Broken Phase Research Articles

Perfect light absorber with a PT phase transition via coupled topological interface states

Recently, the concepts of parity–time (PT) symmetry and band topology have inspired many novel ideas for light manipulation in their respective directions. Here we propose and demonstrate a perfect light absorber with a PT phase transition via coupled topological interface states (TISs), which combines the two concepts in a one-dimensional photonic crystal heterostructure. By fine tuning the coupling between TISs, the PT phase transition is revealed by the evolution of absorption spectra in both ideal and non-ideal PT symmetry cases. Especially, in the ideal case, a perfect light absorber at an exceptional point with unidirectional invisibility is numerically obtained. In the non-ideal case, a perfect light absorber in a broken phase is experimentally realized, which verifies the possibility of tailoring non-Hermiticity by engineering the coupling. Our work paves the way for novel effects and functional devices from the exceptional point of coupled TISs, such as a unidirectional light absorber and exceptional-point sensor.

Transverse Peierls Transition

We propose a new type of spontaneous symmetry breaking phase caused by softening of the transverse acoustic phonon modes through electron-phonon coupling. These new phases include the shear density wave and self-twisting wave, which are caused by softening of linearly and circularly polarized acoustic phonon modes, respectively. We propose that two of the topological semimetal systems in the quantum limit, where the electrons only occupy the lowest Landau bands under external magnetic field, will be the perfect systems to realize these new phases. Exotic physical effects will be induced in these new phases, including the 3D quantum Hall effect, chiral standing acoustic wave, magnetoacoustic effects, and chiral phonon correction to the Einstein–de Hass effect.1 MoreReceived 20 April 2022Revised 13 October 2022Accepted 23 January 2023DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.13.011027Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.Published by the American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasElectron-phonon couplingLandau levelsTopological materialsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Anisotropic gravitational waves induced by hypermagnetic fields during the electroweak phase transition epoch

We study the anisotropies of gravitational waves induced by weak hypermagnetic fields which are randomly distributed and oriented during the electroweak phase transition in the early universe. The theory setup of this study is the standard model plus a real singlet scalar field, which can produce the needed strongly first order electroweak phase transition. Then we investigate how the hypermagnetic fields can convert to magnetic fields and we compute the departure of energy difference between the symmetric phase and the broken phase when the magnetic fields are turned on. It is found that the presence of the hypermagnetic fields can increase the Euclidean action, thus can decrease nucleation temperature, which can lead to a supercool plasma. We point out that the hypermagnetic field can enhance the gravitational wave production from a first order electroweak phase transition and the inhomogeneity of primordial hypermagnetic field can lead to anisotropies of gravitational waves. By examining three well-motivated distribution of hypermagnetic fields, we calculate the corresponding angular power spectra of stochastic gravitational wave background and find they can be significantly larger than the contributions of the Sachs-Wolfe effects and integrated Sachs-Wolfe effects. Our results show that the anisotropies of gravitational wave could provide a novel probe to the primordial hypermagnetic field in the electroweak phase transition epoch.

Probing neutral triple gauge couplings at the LHC and future hadron colliders

We study probes of neutral triple gauge couplings (nTGCs) at the LHC and the proposed 100TeV $pp$ colliders, and compare their sensitivity reaches with those of the proposed $e^+ e^-$ colliders. The nTGCs provide a unique window to the new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) because they can arise from SM effective field theory (SMEFT) operators that respect the full electroweak gauge group $SU(2)_L\otimes U(1)_Y$ of the SM only at the level of dimension-8 or higher. We derive the neutral triple gauge vertices (nTGVs) generated by these dimension-8 operators in the broken phase and map them onto a newly generalized form factor formulation, which takes into account only the residual U(1)$_{\rm{em}}$ gauge symmetry. Using this mapping, we derive new relations between the form factors that guarantee a truly consistent form factor formulation of the nTGVs and remove large unphysical energy-dependent terms. We then analyze the sensitivity reaches of the LHC and future 100TeV hadron colliders for probing the nTGCs via both the dimension-8 nTGC operators and the corresponding nTGC form factors in the reactions $ pp(q\bar{q})\to Z\gamma$ with $Z\to\ell^+\ell^-,\nu\bar{\nu}$. We compare their sensitivities with the existing LHC measurements of nTGCs and with those of the high-energy $e^+e^-$ colliders. In general, we find that the prospective LHC sensitivities are comparable to those of an $e^+ e^-$ collider with center-of-mass energy $\leq 1$TeV, whereas an $e^+ e^-$ collider with center-of-mass energy $(3 - 5)$TeV would have greater sensitivities, and a 100TeV $pp$ collider could provide the most sensitive probes of the nTGCs.

