Showing 1–50 of 341 results for author: Meng, Y

Signatures of a light-induced exciton condensate exhibiting BEC-BCS crossover

Authors: Khanh Duy Nguyen, Gabriele Berruto, Yunhe Bai, Thomas Marchese, Woojoo Lee, Haoran Lin, Jiangang Yang, Chong Liu, Y. Shirley Meng, Shuolong Yang

Abstract: Exciton condensates provide a platform to study quasiparticle pairing, Bose-Einstein condensation-Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BEC-BCS) crossover, and excitonic topological phenomena. Achieving a nonequilibrium exciton condensate allows the ultimate tunability of these emergent phenomena. Yet, evidence of a light-induced, nonequilibrium exciton condensate and its BEC-BCS crossover remains elusive. H… ▽ More Exciton condensates provide a platform to study quasiparticle pairing, Bose-Einstein condensation-Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BEC-BCS) crossover, and excitonic topological phenomena. Achieving a nonequilibrium exciton condensate allows the ultimate tunability of these emergent phenomena. Yet, evidence of a light-induced, nonequilibrium exciton condensate and its BEC-BCS crossover remains elusive. Here, we use time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to demonstrate signatures of a non-equilibrium exciton condensate and its BEC-BCS crossover in monolayer MnBi2Te4. Following optical excitation, a distinctive hole-like dispersion representing excitons emerges and persists for >20 ps. Strikingly, energy-domain sharpening in the valence band occurs 2 ps after time zero and exhibits a sharp onset at a threshold pump fluence of 0.84 mJ/cm2. The delayed and strongly nonlinear response is difficult to reconcile with transient field effects or conventional carrier-induced band shifts but is consistent with a model of exciton condensation governed by a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. The estimated threshold exciton density agrees quantitatively with the Nelson-Kosterlitz critical density. At higher fluences, the exciton feature develops a camel-back-shaped dispersion, consistent with the BEC-BCS crossover in the condensate framework. Our work establishes ultrathin MnBi2Te4 as a model system for studying nonequilibrium exciton condensates with a connection to superconductivity and exciton-driven topological phases. △ Less

Submitted 20 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Comments: 25 pages, 5 figures

Many-Anyon Braiding in Non-Abelian Fractional Quantum Hall Effect with Hybrid Monte Carlo Simulation

Authors: Ting-Tung Wang, Ha Quang Trung, Qianhui Xu, Min Long, Bo Yang, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We employ the hybrid Monte Carlo method to efficiently compute the many-anyon non-Abelian braiding matrices associated with different braiding schemes of the Moore-Read quasiholes. A novel proposal in this work is that anyon braiding schemes based on a global rotation are robust against finite-size effects, as demonstrated by benchmarking their errors in the braiding matrix against those of a simp… ▽ More We employ the hybrid Monte Carlo method to efficiently compute the many-anyon non-Abelian braiding matrices associated with different braiding schemes of the Moore-Read quasiholes. A novel proposal in this work is that anyon braiding schemes based on a global rotation are robust against finite-size effects, as demonstrated by benchmarking their errors in the braiding matrix against those of a simple two-anyon exchange. Moreover, we investigate how electron-electron interactions and local electrostatic trapping potentials influence the energetic preference of different fusion channels. Their effect on the non-Abelian braiding matrices has been verified, a surprising phenomenon that demonstrates long-range entanglement of non-Abelian states. Our results are relevant to the experimental realization of non-Abelian physics in fractional quantum Hall and other analogous systems, including the fast-growing field of fractional quantum anomalous Hall states in moiré materials. △ Less

Submitted 18 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Comments: 8+10 pages, 3+1 figures

Higher-Order Topological States with Cleavage-Dependent Dirac Mass

Authors: Hongyu Chen, Min Long, Chuang Chen, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Topological quantum chemistry based on local charge profiles lacks predictive power for the crystalline cleavage of higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs). By cleaving an obstructed atomic insulator, we discover a topological phase characterized by e/2 fractional charges localized at precisely half of the corners, while the remaining empty corners host complementary vacancies of interstice ch… ▽ More Topological quantum chemistry based on local charge profiles lacks predictive power for the crystalline cleavage of higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs). By cleaving an obstructed atomic insulator, we discover a topological phase characterized by e/2 fractional charges localized at precisely half of the corners, while the remaining empty corners host complementary vacancies of interstice charge. These zero-energy charge-vacancies and topological corners form a spatially balanced geometry, confined separately by C2 rotation symmetry. Crucially, we demonstrate that the emergence of corner zero modes dictates that specific dangling bonds-acting as the mass of a Dirac fermion-must explicitly expose in, and subtly slope toward, the corner regions. This strict directionality is verified by the anisotropic evolution of the mass term within a (2+1)-dimensional parameter space. Moreover, we find that the topological corners acquire lower entanglement entropy compared to the bulk, a behavior opposite to that of the real-space energy distribution. △ Less

Submitted 16 August, 2026; v1 submitted 11 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Self-induced crystalline fluctuation spin-glass state in Mn7C3 binary compounds

Authors: Zekun Yu, Chao Zhou, Kuo Bao, Xiaofeng Wang, Zhaoqing Wang, Jinming Zhu, Enxuan Li, Andong Yao, Yuhan Meng, Yufei Ge, Xingbin Zhao, Shuailing Ma, Pinwen Zhu, Qiang Tao, Tian Cui

Abstract: Crystalline spin glasses are attractive compounds owing to their unique nature and applications. Here, we synthesised a bulk Pnma-type Mn7C3 spin glass by a high-temperature, high-pressure method. Experimental characterisation including X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrated that the compound has a triangular Ising-model-based structure, high freezing temperature o… ▽ More Crystalline spin glasses are attractive compounds owing to their unique nature and applications. Here, we synthesised a bulk Pnma-type Mn7C3 spin glass by a high-temperature, high-pressure method. Experimental characterisation including X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrated that the compound has a triangular Ising-model-based structure, high freezing temperature of 37.4 K, and novel competition mechanism. Theoretical calculations and simulations revealed that the triangular Mn units are spontaneously frustrated and bridge neighbouring Mn units via polarised C atoms and messenger Mn atoms. Triangular C units each share one electron within a three-pronged electron cloud. This electron is the direct cause of frustration and competition in Mn7C3. The competition within the triangular Mn units suggests that the possible magnetic configurations are highly degenerate and that the Mn7C3 spin glass has high robustness. This work introduces a new family of spin glasses with ordered microgeometries that drive electronic structure disorder, and an application-friendly spin-glass material for use in fields like high-efficiency hardware and algorithm design in artificial intelligence. △ Less

Submitted 9 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Comments: 16 pages, 4 figures, 3 supplementary figures, 2 supplementary tables

Layer-Hybridized Wigner Crystals in MoSe2/WS2 Moiré Superlattice

Authors: Tianyi Ouyang, Yuze Meng, Li Yan, Yuxuan Chen, Shuai Zhang, Xinyue Chen, Melike Erdi, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, Seth Ariel Tongay, Benjamin Hunt, Ming Xie, Yong-Tao Cui, Su-Fei Shi

Abstract: Transition metal dichalcogenide moiré heterobilayers with type-II band alignment provide a versatile platform for layer-polarized generalized Wigner crystals, in which strong Coulomb interactions drive charge ordering at fractional lattice fillings. With a finite interlayer band offset, an out-of-plane electric field can tune layer-resolved moiré bands through resonance and enable controllable int… ▽ More Transition metal dichalcogenide moiré heterobilayers with type-II band alignment provide a versatile platform for layer-polarized generalized Wigner crystals, in which strong Coulomb interactions drive charge ordering at fractional lattice fillings. With a finite interlayer band offset, an out-of-plane electric field can tune layer-resolved moiré bands through resonance and enable controllable interlayer hybridization. Although hybridized Mott insulators have been previously demonstrated, whether fractional charge-ordered states can survive such hybridization remains elusive. Here we drive an H-stacked MoSe2/WS2 moiré heterobilayer through a type-I-to-type-II band-alignment transition and realize layer-hybridized Mott insulator and generalized Wigner crystals. For fillings below one electron per moiré cell, tunneling delocalizes electrons and modifies Wigner crystallization. However, above one electron per cell, Coulomb repulsion overcomes tunneling and favors layer-separated occupation, stabilizing stronger charge-ordered states. These results establish electrically tunable hybridized moiré heterobilayers as a powerful platform for engineering correlated charge order and exploring fractional Chern phases and emergent magnetism. △ Less

Submitted 2 August, 2026; originally announced August 2026.

Trion Excitations in Twisted Bilayer Graphene: A Quantum Monte Carlo Study

Authors: Shibo Shan, Cheng Huang, Patrick Ledwith, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Determining the nature of charge carriers is a fundamental goal in the study of strongly correlated electron systems. Here, we employ the continuous-field momentum-space quantum Monte Carlo method to reveal exotic "Dirac trion" excitations in the finite-temperature normal state of twisted bilayer graphene. While the ground state is a symmetry-breaking insulator with gapped ($\sim$ 20 meV) electron… ▽ More Determining the nature of charge carriers is a fundamental goal in the study of strongly correlated electron systems. Here, we employ the continuous-field momentum-space quantum Monte Carlo method to reveal exotic "Dirac trion" excitations in the finite-temperature normal state of twisted bilayer graphene. While the ground state is a symmetry-breaking insulator with gapped ($\sim$ 20 meV) electron-like excitations, we show that a small temperature ($\sim$ 3 meV), well below the interaction scale, drives the system into a strongly fluctuating symmetric normal state. We demonstrate that this normal state hosts gapless excitations consisting of three-particle bound states, two electrons and one hole, that are exactly orthogonal to the higher-energy electrons at the zero-momentum gapless point. These Dirac trions have the remarkable property of being arbitrarily light despite being composed of heavy constituents, and their spectra can be easily tuned by varying the twist angle and interlayer hopping strength. Our unbiased quantum many-body computation sheds light on the Dirac trions in a projected correlated flat-band setting and opens the door for further investigation of many-body excitations in strongly correlated topological bands beyond Landau levels. △ Less

Submitted 30 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Comments: 8 pages, 4 figures in the main text, 5 pages, 1 figure in the Supplemental Material

Chiral Graviton Modes in Non-Abelian lattice Fractional Quantum Hall states

Authors: Zeno Bacciconi, Min Long, Hernan Xavier, Hongyu Lu, Marcello Dalmonte, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Synthetic quantum matter provides a highly tunable route to fractional quantum Hall physics beyond the constraints of conventional electronic materials. However, previous theoretical studies have mostly focused on their ground state properties. It remains unclear to what extent such platforms could reveal key excitation properties of fractional quantum Hall states. Here, we study charge-neutral co… ▽ More Synthetic quantum matter provides a highly tunable route to fractional quantum Hall physics beyond the constraints of conventional electronic materials. However, previous theoretical studies have mostly focused on their ground state properties. It remains unclear to what extent such platforms could reveal key excitation properties of fractional quantum Hall states. Here, we study charge-neutral collective excitations in a non-abelian lattice fractional quantum Hall state realized in the bosonic Harper-Hofstadter model at unity filling factior, realizing a Moore-Read ground state. Combining full exact diagonalization, band-projected exact diagonalization, and matrix-product-state simulations, we demonstrate the existence of a long-lived chiral graviton mode, probed by chiral 3-body correlators, for the first time on lattice non-Abelian states. The graviton signal is topological sector-independent and could be observed via geometric quenches in small open droplets directly relevant to current cold-atom experiments, while other neutral modes, such as the magnetoroton and neutral fermion, are less resolved at presently achievable volumes. △ Less

