This study examines whether sentence-level memory load in comprehension is better explained by linear proximity between syntactically related words or by the structural density of the intervening material. Building on locality-based accounts and cross-linguistic evidence for dependency length minimization, the work advances Intervener Complexity-the number of intervening heads between a head and its dependent-as a structurally grounded lens that refines linear distance measures. Using harmonized dependency treebanks and a mixed-effects framework across multiple languages, the analysis jointly evaluates sentence length, dependency length, and Intervener Complexity as predictors of the Memory-load measure. Studies in Psycholinguistics have reported the contributions of feature interference and misbinding to memory load during processing. For this study, I operationalized sentence-level memory load as the linear sum of feature misbinding and feature interference for tractability; current evidence does not establish that their cognitive contributions combine additively. All three factors are positively associated with memory load, with sentence length exerting the broadest influence and Intervener Complexity offering explanatory power beyond linear distance. Conceptually, the findings reconcile linear and hierarchical perspectives on locality by treating dependency length as an important surface signature while identifying intervening heads as a more proximate indicator of integration and maintenance demands. Methodologically, the study illustrates how UD-based graph measures and cross-linguistic mixed-effects modelling can disentangle linear and structural contributions to processing efficiency, providing a principled path for evaluating competing theories of memory load in sentence comprehension.

Twisted multilayer graphene has become a focal point of research due to its ability to host a range of quantum phases, including unconventional superconductivity, ferromagnetism, and strong correlation effects. In the present work, we address the challenge of investigating the diverse physics associated with a variety of twist-angles in a simple graphene platform which is economic and bypasses the tedious process of fabricating multiple devices, each with one twist angle. We used turbostratic graphene films containing a variety of twist angles characterized by distinct Moir\'e patterns observed through scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and distinct signatures recorded by Raman spectroscopy. From scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), we show that the local twist angles remarkably correlate with the characteristic local electronic properties. Most remarkably, the films spontaneously generate strained wrinkles during growth, with certain wrinkled regions exhibiting robust strain-induced pseudo-magnetic fields, as recorded by ultra-low temperature STS.

Pseudorandom states (PRSs) are state ensembles that cannot be efficiently distinguished from Haar random states. However, the definition of PRSs has been limited to pure states and lacks robustness against noise. Here, we introduce pseudorandom density matrices (PRDMs), ensembles of $n$-qubit states that are computationally indistinguishable from the generalized Hilbert-Schmidt ensemble (GHSE), which is constructed from $(n+m)$-qubit Haar random states with $m$ qubits traced out. For $m=0$, PRDMs are equivalent to PRSs, whereas for $m=\omega(\log n)$, PRDMs are computationally indistinguishable from the maximally mixed state. PRDMs with $m=\omega(\log n)$ are robust to unital noise channels and separated in terms of security from PRS. PRDMs disguise valuable quantum resources, possessing near-maximal entanglement, magic and coherence, while being computationally indistinguishable from resource-free states. PRDMs exhibit a pseudoresource gap of $\Theta(n)$ vs $0$, surpassing previously found gaps. We also render EFI pairs, a fundamental cryptographic primitive, robust to strong mixed unitary noise. Our work has major implications on quantum resource theory: We show that entanglement, magic and coherence cannot be efficiently tested, and that black-box resource distillation requires a superpolynomial number of copies. We also establish lower bounds on the purity needed for efficient testing and black-box distillation. Finally, we introduce memoryless PRSs, a noise-robust notion of PRS which are indistinguishable to Haar random states for efficient algorithms without quantum memory, as well as noise-robust quantum money. Our work provides a comprehensive framework of pseudorandomness for mixed states, which yields powerful quantum cryptographic primitives and fundamental bounds on quantum resource theories.

