Publikationsrepositorium - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Three Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) techniques have been employed to investigate the point defects of Al-doped Zinc Oxide
(AZO) thin films grown by Radio Frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering with different substrates and deposition parameters. The films
were grown with thickness varying from 100 to 300 nm, and their crystalline quality ranged from single crystalline epitaxial to partially
amorphous. We found that the main defect in the crystalline samples is the 3VZn-VO four vacancy complex, with a concentration around
1E18−1E19 cm−3. In polycrystalline films larger vacancy clusters, within 10%−20% of the total concentration, were detected. These vacancy
clusters are inferred to be most likely located at the grain boundaries. In partially amorphous films the concentration of these larger vacancy
clusters, located either at grain boundaries or in the amorphous regions of the film, approached even the 40%, and also some sub-nano voids
have been observed.

Ultrafast X-ray computed tomography is an advanced imaging technique for multiphase flows. It has been used with great success for studying gas–liquid as well as gas–solid flows. Here, we apply this technique to analyze density-driven particle segregation in a rotating drum as an exemplary use case for analyzing industrial particle mixing systems. As glass particles are used as the denser of two granular species to be mixed, beam hardening artefacts occur and hamper the data analysis. In the general case of a distribution of arbitrary materials, the inverse problem of image reconstruction with energy-dependent attenuation is often ill-posed. Consequently, commonly known beam hardening correction algorithms are often quite complex. In our case, however, the number of materials is limited. We therefore propose a correction algorithm simplified by taking advantage of the known material properties, and demonstrate its ability to improve image quality and subsequent analyses significantly.

Conjugated coordination polymers (c-CPs) are unique organic–inorganic hybrid semiconductors with intrinsically high electrical conductivity and excellent charge carrier mobility. However, it remains a challenge in tailoring electronic structures, due to the lack of clear guidelines. Here, we develop a strategy wherein controlling the redox state of hydroquinone/benzoquinone (HQ/BQ) ligands allows for the modulation of the electronic structure of c-CPs while maintaining the structural topology. The redox-state control is achieved by reacting the ligand TTHQ (TTHQ=1,2,4,5-tetrathiolhydroquinone) with silver acetate and silver nitrate, yielding Ag4TTHQ and Ag4TTBQ (TTBQ=1,2,4,5-tetrathiolbenzoquinone), respectively. In spite of sharing the same topology consisting of a two-dimensional Ag−S network and HQ/BQ layer, they exhibit different band gaps (1.5 eV for Ag4TTHQ and 0.5 eV for Ag4TTBQ) and conductivities (0.4 S/cm for Ag4TTHQ and 10 S/cm for Ag4TTBQ). DFT calculations reveal that these differences arise from the ligand oxidation state inhibiting energy band formation near the Fermi level in Ag4TTHQ. Consequently, Ag4TTHQ displays a high Seebeck coefficient of 330 μV/K and a power factor of 10 μW/m ⋅ K2, surpassing Ag4TTBQ and the other reported silver-based c-CPs. Furthermore, terahertz spectroscopy demonstrates high charge mobilities exceeding 130 cm2/V ⋅ s in both Ag4TTHQ and Ag4TTBQ.

The dynamic matrix method was employed to perform theoretical calculations for investigating both static and
dynamic characteristics of thick ferromagnetic films. This approach considers situations where a noncollinear
equilibrium magnetization exists along the thickness due to a thickness-dependent uniaxial anisotropy and inter-
facial interactions in a synthetic antiferromagnet. In the former scenario, the study exposes a correlation between
noncollinear static magnetization and a nonmonotonic dependence of ferromagnetic resonance frequency, where
a frequency decrease is observed at low fields in the unsaturated regime. Regarding the synthetic antiferromagnet
structure, the research demonstrates noncoherent magnetization rotation in the spin-flop regime, with twisted
magnetization states influencing the critical and nucleation fields that define the spin-flop region. The results of
the investigation were compared to the macrospin approach, where the magnetization is assumed to be uniform
along the thickness. The study suggests that the contribution of noncollinear magnetic moments may mimic the
role of the biquadratic interaction in the macrospin model, implying that such a biquadratic term may be over-
estimated in coupled ferromagnetic films with thicknesses exceeding the material’s intrinsic exchange length.
Finally, the model was compared with experimental data obtained from a Py/Ir/Py synthetic antiferromagnet,
demonstrating that the theoretical consideration of a twisting equilibrium state of the magnetization precisely
reproduces the observed dynamic and static properties of the nanostructure.

An interlaboratory study, involving eigth international laboratories and coordinated by COMTES FHT (Czech Republic), was conducted to validate tensile measurements obtained using miniature specimens on additively manufactured (AM) components and artifacts. In addition to AM 316L stainless steel (316L SS), a wrought highstrength steel (34CrNiMo6V, equivalent to AISI 4340) was also used. Based on the results, a precision statement in accordance with ASTM E691 standard practice was developed, intended for inclusion in a proposed annex to
the ASTM E8/E8M tension testing method. The primary outcomes of the study highlighted the agreement between yield and tensile strength measured from miniature and standard-sized tensile specimens. Furthermore, most tensile properties exhibited similar standard deviations, offering users insight into the efficacy of miniature specimen applications.

Increased signs of DNA damage have been associated to aging and neurodegenerative diseases. DNA damage repair mechanisms are tightly regulated and involve different pathways depending on cell types and proliferative vs. postmitotic states. Amongst them, fused in sarcoma (FUS) was reported to be involved in different pathways of single- and double-strand break repair, including an early recruitment to DNA damage. FUS is a ubiquitously expressed protein, but if mutated, leads to a more or less selective motor neurodegeneration, causing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Of note, ALS-causing mutation leads to impaired DNA damage repair. We thus asked whether FUS recruitment dynamics differ across different cell types putatively contributing to such cell-type-specific vulnerability. For this, we generated engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells carrying wild-type FUS-eGFP and analyzed different derivatives from these, combining a laser micro-irradiation technique and a workflow to analyze the real-time process of FUS at DNA damage sites. All cells showed FUS recruitment to DNA damage sites except for hiPSC, with only 70% of cells recruiting FUS. In-depth analysis of the kinetics of FUS recruitment at DNA damage sites revealed differences among cellular types in response to laser-irradiation-induced DNA damage. Our work suggests a cell-type-dependent recruitment behavior of FUS during the DNA damage response and repair procedure. The presented workflow might be a valuable tool for studying the proteins recruited at the DNA damage site in a real-time course.

Engineering materials with highly tunable physical properties in response to external stimuli is a cornerstone strategy for advancing energy technology. Among various approaches, engineering ionic defects and understanding their roles are essential in tailoring emergent material properties and functionalities. Here, we demonstrate an effective approach for creating and controlling ionic defects (oxygen vacancies) in epitaxial Gd-doped CeO2−x (CGO)(001) films grown on Nb:SrTiO3(001) single crystal. Our results exhibit a significant limitation in the formation of excess oxygen vacancies in the films during high-temperature film growth. However, we have discovered that managing the oxygen vacancies in the epitaxial CGO(001) films is feasible using a two-step film growth process. Subsequently, our findings show that manipulating excess oxygen vacancies is a key to the emergence of giant apparent dielectric permittivity (e.g. 106) in the epitaxial films under electrical field control. Overall, the strategy of tuning functional ionic defects in CGO and similar oxides is beneficial for various applications such as electromechanical, sensing, and energy storage applications.

The quest for an unambiguous detection of magnetorotational instability (MRI) in experiments is still ongoing despite recent promising results. To conclusively identify MRI in the laboratory, a large cylindrical Taylor-Couette experiment with liquid sodium is under construction within the DRESDYN project. Recently, we have analyzed the nonlinear dynamics and scaling properties of axisymmetric standard MRI with an axial background magnetic field in the context of the DRESDYN-MRI experiment. In this sequel paper, we investigate the linear and nonlinear dynamics of nonaxisymmetric MRI in the same magnetized Taylor-Couette flow of liquid sodium. We show that the achievable highest Lundquist Lu=10 and magnetic Reynolds Rm=40 numbers in this experiment are large enough for the linear instability of nonaxisymmetric modes with azimuthal wave number |m|=1, although the corresponding critical values of these numbers are usually higher than those for the axisymmetric mode. The structure of the ensuing nonlinear saturated state and its scaling properties with respect to Reynolds number Re are analyzed, which are important for the DRESDYN-MRI experiment having very high Re≳106. It is shown that for Re≲4×104, the nonaxisymmetric MRI modes eventually decay, since the modified shear profile of the mean azimuthal velocity due to the nonlinear axisymmetric MRI appears to be stable against nonaxisymmetric instabilities. By contrast, for larger Re≳4×104, a rapid growth and saturation of the nonaxisymmetric modes of nonmagnetic origin occurs, which are radially localized near the inner cylinder wall, forming a turbulent boundary layer. However, for all the parameters considered, the saturation amplitude of these nonaxisymmetric modes is always a few orders smaller than that of the axisymmetric MRI mode. Therefore, the results of our previous axisymmetric study on the scaling properties of nonlinear MRI states also hold when nonaxisymmetric modes are included.

Low-kV scanning electron microscopy imaging was used to visualize the 2D profiles of internal resistivity distribution in 600 keV He2+ ion-irradiated epitaxial GaAs and Al(0.55)Ga(0.45)As. The influence of the dopant concentration on DIVA (damage-induced voltage alteration) contrast formation has been studied in this paper. The threshold irradiation fluencies (the fluencies below which no damage-related contrast is observed) were defined for each studied material. The results show that the same level of damage in the material caused by ion irradiation becomes visible at lower threshold fluence in the case of lower-doped sample of the same composition. The aluminum content in the composition of materials exposed to ion irradiation and subsequent DIVA contrast formation mechanism was considered as well. The carrier concentration in irradiated layers has been studied by Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements, which confirmed that the increase of the resistivity of the material caused by ion-irradiation damage generation is resulting from the formation of deep states in the bandgap trapping free carriers.

This work aims to estimate the Curie temperature and critical exponents in the critical regime of III-V ferro- magnetic semiconductor (FS) (Ga,Mn)P film using various methods, including Arrott and Kouvel-Fisher plots, as well as electrical transport measurements. The (Ga,Mn)P film was prepared by implanting Mn ions into an intrinsic (001) GaP wafer, followed by pulsed laser melting (PLM). The magnetic properties of the (Ga,Mn)P layer were systematically investigated. The study investigated the accuracy of four different methods in deter- mining the critical behaviors for the magnetic properties close to TC. The results suggest that the critical ex- ponents are similar to those of the mean-field model, as indicated by the modified Arrot plots and temperature dependent effective critical exponents. However, the accuracy of the temperature-dependent resistance Rₓₓ(T) method and Kouvel-Fisher (K-F) analysis is limited due to the Gaussian distribution of Mn ions in the film.

This study explores the delaying of the formation of helium bubbles and blisters in pure titanium by hydrogen pre-implantation. Titanium, implanted with helium (40 KeV, 5 × 10¹⁷ ions/cm²), exhibited large bubbles that cause exfoliation after heat treatment, whereas hydrogen pre-implantation inhibited bubble growth at room temperature and reduced the exfoliation after heat treatment.
In the samples pre-implanted with hydrogen, we found evidence of helium diffusion delay by: (a) a fourfold reduction in bubble pressure (b) faceted cavities in the samples (c) a smaller increase in titanium lattice pa- rameters (d) a 16-fold reduction in average bubble size and a sixfold reduction in bubble area fraction (e) a more than twofold decrease in exfoliation (f) a tendency toward the formation of larger bubbles as a result of heat treatment. We believe that it is reasonable to assume that the inhibition of helium diffusion between tetrahedral interstitial lattice sites takes place because of the occupation of the intermediate octahedral sites by hydrogen atoms.
Evidence for the opposite effect, that is inhibition of the diffusion of hydrogen in the presence of helium, is found in the retention of hydrogen in the specimens at elevated temperatures. This retention allowed the exis- tence of titanium hydride after heat treatment at 680 °C. The present study sheds light on the intricate interplay between hydrogen and helium in titanium, providing insights into mechanisms that can potentially mitigate helium-induced damage in materials.

