Tuning quantum non-local effects in graphene plasmonics

The response of an electron system to electromagnetic fields with sharp spatial variations is strongly dependent on quantum electronic properties, even in ambient conditions, but difficult to access experimentally. We use propagating graphene plasmons, together with an engineered dielectric-metallic environment, to probe the graphene electron liquid and unveil its detailed electronic response at short wavelengths.The near-field imaging experiments reveal a parameter-free match with the full theoretical quantum description of the massless Dirac electron gas, in which we identify three types of quantum effects as keys to understanding the experimental response of graphene to short-ranged terahertz electric fields. The first type is of single-particle nature and is related to shape deformations of the Fermi surface during a plasmon oscillations. The second and third types are a many-body effect controlled by the inertia and compressibility of the interacting electron liquid in graphene. We demonstrate how, in principle, our experimental approach can determine the full spatiotemporal response of an electron system.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Anisotropic Strain Induced Soliton Movement Changes Stacking Order and Bandstructure of Graphene Multilayers

The crystal structure of solid-state matter greatly affects its electronic properties. For example in multilayer graphene, precise knowledge of the lateral layer arrangement is crucial, since the most stable configurations, Bernal and rhombohedral stacking, exhibit very different electronic properties. Nevertheless, both stacking orders can coexist within one flake, separated by a strain soliton that can host topologically protected states. Clearly, accessing the transport properties of the two stackings and the soliton is of high interest. However, the stacking orders can transform into one another and therefore, the seemingly trivial question how reliable electrical contact can be made to either stacking order can a priori not be answered easily. Here, we show that manufacturing metal contacts to multilayer graphene can move solitons by several $\mu$m, unidirectionally enlarging Bernal domains due to arising mechanical strain. Furthermore, we also find that during dry transfer of multilayer graphene onto hexagonal Boron Nitride, such a transformation can happen. Using density functional theory modeling, we corroborate that anisotropic deformations of the multilayer graphene lattice decrease the rhombohedral stacking stability. Finally, we have devised systematics to avoid soliton movement, and how to reliably realize contacts to both stacking configurations

A EDUCAÇÃO DE JOVENS E ADULTOS (EJA) NAS CONSTITUIÇÕES FEDERAIS BRASILEIRAS: ENTRE O IDEAL, O LEGAL E O REAL

In this article we seek to elucidate how Youth and Adult Education (EJA) is conceived and materialized based on the most fundamental legal framework in the Rule of Law, which is its Constitution. The methodology of analysis and understanding of the Brazilian Federal Constitutions and the official documents that derive from them was adopted, from a qualitative perspective in a cautious process of selection, collection, analysis and interpretation of data. For a greater understanding of the research, Haddad's theoretical assumptions were used; Dipierro (2000), Nagle (2001), Paiva (2021), Strelhow (2012), Beluzo (2015), among others. The research results reveal that, despite Brazil having seven constitutions in its republican history, the basic and subjective right to Education for young people, adults and the elderly in Brazil does not appear as a priority in the historical panorama, either in legal documents or in norms or public policies. They also point out that, even when there are laws that ensure it, the materialization of the right to EJA is far from ideal.En este artículo buscamos dilucidar cómo se concibe y materializa la Educación de Jóvenes y Adultos (EJA) a partir del marco jurídico más fundamental del Estado de Derecho, que es su Constitución. Se adoptó la metodología de análisis y comprensión de las Constituciones Federales brasileñas y de los documentos oficiales que de ellas se derivan, desde una perspectiva cualitativa, en un cauteloso proceso de selección, recolección, análisis e interpretación de datos. Para una mayor comprensión de la investigación se utilizaron los supuestos teóricos de Haddad; Dipierro (2000), Nagle (2001), Paiva (2021), Strelhow (2012), Beluzo (2015), entre otros. Los resultados de la investigación revelan que, a pesar de que Brasil haya tenido siete constituciones en su historia republicana, el derecho básico y subjetivo a la Educación de jóvenes, adultos y ancianos en Brasil no aparece como una prioridad en el panorama histórico, ni en documentos legales ni en normas o políticas públicas. También señalan que, aun cuando existen leyes que lo garantizan, la materialización del derecho a la EJA dista mucho de ser ideal.Neste artigo buscamos elucidar como a Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA) é concebida e materializada a partir do marco legal mais fundamental no Estado de Direito, que é sua Constituição. Adotou-se a metodologia de análise e compreensão das Constituições Federais brasileiras e dos documentos oficiais que delas derivam, numa perspectiva qualitativa em um cauteloso processo de seleção, coleta, análise e interpretação dos dados. Para uma maior compreensão da pesquisa foram utilizados os pressupostos teóricos de Haddad; Dipierro (2000), Nagle (2001), Paiva (2021), Strelhow (2012), Beluzo (2015), entre outros. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam que, apesar de o Brasil ter em sua história republicana sete constituições, o direito básico e subjetivo à Educação para jovens, adultos e idosos no Brasil não figura no panorama histórico como prioridade, seja nos documentos legais, seja nas normas ou políticas públicas. Apontam ainda que, mesmo quando existem leis que a assegurem, a materialização do direito à EJA encontra-se distante do ideal