Strong light-matter coupling is a quantum process in which light and matter are coupled together, generating hybridized states. This is similar to the notion of molecular hybridization, but one of the components is light. Here, we utilized the idea and prepared quantum phototransistors using donor-acceptor combinations that can transfer energy via Rabi oscillations. As a prototype experiment, we used a cyanine J-aggregate (TDBC; donor) and MoS2 monolayer (acceptor) in a field effect transistor cavity and studied the photoresponsivity. The energy migrates through the newly formed polaritonic ladder, and the relative efficiency of the device is nearly seven-fold at the ON resonance. Further, the photon mixing fraction is calculated for each independent device and correlated with energy transfer efficiency. In the strongly coupled system, newly formed polaritonic states reshuffle the probability function. A theoretical model based on the time dependent Schr\"odinger equation is also used to interpret the results. Here, the entangled light-matter states act as a strong channel for funnelling the energy to the MoS2 monolayer, thereby boosting its ability to show the highest photoresponsivity at ON-resonance. These experimental findings and the proposed model suggest novel applications of strong light-matter coupling in quantum materials.

The mechanism through which superconductivity is destroyed upon controlled disordering often holds the key to understanding the mechanism of emergence of superconductivity. Here we demonstrate an $in$-$situ$ mechanism to control the fraction of disorder in a 2D superconductor. By controlling an electric field V$_G$, we created an assembly of segregated superconducting nano-islands and varied the inter-island distance to accomplish a quantum phase transition from a superconducting phase to a strange quantum anomalous metallic (QAM) phase at LaVO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces. In the QAM phase, the resistivity dropped below a critical temperature (T$_{CM}$) as if the system was approaching superconductivity, and then saturated, indicating the destruction of global phase coherence and the emergence of a phase where metal-like transport of Bosons (a Bose metal) becomes a possibility. The unprecedented control over the island size is obtained through the control of nanometer scale ferroelectric domains formed in the SrTiO$_3$ side of the interface due to a low-temperature structural phase transition.

The Indian Pulsar Timing Array (InPTA) employs unique features of the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) to monitor dozens of the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) millisecond pulsars (MSPs), simultaneously in the 300-500 MHz and the 1260-1460 MHz bands. This dual-band approach ensures that any frequency-dependent delays are accurately characterized, significantly improving the timing precision for pulsar observations, which is crucial for pulsar timing arrays. We present details of InPTA's second data release that involves 7 yrs of data on 27 IPTA MSPs. This includes sub-banded Times of Arrival (ToAs), Dispersion Measures (DM), and initial timing ephemerides for our MSPs. A part of this dataset, originally released in InPTA's first data release, is being incorporated into IPTA's third data release which is expected to detect and characterize nanohertz gravitational waves in the coming years. The entire dataset is reprocessed in this second data release providing some of the highest precision DM estimates so far and interesting solar wind related DM variations in some pulsars. This is likely to characterize the noise introduced by the dynamic inter-stellar ionised medium much better than the previous release thereby increasing sensitivity to any future gravitational wave search.

The Yb based triangular lattice delafossites $A$Yb$X_2$ ($A$ = alkali metal, $X$ = O, S, Se) have recently been studied as quantum spin liquid candidates. We report the synthesis of powders and single crystals of CuYbSe$_2$ with a perfect triangular lattice of Yb$^{3+}$ moments. Magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements reveal no evidence of long-range magnetic ordering down to $1.8$~K in spite of a significant antiferromagnetic exchange between Yb$^{3+}$ moments, suggesting a frustrated magnetic system. Electrical resistivity measurements indicate insulating behavior, consistent with the localized nature of magnetic moments. Heat capacity reveals that CuYbSe$_2$ can be treated as an effective spin $S = 1/2$ triangular lattice antiferromagnet below $\sim 50$~K. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on single crystals reveals weak magnetic anisotropy. These properties position CuYbSe$_2$ as a promising candidate for a quantum spin liquid state and as a new platform for exploring exotic magnetic ground states in triangular lattice systems.

Low-dimensional materials with broken inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling can give rise to fascinating quantum phases and phase transitions. Here we report coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism below 2.5\,K in the quasi-one dimensional crystals of non-centrosymmetric (TaSe$_4$)$_3$I (space group: $P\bar{4}2_1c$). The unique phase is a direct consequence of inversion symmetry breaking as the same material also stabilizes in a centro-symmetric structure (space group: $P4/mnc$) where it behaves like a non-magnetic insulator. The coexistence here upfront contradicts the popular belief that superconductivity and ferromagnetism are two apparently antagonistic phenomena. Notably, here, for the first time, we have clearly detected Meissner effect in the superconducting state despite the coexisting ferromagnetic order. The coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism projects non-centrosymmetric (TaSe$_4$)$_3$I as a host for complex ground states of quantum matter including possible unconventional superconductivity with elusive spin-triplet pairing.

