@article{GrinbergHellElMellahetal.2017, author = {Grinberg, Victoria and Hell, Natalie and El Mellah, Ileyk and Neilsen, Joseph and Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph and Leutenegger, Maurice and F{\"u}rst, Felix and Huenemoerder, David P. and Kretschmar, Peter and Kuehnel, Matthias and Martinez-Nunez, Silvia and Niu, Shu and Pottschmidt, Katja and Schulz, Norbert S. and Wilms, Joern and Nowak, Michael A.}, title = {The clumpy absorber in the high-mass X-ray binary Vela X-1}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {608}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201731843}, pages = {18}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Bright and eclipsing, the high-mass X-ray binary Vela X-1 offers a unique opportunity to study accretion onto a neutron star from clumpy winds of O/B stars and to disentangle the complex accretion geometry of these systems. In Chandra-HETGS spectroscopy at orbital phase similar to 0.25, when our line of sight towards the source does not pass through the large-scale accretion structure such as the accretion wake, we observe changes in overall spectral shape on timescales of a few kiloseconds. This spectral variability is, at least in part, caused by changes in overall absorption and we show that such strongly variable absorption cannot be caused by unperturbed clumpy winds of O/B stars. We detect line features from high and low ionization species of silicon, magnesium, and neon whose strengths and presence depend on the overall level of absorption. These features imply a co-existence of cool and hot gas phases in the system, which we interpret as a highly variable, structured accretion flow close to the compact object such as has been recently seen in simulations of wind accretion in high-mass X-ray binaries.}, language = {en} } @article{CaoShpritsNietal.2017, author = {Cao, Xing and Shprits, Yuri Y. and Ni, Binbin and Zhelavskaya, Irina}, title = {Scattering of Ultra-relativistic Electrons in the Van Allen Radiation Belts Accounting for Hot Plasma Effects}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-17739-7}, pages = {7}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Electron flux in the Earth's outer radiation belt is highly variable due to a delicate balance between competing acceleration and loss processes. It has been long recognized that Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves may play a crucial role in the loss of radiation belt electrons. Previous theoretical studies proposed that EMIC waves may account for the loss of the relativistic electron population. However, recent observations showed that while EMIC waves are responsible for the significant loss of ultra-relativistic electrons, the relativistic electron population is almost unaffected. In this study, we provide a theoretical explanation for this discrepancy between previous theoretical studies and recent observations. We demonstrate that EMIC waves mainly contribute to the loss of ultra-relativistic electrons. This study significantly improves the current understanding of the electron dynamics in the Earth's radiation belt and also can help us understand the radiation environments of the exoplanets and outer planets.}, language = {en} } @article{EckertNiskanenJayetal.2017, author = {Eckert, Sebastian and Niskanen, Johannes and Jay, Raphael Martin and Miedema, Piter S. and Fondell, Mattis and Kennedy, Brian and Quevedo, Wilson and Iannuzzi, Marcella and F{\"o}hlisch, Alexander}, title = {Valence orbitals and local bond dynamics around N atoms of histidine under X-ray irradiation}, series = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, volume = {19}, journal = {Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies}, publisher = {Royal Society of Chemistry}, address = {Cambridge}, issn = {1463-9076}, doi = {10.1039/c7cp05713j}, pages = {32091 -- 32098}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The valence orbitals of aqueous histidine under basic, neutral and acidic conditions and their X-ray induced transformations have been monitored through N 1s resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. Using density functional ab initio molecular dynamics simulations in the core-hole state within the Z + 1 approximation, core-excitation-induced molecular transformations are quantified. Spectroscopic evidence for a highly directional X-ray-induced local N-H dissociation within the scattering duration is presented for acidic histidine. Our report demonstrates a protonation-state and chemical-environment dependent propensity for a molecular dissociation, which is induced by the absorption of high energy photons. This case study indicates that structural deformations in biomolecules under exposure to ionizing radiation, yielding possible alteration or loss of function, is highly dependent on the physiological state of the molecule upon irradiation.}, language = {en} } @article{SanderPudellHerzogetal.2017, author = {Sander, Mathias and Pudell, Jan-Etienne and Herzog, Marc and Bargheer, Matias and Bauer, R. and Besse, V. and Temnov, V. and Gaal, P.}, title = {Quantitative disentanglement of coherent and incoherent laser-induced surface deformations by time-resolved x-ray reflectivity}, series = {Applied physics letters}, volume = {111}, journal = {Applied physics letters}, publisher = {American Institute of Physics}, address = {Melville}, issn = {0003-6951}, doi = {10.1063/1.5004522}, pages = {4}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We present time-resolved x-ray reflectivity measurements on laser excited coherent and incoherent surface deformations of thin metallic films. Based on a kinematical diffraction model, we derive the surface amplitude from the diffracted x-ray intensity and resolve transient surface excursions with sub-angstrom spatial precision and 70 ps temporal resolution. The analysis allows for decomposition of the surface amplitude into multiple coherent acoustic modes and a substantial contribution from incoherent phonons which constitute the sample heating. Published by AIP Publishing.