The chemistry of promethium, a rare radioactive element, has been clouded in mystery, owing to its scarcity and the
difficulties involved in working with it. The synthesis of a complex of promethium plugs this knowledge gap

As is known, rare-earth metals (REMs) are promising magnetocaloric materials. The magnitude of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of REMs significantly depends on their purity. This paper presents results of studies of the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of sublimed dysprosium, prepared in the course of the present study, with an emphasis on its impurity and structure perfection. The comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of sublimed dysprosium, which was performed for the first time by atom probe tomography, showed that the metal corresponds to high-purity rare-earth metals (3 N+). The MCE effect was studied using direct measurements of the adiabatic temperature change (ΔT_ad) in pulsed (up to 50 T) and steady (up to 14 T) magnetic fields. The studies of the MCE of polycrystalline sublimed Dy by direct method showed that the high ΔT_ad value for sublimed Dy are comparable with those obtained for single-crystal Dy in magnetic fields up to 5 T. The vacuum sublimation, which is more economical and technologically advanced in contrast to single crystal growing, can be used to create magnetocaloric REM-based materials with high MCE values.

In exploring structural and functional mimics of nitrile hydratases, we report the synthesis of the pseudo-trigonal bipyramidal Co(II) complexes (K)[Co(II)(DMF)(LPh)] (1(DMF)), (NMe₄)₂[Co(II)(OAc)(LPh)] (1(OAc)), and (NMe₄)₂[Co(II)(OH)(LPh)] (1(OH)) (LPh = 2,2′,2’’-nitrilo-tris-(N-phenylacetamide; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide; −OAc = acetate)). The complexes were characterized using NMR, FT-IR, ESI-MS, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography, showing the LPh ligand to bind in a tetradentate tripodal fashion alongside the respective ancillary donor. One of the complexes, 1(OH), is an unusual structural and functional mimic of the Co active site in Co nitrile hydratases. 1(OH) reacted with acetonitrile to yield the Co(II)-acetamide complex (NMe₄)₂[Co(II)(NHC(O)CH₃)(LPh)], 2, which was also thoroughly characterized. In the presence of excess hydroxide, 1(OH) was found to catalyze quantitative conversion of the added hydroxide into acetamide. Despite the differences in Co oxidation state in nitrile hydratases and 1(OH) (Co(III) versus Co(II), respectively), 1(OH) was nonetheless an effective nitrile hydration catalyst, selectively producing acetamide over multiple turnovers.

Enclosed public spaces are the hotspots for airborne disease transmission. To measure and maintain indoor air quality in terms of airborne transmission, an open source, low cost and distributed array of Particulate Matter Sensors has been developed and named as Dynamic Aerosol Transport for Indoor Ventilation or DATIV system. This system can use multiple Particulate Matter Sensors (PMS) simultaneously and can be remotely controlled using a Raspberry Pie based operating system. The data acquisition system can be easily operated using the GUI within any common browser installed on a remote device such as a PC or Smartphone with corresponding IP address. The software architecture and validation measurements are presented together with possible future developments.

The rise of Fe magnetic moment, changes in Al electronic structure and a variation of Al magnetic polarization in thin films of transition metal aluminide Fe60Al40 have been probed through the order-disorder phase transition by soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity in the extreme ultraviolet regime. In a course of the transition induced by 20 keV Ne+ irradiation with low fluences (∼1014 ions cm−2), x-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectra taken at the Fe L2,3 absorption edges at room and low temperatures revealed a pronounced increase of Fe 3d states spin-polarization. X-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity applied to the Al L2,3 and Fe M2,3 edges allowed to detect the magnetic polarization of Al atoms in the films. The changes in Al electronic structure have been seen by alteration of Al K edge x-ray absorption near edge structure. A difference in anisotropy fields for films before and after irradiation has been observed by element-specific hysteresis loops recorded at low temperatures in absorption and reflection geometries at the Fe L2,3 and M2,3 edges, respectively. An attempt to reduce the top oxide layer by an inductively coupled hydrogen plasma has shown a possibility to recover the chemically ordered
phase.

Contactless Inductive Flow Tomography (CIFT) is a flow measurement technique allowing for visualizing the global flow in electrically conducting fluids. The method is based on the precise measurement of very weak induced magnetic fields arising from the fluid motion under the influence of one or several primary excitation magnetic field(s). The simultaneous use of more than one excitation magnetic field is necessary to fully reconstruct three-dimensional liquid metal flows, yet is not trivial as the scalar values of induced magnetic field at the sensors need to be disentangled for each contribution of the excitation fields. Another approach is to multiplex the excitation fields. Here the temporal resolution of the measurement needs to be kept as high as possible. We apply two trapezoidal-shaped excitation magnetic fields with perpendicular direction to each other to a mechanically driven liquid metal flow. The consecutive application by multiplexing enables to determine the flow structure in the liquid with a temporal resolution down to 3 s with the existing equipment.

Quasi-one-dimensional structures, single chains of Pt and Co atoms embedded into mirror twin boundaries in two-dimensional MoS2, have recently been fabricated [Guo et al., Nat. Synth. 1, 245 (2022)]. Using both collinear and noncollinear first-principles calculations, we predict that other transition metals can form similar structures, and that these systems should possess exciting electronic and magnetic properties and specifically exhibit half-metallic electronic behavior. We further analyze the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of these systems and show that they possess unique easy axes and varying strengths of anisotropy, making thus efficient magneti- zation switching possible. We finally discuss the potentials of using single-atom chains embedded in MoS2 and other transition metal dichalcogenides in spintronic devices.

Magnetoelectric coupling represents a significant breakthrough for next-generation electronics, offering the ability to achieve nonvolatile magnetic control via electrical means. In this comprehensive investigation, leveraging first-principles calculations, we unveil a robust magnetoelectric coupling within multiferroic heterostructures (HSs) by ingeniously integrating a non-van der Waals (non-vdW) magnetic FeTiO3 monolayer with the ferroelectric (FE) Ga2O3. Diverging from conventional van der Waals (vdW) multiferroic HSs, the magnetic states of the FeTiO3 monolayer can be efficiently toggled between ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) configurations by reversing the polarization of the Ga2O3 monolayer. This intriguing phenomenon arises from polarization-dependent substantial interlayer electron transfers and the interplay between superexchange and direct-exchange magnetic couplings of the iron atoms. The carrier-mediated interfacial interactions induce crucial shifts in Fermi level positions, decisively imparting distinct electronic characteristics near the Fermi level of composite systems. These novel findings offer exciting prospects for the future of magnetoelectric technology.

Spinodal decomposition can improve a number of essential properties in materials, especially hardness. Yet,
the theoretical prediction of the onset of this phenomenon (e.g., temperature) and its microstructure (e.g.,
wavelength) often requires input parameters coming from costly and time-consuming experimental efforts,
hindering rational materials optimization. Here, we present a procedure where such parameters are not derived
from experiments. First, we calculate the spinodal temperature by modeling nucleation in the solid solution
while approaching the spinode boundary. Then, we compute the spinodal wavelength self-consistently using
a few reasonable approximations. Our results show remarkable agreement with experiments and, for NiRh,
the calculated yield strength due to spinodal microstructures surpasses even those of Ni-based superalloys.
We believe that this procedure will accelerate the exploration of the complex materials experiencing spinodal
decomposition, critical for their macroscopic properties.

Understanding laser-solid interactions is important for the development of laser-driven particle and photon sources, e.g., tumor therapy, astrophysics, and fusion. Currently, these interactions can only be modeled by simulations that need to be verified experimentally. Consequently, pump-probe experiments were conducted to examine the laser-plasma interaction that occurs when a high intensity laser hits a solid target. Since we aim for a femtosecond temporal and nanometer spatial resolution at European XFEL, we employ Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) that can each be approximated by an analytical propagator. In our reconstruction of the target, we employ a gradient descent algorithm that iteratively minimizes the error between experimental and synthetic patterns propagated from proposed target structures. By implementing the propagator in PyTorch we leverage the automatic differentiation capabilities, as well as the speed-up by computing the process on a GPU. We perform a scan of different initial parameters to find the global minimum, which is accelerated by batching multiple parallel reconstructions.

We report on the charge collection efficiency (CCE) of GaN core–shell p–n junction microwires obtained through high-precision ion-beam-induced charge (IBIC) measurements. Single wires are processed into working radiation detectors using a set of microfabrication processes and are irradiated with either 1 MeV or 750 keV Si ions. We show that we are able to accurately probe the microwires and measure structures that have dimensions below 1 μm. CCE maps show that the detectors are efficient in collecting the charge induced by the Si ions, presenting average CCE magnitudes between 20 and 30% when applying a small reverse bias. Additionally, three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations were carried out to gain a better understanding of the energy deposition in the depletion region of the p–n junction. Comparison between the experimental and simulated data shows good agreement despite also revealing some drawbacks associated with the microwire detectors, namely, the poor collection efficiency of charge carriers generated in the neutral n-GaN core. Nevertheless, the average CCE of the detectors is promising, especially when only considering the energy deposited in the active region of the detector. In this case, depending on the applied bias, we obtain a CCE between 45 and 80%.

Flash lamp annealing (FLA) is an ultra-short annealing method, which excellently meets the requirements of thinfilm processing and microelectronics. Due to the relatively high hole mobility, thin Ge layers are highly interesting as a transistor channel material or generally as a functional layer in CMOS technology and for low-cost electronics. One possibility to realize ohmic contacts with low contact resistance is the use of metal germanides, especially the stoichiometric NiGe phase. In this work, NiGe contacts on thin Ge films were fabricated by magnetron sputtering followed by FLA. The evolution of microstructure was traced by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Electrical measurements focused on the determination of contact resistance by the circular transfer length method. The contacts were fabricated by two different approaches, and the influence of different process steps on the layer morphology and uncertainty of the measurement was studied. Finally, we show that FLA as a thermal treatment with a low thermal budget is able to form NiGe on p-type Ge with a low contact resistance similar to that achieved by other thermal treatments.

Phase retrieval is an ill-posed inverse problem with several applications in the fields of medical imaging and
materials science. Conventional phase retrieval algorithms either simplify the problem by assuming certain
object properties and optical propagation regimes or tuning a large number of free parameters. While the
latter most often leads to good solutions for a wider application range, it is still a time-consuming process,
even for experienced users. One way to circumvent this is by introducing a self-optimizing machine learning-
based algorithm. Basing this on invertible networks such as normalising flows ensures good inversion, effi-
cient sampling, and fast probability density estimation for large images and generally, complex-valued dis-
tributions. Here, complex wavefield datasets are trained and tested on a normalising flows-based machine
learning model for phase retrieval called conditional Wavelet Flow (cWF) and benchmarked against other
conventional algorithms and baseline models. The cWF algorithm adds a conditioning network on top of the
Wavelet Flow algorithm that is able to model the conditional data distribution of high resolution images of up
to 1024 x 1024 pixels, which was not possible in other flow-based models. Additionally, cWF takes advantage
of the parallelized training of different image resolutions, allowing for more efficient and fast training of large
datasets. The trained algorithm is then applied to X-ray holography data wherein fast and high-quality image
reconstruction is made possible.

