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At least 595 records · Page 33

Observation of Universal Quench Dynamics and Townes Soliton Formation from Modulational Instability in Two-Dimensional Bose Gases

We experimentally study universal nonequilibrium dynamics of two-dimensional atomic Bose gases quenched from repulsive to attractive interactions. Here, we observe the manifestation of modulational instability that, instead of causing collapse, fragments a large two-dimensional superfluid into multiple wave packets universally around a threshold atom number necessary for the formation of Townes solitons. We confirm that the density distributions of quench-induced solitary waves are in excellent agreement with the stationary Townes profiles. Furthermore, our density measurements in the space and time domain reveal detailed information about this dynamical process, from the hyperbolic growth of density waves, the formation of solitons, to the subsequent collision and collapse dynamics, demonstrating multiple universal behaviors in an attractive many-body system in association with the formation of a quasistationary state.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Two-Dimensional Superconducting Fluctuations Associated with Charge-Density-Wave Stripes in La 1.87 ⁢Sr 0.13 ⁢Cu 0.99 ⁢Fe 0.01 ⁢O 4

The presence of a small concentration of in-plane Fe dopants in La 1.87 Sr 0.13 Cu 0.99 Fe 0.01 O 4 is known to enhance stripelike spin and charge density wave (SDW and CDW) order and suppress the superconducting T c . Here, we show that it also induces highly two-dimensional superconducting correlations that have been argued to be the signatures of a new form of superconducting order, the so-called pair density wave (PDW) order. In addition, using resonant soft x-ray scattering, we find that the two-dimensional superconducting fluctuation is strongly associated with the CDW stripe. In particular, the PDW signature first appears when the correlation length of the CDW stripe grows over eight times the lattice unit (~8 a). In conclusion, these results provide critical conditions for the formation of the PDW order.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Three-Dimensional Topological Field Theories and Nonunitary Minimal Models

We find an intriguing relation between a class of three-dimensional nonunitary topological field theories (TFTs) and Virasoro minimal models M ( 2 , 2 r + 3 ) with r ≥ 1 . The TFTs are constructed by topologically twisting 3D N = 4 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) of rank-0, i.e., having zero-dimensional Coulomb and Higgs branches. We present ultraviolet (UV) field theory descriptions of the SCFTs with manifest N = 2 supersymmetry, which we argue is enhanced to N = 4 in the infrared. From the UV description, we compute various partition functions of the TFTs and reproduce some basic properties of the minimal models, such as their characters and modular matrices. We expect more general correspondence between topologically twisted 3d N = 4 rank-0 SCFTs and 2D nonunitary rational conformal field theories. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗

Thermal conductivity of the quasi-one-dimensional materials TaSe 3 and ZrTe 3

The high breakdown current densities and resilience to scaling of the metallic transition metal trichalcogenides TaSe 3 and ZrTe 3 make them of interest for possible interconnect applications, and it motivates this study of their thermal conductivities and phonon properties. These crystals consist of planes of strongly bonded one-dimensional chains more weakly bonded to neighboring chains. Phonon dispersions and the thermal conductivity tensors are calculated using density functional theory combined with an iterative solution of the phonon Boltzmann transport equation. The phonon velocities and the thermal conductivities of TaSe 3 are considerably more anisotropic than those of ZrTe 3 . The maximum LA velocity in ZrTe 3 occurs in the cross-chain direction, and this is consistent with the strong cross-chain bonding that gives rise to large Fermi velocities in that direction. The thermal conductivities are similar to those of other metallic two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides. At room temperature, a significant portion of the heat is carried by the optical modes. In the low frequency range, the phonon lifetimes and mean free paths in TaSe 3 are considerably shorter than those in ZrTe 3 . Here, we find that the shorter lifetimes in TaSe 3 are consistent with the presence of lower frequency optical branches and zone-folding features in the acoustic branches that arise due to the doubling of the TaSe 3 unit cell within the plane.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Opening band gaps of low-dimensional materials at the meta-GGA level of density functional approximations

