Physica Scripta

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• The following article is Open access
  Complex field formulation of quantum estimation theory

  M Muñoz et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 325102

  View article, Complex field formulation of quantum estimation theoryPDF, Complex field formulation of quantum estimation theoryOpen abstract

  We present a complex-field formulation of quantum estimation theory that natively operates with complex statistics for the dependence of complex parameters. This formulation states new complex versions of the main quantities and results of the estimation theory depending on complex parameters, such as Fisher information matrices and Cramér–Rao bounds. This can be useful in contexts where quantum states are described by complex parameters, such as coherent or squeezed states. We present an example of our theory’s application to quantum communication with coherent states.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8e48
• The following article is Open access
  Evaluation of photocatalytic degradation, corrosion resistance, and magnetic properties of Fe–Co–Mo–Cu–B amorphous ribbons

  Damla Dilara Çakil et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 315902

  View article, Evaluation of photocatalytic degradation, corrosion resistance, and magnetic properties of Fe–Co–Mo–Cu–B amorphous ribbonsPDF, Evaluation of photocatalytic degradation, corrosion resistance, and magnetic properties of Fe–Co–Mo–Cu–B amorphous ribbonsOpen abstract

  The objective of this study was to evaluate the photocatalytic degradation of a methylene blue dye solution by Fe–Co based amorphous ribbons with different compositions. In order to assess the photocatalytic activity of the amorphous ribbons, analysis was conducted under UVC, UVA and visible irradiation. The results of the photocatalysis experiments demonstrated that the Fe38Mo ribbon exhibited the highest performance under UVA irradiation, with a degradation efficiency of 24.5%. Ribbon of other compositions exhibited degradation efficiencies ranging between 13%. and 20%. In the context of corrosion analyses, the (Fe₄₂Co₄₂)₈₄Cu₁B₁₅ ribbon demonstrated the most robust corrosion resistance, exhibiting an i_corr value of 1.62E-05 A cm⁻² and a corrosion rate of 26.02 mpy (mils per year). The Mo-doped (Fe₆₃Co₁₃)₇₆Mo₈Cu₁B₁₅ ribbon exhibited an i_corr value of 2.84 × 10⁻⁵ A cm⁻² and a corrosion rate of 47.95 mpy. The (Fe₅₇Co₁₉)₇₆Mo₈Cu₁B₁₅ ribbon, which exhibited the lowest corrosion resistance, reached an i_corr of 3.92 × 10⁻⁵ A cm⁻² and a corrosion rate of 65.85 mpy. The impact of FeCo-based alloys, which are renowned for their magnetic properties, on magnetic properties was also examined. The magnetic saturation value of the Fe70 ribbon increased from 2.21 to 2.37 emu cm⁻² under UVC irradiation, while the coercivity value decreased from 1.42 Oe to 0.85 Oe. These results suggest that low-cost Fe–Co based amorphous ribbons may have potential for use as an efficient photocatalyst in environmental pollution removal applications.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8e46
• The following article is Open access
  Responses to catastrophic AGI risk: a survey

  Kaj Sotala and Roman V Yampolskiy 2015 Phys. Scr. 90 018001

  View article, Responses to catastrophic AGI risk: a surveyPDF, Responses to catastrophic AGI risk: a surveyOpen abstract

  Many researchers have argued that humanity will create artificial general intelligence (AGI) within the next twenty to one hundred years. It has been suggested that AGI may inflict serious damage to human well-being on a global scale (‘catastrophic risk’). After summarizing the arguments for why AGI may pose such a risk, we review the fieldʼs proposed responses to AGI risk. We consider societal proposals, proposals for external constraints on AGI behaviors and proposals for creating AGIs that are safe due to their internal design.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-8949/90/1/018001
• The following article is Open access
  Variational formulation of a simplified model motivated by transport in quasineutral magnetized plasmas

  Sayyed Amin Raiessi Toussi and Omar Maj 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 315201

  View article, Variational formulation of a simplified model motivated by transport in quasineutral magnetized plasmasPDF, Variational formulation of a simplified model motivated by transport in quasineutral magnetized plasmasOpen abstract

  We address the variational formulation of a simplified model that has been put forward by Gutiérrez-Santacreu et al (2018 J. Comput. Phys. 373 811–34) as a proof of concept for a robust way to compute the electric potential from the quasineutrality constraint in the context of transport modeling of magnetized plasmas. The variational principle opens the possibility of deriving structure-preserving discretizations of the model using particles, thus extending the previous work to particle methods. Besides the application to numerical methods, the variational formulation of this simplified model requires some ad hoc ideas and techniques. We also demonstrate three approaches to account for the nonconservative forces such as viscosities.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8ed0
• The following article is Open access
  30 years of squeezed light generation

  Ulrik L Andersen et al 2016 Phys. Scr. 91 053001

  View article, 30 years of squeezed light generationPDF, 30 years of squeezed light generationOpen abstract

  Squeezed light generation has come of age. Significant advances on squeezed light generation have been made over the last 30 years—from the initial, conceptual experiment in 1985 till today’s top-tuned, application-oriented setups. Here we review the main experimental platforms for generating quadrature squeezed light that have been investigated in the last 30 years.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-8949/91/5/053001
• The following article is Open access
  Diffusion of atoms produced by photodissociation in an I₂ vapour: pressure dependence of surface recombination and a correction of the decay time of the fundamental mode

  Jean-Luc Raimbault et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 325401

  View article, Diffusion of atoms produced by photodissociation in an I2 vapour: pressure dependence of surface recombination and a correction of the decay time of the fundamental modePDF, Diffusion of atoms produced by photodissociation in an I2 vapour: pressure dependence of surface recombination and a correction of the decay time of the fundamental modeOpen abstract

  This work investigates, theoretically and experimentally, the spatio-temporal evolution of the density of iodine atoms produced in a cylindrical fused silica cell containing iodine molecular gas. The atoms are generated along the axis of the cell by laser photodissociation at the wavelength 488 nm and their density is monitored using the two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence technique. The diffusion coefficient $D$ and the wall-recombination probability $\gamma$ are determined by fitting a multimode model of atomic diffusion to experimental time variations of the atomic density recorded under various pressures. An improved formula is established for the fundamental-mode decay time, beyond the usual addition of a diffusion time and a recombination time. The diffusion coefficient $D$ of I in I₂ vapour is found equal to $0.048 \pm 0.009\,\textrm{m}^2\,\textrm{s}^{-1}$ at 10 Pa, while the wall-recombination coefficient $\gamma$ decreases from 0.25 to 0.05 when the pressure increases from 2.7 to 31.1 Pa.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae89f3
• The following article is Open access
  The structural, magnetic, electronic, optical and mechanical properties of some rare earth sesquioxides Re₂O₃ (Re = Gd and Tb): first-principles calculations

  Sedat Durman and Sevket Simsek 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 325902

  View article, The structural, magnetic, electronic, optical and mechanical properties of some rare earth sesquioxides Re2O3 (Re = Gd and Tb): first-principles calculationsPDF, The structural, magnetic, electronic, optical and mechanical properties of some rare earth sesquioxides Re2O3 (Re = Gd and Tb): first-principles calculationsOpen abstract

  This work presents a comprehensive study on the physical properties of A-type Re₂O₃ (Re = Gd, Tb) rare earth sesquioxides. The structural, magnetic, electronic, optical and mechanical properties of Gd₂O₃ and Tb₂O₃ sesquioxides were investigated using different theoretical approaches such as GGA-PBEsol (the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional tuned in particular for properties of solids), mbjLDA, HSE06 and GGA + U_eff based on density functional theory. Structural optimisations of the compounds under consideration were conducted utilising the GGA-PBEsol and HSE06 method and the findings show that they are in good agreement with the results in the literature. GGA-PBEsol, mbjLDA and HSE06 methods were utilised to accurately analyse the electronic properties of both compounds and the results demonstrate that both compounds are magnetic insulator materials with indirect band gap (Г–K). Additionally, the results obtained with the GGA + U_eff method also confirm that both compounds have indirect band gaps. The calculated magnetic moment of Gd and Tb atoms is found to be 6.926 µB and 5.916 µB, respectively. On the other hand, the frequency dependent dielectric function of Gd₂O₃ and Tb₂O₃ compounds was calculated for their potential applications in optical materials and the obtained results show that both compounds may be suitable for ultraviolet optoelectronic applications. From the calculated elastic constants, Gd₂O₃ and Tb₂O₃ compounds were predicted to be mechanically stable, ductile and soft materials.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9142
• The following article is Open access
  Review and viability of a Dyson Swarm as a form of Dyson Sphere

