Chiral Symmetry Research Articles

Real-Space Formulation of Topology for Disordered Rice–Mele Chains without Chiral Symmetry

Real-Space Formulation of Topology for Disordered Rice–Mele Chains without Chiral Symmetry

Three-dimensional spontaneous flow transition in a homeotropic active nematic

Active nematics are driven, non-equilibrium systems relevant to biological processes including tissue mechanics and morphogenesis, and to active metamaterials in general. We study the three-dimensional spontaneous flow transition of an active nematic in an infinite slab geometry using a combination of numerics and analytics. We show that it is determined by the interplay of two eigenmodes – called S- and D-mode – that are unstable at the same activity threshold and spontaneously breaks both rotational symmetry and chiral symmetry. The onset of the unstable modes is described by a non-Hermitian integro-differential operator, which we determine their exponential growth rates from using perturbation theory. The S-mode is the fastest growing. After it reaches a finite amplitude, the growth of the D-mode is anisotropic, being promoted perpendicular to the S-mode and suppressed parallel to it, forming a steady state with a full three-dimensional director field and a well-defined chirality. Lastly, we derive a model of the leading-order time evolution of the system close to the activity threshold.

Observation of Chiral Symmetry Breaking in Toroidal Vortices of Light

Observation of Chiral Symmetry Breaking in Toroidal Vortices of Light

Chiral Symmetry and Nuclear Interactions

AbstractAbout 3 decades ago, Steven Weinberg came up with an idea of using the effective chiral Lagrangian to describe nuclear interactions, which has had a long-lasting impact on nuclear physics. Here, I will reflect on what has been learned since that time about the role of chiral symmetry in this context and discuss achievements and challenges in advancing chiral EFT into a precision tool for light nuclei.

SiC substrate-facilitated lithium-ion migration to modulate Kekulé-O graphene

Li-ions-intercalated bilayer graphene (BLG) on a SiC substrate can form Kekulé-O mode graphene (Kekulé-O graphene), which has attracted widespread interest for its demonstration of chiral symmetry breaking in particle physics. However, the Kekulé-O mode cannot be observed at high temperatures, which is still a mystery. In this Letter, the effect of the SiC substrate on the migration of Li-ions within the BLG was investigated by first-principles calculations. Our results show that the SiC substrate can significantly reduce the migration energy barrier of Li-ions at both low and high Li concentration. At saturated Li-ion concentration, due to the presence of SiC substrate, Li-ions only need to cross a very small barrier (0.06 eV) to destroy the Kekulé-O graphene. Therefore, the disappearance of Kekulé-O graphene prepared at high temperatures is attributed to the fast migration of Li-ions. This work provides atomic understanding of the temperature modulation of Kekulé-O graphene.

Topological phase transitions with zero indirect band gaps

Topological phase transitions in band models are usually associated to the gap closing between the highest valance band and the lowest conduction band, which can give rise to different types of nodal structures, such as Dirac/Weyl points, lines and surfaces. In this work, we show the existence of a different kind of topological phase transitions in one-dimensional systems, which are instead characterized by the presence of a robust zero indirect gap, which occurs when the top of the valence band coincides with the bottom of the conduction band in energy but not in momentum. More specifically, we consider an one-dimensional model on a trimer chain that is protected by both particle–hole and chiral-inversion symmetries. At the critical point, the system supports a Dirac-like point. After introducing a deforming parameter that breaks both inversion and chiral symmetries but preserves their combination, we observe the emergence of a zero indirect band gap, which results to be related to the persymmetry of our Hamiltonian. Importantly, the zero indirect gap holds for a range of values of the deforming parameter. We finally discuss the implementation of the deforming parameter in our tight-binding model through time-periodic (Floquet) driving.