The quasiparticle band structure can be properly described by Hedin's GW approximation (GW), at a high computational cost. For band gaps, semilocal density functionals up to the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) level cannot compete with the accuracy of hybrid-based approximations or GW. Meta-GGA density functionals with a strong dependence on the kinetic energy density ingredient can potentially give wider band gaps compared with GGAs. The recent TASK meta-GGA density functional from Aschebrock and Kümmel [ Phys. Rev. Research 1 , 033082 (2019) ], is constructed with an enhanced nonlocality in the generalized Kohn-Sham scheme and therefore harbors great opportunities for band gap prediction. Although this approximation was found to yield excellent band gaps of bulk solids, this accuracy cannot be straightforwardly transferred to low-dimensional materials. Additionally, the reduced screening of these materials results in larger band gaps compared with their bulk counterparts, as an additional barrier to overcome. In this paper we demonstrate how the alteration of this functional affects the band gaps of monolayers and nanoribbons and present accurate band gaps competing with the revised Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof (HSE06) approximation. In order to achieve this goal, we have modified the TASK functional (a) by changing the tight upper bound for one- or two-electron systems ( h X 0 ) from 1.174 to 1.29 and (b) by changing the limit of the interpolation function f X ( α → ∞ ) of the TASK functional that interpolates the exchange enhancement factor F X ( s , α ) from α = 0 to 1. The resulting modified TASK (mTASK) was tested for various materials from three dimensions to two dimensions to one dimension (nanoribbons) and was compared with the results of the higher-level hybrid functional HSE06 or with the G 0 W 0 approximation within many-body perturbation theory. We find that mTASK systematically improves the band gaps and band structures of two-dimensional (2D) and 1D systems, without significantly affecting the accuracy of the original TASK for the bulk 3D materials, when compared with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) GGA and the strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) meta-GGA. We further demonstrate the applicability of mTASK by assessing the band structures of transition metal dichalcogenide nanoribbons with respect to various bending curvatures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Stability and magnetic behavior of exfoliable nanowire one-dimensional materials

Low-dimensional materials can display enhanced electronic, magnetic, and quantum properties. Here we use the topological scaling algorithm to identify all sufficiently metastable materials in the Materials Project database to identify bulk crystals with one-dimensional (1D) structural motifs: Five hundred fifty-one crystals that are within 50 meV atom –1 of the thermodynamic hull display 1D motifs, where 293 of these contain d-valence elements, which we focus on in this work. After exfoliating nanowires from 263 of these materials and calculating their thermodynamic stability using density functional theory, 103 nanowires meet per-atom and per-Ångström thermodynamic stability criteria. We illustrate for three nanowire systems that a variety of local minima can be present in these systems, demonstrating one case of a Peierls distortion. The wires display a broad diversity of electronic and magnetic properties of these nanowires, with 14 metals, 7 half-metals, and 82 semiconductors and insulators, and 41 nanowires displaying magnetic moments ranging from 0.1 to 5μ B per d-valence species when assuming ferromagnetic order. A subset of these chains are investigated for the impact of magnetic ordering, identifying 1D FeCl 3 to be most stable in an antiferromagnetic state. The electronic and magnetic properties of the identified 1D materials could enable applications in spintronic and quantum devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Magnetic order in the two-dimensional metal-organic framework manganese pyrazinecarboxylate with Mn-Mn dimers

The magnetic properties of [Mn(pyrazinecarboxylate) 2 ] n , empirical formula C 10 H 6 MnN 4 O 4 , are investigated through susceptibility, heat capacity, and neutron scattering measurements. The structure consists of Mn-Mn dimers linked on a distorted 2D hexagonal structure. The weak out-of-plane interactions create a quasi-2D magnetic material within the larger three-dimensional metal-organic framework structure. Here, we show that this material undergoes a two-stage magnetic transition, related to the low dimensionality of the Mn lattice. First, at 5 K, which is assigned to the initial development of short-range order in the 2D layers. This is followed by long-range order at 3.3 K. Applied field measurements reveal the potential to induce magnetic transitions in moderately small fields of ~2 T. Neutron powder diffraction enabled the determination of a unique magnetic space group P2 1 '/c (No. 14.77) at 1.5 K. This magnetic structure consists of antiferromagnetically coupled Mn-Mn dimers with spins principally along the out-of-plane $a$ axis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effects of dimensionality on the electronic structure of Ruddlesden-Popper chromates Sr n+1 ⁢Cr n ⁢O 3⁢n+1

Transition-metal oxides host a wide variety of electronic phenomena that can be significantly influenced by the effective dimensionality of the system under consideration. These include charge, spin, and orbital orderings, as well as unconventional superconductivity. In this context, the Ruddlesden-Popper chromates Sr n+1 Cr n O 3n+1 emerge as a particularly intriguing series of materials. Formally, the chromium atom displays a rather special 4+ oxidation state throughout the entire series. However, the effective dimensionality changes from quasi-2D to 3D as n increases from 1 to ∞. As a result, the insulating antiferromagnetic behavior observed for n = 1, 2, 3 transforms into itinerant antiferromagnetism with reduced transition temperature for the n = ∞ end member of the series, i.e., the perovskite SrCrO 3 . Further, distinct orbital orderings with exotic singlet states have been predicted for these systems. However, the lack of single-crystal bulk or thin-film samples has made experimental progress difficult. Here we demonstrate the synthesis of thin films of the perovskite SrCrO 3 and the associated layered chromates via oxide molecular beam epitaxy for n = 1 to n = 5. Our electrical transport measurements reveal a gradual evolution from a strongly insulating state in Sr 2 CrO 4 to a metallic state in the end member SrCrO 3 . X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements demonstrate a varying hybridization strength of the Cr 4+ valence electrons across the series, helping to explain the trend in conduction. Finally, density functional theory calculations further confirm the observed transport trend and identify additional distortions present in the system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Three-dimensional theory of superradiant free-electron lasers

