Key role of surface plasmon polaritons in generation of periodic surface structures following single-pulse laser irradiation of a gold step edge

Understanding the mechanisms and controlling the possibilities of surface nanostructuring is of crucial interest for both fundamental science and application perspectives. Here, we report a direct experimental observation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) formed near a predesigned gold step edge following single-pulse femtosecond laser irradiation. Simulation results based on a hybrid atomistic-continuum model fully support the experimental observations. We experimentally detect nanosized surface features with a periodicity of ∼300 nm and heights of a few tens of nanometers. We identify two key components of single-pulse LIPSS formation: excitation of surface plasmon polaritons and material reorganization. Our results lay a solid foundation toward simple and efficient usage of light for innovative material processing technologies.

Control of the Longitudinal Compression and Transverse Focus of Ultrafast Electron Beam for Detecting the Transient Evolution of Materials

Ultrafast detection is an effective method to reveal the transient evolution mechanism of materials. Compared with ultra-fast X-ray diffraction (XRD), the ultra-fast electron beam is increasingly adopted because the larger scattering cross-section is less harmful to the sample. The keV single-shot ultra-fast electron imaging system has been widely used with its compact structure and easy integration. To achieve both the single pulse imaging and the ultra-high temporal resolution, magnetic lenses are typically used for transverse focus to increase signal strength, while radio frequency (RF) cavities are generally utilized for longitudinal compression to improve temporal resolution. However, the detection signal is relatively weak due to the Coulomb force between electrons. Moreover, the effect of RF compression on the transverse focus is usually ignored. We established a particle tracking model to simulate the electron pulse propagation based on the 1-D fluid equation and the 2-D mean-field equation. Under considering the relativity effect and Coulomb force, the impact of RF compression on the transverse focus was studied by solving the fifth-order Rung–Kutta equation. The results show that the RF cavity is not only a key component of longitudinal compression but also affects the transverse focusing. While the effect of transverse focus on longitudinal duration is negligible. By adjusting the position and compression strength of the RF cavity, the beam spot radius can be reduced from 100 μm to 30 μm under the simulation conditions in this paper. When the number of single pulse electrons remains constant, the electrons density incident on the sample could be increased from 3.18×1012 m−2 to 3.54×1013 m−2, which is 11 times the original. The larger the electron density incident on the sample, the greater the signal intensity, which is more conducive to detecting the transient evolution of the material.

Ablation efficiency of gold at fs/ps laser treatment in water and air

A comparison of single-pulse laser ablation of gold target by pulses with a 0.3–10 ps duration and a wavelength of 515 nm in air and in water was performed. The radiation was focused on the sample surface through the objectives with numerical apertures NA = 0.65 and 0.25. The influence of the medium, pulse duration, and spot size on the crater morphology was studied. A significant difference in crater morphology was found for different lenses. The ablation efficiency was studied by measuring the profiles of single-shot pulse craters using scanning force microscopy. The contribution of filamentation to the ablation process is shown quantitatively.

Polarisation-dependent single-pulse ultrafast optical switching of an elementary ferromagnet

The ultimate control of magnetic states of matter at femtosecond (or even faster) timescales defines one of the most pursued paradigm shifts for future information technology. In this context, ultrafast laser pulses developed into extremely valuable stimuli for the all-optical magnetization reversal in ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic alloys and multilayers, while this remains elusive in elementary ferromagnets. Here we demonstrate that a single laser pulse with sub-picosecond duration can lead to the reversal of the magnetization of bulk nickel, in tandem with the expected demagnetization. As revealed by realistic time-dependent electronic structure simulations, the central mechanism involves ultrafast light-induced torques that act on the magnetization. They are only effective if the laser pulse is circularly polarized on a plane that contains the initial orientation of the magnetization. We map the laser pulse parameter space enabling the magnetization switching and unveil rich intra-atomic orbital-dependent magnetization dynamics featuring transient inter-orbital non-collinear states. Our findings open further perspectives for the efficient implementation of optically-based spintronic devices.

Time-sensitive Prefrontal Involvement in Associating Confidence With Task Performance Illustrates Metacognitive Introspection in Monkeys

Metacognition refers to the ability to be aware of one’s own cognition. Ample evidence indicates that metacognition in the human primate is highly dissociable from cognition, specialized across domains, and subserved by distinct neural substrates. However, these aspects remain relatively understudied in macaque monkeys. In the present study, we investigated the functionality of macaque metacognition by combining a confidence proxy, hierarchical Bayesian meta-d′ computational modelling, and a single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation technique. We found that Brodmann area 46d (BA46d) played a critical role in supporting metacognition independent of task performance; we also found that the critical role in of this region in meta-calculation was time-sensitive. Additionally, we report that macaque metacognition is highly domain-specific with respect to memory and perception decisions. These findings carry implications for our understanding of metacognitive introspection within the primate lineage.

