OpenAccess

A ubiquitous feature of accreting black hole systems is their hard X-ray emission which is thought to be produced through Comptonization of soft photons by electrons and positrons in the vicinity of the black hole, in a region with optical depth of order unity. The origin and composition of this Comptonizing region, known as the corona, is a matter open for debate. [...]

The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) iscurrently preparing to replace its present Inner Detector (ID) withthe upgraded, all-silicon Inner Tracker (ITk) for itsHigh-Luminosity upgrade (HL-LHC). The ITk will consist of acentral pixel tracker and the outer strip tracker, consisting ofabout 19,000 strip detector modules. [...]

Recent theoretical advancements propose multiple positron acceleration schemes in plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA). One of the most promising ideas involves the creation of an electron-driven blowout wake within a finite-radius pre-ionized plasma column. [...]

Using realistic laser profiles for simulations of laser-plasma interaction is critical to reproduce experimental measurements, but the interface between experiments and simulations can be challenging. Similarly, start-to-end simulations with different codes may require error-prone manipulations to convert between different representations of a laser pulse. [...]

We propose a novel, data-driven method for determining total charm cross sections in proton–proton collisions by extrapolating measured fiducial cross sections without assuming any particular fragmentation model. The recently observed charm fragmentation non-universality at the LHC experimentally establishes strongly increased baryon production fractions and correspondingly decreased meson production fractions compared to electron–positron collisions, with a very significant $p_T$ dependence. [...]

We report a systematic study of the relationship between structure and photochromic activity in yttrium oxyhydride (YHO) thin films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering under different ratios of ionization gas (Ar) and reactant gas (H$_2$) flows. The best photochromic performance was observed for intermediate ratios Ar/H$_2$ ≈ 9-12. [...]

Both ILC detector concepts – ILD and SiD – are very complex machines, the assembly andinstallation of which in the experimental cavern at the ILC interaction point will be complicatedendeavours. These procedures require careful planning and logistics, taking into accountnumerous constraints and boundary conditions. [...]

Understanding the thermo-mechanical compatibility of composite electrodes is essential for the longterm reliability of solid-oxide electrochemical devices. In this study, we demonstrate a combined in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and simultaneous dilatometry approach as a rapid and predictive method to quantify both phase-resolved and bulk thermal expansion while tracking microstructural evolution at operational temperatures. [...]

“Beak larva” is a collective term for four fossil specimens from Kachin amber, which are holometabolan larvae with a forward-projecting beak. This arrangement is very unusual, and so far it has been unclear whether these specimens are larvae of beetles or of lacewings [...]

High entropy alloys (HEAs) are unique and novel materials with remarkable properties that render themcompetitive for developing key engineering applications within modern engineering sectors. In the present study,a AlCoCrFeNi HEA was gas tungsten arc welded to 316 L stainless steel, with the aim of assessing the compatibilityin terms of microstructure and mechanical performance. [...]