Papers

We present molecular dynamics simulations of the random walk of a dumbbell - two beads connected by a spring - in a one-dimensional periodic potential and compare our results in limiting cases to theoretical analytical equations. The relevant parameters in this system are the spring constant, the equilibrium distance of the spring (relative to the periodicity of the potential), and the amplitude of the potential. Dumbbells with equilibrium distances incommensurate with the potential periodicity and with a sufficiently large spring constant exhibit enhanced diffusion. The diffusion constant can exceed that of a single bead in the same potential landscape. In this case, the dumbbell resembles a traction elevator, with the two connected beads acting as the elevator car and counterweight: the ”elevator effect”.

Superconducting weak links with high transparency offer an appealing approach for designing compact magnetic-field sensors, as their phase-dependent Andreev bound-state (ABS) spectrum produces a strong flux-to-signal response with minimal dissipation. One way to achieve ballistic transport in the weak link is to use the edge states of topological insulators, since these states resist backscattering and provide a unique path to developing topological insulator-based weak-link devices for highly efficient magnetic-field sensing. Building on this, we propose a weak-link device using superconducting Nb electrodes and a nanoribbon of $\text{Bi}_4\text{Br}_4$ as the normal region, forming a Nb-1D (one-dimensional) $\text{Bi}_4\text{Br}_4$-Nb Josephson junction. We develop first-principles tight-binding Hamiltonians and orbital-resolved interface couplings in the Wannier basis, including spin-orbit coupling, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The Eliashberg spectral function of bulk Nb, obtained via density functional perturbation theory (DFPT), indicates an electron-phonon coupling strength of 1.19 and a transition temperature of about 9 K, aligning well with conventional superconductivity in Nb. The subgap conductance is primarily influenced by Andreev processes. The ABS spectrum leads to a non-sinusoidal current-phase relation (CPR) with high forward skewness ($+$1.74) and phase sensitivity to the magnetic field. Overall, our findings suggest that the Nb-1D $\text{Bi}_4\text{Br}_4$-Nb weak link is a promising platform for on-chip superconducting magnetic sensors, compatible with scalable nanofabrication and broader development of topological-superconductor hybrid electronics.

Finite element analysis (FEA) is essential for structural design but remains computationally expensive, particularly when evaluating multiple design iterations or load scenarios. Machine learning surrogate models offer a promising alternative, yet most approaches struggle with a critical limitation: generalizing across varying geometries. This work presents a mesh graph network (MGN) for predicting von Mises stress fields in 2D structural components with arbitrary hole geometries. Unlike traditional machine learning approaches that use absolute node coordinates as features, the proposed model builds on existing MGN frameworks that encode node types (e.g., fixed boundary, free surface, hole edge), relative edge features (distance between neighbors), and global features (applied load). This architecture is inherently translation- and rotation-invariant, enabling generalization to unseen geometries without retraining. The MGN was trained on 11 plate geometries under 20 load conditions and evaluated on 7 unseen geometries and 3 unseen loads. In the most favorable case, the model achieves $R^2 \geq 0.97$ on an unseen geometry and unseen load, compared to $R^2 \approx 0.01$–$0.86$ for conventional models (Random Forest, Gradient Boosting , K-Nearest Neighbors) trained on identical data. However, even in less favorable cases, the MGN model still outperforms conventional models. This work extends the mesh-based simulation framework of Pfaff et al. (arXiv:2010.03409) to structural mechanics, demonstrating that graph neural networks can serve as efficient surrogates for finite element analysis across varying geometries.