(1) Background: The sensitivity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to ionizing radiation, among others, is determined by the number of cells with high clonogenic potential and stem-like features. These cellular characteristics are dynamically regulated in response to treatment and may lead to an enrichment of radioresistant cells with a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA and histone methylation, are key regulators of gene-specific transcription and cellular plasticity. Therefore, we hypothesized that specific epigenetic targeting may prevent irradiation-induced plasticity and may sensitize HNSCC cells to radiotherapy.
(2) Methods: We compared the DNA methylome and intracellular concentrations of tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites in radioresistant FaDu and Cal33 cell lines with their parental controls, as well as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-positive CSCs with negative controls. Moreover, we conducted a screen of a chemical library targeting enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation in combination with irradiation and analyzed the clonogenic potential, sphere formation, and DNA repair capacity to identify compounds with both radiosensitizing and CSC-targeting potential.
(3) Results: We identified the histone demethylase inhibitor GSK-J1, which targets UTX (KDM6A) and JMJD3 (KDM6B), leading to increased H3K27 trimethylation, heterochromatin formation, and gene silencing. The clonogenic survival assay after siRNA-mediated knock-down of both genes radiosensitized Cal33 and SAS cell lines. Moreover, high KDM6A expression in tissue sections of patients with HNSCC was associated with improved locoregional control after primary (n = 137) and post-operative (n = 187) radio/chemotherapy. Conversely, high KDM6B expression was a prognostic factor for reduced overall survival.
(4) Conclusions: Within this study, we investigated cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying irradiation-induced cellular plasticity, a key inducer of radioresistance, with a focus on
epigenetic alterations. We identified UTX (KDM6A) as a putative prognostic and therapeutic target for HNSCC patients treated with radiotherapy.

Personalized treatment strategies based on non‑invasive biomarkers have potential to improve patient management in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). The residual tumour burden after surgery in GBM patients is a prognostic imaging biomarker. However, in clinical patient management, its assessment is a manual and time‑consuming process that is at risk of inter‑rater variability. Furthermore, the prediction of patient outcome prior to radiotherapy may identify patient subgroups that could benefit from escalated radiotherapy doses. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the capabilities of traditional radiomics and 3D convolutional neural networks for automatic detection of the residual tumour status and to prognosticate time‑to‑recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) in GBM using postoperative [11C] methionine positron emission tomography (MET‑PET) and gadolinium‑enhanced T1‑w magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On the independent test data, the 3D‑DenseNet model based on MET‑PET achieved the best performance for residual tumour detection, while the logistic regression model with conventional radiomics features performed best for T1c‑w MRI (AUC: MET‑PET 0.95, T1c‑w MRI 0.78). For the prognosis of TTR and OS, the 3D‑DenseNet model based on MET‑PET integrated with age and MGMT status achieved the best performance (Concordance‑Index: TTR 0.68, OS 0.65). In conclusion, we showed that both deep‑
learning and conventional radiomics have potential value for supporting image‑based assessment and prognosis in GBM. After prospective validation, these models may be considered for treatment personalization.

The DaRUS repository entails the raw files, result files and the MATLAB codes for the publication "Experimental Analysis of Lifelines in a 15,000 L Bioreactor by Means of Lagrangian Sensor Particles" in the journal "Chemical Engineering Research and Design".
This study employs Lagrangian Sensor Particles (LSPs) with a diameter of 40 mm equipped with a pressure sensor to investigate cell lifelines in a 15,000 L stirred tank reactor (STR) with three Elephant Ear impellers. The Stokes number of the LSPs is approx. 0.004 on a macro-scale. The vertical probability of presence, axial velocity profiles, circulation time distributions, and residence time distributions are quantified to analyze single-phase mixing heterogeneities, detect hydrodynamic compartments and conduct a Lagrangian regime analysis. Results reveal a similarly distributed probability of presence in the vertical reactor center but emphasize the LSP's sensitivity to fluctuating densities. Axial velocity distributions illustrate characteristic impeller-induced flow patterns, and circulation time distributions identify three compartments with comparatively shorter times in the axial center. Residence time distributions exhibit a similar compartmentalized profile. Moreover, the study estimates a potential oxygen deprivation zone for CHO cells in the upper compartment and demonstrates the LSP's efficacy in characterizing impeller systems. Contrary to literature, the ratio of examined global mixing times to circulation times is 1.0, highlighting macro-scale mixing. The research underscores that LSPs offer crucial insights into industrial-scale STRs, specifically for determining hydrodynamic compartments without having optical access. (2024-04-19)

The stellar evolution and chemical make-up of the Universe are determined by nuclear reactions occurring in a wide variety of stellar sites. Precise determinations of the cross sections of these reactions are crucial for the calculation of reaction rates and for the development of stellar evolution models. The Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics (LUNA) collaboration has been at the forefront of the direct measurement of nuclear reactions at the low energies of astrophysical interest for the last 35 years. The many significant results achieved at LUNA have been made possible due to the low background conditions uniquely available thanks to its location deep underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. Another key aspect of these successes is due to the experience of the LUNA collaboration in the production and characterization of a variety of solid targets used in reaction measurements. In this review, the main production techniques of solid targets are described, as well as the common methods adopted for target degradation monitoring. We also present the results of recent measurements using these targets and the future plans of the LUNA collaboration for measurements using solid targets at the LUNA400 kV and the new Ion Beam Facility (IBF) 3.5 MV are also presented.

The Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare - Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) is one of the largest underground physics laboratory, a very peculiar environment suited for experiments in Astroparticle Physics, Nuclear Physics and Fundamental Symmetries. The newly established Bellotti Ion Beam facility represents a major advance in the possibilities of studying nuclear processes in an underground environment. A workshop was organized at LNGS in the framework of the Nuclear Physics Mid Term Plan in Italy, an initiative of the Nuclear Physics Division of the Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare to discuss the opportunities that will be possible to study in the near future by employing state-of-the-art detection systems. In this report, a detailed discussion of the outcome of the workshop is presented.

Atomic layer-deposited (ALD) TiO2 thin films on silicon were deposited using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4), titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP), and tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium (TDMAT) together with water vapor as the oxidant at temperatures ranging between 75 and 250 °C. The Si surface passivation quality of as-deposited and isothermally annealed samples was compared using photoconductance lifetime measurements in order to calculate their effective surface recombination velocities Seff. A low Seff of 3.9 cm/s (J0s = 24 fA/cm2) is achieved for as-deposited TiCl4-TiO2 at 75 °C when a chemically grown (i.e., from RCA cleaning) SiOx interface layer is present. Depositing TTIP-TiO2 at 200 °C on a chemically grown SiOx interface layer yields equivalent Seff values; however, in this case, TTIP-TiO2 requires a 5–15 min postdeposition forming gas anneal at 250 °C. In contrast, TDMAT-TiO2 was not found to provide a similar level of passivation with/without a chemically grown SiOx interface layer and postdeposition anneal. Modeling of the effective lifetime curves was used to determine the magnitude of the effective charge densities Qf in the TiO2 films. In all cases, Qf was found to be of the order of ∼10^11 q cm−2, meaning field-effect passivation arising from ALD TiO2 is relatively weak. By comparing the material properties of the various TiO2 films using ellipsometry, photothermal deflection spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, elastic recoil detection analysis, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we find experimental support for the role of Cl (in conjunction with hydrogen) playing a beneficial role in passivating dangling bond defects at the Si surface. It is concluded that low deposition temperature TiCl4 processes are advantageous, by providing the lowest Seff without any postanneal and a comparatively high growth per cycle (GPC).

Understanding the function and evolution of terrestrial environmental systems is fundamental to many environmental aspects investigated in the geo-and hydro-sciences. The terrestrial environmental systems under investigation here range from the geosphere and its related water cycle to associated matter fluxes and biogeochem-ical transformations. Modelling is important for system characterization and under-standing as well as describing potential paths of terrestrial environmental systems. Benchmarking builds a bridge to experimental studies and provides a methodology for model validation. Moreover, benchmarking and code comparison foster commu-nity efforts. This book series invites contributions in fundamental and applied aspects in terrestrial environmental sciences as well as in other related fields to promote interdisciplinary approaches.

Currently, we observe a continuous need for innovative flexible optoelectronics that are present in smart homes, smart healthcare products and different sensors like gas or temperature sensors. All those applications require a fast and cheap fabrication process. In the last two decades, flash lamp annealing (FLA or photonic curing) has extended its scope of applications from traditional microelectronics to many other areas where thin film coatings are in use. The layer deposition by inkjet printing followed by FLA, preferably on flexible substrates, features a couple of advantages such as material savings, no need for lithographic structuring processes, a fast adaption to changing design requirements and easy possibility for up-scaling. In the case of nanoparticle-based inks, FLA has not only the task to evaporate remnants of the solvent, the binder and other additives, and to sinter the nanoparticles, but has advantageous in terms of energy and process time saving [1]. Currently, we are putting a roll-to-roll (R2R) tool combining inkjet printing and FLA into operation, and first successful tests to print nanoparticle inks containing transparent conductive oxides for optoelectronic applications (TCOs) like zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) and also metal inks like copper oxide/copper (CuO/Cu) followed by ex-situ FLA have been done.
In this poster, we will report some of these first results and discuss the corresponding application cases. In addition, the extension of the palette of available materials will address further application, as we will discuss in the case of Si, which e.g. is of high interest as anode material for LIBs and electronic devices in the area of low-cost or printed electronics.

The production of Σ hyperons in proton proton collisions at a beam kinetic energy of 3.5 GeV impinging on a liquid hydrogen target was investigated using data collected with the HADES setup. The total production cross section is found to be σ(pK+Σ) = 17.7 ± 1.7 (stat) ± 1.6 (syst) µb. Differential cross section distributions of the exclusive channel pp→ pK+Σ were analyzed in the center-of-mass, Gottfried–Jackson and helicity reference frames for the first time at the excess energy of 556 MeV. The data support the interplay between pion and kaon exchange mechanisms and clearly demonstrate the contribution of interfering nucleon resonances decaying to K +Σ . The Bonn–Gatchina partial wave analysis was employed to analyse the data. Due to the limited statistics, it was not possible to obtain an unambiguous determination of the relative contribution of intermediate nucleon resonances to the final state. However nucleon resonances with masses around 1.710 GeV / c 2 (N ∗(1710)) and 1.900 GeV / c 2 (N ∗(1900) or Δ ∗(1900)) are preferred by the fit.

As the number of decommissioning projects increases worldwide, meticulous disposal strategies are needed for the growing quantity of potentially radioactive waste. Among these waste materials, structural components represent millions of tons of rubbles, of which over 90% is non-radioactive. The concrete biological shield surrounding the reactor pressure vessel absorbs neutrons during reactor operation. It is the structural element most prone to activation and classification as radioactive waste, presenting activity above the clearance levels. To reduce the time-consuming and costly experimental analyses for waste classification, numerical simulations are used to develop a reactor-specific model, predicting the activity distribution within the concrete structure. A precise model validation by a comprehensive radionalytical analysis is necessary. Further valuable insights are provided by a thorough structural characterization of the radionuclides within the cement structure.
Combined analysis and calculation campaigns were conducted on the unit 2 of the Greifswald nuclear power plant in Germany. Samples were taken from the biological shield in two positions of highest expected activity. A depth activation profile was constructed with gamma-spectrometry measurements. In parallel, calculations were run with a Monte-Carlo N-Particle code and the model was refined with precise geometry and composition information. For decommissioning, the relevant radionuclides within the biological shield include 60Co, 152Eu and 154Eu, exhibiting half-lives ranging from 5 to 20 years. 152Eu was found to be the limiting radionuclide for dismantling operations, showing activities above the German clearance level up to 35 cm of depth in the biological shield. The computational model demonstrated excellent agreement with the experimental measurements and accurate enough so that the activity distribution in the rest of the biological shield could be reliably predicted.
Additionally, we investigated the spatial distribution of radioactivity using a method combining digital autoradiography and Raman microscopy, revealing that feldspars are the predominantly activated mineral phases in the studied concrete matrix.
These results contribute to an effective and cost-saving decommissioning by minimizing the radioactive waste for final disposal and the radiation exposure of personnel during dismantling.

