Biological Physics
Emergent Self-Organisation of Intelligent Active Particles
Priyanka Iyer, Segun Goh and Gerhard Gompper
Intelligent active particles are characterized by self-propulsion, directional sensing of their environment, information processing, decision making and goal-oriented self-steering. This implies, in particular, the prevalence of non-reciprocal interactions, and the importance of information propagation through
agent groups. Examples include biological systems (
cells, insects, birds, fish, pedestrians) as well as engineered systems (nano- and microbots). As many
agents move in an aqueous medium, hydrodynamic interactions strongly affect the dynamics. The emergent dynamics includes the formation of swarms and flocks, predator-prey behavior, and the
navigation in complex environments.
Read the full abstract ▾
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Strong field lensing and shadows of $\boldsymbol{f(Q,\mathcal{B})}$ gravity black holes
Rahul Das and Umananda Dev Goswami
We investigate the strong field
lensing of light by black holes (BHs)emerging in $f(Q, \mathcal{B})$ theory of
gravity, which is an extension of $f(Q)$
gravity theory by including a boundary term $\mathcal{B}$. Our analysis starts with the study of horizon structure for the BH spacetime in $f(Q,\mathcal{B})$
gravity. The strong field
lensing analysis is done by employing the method developed by V.~Booza. We calculate the deflection angle for the static and spherically symmetric $f(Q,\mathcal{B})$
gravity BH spacetime and compare the results with the Schwarzschild BH. It is found that for all considerable scenarios of model parameters the $f(Q,\mathcal{B})$
gravity BH produces less deflection of light than the Schwarzschild BH. We extend our study to examine the outermost relativistic Einstein rings and three other observables, viz., angular position $\vartheta_{\infty}$, angular separation $s$ and relative magnification $r_\text{mag}$. We see that except $r_\text{mag}$, other observables show the same kind of behavioural change with respect to model parameters. We also study the shadow of the considered BH. Moreover, using the shadow data of BH Sgr A* from EHT collaborations, we constrain the model parameters of the $f(Q,\mathcal{B})$ theory for the BH spacetime. The constraining analysis reveals that for all considerable values of the model parameter $s_0$, the allowed range of the other model parameter $q_0$ is $-3\lesssim q_0 \lesssim -2$.
Read the full abstract ▾
Statistical Mechanics
Anomalous Floquet Heating from Sparse Long-Range Interactions
Chenyue Guo, Andrea Pizzi and Hongzheng Zhao
Regular
lattices of interacting particles under a periodic drive typically heat with rate $\gamma \sim e^{-\mathcal{O}(\omega)}$ which is exponentially suppressed in drive frequency $\omega$. Here, we show that sparse infinite-range interactions, which have recently become accessible in
quantum simulators, can lead to anomalous heating with rate $\gamma \sim e^{-\mathcal{O}(\sqrt{\omega})}$. This anomaly originates from the broad distribution of coordination numbers across the network: as the driving frequency increases, heating becomes dominated by sites with larger coordination numbers, making the characteristic local energy scale relevant for heating grow with frequency. For small-world networks, we develop an analytic theory that thoroughly matches our large scale numerics. Finally, we discuss how network
topology can serve as a control knob for engineering non-
equilibrium phases of matter. Our results uncover a new mechanism for Floquet heating and suggest new routes toward stabilizing nonequilibrium phases in driven systems with programmable interaction networks.
Read the full abstract ▾
Quantum Physics
Offline Channel-Independent QAOA Angles for RIS Power Aggregation: Unit-Circle Phase Dictionaries and Infinite-Size Spin-Glass Limits
Burhan Gulbahar
Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) maximize received power by setting per-element phases. Discrete-phase optimization is NP-hard in the worst case, while the
quantum approximate optimization
algorithm (QAOA) applied to RIS faces limited phase alphabets, either per-problem angle optimization or uncharacterized training cost exposed to barren plateaus, and no scalable performance
benchmark. We introduce a $2^{M}$-phase $\theta$ dictionary for optimizing power $\|\mathbf{A} \, e^{j\theta}\|^{2}$ having $K \times N$ channel
matrix $\mathbf{A}$ and QAOA angle offline optimization with instance and size-independent infinite-size limit of the mixed-$q$ Gaussian ensemble of Basso et al. Our design bounds the
spin-
Hamiltonian interaction order to at most quartic for any $M$, and the deployed order-2 reduction lies below the even-$q\!\ge\!4$ regime in which constant-level QAOA limitations are proved. We perform analytical, state-vector,
matrix-product-state and Pauli-path-simulation numerical studies for $N=K \leq 100$ and QAOA depth $p=9$, verifying offline angle transfer to Rayleigh, Rician/line-of-sight, cascaded double-fading and spatially-correlated RIS channels at $N\!\in\!\{5,12\}$. We observe performance reaching a near-optimal multi-start single-flip local-search reference for $N\!\le\!16$ under order-2 modeling with $2^{5}{=}32$-phase dictionary while the order-4 model shows a performance ceiling below the classical reference. The approach suggests a route to near-optimal large-$N$ performance on future fault-tolerant (FTQ)
quantum computers, which enable the higher-depth QAOA
circuits.
