Search

We consider constraints on the Hubble parameter $H_0$ and the matter density parameter $\Omega_{\mathrm{M}}$ from: (i) the age of the Universe based on old stars and stellar populations in the Galactic disc and halo (Cimatti & Moresco 2023); (ii) the turnover scale in the matter power spectrum, which tells us the cosmological horizon at the epoch of matter-radiation equality (Philcox et al. 2022); and (iii) the shape of the expansion history from supernovae (SNe) and baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs) with no absolute calibration of either, a technique known as uncalibrated cosmic standards (UCS; Lin, Chen, & Mack 2021). A narrow region is consistent with all three constraints just outside their $1\sigma$ uncertainties. Although this region is defined by techniques unrelated to the physics of recombination and the sound horizon then, the standard $Planck$ fit to the CMB anisotropies falls precisely in this region. This concordance argues against early-time explanations for the anomalously high local estimate of $H_0$ (the 'Hubble tension'), which can only be reconciled with the age constraint at an implausibly low $\Omega_{\mathrm{M}}$. We suggest instead that outflow from the local KBC supervoid (Keenan, Barger, & Cowie 2013) inflates redshifts in the nearby universe and thus the apparent local $H_0$. Given the difficulties with solutions in the early universe, we argue that the most promising alternative to a local void is a modification to the expansion history at late times, perhaps due to a changing dark energy density., Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, no tables. Submitted to The Open Journal of Astrophysics

The Large and Small Magellanic Cloud (LMC and SMC) form the closest interacting galactic system to the Milky Way, therewith providing a laboratory to test cosmological models in the local Universe. We quantify the likelihood for the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) to be observed within the $\Lambda$CDM model using hydrodynamical simulations of the IllustrisTNG project. The orbits of the MCs are constrained by proper motion measurements taken by the $Hubble~Space~Telescope$ and $Gaia$. The MCs have a mutual separation of $d_{\mathrm{MCs}}~=~24.5\,\mathrm{kpc}$ and a relative velocity of $v_{\mathrm{MCs}}~=~90.8\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$, implying a phase-space density of $f_{\mathrm{MCs,obs}}~\equiv~(d_{\mathrm{MCs}} \cdot v_{\mathrm{MCs}})^{-3}~=~9.10\times10^{-11}\,\mathrm{km^{-3}\,s^{3}\,kpc^{-3}}$. We select analogues to the MCs based on their stellar masses and distances in MW-like halos. None of the selected LMC analogues have a higher total mass and lower Galactocentric distance than the LMC, resulting in $>3.75\sigma$ tension. We also find that the $f_{\mathrm{MCs}}$ distribution in the highest resolution TNG50 simulation is in $3.95\sigma$ tension with observations. Thus, a hierarchical clustering of two massive satellites like the MCs in a narrow phase-space volume is unlikely in $\Lambda$CDM, presumably because of short merger timescales due to dynamical friction between the overlapping dark matter halos. We show that group infall led by an LMC analogue cannot populate the Galactic disc of satellites (DoS), implying that the DoS and the MCs formed in physically unrelated ways in $\Lambda$CDM. Since the $20^\circ$ alignment of the LMC and DoS orbital poles has a likelihood of $P=0.030$ ($2.17\sigma$), adding this $\chi^2$ to that of $f_{\mathrm{MCs}}$ gives a combined likelihood of $P = 3.90\times10^{-5}$ ($4.11\sigma$)., Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in Universe in this form

The Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) paradox, involving quantum systems with three or more subsystems, offers an 'all-vs-nothing' test of quantum nonlocality. Unlike Bell tests for bipartite systems, which reveal statistical contradictions, the GHZ paradox demonstrates a definitive (i.e. 100%) conflict between local hidden variable theories and quantum mechanics. Given this, how can the claim made in the title be justified? The key lies in recognising that GHZ games are typically played under a predefined promise condition for input distribution. By altering this promise, different GHZ games can be constructed. Here, we introduce a randomized variant of GHZ game, where the promise condition is randomly selected from multiple possibilities and revealed to only one of the parties chosen randomly. We demonstrate that this randomized GHZ paradox can also be perfectly resolved using a GHZ state, revealing a potentially stronger form of nonlocality than the original paradox. The claim of enhanced nonlocality is supported by its operational implications: correlations yielding perfect success in the randomized game offer a greater communication advantage than traditional GHZ correlations in a distributed multi-party communication complexity task., Comment: 4 pages; Comments are welcome

Distributed computing, involving multiple servers collaborating on designated computations, faces a critical challenge in optimizing inter-server communication -- an issue central to the study of communication complexity. Quantum resources offer advantages over classical methods in addressing this challenge. In this work, we investigate a distributed computing scenario with multiple senders and a single receiver, establishing a scalable advantage of multipartite quantum entanglement in mitigating communication complexity. Specifically, we demonstrate that when the receiver and the senders share a multi-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state -- a quintessential form of genuine multipartite entanglement -- certain global functions of the distributed inputs can be computed with only one bit of classical communication from each sender. In contrast, without entanglement, two bits of communication are required from all but one sender. Consequently, quantum entanglement reduces communication overhead by (n-1) bits for n senders, allowing for arbitrary scaling with an increasing number of senders. We also show that the entanglement-based protocol exhibits significant robustness under white noise, thereby establishing the potential for experimental realization of this novel quantum advantage., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures; Comments are welcome