mGlu1 Receptors Monopolize the Synaptic Control of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells by Epigenetically Down-Regulating mGlu5 Receptors

In cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) type-1 metabotropic glutamate (mGlu1) receptors play a key role in motor learning and drive the refinement of synaptic innervation during postnatal development. The cognate mGlu5 receptor is absent in mature PCs and shows low expression levels in the adult cerebellar cortex. Here we found that mGlu5 receptors were heavily expressed by PCs in the early postnatal life, when mGlu1α receptors were barely detectable. The developmental decline of mGlu5 receptors coincided with the appearance of mGlu1α receptors in PCs, and both processes were associated with specular changes in CpG methylation in the corresponding gene promoters. It was the mGlu1 receptor that drove the elimination of mGlu5 receptors from PCs, as shown by data obtained with conditional mGlu1α receptor knockout mice and with targeted pharmacological treatments during critical developmental time windows. The suppressing activity of mGlu1 receptors on mGlu5 receptor was maintained in mature PCs, suggesting that expression of mGlu1α and mGlu5 receptors is mutually exclusive in PCs. These findings add complexity to the the finely tuned mechanisms that regulate PC biology during development and in the adult life and lay the groundwork for an in-depth analysis of the role played by mGlu5 receptors in PC maturation

Revealing Adenosine A2A-Dopamine D2 Receptor Heteromers in Parkinson's Disease Post-Mortem Brain through a New AlphaScreen-Based Assay

Background: Several biophysical techniques have been successfully implemented to detect G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) heteromerization. Although these approaches have made it possible to ascertain the presence of GPCR heteromers in animal models of disease, no success has been accomplished in pathological human post-mortem brains. The AlphaScreen technology has been consistently used to quantify small analyte accumulation or depletion, bimolecular interactions, and post-translational modifications. The high signal-to-background, dynamic range and sensitivity exhibited by this technology support that it may be suitable to detect GPCR heteromers even under non-optimal conditions. Methods: Here, we describe the development of a new AlphaScreen assay to detect GPCR oligomers in human post-mortem brain. Results: Adenosine A2A-dopamine D2 receptor (A2AR/D2R) heteromer formation was monitored in caudate from healthy and Parkinson's disease (PD) subjects. The approach was first validated using striatal membranes from wild type and A2AR deficient mice. Secondly, we took advantage of the 6-hydroxydopamine hemiparkinsonian rat model to validate previous results. In addition, finally, A2AR/D2R heteromer formation was assessed in caudate membranes from human post-mortem brains. Importantly, our preliminary results revealed an increase in A2AR/D2R heteromer formation in PD brains. Conclusions: The new AlphaScreen assay allowed assessing GPCR heteromers in human post-mortem brains with high sensitivity

