Clay weekly context brief for the Physics category (ISO week 2026-W38). Clay tracks publications from the Physics feed list. Below are recent items from this category, each with its source and a short description of what the publication covers when one is available in the source feed. Recent publications: 1. Engineered two-photon dissipative confinement of a Kerr-cat qubit using SISIS quantum circuit refrigerator Source: quant-ph (Quantum Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.11034 Kerr-cat qubits realized in periodically driven superconducting nonlinear resonators are a promising platform for quantum information processing with biased noise. 2. Identifying demand-side measures that matter most for Europe's decarbonisation Source: physics.soc-ph (Physics and Society) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.04414 European countries pursue a miscellany of historic, emerging, and planned initiatives to transform energy demand through behavioural shifts and end-use efficiency improvements. 3. Project Setu: 3D Multi-Physics Design and Scaled Structural Analysis for a Relativistic Lightsail Architecture Source: physics.pop-ph (Popular Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.06156 Deep-space exploration beyond the solar system requires eliminating chemical propellant mass penalties to achieve relativistic flight velocities (0.166c at 180 s, reaching the mission target of 0.20c at 227 s). 4. Laboratory measurements of energy partitioning and anomalous electron heating in magnetized, perpendicular collisionless shocks Source: physics.plasm-ph (Plasma Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12164 We present laboratory results on energy partitioning from supercritical, magnetized collisionless shock experiments ($\rm{M_A} \sim 8$, $\rm{M_{ms}}\sim 4$). 5. Using Seismic Statistical Features and VQ-VAE to Improve Spatiotemporal Seismicity Predictability Source: physics.geo-ph (Geophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.10069 In this paper we build upon a previous study in which we demonstrated, using XGBoost and earthquake catalogue data from Japan and Chile, that a set of 60 seismic statistical features (SSFs) had much greater predictive value than a set of 428 generic time series features from the tsfresh package. 6. Constraining $f(R)$ gravity and evolving dark energy via large-scale structure and phase-space trajectories Source: physics.gen-ph (General Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.10651 We present a joint observational analysis confronting viable $f(R)$ modified gravity theories, specifically the Hu \& Sawicki and Starobinsky models, with background and large-scale structure (LSS) data. 7. An Interfacial Balance Rule Governs Binder-Electrolyte Coupling in Lead-Free Perovskite Energy Storage Source: physics.chem-ph (Chemical Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.08295 Electrode binders are conventionally regarded as inert structural components. 8. Parameter Identification in Reaction-Diffusion-Chemotaxis Systems from Single Turing Pattern Amplitudes Source: physics.bio-ph (Biological Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.07458 Turing patterns encode key information about biological mechanisms, yet traditional inverse problems rely on non-biological data like boundary measurements, neglecting the patterns themselves. 9. Accurate theoretical methods for photoionization of H$_2$ molecules Source: physics.atom-ph (Atomic Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.02461 Single-photon ionization cross sections of molecular hydrogen in the electric dipole limit are numerically computed by employing three independent methods. 10. Octupole-driven spin torque switching of antiferromagnetic tunnel junctions Source: physics.app-ph (Applied Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.03026 Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) based on ferromagnets are canonical devices in spintronics, with wide-ranging applications in data storage, computing, and sensing. 11. Surface gravity wave-mean flow interaction with comparable spatial scales. Part II: two-way coupling and wave-wave interactions Source: physics.ao-ph (Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.11631 We consider narrow-band deep-water surface gravity waves propagating above a background flow whose spatial scale is comparable to the wavelength. 12. Relative and absolute dosimetric commissioning of the ELIMAIA--ELIMED laser-driven proton beamline at 23.4 MeV Source: physics.acc-ph (Accelerator Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.15272 The development of laser-driven proton beamlines for biomedical and radiobiological applications requires traceable dosimetry and reliable online monitoring at the irradiation point. 13. High-Speed Semi-FE Readout Module for ATLAS MDT at HL-LHC: Design and Production-Level Characterization Source: physics.ins-det (Instrumentation and Detectors) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.11565 The High-Luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) introduces increased demands on the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer, particularly in terms of data throughput, timing distribution and system reliability. 14. Signature of Short-Range Order in Static Response of the Three-Dimensional Electron Gas Source: physics.comp-ph (Computational Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.10006 The three-dimensional electron gas is a fundamental model in condensed matter physics and quantum chemistry, and the exchange-correlation energy derived from it serves as the starting point of \textit{ab initio} computations of materials. 15. Wavescan: Multiresolution Time-Frequency Transform of Gravitational-Wave Data Source: physics.data-an (Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.01096 Identifying transient signals embedded in non-stationary noise requires analyzing the time-dependent spectral components of the observed time series. 