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

Abstract: In this work, we study the thermalization between two bodies separated by a vacuum gap by coupling the non-Fourier behavior of the materials with the radiative heat transfer in the near-field. Unlike the diffusion-type temperature profile, in non-Fourier materials, the temperature behaves as a wave, changing the thermalization process. Due to the temperature profile induced by the coupling with conduction, we show that the radiative heat flux exchanged between the two bodies differs from the Fourier case, and exhibits transient temperature effects at the onset of the thermalization process. These results have important implications in nanoscale thermal management, near-field solid-state cooling, and nanoscale energy conversion.

Abstract: We study the quantum valley Hall effect and related domain wall modes in twisted bilayer graphene at a large commensurate angle. Due to the quantum valley and sub-valley Hall effect, a small deviation from the commensurate angle generates two-dimensional conducting network patterns composed of one-dimensional domain wall conducting channels, which can induce non-Fermi liquid transport behavior within an accessible temperature range. The domain wall modes can be manipulated by using the layer shifting and external electric fields which, in turn, leads to the sub-valley Haldane and Semenoff masses on the domain wall modes. The large-angle twisted bilayer graphene and related materials can be a new setup to harness the quantum valley and sub-valley Hall effect with enhanced tunability.

Abstract: We have discovered a new phenomenon that inductance oscillates as a function of the angle between an in-plane magnetic field and an electric current direction in permalloy films, which we have named "the anisotropic magneto-inductance (AML) effect". We have investigated the dependences of the AML effect on the size and voltage. The length, frequency, and amplitude dependences suggest that the AML effect should be evaluated in terms of "inductivity". Inductors based on this AML effect have the potential to be variable, on-chip, and one billion times smaller than the small commercial inductor.

Abstract: Stochastic p-Bit devices play a pivotal role in solving NP-hard problems, neural network computing, and hardware accelerators for algorithms such as the simulated annealing. In this work, we focus on Stochastic p-Bits based on high-barrier magnetic tunnel junctions (HB-MTJs) with identical stack structure and cell geometry, but employing different spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching schemes. We conducted a comparative study of their switching probability as a function of pulse amplitude and width of the applied voltage. Through experimental and theoretical investigations, we have observed that the Y-type SOT-MTJs exhibit the gentlest dependence of the switching probability on the external voltage. This characteristic indicates superior tunability in randomness and enhanced robustness against external disturbances when Y-type SOT-MTJs are employed as stochastic p-Bits. Furthermore, the random numbers generated by these Y-type SOT-MTJs, following XOR pretreatment, have successfully passed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP800-22 test. This comprehensive study demonstrates the high performance and immense potential of Y-type SOT-MTJs for the implementation of stochastic p-Bits.

Abstract: Studies of mesoscopic structures have now become a leading and rapidly evolving research field ranging from physics, chemistry, and mineralogy to life sciences. The increasing miniaturization of devices with length scales of a few nanometers is leading to radical changes not only in the realization of new materials but also in shedding light on our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature that govern the dynamics of systems at the mesoscopic scale. On the basis of recent experimental results and previous theoretical research, we investigate thermodynamic processes in small systems in Onsager's region. We show that fundamental quantities such as the total entropy production, the thermodynamic variables conjugate to the thermodynamic fluxes, and the Glansdorff-Prigogine's dissipative variable may be quantized at the mesoscopic scale. We establish the canonical commutation rules (ccr) valid at the mesoscopic scale. The numerical value of the quantization constant is estimated experimentally.

Abstract: Interferometry is a vital tool for studying fundamental features in the quantum Hall effect (QHE). For instance, Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interference in a quantum Hall interferometer can probe the wave-particle duality of electrons and quasiparticles. Here, we report an unusual AB interference in a quantum Hall Fabry-P\'erot interferometer (FPI), whose Coulomb interactions were suppressed with a grounded drain in the interior bulk of the FPI. In a descending filling factor from $\nu =3$ to $\nu\approx5/3$, the magnetic field periodicity, which corresponded to a single 'flux quantum,' agreed accurately with the enclosed area of the FPI. However, in the filling range, $\nu\approx5/3$ to ${\nu}=1$, the field periodicity increased markedly, apriori suggesting a drastic shrinkage of the AB area. Moreover, the modulation gate voltage periodicity decreased abruptly at this range. We attribute these unexpected observations to a ubiquitous edge reconstruction, leading to dynamical area changing with the field and a modified modulation gate-edge capacitance. These results are reproducible and support future interference experiments with a QHE-FPI.

Abstract: In two-dimensional antiferromagnets, we identify the mixed Berry curvature as the geometrical origin of the nonreciprocal directional dichroism (NDD), which refers to the difference in light absorption with the propagation direction flipped. Such a Berry curvature is strongly tied to the uniaxial strain in accordance with the symmetry constraint, leading to a highly tunable NDD, whose sign and magnitude can be manipulated via the strain direction. As a concrete example, we demonstrate such a phenomenon in a lattice model of MnBi2Te4. The coupling between the mixed Berry curvature and strain also suggests the magnetic quadrupole of the Bloch wave packet as the macroscopic order parameter probed by the NDD in two dimensions, distinct from the multiferroic order P times M or the spin toroidal and quadrupole order within a unit cell in previous studies. Our work paves the way of the Berry-curvature engineering for optical nonreciprocity in two-dimensional antiferromagnets.