A resonant tone for photonic time crystals
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Photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers
High-performance lasers are important to realize a range of applications including smart mobility and smart manufacturing, for example, through their uses in key technologies such as light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and laser processing. However, existing lasers have a number of performance limitations that hinder their practical use. For example, conventional semiconductor lasers are associated with low brightness and low functionality, even though they are compact and highly efficient. Conventional semiconductor lasers therefore require external optics and mechanical elements for reshaping and scanning of emitted beams, resulting in large, complicated systems for various practical uses. Furthermore, even with such external elements, the brightness of these lasers cannot be sufficiently increased for use in laser processing. Similarly, gas and solid-state lasers, while having high-brightness, are also large and complicated. Photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs) boast both high brightness and high functionality while maintaining the merits of semiconductor lasers, and thus PCSELs are solutions to the issues of existing laser technologies. In this Review, we discuss recent progress of PCSELs towards high-brightness and high-functionality operations. We then elaborate on new trends such as short-pulse and short-wavelength operations as well as the combination with machine learning and quantum technologies. Finally, we outline future research directions of PCSELs with regard to various applications, including not only LiDAR and laser processing, as described above, but also communications, mobile technologies, and even aerospace and laser fusion.
Unusual Li2O sublimation promotes single-crystal growth and sintering
Li2O is rarely used for cathode material synthesis due to its high melting point (1,438 °C). Here we discover that Li2O can sublimate at 800–1,000 °C under ambient pressure, opening new possibilities for cathode synthesis. We propose a mechanism that enables synthesis of single crystals—such as LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) or LiNi0.9Mn0.05Co0.05O2 (NMC90)—without direct contact with Li2O salts. We show that Li2O vapour successfully converts spent polycrystalline NMC811 into segregated single crystals without milling or post-treatment. The Li2O vapour, derived from Li2O solids, diffuses rapidly and reacts with precursors, mimicking a molten-salt environment, which facilitates single-crystal growth. The chemical lithiation process continuously drives Li2O sublimation, sintering the crystals. Single crystals derived from Li2O and fresh precursors or spent polycrystals exhibit outstanding cycling after 1,000 cycles in full cells. The demonstrated Li2O sublimation and its universal role in promoting single-crystal growth provides an effective approach for single-crystal synthesis, scale-up and recycling.
Inhibition of sympathetic tone via hypothalamic descending pathway propagates glucocorticoid-induced endothelial impairment and osteonecrosis of the femoral head
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common complication of glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. Recent advances demonstrate that sympathetic nerves regulate bone homeostasis, and GCs lower the sympathetic tone. Here, we show that the dramatically decreased sympathetic tone is closely associated with the pathogenesis of GC-induced ONFH. GCs activate the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) but hinder the activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) on neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). This disrupts the balance of corticosteroid receptors (GR/MR) and subsequently reduces the sympathetic outflow in the PVN. Vascular endothelial cells rapidly react to inhibition of sympathetic tone by provoking endothelial apoptosis in adult male mice treated with methylprednisolone (MPS) daily for 3 days, and we find substantially reduced H-type vessels in the femoral heads of MPS-treated ONFH mice. Importantly, treatment with a GR inhibitor (RU486) in the PVN promotes the activation of MR and rebalances the ratio of GR and MR, thus effectively boosting sympathetic outflow, as shown by an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase expression in both the PVN and the sympathetic postganglionic neurons and an increase in norepinephrine levels in both the serum and bone marrow of the femoral head of MPS-treated mice. Rebalancing the corticosteroid receptors mitigates GC-induced endothelial impairment and ONFH and promotes angiogenesis coupled with osteogenesis in the femoral head, while these effects are abolished by chemical sympathectomy with 6-OHDA or adrenergic receptor-β2 (Adrb2) knockout. Furthermore, activating Adrb2 signaling in vivo is sufficient to rescue the GC-induced ONFH phenotype. Mechanistically, norepinephrine increases the expression of the key glycolytic gene 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) via Adrb2-cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling. Endothelial-specific overexpression of PFKFB3 attenuates endothelial impairment and prevents severe osteonecrosis in MPS-treated Adrb2 knockout mice. Thus, GC inhibits sympathetic tone via the hypothalamic descending pathway, which, in turn, acts as a mediator of GC-induced ONFH.
A hybrid single quantum dot coupled cavity on a CMOS-compatible SiC photonic chip for Purcell-enhanced deterministic single-photon emission
The ability to control nonclassical light emission from a single quantum emitter by an integrated cavity may unleash new perspectives for integrated photonic quantum applications. However, coupling a single quantum emitter to cavity within photonic circuitry towards creation of the Purcell-enhanced single-photon emission is elusive due to the complexity of integrating active devices in low-loss photonic circuits. Here we demonstrate a hybrid micro-ring resonator (HMRR) coupled with self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) for cavity-enhanced deterministic single-photon emission. The HMRR cavity supports whispering-gallery modes with quality factors up to 7.8×103. By further introducing a micro-heater, we show that the photon emission of QDs can be locally and dynamically tuned over one free spectral ranges of the HMRR ( ~ 4 nm). This allows precise tuning of individual QDs in resonance with the cavity modes, thereby enhancing single-photon emission with a Purcell factor of about 4.9. Our results on the hybrid integrated cavities coupled with two-level quantum emitters emerge as promising devices for chip-based scalable photonic quantum applications.
Dopamine in the tail of the striatum facilitates avoidance in threat–reward conflicts
Responding appropriately to potential threats before they materialize is critical to avoiding disastrous outcomes. Here we examine how threat-coping behavior is regulated by the tail of the striatum (TS) and its dopamine input. Mice were presented with a potential threat (a moving object) while pursuing rewards. Initially, the mice failed to obtain rewards but gradually improved in later trials. We found that dopamine in TS promoted avoidance of the threat, even at the expense of reward acquisition. Furthermore, the activity of dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons promoted threat avoidance and prediction. In contrast, D2 neurons suppressed threat avoidance and facilitated overcoming the potential threat. Dopamine axon activation in TS not only potentiated the responses of dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons to novel sensory stimuli but also boosted them acutely. These results demonstrate that an opponent interaction of D1 and D2 neurons in the TS, modulated by dopamine, dynamically regulates avoidance and overcoming potential threats.
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