Transverse spin structure of the nucleon from lattice-QCD simulations

We present the first calculation in lattice QCD of the lowest two moments of transverse spin densities of quarks in the nucleon. They encode correlations between quark spin and orbital angular momentum. Our dynamical simulations are based on two flavors of clover-improved Wilson fermions and Wilson gluons. We find significant contributions from certain quark helicity flip generalized parton distributions, leading to strongly distorted densities of transversely polarized quarks in the nucleon. In particular, based on our results and recent arguments by Burkardt [Phys. Rev. D 72, 094020 (2005)], we predict that the Boer-Mulders function h(1/1), describing correlations of transverse quark spin and intrinsic transverse momentum of quarks, is large and negative for both up and down quarks.     

Quantum Nernst effect

It is theoretically predicted that the Nernst coefficient is strongly suppressed and the thermal conductance is quantized in the quantum Hall regime of the two-dimensional electron gas. The Nernst effect is the induction of a thermomagnetic electromotive force in the y-direction under a temperature bias in the x-direction and a magnetic field in the z-direction. The quantum nature of the Nernst effect is analyzed with the use of a circulating edge current and is demonstrated numerically. The present system is a physical realization of the non-equilibrium steady state.     

Fabrication of flower-shaped Bi2O3 superstructure by a facile template-free process

A novel flower-shaped Bi₂O₃ superstructure has been successfully synthesized by calcination of the precursor, which was prepared via a citric acid assisted hydrothermal process. The precursor and Bi₂O₃ were characterized with respect to morphology, crystal structure and elemental chemical state by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was shown that both the precursor and Bi₂O₃ flower-shaped superstructure were constructed of numerous nanosheets while the nanosheets consisted of a great deal of nanoparticles. Furthermore, key factors for the formation of the superstructures have been proposed; a mechanism for the growth of the superstructure has been presented based on the FESEM investigation of different growth stages.     

Development and test of SEOP neutron spin filter in Japan

We have begun the development of an in-situ spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) system aiming to use it as a neutron spin filter for incident beam polarization at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). To use it, it is recommended that the optics be adjusted easily, have high stability, and have a small size. In this paper we improved our previous SEOP system aiming to use it in J-PARC and performed a neutron beam test at the JRR-3 NOP beamline to see the performance of the neutron spin filter (NSF). The polarization of the ³He gas reached 73%. This paper gives the present status of the development of in-situ SEOP system in J-PARC.     

A note on the angular distribution of the characteristic surface loss intensity of electrons with non-normal incidence to the foils

By using a quantized theory of non-radiative surface plasmon in a semi-infinite electron gas, where retardation is taken into account, the differential surface loss intensity of electrons in a metal foil is calculated for the case of non-normal incidence of electron to the metal surface. The result shows that the differential surface loss intensity neither has a zero at θ = 0 for the case of normal incidence nor has a zero at a forward direction (θ ≠ 0, φ = 0) for the case of non-normal incidence, whose existences were predicted by electrostatic theories, but diverges as 1/θ at θ = 0 for both cases. It is also shown that, when the angle of incidence is greater than a certain critical value, there is a region of direction to which incident electrons can be scattered by exciting any one of surface plasmons with three different wave vectors.     

Ultrafast all-optical signal processing with Symmetric Mach–Zehnder type all-optical switches

We present Symmetric Mach–Zehnder (SMZ) type all-optical switches: an SMZ all-optical switch, a polarization-discriminating SMZ (PD-SMZ) all-optical switch, and a delayed interference signal wavelength converter (DISC). These switches are capable of ultrafast, low control power, and low chirp switching, which is not restricted by slow relaxation of highly efficient nonlinearities. High repetition operation unrestricted by slow relaxation is also possible for these switches. This is because of a push–pull modulation scheme or sometimes called a differential phase modulation scheme. These three devices are similar, but different in some important aspects, thus a comparison is made among the three. Then semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are discussed as a nonlinear phase shifter for these devices. Then, ultrafast all-optical signal processing using SOA based SMZs is demonstrated. Error-free demultiplexing from 168 to 10.5 Gbit/s is presented, in which a hybrid-integrated SMZ (HI-SMZ) is used as a demultiplexer. In pulse regeneration experiment, the signal pulses at 84 Gbit/s are regenerated by the PD-SMZ and the regenerated pulses are demultiplexed to 10.5 Gbit/s by the HI-SMZ to verify error-free operation. The retiming capability of this scheme is quantitatively demonstrated. Also presented is error-free all-optical wavelength conversion at 168 Gbit/s using the DISC. These results represent the fastest error-free operations reported to date in each category.     

Characterization of preformed plasmas with an interferometer for ultra-short high-intensity laser-plasma interactions

The evolution of an Al preformed plasma produced by a prepulse was observed before and after the arrival of the main pulse by an interferometer using a femtosecond probe pulse. A central density depression due to the ponderomotive force of the main laser pulse in the preformed plasma with a 100 m scale length was clearly visible after the main pulse irradiation at an intensity of 5×10¹⁶ W/cm². The temporal profiles of the prepulse, characterized by a cross-correlation in conjunction with a precise density profile measurement by an interferometer, contribute to the better understanding of femtosecond laser-matter interactions. PACS 52.38.-r; 52.50.Jm; 52.70.-m     

Magnetic structures of exchange bias Ni/FeF2(1 1 0) interface

Electronic and magnetic structures of ferromagnetic (FM)/antiferromagnetic (AFM), Ni/FeF₂(1 1 0), with a compensated AFM interface are investigated by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method. We find that magnetic structures at the AFM interface are perturbed by a contact with the FM material, where the superexchange interaction through the interface F excites and induces a small net moment at the AFM interface. These results predicted may play an important role for explaining the exchange bias in this system, and rule out the exchange bias mechanisms with the spin-flop coupling and the magnetic moment reorientation.     

原位Raman光谱揭示中性条件下硫化钼结构变化对其电催化析氢反应的促进作用（英文）

硫化钼是析氢反应(HER)有前途的电催化剂.S-或Mo物种均被认为是形成吸附氢触发HER反应的活性位,但Mo中心和S配体间相互作用的本质仍不清楚.另外,采用中性的水作为质子源用于产氢,来开发低成本的水裂解催化剂体系为研究者高度关注,但人们很少研究中性水条件下HER反应的机理.本文采用原位电化学Raman光谱对所合成的硫化钼中Mo–Mo和S–S物种在中性条件下的结构变化进行了监测.结果显示,归属于端位S–S物种的谱带随着和Mo–S振动谱带频率而同步变化,表明Mo–Mo键与端位S–S键起着协同作用,从而有利于氢气的生成.这可能是通过三核物种的内部重组而确认的.本文所揭示的HER反应中金属-配体相互作用的本质与作用表明了一个不同的反应机理,而以往的机理认为,S或Mo活性位独立起作用而促进HER反应的进行.