Spatial mapping of band bending in semiconductor devices using in-situ quantum sensors

Band bending is a central concept in solid-state physics that arises from local variations in charge distribution especially near semiconductor interfaces and surfaces. Its precision measurement is vital in a variety of contexts from the optimisation of field effect transistors to the engineering of qubit devices with enhanced stability and coherence. Existing methods are surface sensitive and are unable to probe band bending at depth from surface or bulk charges related to crystal defects. Here we propose an in-situ method for probing band bending in a semiconductor device by imaging an array of atomic-sized quantum sensing defects to report on the local electric field. We implement the concept using the nitrogen-vacancy centre in diamond, and map the electric field at different depths under various surface terminations. We then fabricate a two-terminal device based on the conductive two-dimensional hole gas formed at a hydrogen-terminated diamond surface, and observe an unexpected spatial modulation of the electric field attributed to a complex interplay between charge injection and photo-ionisation effects. Our method opens the way to three-dimensional mapping of band bending in diamond and other semiconductors hosting suitable quantum sensors, combined with simultaneous imaging of charge transport in complex operating devices.Comment: This is a pre-print of an article published in Nature Electronics. The final authenticated version is available online at https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41928-018-0130-

The radiative lepton flavor violating decays in the split fermion scenario in the two Higgs doublet model

We study the branching ratios of the lepton flavor violating processes \mu -> e \gamma, \tau -> e \gamma and \tau -> \mu\gamma in the split fermion scenario, in the framework of the two Higgs doublet model. We observe that the branching ratios are relatively more sensitive to the compactification scale and the Gaussian widths of the leptons in the extra dimensions, for two extra dimensions and especially for the \tau -> \mu \gamma decay.Comment: 19 pages, 7 Figure

Off-the-Wall Higgs in the Universal Randall-Sundrum Model

We outline a consistent Randall-Sundrum (RS) framework in which a fundamental 5-dimensional Higgs doublet induces electroweak symmetry breaking (EWSB). In this framework of a warped Universal Extra Dimension, the lightest Kaluza-Klein (KK) mode of the bulk Higgs is tachyonic leading to a vacuum expectation value (vev) at the TeV scale. The consistency of this picture imposes a set of constraints on the parameters in the Higgs sector. A novel feature of our scenario is the emergence of an adjustable bulk profile for the Higgs vev. We also find a tower of non-tachyonic Higgs KK modes at the weak scale. We consider an interesting implementation of this ``Off-the-Wall Higgs'' mechanism where the 5-dimensional curvature-scalar coupling alone generates the tachyonic mode responsible for EWSB. In this case, additional relations among the parameters of the Higgs and gravitational sectors are established. We discuss the experimental signatures of the bulk Higgs in general, and those of the ``Gravity-Induced'' EWSB in particular.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figure

Search for anomalous top-gluon couplings at LHC revisited

Through top-quark pair productions at LHC, we study possible effects of nonstandard top-gluon couplings yielded by SU(3)xSU(2)xU(1) invariant dimension-6 effective operators. We calculate the total cross section and also some distributions for p p -> t tbar X as functions of two anomalous-coupling parameters, i.e., the chromoelectric and chromomagnetic moments of the top, which are constrained by the total cross section sigma(p pbar -> t tbar X) measured at Tevatron. We find that LHC might give us some chances to observe sizable effects induced by those new couplings.Comment: One comment and related two refs. added. Final version (to appear in Eur.Phys.J. C