On the Lorentz symmetry in conformally reduced quantum gravity

The functional renormalization group treatment of the conform reduced Einstein–Hilbert gravity is extended by following the evolution of the time and space derivatives separately, in order to consider the Lorentz symmetry during the evolution. We found the Reuter fixed point in the ultraviolet region. It is shown that starting from the Gaussian fixed point the Lorentz symmetry breaks down in the vicinity of the Reuter fixed point. Similarly, in the broken phase it also breaks down in the infrared region close to a critical singularity scale. By calculating the anomalous dimension form the kinetic term of the action, we found a new relevant coupling belonging to the curvature.

Multiband character revealed from weak antilocalization in platinum thin films

Platinum (Pt) has been very much used for spin-charge conversion in spintronics research due to its large intrinsic spin-orbit interaction. Magnetoconductance originating from weak antilocalization in the quantum interference regime is used as a powerful tool to obtain the microscopic information of spin-orbit interaction and the coherence phase breaking scattering process among itinerant electrons. To acquire the knowledge of different types of scattering processes, we have performed a magnetoconductance study on Pt thin films which manifests multiband (multichannel) conduction. An extensive analysis of quantum-interference-originated weak antilocalization reveals the existence of strong (weak) interband scattering between two similar (different) orbitals. Coherence phase breaking lengths $({l}_{\ensuremath{\phi}})$ and their temperature dependence are found to be significantly different for these two conducting bands. The observed effects are consistent with the theoretical prediction that there exist three Fermi sheets with one $s$ and two $d$ orbital character. This study provides the evidence of two independent nonsimilar conducting channels and the presence of anisotropic spin-orbit interaction along with $e\text{\ensuremath{-}}e$ correlation in Pt thin films.

Assessment of Countermovement Jump: What Should We Report?

The purpose of the present study was (i) to explore the reliability of the most commonly used countermovement jump (CMJ) metrics, and (ii) to reduce a large pool of metrics with acceptable levels of reliability via principal component analysis to the significant factors capable of providing distinctive aspects of CMJ performance. Seventy-nine physically active participants (thirty-seven females and forty-two males) performed three maximal CMJs while standing on a force platform. Each participant visited the laboratory on two occasions, separated by 24-48 h. The most reliable variables were performance variables (CV = 4.2-11.1%), followed by kinetic variables (CV = 1.6-93.4%), and finally kinematic variables (CV = 1.9-37.4%). From the 45 CMJ computed metrics, only 24 demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability (CV ≤ 10%). These variables were included in the principal component analysis and loaded a total of four factors, explaining 91% of the CMJ variance: performance component (variables responsible for overall jump performance), eccentric component (variables related to the breaking phase), concentric component (variables related to the upward phase), and jump strategy component (variables influencing the jumping style). Overall, the findings revealed important implications for sports scientists and practitioners regarding the CMJ-derived metrics that should be considered to gain a comprehensive insight into the biomechanical parameters related to CMJ performance.