The solitonlike superradiant regime of free-electron lasers (FEL) offers a promising path towards ultrashort pulses, beyond the natural limit dictated by the bandwidth of the high-gain FEL instability. In this work we present a three-dimensional theory of the superradiant regime, including the effects of beam emittance and energy spread. Our work takes advantage of recent developments in nonlinear FEL theory to provide a fully analytical description of solitonlike superradiance. Our theory proves the existence of a diffraction-dominated steady-state regime in which the superradiant peak power grows indefinitely while leaving the pulse duration and on-axis intensity almost unchanged. These results are in excellent agreement with three-dimensional simulations and are supported by recent experimental results at the Linac Coherent Light Source. This work advances nonlinear FEL theory and provides a theoretical framework for the next generation of attosecond x-ray FELs. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Three-dimensional higher-order saddle-point-induced flatbands in Co-based kagome metals

The saddle point (Van Hove singularity) exhibits a divergent density of states in two-dimensional systems, leading to fascinating phenomena such as strong correlations and unconventional superconductivity, yet it is seldom observed in three-dimensional (3D) systems. In this work we find two types of 3D higher-order saddle points (HOSPs) in emerging 3D kagome metals YbCo 6⁢ Ge 6 and MgCo 6 ⁢Ge 6 . Both HOSPs exhibit a singularity in their density of states, which is significantly enhanced compared to the ordinary saddle point. The HOSP near the Fermi energy generates a flatband extending a large area in the Brillouin zone, potentially amplifying the correlation effect and fostering electronic instabilities. Two types of HOSPs exhibit distinct robustness upon element substitution and lattice distortions in these kagome compounds. Our work paves the way for engineering exotic band structures, such as saddle points and flatbands, and exploring interesting phenomena in Co-based kagome materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Phase and contrast moiré signatures in two-dimensional cone beam interferometry

Neutron interferometry has played a distinctive role in fundamental science and characterization of materials. Moiré neutron interferometers are candidate next-generation instruments: they offer microscopy-like magnification of the signal, enabling direct camera recording of interference patterns across the full neutron wavelength spectrum. Here we demonstrate the extension of phase-grating moiré interferometry to two-dimensional geometries. Our fork-dislocation phase gratings reveal phase singularities in the moiré pattern, and we explore orthogonal moiré patterns with two-dimensional phase gratings. Our measurements of phase topologies and gravitationally induced phase shifts are in good agreement with theory. These techniques can be implemented in existing neutron instruments to advance interferometric analyses of emerging materials and precision measurements of fundamental constants. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Sarenac, D. (ORCID:0000000185753367)↗

Cyclic phase transition of substrate-modulated two-dimensional dusty plasma driven by gyroscopic forces

Langevin dynamical simulations are performed to investigate the formation of clusters and voids of a two-dimensional periodic substrate (2DPS)-modulated two-dimensional dusty plasma (2DDP) driven by a gyroscopic force. It is discovered that, as the frequency of the gyroscopic force decreases gradually, the substrate-modulated 2DDP undergoes the cyclic transition between the ordered cluster and void phases. Between the observed ordered cluster and void phases, the studied 2DDP exhibits a more uniform arrangement of particles. The discovered cyclic transition is attributed to the symmetry of the time-averaged potential landscape induced by the 2DPS in the reference frame of the moving particle, as confirmed by superimposing the particle locations on the effective potential landscape under various conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Strongly Interacting, Two-Dimensional, Dipolar Spin Ensembles in (111)-Oriented Diamond

Systems of spins with strong dipolar interactions and controlled dimensionality enable new explorations in quantum sensing and simulation. In this work, we investigate the creation of strong dipolar interactions in a two-dimensional ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers generated via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on (111)-oriented diamond substrates. We find that diamond growth on the (111) plane yields high incorporation of spins, both nitrogen and NV centers, where the density of the latter is tunable via the miscut of the diamond substrate. Our process allows us to form dense, preferentially aligned, 2D NV ensembles with volume-normalized ac sensitivity down to η ac = 810 pT μ m 3 / 2 Hz − 1 / 2 . Furthermore, we show that (111) affords maximally positive dipolar interactions among a 2D NV ensemble, which is crucial for leveraging dipolar-driven entanglement schemes and exploring new interacting spin physics. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Hughes, Lillian B. (ORCID:0000000210201661)↗