High-Performance and Ultralow-Noise Two-Dimensional Heterostructure Field-Effect Transistors with One-Dimensional Electrical Contacts

Two-dimensional heterostructure field-effect transistors (2D-HFETs) with one-dimensional electrical contacts to atomically thin channels have recently shown great device performance, such as reduced contact resistance, leading to ballistic transport and enhanced carrier mobility. While a number of low-frequency noise studies exists on bare graphene devices supported on silicon dioxide gate insulators with surface contacts, such studies in heterostructure devices comprising epitaxial graphene on hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) with edge contacts are extremely limited. In this article, we present a systematic, temperature-dependent study of electrical transport and low-frequency noise in edge-contacted high-mobility HFET with a single atomic-layer graphene channel encapsulated by hBN and demonstrate ultralow noise with a Hooge parameter of ≈10–5. By combining measurements and modeling based on underlying microscopic scattering mechanisms caused by charge carriers and phonons, we directly correlate the high-performance, temperature-dependent transport behavior of this device with the noise characteristics. Our study provides a pathway towards engineering low-noise graphene-based high-performance 2D-FETs with one-dimensional edge contacts for applications such as digital electronics and chemical/biological sensing.acceptedVersio

Isobutyl acetate: electronic state spectroscopy by high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption, He(I) photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

The high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet photoabsorption spectrum of isobutyl acetate, C6H12O2, is presented here and was measured over the energy range 4.3–10.8 eV (290–115 nm). Valence and Rydberg transitions with their associated vibronic series have been observed in the photoabsorption spectrum and are assigned in accordance with new ab initio calculations of the vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths. The measured photoabsorption cross sections have been used to calculate the photolysis lifetime of this ester in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (20–50 km). Calculations have also been carried out to determine the ionization energies and fine structure of the lowest ionic state of isobutyl acetate and are compared with a photoelectron spectrum (from 9.5 to 16.7 eV), recorded for the first time. Vibrational structure is observed in the first photoelectron band of this molecule

Tunable quantum interferometer for correlated moir\'e electrons

Magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG) can host an intriguing variety of gate-tunable correlated states, including superconducting and correlated insulator states. Junction-based superconducting devices, such as Josephson junctions and SQUIDs, have been introduced recently and enable the exploration of the charge, spin, and orbital nature of superconductivity and the coherence of moir\'e electrons in MATBG. However, complementary fundamental coherence effects - in particular, the Little-Parks effect in a superconducting and the Aharonov-Bohm effect in a normal conducting ring - remained to be observed. Here, we report the observation of both these phenomena in a single gate-defined ring device where we can embed a superconducting or normal conducting ring in a correlated or band insulator. We directly observe the Little-Parks effect in the superconducting phase diagram as a function of density and magnetic field, confirming the effective charge of $2e$. By measuring the Aharonov-Bohm effect, we find that in our device, the coherence length of normal conducting moir\'e electrons exceeds a few microns at 50 mK. Surprisingly, we also identify a regime characterized by $h/e$-periodic oscillations but with superconductor-like nonlinear transport. Taken together, these experiments establish a novel device platform in MATBG, and more generally in tunable 2D materials, to unravel the nature of superconductivity and other correlated quantum states in these materials

Efficiency of Rejection-Free Methods for Dynamic Monte Carlo Studies of Off-lattice Interacting Particles

We calculate the efficiency of a rejection-free dynamic Monte Carlo method for $d$-dimensional off-lattice homogeneous particles interacting through a repulsive power-law potential $r^{-p}$. Theoretically we find the algorithmic efficiency in the limit of low temperatures and/or high densities is asymptotically proportional to $\rho^{\tfrac{p+2}{2}}T^{-\tfrac{d}{2}}$ with the particle density $\rho$ and the temperature $T$. Dynamic Monte Carlo simulations are performed in 1-, 2- and 3-dimensional systems with different powers $p$, and the results agree with the theoretical predictions.Comment: revtex4, 4 pages, 6 figure