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We study a system of coupled oscillators of the Sakaguchi-Kuramoto type with interactions including a phase delay. We consider the case of a coupling matrix such that oscillators with large natural frequencies drive all slower ones but not the reverse. This scheme is inspired by Hebbian learning in neuroscience. We propose a simple model which is partly solvable analytically and shows many unusual features. For example, for the case of phase delay $\pi/2$ (a symmetric phase response curve) with symmetric coupling there is no synchronous behavior. But in the asymmetric coupling case, there are phase-locked states, i.e., states where many oscillators have the same frequency, but with substantial phase differences.

Conductive ferroelectric domain walls (DWs) represent a promising topical system for the development of nanoelectronic components and devices. DWs show very different properties as compared to their bulk counterparts. Of central interest here is the domain wall current (DWC) of charged DWs in 5mol\% Mg-doped lithium niobate single crystals; in contrast to former works, we extend the DWC study here to temperatures as high as 400$^\circ$C. Both the temporal stability and the thermal activation energies of 90 - 160 meV are readily deduced from current-voltage sweeps as recorded over multiple heating cycles. Our experimental work is backed up by atomistic modelling of the DWC. The latter suggests that a large band bending renders head-to-head and tail-to-tail DWs semimetallic. These detailed investigations underline the potential to extend DWC-based nanoelectronic applications even into the so-far unexplored high-temperature regime., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; with included supplementary material (6 pages, 9 figures)

The ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition in LiTaO$_3$ and in pure as well as Mg doped LiNbO$_3$ is investigated theoretically by atomistic calculations in the framework of the density functional theory, as well as experimentally by calorimetry and electrical conductivity measurements. First principles models within the stochastic self-consistent harmonic approximation (SSCHA) allow to consider anharmonic effects and thus to obtain a realistic estimate of the Curie temperature $T_C$ of both ferroelectrics. \textit{Ab initio} molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations performed on large supercells confirm the Curie temperatures estimated with the SSCHA approach. Moreover, they also suggest that the structural phase transition is a continuous process beginning at temperatures well below $T_C$. According to AIMD, significant ionic displacements occurr already at temperatures of about 100\,K and 300\,K below $T_C$ in LiTaO$_3$ and LiNbO$_3$, respectively. To asses whether and how far the ionic displacements affect the materials properties, the AIMD results are compared with measurements of the electrical conductivity and of the heat capacity across the phase transition. Our first principles calculations moreover show that Mg ions, a frequently employed dopant, raise the Curie temperature in LiNbO$_3$.

The investigation of the structural phase transition in the vicinity of the Curie temperature $T_c$ of LiNb$_{1-x}$Ta$_x$O$_3$ crystals is motivated by the expected combination of advantageous high-temperature properties of LiNbO$_3$ and LiTaO$_3$, including high piezoelectric modules and remarkable high-temperature stability, respectively. $T_c$ marks the ultimate limit for exploiting the piezoelectric properties, however transition related structural modifications might impact this and other properties even below $T_c$. Remarkably, the phase transition from the ferroelectric to the paraelectric phase, whose temperature strongly depends on the composition $x$, shows a significant drop in the activation energy of the electrical conductivity. The magnitude, temperature dependence and underlying mechanisms of this drop are discussed from a microscopic perspective. Molecular dynamics calculations in the framework of the density functional theory show that substantial displacements of the cations occur below $T_c$ for both the end compounds LiNbO$_3$ and LiTaO$_3$, and might thus affect the electrical conductivity. Above $T_c$, the migration of lithium ions is presumably facilitated by a shortened diffusion path for the most favorable jump of the lithium ions. Electronic contributions to the conductivity, which become important above 900 K, are explained within the polaronic picture by the formation and migration of free small polarons., Comment: I submitted it to The Physica Status Solidi A: Applications and Materials Science on 12/21/2023 and it's under review. It will be updated after receiving reviews

Living things, computers, societies, and even books are part of a grand evolutionary struggle to survive. That struggle shapes nature, nations, religions, art, science, and you. What you think, feel, and do is determined by it. Darwinian evolution does not apply solely to the genes that are stored in DNA. Using the insights of Alan Turing and Richard Dawkins, we will see that it also applies to the memes we store in our brains and the information we store in our computers. The next time you run for president, fight a war, or just deal with the ordinary problems humans are heir to, perhaps this book will be of use. If you want to understand why and when you will die, or if you want to achieve greatness this book may help. If you are concerned about where the computer revolution is headed, this book may provide some answers., Comment: 247 pages

