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At least 649 records · Page 36
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Majorana Edge Modes in Isolated Wires

Topological superconductors are believed to host exotic quasiparticle excitations known as Majorana zero modes (MZMs), with much of the evidence based on BCS mean-field theory. The direct application of mean-field arguments is tenuous in finite, isolated systems relevant in some experiments. Here, we develop a new correlation-based method for identifying MZMs in interacting, number-conserving systems. Using the density matrix renormalization group, we study fermion number-conserving models with long-range interactions, which under periodic boundary conditions exhibit robust topological and nontopological superconductivity, tuned by the strength of interaction [Ortiz et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 267002 (2014)]. We find evidence that, on the topological side, Majorana edge modes appear in open chains, manifesting as the vanishing of the energy splitting between odd- and even-parity ground states with increasing system size. Additionally, off-diagonal two-point correlation functions show nonlocal, parity-dependent edge effects. These correlations reveal the spatial structure of Majorana modes in the many-body wave function. We show that the correlation diagnostic applies broadly, including to short-range interacting models, where topological superconductivity is more fragile due to the absence of a bulk excitation gap.

Thomas-Markarian, Jaden↗
DOE OSTI2025

Unified Picture of Superconductivity and Magnetism in CeRh 2 ⁢As 2

Here, we propose a theory for the microscopic origin of the multiple superconducting and magnetic phases observed in CeRh 2 ⁢As 2 based on the existence of Van Hove singularities near the Fermi energy. The nonsymmorphic symmetry of this material implies that these singularities are located away from high-symmetry momenta; i.e., they have so-called type-II character. This allows us to include the significant Rashba spin-orbit coupling in CeRh 2 ⁢As 2 in a parquet renormalization group approach. When Fermi-surface nesting is strong, our analysis reveals two closely competing superconducting states with opposite parities, as well as an instability toward spin-density wave states that support both of them, consistent with the phase diagram of CeRh 2 ⁢As 2 . Type-II Van Hove singularities are generic to nonsymmorphic space groups, and so our theory implies that many other compounds may support closely competing even- and odd-parity superconductivity.

Rashba coupling↗
DOE OSTI2019

Rydberg and autoionizing states of tellurium studied by laser resonance ionization spectroscopy

Multistep laser-resonance-ionization spectroscopy of tellurium (Te) has been performed at TRIUMF's off-line laser ion source test stand. Six clean and regular even-parity Rydberg series $5p^3$ ($^{4}S^0_{3/2}$) np $^{3}P_{ 0,1,2}$, n p $^{5}P_{1,2}$, and nf $^{3}F_{2}$/$^{5}P_{1,2}$ were observed. The ionization potential of Te was extracted from the measured series as 72669.110(44) stat (20) sys cm -1 . Excited from two different intermediate levels, seven odd-parity autoionization Rydberg series converging to the $5s^25p^3$ ($^{2}D^0_{3/2}$) core state of Te were obtained. Three of them are first time reported in the energy range of 92940 cm -1 .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Certified quantum measurement of Majorana fermions

Here, we propose a quantum self-testing protocol to certify measurements of fermion parity involving Majorana fermion modes. We further show that observing a set of ideal measurement statistics implies anticommutativity of the implemented Majorana fermion parity operators, a necessary prerequisite for Majorana detection. Our protocol is robust to experimental errors. We obtain lower bounds on the fidelities of the state and measurement operators that are linear in the errors. We propose to analyze experimental outcomes in terms of a contextuality witness W , which satisfies 〈 W 〉 ≤ 3 for any classical probabilistic model of the data. A violation of the inequality witnesses quantum contextuality, and the closeness to the maximum ideal value 〈 W 〉 = 5 indicates the degree of confidence in the detection of Majorana fermions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Two-photon above-threshold ionization of helium

Multiphoton ionization provides a clear window into the nature of electron correlations in the helium atom. In the present study, the final-state energy range extends up to the region near the N = 2 and N = 3 ionization thresholds, where two-photon ionization proceeds via continuum intermediate states above the lowest threshold. Our calculations are performed using multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) and the streamlined R-matrix method. The sum and integration over all intermediate states in the two-photon ionization amplitude is evaluated using the inhomogeneous R-matrix method developed by Robicheaux and Gao. The seamless connection of that method with MQDT allows us to present high-resolution spectra of the final-state Rydberg resonances. Our analysis classifies the resonances above the N = 2 threshold in terms of their group theory quantum numbers. Furthermore, their dominant decay channels are found to obey the previously conjectured propensity rule far more weakly for these even-parity states than was observed for the odd-parity states relevant to single-photon ionization.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Anti-$\mathscr{PT}$-symmetric qubit: Decoherence and entanglement entropy