Distribution functions of collisionless systems are known to show non-thermal power law tails. Interestingly, collisionless plasmas in various physical scenarios, (e.g., the ion population of the solar wind) feature a $v^{-5}$ tail in the velocity ($v$) distribution, whose origin has been a long-standing mystery. We show this power law tail to be a natural outcome of the self-consistent collisionless relaxation of driven electrostatic plasmas. We perform a quasilinear analysis of the perturbed Vlasov-Poisson equations to show that the coarse-grained mean distribution function (DF), $f_0$, follows a quasilinear diffusion equation with a diffusion coefficient $D(v)$ that depends on $v$ through the plasma dielectric constant. If the plasma is isotropically forced on scales much larger than the Debye length with a white noise-like electric field, then $D(v)\sim v^4$ for $\sigma

The article describes Boltzmann equations for a potential case of multi-particle dark matter with symmetric and asymmetric dark matter components in a model-independent approach. We focus on the specific scenario where one of the DM candidates remains completely invisible, having only hidden sector interactions with the other dark matter constituent referred to as ``dark annihilation". The possible effect of non-standard expansion of the universe on the dark matter abundance is also taken into account., Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, 4 tables

Formulation of physical theories typically assumes a definite causal structure -- either static or dynamic -- among the set of physical events. Recent studies, however, suggest the possibility of indefiniteness in causal structure, which emerges as a novel information primitive offering advantages in various protocols. In this work, we explore utilities of this new primitive in cryptographic applications. To this aim, we propose a task called local-data-hiding, where a referee distributes encrypted messages among distant parties in such a way that the parties individually remain completely ignorant about the messages, and thus try to decrypt their respective messages through mutual collaboration. As we demonstrate, agents embedded in an indefinite causal structure can outperform their counterparts operating in a definite causal background. Considering the bipartite local-bit-hiding (LBH) task, we establish a strict duality between its optimal success probability and the optimal violation of a causal inequality obtained from the guess-your-neighbour's-input game. This, in turn, provides a way forward to obtain Tsirelson-type bounds for causal inequalities. Furthermore, similar to Peres's separability criterion, we derive a necessary criterion for quantum processes to be useful in the LBH task. We then report an intriguing super-activation phenomenon, where two quantum processes, each individually not useful for the LBH task, become useful when used together. We also analyze the utility of causal indefiniteness arising in classical setups and show its advantages in multipartite variants of the local-data-hiding task. Along with establishing new cryptographic applications our study illuminates various unexplored aspects of causal indefiniteness, and welcomes further studies on this new information primitive., Comment: 15.25 pages + 4 figures; comments welcome

We summarize two geometrical approaches to analytically evaluate higher-fold Mellin-Barnes (MB) integrals in terms of hypergeometric functions. The first method is based on intersections of conic hulls, while the second one, which is more recent, relies on triangulations of a set of points. We demonstrate that, once automatized, the triangulation approach is computationally more efficient than the conic hull approach. As an application of this triangulation approach, we describe how one can derive simpler hypergeometric solutions of the conformal off-shell massless two-loop double box and one-loop hexagon Feynman integrals than those previously obtained from the conic hull approach. Lastly, by applying the above techniques on the MB representation of multiple polylogarithms, we show how to obtain new convergent series representations for these functions. These new analytic expressions were numerically cross-checked with GINAC., Comment: Contribution to proceedings of the Loops and Legs in Quantum Field Theory conference (LL2024), April 14-19, 2024, Wittenberg, Germany

Nonclassicality in composite quantum systems depicts several puzzling manifestations, with Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement, Schr\"odinger steering, and Bell nonlocality being the most celebrated ones. In addition to those, an unentangled quantum state can also exhibit nonclassicality, as evidenced from notions such as quantum discord and work deficit. Here, we propose a general framework to investigate nonclassical correlations in multipartite quantum states. The distinct signatures left on observable quantities, depending on whether the sub-parts of a composite system are probed separately or jointly, provide an operational avenue to construct different quantifiers that faithfully capture signatures of nonclassicality in quantum states. Along the line we unveil an intriguing phenomenon referred to as `nonlocal locking of observable quantities', where the value of an observable quantity gets locked in the correlation of a nonclassical state. Our approach reduces the experimental demand for verification of nonclassicality in composite systems and can find applications for enhanced energy storage in quantum thermodynamical devices., Comment: Comments are welcome

Statistically significant excesses exist at around 152 GeV in associated di-photon production ($\gamma\gamma+X$) in the sidebands of SM Higgs analyses of ATLAS (using the full run-2 dataset). They are most pronounced in the single-$\tau$, missing-transverse-energy, four-jet and $\geqslant1\ell+\!\geqslant1b$-jet channels ($\approx3\sigma$) and can be explained by the Drell-Yan production of new Higgs bosons, i.e. $pp\to W^*\to H^\pm H^0$. We first examine the excesses in a simplified model approach, considering that $H^\pm$ decays to $\tau\nu$, $WZ$ or $tb$. Both the $\tau\nu$ and $tb$ decay modes individually lead to a significance of $\lessapprox4\sigma$ while for $WZ$ one can obtain at most $3.5\sigma$. This is because the decays of $WZ$ lead to multiple leptons contributing to the two-lepton channel which does not show an excess at 152 GeV. Next, we consider two-Higgs-doublet models where the charged Higgs does not decay to $WZ$ at tree-level, finding a significance of $\gtrapprox4\sigma$ for a branching ratio of the new neutral Higgs to photons of $\approx$2%. Even though this branching fraction is quite sizable, it can be obtained in composite models or via the Lagrangian term $\lambda_6 H_1^\dagger H_1 H_2^\dagger H_1+{\rm h.c.}$ breaking the commonly imposed $Z_2$ symmetry., Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures

Cyber-physical systems such as microgrids consist of interconnected components, localized power systems, and distributed energy resources with clearly defined electrical boundaries. They can function independently but can also work in tandem with the main grid. Power system converters and their control loops play an essential role in stabilizing grids and interfacing a microgrid with the main grid. The optimal selection of microgrid components for installation is expensive. Simulation of microgrids provides a cost-effective solution. However, when studying the electromagnetic transient response, their simulation is slow. Furthermore, software packages facilitating electromagnetic transient response may be prohibitively expensive. This paper presents a faster method for simulating the electromagnetic transient response of microgrid components using SystemC-AMS. We present a use case of a photovoltaic grid-following inverter with a phase-locked loop to track reference active and reactive power. Our results demonstrate that the simulation performed using SystemC-AMS is roughly three times faster than the benchmark simulation conducted using Simulink. Our implementation of a photovoltaic grid-following inverter equipped with a phase-locked loop for monitoring reference active and reactive power reveals that the simulation executed using SystemC-AMS is approximately three times faster than the benchmark simulation carried out using Simulink. Our implementation adopts a model-based design and produces a library of components that can be used to construct increasingly complex grid architectures. Additionally, the C-based nature allows for the integration of external libraries for added real-time capability and optimization functionality. We also present a use case for real-time simulation using a DC microgrid with a constant resistive load.

{\sc Vertex $(s, t)$-Cut} and {\sc Vertex Multiway Cut} are two fundamental graph separation problems in algorithmic graph theory. We study matroidal generalizations of these problems, where in addition to the usual input, we are given a representation $R \in \mathbb{F}^{r \times n}$ of a linear matroid $\mathcal{M} = (V(G), \mathcal{I})$ of rank $r$ in the input, and the goal is to determine whether there exists a vertex subset $S \subseteq V(G)$ that has the required cut properties, as well as is independent in the matroid $\mathcal{M}$. We refer to these problems as {\sc Independent Vertex $(s, t)$-cut}, and {\sc Independent Multiway Cut}, respectively. We show that these problems are fixed-parameter tractable ({\sf FPT}) when parameterized by the solution size (which can be assumed to be equal to the rank of the matroid $\mathcal{M}$). These results are obtained by exploiting the recent technique of flow augmentation [Kim et al.~STOC '22], combined with a dynamic programming algorithm on flow-paths \'a la [Feige and Mahdian,~STOC '06] that maintains a representative family of solutions w.r.t.~the given matroid [Marx, TCS '06; Fomin et al., JACM]. As a corollary, we also obtain {\sf FPT} algorithms for the independent version of {\sc Odd Cycle Transversal}. Further, our results can be generalized to other variants of the problems, e.g., weighted versions, or edge-deletion versions.

We present \texttt{FlipDyn-G}, a dynamic game model extending the \texttt{FlipDyn} framework to a graph-based setting, where each node represents a dynamical system. This model captures the interactions between a defender and an adversary who strategically take over nodes in a graph to minimize (resp. maximize) a finite horizon additive cost. At any time, the \texttt{FlipDyn} state is represented as the current node, and each player can transition the \texttt{FlipDyn} state to a depending based on the connectivity from the current node. Such transitions are driven by the node dynamics, state, and node-dependent costs. This model results in a hybrid dynamical system where the discrete state (\texttt{FlipDyn} state) governs the continuous state evolution and the corresponding state cost. Our objective is to compute the Nash equilibrium of this finite horizon zero-sum game on a graph. Our contributions are two-fold. First, we model and characterize the \texttt{FlipDyn-G} game for general dynamical systems, along with the corresponding Nash equilibrium (NE) takeover strategies. Second, for scalar linear discrete-time dynamical systems with quadratic costs, we derive the NE takeover strategies and saddle-point values independent of the continuous state of the system. Additionally, for a finite state birth-death Markov chain (represented as a graph) under scalar linear dynamical systems, we derive analytical expressions for the NE takeover strategies and saddle-point values. We illustrate our findings through numerical studies involving epidemic models and linear dynamical systems with adversarial interactions., Comment: 25 pages, 8 figures, submitted to GameSec 2024

In accordance with the entropy principle of thermodynamics, under spontaneous evolutions, physical systems always evolve towards states with equal or greater randomness. But, where does this randomness originate? Renowned Birkhoff-von Neumann theorem, often referred to as Birkhoff theorem, identifies source of this randomness to be the stochastic application of reversible operations on the system under study, thereby ensuring its epistemic origin. Analogue of this theorem is known to fail in the quantum case. Here, we extend this investigation beyond quantum mechanics to a broader class of operational theories described within the framework of general probabilistic theories (GPTs). In this generalized framework, we establish Birkhoff-violation as the prevalent trait; in fact the asymptotic variant of the theorem gets violated. We then demonstrate that Birkhoff-violation in GPTs can lead to consequences that are atypical to quantum theory. For instance, we report manifestation of Birkhoff-violation in a communication task, which otherwise is not observed in quantum world. We also show that, unlike the quantum case, in other operational theories the state transformation criteria can be distinct under mixtures of reversible transformations and doubly stochastic evolutions, leading to different resource theories of purity. Despite these exotic implications, we analyze how to define a coherent notion of entropy in this generalized framework, while upholding alignment with von Neumann's thought experiment., Comment: (4.25 + 7) Pages, 6 Figures, Comments are welcome