Read the full abstract ▾
High Energy Physics (Theory) · Cross-listed from math.NT
Zeta-regularization and natural boundaries: Sums and products of integers and primes
P. L. Krapivsky and J. M. Luck
Euler regularized the divergent product of all natural numbers and found beautiful formulas for regularized sums of integer powers of natural numbers. These derivations essentially relied on what is now called the
zeta-regularization technique, although analytical continuation had not yet been invented. This classic method is however not applicable to the product of all
primes, as the
prime zeta function has a natural boundary along the imaginary axis. Muñoz García and Pérez-Marco overcame this obstacle and evaluated the product of all
primes to $4\pi^2$ by finding an appropriately regularized value of the derivative of the
prime zeta function at the origin, lying on the natural boundary. We extend their approach in two novel directions. First, we show how to make sense of the sum of all
primes. This regularization requires going a finite distance beyond the natural boundary. Second, we determine the regularized products of integers and
primes in the nine imaginary quadratic fields where integers have a unique factorization into
primes, and establish a general power-law relationship between products of integers and
primes. Two well-known examples are Gauss and Eisenstein integers. The interest in this approach goes beyond number theory. In a variety of physical situations, the
zeta-regularization technique is indeed not applicable because the relevant
zeta function has a natural boundary.
Read the full abstract ▾
Materials Science
Multicomponent Grain Boundary Segregation Dilute-Limit Model and Its Effect on Nanocrystalline Stability
Georgiy Marchiy, Feodor Kuznetsov, Dmitry Samsonov et al. (+1 more)
Grain boundary segregation of solutes is a powerful tool for stabilizing nanocrystalline materials against grain growth. However, analytical models have been largely restricted to binary systems, leaving the stabilization potential of multicomponent
alloys poorly understood. In this work, we develop an analytical framework for an arbitrary number of solutes in the dilute limit of grain boundary concentrations based on segregation energy spectra computed via molecular dynamics. We demonstrate that multicomponent segregation synergistically expands the range of nanocrystalline
alloys that are thermodynamically stable against both grain growth and phase separation. Crucially, the model reveals that the cosegregation of almost any solutes enhances stability against phase separation, while the cosegregation of solutes with anti-correlated segregation spectra can suppress temperature-driven desegregation. This framework proposes a predictive tool for the rational design of thermally stable nanocrystalline
alloys using multicomponent doping.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Georgiy Marchiy, Feodor Kuznetsov, Dmitry Samsonov, Eugene Mukhin
Fluid Dynamics
Temperature distribution measurement on three-phase contact line in liquid nitrogen using two-color temperature-sensitive paint
Shione Fujiwara, Yasuhiro Egami, Osamu Kawanami et al. (+1 more)
Cryogenic phase-change phenomena play an important role in a wide range of engineering applications, including cryogenic cooling systems, superconducting technologies, and space propulsion systems. In particular, the three-phase contact line is recognized as a key region governing evaporation and heat transfer. However, direct measurements of temperature distributions near cryogenic three-phase contact lines remain limited because conventional infrared thermography becomes increasingly difficult at extremely low temperatures. In this study, a two-color temperature-sensitive paint (2C-TSP) technique was applied to visualize the temperature field around a
liquid-nitrogen three-phase contact line. A temperature-sensitive dye and a temperature-insensitive reference dye were incorporated into a single coating, enabling robust temperature measurements based on luminescence intensity ratios by compensating for changes in optical intensity caused by refraction and reflection at the
liquid-gas interface. Temperature distributions were measured under three heating conditions with heat fluxes of 110, 430, and 900 W/m2. The measured temperature fields revealed a localized temperature minimum at the observed three-phase contact line, suggesting localized cooling associated with phase change. Quantitative analysis showed that the average temperature in the
liquid region remained nearly constant, whereas the temperature in the gas region increased with increasing heat flux. These observations reveal a non-uniform thermal structure around the cryogenic three-phase contact line. The present results demonstrate that 2C-TSP is a promising technique for direct visualization of temperature fields around cryogenic three-phase contact lines and provides new insights into phase-change phenomena in
liquid nitrogen.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Shione Fujiwara, Yasuhiro Egami, Osamu Kawanami, Yu Matsuda
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Enabling Electrical Readout of Néel vector reversal in a van der Waals Antiferromagnet
Raghvendra Posti, Ravi Kumar Bandepalli, Wenhao Liu et al. (+14 more)
Owing to its robustness against external perturbations and intrinsically ultrafast dynamics, the Néel vector in antiferromagnets (AFMs) can enable the development of next-generation spintronic and magnonic devices for
memory and computing applications. To realize AFM-based
magnetic memory devices, one of the key requirements is to demonstrate electrical readout of 180-degree reversal of Néel vector in thin film AFMs, which remains critically missing. In this work, we report experimental demonstration of a novel transport methodology to detect Néel vector reversal in atomically thin films of a van der Waals (vdW) based A-type AFM. For this, we utilize
