The Bragg demagnifier: X-ray imaging with kilometer propagation distance within a meter

We introduce a new X-ray imaging technique to facilitate propagation-based phase contrast of large, centimeter-sized samples. The diffracted X-ray wavefield behind the sample is demagnified by asymmetric Bragg crystal optics, thereby virtually increasing the propagation distance and thus enhancing the image contrast. We demonstrate the significant increase in image contrast compared to conventional phase contrast imaging at the same short physical propagation distance. Additionally, the Bragg demagnifier enables the reduction of image blur caused by the finite X-ray source size. In combination with a subsequent Bragg magnifier, the method will allow for an even higher dose efficiency, rendering this technique a potential candidate for, e.g., low-dose (bio)medical diagnostics

Transmon Qubit in a Magnetic Field: Evolution of Coherence and Transition Frequency

We report on spectroscopic and time-domain measurements on a fixed-frequency concentric transmon qubit in an applied in-plane magnetic field to explore its limits of magnetic field compatibility. We demonstrate quantum coherence of the qubit up to field values of $B={40}\,\mathrm{mT}$, even without an optimized chip design or material combination of the qubit. The dephasing rate $\Gamma_\varphi$ is shown to be not affected by the magnetic field in a broad range of the qubit transition frequency. For the evolution of the qubit transition frequency, we find the unintended second junction created in the shadow angle evaporation process to be non-negligible and deduce an analytic formula for the field-dependent qubit energies. We discuss the relevant field-dependent loss channels, which can not be distinguished by our measurements, inviting further theoretical and experimental investigation. Using well-known and well-studied standard components of the superconducting quantum architecture, we are able to reach a field regime relevant for quantum sensing and hybrid applications of magnetic spins and spin systems.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Solomon equations for qubit and two-level systems

We model and measure the combined relaxation of a qubit, a.k.a. central spin, coupled to a discrete two-level system (TLS) environment. We present a derivation of the Solomon equations starting from a general Lindblad equation for the qubit and an arbitrary number of TLSs. If the TLSs are much longer lived than the qubit, the relaxation becomes non-exponential. In the limit of large numbers of TLSs the populations are likely to follow a power law, which we illustrate by measuring the relaxation of a superconducting fluxonium qubit. Moreover, we show that the Solomon equations predict non-Poissonian quantum jump statistics, which we confirm experimentally

Transmon qubit in a magnetic field: Evolution of coherence and transition frequency

We report on spectroscopic and time-domain measurements on a fixed-frequency concentric transmon qubit in an applied in-plane magnetic field to explore its limits of magnetic field compatibility. We demonstrate quantum coherence of the qubit up to field values of $B=40\,\mathrm{mT}$, even without an optimized chip design or material combination of the qubit. The dephasing rate $\Gamma_\varphi$ is shown to be unaffected by the magnetic field in a broad range of the qubit transition frequency. For the evolution of the qubit transition frequency, we find the unintended second junction created in the shadow angle evaporation process to be non-negligible and deduce an analytic formula for the field-dependent qubit energies. We discuss the relevant field-dependent loss channels, which cannot be distinguished by our measurements, inviting further theoretical and experimental investigation. Using well-known and well-studied standard components of the superconducting quantum architecture, we are able to reach a field regime relevant for quantum sensing and hybrid applications of magnetic spins and spin systems

Implementation of a Transmon Qubit Using Superconducting Granular Aluminum

The high kinetic inductance offered by granular aluminum (grAl) has recently been employed for linear inductors in superconducting high-impedance qubits and kinetic inductance detectors. Because of its large critical current density compared to typical Josephson junctions, its resilience to external magnetic fields, and its low dissipation, grAl may also provide a robust source of nonlinearity for strongly driven quantum circuits, topological superconductivity, and hybrid systems. Having said that, can the grAl nonlinearity be sufficient to build a qubit? Here we show that a small grAl volume (10×200×500  nm$^{3}$) shunted by a thin film aluminum capacitor results in a microwave oscillator with anharmonicity α two orders of magnitude larger than its spectral linewidth Γ$_{01}$, effectively forming a transmon qubit. With increasing drive power, we observe several multiphoton transitions starting from the ground state, from which we extract α=2$_{π}$×4.48  MHz. Resonance fluorescence measurements of the |0⟩→|1⟩ transition yield an intrinsic qubit linewidth γ=2$_{π}$×10  kHz, corresponding to a lifetime of 16  μs, as confirmed by pulsed time-domain measurements. This linewidth remains below 2$_{π}$×150  kHz for in-plane magnetic fields up to ∼70  mT