We study the parametric sensitivity of two-dimensional massive Dirac fermions subject to Aharonov-Bohm flux insertion, using the Bures metric (fidelity susceptibility) as the central statistical-mechanical response function. Near integer values of the reduced flux, the low-energy spectrum undergoes a flux-induced avoided crossing whose structure is controlled by the Dirac mass. Through a controlled low-energy projection of the full Dirac=Aharonov-Bohm operator onto an effective two-level subspace, valid near integer flux, we derive an exact closed-form expression for the ground-state Bures metric, which takes a universal Lorentzian profile centered at integer flux with width set by the mass parameter. The peak value scales as $g^{\max}_{\lambda\lambda}\sim m^{-2}$, diverging in the chiral limit in direct analogy with the divergence of thermodynamic susceptibilities near critical points. We introduce an integrated geometric susceptibility $\chi(m) = \pi/(8m)$, whose inverse-mass scaling is the information-geometric counterpart of power-law critical behavior, with the Dirac mass playing the role of a relevant coupling controlling the distance from the chiral fixed point. The Lorentzian profile is shown to arise from the curvature of the ground-state manifold on the Bloch sphere, requiring no dynamical input beyond the spectral structure. Importantly, this geometric response is independent of Berry curvature and topological invariants, emerging instead from a universal local spectral mechanism. Through its spectral representation, the Bures metric is identified as the geometric (paramagnetic) contribution to the persistent current susceptibility, encoding the sensitivity of persistent currents and orbital magnetization to flux variations and connecting information geometry to measurable response functions in mesoscopic Dirac systems.

Quantum Hall isospin ferromagnetism in multilayer graphene offers a versatile playground for exploring flat band correlated physics, driven by the intricate coupling of spin, valley, orbital, and layer degrees of freedom. However, a nanoscale probe capable of simultaneously mapping local conductivity and chemical potential in these exotic phases has yet to be realized. Here, we introduce scanning conductivity and chemical potential microscopy (SCCM), a technique integrating scanning microwave impedance microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy. We demonstrate SCCM by probing the quantum Hall states and many-body Landau level energy spectrum in bilayer graphene. Applied to marginally twisted double bilayer graphene, SCCM then reveals a cascade of quantum Hall isospin ferromagnetic states with unexpected re-emergence behaviors. Significantly, experimental many-body Landau level energy spectrum further uncovers the intricate connections of these complex phenomena to inter-subband Landau level crossings and Landau level single-particle wavefunctions. These insights enable the construction of a comprehensive quantum Hall phase diagram. Our results demonstrate SCCM's capability in decoding complex quantum phenomena, establishing it as a versatile nanoscale probe for electron correlation and topology.

Topological states in antiferromagnets (AFMs) offer a promising platform for exploring novel physical phenomena and advancing the applications of AFM spintronics. The AFM topological insulator (TI) state stands out as one of the most representative and prominent cases. Unlike the previously proposed AFM-TI states in noninteracting systems, here we employ an extended Kane-Mele-Hubbard model to demonstrate that electron correlations can give rise to a $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric AFM-TI state. This state breaks both spatial inversion symmetry $\mathcal{P}$ and time-reversal symmetry $\mathcal{T}$, and enables intrinsic topological nonlinear responses to dominate the leading-order dynamics of the system. The competition between electron correlations and spin-orbit coupling drives the system across a topological phase transition, where the closure of the bulk band gap induces singular behaviors in higher-order quantum geometric tensors. Such microscopic singular characteristics manifest macroscopically as pronounced enhancements in thermoelectric performance, charge conductivity, and thermal conductivity. These giant tunable transport signatures, which can be effectively modulated by mechanical strain and electrostatic gating, provide a feasible experimental route to probe and understand correlated topological materials.

Triple-layer cuprate superconductor $\mathrm{HgBa_2Ca_2Cu_3O_8}$ (Hg1223) keeps the record of the highest superconducting (SC) critical temperature $T_{c}\sim 134$K among all the existing materials at ambient pressure. $T_{c}$ further increases under pressure up to $T_{c}\sim 160$K. However, its microscopic mechanism remains to be elucidated. We solve ab initio Hamiltonians for Hg1223 using a variational solver supplemented by a neural network. The pressure dependence of the $d$-wave SC order parameter and estimated $T_{c}$ show a $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ peak around 30GPa in quantitative agreement with the experiments. The origin of the strong SC amplitude at ambient pressure is identified as strong local Coulomb repulsion $U$ attributed to poor screening. Further increase in $T_{c}$ under pressure is understood from interplay of three elements, namely increased electron hopping $t$, decreased $U$ and more importantly, strongly reduced offsite Coulomb repulsion $V$ with increasing pressure. Pairing mechanism is identified as the emergent local attraction counterintuitively generated from the originally strong local repulsion $U$. The emergent attraction is interpreted from “attraction from reduced repulsion”, originating from the release of the fluctuating doubly-occupied sites characterized from the “false vacuum” in the Mott insulator to the double-occupation-free $d$-wave SC states upon carrier doping. This instantaneous attraction is in contrast with the conventional BCS SC mediated by bosonic glues. The local attraction is consistent with the electron fractionalization supported in experimental analyses. The coexistence of the SC and antiferromagnetic order is also demonstrated as a characteristic feature of the multilayer system. The microscopic understanding of Hg1223 offers a new route explicitly using this emergent attraction to design and optimize SC materials.

