Quantum Fluids Research Articles

Polariton Bose-Einstein condensate from a bound state in the continuum.

Bound states in the continuum (BICs)1-3 are peculiar topological states that, when realized in a planar photonic crystal lattice, are symmetry-protected from radiating in the far field despite lying within the light cone4. These BICs possess an invariant topological charge given by the winding number of the polarization vectors5, similar to vortices in quantum fluids such as superfluid helium and atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. In spite of several reports of optical BICs in patterned dielectric slabs with evidence of lasing, their potential as topologically protected states with theoretically infinite lifetime has not yet been fully exploited. Here we show non-equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensation of polaritons-hybrid light-matter excitations-occurring in a BIC thanks to its peculiar non-radiative nature, which favours polariton accumulation. The combination of the ultralong BIC lifetime and the tight confinement of the waveguide geometry enables the achievement of an extremely low threshold density for condensation, which is reachednot in the dispersion minimum but at a saddle point in reciprocal space. By bridging bosonic condensation and symmetry-protected radiation eigenmodes, we reveal ways of imparting topological properties onto macroscopic quantum states with unexplored dispersion features. Such an observation may open a route towards energy-efficient polariton condensation in cost-effective integrated devices, ultimately suited for the development of hybrid light-matter optical circuits.

Controllable vortex lasing arrays in a geometrically frustrated exciton-polariton lattice at room temperature.

Quantized vortices appearing in topological excitations of quantum phase transition play a pivotal role in strongly correlated physics involving the underlying confluence of superfluids, Bose-Einstein condensates and superconductors. Exciton polaritons as bosonic quasiparticles have enabled studies of non-equilibrium quantum gases and superfluidity. Exciton-polariton condensates in artificial lattices intuitively emulate energy-band structures and quantum many-body effects of condensed matter, underpinning constructing vortex lattices and controlling quantum fluidic circuits. Here, we harness exciton-polariton quantum fluids of light in a frustrated kagome lattice based on robust metal-halide perovskite microcavities, to demonstrate vortex lasing arrays and modulate their configurations at room temperature. Tomographic energy-momentum spectra unambiguously reveal massless Dirac bands and quenched kinetic-energy flat bands coexisting in kagome lattices, where polariton condensates exhibit prototypical honeycomb and kagome spatial patterns. Spatial coherence investigations illustrate two types of phase textures of polariton condensates carrying ordered quantized-vortex arrays and π-phase shifts, which could be selected when needed using lasing emission energy. Our findings offer a promising platform on which it is possible to study quantum-fluid correlations in complex polaritonic lattices and highlight feasible applications of structured light.

Strongly interacting trapped one-dimensional quantum gases: Exact solution

Understanding the effect of correlations in interacting many-body systems is one of the main challenges in quantum mechanics. While the general problem can only be addressed by approximate methods and numerical simulations, in some limiting cases, it is amenable to exact solutions. This Review collects the predictions coming from a family of exact solutions which allows us to obtain the many-body wavefunction of strongly correlated quantum fluids confined by a tight waveguide and subjected to any form of longitudinal confinement. It directly describes the experiments with trapped ultracold atoms where the strongly correlated regime in one dimension has been achieved. The exact solution applies to bosons, fermions, and mixtures. It allows us to obtain experimental observables such as the density profiles and momentum distribution at all momentum scales, beyond the Luttinger liquid approach. It also predicts the exact quantum dynamics at all the times, including the small oscillation regime yielding the collective modes of the system and the large quench regime where the system parameters are changed considerably. The solution can be extended to describe finite-temperature conditions, spin, and magnetization effects. The Review illustrates the idea of the solution, presents the key theoretical achievements, and the main experiments on strongly correlated one-dimensional quantum gases.

Direct free energy evaluation of classical and quantum many-body systems via field-theoretic simulation

Free energy evaluation in molecular simulations of both classical and quantum systems is computationally intensive and requires sophisticated algorithms. This is because free energy depends on the volume of accessible phase space, a quantity that is inextricably linked to the integration measure in a coordinate representation of a many-body problem. In contrast, the same problem expressed as a field theory (auxiliary field or coherent states) isolates the particle number as a simple parameter in the Hamiltonian or action functional and enables the identification of a chemical potential field operator. We show that this feature leads a “direct” method of free energy evaluation, in which a particle model is converted to a field theory and appropriate field operators are averaged using a field-theoretic simulation conducted with complex Langevin sampling. These averages provide an immediate estimate of the Helmholtz free energy in the canonical ensemble and the entropy in the microcanonical ensemble. The method is illustrated for a classical polymer solution, a block copolymer melt exhibiting liquid crystalline and solid mesophases, and a quantum fluid of interacting bosons.

