A double time-of-flight multi-electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy technique

by Raimund Feifel
Molecular Physics, SU 
Thursday the 21st of February 10.00 o'clock at FA32

Abstract

The interpretation of the photoelectric effect by Albert Einstein in 1905 opened the way for photoelectron spectroscopy as pioneeringly developed in Uppsala. It reveals mainly the transitions to singly-ionised states of the system studied.
The absorption of a single photon may also lead to the ejection of two or more electrons from the same target species. If all the ejected electrons can be detected in coincidence and energy analysed, the energy levels of the multiply-ionised system can be obtained. This experiment is in effect photoelectron spectroscopy of multiply charged ions. Studies of dicationic states by this means are referred to as PhotoElectron-PhotoElectron COincidence (PEPECO) spectroscopy.
In this seminar the fundamental aspects of conventional photoelectron spectroscopy will be briefly recapitulated along with the presentation of a novel technique recently invented for multi-electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy. Examples of studies of single and double photoionisation of atoms and molecules will be given and mechanisms for multiple ionisation processes will be discussed as well as energy relationships.


Super lubricating nano particles

by Stefan Csillag
Nuclear Physics, SU 
Thursday the 6th of Mars 10.00 o'clock at FA32

Abstract

Novel nano materials with selected properties for high performing, environmentally friendly fuels and lubricants have recently been developed. Some of these provide enhanced frictional properties via unique “ball bearing” type mechanisms due to their spherical shape and small size. Others rely on interactions with the metal surfaces of engine parts under pressure to form glassy sacrificial layers via particle breakdown at the solid steel/liquid interface providing self-healing mechanisms to improve wear and reduce fuel consumption.
Advanced nano materials like inorganic-fullerenes (IF) used as additives to oils and greases significantly improve the anti-friction and anti-wear properties of these lubricants, as the IF treated oils and greases extensively enhance the performance of all sorts of moving parts, resulting in large energy savings, less costly equipment maintenance, improved productivity and reduced pollution.
In order to be able to carry out in-situ tribological studies and to study the tribo-film formation and possible chemical changes on the friction exposed surfaces, advanced analytical instruments: TEM, SEM, FIB, XPS. EDX, EELS instruments are used.
A friction reducing mechanism will be presented and the origin of the chemical changes will be discussed.

 
IceCube: Detecting neutrinos with ns precision within a km3 of ice

by David Nygren
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California
Thursday the 3rd of April 10.00 o'clock at FA32 

Abstract

IceCube is under construction at Antarctica’s South Pole, and is about half complete. About 1km3 of the deep polar ice will be instrumented for detection of optical Cerenkov radiation, generated by the charged products of high energy neutrino interactions. The energy range of interest spans many decades, from a few tens of GeV up to EeV, adding dynamic range to the engineering challenges. “Digital Optical Modules”, organized in a highly decentralized architecture, capture photomultiplier waveforms with ~1 ns precision. From these signals, the tracks of high-energy muons can be determined, and, in turn, the incident direction of the transformed neutrino. Special attention had to be paid to several engineering issues, and especially to reliability for electronics operating in an inaccessible and very cold environment. Measured performance generally meets requirements.  A new array, called “Deep Core” has been recently approved and funded, and will augment the detection capabilities for the lowest energy muon tracks, where a WIMP annihilation signal may exist.


Multiparticle entanglement and multiparticle protocols

by Mohamed Bourennane
KoF, SU 
Thursday the 29th of May10.00 o'clock at FA32

Abstract

Entanglement is one of the most puzzling features of quantum theory and of great importance for the new field of quantum information theory. The determination of whether a given state is entangled or not is one of the most challenging open problems. For multipartite entangled state Bell inequalities turned out not to be always suited to distinguish genuine multipartite entanglement from biseparable, triseparable, etc. entanglement. Only recently, significant progress in classifying multipartite entanglement has been achieved using entanglement witnesses. These observables can always be used to detect entanglement, when some apriory knowledge about the states under investigation is provided. It has been shown that witness operators can be implemented experimentally in a straightforward way by using local projective measurements, even for multipartite systems. We apply this scheme to experimentally detect entanglement of multiphoton states. These states are used for the realization of quantum multiparty communication protocols such as secret sharing, Byzantine agreement, liar detection, and tele-cloning.