spin-dependent electronic band properties of CrSBr by coupling it to a
spin-polarized layer, separated by a tunnel barrier. In this configuration, the
spin-dependent tunnelling magnetoresistance (MR) becomes sensitive to the relative orientation between the magnetization of the reference electrode and the interfacial sublattice magnetization of the AFM layer, in turn enabling electrical detection of the Néel vector orientation. Importantly, the observed MR can also reveal 180-degree reversal of Néel vector in even-layers of CrSBr, wherein adjacent sublattice
magnetic layers are exactly compensated and the net magnetization vanishes and thus establishes a broadly applicable strategy for electrical detection of Néel vector in vdW-based AFMs.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Raghvendra Posti, Ravi Kumar Bandepalli, Wenhao Liu, Anshuman Sahoo, Pratyush Saud, Zixin Zhai, Aswin L. N. Kondusamy, Zhenhong Cui, I-Hsuan Kao, Aalok Tiwari, Thomas Poirier, James H. Edgar, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Taniguchi, Bing Lv, Jyoti Katoch, Simranjeet Singh
Instrumentation and Detectors
Hydrofluoric acid-free titanium etching for rare-event searches
P. Knights, I. Manthos, K. Nikolopoulos et al. (+3 more)
Rare-event search experiments require construction materials with high radiopurity to minimise background contributions. Thanks to its high mechanical strength, low density, machinability, and commercial availability in relatively radiopure forms, titanium is a suitable material for structural elements in rare-event searches. In such applications, a chemical etching stage is typically performed to remove surface contamination or to prepare the surface for further treatment. However, due to its chemical resistance, the etching of titanium conventionally requires hydrofluoric acid, posing serious health and safety concerns that are further exacerbated in deep underground laboratory settings. An alternative approach is proposed, which uses sulphuric acid. Grade 1 titanium samples were etched in 20% and 40% sulphuric acid solutions at 20$^\circ$C and 40$^\circ$C for up to 24\,h. The effects of etching were quantified through mass change measurements, surface roughness analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Sulphuric acid effectively etches titanium, with up to $3.5\,\pm\,0.3$ mg/cm$^2$ of titanium removed for an unagitated solution of 40% sulphuric acid at $40^\circ$C for 24\,h. Furthermore, sulphuric acid is shown to be effective at etching at lower concentration and temperature. The formation of a passivation layer during the etching may enable control of the total mass removed.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors P. Knights, I. Manthos, K. Nikolopoulos, G. Rogers, D. Spathara, P. Walters
Quantum Physics
No-deleting principle for two unitary copies
Dafa Li
Pati and Braunstein defined a deleting machine and showed the impossibility of deleting one of two identical copies of an unknown
quantum state. So far, no one has defined two non-identical copies of a
quantum state, of course no one has discussed the impossibility of deleting one of two non-identical copies of an unknown
quantum state. In this paper, we define $u|{\psi}>$ and $U|{\psi}>$, where $u$ and $U$ are any
unitary operators, as two
unitary copies of a
quantum state $|{\psi}>$, and show that it is impossible to delete one of two
unitary copies of an unknown state.
Read the full abstract ▾
Adaptation and Self-Organizing Systems
Characterizing some dynamical states in swarmalators system using recurrence analysis
Delors A. Jiofack, Zidane Choffo, Carmel T. Lambu et al. (+4 more)
Chimera or chimera-like states arise in a wide variety of networks and their identification remains challenging particularly when mobility prevents index-based ordering of the nodes. In this work, we propose a recurrence analysis based method to identify and characterize chimera states in two distinct dynamical frameworks: a network of chaotic Colpitts oscillators and a system of swarmalators where delayed interactions induce chimera-like dynamics named boiling state. The suggested strategy is based on the joint recurrence plots and
entropy-based measures, to capture the spatio-temporal organization. This approach enables a clear discrimination between complete synchronization, quasi-synchronization and disordered regimes, even when conventional order parameters yield ambiguous results. Furthermore, we introduce the degree of independence, which estimates the proportion of dynamically completely independent nodes in the system. This measure provides a robust characterization of transitions between collective states.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Delors A. Jiofack, Zidane Choffo, Carmel T. Lambu, Sandrine J. Mabekou, Patrick Louodop, Fernando F. Ferreira, Norbert Marwan
Chemical Physics
Dynamic Response Functions for Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics Hartree-Fock Theory
Stephen H. Yuwono, Katie A. Crouch and A. Eugene DePrince III
Frequency-dependent linear and quadratic response functions are implemented for a cavity
quantum electrodynamics (QED) generalization of Hartree-Fock (HF) theory. Dynamic electric dipole polarizability, optical rectification hyperpolarizability, and second harmonic generation hyperpolarizability tensors are evaluated for molecules strongly coupled to a single-mode optical cavity, and the results are benchmarked against the same tensors obtained from real-time time-dependent QED-HF simulations. Substantial cavity-induced changes to the frequency-dependent properties are observed for certain perturbing frequencies at large electron-
photon coupling strengths. We also find special perturbing frequencies at which there is no cavity effect, regardless of the coupling strength.