Low-scale warped extra dimension and its predilection for multiple top quarks

Within warped extra dimension models that explain flavor through geometry, flavor changing neutral current constraints generally force the Kaluza-Klein scale to be above many TeV. This creates tension with a natural electroweak scale. On the other hand, a much lower scale compatible with precision electroweak and flavor changing neutral current constraints is allowed if we decouple the Kaluza-Klein states of Standard Model gauge bosons from light fermions $c_{\rm light}\simeq c_b\simeq 0.5$ bulk mass parameters). The main signature for this approach is four top quark production via the Kaluza-Klein excitations' strong coupling to top quarks. We study single lepton, like-sign dilepton, and trilepton observables of four-top events at the Large Hadron Collider. The like-sign dilepton signature typically has the largest discovery potential for a strongly coupled right-handed top case (M_{KK} \sim 2-2.5 \TeV), while single lepton is the better when the left-handed top couples most strongly (M_{KK} \sim 2 \TeV). We also describe challenging lepton-jet collimation issues in the like-sign dilepton and trilepton channels. An alternative single lepton observable is considered which takes advantage of the many bottom quarks in the final state. Although searches of other particles may compete, we find that four top production via Kaluza-Klein gluons is most promising in a large region of this parameter space.Comment: 35 pages, 8 figures. discussions improved, references adde

New Higgs Production Mechanism in Composite Higgs Models

Composite Higgs models are only now starting to be probed at the Large Hadron Collider by Higgs searches. We point out that new resonances, abundant in these models, can mediate new production mechanisms for the composite Higgs. The new channels involve the exchange of a massive color octet and single production of new fermion resonances with subsequent decays into the Higgs and a Standard Model quark. The sizable cross section and very distinctive kinematics allow for a very clean extraction of the signal over the background with high statistical significance. Heavy gluon masses up to 2.8 TeV can be probed with data collected during 2012 and up to 5 TeV after the energy upgrade to $\sqrt{s}=14$ TeV.Comment: 27 pages, 22 figures. V2: typos corrected, matches published versio

Theories for the Fermi Scale

I give a short review of our present understanding of new theories of the electroweak scale, with emphasis on recent progress. Plenary talk at the EPS 2007 Conference at Manchester.Comment: 14 pages, EPS 2007 Conferenc

The Discovery Potential of a Super B Factory

The Proceedings of the 2003 SLAC Workshops on flavor physics with a high luminosity asymmetric e+e- collider. The sensitivity of flavor physics to physics beyond the Standard Model is addressed in detail, in the context of the improvement of experimental measurements and theoretical calculations.Comment: 476 pages. Printed copies may be obtained by request to [email protected] . arXiv admin note: v2 appears to be identical to v

A T Cell-inducing influenza vaccine for the elderly: safety and immunogenicity of MVA-NP+M1 in adults aged over 50 years

Current influenza vaccines have reduced immunogenicity and are of uncertain efficacy in older adults. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of MVA-NP+M1, a viral-vectored influenza vaccine designed to boost memory T cell responses, in a group of older adults.Thirty volunteers (aged 50-85) received a single intramuscular injection of MVA-NP+M1 at a dose of 1·5×10(8) plaque forming units (pfu). Safety and immunogenicity were assessed over a period of one year. The frequency of T cells specific for nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein 1 (M1) was determined by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) ELISpot, and their phenotypic and functional properties were characterized by polychromatic flow cytometry. In a subset of M1-specific CD8(+) T cells, T cell receptor (TCR) gene expression was evaluated using an unbiased molecular approach.Vaccination with MVA-NP+M1 was well tolerated. ELISpot responses were boosted significantly above baseline following vaccination. Increases were detected in both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell subsets. Clonality studies indicated that MVA-NP+M1 expanded pre-existing memory CD8(+) T cells, which displayed a predominant CD27(+)CD45RO(+)CD57(-)CCR7(-) phenotype both before and after vaccination.MVA-NP+M1 is safe and immunogenic in older adults. Unlike seasonal influenza vaccination, the immune responses generated by MVA-NP+M1 are similar between younger and older individuals. A T cell-inducing vaccine such as MVA-NP+M1 may therefore provide a way to circumvent the immunosenescence that impairs routine influenza vaccination.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00942071

Identifying the colour of TeV-scale resonances

We explore how the colour of any new TeV-scale resonances that decay into top quark pairs can be identified by studying the dependence of the observed cross-section on a central jet veto. To facilitate this study, colour octet resonance production was implemented in Pythia8 and colour singlet resonance production is simulated after minor modifications. We find that the colour of a 2 TeV resonance can be identified with 10/fb of data at a centre-of-mass energy of 14 TeV for a wide range of couplings, but only if the uncertainty in the theoretical prediction is dramatically reduced from its current level.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figure