Despite the ubiquity of ice, a molecular-resolution image of ice crystallized from liquid water or the resulting defect structure has never been obtained. Here, we report the stabilization and angstrom-resolution electron imaging of ice Ih crystallized from liquid water. We combine lattice mapping with molecular dynamics simulations to reveal that ice formation is highly tolerant to nanoscale defects such as misoriented subdomains and trapped gas bubbles, which are stabilized by molecular-scale structural motifs. Importantly, bubble surfaces adopt low-energy nanofacets and create negligible strain fields in the surrounding crystal. These bubbles can dynamically nucleate, grow, migrate, dissolve, and coalesce under electron irradiation and be monitored in situ near a steady state. This work opens the door to understanding water crystallization behaviors at an unprecedented spatial resolution., Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, and 1 table. Supplementary Materials: 35 pages, 25 figures, and 9 tables. Updated to resolve the equation typesetting issue and a panel ordering error in Fig. 1

We obtain posterior distribution of equations of state (EOSs) across a broad range of density by imposing explicitly the constraints from precisely measured fundamental properties of finite nuclei, in combination with the experimental data from heavy-ion collisions and the astrophysical observations of radius, tidal deformability and minimum-maximum mass of neutron stars. The acquired EOSs exhibit a distinct global behavior compared to those usually obtained by imposing the finite nuclei constraints implicitly through empirical values of selected key parameters describing symmetric nuclear matter and symmetry energy in the vicinity of the saturation density. The explicit treatment of finite nuclei constraints yields softer EOSs at low densities which eventually become stiffer to meet the maximum mass criteria. The Kullback-Leibler divergence has been used to perform a quantitative comparison of the distributions of neutron star properties resulting from the EOSs obtained from implicit and explicit finite nuclei constraints., Comment: The manuscript has been accepted by Physics Letters B on May 24th 2024

Machine Learning (ML) potentials such as Gaussian Approximation Potential (GAP) have demonstrated impressive capabilities in mapping structure to properties across diverse systems. Here, we introduce a GAP model for low-dimensional Ni nanoclusters and demonstrate its flexibility and effectiveness in capturing the energetics, structural diversity and thermodynamic properties of Ni nanoclusters across a broad size range. Through a systematic approach encompassing model development, validation, and application, we evaluate the model's efficacy in representing energetics and configurational features in low-dimensional regimes, while also examining its extrapolative nature to vastly different spatiotemporal regimes. Our analysis and discussion shed light on the data quality required to effectively train such models. Trajectories from large scale MD simulations using the GAP model analyzed with data-driven models like Graph Neural Networks (GNN) reveal intriguing insights into the size-dependent phase behavior and thermo-mechanical stability characteristics of porous Ni nanoparticles. Overall, our work underscores the potential of ML models which coupled with data-driven approaches serve as versatile tools for studying low-dimensional systems and complex material dynamics.

General relativity (GR) is the most successful theory of gravity, with great observational support on local scales. However, to keep GR valid over cosmic scales, some phenomena (such as flat galaxy rotation curves and the cosmic expansion history) require the assumption of exotic dark matter. The radial acceleration relation (RAR) indicates a tight correlation between dynamical mass and baryonic mass in galaxies. This suggests that the observations could be better explained by modified gravity theories without exotic matter. Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) is an alternative theory that was originally designed to explain flat galaxy rotation curves by using a new fundamental constant acceleration $a_0$, the so-called Milgromian parameter. However, this non-relativistic model is too rigid (with insufficient parameters) to fit the large diversity of observational phenomena. In contrast, a relativistic MOND-like gravity naturally emerges from the hyperconical model, which derives a fictitious acceleration compatible with observations. This study analyses the compatibility of the hyperconical model with respect to distinct RAR observations of 10 galaxy clusters obtained from HIFLUGCS and 60 high-quality SPARC galaxy rotation curves. The results show that a general relation can be fitted to most cases with only one or two parameters, with an acceptable $\chi^2$ and $p$-value. These findings suggest a possible way to complete the proposed modification of GR on cosmic scales., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. Submitted to MNRAS in this form

Cyber-physical power systems, such as grids, integrate computational and communication components with physical systems to introduce novel functions and improve resilience and fault tolerance. These systems employ computational components and real-time controllers to meet power demands. Microgrids, comprising interconnected components, energy resources within defined electrical boundaries, computational elements, and controllers, offer a solution for integrating renewable energy sources and ensuring resilience in electricity demand. Simulating these cyber-physical systems (CPS) is vital for grid design, as it facilitates the modeling and control of both continuous physical processes and discrete-time power converters and controllers. This paper presents a model-based design tool for simulating cyber-physical power systems, including microgrids, using SystemC-AMS. The adoption of SystemC-AMS enables physical modeling with both native components from the SystemC-AMS library and user-defined computational elements. We observe that SystemC-AMS can accurately produce the electromagnetic transient responses essential for analyzing grid stability. Additionally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of SystemC-AMS through use cases that simulate grid-following inverters. Comparing the SystemC-AMS implementation to one in Simulink reveals that SystemC-AMS offers a more rapid simulation. A design tool like this could support microgrid designers in making informed decisions about the selection of microgrid components prior to installation and deployment.