We demonstrate the nonlinear generation of spin-wave edge modes with half the frequency of the applied oscillating field in a Co25Fe75 ferro- magnetic stripe through micromagnetic simulations and experiments. The generation of half-frequency modes depends on the simultaneous presence of resonances near both the driving frequency and the half-frequency in different regions of the material. The half-frequency genera- tion occurs in a system that is thin enough that typical three-magnon decay would not be allowed in a ferromagnetic resonance experiment in an extended film. We find that a limited range of driving frequencies will produce a half-frequency for a given set of system parameters. This range can be tuned by the strength of the oscillating field and the strength of the static external field. Our experimental results agree well with the findings from the simulations.

Laser-plasma-based ion accelerators are becoming a versatile platform to drive different fields of applied research and life sciences, for example translational research in radiation oncology. To ensure stable accelerator performance, complete control over the ion source, i.e., the high-intensity laser-solid interaction, is required. However, idealized interaction conditions are almost impossible to reach, as the utilized high-power lasers always feature a non-negligible amount of light preceding the laser peak. This leading edge of the laser pulse usually exceeds the ionization potential of bound electrons much earlier than the arrival of the high-power laser peak and the solid-density target undergoes significant modifications even before the actual high-intensity laser-plasma interaction starts. Control over this so-called target pre-expansion is a key requirement to achieve quantitative agreement between numerical simulations and experiments of high-intensity laser-solid interactions.
This thesis investigates several aspects that are relevant to improve the capability of simulations to model realistic experimental scenarios. The corresponding experiments are conducted with cryogenic hydrogen-jet targets and the DRACO-PW laser at peak intensities between 10^12 W/cm^2 and 10^21 W/cm^2 . The experimental implementation of time-resolved optical-probing diagnostics and technical innovations with respect to the technique of off-harmonic optical probing overcome the disturbances by parasitic plasma self-emission and allow for unprecedented observations of the target evolution during the laser-target interactions. The laser-induced breakdown of solids, i.e., the phase transition from the solid to the plasma state, can be considered as an heuristic starting point of high-intensity laser-solid interactions. As it is highly relevant to simulations of target pre-expansion, Chapter 3 of this thesis presents time-resolved measurements of laser-induced breakdown in laser-target interactions at peak intensities between 0.6 * 10^21 W/cm^2 and 5.7 * 10^21 W/cm^2 . By increasing the peak intensity, a lowering of the applicable threshold intensity of laser-induced breakdown well below the appearance intensity of barrier-suppression ionization occurs. The observation demonstrates the relevance of the pulse-duration dependence of laser-induced breakdown and laser-induced damage threshold to the starting point of high-intensity laser-solid interactions. To apply the results to other laser-target assemblies, we provide a detailed instruction of how to pinpoint the starting point by comparing measurements of the laser contrast with a characterization study of the target-specific thresholds of laser-induced breakdown at low laser intensity. Chapter 4 of this thesis presents an example of how optical-probing diagnostics are able to estimate target pre-expansion as a starting condition for particle-in-cell simulations. The measurement allows to restrict the surface gradient of the pre-expanded plasma density to an exponential scalelength between 0.06 um and 0.13 um. Furthermore, the plasma-expansion dynamics induced by the ultra-relativistic laser peak are computed and post-processed by ray-tracing simulations. A comparison to the experimental results yields that the formation of the measured shadowgrams is governed by refraction in the plasma-density gradients and that the observed volumetric transparency of the target at 1.4 ps after the laser peak is not caused by relativistically induced transparency but by plasma expansion into vacuum instead. Chapter 5 of this thesis shows that a precise adjustment of the target density to the arrival of the ultra-relativistic laser peak by all-optical target-density tailoring in combination with the low solid density of the cryogenic hydrogen-jet target allows to explore the laser-target interaction in the nearcritical density regime. The chapter presents an experimental demonstration of all-optical target-density tailoring by isochoric heating via ultra-short laser pulses with a dimensionless vector potential a_0 ∼ 1. A hybrid of hydrodynamics and ray-tracing simulations allows to determine the evolution of the full target-density distribution after isochoric heating. Finally, the utilization of the method as a testbed platform to experimentally benchmark collisional particle-in-cell simulations is proposed and an experimental exploration of future possibilities of all-optical target-density tailoring is given.

In the event of radionuclides leaking from a deep geological repository for radioactive waste, they can reach the ecosphere through fluid migration pathways in the rock and aquifers. Retention mechanisms such as the sorption of radionuclides on the minerals along such pathways influence the migration patterns and are thus an essential part of the safety requirements. Consequently, determining the mineral composition and its spatial distribution of a crystalline host rock is an important task in the safety assessment for potential repositories.

In the SANGUR project (Systematic sensitivity analysis for mechanistic geochemical models using field data from crystalline rock) we aim to determine which parameters and their uncertainties are essential for developing models for the simulation of radionuclide retention in crystalline rock. Radionuclide retention is substantially affected by sorption processes on the mineral surfaces, described by distribution coefficients (Kd values). A subsequent sensitivity analysis will help to identify the most influential parameters.

In addition to the groundwater composition and the thermodynamic sorption data, the mineralogy and its heterogeneity of the host rock play an important role in establishing the model. For the sensitivity analysis, in turn, it is vital to be able to describe the uncertainties of the individual parameters in the model.

To quantify the uncertainties, we simulate crystalline rock based on MLA (Mineral Liberation Analyzer image) data using Multinary Random Fields geostatistics. The focus is not only on the mineral composition of the bulk rock as a function of number of mineral phases and variability in grain sizes, but above all on the determination of the mineral composition of the exposed surfaces with which the aqueous phase comes into contact and on which sorption processes will thus preferentially take place.

Besides the question of how detailed the rock must be modeled in order to adequately capture the heterogeneities, the question of the model scale or the size of the representative volume element is also addressed.

In addition to the discussion of the methodology and the results of the host rock simulations, we show the results of an initial study that enables us to determine what size the representative volume element should have in order to best describe the heterogeneities of the host rock for the subsequent calculation of the Kd values and their uncertainties.

This poster highlights the use of the sulfur [18F]fluoride exchange approach to radiolabel a PSMA inhibitor ([18F]2) and test its radiolabeling, in vitro and in vivo properties.

• [18F]2 shows good binding kinetics compared to known radiotracers (1 nM) but ~20%

• [18F]2 binds to LNCaP xenograft sections in a similar pattern as [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11.
• PET imaging experiments show defluorination but also accumulation in LNCaP tumor

• Further work: Radiosynthesis of [18F]4 starting from precursor 3 (in poster)

Although Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells have shown high efficacy in hematologic malignancies, they can cause severe to life-threatening side effects. To address these safety concerns, we have developed adaptor CAR platforms, like the UniCAR system. The redirection of UniCAR T-cells to target cells relies on a Target Module (TM), containing the E5B9 epitope and a tumor-specific binding moiety. Appropriate UniCAR-T activation thus involves two interactions: between the TM and the CAR T-cell, and the TM and the target cell. Here, we investigate if and how alterations of the amino acid sequence of the E5B9 UniCAR epitope impact the interaction between TMs and the UniCAR.We identify the new epitope E5B9L, for which the monoclonal antibody 5B9 has the greatest affinity. We then integrate the E5B9L peptide in previously established TMs directed to Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) and assess if such changes in the UniCAR epitope of the TMs affect UniCAR T-cell potency. Binding properties of the newly generated anti-FAP-E5B9L TMs to UniCAR and their ability to redirect UniCAR T-cells were compared side-by-side with the ones of anti-FAP-E5B9 TMs. Despite a substantial variation in the affinity of the different TMs to the UniCAR, no significant differences were observed in the cytotoxic and cytokine-release profiles of the redirected T-cells. Overall, our work indicates that increasing affinity of the UniCAR to the TM does not play a crucial role in such adaptor CAR system, as it does not significantly impact the potency of the UniCAR T-cells.

Pool scrubbing refers to the process of retention of harmful particles or gaseous components by bubbling in liquid media, which is characterized with high injection velocity and complex bubble dynamics. A comparative study of bubble breakup and coalescence models is performed to investigate the bubble size evolution in a pool-scrubbing column. The bubble size distributions along the column height are obtained by using a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) – PBM (population balance model) coupled method, where the flow field is described by a two-fluid model while bubble size change by the discrete PBM. Various combinations of bubble breakup and coalescence models are investigated, and the bubble size distribution and Sauter mean diameter are compared with the literature data. The results show that under the pool-scrubbing conditions, bubble breakup is dominant compared to coalescence and bubble size decreases continuously, especially in the injection zone. The breakup rate predicted by three breakup models available in the official release of OpenFOAM foundation is found to differ by several orders of magnitudes, and their daughter size distributions are completely different as well. Some model combinations are able to predict the bubble size more satisfactorily, but there are still biases. For example, the fraction of bubbles is either overestimated or underestimated in certain size ranges compared to the experimental values. Proper description of the breakup rate and daughter bubble size distribution needs further efforts. Additionally, the mechanism governing the breakup is investigated by implementing the breakup model of Liao, which accounts for the effects of turbulence fluctuation, velocity shear in the bulk and eddies as well as interfacial friction. It revealed that both turbulence and interfacial friction contribute to bubble breakup in the pool scrubbing column, and the calibration of each mechanism under different conditions is necessary for future study. Moreover, the assumption of binary or multiple breakup has an obvious effect on the simulation results.

The influence of a fuzzy surface on the physical sputtering of Mo in He plasmas has been studied with hyperspectral imaging (HSI) measurements and simulations that couple the TRI3DYN code with an impurity transport code. The 2D profiles of the Mo I line emission intensity from HSI images reveal that the sputtering yield, Y, is reduced to ∼40 % of the smooth-surface value due to the presence of a fuzz layer, while the angular distribution of the sputtered Mo atoms might not change significantly. The simulations reproduce the Y reduction successfully, but indicate that fuzz causes an increase in the small-angle distribution of sputtered atoms. However, the increase is too small to produce an observable change in the Mo I emission profiles. A simple analytical model that assumes a single collision mean free path for a fuzz layer and considers only the primary sputtering events qualitatively reproduces the Y reduction and the small-angle distribution enhancement, explaining the geometrical effect of fuzz on physical sputtering.

This paper presents the cycling of a novel low-cost Na-Zn liquid metal battery. Its 600 °C operating temperature presents multiple challenges that must be overcome to achieve commercial viability, both from a structural and electrochemical perspective. To enable long-term cycling of the Na-Zn battery in a realistic environment, we have developed a reusable, hermetically sealed, high temperature and sufficiently corrosion resistant cell concept. The design as well as various approaches for assembling and filling the cell are presented. The factors considered when selecting specific components are documented and explained. The active volume of the cell design can be up to 40 ml, corresponding to a nominal capacity of 1 A h, while the entire cell body weighs around 800 g and costs approximately €200 ($215). The performance of the cell is demonstrated in terms of longevity (1000 h) and high discharge current density (100 mA cm-2). The manuscript not only presents the first long-term cycling performance of the novel Na-Zn chemistry achieving Coulombic efficiency of up to 80%, but also demonstrates the design's versatility with in situ dynamic neutron radiography of the cell.

The 19F(n,α)16N cross section is of great interest for the development of the next generation IV reactors that could potentially use molten fluoride salts. Significant differences (up to a factor of 3) have been observed for this nucleus regarding the (n,α) channel. In view of improving our knowledge on this (n,α) reactions, the GrACE group (Groupe Aval du Cycle Electronucleaire) of the LPC Caen has developed a new detector named SCALP (Scintillating ionization Chamber for ALPha particle detection in neutron induced reactions). This paper deals with the first experiment carried out with this brand new detector at the new NFS facility (GANIL, Caen, France). After discussing the needs for new measurments of the 19F(n,α)16N reaction, the operating procedure of the SCALP detector will be presented, as well as the experiments that have been conducted using it. Furthermore, insights into the data acquired during our experiment, as well as the ongoing data processing and associated multi-channel analysis, will be provided.