Hodnotenie tribologických vlastností DLC povlakov vybraných tribologických dvojíc

DLC coatings have several characteristics that have industrial applications. Principal advantages include a low coefficient of friction, hardness, abrasion resistance, and corrosion resistance. Coatings are evaluated using a number of test procedures. The ball-on-flat method was used to conduct the tests that are the focus of this paper. The tribological pair consisted of a DLC-coated plate and test balls made from three different materials. Experiments provide the friction coefficient curves as well as an optical evaluation of the DLC coating's wear. In all three types of examined tribological pairings, the coating was worn, but the DLC coating on the plate was not completely removed. After the break-in phase, the coefficient of friction has approximately constant values.

Spontaneous conformal symmetry breaking and quantum quadratic gravity

We investigate several quantum phenomena related to quadratic gravity after rewriting the general fourth-order action in a more convenient form that is second order in derivatives and produces only first-class constraints in phase space. We find that a Higgs mechanism may occur in the conformally invariant subset of the general quadratic action if the theory is conformally coupled to a scalar field that acquires a nonzero vacuum expectation value and spontaneously breaks the conformal symmetry. Then, in the broken phase, the originally massless spin-2 ghost may absorb both the scalar and vector fields to become massive. We also perform a Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin quantization of second-order quadratic gravity in the covariant operator formalism and discuss conditions under which unitarity of the full interacting quantum theory may be established.

Correlated insulating states in carbon nanotubes controlled by magnetic field

Recent experiments have shown that nearly metallic nanotubes remain insulating throughout magnetic field sweeps, in which the magnetic flux through the nanotube is expected to pass through a critical point where the single-particle band gap closes in one valley. Here, the authors investigate correlated insulating states of zigzag carbon nanotubes, which emerge from the interplay of electron-electron interactions, magnetic flux, strain, and spin-orbit coupling. They find that the gap for charged excitations generically remains open near the critical flux value, and predict a novel mirror symmetry breaking phase that may arise in the experimentally relevant regime of spin-orbit coupling.

Spin Josephson effects of spin–orbit-coupled Bose–Einstein condensates in a non-Hermitian double well

In this paper, we investigate the spin and tunneling dynamics of a spin–orbit-coupled noninteracting Bose–Einstein condensate in a periodically driven non-Hermitian double-well potential. Under high-frequency driving, we obtain the effective time-averaged Hamiltonian by using the standard time-averaging method, and analytically calculate the Floquet quasienergies, revealing that the parity-time ()-breaking phase transition appears even for arbitrarily small non-Hermitian parameters when the spin–orbit coupling strength takes half-integer value, irrespective of the values of other parameters used. When the system is -symmetric with balanced gain and loss, we find numerically and analytically that in the broken -symmetric regions, there will exist the net spin current together with a vanishing atomic current, if we drop the contribution of the exponential growth of the norm to the current behaviors. When the system is non--symmetric, though the quasienergies are partial complex, a stable net spin current can be generated by controlling the periodic driving field, which is accompanied by a spatial localization of the condensate in the well with gain. The results deepen the understanding of non-Hermitian physics and could be useful for engineering a variety of devices for spintronics.

Transmission across non-Hermitian -symmetric quantum dots and ladders

A non-Hermitian (NH) region connected to semi-infinite Hermitian lattices acts either as a source or as a sink and the probability current is not conserved in a scattering typically. Even a -symmetric region that contains both a source and a sink does not lead to current conservation plainly. We propose a model and study the scattering across a NH -symmetric two-level quantum dot (QD) connected to two semi-infinite one-dimensional lattices in a special way so that the probability current is conserved. Aharonov–Bohm type phases are included in the model, which arise from magnetic fluxes () through two loops in the system. We show that when , the probability current is conserved. We find that the transmission across the QD can be perfect in the -unbroken phase (corresponding to real eigenenergies of the isolated QD) whereas the transmission is never perfect in the -broken phase (corresponding to purely imaginary eigenenergies of the QD). The two transmission peaks have the same width only for special values of the fluxes (being odd multiples of ). In the broken phase, the transmission peak is surprisingly not at zero energy. We give an insight into this feature through a four-site toy model. We extend the model to a -symmetric ladder connected to two semi-infinite lattices. We show that the transmission is perfect in unbroken phase of the ladder due to Fabry–Pérot type interference, that can be controlled by tuning the chemical potential. In the broken phase of the ladder, the transmission is substantially suppressed.

