Kerr Enhanced Backaction Cooling in Magnetomechanics.

Optomechanics is a prime example of light matter interaction, where photons directly couple to phonons, allowing the precise control and measurement of the state of a mechanical object. This makes it a very appealing platform for testing fundamental physics or for sensing applications. Usually, such mechanical oscillators are in highly excited thermal states and require cooling to the mechanical ground state for quantum applications, which is often accomplished by using optomechanical backaction. However, while massive mechanical oscillators are desirable for many tasks, their frequency usually decreases below the cavity linewidth, significantly limiting the methods that can be used to efficiently cool. Here, we demonstrate a novel approach relying on an intrinsically nonlinear cavity to backaction-cool a low frequency mechanical oscillator. We experimentally demonstrate outperforming an identical, but linear, system by more than 1 order of magnitude. Furthermore, our theory predicts that with this approach we can also surpass the standard cooling limit of a linear system. By exploiting a nonlinear cavity, our approach enables efficient cooling of a wider range of optomechanical systems, opening new opportunities for fundamental tests and sensing.

Orbital Complexity in Intrinsic Magnetic Topological Insulators MnBi_{4}Te_{7} and MnBi_{6}Te_{10}.

Using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), we investigate the surface electronic structure of the magnetic van der Waals compounds MnBi_{4}Te_{7} and MnBi_{6}Te_{10}, the n=1 and 2 members of a modular (Bi_{2}Te_{3})_{n}(MnBi_{2}Te_{4}) series, which have attracted recent interest as intrinsic magnetic topological insulators. Combining circular dichroic, spin-resolved and photon-energy-dependent ARPES measurements with calculations based on density functional theory, we unveil complex momentum-dependent orbital and spin textures in the surface electronic structure and disentangle topological from trivial surface bands. We find that the Dirac-cone dispersion of the topologial surface state is strongly perturbed by hybridization with valence-band states for Bi_{2}Te_{3}-terminated surfaces but remains preserved for MnBi_{2}Te_{4}-terminated surfaces. Our results firmly establish the topologically nontrivial nature of these magnetic van der Waals materials and indicate that the possibility of realizing a quantized anomalous Hall conductivity depends on surface termination.

Single-Photon Cooling in Microwave Magnetomechanics.

Cavity optomechanics, where photons are coupled to mechanical motion, provides the tools to control mechanical motion near the fundamental quantum limits. Reaching single-photon strong coupling would allow to prepare the mechanical resonator in non-Gaussian quantum states. Preparing massive mechanical resonators in such states is of particular interest for testing the boundaries of quantum mechanics. This goal remains however challenging due to the small optomechanical couplings usually achieved with massive devices. Here we demonstrate a novel approach where a mechanical resonator is magnetically coupled to a microwave cavity. We measure a single-photon coupling of g_{0}/2π∼3 kHz, an improvement of one order of magnitude over current microwave optomechanical systems. At this coupling we measure a large single-photon cooperativity with C_{0}≳10, an important step to reach single-photon strong coupling. Such a strong interaction allows us to cool the massive mechanical resonator to a third of its steady state phonon population with less than two photons in the microwave cavity. Beyond tests for quantum foundations, our approach is also well suited as a quantum sensor or a microwave to optical transducer.

Functional electronic inversion layers at ferroelectric domain walls.

Ferroelectric domain walls hold great promise as functional two-dimensional materials because of their unusual electronic properties. Particularly intriguing are the so-called charged walls where a polarity mismatch causes local, diverging electrostatic potentials requiring charge compensation and hence a change in the electronic structure. These walls can exhibit significantly enhanced conductivity and serve as a circuit path. The development of all-domain-wall devices, however, also requires walls with controllable output to emulate electronic nano-components such as diodes and transistors. Here we demonstrate electric-field control of the electronic transport at ferroelectric domain walls. We reversibly switch from resistive to conductive behaviour at charged walls in semiconducting ErMnO3. We relate the transition to the formation-and eventual activation-of an inversion layer that acts as the channel for the charge transport. The findings provide new insight into the domain-wall physics in ferroelectrics and foreshadow the possibility to design elementary digital devices for all-domain-wall circuitry.

Aqueous solution/metal interfaces investigated in operando by photoelectron spectroscopy.

