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1. Student attitudes toward quantum information science and technology in a high school outreach program

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.20.020126  

   Darienzo, Michele; Kelly, Angela M; Schneble, Dominik; Wei, Tzu-Chieh (October 2024, Physical Review Physics Education Research)

   [This paper is part of the Focused Collection in Investigating and Improving Quantum Education through Research.] With the current growth in quantum information science and technology (QIST), there is an increasing need to prepare precollege students for postsecondary QIST study and careers. This mixed methods, explanatory sequential research focused on students’ affective outcomes from a one-week, 25-h summer program for U.S. high school students in grades 10–12. The workshop structure was based upon psychosocial theories of self-determination and planned behavior, where QIST aspirations may be facilitated and viewed as achievable choices if students acquire disciplinary knowledge, self-efficacy, normative expectancy of their capacity in the field, and awareness of vocational roles. The program featured lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on experiences in classical and quantum physics and quantum computing. Students’ attitudes toward QIST ( $N=77$)—including self-efficacy, self-concept, relevance, career aspirations, and perceptions of quantitative fluency—showed improvement with a medium effect size, even though treatment students entered the program with more positive QIST attitudes when compared with a control group of high school physics students ( $N=65$). Postprogram interviews with $n=12$participants identified several explanatory themes: (i) Students tended to comprehend classical and quantum topics taught through multiple representations, regardless of whether they had taken physics previously; (ii) students experienced some challenges with mathematics and science concepts that support quantum understanding, yet they revealed a willingness to learn new concepts outside of their comfort zone; (iii) students expressed motivation for pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and/or quantum-related careers in the future, as well as increased QIST self-concept, largely through understanding the relevance of QIST in solving technological problems; and (iv) students reported increased self-efficacy in understanding QIST topics and performing related tasks. This informal summer program showed promise in promoting positive student attitudes toward QIST, a critical emerging field in advancing technological solutions for global challenges. Published by the American Physical Society2024 

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2. A QCD $R$ -axion

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.111.015048  

   Unwin, James; Yildirim, Tom (January 2025, Physical Review D)

   $R$-parity can be extended to a continuous global $\mathrm{U}(1{)}_R$symmetry. We investigate whether an anomalous $\mathrm{U}(1{)}_R$can be identified as the Peccei-Quinn symmetry suitable for solving the strong $CP$problem within supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model. In this case, $\mathrm{U}(1{)}_R$is broken at some intermediate scale and the quantum chromodynamics axion is the $R$-axion. Moreover, the $R$-symmetry can potentially be gauged via the Green-Schwarz mechanism within completions to supergravity, in order to evade the axion quality problem. Obstacles to realizing this scenario are highlighted and phenomenologically viable approaches are identified. Published by the American Physical Society2025 

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3. Search for Light Dark Matter in Low-Energy Ionization Signals from XENONnT

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.161004  

   Aprile, E; Aalbers, J; Abe, K; Ahmed_Maouloud, S; Althueser, L; Andrieu, B; Angelino, E; Antón_Martin, D; Arneodo, F; Baudis, L; et al (April 2025, Physical Review Letters)

   We report on a blinded search for dark matter with single- and few-electron signals in the first science run of XENONnT relying on a novel detector response framework that is physics model dependent. We derive 90% confidence upper limits for dark matter-electron interactions. Heavy and light mediator cases are considered for the standard halo model and dark matter up-scattered in the Sun. We set stringent new limits on dark matter-electron scattering via a heavy mediator with a mass within $10–20\mathrm{MeV}/c^2$and electron absorption of axionlike particles and dark photons for $m_{\chi }$below $0.03\mathrm{keV}/c^2$. Published by the American Physical Society2025 

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4. Measurement of the branching fraction and $CP$ -violating asymmetry of the decay $B^0\to {\pi }^0{\pi }^0$ using 387 million $\mathrm{\Upsilon }\left(4S\right)$ decays in Belle II data

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.111.L071102  

   Adachi, I; Aggarwal, L; Ahmed, H; Aihara, H; Alhakami, M; Aloisio, A; Althubiti, N; Anh_Ky, N; Asner, D M; Atmacan, H; et al (April 2025, Physical Review D)

   We measure the branching fraction and $CP$-violating flavor-dependent rate asymmetry of $B^0\to {\pi }^0{\pi }^0$decays reconstructed using the Belle II detector in an electron-positron collision sample containing $387\times {10}^6\mathrm{\Upsilon }\left(4S\right)$mesons. Using an optimized event selection, we find $125\pm 20$signal decays in a fit to background-discriminating and flavor-sensitive distributions. The resulting branching fraction is $(1.25\pm 0.23)\times {10}^{-6}$and the $CP$-violating asymmetry is $0.03\pm 0.30$. Published by the American Physical Society2025 

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5. First Search for Ultralight Dark Matter Using a Magnetically Levitated Particle

   https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.251001  

   Amaral, Dorian_W P; Uitenbroek, Dennis G; Oosterkamp, Tjerk H; Tunnell, Christopher D (June 2025, Physical Review Letters)

   We perform the first search for ultralight dark matter using a magnetically levitated particle. A submillimeter permanent magnet is levitated in a superconducting trap with a measured force sensitivity of $0.2\mathrm{fN}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$. We find no evidence of a signal and derive limits on dark matter coupled to the difference between baryon and lepton number, $B-L$, in the mass range $(1.10360-1.10485)\times {10}^{-13}\mathrm{eV}/c^2$. Our most stringent limit on the coupling strength is $g_{B-L}\lesssim 2.98\times {10}^{-21}$. We propose the POLONAISE (Probing Oscillations using Levitated Objects for Novel Accelerometry In Searches of Exotic physics) experiment, which features short-, medium-, and long-term upgrades that will give us leading sensitivity in a wide mass range, demonstrating the promise of this novel quantum sensing technology in the hunt for dark matter. Published by the American Physical Society2025 

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