The talk will address data publishing and the FAIR data principles by examining the central role of data policies and infrastructure services. On the path to making data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR), the talk will provide insights into the fundamental strategies for creating effective data policies and implementing infrastructure services that support these principles. The HZDR data publication repository RODARE will be presented as well as the underlying software Invenio, which was developed by CERN. Future developments in the context of Rodare, Zenodo and Invenio will be presented. Invenio RDM (Research Data Management) and the content of the joint project InvenioRDM will be presented as well as the first steps towards an InvenioRDM demo instance. Finally, further points such as the SciCat metadata catalogue will be discussed.

Thermochromic vanadium dioxide (VO2) undergoes a metal-to-semiconductor (MST) transition, a property that can be exploited for energy reduction in buildings in smart windows. We present thermochromic VO2-based films prepared in a roll-to-roll process on ultra-thin glass (0.1 mm) with High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) without any post annealing. We characterized the film structure with X-ray diffraction, the stoichiometry by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry, and the optical properties with spectrophotometry. The selected films (over 2.6 m x 0.3 m), sputtered from a V-metallic tube target doped with 1.2 at.% of W (V-W target), show a transition temperature of 28 °C and 34 °C, a luminous transmittance over 50% and a modulation of the solar energy transmittance of about 7 and 10%. We monitor the deposition control parameters in the roll-to-roll process with optical emission spectroscopy, and show that both the process parameters and target history impact the thermochromic properties. Finally, we extract the charge carrier concentration and mobility by modelling the transmittance and reflectance spectra, which indicates that the VO2-coating has a slight sub-stoichiometric character.

Laser-driven ion accelerators can deliver high-energy, high-peak current beams and are thus attracting attention as a compact alternative to conventional accelerators. However, achieving sufficiently high energy levels suitable for applications such as radiation therapy remains a challenge for laser-driven ion accelerators. Here we generate proton beams with a spectrally separated high-energy component of up to 150 MeV by irradiating solid-density plastic foil targets with ultrashort laser pulses from a repetitive petawatt laser. The preceding laser light heats the target, leading to the onset of relativistically induced transparency upon main pulse arrival. The laser peak then penetrates the initially opaque target and triggers proton acceleration through a cascade of different mechanisms, as revealed by three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The transparency of the target can be used to identify the high-performance domain, making it a suitable feedback parameter for automated laser and target optimization to enhance stability of plasma accelerators in the future.

The excellent magnetic entropy change (ΔS_T ) in the temperature range of 20 ∼ 77 K due to the first-order phase transition makes Pr₂In an intriguing candidate for magnetocaloric hydrogen liquefaction. As an equally important magnetocaloric parameter, the adiabatic temperature change (ΔT_ad) of Pr₂In associated with the first-order phase transition has not yet been reported. In this work, the ΔT_ad of Pr₂In is obtained from heat capacity measurements: 2 K in fields of 2 T and 4.3 K in fields of 5 T. While demonstrating a ΔT_ad that is not as impressive as its remarkable ΔS_T, Pr₂In exhibits a low Debye temperature (T_D) of around 110 K. Based on these two observations, an approach that combines the mean-field and Debye models is developed to study the correlation between ΔT_ad, one of the most important magnetocaloric parameters, and T_D, one important property of a material. The role of T_D in achieving large ΔT_ad is revealed: materials with higher T_D tend to exhibit larger ΔT_ad , particularly in the cryogenic temperature range. This discovery explains the absence of an outstanding ΔT_ad in Pr₂In and can serve as a tool for designing or searching for materials with both a large ΔS_T and a ΔT_ad.

Künstliche Intelligenz ist längst nicht mehr nur ein Zukunftsthema, sondern prägt unseren Alltag in vielfältiger Weise. Sie erstellt ganze Kochmagazine, formt den Musikgeschmack und hilft beim Schreiben von Kurznachrichten: Die Künstliche Intelligenz (KI/AI) ist in unserem Alltag angekommen.

In unserem Vortrag entführen wir Sie in die Welt der Künstlichen Intelligenz: Von den Ursprüngen und Schlüsselmomenten ihrer Entwicklung, über alltägliche Anwendungen bis hin zu spezialisierten Einsatzgebieten wie in der Medizin. Wir beleuchten, wie KI unseren Alltag bereichert und gleichzeitig Herausforderungen aufwirft, und enden mit einem Ausblick auf die zukünftige Rolle der KI in Gesellschaft und Technologie. Ein kompakter, aber tiefgehender Einblick in das faszinierende Feld der KI erwartet Sie.

Controlling the properties of mid- and far-infrared radiation can provide a means to transiently alter the properties of materials for novel applications. However, a limited number of optical elements are available to control its polarization state. Here we show that a 15-µm thick liquid crystal cell containing 8CB (4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl) in the ordered, smectic A phase can be used as a phase retarder or wave plate. This was tested using the bright, short-pulsed (∼1 ps) radiation centered at 16.5 µm (18.15 THz) that is emitted by a free electron laser at high repetition rate (13 MHz). These results demonstrate a possible tool for the exploration of the mid- and far-infrared range and could be used to develop novel metamaterials or extend multidimensional spectroscopy to this portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Die Radiumisotope Ra-223/-224 mit ihrem diagnostischen Gammastrahler Ba-131 (SPECT) sind ideale Kandidaten für die zielgerichtete Alphatherapie. Um Ra2+ in Radiokonjugaten zu nutzen, muss dieses jedoch stabil gebunden werden. Der Chelator Macropa (mcp) bildet nach bisherigen Erkenntnissen die stabilsten Komplexe, jedoch sind diese für In-vivo-Anwendungen nicht stabil genug. Daher wurden neuartige makrozyklische Chelatoren auf Basis von macropa entwickelt und zusätzlich eine Anwendung für La, Ac und Pb in Betracht gezogen.

Macropa-PSMA-Konjugate, die zur zielgerichteten Alphatherapie mit Ac-225 dienen, werden mit einem Albuminbinder verknüpft. Neben der Verbesserung des pharmakologischen Verhaltens in vivo bietet die albuminbindende Einheit die Grundlage eines theranostischen Ansatzes. Neben der Komplexierung des Alphaemitters Ac-225 wird zusätzlich die Einführung des SPECT-Nuklids I-123 im gleichen Molekül ermöglicht. Vorteilhaft sind die milden Bedingungen der Radioiodierung sowie eine Halbwertszeit (t1/2 = 13,2 h), welche die Bildgebung länger zirkulierender Substanzen ermöglicht.

In the exploration of universe and matter, dealing with inverse problems is often a central challenge. In many experimental investigations, which are carried out in particular at large-scale research facilities such as FRM II, DESY or European XFEL, the essential phase information in the experimental data is lost due to the measurement principle (phase problem). Therefore, methods based on direct inversion are not applicable, so that the solution of the underlying non-convex optimization problem is usually very time-consuming and expensive to implement.

Here we present our project “Versatile Inverse Problem fRamework” (VIPR), recently funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Grant 05D23CJ1). The stated goal of our project is to develop a flexible software framework for data-driven solutions to inverse problems. First we plan to focus on using invertible neural networks. Other architectures can be also considered at later stages of the project. The main application areas envisioned include grazing incidence small- and wide-angle scattering with both neutrons and x-rays, neutron/x-ray reflectivity, and ptychography. Development will also take into account requirements from spectroscopy and particle physics.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) stand as pivotal porous materials with exceptional surface areas, adaptability, and versatility. Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS) is an indispensable tool for characterizing MOF porosity, especially micro- and mesopores in both open and closed states. Notably, PALS offers porosity insights independently of probe molecules, vital for detailed characterization without structural transformations. This study explores how metal ion states in MOFs affect PALS results. We find significant differences in measured porosity due to paramagnetic or oxidized metal ions compared to simulated values. By analyzing CPO-27(M) (M=Mg, Co, Ni), with identical pore dimensions, we observe distinct PALS data alterations based on metal ions. Paramagnetic Co and Ni ions hinder and quench positroni-um (Ps) formation, resulting in smaller measured pore volumes and sizes. Mg only quenches Ps, leading to underestimated pore sizes without volume distortion. This underscores metal ions' pivotal role in PALS outcomes, urging caution in interpreting MOF porosity.

We investigate the effect of Ga substitution on the magnetic properties of nanometer-thin Ga:YIG (Y_3Fe_5-xGa_xO_12) films grown by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) [1,2]. The Ga content was varied between 1.1–1.3 f.u. and film thicknesses were 30 to 230 nm. The substitution of Fe sites by Ga ions reduces the remanent magnetization. Together with the tensile strain it causes a stronger out-of-plane uniaxial anisotropy (PMA) making thin Ga:YIG films perpendicularly magnetized. We also demonstrate that, independent of the thickness and of the substrate orientation, i.e. GGG(111) vs. (001), the PMA gradually increases with the Ga-content, resulting in a 14 times larger perpendicular anisotropy for the highest Ga content used in this study compared to pure YIG. This allows for an easy tuning of the PMA by variation of the Ga concentration. One feature of YIG almost remains: the Gilbertdamping increases only slightly with the amount of Ga. The inhomogeneous broadening shows a stronger dependence.

Magnetization Dynamics in Nanostructures probed by Ferromagnetic Resonance

Matter at extreme densities and temperatures displays a complex quantum behavior that is characterized by
Coulomb interactions, thermal excitations, and partial ionization. Such warm dense matter (WDM) is
ubiquitous throughout the universe and occurs in a host of astrophysical objects such as giant planet
interiors and white dwarf atmospheres. A particularly intriguing application is given by inertial confinement
fusion, where both the fuel capsule and the ablator have to traverse the WDM regime in a controlled way to
reach ignition. In practice, rigorously understanding WDM is highly challenging both from experimental
measurements and numerical simulations [1]. On the one hand, interpreting and diagnosing experiments with
WDM requires a suitable theoretical description. One the other hand, there is no single method that is
capable of accurately describing the full range of relevant densities and temperatures, and the interpretation
of experiments is, therefore, usually based on a number of de-facto uncontrolled approximations. The result
is the vicious cycle of WDM diagnostics: making sense of experimental observations requires theoretical
modeling, whereas theoretical models must be benchmarked against experiments to verify their inherent
assumptions. In this work, we outline a strategy to break this vicious cycle by combining the X-ray Thomson
scattering (XRTS) technique [2] with new ab initio path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) capabilities [3,4,5]. As
a first step, we have proposed to interpret XRTS experiments in the imaginary-time (Laplace) domain, which
allows for the model-free diagnostics of the temperature [6] and normalization [7]. Moreover, by switching
to the imaginary-time, we can directly compare our quasi-exact PIMC calculations with the experimental
measurement [5]. This opens up novel ways to diagnose the experimental conditions, as we have recently
demonstrated for the case of strongly compressed beryllium at the National Ignition Facility. Our results
open up new possibilities for improved XRTS set-ups that are specifically designed to be sensitive to
particular parameters of interest [8]. Moreover, the presented PIMC capabilities are important in their own
right and will allow for a gamut of applications, including equation-of-state calculations and the
estimation of structural properties and linear response functions.

Double-differential cross section (DDX) data on the neutron-induced emission of light charged particles are required for assessing the risk of secondary tumors in particle radiation therapy. There are only very few DDX data available for discrete neutron energies close to and above 100 MeV for carbon. A measurement of DDX on carbon is planned at continuous neutron energies from 20 MeV to 200 MeV with particle detector telescopes at n_TOF (CERN). Several detector development criteria and challenges are reported such as coincidence timing and electromagnetic oscillations for high neutron energy events with particle separation.