Read the full abstract ▾
Quantum Physics
How rare are Markovian quantum dynamics?
Charlotte Bäcker, Nick Maryshchak and Walter T. Strunz
A profound understanding of decoherence and dissipation in
quantum dynamics is crucial for the realistic modeling of the
evolution of
quantum systems. In open
quantum dynamics one distinguishes between a memoryless, so-called Markovian
evolution and dynamics incorporating
memory effects, termed non-Markovian. In this work we study how prevalent
memory effects are in the set of all such dynamics. We thus investigate how often a Markovian description is applicable. This question is approached by investigating randomly generated two-step
qubit dynamics with respect to different concepts and witnesses of non-Markovianity. We observe that almost all dynamics are non-Markovian, and only a small (yet finite) fraction is Markovian. Furthermore, we study how this proportion changes when considering certain subclasses such as lower rank or mixed-
unitary dynamics. Importantly, our results shed light on the relative ratios of – and interrelations between – the sets of dynamics that are non-Markovian with respect to different criteria. Finally, we investigate the fraction of dynamics in which the
memory effects are necessarily of
quantum nature and establish a connection between two recently developed concepts that characterize the quantumness of
memory in non-Markovian dynamics.
Read the full abstract ▾
Quantum Physics
Uncovering Latent Structures in Robust Pulse Sequences: A Model-Based Reinforcement Learning Approach for Adaptable Quantum Control
Tobias Kiermeyer, Thomas Heydenreich, Léo Van Damme et al. (+3 more)
Real-time adaptive control of
quantum systems requires rapid generation of robust, high-fidelity pulses across a continuous range of operating conditions. Standard optimization
algorithms such as gradient-ascent pulse engineering (GRAPE) solve each instance independently, discarding information between runs and requiring costly reinitialization when parameters change. We present an approach to robust optimal
quantum control based on model-based reinforcement learning, in which a single neural network –
embedding the
Hamiltonian directly into the training pipeline – generates robust gates across an entire family of gate configurations, without pre-computed training data. Demonstrated on a single-
spin (two-level) system, the trained networks produce pulses for arbitrary rotation angles over a range of pulse durations, detunings, and field inhomogeneities in milliseconds, at fidelities comparable to multi-seed GRAPE. The framework is inherently adaptable: any parameter entering the
Hamiltonian can serve as a network input, extending the approach to different systems and control settings. Beyond speed, the network reveals structure in the control landscape: it discovers the same structured phase profiles that appear in GRAPE solutions – made identifiable through fidelity-invariant
symmetry transformations – but more consistently than independent optimization. This consistency enables smooth interpolation across the entire trained parameter space.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Tobias Kiermeyer, Thomas Heydenreich, Léo Van Damme, Sebastian Hohenemser, Florian Marquardt, Steffen J. Glaser
Optics
Observation of fractality-induced topology in photonic crystals
Bei Yan, Yingfeng Qi, Xiang Xi et al. (+6 more)
Fractal
topology–achieved by integrating nontrivial
topology into fractal geometries with self-similarity and non-integer dimensions–has opened new avenues for exploring topological phases of matter. Recent theoretical advances revealed a counterintuitive fractal
topology: fractality itself can induce nontrivial
topology in an otherwise trivial system. Here, we report the first experimental observation of fractality-induced
topology in a tight-binding-like photonic
crystal, without relying on traditional driving mechanisms such as
magnetic fields, staggered hopping, or
spin-orbit coupling. We demonstrate that fractality alone is sufficient to lift the degeneracy of Kagome
lattice band structure and induce topological corner states within the bandgap of the resulting fractal Kagome photonic
crystal, which is a photonic higher-order topological
insulator. This work experimentally reveals a novel mechanism for realizing nontrivial topological states, expanding both the fundamental frontier and potential application of topological physics.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Bei Yan, Yingfeng Qi, Xiang Xi, Linyun Yang, Yan Meng, Zhen-Xiao Zhu, Jing-Ming Chen, Ziyao Wang, Zhen Gao
High Energy Physics (Theory)
A.Morozov
"Colored"
knot polynomials satisfy difference equation w.r.t. the highest weights of the underlying representation – which in the case of symmetrically colored Jones are named "
quantum $A$-
polynomials". In the double scaling quasiclassical (Kashaev) limit, when representation size $r\sim \hbar^{-1}$, there are different phases – in one of them the classical action vanishes and in another one it is a deformation of
hyperbolic volume (of a
knot complement in $S^3$). This corresponds to a splitting of the non-homogeneous version of the
quantum $A$-
polynomial into two pieces, which we illustrate by more examples than just a figure-eight
knot $4_1$ in the original paper. From the point of view of quasiclassics,
hyperbolic volume is just an integration constant, which is not fully determined by the $A$-
polynomial equation – and actually remains ambiguous in this formalism. As a byproduct, we expect that classical $A$-
polynomial at $L=1$ becomes proportional to Alexander: $A^{\cal K}(1,M)\sim \Delta^{\cal K}(M)$ – this seems true, but $A$ should be consistent with the polynomiality of non-homogeneous
quantum ${\cal A}$-
polynomial, what sometime implies that it is not minimal.
