Project acronym CATCHIT
Project Coherently Advanced Tissue and Cell Holographic Imaging and Trapping
Researcher (PI) Monika Ritsch-Marte
Host Institution (HI) MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAT INNSBRUCK
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2009-AdG
Summary We envisage a new generation of dynamic holographic laser tweezers and stretching tools with unprecedented spatial control of gradient and scattering light forces, to unravel functional mysteries of cell biology and genetics: Based on our recently developed, highly successful and widely recognized amplitude and phase shaping techniques with cascaded spatial light modulators (SLM), we will create new holographic optical manipulators consisting of a line-shaped trap with balanced net scattering forces and controllable local phase-gradients. Combining these line stretchers with spiral phase contrast imaging or nonlinear optical microscopy will allow quantitative study of functional shape changes. The novel tool is hugely more versatile than standard optical tweezers, since direction and magnitude of the scattering force can be designed to precisely follow the structure. In combination with conventional multi-spot traps the line stretcher acts as a sensitive and adaptable local force sensor. In collaboration with local experts we want to tackle hot topics in Genetics, e.g. search for force profile signatures in regions with Copy Number Variations. Possibly the approach may shed light on basic physical characteristics such as, for example, chromosomal fragility in Fra(X) syndrome, the most common monogenic cause of mental retardation. The new design intrinsically offers enhanced microscopic resolution, as SLM-synthesized apertures and waveforms can enlarge the number of spatial frequencies forming the image. Ultimately, nonlinear holography can be implemented, sending phase shaped wavefronts to target samples. This can, e.g., be used to push the sensitivity of nonlinear chemical imaging, or for controlled photo-activation of targeted regions in neurons.
Summary
We envisage a new generation of dynamic holographic laser tweezers and stretching tools with unprecedented spatial control of gradient and scattering light forces, to unravel functional mysteries of cell biology and genetics: Based on our recently developed, highly successful and widely recognized amplitude and phase shaping techniques with cascaded spatial light modulators (SLM), we will create new holographic optical manipulators consisting of a line-shaped trap with balanced net scattering forces and controllable local phase-gradients. Combining these line stretchers with spiral phase contrast imaging or nonlinear optical microscopy will allow quantitative study of functional shape changes. The novel tool is hugely more versatile than standard optical tweezers, since direction and magnitude of the scattering force can be designed to precisely follow the structure. In combination with conventional multi-spot traps the line stretcher acts as a sensitive and adaptable local force sensor. In collaboration with local experts we want to tackle hot topics in Genetics, e.g. search for force profile signatures in regions with Copy Number Variations. Possibly the approach may shed light on basic physical characteristics such as, for example, chromosomal fragility in Fra(X) syndrome, the most common monogenic cause of mental retardation. The new design intrinsically offers enhanced microscopic resolution, as SLM-synthesized apertures and waveforms can enlarge the number of spatial frequencies forming the image. Ultimately, nonlinear holography can be implemented, sending phase shaped wavefronts to target samples. This can, e.g., be used to push the sensitivity of nonlinear chemical imaging, or for controlled photo-activation of targeted regions in neurons.
Max ERC Funding
1 987 428 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-05-01, End date: 2015-04-30
Project acronym CoMoQuant
Project Correlated Molecular Quantum Gases in Optical Lattices
Researcher (PI) Hanns-Christoph NAEGERL
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2017-ADG
Summary In a quantum engineering approach we aim to create strongly correlated molecular quantum gases for polar molecules confined in an optical lattice to two-dimensional geometry with full quantum control of all de-grees of freedom with single molecule control and detection. The goal is to synthesize a high-fidelity molec-ular quantum simulator with thousands of particles and to carry out experiments on phases and dynamics of strongly-correlated quantum matter in view of strong long-range dipolar interactions. Our choice of mole-cule is the KCs dimer, which can either be a boson or a fermion, allowing us to prepare and probe bosonic as well as fermionic dipolar quantum matter in two dimensions. Techniques such as quantum-gas microscopy, perfectly suited for two-dimensional systems, will be applied to the molecular samples for local control and local readout.