Liquid-gas equilibrium is described using a pair of Ising-like thermodynamic variables. The first is a combination of density and energy fields that is even under phase coexistence, derived from the Gibbs-Duhem and Clausius-Clapeyron relations. The second is the normalized density deviation $M=\rho/\rho_d-1$, which distinguishes the coexisting phases and serves as an odd ordering variable. Combining these variables with the empirical linearities of the binodal diameter and the Zeno line leads to a projective mapping between continuum-fluid and lattice-gas states. The implications of such mapping are tested against coexistence-density and saturation pressure data for the two-dimensional Lennard-Jones fluid, as well as physisorbed molecular monolayers of simple molecular fluids like argon and methane. Finally, a heuristic microscopic interaction-variable formulation that motivates continuous fluids versus lattice model description is also discussed.

We investigate the different oscillatory modes, namely, complete synchronization, inphase synchronization, antiphase synchronization and desynchronization in a one-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg ferromagnetic spin chain consisting of a large number of spins. By solving the associated Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski equation for the spins we show the simultaneous existence of the above mentioned oscillatory modes in the spins. We observe that when the number of the spins is large the synchronization is lost between the spins; however, we identify that the field-like torque is able to induce synchronous oscillations of the spins in the chain again. We also confirm the agreement of the numerically obtained values of the frequency of the inphase synchronized oscillations with the analytically obtained values.

Interatomic potentials (IPs) enable large-scale atomistic simulations beyond the reach of first-principles methods, but their predictive reliability depends critically on the selection of training data, quantified uncertainty, and model expressiveness. Active learning (AL) provides a principled framework for constructing efficient and accurate IPs, yet most strategies reduce parameter uncertainty without explicitly accounting for the specific material properties being predicted. The information-matching (IM) approach addresses this limitation by requiring that the selected training data provide at least as much parameter space information as needed to achieve prescribed uncertainty targets for selected quantities of interest (QoIs). Here, we apply IM to develop bespoke IPs specifically tailored for predicting plastic strength in metals. Due to the high computational cost of simulating plastic strength, we employ an indirect IM strategy that targets inexpensive intermediate QoIs that correlate with strength. The IM method enables precise parameter constraints with minimal training data, yielding precise predictions for both the intermediate QoIs and plastic strength. Yet, model error remains a key limitation, and a post hoc uncertainty inflation correction provides a viable means to mitigate this limitation. These findings illustrate both the promise and limits of uncertainty-aware AL for predicting complex material properties.

We study charge transport in a magnetized relativistic plasma using kinetic theory within the relaxation-time approximation. By exactly solving the linearized Boltzmann equation in a uniform magnetic field, we obtain an analytic solution for the distribution function in terms of Bessel functions. Using this solution, we compute the full set of retarded current-current correlators and verify the Ward identities. In the hydrodynamic limit, we extract the charge diffusion modes, demonstrating that the transverse diffusion coefficient is strongly suppressed by the magnetic field, scaling as $1/B_0^2$ in the strong-field regime, while the longitudinal diffusion remains unaffected. Furthermore, we analyze the non-hydrodynamic branch cuts in the complex frequency plane, determining their kinematic thresholds and identifying the underlying wave-particle interactions as longitudinal Landau damping and transverse cyclotron damping.