We propose a self-consistent explanation of Rieger-type periodicities, the Schwabe cycle, and the Suess-de Vries cycle of the solar dynamo in terms of resonances of various wave phenomena with gravitational forces exerted by the orbiting planets. Starting on the high-frequency side, we show that the two-planet spring tides of Venus, Earth, and Jupiter are able to excite magneto-Rossby waves, which can be linked with typical Rieger-type periods. We argue then that the 11.07-year beat period of those magneto-Rossby waves synchronizes an underlying conventional alpha-Omega dynamo by periodically changing either the field storage capacity in the tachocline or some portion of the alpha-effect therein. We also strengthen the argument that the Suess-de Vries cycle appears as an 193-year beat period between the 22.14-year Hale cycle and a spin-orbit coupling effect related with the 19.86-year rosette-like motion of the Sun around the barycenter.

This work presents the design and application of control strategies for a system with large dead-time composed of a feeder and conveyor belts in a mining industry. Initially, a comparative analysis of the PID and Smith's predictor control strategies is carried out considering characteristics commonly found in the mining industry, such as disturbance in the feed flow, noisy measurements in the process output, and modeling errors. The aim is to select the best control strategy for the feeder-conveyor system considering aspects of robustness and performance. As a result of introducing the Smith predictor structure in the industrial plant, there is an increase in the processed ore mass of $355.51$ tons in the evaluated period.

Researchers rely on a variety of systems and tools when it comes to administering their research data. Processes involving research data management include proposal submission, data management planning, simulation campaigns, documentation during the experiment, and the creation and submission of journal and data publications. HELIPORT is a data management solution that aims at making all steps of the research experiment’s life cycle discoverable, accessible, interoperable and reusable according to the FAIR principles. This is done by linking to and interfacing with established tools and solutions, and exchanging metadata between systems involved in a project. The metadata are presented to the researchers through a web interface, but they are also accessible to computational agents via API and machine-readable landing pages. In this presentation, we will introduce the metadata project HELIPORT and what provided the impulse for the project, discuss the documentation of a real experiment in HELIPORT, and outline current developments and challenges.

The upcoming generation of repetition-rate petawatt class lasers drives the development of laser-plasma proton accelerators and enables new applications e.g. in cancer radiotherapy
research. To harness the full potential of these laser systems and their applications, it is crucial to characterize and control the density profile of the target at the arrival of the ultra-intense laser peak. Cryogenic solid-density hydrogen jets were successfully demonstrated as a promising target platform to investigate various aspects of the high intensity interaction. In combination with optical and X-ray probing techniques, the unique properties of these jets as self-replenishing, debris free, low-density, pure hydrogen targets provide an ideal test bed to study processes like ionization and pre-expansion that occur during irradiation of the leading edge of the laser pulse.
In this contribution, we present the results of laser-target interaction studies with intensities ranging from the relativistic regime down to the intensities of dielectric breakdown of hydrogen. They were conducted using the cryogenic hydrogen jet platform together with the high-resolution optical probing capabilities at the Draco laser facility at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and the X-ray free electron laser at the HiBEF facility at European XFEL. Changing the drive laser pulse parameters enabled extensive studies, e.g., of the transition from an initial solid state to a plasma state, i.e., the onset of laser-induced breakdown of the solid defining the starting point of the subsequent pre-expansion. As a further example, insights into pre-plasma formation are obtained by investigating the intensity-dependent evolution of the target density profile. These results, together with technical advancements of the target, will be valuable for optimizing laser-driven proton acceleration at high-intensity laser facilities.

In this contribution, we present the results of laser-target interaction studies with intensities ranging from the relativistic regime down to the intensities of dielectric breakdown of hydrogen. They were conducted using the cryogenic hydrogen jet platforms together with the high-resolution optical probing capabilities at the Draco laser facility at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and the HiBEF facility at European XFEL. Changing the laser parameters enables to utilize specific plasma processes for controlled plasma density tailoring. These results, together with technical advancements of the target, pave the way towards a stable platform for near-critical density targets that will enable stable, repetition-rated proton sources for a multitude of applications at superb energies.

After the interaction of ultra-short high intensity laser pulses with thin solid targets, strong electric fields within the resulting plasma can accelerate ions to energies of tens of MeV. The performance of such laser driven ion sources critically depends on the initial conditions of the target plasma at the arrival time of the driving laser pulse. Pre-pulses and pedestals in the intrinsic temporal laser contrast can cause dielectric breakdown of the target long before the arrival of the main laser pulse, causing the target to ionize and pre-expand uncontrolledly.

Here, we present a study of the laser-induced breakdown (LIB) threshold intensity of 300nm thin formvar foils as well as cryogenic solid hydrogen jets, which are both used as targets for ion accleration at the Draco laser facility at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. By stretching the pump laser pulse, the dependence of LIB threshold intensity on laser pulse duration is investigated. This helps to understand and model the pre-plasma formation during the rising flank of a high power laser pulse impinging on a thin dielectric target.

Laser-driven ion sources are a rapidly developing technology producing high energy, high peak current beams. Their suitability for applications, such as compact medical accelerators, motivates development of robust acceleration schemes using widely available repetitive ultraintense femtosecond lasers. These applications not only require high beam energy, but also place demanding requirements on the source stability and controllability. This can be seriously affected by the laser temporal contrast, precluding the replication of ion acceleration performance on independent laser systems with otherwise similar parameters. Here, we present the experimental generation of >60 MeV protons and >30 MeV u^{−1} carbon ions from sub-micrometre thickness Formvar foils irradiated with laser intensities >10^{21} W/cm^{2}. Ions are accelerated by an extreme localised space charge field ≳30 TVm^{−1}, over a million times higher than used in conventional accelerators. The field is formed by a rapid expulsion of electrons from the target bulk due to relativistically induced transparency, in which relativistic corrections to the refractive index enables laser transmission through normally opaque plasma. We replicate the mechanism on two different laser facilities and show that the optimum target thickness decreases with improved laser contrast due to reduced pre-expansion. Our demonstration that energetic ions can be accelerated by this mechanism at different contrast levels relaxes laser requirements and indicates interaction parameters for realising application-specific beam delivery.

Target densities near the critical plasma density are of great interest for the laser-ion acceleration community, as new and interesting acceleration mechanisms can occur at these densities due to the effect of relativistically induced transparency.
Designing and builing near-critical densitiy targets with closely defined parameters has thus been the goal of much recent and ongoing target development.
Here, we present our approach for a density tailored near-critical target, that utilizes controlled preexpansion of a cryogenic hydrogen jet target used at the Draco laser facility at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR).
The cylindrical solid hydrogen jet target is irradiated with pump laser pulses in the range of 10¹² to10¹⁸ W/cm². The expansion of the emerging plasma cloud is studied over several tens of picoseconds by means of high resolution two-color off-harmonic optical probing.
At high pump laser intensities, a simple toy model of the radial density profile of the expanding jet target is applied to estimate the evolution of the plasma density during the expansion process.
We show, how the expansion process can be directly influenced by controlling intensity and temporal shape of the pump laser pulses.

Exploiting the strong electromagnetic fields that can be supported by a plasma, high-power laser driven compact plasma accelerators enable generation of short, high-intensity pulses of high energy ions with special beam properties. These accelerators promise to expand the portfolio of conventional machines in many application areas. The maturation of laser driven ion accelerators from physics experiments to turn-key sources for these applications will rely on breakthroughs in both, generated beam parameters (kinetic energy, flux), as well as increased scrutiny on reproducibility, robustness and scalability to high repetition rate.
Recent developments at the high-power laser facility DRACO-PW enabled the production of polychromatic proton beams with unprecedented stability [1]. This allowed the first in vivo radiobiological study to be conducted using a laser-driven proton source [2]. Yet, the ability to achieve energies beyond the 100 MeV frontier is essential for many applications and a matter of ongoing research, mainly addressed by exploring advanced acceleration schemes like the relativistically induced transparency regime.
In this talk we report on experimental proton acceleration studies at the onset of relativistic transparency using linearly polarized laser pulses with peak intensities of 6x21 W/cm2 focused on thin, pre-expanded plastic foils. Combined hydrodynamic and 3D particle-in-cell simulations helped to identify the most promising target parameter range matched to the carefully measured prevailing laser contrast conditions. In a nutshell, the ultra-intense femtosecond pulse interaction induces large accelerating gradients and energy gain dominantly arising from significant space charge fields due to electron expulsion from the relativistic transparent target core followed by weaker post-acceleration in diffuse sheath fields at later times. A complex suite of particle and optical diagnostics allowed characterization of spatial and spectral proton beam parameters and the stability of the regime of best acceleration performance, yielding cut-off energies larger than 100 MeV in the best shots.

References
[1] Ziegler, T. et al. Proton beam quality enhancement by spectral phase control of a PW-class laser system. Sci Rep 11, 7338 (2021)
[2] Kroll, F. et al. Tumour irradiation in mice with a laser-accelerated proton beam. Nat. Phys. 18, 316–322 (2022)

Laser-driven ion accelerators can deliver high-energy, high peak current beams and are thus attracting attention as a compact alternative to conventional accelerators. However, achieving sufficiently high energy levels suitable for applications such as radiation therapy remains a challenge for laser-driven ion accelerators. Here, we generate proton beams with a spectrally separated high-energy component of up to 150MeV by irradiating solid-density plastic foil targets with ultrashort laser pulses from a repetitive petawatt laser. The preceding laser light heats the target, leading to the onset of relativistically-induced transparency upon main pulse arrival. The laser peak then penetrates the initially opaque target and triggers proton acceleration through a cascade of different mechanisms, as revealed by three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The transparency of the target can be used to identify the high-performance domain, making it a suitable feedback parameter for automated laser and target optimisation to enhance stability of plasma accelerators in the future.

We present an inductive measurement technique for the identification of gas bubbles in liquid metals e.g., liquid sodium as is used as coolant in fast fission reactors. Gas bubbles in the coolant are an indication of damage to the tubing of the steam generator unit and can lead to severe accidents [Cavaro M., Payan C. and J.P. Jeannot. 3rd International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation, Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA), Marseille, France, 2013.].
We propose a contactless inductive bubble detection (CIBD) method. In a laboratory table-top experimental set-up we utilize the method to detect rising Argon bubbles in the liquid metal alloy Gallium-Indium-Tin (GaInSn) that is used as a non-dangerous model fluid. CIBD consists of an excitation coil generating an alternating magnetic field that induces eddy currents in the fluid. Non-conducting gas bubbles in the conducting fluid act as obstacles to these eddy currents and lead to slight changes of the current distribution, that can be detected outside of the fluid. A combination of two pickup coils positioned on top of each other which are wound in opposite direction and connected in series gives a so-called planar gradiometer that is only sensitive to asymmetric magnetic field distributions. Gundrum et al. [Sensors 16, 63. 2016.] used one planar gradiometer positioned opposite to the excitation coil to detect the rising velocity of Argon bubbles in GaInSn as well as liquid Sodium. We extend this approach by the use of several planar gradiometers at different sides of the vessel and with different orientations to determine the size and position of the bubbles as was not possible with only one detection coil. First experimental results will be presented.
The laboratory experiments are accompanied by COMSOL simulations for different bubble radii, positions and excitation frequencies of the excitation coil that reflect in the penetration depth of the magnetic field.
The CIBD method offers a high degree of practicality and flexibility e.g., additional detection coils could be mounted and the use of more than one excitation coil would extend the system towards a tomographic sensor.

While 2D materials are traditionally derived from bulk layered crystals
bonded by weak van der Waals (vdW) forces, the recent surprising
experimental realization of non-vdW 2D compounds obtained from
non-layered transition metal oxides [1] foreshadows a new direction in
2D systems research.
As outlined by our recent data-driven investigations [2, 3], these
materials exhibit unique magnetic properties owing to the magnetic
cations at the surface of the sheets. Despite of several ferromagnetic
candidates, even for the antiferromagnetic representatives, the surface
spin polarizations are diverse ranging from moderate to large values
modulated in addition by ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic in-plane
coupling. At the same time, chemical tuning by surface passivation
provides a valuable handle to further control the magnetic properties
of these novel 2D compounds [4] thus rendering them an attractive
platform for fundamental and applied nanoscience.
[1] A. Puthirath Balan et al., Nat. Nanotechnol. 13, 602 (2018).
[2] R. Friedrich et al., Nano Lett. 22, 989 (2022).
[3] T. Barnowsky et al., Adv. Electron. Mater. 9, 2201112 (2023).
[4] T. Barnowsky et al., submitted, arXiv:2310.07329 (2023).