  Jack Smith 2022 Phys. Scr. 97 122001

  View article, Review and viability of a Dyson Swarm as a form of Dyson SpherePDF, Review and viability of a Dyson Swarm as a form of Dyson SphereOpen abstract

  First conceptualised in Olaf Stapledon’s 1937 novel ‘Star Maker’, before being popularised by Freeman Dyson in the 1960s, Dyson Spheres are structures which surround a civilisation's sun to collect all the energy being radiated. This article presents a discussion of the features of such a feat of engineering, reviews the viability, scale and likely design of a Dyson structure, and analyses details about each stage of its construction and operation. It is found that a Dyson Swarm, a large array of individual satellites orbiting another celestial body, is the ideal design for such a structure as opposed to the solid sun-surrounding structure which is typically associated with the Dyson Sphere. In our solar system, such a structure based around Mars would be able to generate the Earth's 2019 global power consumption of 18.35 TW within fifty years once its construction has begun, which itself could start by 2040 using biennial launch windows. Alongside a 4.17 km² ground-based heliostat array, the swarm of over 5.5 billion satellites would be constructed on the surface of Mars before being launched by electromagnetic accelerators into a Martian orbit. Efficiency of the Dyson Swarm ranges from 0.74–2.77% of the Sun’s 3.85 × 10²⁶ W output, with large potential for growth as both current technologies improve, and future concepts are brought to reality in the time before and during the swarm’s construction. Not only would a Dyson Swarm provide a near-infinite, renewable power source for Earth, it would also allow for significant expansions in human space exploration and for our civilisation as a whole.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ac9e78
• The following article is Open access
  Optimizing epsilon security parameters in QKD

  Alexander G Mountogiannakis and Stefano Pirandola 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 325101

  View article, Optimizing epsilon security parameters in QKDPDF, Optimizing epsilon security parameters in QKDOpen abstract

  We investigate the optimization of $\varepsilon$-security parameters in quantum key distribution, aiming to improve the achievable secure key rate under a fixed overall composable security level. For this purpose, we employ a continuous genetic algorithm (CGA) to optimize the $\varepsilon$-security components of two representative protocols: the homodyne protocol from the continuous-variable family and the BB84 protocol from the discrete-variable family. We detail the CGA configuration, summarize the derivation of the composable key rate, and emphasize the role of the $\varepsilon$-parameters in both protocols. We then compare key rates obtained with optimized $\varepsilon$-values against those derived from standard and randomized choices. Our results demonstrate substantial key rate improvements at high security levels, where the key rate typically vanishes, and uncover positive-rate regimes that are inaccessible without optimization.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8db2
• The following article is Open access
  Graphene-integrated silicon metasurface for dynamically tunable chirality and enhanced sensing enabled by high-Q quasi-bound states in the continuum

  Caiyan Xie et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 315515

  View article, Graphene-integrated silicon metasurface for dynamically tunable chirality and enhanced sensing enabled by high-Q quasi-bound states in the continuumPDF, Graphene-integrated silicon metasurface for dynamically tunable chirality and enhanced sensing enabled by high-Q quasi-bound states in the continuumOpen abstract

  Bound states in the continuum (BICs) supported by high‐Q metasurfaces enable extreme field localization, thereby enhancing light–matter interactions. These features offer broad prospects for applications in lasing, sensing, communications, and nonlinear optics. Here, we report a planar chiral silicon metasurface that simultaneously achieves near‐ideal circular dichroism (CD) and an ultrahigh Q factor. By breaking in‐plane symmetry, an intrinsic chiral quasi‐BIC yields CD = 0.99 and a Q factor of 1.9 × 10⁵. Under oblique incidence, extrinsic chirality gives CD = −0.92 and a Q factor of 3.3 × 10⁵. By integrating a monolayer of graphene and tuning its Fermi level from 0.34 eV to 0.57 eV, we realize dynamic CD modulation from 0.01 to 0.91. The chiral resonance also enables high‐performance refractive‐index (RI) sensing with a sensitivity of 125 nm RIU⁻¹ and a figure of merit of 1.56 × 10⁴. This work provides a versatile and tunable platform for chiral photonics, with promising applications in switching, polarization control, and biochemical sensing.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8c7e

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• Joint signal-domain segmentation and reconstruction for photoacoustic tomography via physics-informed self-supervised learning

  Sun Zheng et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 356001

  View article, Joint signal-domain segmentation and reconstruction for photoacoustic tomography via physics-informed self-supervised learningPDF, Joint signal-domain segmentation and reconstruction for photoacoustic tomography via physics-informed self-supervised learningOpen abstract

  Objective. Conventional photoacoustic tomography (PAT) follows a decoupled pipeline of image reconstruction and segmentation, causing error propagation and information loss as artifacts and reduced contrast in reconstructed images degrade subsequent segmentation accuracy. Approach. We propose the Joint Image Reconstruction and Segmentation in the Signal Domain Network (JIRSSD-Net), an end-to-end framework that unifies segmentation and reconstruction by performing feature extraction directly on raw acoustic pressure signals prior to image formation. JIRSSD-Net employs a dynamic physics-guided self-supervision mechanism that progressively relaxes time-of-flight (TOF) physical priors by annealing their weighting coefficient from 1.0 to 0.2 via a cosine schedule as data-driven representations mature. This mechanism comprises three coupled components: a physics-driven module estimating initial target boundaries through TOF analysis providing an early geometric anchor; a self-supervised module with dual-network contrastive learning, where physical priors serve as a progressively annealed curriculum; and a cross-domain gradient pathway from reconstruction loss back to the signal-domain feature extractor. A reconstruction subnetwork fuses segmented signal features with an initial low-quality image to produce a high-fidelity output. Main results. JIRSSD-Net was validated on simulated, phantom, and in vivo murine datasets, outperforming image-domain, signal-domain, and joint baselines across all metrics with statistical significance confirmed by the Friedman test. On in vivo data, it surpassed the state-of-the-art joint method BFIO-Net in both reconstruction and segmentation, achieving approximately 3.6% and 3.4% higher structural similarity index and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), while improving the Jaccard index by 7.9% and reducing the average symmetric surface distance by 41.3%. JIRSSD-Net also demonstrated superior robustness under realistic noise with high computational efficiency. Significance. By coupling physical priors with self-supervised learning through a dynamic annealing mechanism, JIRSSD-Net eliminates the error propagation of conventional sequential pipelines and enhances robustness and accuracy for preclinical PAT applications.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae96d9
• A critical review on the convergence of blockchain and machine learning in deep packet inspection systems to enhance network traffic security, performance and management

  Fazeel Ahmed Khan et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 355004

  View article, A critical review on the convergence of blockchain and machine learning in deep packet inspection systems to enhance network traffic security, performance and managementPDF, A critical review on the convergence of blockchain and machine learning in deep packet inspection systems to enhance network traffic security, performance and managementOpen abstract

  The growing volume and complexity of network data requires advance solutions for network traffic analysis and security. The deep packet inspection (DPI) offers a granular approach to monitor, filter and classify network traffic to enforce security policies, optimize quality of service (QoS) and detect malicious activities. This survey has addressed these issues by exploring the emerging but promising integration of blockchain and machine learning to improve DPI to secure networks and increase performance efficiency. It provides comprehensive details on the application domain of DPI with a focus on network security, performance and management. Also, the survey proposed a research roadmap to guide the future development on blockchain-enabled intelligent solutions for DPI. Using PRISMA methodology, several existing studies were evaluated which addresses the potential application of blockchain and machine learning in DPI. The survey has identified significant challenges towards the integration including real-time IP packet inspection efficiency, QoS performance and the impact of high traffic volume on DPI. It concludes that DPI has wider applications to be integrated with emerging technologies particularly in machine learning and blockchain. The future research should focus on advance machine learning paradigms such as continual and federated learning while blockchain technology should be resolved with scalability challenges to be utilized effectively for next-generation DPI solutions.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae999c
• Femtosecond laser direct writing of near-infrared single photon sources in silicon carbide