Conventional autonomous quantum refrigerators rely on uncorrelated heat exchange between the working system and baths via two-body interactions enabled by single-photon transitions and positive-temperature work baths, inherently limiting their cooling performance. Here, we introduce distinct qutrit refrigerators that exploit correlated heat transfer via two-photon transitions with the hot and cold baths, yielding a genuine enhancement in performance over conventional qutrit refrigerators that employ uncorrelated heat transfer. These refrigerators achieve at least a twofold enhancement in cooling power and reliability compared to conventional counterparts. Moreover, we show that cooling power and reliability can be further enhanced simultaneously by several folds, even surpassing existing cooling limits, by utilizing a synthetic negative-temperature work bath. Such refrigerators can be realized by combining correlated heat transfer and synthetic work baths, which consist of a four-level system coupled to hot and cold baths and two conventional work baths via two independent two-photon transitions. Here, the composition of two work baths effectively creates a synthetic negative-temperature work bath under suitable parameter choices. Our results demonstrate that correlated heat transfers and baths with negative temperatures can yield thermodynamic advantages in quantum devices. Finally, we discuss the experimental feasibility of the proposed refrigerators across various existing platforms.

Motivated by the observation of Skyrmion-like magnetic textures in 2D itinerant ferromagnets Fe$_n$GeTe$_2$ ($n \geq3$), we develop a microscopic model combining itinerant magnetism and spin-orbit coupling on a triangular lattice. The ground state of the model in the absence of magnetic field consists of filamentary magnetic domain walls revealing a striking similarity with our magnetic force microscopy experiments on Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$. In the presence of magnetic field, these filaments were found to break into large size magnetic bubbles in our experiments. We identify uniaxial magnetic anisotropy as an important parameter in the model that interpolates between magnetic Skyrmions and ferromagnetic bubbles. Consequently, our work uncovers new topological magnetic textures that merge properties of Skyrmions and ferromagnetic bubbles.

The advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have opened up many avenues for scientific research, and are adding new dimensions to the process of knowledge creation. However, even the most powerful and versatile of ML applications till date are primarily in the domain of analysis of associations and boil down to complex data fitting. Judea Pearl has pointed out that Artificial General Intelligence must involve interventions involving the acts of doing and imagining. Any machine assisted scientific discovery thus must include casual analysis and interventions. In this context, we propose a causal learning model of physical principles, which not only recognizes correlations but also brings out casual relationships. We use the principles of causal inference and interventions to study the cause-and-effect relationships in the context of some well-known physical phenomena. We show that this technique can not only figure out associations among data, but is also able to correctly ascertain the cause-and-effect relations amongst the variables, thereby strengthening (or weakening) our confidence in the proposed model of the underlying physical process.

The task of determining whether a given quantum channel has positive capacity to transmit quantum information is a fundamental open problem in quantum information theory. In general, the coherent information needs to be computed for an unbounded number of copies of a channel in order to detect a positive value of its quantum capacity. However, in this Letter, we show that the coherent information of a single copy of a randomly selected channel is positive almost surely if the channel's output space is larger than its environment. Hence, in this case, a single copy of the channel typically suffices to determine positivity of its quantum capacity. Put differently, channels with zero coherent information have measure zero in the subset of channels for which the output space is larger than the environment. On the other hand, if the environment is larger than the channel's output space, identical results hold for the channel's complement.