Conjugated carbon rings are fundamental skeletons of organic functional materials, and their selective formation is of paramount importance in molecular materials engineering. However, steering the formation and 2D crystallization of conjugated carbon rings on the surface with high chemo- and stereoselectivities remains a great challenge. Here, we report a highly chemoselective [1+1+1+1] cycloaddition of isocyanides on the Au(111) surface, which affords the stereospecific tetraaza[4]radialene products and further enables their long-range-ordered 2D crystallization via enantioselective molecular recognition. Using the progressive annealing method, we found that at room temperature, isocyanides undergo a coordination reaction with Au adatoms to form two-fold symmetric isocyanide-Au-isocyanide complexes. In contrast, gradually increasing the annealing temperature induces the transformation of these complexes and subsequent covalent polymerization, leading to the selective generation of tetraaza[4]radialenes with homotactic configurations. The tetraaza[4]radialenes further assemble into 2D homochiral molecular crystals through enantioselective molecular recognition driven by multiple C-H – Cl hydrogen-bonding interactions. By combining scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy, we determined the atomic structure and molecular orbitals of tetraaza[4]radialene, confirming that its four-membered ring adopts a planar geometry with a localized lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the [1+1+1+1] cycloaddition process involves stepwise formation of C-C bonds and its high selectivity arises from the spatial steric hindrance. Our findings provide new insights into the selective formation of conjugated rings on surfaces and have implications for engineering 2D homochiral molecular crystallization.

We present a Gaussian-process (GP) surrogate model for the normal-incidence reflectance spectrum of one-dimensional GaAs/Al$_{0.3}$Ga$_{0.7}$ distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs). A Latin-hypercube dataset of 1500 transfer-matrix-method (TMM) simulations is used to train and evaluate the model. Principal component analysis reduces the spectral output to 26 components; one GP is fitted per component. On a held-out test set the GP achieves RMSE=0.085 and $R^2=0.276$, while a Random Forest baseline reaches RMSE=0.065 and $R^2=0.572$. GP inference is 4.4 ms per spectrum compared with ~308 ms for TMM, yielding a ~70x speedup. Uncertainty calibration shows that the GP 95% prediction band covers 98.9% of test residuals. These results establish a rapid surrogate for DBR design-space exploration.

We study a disorder-free variant of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model with dissipation within the Gorini-Kossakowski-Sudarshan-Lindblad formalism. By utilizing the integrability of the clean SYK model, we derive an exact solution in a spectrum-resolved form, i.e., the eigenvalues and corresponding projection superoperators of the Liouvillian for arbitrary system size $N$. We determine the scaling of the gap that governs the long-time decay of the two-point correlation functions. Importantly, the gap does not vanish in the dissipationless limit when the thermodynamic limit is taken first, despite the integrability of the model. This phenomenon, known as anomalous relaxation, suggests a possible connection with chaotic dynamics and quantum Ruelle-Pollicott resonances. We also find several spectral features, such as transitions in the Liouvillian spectrum from complex to real eigenvalues with increasing dissipation strength, as well as the convergence of the dissipative form factor to the spectral form factor in the dissipationless limit. These findings indicate that the present model offers a useful platform for exploring nontrivial open dynamics of many-body quantum systems.

Heavy transition metal compounds with strong spin-orbit coupling appeared as a platform for $d$-electron multipolar physics. We report the electronic, magnetic, and structural properties of antifluorite-type tungsten chloride A$_2$WCl$_6$ (A = Cs, Rb, and K), comprising a face-centered cubic lattice of W$^{4+}$ ions. The 5$d^2$ configuration of W$^{4+}$ ions in a cubic environment yields a spin-orbit-entangled $J$ = 2 state, which has been discussed to give rise to multipolar ordering such as charge quadrupolar or magnetic octupolar ordering. We found that K$_2$WCl$_6$ undergoes a cubic-to-tetragonal structural transition which lifts the degeneracy of the $J$ = 2 state, leading to a non-magnetic singlet ground state. By contrast, Rb$_2$WCl$_6$ and Cs$_2$WCl$_6$ show no signs of phase transition and remain non-magnetic down to the lowest temperature measured. At low temperatures, signatures of weak structural anomalies were revealed, which may point to the presence of local distortions of the WCl$_6$ octahedra. We argue that the subtle structural distortion arises from the local quadrupolar component of the $J$ = 2 state but the frustrated quadrupolar interaction, together with chemical disorder, inhibits the formation of long-range quadrupolar ordering.

