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This paper investigates a multi-antenna cache-enabled network with interference nulling (IN) employed at base stations. Two IN schemes, namely, the fixed IN scheme and the flexible IN scheme are considered to improve the received signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) at users. To thoroughly explore the effects of the caching parameter and the IN parameters on the network performance, we focus on the analysis of not only the successful transmission probability (STP) but the SIR meta distribution. For each IN scheme, the expression for the STP is derived and an approximated expression for the SIR meta distribution is also obtained by deriving the first and second moments of an upper bound of the link reliability and utilizing the beta distribution. With this analytical framework, we compare the performance of these two IN schemes and gain some useful system design guidelines from the perspectives of the STP and the SIR meta distribution by numerical simulations.

The pattern development of multiple cracks in extremely anisotropic solids such as bilayer or multilayer two-dimensional (2D) crystals contains rich physics, which, however, remains largely unexplored. We studied crack interaction across neighboring 2D layers by transmission electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Parallel and anti-parallel ('En-Passant') cracks attract and repel each other in bilayer 2D crystals, respectively, in stark contrast to the behaviors of co-planar cracks. We show that the misfit between in-plane displacement fields around the crack tips results in non-uniform interlayer shear, which modifies the crack driving forces by creating an antisymmetric component of the stress intensity factor. The cross-layer interaction between cracks directly leads to material toughening, the strength of which increases with the shear stiffness and decreases with the crack spacings. Backed by the experimental findings and simulation results, a theory that marries the theory of linear elastic fracture mechanics and the shear-lag model is presented, which guides the unconventional approach to engineer fracture patterns and enhance material resistance to cracking.

The quantum internet -- in synergy with the internet that we use today -- promises an enabling platform for next-generation information processing, including exponentially speed-up distributed computation, secure communication, and high-precision metrology. The key ingredients for realizing such a global network are the distribution and storage of quantum entanglement. As ground-based quantum networks are likely to be based on existing fiber networks, telecom-wavelength entangled photons and corresponding quantum memories are of central interest. Recently, $\rm^{167}Er^{3+}$ ions have been identified as a promising candidate for an efficient, broadband quantum memory at telecom wavelength. However, to date, no storage of entangled photons, the crucial step of quantum memory using these promising ions, $\rm^{167}Er^{3+}$, has been reported. Here, we demonstrate the storage and recall of the entangled state of two telecom photons generated from an integrated photonic chip based on a silicon nitride micro-ring resonator. Combining the natural narrow linewidth of the entangled photons and long storage time of $\rm^{167}Er^{3+}$ ions, we achieve storage time of 1.936 $\mu$s, more than 387 times longer than in previous works. Successful storage of entanglement in the crystal is certified by a violation of an entanglement witness with more than 23 standard deviations (-0.234 $\pm$ 0.010) at 1.936 $\mu$s storage time. These results pave the way for realizing quantum networks based on solid-state devices., Comment: We have improved the storage time of quantum entanglement to over 1.9 $\mu$s with a efficiency of about 2%, using partial nuclear spin polarization as well as better frequency locking for the laser system. We have also enhanced the coherence of signal photons, which are generated from an entangled photon-pair source based on an integrated microring resonator with a quality factor exceeding 10^6

The interdependency of power systems and natural gas systems is being reinforced by the emerging power-to-gas facilities (PtGs), and the existing gas-fired generators. To jointly improve the efficiency and security under diverse uncertainties from renewable energy resources and load demands, it is essential to co-optimise these two energy systems for day-ahead market clearance. In this paper, a data-driven integrated electricity-gas system stochastic co-optimisation model is proposed. The model is accurately approximated by sequential mixed integer second-order cone programming, which can then be solved in parallel and decentralised manners by leveraging generalised Benders decomposition. Since the price formation and settlement issues have rarely been investigated for integrated electricity-gas systems in an uncertainty setting, a novel concept of expected locational marginal value is proposed to credit the flexibility of PtGs that helps hedging uncertainties. By comparing with a deterministic model and a distributionally robust model, the advantage of the proposed stochastic model and the efficiency of the proposed solution method are validated. Detailed results of pricing and settlement for PtGs are presented, showing that the expected locational marginal value can fairly credit the contribution of PtGs and reflect the system deficiency of capturing uncertainties.

We employ quantum state and process tomography with time-bin qubits to benchmark a city-wide metropolitan quantum communication system. Over this network, we implement real-time feedback control systems for stabilizing the phase of the time-bin qubits, and obtain a 99.3% quantum process fidelity to the ideal channel, indicating the high quality of the whole quantum communication system. This allows us to implement field trial of high performance quantum key distribution using coherent one way protocol with average quantum bit error rate and visibility of 0.25% and 99.2% during 12 hours over 61 km. Our results pave the way for the high-performance quantum network with metropolitan fibers., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

Integrated photonics provides a route both to miniaturize quantum key distribution (QKD) devices and to enhance their performance. A key element for achieving discrete-variable QKD is a single-photon detector. It is highly desirable to integrate detectors onto a photonic chip to enable the realization of practical and scalable quantum networks. We realize an integrated heterogeneous superconducting-silicon-photonic chip. Harnessing the unique high-speed feature of our optical waveguide-integrated superconducting detector, we perform the first optimal Bell-state measurement (BSM) of time-bin encoded qubits generated from two independent lasers. The optimal BSM enables an increased key rate of measurement-device-independent QKD, which is immune to all attacks against the detection system, and hence provides the basis for a QKD network with untrusted relays. Together with the time-multiplexed technique, we have enhanced the sifted key rate by almost one order of magnitude. With a 125 MHz clock rate, we obtain a secure key rate of 6.166 kbps over 24.0 dB loss, which is comparable to the state-of-the-art MDI-QKD experimental results with GHz clock rate. Combined with integrated QKD transmitters, a scalable, chip-based and cost-effective QKD network should become realizable in the near future., Comment: Major updates: 1. Realize optimal Bell-state measurement for time-bin qubits; 2. With a 125 MHz clock rate, the generated secure key rate is comparable to the state-of-the-art MDI-QKD experimental results with GHz clock rate