Nov 2024 • arXiv preprint arXiv:2311.09660
Anatoly Shukhin, Inbar Hurvitz, Sivan Trajtenberg-Mills, Ady Arie, Hagai Eisenberg
Control over the joint spectral amplitude of a photon pair has proved highly desirable for many quantum applications, since it contains the spectral quantum correlations, and has crucial effects on the indistinguishability of photons, as well as promising emerging applications involving complex quantum functions and frequency encoding of qudits. Until today, this has been achieved by engineering a single degree of freedom, either by custom poling nonlinear crystal or by shaping the pump pulse. We present a combined approach where two degrees of freedom, the phase-matching function, and the pump spectrum, are controlled. This approach enables the two-dimensional control of the joint spectral amplitude, generating a variety of spectrally encoded quantum states - including frequency uncorrelated states, frequency-bin Bell states, and biphoton qudit states. In addition, the joint spectral amplitude is controlled by photon bunching and anti-bunching, reflecting the symmetry of the phase-matching function.
Show moreSep 2024 • Applied Physics Reviews
Aviv Karnieli, Nicholas Rivera, Valerio Di Giulio, Ady Arie, F Javier García de Abajo, Ido Kaminer
Spontaneous light emission is central to a vast range of physical systems and is a founding pillar for the theory of light–matter interactions. In the presence of complex photonic media, the description of spontaneous light emission usually requires advanced theoretical quantum optics tools such as macroscopic quantum electrodynamics, involving quantized electromagnetic fields. Although rigorous and comprehensive, the complexity of such models can obscure the intuitive understanding of many quantum-optical phenomena. Here, we review a method for calculating spontaneous emission and other quantum-optical processes without making explicit use of quantized electromagnetic fields. Instead, we introduce the concept of transition currents, comprising charges in matter that undergo transitions between initial and final quantum states. We show how predictions that usually demand advanced methods in …
Show moreSep 2024 • Applied Physics Reviews
Aviv Karnieli, Nicholas Rivera, Valerio Di Giulio, Ady Arie, F Javier García de Abajo, Ido Kaminer
Spontaneous light emission is central to a vast range of physical systems and is a founding pillar for the theory of light–matter interactions. In the presence of complex photonic media, the description of spontaneous light emission usually requires advanced theoretical quantum optics tools such as macroscopic quantum electrodynamics, involving quantized electromagnetic fields. Although rigorous and comprehensive, the complexity of such models can obscure the intuitive understanding of many quantum-optical phenomena. Here, we review a method for calculating spontaneous emission and other quantum-optical processes without making explicit use of quantized electromagnetic fields. Instead, we introduce the concept of transition currents, comprising charges in matter that undergo transitions between initial and final quantum states. We show how predictions that usually demand advanced methods in …
Show moreAug 2024 • Gels
Shani Elgin, Eric Silberman, Assaf Shapira, Tal Dvir
Overcoming the oxygen diffusion limit of approximately 200 µm remains one of the most significant and intractable challenges to be overcome in tissue engineering. The fabrication of hydrogel microtissues and their assembly into larger structures may provide a solution, though these constructs are not without their own drawbacks; namely, these hydrogels are rapidly degraded in vivo, and cells delivered via microtissues are quickly expelled from the area of action. Here, we report the development of an easily customized protocol for creating a protective, biocompatible hydrogel barrier around microtissues. We show that calcium carbonate nanoparticles embedded within an ECM-based microtissue diffuse outwards and, when then exposed to a solution of alginate, can be used to generate a coated layer around the tissue. We further show that this technique can be fine-tuned by adjusting numerous parameters, granting us full control over the thickness of the hydrogel coating layer. The microtissues’ protective hydrogel functioned as hypothesized in both in vitro and in vivo testing by preventing the cells inside the tissue from escaping and protecting the microdroplets against external degradation. This technology may provide microtissues with customized properties for use as sources of regenerative therapies.