We theoretically investigate the DC conductivity of two-dimensional tilted Dirac systems subject to short- and long-range impurity scattering. Using the Kubo formalism, we systematically study transport across the subcritical (Type I), critical, and overcritical (Type II) tilt regimes. In the subcritical phase, short-range impurities yield a frequency-independent conductivity that decreases monotonically with tilt. Conversely, long-range Coulomb scattering results in a strongly energy-dependent conductivity governed by a tilt-independent scattering rate. At the Lifshitz transition ($t = 1$), the transport signatures of these impurities diverge fundamentally: the van Hove singularity in the density of states induces a localized conductivity dip for short-range disorder, but a pronounced macroscopic peak for Coulomb impurities. In the overcritical regime, an ultraviolet momentum cutoff is required to regularize the open Fermi surface, leading to distinct behaviors for each impurity type. Notably, the conductivity perpendicular to the tilt direction ($\sigma_{xx}$) exhibits a cutoff-dependent, non-monotonic peak near $t = \sqrt{2}$ for short-range defects, while it decays monotonically with increasing tilt for long-range scattering. For both potentials, the conductivity along the tilt axis ($\sigma_{yy}$) increases without bound, revealing extreme transport anisotropy. For long-range impurities, the energy dependence of the conductivity becomes nearly quadratic and linear for Type I and II, respectively. Furthermore, vertex corrections vanish identically at the Lifshitz transition for both impurity types. Finally, we provide a unified geometric framework for these phenomena, establishing the tilt parameter as a powerful knob for engineering macroscopic transport in Dirac materials.

Metastable phases (MPs) are energetically unfavorable states typically suppressed in equilibrium phase diagrams. Rather than remaining ”hidden”, we show that they exist in the complex plane of thermal fields, as regions delineated by Lee-Yang zeros (LYZs). We demonstrate this numerically in a toy model with a tunable density of states featuring three Gaussian peaks and in a more realistic periodically driven system. In both cases, as artificial parameters or drive amplitudes increase, the LYZs bounding the MP approach the real axis and split into separated branches, signaling the emergence and stabilization of the MP within the enlarged gap between two adjacent stable phases. In the driven system, the imaginary part of LYZs correlates with drive strength, linking Lee-Yang theory to terahertz matter manipulation. These findings provide a scheme to describe MPs in phase diagram analysis. By viewing periodic drives as complex thermal fields, it also offers a new perspective for understanding and engineering non-equilibrium collective states.

Altermagnets (AMs) offer a compelling platform for exploring novel spin-dependent phenomena in materials with zero net macroscopic magnetization. In this work, we theoretically investigate the emergence of equilibrium spin currents (ESCs) in two-dimensional AM heterostructures using a tight-binding lattice model. We first study an AM-normal metal-AM (AM-NM-AM) junction and demonstrate that the $\sigma_y$-polarized ESC exhibits a characteristic Josephson-like behavior, fundamentally governed by the relative angle ($\theta$) between the Néel vectors of the two AMs pointing in $xz$-plane. Crucially, we show that replacing the central normal metal with a $p$-wave magnet (PM) induces an anomalous ESC. Analogous to the anomalous Josephson effect, the breaking of spatial inversion symmetry by the PM allows a finite, dissipationless spin current to flow even when the Néel vectors are perfectly aligned ($\theta=0$). We establish that this anomalous transport is driven by an asymmetry in the quantum phases accumulated by right- and left-moving electrons undergoing spin-flip reflections. Finally, we show that the critical ESC exhibits pronounced fluctuations as a function of band filling, which we attribute to mesoscopic quantum size effects, including transverse subband quantization and longitudinal Fabry-Pérot resonances. Our findings highlight the potential of altermagnet junctions for designing dissipationless, phase-tunable spintronic devices.