We describe a new in operando approach for the investigation of heterogeneous processes at solid/liquid interfaces with elemental and chemical specificity which combines the preparation of thin liquid films using the meniscus method with standing wave ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy [Nemsák et al., Nat. Commun., 5, 5441 (2014)]. This technique provides information about the chemical composition across liquid/solid interfaces with sub-nanometer depth resolution and under realistic conditions of solution composition and concentration, pH, as well as electrical bias. In this article, we discuss the basics of the technique and present the first results of measurements on KOH/Ni interfaces.

Standing spin waves in ultrathin magnetic films: a method to test for layer-dependent exchange coupling.

We introduce a method to test theoretical models for the layer dependence of exchange coupling constants in ultrathin magnetic films. The method is based on the observation of high-energy and high-momentum standing spin wave modes using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy. Experimental data are presented for 5-8 layers of fcc cobalt deposited on Cu(100). The power of the method is illustrated by comparison to two theoretical studies predicting rather different results concerning the ratio of the interlayer and intralayer exchange coupling constants near the surface. Only the theory with a large interlayer coupling shows sufficient energy spreading in the layer dependence of the dispersion curves to match the experimental data. We furthermore discuss the reason for the surprising success of the simple nearest-neighbor Heisenberg model with a single exchange constant matched to experiment.

Room-temperature high-frequency transport of dirac fermions in epitaxially grown Sb2Te3- and Bi2Te3-based topological insulators.

We report on the observation of photogalvanic effects in epitaxially grown Sb2Te3 and Bi2Te3 three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators (TI). We show that asymmetric scattering of Dirac fermions driven back and forth by the terahertz electric field results in a dc electric current. Because of the "symmetry filtration" the dc current is generated by the surface electrons only and provides an optoelectronic access to probe the electron transport in TI, surface domains orientation, and details of electron scattering in 3D TI even at room temperature.

Effects of treadmill training on combined goserelin acetate and doxorubicin-induced osteopenia in female rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined individual and combined effects of the cancer treatments goserelin acetate (GA) and doxorubicin (DOX) on bone and determined if treadmill running (TM) provides osteoprotection. METHODS: Ten-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sedentary (SED) or TM groups. SED received GA, DOX, combined GA and DOX (GA+DOX), or placebo and maintained normal cage activity. TM received GA, DOX, GA+DOX, or placebo and participated in a progressive motorized treadmill protocol. After 8 weeks, tibiae were evaluated using micro computed tomography. RESULTS: Negative drug effects were observed in cancellous bone (bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular number, trabecular thickness, trabecular spacing; P<0.05). An additive bone volume/tissue volume and trabecular spacing effect was observed in SED GA+DOX (vs. SED+GA and SED+DOX, P<0.05) but not in TM GA+DOX (vs. TM+GA and TM+DOX, P>0.05). Negative drug effects were observed in cortical bone (cross-sectional volume, cortical volume, marrow volume; P<0.05), but combined GA+DOX did not exacerbate these effects. Additionally, there were no protective cortical bone effects observed in TM. CONCLUSIONS: Combined GA+DOX exacerbates cancellous osteopenia in the tibia, and treadmill running provided only minor protection.

Demonstration of the need for cardiovascular and pulmonary normative data for cancer survivors.

Despite evidence that cancer and its treatments severely reduce cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), normative data for cancer survivors do not exist. The present study identifies age and gender-specific CRF distributions in a cancer population. The use of cancer-specific normative CRF data may help stratify initial fitness status and assess improvements in response to exercise interventions in cancer survivors. Data from 703 cancer survivors were analyzed for this study. Quintiles were compiled for peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) for males and females in 5 age groups (19-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and ≥70 years of age). VO2peak values for the cancer population were significantly lower than the general US population. The cancer population average in each age group fell within the "very poor" classification of VO2peak values for the general population. FVC values in the cancer population were similar to the general population. Cancer survivors had very low age group-specific VO2peak values compared to the apparently healthy general US population. Previously, CRF values of cancer survivors were compared to normative values for the apparently healthy general population, which yielded imprecise classifications of initial fitness and changes in fitness, resulting in patient discouragement.

Bulk electronic structure of the dilute magnetic semiconductor Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As through hard X-ray angle-resolved photoemission.