  Yan Peng et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 345103

  View article, Femtosecond laser direct writing of near-infrared single photon sources in silicon carbidePDF, Femtosecond laser direct writing of near-infrared single photon sources in silicon carbideOpen abstract

  Silicon carbide (SiC) is a leading wide-bandgap semiconductor for quantum technologies, benefiting from its exceptional material properties and the room-temperature spin coherence of its intrinsic color centers. This work demonstrates the site-selective fabrication of bright, stable single-photon emitters (SPEs) on the surface of bulk 4H-SiC via 515 nm single-pulse femtosecond laser direct writing followed by thermal annealing. Controlled defect generation enables the deterministic creation of optically active color centers within pre-defined arrays, showcasing high placement precision. Comprehensive optical characterization, including confocal photoluminescence (PL) imaging and second-order intensity correlation function ($g^{2}(\tau)$) measurements, confirms that emitters generated with single-pulse energies around 9.1 nJ exhibit stable near-infrared PL at room temperature and clear antibunching behavior, unequivocally verifying their single-photon emission nature. Beyond a fabrication method, this femtosecond laser writing approach establishes a scalable and integration-compatible pathway for producing functional quantum emitters in SiC. The demonstrated combination of deterministic positioning, high single-photon purity, and outstanding photostability establishes these laser-written SPEs as promising candidates for scalable integration into quantum photonic circuits, quantum communication networks, and on-chip quantum sensing devices.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9a07
• Multifunctional tunable terahertz metasurface with 20 independent channels and ultra-low crosstalk via bidirectional full-polarization decoupling and frequency multiplexing

  Liming Lai et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 355501

  View article, Multifunctional tunable terahertz metasurface with 20 independent channels and ultra-low crosstalk via bidirectional full-polarization decoupling and frequency multiplexingPDF, Multifunctional tunable terahertz metasurface with 20 independent channels and ultra-low crosstalk via bidirectional full-polarization decoupling and frequency multiplexingOpen abstract

  Boosting channel density represents a core demand for terahertz (THz) metasurfaces deployed in next-generation information processing systems. However, the dense integration of multiple functions often leads to severe inter-channel crosstalk, which remains a critical bottleneck in this field. Here, we design a compact 11-layer tunable metasurface integrated with vanadium dioxide and gallium arsenide. Based on a mirror-symmetric configuration, bidirectional full-polarization decoupling of dual-linear (x/y) and dual-circular (LCP/RCP) polarizations is realized, which results in 20 independent channels with an average inter-channel crosstalk as low as −40.5 dB. While combined with frequency multiplexing across five independently controllable operating frequencies, the design enables 30 distinct wavefront manipulations, including orbital angular momentum generation, beam splitting, focusing, and holographic imaging. Results confirm the high-fidelity performance: vortex beams achieve a mode purity of 95%, beam splitting exhibits a deflection error of approximately 0.2°, focusing efficiency reaches 63.52% with a focal length error below 6%, and holographic imaging attains a peak efficiency of 53.60%. Relative to previously published schemes, this design achieves a comprehensive balance among channel capacity, functional integration, and reconfigurability, providing a valuable design reference for high-capacity THz metasurface devices.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9a14
• Dual-polarization and dual-band tunable nonreciprocal thermal radiation based on graphene grating/InAs/AlN hybrid heterostructures

  Hongda Liu et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 355505

  View article, Dual-polarization and dual-band tunable nonreciprocal thermal radiation based on graphene grating/InAs/AlN hybrid heterostructuresPDF, Dual-polarization and dual-band tunable nonreciprocal thermal radiation based on graphene grating/InAs/AlN hybrid heterostructuresOpen abstract

  Conventional thermal radiators are fundamentally constrained by Lorentz reciprocity and Kirchhoff’s law, which strictly dictates the equality of spectral absorptivity and emissivity. Breaking this constraint to achieve nonreciprocal thermal radiation (NTR) holds paramount importance for unidirectional energy flow control and boosting energy conversion efficiencies. However, current magneto-optical configuration designs are largely restricted to single-polarization or single-band operational modes under high magnetic fields. In this work, we propose and theoretically investigate a reconfigurable NTR device based on a hybrid structure consisting of a graphene grating, a magneto-optical indium arsenide (InAs) film, and an aluminum nitride (AlN) polar dielectric layer supported by a silver (Ag) substrate. Rigorous coupled wave analysis calculations demonstrate that under a significantly mitigated external magnetic field of 0.9 T, the proposed architecture simultaneously realizes high-performance dual-band NTR for separately optimized transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations. Specifically, strong nonreciprocity peaks exceeding 0.90 are identified at 17.80 and 17.98 μm for TE modes, and at 16.51 and 16.72 μm for TM modes. Electromagnetic field analysis reveals that the physical origin of this strong nonreciprocity stems from the excitation of localized cavity resonance modes and guided-mode resonances. Furthermore, parametric investigations show that the dual-band nonreciprocal response exhibits excellent angular robustness and flexibility. Notably, the operational bands can be dynamically post-tuned via active electrical gating of the graphene Fermi energy or adjusting the biasing magnetic field, and can be passively tailored by scaling the geometric parameters of the graphene grating width and period. This design offers a compact and multi-dimensional manipulation paradigm for multispectral thermal regulation, reconfigurable infrared sensing, and thermophotonic devices.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9b76

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• Optical sensors based on agar-made biodegradable waveguides

  Eric Fujiwara et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 342001

  View article, Optical sensors based on agar-made biodegradable waveguidesPDF, Optical sensors based on agar-made biodegradable waveguidesOpen abstract

  Optical waveguides made of soft biodegradable materials are emerging technologies for illumination, light manipulation, and surveillance in microfluidics, biomedical, and environmental applications. Agar, a renewable and edible phycocolloid, stands out among other hydrogels as a low-cost, moldable, transparent, and thermoreversible alternative to create standard and structured optical devices whose mechanical and optical properties are tailored by the gel composition. Therefore, this paper presents an overview of recent developments and perspectives of agar-made optical fibers for physical and biochemical sensing. Variations in the hydrogel structure and refractive index induced by mechanical, thermal, and chemical stimuli modulate the average intensity or the interference between multiple guided modes, yielding a sensitive response traceable via optical loss or speckle pattern analyses. Surrounding fluids and relative humidity changes also affect the gel characteristics through syneresis and swelling effects, whereas mineral impurities provide electrical conductivity and convey current measurements. Ultimately, one may explore the gel’s ability to encapsulate microorganisms for evaluating biochemical parameters throughout degeneration. Discussions on the merits and limitations of agarose waveguides provide insights into the development of practical optical probes for in vivo applications, ensuring biocompatibility and safe absorption/excretion by the organism after accomplishing sensing tasks.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9b47
• Progress in high ZT materials for low-grade heat harvesting

  Rafiq Mulla 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 332001

  View article, Progress in high ZT materials for low-grade heat harvestingPDF, Progress in high ZT materials for low-grade heat harvestingOpen abstract

  Thermoelectric materials enable the direct conversion of heat into electricity and offer attractive solutions for energy harvesting and waste-heat recovery. Their performance is evaluated by the dimensionless figure of merit, ZT = S²σT/κ, where S is the Seebeck coefficient, σ is the electrical conductivity, κ is the thermal conductivity, and T is the absolute temperature. Traditionally, high ZT values have been achieved at elevated temperatures in materials such as PbTe, SiGe, half-Heusler compounds, skutterudites, and metal oxides. However, for emerging applications including consumer electronics, wearable devices, Internet-of-Things systems, and biomedical devices/sensors, achieving high ZT at/near room temperature is essential. In recent years, significant progress has been made towards this goal through strategies such as nanostructuring, band-structure engineering, defect/interface engineering, and also by the discovery of novel thermoelectric compounds. These advances have enabled several material systems to reach ZT values of more than 1 under ambient conditions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in room-temperature thermoelectric materials, with a particular focus on high-ZT reports.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9652
• Time dependent properties of polymer blends and composites: a review