Submitted 7 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Comments: 8+7 pages, 3+11 figures in main+supplementary material. Comments are welcome

Deconfined criticality between an antiferromagnetic insulator and a nodal d-wave superconductor: a quantum Monte Carlo study

Authors: Chuang Chen, Subir Sachdev, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We present a quantum Monte Carlo study of the transition between the insulating Néel state and the nodal $d$-wave superconductor on the square lattice at half-filling. We access a regime of frustrated magnetic order without a sign problem using a parton representation of the electron in terms of fermionic spinons and bosonic chargons. Both partons move in a background $π$-flux (so the electron exp… ▽ More We present a quantum Monte Carlo study of the transition between the insulating Néel state and the nodal $d$-wave superconductor on the square lattice at half-filling. We access a regime of frustrated magnetic order without a sign problem using a parton representation of the electron in terms of fermionic spinons and bosonic chargons. Both partons move in a background $π$-flux (so the electron experiences no net flux) and are coupled to a quantum fluctuating SU(2) lattice gauge field. In contrast to earlier studies directly on the electronic degrees of freedom, we find evidence for a second-order deconfined quantum phase transition at which both the Néel and $d$-wave superconductivity orders vanish continuously. We compute correlators of the spinon-chargon composite with the same quantum numbers as the electron: we find a gapless Dirac dispersion inside the $d$-wave superconductor, turning into a gapped dispersion in the antiferromagnet. △ Less

Submitted 6 August, 2026; v1 submitted 1 July, 2026; originally announced July 2026.

Comments: 16 pages, 7 figures

Superconductivity in the pressure-amorphized topological insulator CrP$_4$

Authors: Chutong Zhang, Xiangzhuo Xing, Na Zuo, Bowen Zheng, Bin Li, Jiajia Feng, Xiaolei Yi, Yan Meng, Xiaoran Zhang, Bingchao Yang, Chao Wang, Xin Chen, Yongsheng Zhang, Xiaofeng Xu, Xiaobing Liu

Abstract: The interplay among superconductivity, magnetism, and nontrivial band topology represents one of the most compelling frontiers in condensed matter physics. The exploration of novel superconductivity in 3d transition-metal compounds, particularly the rare Cr-based systems containing strongly magnetic Cr ions, has long attracted attention owing to their unconventional pairing mechanisms that challen… ▽ More The interplay among superconductivity, magnetism, and nontrivial band topology represents one of the most compelling frontiers in condensed matter physics. The exploration of novel superconductivity in 3d transition-metal compounds, particularly the rare Cr-based systems containing strongly magnetic Cr ions, has long attracted attention owing to their unconventional pairing mechanisms that challenge conventional wisdom. Yet, Cr-based superconductors remain scarce, especially those possessing nontrivial topological character, underscoring the urgent need to uncover new members. Here we report the observation of superconductivity in pressure-amorphized Cr-based topological insulator CrP$_4$. Upon compression, CrP$_4$ undergoes an anomalous quantum phase transition from a metallic to a semiconducting-like state at around 15 GPa, driven by significant changes in the electronic structure. At approximately 70 GPa, re-metallization with superconductivity occurs alongside an irreversible amorphization. The superconducting transition temperature Tc increases monotonically with pressure, reaching 4.8 K at 141.3 GPa. Furthermore, theoretical calculations predict multiple topological phase transitions from a strong topological insulator to a trivial state and finally back to a strong topological state under pressure. Our study not only establishes CrP$_4$ as the first Cr-based amorphous superconductor but also opens a new paradigm for exploring superconducting and topological properties in amorphous materials. △ Less

Submitted 10 June, 2026; originally announced June 2026.

Comments: 19 pages,6 figures, Physical Review B 113,224516(2026)

Journal ref: Physical Review B 113,224516(2026)

Strain-Induced Tuning of Third-Harmonic Generation in Monolayer Black Phosphorene

Authors: Yan Meng, Kainan Chang, Wei Song, Yuwei Shan, Jin Luo Cheng, Luxia Wang

Abstract: Based on the tight-binding model and the semiconductor Bloch equations, this work systematically reveals the microscopic mechanism of strain engineering in turning of third-harmonic generation (THG) in monolayer black phosphorene (BP). % The results show that under strain-free conditions, monolayer BP exhibits significant in-plane anisotropy, and its dominant susceptibility component reaches a max… ▽ More Based on the tight-binding model and the semiconductor Bloch equations, this work systematically reveals the microscopic mechanism of strain engineering in turning of third-harmonic generation (THG) in monolayer black phosphorene (BP). % The results show that under strain-free conditions, monolayer BP exhibits significant in-plane anisotropy, and its dominant susceptibility component reaches a maximum of $χ^{(3);xxxx} = 1.8 \times 10^{-17} \, \text{m}^2/\text{V}^2$, agreeing well with the experimental results. % By applying uniaxial and biaxial strains along the armchair ($x$), zigzag ($y$), and out-of-plane ($z$) directions, we find that the THG response presents strong direction dependence and unique spectral shifting behaviors: in-plane compressive strain and out-of-plane tensile strain both significantly enhance the THG conductivity and induce a redshift, whereas in-plane tensile strain and out-of-plane compression lead to suppression and a blueshift, with the tuning efficiency following the order of $z > y > x$. The microscopic origin of these phenomena is identified as the synergistic modulation of the bandgap and Berry connection by strain. % Furthermore, the synergistic or competitive effects of biaxial strain further enrich the manipulation of THG signals. % Strain engineering can serve as an effective strategy for dynamically controlling nonlinear optical processes in two-dimensional materials, and it also lays a theoretical foundation for the development of high-performance reconfigurable infrared photonic devices. △ Less

Submitted 8 June, 2026; originally announced June 2026.

Orbital Altermagnetic Photonic Crystal

Authors: Sichang Qiu, Huichang Li, Yan Meng, Xiang Xi, Zebin Zhu, Ce Shang, Zhen Gao, Tie Jun Cui, Shuo Liu

Abstract: Altermagnetism features momentum-dependent spin splitting without net magnetization, extending spintronics beyond conventional ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. However, the photonic realization of altermagnetism has remained a formidable challenge due to the fundamental differences between fermionic electrons and bosonic photons. Here, we report the first experimental realization of an orbit… ▽ More Altermagnetism features momentum-dependent spin splitting without net magnetization, extending spintronics beyond conventional ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. However, the photonic realization of altermagnetism has remained a formidable challenge due to the fundamental differences between fermionic electrons and bosonic photons. Here, we report the first experimental realization of an orbital altermagnetic photonic crystal, based on an antiunitary $C_{4z}\mathcal{T}$ symmetry enforced correspondence between a local $p$-orbital $σ/π$ doublet and crystal momentum. We experimentally demonstrate that the resulting system exhibits momentum-dependent spin splitting with alternating pseudospin polarization and a $d_{xy}$-wave form factor, as confirmed by measured band structures and iso-frequency contours. Moreover, we show that the orbital altermagnetic photonic crystal supports unique pseudospin-selective transport of electromagnetic waves, including photonic pseudospin splitting and pseudospin filtering. Our results extend the field of alternagnetism to photonic systems, opening a new avenue for designing spinphotonic devices. △ Less

Submitted 27 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 9 pages, 4 figures

Strain-Tuned Incommensurate Kekulé Spiral Order in Twisted Bilayer Graphene: a Quantum Many-Body Study

Authors: Cheng Huang, Yves H. Kwan, Maksim Ulybyshev, Fakher F. Assaad, Laura Classen, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: The understanding of quantum many-body states in twisted bilayer graphene at the magic angle has been greatly improved both in experiment and in theory. However, away from the exactly solvable chiral limit and the sign-problem-free charge neutrality point, the calculation of the ground state properties and the identification of the phase diagram are challenging due to the exponential increase in t… ▽ More The understanding of quantum many-body states in twisted bilayer graphene at the magic angle has been greatly improved both in experiment and in theory. However, away from the exactly solvable chiral limit and the sign-problem-free charge neutrality point, the calculation of the ground state properties and the identification of the phase diagram are challenging due to the exponential increase in the complexity, which has rendered explanations of experimentally observed insulating and superconducting phases restricted largely to the perturbative level. Here we focus on the filling factors $ν= \pm2$ away from charge neutrality and address the question of the strain dependence of the interacting ground state. We adjust our continuous field momentum-space quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method to treat the sign problem approximately, and perform a quantum many-body study together with exact diagonalization (ED) and Hartree-Fock (HF) mean field. Leveraging this combined protocol of QMC, ED, and HF, we investigate the strain-tuned transition from the Kramers intervalley coherent (KIVC) state to the incommensurate Kekulé spiral state (IKS). Our computational protocol sheds light on the KIVC-IKS transition in a projected correlated flat-band setting, and opens the door for further understanding of the rich phase diagram of twisted bilayer graphene and other strongly-correlated flat-band systems. △ Less

Submitted 22 June, 2026; v1 submitted 19 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 7 pages, 3 figures, Supplemental Material 10 pages, 9 figures

Numerical evidence of a critical point in the (2+1)D SO(5) nonlinear sigma model with Wess-Zumino-Witten term

Authors: Yuan Da Liao, Bin-Bin Chen, Junchen Rong, Fakher F. Assaad, Lukas Janssen, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We develop an optimized continuous-field quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) algorithm to investigate the projected SO(5) nonlinear sigma model with a Wess-Zumino-Witten term, which describes half-filled Dirac fermions in 2+1 space-time dimensions akin to graphene and Yukawa coupled to a quintuplet of compatible mass terms. Our algorithm reduces the computational complexity to $O(βN_{\mathbf{q}} N_φ^2)$, yi… ▽ More We develop an optimized continuous-field quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) algorithm to investigate the projected SO(5) nonlinear sigma model with a Wess-Zumino-Witten term, which describes half-filled Dirac fermions in 2+1 space-time dimensions akin to graphene and Yukawa coupled to a quintuplet of compatible mass terms. Our algorithm reduces the computational complexity to $O(βN_{\mathbf{q}} N_φ^2)$, yielding a speedup of a factor of $N_φ$ (the number of magnetic fluxes, i.e., system size) relative to prior works [1-4]. This advance enables us to simulate system sizes up to $N_φ=140$ on the torus and $N_φ=59$ on the sphere, far exceeding the maximum sizes previously accessed, and to map out the universal phase diagram of the model on both geometries. Most notably, we identify and characterize a critical point that separates an SO(5)-broken ordered phase at small coupling from an SO(5)-symmetric disordered phase at large coupling. The critical point becomes multicritical upon the inclusion of terms that break the SO(5) symmetry down to $\mathrm{U}(1) \times \mathrm{SU}(2)$, relevant for the deconfined phase transition between Néel antiferromagnetic and valence-bond-solid orders in quantum magnets. Our finding of a multicritical point in the phase diagram of the SO(5) nonlinear sigma model with Wess-Zumino-Witten term resolves the long-standing open question of its global structure, and our QMC algorithm opens a new avenue for systematic studies of projected Hamiltonians, ranging from correlated flat bands to fractional quantum (anomalous) Hall systems. △ Less

Submitted 10 August, 2026; v1 submitted 5 May, 2026; originally announced May 2026.