This study demonstrates a wafer-scale growth of a 2-inch Si-doped $\beta$-Ga2O3 (100) epitaxial wafer and the realization of uniform, high-voltage lateral $\beta$-Ga2O3 MOSFET arrays. The 2-inch homoepitaxial $\beta$-Ga2O3 (100) film grown by MOCVD exhibit excellent crystalline uniformity with an average rocking curve FWHM of ~27.0 arcsec and a low surface roughness less than 1 nm, alongside a uniform net doping concentration on the value of 4.60 $\times$ 1E17 cm-3. The fabricated MOSFETs deliver a threshold voltage of -31.75 V, a drain-current on/off ratio over 1E9, a specific on-resistance of 126.52 mohm$\cdot$cm2 and breakdown voltage exceeding 3 kV. Statistical analysis across the entire wafer presents good device uniformity, with threshold voltages ranging from -28 V to -36 V, output current densities of 60-75 mA/mm, and a breakdown voltage over 3 kV. These results provide the demonstration using the 2-inch $\beta$-Ga2O3 epitaxial wafer to realize high-voltage $\beta$-Ga2O3 MOSFETs with wafer-scale performance uniformity for next-generation power device application.

Modulated symmetries are global symmetries with a spatially dependent unit of charge, such as the dipole symmetry and the exponential symmetry. We give the generic condition for a modulated symmetry to be compatible with translationally symmetric Hamiltonians, which we define as a translationally covariant modulated symmetry (TCMS). For Abelian TCMSs, we prove that their units of charge can only contain multipole, exponential and harmonic components. Particularly, we classify all the one-dimensional TCMSs by real Jordan normal form blocks. We further derive the generic Goldstone action for SSB phases of continuous TCMSs, by which we show that a broken multipole symmetry gives higher-order gapless Goldstone modes, a broken harmonic symmetry gives gapless Goldstone modes at finite momenta, and a broken exponential symmetry gives no gapless Goldstone modes, modifying the conventional Goldstone theorem.

We prove a variance-aware pointwise majorizing-measure theorem for centered Gaussian processes. Classical generic chaining characterizes the scalar quantity $\mathbb E\sup_{x\in T}X_x$; the theorem here gives a simultaneous high-probability envelope for the entire field. For an ambient prior $\mu$, the envelope at $x$ is governed by a pointwise Fernique-Talagrand functional \[\Phi_\mu(x):=\int_0^{4\sigma(x)}\sqrt{\log\frac{1}{\mu(B_d(x,\varepsilon))}}\,d\varepsilon,\] together with the corresponding Gaussian tail term. The theorem provides a reusable field-level refinement of classical generic chaining and a Gaussian-process counterpart of pointwise empirical-process bounds for deep neural networks. We also record a Bayesian algorithmic lower envelope from the interactive Fano/data-processing principle. For a known prior $\pi$, an observation channel, and a concrete estimator $\widehat t(Y)$, the lower bound is expressed through the exact ghost small-ball mass $\mathbb E_{Y\sim Q}\pi(B_d(\widehat t(Y),\Delta))$, rather than a worst-case covering number. In Gaussian location experiments, comparison decoders convert Bayes location error into lower bounds on decision-aligned Gaussian ranges. We then construct an elementary example separating the usual Fano relaxation, the Bayesian algorithmic lower envelope, the pointwise Gaussian envelope, and the full-class minimax risk. Together, these results show that algorithmic lower bounds provide local-geometric validations of pointwise complexity for fixed estimators in overparameterized ambient classes, precisely in regimes where classical minimax theory becomes either too coarse or oracle-dependent. This separation can also be recast in minimax language as penalty-range information relaxation, highlighting an important question of algorithmic robustness for classical high-dimensional models and regularized algorithms.

The origin of pressure-induced superconductivity in MnB4 remains unclear. Here we show that it can be explained by electron-phonon coupling once the structural space is mapped using both volume and the Mn dimer distance as key structural parameters under compression. Minor changes in the dimer distance significantly affect electronic and phonon properties, bringing the calculated Tc into agreement with experiment. Our results suggest that MnB4 is a highly responsive system, providing a platform for probing the subtle interplay between structural instability, superconductivity and magnetism.

