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    Collapse of layer dimerization in the photo-induced hidden state of 1T-TaS2
    ([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2020) Stahl, Quirin; Kusch, Maximilian; Heinsch, Florian; Garbarino, Gaston; Kretzschmar, Norman; Hanff, Kerstin; Rossnagel, Kai; Geck, Jochen; Ritschel, Tobias
    Photo-induced switching between collective quantum states of matter is a fascinating rising field with exciting opportunities for novel technologies. Presently, very intensively studied examples in this regard are nanometer-thick single crystals of the layered material 1T-TaS2, where picosecond laser pulses can trigger a fully reversible insulator-to-metal transition (IMT). This IMT is believed to be connected to the switching between metastable collective quantum states, but the microscopic nature of this so-called hidden quantum state remained largely elusive up to now. Here, we characterize the hidden quantum state of 1T-TaS2 by means of state-of-the-art x-ray diffraction and show that the laser-driven IMT involves a marked rearrangement of the charge and orbital order in the direction perpendicular to the TaS2-layers. More specifically, we identify the collapse of interlayer molecular orbital dimers as a key mechanism for this non-thermal collective transition between two truly long-range ordered electronic crystals.
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    Modular coherent photonic-aided payload receiver for communications satellites
    ([London] : Nature Publishing Group UK, 2019) Duarte, Vanessa C.; Prata, João G.; Ribeiro, Carlos F.; Nogueira, Rogério N.; Winzer, Georg; Zimmermann, Lars; Walker, Rob; Clements, Stephen; Filipowicz, Marta; Napierała, Marek; Nasiłowski, Tomasz; Crabb, Jonathan; Kechagias, Marios; Stampoulidis, Leontios; Anzalchi, Javad; Drummond, Miguel V.
    Ubiquitous satellite communications are in a leading position for bridging the digital divide. Fulfilling such a mission will require satellite services on par with fibre services, both in bandwidth and cost. Achieving such a performance requires a new generation of communications payloads powered by large-scale processors, enabling a dynamic allocation of hundreds of beams with a total capacity beyond 1 Tbit s−1. The fact that the scale of the processor is proportional to the wavelength of its signals has made photonics a key technology for its implementation. However, one last challenge hinders the introduction of photonics: while large-scale processors demand a modular implementation, coherency among signals must be preserved using simple methods. Here, we demonstrate a coherent photonic-aided receiver meeting such demands. This work shows that a modular and coherent photonic-aided payload is feasible, making way to an extensive introduction of photonics in next generation communications satellites.