Show moreJun 2024 • Environmental Pollution
Anwar Dawas, Andrey Ethan Rubin, Noa Sand, Evyatar Ben Mordechay, Benny Chefetz, Vered Mordehay, Nirit Cohen, Adi Radian, Nebojsa Ilic, Uwe Hubner, Ines Zucker
Wastewater treatment plants play a crucial role in controlling the transport of pollutants to the environment and often discharge persistent contaminants such as synthetic microplastic fibers (MFs) to the ecosystem. In this study, we examined the fate and toxicity of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MFs fabricated from commercial cloth in post-disinfection secondary effluents by employing conditions that closely mimic disinfection processes applied in wastewater treatment plants. Challenging conventional assumptions, this study illustrated that oxidative treatment by chlorination and ozonation incurred no significant modification to the surface morphology of the MFs. Additionally, experimental results demonstrated that both pristine and oxidized MFs have minimal adsorption potential towards contaminants of emerging concern in both effluents and alkaline water. The limited adsorption was attributed to the inert nature …
Show moreJun 2024 • Quantum 2.0, QW3A. 11, 2024
Inbar Hurvitz, Anatoly Shukhin, Leonid Vidro, Hagai Eisenberg, Ady Arie
We introduce a novel experimental technique to study the interference of bi-photon joint spectral amplitudes, exploring new possibilities in quantum photonics. Our approach uniquely uncovers the intricate phase-dependent phenomena in entangled photon spectra.
Show moreJun 2024 • German-Israeli Cooperation in Water Technology Research
Omer Yashar, Mohammad S Khan, Yinon Yecheskel, Uwe Hübner, Benedikt M Aumeier, Jörg E Drewes, Ines Zucker
Potable and non-potable reuse of treated wastewater requires effective removal of chemical and microbial contamination. While these processes are generally resource-intensive and require advanced technology-using adequately treated wastewater is an economically and ecologically viable option in water-scarce regions. This project aims to develop a treatment concept alternative to conventional systems and subsequently upscale the design. A novel nano-enabled catalytic filtration process presents the core element applicable for non-potable and potable water reuse applications. Sulfate radicals are generated through the catalytic decomposition of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) via manganese oxide (MnO2) based nanomaterials which oxidize the undesired contaminants in the water matrix. Integrating such nano-catalysts in reuse holds promise in the inactivation of pathogens, removal of various trace organic chemicals (TOrCs), and mitigating the spread of antibiotic microbial resistance (AMR) from municipal wastewater with high durability in long-term operation. By immobilizing the nanomaterial onto a granular media and packaging the resultant nanocomposite in a filtration unit, we allow efficient, sustainable, and practical use in reuse schemes at comparable costs to established processes. We hypothesize that through both material design and process engineering, optimal deployment of such nano-based technology can be utilized efficiently while avoiding the limitations of currently available technologies.
Show moreJun 2024 • Groundwater for Sustainable Development
Anwar Dawas, Emil Bein, Yinon Yecheskel, Tamir Ouddiz, Uwe Hübner, Ines Zucker
The Peroxone process—which utilizes a combination of ozone and hydrogen peroxide to generate hydroxyl radicals—is frequently used in groundwater remediation to effectively remove ozone-resistant contaminants. However, some monocyclic aromatic compounds with low ozone reactivity have been found to be removed by ozone solely (without the need for hydrogen peroxide) through a self-enhanced mechanism. This self-enhanced removal occurs when the interaction of ozone with hydroxide ion generates sufficient amount of hydroxyl radicals, initiating a radical reaction that subsequently propagates through the degradation intermediates. This study leverages the self-enhanced degradation mechanism for the treatment of ozone-resistant compounds during groundwater remediation. Key environmental conditions, including water alkalinity and contaminant concentration, were investigated for their effect on …
Show moreJun 2024 • School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, Faculty of Life Science …, 2024
Tal Dvir
May 2024 • CLEO: Science and Innovations, STh3P. 5, 2024
Ady Arie
Lightwaves can be split into two beams or two pulses, each comprising a frequency-bin superposition, in the presence of a nonlinear coupling gradient, representing the nonlinear optics analog of the celebrated Stern-Gerlach effect for atoms.
Show moreMay 2024 • CLEO: Fundamental Science, FW3P. 5, 2024
Dolev Roitman, Aviv Karnieli, Shai Tsesses, Zahava Barkay, Ady Arie
We demonstrate coherent free-electron radiation in visible wavelengths with electron energies as low as 300 eV–a major step towards broadband, tunable, energy efficient on-chip light sources and observation of quantum emission recoil effects.
