Abstract The interplay between magnetism and charge transport is central to understanding colossal magnetoresistance (CMR), a phenomenon well studied in ferromagnets. Recently, antiferromagnetic (AFM) EuCd2P2 has attracted considerable interest due to its remarkable CMR, for which magnetic fluctuations and the formation of ferromagnetic clusters have been proposed as key mechanisms. Here we provide direct evidence that these effects originate from the formation and percolation of magnetic polarons. We employ a complementary set of sensitive probes that allows for a direct comparison of electronic and magnetic properties on multiple time scales revealing pronounced electronic and magnetic phase separation below T * ≈ 2T N . These measurements indicate an inhomogeneous, percolating electronic system below T * and well above the magnetic ordering temperature T N = 11 K. In applied magnetic fields, the onset of the pronounced negative MR in the paramagnetic regime emerges at a universal critical magnetization. The characteristic size of the magnetic polarons near the percolation threshold is estimated to be ~6−10 nm. Our results establish dynamic polaron percolation within an AFM matrix as the microscopic origin of CMR in EuCd2P2, providing a unified framework for magnetotransport in Eu-based correlated semiconductors.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Abstract Topological magnets exhibit fascinating physics like topologically protected surface states and anomalous transport. Although these states and phenomena are expected to strongly depend on the magnetic order, their experimental manipulation has been scarcely studied. Here, we demonstrate the magnetic field control of the topological band structure in Co3Sn2S2 by magneto-optical spectroscopy. We resolve a magnetic field-induced redshift of the nodal loop resonance as the magnetization is rotated into the kagome plane. Our material-specific theory, capturing the observed field-induced spectral reconstruction, reveals the emergence of a gapless nodal loop for one of the in-plane magnetization directions. The calculations show that the additionally created Weyl points for in-plane fields marginally contribute to the optical response. These findings demonstrate that breaking underlying crystal symmetries with external fields provides an efficient way to manipulate topological band features. Moreover, our results highlight the potential of low-energy magneto-optical spectroscopy in probing variations of quantum geometry.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Abstract In cuprate superconductors, the highest T c is possessed by the HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ (Hg-1223) system at ambient pressure, but the reason remains elusive. Here we report the scanning tunneling measurements on the Hg-1223 single crystals with T c ≈ 134 K. The observed gaps determined from the tunneling spectra (STS) can be categorized into two groups: the smaller gap Δ 1 ranges from about 45–70 meV, while the larger gap Δ 2 from about 65 to 98 meV. The STS was measured up to 200 K and the larger gap can persist well above T c, indicating a pseudogap feature which may reflect the strong pairing energy in the inner layer. Interestingly, an extremely strong particle-hole asymmetry is observed in associating with a very robust coherence-like peak at the bias of the larger gap in the hole branch of the Bogoliubov dispersion. We argue that the observed asymmetry results may be from the interplay of a flat band (van Hove singularity) in the electronic spectrum and the larger gap in the underdoped (inner) layer. A theoretical approach based on a trilayer model with an interlayer coupling can give a reasonable explanation. Our results provide deep insight into understanding the mechanism of superconductivity in cuprate superconductors.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Non-reciprocal lattice systems are among the simplest non-Hermitian systems, exhibiting several key features absent in their Hermitian counterparts. In this study, we investigate the Hatano–Nelson model with impurity and unveil how the impurity influences the intrinsic non-Hermitian skin effect of the system. We present an exact analytical solution to the problem under open and periodic boundary conditions, irrespective of the impurity’s position and strength. Numerical simulations thoroughly validate this exact solution. Our analysis reveals a distinctive phenomenon where a specific impurity strength, determined by the non-reciprocal hopping parameters, induces a unique skin state at the impurity site. This impurity state exhibits a skin effect that counterbalances the boundary-induced skin effect, a phenomenon we term the impurity-induced counter skin-effect. These findings offer insights into the dynamics of non-Hermitian systems with impurities, elucidating the complex interplay between impurities and the system’s non-reciprocal nature. We propose a possible implementation of this system for a non-Hermitian discrete-time quantum walk, and we demonstrate that an impurity-induced counter skin-effect also exists in multi-band models.
Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Yi-Ming Wu, Andrey V. Chubukov, Yuxuan Wang
et al.
Abstract Inspired by empirical evidence of the existence of pair-density-wave (PDW) order in certain underdoped cuprates, we investigate the collective modes in systems with unidirectional PDW order with momenta ± Q and a d-wave form-factor with special focus on the amplitude (Higgs) modes. In the pure PDW state, there are two overdamped Higgs modes. We show that a phase with co-existing PDW and uniform (d-wave) superconducting (SC) order, PDW/SC, spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry—and thus is distinct from a simpler phase, SC/CDW, with coexisting SC and charge-density-wave (CDW) order. The PDW/SC phase exhibits three Higgs modes, one of which is sharply peaked and is predominantly a PDW fluctuation, symmetric between Q and −Q, whose damping rate is strongly reduced by SC. This sharp mode should be visible in Raman experiments.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Ankan Mukherjee, Anuranan Das, Adil Anwar Khan
et al.
Recent breakthroughs in the transport spectroscopy of 2-D material quantum-dot platforms have engendered a fervent interest in spin–valley qubits. In this context, Pauli blockades in double quantum dot structures form a crucial basis for multi-qubit initialization and manipulation. Focusing on double quantum dot structures in the bilayer graphene platform, and the experimental results, we develop detailed multi-faceted computational models aimed at predictive transport spectroscopy across such setups. Apart from reliably simulating occurrences of Pauli blockades, notably, our simulations unravel two remarkable phenomena: (i) the existence of multiple resonances within a bias triangle and (ii) the occurrence of multiple spin–valley blockades. Leveraging our model to train a machine learning algorithm, we successfully develop an automated method for the real-time detection of multiple Pauli blockade regimes. Through numerical predictions and validations against test data, we identify where and how many Pauli blockades are likely to occur. The detailed and composite computational models developed here can thus serve as the foundation for future experiments on transport spectroscopy in 2-D material platforms for the realization of spin–valley qubits.
Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Modern materials science generates vast and diverse datasets from both experiments and computations, yet these multi-source, heterogeneous data often remain disconnected in isolated "silos". Here, we introduce MaterialsGalaxy, a comprehensive platform that deeply fuses experimental and theoretical data in condensed matter physics. Its core innovation is a structure similarity-driven data fusion mechanism that quantitatively links cross-modal records - spanning diffraction, crystal growth, computations, and literature - based on their underlying atomic structures. The platform integrates artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including large language models (LLMs) for knowledge extraction, generative models for crystal structure prediction, and machine learning property predictors, to enhance data interpretation and accelerate materials discovery. We demonstrate that MaterialsGalaxy effectively integrates these disparate data sources, uncovering hidden correlations and guiding the design of novel materials. By bridging the long-standing gap between experiment and theory, MaterialsGalaxy provides a new paradigm for data-driven materials research and accelerates the discovery of advanced materials.
The experimental observations that led to the quark structure of matter and the development of hadron physics are reviewed with emphasis on the discoveries of mesons and baryons, starting in the 1940s with the pion and kaon which mediate the strong hadronic force. The evidence for an internal structure of the hadrons consisting of two or three elementary spin 1/2 particles is reviewed. The discoveries of hadrons made of the heavier charm and bottom quarks are described. In 2003 more complex multi-quark hadrons began to emerge. The subsequent developments beyond the early 2000s are covered in the Review of Particle Physics (Phys. Rev. D 110 (2024) 030001). Given the very large number of observed hadrons, the choice of key experiments is somewhat subjective.
Abstract We model the pseudogap state of the hole- and electron-doped cuprates as a metal with hole and/or electron pocket Fermi surfaces. In the absence of long-range antiferromagnetism, such Fermi surfaces violate the Luttinger requirement of enclosing the same area as free electrons at the same density. Using the Ancilla theory of such a pseudogap state, we describe the onset of conventional d-wave superconductivity by the condensation of a charge e Higgs boson transforming as a fundamental under the emergent SU(2) gauge symmetry of a background π-flux spin liquid. In all cases, we find that the d-wave superconductor has gapless Bogoliubov quasiparticles at 4 nodal points on the Brillouin zone diagonals with significant velocity anisotropy, just as in the BCS state. This includes the case of the electron-doped pseudogap metal with only electron pockets centered at wavevectors (π, 0), (0, π), and an electronic gap along the zone diagonals. Remarkably, in this case, too, gapless nodal Bogoliubov quasiparticles emerge within the gap at 4 points along the zone diagonals upon the onset of superconductivity.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Apart from being an extraordinary optical and electronic material, diamond has also found applications in quantum mechanics especially in quantum sensing with the discovery and research development of various color centers. Elastic strain engineering (ESE), as a powerful modulation method, can tune the quantum properties and improve the performance of diamond quantum sensors. In recent years, deep ESE (DESE, when >5% elastic strain, or > σ _ideal /2 is achieved) has been realized in micro/nano-fabricated diamond and shows a great potential for tuning the quantum mechanical properties of diamond substantially. In this perspective, we briefly review the quantum properties of diamond and some of the corresponding sensing applications carried out with ESE, and look at how DESE could be applied for further tuning the quantum sensing properties of diamond with desired applications and what the critical challenges are.
Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter, Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
This study investigates the potential accuracy boundaries of physics-informed neural networks, contrasting their approach with previous similar works and traditional numerical methods. We find that selecting improved optimization algorithms significantly enhances the accuracy of the results. Simple modifications to the loss function may also improve precision, offering an additional avenue for enhancement. Despite optimization algorithms having a greater impact on convergence than adjustments to the loss function, practical considerations often favor tweaking the latter due to ease of implementation. On a global scale, the integration of an enhanced optimizer and a marginally adjusted loss function enables a reduction in the loss function by several orders of magnitude across diverse physical problems. Consequently, our results obtained using compact networks (typically comprising 2 or 3 layers of 20-30 neurons) achieve accuracies comparable to finite difference schemes employing thousands of grid points. This study encourages the continued advancement of PINNs and associated optimization techniques for broader applications across various fields.
Joseph Lahoud Sleiman, Filippo Conforto, Yair Augusto Gutierrez Fosado
et al.
Knots are deeply entangled with every branch of science. One of the biggest open challenges in knot theory is to formalise a knot invariant that can unambiguously and efficiently distinguish any two knotted curves. Additionally, the conjecture that the geometrical embedding of a curve encodes information on its underlying topology is, albeit physically intuitive, far from proven. Here we attempt to tackle both these outstanding challenges by proposing a neural network (NN) approach that takes as input a geometric representation of a knotted curve and tries to make predictions of the curve's topology. Intriguingly, we discover that NNs trained with a so-called geometrical "local writhe" representation of a knot can distinguish curves that share one or many topological invariants and knot polynomials, such as mutant and composite knots, and can thus classify knotted curves more precisely than some knot polynomials. Additionally, we also show that our approach can be scaled up to classify all prime knots up to 10-crossings with more than 95\% accuracy. Finally, we show that our NNs can also be trained to solve knot localisation problems on open and closed curves. Our main discovery is that the pattern of "local writhe" is a potentially unique geometric signature of the underlying topology of a curve. We hope that our results will suggest new methods for quantifying generic entanglements in soft matter and even inform new topological invariants.
Yoshihiro D. Kato, Yoshihiro Okamura, Susumu Minami
et al.
Abstract Geometrical aspects of electronic states in condensed matter have led to the experimental realization of enhanced electromagnetic phenomena, as exemplified by the giant anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in topological semimetals. However, the guideline to the large AHE is still immature due to lack of profound understanding of the sources of the Berry curvature in actual electronic structures; the main focus has concentrated only on the band crossings near the Fermi level. Here, we show that the band crossings and flat bands cooperatively produce the large intrinsic AHE in ferromagnetic nodal line semimetal candidate Fe3GeTe2. The terahertz and infrared magneto-optical spectroscopy reveals that two explicit resonance structures in the optical Hall conductivity spectra σ xy (ω) are closely related to the AHE. The first-principles calculation suggests that both the flat bands having large density of states (DOS) and the band crossings near the Fermi level are the main causes of these Hall resonances. Our findings unveil a mechanism to enhance the AHE based on the flat bands, which gives insights into the topological material design.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Abstract The helimagnet FeP is part of a family of binary pnictide materials with the MnP-type structure, which share a nonsymmorphic crystal symmetry that preserves generic band structure characteristics through changes in elemental composition. It shows many similarities, including in its magnetic order, to isostructural CrAs and MnP, two compounds that are driven to superconductivity under applied pressure. Here we present a series of high magnetic field experiments on high-quality single crystals of FeP, showing that the resistance not only increases without saturation by up to several hundred times its zero-field value by 35 T, but that it also exhibits an anomalously linear field dependence over the entire range when the field is aligned precisely along the crystallographic c-axis. A close comparison of quantum oscillation frequencies to electronic structure calculations links this orientation to a semi-Dirac point in the band structure, which disperses linearly in a single direction in the plane perpendicular to field, a symmetry-protected feature of this entire material family. We show that the two striking features of magnetoresistance—large amplitude and linear field dependence—arise separately in this system, with the latter likely due to a combination of ordered magnetism and topological band structure.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Margaret M. Kane, Arturas Vailionis, Lauren J. Riddiford
et al.
