Abstract
In this paper is described an easy, one-pot synthesis of ZnO hollow spheres with sizes ranging from 300 nm to 500 nm, by spin-coating deposition on aluminum substrate. Simplified models explaining the shape formation based on film-substrate interaction are discussed. The characteristic size and shape of the nanostructures obtained by the described method and the properties of ZnO as a low-cost biocompatible material make this methodology of synthesis interesting for a wide range of applications including optoelectronics, catalysis and (bio)sensors.

Abstract
We investigate the generation of entanglement between the axial degrees of freedom of electrons confined in separated locations in planar Penning traps. We show that there are two different sources of entanglement: one is related with the mechanism of switching on and off the electrical coupling between the two electrons, and the other is due to the two-quanta-transition term of the coupling interaction. We show that the degree of entanglement can be controlled by adjusting the strength of the coupling between the traps and the time of interaction. We show that the coupled electrons behave as a temporal active interferometer.

Abstract
We extend the quantum theory of Time Refraction for a generic spatial and temporal modulation of the optical properties of a medium, such as a dielectric or a gravitational field. The derivation of the local Bogoliubov transformations relating the global electromagnetic modes (valid over the entire span of space and time) with the local modes (valid for the vicinity of each spatial and temporal position) is presented and used in the evaluation of vacuum photon creation by the optical modulations of the medium. We use this approach to relate and review the results of different quantum effects such as the dynamical Casimir effect, space and Time Refraction, the Unruh effect and radiation from superluminal non-accelerated optical boundaries.

Abstract
We describe the effects of the electron trapping due to the background ions in a Rydberg plasma. In the early stages, the ions are not thermalized and obey a Gaussian spatial profile, trapping the coldest electrons. In the present work, we provide expressions for both the electrostatic potential and the electron spatial profiles in two different regimes. We show that in the strong confinement regime F » T/e, a Rydberg plasma can be described by a Thomas-Fermi potential, similar to that obtained for heavy atomic species.

Abstract
We show that the energy threshold for nuclear recoils in the XENON10 dark matter search data can be lowered to ~ 1 keV, by using only the ionization signal. In other words, we make no requirement that a valid event contain a primary scintillation signal. We therefore relinquish incident particle type discrimination, which is based on the ratio of ionization to scintillation in liquid xenon. This method compromises the detector's ability to precisely determine the z coordinate of a particle interaction. However, we show for the first time that it is possible to discriminate bulk events from surface events based solely on the ionization signal. © Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Licence.

Abstract
The extraction efficiency f for the photoelectrons emitted from a CsI photocathode into gaseous Xe-CH4 and Ne-CH4 mixtures is investigated by Monte Carlo simulation. The results are compared with earlier calculations in Ar-CH4 mixtures and in the pure gases Xe, Ar, Ne and CH4. The calculations examine the dependence of f on the density-reduced electric field E/N in the 0.1-40 Td range, on the incident photon energy E-ph in the 6.8-9.8 eV (183-127 nm) VUV range and on the mixture composition. Results calculated for irradiation of the photocathode with a Hg(Ar) lamp are compared with experimental measurements for this lamp. To test the electron scattering cross-sections used in the simulations, electron drift parameters in Xe, Ne and their mixtures with CH4 are also presented and compared with available experimental data.