Comments: 16+5 pages, 5+4 figures

Unconventional Quantum Criticality in Long-Range Spin-1 Chains: Insights from Entanglement Entropy and Bipartite Fluctuations

Authors: Justin Tim-Lok Chau, Jiarui Zhao, Nicolas Laflorencie, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We study the ground-state phase diagram of a spin-1 Heisenberg chain with staggered long-range (LR) interactions decaying as $\propto r^{-α}$ using a quantum Monte Carlo approach based on the split-spin representation. This formulation enables efficient large-scale simulations by mapping the spin-1 model onto spin-$1/2$ degrees of freedom with local projection constraints. We resolve the continuou… ▽ More We study the ground-state phase diagram of a spin-1 Heisenberg chain with staggered long-range (LR) interactions decaying as $\propto r^{-α}$ using a quantum Monte Carlo approach based on the split-spin representation. This formulation enables efficient large-scale simulations by mapping the spin-1 model onto spin-$1/2$ degrees of freedom with local projection constraints. We resolve the continuous quantum phase transition between the gapped Haldane phase at large $α$ (short-range regime) and a gapless antiferromagnetically ordered Néel phase at small $α$ (LR regime), where the continuous SU(2) symmetry is broken. From finite-size scaling and crossing point analyses, we determine the critical point to be at $α_c = 2.49(1)$ and extract the associated critical exponents, which indicate unconventional criticality. In particular, the transition is found to be nonconformal, characterized by a dynamical exponent $z \neq 1$. We further analyze the scaling of entanglement entropy and bipartite fluctuations across the transition, and determine the corresponding universal scalings in both phases and at criticality. △ Less

Submitted 22 July, 2026; v1 submitted 22 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: 10+17 pages, 5+7 figures; v2 improved location of phase transition point; v3 improved the manuscript format

An integrated theoretical and numerical approach to understand modern experiments on quantum magnetism

Authors: Zi Yang Meng, Cristian D. Batista, Shiliang Li

Abstract: In recent decades, the study of quantum magnets, which feature unconventional behaviour such as exotic quantum phase transitions and quantum spin liquids, and unconventional magnetic states of matter, has made remarkable progress. However, each of the three foundational pillars -- numerical simulations, analytical methods and, to a lesser extent, materials synthesis and experiments -- often tends… ▽ More In recent decades, the study of quantum magnets, which feature unconventional behaviour such as exotic quantum phase transitions and quantum spin liquids, and unconventional magnetic states of matter, has made remarkable progress. However, each of the three foundational pillars -- numerical simulations, analytical methods and, to a lesser extent, materials synthesis and experiments -- often tends to view itself as the primary driver of the field. Even though the need for collaboration among theory, numerics and experiment to understand the complex phases of quantum magnets is well established, in our view there remains a persistent perception from experts in one area that the other two serve merely as supporting tools, primarily useful for validating the dominant ideas of one speciality, and less relevant to shaping the underlying scientific narrative. We refer to this mindset as the "pride and prejudice" in modeling and understanding modern quantum magnetism. In this Perspective, we advocate for a different, more integrated approach to overcome the challenges faced by quantum magnetism researchers. We argue that this alternative mindset has already started to advance the understanding of several important quantum magnetic models and their materials realizations. △ Less

Submitted 5 July, 2026; v1 submitted 18 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: 12 pages, 3 figures, Perspective article

Journal ref: Nature Physics 22, 1189-1197 (2026)

Ultrafast decoupling of the pseudogap from superconductivity in a pressurized cuprate

Authors: Yanghao Meng, Wenjin Mao, Liucheng Chen, Elbert E. M. Chia, Yifeng Yang, Jianlin Luo, Lin Zhao, Xingjiang Zhou, Xiaohui Yu, Xinbo Wang

Abstract: The relationship between the pseudogap and superconductivity remains a central puzzle in the physics of cuprates. Hydrostatic pressure provides a clean tuning parameter free from chemical disorder, yet probing the microscopic energy scales of these phases under compression has remained experimentally challenging. Here, we utilize ultrafast optical spectroscopy to construct the high-pressure phase… ▽ More The relationship between the pseudogap and superconductivity remains a central puzzle in the physics of cuprates. Hydrostatic pressure provides a clean tuning parameter free from chemical disorder, yet probing the microscopic energy scales of these phases under compression has remained experimentally challenging. Here, we utilize ultrafast optical spectroscopy to construct the high-pressure phase diagram of the underdoped cuprate Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ up to 37 GPa. Our results reveal a striking dichotomy within the pseudogap state: while the onset temperature $T^*$ rises monotonically with pressure, the energy gap $Δ_{\mathrm{PG}}$ is continuously suppressed. In contrast, the critical temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ and the superconducting gap $Δ_{\mathrm{SC}}$ trace a correlated dome-like trajectory, demonstrating that superconductivity evolves independently from the pseudogap. Furthermore, an abrupt collapse of the gap ratio $2Δ_{\mathrm{SC}}/k_{\mathrm{B}}T_{\mathrm{c}}$ near 8 GPa marks a pressure-driven dimensional crossover, quenching two-dimensional phase fluctuations to stabilize global three-dimensional coherence. Upon reaching 37 GPa, the superconducting condensate is completely quenched into an insulating-like state. By resolving the extended phase evolution, our findings disentangle the pseudogap and superconducting orders, establishing a rigorous experimental basis for the pairing mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity. △ Less

Submitted 11 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Comments: 29 pages, 10 figures

Time-dependent THz dielectric function of ZnTe under two-photon optical excitation at 800 nm wavelength

Authors: Farell Keiser, Wentao Zhang, Dominik Johannesmann, Nicolas S. Beermann, Yuhao Meng, Hassan A. Hafez, Savio Fabretti, Dmitry Turchinovich

Abstract: ZnTe is arguably the most widely used nonlinear crystal for the generation and detection of THz radiation, used in conjunction with sub-bandgap optical excitation by femtosecond lasers operating near 800 nm. The THz dielectric function of ZnTe is the key parameter defining the efficiency and bandwidth of THz generation and detection. Here, we demonstrate that the THz dielectric function of ZnTe un… ▽ More ZnTe is arguably the most widely used nonlinear crystal for the generation and detection of THz radiation, used in conjunction with sub-bandgap optical excitation by femtosecond lasers operating near 800 nm. The THz dielectric function of ZnTe is the key parameter defining the efficiency and bandwidth of THz generation and detection. Here, we demonstrate that the THz dielectric function of ZnTe undergoes substantial transient modification at 800 nm sub-bandgap excitation under conditions typical for THz generation. These modifications arise from significant free-carrier generation via two-photon absorption of the 800 nm pump, accompanied by the pump-driven activation of the THz-active phonon modes. Using optical pump-THz probe spectroscopy, we characterized the THz dielectric function of ZnTe under 800 nm excitation as a function of pump fluence and pump-probe delay. Analysis of the experimental data within the Drude-Lorentz model provided the generated free carrier density and momentum scattering time, and oscillator strength of the pump activated THz phonon modes, revealing their transient evolution in dependence on the excitation conditions. △ Less

Submitted 9 April, 2026; originally announced April 2026.

Quantum Fisher Information as a Probe of Critical Scaling in Frustrated Magnets: Signatures from Kagome Quantum Spin Liquid

Authors: Zhengbang Zhou, Chengkang Zhou, Menghan Song, Yong Baek Kim, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Quantum Fisher information (QFI) is a measure of multipartite quantum entanglement that can be obtained from inelastic neutron scattering data on quantum magnets. In this work, we demonstrate that the QFI can distinguish an unconventional quantum critical point (QCP) with fractionalization and emergent gauge structure from conventional ones within the Landau paradigm. We compute the QFI, via large… ▽ More Quantum Fisher information (QFI) is a measure of multipartite quantum entanglement that can be obtained from inelastic neutron scattering data on quantum magnets. In this work, we demonstrate that the QFI can distinguish an unconventional quantum critical point (QCP) with fractionalization and emergent gauge structure from conventional ones within the Landau paradigm. We compute the QFI, via large-scale quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations and exact diagonalization, in a kagome lattice quantum spin liquid (QSL) model with an XY and a cluster-Ising interactions. When the XY interaction is ferromagetic, the QFI obtained by QMC reveals a large anomalous dimension, which is a fingerprint of the (2+1)d XY$^\ast$ universality class for the transition from the ferromagnetic phase to the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ QSL. The investigation of thermal and dynamical properties of QFI is further extended to the case of antiferromagnetic XY interaction via exact diagonalization. In this regime, a transition to a possibly distinct QSL phase is suggested via both entanglement-based probes, such as QFI and genuine multipartite negativity, and analyses of the energy spectrum and structure factors. These results not only demonstrate the versatility of QFI in identifying QSL states and unconventional QCPs but also provide useful guidance for future theoretical and experimental studies of frustrated magnets. △ Less

Submitted 20 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Comments: 8+6 pages, 4+10 figures

Millimeter-Scale, Atomically Controlled 2D Topological Insulators Revealed by Multimodal Spectroscopy

Authors: Woojoo Lee, Qiang Gao, Yufei Zhao, Hui Li, Albert Tsui, Yichao Zhang, Yunhe Bai, Haoran Lin, Khanh Duy Nguyen, Gabriele Berruto, Gangbin Yan, Jianchen Dang, Tongyao Wu, Hossein Rokni, Thomas S. Marchese, Ying Shirley Meng, Chao-Xing Liu, Xiao-Xiao Zhang, Chong Liu, Pinshane Y. Huang, Mark C. Hersam, Binghai Yan, Shuolong Yang

Abstract: Quantum spin Hall insulators, or synonymously known as 2D topological insulators, are crucial 2D systems hosting topologically protected edge states. The working temperature of this topological quantum phase is dictated by the inverted bandgap. However, the previously identified large-gap 2D topological insulators are either extremely chemically unstable, or cannot be made with atomistic precision… ▽ More Quantum spin Hall insulators, or synonymously known as 2D topological insulators, are crucial 2D systems hosting topologically protected edge states. The working temperature of this topological quantum phase is dictated by the inverted bandgap. However, the previously identified large-gap 2D topological insulators are either extremely chemically unstable, or cannot be made with atomistic precision over macroscopic scales. Here, we establish two-quintuple-layer Bi2Te3 and MnBi2Te4/Bi2Te3 heterostructures as atomically controlled, millimeter-scale 2D topological insulators, enabled by precision layer-by-layer growth that yields a carpet-like morphology extending coherently over macroscopic distances. This carpet-like growth mode renders the films amenable to mechanical exfoliation and subsequent wet or dry transfer. Multimodal spectroscopies and microscopies reveal the integer-layer tuned electronic structure of (Bi2Te3)n with excellent agreement to theory. Photon-energy-dependent photoemission and time-resolved photoemission identify band inversion and band dynamics, respectively, while scanning tunneling spectroscopy resolves topological edge states, characteristic of the 2D topological insulator phase. Thickness- and photon-energy-dependent photoemission further validates MnBi2Te4/Bi2Te3 as a robust 2D topological insulator. The large inverted gaps of ~100 meV in (Bi2Te3)2 and ~150 meV in MnBi2Te4/Bi2Te3 suggest operation near ambient temperature. These results define a scalable materials platform for next-generation, low-loss quantum and energy-efficient devices. △ Less

Submitted 14 March, 2026; originally announced March 2026.