In this work we investigate time varying networks with complex dynamics at the nodes. We consider two scenarios of network change in an interval of time: first, we have the case where each link can change with probability pt, i.e. the network changes occur locally and independently at each node. Secondly we consider the case where the entire connectivity matrix changes with probability pt, i.e. the change is global. We show that network changes, occurring both locally and globally, yield an enhanced range of synchronization. When the connections are changed slowly (i.e. pt is low) the nodes display nearly synchronized intervals interrupted by intermittent unsynchronized chaotic bursts. However when the connections are switched quickly (i.e. pt is large), the intermittent behavior quickly settles down to a steady synchronized state. Furthermore we find that the mean time taken to reach synchronization from generic random initial states is significantly reduced when the underlying links change more rapidly. We also analyze the probabilistic dynamics of the system with changing connectivity and the stable synchronized range thus obtained is in broad agreement with those observed numerically.

We present comprehensive spectral and timing results of 14 Chandra, 6 XMM-Newton and 19 Swift-XRT observations of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 4490 ULX-8, spanning from 2000 to 2024. We model the source spectra using absorbed power-law and absorbed multicolour disc blackbody models. The best-fit photon indices span 0.92-2.68, with typical uncertainties ranging from $\pm$0.1 to $\pm$1 depending on data quality. The inner disk temperature range from 0.97 to 1.69 keV, consistent with blackbody emission from an accretion disk. Our results reveal significant long-term variability in intrinsic X-ray source fluxes while the source remains relatively stable within individual observations. A Hardness-Intensity Diagram of the source shows no clear transition between hard and soft states, but an increase in brightness during two recent observations taken on 2022 December 1 and 2024 May 4. We find a positive correlation of X-ray luminosity and photon index that persists even when the hydrogen column density is tied across observations, suggesting a physical origin. The X-ray luminosity-inner disk temperature relation yields a weakly constrained slope owing to large temperature uncertainties, but a simpler fixed-slope test indicates consistency with a standard thin-disk. Using the derived disk parameters, we estimate the black hole mass to lie in the range of 16-75 $M_{\odot}$, under the assumption of a geometrically thin accretion flow, where the lower and upper bounds correspond to a Schwarzchild and a Kerr black hole respectively. Alternatively, we consider the scenario of ULX-8 hosting an accreting neutron star and estimate the corresponding magnetic field strength required to explain the observed properties.

Muons are the most abundant charged particles arriving at sea level originating from the decay of secondary charged pions and kaons. These secondary particles are created when high-energy cosmic rays hit the atmosphere interacting with air nuclei initiating cascades of secondary particles which led to the formation of extensive air showers (EAS). They carry essential information about the extra-terrestrial events and are characterized by large flux and varying angular distribution. To account for open questions and the origin of cosmic rays, one needs to study various components of cosmic rays with energy and arriving direction. Because of the close relation between muon and neutrino production, it is the most important particle to keep track of. We propose a novel tracking algorithm based on the Geometric Deep Learning approach using graphical structure to incorporate domain knowledge to track cosmic ray muons in our 3-D scintillator detector. The detector is modeled using the GEANT4 simulation package and EAS is simulated using CORSIKA (COsmic Ray SImulations for KAscade) with a focus on muons originating from EAS. We shed some light on the performance, robustness towards noise and double hits, limitations, and application of the proposed algorithm in tracking applications with the possibility to generalize to other detectors for astrophysical and collider experiments.

A new giant outburst of the Be X-ray binary RX J0520.5-6932 was detected and subsequently observed with several space-borne and ground-based instruments. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the optical and X-ray data, focusing on the spectral and timing characteristics of selected X-ray observations. A joint fit of spectra from simultaneous observations performed by the X-ray telescope (XRT) on the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift) and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray (NuSTAR) provides broadband parameter constraints, including a cyclotron resonant scattering feature (CRSF) at 32.2(+0.8/-0.7) keV with no significant energy change since 2014, and a weaker Fe line. Independent spectral analyses of observations by the Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy (LEIA), Einstein Probe (EP), Swift-XRT, and NuSTAR demonstrate the consistency of parameters across different bands. Luminosity variations during the current outburst were tracked. The light curve of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) aligns with the X-ray data in both 2014 and 2024. Spin evolution over 10 years is studied after adding Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) data, improving the orbital parameters, with an estimated orbital period of 24.39 days, slightly differing from OGLE data. Despite intrinsic spin-up during outbursts, a spin-down of ~0.04s over 10.3 years is suggested. For the new outburst, the pulse profiles indicate a complicated energy-dependent shape, with decreases around 15 keV and 25 keV in the pulsed fraction, a first for an extragalactic source. Phase-resolved NuSTAR data indicate variations in parameters such as flux, photon index, and CRSF energy with rotation phase.