Analog spacetimes from nonrelativistic Goldstone modes in spinor condensates

It is well established that linear dispersive modes in a flowing quantum fluid behave as though they are coupled to an Einstein-Hilbert metric and exhibit a host of phenomena coming from quantum field theory in curved space, including Hawking radiation. We extend this analogy to any nonrelativistic Goldstone mode in a flowing spinor Bose-Einstein condensate. In addition to showing the linear dispersive result for all such modes, we show that the quadratically dispersive modes couple to a special nonrelativistic spacetime called a Newton-Cartan geometry. The kind of spacetime (Einstein-Hilbert or Newton-Cartan) is intimately linked to the mean-field phase of the condensate. To illustrate the general result, we further provide the specific theory in the context of a pseudo-spin-1/2 condensate where we can tune between relativistic and nonrelativistic geometries. We uncover the fate of Hawking radiation upon such a transition: it vanishes and remains absent in the Newton-Cartan geometry despite the fact that any fluid flow creates a horizon for certain wave numbers. Finally, we use the coupling to different spacetimes to compute and relate various energy and momentum currents in these analog systems. While this result is general, present day experiments can realize these different spacetimes including the magnon modes for spin-1 condensates such as $^{87}$Rb, $^{7}$Li, $^{41}$K (Newton-Cartan), and $^{23}$Na (Einstein-Hilbert).

Dynamical quantum indistinguishability

We observe that quantum indistinguishability is a dynamical effect dependent on measurement duration. We formulate a quantitative criterion for observing indistinguishability in quantum fluids and its implications including quantum statistics and propose a viscoelastic function describing both long-time and short-time regimes where indistinguishability and its implications are operative and inactive, respectively. On the basis of this discussion, we propose an experiment to observe a transition to the short-time non-equilibrium state where the implications of indistinguishability become inoperative.

Fully Suspended Nano-beams for Quantum Fluids

Non-invasive probes are keystones of fundamental research. Their size, and maneuverability (in terms of e.g. speed, dissipated power) define their applicability range for a specific use. As such, solid state physics possesses e.g. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM), or Scanning SQUID Microscopy. In comparison, quantum fluids (superfluid $^3$He, $^4$He) are still lacking probes able to sense them (in a fully controllable manner) down to their smallest relevant lengthscales, namely the coherence length $\xi_0$. In this work we report on the fabrication and cryogenic characterization of fully suspended (hanging over an open window, with no substrate underneath) Si$_3$N$_4$ nano-beams, of width down to 50 nm and quality factor up to $10^5$. As a benchmark experiment we used them to investigate the Knudsen boundary layer of a rarefied gas: $^4$He at very low pressures. The absence of the rarefaction effect due to the nearby chip surface discussed in Gazizulin et al. [1] is attested, while we report on the effect of the probe size itself.

Empirical correlations for the third virial coefficients of nonpolar, polar and quantum fluids in a wide temperature range

The third virial coefficient considers the real-fluid imperfection caused by the molecular-triplet interaction. Based on the corresponding state principle and proper classification of fluids, a new third-virial-coefficient model was proposed in this work for nonpolar, polar, and quantum fluids over a wide temperature range. The correlations were formed as a sum of the simple spherical term and the deviation term caused by non-sphericity and polarity, or as a sum of the simple spherical term and the quantum term caused by quantum effects. With easily accessible characteristic parameters, the correlations were determined using ab initio values and reliable experimental data. The new model met the three physically-based mathematical conditions proposed in this work, and could provide reliable predictions at extremely high temperatures. To validate the accuracy of the new third-virial-coefficient model, the ab initio values and experimental data were compared, all of which were in good agreement with this work. In addition, the truncated virial equations of state, composed based on this study and our previous study for the generalized second-virial-coefficient model, were compared to the multiparameter equations of state. The three-term truncated virial equations of state have a wider valid P-T region than the two-term equations. This shows that the new model can provide accurate descriptions and physically reasonable predictions for simple, nonpolar, non-associated polar, associated polar, and quantum fluids over a wide temperature range. Also, the three-term truncated virial equation of state performs well in the low-to-moderate density region, making it potentially useful for reliable predictions at high temperatures where experiments are difficult to conduct.