The low-entropy molecular samples are created out of quantum degenerate atomic samples by well-established coherent atom paring and coherent optical ground-state transfer techniques. Crucial to this pro-posal is the full control over the molecular sample. To achieve near-unity lattice filling fraction for the mo-lecular samples, we create two-dimensional samples of K-Cs atom pairs as precursors to molecule formation by merging parallel planar systems of K and Cs, which are either in a band-insulating state (for the fermions) or in Mott-insulating state (for the bosons), along the out-of-plane direction.
The polar molecular samples are used to perform quantum simulations on ground-state properties and dy-namical properties of quantum many-body spin systems. We aim to create novel forms of superfluidity, to investigate into novel quantum many-body phases in the lattice that arise from the long-range molecular dipole-dipole interaction, and to probe quantum magnetism and its dynamics such as spin transport with single-spin control and readout. In addition, disorder can be engineered to mimic real physical situations.
Summary
In a quantum engineering approach we aim to create strongly correlated molecular quantum gases for polar molecules confined in an optical lattice to two-dimensional geometry with full quantum control of all de-grees of freedom with single molecule control and detection. The goal is to synthesize a high-fidelity molec-ular quantum simulator with thousands of particles and to carry out experiments on phases and dynamics of strongly-correlated quantum matter in view of strong long-range dipolar interactions. Our choice of mole-cule is the KCs dimer, which can either be a boson or a fermion, allowing us to prepare and probe bosonic as well as fermionic dipolar quantum matter in two dimensions. Techniques such as quantum-gas microscopy, perfectly suited for two-dimensional systems, will be applied to the molecular samples for local control and local readout.
The low-entropy molecular samples are created out of quantum degenerate atomic samples by well-established coherent atom paring and coherent optical ground-state transfer techniques. Crucial to this pro-posal is the full control over the molecular sample. To achieve near-unity lattice filling fraction for the mo-lecular samples, we create two-dimensional samples of K-Cs atom pairs as precursors to molecule formation by merging parallel planar systems of K and Cs, which are either in a band-insulating state (for the fermions) or in Mott-insulating state (for the bosons), along the out-of-plane direction.
The polar molecular samples are used to perform quantum simulations on ground-state properties and dy-namical properties of quantum many-body spin systems. We aim to create novel forms of superfluidity, to investigate into novel quantum many-body phases in the lattice that arise from the long-range molecular dipole-dipole interaction, and to probe quantum magnetism and its dynamics such as spin transport with single-spin control and readout. In addition, disorder can be engineered to mimic real physical situations.
Max ERC Funding
2 356 117 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-01-01, End date: 2023-12-31
Project acronym CRYTERION
Project Cryogenic Traps for Entanglement Research with Ions
Researcher (PI) Rainer Blatt
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2008-AdG
Summary Quantum computers offer a fundamentally new way of information processing. Within the scope of this proposal, quantum information processing with an ion trap quantum computer will be investigated. With the new combination of cryogenic technology and ion traps for quantum computing we intend to build a quantum information processor with strings of up to 50 ions and with two-dimensional ion arrays for an investigation of deterministic many-particle entanglement. The cryogenic traps will be applied for quantum simulations, for fundamental investigations concerning large-scale entanglement and for precision measurements enhanced by quantum metrology techniques employing entangled particles.
Summary
Quantum computers offer a fundamentally new way of information processing. Within the scope of this proposal, quantum information processing with an ion trap quantum computer will be investigated. With the new combination of cryogenic technology and ion traps for quantum computing we intend to build a quantum information processor with strings of up to 50 ions and with two-dimensional ion arrays for an investigation of deterministic many-particle entanglement. The cryogenic traps will be applied for quantum simulations, for fundamental investigations concerning large-scale entanglement and for precision measurements enhanced by quantum metrology techniques employing entangled particles.