Noninvertible symmetries and anomalies from gauging 1-form electric centers

We devise a general method for obtaining 0-form noninvertible discrete chiral symmetries in 4-dimensional SU(N)/ℤp and SU(N) × U(1)/ℤp gauge theories with matter in arbitrary representations, where ℤp is a subgroup of the electric 1-form center symmetry. Our approach involves placing the theory on a three-torus and utilizing the Hamiltonian formalism to construct noninvertible operators by introducing twists compatible with the gauging of ℤp. These theories exhibit electric 1-form and magnetic 1-form global symmetries, and their generators play a crucial role in constructing the corresponding Hilbert space. The noninvertible operators are demonstrated to project onto specific Hilbert space sectors characterized by particular magnetic fluxes. Furthermore, when subjected to twists by the electric 1-form global symmetry, these surviving sectors reveal an anomaly between the noninvertible and the 1-form symmetries. We argue that an anomaly implies that certain sectors, characterized by the eigenvalues of the electric symmetry generators, exhibit multi-fold degeneracies. When we couple these theories to axions, infrared axionic noninvertible operators inherit the ultraviolet structure of the theory, including the projective nature of the operators and their anomalies. We discuss various examples of vector and chiral gauge theories that showcase the versatility of our approach.

Fate of Chiral Symmetries in the Quark-Gluon Plasma from an Instanton-Based Random Matrix Model of QCD.

We propose a new way of understanding how chiral symmetry is realized in the high temperature phase of QCD. Based on the finding that a simple free instanton gas precisely describes the details of the lowest part of the spectrum of the lattice overlap Dirac operator, we propose an instanton-based random matrix model of QCD with dynamical quarks. Simulations of this model reveal that even for small quark mass the Dirac spectral density has a singularity at the origin, caused by a dilute gas of free instantons. Even though the interaction, mediated by light dynamical quarks, creates small instanton-anti-instanton molecules, those do not influence the singular part of the spectrum, and this singular part is shown to dominate Banks-Casher type sums in the chiral limit. By generalizing the Banks-Casher formula for the singular spectrum, we show that in the chiral limit the chiral condensate vanishes if there are at least two massless flavors. Our model also indicates a possible way of resolving a long-standing debate, as it suggests that for two massless quark flavors the U(1)_{A} symmetry is likely to remain broken up to arbitrarily high finite temperatures.

Dirac materials in parallel non-uniform electromagnetic fields generated by SUSY: a chiral Planar Hall Effect

Within a Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics (SUSY-QM) framework, the (3+1) Dirac equation describing a Dirac material in the presence of external parallel electric and magnetic fields is solved. Considering static but non-uniform electric and magnetic profiles with translational symmetry along the y-direction, the Dirac equation is transformed into two decoupled pairs of Schrödinger equations, one for each chirality of the fermion fields. Taking trigonometric and hyperbolic profiles for the vector and scalar potentials, respectively, we arrive at SUSY partner Pöschl-Teller-like quantum potentials. Restricting to the conditions of the potentials that support an analytic zero-mode solution, we obtain a nontrivial current density perpendicular to the electric and magnetic fields, thus, defining a plane where these three vectors become coplanar, indicating the possibility of realizing the Planar Hall Effect. Furthermore, this non-vanishing current density is the sum of current densities for the left- and right-chiralities, suggesting that the net current is a consequence of chiral symmetry. Possible application in current steering of solitonic nature through a Type-I Weyl semimetal is discussed.

Chiral symmetry restoration and the ultraquantum limit of axionic Charge Density Waves in Weyl Semimetals

A new mechanism for chiral symmetry restoration at extreme high magnetic fields is proposed in the context of the Magnetic Catalysis scenario in Weyl Semimetals. Contrary to previous proposals, here we show that, at very large magnetic fields, the transverse velocity of the axion field, the phase mode of the chiral condensate \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\langle \\overline{\\Psi }\\Psi \\rangle $$\\end{document}, becomes effectively one-dimensional and its fluctuations destroy a possible nonzero value of this fermionic condensate. We also show that, despite of the U(1) chiral symmetry not being broken at extremely large magnetic fields, the spectrum of the system is comprised by a well defined gapless bosonic excitation, connected to the axion mode, and a correlated insulating fermionic liquid that is neutral to U(1) chiral transformations. When the theory is supplemented with the inclusion of dynamical electromagnetic fields, the chiral symmetry is broken again, and the conventional scenario of magnetic catalysis can be recovered.

Focusing Micromechanical Polaritons in Topologically Nontrivial Hyperbolic Metasurfaces.