Inorganic structural chemistry leads naturally to a theory for crystal structure prediction formalized by a generalized disjunctive programming (GDP), which is formulated using continuous and Boolean variables to involve the algebraic equations, disjunctions, and logic propositions. Since the feasibilities of continuous variables change drastically depending on Boolean variables and vice versa, iterative optimization of continuous and Boolean variables efficiently transforms a randomly generated initial structure into an optimal solution. Boolean variables are introduced to elucidate the “combinatorial backbone” of the original continuous optimization problem, which corresponds to the graphs describing crystal structures with clear chemical meanings. Since many subgraphs are discovered in numerous graphs generated through structural optimizations, on-the-fly learning of the feasibilities of them accelerates the discovery of the optimal solutions. This theory enables designing a wide variety of crystal structures with small computations based on only the atomic radii and feasible coordination numbers of each atom.

We study the finite-lattice statistical-mechanical model whose nearest-neighbor bond potential is the reciprocal cost $J(e^\varepsilon)=\cosh\varepsilon-1$, selected by the d'Alembert functional equation under the stated regularity and calibration assumptions. The structural inputs are stated explicitly; once they are fixed, the analysis is rigorous mathematics about the bond action $V(\Delta\phi)=\cosh(\Delta\phi)-1$ on finite boxes in $\mathbb Z^3\times\mathbb Z/8\mathbb Z$. Our main result pairs a negative and a positive statement about reflection positivity. For the continuous noncompact model the natural temporal kernel $K(u)=\exp[-(\cosh u-1)]$ fails the Bochner positive-definiteness test: an interval-certified quadrature gives $\widetilde K(3)<0$. Thus the standard Bochner route to Osterwalder-Schrader reflection positivity is obstructed. For a finite-alphabet variant, with field values restricted to a finite symmetric set $\Phi=v_0\{-N,\ldots,N\}$, reflection positivity holds whenever the finite crossing-bond Toeplitz matrix $(K_{\Phi(v_0,N)})_{a,b}:=K(b-a), a,b\in\Phi$, is positive semidefinite. For $v_0\in\{1.2,1.5,2.5\}$, this is discharged by a rigorous diagonal-dominance certificate uniform in $N$, and the associated one-step transfer operator is then positive and self-adjoint in an explicit reflection-positivity inner product. These finite-volume results do not provide a continuum Wightman theory, Osterwalder-Schrader reconstruction, LSZ scattering, or a continuum mass gap.

Weyl fermions in inversion-symmetric Weyl semimetals occur in pairs of opposite chirality, leading to symmetric optical responses under circularly-polarised light and a vanishing net photocurrent. Here, we show that tailored two-colour light fields break this symmetry and enable selective excitation of individual Weyl nodes. The interference between a circularly-polarised $\omega$ field and a phase-locked linearly-polarised $2\omega$ field generates a chirality-dependent redistribution of carriers in momentum space, resulting in a nonzero controllable photocurrent. We demonstrate that both the magnitude and sign of the photocurrent can be tuned via the relative phase and field strength of the two colours, and identify an optimal regime in which chiral selectivity is maximised. Our results establish a general route to optically-controlled chiral charge dynamics in Weyl semimetals using polarisation-structured light.

Advances in novel materials science enable structures to function as intelligent machines by embedding memory and learning capabilities directly into materials. Our work introduces a physical adaptive material motor unit neural network,leveraging a new generation of controllable actuators composed of wood- and carbon black-based composites, sensitive to temperature and relative humidity. These material actuators are assembled into a motor unit-like structure inspired by muscle contraction trigger, forming an intelligent machine capable of dynamic shading control that can be used, for example, in buildings. The machine is governed by a neural network trained on over 350 experimental data points collected under diverse environmental conditions. By establishing a new data-aware backpropagation training, we show that the machine predicts shading responses and learns to predict appropriate behaviour incrementally as the database expands. We also demonstrate the ability of the machine to optimise configurations to achieve similar shading outputs under two distinct conditions.

This paper introduces a comprehensive two-dimensional analytical model of a toroidal magnetic ring with circular cross-section under sinusoidal excitation. Applying Maxwell's equations in local polar coordinates within a complex permeability, the model derives analytical expressions for the internal magnetic field, magnetic flux, complex impedance, and total losses. It rigorously separates the contributions of eddy current losses, hysteresis losses, and winding losses, while explicitly incorporating the skin effect in the conductive core via Bessel functions. An expression for the apparent permeability is also provided, enabling the nonlinear core behavior to be mapped onto simplified linear material models. The resulting analytical model offers a computationally efficient and accurate foundation for standardized magnetic material characterization, such as Brockhaus and Iwatsu ring measurements, as a powerful alternative to 2D and 3D finite element analysis.