Abstract The emergence of ferromagnetism in materials where the bulk phase does not show any magnetic order demonstrates that atomically precise films can stabilize distinct ground states and expands the phase space for the discovery of materials. Here, the emergence of long-range magnetic order is reported in ultrathin (111) LaNiO3 (LNO) films, where bulk LNO is paramagnetic, and the origins of this phase are explained. Transport and structural studies of LNO(111) films indicate that NiO6 octahedral distortions stabilize a magnetic insulating phase at the film/substrate interface and result in a thickness-dependent metal–insulator transition at t = 8 unit cells. Away from this interface, distortions relax and bulk-like conduction is regained. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction and dynamical x-ray diffraction simulations confirm a corresponding out-of-plane unit-cell expansion at the interface of all films. X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that distortion stabilizes an increased concentration of Ni2+ ions. Evidence of long-range magnetic order is found in anomalous Hall effect and magnetoresistance measurements, likely due to ferromagnetic superexchange interactions among Ni2+–Ni3+ ions. Together, these results indicate that long-range magnetic ordering and metallicity in LNO(111) films emerges from a balance among the spin, charge, lattice, and orbital degrees of freedom.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
Abstract The topology of insulators is usually revealed through the presence of gapless boundary modes: this is the so-called bulk-boundary correspondence. However, the many-body wavefunction of a crystalline insulator is endowed with additional topological properties that do not yield surface spectral features, but manifest themselves as (fractional) quantized electronic charges localized at the crystal boundaries. Here, we formulate such bulk-corner correspondence for the physical relevant case of materials with time-reversal symmetry and spin-orbit coupling. To do so we develop partial real-space invariants that can be neither expressed in terms of Berry phases nor using symmetry-based indicators. These previously unknown crystalline invariants govern the (fractional) quantized corner charges both of isolated material structures and of heterostructures without gapless interface modes. We also show that the partial real-space invariants are able to detect all time-reversal symmetric topological phases of the recently discovered fragile type.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, Atomic physics. Constitution and properties of matter
We describe recent work on the physics of the Higgs boson at future muon colliders. Starting from the low energy muon collider at the Higgs boson pole we extend our discussion to the multi-TeV muon collider and outline the physics case for such machines about the properties of the Higgs boson and physics beyond the Standard Model that can be possibly discovered.
The milq approach to quantum physics for high schools focuses on the conceptual questions of quantum physics. Students should be given the opportunity to engage with the world view of modern physics. The aim is to achieve a conceptually clear formulation of quantum physics with a minimum of formulas. In order to provide students with verbal tools they can use in discussions and argumentations we formulated four "reasoning tools". They help to facilitate qualitative discussions of quantum physics, allow students to predict quantum mechanical effects, and help to avoid learning difficulties. They form a "beginners' axiomatic system" for quantum physics.
Multi-loop matter-wave interferometers are essential in quantum sensing to measure the derivatives of physical quantities in time or space. Because multi-loop interferometers require multiple reflections, imperfections of the matter-wave mirrors create spurious paths that scramble the signal of interest. Here we demonstrate a method of adjustable momentum transfer that prevents the recombination of the spurious paths in a double-loop atom interferometer aimed at measuring rotation rates. We experimentally study the recombination condition of the spurious matter waves, which is quantitatively supported by a model accounting for the coherence properties of the atomic source. We finally demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in building a cold-atom gyroscope with a single-shot acceleration sensitivity suppressed by a factor of at least 50. Our study will impact the design of multi-loop atom interferometers that measure a single inertial quantity.