}, language = {en} } @article{HofackerNeher2017, author = {Hofacker, Andreas and Neher, Dieter}, title = {Dispersive and steady-state recombination in organic disordered semiconductors}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {96}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2469-9950}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.96.245204}, pages = {5640 -- 5649}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Charge carrier recombination in organic disordered semiconductors is strongly influenced by the thermalization of charge carriers in the density of states (DOS). Measurements of recombination dynamics, conducted under transient or steady-state conditions, can easily be misinterpreted when a detailed understanding of the interplay of thermalization and recombination is missing. To enable adequate measurement analysis, we solve the multiple-trapping problem for recombining charge carriers and analyze it in the transient and steady excitation paradigm for different DOS distributions. We show that recombination rates measured after pulsed excitation are inherently time dependent since recombination gradually slows down as carriers relax in the DOS. When measuring the recombination order after pulsed excitation, this leads to an apparent high-order recombination at short times. As times goes on, the recombination order approaches an asymptotic value. For the Gaussian and the exponential DOS distributions, this asymptotic value equals the recombination order of the equilibrated system under steady excitation. For a more general DOS distribution, the recombination order can also depend on the carrier density, under both transient and steady-state conditions. We conclude that transient experiments can provide rich information about recombination in and out of equilibrium and the underlying DOS occupation provided that consistent modeling of the system is performed.}, language = {en} } @article{HofackerNeher2017, author = {Hofacker, Andreas and Neher, Dieter}, title = {Dispersive and steady-state recombination in organic disordered semiconductors}, series = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, volume = {96}, journal = {Physical review : B, Condensed matter and materials physics}, publisher = {American Physical Society}, address = {College Park}, issn = {2469-9950}, doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.96.245204}, pages = {11}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Charge carrier recombination in organic disordered semiconductors is strongly influenced by the thermalization of charge carriers in the density of states (DOS). Measurements of recombination dynamics, conducted under transient or steady-state conditions, can easily be misinterpreted when a detailed understanding of the interplay of thermalization and recombination is missing. To enable adequate measurement analysis, we solve the multiple-trapping problem for recombining charge carriers and analyze it in the transient and steady excitation paradigm for different DOS distributions. We show that recombination rates measured after pulsed excitation are inherently time dependent since recombination gradually slows down as carriers relax in the DOS. When measuring the recombination order after pulsed excitation, this leads to an apparent high-order recombination at short times. As times goes on, the recombination order approaches an asymptotic value. For the Gaussian and the exponential DOS distributions, this asymptotic value equals the recombination order of the equilibrated system under steady excitation. For a more general DOS distribution, the recombination order can also depend on the carrier density, under both transient and steady-state conditions. We conclude that transient experiments can provide rich information about recombination in and out of equilibrium and the underlying DOS occupation provided that consistent modeling of the system is performed.}, language = {en} } @article{HerrmannMetzler2017, author = {Herrmann, Carl J. J. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {A self-avoiding walk with neural delays as a model of fixational eye movements}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-13489-8}, pages = {1 -- 17}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Fixational eye movements show scaling behaviour of the positional mean-squared displacement with a characteristic transition from persistence to antipersistence for increasing time-lag. These statistical patterns were found to be mainly shaped by microsaccades (fast, small-amplitude movements). However, our re-analysis of fixational eye-movement data provides evidence that the slow component (physiological drift) of the eyes exhibits scaling behaviour of the mean-squared displacement that varies across human participants. These results suggest that drift is a correlated movement that interacts with microsaccades. Moreover, on the long time scale, the mean-squared displacement of the drift shows oscillations, which is also present in the displacement auto-correlation function. This finding lends support to the presence of time-delayed feedback in the control of drift movements. Based on an earlier non-linear delayed feedback model of fixational eye movements, we propose and discuss different versions of a new model that combines a self-avoiding walk with time delay. As a result, we identify a model that reproduces oscillatory correlation functions, the transition from persistence to antipersistence, and microsaccades.