Vertically stacked multiple atomically thin layers have recently widened the landscape of rich optical structures thanks to these quantum metamaterials or van der Waals (vdW) materials, featuring hyperbolic polaritons with unprecedented avenues for light. Despite their far-reaching implications, most of their properties rest entirely on a trivial band topological origin. Here, a 2D approach is adopted toward a micromechanical vdW analogue that, as a result of engineered chiral and mirror symmetries, provides topologically resilient hyperbolic radiation of mechanical vibrations in the ultrasonic regime. By applying laser vibrometry of the micrometer-sized metasurface, we are able to exhibit the exotic fingerprints of robust hyperbolic radiation spanning several frequencies, which beyond their physical relevance, may enable ultrasonictechnologies.

On the symmetries of elementary fermions

This paper deals with the symmetries of elementary fermions and their derivation from fundamental physical principles such as the Lorentz invariance and from the spinor-helicity formalism employed to three-vectors. The generators of the Lorentz group are discussed, and the physics of the associated chiral spins is used to establish the chiral symmetry SU(2). The helicity of spin is defined which, when being applied to the hadronic isospin, yields the symmetry group SU(4). The Kronecker product of these two basic symmetries defines a unified symmetry SU(2)⊗SU(4)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$SU(2) \\otimes SU(4)$$\\end{document} of the basic light fermions, namely the chiral doublets of the single lepton and triple quarks of the first family. Breaking this symmetry, according to mechanisms that are used in the electroweak interactions of the Standard Model (SM) of quantum field theory, yields quantum electrodynamics (QED) with symmetry group U(1), weak interactions with symmetry group SU(2), and what we like to name quantum hadrodynamics (QHD, akin to quantum chromodynamics QCD of the SM) with symmetry group SU(3). The gauge bosons associated with QED and QHD remain massless, but the weak bosons and the V bosons, related to the transformation of the quarks into a lepton and vice versa, become massive by the Higgs mechanism. Their masses are defined by the Higgs vacuum and the two coupling constants involved in the unified model. The V-boson mass is predicted to be 35.4 GeV. Furthermore, a possible explanation of hadron confinement is given in terms of the two hadronic charge operators. Moreover, the concept of hypercharge as used in the SM is not needed. Various versions of the extended Dirac equation that include the above symmetry groups are derived.

Non-zero temperature study of spin 1/2 charmed baryons using lattice gauge theory

We study the behaviour of spin 1/2 charmed baryons as the temperature increases. We make use of anisotropic lattice QCD simulations with Nf=2+1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$N_f = 2 + 1$$\\end{document} dynamical flavours. After determining the positive and negative parity ground state masses at the lowest temperature, we investigate the effect of rising temperature using ratios of thermal lattice correlators with both so-called reconstructed correlators and with simple model correlators. This avoids difficulties associated with non-zero temperature fitting or spectral reconstruction. We find that temperature effects are prominent throughout the hadronic phase for all negative parity channels considered and for some positive parity channels. Subsequently and where possible, we determine the masses of the ground states as a function of temperature. Finally we consider the effect of chiral symmetry restoration and extract an estimate of the pseudocritical temperature from singly charmed baryonic correlators.

Hadron-quark transition and chiral symmetry restoration at high density

Hadron-quark transition and chiral symmetry restoration at high density

Vortex line entanglement in active Beltrami flows

Over the last decade, substantial progress has been made in understanding the topology of quasi-two-dimensional (2-D) non-equilibrium fluid flows driven by ATP-powered microtubules and microorganisms. By contrast, the topology of three-dimensional (3-D) active fluid flows still poses interesting open questions. Here, we study the topology of a spherically confined active flow using 3-D direct numerical simulations of generalized Navier–Stokes (GNS) equations at the scale of typical microfluidic experiments. Consistent with earlier results for unbounded periodic domains, our simulations confirm the formation of Beltrami-like bulk flows with spontaneously broken chiral symmetry in this model. Furthermore, by leveraging fast methods to compute linking numbers, we explicitly connect this chiral symmetry breaking to the entanglement statistics of vortex lines. We observe that the mean of linking number distribution converges to the global helicity, consistent with the asymptotic result by Arnold [In Vladimir I. Arnold – Collected Works (ed. A.B. Givental, B.A. Khesin, A.N. Varchenko, V.A. Vassiliev & O.Y. Viro), pp. 357–375. Springer]. Additionally, we characterize the rate of convergence of this measure with respect to the number and length of observed vortex lines, and examine higher moments of the distribution. We find that the full distribution is well described by a k-Gamma distribution, in agreement with an entropic argument. Beyond active suspensions, the tools for the topological characterization of 3-D vector fields developed here are applicable to any solenoidal field whose curl is tangent to or cancels at the boundaries of a simply connected domain.