Nearly critical holographic superfluids

We study the nearly critical behaviour of holographic superfluids at finite temperature and chemical potential in their probe limit. This allows us to examine the coupled dynamics of the full complex order parameter with the charge density of the system. We derive an effective theory for the long wavelength limit of the gapless and pseudo-gapped modes by using analytic techniques in the bulk. We match our construction with Model F in the classification of Hohenberg and Halperin and compute the complex dissipative kinetic transport coefficient in terms of thermodynamics and black hole horizon data. We carry out an analysis of the corresponding modes and argue that at finite density the dispersion relations are discontinuous between the normal and the broken phase. We compare and contrast our results with earlier numerical work.

Mean string field theory: Landau-Ginzburg theory for 1-form symmetries

By analogy with the Landau-Ginzburg theory of ordinary zero-form symmetries, we introduce and develop a Landau-Ginzburg theory of one-form global symmetries, which we call mean string field theory. The basic dynamical variable is a string field – defined on the space of closed loops – that can be used to describe the creation, annihilation, and condensation of effective strings. Like its zero-form cousin, the mean string field theory provides a useful picture of the phase diagram of broken and unbroken phases. We provide a transparent derivation of the area law for charged line operators in the unbroken phase and describe the dynamics of gapless Goldstone modes in the broken phase. The framework also provides a theory of topological defects of the broken phase and a description of the phase transition that should be valid above an upper critical dimension, which we discuss. We also discuss general consequences of emergent one-form symmetries at zero and finite temperature.

Extolling thermoelectric properties of incommensurate (IC) TlBiSe2 polycrystals prepared by melt temperature oscillation method

The high-ordered crystal structure of a thermoelectric material does not delimit the phonon conductivity but shows improved electrical properties. Disordered crystal structures act as scattering centers for phonon, but at the expense of the electrical properties of the material. Hence, a diminished thermal (phonon) conductivity and improved electronic conductivity can be obtained from an incommensurate (IC) phase structure. This paper reports that TlBiSe2 polycrystal material exhibits incommensurate (IC) phase (disordered structure). The ‘Tl+’ connecting chains and the disordered structure inherent in the IC phase enhance the TE properties in TlBiSe2. The crystalline phase was confirmed for TlBiSe2 by X-ray diffraction (XRD). These polycrystals have shown their characteristic Raman modes and micro flake-like morphology, as observed by Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the IC phase formation by observing the characteristic binding energy shift of ‘Tl’ and ‘Se’ states. The parallel plane symmetry break in the IC phase has resulted in a hall carrier concentration (n) of 3.49 × 1020 cm−3 and mobility (μ) of 8.27 m2V−1s−1. Further, Seebeck coefficient showed 80 μV/K; the Wiedemann Franz law calculation reserved a lower electronic thermal conductivity of 0.003381 Wm−1K−1 and a power factor of 2.956 μW/m K2 has been attained.

Lattice Boltzmann Method simulation of wellbore gas–liquid​ phase transition

Whenever the drilling wellbore is at the state of gas–liquid two-phase flow, gas slips and migrates along the drilling fluid. Due to the decreased wellbore temperature and pressure during gas migration, gas volume will gradually increase. When the temperature and pressure reach the critical value of gas–liquid phase, phase change occurs. The volume of natural gas expands suddenly, and a large amount of gas is generated. It easily leads to a well blowout, which is a great challenge to well control. Therefore, analyzing the gas–liquid phase changes in drilling wellbore has important practical significance for realizing well control safety. In this paper, Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) is applied to simulate phase transition of wellbore gas–liquid​ two-phase system. Research results show that gas–liquid distribution after phase transition is closely related to the system original density. Compared to the critical density of gas–liquid phase change, when the system original density is lower, continuous gas forms in wellbore. While the system original density is higher, gas phase breaks out into small bubbles and migrates along the wellbore. Phase distribution directly determines gas–liquid two-phase flow pattern in wellbore, which is crucial to wellbore pressure accurate prediction. Some valuable attempts are conducted to investigate gas–liquid two-phase flow in wellbore by using LBM in this research.