}, language = {en} } @article{GrebenkovMetzlerOshanin2017, author = {Grebenkov, Denis S. and Metzler, Ralf and Oshanin, Gleb}, title = {Effects of the target aspect ratio and intrinsic reactivity onto diffusive search in bounded domains}, series = {New journal of physics}, volume = {19}, journal = {New journal of physics}, publisher = {IOP}, address = {London}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/aa8ed9}, pages = {1 -- 11}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Westudy the mean first passage time (MFPT) to a reaction event on a specific site in a cylindrical geometry—characteristic, for instance, for bacterial cells, with a concentric inner cylinder representing the nuclear region of the bacterial cell. Asimilar problem emerges in the description of a diffusive search by a transcription factor protein for a specific binding region on a single strand of DNA.We develop a unified theoretical approach to study the underlying boundary value problem which is based on a self-consistent approximation of the mixed boundary condition. Our approach permits us to derive explicit, novel, closed-form expressions for the MFPT valid for a generic setting with an arbitrary relation between the system parameters.Weanalyse this general result in the asymptotic limits appropriate for the above-mentioned biophysical problems. Our investigation reveals the crucial role of the target aspect ratio and of the intrinsic reactivity of the binding region, which were disregarded in previous studies. Theoretical predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations.}, language = {en} } @article{LomadzeKopyshevBargheeretal.2017, author = {Lomadze, Nino and Kopyshev, Alexey and Bargheer, Matias and Wollgarten, Markus and Santer, Svetlana}, title = {Mass production of polymer nanowires filled with metal nanoparticles}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-08153-0}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Despite the ongoing progress in nanotechnology and its applications, the development of strategies for connecting nano-scale systems to micro- or macroscale elements is hampered by the lack of structural components that have both, nano- and macroscale dimensions. The production of nano-scale wires with macroscale length is one of the most interesting challenges here. There are a lot of strategies to fabricate long nanoscopic stripes made of metals, polymers or ceramics but none is suitable for mass production of ordered and dense arrangements of wires at large numbers. In this paper, we report on a technique for producing arrays of ordered, flexible and free-standing polymer nano-wires filled with different types of nano-particles. The process utilizes the strong response of photosensitive polymer brushes to irradiation with UV-interference patterns, resulting in a substantial mass redistribution of the polymer material along with local rupturing of polymer chains. The chains can wind up in wires of nano-scale thickness and a length of up to several centimeters. When dispersing nano-particles within the film, the final arrangement is similar to a core-shell geometry with mainly nano-particles found in the core region and the polymer forming a dielectric jacket.}, language = {en} } @article{WolfHolzmeierWagneretal.2017, author = {Wolf, Thomas J. A. and Holzmeier, Fabian and Wagner, Isabella and Berrah, Nora and Bostedt, Christoph and Bozek, John and Bucksbaum, Philip H. and Coffee, Ryan and Cryan, James and Farrell, Joe and Feifel, Raimund and Martinez, Todd J. and McFarland, Brian and Mucke, Melanie and Nandi, Saikat and Tarantelli, Francesco and Fischer, Ingo and G{\"u}hr, Markus}, title = {Observing Femtosecond Fragmentation Using Ultrafast X-ray-Induced Auger Spectra}, series = {Applied Sciences}, volume = {7}, journal = {Applied Sciences}, number = {7}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2076-3417}, doi = {10.3390/app7070681}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Molecules often fragment after photoionization in the gas phase. Usually, this process can only be investigated spectroscopically as long as there exists electron correlation between the photofragments. Important parameters, like their kinetic energy after separation, cannot be investigated. We are reporting on a femtosecond time-resolved Auger electron spectroscopy study concerning the photofragmentation dynamics of thymine. We observe the appearance of clearly distinguishable signatures from thymine′s neutral photofragment isocyanic acid. Furthermore, we observe a time-dependent shift of its spectrum, which we can attribute to the influence of the charged fragment on the Auger electron. This allows us to map our time-dependent dataset onto the fragmentation coordinate. The time dependence of the shift supports efficient transformation of the excess energy gained from photoionization into kinetic energy of the fragments. Our method is broadly applicable to the investigation of photofragmentation processes.}, language = {en} } @article{ZaksPikovskij2017, author = {Zaks, Michael A. and Pikovskij, Arkadij}, title = {Chimeras and complex cluster states in arrays of spin-torque oscillators}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Macmillan Publishers Limited}, address = {London}, issn = {2045-2322}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-04918-9}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We consider synchronization properties of arrays of spin-torque nano-oscillators coupled via an RC load. We show that while the fully synchronized state of identical oscillators may be locally stable in some parameter range, this synchrony is not globally attracting. Instead, regimes of different levels of compositional complexity are observed. These include chimera states (a part of the array forms a cluster while other units are desynchronized), clustered chimeras (several clusters plus desynchronized oscillators), cluster state (all oscillators form several clusters), and partial synchronization (no clusters but a nonvanishing mean field). Dynamically, these states are also complex, demonstrating irregular and close to quasiperiodic modulation. Remarkably, when heterogeneity of spin-torque oscillators is taken into account, dynamical complexity even increases: close to the onset of a macroscopic mean field, the dynamics of this field is rather irregular.