Read the full abstract ▾
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Gravity theory of the generalized mass to horizon entropy The Iyer Wald approach
Subhra Mondal and Amitava Choudhuri
In this letter, our aim is to study the gravitational origin of the generalized mass-to-horizon
entropy (GMHE), described by an entropic exponent index $n$ and a multiplicative parameter $\gamma$. We employ Iyer-Wald's approach within the modified $\mathfrak{f(R)}$
gravity scenario in order to assess the horizon
entropy of the black hole (BH) by considering solutions with constant
curvature for the spherically symmetric
vacuum field equations. In this process, we explicitly show that the GMHE can effectively be reconstructed from a generalized Lagrangian $\mathfrak{L}\propto \mathfrak{R}^{1+\epsilon}$, where $\epsilon\equiv\frac{n-1}{2}$ measures tiny departures from the standard formulation of general relativity (GR). Finally, we discuss the physical implications of our results in relation to cosmology and the prospects for alleviating the thermodynamic instability of Schwarzschild BHs.
Read the full abstract ▾
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Magnetoelectric flat band induced by a $\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}$ charge density wave in monolayer CrSe$_2$
Pablo Savino, M. del Carmen Fuente Santiago, Jan Phillips et al. (+4 more)
We investigate the electronic and
magnetic properties of the polar $\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}$ charge-density-wave (CDW) phase of CrSe$_2$ using ab initio calculations. The CDW introduces a polar distortion out of the van der Waals plane that couples to the
spin-polarized Cr d states resulting in a remarkably flat electronic band exactly at the
Fermi level. We provide a microscopic understanding of the origin of the flat band by analyzing in detail the structural reconstruction, the effects of orbital hybridization,
crystal-field splittings,
spin-orbit coupling and electronic correlations. Our calculations show that due to the polar nature of the CDW distortion, an electric field can act as an external switch to induce the CDW phase, providing a way to manipulate strong correlations in the system.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Pablo Savino, M. del Carmen Fuente Santiago, Jan Phillips, Javier Corral Sertal, Adolfo O. Fumega, Santiago Blanco-Canosa, Victor Pardo
High Energy Physics (Theory)
Multi-dimensional chaos II: String scattering amplitudes, curve repulsion, and RMT
Massimo Bianchi, Maurizio Firrotta, Jacob Sonnenschein et al. (+1 more)
Multi-dimensional chaos refers to processes described by erratic functions of several dynamical variables. In this letter we analyze the string scattering amplitudes of highly-excited states and ground states. We show that the amplitudes, which depend on a scattering angle and a polarization angle, are characterized by two sets of non-intersecting curves associated with the vanishing of the derivatives with respect to the angles. We introduce the notion of the "area
eigenvalue" $A_n$ associated with the $n$-th curve. We compute the spacings $\delta_{n}= A_{n+1}-A_n$ and their ratios $r_{n}=\frac{\delta_{n+1}}{\delta_n}$. We show that the distributions of the spacing ratios take the form of the RMT Gaussian $\beta$-ensembles. The curves associated with the scattering angle tend to converge to the Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble value of $\beta=1$ and those related to the polarization angle to the Gaussian
Unitary Ensemble $\beta=2$. We also compute the “areas form factor" associated with the areas and discover the regions of decline, ramp and plateau which characterize chaotic processes. The slope of the ramp seems to agree with the $\beta$ values extracted from the distribution of the spacing ratios.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Massimo Bianchi, Maurizio Firrotta, Jacob Sonnenschein, Dorin Weissman
High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)
Reinterpretation of ATLAS and CMS searches in monojet and mono-$V$ final states: prospects of limits on excited neutrinos
Gabriela Karkosova Martinovicova and Vojtech Pleskot
Searches for final states with large missing transverse momentum recoiling against a jet or a hadronically decaying vector
boson provide strong constraints on a wide class of physics scenarios beyond the Standard Model. In this work, we reinterpret existing ATLAS and CMS monojet and mono-$V$ searches at $\sqrt{s} =$ 13 TeV in the context of excited-
neutrino production. Published signal-region selections, post-fit background estimates, and observed event yields are used with simulated excited-
neutrino signals to derive upper limits on the production cross-section as a function of the excited-
neutrino mass. The monojet searches allow excited-
neutrino masses of up to approximately 4 TeV to be excluded for representative
benchmark scenarios. Mono-$V$ searches provide constraints on the parameter space region with large couplings to the SM electroweak gauge
bosons and low excited-
neutrino masses compared to the compositeness scale. This is complementary to the region probed by the monojet searches.
Read the full abstract ▾
Materials Science
Breaking Bottlenecks in Solid Electrolyte Discovery with Large Artificial Intelligence Models
Eric Jianfeng Cheng, Min Hong, Zhiquan Zeng et al. (+22 more)
Solid electrolytes (SEs) are central to next-generation metal batteries, yet their discovery remains constrained by fragmented data, limited transferability of simulations, and slow experimental iteration. Unlike catalysis, where surface reactivity dominates, SEs require simultaneous optimization of bulk ion transport, defect chemistry, mechanical integrity, and interfacial stability. Here, we outline a framework for autonomous SE discovery enabled by large artificial intelligence (AI) models, including machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) and large
language models (LLMs). We discuss the
evolution from static materials databases to dynamic, self-updating knowledge systems, the role of MLIPs in bridging density functional theory (DFT) and long-timescale ion migration, and the emergence of LLMs as engines for literature mining, hypothesis generation, and scientific
reasoning. We further describe a closed-loop architecture integrating AI-driven candidate design, multiscale simulation, uncertainty-aware selection, and experimental validation. Such systems shift SE research from intuition-guided exploration to data-informed, self-improving cycles. We conclude by highlighting challenges in data standardization, interfacial complexity, and reproducibility, and we propose design principles for building autonomous laboratories for solid-state battery materials.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Eric Jianfeng Cheng, Min Hong, Zhiquan Zeng, Chuanyu Liu, Qian Wang, Melissa Jane Meadowcroft, Vlad Badilita, Carlos Miguel Costa, Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez, Ying Li, Chenyao Ma, Weibo Gong, Surendra Martha, Aloysius Soon, Piao Ma, Di Zhang, Teguh Ariyanto, Sudaryanto, Hiroshi Kakinuma, Jie Zhao, Jiayu Peng, Pengfei Ou, Jun Lu, Shin-ichi Orimo, Hao Li
Materials Science
Dimensional Confinement Driven Scattering Inversion in NaCrTe$_2$
Himanshu Sharma, Bhawna Sahni, Tanusri Saha-Dasgupta et al. (+1 more)
Dimensionality reduction provides a powerful route to tune the electronic and
magnetic properties of van der Waals materials, yet its influence on electronic transport remains complex due to competing effects from
quantum confinement and modified scattering mechanisms. Here, we investigate this interplay in an
antiferromagnetic semiconductor $\text{NaCrTe}_2$ using first-principles calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport equation beyond the constant relaxation time approximation. Our results show that the monolayer limit induces a coupled magnetostructural reconstruction, reducing the band gap from $0.44$ eV (bulk) to $0.15$ eV (monolayer) and significantly enhancing the static dielectric constant. This
evolution triggers a fundamental scattering inversion: whereas bulk transport is limited by polar optical
phonon (POP) scattering, the monolayer becomes dominated by acoustic deformation potential (ADP) scattering. We show that this crossover originates from the simultaneous suppression of the Fröhlich interaction through enhanced dielectric screening and the amplification of acoustic scattering due to pronounced
lattice softening. These results clarify how the interplay between dielectric screening,
lattice stiffness, and band
topology governs transport in low-dimensional
magnetic semiconductors, providing a framework to optimize their electronic performance.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Himanshu Sharma, Bhawna Sahni, Tanusri Saha-Dasgupta, Aftab Alam
Quantum Physics
Exact log-depth preparation of highly entangled matrix product states
Keisuke Murota, Frédéric Sauvage, Marco Ballarin et al. (+2 more)
Preparing
matrix product states (MPS) on a
quantum device is a key subroutine in many
quantum algorithms. The most competitive methods, based on the renormalisation group, prepare translationally invariant MPS of size $L$ and bond dimension $\chi$, up to an error $\varepsilon$, in
circuit depth $\tilde O(\chi^{4}\log(L/\varepsilon))$ or $\tilde O(\chi^{6}\log\log(L/\varepsilon))$. We improve multiple aspects of these methods. First, using block-encoded correction maps, whose post-selection succeeds with constant probability, we render the preparation exact without sacrificing the scaling in $L$. Second, through a generalisation of oblivious amplitude amplification to isometries, we reduce the bond-dimension dependence, improving the depth to $\tilde O(\chi^{2}\log L + \chi^{4})$ or $\tilde O(\chi^{2}\log\log L + \chi^{4})$, and even to $\tilde O(\chi^{3}\log L)$ for incoherent preparations. Finally, we extend the framework to non-translationally invariant MPS and prove logarithmic-depth exact preparation for independent and identically distributed random tensor sequences. Confirmed by numerical studies, these results constitute, to the best of our knowledge, the most efficient exact MPS preparation protocols in the relevant parameter regimes.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Keisuke Murota, Frédéric Sauvage, Marco Ballarin, Gabriel Matos, Enrico Rinaldi
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
Inflation in a nutshell: From basics to latest advances
Zhi-Chong Qiu and Qing-Guo Huang
Inflation is an elegant paradigm for the very early Universe. It not only offers a simple solution to the flatness and horizon puzzles of the standard hot Big Bang model, but also generates
quantum fluctuations that seed CMB anisotropies and the formation of large-scale structure. In particular, both the spatial flatness of the Universe and a nearly Gaussian, scale-invariant power spectrum of the
curvature perturbation predicted by inflation have been confirmed by various observations. Recently, a larger spectral index of
curvature perturbation is preferred when combining with ACT DR6, and particularly when further including the $H_0$ prior from SH0ES, and then the Starobinsky inflation model is disfavored at more than $95\%$ confidence level. Even though modified reheating histories and non-minimal couplings have been proposed to achieve a larger value of the spectral index, the model with higher-order
curvature corrections to Starobinsky inflation offers a concise and well-motivated explanation.
Read the full abstract ▾
Quantum Physics
When to Skip Syndrome Extraction in Surface-GKP Codes
Vaughn Sohn and Changhun Oh
Fault-tolerant
quantum error correction requires repeated syndrome extraction to address errors induced by the syndrome-extraction
circuit itself. However, repeated syndrome extraction incurs significant overhead in terms of gate count and ancilla consumption (e.g., Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states). Moreover, noisy syndrome extraction can itself inject additional errors into the data
qubits. To address these issues, we propose a concrete adaptive skipping scheme for the surface-GKP code, a representative GKP-concatenated architecture, that uses analog information naturally generated during inner GKP correction. At each round, the scheme selects one of four actions: measuring both Z-type and X-type surface-code stabilizers, measuring only one type, or skipping both types and reusing previous syndromes. The decision is based on a reliability comparison between reusing the previous syndrome value and performing a new noisy syndrome extraction. Using
circuit-level simulations, we show that the adaptive skipping scheme can reduce the number of surface-code stabilizer measurements while maintaining logical error rates comparable to or lower than those of the full-measurement baseline. The improvement is most pronounced when gate and measurement noise are larger than idle noise, so that avoiding unnecessary syndrome extraction reduces the noise injected into the code. These results indicate that analog information from inner GKP correction can be used not only to improve decoding but also to reduce the measurement overhead of outer-code syndrome extraction.
Read the full abstract ▾
High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)
Marco Fabbrichesi, Roberto Floreanini and Luca Marzola
We investigate the
entanglement in the momenta of particle pairs produced at
colliders, discarding the information on their
spin state. We show how to quantify this
entanglement by reducing the continuous momentum variables to a two-
qubit system through hemispherical projections. We discuss in detail the production of $\tau$-
lepton pairs at an electron
collider. In the Standard Model, the discretized momenta are in a genuinely maximally entangled pure state for suitable choices of the hemispheres.
Read the full abstract ▾
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Unlocking the Hidden Potential of ALMA Calibrators: A Pilot Blind Search for Galactic Molecular Gas in ALMA Band 1
Kanako Narita and Bunyo Hatsukade
We present a pilot blind absorption line search using calibrator observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 1 receiver (35 GHz to 50 GHz).
Radio-loud
quasars, commonly used for calibration, provide stable and bright background sources that are ideal for absorption line studies of diffuse interstellar gas. To enable a systematic analysis beyond previous targeted studies, we developed an automated pipeline, from archival data download to statistical identification of absorption line candidates, and applied it to archival ALMA Band 1 observations corresponding to 16 distinct calibrator sources. We statistically identify significant absorption line candidates along the analyzed sightlines. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of blind absorption line searches with ALMA Band 1 calibrator data and provides a scalable framework for future large-scale archival surveys.