Pressure-induced reentrant superconductivity in a misfit layered compound $\mathrm{(SnS)_{1.15}(TaS_2)}$

Authors: Chutong Zhang, Jiajia Feng, Xiao Tang, Xiangzhuo Xing, Na Zuo, Xiaolei Yi, Yan Meng, Xiaoran Zhang, Rajesh Kumar Ulaganathan, Raman Sankar, Xiaofeng Xu, Xin Chen, Xiaobing Liu

Abstract: Misfit layered compounds are natural van der Waals heterostructures in which electronically active transition-metal dichalcogenide layers are decoupled by incommensurate blocking layers, enabling bulk realization of quasi-two-dimensional quantum states. Here we investigate the superconducting, transport,and structural properties of the misfit compound $\mathrm{(SnS)_{1.15}(TaS_2)}$ under pressures… ▽ More Misfit layered compounds are natural van der Waals heterostructures in which electronically active transition-metal dichalcogenide layers are decoupled by incommensurate blocking layers, enabling bulk realization of quasi-two-dimensional quantum states. Here we investigate the superconducting, transport,and structural properties of the misfit compound $\mathrm{(SnS)_{1.15}(TaS_2)}$ under pressures up to 150 GPa. The low-pressure superconducting phase is gradually suppressed and disappears near 14.7 GPa,accompanied by increasing residual resistance. Remarkably, a distinct superconducting phase reemerges above 80 GPa and persists to the highest pressures achieved. This reentrant superconductivity follows a pressure-induced sign reversal of the Hall coefficient near 60 GPa and a nonmonotonic evolution of the normal-state resistance, indicating an electronic reconstruction. No structural phase transition is detected over the entire pressure range. Our results demonstrate a pressure-driven electronic reconstruction leading to reentrant superconductivity in a misfit layered compound, establishing pressure as an effective route to engineer superconductivity and electronic states in natural van der Waals heterostructures. △ Less

Submitted 26 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 12 pages,4 figures

Journal ref: Physical Review B 113, L140506 (2026)

T-linear specific heat in pressurized and magnetized Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu2(BO3)2

Authors: Jing Guo, Pengyu Wang, Cheng Huang, Chengkang Zhou, Menghan Song, Xintian Chen, Ting-Tung Wang, Wenshan Hong, Shu Cai, Jinyu Zhao, Jinyu Han, Yazhou Zhou, Qi Wu, Shiliang Li, Zi Yang Meng, Liling Sun

Abstract: The pressurized Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu2(BO3)2 has been found to host a plaquette-singlet phase and an antiferromagnetic phase that break different symmetries spontaneously.The recent experiment showed that their transition is of a first order nature, which seems against the pursuit of exotic and deconfined degrees of freedom in this famous frustrated quantum magnet. We found a new… ▽ More The pressurized Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu2(BO3)2 has been found to host a plaquette-singlet phase and an antiferromagnetic phase that break different symmetries spontaneously.The recent experiment showed that their transition is of a first order nature, which seems against the pursuit of exotic and deconfined degrees of freedom in this famous frustrated quantum magnet. We found a new direction in this study. By applying a magnetic field to the material, we discover that SrCu2(BO3)2 exhibits a universal and metallic T-linear specific heat behavior in a large magnetitic field range close to the pressure of zero-field first order transition between plaquette-singlet and antiferromagnetic phases. Such an unexpected gapless response from an electronically gapped Mott insulator could be attributed to magnetized Dirac spinons liberated by the combined effect of magnetic field and pressure, consistently seen from our quantum many-body thermal tensor network computation of the Shastry-Sutherland model under magnetic field. Such a robust and universal T-linear specific heat phase points out the richness of the phase diagram of the material expanded by the axes of pressure and magnetic field and is calling for new theoretical frameworks to its full explanation. △ Less

Submitted 20 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 20 pages, 4 figures

Hybrid Monte Carlo for Fractional Quantum Hall States

Authors: Ting-Tung Wang, Ha Quang Trung, Qianhui Xu, Min Long, Bo Yang, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We develop a hybrid Monte Carlo method to efficiently compute the physical observables from the samplings of the Laughlin and the Moore-Read wave functions of fractional quantum Hall (FQH) systems. With the advancements in methodology, including global updates and double stereographic projection on spherical geometry, our hybrid Monte Carlo simulation is significantly faster than the widely used M… ▽ More We develop a hybrid Monte Carlo method to efficiently compute the physical observables from the samplings of the Laughlin and the Moore-Read wave functions of fractional quantum Hall (FQH) systems. With the advancements in methodology, including global updates and double stereographic projection on spherical geometry, our hybrid Monte Carlo simulation is significantly faster than the widely used Metropolis Monte Carlo scheme. As a result, we can readily simulate systems with electron numbers $N > 1000$ on both disk and sphere geometries. We apply this method to investigating the topological shift obtained from the edge dipole moment, computed from the density of the wave function on the disk. We also numerically computed the non-Abelian braiding matrices for different braiding schemes of the Moore-Read quasiholes on the sphere. Results with much better quality compared with previous works have been achieved. With the thermodynamic limit results obtained at ease, we also discuss the future usage of our method to clarify the questions on the instability of fractional quantum Hall states in an ideal Chern band setting or under quantum decoherence. △ Less

Submitted 19 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 21 pages, 3+2 figures

Journal ref: Rep. Prog. Phys. 89 068001 (2026)

Thermodynamics of Shastry-Sutherland Model under Magnetic Field

Authors: Menghan Song, Chengkang Zhou, Cheng Huang, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Motivated by the recent experimental discovery of the $T$-linear specific heat in pressurized and magnetized Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$, we perform the state-of-the-art thermal tensor-network computation on the Shastry-Sutherland model under a magnetic field. Our simulation results suggest the existence of a symmetric intermediate phase with $T$-linear specific heat at… ▽ More Motivated by the recent experimental discovery of the $T$-linear specific heat in pressurized and magnetized Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$, we perform the state-of-the-art thermal tensor-network computation on the Shastry-Sutherland model under a magnetic field. Our simulation results suggest the existence of a symmetric intermediate phase with $T$-linear specific heat at low temperature, occupying a large parameter space and between the plaquette-singlet phase and antiferromagnetic phase at low fields and other symmetry-breaking phases at high fields before the system is fully polarized. Such an unexpected novel state bears an astonishing similarity to the experimental findings in the material. It opens the door to further investigations of the possible liberation of deconfined magnetized Dirac spinons by the competing interactions in this highly frustrated quantum magnet model, and by the combined effects of magnetic field and pressure in the associated Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$. △ Less

Submitted 24 February, 2026; v1 submitted 12 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 8 pages, 6 figures

Spontaneous Parity Breaking in Quantum Antiferromagnets on the Triangular Lattice

Authors: Songtai Lv, Yuchen Meng, Haiyuan Zou

Abstract: Frustration on the triangular lattice has long been a source of intriguing and often debated phases in many-body systems. Although symmetry analysis has been employed, the role of the seemingly trivial parity symmetry has received little attention. In this work, we show that phases induced by frustration are systematically shaped by an implicit rule of thumb associated with spontaneous parity brea… ▽ More Frustration on the triangular lattice has long been a source of intriguing and often debated phases in many-body systems. Although symmetry analysis has been employed, the role of the seemingly trivial parity symmetry has received little attention. In this work, we show that phases induced by frustration are systematically shaped by an implicit rule of thumb associated with spontaneous parity breaking. This principle enables us to anticipate and rationalize the regimes and conditions under which nontrivial phases emerge. For the spin-$S$ antiferromagnetic XXZ model, we demonstrate that a controversial parity-broken phase appears only at intermediate values of $S$. In bilayer systems, enhanced frustration leads to additional phases, such as supersolids, whose properties can be classified by their characteristic parity features. Benefiting from our improved tensor network contraction techniques, we confirm these results through large-scale tensor-network calculations. This study offers an alternative viewpoint and a systematic approach for examining the interplay between spin, symmetry, and frustration in many-body systems. △ Less

Submitted 5 February, 2026; originally announced February 2026.

Comments: 6 pages, 3 figures

Excitation Energy Transfer in Nanohybrid System of Organic Molecule and Inorganic Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Nanoflake

Authors: Yan Meng, Kainan Chang, Luxia Wang

Abstract: Excitation energy transfer (EET) in an organic/inorganic nanohybrid system, composed of a single \textit{para}-sexiphenyl (6P) molecule physisorbed on a finite-sized MoS$_2$ nanoflake, is investigated theoretically. % The electronic structure of the MoS$_2$ nanoflake is described by using an 11-band tight-binding model, in which edge states are passivated with H atoms to restore a well-defined ban… ▽ More Excitation energy transfer (EET) in an organic/inorganic nanohybrid system, composed of a single \textit{para}-sexiphenyl (6P) molecule physisorbed on a finite-sized MoS$_2$ nanoflake, is investigated theoretically. % The electronic structure of the MoS$_2$ nanoflake is described by using an 11-band tight-binding model, in which edge states are passivated with H atoms to restore a well-defined bandgap. % Within a configuration-interaction scheme, excitonic states are constructed and, for computational efficiency, approximated by uncorrelated electron-hole pairs in the relevant high-energy window. % The EET rates are evaluated via Fermi's golden rule, incorporating Coulomb coupling, thermal broadening, and spectral overlap between the molecular excitation and the MoS$_2$ nanoflake's electron-hole pairs. % Our results reveal that energy transfer from the molecule to the nanoflake is the dominant process, and its efficiency depends strongly on the size of the MoS$_2$ nanoflake, as well as the molecule's vertical distance and lateral position relative to the nanoflake. △ Less

Submitted 20 January, 2026; originally announced January 2026.

Chiral Graviton Modes in Fermionic Fractional Chern Insulators

Authors: Min Long, Zeno Bacciconi, Hongyu Lu, Hernan B. Xavier, Zi Yang Meng, Marcello Dalmonte

Abstract: Chiral graviton modes are hallmark collective excitations of Fractional Quantum Hall (FQH) liquids. However, their existence on the lattice, where continuum symmetries that protect them from decay are lost, is still an open and urgent question, especially considering the recent advances in the realization of Fractional Chern Insulators (FCI) in transition metal dichalcogenides and rhombohedral pen… ▽ More Chiral graviton modes are hallmark collective excitations of Fractional Quantum Hall (FQH) liquids. However, their existence on the lattice, where continuum symmetries that protect them from decay are lost, is still an open and urgent question, especially considering the recent advances in the realization of Fractional Chern Insulators (FCI) in transition metal dichalcogenides and rhombohedral pentalayer graphene. Here we present a comprehensive theoretical and numerical study of graviton-modes in fermionic FCI, and thoroughly demonstrate their existence. We first derive a lattice stress tensor operator in the context of the fermionic Harper-Hofstadter(HH) model which captures the graviton in the flat band limit. Importantly, we discover that such lattice stress-tensor operators are deeply connected to lattice quadrupolar density correlators, readily generalizable to generic Chern bands. We then explicitly show the adiabatic connection between FQH and FCI chiral graviton modes by interpolating from a low flux HH model to a Checkerboard lattice model that hosts a topological flat band. In particular, using state-of-the-art matrix product state and exact diagonalization simulations, we provide strong evidence that chiral graviton modes are long-lived excitations in FCIs despite the lack of continuous symmetries and the scattering with a two-magnetoroton continuum. By means of a careful finite-size analysis, we show that the lattice generates a finite but small intrinsic decay rate for the graviton mode. We discuss the relevance of our results for the exploration of graviton modes in FCI phases realized in solid state settings, as well as cold atom experiments. △ Less

Submitted 30 June, 2026; v1 submitted 8 January, 2026; originally announced January 2026.

