Hole spin dynamics and hole gg factor anisotropy in coupled quantum well systems

Due to its p-like character, the valence band in GaAs-based heterostructures offers rich and complex spin-dependent phenomena. One manifestation is the large anisotropy of Zeeman spin splitting. Using undoped, coupled quantum wells (QWs), we examine this anisotropy by comparing the hole spin dynamics for high- and low-symmetry crystallographic orientations of the QWs. We directly measure the hole $g$ factor via time-resolved Kerr rotation, and for the low-symmetry crystallographic orientations (110) and (113a), we observe a large in-plane anisotropy of the hole $g$ factor, in good agreement with our theoretical calculations. Using resonant spin amplification, we also observe an anisotropy of the hole spin dephasing in the (110)-grown structure, indicating that crystal symmetry may be used to control hole spin dynamics

Spin dynamics in p-doped semiconductor nanostructures subject to a magnetic field tilted from the Voigt geometry

We develop a theoretical description of the spin dynamics of resident holes in a p-doped semiconductor quantum well (QW) subject to a magnetic field tilted from the Voigt geometry. We find the expressions for the signals measured in time-resolved Faraday rotation (TRFR) and resonant spin amplification (RSA) experiments and study their behavior for a range of system parameters. We find that an inversion of the RSA peaks can occur for long hole spin dephasing times and tilted magnetic fields. We verify the validity of our theoretical findings by performing a series of TRFR and RSA experiments on a p-modulation doped GaAs/Al_{0.3}Ga_{0.7}As single QW and showing that our model can reproduce experimentally observed signals.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures; corrected typo

Secreted Frizzled-related Protein 2 (sFRP2) Redirects Non-canonical Wnt Signaling from Fz7 to Ror2 during Vertebrate Gastrulation

This is the final version of the article. Available from American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology via the DOI in this record.Convergent extension movements during vertebrate gastrulation require a balanced activity of non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways, but the factors regulating this interplay on the molecular level are poorly characterized. Here we show that sFRP2, a member of the secreted frizzled-related protein (sFRP) family, is required for morphogenesis and papc expression during Xenopus gastrulation. We further provide evidence that sFRP2 redirects non-canonical Wnt signaling from Frizzled 7 (Fz7) to the receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (Ror2). During this process, sFRP2 promotes Ror2 signal transduction by stabilizing Wnt5a-Ror2 complexes at the membrane, whereas it inhibits Fz7 signaling, probably by blocking Fz7 receptor endocytosis. The cysteine-rich domain of sFRP2 is sufficient for Ror2 activation, and related sFRPs can substitute for this function. Notably, direct interaction of the two receptors via their cysteine-rich domains also promotes Ror2-mediated papc expression but inhibits Fz7 signaling. We propose that sFRPs can act as a molecular switch, channeling the signal input for different non-canonical Wnt pathways during vertebrate gastrulation

Lef1 regulates caveolin expression and caveolin dependent endocytosis, a process necessary for Wnt5a/Ror2 signaling during Xenopus gastrulation

The activation of distinct branches of the Wnt signaling network is essential for regulating early vertebrate development. Activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway stimulates expression of β-catenin-Lef/Tcf regulated Wnt target genes and a regulatory network giving rise to the formation of the Spemann organizer. Non-canonical pathways, by contrast, mainly regulate cell polarization and migration, in particular convergent extension movements of the trunk mesoderm during gastrulation. By transcriptome analyses, we found caveolin1, caveolin3 and cavin1 to be regulated by Lef1 in the involuting mesoderm of Xenopus embryos at gastrula stages. We show that caveolins and caveolin dependent endocytosis are necessary for proper gastrulation, most likely by interfering with Wnt5a/Ror2 signaling. Wnt5a regulates the subcellular localization of receptor complexes, including Ror2 homodimers, Ror2/Fzd7 and Ror2/dsh heterodimers in an endocytosis dependent manner. Live-cell imaging revealed endocytosis of Ror2/caveolin1 complexes. In Xenopus explants, in the presence of Wnt5a, these receptor clusters remain stable exclusively at the basolateral side, suggesting that endocytosis of non-canonical Wnt/receptor complexes preferentially takes place at the apical membrane. In support of this blocking endocytosis with inhibitors prevents the effects of Wnt5a. Thus, target genes of Lef1 interfere with Wnt5a/Ror2 signaling to coordinate gastrulation movements