Electrical transport and magnetic measurements have been made on UTe2 under pressure P up to approximately 16 GPa to determine the superconducting transition temperature Tc vs P phase diagram in the high-pressure tetragonal phase. Superconductivity emerges near 5 GPa, coincident with the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition; in the tetragonal phase, Tc reaches a maximum value of approximately 4 K at 6 GPa and then decreases with P and appears to vanish near 18 GPa. Tetragonal UTe2 has a relatively small upper critical field Hc2(0) $\approx$ 1.2 T at 5.3 GPa, smaller than the Pauli paramagnetic limit, and is orbitally limited with a coherence length $\xi$tetra $\approx$ 16.5 nm. This small value of Hc2(0) favors more conventional superconductivity; in contrast, the large values of Hc2(T) for orthorhombic UTe2 exceed the Pauli paramagnetic limit in all three crystallographic directions and have been attributed to unconventional superconductivity, widely believed to involve spin-triplet pairing. The temperature-pressure phase diagram of UTe2 shows a striking dichotomy: a narrow, fragile, unconventional superconducting region in the orthorhombic phase vs a broad, robust, and more conventional superconducting dome in the tetragonal phase. This dichotomy is consistent with the proposal that U-dimers, present (absent) in the orthorhombic (tetragonal) phase, may play a role in spin-triplet superconductivity of orthorhombic UTe2. In the tetragonal phase, the normal-state electrical resistivity $\rho$(T) exhibits metallic behavior with a knee between 200 and 240 K that depends weakly on P and most likely marks the onset of a transition to a magnetically ordered phase that coexists with superconductivity.

Yttrium Iron Garnet YIG (Y3Fe5O12), is a commonly used material for magnonic devices due to its crystal and chemical structure, which makes the material highly ferromagnetic and enables long-range magnon propagation. Magnonic devices were fabricated by depositing a 390 nm thick thin film of YIG, using low vacuum RF sputtering, on Si substrates with a 240 nm buffer layer of SiO2. Two sets of devices were used to study the effect of the Si/SiO2 interface on the YIG. The first set features patterned hole pairs on the SiO2, which was created using fluorine etching. Patterned samples were used as seed nucleation points to study the crystallization behavior. The second set was a non-patterned Si/SiO2 with YIG deposited uniformly on the top. Post-deposition recrystallization of the YIG film was accomplished in a horizontal furnace under O2 atmosphere, between 750 degrees C and 850 degrees C. By patterning devices with a SiO2 buffer layer, depositing YIG via RF sputtering, and subsequently crystallizing the films in a furnace, we establish a fabrication route toward devices that can be suspended. Although further optimization of stoichiometry is required, achieving precise compositional control would enable the realization of fully suspended and released YIG devices that can be transferred onto alternative substrates.

Recent experiments have provided evidence for excitonic insulator (EI) states in 1T HfTe2. In this work, we investigate EI states in monolayer, bilayer, trilayer, and bulk 1T HfTe2 using advanced meta generalized gradient approximation (meta GGA) calculations and a model Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) approach, together with structural and electronic symmetry breaking analyses. Our results show that both the monolayer and bilayer exhibit negative exciton energies, leading to the spontaneous formation of bound excitons and EI states, whereas the trilayer and bulk display positive exciton energies and do not support EI states. Structural symmetry-breaking calculations show very small in-plane displacements of the Hf atoms from their symmetric positions in the monolayer and multilayers, consistent with experimental observations. Interestingly, electronic symmetry-breaking calculations for the monolayer, performed using a symmetric structure and a hybrid functional, show a pronounced unfolded valence-band feature at the M point and no unfolded conduction-band states near the Fermi level at Gamma, in good agreement with experimental results. Overall, our findings support the existence of EI states in low dimensional 1T HfTe2. The methodology developed here can be readily extended to investigate EI behavior in other related quantum material systems.