Comments: 24 pages,22 figures

Journal ref: Rep. Prog. Phys. 89 078001(2026)

Precise computation of universal corner entanglement entropy at 2+1 dimension: From Ising to Gaussian quantum critical points

Authors: Ben Lee-Yeung Ngai, Justin Tim-Lok Chau, Junchen Rong, Meng Cheng, Yuan Da Liao, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Computing the subleading logarithmic term in the entanglement entropy (EE) of (2+1)d quantum many-body systems remains a significant challenge, despite its central role in revealing universal information about quantum states and quantum critical points (QCPs). Building on recent algorithmic advances that enable the stable calculation of EE as an exponential observable~\cite{zhouIncremental2024,zha… ▽ More Computing the subleading logarithmic term in the entanglement entropy (EE) of (2+1)d quantum many-body systems remains a significant challenge, despite its central role in revealing universal information about quantum states and quantum critical points (QCPs). Building on recent algorithmic advances that enable the stable calculation of EE as an exponential observable~\cite{zhouIncremental2024,zhangIntegral2024,liaoExtracting2024}, we develop a {\it bubble basis} projector quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) algorithm to precisely and efficiently compute the universal corner of EE at QCPs in a (2+1)d square-lattice transverse-field Ising model augmented with a four-body interaction. Turning on this interaction allows us to trace an Ising critical line, reaching the tricritical point, and then a line of first-order phase transition. In (2+1)d, the tricritical point is described by the Gaussian theory, where a theoretical calculation of the corner logarithmic term in the 2nd Rényi entropy term is available~\cite{UniversalCasini2007}. Our QMC results are in quantitative agreement with this theoretical value, providing a highly nontrivial benchmark of the algorithm. Furthermore, we also study the Rényi EE at the Ising critical line and on the first-order transition line, obtaining results consistent with theoretical expectations. These findings establish the long-sought connection between the universal values of an exactly solvable limit and those of a strongly correlated regime at (2+1)d. △ Less

Submitted 22 June, 2026; v1 submitted 29 November, 2025; originally announced December 2025.

Comments: 18 pages, 18 figures

Journal ref: Rep. Prog. Phys. 89 068006 (2026)

Boost of critical current density near quantum critical points in FeSe-Based superconductors with two superconducting domes

Authors: Wei Wei, Qiang Hou, Jiajia Feng, Xinyue Wang, Xin Zhou, Nan Zhou, Yan Meng, Wei Zhou, Wenjie Li, Xiangzhuo Xing, Tsuyoshi Tamegai, Yue Sun, Zhixiang Shi

Abstract: Recent studies have identified two superconducting domes in FeSe-based superconductors. It was discovered that each dome is accompanied by a distinct nematic quantum critical point (QCP): one associated with a pure nematic QCP, and the other with a nematic QCP entangled with antiferromagnetism (AFM). In this study, we delve into the evolution of the critical current density ($J_{\rm{c}}$) with dop… ▽ More Recent studies have identified two superconducting domes in FeSe-based superconductors. It was discovered that each dome is accompanied by a distinct nematic quantum critical point (QCP): one associated with a pure nematic QCP, and the other with a nematic QCP entangled with antiferromagnetism (AFM). In this study, we delve into the evolution of the critical current density ($J_{\rm{c}}$) with doping in FeSe${_{1-x}}$(Te/S)${_{x}}$ single crystals, focusing on the behavior within the two superconducting domes. Surprisingly, three maxima of $J_{\rm{c}}$ were found in the two superconducting domes, with two sharp peaks in $J_{\rm{c}}$ observed precisely at the endpoints of the nematic phases, at $x$(Te) $\sim$ 0.5 for Te-doped and $x$(S) $\sim$ 0.17 for S-doped FeSe. The mechanisms of vortex pinning and the influence of quantum critical fluctuations have been extensively explored, emphasizing the contribution of quantum critical fluctuations in modulating $J_{\rm{c}}$. Additionally, an increase in $J_{\rm{c}}$ was also noted near FeSe$_{0.1}$Te$_{0.9}$, where its origin has been explored and discussed. This finding provides crucial clues about the existence of an ordered phase endpoint beneath the superconducting dome, offering an initial basis for further investigation into the potential presence of a QCP beneath it. △ Less

Submitted 24 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 10 pages, 10 figures

Journal ref: Materials Today Physics 59 101892 (2025)

Deep Learning Assisted Prediction of Electrochemical Lithiation State in Spinel Lithium Titanium Oxide Thin Films

Authors: Devin Chugh, Bhagath Sreenarayanan, Steven Suwito, Ganesh Raghavendran, Bing Joe Hwang, Ying Shirley Meng, Weinien Su

Abstract: Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) based framework have evolved rapidly and generated considerable interests for predicting the properties of materials. In this work, we utilize ML-DL framework to predict the electrochemical lithiation state and associated electrical conductivity of spinel Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) thin films using Raman spectroscopy data. Raman spectroscopy, with its rapid, non-d… ▽ More Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) based framework have evolved rapidly and generated considerable interests for predicting the properties of materials. In this work, we utilize ML-DL framework to predict the electrochemical lithiation state and associated electrical conductivity of spinel Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) thin films using Raman spectroscopy data. Raman spectroscopy, with its rapid, non-destructive, and high-resolution capabilities, is leveraged to monitor dynamic electrochemical changes in LTO films. A comprehensive dataset of 3,272 Raman spectra, representing lithiation states from 0% to 100%, was collected and preprocessed using advanced techniques including cosmic ray removal, smoothing, baseline correction, normalization, and data augmentation. Classical machine learning models such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Random Forest (RF) were evaluated alongside a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). While traditional models achieved moderate to high accuracy, they struggled with generalization and noise sensitivity. In contrast, the CNN demonstrated superior performance, achieving over 99.5% accuracy and robust predictions on unseen samples. The CNN model effectively captured non-linear spectral features and showed resilience to experimental variability. This pipeline not only enables accurate lithiation state classification but also facilitates conductivity estimation, offering a scalable approach for real-time battery material characterization and potential extension to other spectroscopic datasets. △ Less

Submitted 18 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Bounds on quantum Fisher information and uncertainty relations for thermodynamically conjugate variables

Authors: Ye-Ming Meng, Zhe-Yu Shi

Abstract: Uncertainty relations represent a foundational principle in quantum mechanics, imposing inherent limits on the precision with which \textit{mechanically} conjugate variables such as position and momentum can be simultaneously determined. This work establishes analogous relations for \textit{thermodynamically} conjugate variables -- specifically, a classical intensive parameter $θ$ and its correspo… ▽ More Uncertainty relations represent a foundational principle in quantum mechanics, imposing inherent limits on the precision with which \textit{mechanically} conjugate variables such as position and momentum can be simultaneously determined. This work establishes analogous relations for \textit{thermodynamically} conjugate variables -- specifically, a classical intensive parameter $θ$ and its corresponding extensive quantum operator $\hat{O}$ -- in equilibrium states. We develop a framework to derive a rigorous thermodynamic uncertainty relation for such pairs, where the uncertainty of the classical parameter $θ$ is quantified by its quantum Fisher information $\mathcal{F}_θ$. The framework is based on an exact integral representation that relates $\mathcal{F}_θ$ to the autocorrelation function of operator $\hat{O}$. From this representation, we derive a tight upper bound for the quantum Fisher information, which yields a thermodynamic uncertainty relation: $Δθ\,\overline{ΔO} \ge k_\text{B}T$ with $\overline{ΔO}\equiv\partial_θ\langle\hat{O}\rangle\,Δθ$ and $T$ is the system temperature. The result establishes a fundamental precision limit for quantum sensing and metrology in thermal systems, directly connecting it to the thermodynamic properties of linear response and fluctuations. △ Less

Submitted 7 November, 2025; originally announced November 2025.

Comments: 14 pages, 3 figures

Journal ref: SciPost Phys. 20, 177 (2026)

Discrete Shift and Polarization from Response to Symmetry Defects in Interacting Topological Phases

Authors: Lu Zhang, Min Long, Yuxuan Zhang, Zi Yang Meng, Xue-Yang Song

Abstract: We extend the previous study of extracting crystalline symmetry-protected topological invariants to the correlated regime. We construct the interacting Hofstadter model defined on square lattice with the rotation and translation symmetry defects: disclination and dislocation. The model realizes Chern insulator and the charge density wave state as one tunes interactions. Employing the density matri… ▽ More We extend the previous study of extracting crystalline symmetry-protected topological invariants to the correlated regime. We construct the interacting Hofstadter model defined on square lattice with the rotation and translation symmetry defects: disclination and dislocation. The model realizes Chern insulator and the charge density wave state as one tunes interactions. Employing the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method, we calculate the excess charge around the defects and find that the topological invariants remain quantized in both phases, with the topological quantity extracted to great precision. This study paves the way for utilizing matrix product state, and potentially other quantum many-body computation methods, to efficiently study crystalline symmetry defects on 2D interacting lattice systems. △ Less

Submitted 3 August, 2026; v1 submitted 22 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Comments: 15 pages, 14 figures

Quantum Fisher Information as a Thermal Probe in Frustrated Magnets through Insights from Quantum Spin Ice

Authors: Chengkang Zhou, Zhengbang Zhou, Félix Desrochers, Yong Baek Kim, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Quantum Fisher information (QFI) is a measure of multipartite entanglement accessible via inelastic neutron scattering. Here we demonstrate that QFI reveals thermal and dynamical properties of quantum spin ice (QSI), a three-dimensional quantum spin liquid with fractionalized excitations. By developing a multi-directed loop update quantum Monte Carlo algorithm, along with exact diagonalization and… ▽ More Quantum Fisher information (QFI) is a measure of multipartite entanglement accessible via inelastic neutron scattering. Here we demonstrate that QFI reveals thermal and dynamical properties of quantum spin ice (QSI), a three-dimensional quantum spin liquid with fractionalized excitations. By developing a multi-directed loop update quantum Monte Carlo algorithm, along with exact diagonalization and gauge mean-field theory, we compute the QFI for the pyrochlore lattice. The temperature and momentum dependence of QFI maps the phase diagram, distinguishing the ferromagnetic ordered phase, its critical region, the zero-flux QSI, and the $π$-flux QSI. QFI also captures two crossover scales: from trivial paramagnet to classical spin ice, then to QSI. We discuss the $π$-flux QSI in light of experiments on cerium-based pyrochlores. Our results suggest that QFI not only detects entanglement but also serves as a sensitive thermal and dynamical probe for frustrated quantum magnets. △ Less

Submitted 5 June, 2026; v1 submitted 16 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Comments: 10+13 pages, 3+11 figures