Issues and Opportunities in Exotic Hadrons

The last few years have been witness to a proliferation of new results concerning heavy exotic hadrons. Experimentally, many new signals have been discovered that could be pointing towards the existence of tetraquarks, pentaquarks, and other exotic configurations of quarks and gluons. Theoretically, advances in lattice field theory techniques place us at the cusp of understanding complex coupled-channel phenomena, modelling grows more sophisticated, and effective field theories are being applied to an ever greater range of situations. It is thus an opportune time to evaluate the status of the field. In the following, a series of high priority experimental and theoretical issues concerning heavy exotic hadrons is presented.Comment: White paper from INT workshop, "Modern Exotic Hadrons". References added. Version to appear in Chinese Physics

Measurement of the transverse target and beam-target asymmetries in η\eta meson photoproduction at MAMI

We present new data for the transverse target asymmetry T and the very first data for the beam-target asymmetry F in the $\vec \gamma \vec p\to\eta p$ reaction up to a center-of-mass energy of W=1.9 GeV. The data were obtained with the Crystal-Ball/TAPS detector setup at the Glasgow tagged photon facility of the Mainz Microtron MAMI. All existing model predictions fail to reproduce the new data indicating a significant impact on our understanding of the underlying dynamics of $\eta$ meson photoproduction. The peculiar nodal structure observed in existing T data close to threshold is not confirmed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in PR

A new measurement of the neutron detection efficiency for the NaI Crystal Ball detector

We report on a measurement of the neutron detection efficiency in NaI crystals in the Crystal Ball detector obtained from a study of single p0 photoproduction on deuterium using the tagged photon beam at the Mainz Microtron. The results were obtained up to a neutron energy of 400 MeV. They are compared to previous measurements made more than 15 years ago at the pion beam at the BNL AGS

T and F asymmetries in π0 photoproduction on the proton

The γp→π0p reaction was studied at laboratory photon energies from 425 to 1445 MeV with a transversely polarized target and a longitudinally polarized beam. The beam-target asymmetry F was measured for the first time and new high precision data for the target asymmetry T were obtained. The experiment was performed at the photon tagging facility of the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) using the Crystal Ball and TAPS photon spectrometers. The polarized cross sections were expanded in terms of associated Legendre functions and compared to recent predictions from several partial-wave analyses. The impact of the new data on our understanding of the underlying partial-wave amplitudes and baryon resonance contributions is discussed

Determination of the scalar polarizabilities of the proton using beam asymmetry Σ3\Sigma_{3} in Compton scattering

The scalar dipole polarizabilities, $\alpha_{E1}$ and $\beta_{M1}$, are fundamental properties related to the internal dynamics of the nucleon. The currently accepted values of the proton polarizabilities were determined by fitting to unpolarized proton Compton scattering cross section data. The measurement of the beam asymmetry $\Sigma_{3}$ in a certain kinematical range provides an alternative approach to the extraction of the scalar polarizabilities. At the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) the beam asymmetry was measured for Compton scattering below pion photoproduction threshold for the first time. The results are compared with model calculations and the influence of the experimental data on the extraction of the scalar polarizabilities is determined.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Measurement of pi^0 photoproduction on the proton at MAMI C

Differential cross sections for the gamma p -> pi^0 p reaction have been measured with the A2 tagged-photon facilities at the Mainz Microtron, MAMI C, up to the center-of-mass energy W=1.9 GeV. The new results, obtained with a fine energy and angular binning, increase the existing quantity of pi^0 photoproduction data by ~47%. Owing to the unprecedented statistical accuracy and the full angular coverage, the results are sensitive to high partial-wave amplitudes. This is demonstrated by the decomposition of the differential cross sections in terms of Legendre polynomials and by further comparison to model predictions. A new solution of the SAID partial-wave analysis obtained after adding the new data into the fit is presented.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl