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At least 613 records · Page 34

Symbolic pregression: Discovering physical laws from distorted video

In this work, we present a method for unsupervised learning of equations of motion for objects in raw and optionally distorted unlabeled synthetic video (or, more generally, for discovering and modeling predictable features in time-series data). We first train an autoencoder that maps each video frame into a low-dimensional latent space where the laws of motion are as simple as possible, by minimizing a combination of nonlinearity, acceleration, and prediction error. Differential equations describing the motion are then discovered using Pareto-optimal symbolic regression. We find that our pre-regression (“pregression”) step is able to rediscover Cartesian coordinates of unlabeled moving objects even when the video is distorted by a generalized lens. Using intuition from multidimensional knot theory, we find that the pregression step is facilitated by first adding extra latent space dimensions to avoid topological problems during training and then removing these extra dimensions via principal component analysis. An inertial frame is autodiscovered by minimizing the combined equation complexity for multiple experiments.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Accelerating particle-in-cell kinetic plasma simulations via reduced-order modeling of space-charge dynamics using dynamic mode decomposition

We present a data-driven reduced-order modeling of the space-charge dynamics for electromagnetic particle-in-cell (EMPIC) plasma simulations based on dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). The dynamics of the charged particles in kinetic plasma simulations such as EMPIC is manifested through the plasma current density defined along the edges of the spatial mesh. We showcase the efficacy of DMD in modeling the time evolution of current density through a low-dimensional feature space. Not only do such DMD based predictive reduced-order models help accelerate EMPIC simulations, they also have the potential to facilitate investigative analysis and control applications. Here, we demonstrate the proposed DMD-EMPIC scheme for reduced-order modeling of current density and speedup in EMPIC simulations involving electron beam under the influence of magnetic field, virtual cathode oscillations, and backward wave oscillator.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Spin-Canting-Induced Band Reconstruction in the Dirac Material Ca 1 – x Na x MnBi 2

The ternary A MnBi 2 ( A is alkaline as well as rare-earth atom) materials provide an arena for investigating the interplay between low-dimensional magnetism of the antiferromagnetic MnBi layers and the electronic states in the intercalated Bi layers, which harbor relativistic fermions. We report on a comprehensive study of the optical properties and magnetic torque response of Ca 1–x Na x MnBi 2 . Our findings give evidence for a spin canting occurring at T s ~50–100 K. Thus, with the support of first-principles calculations we establish a direct link between the spin canting and the reconstruction of the electronic band structure, having immediate implications for the spectral weight reshuffling in the optical response, signaling a partial gapping of the Fermi surface, and the dc transport properties below T s .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Real Space Imaging of Spin Stripe Domain Fluctuations in a Complex Oxide

Understanding the formation and dynamics of charge and spin-ordered states in low-dimensional transition metal oxide materials is crucial to understanding unconventional high-temperature superconductivity. La 2-x Sr x NiO 4+δ (LSNO) has attracted much attention due to its interesting spin dynamics. Recent x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy studies have revealed slow dynamics of the spin order (SO) stripes in LSNO. Here, we applied resonant soft x-ray ptychography to map the spatial distribution of the SO stripe domain inhomogeneity in real space. The reconstructed images show the SO domains are spatially anisotropic, in agreement with previous diffraction studies. For the SO stripe domains, it is found that the correlation lengths along different directions are strongly coupled in space. Surprisingly, fluctuations were observed in the real space amplitude signal, rather than the phase or position. Overall, we attribute the observed slow dynamics of the stripe domains in LSNO to thermal fluctuations of the SO domain boundaries.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism at an Oxide-Nitride Interface

Heterointerfaces have led to the discovery of novel electronic and magnetic states because of their strongly entangled electronic degrees of freedom. Single-phase chromium compounds always exhibit antiferromagnetism following the prediction of the Goodenough-Kanamori rules. So far, exchange coupling between chromium ions via heteroanions has not been explored and the associated quantum states are unknown. In this work, we report the successful epitaxial synthesis and characterization of chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 )-chromium nitride (CrN) superlattices. Room-temperature ferromagnetic spin ordering is achieved at the interfaces between these two antiferromagnets, and the magnitude of the effect decays with increasing layer thickness. First-principles calculations indicate that robust ferromagnetic spin interaction between Cr 3+ ions via anion-hybridization across the interface yields the lowest total energy. This work opens the door to fundamental understanding of the unexpected and exceptional properties of oxide-nitride interfaces and provides access to hidden phases at low-dimensional quantum heterostructures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Pervasive beyond Room-Temperature Ferromagnetism in a Doped van der Waals Magnet

The existence of long-range magnetic order in low-dimensional magnetic systems, such as the quasi-two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) magnets, has attracted intensive studies of new physical phenomena. The vdW Fe N GeTe 2 (N = 3, 4, 5; FGT) family is exceptional, owing to its vast tunability of magnetic properties. In particular, a ferromagnetic ordering temperature (T C ) above room temperature at N = 5 (F5GT) is observed. Here, our work shows that, by nickel (Ni) substitution of iron in F5GT, a record high T C =478(6) K is achieved. Importantly, pervasive, beyond room-temperature ferromagnetism exists in almost the entire doping range of the phase diagram of Ni-F5GT. We argue that this striking observation in Ni-F5GT can be possibly due to several contributing factors, including increased 3D magnetic couplings due to the structural alterations.

2-dimensional systems↗

Towards Quantum Computing Phase Diagrams of Gauge Theories with Thermal Pure Quantum States

The phase diagram of strong interactions in nature at finite temperature and chemical potential remains largely theoretically unexplored due to inadequacy of Monte-Carlo–based computational techniques in overcoming a sign problem. Quantum computing offers a sign-problem-free approach, but evaluating thermal expectation values is generally resource intensive on quantum computers. To facilitate thermodynamic studies of gauge theories, we propose a generalization of the thermal-pure-quantum-state formulation of statistical mechanics applied to constrained gauge-theory dynamics, and numerically demonstrate that the phase diagram of a simple low-dimensional gauge theory is robustly determined using this approach, including mapping a chiral phase transition in the model at finite temperature and chemical potential. Quantum algorithms, resource requirements, and algorithmic and hardware error analysis are further discussed to motivate future implementations. Thermal pure quantum states, therefore, may present a suitable candidate for efficient thermal simulations of gauge theories in the era of quantum computing.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Materials synthesis, neutron powder diffraction, and first-principles calculations of (Mo x Sc 1–x ) 2 AlC i–MAX phase used as parent material for MXene derivation

Research on low-dimensional materials has increased drastically in the last decade, with the discovery of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) produced by atom-selective chemical etching of laminated parent M n+1 AX n (MAX) phases. In this study, we apply density functional theory and subsequent materials synthesis and analysis to explore the phase stability and Mo/Sc intermixing on the M site in the chemically ordered quaternary i-MAX phase (Mo x Sc 1-x ) 2 AlC. Transmission electron microscopy confirms the theoretical predictions of preferential in-plane ordering of Mo and Sc, with the highest crystal quality obtained for the ideal Mo:Sc ratio of 2:1 (predicted as the most stable), as well as a retained i-MAX structure even for an increased relative Sc content, with Sc partially occupying Mo sites. The results are supported by refined neutron diffraction data, which show space group C2/c (no. 15), and a C occupancy of 1. Subsequent chemical etching produces MXene for x=0.66, while for x=0.33 and 0.5 no MXene is observed. These results demonstrate that a precise control of the i-MAX composition is crucial for derivation of MXene, with a MXene quality optimized for a Mo:Sc ratio of 2:1 with minimal intermixing between Mo and Sc.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Bright trion emission from semiconductor nanoplatelets

The trion, a quasiparticle comprising one exciton and an additional charge carrier, offers unique opportunities for generating spin-photon interfaces that can be used in developing quantum networks. Trions are also actively sought after for integrated optoelectronic devices including photovoltaics, photodetectors, and spintronics. However, formation of trions in strongly confined low-dimensional materials is often deemed detrimental. This is because trion emission in such materials is typically prohibited due to the predominant nonradiative Auger recombination processes. Semiconductor nanoplatelets with their strong confinement in the thickness direction and extended lateral geometries exhibit large exciton coherence sizes and reduced carrier-carrier interactions that may enable unprecedented trion properties. In this paper, we perform optical spectroscopic studies of individual CdSe nanoplatelets at cryogenic temperatures and observe bright trion emission with intensities comparable to that of neutral exciton emission. We perform carrier dynamics studies of the nanoplatelets and find that due to their extended lateral geometry, the fast radiative decay rate of the nanoplatelets at cryogenic temperatures is comparable to the inhibited Auger recombination rate, leading to the bright trion emission. Our tight-binding theory further reveals distinct size-tunable trion emission in the nanoplatelets that is advantageous for efficient trion emission. These properties make semiconductor nanoplatelets potential candidates as photon sources for optoelectronic and quantum logic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

First-principles characterization of the magnetic properties of Cu 2 (OH) 3 Br

Low-dimensional spin-1/2 transition metal oxides and oxyhalides continue to be at the forefront of research investigating nonclassical phases such as quantum spin liquids. In this work, we examine the magnetic properties of the oxyhalide Cu 2 (OH) 3 Br in the botallackite structure using first-principles density functional theory, linear spin-wave theory, and exact diagonalization calculations. This quasi-two-dimensional system consists of Cu 2+ S = 1/2 moments arranged on a distorted triangular lattice. Our exact diagonalization calculations, which rely on a first-principles-based magnetic model, generate spectral functions consistent with inelastic neutron scattering data. By performing computational experiments to disentangle the chemical and steric effects of the halide ions, we find that the dominant effect of the halogen ions is steric in the Cu 2 (OH) 3 X series of compounds.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

CrI 3 revisited with a many-body ab initio theoretical approach

CrI 3 has recently been shown to exhibit low-dimensional, long-range magnetic ordering from few layers to single layers of CrI 3 . The properties of CrI 3 bulk and few layered systems are uniquely defined by a combination of short-range intralayer and long-range interlayer interactions; including strong correlations, exchange and spin orbit coupling. Unfortunately, both the long-range van der Waals interactions, which are driven by dynamic, many-body electronic correlations and the competing strong intralayer correlations, present a formidable challenging for the local or semi local mean-field approximations employed in workhorse electronic structure approaches like density functional theory. In this work, we employ a sophisticated many-body approach that can simultaneously describe long- and short-range correlations. Herein, we establish that the fixed-node diffusion Monte Carlo (FNDMC) method reproduces the experimental interlayer separation distance of bulk CrI 3 for the high-temperature, monoclinic phase, with a reliable prediction of the interlayer binding energy. We subsequently employed, the FNDMC results to benchmark the accuracy of several density functional theory exchange-correlation approximations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Antiferro- and metamagnetism in the S = 7 / 2 hollandite analog Eu Ga 2 Sb 2