Show moreMay 2024 • Gels
Yahel Shechter, Roni Cohen, Michael Namestnikov, Assaf Shapira, Adiel Barak, Aya Barzelay, Tal Dvir
Tissue engineering is considered a promising approach to treating advanced degenerative maculopathies such as nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The retina consists of several hierarchical tissue layers, each of which is supported by a layer underneath. Each of these layers has a different morphology and requires distinct conditions for proper assembly. In fact, a prerequisite step for the assembly of each of these layers is the organization of the layer underneath. Advanced retinal degeneration includes degeneration of the other retina layers, including the choroid, the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), and the photoreceptors. Here, we report a step-by-step fabrication process of a three-layer retinalike structure. The process included the 3D printing of a choroid-like structure in an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel, followed by deposition of the RPE monolayer. After the formation of the blood vessel–RPE interface, the photoreceptor cells were deposited to interact with the RPE layer. At the end of the fabrication process, each layer was characterized for its morphology and expression of specific markers, and the integration of the three-layer retina was evaluated. We envision that such a retina-like structure may be able to attenuate the deterioration of a degenerated retina and improve engraftment and regeneration. This retinal implant may potentially be suitable for a spectrum of macular degenerative diseases for which there are currently no cures and may save millions from complete blindness.
Show moreMay 2024 • CLEO: Fundamental Science, FTh3D. 3, 2024
Shani Izhak, Aviv Karnieli, Ofir Yesharim, Shai Tsesses, Ady Arie
We predict a new universal pseudospin localization phenomenon and demonstrate it experimentally in an optical analogue of a spin-glass material–a disordered sum-frequency generation process in a nonlinear photonic crystal.
Show moreMay 2024 • CLEO: Science and Innovations, JW2A. 150, 2024
Ofir Yesharim, Guy Tshuva, Ady Arie
We demonstrate a compact and efficient rotation sensing mechanism that uses structured light and is enhanced by bright N00N states. It uses two opposite spiral phase plates that convert mechanical rotation to wavefront phase shifts.
Show moreMay 2024 • Communications Physics
Georgi Gary Rozenman, Freyja Ullinger, Matthias Zimmermann, Maxim A Efremov, Lev Shemer, Wolfgang P Schleich, Ady Arie
In 1974, Stephen Hawking predicted that quantum effects in the proximity of a black hole lead to the emission of particles and black hole evaporation. At the very heart of this process lies a logarithmic phase singularity which leads to the Bose-Einstein statistics of Hawking radiation. An identical singularity appears in the elementary quantum system of the inverted harmonic oscillator. In this Letter we report the observation of the onset of this logarithmic phase singularity emerging at a horizon in phase space and giving rise to a Fermi-Dirac distribution. For this purpose, we utilize surface gravity water waves and freely propagate an appropriately tailored energy wave function of the inverted harmonic oscillator to reveal the phase space horizon and the intrinsic singularities. Due to the presence of an amplitude singularity in this system, the analogous quantities display a Fermi-Dirac rather than a Bose-Einstein …
Show moreMay 2024 • Gels
Yahel Shechter, Roni Cohen, Michael Namestnikov, Assaf Shapira, Adiel Barak, Aya Barzelay, Tal Dvir
Tissue engineering is considered a promising approach to treating advanced degenerative maculopathies such as nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The retina consists of several hierarchical tissue layers, each of which is supported by a layer underneath. Each of these layers has a different morphology and requires distinct conditions for proper assembly. In fact, a prerequisite step for the assembly of each of these layers is the organization of the layer underneath. Advanced retinal degeneration includes degeneration of the other retina layers, including the choroid, the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), and the photoreceptors. Here, we report a step-by-step fabrication process of a three-layer retina-like structure. The process included the 3D printing of a choroid-like structure in an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel, followed by deposition of the RPE monolayer. After the formation of the blood vessel–RPE interface, the photoreceptor cells were deposited to interact with the RPE layer. At the end of the fabrication process, each layer was characterized for its morphology and expression of specific markers, and the integration of the three-layer retina was evaluated. We envision that such a retina-like structure may be able to attenuate the deterioration of a degenerated retina and improve engraftment and regeneration. This retinal implant may potentially be suitable for a spectrum of macular degenerative diseases for which there are currently no cures and may save millions from complete blindness.