High entropy materials have recently attracted significant interest due to their appealing mechanical, catalytic, and electronic properties.
High-entropy ceramics consist of an ordered anion sublattice of carbon, nitrogen or oxygen and a disordered cation sublattice maximizing configurational entropy by randomly occupying it by five or more cation species (transition metal elements).
The reliable computational modelling of such systems can be realized by the partial occupation algorithm [1] implemented within the AFLOW software for materials design [2,3] by expanding the disordered system into a large set of ordered structures. These cells can then be treated by high-throughput ab initio calculations. For the actual realization of high-entropy materials, predictive synthesizability descriptors such as the entropy-forming ability (EFA) [4] are needed. We present here results on several high-entropy ceramic candidates, apply different synthesizability descriptors, and study their electronic and mechanical properties.
[1] K. Yang et al., Chem. Mater. 28, 6484 (2016).
[2] C. Oses et al., Comput. Mater. Sci. 217, 111889 (2023).
[3] M. Esters et al., Comput. Mater. Sci. 216, 111808 (2023).
[4] P. Sarker et al., Nat. Commun. 9, 4980 (2018).

Non-metallic inclusions in metallic materials are a key challenge in metallurgical processing such as steelmaking. Aiming to control the population of inclusions and to remove them from the metal in its molten state, gas bubbles are commonly used for melt stirring, homogenisation and purification during ladle treatment. However, the effects of bubble–inclusion interactions in molten metals are not yet well researched, as experimental investigations at high processing temperatures are challenging. To circumvent these harsh conditions, model experiments are performed at room temperature, employing low-melting alloys based on gallium. In such laboratory-scale experiments, the interactions between gas and solid phases in the liquid metal are observable by means of transmission imaging with X-rays or neutron radiation.

Starting from the essentials of the measurement principle, this contribution presents two exam-ples of dynamic X-ray and neutron radiography studies in liquid metals, thus showcasing the unique capabilities as well as limitations of imaging measurements at high spatial and temporal resolution. X-ray radiography is able to image both, gas bubbles and solid particles in the liquid metal, at high contrast-to-noise ratio, but only if these particles are rather coarse and heavy [1]. Using neutron radiography, the focus is on a configuration motivated by a single bubble: the particle-laden liquid metal flow around a cylindrical obstacle, measured at 100 Hz imaging frame rate [2]. Combining particle image velocimetry and particle tracking algorithms, we detected particle trajectories in the cylinder wake flow [3], derived particle residence times and velocity statistics [4]. Such radiography studies provide valuable insights into multi-phase liquid metal flows, and the experimental findings may improve the understanding of the inclusion behaviour in bubble-stirred metallurgical reactors.

References
[1] Lappan T., Sarma M., Heitkam S. et al. Materials Processing Fundamentals 2021, 13-29, 2021.
[2] Lappan T., Sarma M., Heitkam S. et al. Magnetohydrodynamics, 56(2-3), 167-176, 2020.
[3] Birjukovs M., Zvejnieks P., Lappan T. et al. Experiments in Fluids, 63, 99, 2022.
[4] Birjukovs M. et al. Experiments in Fluids, 2024, accepted for publication.

The increasing energy demand in information technologies requires novel low-power procedures to store and process data. Magnetic materials, central to these technologies, are usually controlled through magnetic fields or spin-polarized currents that are prone to Joule heating effect. Magneto-ionics is a unique energy-efficient strategy to control magnetism that can induce large non-volatile modulation of magnetization, coercivity and other properties through voltage-driven ionic motion. Recent studies have shown promising magneto-ionic effects using nitrogen ions. However, either liquid electrolytes or prior annealing procedures have been necessary to induce the desired N3- ion motion. In this work, magneto-ionic effects are voltage-triggered in solid-state at room temperature in CoxMn1-xN films, without the need of thermal annealing. Upon gating, a rearrangement of nitrogen ions in the layers is observed, leading to changes in the co-existing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases, which result in substantial increase of magnetization at room temperature and modulation of the exchange bias effect at low temperatures. A detailed correlation between the structural and magnetic evolution of the system upon voltage application is provided. The obtained results offer promising new avenues for the utilization of nitride compounds in energy-efficient spintronic and other memory devices.

Data Science is playing an ever increasing role in physics. While some departments have offered courses, many of the examples are in the context of social science and other disciplines. In this tutorial, we will introduce data science in the physics context. We will start by introducing Jupyter notebooks and how to explore and visualize data. We will then introduce unsupervised learning techniques including clustering, random forests, etc. We will conclude with an introduction to neural networks and object tracking.
Graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists interested in learning how to apply data science to their research should attend this tutorial. The lectures will provide an introduction to data science and its applications in physics. We assume that participants will have some experience with Python, Numpy, and Matplotlib at the level of a software carpentry course and we will provide a link to learning materials before the tutorial.
Topics covered:
Data visualization and exploratory data analysis
Unsupervised learning
Convolutional neural networks

High energy resolution fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a powerful method for probing the electronic structure of functional materials. The X-ray penetration depth and photon-in/photon-out nature of the method allow operando experiments to be performed, in particular in electrochemical cells. Here, operando high-resolution X-ray absorption measurements of a BiVO4 photoanode are reported, simultaneously probing the local electronic states of both cations. Small but significant variations of the spectral lineshapes induced by the applied potential were observed and an explanation in terms of the occupation of electronic states at or near the band edges is proposed.

Non-linear systems accommodating multiple solitons with complex interactions are relevant for numerous research and technology fields ranging from non-conventional computing, spin-wave splitters for low-energy magnonics, superconducting electronics and small scale robotics. The challenge here is to realize small scale confined magnetic systems hosting multiple interacting solitons, which cannot be non-reversibly erased upon manipulation using external fields. We combine theory, simulations and experimental explorations to demonstrate that magnetic vortices and antivortices can be stabilised in magnetic wireframe structures prepared using nanoscale direct writing methods like focused electron beam induced deposition. This method allows to design magnetic wireframes with arbitrary complexity including helices, tripods, tetrapods, cube-shaped or buckyball-shaped architectures. The unique feature is that magnetic wireframes can support large number of vortices and antivortices. The fundamental beauty is that the topological properties of the surface of the wireframe object determines uniquely the number and type of magnetic solitons. For instance, magnetic N-pod is topologically equivalent to a sphere and hence can support N vortices and N-2 antivortices (i.e., 2N-2 magnetic solitons per object). Even more interesting that it is possible to realise objects with topology of N-torus, which can support only one type of magnetic solitons. Yet these are antivortices but not vortices. In 3D geometries, the prevailing type of magnetic solitons is antivortices rather than vortices. For instance, 4-torus supports 6 antivortices only. The key aspect is that these are solitons of the same type which do not annihilate upon interaction. Hence, they are attractive for implementation of reservoir and neuromorphic computing. In particular, the stability of antivortex lattices combined with spin-wave propagation into wireframe structures may be useful for potential application in magnonic-based computing. Moreover, the direct integration of nanofabricated 3D wireframes into standard 2D lithographically created systems with coplanar or Ω-shaped antennas or detectors should allow extending unconventional computing into 3D offering additional functionalities such as a higher degree of interconnectivity.

O. Volkov et al., Nature Communications 15, 2193 (2024).

Composites consisting of magnetic fillers in polymers and elastomers enable new types of applications in soft robotics, reconfigurable actuation and sensorics. In particular, soft-bodied robots emerge as the closest synthetic system analogous to living organisms mimicking their mechanical behavior and going beyond in performance. We will introduce lightweight, durable, untethered and ultrafast soft-bodied robots that can walk, swim, levitate, transport cargo, and perform collaborative tasks being driven using magnetic far fields [1,2] and near fields [3]. Reconfigurable magnetic origami actuators [2] can be equipped with ultrathin magnetosensitive e-skins [4], which help to assess the magnetic state of the actuator (magnetized vs. non-magnetized), decide on its actuation pattern and control sequentiality and quality of the folding process.
Magnetic composites can be readily used to realise not only actuators but also magnetic field sensors. We demonstrate that printed magnetoelectronics can be stretchable, skin-conformal, capable of detection in low magnetic fields and withstand extreme mechanical deformations [5,6]. We feature the potential of our skin-conformal sensors in augmented reality settings [7,8], where a sensor-functionalized finger conducts remote and touchless control of virtual objects manageable for scrolling electronic documents and zooming maps under tiny permanent magnet [5].
Furthermore, we put forth technology to realise magnetic field sensors, which can be printed and self-heal upon mechanical damage [9]. This opens exciting perspectives for magnetoelectronics in smart wearables, interactive printed electronics. Furthermore, this research motivates further explorations towards the realisation of eco-sustainable magnetoelectronics. For the latter, we will discuss biocompatible and biodegradable magneto sensitive devices, which can help to minimise electronic waste and bring magnetoelectronics to new application fields in medical implants and health monitoring.

[1] X. Wang et al., Untethered and ultrafast soft-bodied robots. Communications Materials 1, 67 (2020).
[2] M. Ha et al., Reconfigurable magnetic origami actuators with on-board sensing for guided assembly. Adv. Mater. 33, 2008751 (2021).
[3] M. Richter et al., Locally addressable energy efficient actuation of magnetic soft actuator array systems. Advanced Science 2302077 (2023).
[4] G. S. Canon Bermudez et al., Magnetosensitive e-skins for interactive devices. Adv. Funct. Mater. 31, 2007788 (2021).
[5] M. Ha et al., Printable and stretchable giant magnetoresistive sensors for highly compliant and skin-conformal electronics. Adv. Mater. 33, 2005521 (2021).
[6] E. S. Oliveros Mata et al., Dispenser printed bismuth-based magnetic field sensors with non-saturating large magnetoresistance for touchless interactive surfaces. Adv. Mater. Technol. 7, 2200227 (2022).
[7] J. Ge et al., A bimodal soft electronic skin for tactile and touchless interaction in real time. Nature Communications 10, 4405 (2019).
[8] G. S. Canon Bermudez et al., Electronic-skin compasses for geomagnetic field driven artificial magnetoception and interactive electronics. Nature Electronics 1, 589 (2018).
[9] P. Makushko et al., Flexible magnetoreceptor with tunable intrinsic logic for on-skin touchless human-machine interfaces. Adv. Funct. Mater. 31, 2101089 (2021).
[9] R. Xu et al., Self-healable printed magnetic field sensors using alternating magnetic fields. Nature Communications 13, 6587 (2022).

In this presentation, I will provide an overview of our recent activities on the realization of mechanically flexible, printed and eco-sustainable magnetic field sensors for different applications including smart skins and smart wearables.

In the past years, there is an active research of materials displaying the non-linear Hall effect with time-reversal symmetry [1-5]. From a fundamental point of view, this quantum transport effect provides a direct way to detect in nonmagnetic materials the Berry curvature – a quantity in which the geometry of the electronic wavefunctions is encoded. The nonlinear Hall effect is also at the basis of terahertz optoelectronic applications of interest for instance for sixth generation (6G) communication networks.

An appropriate material platform for such applications should satisfy a number of criteria: i) the nonlinear Hall effect should survive up to room temperature; ii) the effect should be tunable; iii) the material fabrication should be technologically relevant (simple chemical composition of the material and low-cost microstructure); iv) ideally the material should not contain toxic heavy rare-earth elements. So far, candidate materials address only partially these requirements.