Report number: Nat Commun 17, 7975 (2026)

Journal ref: Nat Commun 17, 7975 (2026)

Gate Voltage Tunable Second Harmonic Generation in Mono- and Bi-layer Black Phosphene

Authors: Yan Meng, Kainan Chang, Yanyan Qian, Luxia Wang, Jin Luo Cheng

Abstract: Black phosphorene (BP) has emerged as a promising platform for tunable nonlinear photonics due to its layer-dependent bandgap, high carrier mobility, and remarkable in-plane anisotropy. This study investigates the second-harmonic generation (SHG) of monolayer and bilayer BP under an external static electric field, with describing the electronic states by a tight-binding model and the dynamics by s… ▽ More Black phosphorene (BP) has emerged as a promising platform for tunable nonlinear photonics due to its layer-dependent bandgap, high carrier mobility, and remarkable in-plane anisotropy. This study investigates the second-harmonic generation (SHG) of monolayer and bilayer BP under an external static electric field, with describing the electronic states by a tight-binding model and the dynamics by semiconductor Bloch equations. Our results reveal that BP exhibits large second-order nonlinear optical response along the armchair direction, with significant resonant enhancement when the incident photon energy approaches half of its bandgap. Under an applied electric field of $10^7$ V/m, the effective second-order nonlinear susceptibility of BP can be as large as $10^3$ pm/V, surpassing that of the conventional nonlinear crystal AgGaSe$_2$ by more than an order of magnitude. With respect to the static electric field induced by gate voltage, we discuss the relation between the electric-field-induced second harmonic (EFISH) generation and conventional SHG -- under lower gate voltage, the EFISH approach agrees well with the SHG solutions, whereas the former is no longer applicable under higher gate voltage. Specifically, as the increasing gate voltage, monolayer BP exhibits the bandgap expansion and the corresponding blue-shift in the SHG resonant peak. In contrast, bilayer BP undergoes a semiconductor-to-semimetal transition, forming Dirac cone and generating divergent SHG spectra as photon energy goes to zero. Additionally, the chemical potential allows for precise control over interband and intraband nonlinear responses. This work provides important theoretical foundations for the development of BP-based tunable nonlinear photonic devices and expands the application potential of anisotropic two-dimensional materials in nonlinear optics. △ Less

Submitted 13 October, 2025; v1 submitted 9 October, 2025; originally announced October 2025.

Entanglement architecture of beyond-Landau quantum criticality

Authors: Menghan Song, Ting-Tung Wang, Liuke Lyu, William Witczak-Krempa, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Quantum critical points beyond the Landau paradigm exhibit fractionalized excitations and emergent gauge fields. Here, we use entanglement microscopy--full tomography of the reduced density matrix of small subregions and subsequent extraction of their quantum correlations--to resolve the entanglement architecture near such exotic critical points. We focus on genuine multipartite entanglement (GME)… ▽ More Quantum critical points beyond the Landau paradigm exhibit fractionalized excitations and emergent gauge fields. Here, we use entanglement microscopy--full tomography of the reduced density matrix of small subregions and subsequent extraction of their quantum correlations--to resolve the entanglement architecture near such exotic critical points. We focus on genuine multipartite entanglement (GME). Through unbiased quantum Monte Carlo sampling of RDMs across conventional O(2)/O(3) Wilson-Fisher transitions, and unconventional XY$^*$, and Néel-VBS transitions in (2+1)d, we discover a dichotomy: Landau criticality amplifies GME within compact subregions, while non-Landau criticality redistributes entanglement into larger, loopy configurations. Key signatures at non-Landau criticality include the absence of three-spin GME, and the loss of non-loopy entanglement in unicursal regions. Similar results in a critical resonating valence bond wavefunction confirm this multipartite entanglement structure as a common feature of emergent gauge theories. Our findings reveal a distinct entanglement architecture in beyond-Landau quantum critical theories. △ Less

Submitted 12 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Comments: 10 pages, 9 figures

Two-dimensional materials as a multiproperty sensing platform

Authors: Dipankar Jana, Shubhrasish Mukherjee, Dmitrii Litvinov, Magdalena Grzeszczyk, Sergey Grebenchuk, Makars~Šiškins, Virgil Gavriliuc, Yihang Ouyang, Changyi Chen, Yuxuan Ye, Yiming Meng, Maciej Koperski

Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) materials have disrupted materials science due to the development of van der Waals technology. It enables the stacking of ultrathin layers of materials characterized by vastly different electronic structures to create man-made heterostructures and devices with rationally tailored properties, circumventing limitations of matching crystal structures, lattice constants, and geome… ▽ More Two-dimensional (2D) materials have disrupted materials science due to the development of van der Waals technology. It enables the stacking of ultrathin layers of materials characterized by vastly different electronic structures to create man-made heterostructures and devices with rationally tailored properties, circumventing limitations of matching crystal structures, lattice constants, and geometry of constituent materials and supporting substrates. 2D materials exhibit extraordinary mechanical flexibility, strong light-matter interactions driven by their excitonic response, single photon emission from atomic centers, stable ferromagnetism in sub-nm thin films, fractional quantum Hall effect in high-quality devices, and chemoselectivity at ultrahigh surface-to-volume ratio. Consequently, van der Waals heterostructures with atomically flat interfaces demonstrate an unprecedented degree of intertwined mechanical, chemical, optoelectronic, and magnetic properties. This constitutes a foundation for multiproperty sensing, based on complex intra- and intermaterial interactions, and a robust response to external stimuli originating from the environment. Here, we review recent progress in the development of sensing applications with 2D materials, highlighting the areas where van der Waals heterostructures offer the highest sensitivity, simultaneous responses to multiple distinct externalities due to their atomic thickness in conjunction with unique material combinations, and conceptually new sensing methodology. △ Less

Submitted 9 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Comments: 23 pages 6 figures

Probing Non-Fermi-Liquid Behaviour of Composite Fermi Liquid via Efficient Thermal Simulations

Authors: Bin-Bin Chen, Hongyu Lu, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: The physics of two-dimensional electron gas in a perpendicular magnetic field, i.e., the quantum Hall system, is remarkably rich. At half filling of the lowest Landau level, it has been predicted that "composite fermions"---emergent quasiparticles consisting of an electron attached to two magnetic flux quanta---experience zero net magnetic field and form a Fermi sea, dubbed composite Fermi liquid… ▽ More The physics of two-dimensional electron gas in a perpendicular magnetic field, i.e., the quantum Hall system, is remarkably rich. At half filling of the lowest Landau level, it has been predicted that "composite fermions"---emergent quasiparticles consisting of an electron attached to two magnetic flux quanta---experience zero net magnetic field and form a Fermi sea, dubbed composite Fermi liquid (CFL). However, despite its seemingly simple appearance, CFL is a strongly correlated quantum many-body state in disguise, and solving it in a controlled manner is extremely difficult, to the extent that the thermodynamic properties of CFL remain largely unknown. In this work, we perform state-of-the-art thermal tensor network simulations of the $ν=1/2$ Landau level system and observe low-temperature power-law behaviour of the specific heat, signaling the gapless nature of CFL. More importantly, the power is extracted to be close to $2/3$, clearly deviating from the ordinary linear-$T$ behaviour of Fermi liquid, suggesting coupling between the CFs and the dynamical emergent gauge field and thereby revealing the quantum many-body nature of the CFL state. △ Less

Submitted 24 July, 2026; v1 submitted 2 September, 2025; originally announced September 2025.

Comments: 8+4 pages, 4+4 figures

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. B 114, 065127 (2026)

Scalable hybrid quantum Monte Carlo simulation of U(1) gauge field coupled to fermions on GPU

Authors: Kexin Feng, Chuang Chen, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We develop a GPU-accelerated hybrid quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) algorithm to solve the fundamental yet difficult problem of $U(1)$ gauge field coupled to fermions, which gives rise to a $U(1)$ Dirac spin liquid state under the description of (2+1)d quantum electrodynamics QED$_3$. The algorithm renders a good acceptance rate and, more importantly, nearly linear space-time volume scaling in computati… ▽ More We develop a GPU-accelerated hybrid quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) algorithm to solve the fundamental yet difficult problem of $U(1)$ gauge field coupled to fermions, which gives rise to a $U(1)$ Dirac spin liquid state under the description of (2+1)d quantum electrodynamics QED$_3$. The algorithm renders a good acceptance rate and, more importantly, nearly linear space-time volume scaling in computational complexity $O(N_τ V_s)$, where $N_τ$ is the imaginary time dimension and $V_s$ is spatial volume, which is much more efficient than determinant QMC with scaling behavior of $O(N_τV_s^3)$. Such acceleration is achieved via a collection of technical improvements, including (i) the design of the efficient problem-specific preconditioner, (ii) customized CUDA kernel for matrix-vector multiplication, and (iii) CUDA Graph implementation on the GPU. These advances allow us to simulate the $U(1)$ Dirac spin liquid state with unprecedentedly large system sizes, which is up to $N_τ\times L\times L = 660\times66\times66$, and reveal its novel properties. With these technical improvements, we see the asymptotic convergence in the scaling dimensions of various fermion bilinear operators and the conserved current operator when approaching the thermodynamic limit. The scaling dimensions find good agreement with field-theoretical expectation, which provides supporting evidence for the conformal nature of the $U(1)$ Dirac spin liquid state in the QED$_3$. Our technical advancements open an avenue to study the Dirac spin liquid state and its transition towards symmetry-breaking phases at larger system sizes and with less computational burden. △ Less

Submitted 24 February, 2026; v1 submitted 22 August, 2025; originally announced August 2025.

Comments: 13+5 pages, 6+6 figures

Journal ref: SciPost Phys. 20, 060 (2026)

Strong Correlation Driven Quadrupolar to Dipolar Exciton Transitions in a Trilayer Moiré Superlattice

Authors: Yuze Meng, Lei Ma, Li Yan, Ahmed Khalifa, Dongxue Chen, Shuai Zhang, Rounak Banerjee, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, Seth Ariel Tongay, Benjamin Hunt, Shi-Zeng Lin, Wang Yao, Yong-Tao Cui, Shubhayu Chatterjee, Su-Fei Shi

Abstract: The additional layer degree of freedom in trilayer moiré superlattices of transition metal dichalcogenides enables the emergence of novel excitonic species, such as quadrupolar excitons, which exhibit unique excitonic interactions and hold promise for realizing intriguing excitonic phases and their quantum phase transitions. Concurrently, the presence of strong electronic correlations in moiré sup… ▽ More The additional layer degree of freedom in trilayer moiré superlattices of transition metal dichalcogenides enables the emergence of novel excitonic species, such as quadrupolar excitons, which exhibit unique excitonic interactions and hold promise for realizing intriguing excitonic phases and their quantum phase transitions. Concurrently, the presence of strong electronic correlations in moiré superlattices, as exemplified by the observations of Mott insulators and generalized Wigner crystals, offers a direct route to manipulate these new excitonic states and resulting collective excitonic phases. Here, we demonstrate that strong exciton-exciton and electron-exciton interactions, both stemming from robust electron correlations, can be harnessed to controllably drive transitions between quadrupolar and dipolar excitons. This is achieved by tuning either the exciton density or electrostatic doping in a trilayer semiconducting moiré superlattice. Our findings not only advance the fundamental understanding of quadrupolar excitons but also usher in new avenues for exploring and engineering many-body quantum phenomena through novel correlated excitons in semiconducting moiré systems. △ Less

Submitted 21 August, 2025; originally announced August 2025.