Show moreMay 2024 • Chemosphere
Chemosphere Lina Borsky, Yinon Yecheskel, Nicholas MK Rogers, Noya Ran, Moshe Herzberg, Ines Zucker
Nanobubbles have been increasingly used in various applications involving porous media, such as groundwater remediation and irrigation. However, the fundamental scientific knowledge regarding the interactions between nanobubbles and the media is still limited. The interactions can be repulsive, attractive, or inert, and can involve reversible or irreversible attachment as well as destructive mechanisms. Specifically, the stability and mobility of nanobubbles in porous media is expected to be dependent on the dynamic conditions and the physicochemical properties of the porous media, solutions, and nanobubbles themselves. In this study, we investigated how changes in solution chemistry (pH, ionic strength, and valence) and media characteristics (size and wettability) affect the size and concentration of nanobubbles under dynamic conditions using column experiments. Quartz crystal microbalance with …
Show moreMay 2024 • CLEO: Fundamental Science, FF3M. 5, 2024
Ofir Yesharim, Shani Izhak, Ady Arie
A new waveguiding mechanism is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated, using sum frequency generation and 2D periodically poled KTP crystals, where a frequency superposition beam is guided and manipulated on-chip without any linear refractive index change.
Show moreApr 2024 • Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
Emil Bein, Giulia Pasquazzo, Anwar Dawas, Yinon Yecheskel, Ines Zucker, Jörg E Drewes, Uwe Hübner
Groundwater contamination by widespread and persistent organic compounds requires extensive treatment efforts, for example by in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO). In this study, we investigated ozone mass transfer and removal mechanisms of ozone-resistant monocyclic aromatic and non-aromatic compounds in a novel in-situ treatment method using ozone-permeable membranes as reactive barrier. Initial batch experiments confirmed fast depletion of ozone in presence of sub-stoichiometric benzoic acid (BA), in contrast to the non-aromatic 1,4-dioxane (DIOX), where ozone depleted much slower. Simulated in-situ membrane ozonation treatment of contaminated groundwater led to lower removal of 5 mg L−1 BA (52.7%) compared to DIOX (60.6%). Inhibited removal of BA compared to additional batch experiments could be explained by quick depletion of ozone by reactive intermediates on the membrane surface …
Show moreApr 2024 • Optics Letters
Dolev Roitman, Aviv Karnieli, Shai Tsesses, Zahava Barkay, Ady Arie
The Smith–Purcell effect allows for coherent free-electron-driven compact light sources over the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Intriguing interaction regimes, with prospects for quantum optical applications, are expected when the driving free electron enters the sub-keV range, though this has until now remained an experimental challenge. Here, we demonstrate the Smith–Purcell light emission from UV to visible using engineerable, fabricated gratings with periodicities as low as 19?nm and with electron energies as low as 300?eV. Our findings constitute a major step toward broadband, highly tunable, on-chip light sources, observation of quantum recoil effects, and tunable EUV and x ray sources from swift electrons.
Show moreMar 2024 • Optics Express
Anatoly Shukhin, Inbar Hurvitz, Sivan Trajtenberg-Mills, Ady Arie, Hagai Eisenberg
Control over the joint spectral amplitude of a photon pair has proved highly desirable for many quantum applications, since it contains the spectral quantum correlations, and has crucial effects on the indistinguishability of photons, as well as promising emerging applications involving complex quantum functions and frequency encoding of qudits. Until today, this has been achieved by engineering a single degree of freedom, either by custom poling nonlinear crystal or by shaping the pump pulse. We present a combined approach where two degrees of freedom, the phase-matching function, and the pump spectrum, are controlled. This approach enables the two-dimensional control of the joint spectral amplitude, generating a variety of spectrally encoded quantum states - including frequency uncorrelated states, frequency-bin Bell states, and biphoton qudit states. In addition, the joint spectral amplitude is controlled …
Show more