Consistent Theory of Kinetic Mixing and the Higgs Low-Energy Theorem.

Extensions of the standard model of particle physics with new Abelian gauge groups allow for kinetic mixing between the new gauge bosons and the hypercharge gauge boson, resulting in mixing with the photon. In many models, the mixing with the hypercharge gauge boson captures only part of the kinetic mixing term with the photon, since the new gauge bosons can also mix with the neutral component of the SU(2)_{L} gauge bosons. We take these contributions into account and present a consistent description of kinetic mixing for general Abelian gauge groups both in the electroweak symmetric and the broken phase. We identify an effective operator that captures the kinetic mixing with SU(2)_{L} and demonstrate how renormalizable contributions arise if the charged fields only obtain their masses from electroweak symmetry breaking. For the first time, a low-energy theorem for the couplings of novel Abelian gauge bosons with the standard model Higgs boson is derived from the one-loop kinetic mixing amplitudes.

Parity‐Time Phase Transition of Topological Corner States in Square Lattice Photonic Crystal Structures

Marriage of the concepts of parity‐time (PT) symmetry and topology recently gave rise to PT‐symmetric topological photonics, triggering great interest in the community of photonics. This work reveals PT‐symmetric phase transition in second‐order topological photonic systems: the photonic systems consisting of square lattice topological photonic crystals with balanced gain and loss support the corner states, two of which are in thresholdless PT broken phase and the other two exhibit PT phase transition with a threshold determined by the coupling strength between the corner modes. The main advantage of the proposed photonic system is the significantly high gain contrast between the corner states and unnecessary background modes originating from bulk and edge ones, enabling diverse photonic applications such as nanolasing with significantly high power compared with the preceding topological nanolasers made of only gain sublattices. The results presented in this work pave the way toward potential applications such as biological sensing and spectroscopy at the nanoscale.

Quantum phase transition of a two-dimensional Rydberg atom array in an optical cavity

We study the two-dimensional Rydberg atom array in an optical cavity with help of the meanfield theory and the large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations. The strong dipole-dipole interactions between Rydberg atoms can make the system exhibit the crystal structure, and the coupling between two-level atom and cavity photon mode can result in the formation of the polariton. The interplay between them provides a rich quantum phase diagram including the Mott, solid-1/2, superradiant and superradiant solid phases. As the two-order co-existed phase, the superradiant solid phase breaks both translational and U(1) symmetries. Based on both numerical and analytic results, we found the region of superradiant solid is much larger than one dimensional case, so that it can be more easily observed in the experiment. Finally, we discuss how the energy gap of the Rydberg atom can affect the type of the quantum phase transition and the number of triple points.

The energy budget of cosmological first-order phase transitions beyond the bag equation of state

The stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds (SGWBs) from the cosmological first-order phase transitions (FOPTs) serve as a promising probe for the new physics beyond the standard model of particle physics. When most of the bubble walls collide with each other long after they had reached the terminal wall velocity, the dominated contribution to the SGWBs comes from the sound waves characterized by the efficiency factor of inserting the released vacuum energy into the bulk fluid motions. However, the previous works of estimating this efficiency factor have only considered the simplified case of the constant sound velocities in both symmetric and broken phases, either for the bag model with equal sound velocities or ν-model with different sound velocities in the symmetric and broken phases, which is unrealistic from a viewpoint of particle physics. In this paper, we propose to solve the fluid EoM with an iteration method when taking into account the sound-velocity variation across the bubble wall for a general and realistic equation of state (EoS) beyond the simple bag model and ν-model. We have found a suppression effect for the efficiency factor of bulk fluid motions, though such a suppression effect could be negligible for the strong FOPT, in which case the previous estimation from a bag EoS on the efficiency factor of bulk fluid motions still works as a good approximation.