Chiral symmetry breaking and topological charge of zigzag graphene nanoribbons

Interacting quasi-one-dimensional zigzag graphene nanoribbons display gapped edge excitations. Although the self-consistent Hartree–Fock fields break chiral symmetry, our work demonstrates that zigzag graphene nanoribbons maintain their status as short-range entangled symmetry-protected topological insulators. The relevant symmetry involves combined mirror and time-reversal operations. In undoped ribbons displaying edge ferromagnetism, the band gap edge states with a topological charge form on the zigzag edges. An analysis of the anomalous continuity equation elucidates that this topological charge is induced by the gap term. In low-doped zigzag ribbons, where the ground state exhibits edge spin density waves, this topological charge appears as a nearly zero-energy edge mode. Our system is outside the conventional classification for topological insulators.

Convergence of Ginzburg–Landau Expansions: Superconductivity in the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer Theory and Chiral Symmetry Breaking in the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio Model

Abstract We study the convergence of the Ginzburg–Landau (GL) expansion in the context of the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) theory for superconductivity and the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model for chiral symmetry breaking at finite temperature T and chemical potential μ. We present derivations of the all-order formulas for the coefficients of the GL expansions in both systems under the mean-field approximation. We show that the convergence radii for the BCS gap Δ and dynamical quark mass M are given by Δconv = πT and $M_{\rm conv} = \sqrt{\mu ^2 + (\pi T)^2}$, respectively. We also discuss the implications of these results and the quantitative reliability of the GL expansion near the first-order chiral phase transition.

The QCD Vacuum as a Disordered Chromomagnetic Condensate

An attempt is made to describe from first principles the large-scale structure of the confining vacuum in quantum chromodynamics. Starting from our previous variational studies of the SU(2) pure gauge theory in an external Abelian chromomagnetic field and extending Feynman’s qualitative analysis in (2+1)-dimensional SU(2) gauge theory, we show that the SU(3) vacuum in three-space and one-time dimensions behaves like a disordered chromomagnetic condensate. Color confinement is assured by the presence of a mass gap together with the absence of color long-range correlations. We offer a clear physical picture for the formation of the flux tube between static quark charges that allows us to determine the color structure and the transverse profile of the flux-tube chromoelectric field. The transverse profile of the flux-tube chromoelectric field turns out to be in reasonable agreement with lattice data. We, also, show that our quantum vacuum allows for both the color and ordinary Meissner effect. We find that for massless quarks, the quantum vacuum can accommodate a finite non-zero density of fermion zero modes leading to the dynamical breaking of the chiral symmetry.

Torsion, gravity induced chiral symmetry breaking, and cosmological bounce

Torsion, gravity induced chiral symmetry breaking, and cosmological bounce

Quantum Chromodynamics of the Nucleon in Terms of Complex Probabilistic Processes

Despite the obvious progress made by the Feynman, Ravndal, and Kislinger relativistic model in describing the internal motion of a system with confinement of quarks in a nucleon, it turned out to be insufficiently realistic for a number of reasons. In particular, the model does not take into account some cornerstone properties of QCD, namely, gluon exchange between quarks, the influence of the resulting quark sea on valence quarks, and the self-interaction of colored gluons. It is these phenomena that spontaneously break the chiral symmetry of the quark system and form the bulk of the nucleon. To eliminate the above shortcomings of the model, the problem of self-organization of a three-quark dynamical system immersed in a colored quark–antiquark sea is considered within the framework of complex probabilistic processes that satisfy the stochastic differential equation of the Langevin–Kline–Gordon–Fock type. Taking into account the hidden symmetry of the internal motion of a dynamical system, a mathematically closed nonperturbative approach was developed, which makes it possible to construct the mathematical expectation of the wave function and other parameters of the nucleon in the form of multiple integral representations. It is shown that additional subspaces arising in a representation characterized by a noncommutative geometry with topological features participate in the formation of an effective interaction between valence quarks against the background of harmonic interaction between them.