Max ERC Funding
2 200 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-12-01, End date: 2013-11-30
Project acronym CYFI
Project Cycle-Sculpted Strong Field Optics
Researcher (PI) Andrius Baltuska
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2011-StG_20101014
Summary The past decade saw a remarkable progress in the development of attosecond technologies based on the use of intense few-cycle optical pulses. The control over the underlying single-cycle phenomena, such as the higher-order harmonic generation by an ionized and subsequently re-scattered electronic wave packet, has become routine once the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of an amplified laser pulse was stabilized, opening the way to maintain the shot-to-shot reproducible pulse electric field. Drawing on a mix of several laser technologies and phase-control concepts, this proposal aims to take strong-field optical tools to a conceptually new level: from adjusting the intensity and timing of a principal half-cycle to achieving a full-fledged multicolor Fourier synthesis of the optical cycle dynamics by controlling a multi-dimensional space of carrier frequencies, relative, and absolute phases. The applicant and his team, through their unique expertise in the CEP control and optical amplification methods, are currently best positioned to pioneer the development of an optical programmable “attosecond optical shaper” and attain the relevant multicolor pulse intensity levels of PW/cm2. This will enable an immediate pursuit of several exciting strong-field applications that can be jump-started by the emergence of a technique for the fully-controlled cycle sculpting and would rely on the relevant experimental capabilities already established in the applicant’s emerging group. We show that even the simplest form of an incommensurate-frequency synthesizer can potentially solve the long-standing debate on the mechanism of strong-field rectification. More advanced waveforms will be employed to dramatically enhance coherent X ray yield, trace the time profile of attosecond ionization in transparent bulk solids, and potentially control the result of molecular dissociation by influencing electronic coherences in polyatomic molecules.
Summary
The past decade saw a remarkable progress in the development of attosecond technologies based on the use of intense few-cycle optical pulses. The control over the underlying single-cycle phenomena, such as the higher-order harmonic generation by an ionized and subsequently re-scattered electronic wave packet, has become routine once the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of an amplified laser pulse was stabilized, opening the way to maintain the shot-to-shot reproducible pulse electric field. Drawing on a mix of several laser technologies and phase-control concepts, this proposal aims to take strong-field optical tools to a conceptually new level: from adjusting the intensity and timing of a principal half-cycle to achieving a full-fledged multicolor Fourier synthesis of the optical cycle dynamics by controlling a multi-dimensional space of carrier frequencies, relative, and absolute phases. The applicant and his team, through their unique expertise in the CEP control and optical amplification methods, are currently best positioned to pioneer the development of an optical programmable “attosecond optical shaper” and attain the relevant multicolor pulse intensity levels of PW/cm2. This will enable an immediate pursuit of several exciting strong-field applications that can be jump-started by the emergence of a technique for the fully-controlled cycle sculpting and would rely on the relevant experimental capabilities already established in the applicant’s emerging group. We show that even the simplest form of an incommensurate-frequency synthesizer can potentially solve the long-standing debate on the mechanism of strong-field rectification. More advanced waveforms will be employed to dramatically enhance coherent X ray yield, trace the time profile of attosecond ionization in transparent bulk solids, and potentially control the result of molecular dissociation by influencing electronic coherences in polyatomic molecules.
Max ERC Funding
980 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-01-01, End date: 2015-06-30
Project acronym ELFIS
Project Electronic Fingerprint Spectroscopy
Researcher (PI) Birgitta Schultze-Bernhardt
Host Institution (HI) TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET GRAZ
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2020-STG
Summary Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is strongly absorbed in our atmosphere and triggers a variety of photo chemical reactions, strongly influencing the earth’s development. Exact knowledge of the photo chemistry of environmental trace gasses is of paramount importance to understand effects contributing to global warming and to develop strategies for its abatement. Yet, despite the enormous relevance, spectroscopic information in the UV spectral region is scarce mainly owing to the lack of intense UV laser sources.
ELFIS will surpass this limitation by transposing ultra-broadband dual frequency comb Fourier transform spectroscopy into the UV via harmonic frequency up-conversion. Linking competencies originating at the forefront of frequency comb metrology and ultrafast science will permit absorption spectroscopy in the UV spectral region with an unprecedented micro-eV resolution, unparalleled signal-to-noise ratio and record-short acquisition times. Congested absorption features of complex gas mixtures of fundamental, environmental and astrophysical importance will be recorded with a resolution at least one order of magnitude beyond state of the art.
