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The binary Yarkovsky effect on the secondary asteroid (BYS) was recently discovered to influence binary asteroid systems by pushing the secondary asteroid toward a synchronous orbit on a short timescale. However, the binary Yarkovsky effect on the primary (BYP) remains less understood, partly due to non-linear effects from partial eclipses, but could have significant implications for singly synchronous binaries. In this work, we studied the BYP effect by numerical methods and estimated its induced orbital drifting rates for real binary asteroids. We find an empirical modified solution to estimate the effective BYP: the traditional BYP formula multiplied by $(r_s / r_p)^(\alpha -1 )$. We confirm that the BYP pushes the primary towards a synchronous orbit where its spin equals the mean motion. The parameter $\alpha$ is insensitive to the ratio of the spin rate to the mean motion and decreases slightly with increasing thermal inertia. For small binary systems with a typical thermal inertia of 200 tiu, $\alpha$ is approximately 1.7. The BYP is found to affect the mutual orbit of singly synchronous binaries with a timescale typically an order of magnitude longer than that of the BYS. Drift rates induced by the BYP for known small binary asteroids (primary radius < 1 km) range from -0.001 to -1 cm $yr^{-1}$. A comparative analysis with observed orbital drift rates shows agreement for pre-impact Didymos and 1996 FG$_3$ but discrepancies for 2001 SL$_9$ and 1999 KW$_4$, suggesting complex dynamics in these systems involving the BYP, the binary Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (BYORP) effect, and tides. The BYP is changing the mutual orbits of most discovered binary asteroids. We suggest that the BYP should be considered along with BYORP and tidal effects when studying binary systems' long-term dynamics., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures. Published in A&A Letters

We search for nuclear recoil signals of dark matter models with a light mediator using data taken from a p-type point-contact germanium detector of the CDEX-10 experiment at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The 90% confidence level upper limits on the DM-nucleon interaction cross section from 205.4 kg-day exposure data are derived, excluding new parameter space in 2~5 GeV DM mass when the mediator mass is comparable to or lighter than the typical momentum transfer. We further interpret our results to constrain a specific self-interacting dark matter model with a light mediator coupling to the photon through kinetic mixing, and set experimental limits on the model parameter region favored by astrophysical observations.

Stabilizing $Z_2$ fluxes in Kitaev spin liquids (KSLs) is crucial for both characterizing candidate materials and identifying Ising anyons. In this study, we investigate the effects of spin-$S$ magnetic impurities embedded in the spin-1/2 KSL. Utilizing exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group methods, we examine the impurity magnetization and ground-state flux sector with varying impurity coupling and spin size. Our findings reveal that impurity magnetization exhibits an integer/half-integer spin dependence, which aligns with analytical predictions, and a flux-sector transition from bound-flux to zero-flux occurs at low coupling strengths, independent of the impurity spin. Notably, for spin-3/2 impurities, we observe a reentrant bound-flux sector, which remains stable under magnetic fields. By introducing a minimal model based on Majorana fermions, we provide phenomenological explanations for the transitions. Our results suggest a novel way of binding a flux in KSLs, beyond the proposals of vacancies or Kondo impurities., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, and Supplementary information

In actor-critic-based reinforcement learning algorithms such as Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic policy gradient (TD3), insufficient exploration of the spatial space can result in suboptimal policies when controlling 7-DOF robotic arms. To address this issue, we propose a novel Exploration-Enhanced Contrastive Learning (EECL) module that improves exploration by providing additional rewards for encountering novel states. Our module stores previously explored states in a buffer and identifies new states by comparing them with historical data using Euclidean distance within a K-dimensional tree (KDTree) framework. When the agent explores new states, exploration rewards are assigned. These rewards are then integrated into the TD3 algorithm, ensuring that the Q-learning process incorporates these signals, promoting more effective strategy optimization. We evaluate our method on the robosuite panda lift task, demonstrating that it significantly outperforms the baseline TD3 in terms of both efficiency and convergence speed in the tested environment., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, IEEE-ICKII-2024