Dewetting of Pt Nanoparticles Boosts Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Due to Electronic Metal-Support Interaction

Solid-state dewetting is the heat-induced agglomeration of thin metal films into defined nanoparticles (NPs). Dewetted Pt nanoparticles are investigated on F-doped SnO2 (FTO) substrates as model binder-free electrodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Dewetting of Pt films into particles exposes the FTO substrate and the metal/support (Pt-FTO) contact line. Despite the decrease in Pt electrochemical surface area (ECSA) upon dewetting, dewetted NPs show a &gt;3-fold increase in ECSA-normalized HER activity compared to as-deposited nanocrystalline Pt films. Electrodes designed with dewetted Pt NPs of different sizes show that the HER activity does not only correlate with the ECSA but also increases with increasing the Pt-FTO contact line length. The smaller the NPs, the larger the Pt-FTO contact line, and the higher the activity. This effect is ascribed to electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI), due to electron transfer from FTO to Pt. It is proposed that EMSI effects alter the electronic structure of Pt sites near the Pt-FTO contact line, facilitating the H2 evolution kinetics. When NPs are a few nm-sized, a large mass fraction of Pt is affected by EMSI, resulting in a further increase of HER activity compared to NPs ≥10 nm despite the lower ECSA.</p

Fast Gas‐Adsorption Kinetics in Supraparticle‐Based MOF Packings with Hierarchical Porosity

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are microporous adsorbents for high-throughput gas separation. Such materials exhibit distinct adsorption characteristics owing to the flexibility of the crystal framework in a nanoparticle, which can be different from its bulk crystal. However, for practical applications, such particles need to be compacted into macroscopic pellets, creating mass-transport limitations. In this work, this problem is addressed by forming materials with structural hierarchy, using a supraparticle-based approach. Spherical supraparticles composed of nanosized MOF particles are fabricated by emulsion templating and they are used as the structural component forming a macroscopic material. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) particles are used as a model system and the gas-adsorption kinetics of the hierarchical material are compared with conventional pellets without structural hierarchy. It is demonstrated that a pellet packed with supraparticles exhibits a 30 times faster adsorption rate compared to an unstructured ZIF-8 powder pellet. These results underline the importance of controlling structural hierarchy to maximize the performance of existing materials. In the hierarchical MOFs, large macropores between the supraparticles, smaller macropores between individual ZIF-8 primary particles, and micropores inherent to the ZIF-8 framework collude to combine large surface area, defined adsorption sites, and efficient mass transport to enhance performance

Rapid fabrication and interface structure of highly faceted epitaxial Ni-Au solid solution nanoparticles on sapphire

Supersaturated Ni-Au solid solution particles were synthesized by rapid solid-state dewetting of bilayer thin films deposited onto c-plane sapphire single-crystals. Rapid thermal annealing above the miscibility gap of the Ni-Au system followed by quenching to room temperature resulted in textured and faceted submicron-sized particles as a function of alloying content in the range of 0-28 at% Au. Morphologically, the observed kinetic crystal shapes are confined by close-packed planes; in addition, high-index facets are identified as a function of alloying content by TEM cross-sectioning and equilibrium crystal shape simulations. All samples exhibit a distinct out-of-plane as well as in-plane texture along densely packed directions. Lattice parameters extracted from independent orthogonal X-ray and electron diffraction techniques prove the formation of a solid solution without tetragonal distortion imposed by the sapphire substrate. At the particle-substrate interface of highly alloyed particles segregation of Au atoms as well as dislocations in stand-off position are found. These observations are in-line with a semi-coherent interface, where Au segregation is triggered by the reduction of the overall strain energy due to: (i) a lower shear modulus on the particle side of the interface, (ii) the shifting of misfit dislocations in stand-off position further away from the stiffer substrate and (iii) a reduction of intrinsic misfit dislocation strain energy on the tensile side. In addition, the mechanical properties of pure and alloyed particles were characterized by in situ compression experiments in the SEM. Typical force-displacement data of defect-free single-crystals were obtained, reaching the theoretical strength of Ni for particles smaller than 400 nm. Alloying changes the mechanical response from an intermittent and discrete plastic flow behavior into a homogeneous deformation regime at large compressive strain