Journal ref: Nature Photonics (2025)

Emergent gauge flux in mixed QED$_3$ with flavor chemical potential: application to magnetized U(1) Dirac spin liquids

Authors: Chuang Chen, Urban F. P. Seifert, Kexin Feng, Oleg A. Starykh, Leon Balents, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We design a lattice model of a "mixed" U(1) gauge field coupled to fermions with a flavor chemical potential and solve it with large-scale determinant quantum Monte Carlo simulations, For zero flavor chemical potential, the model realizes three-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED$_3$) which has been argued to describe the ground state and low-energy excitations of the Dirac spin liquid phase… ▽ More We design a lattice model of a "mixed" U(1) gauge field coupled to fermions with a flavor chemical potential and solve it with large-scale determinant quantum Monte Carlo simulations, For zero flavor chemical potential, the model realizes three-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED$_3$) which has been argued to describe the ground state and low-energy excitations of the Dirac spin liquid phase of quantum antiferromagnets. At finite flavor chemical potential, corresponding to a Zeeman field perturbing the Dirac spin liquid, we find a "chiral flux" phase which is characterized by the generation of a finite mean emergent gauge flux and, accordingly, the formation of relativistic Landau levels for the Dirac fermions. In this state, the U(1)$_m$ magnetic symmetry is spontaneously broken, leading to a gapless free photon mode which, due to spin-flux-attachment, is observable in the longitudinal spin structure factor. We numerically compute longitudinal and transverse spin structure factors which match our continuum and lattice mean-field theory predictions. In a different region of the phase diagram, strong fluctuations of the emergent gauge field give rise to an antiferromagnetically ordered state with gapped Dirac fermions coexisting with a deconfined gauge field. We also find an interesting intermediate phase where the chiral flux phase and the antiferromagnetic phase coexist. We argue that our results pave the way to testable predictions for magnetized Dirac spin liquids in frustrated quantum antiferromagnets. △ Less

Submitted 14 May, 2026; v1 submitted 11 August, 2025; originally announced August 2025.

Comments: 21+12 pages, 11+6 figures

Interaction-induced nematic Dirac semimetal from quadratic band touching: A constrained-path quantum Monte Carlo study

Authors: Zi Hong Liu, Hongyu Lu, Zi Yang Meng, Lukas Janssen

Abstract: Electronic systems with quadratic band touchings, commonly found in two- and three-dimensional materials such as Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene, kagome metals, HgTe, and pyrochlore iridates, have attracted significant interest concerning the role of interactions in shaping their electronic properties. However, even in the simplest model of spinless fermions on a two-dimensional checkerboard latti… ▽ More Electronic systems with quadratic band touchings, commonly found in two- and three-dimensional materials such as Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene, kagome metals, HgTe, and pyrochlore iridates, have attracted significant interest concerning the role of interactions in shaping their electronic properties. However, even in the simplest model of spinless fermions on a two-dimensional checkerboard lattice, the quantum phase diagram as a function of nearest-neighbor interaction remains under debate. We employ constrained-path quantum Monte Carlo simulations (CP-QMC) simulations to investigate the problem using a two-dimensional torus geometry. We cross-validate our results on small lattices by comparing them with density-matrix renormalization group calculations, finding quantitative agreement. In particular, we implement an improved optimization scheme within the CP-QMC simulations, enabling the identification of a bond-nematic Dirac semimetal phase that was found in tensor-network studies on cylindrical geometries, but remains inaccessible to Hartree-Fock mean-field methods. The CP-QMC approach makes it possible to establish the emergence of this phase in a geometry that preserves lattice rotational symmetry and permits extrapolation to the thermodynamic limit. Our results show that the quantum phase diagram of spinless fermions on the checkerboard lattice with nearest-neighbor repulsion features three interaction-induced phases at half filling: a quantum anomalous Hall insulator at weak coupling, a bond-nematic Dirac semimetal at intermediate coupling, and a site-nematic insulator at strong coupling. △ Less

Submitted 27 June, 2026; v1 submitted 21 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Comments: 12 pages, 13 figures

Journal ref: SciPost Phys. 20, 184 (2026)

Self-learning Monte Carlo Method: A Review

Authors: Gaopei Pan, Chuang Chen, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: The Self-Learning Monte Carlo (SLMC) method is a Monte Carlo approach that has emerged in recent years by integrating concepts from machine learning with conventional Monte Carlo techniques. Designed to accelerate the numerical study of interacting many-body systems, SLMC significantly improves sampling efficiency by constructing an effective model -- via machine learning methods -- based on confi… ▽ More The Self-Learning Monte Carlo (SLMC) method is a Monte Carlo approach that has emerged in recent years by integrating concepts from machine learning with conventional Monte Carlo techniques. Designed to accelerate the numerical study of interacting many-body systems, SLMC significantly improves sampling efficiency by constructing an effective model -- via machine learning methods -- based on configurations generated by conventional Monte Carlo methods and then proposes global updates based on the effective model. This enhancement leads to a substantial reduction in autocorrelation time, especially near the critical region, where traditional methods typically suffer from critical slowing down and increased computation complexity. Moreover, SLMC maintains statistical accuracy by implementing a cumulative update scheme that rigorously satisfies the detailed balance condition. And more recent applications have extended the SLMC to convolutional neural networks with applications not only in condensed matter physics but also high-energy physics, quantum chemistry, and quantum simulations. The generic applicability and high computational efficiency make SLMC a powerful and scalable framework for quantum Monte Carlo simulations of strongly correlated electron systems, extending the reach of numerical investigations beyond the limitations of conventional techniques. △ Less

Submitted 16 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Comments: 22 pages,10 figures, invited book chapter

Realization of a Kondo Insulator in a Multilayer Moire Superlattice

Authors: Qiran Wu, Jingyuan Cui, Ang-Kun Wu, Yuze Meng, Dongxue Chen, Li Yan, Lei Ma, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, Shi-Zeng Lin, Su-Fei Shi, Yong-Tao Cui

Abstract: Kondo insulators are a paradigmatic strongly correlated electron system, arising from the hybridization between itinerary conduction electrons and localized magnetic moments, which opens a gap in the band of conduction electrons. Traditionally, the known Kondo insulators are found in materials with f-electrons. Recent developments in two-dimensional (2D) moire systems provide a new approach to gen… ▽ More Kondo insulators are a paradigmatic strongly correlated electron system, arising from the hybridization between itinerary conduction electrons and localized magnetic moments, which opens a gap in the band of conduction electrons. Traditionally, the known Kondo insulators are found in materials with f-electrons. Recent developments in two-dimensional (2D) moire systems provide a new approach to generate flat bands with strong electron correlation, which host localized moments at half filling. In this work, we demonstrate the realization of a Kondo insulator phase in a moire superlattice of monolayer WS2 / bilayer WSe2 which hosts a set of moire flat bands in the WSe2 layer interfacing the WS2 layer and dispersive bands in the other WSe2 layer. When both WSe2 layers are partially doped but with a total density of two holes per moire unit cell, an insulating state appears when the density of the moire band is below one hole per moire unit cell. The insulating state disappears above a certain threshold magnetic field and the system becomes metallic, which is a telltale signature of the Kondo insulator. The physics can be well explained by a periodic Anderson lattice model that includes both the on-site Coulomb repulsion in the moire flat band and the hybridization between moire flat and non-moire dispersive bands. Our results suggest that multilayer moire structures of transition metal dichalcogenides provide a tunable platform to simulate the Kondo insulator, which holds promise to tackle many critical open questions in the Kondo insulators. △ Less

Submitted 1 July, 2025; originally announced July 2025.

Generic integer and fractional quantum anomalous Hall crystals from interaction-driven band folding

Authors: Hongyu Lu, Han-Qing Wu, Bin-Bin Chen, Wang Yao, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Among the extensive studies of fractional quantum anomalous Hall (FQAH) states, there recently appears a growing interest in the topological states with coexisting charge density wave (CDW) orders. Such states are referred to as Hall crystals. However, compared to those with integer Hall conductivities, the FQAH crystal (FQAHC) is still elusive even at the level of microscopic model. In this work,… ▽ More Among the extensive studies of fractional quantum anomalous Hall (FQAH) states, there recently appears a growing interest in the topological states with coexisting charge density wave (CDW) orders. Such states are referred to as Hall crystals. However, compared to those with integer Hall conductivities, the FQAH crystal (FQAHC) is still elusive even at the level of microscopic model. In this work, we numerically study a topological flat-band model on triangular lattice with spinless fermions. At fractional filling of the Chern band, the nearest-neighbor interaction leads to a commensurate and topologically trivial CDW state. Interestingly, the folded mini-band above the CDW gap is non-trivial, and we focus on the doping of it without any projection. A series of (F)QAHC states at (fractional) integer fillings of this mini-band are discovered and some FQAHC state might even exist in less "ideal" conditions. The ground-state degeneracies of such (F)QAHC states are enlarged by the CDW degeneracy and the Hall conductivities -- determined by the fillings of the mini-band -- are different from the fillings of the original Chern band. We also study the thermodynamics of an FQAHC state and find a compressible CDW phase at intermediate temperatures, which might serve as a precursor of lower temperature FQAHC phase. Moreover, we numerically demonstrate that such a generic scheme of doping CDW-folded topological mini-band could be applied to bosonic systems, broadening the platforms of Hall-crystal physics and motivating its exploration in quantum moire and cold-atom systems. △ Less

Submitted 2 June, 2026; v1 submitted 7 May, 2025; originally announced May 2025.

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. B 113, 245105 (2026)

Symmetrizing the Constraints -- Density Matrix Renormalization Group for Constrained Lattice Models

Authors: Ting-Tung Wang, Xiaoxue Ran, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: We develop a density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) algorithm for constrained quantum lattice models that successfully {\it{implements the local constraints as symmetries in the contraction of the matrix product states and matrix product operators}}. Such an implementation allows us to investigate a quantum dimer model in DMRG for any lattice geometry wrapped around a cylinder with substantia… ▽ More We develop a density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) algorithm for constrained quantum lattice models that successfully {\it{implements the local constraints as symmetries in the contraction of the matrix product states and matrix product operators}}. Such an implementation allows us to investigate a quantum dimer model in DMRG for any lattice geometry wrapped around a cylinder with substantial circumference. We have thence computed the ground state phase diagram of the quantum dimer model on triangular lattice, with the symmetry-breaking characteristics of the columnar solid phase and $\sqrt{12}\times\sqrt{12}$ valence bond solid phase fully captured, as well as the topological entanglement entropy of the $\mathbb{Z}_2$ quantum spin liquid phase that extends to the RK point on non-bipartite lattice accurately revealed. Our DMRG algorithm on constrained quantum lattice models opens new opportunities for matrix and tensor-based algorithms for these systems that have immediate relevance towards the frustrated quantum magnets and synthetic quantum simulators. △ Less

Submitted 17 April, 2025; v1 submitted 4 April, 2025; originally announced April 2025.

Comments: 12 pages, 8 figures

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. B 112, 085110 (2025)

Topological Feature of Real-time Fisher Zeros

Authors: Yuchen Meng, Yang Liu, Erhai Zhao, Haiyuan Zou

Abstract: There are numerous methods to characterize topology and its boundary zero modes, yet their statistical mechanical properties have not received as much attention as other approaches. Here, we investigate the Fisher zeros and thermofield dynamics of topological models, revealing that boundary zero modes can be described by an overlooked real-time Fisher zero pairing effect. This effect is validated… ▽ More There are numerous methods to characterize topology and its boundary zero modes, yet their statistical mechanical properties have not received as much attention as other approaches. Here, we investigate the Fisher zeros and thermofield dynamics of topological models, revealing that boundary zero modes can be described by an overlooked real-time Fisher zero pairing effect. This effect is validated in the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model and the Kitaev chain model, with the latter exhibiting a Fisher zero braiding picture. Topological zero modes exhibit robustness even when non-Hermiticity is introduced into the system and display characteristics of imaginary-time crystals when the energy eigenvalues are complex. We further examine the real-time Fisher zeros of the one-dimensional transverse field Ising model, which maps to the Kitaev chain. We present a fractal picture of the Fisher zeros, illustrating how interactions eliminate topology. The mechanism of zero-pairing provides a natural statistical mechanical approach to understanding the connection between topology and many-body physics. △ Less

Submitted 2 April, 2025; originally announced April 2025.

Comments: 6 pages, 4 figures

Quasiparticle Spectroscopy of Chiral Charge Order

Authors: Jiangchang Zheng, Caiyun Chen, Gaopei Pan, Xu Zhang, Chen Chen, Yuan Da Liao, Ganesh Pokharel, Andrea Capa Salinas, Yizhou Wei, Hoi Chun Po, Ding Pan, Stephen D. Wilson, Zi Yang Meng, Berthold Jäck

Abstract: Electronic interactions can give rise to novel charge density waves with unconventional ground states. Recent experiments report evidence for a chiral charge density wave (CDW) that breaks time-reversal symmetry in the kagome metals AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A=K, Rb or Cs). Theoretical analyses propose a topologically nontrivial loop current phase that spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry as the favora… ▽ More Electronic interactions can give rise to novel charge density waves with unconventional ground states. Recent experiments report evidence for a chiral charge density wave (CDW) that breaks time-reversal symmetry in the kagome metals AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A=K, Rb or Cs). Theoretical analyses propose a topologically nontrivial loop current phase that spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry as the favorable CDW ground state. However, spectroscopic insights into the quasiparticle excitations of chiral charge order in AV$_3$Sb$_5$ compounds are still missing and conflicting experimental results question the presence of a loop current phase. We employed individual magnetic atoms as local quantum sensors to examine the quasiparticle excitations of chiral charge order in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Our spectroscopic measurements show that the magnetic moment of Co induces a spatially-localized low-energy state in the CDW phase. The distinct spectral signatures of this state are consistent with theoretical expectations for the quasiparticle excitation of a loop current order parameter, while control experiment rule out alternative scenario. Our work provides unique insights into the ground state of chiral charge order in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ and introduces a novel method to examine other topological states, such as the fractional Chern insulators, with the STM. △ Less

Submitted 24 March, 2025; originally announced March 2025.

Magnetic Bloch States at Integer Flux Quanta Induced by Super-moiré Potential in Graphene Aligned with Twisted Boron Nitride

Authors: Yaqi Ma, Meizhen Huang, Xu Zhang, Weixiong Hu, Zishu Zhou, Kai Feng, Wenhui Li, Yong Chen, Chenxuan Lou, Weikang Zhang, Haoxi Ji, Yibo Wang, Zefei Wu, Xiaodong Cui, Wang Yao, Shichao Yan, Zi Yang Meng, Ning Wang

Abstract: Two-dimensional electron systems in both magnetic fields and periodic potentials are described by Hofstadter butterfly, a fundamental problem of solid-state physics. While moiré systems provide a powerful method to realize this spectrum, previous experiments, however, have been limited to fractional flux quanta regime due to the difficulty of building ~ 50 nm periodic modulations. Here, we demonst… ▽ More Two-dimensional electron systems in both magnetic fields and periodic potentials are described by Hofstadter butterfly, a fundamental problem of solid-state physics. While moiré systems provide a powerful method to realize this spectrum, previous experiments, however, have been limited to fractional flux quanta regime due to the difficulty of building ~ 50 nm periodic modulations. Here, we demonstrate a super-moiré strategy to overcome this challenge. By aligning monolayer graphene (G) with 1.0° twisted hexagonal boron nitride (t-hBN), a 63.2 nm bichromatic G/t-hBN super-moiré is constructed, made possible by exploiting the electrostatic nature of t-hBN potential. Under magnetic field B, magnetic Bloch states at integer flux quanta (1-9) are achieved and observed as integer Brown-Zak oscillations, expanding the flux quanta from factions to integers. Theoretical analysis reproduces these experimental findings. This work opens new avenues to study unexplored Hofstadter butterfly, explore emergent topological order at integer flux quanta and engineer long-wavelength periodic modulations. △ Less

Submitted 11 February, 2025; v1 submitted 11 February, 2025; originally announced February 2025.

Comments: 15 pages, 4 figures

Journal ref: Nat. Commun. 16, 1860 (2025)

Detecting Many-Body Scars from Fisher Zeros

Authors: Yuchen Meng, Songtai Lv, Yang Liu, Zefan Tan, Erhai Zhao, Haiyuan Zou

Abstract: The far-from-equilibrium dynamics of certain interacting quantum systems still defy precise understanding. One example is the so-called quantum many-body scars (QMBSs), where a set of energy eigenstates evade thermalization to give rise to long-lived oscillations. Despite the success of viewing scars from the perspectives of symmetry, commutant algebra, and quasiparticles, it remains a challenge t… ▽ More The far-from-equilibrium dynamics of certain interacting quantum systems still defy precise understanding. One example is the so-called quantum many-body scars (QMBSs), where a set of energy eigenstates evade thermalization to give rise to long-lived oscillations. Despite the success of viewing scars from the perspectives of symmetry, commutant algebra, and quasiparticles, it remains a challenge to elucidate the mechanism underlying all QMBS and to distinguish them from other forms of ergodicity breaking. In this work, we introduce an alternative route to detect and diagnose QMBS based on Fisher zeros, i.e., the patterns of zeros of the analytically continued partition function $Z$ on the complex $β$ (inverse temperature) plane. For systems with scars, a continuous line of Fisher zeros will appear off the imaginary $β$ axis and extend upward, separating the $β$ plane into regions with distinctive thermalization behaviors. This conjecture is motivated from interpreting the complex $Z$ as the return amplitude of the thermofield double state, and it is validated by analyzing two models with QMBS, the $\bar{P}X\bar{P}$ model and the Ising chain in external fields. These models also illustrate the key difference between QMBS and strong ergodicity breaking including their distinctive renormalization group flows on the complex $β$ plane. This ``statistical mechanics" approach places QMBS within the same framework of thermal and dynamical phase transitions. It has the advantage of spotting scars without exhaustively examining each individual quantum state. △ Less

Submitted 18 August, 2025; v1 submitted 16 January, 2025; originally announced January 2025.

Comments: 7+6 pages, 5+7 figures

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 070402 (2025)

Spectra of Magnetoroton and Chiral Graviton Modes of Fractional Chern Insulator

Authors: Min Long, Hongyu Lu, Han-Qing Wu, Zi Yang Meng

Abstract: Employing the state-of-the-art time-dependent variational principle (TDVP) algorithm, we compute the spectra of charge-neutral excitations in the $ν=1/2$ (bosonic) \updated{ and $1/3$ (fermionic) fractional Chern insulator (FCI)} on the Haldane honeycomb lattice model. The magnetoroton visualized from the dynamic density structure factor acquires a minimum gap at finite momentum that can go soft w… ▽ More Employing the state-of-the-art time-dependent variational principle (TDVP) algorithm, we compute the spectra of charge-neutral excitations in the $ν=1/2$ (bosonic) \updated{ and $1/3$ (fermionic) fractional Chern insulator (FCI)} on the Haldane honeycomb lattice model. The magnetoroton visualized from the dynamic density structure factor acquires a minimum gap at finite momentum that can go soft with increasing interaction and give rise to a charge density wave (CDW) at the same wavevector. As the system approaches the FCI-to-CDW transition point, we observe a pronounced sharpening of the roton mode, suggesting that the magnetoroton behaves more like a quasiparticle as it softens. Notably, this occurs while the single-particle gap remains finite. Besides the magnetoroton at finite momentum, we also construct quadrupolar chiral operators in a discrete lattice and resolve the chiral graviton mode around the $Γ$ point of the Brillouin zone. Furthermore, we show the different chiralities of the gravitons of FCIs with opposite-sign Hall conductance for the first time. △ Less

Submitted 4 June, 2025; v1 submitted 30 December, 2024; originally announced January 2025.

Comments: 5+5pages, 4+8 figures

Journal ref: Physical Review B 113, L041108 (2026)

Guidelines for Correlative Imaging and Analysis of Reactive Lithium Metal Battery Materials

Authors: Shuang Bai, Zhao Liu, Diyi Cheng, Bingyu Lu, Nestor J. Zaluzec, Ganesh Raghavendran, Shen Wang, Thomas S. Marchese, Brandon van Leer, Letian Li, Lin Jiang, Adam Stokes, Joseph P. Cline, Rachel Osmundsen, Paul Barends, Alexander Bright, Minghao Zhang, Ying Shirley Meng

Abstract: To unlock the full potential of lithium metal batteries, a deep understanding of lithium metal reactivity and its solid electrolyte interphase is essential. Correlative imaging, combining focused ion beam and electron microscopy offers a powerful approach for multi-scale characterization. However, the extreme reactivity of lithium metal and its SEI presents challenges in investigating deposition a… ▽ More To unlock the full potential of lithium metal batteries, a deep understanding of lithium metal reactivity and its solid electrolyte interphase is essential. Correlative imaging, combining focused ion beam and electron microscopy offers a powerful approach for multi-scale characterization. However, the extreme reactivity of lithium metal and its SEI presents challenges in investigating deposition and stripping mechanisms. In this work, we systematically evaluated the storage stability of lithium metal in glovebox before and after electrochemical deposition. We then assessed different FIB ion sources for their impact on lithium metal lamella preparation for transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, we examined cryogenic-TEM transfer methods, optimizing for minimal contamination during sample handling. Contrary to prior assumptions, we demonstrate that high resolution imaging of pure lithium metal at room temperature is achievable using inert gas transfer with an electron dose rate exceeding 1000 e/A2/s, without significant detectable damage. In contrast, SEI components, such as Li2CO3 and LiF display much greater sensitivity to electron beams, requiring cryogenic conditions and precise dose control for nano/atomic scale imaging. We quantified electron dose limits for these SEI components to track their structural evolution under irradiation. Based on these findings, we propose a robust protocol for lithium metal sample handling - from storage to atomic-level characterization - minimizing damage and contamination. This work paves the way for more accurate and reproducible studies, accelerating the development of next-generation lithium metal batteries by ensuing the preservation of native material properties during analysis. △ Less

Submitted 26 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

Comments: 31 pages, 6 figures