Flowing bosonization in the nonperturbative functional renormalization-group approach

Bosonization allows one to describe the low-energy physics of one-dimensional quantum fluids within a bosonic effective field theory formulated in terms of two fields: the ``density’’ field \varphiφ and its conjugate partner, the phase \varthetaϑ of the superfluid order parameter. We discuss the implementation of the nonperturbative functional renormalization group in this formalism, considering a Luttinger liquid in a periodic potential as an example. We show that in order for \varthetaϑ and \varphiφ to remain conjugate variables at all energy scales, one must dynamically redefine the field \varthetaϑ along the renormalization-group flow. We derive explicit flow equations using a derivative expansion of the scale-dependent effective action to second order and show that they reproduce the flow equations of the sine-Gordon model (obtained by integrating out the field \varthetaϑ from the outset) derived within the same approximation. Only with the scale-dependent (flowing) reparametrization of the phase field \varthetaϑ do we obtain the standard phenomenology of the Luttinger liquid (when the periodic potential is sufficiently weak so as to avoid the Mott-insulating phase) characterized by two low-energy parameters, the velocity of the sound mode and the renormalized Luttinger parameter.

Hydrodynamics explanation for the splitting of higher-charge optical vortices

We show that a two-dimensional hydrodynamics model provides a physical explanation for the splitting of higher-charge optical vortices under elliptical deformations. The model is applicable to laser light and quantum fluids alike. The study delineates vortex breakups from vortex unions under different forms of asymmetry in the beam, and it is also applied to explain the motion of intact higher-charge vortices.

Relativistic quantum fluid with boost invariance

We study a relativistic fluid with longitudinal boost invariance in a quantum-statistical framework as an example of a solvable non-equilibrium problem. For the free quantum field, we calculate the exact form of the expectation values of the stress-energy tensor and the entropy current. For the stress-energy tensor, we find that a finite value can be obtained only by subtracting the vacuum of the density operator at some fixed proper time \tau_0. As a consequence, the stress-energy tensor acquires non-trivial quantum corrections to the classical free-streaming form.

Traveling Waves for the Generalized Sinh-Gordon Equation with Variable Coefficients

The sinh-Gordon equation is simply the classical wave equation with a nonlinear sinh source term. It arises in diverse scientific applications including differential geometry theory, integrable quantum field theory, fluid dynamics, kink dynamics, and statistical mechanics. It can be used to describe generic properties of string dynamics for strings and multi-strings in constant curvature space. In the present paper, we study a generalized sinh-Gordon equation with variable coefficients with the goal of obtaining analytical traveling wave solutions. Our results show that the traveling waves of the variable coefficient sinh-Gordon equation can be derived from the known solutions of the standard sinh-Gordon equation under a specific selection of a choice of the variable coefficients. These solutions include some real single and multi-solitons, periodic waves, breaking kink waves, singular waves, periodic singular waves, and compactons. These solutions might be valuable when scientists model some real-life phenomena using the sinh-Gordon equation where the balance between dispersion and nonlinearity is perturbed.

Coherent, time-correlated tunneling of density wave electrons

A growing body of evidence reveals that charge density wave (CDW) transport is a high-temperature cooperative quantum phenomenon. According to the time-correlated soliton tunneling (ST) model, quantum solitons, or electron-phonon correlates within the CDW condensate, act much like electrons tunneling through a Coulomb-blockade tunnel junction. Pair creation of charged fluidic soliton droplets is prevented by their electrostatic energy below a Coulomb-blockade threshold electric field. Above threshold, the quantum fluid flows in a periodic fashion, via a hybrid between Zener-like and coherent Josephson-like tunneling. We summarize the time-correlated ST model and compare model simulations with experiment. The ST model shows excellent agreement with coherent voltage oscillations, and with CDW current-voltage characteristics. Finally, we discuss implications for physics and potential applications.

Two types of dark solitons in a spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gas

Dark solitons in quantum fluids are well known nonlinear excitations that are usually characterized by a single length scale associated with the underlying background fluid. We show that in the presence of spin-orbit coupling and a linear Zeeman field, superfluid Fermi gases support two different types of nonlinear excitations featured by corresponding length scales related to the existence of two Fermi surfaces. Only one of these types, which occurs for finite spin-orbit coupling and a Zeeman field, survives to the topological phase transition, and is therefore capable to sustain Majorana zero modes. At the point of the emergence of this soliton for varying the Zeeman field, the associated Andreev bound states present a minigap that vanishes for practical purposes, in spite of lacking the reality condition of Majorana modes.

Towards a quantum fluid theory of correlated many-fermion systems from first principles

Correlated many-fermion systems emerge in a broad range of phenomena in warm dense matter, plasmonics, and ultracold atoms. Quantum hydrodynamics (QHD) complements first-principles methods for many-fermion systems at larger scales. We illustrate the failure of the standard Bohm potential central to QHD for strong perturbations when the density perturbation is larger than about 10^{-3}10−3 of the mean density. We then extend QHD to this regime via the many-fermion Bohm potential from first-principles. This may lead to more accurate QHD simulations beyond their common application domain in the presence of strong perturbations at scales unattainable with first-principles methods.