  Shankar S Humbe et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 322001

  View article, Time dependent properties of polymer blends and composites: a reviewPDF, Time dependent properties of polymer blends and composites: a reviewOpen abstract

  Polymer blends and composites play crucial roles across aerospace, automotive, energy and structural applications, yet their long-term performance governed by complex time‐dependent properties and performance. Existing reviews often isolate chemical aging, mechanical behavior or characterization techniques, leaving a gap in understanding how molecular‐scale changes translate into macroscopic property loss. This review provides an integrated, mechanism‐driven synthesis of time‐dependent behavior in polymers, linking degradation chemistry, morphology evolution and property deterioration. We critically examine physical aging, photo‐oxidation, hydrolysis, viscoelastic relaxation, interfacial decay in composites and the role of environmental stressors. Quantitative trends from the literature are consolidated to clarify how mechanical strength, elongation, thermal transitions, dielectric response, and optical performance evolve. We also evaluate advanced analytical methods, including DMA, dielectric spectroscopy, thermally stimulated depolarization current and nanoscale dielectric tools that reveal molecular mobility and relaxation phenomena. Finally, we outline design guidelines and future directions, emphasizing predictive modeling, nanofiller‐based stabilization and the development of sustainable, long‐life polymer systems.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae92bb
• Optical spectroscopy-based quantitative intraoperative tumor margin analysis across cancer types

  Subitcha Jayasankar et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 302002

  View article, Optical spectroscopy-based quantitative intraoperative tumor margin analysis across cancer typesPDF, Optical spectroscopy-based quantitative intraoperative tumor margin analysis across cancer typesOpen abstract

  Intraoperative margin assessment in tumor resection surgery directly impacts the quality of life and survival rate for cancer patients. This review highlights the use of optical spectroscopy methods for real-time, quantitative margin resection guidance during surgery across various major cancer types. The limitations of traditional methods and the precedence of optical spectroscopy methods in differentiating normal and malignant tissues at clinically relevant tissue depths are discussed. The review emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate optical spectroscopy methods based on the organs under assessment. It also highlights the importance of machine learning methods in making informed decisions, thereby reducing recurrence risk, decreasing the need for secondary surgeries, and enhancing patient outcomes compared to traditional methods. Additionally, it also explores the level of clinical advancement across organs and states the implementation barriers in achieving complete clinical adoption and standardization of quantitative tumor margin analysis.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8e4b
• Progress in applying radiochemical separation and extraction principles to metal recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles

  Huiyong Wang et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 302001

  View article, Progress in applying radiochemical separation and extraction principles to metal recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries of electric vehiclesPDF, Progress in applying radiochemical separation and extraction principles to metal recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries of electric vehiclesOpen abstract

  The rapid growth of electric vehicles has intensified interest in recovering valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), particularly Li, Ni, Co, and Mn. Although hydrometallurgical recycling is widely regarded as a promising route because of its high recovery potential and product purity, its major scientific challenge lies not in leaching alone but in the selective separation of chemically similar metals from increasingly complex and impurity-rich liquors. This review examines recent progress in spent-LIB metal recovery through the lens of radiochemical separation and extraction science. It argues that concepts long central to radiochemical solvent extraction, including distribution ratio, separation factor, acidity-dependent speciation, scrubbing, stripping, and multistage counter-current design, provide a rigorous framework for interpreting and improving modern LIB recycling flowsheets. The review first discusses how feed heterogeneity has evolved from relatively simple LiCoO₂-derived systems to Ni-rich, mixed-black-mass, and industrially sourced feedstocks. It then analyzes the chemical origins of selectivity in acidic organophosphorus, neutral/solvating, synergistic, ionic-liquid, and deep-eutectic-solvent extraction systems. Quantitative comparisons show that conventional organophosphorus extractants, especially Cyanex 272 for Co-focused separations and D₂EHPA-type systems for Mn-selective extraction, remain the most process-mature options, whereas many emerging systems still lack adequate stripping, recyclability, and scale-up validation. Particular emphasis is placed on the distinction between equilibrium-level extraction performance and flowsheet-level process credibility. By integrating original research evidence with critical comparison, this review highlights the need for standardized reporting, real-feed validation, and closer coupling of extraction chemistry with industrially relevant process design. Radiochemical separation principles are therefore proposed not as a direct technological transplant, but as a powerful analytical framework for more selective, robust, and scalable LIB metal recovery.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8d9a

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• Dynamically Tunable Optical Activity and Chirality in a Magneto-Optical Metasurface with Nematic Liquid Crystals

  Meng et al 

  View accepted manuscript, Dynamically Tunable Optical Activity and Chirality in a Magneto-Optical Metasurface with Nematic Liquid CrystalsPDF, Dynamically Tunable Optical Activity and Chirality in a Magneto-Optical Metasurface with Nematic Liquid CrystalsOpen abstract

  Enhancing and dynamically tuning the optical activity and chirality of metasurfaces by external stimuli has become a prominent research focus. However, traditional metasurfaces are often limited by fixed structures, which results in a lack of dynamic tunability. To address this issue, we design a magnetic metasurface composed of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) and an antiferromagnet (AF). This structure combines the electro-optic properties of NLCs with the magneto-optic properties of the AF, aiming to achieve multi-dimensional dynamic control of the optical activity and chirality of the metasurface. Based on effective medium theory and electromagnetic simulations, we characterize the Kerr and Faraday rotation angles, ellipticity, and circular dichroism (CD) under various conditions. The results demonstrate significantly enhanced and dynamic tunable optical activity and chirality can be achieved by adjusting the AF filling ratio (f a ), the external magnetic field (H 0 ) and the incident angle. Furthermore, we show that the orientation of the NLCs provides an additional freedom for modulating the Kerr effect. This study offers theoretical guidance and insights for realizing dynamically reconfigurable and multifunctional chiral optoelectronic devices.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9f37
• Spectral transitions in the non-Hermitian Hatano-Nelson chain induced by a nonlocal rank-one separable potential

  Movahedmanesh et al 

  View accepted manuscript, Spectral transitions in the non-Hermitian Hatano-Nelson chain induced by a nonlocal rank-one separable potentialPDF, Spectral transitions in the non-Hermitian Hatano-Nelson chain induced by a nonlocal rank-one separable potentialOpen abstract

  We investigate impurity-induced spectral transitions in a non-Hermitian Hatano–Nelson chain with a non-local rank-one separable potential, providing a minimal yet analytically tractable framework for exploring the interplay between asymmetric hopping and directional impurities. By employing the Green’s function formalism in conjunction with the Sherman–Morrison identity, we derive a closed-form spectral equation for the impurity-induced eigenvalues and analyze their evolution in the complex energy plane. Under periodic boundary conditions, we demonstrate that the system undergoes a real-to-complex spectral transition, which is consistently associated with the contact between the impurity state and the bulk spectral boundary of the Hatano–Nelson model. In the weakly non-Hermitian regime, a real isolated bound state remains stable. However, as the asymmetric hopping strength increases, the impurity state hybridizes with the bulk spectrum, leading to the emergence of complex eigenvalues. In the strongly non-Hermitian regime, the imaginary parts of the impurity spectrum decrease again, revealing a tendency toward suppression of the imaginary component within the present directional separable impurity model. Furthermore, spectral phase diagrams in parameter space reveal the competition among the non-Hermiticity strength, impurity coupling, and impurity localization range. These results provide a simple and analytically transparent framework for understanding impurity-driven spectral transitions and directional effects in non-Hermitian systems.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9f9c
• Enhanced ferromagnetism in orthoferrite SmFeO₃ nanoscale-thick films probed by spin Hall magnetoresistance: Implications for electric detection of magnetism