We investigate the dynamics of a general two-level based anti-parity-time (anti-$\mathscr{PT}$)-symmetric qubit and study its decoherence as well as entanglement entropy properties. We compare our findings with that of the corresponding parity-time ($\mathscr{PT}$)-symmetric and Hermitian qubits. To begin, we consider the time-dependent Dyson map to find the exact analytical dynamics for a general non-Hermitian qubit system weakly coupled with a thermal bath for pure dephasing, before specializing it to the case of a general anti-$\mathscr{PT}$-symmetric qubit. Basing the comparison under the same coupling strength or increasing the non-Hermiticity, we observe that the decoherence function and entanglement entropy of the anti-$\mathscr{PT}$-symmetric qubit decays and grows more slowly, respectively, compared to the $\mathscr{PT}$-symmetric and Hermitian qubits. Similarly, the corresponding variance and area of Fisher information are much higher compared to the $\mathscr{PT}$-symmetric and Hermitian qubits. These results demonstrate that anti-$\mathscr{PT}$-symmetric qubits may be better suited for quantum computing and quantum information processing applications than conventional Hermitian or even $\mathscr{PT}$-symmetric qubits.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Analysis of THz generation through the asymmetry of photoelectron angular distributions

In this work, we analyze the mechanism of THz generation in a gas medium with intense two-color infrared lasers pulses. The dependence of the amplitude of THz emission on the relative phase between the fundamental color (800 nm) and its second harmonic (400 nm) is shown to be identical to the residual current as well as to the asymmetry of the above-threshold-ionization (ATI) photoelectrons along the left versus the right side of the linear polarization axis of the laser, thus confirming the validity of the semiclassical photocurrent model for the THz emission. We further analyze the even vs odd angular momentum distributions of the ATI electrons. The degree of overlap between the even-parity dominant electrons and the odd-parity dominant electrons within each ATI peak determines the strength of the THz emission, thus favoring the model that THz is generated through free-free transitions in the laser field. A model is also provided to obtain the same phase dependence as the four-wave mixing model.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nodeless Superconducting Gap in the Candidate Topological Superconductor Sn{sub 1-x}In{sub x}Te for x=0.7.

High-pressure synthesis techniques have allowed for the growth of Sn1-xInxTe samples beyond the ambient In-saturation limit of x = 0.5 (T-c similar to 4.5 K). In this study we present measurements of the temperature dependence of the London penetration depth Delta lambda(T) in this superconducting doped topological insulator for x = 0.7, where T-c(,onset) approximate to 5 K. The results indicate fully gapped BCS-like behavior, ruling out odd-parity A(2u), pairing; however, odd-parity A(1u) in pairing is still possible. Critical field values measured below 1 K and other superconducting parameters are also presented.

Smylie, M. P.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Vortices with magnetic field inversion in noncentrosymmetric superconductors

Superconducting materials with noncentrosymmetric lattices lacking space inversion symmetry exhibit a variety of interesting parity-breaking phenomena, including the magneto-electric effect, spin-polarized currents, helical states, and the unusual Josephson effect. In this paper, we demonstrate, within a Ginzburg-Landau framework describing noncentrosymmetric superconductors with O point group symmetry, that vortices can exhibit an inversion of the magnetic field at a certain distance from the vortex core. In stark contrast to conventional superconducting vortices, the magnetic-field reversal in the parity-broken superconductor leads to non-monotonic intervortex forces, and, as a consequence, to the exotic properties of the vortex matter such as the formation of vortex bound states, vortex clusters, and the appearance of metastable vortex/anti-vortex bound states.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Classification of (2 + 1) D invertible fermionic topological phases with symmetry

Here we provide a classification of invertible topological phases of interacting fermions with symmetry in two spatial dimensions for general fermionic symmetry groups G f and general values of the chiral central charge c - . Here G f is a central extension of a bosonic symmetry group G b by fermion parity, (-1) F , specified by a second cohomology class [ω 2 ]∈ $\mathscr{H}^2$(Gb,$\mathbb{Z}_2$). Our approach proceeds by gauging fermion parity and classifying the resulting G b symmetry-enriched topological orders while keeping track of certain additional data and constraints. We perform this analysis through two perspectives, using G-crossed braided tensor categories and Spin(2c - ) 1 Chern-Simons theory coupled to a background G gauge field. These results give a way to characterize and classify invertible fermionic topological phases in terms of a concrete set of data and consistency equations, which is more physically transparent and computationally simpler than the more abstract methods using cobordism theory and spectral sequences. Our results also generalize and provide a different approach to the recent classification of fermionic symmetry-protected topological phases by Wang and Gu, which have chiral central charge c - = 0. We show how the tenfold way classification of topological insulators and superconductors fits into our scheme, along with general nonperturbative constraints due to certain choices of c - and G f . Mathematically, our results also suggest an explicit general parametrization of deformation classes of (2 + 1)D invertible topological quantum field theories with G f symmetry.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Full superconducting gap in the candidate topological superconductor In 1-x Pb x Te for x = 0.2

High-pressure synthesis techniques have allowed for the growth of samples on the indium-rich side of (Pb,In)Te, which have increased superconducting transition temperatures compared to lead-rich compounds. Here, we present measurements of the temperature dependence of the London penetration depth Δλ(T) in the compound In 0.8 Pb 0.2 Te, which shows a bulk T c,onset of ~ 4.75 K. The results indicate fully gapped BCS-like behavior, ruling out odd-parity topologically nontrivial A 2u , pairing, however, odd-parity A 1u , pairing is still possible. Critical field values measured below 1 K and other superconducting parameters are also presented.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Anisotropic magnetotransport properties of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeRh 2 As 2

Here, we report anisotropic resistivity measurements of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeRh 2 As 2 in magnetic fields up to 16 T and temperatures down to 0.35 K. The measured CeRh 2 As 2 resistivity shows a signature corresponding to the suggested quadrupole-density-wave order state at T 0 ~0.5 K for both measured directions. For a magnetic field applied along the tetragonal a axis, T 0 is enhanced with magnetic field reaching ~1.75 K at 16 T. Further, a magnetic field-induced transition occurs at μ 0 H m ~ 8.1 T corresponding to a change to a new broken symmetry state. For a magnetic field applied along the c axis, T 0 is suppressed below our base temperature ~0.35 K by μ 0 H ~ 4.5 T, a field close to the previously reported field-induced transition within the superconducting state suggested to be from an even-parity to an odd-parity state. Our results indicate that the multiple superconducting phases in CeRh 2 As 2 are intimately tied to the suppression of the proposed quadrupole-density-wave phase at T 0 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Pair breaking in superconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling

Here we study the influence of symmetry-breaking perturbations on superconductivity in multiorbital materials, with a particular focus on an external magnetic field. We introduce the field-fitness function which characterizes the pair-breaking effects of the perturbation on a given superconducting state. For even-parity superconductors we find that this field-fitness function for an external magnetic field is one, implying that the paramagnetic response is controlled only by a generalized effective g factor. For odd-parity superconductors, the interplay of the effective g factor and the field-fitness function can lead to counterintuitive results. We demonstrate this for p-wave pairing in the effective j = $\frac{3}{2}$ electronic states of the Luttinger-Kohn model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Topological Kondo effect with spinful Majorana fermions

Motivated by the importance of studying topological superconductors beyond the mean-field approximation, we here investigate mesoscopic islands of time-reversal-invariant topological superconductors. We characterize the spectrum in the presence of strong order-parameter fluctuations in the presence of an arbitrary number of Kramers pairs of Majorana edge states and study the effect of coupling the Coulomb blockaded island to external leads. In the case of an odd fermionic parity on the island, we derive an unconventional Kondo Hamiltonian in which metallic leads couple to both topological Majorana degrees of freedom (which keep track of the parity in different leads) and the overall spin 1 2 in the island. For the simplest case of a single wire (two pairs of Majorana edge states), we demonstrate that anisotropies are irrelevant in the weak coupling renormalization group flow. This permits us to solve the Kondo problem in the vicinity of a Toulouse-type point using Abelian bosonization. We demonstrate a residual ground-state entropy of ln ( 2 ) , which is protected by spin-rotation symmetry, but reduced to ln ( 2 ) (as in the spinless topological Kondo effect) by symmetry-breaking perturbations. In the symmetric case, we further demonstrate the simultaneous presence of both Fermi-liquid and non-Fermi-liquid-like thermodynamics (depending on the observable) and derive charge and spin transport signatures of the Coulomb blockaded island. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Materials Science↗
DOE OSTI2016