The IKKT matrix model, in the large-$N$ limit, is conjectured to be a non-perturbative definition of the ten-dimensional type IIB superstring theory. In this work, we investigate the possibility of spontaneous breaking of the ten-dimensional rotational symmetry in the Euclidean IKKT model. Since the effective action, after integrating out the fermions, is inherently complex, we use the complex Langevin dynamics to study the model. In order to evade the singular-drift problem in the model, we add supersymmetry preserving deformations and then take the vanishing limit of the deformations. Our analysis suggests that the phase of the Pfaffian indeed induces the spontaneous SO(10) symmetry breaking in the Euclidean IKKT model.

Recent ground- and space-based surveys have shown that planets between Earth and Neptune in size, known as "super-Earths," are among the most frequently found planets in the Galaxy. Although the JWST era has provided high-quality atmospheric data on several such super-Earths, modeling tools are crucial for understanding their unobservable interiors. Consequently, interior studies represent the next essential step in gaining a comprehensive understanding of this class of exoplanets. This study investigates the interior structure, thermal evolution, and atmospheric dynamics of the super-Earth GJ 486b using SERPINT, a 1-D self-consistent coupled interior structure and evolution model, aiming to understand the planet's thermal evolution based on an Earth-like structure. Our results indicate that GJ 486b's core is approximately 1.34 times larger than Earth's, with a core pressure of about 1171 GPa. The thermal evolution model predicts that the planet's mantle cools and solidifies over approximately 0.93 million years. As the magma ocean cools, water is released from the melt, forming a water-rich atmosphere during early solidification. Photolysis of water vapor and subsequent hydrogen escape lead to oxygen accumulation, forming a water- and oxygen-rich secondary atmosphere. Future high-sensitivity JWST observations, with improved wavelength coverage and the detection of additional trace gases, will enable a detailed analysis of the planet's atmospheric composition, providing crucial insights into the interior, surface, and subsurface properties of GJ 486b.

The structure of the layered transition-metal Borides $A$B$_2$ ($A =$ Os, Ru) is built up by alternating $T$ and B layers with the B layers forming a puckered honeycomb. Here we report superconducting properties of RuB$_2$ with a $T_c \approx 1.5$K using measurements of the magnetic susceptibility versus temperature $T$, magnetization $M$ versus magnetic field $H$, resistivity versus $T$, and heat capacity versus $T$ at various $H$. We observe a reduced heat capacity anomaly at $T_c$ given by $\Delta C/\gamma T_c \approx 1.1$ suggesting multi-gap superconductivity. Strong support for this is obtained by the successful fitting of the electronic specific heat data to a two-gap model with gap values $\Delta_1/k_BT_c \approx 1.88$ and $\Delta_2/k_BT_c \approx 1.13$. Additionally,$M$versus$H$ measurements reveal a behaviour consistent with Type-I superconductivity. This is confirmed by estimates of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter $\kappa \approx 0.1$--$0.66$. These results strongly suggest multi-gap Type-I superconductivity in RuB$_2$. We also calculate the band structure and obtain the Fermi surface for RuB$_2$. The Fermi surface consists of one quasi-two-dimensional sheet and two nested ellipsoidal sheets very similar to OsB$_2$. An additional small $4^{\rm th}$ sheet is also found for RuB$_2$. RuB$_2$ could thus be a rare example of a multi-gap Type-I superconductor.

In this document we consider the problem of finding the optimal layout for the array of water Cherenkov detectors proposed by the SWGO collaboration to study very-high-energy gamma rays in the southern hemisphere. We develop a continuous model of the secondary particles produced by atmospheric showers initiated by high-energy gamma rays and protons, and build an optimization pipeline capable of identifying the most promising configuration of the detector elements. The pipeline employs stochastic gradient descent to maximize a utility function aligned with the scientific goals of the experiment. We demonstrate how the software is capable of finding the global maximum in the high-dimensional parameter space, and discuss its performance and limitations.