16. Mechanics Cognitive Diagnostic: Testing Fine-Grained Learning Objectives in Introductory Physics Source: physics.ed-ph (Physics Education) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.09584 Physics courses use research-based assessments (RBAs) such as the Force Concept Inventory (FCI), Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation (FMCE), and Energy and Momentum Conceptual Survey (EMCS) to measure learning in introductory mechanics, but their fixed-length, pretest-posttest design makes them retrospective: posttest scores summarize completed instruction and arrive after a course ends. 17. Revisiting the Aerts-Broekaert-Smets quantum model of the liar paradox Source: physics.hist-ph (History and Philosophy of Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.09228 The quantum model of the two-sentence liar paradox proposed by Aerts, Broekaert, and Smets is an early example of the use of quantum formalism to describe cognitive dynamics. 18. Understanding Search and Decision Errors in Liver Metastasis Detection and the Effects of Lower Radiation Dose Source: physics.med-ph (Medical Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.10458 The detection performance of liver metastases decreases with the reduction of radiation dose, but misses are heterogeneous. 19. Non-Hermitian Light Beams Source: physics.optics (Optics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.10011 Non-Hermitian systems provide remarkable features actively studied in modern photonics. 20. A stochastic modeling framework to generate 2-D rough-wall high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layers Source: physics.flu-dyn (Fluid Dynamics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.10236 Atmospheric surface layer flows are computationally challenging, predominantly due to surface roughness and the high Reynolds number, both of which demand exceptionally high spatial resolution in the near-surface region. 21. Strong Evidence for Formation of Hydroxyl Anion via 2-Particle-1-Hole Feshbach Resonances Source: physics.atm-clus (Atomic and Molecular Clusters) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.07324 This study investigates the formation of the hydroxyl anion (OH$^-$) via dissociative electron attachment in 2-propanol as a model system for studying both organic and inorganic molecules. 22. Feasibility of Capillary-Driven Orbital Liquid Mirror Telescopes Source: physics.space-ph (Space Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.31042 Space-based liquid mirror telescopes (LMTs) have been recently proposed to overcome the scaling limits of traditional rigid mirrors. 23. Projection Angles of Projectiles in Sports: Qualitative Assessment of the Effects of Aerodynamic Forces or Run-Up Source: physics.class-ph (Classical Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.08249 We examine two major factors that influence the optimum projection angle: aerodynamic forces and the effect of run-up. 24. Full-Rank Noise Forbids Long-Range Entanglement Swapping Source: quant-ph (Quantum Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.11021 Quantum repeaters extend entanglement by swapping noisy elementary links. 25. Energy pathway variety and the progress of the energy transition in European countries Source: physics.soc-ph (Physics and Society) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.09607 The integration of new energy forms into existing energy infrastructure has emerged as a critical challenge in the context of the pursuit of a sustainable energy transition. 26. Experimental Plasma Density Profiles Determined Through Measurements of the Magnetosonic Wave Speed Source: physics.plasm-ph (Plasma Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.11743 Information on plasma density in laboratory plasmas is commonly acquired using either Langmuir probes or optical diagnostics. 27. Stress-Testing Dynamical and Generative Downscaling Using Subseasonal Extreme Precipitation Forecasts Source: physics.geo-ph (Geophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.11696 Coarse spatial resolution limits the ability of subseasonal prediction models to resolve extreme precipitation. 28. Bound states in the continuum of gravitational waves Source: physics.gen-ph (General Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.10620 Bound states in the continuum (BICs) are ubiquitous wave phenomena, but have not yet been demonstrated for gravitational waves (GWs). 29. Selectivity- and Activity-Aware Catalyst Descriptors for CO$_2$ Hydrogenation on Alloy Nanocatalysts using Machine-Learned Force Fields Source: physics.chem-ph (Chemical Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.07714 Adsorption energy distributions (AEDs) have emerged as a powerful and increasingly adopted descriptor for catalytic performance in high-entropy alloys and, more recently, in conventional metallic alloy nanocrystal catalysts. 30. Computational framework for quantum state tomography of spin ensembles Source: physics.bio-ph (Biological Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.11868 We present Tomography-NMR, an open-source Python package that reconstructs quantum density matrices from spectroscopic measurement data. 31. Temperature and mean axial momentum vs. laser intensity of electrons released from O$_2$ by an 800 nm ultrashort pulsed laser Source: physics.atom-ph (Atomic Physics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.10986 A semi-empirical model is presented for the thermalized temperature $T$ and mean momentum in the direction of laser propagation of electrons released from O$_2$ after the passage of a focused 800 nm ultrashort pulsed laser pulse vs. Sources in this brief: physics.acc-ph (Accelerator Physics); physics.ao-ph (Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics); physics.app-ph (Applied Physics); physics.atm-clus (Atomic and Molecular Clusters); physics.atom-ph (Atomic Physics); physics.bio-ph (Biological Physics); physics.chem-ph (Chemical Physics); physics.class-ph (Classical Physics); physics.comp-ph (Computational Physics); physics.data-an (Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability); physics.ed-ph (Physics Education); physics.flu-dyn (Fluid Dynamics); physics.gen-ph (General Physics); physics.geo-ph (Geophysics); physics.hist-ph (History and Philosophy of Physics); physics.ins-det (Instrumentation and Detectors); physics.med-ph (Medical Physics); physics.optics (Optics); physics.plasm-ph (Plasma Physics); physics.pop-ph (Popular Physics); physics.soc-ph (Physics and Society); physics.space-ph (Space Physics); quant-ph (Quantum Physics). Selected 31 of 394 available items for this weekly brief.