The main goal of the CRESST-III experiment is the direct detection of dark matter particles via their scattering off target nuclei in cryogenic detectors. In this work we present the results of a Silicon-On-Sapphire (SOS) detector with a mass of 0.6$\,$g and an energy threshold of (6.7$\, \pm \,$0.2)$\,$eV with a baseline energy resolution of (1.0$\, \pm \,$0.2)$\,$eV. This allowed for a calibration via the detection of single luminescence photons in the eV-range, which could be observed in CRESST for the first time. We present new exclusion limits on the spin-independent and spin-dependent dark matter-nucleon cross section that extend to dark matter particle masses of less than 100$\,$MeV/c$^{2}$., Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures

We give an explicit lower bound, in terms of the distance from the boundary, for the Kobayashi metric of a certain class of bounded pseudoconvex domains in $\mathbb{C}^n$ with $\mathcal{C}^2$-smooth boundary using the regularity theory for the complex Monge--Ampere equation. Using such an estimate, we construct a family of unbounded Kobayashi hyperbolic domains in $\mathbb{C}^n$ having a certain negative-curvature-type property with respect to the Kobayashi distance. As an application, we prove a Picard-type extension theorem for the latter domains., Comment: 14 pages; comments welcome!

In the Minimum Consistent Subset (MCS) problem, we are presented with a connected simple undirected graph $G=(V,E)$, consisting of a vertex set $V$ of size $n$ and an edge set $E$. Each vertex in $V$ is assigned a color from the set $\{1,2,\ldots, c\}$. The objective is to determine a subset $V' \subseteq V$ with minimum possible cardinality, such that for every vertex $v \in V$, at least one of its nearest neighbors in $V'$ (measured in terms of the hop distance) shares the same color as $v$. The decision problem, indicating whether there exists a subset $V'$ of cardinality at most $l$ for some positive integer $l$, is known to be NP-complete even for planar graphs. In this paper, we establish that the MCS problem for trees, when the number of colors $c$ is considered an input parameter, is NP-complete. We propose a fixed-parameter tractable (FPT) algorithm for MCS on trees running in $O(2^{6c}n^6)$ time, significantly improving the currently best-known algorithm whose running time is $O(2^{4c}n^{2c+3})$. In an effort to comprehensively understand the computational complexity of the MCS problem across different graph classes, we extend our investigation to interval graphs. We show that it remains NP-complete for interval graphs, thus enriching graph classes where MCS remains intractable.

Continuous gravitational waves (CGWs) from various astrophysical sources are one of the many future probes of upcoming Gravitational Wave (GW) search missions. Neutron stars (NSs) with deformity are one of the leading sources of CGW emissions. In this work, for the first time, a novel attempt to estimate the dark matter (DM) capture rate is performed using CGW as the probe to the local NS population. Competitive bounds on DM capture from the local NS population are reported when compared with DM direct search experiments and other astrophysical observations., Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures

Despite intensive searches at the LHC, no new fundamental particle has been discovered since the discovery of the 125 GeV Higgs boson. In general, a new physics discovery is challenging without a UV-complete model because different channels and observables cannot be combined directly and unambiguously. Moreover, without indirect hints for new particles, the parameter space to be searched is huge, resulting in diminished significance due to the look-elsewhere effect. Several LHC searches with multiple leptons in the final state point towards the existence of a new Higgs boson with a mass in the 140-160 GeV range, decaying mostly to a pair of W bosons. This dominant decay mode motivates a Higgs triplet with zero hypercharge, which also predicts a heavier-than-expected $W$-boson as indicated by the CDF-II measurement. Within this simple and predictive model, we simulate and combine channels of associated di-photon production. Considering the run-2 results of ATLAS, including those presented recently at the Moriond conference, a significance of 4.3$\sigma$ is obtained for a mass of 152 GeV. This is the largest statistical evidence for a new narrow resonance observed at the LHC., Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 1 table

Trigonal Cr5Te8, a self-intercalated van der Waals ferromagnet with an out of plane magnetic anisotropy, has long been known to crystallise in a centrosymmetric structure. Through detailed structural analysis together with second harmonic generation experiments, we show that the compound actually adopts a non-centrosymmetric structure. A large anomalous Hall conductivity of 102 {\Omega}^(-1) cm^(-1) at low temperature stems from intrinsic origin, which is larger than any previously reported values in bulk Cr-Te system. In addition, we observe a hump-like feature in the field-dependent Hall resistivity data, resembling a typical topological Hall signal. We demonstrate that the feature is highly tunable and is not related to topological Hall effect even though we observe N\'eel-type skyrmions by Lorentz transmission electron microscopy which is consistent with the non-centrosymmetric structure of the compound., Comment: 26 pages, 8 Figures

In recent times, the sensitivity of low-mass direct dark matter searches has been limited by unknown low energy backgrounds close to the energy threshold of the experiments known as the low energy excess (LEE). The CRESST experiment utilises advanced cryogenic detectors constructed with different types of crystals equipped with Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) to measure signals of nuclear recoils induced by the scattering of dark matter particles in the detector. In CRESST, this low energy background manifests itself as a steeply rising population of events below 200 eV. A novel detector design named doubleTES using two identical TESs on the target crystal was studied to investigate the hypothesis that the events are sensor-related. We present the first results from two such modules, demonstrating their ability to differentiate between events originating from the crystal's bulk and those occurring in the sensor or in its close proximity., Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures

The intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) in a ferromagnetic metal is completely determined by its band structure. Since the spin orientation direction is an important band-structure tuning parameter, it is highly desirable to study the anomalous Hall effect in a system with multiple spin reorientation transitions. We study a layered tetragonal room temperature ferromagnet SmMn2Ge2, which gives us the opportunity to measure magnetotransport properties where the long c-axis and the short a-axis can both be magnetically easy axes depending on the temperature range we choose. We show a moderately large fully intrinsic AHC up to room temperature when the crystal is magnetized along the c-axis. Interestingly, the AHC can be tuned to completely extrinsic with extremely large values when the crystal is magnetized along the a-axis, regardless of whether the a-axis is magnetically easy or hard axis. First-principles calculations show that nodal line states originate from Mn-d orbitals just below the Fermi energy (EF) in the electronic band structure when the spins are oriented along the c-axis. Intrinsic AHC originates from the Berry curvature effect of the gapped nodal lines in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. AHC almost disappears when the spins are aligned along the a-axis because the nodal line states shift above EF and become unoccupied. Since the AHC can be tuned from fully extrinsic to intrinsic even at 300 K, SmMn2Ge2 becomes a potential candidate for room-temperature spintronics applications., Comment: 9 main figures, 4 SI figures

Composite oxides have been indeed proved to be valuable materials in optoelectronic applications. The combination of indium oxide and gallium oxide and other materials can lead to enhanced optical and electronic properties, making them suitable for a variety of optoelectronic devices. Meticulous analysis of the various optical properties helped to draw conclusions about the heterostructure of Indium and Gallium oxide and its use as a suitable semiconducting material in the medium bandgap range. The density of states and the band structure have been obtained from the density functional theory calculations. Real frequency phonon density of states supports dynamical stability of the crystal structure. A favorable energy band gap is achieved in the visible region of the spectrum, indicating that this mixed oxide is well suited for optoelectronic devices such as LEDs and solar cells.

In this work, we explore the impact of higher dimensional spacetime on the stellar structure and thermodynamic properties of neutron stars. Utilizing the density-dependent relativistic hadron field theory, we introduce modifications to incorporate the influence of higher dimensionality, a novel approach not explored in existing literature to our best knowledge. Our methodology involves solving the essential stellar structure equations in D-dimensional spacetime ($D \geq 4$), starting with the modification of the Einstein-Hilbert action, derivation of the Einstein field equation in D dimensions, and application of the resulting exterior Schwarzschild spacetime metric for D-dimension. Our findings reveal that with incremental dimensions, the central density $\rho_{c} G_D$ and central pressure $p_c G_D$ gradually increase, leading to progressively stiffer neutron matter. Incremental dimensionality also results in a gradual increase in the maximum mass attained, limited to our study between $D=4$ and $D=6$, as no maximum mass value is obtained for $D>6$. We consistently observe the criteria $dM/d\rho_c>0$ fulfilled up to the maximum mass point, supported by stability analysis against infinitesimal radial pulsations. The validity of our solution is confirmed through causality conditions, ensuring that the matter sound speed remains within the speed of light for all cases. Additionally, our examination indicates that the total mass-to-radius ratio for all discussed D-dimensional cases comfortably resides within the modified Buchdahl limit, which exhibits the physical validity of achieved results., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables

In the standard model of fair allocation of resources to agents, every agent has some utility for every resource, and the goal is to assign resources to agents so that the agents' welfare is maximized. Motivated by job scheduling, interest in this problem dates back to the work of Deuermeyer et al. [SIAM J. on Algebraic Discrete Methods'82]. Recent works consider the compatibility between resources and assign only mutually compatible resources to an agent. We study a fair allocation problem in which we are given a set of agents, a set of resources, a utility function for every agent over a set of resources, and a {\it conflict graph} on the set of resources (where an edge denotes incompatibility). The goal is to assign resources to the agents such that $(i)$ the set of resources allocated to an agent are compatible with each other, and $(ii)$ the minimum satisfaction of an agent is maximized, where the satisfaction of an agent is the sum of the utility of the assigned resources. Chiarelli et al. [Algorithmica'22] explore this problem from the classical complexity perspective to draw the boundary between the cases that are polynomial-time solvable and those that are \NP-hard. In this article, we study the parameterized complexity of the problem (and its variants) by considering several natural and structural parameters., Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2309.04995

Cryogenic scintillating calorimeters are ultrasensitive particle detectors for rare event searches, particularly for the search for dark matter and the measurement of neutrino properties. These detectors are made from scintillating target crystals generating two signals for each particle interaction. The phonon (heat) signal precisely measures the deposited energy independent of the type of interacting particle. The scintillation light signal yields particle discrimination on an event-by-event basis. This paper presents a likelihood framework modeling backgrounds and a potential dark matter signal in the two-dimensional plane spanned by phonon and scintillation light energies. We apply the framework to data from CaWO$_4$-based detectors operated in the CRESST dark matter search. For the first time, a single likelihood framework is used in CRESST to model the data and extract results on dark matter in one step by using a profile likelihood ratio test. Our framework simultaneously fits (neutron) calibration data and physics (background) data and allows combining data from multiple detectors. Although tailored to CaWO$_4$-targets and the CRESST experiment, the framework can easily be expanded to other materials and experiments using scintillating cryogenic calorimeters for dark matter search and neutrino physics., Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, additional figures and data in ancillary files (on arXiv or at journal reference)

We implement an experiment on a photonic quantum processor establishing efficacy of an elementary quantum system in classical information storage. The advantage is established by considering a class of simple bipartite games played with the communication resource qubit and classical bit (c-bit), respectively. Conventional wisdom, as articulated by the no-go theorems of Holevo and Frenkel-Weiner, suggests that such a quantum advantage is unattainable in scenarios wherein sender and receiver possess shared randomness or classical correlation between them. Notably, the advantage we report is demonstrated in a scenario where participating players lack any form of shared randomness. Our experiment involves the development of a variational triangular polarimeter, enabling the realization of positive operator value measurements crucial for establishing the targeted quantum advantage. In addition to demonstrating a robust communication advantage of a single qubit our experiment also opens avenues for immediate applications in near-term quantum technologies. Furthermore, it constitutes a semi-device-independent non-classicality certification scheme for the quantum encoding-decoding apparatus, underscoring the broader implications of our work beyond its immediate technological applications.