}, language = {en} } @article{NiebuhrHeuer2017, author = {Niebuhr, Mario and Heuer, Axel}, title = {Phase measurement and far-field reconstruction on externally coupled laser diode arrays}, series = {Optics express}, volume = {25}, journal = {Optics express}, number = {13}, publisher = {Optical Society of America}, address = {Washington, DC}, issn = {1094-4087}, doi = {10.1364/OE.25.014317}, pages = {14317 -- 14322}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Passive coherent combination of several discrete low power laser diodes is a promising way to overcome the issue of degrading beam quality when scaling single emitters to > 10W output power. Such systems would be an efficient alternative to current high power sources, yet they suffer from fatal coherence loss when operated well above threshold. We present a new way to obtain detailed coherence information for laser diode arrays using a spatial light modulator to help identify the underlying decoherence processes. Reconstruction tests of the emitted far-field distribution are conducted to evaluate the performance of our setup.}, language = {en} } @article{SchwarzlGodecMetzler2017, author = {Schwarzl, Maria and Godec, Aljaž and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Quantifying non-ergodicity of anomalous diffusion with higher order moments}, series = {Scientific reports}, volume = {7}, journal = {Scientific reports}, publisher = {Macmillan Publishers Limited}, address = {London}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-03712-x}, pages = {18}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Anomalous diffusion is being discovered in a fast growing number of systems. The exact nature of this anomalous diffusion provides important information on the physical laws governing the studied system. One of the central properties analysed for finite particle motion time series is the intrinsic variability of the apparent diffusivity, typically quantified by the ergodicity breaking parameter EB. Here we demonstrate that frequently EB is insufficient to provide a meaningful measure for the observed variability of the data. Instead, important additional information is provided by the higher order moments entering by the skewness and kurtosis. We analyse these quantities for three popular anomalous diffusion models. In particular, we find that even for the Gaussian fractional Brownian motion a significant skewness in the results of physical measurements occurs and needs to be taken into account. Interestingly, the kurtosis and skewness may also provide sensitive estimates of the anomalous diffusion exponent underlying the data. We also derive a new result for the EB parameter of fractional Brownian motion valid for the whole range of the anomalous diffusion parameter. Our results are important for the analysis of anomalous diffusion but also provide new insights into the theory of anomalous stochastic processes.}, language = {en} } @article{CherstvyVinodAghionetal.2017, author = {Cherstvy, Andrey G. and Vinod, Deepak and Aghion, Erez and Chechkin, Aleksei V. and Metzler, Ralf}, title = {Time averaging, ageing and delay analysis of financial time series}, series = {New journal of physics}, volume = {19}, journal = {New journal of physics}, publisher = {IOP}, address = {London}, issn = {1367-2630}, doi = {10.1088/1367-2630/aa7199}, pages = {1 -- 11}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We introduce three strategies for the analysis of financial time series based on time averaged observables. These comprise the time averaged mean squared displacement (MSD) as well as the ageing and delay time methods for varying fractions of the financial time series. We explore these concepts via statistical analysis of historic time series for several Dow Jones Industrial indices for the period from the 1960s to 2015. Remarkably, we discover a simple universal law for the delay time averaged MSD. The observed features of the financial time series dynamics agree well with our analytical results for the time averaged measurables for geometric Brownian motion, underlying the famed Black-Scholes-Merton model. The concepts we promote here are shown to be useful for financial data analysis and enable one to unveil new universal features of stock market dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{MenzelPuhlmannHeuer2017, author = {Menzel, Ralf and Puhlmann, Dirk and Heuer, Axel}, title = {Complementarity in single photon interference - the role of the mode function and vacuum fields}, series = {Journal of the European Optical Society-Rapid}, volume = {13}, journal = {Journal of the European Optical Society-Rapid}, publisher = {Springer}, issn = {1990-2573}, doi = {10.1186/s41476-017-0036-x}, pages = {7}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Background In earlier experiments the role of the vacuum fields could be demonstrated as the source of complementarity with respect to the temporal properties (Heuer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 114:053601, 2015). Methods Single photon first order interferences of spatially separated regions from the cone structure of spontaneous parametric down conversion allow for analyzing the role of the mode function in quantum optics regarding the complementarity principle. Results Here the spatial coherence properties of these vacuum fields are demonstrated as the physical reason for complementarity in these single photon quantum optical experiments. These results are directly connected to the mode picture in classical optics. Conclusion The properties of the involved vacuum fields selected via the measurement process are the physical background of the complementarity principle in quantum optics.}, language = {en} }