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1. Bounds on eigenfunctions of quantum cat maps

   https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad0331  

   Kim, Elena; Koirala, Robert (October 2023, Physica Scripta)

   Abstract We studyℓ^∞norms ofℓ²-normalized eigenfunctions of quantum cat maps. For maps with short quantum periods (constructed by Bonechi and de Biévre in F Bonechi and S De Bièvre (2000,Communications in Mathematical Physics,211, 659–686)) we show that there exists a sequence of eigenfunctionsuwith $\parallel u{\parallel }_{\infty }\gtrsim {\left(\log N\right)}^{-1/2}$. For general eigenfunctions we show the upper bound $\parallel u{\parallel }_{\infty }\lesssim {\left(\log N\right)}^{-1/2}$. Here the semiclassical parameter is $h={\left(2\pi N\right)}^{-1}$. Our upper bound is analogous to the one proved by Bérard in P Bérard (1977,Mathematische Zeitschrift,155, 249-276) for compact Riemannian manifolds without conjugate points. 

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2. Stabilizing Ti ₃ C ₂ T _x MXene flakes in air by removing confined water

   https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2400084121  

   Fang, Hui; Thakur, Anupma; Zahmatkeshsaredorahi, Amirhossein; Fang, Zhenyao; Rad, Vahid; Shamsabadi, Ahmad A; Pereyra, Claudia; Soroush, Masoud; Rappe, Andrew M; Xu, Xiaoji G; et al (July 2024, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

   MXenes have demonstrated potential for various applications owing to their tunable surface chemistry and metallic conductivity. However, high temperatures can accelerate MXene film oxidation in air. Understanding the mechanisms of MXene oxidation at elevated temperatures, which is still limited, is critical in improving their thermal stability for high-temperature applications. Here, we demonstrate that Ti ${}_3$C ${}_2$T ${}_x$MXene monoflakes have exceptional thermal stability at temperatures up to 600 ${}^{°}$C in air, while multiflakes readily oxidize in air at 300 ${}^{°}$C. Density functional theory calculations indicate that confined water between Ti ${}_3$C ${}_2$T ${}_x$flakes has higher removal energy than surface water and can thus persist to higher temperatures, leading to oxidation. We demonstrate that the amount of confined water correlates with the degree of oxidation in stacked flakes. Confined water can be fully removed by vacuum annealing Ti ${}_3$C ${}_2$T ${}_x$films at 600 ${}^{°}$C, resulting in substantial stability improvement in multiflake films (can withstand 600 ${}^{°}$C in air). These findings provide fundamental insights into the kinetics of confined water and its role in Ti ${}_3$C ${}_2$T ${}_x$oxidation. This work enables the use of stable monoflake MXenes in high-temperature applications and provides guidelines for proper vacuum annealing of multiflake films to enhance their stability. 

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3. Ultra-High-Energy Cosmic Rays Accelerated by Magnetically Dominated Turbulence

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad955f  

   Comisso, Luca; Farrar, Glennys R; Muzio, Marco S (December 2024, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), particles characterized by energies exceeding 10¹⁸eV, are generally believed to be accelerated electromagnetically in high-energy astrophysical sources. One promising mechanism of UHECR acceleration is magnetized turbulence. We demonstrate from first principles, using fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations, that magnetically dominated turbulence accelerates particles on a short timescale, producing a power-law energy distribution with a rigidity-dependent, sharply defined cutoff well approximated by the form $f_{\mathrm{cut}}\left(E,E_{\mathrm{cut}}\right)=\mathrm{sech}\left({\left(E/E_{\mathrm{cut}}\right)}^2\right)$. Particle escape from the turbulent accelerating region is energy dependent, witht_esc∝E^−δandδ∼ 1/3. The resulting particle flux from the accelerator follows $\mathit{dN}/\mathit{dEdt}\propto E^{-s}\mathrm{sech}\left({\left(E/E_{\mathrm{cut}}\right)}^2\right)$, withs∼ 2.1. We fit the Pierre Auger Observatory’s spectrum and composition measurements, taking into account particle interactions between acceleration and detection, and show that the turbulence-associated energy cutoff is well supported by the data, with the best-fitting spectral index being $s={2.1}_{-0.13}^{+0.06}$. Our first-principles results indicate that particle acceleration by magnetically dominated turbulence may constitute the physical mechanism responsible for UHECR acceleration. 