Recent work analyzing the impact of nonsymmorphic symmetries on electronic states has given rise to the discovery of multiple types of topological matter. Here we report the single-crystal synthesis and magnetic properties of Eu Ga 2 Sb 2 , a Eu-based antiferromagnet structurally consisting of pseudo-1D chains of Eu ions related by a nonsymmorphic glide plane. Here we find the onset of antiferromagnetic order at T N = 8K. Above T N the magnetic susceptibility is isotropic. Curie-Weiss analysis suggests competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions, with p eff = 8.1 μ B as expected for 4f 7 J = S = 7/2 Eu 2+ ions. Below T N and at low applied magnetic fields, an anisotropy develops linearly, reaching χ ⊥ /χ ∥ = 6 at T = 2K. There is concomitant metamagnetic behavior along χ ∥ , with a magnetic field of μ 0 H ≈ 0.5 T sufficient to suppress the anisotropy. Independent of crystal orientation, there is a continuous evolution to a field-polarized paramagnetic state with M = 7μ B /Eu 2+ at μ 0 H = 2 T as T → 0 K. Specific-heat measurements show a recovered magnetic entropy of ΔS mag ≈ 16.4 Jmol –1 K –1 from T ~ 0 K to T = T N , close to the expected value of R ln(8) for an S = 7/2 ion, indicating negligible low-dimensional spin fluctuations above T N . We find no evidence of unusual behaviors arising either from the dimensionality or the presence of the nonsymmorphic symmetries.

1-dimensional spin chains↗

Controlling selective nucleation and growth of dysprosium islands on graphene by metal intercalation

We report metal intercalation is an effective method to modify the physical and chemical properties of low-dimensional systems such as epitaxial graphene. Here, we show that the nucleation and growth of metal nanostructures on epitaxial graphene on SiC(0001) can be dramatically changed by metal intercalation. Using scanning tunneling microscopy experiments, we demonstrate that dysprosium (Dy) metal islands are selectively nucleated on the area with Dy intercalation under both graphene and carbon buffer layers, while the adjacent area with only buffer layer intercalated remains relatively bare. Using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, we show that adsorption of Dy adatom on the preferred nucleation area is energetically more favorable than on other areas. Moreover, changes in the electronic structure and the interlayer spacing upon Dy intercalation obtained from our calculations are also consistent with experimental observations. Our results indicate that metal intercalation is a promising way to manipulate the interaction between graphene and deposited adatoms.

2-dimensional systems↗

Fragmentation of faceted crystalline wires

The reduction of surface energy is a well-known driving force for the fragmentation of nanowires. Fragmentation can limit the service life of those small low-dimensional building blocks or can be controlled to induce beneficial shape changes. For isotropic surface energy, fragmentation is analogous to the classic Rayleigh-Plateau instability of liquid jets. However, commonly synthesized crystalline nanowires have strongly anisotropic surface energies and exhibit facets coinciding with cusps in the Wulff plot. Depending on growth orientation, different fragmentation behaviors have been seen in nanowires. Using phase-field simulations, we show that fragmentation of faceted nanowires with cubic crystal symmetry may occur by a finite-amplitude nonlinear instability, as opposed to a Rayleigh-Plateau-like linear instability, depending on nanowire growth orientation. Here, we carry out a weakly nonlinear analysis based on sharp interface theory to characterize the faceted nanowire shape corresponding to a surface-energy saddle point. The analysis predicts that the minimum amplitude of a periodic shape perturbation to trigger fragmentation increases with cusp strength but decreases inversely proportionally to the perturbation wavelength for long wavelengths, in good quantitative agreement with phase-field predictions. The results provide the theoretical foundation to predict nanowire stability as a function of length and surface energy in diverse applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Synthesis and physical properties of a new layered ferromagnet Cr 1.21 Te 2

Single crystals of a new layered compound, Cr 1.21 Te 2 , were synthesized via a vapor transport method. The crystal structure and physical properties were characterized by single crystal and powder x-ray diffraction, temperature- and field-dependent magnetization, zero-field heat capacity, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Cr 1.21 Te 2 , containing two Cr sites, crystalizes in a trigonal structure with a space group P-3 (No. 147). The Cr site in the interstitial layer is partially occupied. Physical property characterizations indicate that Cr 1.21 Te 2 is metallic with hole pockets at the Fermi energy and undergoes a ferromagnetic phase transition at ~ 173 K. The magnetic moments align along the c axis in the ferromagnetic state. Based on low-temperature magnetization, the spin stiffness constant, D, and spin excitation gap, Δ , were estimated according to Bloch's law to be D = 94 ± 17 meV Å 2 and Δ = 0.45 ± 0.33 meV, suggesting its possible application as a low dimensional ferromagnet.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