The world’s first UV dual comb spectrometer will demonstrate its potential by exploring the Rydberg state series close to 10 eV in the air pollutant methyl iodide. Also, the new technique will permit the first complete rotationally resolved study of the Rydberg bands in the most prominent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide around 11.3 eV.
Time-resolved investigations with a unique combination of ultra-high spectral and high temporal resolution will explore photo-induced dynamics in atoms and molecules involving transient effects such as level splittings, shifts and quantum beatings at a new level of detail. With ELFIS, ultrafast dynamics linked to the UV photo-induced population transfer and dissociation in methyl iodide will be tracked with an unrivalled energy state resolution (3 orders of magnitude beyond state of the art).
Summary
Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is strongly absorbed in our atmosphere and triggers a variety of photo chemical reactions, strongly influencing the earth’s development. Exact knowledge of the photo chemistry of environmental trace gasses is of paramount importance to understand effects contributing to global warming and to develop strategies for its abatement. Yet, despite the enormous relevance, spectroscopic information in the UV spectral region is scarce mainly owing to the lack of intense UV laser sources.
ELFIS will surpass this limitation by transposing ultra-broadband dual frequency comb Fourier transform spectroscopy into the UV via harmonic frequency up-conversion. Linking competencies originating at the forefront of frequency comb metrology and ultrafast science will permit absorption spectroscopy in the UV spectral region with an unprecedented micro-eV resolution, unparalleled signal-to-noise ratio and record-short acquisition times. Congested absorption features of complex gas mixtures of fundamental, environmental and astrophysical importance will be recorded with a resolution at least one order of magnitude beyond state of the art.
The world’s first UV dual comb spectrometer will demonstrate its potential by exploring the Rydberg state series close to 10 eV in the air pollutant methyl iodide. Also, the new technique will permit the first complete rotationally resolved study of the Rydberg bands in the most prominent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide around 11.3 eV.
Time-resolved investigations with a unique combination of ultra-high spectral and high temporal resolution will explore photo-induced dynamics in atoms and molecules involving transient effects such as level splittings, shifts and quantum beatings at a new level of detail. With ELFIS, ultrafast dynamics linked to the UV photo-induced population transfer and dissociation in methyl iodide will be tracked with an unrivalled energy state resolution (3 orders of magnitude beyond state of the art).
Max ERC Funding
2 227 875 €
Duration
Start date: 2021-05-01, End date: 2026-04-30
Project acronym ENSENA
Project Entanglement from Semiconductor Nanostructures
Researcher (PI) Gregor Weihs
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary At the interface between quantum optics and semiconductors we find a rich field of investigation with huge potential for quantum information processing communication technologies. Entanglement is one of the most fascinating concepts in quantum physics research as well as an important resource for quantum information processing.
This project will develop novel sources of entangled photon pairs with semiconductor nanostructures. In particular, we will use the scattering of microcavity exciton-polaritons as an extremely strong optical nonlinearity for the generation of entanglement with properties that are difficult to achieve with the traditional methods. Further we will work with individual semiconductor quantum dots to create controlled single entangled pairs and explore the interfacing of quantum dots to flying qubits.
The long term vision of this research is to create integrated sources of entanglement that can be combined with laser sources, passive optical elements, and even detectors in order to realize the quantum optics lab on a chip.
Summary
At the interface between quantum optics and semiconductors we find a rich field of investigation with huge potential for quantum information processing communication technologies. Entanglement is one of the most fascinating concepts in quantum physics research as well as an important resource for quantum information processing.
This project will develop novel sources of entangled photon pairs with semiconductor nanostructures. In particular, we will use the scattering of microcavity exciton-polaritons as an extremely strong optical nonlinearity for the generation of entanglement with properties that are difficult to achieve with the traditional methods. Further we will work with individual semiconductor quantum dots to create controlled single entangled pairs and explore the interfacing of quantum dots to flying qubits.
The long term vision of this research is to create integrated sources of entanglement that can be combined with laser sources, passive optical elements, and even detectors in order to realize the quantum optics lab on a chip.
