragmentation. Investigation of the complete atomization dynamics in the dication leading to asymmetric charge separation shows that the primary dissociation mechanisms, sequential, concerted, and asynchronous concerted, are correlated to specific fragment kinetic energies. The study shows that the bond angle in fragmentation can extend below 20°

    The sounds of science - A symphony for many instruments and voices

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    Sounds of Science is the first movement of a symphony for many (scientific) instruments and voices, united in celebration of the frontiers of science and intended for a general audience. John Goodenough, the maestro who transformed energy usage and technology through the invention of the lithium-ion battery, opens the programme, reflecting on the ultimate limits of battery technology. This applied theme continues through the subsequent pieces on energy-related topics - the sodium-ion battery and artificial fuels, by Martin Månsson - and the ultimate challenge for 3D printing, the eventual production of life, by Anthony Atala. A passage by Gerianne Alexander follows, contemplating a related issue: How might an artificially produced human being behave? Next comes a consideration of consciousness and free will by Roland Allen and Suzy Lidström. Further voices and new instruments enter as Warwick Bowen, Nicolas Mauranyapin and Lars Madsen discuss whether dynamical processes of single molecules might be observed in their native state. The exploitation of chaos in science and technology, applications of Bose-Einstein condensates and the significance of entropy follow in pieces by Linda Reichl, Ernst Rasel and Roland Allen, respectively. Mikhail Katsnelson and Eugene Koonin then discuss the potential generalisation of thermodynamic concepts in the context of biological evolution. Entering with the music of the cosmos, Philip Yasskin discusses whether we might be able to observe torsion in the geometry of the Universe. The crescendo comes with the crisis of singularities, their nature and whether they can be resolved through quantum effects, in the composition of Alan Coley. The climax is Mario Krenn, Art Melvin and Anton Zeilinger\u27s consideration of how computer code can be autonomously surprising and creative. In a harmonious counterpoint, his \u27Guidelines for considering AIs as coauthors\u27, Roman Yampolskiy concludes that code is not yet able to take responsibility for coauthoring a paper. An interlude summarises a speech by Zdeněk Papoušek. In a subsequent movement, new themes emerge as we seek to comprehend how far we have travelled along the path to understanding, and speculate on where new physics might arise. Who would have imagined, 100 years ago, a global society permeated by smartphones and scientific instruments so sophisticated that genes can be modified and gravitational waves detected
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