Here, we discover the first material addressing all the requirements at the same time: polycrystalline bismuth thin films [6]. We demonstrate that in this elemental green (semi)metal, the room-temperature nonlinear Hall effect is generated by surface states that are characterized by a Berry curvature triple: a quantity governing a skew scattering effect that generates non-linear transverse currents. Furthermore, we also show that the strength of nonlinear Hall effect can be controlled on demand using an extrinsic classical shape effect: the geometric nonlinear Hall effect. We demonstrate this by fabricating arc-shaped bismuth Hall bars. This endows the nonlinear Hall effect of Bismuth with the tunability encountered only in low-dimensional materials at low temperatures.

To show the potential of polycrystalline Bi thin films for optoelectronic applications in the terahertz (THz) spectral domain, we have performed high harmonic generation experiments. Polycrystalline Bi thin films reveal a high efficiency of THz third-harmonic generation (THG) that reaches levels >1% at room temperature. Moreover, our material possesses a non-saturating trend of the efficiency of the THz THG. This enables the use of Bi thin films for high- and wide- THz bandwidth electronics which works at high peak power and long pulses.

[1] Z. Z. Du et al., Nonlinear Hall effects. Nature Reviews Physics 3, 744 (2021).
[2] I. Sodemann et al., Quantum Nonlinear Hall Effect Induced by Berry Curvature Dipole in Time-Reversal Invariant Materials. Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 216806 (2015).
[3] Q. Ma et al., Observation of the nonlinear Hall effect under time-reversal-symmetric conditions. Nature 565, 337 (2019).
[4] K. Kang et al., Nonlinear anomalous Hall effect in few-layer WTe2. Nature Mater. 18, 324 (2019).
[5] P. He et al., Quantum frequency doubling in the topological insulator Bi2Se3. Nature Communications 12, 698 (2021).
[6] P. Makushko et al., A tunable room-temperature nonlinear Hall effect in elemental bismuth thin films. Nature Electronics 7, 207 (2024).

A Fourier–Matsubara series expansion is derived for imaginary–time correlation functions that constitutes the imaginary–time generalization of the infinite Matsubara series for equal-time correlation
functions. The expansion is consistent with all known exact properties of imaginary–time correlation
functions and opens up new avenues for the utilization of quantum Monte Carlo simulation data.
Moreover, the expansion drastically simplifies the computation of imaginary–time density–density
correlation functions with the finite temperature version of the self-consistent dielectric formalism.
Its existence underscores the utility of imaginary–time as a complementary domain for many-body
physics.

Periodic magnetic stripe domain patterns are a prominent feature of perpendicular anisotropy thin film systems. Here, we focus on the behavior of [Co(3.0 nm)/Pt(0.6 nm)]\textsubscript{$X$} multilayers within the transitional regime from preferred in-plane (IP), $X=6$, to out-of-plane (OOP), $X=22$, magnetization orientation, particularly, we examine a sample with $X=11$ repetitions, which exhibits a remanent state characterized by a significant presence of both OOP and IP magnetization components, here referred to as the "tilted" stripe domain state*. We investigate this specific sample with vibrating sample magnetometry, magnetic force microscopy and micromagnetic simulations, and find an unusual OOP field reversal behavior via a remanent parallel stripe domain state and a single point of irreversibility. Finally, we show that this characteristic reversal behavior is a rather general feature of transitional IP to OOP systems by comparing the Co/Pt multilayers with c-axis single Co thin films and Fe/Gd multilayers. \newline *[L. Fallarino et al., Phys. Rev. B 99, 024431 (2019)]

Perpendicular anisotropy thin film systems are well known for their periodic magnetic stripe domain structures. In this study, we focus on investigating the behavior of [Co(3.0 nm)/Pt(0.6 nm)]\textsubscript{$X$} multilayers within the transitional regime from preferred in-plane (IP) to out-of-plane (OOP) magnetization orientation, particularly, we examine the sample with $X=11$ repetitions, which exhibits a remanent state characterized by a significant presence of both OOP and IP magnetization components, here referred to as the "tilted" stripe domain state*. Using vibrating sample magnetometry, magnetic force microscopy and micromagnetic simulations we investigate this specific sample and find an unusual OOP field reversal behavior via a remanent parallel stripe domain state and a single point of irreversibility. While the reversal via distinct points of irreversibility is qualitatively similar to that of a nano-sized Stoner Wohlfarth particle or a vortex reversal in a micron-sized IP magnetized disk, our system is macroscopic. Finally, we show that this characteristic behavior is a rather general feature of transitional IP to OOP systems. \newline *[L. Fallarino et al., Phys. Rev. B 99, 024431 (2019)]

Warm dense matter (WDM) is now routinely created and probed in laboratories
around the world, providing unprecedented insights into conditions achieved in
stellar atmospheres, planetary interiors, and inertial confinement fusion
experiments. However, the interpretation of these experiments is often filtered
through models with systematic errors that are difficult to quantify. Due to the
simultaneous presence of quantum degeneracy and thermal excitation, processes in
which free electrons are de-excited into thermally unoccupied bound states
transferring momentum and energy to a scattered x-ray photon become viable [1].
Here we show that such free-bound transitions are a particular feature of WDM and
vanish in the limits of cold and hot temperatures. The inclusion of these processes
into the analysis of recent X-ray Thomson Scattering (XRTS) experiments on
WDM at the National Ignition Facility [2] (see the figure below) and the Linac
Coherent Light Source [3] significantly improves model fits, indicating that free-
bound transitions have been observed without previously being identified. This
interpretation is corroborated by agreement with a recently developed model-free
thermometry technique [4,5] and presents an important step for precisely
characterizing and understanding the complex WDM state of matter.

Matter at extreme densities and temperatures displays a complex quantum behavior that is characterized by Coulomb interactions, thermal excitations, and partial ionization. Such warm dense matter (WDM) is ubiquitous throughout the universe and occurs in a host of astrophysical objects such as giant planet interiors and white dwarf atmospheres. A particularly intriguing application is given by inertial confinement fusion, where both the fuel capsule and the ablator have to traverse the WDM regime in a controlled way to reach ignition.

In practice, rigorously understanding WDM is highly challenging both from experimental measurements and numerical simulations [1]. On the one hand, interpreting and diagnosing experiments with WDM requires a suitable theoretical description. One the other hand, there is no single method that is capable of accurately describing the full range of relevant densities and temperatures, and the interpretation of experiments is, therefore, usually based on a number of de-facto uncontrolled approximations. The result is the vicious cycle of WDM diagnostics: making sense of experimental observations requires theoretical modeling, whereas theoretical models must be benchmarked against experiments to verify their inherent assumptions.

In this work, we outline a strategy to break this vicious cycle by combining the X-ray Thomson scattering (XRTS) technique [2] with new ab initio path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) capabilities [3,4,5]. As a first step, we have proposed to interpret XRTS experiments in the imaginary-time (Laplace) domain, which allows for the model-free diagnostics of the temperature [6] and normalization [7]. Moreover, by switching to the imaginary-time, we can directly compare our quasi-exact PIMC calculations with the experimental measurement [5]. This opens up novel ways to diagnose the experimental conditions, as we have recently demonstrated for the case of strongly compressed beryllium at the National Ignition Facility.

Our results open up new possibilities for improved XRTS set-ups that are specifically designed to be sensitive to particular parameters of interest [8]. Moreover, the presented PIMC capabilities are important in their own right and will allow for a gamut of applications, including equation-of-state calculations and the estimation of structural properties and linear response functions.

[1] T. Dornheim et al., Phys. Plasmas 30, 032705 (2023)
[2] S. Glenzer and R. Redmer, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 1625 (2009)
[3] T. Dornheim et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 15, 1305-1313 (2024)
[4] T. Dornheim et al., arXiv:2403.01979
[5] T. Dornheim et al., arXiv:2402.19113
[6] T. Dornheim et al., Nature Commun. 13, 7911 (2022)
[7] T. Dornheim et al., arXiv:2305.15305
[8] Th. Gawne et al., arXiv:2403.02776

We present extensive new \emph{ab initio} path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) results for a variety of structural properties of warm dense hydrogen and beryllium. To deal with the fermion sign problem -- an exponential computational bottleneck due to the antisymmetry of the electronic thermal density matrix -- we employ the recently proposed [\textit{J.~Chem.~Phys.}~\textbf{157}, 094112 (2022); \textbf{159}, 164113 (2023)] -extrapolation method and find excellent agreement with exact direct PIMC reference data where available. This opens up the intriguing possibility to study a gamut of properties of light elements and potentially material mixtures over a substantial part of the warm dense matter regime, with direct relevance for astrophysics, material science, and inertial confinement fusion research.

Crushing is a critical operation in mineral processing, and its efficient performance is vital for minimizing energy consumption, maximizing productivity, and maintaining product quality. However, due to variations in feed material characteristics and safety constraints, achieving the intended circuit performance can be challenging. In this study, a centralized control strategy based on a finite state machine (FSM) is developed to improve the operations of an iron ore crushing circuit. The aim is to increase productivity by manipulating the closed-side-setting (CSS) of cone crushers and the speed of an apron feeder while considering intermediate storage silo levels and cone crusher power limits, as well as product quality. A dynamic simulation was conducted to compare the proposed control strategy with the usual practice of setting CSS to a constant value. Four scenarios were analyzed based on variations in bond work index (BWI) and particle size distribution. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy increased average productivity by 6.88\% and 48.77\% when compared to the operation with a constant CSS of 38 mm and 41 mm, respectively. The proposed strategy resulted in smoother oscillation without interlocking, and it maintained constant flow rates. This ultimately improved circuit reliability and predictability, leading to reduced maintenance costs.

The environmental fate of radionuclides (RN), such as actinides and fission products, disposed of in underground nuclear waste repositories is a major concern. Long-term safety assessments of these disposal sites depend on the ability of geochemical models and thermodynamic databases (TDBs) to predict the mobility of RNs over very long time scales. One example where TDBs still have large data gaps is related to the complexation of trivalent lanthanides and actinides with aqueous phosphates. Indeed, solid phosphate monazites are one of the candidate phases for the immobilization of specific high-level waste streams for future safe storage in deep underground disposal facilities, therefore potentially and locally increasing the presence of phosphate at the final disposal site.

Recent work [1-3] obtained reliable complexation constants and thus, closed some knowledge gaps. Laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy was used to study the complexation of Eu(III) and Cm(III) as a function of total phosphate concentration in the temperature regime 25-90 °C, using NaClO₄ as a background electrolyte. These studies were conducted in the acidic pH range to avoid precipitation of solid Eu and Cm rhabdophane. In addition to the presence of the EuH₂PO₄ ²⁺/CmH₂PO₄ ²⁺ species [1-3], the formation of Eu(H₂PO₄)₂ ⁺ [2] and Cm(H₂PO₄)₂ ⁺ [3] was unambiguously established from the luminescence spectroscopic data. The conditional complexation constants of all aqueous complexes were extrapolated to infinite dilution with the Specific ion Interaction Theory. The molar enthalpy of reaction Δ_rH_m ^° and entropy of reaction Δ_rS_m ^° were derived with the integrated van´t Hoff equation.

Monodentate or bidentate Cm(III)/Eu(III) phosphate complexes form with different overall coordination numbers (8,9), but obtaining such information from spectroscopic data only is challenging. Thus, the structural properties, electronic structures, and thermodynamics of the 1:1 and 1:2 Eu(III) and Cm(III) phosphate complexes were solved using state-of-the-art relativistic quantum chemical (QC) calculations. The QC methods allowed i) to investigate the complexation strength of Eu(III) and Cm(III) with aqueous phosphate, ii) to understand the changes of the coordination number with increasing temperature and iii) to decipher the nature (ionic/covalent) of the Eu/Cm bonds with water and phosphate.

Combining quantum chemical calculations with the observed spectral changes facilitates the decisive determination of the structures of the formed phosphate complexes and their overall coordination [2,3].

[1] N. Jordan et al., Inorganic Chemistry 57, 7015 (2018).
[2] I. Jessat et al., Inorganic Chemistry (in preparation).
[3] N. Huittinen et al., Inorganic Chemistry 60, 10656 (2021).