A detailed understanding of the origin of the magnetism in dilute magnetic semiconductors is crucial to their development for applications. Using hard X-ray angle-resolved photoemission (HARPES) at 3.2 keV, we investigate the bulk electronic structure of the prototypical dilute magnetic semiconductor Ga(0.97)Mn(0.03)As, and the reference undoped GaAs. The data are compared to theory based on the coherent potential approximation and fully relativistic one-step-model photoemission calculations including matrix-element effects. Distinct differences are found between angle-resolved, as well as angle-integrated, valence spectra of Ga(0.97)Mn(0.03)As and GaAs, and these are in good agreement with theory. Direct observation of Mn-induced states between the GaAs valence-band maximum and the Fermi level, centred about 400 meV below this level, as well as changes throughout the full valence-level energy range, indicates that ferromagnetism in Ga(1-x)Mn(x)As must be considered to arise from both p-d exchange and double exchange, thus providing a more unifying picture of this controversial material.

Polarization sensitive surface band structure of doped BaTiO3(001).

We present a spatial and wave-vector resolved study of the electronic structure of micron sized ferroelectric domains at the surface of a BaTiO(3)(001) single crystal. The n-type doping of the BaTiO(3) is controlled by in situ vacuum and oxygen annealing, providing experimental evidence of a surface paraelectric-ferroelectric transition below a critical doping level. Real space imaging of photoemission threshold, core level and valence band spectra show contrast due to domain polarization. Reciprocal space imaging of the electronic structure using linearly polarized light provides unambiguous evidence for the presence of both in- and out-of-plane polarization with two- and fourfold symmetry, respectively. The results agree well with first principles calculations.

X-ray magneto-optical polarization spectroscopy: an analysis from the visible region to the x-ray regime.

An ultra-high vacuum compatible multipurpose chamber for magneto-optical reflection and transmission experiments with polarization analysis on magnetic systems is introduced. It is applicable in a broad photon energy range from the visible to the soft x-ray regime and for a wide angular range from grazing to normal incidence. It exploits a novel magnetization device based on rotating permanent magnets, which generates tuneable magnetic fields up to 570 mT in longitudinal, transverse and polar geometry. The unique combination of these features enables the feasibility of all typical magneto-optical spectroscopy techniques as T-MOKE, L-MOKE, P-MOKE, x-ray magneto optical linear dichroism, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism in reflection and Kerr polarization-spectroscopy, which is demonstrated for Co with focus on the Co 3p edges.

Probing bulk electronic structure with hard X-ray angle-resolved photoemission.

Traditional ultraviolet/soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) may in some cases be too strongly influenced by surface effects to be a useful probe of bulk electronic structure. Going to hard X-ray photon energies and thus larger electron inelastic mean-free paths should provide a more accurate picture of bulk electronic structure. We present experimental data for hard X-ray ARPES (HARPES) at energies of 3.2 and 6.0 keV. The systems discussed are W, as a model transition-metal system to illustrate basic principles, and GaAs, as a technologically-relevant material to illustrate the potential broad applicability of this new technique. We have investigated the effects of photon wave vector on wave vector conservation, and assessed methods for the removal of phonon-associated smearing of features and photoelectron diffraction effects. The experimental results are compared to free-electron final-state model calculations and to more precise one-step photoemission theory including matrix element effects.

Disentangling the physical contributions to the electrical resistance in magnetic domain walls: a multiscale study.

We analyze the origin of the electrical resistance arising in domain walls of perpendicularly magnetized materials by considering a superposition of anisotropic magnetoresistance and the resistance implied by the magnetization chirality. The domain wall profiles of L1(0)-FePd and L1(0)-FePt are determined by micromagnetic simulations based on which we perform first-principles calculations to quantify electron transport through the core and closure region of the walls. The wall resistance, being twice as high in L1(0)-FePd than in L1(0)-FePt, is found to be clearly dominated in both cases by a high gradient of magnetization rotation, which agrees well with experimental observations.

Electronic structure changes across the metamagnetic transition in FeRh via hard X-ray photoemission.

Stoichiometric FeRh undergoes a temperature-induced antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transition at ~350 K. In this Letter, changes in the electronic structure accompanying this transition are investigated in epitaxial FeRh thin films via bulk-sensitive valence-band and core-level hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with a photon energy of 5.95 keV. Clear differences between the AFM and FM states are observed across the entire valence-band spectrum and these are well reproduced using density-functional theory. Changes in the 2p core levels of Fe are also observed and interpreted using Anderson impurity model calculations. These results indicate that significant electronic structure changes over the entire valence-band region are involved in this AFM-FM transition.

Origin of the planar Hall effect in nanocrystalline Co60Fe20B20.