A graph $G$ is $H$-saturated if $H$ is not a subgraph of $G$ but $H$ is a subgraph of $G + e$ for any edge $e$ in $\overline{G}$. The saturation number $sat(n,H)$ for a graph $H$ is the minimal number of edges in any $H$-saturated graph of order $n$. The $sat(n, K_{p_1} \cup K_{p_2} \cup K_{p_3})$ with $p_3 \ge p_1 + p_2$ was given in [Discrete Math. 347 (2024) 113868]. In this paper, $sat(n,K_{p_1} \cup K_{p_2} \cup K_{p_3} \cup K_{p_4})$ with $p_{i+1} - p_i \ge p_1$ for $2 \le i\le 3$ and $4\le p_1\le p_2$ is determined., Comment: 17pages

Let $H$ be a fixed graph, a graph G is $H$-saturated if it has no copy of $H$ in $G$, but the addition of any edge in $E(\overline G)$ to $G$ results in an $H$-subgraph. The saturation number sat$(n,H)$ is the minimum number of edges in an $H$-saturated graph on $n$ vertices. In this paper, we determine the saturation number sat$(n,P_7+tP_2)$ for $n\geq \frac {14}{5}t+27$ and characterize the extremal graphs for $n\geq \frac{14}{13}(3t+25)$., Comment: 11 pages

The study of cycloaddition mechanisms is central to the fabrication of extended sp2 carbon nanostructures. Reaction modeling in this context has focused mostly on putative, energetically preferred, exothermic products with limited consideration for symmetry allowed or forbidden mechanistic effects. Here, we introduce a scheme for classifying symmetry-forbidden reaction coordinates in Woodward-Hoffmann correlation diagrams. Topological classifiers grant access to the study of reaction pathways and correlation diagrams in the same footing, for the purpose of elucidating mechanisms and products of polycyclic aromatic azomethine ylide (PAMY) cycloadditions with pentacene-yielding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with an isoindole core in the solid-state and on surfaces as characterized by mass spectrometry and scanning tunneling microscopy, respectively. By means of a tight-binding reaction model and density functional theory (DFT) we find topologically-allowed pathways if a product is endothermic, and topologically-forbidden if a product is exothermic. Our work unveils topological classification as a crucial element for reaction modeling for nanographene engineering, and highlights its fundamental role in the design of cycloadditions in on-surface and solid-state chemical reactions, while underscoring that exothermic pathways can be topologically-forbidden.

The Kitaev honeycomb model provides a paradigmatic example of an exactly solvable quantum spin liquid (QSL), in which the spin degrees of freedom fractionalize into itinerant Majorana fermions coupled to a static background of $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ gauge fluxes. This model has attracted significant attention in recent years due to the possibility of its experimental realization in some spin-orbit Mott insulators such as $ \alpha $-RuCl$ _3 $. Among various experimental probes, ultrasound experiments measuring sound attenuation have emerged as a promising avenue to unveil the fractionalization of spins in these materials. Yet, candidate materials often deviate from the ideal Kitaev model due to the presence of disorder, leading to the emergence of localized modes governing low-energy physics. To provide further insight into the effects of these defect-induced modes on the phonon dynamics, we calculate the sound attenuation coefficient in the site-disordered Kitaev honeycomb model with an applied magnetic field, which breaks the time-reversal symmetry. In order to obtain a more accurate perspective on the temperature-dependent sound attenuation in this model, the impact of thermally excited fluxes on the disordered system is also analyzed., Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures

Context. About 25% -- 50% of white dwarfs are found to be contaminated by heavy elements, which are believed to originate from external sources such as planetary materials. Elemental abundances suggest that most of the pollutants are rocky objects and only a small fraction of white dwarfs bear traces of volatile accretion. Aims. In order to account for the scarcity of volatile pollution, we investigate the role of the white dwarfs' magnetospheres in shielding the volatile content of icy objects. Methods. We estimated the volatile sublimation of inward-drifting exocomets. We assume the orbits of the exocomets are circularized by the Alfven wing drag that is effective for long-period comets. Results. Volatile material can sublimate outside the corotation radius and be shielded by the magnetic field. {The two conditions for this volatile-shielded mechanism are that the magnetosphere radius must be larger than the corotation radius and that the volatiles are depleted outside the corotation radius, which requires a sufficiently slow orbital circularization process.} We applied our model to nine white dwarfs with known rotational periods, magnetic fields, and atmosphere compositions. Our volatile-shielded model may explain the excess of volatile elements such as C and S in the disk relative to the white dwarf atmosphere in WD2326+049 (G29-38). Nevertheless, given the sensitivity of our model to the circularization process and material properties of icy objects, there remains considerable uncertainty in our results. Conclusions. Our work suggests a possible explanation for the scarcity of volatile-accretion signatures among white dwarfs. We also identify a correlation between the magnetic field strength, the spin period, and the composition of pollutants in white dwarf atmospheres., Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A

Context. The YORP effect is the thermal torque generated by radiation from the surface of an asteroid. The effect is sensitive to surface topology, including small-scale roughness, boulders, and craters. Aims: The aim of this paper is to develop a computationally efficient semi-analytical model for the crater-induced YORP (CYORP) effect that can be used to investigate the functional dependence of this effect. Methods. This study obtains the temperature field in a crater over a rotational period in the form of a Fourier series, accounting for the effects of self-sheltering, self-radiation, and self-scattering. Results. We obtain the temperature field of a crater, accounting for the thermal inertia, crater shape, and crater location. We then find that the CYORP effect is negligible when the depth-to-diameter ratio is smaller than 0.05. In this case, it is reasonable to assume a convex shape for YORP calculations. Varying the thermal conductivity yields a consistent value of approximately 0.01 for the spin component of the CYORP coefficient, while the obliquity component is inversely related to thermal inertia, declining from 0.004 in basalt to 0.001 in metal. For a z-axis symmetric shape, the CYORP spin component vanishes, while the obliquity component persists. Our model confirms that the total YORP torque is damped by a few tens of percent by uniformly distributed small-scale surface roughness. Furthermore, for the first time, we calculate the change in the YORP torque at each impact on the surface of an asteroid explicitly and compute the resulting stochastic spin evolution more precisely. Conclusions. The semi-analytical method that we developed, which benefits from fast computation, offers new perspectives for future investigations of the YORP modeling of real asteroids and for the complete rotational and orbital evolution of asteroids accounting for collisions., Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures. Published on A&A in February 2024

We explore the Yarkovsky effect on small binary asteroids. While significant attention has been given to the binary YORP effect, the Yarkovsky effect is often overlooked. We develop an analytical model for the binary Yarkovsky effect, considering both the Yarkovsky-Schach and planetary Yarkovsky components, and verify it against thermophysical numerical simulations. We find that the Yarkovsky force could change the mutual orbit when the asteroid's spin period is unequal to the orbital period. Our analysis predicts new evolutionary paths for binaries. For a prograde asynchronous secondary, the Yarkovsky force will migrate the satellite towards the location of the synchronous orbit on ~100 kyr timescales, which could be faster than other synchronization processes such as YORP and tides. For retrograde secondaries, the Yarkovsky force always migrates the secondary outwards, which could produce asteroid pairs with opposite spin poles. Satellites spinning faster than the Roche limit orbit period (e.g. from ~4h to ~10h) will migrate inwards until they disrupt, reshape, or form a contact binary. We also predict a short-lived equilibrium state for asynchronous secondaries where the Yarkovsky force is balanced by tides. We provide calculations of the Yarkovsky-induced drift rate for known asynchronous binaries. If the NASA DART impact broke Dimorphos from synchronous rotation, we predict that Dimorphos's orbit will shrink by \dot a ~ 7 cm/yr, which can be measured by the Hera mission. We also speculate that the Yarkovsky force may have synchronized the Dinkinesh-Selam system after a possible merger of Selam's two lobes., Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