Magnetic ground state of Sr 2 IrO 4 and implications for second-harmonic generation

The currently accepted magnetic ground state of Sr 2 IrO 4 (the -++- state) preserves inversion symmetry. This is at odds, though, with recent experiments that indicate a magnetoelectric ground state, leading to the speculation that orbital currents or more exotic magnetic multipoles might exist in this material. In this paper, we analyze various magnetic configurations and demonstrate that two of them, the magnetoelectric -+-+ state and the nonmagnetoelectric ++++ state, can explain these recent second-harmonic generation (SHG) experiments, obviating the need to invoke orbital currents. The SHG-probed magnetic order parameter has the symmetry of a parity-breaking multipole in the -+-+ state and of a parity-preserving multipole in the ++++ state. We speculate that either might have been created by the laser pump used in the experiments. An alternative is that the observed magnetic SHG signal is a surface effect. Finally, we suggest experiments that could be performed to test these various possibilities and also address the important issue of the suppression of the RXS intensity at the L 2 edge.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

$β^-$ decay of $T_z$ = +$\frac{11}{2}$ isotopes $\mathrm{^{37}Al}$ and $\mathrm{^{39}Si}$: Understanding Gamow-Teller strength distribution in neutron-rich nuclei

$β^-$ decay of $T_z$ = +$\frac{11}{2}$ nuclei $\mathrm{^{37}Al}$ and $\mathrm{^{39}Si}$ was studied to obtain information about excited states in the daughter and granddaughter nuclei. New information on excited states has been obtained for $\mathrm{^{37,39}P}$ whereas level schemes for $\mathrm{^{37}Si}$ and $\mathrm{^{37,39}S}$ were confirmed and expanded on as compared to the most recent investigations. For the nuclei studied, the valence proton and neutron occupy different major shells with opposite parities, hence, the $β^-$ decay preferentially and primarily populates core-excited $1p1h$ intruder states with a parity opposite to the ground state of the daughter nucleus. These low-lying intruder states shed light on the $N = 20$ shell gap and its evolution with neutron number. The $β^-$ decay of very neutron-rich nuclei also illustrates how the Gamow-Teller (GT) strength distribution changes with neutron excess. Comparing $β^-$ decay of $\mathrm{^{37,39}Si}$ presented here with $\mathrm{^{38,40}Si}$ from a previous study, we clearly see an even-odd effect in the GT strength distribution with the decay from even-even nuclei showing strong low-lying strength whereas for the odd $A$ being very fragmented. Finally, configuration interaction shell-model calculations with the state-of-art SDPFSDG-MU effective interaction were performed to understand the structure of the $1p1h$ states and explore the GT strength distribution.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Structure of odd- A Pt isotopes along the line of stability

The structure of the odd-A isotopes 193,195,197 Pt, which lie along the line of stability, has been studied up to high spin through multinucleon transfer reactions. Positive- and negative-parity sequences in Pt- 193,195 Pt have been considerably extended and multiple band crossings established. An isomer with T 1/2 = 5.0(5) ns and I π = 25/2 - is present in 195 Pt. Additionally, the isotopes 193,195 Pt are characterized by moderate oblate deformation, and angular momentum generation at high spin in the yrast, positive-parity sequences is attributed to the rotation alignment of i 13/2 neutrons and h 11/2 protons. Lastly, a detailed understanding of the observed features is presented using calculations based on tilted axis cranking covariant density functional theory as well as others with the ULTIMATE CRANKER code.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Highly deformed bands in Nd nuclei: New results and consistent interpretation within the cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky formalism

Three new highly-deformed (HD) bands are identified in 136 Nd and the highly deformed band of 137 Nd is extended at higher spin by four transitions, revealing a band crossing associated with the occupation of the second $νi_{13/2}$ intruder orbital. Extended cranked Nilsson-Strutinsky calculations are performed for all HD bands observed in 134 Nd, 136 Nd, and 137 Nd, achieving for the first time a consistent interpretation of all HD bands in the Nd nuclei. The new interpretation has significant consequences, like the change of parity of the yrast HD bands of 134 Nd and 136 Nd, and the involvement of two negative-parity neutron intruder orbitals in the configurations of most HD bands. The present experimental results and their theoretical interpretation represent an important step forward in the understanding of the second-minimum excitations in the Nd nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