Superconducting integrated circuit (SIC) is a promising "beyond-CMOS" device technology enables speed-of-light, nearly lossless communications to advance cryogenic (4 K or lower) computing. However, the lack of large-area superconducting IC has hindered the development of scalable practical systems. Herein, we describe a novel approach to interconnect 16 high-resolution deep UV (DUV EX4, 248 nm lithography) full reticle circuits to fabricate an extremely large (88mm X 88 mm) area superconducting integrated circuit (ELASIC). The fabrication process starts by interconnecting four high-resolution DUV EX4 (22 mm X 22 mm) full reticles using a single large-field (44 mm X 44 mm) I-line (365 nm lithography) reticle, followed by I-line reticle stitching at the boundaries of 44 mm X 44 mm fields to fabricate the complete ELASIC field (88 mm X 88 mm). The ELASIC demonstrated a 2X-12X reduction in circuit features and maintained high-stitched line superconducting critical currents. We examined quantum flux parametron (QFP) circuits to demonstrate the viability of common active components used for data buffering and transmission. Considering that no stitching requirement for high-resolution EX4 DUV reticles is employed, the present fabrication process has the potential to advance the scaling of superconducting quantum devices.

To increase density of superconductor digital and neuromorphic circuits by 10x and reach integration scale of $10^8$ Josephson junctions (JJs) per chip, we developed a new fabrication process on 200-mm wafers, using self-shunted Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb JJs and kinetic inductors. The process has a layer of JJs, a layer of resistors, and 10 fully planarized superconducting layers: 8 Nb layers and 2 layers of high kinetic inductance materials, Mo$_2$N and NbN, with sheet inductance of 8 pH/sq and 3 pH/sq, respectively. NbN films were deposited by two methods: with $T_c$=15.5 K by reactive sputtering of a Nb target in Ar+N$_2$ mixture; with $T_c$ in the range from 9 K to 13 K by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using Tris(diethylamido)(tert-butylimido)niobium(V) metalorganic precursor. PECVD of NbN was investigated to obtain conformal deposition and filling narrow trenches and vias with high depth-to-width ratios, which was not possible to achieve using sputtering and other physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods at temperatures below $200 ^oC$ required to prevent degradation of Nb/Al-AlOx/Nb junctions. Nb layers with 200 nm thickness are used in the process layer stack as ground planes to maintain a high level of interlayer shielding and low intralayer mutual coupling, for passive transmission lines with wave impedances matching impedances of JJs, typically <=50 $\Omega$, and for low-value inductors. NbN and NbN/Nb bilayer are used for cell inductors. Using NbN/Nb bilayers and individual pattering of both layers to form inductors allowed us to minimize parasitic kinetic inductance associated with interlayer vias and connections to JJs as well as to increase critical currents of the vias. Fabrication details and results of electrical characterization of NbN films, wires, and vias, and comparison with Nb properties are given., Comment: 12 pages, 16 figures, 4 tables, 49 references. Submitted to IEEE TAS on Nov. 10, 2022

Macroscale chains have been proposed to give insight into the physics of molecular polymer systems. Nevertheless, understanding the rheological response of systems of quasi-one-dimensional semiflexible materials, such as bead-chain packings, is currently a great challenge. We study the nonlinear rheology of random assemblies of macroscale chains -- including steel bead chains and cooked spaghetti -- under oscillatory shear. We show that a universal transition from localized to wide shear zones occurs upon increasing the strain amplitude, for a wide range of lengths, flexibilities, and other structural parameters of the constituent elements. The critical strain amplitude coincides with the onset of strain stiffening development in the system. We obtain scaling laws for transition sharpness, shear-zone width, and stiffness enhancement as a function of chain length. Our findings suggest that the entanglements between the constituent elements strengthen when approaching the critical strain amplitude and rapidly become long range, even spanning the entire finite system for long enough chains. We show that the nonlinear rheological response is governed by the interplay between increasing stored elastic forces due to entanglements and increasing contribution of dissipation with shear rate and interlocking between chains., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

Epithelial cell clusters often move collectively on a substrate. Mechanical signals play a major role in organizing this behavior. There are a number of experimental observations in these systems which await a comprehensive explanation. These include: the internal strains are tensile even for clusters that expand by proliferation; the tractions on the substrate are often confined to the edges of the cluster; there can exist density waves within the cluster; clusters can exhibit collective durotaxis when individual cells show no effect; and for cells in an annulus there is a transition between expanding clusters with proliferation and the case where cells fill the annulus and rotate around it. We formulate a mechanical model to examine these effects. We use a molecular clutch picture which allows "stalling" -- inhibition of cell contraction by external forces. Stalled cells are passive from a physical point of view and the un-stalled cells are active. By attaching cells to the substrate and to each other, and taking into account contact inhibition of locomotion, we get a simple picture for many of these findings as well as predictions that could be tested. SI text/figures included, SI movies at https://rice.box.com/s/xiy3mwsfj3203lfu7pk0udfklexcgsew, Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures; also includes supplement, 20 pages, 18 figures, 3 movies (downloadable at: https://rice.box.com/s/xiy3mwsfj3203lfu7pk0udfklexcgsew )

Effective medium theory is used to model a one dimensional lossy dielectric quaternary photonic crystal as a homogeneous slab. The unit cell of the original crystal is inversion symmetric with layer sequence ACBCA. The behavior of the branch frequency singularities in the effective refractive index is investigated as parameters in the layered structure change. A heterostructure composed of multiple photonic crystals is also modeled with effective medium theory. It is shown that the effective refractive index of such a structure possesses regions of normal dispersion that correspond to localized interface states within the overall regions of anomalous dispersion representing the photonic band gap.