  Hui et al 

  View accepted manuscript, Enhanced ferromagnetism in orthoferrite SmFeO3 nanoscale-thick films probed by spin Hall magnetoresistance: Implications for electric detection of magnetismPDF, Enhanced ferromagnetism in orthoferrite SmFeO3 nanoscale-thick films probed by spin Hall magnetoresistance: Implications for electric detection of magnetismOpen abstract

  Spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) serves as a sensitive technique for discerning the magnetic states within non-equilibrium spin systems. In the heavy metal (HM)/collinear antiferromagnet (AFM) heterostructure, the AFM Néel vector n typically aligns perpendicular to the external magnetic field Hext, producing a negative SMR with a phase change of 90◦. However, in scenarios where AFM and weak ferromagnetism (FM) components coexist, such as canted AFM, defect-induced dilute FM, or uncompensated spin-induced net surface magnetization, net weak ferromagnetism theoretically contributes to a positive SMR. In this study, we report interfacial-enhanced ferromagnetism in Pt/orthoferrite SmFeO3 (SFO) heterostructures, evidenced by a increase in the SMR amplitude at 10 K compared to room temperature. The temperature-dependent SMR exhibits a direct correction with the weak FM moment derived from SQUID magnetometry, confirming the interfacial origin of the effect. These results establish a general approach for electrically probing interfacial magnetism in orthoferrite-based multiferroic.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9f9d
• Global stability of a nonlinear fuzzy difference equation

  Lin et al 

  View accepted manuscript, Global stability of a nonlinear fuzzy difference equationPDF, Global stability of a nonlinear fuzzy difference equationOpen abstract

  This study addresses the core challenge of proving convergence under fuzzy uncertainty, with a focus on forecasting uncertain asset prices in economic and financial fields. The developed model enables prediction of multi-period future price fluctuation intervals via iteration and provides investment references with uncertainty boundaries for decision-makers. Leveraging g-division of fuzzy numbers, matrix theory, inequality techniques, stability criteria, and mathematical induction, the study makes key theoretical contributions: rigorous proof of the global attractivity of the unique positive equilibrium under specific parameter conditions, as well as explicit characterization of its existence and stability. These findings establish a foundational theoretical framework for analyzing complex discrete-time dynamical systems with fuzzy uncertainty. Two numerical examples validate the consistency between theoretical predictions and computed solutions. The proposed model serves as a powerful and accessible tool for disciplines requiring robust solutions to discrete-time problems involving subjective information or data limitations, including computational biology, economics, and control systems.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9f9e
• Delay-dependent ablation dynamics in air-breakdown assisted millisecond laser processing

  Weng et al 

  View accepted manuscript, Delay-dependent ablation dynamics in air-breakdown assisted millisecond laser processingPDF, Delay-dependent ablation dynamics in air-breakdown assisted millisecond laser processingOpen abstract

  Recent advancements in combined pulse laser ablation have demonstrated its high efficiency in material processing. However, within this promising framework, the temporal coordination remains insufficiently investigated, specifically regarding the impact of nanosecond (ns) pulse intervention timing during the millisecond (ms) heating window. In this study, a high-energy ns-laser-induced air-breakdown was integrated with a 90% duty cycle ms fiber laser to systematically investigate the delay-dependent ablation dynamics of 304 stainless steel. Experiments reveal that while maintaining identical laser energy parameters, the synergistic effectiveness exhibits significant sensitivity to the delay time. Quantitative results show that the ablation depth and material removal rate reach a maximum of 1.015 mm and 1.713 × 10-4 mm3/J, respectively, at a delay time (Δt) of 140 ms. This represents a five-fold increase compared to the 0 ms delay condition. High-speed imaging and real-time thermography confirm that this optimal synchronization triggers a fundamental transition from inefficient surface melting to high-efficiency liquid-phase expulsion. These findings provide critical mechanistic insights for optimizing spatiotemporal energy coupling in advanced hybrid laser processing applications.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9f9f

More Accepted manuscripts

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• The following article is Open access
  Dual-metal source and high-mobility interlayer engineering for enhanced performance of ultrathin and large-area vertical organic transistors: a simulation study

  Jui-Fen Chang et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 355901

  View article, Dual-metal source and high-mobility interlayer engineering for enhanced performance of ultrathin and large-area vertical organic transistors: a simulation studyPDF, Dual-metal source and high-mobility interlayer engineering for enhanced performance of ultrathin and large-area vertical organic transistors: a simulation studyOpen abstract

  Vertical organic field-effect transistors (VOFETs) are promising for low-voltage, high-speed optoelectronic applications; however, achieving both reliable switching in ultrathin channels and high current density with uniform micrometer-scale operation remains challenging. These limitations arise from drain-sensitive contact injection in aggressively scaled devices and the inherently low carrier mobility of organic semiconductors. Here, technology computer-aided design simulations are employed to systematically investigate VOFET architectures, ranging from conventional Schottky-barrier to encapsulated-source designs, through comparative optimization of dual-metal contacts and high-mobility interlayers. The results show that a dual-metal source, composed of a high-work-function (WF) injection electrode and a low-WF capping layer, fundamentally modifies the interfacial electrostatics to enable gate-controlled injection. This configuration supports near-Ohmic ON-state injection while suppressing OFF-state leakage through an electrostatic barrier. Compared with single-metal contacts, such electrostatic decoupling effectively mitigates drain-induced leakage and preserves a high ON/OFF ratio even when the channel thickness is reduced below 100 nm and approaches the source thickness, demonstrating its advantage for ultrathin devices. To address transport limitations in large-area devices, a high-mobility semiconductor interlayer (μ ≈10 cm² Vs⁻¹) is introduced at the source interface, enabling lateral carrier spreading prior to vertical injection. This extends the effective transport region well beyond the physical aperture (10 μm), thereby improving current uniformity and increasing current density. Comparative analysis identifies a fully encapsulated dual-metal configuration with bottom injection and an interlayer as the optimal design, where OFF current is minimized and ON current is maximized through the combined effects of electrostatic field screening, enlarged injection area, and enhanced gate–source coupling. Overall, this study establishes a unified design strategy for VOFETs, where dual-metal source engineering enables reliable ultrathin-device operation and a high-mobility interlayer supports scalable large-area uniformity and high current output. It further provides physical insight and architecture-level guidelines for high-performance organic vertical transistors.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9b78
• The following article is Open access
  Magnons in altermagnets: selected group-theoretical aspects

  I Turek 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 345917

  View article, Magnons in altermagnets: selected group-theoretical aspectsPDF, Magnons in altermagnets: selected group-theoretical aspectsOpen abstract

  The spectra of one-electron excitations and magnons in magnetic crystals reflect the symmetry of the crystal lattice and of the spontaneous magnetic order. In this work, magnons in the nonrelativistic isotropic Heisenberg model, appropriate to collinear antiferromagnets and altermagnets with two magnetic sublattices, are studied theoretically; particular attention is paid to splitting of magnon eigenvalues and to spin currents generated by thermal gradients. It is found that appearance of the chirality-split magnon modes is controlled by the same symmetry-dictated rules as that of the spin splitting of electron eigenvalues. Moreover, the spin currents generated by external perturbations (thermal gradients in magnetic insulators, electric fields in itinerant magnets) are described by tensors, the shapes of which are related closely to the splitting of one-particle eigenvalues in vicinity of the Brillouin-zone centre. As a consequence, pronounced spin-current response in the considered systems with negligible relativistic effects can be expected especially in $d$-wave altermagnets. Further aspects, such as the detailed structure of the magnonic spin currents, the role of nonmagnetic atoms, or the importance of anisotropy of the pair exchange interactions, are discussed briefly as well.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9b4b
• The following article is Open access
  A novel convolutional autoencoder-based approach for reconstruction of finite energy Airy–Hermite–hollow Gaussian beams propagating in atmospheric turbulent link

  Ayşe Nur Çayir Öztürk et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 346004