How to falsify string theory at a collider

The string landscape accommodates a broad range of possible effective field theories. This poses a challenge for extracting verifiable predictions as well as falsifiable signatures of string theory. Motivated by these considerations, in this work we observe that all known stringy standard models support only low-dimensional representations of the gauge group. While it is in principle possible to produce contrived models with higher-dimensional representations, these generically appear in a tower of states with lighter ones in lower-dimensional representations, i.e., not in isolation. With this in mind, we consider the phenomenologically well-motivated scenario given by adding a single Majorana field in a real, 𝑛-dimensional representation of 𝑆⁢𝑈⁢(2) 𝐿 with 𝑛≥5 and nothing else . This scenario is not realized in any known string construction, and we conjecture that this is true of string theory in general. Detection of this scenario would thus amount to falsifying the (known) string landscape. We recast existing LHC searches for new electroweak states to extract updated bounds on this class of scenarios. Improved limits from future colliders and dark matter detection experiments provide additional routes to potentially falsifying string theory.

extensions of fermion sector↗

Tensor network simulations of quasi-GPDs in the massive Schwinger model

Generalized parton distribution functions (GPDs) are off-diagonal light-cone matrix elements that encode the internal structure of hadrons in terms of quark and gluon degrees of freedom. In this work, we present the first nonperturbative study of quasi-GPDs in the massive Schwinger model, quantum electrodynamics in 1+1 dimensions (QED 2 ), within the Hamiltonian formulation of lattice field theory. Quasidistributions are spatial correlation functions of boosted states, which approach the relevant light-cone distributions in the luminal limit. Using tensor networks, we prepare the first excited state in the strongly coupled regime and boost it to close to the light-cone on lattices of up to 400 lattice sites. We compute both quasiparton distribution functions and, for the first time, quasi-GPDs, and study their convergence for increasingly boosted states. In addition, we perform analytic calculations of GPDs in the two-particle Fock-space approximation and in the Reggeized limit, providing qualitative benchmarks for the tensor network results. Our analysis establishes computational benchmarks for accessing partonic observables in low-dimensional gauge theories, offering a starting point for future extensions to higher dimensions, non-Abelian theories, and quantum simulations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Characterizing skyrmion flow phases with principal component analysis

Principal component analysis (PCA) is a powerful method that can identify patterns in large, complex data sets by constructing low-dimensional order parameters from higher-dimensional feature vectors. There are increasing efforts to use space-and-time-dependent PCA to detect transitions in nonequilibrium systems that are difficult to characterize with equilibrium methods. Here, we demonstrate that feature vectors incorporating the position and velocity information of driven skyrmions moving through random disorder permit PCA to resolve different types of disordered skyrmion motion as a function of driving force and the ratio of the Magnus force to the dissipation. Since the Magnus force creates gyroscopic motion and a finite Hall angle, skyrmions can exhibit a greater range of flow phases than what is observed in overdamped driven systems with quenched disorder. We show that in addition to identifying previously known skyrmion flow phases, PCA detects several additional phases, including different types of channel flow, moving fluids, and partially ordered states. Guided by the PCA analysis, we further characterize the disordered flow phases to elucidate the different microscopic dynamics and show that the changes in the PCA-derived order parameters can be connected to features in bulk transport measures, including the transverse and longitudinal velocity-force curves, differential conductivity, topological defect density, and changes in the skyrmion Hall angle as a function of drive. We discuss how asymmetric feature vectors can be used to improve the resolution of the PCA analysis, and how this technique can be extended to find disordered phases in other nonequilibrium systems with time-dependent dynamics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