Optical conductivity study of mixed-valent quasi-one-dimensional CeIr 3 ⁢B 2

Here, we present a combined theoretical and experimental study on the optical conductivity of CeIr 3 ⁢B 2 , where quasi-one-dimensional Ce chains form along the 𝑐 axis of the monoclinic crystal. Significant hybridization-induced features are observed along the Ce chains by broadband infrared spectroscopy, demonstrating mixed-valent behavior over a wide range of temperatures (6–300 K) and energies (up to 0.8 eV). The ferromagnetic transition at 41 K had no noticeable influence on the temperature evolution of the optical conductivity. A comparison with density functional theory plus dynamic mean-field theory calculations demonstrates the quasi-one-dimensional nature of CeIr 3 ⁢B 2 and the local character of the interactions responsible for the electronic renormalization. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the spectroscopic signatures of this mixed-valent compound are captured by theory, providing a clear distinction from the response expected in the integer-valent Kondo regime.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Site-decorated model for unconventional frustrated magnets: Ultranarrow phase crossover and two-dimensional spin reversal transition

Here, the site-decorated Ising model is introduced to advance the understanding and experimental realization of the recently discovered one-dimensional (1D) finite-temperature ultranarrow phase crossover in an external magnetic field, while mitigating the geometric complexities of traditional bond-decorated models. The unconventional frustration and physics are clarified by exactly mapping the 1D site-decorated Ising model in a magnetic field onto a zero-field bond-decorated 𝐽 1 −𝐽 2 Ising model with conventional geometrical frustration. Furthermore, although higher-dimensional Ising models in an external field remain unsolved exactly, an exact solution for a spin-reversal transition—driven by an exotic, hidden half-ice, half-fire state induced by site decoration—is derived. This transition, triggered by a slight variation in temperature or magnetic field—without changing its direction—even in the weak-field limit, offers a promising route toward energy-efficient applications such as data storage and processing. The results suggest that site decoration offers an avenue for materials and device design, particularly in systems such as mixed 𝑑−𝑓 compounds, optical lattices, and neural networks, calling for further studies with site-decorated Heisenberg models. In addition, the site-decorated model offers a rigorous test ground for artificial intelligence (AI) in science, as the analytic derivation of the present results was not only validated but also improved by a general-purpose large language model, inspiring the use of AI as scientific discoverer.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Breaking the curse of dimensionality: Solving configurational integrals for crystalline solids by tensor networks

Accurately evaluating configurational integrals for dense solids remains a central and difficult challenge in the statistical mechanics of condensed systems. Here, we present a tensor network approach that reformulates the high-dimensional configurational integral for identical-particle crystals into a sequence of computationally efficient summations. We represent the integrand as a high-dimensional tensor and apply tensor-train (TT) decomposition together with a custom TT-cross interpolation. This approach circumvents the need to explicitly construct the full tensor. We introduce tailored rank-1 and rank-2 schemes optimized for sharply peaked Boltzmann probability densities, typical for identical-particle crystals. When applied to the calculation of internal energy and pressure-temperature curves for crystalline Cu and Ar at high (GPa) pressures, as well as the alpha-to-beta phase transition diagram of Sn, our method accurately reproduces molecular dynamics simulation results using tight-binding, machine learning, hierarchical interacting particle–neural network, and modified embedded atom method potentials,all within seconds of computation time.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Determination of hard X-ray polarization from two-dimensional images

In this work, an estimate of synchrotron hard X-ray incident beam polarization is obtained by partial two-dimensional image masking followed by integration. With the correct polarization applied to each pixel in the image, the resulting one-dimensional pattern shows no discontinuities arising from the application of the mask. Minimization of the difference between the sums of the masked and unmasked powder patterns allows estimation of the polarization to ±0.001.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Combined Dimensional and Topology Optimization of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine Rotors Using a Permanent Magnet Function Interpolation Method

This paper presents a magneto-structural combined dimensional and topology optimization technique for interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (IPMSM) rotors. Dimensional changes to the permanent magnet (PM) location or size are accomplished by interpolating or projecting a smoothed Heaviside rectangular function representing the presence of PM material onto the IPMSM rotor design domain mesh. A density based Solid Isotropic with Material Penalization (SIMP) topology optimization approach is then used to vary the presence of electrical steel in mesh elements to form flux barriers around the PM. The proposed method enforces a defined shape for the PM without requiring the mesh in the design domain to be deformed. Three examples are presented to demonstrate the technique: two flat bar IPMSM and one V-shaped IPMSM.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