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Abstract Stacking two semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide (MX₂) monolayers to form a heterobilayer creates a new variety of semiconductor junction with unique optoelectronic features, such as hosting long-lived dipolar interlayer excitons. Despite many optical, transport, and theoretical studies, there have been few direct electronic structure measurements of these junctions. Here, we apply angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with micron-scale spatial resolution (µARPES) to determine the band alignments in MoSe₂/WSe₂heterobilayers, usingin-situelectrostatic gating to electron-dope and thus probe the conduction band edges. By comparing spectra from heterobilayers with opposite stacking orders, that is, with either MoSe₂or WSe₂on top, we confirm that the band alignment is type II, with the valence band maximum in the WSe₂and the conduction band minimum in the MoSe₂. The overall band gap isE_G= 1.43 ± 0.03 eV, and to within experimental uncertainty it is unaffected by electron doping. However, the offset between the WSe₂and MoSe₂valence bands clearly decreases with increasing electron doping, implying band renormalisation only in the MoSe₂, the layer in which the electrons accumulate. In contrast,µARPES spectra from a WS₂/MoSe₂heterobilayer indicate type I band alignment, with both band edges in the MoSe₂. These insights into the doping-dependent band alignments and gaps of MX₂heterobilayers will be useful for properly understanding and ultimately utilizing their optoelectronic properties. 

Blind quantum computing is a promising application of distributed quantum systems, in which a client can perform computations on a remote server without revealing any details of the applied circuit. Although the most promising realizations of quantum computers are based on various matter-qubit platforms, implementing blind quantum computing on matter qubits remains a challenge. Using silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers in nanophotonic diamond cavities with an efficient optical interface, we demonstrated a universal quantum gate set consisting of single- and two-qubit blind gates over a distributed two-node network. Using these ingredients, we performed a distributed algorithm with blind operations across our two-node network, proving a route to develop blind quantum computation with matter qubits in distributed, modular architectures. 

Abstract The ability of collisionless shocks to efficiently accelerate nonthermal electrons via diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) is thought to require an injection mechanism capable of preaccelerating electrons to high enough energy where they can start crossing the shock front potential. We propose, and show via fully kinetic plasma simulations, that in high-Mach-number shocks electrons can be effectively injected by scattering in kinetic-scale magnetic turbulence produced near the shock transition by the ion Weibel, or current filamentation, instability. We describe this process as a modified DSA mechanism where initially thermal electrons experience the flow velocity gradient in the shock transition and are accelerated via a first-order Fermi process as they scatter back and forth. The electron energization rate, diffusion coefficient, and acceleration time obtained in the model are consistent with particle-in-cell simulations and with the results of recent laboratory experiments where nonthermal electron acceleration was observed. This injection model represents a natural extension of DSA and could account for electron injection in high-Mach-number astrophysical shocks, such as those associated with young supernova remnants and accretion shocks in galaxy clusters. 

Traffic systems exhibit supply-side uncertainty which is alleviated through real-time information. This article explores subscription models for a private agency sharing data at a fixed rate. A multiclass strategy-based equilibrium model is developed for two classes of subscribed and unsubscribed travelers, whose optimal strategy given the link-state costs is modeled as a Markov decision process (MDP) and a partially-observable MDP, respectively. A utility-based subscription choice model is formulated to study the impacts of subscription rates on the percentage of travelers choosing to subscribe. Solutions to the fixed-point formulation are determined using iterative algorithms. The proposed subscription model can be used for designing optimal subscription rates in various settings where real-time information can be a valuable routing tool such as express lanes, parking systems, roadside delivery, and routing of vulnerable road users. 

Abstract A key challenge in realizing practical quantum networks for long-distance quantum communication involves robust entanglement between quantum memory nodes connected by fibre optical infrastructure^1–3. Here we demonstrate a two-node quantum network composed of multi-qubit registers based on silicon-vacancy (SiV) centres in nanophotonic diamond cavities integrated with a telecommunication fibre network. Remote entanglement is generated by the cavity-enhanced interactions between the electron spin qubits of the SiVs and optical photons. Serial, heralded spin-photon entangling gate operations with time-bin qubits are used for robust entanglement of separated nodes. Long-lived nuclear spin qubits are used to provide second-long entanglement storage and integrated error detection. By integrating efficient bidirectional quantum frequency conversion of photonic communication qubits to telecommunication frequencies (1,350 nm), we demonstrate the entanglement of two nuclear spin memories through 40 km spools of low-loss fibre and a 35-km long fibre loop deployed in the Boston area urban environment, representing an enabling step towards practical quantum repeaters and large-scale quantum networks. 

Abstract We present a comprehensive study of the nonproportionality of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors within the context of dark matter search experiments. Our investigation, which integrates COSINE-100 data with supplementary$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$spectroscopy, measures light yields across diverse energy levels from full-energy$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$peaks produced by the decays of various isotopes. These$$\gamma $$ $\gamma$peaks of interest were produced by decays supported by both long and short-lived isotopes. Analyzing peaks from decays supported only by short-lived isotopes presented a unique challenge due to their limited statistics and overlapping energies, which was overcome by long-term data collection and a time-dependent analysis. A key achievement is the direct measurement of the 0.87 keV light yield, resulting from the cascade following electron capture decay of$$\mathrm {^{22}Na}$$ ${}^{22}\mathrm{Na}$from internal contamination. This measurement, previously accessible only indirectly, deepens our understanding of NaI(Tl) scintillator behavior in the region of interest for dark matter searches. This study holds substantial implications for background modeling and the interpretation of dark matter signals in NaI(Tl) experiments.