Time-dependent meridional circulation and differential rotation in radiative zones are central open issues in stellar evolution theory. We streamline this challenging problem using the downward control principle of atmospheric science, under a geostrophic f-plane approximation. We recover the known stellar physics result that the steady-state meridional circulation decays on the length scale proportional to N/f sqrt(Pr), assuming molecular viscosity is the dominant drag mechanism. Prior to steady-state, the meridional circulation and the zonal wind (= differential rotation) spread together via radiative diffusion, under thermal wind balance. The corresponding (4th-order) hyperdiffusion process is reasonably well approximated by regular (2nd-order) diffusion on scales of order a pressure scale-height. We derive an inhomogeneous diffusion (equiv. advection-diffusion) equation for the zonal flow which admits closed-form time-dependent solutions in a finite depth domain, allowing for rapid prototyping of differential rotation profiles. In the weak drag limit, we find that the time to rotational steady-state can be longer than the Eddington-Sweet time and be instead determined by the longer drag time. Unless strong enough drag operates, the internal rotation of main-sequence stars may thus never reach steady-state. Streamlined meridional circulation solutions provide leading-order internal rotation profiles for studying the role of fluid/MHD instabilities (or waves) in redistributing angular momentum in the radiative zones of stars. Despite clear geometrical limitations and simplifying assumptions, one might expect our thin-layer geostrophic approach to offer qualitatively useful results to understand deep meridional circulation in stars., Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics

The negative parity states in 116Sn have been investigated in terms of octupole correlation. The same is probed by using the Indian National Gamma Array (INGA) facility at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata using the reaction, 114Cd({\alpha},2n) 116Sn at 34 MeV energy. Three new {\gamma}-transitions relevant to the present investigation are reported and the spin-parities of the associated levels are assigned based on the DCO-ratios and polarisation measurements. The interband transitions between the positive parity ground band and the negative parity band are newly observed and the corresponding extracted ratio of transition probability, B(E1)/B(E2) indicated the existence of octupole correlation in these nuclei. The enhanced transition rates for E1 and E3 transitions between these opposite parity bands and corroboration of soft octupole deformation ultimately aid the onset of octupole excitation in this isotope., Comment: 14 Pages, 9 figures, 1 table, for referred journal publication

Modern big data workflows are characterized by computationally intensive kernels. The simulated results are often combined with knowledge extracted from AI models to ultimately support decision-making. These energy-hungry workflows are increasingly executed in data centers with energy-efficient hardware accelerators since FPGAs are well-suited for this task due to their inherent parallelism. We present the H2020 project EVEREST, which has developed a system development kit (SDK) to simplify the creation of FPGA-accelerated kernels and manage the execution at runtime through a virtualization environment. This paper describes the main components of the EVEREST SDK and the benefits that can be achieved in our use cases., Comment: Accepted for presentation at DATE 2024 (multi-partner project session)

In the standard cosmological paradigm, structure formation occurs via gravitational encounters and mergers between galaxies and dark matter halos. These collisionless self-gravitating systems therefore prevail in a state of non-equilibrium or quasi-equilibrium at best. Recent observations show that even our own Milky Way galaxy harbors non-equilibrium features. This calls for a shift of gear from the standard equilibrium galactic dynamics to the less explored non-equilibrium dynamics. This dissertation presents novel theories to describe the relaxation/equilibration of perturbed galaxies (via phase-mixing, Landau damping, etc.) in the impulsive, adiabatic and near-resonant regimes, as well as the back reaction of the host galaxy response on the perturber, resulting in its secular evolution (dynamical friction). First, we present a non-perturbative treatment of penetrating impulsive encounters between galaxies, a generalization of the standard theory which only works for distant encounters. Next, a general perturbative formalism for the phase-mixing of the response of disk galaxies to external perturbations (e.g., satellite impacts) is presented, which describes the formation and evolution of non-equilibrium features called phase-spirals akin to those discovered in our Milky Way galaxy by Gaia. Finally, we present a self-consistent perturbative theory and a non-perturbative orbit-based treatment of the near-resonant galaxy response and dynamical friction. These theories, for the first time, explain the origin of dynamical buoyancy and core-stalling, phenomena observed in $N$-body simulations of the dynamical friction of massive perturbers in cored galaxies that are unexplained in the standard Chandrasekhar and resonance theories. These processes have profound astrophysical implications, e.g., they can stall and potentially choke supermassive black hole mergers in cored galaxies., Comment: PhD thesis