An angle dependent analysis of the planar Hall effect (PHE) in nanocrystalline single-domain Co(60)Fe(20)B(20) thin films is reported. In a combined experimental and theoretical study we show that the transverse resistivity of the PHE is entirely driven by anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR). Our results for Co(60)Fe(20)B(20) obtained from first principles theory in conjunction with a Boltzmann transport model take into account the nanocrystallinity and the presence of 20 at. % boron. The ab initio AMR ratio of 0.12% agrees well with the experimental value of 0.22%. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate that the anomalous Hall effect contributes negligibly in the present case.

Quantitative measurements of magnetic stray field dynamics of Permalloy particles in a photoemission electron microscopy.

By example of a Permalloy particle (40 × 40 µm(2) size, 30 nm thickness) we demonstrate a procedure to quantitatively investigate the dynamics of magnetic stray fields during ultrafast magnetization reversal. The measurements have been performed in a time-resolving photoemission electron microscope using the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. In the particle under investigation, we have observed a flux-closure-dominated magnetic ground structure, minimizing the magnetic stray field outside the sample. A fast magnetic field pulse introduced changes in the micromagnetic structure accompanied with an incomplete flux closure. As a result, stray fields arise along the edges of domains, which cause a change of contrast and an image deformation of the particles geometry (curvature of its edge). The magnetic stray fields are calculated from a deformation of the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) images taken after the magnetic field pulse in a 1 ns interval. These measurements reveal a decrease of magnetic stray fields with time. An estimate of the lower limit of the domain wall velocity yields about 2 × 10(3) m s(-1).

Somatic gene editing ameliorates skeletal and cardiac muscle failure in pig and human models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Frameshift mutations in the DMD gene, encoding dystrophin, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), leading to terminal muscle and heart failure in patients. Somatic gene editing by sequence-specific nucleases offers new options for restoring the DMD reading frame, resulting in expression of a shortened but largely functional dystrophin protein. Here, we validated this approach in a pig model of DMD lacking exon 52 of DMD (DMDΔ52), as well as in a corresponding patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell model. In DMDΔ52 pigs1, intramuscular injection of adeno-associated viral vectors of serotype 9 carrying an intein-split Cas9 (ref. 2) and a pair of guide RNAs targeting sequences flanking exon 51 (AAV9-Cas9-gE51) induced expression of a shortened dystrophin (DMDΔ51-52) and improved skeletal muscle function. Moreover, systemic application of AAV9-Cas9-gE51 led to widespread dystrophin expression in muscle, including diaphragm and heart, prolonging survival and reducing arrhythmogenic vulnerability. Similarly, in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived myoblasts and cardiomyocytes of a patient lacking DMDΔ52, AAV6-Cas9-g51-mediated excision of exon 51 restored dystrophin expression and amelioreate skeletal myotube formation as well as abnormal cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling and arrhythmogenic susceptibility. The ability of Cas9-mediated exon excision to improve DMD pathology in these translational models paves the way for new treatment approaches in patients with this devastating disease.

Defects induced on chemical vapour deposition carbon nanotubes during peapod synthesis on substrates.

Individual carbon nanotubes are filled with fullerene molecules directly on the substrate. Two different oxidation techniques for opening the tubes prior to the filling, annealing in air, and acid treatment, are compared. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images indicate that both methods induce defects on the sidewalls of the nanotubes. In the case of acid treatment, the inner walls can be damaged without affecting the outer walls, while the inner walls are opened along with the outer ones by heating in air. The effect of acid treatment on the tubes is much stronger than known from bulk samples. In contrast to previous studies, we find amorphous carbon inside the nanotubes after oxidation, and an additional high-temperature annealing step is needed to remove these plugs in order to open the tubes for filling.

Influence of magnetocrystalline anisotropy on the magnetization dynamics of magnetic microstructures.

The study of magnetodynamics using stroboscopic time-resolved x-ray photoemission electron microscopy (TR-XPEEM) involves an intrinsic timescale provided by the pulse structure of the synchrotron radiation. In the usual multi-bunch operation mode, the time span between two subsequent light pulses is too short to allow a relaxation of the system into the ground state before the next pump-probe cycle starts. Using a deflection gating mechanism described in this paper we are able to pick the photoemission signal resulting from selected light pulses. Thus, PEEM measurements can be carried out in a flexible timing scheme with longer delays between two light pulses. Using this technique, the magnetodynamics of both Permalloy and iron structures have been investigated. The differences in the dynamic response on a short magnetic field pulse are discussed with respect to the magnetocrystalline anisotropy.