Charge-density-wave-driven electronic nematicity in a kagome superconductor

Electronic nematicity, in which rotational symmetry is spontaneously broken by electronic degrees of freedom, has been demonstrated as a ubiquitous phenomenon in correlated quantum fluids including high-temperature superconductors and quantum Hall systems1,2. Notably, the electronic nematicity in high-temperature superconductors exhibits an intriguing entanglement with superconductivity, generating complicated superconducting pairing and intertwined electronic orders. Recently, an unusual competition between superconductivity and a charge-density-wave (CDW) order has been found in the AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) family with two-dimensional vanadium kagome nets3-8. Whether these phenomena involve electronic nematicity is still unknown. Here we report evidence for the existence of electronic nematicity in CsV3Sb5, using a combination of elastoresistance measurements, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S). The temperature-dependent elastoresistance coefficient (m11 minus m12) and NMR spectra demonstrate that, besides a C2 structural distortion of the 2a0 × 2a0 supercell owing to out-of-plane modulation, considerable nematic fluctuations emerge immediately below the CDW transition (approximately 94 kelvin) and finally a nematic transition occurs below about 35 kelvin. The STM experiment directly visualizes the C2-structure-pinned long-range nematic order below the nematic transition temperature, suggesting a novel nematicity described by a three-state Potts model. Our findings indicate an intrinsic electronic nematicity in the normal state of CsV3Sb5, which sets a new paradigm for revealing the role of electronic nematicity on pairing mechanism in unconventional superconductors.

Dynamical behaviours and soliton solutions of the conformable fractional Schrödinger–Hirota equation using two different methods

The nonlinear conformable fractional Schrödinger–Hirota (NCFSH) equation, describing the propagation of optical solitons in a dispersive optical fibre, is considered and its exact solutions are investigated. Abundant solutions including dark, bright and singular solutions have been obtained by two distinct methods, namely direct method and trial equation method. These methods provide a direct and efficient strategy for the NCFSH equation. The solutions have been simulated by graphs to check the types of solitons and their dynamical behaviours. With back substitution using Mathematica, all the solutions have been verified. Obtaining optical solutions to the proposed equation will play a fundamental role due to the applications in quantum mechanics, fluid dynamics, nonlinear optics and various other branches of mathematical physics.

Critical velocity for superfluidity in the one-dimensional mean-field regime: From matter to light quantum fluids

We determine in a nonperturbative way the critical velocity for superfluidity of a generic quantum fluid flowing past a localized obstacle in the one-dimensional mean-field regime. We get exact expressions in the narrow- and wide-obstacle limits and interpolate them numerically using an original relaxation algorithm for the stationary problem. The existence of a Josephson-type critical current across a very high and slowly varying obstacle is discussed. Particle losses, if present, are treated within an adiabatic approach of the dynamics giving results in excellent agreement with full numerics. Relevant for experiments with quantum fluids of matter, of mixed matter-light, and of light, our study paves the way for further nonperturbative investigations in higher dimensions and beyond mean-field theory.

Viscous control of minimum uncertainty state in hydrodynamics

A minimum uncertainty state for position and momentum of a fluid element is obtained. We consider a general fluid described by the Navier–Stokes–Korteweg (NSK) equation, which reproduces the behaviors of a standard viscous fluid, a fluid with the capillary action and a quantum fluid, with the proper choice of parameters. When the parameters of the NSK equation is adjusted to reproduce Madelung’s hydrodynamic representation of the Schrödinger equation, the uncertainty relation of a fluid element reproduces the Kennard and the Robertson–Schrödinger inequalities in quantum mechanics. The derived minimum uncertainty state is the generalization of the coherent state and its uncertainty is given by a function of the shear viscosity. The viscous uncertainty can be smaller than the inviscid minimum value when the shear viscosity is smaller than a critical value which is similar in magnitude to the Kovtun–Son–Starinets bound. This uncertainty reflects the information of the fluctuating microscopic degrees of freedom in the fluid and will modify the standard hydrodynamic scenario, for example, in heavy-ion collisions.

An all‐inclusive computer‐aided melanoma diagnosis based on soft computing

AbstractThis paper provides a different optimized approach for melanoma diagnosis from the inputted dermoscopy images. The technique is a pipeline technique with four main steps, including noise reduction, lesion segmentation, feature selection, and final classification. For decreasing the complexity of the feature extraction stage, Fuzzy C‐means has been used. The classifier has been improved based on a developed decision tree. The modification of the classifier is based on a new enhanced design of a metaheuristic, called Quantum Fluid Search Optimizer. The efficiency of the suggested technique is calculated by considering some measurement indicators and their achievements are compared with five other latest methods. The results showed the maximum accuracy equal to 94.12% with the highest precision being achieved by the proposed method. The results also indicate that the proposed method with the highest value of 91.18% sensitivity against the other techniques, provides the highest reliability.