Max ERC Funding
1 259 726 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31
Project acronym ERBIUM
Project Ultracold Erbium: Exploring Exotic Quantum Gases
Researcher (PI) Francesca Ferlaino
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2010-StG_20091028
Summary Ultracold quantum gases have exceptional properties and offer an ideal test-bed to elucidate intriguing phenomena of modern quantum physics. My project proposes to use a new exotic element to study strong dipolar effects in quantum gases. For its appealing properties, we choose erbium (Er), a rare-earth metal that has hardly been explored until now. This species is strongly magnetic and comparatively heavy. Due to these characteristics, we expect the quantum system to be of extreme dipolar character and to exhibit a large number of magnetic Feshbach resonances, necessary to manipulate the low-energy scattering properties. Moreover, this element has a very rich energy level spectrum, which could open up the way to establish novel laser cooling schemes, and it has numerous isotopes, one of them having a fermionic character. Remarkably, none of the species so far used in ultracold quantum gas experiments offers such a unique combination of properties! By using Erbium, we will be in an optimal position to produce a strongly dipolar atomic gases of bosons and fermions with tunable contact interaction. First important goals of the ERBIUM project include: Extensive study of Er scattering properties, realization of the first Bose-Einstein condensates and degenerate Fermi gases of erbium atoms, study of dipolar effects in atomic system, production of strongly polar weakly-bound Er molecules and study their properties in a two-dimensional trapping environment. We also have a long-term vision for the ERBIUM project: we will mix heavy erbium atoms with much lighter lithium atoms to produce atomic mixtures with extreme mass imbalance.
Summary
Ultracold quantum gases have exceptional properties and offer an ideal test-bed to elucidate intriguing phenomena of modern quantum physics. My project proposes to use a new exotic element to study strong dipolar effects in quantum gases. For its appealing properties, we choose erbium (Er), a rare-earth metal that has hardly been explored until now. This species is strongly magnetic and comparatively heavy. Due to these characteristics, we expect the quantum system to be of extreme dipolar character and to exhibit a large number of magnetic Feshbach resonances, necessary to manipulate the low-energy scattering properties. Moreover, this element has a very rich energy level spectrum, which could open up the way to establish novel laser cooling schemes, and it has numerous isotopes, one of them having a fermionic character. Remarkably, none of the species so far used in ultracold quantum gas experiments offers such a unique combination of properties! By using Erbium, we will be in an optimal position to produce a strongly dipolar atomic gases of bosons and fermions with tunable contact interaction. First important goals of the ERBIUM project include: Extensive study of Er scattering properties, realization of the first Bose-Einstein condensates and degenerate Fermi gases of erbium atoms, study of dipolar effects in atomic system, production of strongly polar weakly-bound Er molecules and study their properties in a two-dimensional trapping environment. We also have a long-term vision for the ERBIUM project: we will mix heavy erbium atoms with much lighter lithium atoms to produce atomic mixtures with extreme mass imbalance.
Max ERC Funding
1 076 442 €
Duration
Start date: 2011-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31
Project acronym HBAR-HFS
Project Hyperfine structure of antihydrogen
Researcher (PI) Eberhard Widmann
Host Institution (HI) OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN
Country Austria
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE2, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209
Summary Antihydrogen is the simplest atom consisting entirely of antimatter. Since its counterpart hydrogen is one of the best studied atoms in physics, a comparison of antihydrogen and hydrogen offers one of the most sensitive tests of CPT symmetry. CPT, the successive application of charge conjugation, parity and time reversal transformation is a fundamental symmetry conserved in the standard model (SM) of particle physics as a consequence of a mathematical theorem. These conditions for this theorem to be fulfilled are not valid any more in extensions of the SM like string theory or quantum gravity. Furthermore, even a tiny violation of CPT symmetry at the time of the big bang could be a cause of the observed antimatter absence in the universe. Thus the observation of CPT violation might offer a first indication for the validity of string theory, and would have important cosmological consequences.
