Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)

Abstract: With their non-Abelian topological charges, real multi-bandgap systems challenge the conventional topological phase classifications. As the minimal sector of multi-bandgap systems, real triple degeneracies (RTPs), which serves as real "Weyl points", lay the foundation for the research on real topological phases. However, experimental observation of RTP and physical systems with global band configuration consisting of multiple RTPs in crystals has not been reported. In this study, we employ Euler number to characterize RTPs, establish their connection with both Abelian and non-Abelian charges, and provide experimental evidence for the existence of RTPs in photonic meta-crystals. By considering RTPs as the basic elements, we further propose the concept of a topological compound, akin to a chemical compound, where we find that certain phases are not topologically allowed. The topological classification of RTPs in crystals demonstrated in our work plays a similar role as the "no-go" theorem in the Weyl system.

Abstract: The three-dimensional magneto-conductivity tensor was derived in a gauge invariant form based on the Kubo formula considering the quantum effect under a magnetic field, such as the Landau quantization and the quantum oscillations. We analytically demonstrated that the quantum formula of the magneto-conductivity can be obtained by adding a quantum oscillation factor to the classical formula. This result establishes the quantum--classical correspondence, which has long been missing in magnetotransport phenomena. Moreover, we found dissipative-to-dissipationless crossover in the Hall conductivity by paying special attention to the analytic properties of thermal Green's function. Finally, by calculating the magnetoresistance of semimetals, we identified a phase shift in quantum oscillation originating from the dissipationless transport predominant at high fields.

Abstract: We simulated the radiative response of the cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) inductively coupled to the ring pierced by magnetic flux, and analyzed its spectral dependence to get insight into persistent current dynamics. Current fluctuations in the ring induce changes in the microwave resonator: shifting the resonant frequency and changing its damping. We use the linear response theory and calculate the current response function by means of the Green function technique. Our model contains two quantum dots which divide the ring into two arms with different electron transfers. There are two opposite (symmetric and asymmetric) components of the persistent current, which interplay can be observed in the response functions. The resonator reflectance shows characteristic shifts in the dispersive regime and avoided crossings at the resonance points. The magnitude of the resonator frequency shift is greater for coupling to the arm with higher transparency. Fluctuations of the symmetric component of the persistent current are relevant for a wide range of the Aharovov-Bohm phase $\phi$, while the asymmetric component becomes dominant close to $\phi\approx \pi$ (when the total persistent current changes its orientation)

Abstract: Nanographene triangulenes with a S = 1 ground state have been used as building blocks of antiferromagnetic Haldane spin chains realizing a symmetry protected topological phase. By means of inelastic electron spectroscopy, it was found that the intermolecular exchange contains both linear and non-linear interactions, realizing the bilinear-biquadratic Hamiltonian. Starting from a Hubbard model, and mapping it to an interacting Creutz ladder, we analytically derive these effective spin-interactions using perturbation theory, up to fourth order. We find that for chains with more than two units other interactions arise, with same order-of-magnitude strength, that entail second neighbor linear, and three-site non-linear exchange. Our analytical expressions compare well with experimental and numerical results. We discuss the extension to general S = 1 molecules, and give numerical results for the strength of the non-linear exchange for several nanographenes. Our results pave the way towards rational design of spin Hamiltonians for nanographene based spin chains.

Abstract: Magnetic imaging using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) spins in diamonds is a powerful technique for acquiring quantitative information about sub-micron scale magnetic order. A major challenge for its application in the research on two-dimensional (2D) magnets is the positioning of the NV centers at a well-defined, nanoscale distance to the target material required for detecting the small magnetic fields generated by magnetic monolayers. Here, we develop a diamond 'dry-transfer' technique, akin to the state-of-the-art 2D-materials assembly methods, and use it to place a diamond micro-membrane in direct contact with the 2D interlayer antiferromagnet CrSBr. We harness the resulting NV-sample proximity to spatially resolve the magnetic stray fields generated by the CrSBr, present only where the CrSBr thickness changes by an odd number of layers. From the magnetic stray field of a single uncompensated ferromagnetic layer in the CrSBr, we extract a monolayer magnetization of $M_\mathrm{CSB}$ = 0.46(2) T, without the need for exfoliation of monolayer crystals or applying large external magnetic fields. The ability to deterministically place NV-ensemble sensors into contact with target materials and detect ferromagnetic monolayer magnetizations paves the way for quantitative analysis of a wide range of 2D magnets assembled on arbitrary target substrates.

Abstract: Recent experiments have confirmed the presence of interlayer excitons in the ground state of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) bilayers. The interlayer excitons are expected to show remarkable transport properties when they undergo Bose condensation. In this work, we demonstrate that quantum geometry of Bloch wavefunctions plays an important role in the phase stiffness of the Interlayer Exciton Condensate (IEC). Notably, we identify a geometric contribution that amplifies the stiffness, leading to the formation of a robust condensate with an increased BKT temperature. Our results have direct implications for the ongoing experimental efforts on interlayer excitons in materials that have non-trivial geometry. We provide quantitative estimates for the geometric contribution in TMD bilayers through a realistic continuum model with gated Coulomb interaction, and find that the substantially increased stiffness allows for an IEC to be realized at amenable experimental conditions.

Abstract: For decades, mechanical resonators with high sensitivity have been realized using thin-film materials under high tensile loads. Although there have been remarkable strides in achieving low-dissipation mechanical sensors by utilizing high tensile stress, the performance of even the best strategy is limited by the tensile fracture strength of the resonator materials. In this study, a wafer-scale amorphous thin film is uncovered, which has the highest ultimate tensile strength ever measured for a nanostructured amorphous material. This silicon carbide (SiC) material exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of over 10 GPa, reaching the regime reserved for strong crystalline materials and approaching levels experimentally shown in graphene nanoribbons. Amorphous SiC strings with high aspect ratios are fabricated, with mechanical modes exceeding quality factors 10^8 at room temperature, the highest value achieved among SiC resonators. These performances are demonstrated faithfully after characterizing the mechanical properties of the thin film using the resonance behaviors of free-standing resonators. This robust thin-film material has significant potential for applications in nanomechanical sensors, solar cells, biological applications, space exploration and other areas requiring strength and stability in dynamic environments. The findings of this study open up new possibilities for the use of amorphous thin-film materials in high-performance applications.