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4. Velocity-resolved Reverberation Mapping of NGC 3227

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad08b8  

   Bentz, Misty C.; Markham, Madison; Rosborough, Sara; Onken, Christopher A.; Street, Rachel; Valluri, Monica; Treu, Tommaso (December 2023, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract We describe the results of a new reverberation mapping program focused on the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 3227. Photometric and spectroscopic monitoring was carried out from 2022 December to 2023 June with the Las Cumbres Observatory network of telescopes. We detected time delays in several optical broad emission lines, with Hβhaving the longest delay at ${\tau }_{\mathrm{cent}}={4.0}_{-0.9}^{+0.9}$days and Heiihaving the shortest delay with ${\tau }_{\mathrm{cent}}={0.9}_{-0.8}^{+1.1}$days. We also detect velocity-resolved behavior of the Hβemission line, with different line-of-sight velocities corresponding to different observed time delays. Combining the integrated Hβtime delay with the width of the variable component of the emission line and a standard scale factor suggests a black hole mass of $M_{\mathrm{BH}}={1.1}_{-0.3}^{+0.2}\times {10}^7$M_⊙. Modeling of the full velocity-resolved response of the Hβemission line with the phenomenological codeCARAMELfinds a similar mass of $M_{\mathrm{BH}}={1.2}_{-0.7}^{+1.5}\times {10}^7$M_⊙and suggests that the Hβ-emitting broad-line region (BLR) may be represented by a biconical or flared disk structure that we are viewing at an inclination angle ofθ_i≈ 33° and with gas motions that are dominated by rotation. The new photoionization-based BLR modeling toolBELMACfinds general agreement with the observations when assuming the best-fitCARAMELresults; however,BELMACprefers a thick-disk geometry and kinematics that are equally composed of rotation and inflow. Both codes infer a radially extended and flattened BLR that is not outflowing. 

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5. The most energetic transients: Tidal disruptions of high-mass stars

   https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adt0074  

   Hinkle, Jason T; Shappee, Benjamin J; Auchettl, Katie; Kochanek, Christopher S; Neustadt, Jack_M M; Polin, Abigail; Strader, Jay; Holoien, Thomas W-S; Huber, Mark E; Tucker, Michael A; et al (June 2025, Science Advances)

   We present the class of extreme nuclear transients (ENTs), including the most energetic single transient yet found, Gaia18cdj. Each ENT is coincident with its host-galaxy nucleus and exhibits a smooth (<10% excess variability), luminous (2 × 10⁴⁵to 7 × 10⁴⁵erg per second), and long-lived (>150 days) flare. ENTs are extremely rare (≥1 × 10^–3cubic gigaparsec per year) compared to any other known class of transients. They are at least twice as energetic (0.5 × 10⁵³to 2.5 × 10⁵³erg) as any other known transient, ruling out supernova origins. Instead, the high peak luminosities, long flare timescales, and immense radiated energies of the ENTs are most consistent with the tidal disruption of high-mass (  $\gtrsim 3{\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$ ) stars by massive (  $\gtrsim {10}^8 {\mathrm{M}}_{\odot }$ ) supermassive black holes (SMBHs). ENTs will be visible to high redshifts (z~ 4 to 6) in upcoming surveys, providing an avenue to study the high-mass end of the SMBH mass distribution, complementing recent studies of actively accreting SMBHs at high redshifts with the James Webb Space Telescope. 

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