This project proposes to measure the ground state hyperfine (HFS) splitting of antihydrogen (HBAR), which is known in hydrogen with relative precision of 10^–12. The experimental method pursued within the ASACUSA collaboration at CERN-AD consists in the formation of an antihydrogen beam and a measurement using a spin-flip cavity and a sextupole magnet as spin analyser like it was done initially for hydrogen. A major milestone was achieved in 2010 when antihydrogen was first synthesized by ASACUSA. In the first phase of this proposal, an antihydrogen beam will be produced and the HBAR-HFS will be measured to a precision of around 10^–7 using a single microwave cavity. In a second phase, the Ramsey method of separated oscillatory fields will be used to increase the precision further. In parallel methods will be developed towards trapping and laser cooling the antihydrogen atoms. Letting the cooled antihydrogen escape in a field free region and perform microwave spectroscopy offers the ultimate precision achievable to measure the HBAR-HFS and one of the most sensitive tests of CPT.
Summary
Antihydrogen is the simplest atom consisting entirely of antimatter. Since its counterpart hydrogen is one of the best studied atoms in physics, a comparison of antihydrogen and hydrogen offers one of the most sensitive tests of CPT symmetry. CPT, the successive application of charge conjugation, parity and time reversal transformation is a fundamental symmetry conserved in the standard model (SM) of particle physics as a consequence of a mathematical theorem. These conditions for this theorem to be fulfilled are not valid any more in extensions of the SM like string theory or quantum gravity. Furthermore, even a tiny violation of CPT symmetry at the time of the big bang could be a cause of the observed antimatter absence in the universe. Thus the observation of CPT violation might offer a first indication for the validity of string theory, and would have important cosmological consequences.
This project proposes to measure the ground state hyperfine (HFS) splitting of antihydrogen (HBAR), which is known in hydrogen with relative precision of 10^–12. The experimental method pursued within the ASACUSA collaboration at CERN-AD consists in the formation of an antihydrogen beam and a measurement using a spin-flip cavity and a sextupole magnet as spin analyser like it was done initially for hydrogen. A major milestone was achieved in 2010 when antihydrogen was first synthesized by ASACUSA. In the first phase of this proposal, an antihydrogen beam will be produced and the HBAR-HFS will be measured to a precision of around 10^–7 using a single microwave cavity. In a second phase, the Ramsey method of separated oscillatory fields will be used to increase the precision further. In parallel methods will be developed towards trapping and laser cooling the antihydrogen atoms. Letting the cooled antihydrogen escape in a field free region and perform microwave spectroscopy offers the ultimate precision achievable to measure the HBAR-HFS and one of the most sensitive tests of CPT.
Max ERC Funding
2 599 900 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-03-01, End date: 2017-02-28
Project acronym InterLeptons
Project A search for new interactions at Belle II using leptons
Researcher (PI) Gianluca Inguglia
Host Institution (HI) OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2020-STG
Summary Several measurements in the quark and in the lepton flavor sectors have shown anomalies with respect to the standard model expectations and are now referred to as flavor anomalies. The Belle II experiment at the Super-KEKB laboratory in Japan is collecting data by colliding beams of electrons and positrons. The aim of this proposal is to look for physics beyond the standard model at the Belle II experiment by a) searching for the direct production of new light particles, and b) looking for deviations from theoretical predictions when performing precision tests of the standard model. The team will analyse events with leptons and large missing energy in the final states and implement the most advanced analysis techniques including, for the first time, deep learning tools in the identification of signals at the Belle II experiment. First, we will search for invisible decays of a dark Z' boson, a hypothetical particle that might also explain the anomaly reported in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Second, we will test with per mille precision lepton flavor universality by studying leptonic decays of the tau lepton and use the results to constrain new physics models such as those containing a lepton flavor violating Z' boson. Finally, we will search for new physics via lepton flavor violating decays of bottomonium resonances produced in initial state radiation events that, thanks also to an effective field theory approach, will allow us to interpret the search in terms of new physics mass scale and coupling constant, with an approach complementary to that of the LHC.