The relaxation of a weakly collisional plasma is described by the Boltzmann-Poisson equations with the Lenard-Bernstein collision operator. We perform a perturbative analysis of these equations, and obtain exact analytic solutions, enabling definitive resolutions to long-standing controversies regarding the impact of weak collisions on continuous spectra and Landau eigenmodes. Unlike some previous studies, we retain both damping and diffusion terms in the collision operator. We find that the linear response is a temporal convolution of a continuum that depends on the continuous velocities of particles, and discrete modes that encapsulate coherent oscillations. The discrete modes are exponentially damped over time due to collective effects (Landau damping) as well as collisional dissipation. The continuum is also damped by collisions but somewhat differently. Up to a collision time, which is the inverse of the collision frequency $\nu_{\mathrm{c}}$, the continuum decay is driven by velocity diffusion and occurs super-exponentially over a timescale $\sim \nu^{-1/3}_{\mathrm{c}}$. After a collision time, however, the continuum decay is driven by the collisional damping of particle velocities and diffusion of their positions, and occurs exponentially over a timescale $\sim \nu_{\mathrm{c}}$. This hitherto unknown, slow exponential decay causes perturbations to damp the most on scales comparable to the mean free path, but very slowly on larger scales, which establishes the local thermal equilibrium, the essence of the fluid limit. The long-term decay of the response is driven by the discrete modes on scales smaller than the mean free path, but, on larger scales, is governed by the slowly decaying continuum and the least damped discrete mode. Our analysis firmly establishes a long-sought connection between the collisionless and fluid limits of weakly collisional plasmas., Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review E; 26 pages, 5 figures

Two recently developed techniques of analytic evaluation of multifold Mellin-Barnes (MB) integrals are presented. Both approaches rest on the definition of geometrical objets conveniently associated with the MB integrands, which can then be used along with multivariate residues analysis to derive series representations of the MB integrals. The first method is based on introducing conic hulls and considering specific intersections of the latter, while the second one rests on point configurations and their regular triangulations. After a brief description of both methods, which have been automatized in the MBConicHulls.wl Mathematica package, we review some of their applications. In particular, we show how the conic hulls method was used to obtain the first analytic calculation of complicated Feynman integrals, such as the massless off-shell conformal hexagon and double-box. We then show that the triangulation method is even more efficient, as it allows one to compute these nontrivial objects and harder ones in a much faster way., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, presented by S. Friot at the XLV International Conference of Theoretical Physics "Matter to the Deepest", Warsaw, Poland, 17-22 September 2023 (extended version of the contribution to the proceedings published in Acta Physica Polonica B)

Connected and autonomous vehicles, also known as CAVs, are a general trend in the evolution of the automotive industry that can be utilized to make transportation safer, improve the number of mobility options available, user costs will go down and new jobs will be created. However, as our society grows more automated and networked, criminal actors will have additional opportunities to conduct a variety of attacks, putting CAV security in danger. By providing a brief review of the state of cyber security in the CAVs environment, this study aims to draw attention to the issues and concerns associated with security. The first thing it does is categorize the multiple cybersecurity threats and weaknesses in the context of CAVs into three groups: attacks on the vehicles network, attacks on the Internet at large, and other attacks. This is done in accordance with the various communication networks and targets under attack. Next, it considers the possibility of cyber attacks to be an additional form of threat posed by the environment of CAVs. After that, it details the most uptodate defense tactics for securing CAVs and analyzes how effective they are. In addition, it draws some conclusions about the various cyber security and safety requirements of CAVs that are now available, which is beneficial for the use of CAVs in the real world. At the end, we discussed some implications on Adversary Attacks on Autonomous Vehicles. In conclusion, a number of difficulties and unsolved issues for future research are analyzed and explored., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, 1 table, Conference info: 2023 IEEE International Conference on Computing (ICOCO)

The multi-lepton anomalies and searches for the associated production of a narrow resonance indicate the existence of a $\approx$151 GeV Higgs with a significance of $>5\sigma$ and $>3.9\sigma$, respectively. On the one hand, these anomalies require a sizable branching fraction of the new scalar to $WW$, while on the other hand, no $ZZ$ signal at this mass has been observed. This suggests that the new boson is the neutral component of an $SU(2)_L$ triplet with zero hypercharge. This field leads to a positive definite shift in the $W$ mass, as preferred by the current global fit, and is produced via the Drell-Yan process $pp\to W^*\to \Delta^0\Delta^\pm$. We use the side-bands of the ATLAS analysis \cite{ATLAS:2023omk} of the associated production of the Standard Model Higgs in the di-photon channel to search for this production mode of the triplet. Since the dominant decays of $\Delta^\pm$ depend only on its mass, the effect in the 22 signal categories considered by ATLAS is completely correlated. We find that the ones most sensitive to the Drell-Yan production of the triplet Higgs show consistent excesses at a mass of $\approx$151.5 GeV. Combining these channels in a likelihood ratio test, a non-zero Br$[\Delta^0\to\gamma\gamma] = 0.66\%$ is preferred by $\approx$3$\sigma$, supporting our conjecture., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

Charge radii of mirror nuclei are calculated by implementing pairing effects with the Hartree-Fock Bogoliubov approximation. Correlations between the difference of charge radii ($\Delta R_{ch}$) and slope of nuclear symmetry energy (L) are examined for different mirror nuclei pairs of varying masses using 40 different Skyrme energy density functionals. $\Delta R_{ch}-L $ correlations are found to be robust for the binding constraints imposed on density functionals. We observe that $\Delta R_{ch}$ and $L$ show better correlations in relatively heavier pairs than those obtained in the lighter pairs. Our calculations impose a constraint on the slope of nuclear symmetry energy as -20 MeV $\leq L \leq$ 55 MeV with 68\% confidence band using available measurements on charge radii. This is a moderately soft symmetry energy, in contrast to stiff and soft symmetry energy indicated by PREX-II and CREX measurements of neutron skin thickness in $^{208}Pb$ and $^{48}Ca$, respectively. Our result is also in agreement with celestial constraints obtained from observational data for neutron stars., Comment: 13 pages, 4 Figures, 2 Tables