Competition, Conflict and Change of Mind: A Role of GABAergic Inhibition in the Primary Motor Cortex

Deciding between different voluntary movements implies a continuous control of the competition between potential actions. Many theories postulate a leading role of prefrontal cortices in this executive function, but strong evidence exists that a motor region like the primary motor cortex (M1) is also involved, possibly via inhibitory mechanisms. This was already shown during the pre-movement decision period, but not after movement onset. For this pilot experiment we designed a new task compatible with the dynamics of post-onset control to study the silent period (SP) duration, a pause in electromyographic activity after single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation that reflects inhibitory mechanisms. A careful analysis of the SP during the ongoing movement indicates a gradual increase in inhibitory mechanisms with the level of competition, consistent with an increase in mutual inhibition between alternative movement options. However, we also observed a decreased SP duration for high-competition trials associated with change-of-mind inflections in their trajectories. Our results suggest a new post-onset adaptive process that consists in a transient reduction of GABAergic inhibition within M1 for highly conflicting situations. We propose that this reduced inhibition softens the competition between concurrent motor options, thereby favoring response vacillation, an adaptive strategy that proved successful at improving behavioral performance.

A GPU based single-pulse search pipeline (GSP) with database and its application to the Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey (CRAFTS)

We developed a GPU based single-pulse search pipeline (GSP) with a candidate-archiving database. Largely based upon the infrastructure of the open source PulsaR Exploration and Search Toolkit (PRESTO), GSP implements GPU acceleration of the de-dispersion and integrates a candidate-archiving database. We applied GSP to the data streams from the Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey (CRAFTS), which resulted in quasi-real-time processing. The integrated candidate database facilitates synergistic usage of multiple machine-learning tools and thus improves efficient identification of radio pulsars such as rotating radio transients (RRATs) and fast radio bursts (FRBs). We first tested GSP on pilot CRAFTS observations with the FAST Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) receiver. GSP detected all pulsars known from the the Parkes multibeam pulsar survey in the corresponding sky area covered by the FAST-UWB. GSP also discovered 13 new pulsars. We measured the computational efficiency of GSP to be ∼120 times faster than the original PRESTO and ∼60 times faster than an MPI-parallelized version of PRESTO.

Мобильный ускоритель на базе безжелезного импульсного бетатрона для радиографирования динамических объектов

The paper concerns the mobile accelerator based on the ironless pulsed betaron. The accelerator is aimed to radiograph dynamic objects with a large optical thickness. It has a possibility to obtain up to three γ-pulses in one cycle of the acceleration. The accelerator operation description and results of its testing powering in a single-pulse mode are provided. The estimated boundary energy of an electron beam is equal to 60 MeV at the capacitance value of 1.8 mF of the storage of the betatron electromagnet pulsed power system. The thickness of the lead test object examined with γ-rays is 140 mm at 4 m from the tantalum target. The full width of the output γ-pulse at half maximum is equal to 120 ns. The dimension of the radiation source is 3×6 mm. The application of these accelerators within the radiographic complex will allow increasing the investigation efficiency due to the optimization of the hydrodynamic experiments geometry and the cost reduction.

Comprehensive ablation study of near-IR femtosecond laser action on the titanium-based alloy Ti6Al4V: morphological effects and surface structures at low and high fluences

The surface of a titanium-based alloy Ti6Al4V was subjected to modifications by a near-IR femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser, emitting at 775 nm pulses of 200 fs duration, in single-pulse and multi-pulse regimes, with up to 400 accumulated pulses, and pulse energies ranging from 2.5 to 250 $$\upmu $$ μ J. The whole range of induced effects is presented, from gentle ablation and pattern occurrence to substantial crater formation. Very observable laser-induced parallel periodic surface structures are reported, appearing both within the damage spot area, with low fluences, and at the peripheries of the craters, with higher fluences—but also on crater walls, and inside the crater structures. Damage threshold fluences $$({F}_{\mathrm{th}})$$ ( F th ) and the incubation factor $$(\zeta )$$ ( ζ ) were also determined. Graphic abstract