Interface states in a 1-D photonic crystal heterostructure with multiple interfaces are examined. It is found that the behavior of the localized modes in the photonic band gaps is dependent on whether there is an even or odd number of photonic crystal interfaces in the heterostructure. With certain sequences of all dielectric photonic crystals, topological states are shown to split in two, whereas for other heterostructures they are shown to vanish. Additional resonant modes appear depending on how many crystals are in the heterostructure.

The existence of topological interface states is investigated at the boundary between a binary photonic crystal and a quaternary photonic crystal, with each possessing inversion symmetric unit cells. Conditions are established that describe where the quaternary crystal can exist in parameter space subject to constraints. The closing of band gaps is discussed for different optical path ratios. When the binary and quaternary crystals share an interface, optical states appear at the interface when the two crystals have different signs for the surface impedance. The evolution of the states is displayed as the geometry of the quaternary crystal changes.

We present our new fabrication Process for Superconductor Electronics (PSE2) that integrates two (2) layers of Josephson junctions in a fully planarized multilayer process on 200-mm wafers. The two junction layers can be, e.g., conventional Superconductor-Insulator-Superconductor (SIS) Nb/Al/AlO_x/Nb junctions with the same or different Josephson critical current densities, J_c. The process also allows integration of high-J_c Superconductor-Ferromagnet-Superconductor (SFS) or SFS'S JJs on the first junction layer with Nb/Al/AlO_x/Nb trilayer junctions on the second junction layer, or vice versa. In the present node, the SFS trilayer, Nb/Ni/Nb is placed below the standard SIS trilayer and separated by one niobium wiring layer. The main purpose of integrating the SFS and SIS junction layers is to provide compact {\pi}-phase shifters in logic cells of superconductor digital circuits and random access memories, and thereby increase the integration scale and functional density of superconductor electronics. The current node of the two-junction-layer process has six planarized niobium layers, two layers of resistors, and 350-nm minimum feature size. The target Josephson critical current densities for the SIS junctions are 100 {\mu}A/{\mu}m^2 and 200 {\mu}A/{\mu}m^2. We present the salient features of the new process, fabrication details, and characterization results on two layers of Josephson junctions integrated into one process, both for the conventional and {\pi}-junctions., Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, 30 references. Presented at Applied Superconductivity Conference, ASC 2018, Oct. 28 - Nov. 2, 2018, Seattle, WA, USA. Paper 4EOr3B-02

Motile biological cells in tissue often display the phenomenon of durotaxis, i.e. they tend to move towards stiffer parts of substrate tissue. The mechanism for this behavior is not completely understood. We consider simplified models for durotaxis based on the classic persistent random walker scheme. We show that even a one-dimensional model of this type sheds interesting light on the classes of behavior cells might exhibit. Our results strongly indicate that cells must be able to sense the gradient of stiffness in order to show the effects observed in experiment. This is in contrast to the claims in recent publications that it is sufficient for cells to be more persistent in their motion on stiff substrates to show durotaxis: i.e., if would be enough to sense the value of the stiffness. We show that these cases give rise to extremely inefficient transport towards stiff regions. Gradient sensing is almost certainly the selected behavior., Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures

It is shown that an equiprobability hypothesis leads to a scenario in which it is possible to predict the outcome of a single toss of a fair coin with a success probability greater than 50%. We discuss whether this hypothesis might be independent of the usual hypotheses governing probability, as well as whether this hypothesis might be assumed as a result of the Principle of Indifference. Also discussed are ways to implement or circumvent the hypothesis., Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures

We are developing a superconductor electronics fabrication process with up to nine planarized superconducting layers, stackable stud vias, self-shunted Nb/AlOx-Al/Nb Josephson junctions, and one layer of MoNx kinetic inductors. The minimum feature size of resistors and inductors in the process is 250 nm. We present data on the mutual inductance of Nb stripline and microstrip inductors with linewidth and spacing from 250 nm to 1 {\mu}m made on the same or adjacent Nb layers, as well as the data on the linewidth and resistance uniformity., Comment: Extended Abstract: 3 pages, 4 figures, 1 Table, 9 references. 16th International Superconductive Electronics Conference, ISEC 2017, 12-16 June 2017, Sorrento, Italy