Read the full abstract ▾
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
An Agnostic Machine Learning Model of Photosynthetic Habitability
Callum Gray, Cassandra Hall, Stefano Santabarbara et al. (+5 more)
The search for
exoplanet biosignatures is guided by whether planetary environments can sustain photosynthesis. As such, the Photosynthetic Habitable Zone (PHZ) was recently proposed, as the overlap between the canonical habitable zone and the orbital range where
stellar irradiance is sufficient to drive photosynthesis. Existing PHZ estimates rely on empirical light-response curves from Earth phytoplankton, and thus include implicit Earth-centric biases. We introduce an agnostic PHZ derived from a generalized model of photosynthesis grounded in thermodynamics and redox chemistry, without reference to model organisms. The model is built on a generic photochemical reaction in which
photon capture couples oxidation of a donor molecule to the reduction of CO2. The optical properties and CO2 reduction rate are optimized against irradiance spectra for
exoplanets orbiting main-sequence
stars, using a genetic
algorithm that mimics
evolution by natural selection. Our simulations predict that photosynthetic organisms compensate for reduced flux by evolving larger light-harvesting structures. As a result, photosynthetic viability declines only linearly with orbital distance, despite
stellar flux falling off quadratically. As such, the agnostic PHZ expands well beyond previous Earth-based estimates. Earth-like (visible light) oxygenic photosynthesis is flux-limited at the outer habitable zone for cool M-
dwarf stars; however, both anoxygenic photosynthesis and a hypothetical, NIR-driven oxygenic photosynthesis are viable across the entire habitable zone for M, K, and G
stars. This implies that M-
dwarf exoplanets could sustain robust oxygenic photosynthesis, though it would be different to that found on Earth, presenting reflectance biosignatures in the NIR band rather than the visible.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Callum Gray, Cassandra Hall, Stefano Santabarbara, Klaus Schmidt-Rohr, Andrew Ringham, Edward Gillen, Thomas J. Haworth, Christopher D. P. Duffy
Quantum Physics
Interaction-Enhanced Ergotropy in Phase-Driven Andreev Bound State Quantum Batteries
Disha Verma, B. Vigneshwar and R. Sankaranarayanan
We investigate a phase-driven
quantum battery composed of two interacting Andreev bound state (ABS) units, providing a minimal superconducting platform for coherent energy storage. By analyzing the ergotropy dynamics under a superconducting phase ramp, we show that the interplay between avoided-crossing excitation and interaction-induced hybridization strongly modifies the charging process. In the high-transparency regime relevant for
graphene SNS junctions, the interaction enhances the stored extractable work and generates pronounced oscillatory charging dynamics associated with coherent redistribution between coupled ABS sectors. The phase-resolved
evolution further reveals optimal charging windows during the Josephson cycle, indicating the possibility of phase-programmable energy extraction through partial-cycle operation. Overall, our results identify interaction-assisted avoided-crossing dynamics as a microscopic mechanism for controllable energy storage in superconducting
quantum batteries.
Read the full abstract ▾
High Energy Physics (Phenomenology)
NNLO QCD Corrections to $D$-Wave Spin-Singlet Heavy Quarkonia Decay $\eta_{Q2}\to\gamma\gamma$ via the Principle of Maximum Conformality
Hua Zhou, Xing-Gang Wu, Qing Yu et al. (+1 more)
In this paper, we perform a comprehensive study of the decay process $\eta_{Q2}\to\gamma\gamma$ for $D$-wave
spin-singlet heavy quarkonia up to next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) QCD corrections within the nonrelativistic QCD effective theory. Following its factorization formalism, the total decay width is decomposed into perturbatively calculable short-distance coefficients (SDCs) and nonperturbative $D$-wave long-distance
matrix elements (LDMEs). The original NNLO series of SDCs suffers from sizable renormalization and factorization scale uncertainties. To eliminate such inherent scale ambiguities, we adopt the Principle of Maximum Conformality (PMC). We show that recursively applying the renormalization group equations for the running of $\alpha_s$ and $D$-wave LDMEs within the PMC framework yields an effective strong coupling $\alpha_s(Q_\ast)$ consistent with the expansion coefficients, resulting in a scale-invariant perturbative series. The determined PMC scales are $Q_\ast=1.483$ GeV for $\eta_{c2}$ and $Q_\ast=4.246$ GeV for $\eta_{b2}$. By removing divergent renormalon contributions, the PMC naturally improves the convergence of the perturbative series for SDCs. Our PMC predictions for the total decay widths are $\Gamma_{\eta_{c2}\to\gamma\gamma}^{\rm PMC} = 3.322^{+0.899}_{-0.828}\ \text{eV}$ and $\Gamma_{\eta_{b2}\to\gamma\gamma}^{\rm PMC} = 0.0188^{+0.0014}_{-0.0013}\ \text{eV}$. The uncertainties arise from variations of the charm and bottom
quark masses $\Delta m_c=\pm 0.07$ GeV, $\Delta m_b=\pm 0.06$ GeV, as well as systematic errors from uncalculated higher-order corrections. The corresponding branching ratios are $\text{Br}(\eta_{c2}\to\gamma\gamma) = \big(7.463^{+2.020}_{-1.860}\big)\times 10^{-6}$ and $\text{Br}(\eta_{b2}\to\gamma\gamma) = \big(6.460^{+0.481}_{-0.447}\big)\times 10^{-7}$.
Read the full abstract ▾
All authors Hua Zhou, Xing-Gang Wu, Qing Yu, Sheng-Quan Wang