Summary
Several measurements in the quark and in the lepton flavor sectors have shown anomalies with respect to the standard model expectations and are now referred to as flavor anomalies. The Belle II experiment at the Super-KEKB laboratory in Japan is collecting data by colliding beams of electrons and positrons. The aim of this proposal is to look for physics beyond the standard model at the Belle II experiment by a) searching for the direct production of new light particles, and b) looking for deviations from theoretical predictions when performing precision tests of the standard model. The team will analyse events with leptons and large missing energy in the final states and implement the most advanced analysis techniques including, for the first time, deep learning tools in the identification of signals at the Belle II experiment. First, we will search for invisible decays of a dark Z' boson, a hypothetical particle that might also explain the anomaly reported in the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Second, we will test with per mille precision lepton flavor universality by studying leptonic decays of the tau lepton and use the results to constrain new physics models such as those containing a lepton flavor violating Z' boson. Finally, we will search for new physics via lepton flavor violating decays of bottomonium resonances produced in initial state radiation events that, thanks also to an effective field theory approach, will allow us to interpret the search in terms of new physics mass scale and coupling constant, with an approach complementary to that of the LHC.
Max ERC Funding
1 486 137 €
Duration
Start date: 2020-11-01, End date: 2025-10-31
Project acronym MicroMOUPE
Project Microscopy - Making optimal use of photons and electrons
Researcher (PI) Thomas JUFFMANN
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAT WIEN
Country Austria
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE2, ERC-2017-STG
Summary The sensitivity of modern microscopy is limited by shot-noise. It limits the accuracy of measurements of specimen properties as well as the spatial resolution of electron microscopes when imaging sensitive specimens, such as proteins or DNA. But the shot-noise limit is not a fundamental limit. A technologically feasible and optimal approach to overcoming the shot-noise limit is to have each probe particle interact with the specimen multiple times. We recently introduced this concept to microscopy using self-imaging cavities.
Within this project, I want to demonstrate post-selection free sub-shot noise microscopy with both photons and electrons. Optically this will be possible by introducing a fast electro-optical switch into a multi-pass microscope, evading the need for temporal post-selection. After this proof-of principle experiment, the sensitivity enhancement offered by multi-pass microscopy shall be applied to the detection of nanometric particles, such as single molecules, proteins and metal nanoparticles. Linear signal enhancement with the number of interactions is expected for bright-field microscopy. For dark-field microscopy a quadratic enhancement is expected, due to coherent build-up of scattered fields. Finally, adaptive optics will be used to optimize multi-pass microscopy for the study of cells.
Multi-pass electron microscopy will be realized in collaboration with Stanford University. It will require several novel electron optical elements that will be designed and tested both at Stanford University and at the University of Vienna. One of these elements will be a pattern generator for electrons based on ponderomotive potentials. The required potential landscapes will be created using adaptive optics to shape intense laser pulses. With this novel electron optics tool fast beam-blanking, a phase plate for Zernike phase microscopy, arbitrary pattern creation and aberration correction will be demonstrated.
Summary
The sensitivity of modern microscopy is limited by shot-noise. It limits the accuracy of measurements of specimen properties as well as the spatial resolution of electron microscopes when imaging sensitive specimens, such as proteins or DNA. But the shot-noise limit is not a fundamental limit. A technologically feasible and optimal approach to overcoming the shot-noise limit is to have each probe particle interact with the specimen multiple times. We recently introduced this concept to microscopy using self-imaging cavities.
Within this project, I want to demonstrate post-selection free sub-shot noise microscopy with both photons and electrons. Optically this will be possible by introducing a fast electro-optical switch into a multi-pass microscope, evading the need for temporal post-selection. After this proof-of principle experiment, the sensitivity enhancement offered by multi-pass microscopy shall be applied to the detection of nanometric particles, such as single molecules, proteins and metal nanoparticles. Linear signal enhancement with the number of interactions is expected for bright-field microscopy. For dark-field microscopy a quadratic enhancement is expected, due to coherent build-up of scattered fields. Finally, adaptive optics will be used to optimize multi-pass microscopy for the study of cells.
Multi-pass electron microscopy will be realized in collaboration with Stanford University. It will require several novel electron optical elements that will be designed and tested both at Stanford University and at the University of Vienna. One of these elements will be a pattern generator for electrons based on ponderomotive potentials. The required potential landscapes will be created using adaptive optics to shape intense laser pulses. With this novel electron optics tool fast beam-blanking, a phase plate for Zernike phase microscopy, arbitrary pattern creation and aberration correction will be demonstrated.
Max ERC Funding
1 672 752 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-03-01, End date: 2023-02-28