Let $H$ be a fixed graph. A graph $G$ is called {\it $H$-saturated} if $H$ is not a subgraph of $G$ but the addition of any missing edge to $G$ results in an $H$-subgraph. The {\it saturation number} of $H$, denoted $sat(n,H)$, is the minimum number of edges over all $H$-saturated graphs of order $n$, and $Sat(n,H)$ denote the family of $H$-saturated graphs with $sat(n,H)$ edges and $n$ vertices. In this paper, we resolve a conjecture of Chen and Yuan in[Discrete Math. 347(2024)113868] by determining $Sat(n,K_p\cup (t-1)K_q)$ for every $2\le p\le q$ and $t\ge 2$., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures

Calculating perturbation response properties of materials from first principles provides a vital link between theory and experiment, but is bottlenecked by the high computational cost. Here a general framework is proposed to perform density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) calculations by neural networks, greatly improving the computational efficiency. Automatic differentiation is applied on neural networks, facilitating accurate computation of derivatives. High efficiency and good accuracy of the approach are demonstrated by studying electron-phonon coupling and related physical quantities. This work brings deep-learning density functional theory and DFPT into a unified framework, creating opportunities for developing ab initio artificial intelligence.

Let $S\subseteq V(G)$ and $\pi_{G}(S)$ denote the maximum number $t$ of edge-disjoint paths $P_{1},P_{2},\ldots,P_{t}$ in a graph $G$ such that $V(P_{i})\cap V(P_{j})=S$ for any $i,j\in\{1,2,\ldots,t\}$ and $i\neq j$. If $S=V(G)$, then $\pi_{G}(S)$ is the maximum number of edge-disjoint spanning paths in $G$. It is proved [Graphs Combin., 37 (2021) 2521-2533] that deciding whether $\pi_G(S)\geq r$ is NP-complete for a given $S\subseteq V(G)$. For an integer $r$ with $2\leq r\leq n$, the $r$-path connectivity of a graph $G$ is defined as $\pi_{r}(G)=$min$\{\pi_{G}(S)|S\subseteq V(G)$ and $|S|=r\}$, which is a generalization of tree connectivity. In this paper, we study the $3$-path connectivity of the $k$-dimensional data center network with $n$-port switches $D_{k,n}$ which has significate role in the cloud computing, and prove that $\pi_{3}(D_{k,n})=\lfloor\frac{2n+3k}{4}\rfloor$ with $k\geq 1$ and $n\geq 6$.

The Yao-Lee model is an example of exactly solvable spin-orbital models that are generalizations of the original Kitaev honeycomb model with extra local orbital degrees of freedom. Similar to the Kitaev model, both spin and orbital degrees of freedom are effectively represented using sets of three-flavored Majorana fermions. The Yao-Lee model exhibits a quantum spin liquid ground state with gapped and immobile $Z_2$ fluxes and three-fold degenerate itinerant Majorana fermions. Our work demonstrated that by introducing different time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking fields one can split the degeneracy of Majorana fermions and close the gap for some of the bands, thus changing its topology. We calculated a comprehensive topological phase diagram for the Yao-Lee model by considering various combinations of TRS-breaking fields. This investigation revealed the emergence of distinct topological regions, each separated by nodal lines, signifying an evolution in the model's topological properties. We also investigated the impact of vacancies in the system. Our findings revealed that while vacancies modify the low-energy spectrum of the model, their presence has a limited impact on the topological properties of the model, at least for small enough concentrations., Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures

We study the dynamical response of vacancy-induced quasiparticle excitations in the site-diluted Kitaev spin liquid with a magnetic field. Due to the flux-binding effect and the emergence of dangling Majorana fermions around each spin vacancy, the low-energy physics is governed by a set of vacancy-induced quasi-zero-energy modes. These localized modes result in unique characteristics of the dynamical spin correlation functions, which intriguingly mimic the single-quasiparticle density of states and further exhibit a quasi-zero-frequency peak. By recognizing the potential observability of these local correlation functions via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we show how the STM response is sensitive to the local flux configuration, the magnetic field strength, and the vacancy concentration. Constructing a simple model of the localized modes, we also elucidate how the local correlation functions can be interpreted in terms of the hybridization between these modes., Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures

Spin vacancies in the non-Abelian Kitaev spin liquid are known to harbor Majorana zero modes, potentially enabling topological quantum computing at elevated temperatures. Here, we study the spectroscopic signatures of such Majorana zero modes in a scanning tunneling setup where a non-Abelian Kitaev spin liquid with a finite density of spin vacancies forms a tunneling barrier between a tip and a substrate. Our key result is a well-defined peak close to zero bias voltage in the derivative of the tunneling conductance whose voltage and intensity both increase with the density of vacancies. This ''quasi-zero-voltage peak'' is identified as the closest analog of the zero-voltage peak observed in topological superconductors that additionally reflects the fractionalized nature of spin-liquid-based Majorana zero modes. We further highlight a single-fermion Van Hove singularity at a higher voltage that reveals the energy scale of the emergent Majorana fermions in the Kitaev spin liquid. Our proposed signatures are within reach of current experiments on the candidate material $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$., Comment: 6+4 pages, 2+1 figures

Phonons have provided an ideal platform for a variety of intriguing physical states, such as non-Abelian braiding and the Haldane model. It is promising that phonons will realize the complicated nodal states accompanying unusual quantum phenomena. Here, we propose the hybrid nodal surface and nodal line (NS+NL) phonons beyond the single-genre nodal phonons. We categorize the NS+NL phonons into two- and four-band situations based on symmetry analysis and compatibility relationships. Combining database screening with first-principles calculations, we identify the ideal candidate materials for realizing all categorized NS+NL phonons. Our calculations and tight-binding models further demonstrate that the interplay between NS and NL induces unique phenomena. In space group (SG) 113, the quadratic NL acts as a hub of the Berry curvature between two NSs, generating ribbonlike surface states (SSs). In SG 128, the NS serves as the counterpart of the Weyl NL, in which NS-NL mixed topological SSs are observed. Our findings extend the scope of hybrid nodal states and enrich the phononic states in realistic materials., Comment: 27+35 pages, 5+44 figures, 1+3 tables

A class of occupancy models for detection/non-detection data is proposed to relax the closure assumption of N$-$mixture models. We introduce a community parameter $c$, ranging from $0$ to $1$, which characterizes a certain portion of individuals being fixed across multiple visits. As a result, when $c$ equals $1$, the model reduces to the N$-$mixture model; this reduced model is shown to overestimate abundance when the closure assumption is not fully satisfied. Additionally, by including a zero-inflated component, the proposed model can bridge the standard occupancy model ($c=0$) and the zero-inflated N$-$mixture model ($c=1$). We then study the behavior of the estimators for the two extreme models as $c$ varies from $0$ to $1$. An interesting finding is that the zero-inflated N$-$mixture model can consistently estimate the zero-inflated probability (occupancy) as $c$ approaches $0$, but the bias can be positive, negative, or unbiased when $c>0$ depending on other parameters. We also demonstrate these results through simulation studies and data analysis., Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures

Multi-wavelength scattered light imaging of debris disks may inform dust properties including typical size and mineral composition. Existing studies have investigated a small set of individual systems across a variety of imaging instruments and filters, calling for uniform comparison studies to systematically investigate dust properties. We obtain the surface brightness of dust particles in debris disks by post-processing coronagraphic imaging observations, and compare the multi-wavelength reflectance of dust. For a sample of resolved debris disks, we perform a systematic analysis on the reflectance properties of their birth rings. We reduced the visible and near-infrared images of 23 debris disk systems hosted by A through M stars using two coronagraphs onboard the Hubble Space Telescope: the STIS instrument observations centering at 0.58 $\mu$m, and the NICMOS instrument at 1.12 $\mu$m or 1.60 $\mu$m. For proper recovery of debris disks, we used classical reference differential imaging for STIS, and adopted non-negative matrix factorization with forward modeling for NICMOS. By dividing disk signals by stellar signals to take into account of intrinsic stellar color effects, we systematically obtained and compared the reflectance of debris birth rings at ~90 deg scattering angle. Debris birth rings typically exhibit a blue color at ~90 deg scattering angle. As the stellar luminosity increases, the color tends to be more neutral. A likely L-shaped color-albedo distribution indicates a clustering of scatterer properties. The observed color trend correlates with the expected blow-out size of dust particles. The color-albedo clustering likely suggests different populations of dust in these systems. More detailed radiative transfer models with realistic dust morphology will contribute to explaining the observed color and color-albedo distribution of debris systems., Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. A&A accepted

The Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) effect plays an important role in the rotational properties and evolution of asteroids. While the YORP effect induced by the macroscopic shape of the asteroid and by the presence of surface boulders has been well studied, no investigation has been performed yet regarding how craters with given properties influence this effect. We introduce and estimate the crater-induced YORP effect (CYORP), which arises from the concave structure of the crater, to investigate the magnitude of the resulting torques as a function of varying properties of the crater and the asteroid by a semi-analytical method. The CYORP torque can be comparable to the normal YORP torque when the size of the crater is about one-tenth of the size of the asteroid, or equivalently when the crater/roughness covers one-tenth of the asteroid's surface. Although the torque decreases with the crater size, the combined contribution of all small craters can become non-negligible due to their large number when the commonly used power-law crater size distribution is considered. The CYORP torque of small concave structures, usually considered as surface roughness, is essential to the accurate calculation of the complete YORP torque. Under the CYORP effect that is produced by collisions, asteroids go through a random walk in spin rate and obliquity, with a YORP reset timescale typically of 0.4 Myr. This has strong implications for the rotational evolution and orbital evolution of asteroids. Craters and roughness on asteroid surfaces can influence the YORP torques and therefore the rotational properties and evolution of asteroids. We suggest that the CYORP effect should be considered in the future investigation of the YORP effect on asteroids., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. Accepted by A&A

Large classes of dark sector models feature mass scales and couplings very different from the ones we observe in the Standard Model (SM). Moreover, in the freeze-in mechanism, often employed by the dark sector models, it is also required that the dark sector cannot be populated during the reheating process like the SM. This is the so called asymmetric reheating. Such disparities in sizes and scales often call for dynamical explanations. In this paper, we explore a scenario in which slow evolving conformal field theories (CFTs) offer such an explanation. Building on the recent work on conformal freeze-in (COFI), we focus on a coupling between the Standard Model Hypercharge gauge boson and an anti-symmetric tensor operator in the dark CFT. We present a scenario which dynamically realizes the asymmetric reheating and COFI production. With a detailed study of dark matter production, and taking into account limits on the dark matter (DM) self-interaction, warm DM bound, and constraints from the stellar evolution, we demonstrate that the correct relic abundance can be obtained with reasonable choices of parameters. The model predicts the existence of a dark photon as an emergent composite particle, with a small kinetic mixing also determined by the CFT dynamics, which correlates it with the generation of the mass scale of the dark sector. At the same time, COFI production of dark matter is very different from those freeze-in mediated by the dark photon. This is an example of the physics in which a realistic dark sector model can often be much richer and with unexpected features., Comment: 41 pages, 8 figures

In a linear tomosynthesis scanner designed for imaging histologic samples of several centimeter size at 10 micrometer resolution, the mechanical instability of the scanning stage (+/-10 micrometers) exceeded the resolution of the image system, making it necessary to determine the trajectory of the stage for each scan to avoid blurring and artifacts in the images that would arise from the errors in the geometric information used in 3D reconstruction. We present a method for online calibration by attaching a layer of randomly dispersed micro glass beads or calcium particles to the bottom of the sample stage. The marker layer was easy to produce and proven effective in the calibration procedure., Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures