Optimization of spacer, gas distribution inside glass resistive plate chamber (RPC) is reported. Simulation studies demonstrate improvements on the gas flow velocity homogeneity and lower vorticity inside the gas chamber. The optimized spacer configu
ration (76 spacers) decreases the number of spacers by $24%$ compared to the original design (100 spacers), thus helps significantly reduce the dead zone or low-efficiency area caused by spacers while slightly improving the deformation uniformity of the electrode. Large area glass RPCs with 1x1 m$^2$ size using two types of spacer configurations are constructed and tested with cosmic muons events. The muon detection efficiencies for RPCs are greater than $95%$.
The PSR J2222-0137 binary system is a unique laboratory for testing gravity theories. To fully exploit its potential for the tests, we aim to improve the measurements of its physical parameters: spin, orbital orientation, and post-Keplerian parameter
s which quantify the observed relativistic effects. We present improved analysis of archival VLBI data, using a coordinate convention in full agreement with that used in timing. We also obtain much improved polarimetry with FAST. We provide an analysis of significantly extended timing data taken with Effelsberg, Nancay, Lovell and Green Bank telescopes. From VLBI analysis we obtain a new estimate of the position angle of ascending node, Omega=189(19) deg, and a new position of the pulsar with more conservative uncertainty. The FAST polarimetry and in particular the detection of an interpulse, yield much improved estimate for the spin geometry of the pulsar, in particular an inclination of the spin axis of 84 deg. From the timing we obtain a new 1% test of general relativity (GR) from the agreement of the Shapiro delay and the advance rate of periastron. Assuming GR in a self-consistent analysis of all effects, we obtain much improved mass: 1.831(10) M_sun for the pulsar and 1.319(4) M_sun for the companion; the total mass, 3.150(14) M_sun confirms it as the most massive double degenerate binary known in the Galaxy. This analysis also yields the orbital orientation: the orbital inclination is 85.27(4) deg, indicating a close alignment between the spin of the pulsar and the orbital angular momentum; Omega = 188(6) deg, matching our VLBI result. We also obtain precise value of the orbital period derivative, 0.251(8)e-12 s s^-1, consistent with the expected variation of Doppler factor plus the orbital decay caused by emission of gravitational wave (GW) predicted by GR. This agreement introduces stringent constraint on the emission of dipolar GW.
Optically addressable spin defects in wide-bandage semiconductors as promising systems for quantum information and sensing applications have attracted more and more attention recently. Spin defects in two-dimensional materials are supposed to have un
ique superiority in quantum sensing since their atomatic thickness. Here, we demonstrate that the negatively boron charged vacancy (V$ _text{B}^{-} $) with good spin properties in hexagonal boron nitride can be generated by ion implantation. We carry out optically detected magnetic resonance measurements at room temperature to characterize the spin properties of V$ _text{B}^{-} $ defects, showing zero-filed splitting of $ sim $ 3.47 GHz. We compare the photoluminescence intensity and spin properties of V$ _text{B}^{-} $ defects generated by different implantation parameters, such as fluence, energy and ion species. With proper parameters, we can create V$ _text{B}^{-} $ defects successfully with high probability. Our results provide a simple and practicable method to create spin defects in hBN, which is of great significance for integrated hBN-based devices.
The effects of an additional $K^-$ meson on the neutron and proton drip lines are investigated within Skyrme-Hartree-Fock approach combined with a Skyrme-type kaon-nucleon interaction. While an extension of the proton drip line is observed due to the
strongly attractive $K^-p$ interaction, contrasting effects (extension and reduction) on the neutron drip line of Be, O, and Ne isotopes are found. The origin of these differences is attributed to the behavior of the highest-occupied neutron single-particle levels near the neutron drip line.
Geometrically frustrated materials, such as spin ice or kagome lattice, are known to exhibit exotic Hall effect phenomena due to spin chirality. We explore Hall effect mechanism in an artificial honeycomb spin ice of Nd--Sn element using Hall probe a
nd polarized neutron reflectivity measurements. In an interesting observation, a strong enhancement in Hall signal at relatively higher temperature of $T$ $sim$ 20 K is detected. The effect is attributed to the planar Hall effect due to magnetic moment configuration in spin ice state in low field application. In the antiferromagnetic state of neodymium at low temperature, applied field induced coupling between atomic Nd moments and conduction electrons in underlying lattice causes distinct increment in Hall resistivity at very modest field of $H$ $sim$ 0.015 T. The experimental findings suggest the development of a new research vista to study the planar and the field induced Hall effects in artificial spin ice.
Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental plasma process that plays a critical role not only in energy release in the solar atmosphere, but also in fusion, astrophysical, and other space plasma environments. One of the challenges in explaining solar obs
ervations in which reconnection is thought to play a critical role is to account for the transition of the dynamics from a slow quasi-continuous phase to a fast and impulsive energetic burst of much shorter duration. Despite the theoretical progress in identifying mechanisms that might lead to rapid onset, a lack of observations of this transition has left models poorly constrained. High-resolution spectroscopic observations from NASAs Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) now reveal tell-tale signatures of the abrupt transition of reconnection from a slow phase to a fast, impulsive phase during UV bursts or explosive events in the Suns atmosphere. Our observations are consistent with numerical simulations of the plasmoid instability, and provide evidence for the onset of fast reconnection mediated by plasmoids and new opportunities for remote-sensing diagnostics of reconnection mechanisms on the Sun.
Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) can be used to study the Solar-system ephemeris (SSE), the errors of which can lead to correlated timing residuals and significantly contribute to the PTA noise budget. Most Solar-system studies with PTAs assume the domina
nce of the term from the shift of the Solar-system barycentre (SSB). However, it is unclear to which extent this approximation can be valid, since the perturbations on the planetary orbits may become important as data precision keeps increasing. To better understand the effects of SSE uncertainties on pulsar timing, we develop the LINIMOSS dynamical model of the Solar system, based on the SSE of Guangyu Li. Using the same input parameters as DE435, the calculated planetary positions by LINIMOSS are compatible with DE435 at centimetre level over a 20-year timespan, which is sufficiently precise for pulsar-timing applications. We utilize LINIMOSS to investigate the effects of SSE errors on pulsar timing in a fully dynamical way, by perturbing one SSE parameter per trial and examining the induced timing residuals. For the outer planets, the timing residuals are dominated by the SSB shift, as assumed in previous work. For the inner planets, the variations in the orbit of the Earth are more prominent, making previously adopted assumptions insufficient. The power spectra of the timing residuals have complex structures, which may introduce false signals in the search of gravitational waves. We also study how to infer the SSE parameters using PTAs, and calculate the accuracy of parameter estimation.
Pulsar-timing analyses are sensitive to errors in the solar-system ephemerides (SSEs) that timing models utilise to estimate the location of the solar-system barycentre, the quasi-inertial reference frame to which all recorded pulse times-of-arrival
are referred. Any error in the SSE will affect all pulsars, therefore pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) are a suitable tool to search for such errors and impose independent constraints on relevant physical parameters. We employ the first data release of the International Pulsar Timing Array to constrain the masses of the planet-moons systems and to search for possible unmodelled objects (UMOs) in the solar system. We employ ten SSEs from two independent research groups, derive and compare mass constraints of planetary systems, and derive the first PTA mass constraints on asteroid-belt objects. Constraints on planetary-system masses have been improved by factors of up to 20 from the previous relevant study using the same assumptions, with the mass of the Jovian system measured at 9.5479189(3)$times10^{-4}$ $M_{odot}$. The mass of the dwarf planet Ceres is measured at 4.7(4)$times10^{-10}$ $M_{odot}$. We also present the first sensitivity curves using real data that place generic limits on the masses of UMOs, which can also be used as upper limits on the mass of putative exotic objects. For example, upper limits on dark-matter clumps are comparable to published limits using independent methods. While the constraints on planetary masses derived with all employed SSEs are consistent, we note and discuss differences in the associated timing residuals and UMO sensitivity curves.
The error in the Solar system ephemeris will lead to dipolar correlations in the residuals of pulsar timing array for widely separated pulsars. In this paper, we utilize such correlated signals, and construct a Bayesian data-analysis framework to det
ect the unknown mass in the Solar system and to measure the orbital parameters. The algorithm is designed to calculate the waveform of the induced pulsar-timing residuals due to the unmodelled objects following the Keplerian orbits in the Solar system. The algorithm incorporates a Bayesian-analysis suit used to simultaneously analyse the pulsar-timing data of multiple pulsars to search for coherent waveforms, evaluate the detection significance of unknown objects, and to measure their parameters. When the object is not detectable, our algorithm can be used to place upper limits on the mass. The algorithm is verified using simulated data sets, and cross-checked with analytical calculations. We also investigate the capability of future pulsar-timing-array experiments in detecting the unknown objects. We expect that the future pulsar timing data can limit the unknown massive objects in the Solar system to be lighter than $10^{-11}$ to $10^{-12}$ $M_{odot}$, or measure the mass of Jovian system to fractional precision of $10^{-8}$ to $10^{-9}$.
The ion collider ring of Jefferson Lab Electron-Ion Collider (JLEIC) accommodates a wide range of ion energies, from 20 to 100 GeV for protons or from 8 to 40 GeV per nucleon for lead ions. In this medium energy range, ions are not fully relativistic
, which means values of their relativistic beta are slightly below 1, leading to an energy dependence of revolution time of the collider ring. On the other hand, electrons with energy 3 GeV and above are already ultra-relativistic such that their speeds are effectively equal to the speed of light. The difference in speeds of colliding electrons and ions in JLEIC, when translated into a path-length difference necessary to maintain the same timing between electron and ion bunches, is quite large. In this paper, we explore schemes for synchronizing the electron and ion bunches at a collision point as the ion energy is varied.