  View article, A novel convolutional autoencoder-based approach for reconstruction of finite energy Airy–Hermite–hollow Gaussian beams propagating in atmospheric turbulent linkPDF, A novel convolutional autoencoder-based approach for reconstruction of finite energy Airy–Hermite–hollow Gaussian beams propagating in atmospheric turbulent linkOpen abstract

  In this study, a convolutional autoencoder (CAE)-based approach is proposed to estimate the undistorted versions of finite energy Airy–Hermite–hollow Gaussian beam (FAHHGB) profiles that have been degraded by atmospheric turbulence. The primary novelty of this study lies in the first experimental use and modeling of FAHHGB beam data in the literature, introducing both a previously unexplored data type and a deep learning-based reconstruction methodology. A total of 3240 data samples were recorded, of which 1620 were turbulent and 1620 were non-turbulent; initial experiments using a baseline CAE model gave average structure similarity index method (SSIM) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) values of 0.8973 and 23.32 dB, respectively. Subsequently, an enhanced CAE architecture with batch normalization and skip connections achieved improved metrics of 0.9489 SSIM and 28.1 dB PSNR. The results demonstrate that CAE-based architectures can effectively reconstruct FAHHGB profiles from turbulence-induced distortions. By introducing FAHHGB beam data to deep learning-based turbulence mitigation for the first time, this study provides a unique and valuable dataset and establishes a new reference point for future research in this area.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae8e0b
• The following article is Open access
  Monte Carlo calculation of geometry-dependent true coincidence summing correction factors for the gamma-rays of ²¹⁴Bi in HPGe detectors

  Necati Çelik 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 345402

  View article, Monte Carlo calculation of geometry-dependent true coincidence summing correction factors for the gamma-rays of 214Bi in HPGe detectorsPDF, Monte Carlo calculation of geometry-dependent true coincidence summing correction factors for the gamma-rays of 214Bi in HPGe detectorsOpen abstract

  True coincidence summing (TCS) effects in gamma-ray spectrometry introduce significant systematic uncertainties in activity determinations, particularly for radionuclides with complex decay schemes such as ²¹⁴Bi. This study presents a comprehensive Monte Carlo investigation of TCS correction factors (CFs) for seven major gamma-ray lines of ²¹⁴Bi. The primary contribution of this study is the systematic decoupling of detector geometry effects: nine distinct HPGe detector configurations were simulated with varying crystal dimensions, dead layers, and hole geometries, followed by an isolated analysis of crystal radius versus crystal length contributions for both point and extended source geometries. The decay scheme of ²¹⁴Bi was meticulously modeled using Nucleide 2000 data, incorporating all beta branches, gamma transitions, internal conversion coefficients, and cascade probabilities to ensure high-fidelity representation of the decay scheme. Results demonstrate that crystal radius exerts a substantially stronger influence on TCS CFs than crystal length, with point source values at 609.3 keV increasing by 18.2% across the radius range of 2.1–4.5 cm, compared to only 3.7% variation across the length range of 3–11 cm. Extended source geometries reduce TCS CFs by 5%–11% compared to point sources across all configurations, highlighting the mitigating effect of distributed sources. Energy-dependent behavior is also evident: the 609.3 keV line exhibits strong summing-in (CF > 1.3 for large detectors), while the 1377.7 keV line shows dominant summing-out (CF < 0.86). These findings provide gamma-ray spectrometrists with insight into the relative importance of detector dimensions for TCS effects, suggesting that crystal radius is the primary geometric parameter influencing coincidence summing corrections. The observed trends illustrate how TCS corrections vary with detector dimensions, offering spectrometrists a basis for understanding the relative sensitivity of these corrections to different geometric parameters.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9b79
• The following article is Open access
  Chirp-and CEP-dependence of HHG spectra simulated by an upgraded one-dimensional atomic model potential

  Krisztina Sallai et al 2026 Phys. Scr.

  View article, Chirp-and CEP-dependence of HHG spectra simulated by an upgraded one-dimensional atomic model potentialPDF, Chirp-and CEP-dependence of HHG spectra simulated by an upgraded one-dimensional atomic model potentialOpen abstract

  We investigate the accuracy of a recently introduced upgraded one-dimensional (1D) atomic model potential, the Gaussian windowed soft-core Coulomb (GSC) potential, in typical strong-field physics scenarios. In particular, we consider linearly polarized near-infrared femtosecond laser pulses with different carrier-envelope phase (CEP) and chirp values.&#xD;By comparing the results of 1D and 3D simulations, we show that the GSC potential reproduces the effects of CEP and chirp on the high-order harmonic generation (HHG) spectra with good overall accuracy for both the spectral amplitude and phase, including also subtle features like a double-plateau in certain cases.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9f00
• The following article is Open access
  Experimental insights into molecular emission signatures in laser-induced plasma: a spatio-temporal approach

  Anandhu Mohan et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 345602

  View article, Experimental insights into molecular emission signatures in laser-induced plasma: a spatio-temporal approachPDF, Experimental insights into molecular emission signatures in laser-induced plasma: a spatio-temporal approachOpen abstract

  This study investigates the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of transient boron molecular species in laser-induced plasma (LIP). The molecular emission signatures at multiple axial positions of the plasma plume were recorded in time-resolved mode. This allowed the mapping of the spatio-temporal behaviour of the molecular samples. The BO molecular emission signatures exhibited a gradual increase in spectral intensity from the sample surface to the mid-plasma region, whereas the BO₂ emissions follows a notably different trend, peaking at the plasma periphery. These observations were further validated by analysing the spatio-temporal profile of BO and BO₂ species in different laser ablation wavelength and ambient atmosphere conditions. The findings from this study reveal spatial preferences for transient BO and BO₂ molecular emissions inside LIP plume. This helps in advancing the understanding of molecular dynamics in LIP and supporting the development of molecular emission spectra-based techniques.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9a09
• The following article is Open access
  Efficient light storage in modified superradiance lattice: overcoming the optical depth constraint

  Atif Shabbir 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 345102

  View article, Efficient light storage in modified superradiance lattice: overcoming the optical depth constraintPDF, Efficient light storage in modified superradiance lattice: overcoming the optical depth constraintOpen abstract

  We propose an efficient light-storage scheme based on a modified superradiance lattice that achieves high storage efficiency with a significantly reduced dependence on optical depth (OD). Our results demonstrate storage efficiencies in the ranges of $25\%-79\%$, $66\%-84\%$, and $80\%-86\%$ for ODs of 20, 156, and 500, respectively, under identical parameters with a fixed group delay of $10~\mu\text{s}$. Notably, the largest efficiency change is observed for the small OD of 20, highlighting the scheme’s robustness against variations in OD. Fidelity approaches near unity at optimized parameters, particularly at higher storage efficiency, i.e. greater than 80%. These results demonstrate that high-performance quantum memory can be realized without requiring excessively large ODs. Additionally, the difference in storage efficiency across ODs decreases with increasing group delay, making the scheme more independent of OD. The scheme also enables highly directional emission, improving experimental feasibility, and can be implemented using rubidium ($^{87}$Rb) atoms. Overall, this approach provides robust and scalable light storage, offering a promising platform for practical quantum memory and photonic information-processing applications.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9a0f
• The following article is Open access
  Source-aware materials informatics for biomass-derived carbon electrodes: predicting supercapacitor capacitance from precursor and process descriptors

  Ferhat Uçar et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 346002

  View article, Source-aware materials informatics for biomass-derived carbon electrodes: predicting supercapacitor capacitance from precursor and process descriptorsPDF, Source-aware materials informatics for biomass-derived carbon electrodes: predicting supercapacitor capacitance from precursor and process descriptorsOpen abstract

  Biomass-derived porous carbons are promising electrode materials for sustainable electrochemical energy storage, yet their capacitance depends on coupled precursor and process variables that are difficult to optimize experimentally. Here, we present a source-aware materials-informatics framework for predicting the specific capacitance of biomass-derived carbon electrodes directly from raw precursor descriptors and processing conditions. A literature-curated dataset comprising elemental composition, proximate analysis, lignocellulosic structure, and activation variables was evaluated with support vector regression, Random Forest, a Deep Neural Network (DNN), Light Gradient Boosting Machine, and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), together with an ensemble strategy, across seven feature combinations. XGBoost delivered the strongest test performance, reaching $R^2 = 0.948$ for the most informative feature block. Beyond model ranking, the study emphasizes validation realism by contrasting conventional random splits with source-aware evaluation, showing that random partitions can substantially overestimate apparent generalization. Across models, current density, activation temperature, holding time, ash content, and volatile matter emerged as the most influential predictors. The resulting workflow provides practical guidance for precursor screening, process-window definition, and data-driven design of biomass-derived supercapacitor electrodes. The guidance applies within the precursor and process regime represented by the training corpus; experimental verification is recommended for excursions beyond it.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae999d
• The following article is Open access
  Multi-functional GeAg- and TiO₂-modified diamond-like carbon thin film device: structure, surface properties, photoresponse, photosensitivity, and biological performance

  Naim Aslan et al 2026 Phys. Scr. 101 345903

  View article, Multi-functional GeAg- and TiO2-modified diamond-like carbon thin film device: structure, surface properties, photoresponse, photosensitivity, and biological performancePDF, Multi-functional GeAg- and TiO2-modified diamond-like carbon thin film device: structure, surface properties, photoresponse, photosensitivity, and biological performanceOpen abstract

  DLC films represent a promising class of materials that can be used in various applications due to their optical, optoelectronic, tribological, and biomedical characteristics. In this work, GeAg- and TiO₂-modified DLC thin films were prepared using the magnetron sputtering method under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. DLC thin film characteristics and addition of GeAg and TiO₂ into the DLC structure were confirmed and subsequently assessed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. DLC thin film thicknesses were determined via SEM and found to be 235 nm and 380 nm for DLC/TiO₂ and DLC/GeAg thin films, respectively. Contact angle and surface wettability analyses were performed for uncoated glass, GeAg- and TiO₂-modified DLC thin films. The antibacterial properties of the DLC films were assessed for E. coli and S. aureus. The biocompatibility of these same films was confirmed using the L929 cell line, where no toxic effect was evidenced. To elucidate the optical characteristics of the thin films, a UV–vis spectrum was obtained, and band gap energies were proposed using these data. Photoresponse characteristics of the DLC thin films were assessed under varying illumination using current–time plots. It could be seen that DLC thin films’ responsiveness to light was dependent on illumination intensity. The results demonstrate that nanostructures are good candidates for multifunctional applications exhibiting good antibacterial and photoresponsive characteristics with outstanding biocompatibility.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9a0a
• The following article is Open access
  Quantum engineering with ultracold polar molecules using trap-induced resonances

  Sakthikumaran Ravichandran et al 2026 Phys. Scr.

  View article, Quantum engineering with ultracold polar molecules using trap-induced resonancesPDF, Quantum engineering with ultracold polar molecules using trap-induced resonancesOpen abstract

  Polar molecules represent a promising platform for quantum simulation and computation protocols. Highly controllable arrays of optical tweezers are now accessible in experiments, allowing for unprecedented control of individual molecules. Motional dephasing is typically seen as an obstacle in quantum computing scenarios. Here, we instead consider using the trap structure as a resource for enhancing state dependent interactions and developing future gate and sensing protocols. By numerically solving the two-body problem of dipoles trapped in separate tweezers, we identify trap-induced resonances that can serve as the mechanism for achieving state-dependent dynamics and can be further utilized for quantum sensing.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ae9e01

More Open Access articles

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• A major upgrade of the VALD database

  T Ryabchikova et al 2015 Phys. Scr. 90 054005

  View article, A major upgrade of the VALD databasePDF, A major upgrade of the VALD databaseOpen abstract

  Vienna atomic line database (VALD) is a collection of critically evaluated laboratory parameters for individual atomic transitions, complemented by theoretical calculations. VALD is actively used by astronomers for stellar spectroscopic studies—model atmosphere calculations, atmospheric parameter determinations, abundance analysis etc. The two first VALD releases contained parameters for atomic transitions only. In a major upgrade of VALD—VALD3, publically available from spring 2014, atomic data was complemented with parameters of molecular lines. The diatomic molecules C₂, CH, CN, CO, OH, MgH, SiH, TiO are now included. For each transition VALD provides species name, wavelength, energy, quantum number J and Landé-factor of the lower and upper levels, radiative, Stark and van der Waals damping factors and a full description of electronic configurarion and term information of both levels. Compared to the previous versions we have revised and verify all of the existing data and added new measurements and calculations for transitions in the range between 20 Å and 200 microns. All transitions were complemented with term designations in a consistent way and electron configurations when available. All data were checked for consistency: listed wavelength versus Ritz, selection rules etc. A new bibliographic system keeps track of literature references for each parameter in a given transition throughout the merging process so that every selected data entry can be traced to the original source. The query language and the extraction tools can now handle various units, vacuum and air wavelengths. In the upgrade process we had an intensive interaction with data producers, which was very helpful for improving the quality of the VALD content.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-8949/90/5/054005
• The following article is Open access
  30 years of squeezed light generation

  Ulrik L Andersen et al 2016 Phys. Scr. 91 053001

  View article, 30 years of squeezed light generationPDF, 30 years of squeezed light generationOpen abstract

  Squeezed light generation has come of age. Significant advances on squeezed light generation have been made over the last 30 years—from the initial, conceptual experiment in 1985 till today’s top-tuned, application-oriented setups. Here we review the main experimental platforms for generating quadrature squeezed light that have been investigated in the last 30 years.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-8949/91/5/053001
• An ultra-narrow multi-band perfect absorber based on single dielectric nano-cylinder array with surface lattice resonance

  Qihao Wang et al 2025 Phys. Scr. 100 035538

  View article, An ultra-narrow multi-band perfect absorber based on single dielectric nano-cylinder array with surface lattice resonancePDF, An ultra-narrow multi-band perfect absorber based on single dielectric nano-cylinder array with surface lattice resonanceOpen abstract

  Dielectric nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in the realm of micro- nano optics owing to the simultaneous low ohmic loss and distinctive electromagnetic resonance characteristic. However, achieving both ultra-narrow multi-band band and perfect absorption effects simultaneously has been challenging due to the weak magnetic response within traditional dielectric metamaterials. In this work, employing the finite-time domain differential method for simulation calculations, a multi-band perfect absorber consisting of titanium dioxide cylinder arrays is theoretically proposed. Benefiting from the concurrent presence of electromagnetic lattice resonance within the arrays of titanium dioxide cylinders, the as-proposed optical absorber demonstrates the simultaneous achievement of triple absorption bands, with extremely narrow spectral characteristics (minimum bandwidth approximately 0.8 nm) and near-perfect absorption rates (around 95.6%, 96.8%, and 95%) in 700–900 nm. Further near-field analysis unveils that surface lattice resonance arises from the synergistic interaction between the incident light and periodic structures, enhancing the coupling efficiency between the light and the surface plasmon, which can significantly amplify the electromagnetic field. By adjusting the lattice constant and geometric parameters, the physical mechanisms of the structure are further elucidated, and the optimal parameters of the absorber are ultimately determined. Moreover, due to its exceptional optical properties, the as-proposed multi-band absorber can be employed as a high-efficiency refractive index sensor with multi-frequency channel sensing. The corresponding sensitivity is calculated to be 356, 443.6 and 305.9 nm/RIU, with corresponding figure of merits of 482, 460.4 and 19.5 RIU⁻¹, respectively. This research establishes a robust foundation for advancing multi-band perfect optical absorber, offering significant potential applications in multiple fields such as biochemical sensing, surface enhancement spectroscopy, and nonlinear nano-optics.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/adb3e0
• The following article is Open access
  4D printing and annealing of PETG composites reinforced with short carbon fibers

  Davood Rahmatabadi et al 2024 Phys. Scr. 99 055957

  View article, 4D printing and annealing of PETG composites reinforced with short carbon fibersPDF, 4D printing and annealing of PETG composites reinforced with short carbon fibersOpen abstract

  In this study, for the first time, post-heat treatment was applied to improve the stress recovery of short carbon fiber reinforced PETG (SCFRPETG). PETG and SCFRPETG composite were printed under optimal conditions, and constrained and free shape memory cycles were applied under compression and three-point bending loadings to assess shape and stress recovery. The results of the free shape memory test for both vertical and horizontal patterns showed that PETG composite also has a higher shape memory effect (SME) compared to PETG. The SME was significantly improved by performing heat treatment. The stress recovery values for pure PETG, reinforced PETG before and after annealing are 2.48 MPa, 3.04 MPa and 3.18 MPa, respectively. It showed that the addition of 1.5% carbon fiber increases the stress recovery by 22%. The increasing trend reaches 28% by performing post-heat treatment. Additionally, altering the printing pattern affects the programming and stress recovery values. For the SCFRPETG composite samples before and after annealing, changing the printing pattern from horizontal to vertical, resulted in a 16% and 7% increase in recovery stress, respectively. SEM results confirm that the annealing process removes the layered structure, micro-holes caused by shrinkage and 4D printing mechanism. Using the controlled heat treatment method can be a practical solution to solve the problem of adhesion and reduce the anisotropy of FDM 3D printed layers.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad3b40
• Research of bound states in the continuum and their polarization control in dielectric metamaterials

  Jing-qun Yang et al 2025 Phys. Scr. 100 065551

  View article, Research of bound states in the continuum and their polarization control in dielectric metamaterialsPDF, Research of bound states in the continuum and their polarization control in dielectric metamaterialsOpen abstract

  Optical metasurfaces exhibiting quasi-bound states in the continuum (q-BICs) display a distinctive polarization dependence. Accordingly, we examine the correlation between the q-BIC and the polarization form of the outgoing light, and put forth a method for generating pure line-polarized light via the q-BIC. The generator is a dielectric metasurface comprising silicon cleavage rings arranged periodically on a silicon dioxide substrate, which supports symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum. The proposed q-BIC is unable to be excited by x-direction polarized light, conversely, y-direction polarized light is completely eliminated due to the resonance of the q-BIC. Ultimately, we achieve perfectly x-direction polarized transmitted light at the resonance wavelength, with the transmitted light remaining unaffected by the polarization form of the incident light. By leveraging the q-BIC resonance, we have successfully converted arbitrarily polarized incident light into linearly polarized light using dielectric metasurfaces, and the conversion wavelength is highly tunable. This result can be utilized to in fields such as linear narrowband filters and polarization sensitive devices.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/addaff
• The Rietveld method

  Hugo M Rietveld 2014 Phys. Scr. 89 098002

  View article, The Rietveld methodPDF, The Rietveld methodOpen abstract

  A summary is given of the development of an improved method to handle powder diffraction data. The resulting method, now called the Rietveld method, uses powder diffraction step-scanned intensities instead of integrated powder intensities. This enables the full use of the information content of a powder diagram. The method has revitalized the use of powder diffraction in structure determination. An unexpected and later development is the use of the method in quantitative phase analysis. This is now an essential tool in many industrial processes.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-8949/89/9/098002
• Analysis of some newly constructed compact models in f(R, T) theory

  Yihu Feng et al 2024 Phys. Scr. 99 085034

  View article, Analysis of some newly constructed compact models in f(R, T) theoryPDF, Analysis of some newly constructed compact models in f(R, T) theoryOpen abstract

  In this paper, black hole solutions are developed within the framework of f(R, T) gravity through the minimal gravitational decoupling approach. By introducing a new source in the original isotropic matter distribution, the corresponding field equations acquire additional degrees of freedom. Applying the transformation on the radial metric function leads these equations to two distinct sets, each representing the influence of either the seed or additional source exclusively. In order to formulate the black hole solutions, the seed source is considered to be a vacuum, characterized by the Schwarzschild metric. To derive a viable solution for the second system, constraints are imposed on the metric potentials and energy-momentum tensor of the additional source. Three distinct solutions are graphically analyzed based on varying values of the decoupling parameter. The energy conditions are also plotted to determine the nature of the extra source. Finally, it is concluded that two of our three developed models agree with the asymptotic flatness criterion and energy bounds in this modified theory.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad5e40
• Synthesis of Eco-friendly Zn-Ni bimetallic MOFs with biodegradable glycolic acid ligands for enhanced supercapacitor performance and hydrogen evolution reaction

  Muhammad Arslan Sunny et al 2024 Phys. Scr. 99 105958

  View article, Synthesis of Eco-friendly Zn-Ni bimetallic MOFs with biodegradable glycolic acid ligands for enhanced supercapacitor performance and hydrogen evolution reactionPDF, Synthesis of Eco-friendly Zn-Ni bimetallic MOFs with biodegradable glycolic acid ligands for enhanced supercapacitor performance and hydrogen evolution reactionOpen abstract

  Electrochemical technologies like supercapacitors and water-splitting electrolysis are gaining traction due to their impressive efficiency in both energy storage and generation. A hydrothermal technique was employed to synthesize a metal–organic framework (MOF) containing zinc and nickel. Glycolic acid (GA), a naturally occurring biodegradable ligand, was utilized to explore its potential for incorporation into the MOF heterostructure. The ZnNi-MOF (GA) composites showed a notable specific capacity of 1648 C g⁻¹ (2060 F/g) under a current density of 1.0 A g⁻¹ at 70 °C. The study investigated a supercapacitor system design where a combination of polyaniline-doped activated carbon was used for the negative electrode and a zinc-nickel metal–organic framework (GA) was used for the positive electrode. The synthesized ZnNi-MOF (GA)//AC energy storage device demonstrated a specific capacity of 110 C g⁻¹ (55 F g⁻¹) at a higher current density of 2.0 A g⁻¹. The recyclability and stability of device (ZnNi-MOF (GA)//AC) were evaluated using 10000 charge–discharge cycles, yielding an 86% capacity retention. The ZnNi-MOF (GA) composite displayed outstanding catalytic ability in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in comparison to other tested materials, achieving the lowest Tafel slope of 42.79 mV/dec. The findings of our research suggest that ZnNi-MOF (GA) exhibits desirable characteristics that make it a promising material for electrodes in the applications of supercapattery and HER.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad74a4
• Fuzzy black hole models in $f({ \mathcal G })$ Gravity

  M Yousaf et al 2024 Phys. Scr. 99 115270

  View article, Fuzzy black hole models in GravityPDF, Fuzzy black hole models in GravityOpen abstract

  In this manuscript, we explore the concept of dark matter black holes, inspired by the Einasto density profile in the background of $f({ \mathcal G })$ gravity, where ${ \mathcal G }$ is a Gauss-Bonnet invariant. This work extends the scope beyond the noncommutative tiny black hole structure which incorporates dark matter as a constituent forming the black hole. Our investigation demonstrates the feasibility of constructing black hole solutions for various Einasto index values, $f({ \mathcal G })$ gravity parameters, and parameters of mass function adopting anisotropic fluid configuration to characterize the matter sector. Specifically, by adopting an equation of state in which the radial pressure equals the negative of the energy density, we derive black hole solutions exhibiting a horizon structure with the central singularity replaced by a regular de Sitter core akin to the Reissner-Nordström black holes. Furthermore, we explore an alternative scenario where the equation of state is nonlocal, resulting in the construction of self-gravitating fuzzy dark matter droplets together with the dark source $f({ \mathcal G })$ corrections.

  https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad86ff
• Time Refraction and Time Reflection: Two Basic Concepts

  J T Mendonça and P K Shukla 2002 Phys. Scr. 65 160

  View article, Time Refraction and Time Reflection: Two Basic ConceptsPDF, Time Refraction and Time Reflection: Two Basic ConceptsOpen abstract

  The concepts of time refraction and time reflection, which can be built by extending the usual concepts of refraction and reflection into the time domain, are defined and characterized. The corresponding Snell's law and Fresnel's formulae are derived for non-dispersive media.

  https://doi.org/10.1238/Physica.Regular.065a00160