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Photonic temporal crystals host a variety of intriguing phenomena, from wave amplification and mixing to exotic band structures, all stemming from the time-periodic modulation of optical properties. While these features have been well described classically, their quantum manifestation has remained elusive. Here, we introduce a quantum electrodynamical model of PTCs that reveals a deeper connection between classical and quantum pictures: the classical momentum gap arises from a localization-delocalization quantum phase transition in a Floquet-photonic synthetic lattice. Leveraging an effective Hamiltonian perspective, we pinpoint the critical momenta and highlight how classical exponential field growth manifests itself as wave-packet acceleration in the quantum synthetic space. Remarkably, when a two-level atom is embedded in such a cavity, its Rabi oscillations undergo irreversible decay to a half-and-half mixed state-a previously unobserved phenomenon driven by photonic delocalization within the momentum gap, even with just a single frequency mode. Our findings establish photonic temporal crystals as versatile platforms for studying nonequilibrium quantum photonics and suggest new avenues for controlling light matter interactions through time domain engineering., Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures

The geometric characteristics of Bloch wave functions play a crucial role in electronic transport properties. We show that the thermoelectric performance of materials is governed by the geometric structure of Bloch wave functions within the framework of the Boltzmann equation. The essential geometric notion is the Hilbert-Schmidt quantum distance, measuring the resemblance between two quantum states. We establish a geometric characterization of the scattering rate by extending the concept of quantum distance between two states in momentum space at a distance.Employing isotropic quadratic band touching semimetals, where one can concentrate on the role of quantum geometric effects other than the Berry curvature, we find that the response functions for electrical quantum transport and, therefore, the thermoelectric power factor can be succinctly expressed in terms of the maximum quantum distance, $d_\mathrm{max}$. Specifically, when $d_\mathrm{max}$ reaches one, the power factor doubles compared to the case with trivial geometry ($d_\mathrm{max}=0$). Our finding highlights the significance of quantum geometry in improving the performance of thermoelectric devices.

Quantum conductors attached to metallic reservoirs have been demonstrated to overcome the thermodynamic uncertainty relation (TUR), a trade-off relation between the amount of dissipation and the absence of charge and heat current fluctuations. Here, we report large TUR violations when superconducting reservoirs replace metallic ones. The coexistence of different transport processes, namely (multiple) Andreev reflection, where electrons and their retro-reflected holes create Cooper pairs, in addition to the normal quasiparticle transport is identified as the source for such TUR breakdowns. The large TUR violation is a remarkable advantage for building low dissipative and highly stable quantum thermal machines., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures

In recent years, the physics of many-body quantum chaotic systems close to their ground states has come under intensified scrutiny. Such studies are motivated by the emergence of model systems exhibiting chaotic fluctuations throughout the entire spectrum (the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model being a renowned representative) as well as by the physics of holographic principles, which likewise unfold close to ground states. Interpreting the edge of the spectrum as a quantum critical point, here we combine a wide range of analytical and numerical methods to the identification and comprehensive description of two different universality classes: the near edge physics of ``sparse'' and the near edge of ``dense'' chaotic systems. The distinction lies in the ratio between the number of a system's random parameters and its Hilbert space dimension, which is exponentially small or algebraically small in the sparse and dense case, respectively. Notable representatives of the two classes are generic chaotic many-body models (sparse) and single particle systems, invariant random matrix ensembles, or chaotic gravitational systems (dense). While the two families share identical spectral correlations at energy scales comparable to the level spacing, the density of states and its fluctuations near the edge are different. Considering the SYK model as a representative of the sparse class, we apply a combination of field theory and exact diagonalization to a detailed discussion of its edge spectrum. Conversely, Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity is our reference model for the dense class, where an analysis of the gravitational path integral and random matrix theory reveal universal differences to the sparse class, whose implications for the construction of holographic principles we discuss., Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures

Inspired by recent advances in the fabrication of surface superlattices, and in particular the triangular lattice made of tin (Sn) atoms on silicon, we study an extended Hubbard mode on a triangular lattice. The observations of magnetism in these systems justify the inclusion of a strong on-site repulsion and the observation of superconductivity suggests including an effective, nearest-neighbor attractive interaction. The attractive interaction mimics the effect of strong on-site repulsion near half filling, which can be seen in strong coupling vertex calculations such as the Eliashberg method. With this extended Hubbard model on a triangular lattice with its geometrical frustration, we find a rich phase diagram of various magnetic orders and pairing functions, within the framework of self-consistent mean field theory. We uncover the competition among magnetism and unconventional superconductivity, and their coexistence for triplet pairings. We follow the Fermi surface of the system as the system is doped away from half filling and find nesting vectors and a Lifshitz transition which provide an intuitive understanding of the phase transitions between the many orders we consider., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures

We report on the observation of quantum criticality forming at the transition point between topological Anderson insulator phases in a one-dimensional photonic quantum walk with spin. The walker's probability distribution reveals a time-staggered profile of the dynamical spin-susceptibility, recently suggested as a smoking gun signature for topological Anderson criticality in the chiral symmetry class AIII. Controlled breaking of phase coherence removes the signal, revealing its origin in quantum coherence.

Optimal engine performances are accomplished by quantum effects. Here we explore two routes towards ideal engines, namely (1) quantum systems that operate as hybrid machines being able to perform more than one useful task and (2) the suppression of fluctuations in doing such tasks. For classical devices, the absence of fluctuations is conditioned by a high entropy production as dictate the thermodynamic uncertainty relations. Here we generalize such relations for multiterminal conductors that operate as hybrid thermal machines. These relations are overcome in quantum conductors as we demonstrate for a double quantum dot contacted to normal metals and a reservoir being a generator of entangled Cooper pairs., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures + Supplemental material

We propose dynamical protocols allowing for the engineered realization of topological surface states in isolation. Our approach builds on the concept of synthetic dimensions generated by driving systems with incommensurate frequencies. As a concrete example, we consider 3d topological surface states of a 4d quantum Hall insulator via a $(1+2_\mathrm{syn})$-dimensional protocol. We present first principle analytical calculations demonstrating that no supporting 4d bulk phase is required for a 3d topological surface phase. We back the analytical approach by numerical simulations and present a detailed blueprint for the realization of the synthetic surface phase with existing quantum linear optical network device technology. We then discuss generalizations, including a proposal for a quantum simulator of the $(1+1_\mathrm{syn})$ dimensional surface of the common 3d topological insulator., Comment: 17 pages (main text) + 10 pages (supplemental materials)

We consider one-dimensional quantum walks in optical linear networks with synthetically introduced disorder and tunable system parameters allowing for the engineered realization of distinct topological phases. The option to directly monitor the walker's probability distribution makes this optical platform ideally suited for the experimental observation of the unique signatures of the one-dimensional topological Anderson transition. We analytically calculate the probability distribution describing the quantum critical walk in terms of a (time staggered) spin polarization signal and propose a concrete experimental protocol for its measurement. Numerical simulations back the realizability of our blueprint with current date experimental hardware., Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures

A dc (e.g. electric) field with commensurate lattice direction turns a single particle band structure in $d=3$ dimensions into an infinite set of equally spaced irreducible $(d-1)=2$-dimensional Wannier-Stark (WS) band structures that are spatially localized along the field direction. Particle transport is expected to be suppressed once the WS bands are gapped in energy. The topological character of the irreducible band structure leads to one-dimensional sets of boundary states which fill the energy gaps. As a result, eigenmodes are smoothly connected in energy and space and yield anomalous particle transport throughout the ladder. The number of chiral boundary modes can be tuned by the dc field strength and manifests through the distribution of dissipated energy and spatial motion, and the temperature dependence of angular momentum carried by particles., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures

The anomalous Floquet Anderson insulator (AFAI) is a two dimensional periodically driven system in which static disorder stabilizes two topologically distinct phases in the thermodynamic limit. The presence of a unit-conducting chiral edge mode and the essential role of disorder induced localization are reminiscent of the integer quantum Hall (IQH) effect. At the same time, chirality in the AFAI is introduced via an orchestrated driving protocol, there is no magnetic field, no energy conservation, and no (Landau level) band structure. In this paper we show that in spite of these differences the AFAI topological phase transition is in the IQH universality class. We do so by mapping the system onto an effective theory describing phase coherent transport in the system at large length scales. Unlike with other disordered systems, the form of this theory is almost fully determined by symmetry and topological consistency criteria, and can even be guessed without calculation. (However, we back this expectation by a first principle derivation.) Its equivalence to the Pruisken theory of the IQH demonstrates the above equivalence. At the same time it makes predictions on the emergent quantization of transport coefficients, and the delocalization of bulk states at quantum criticality which we test against numerical simulations., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures

The discovery of two-dimensional gapless Dirac fermions in graphene and topological insulators (TI) has sparked extensive ongoing research toward applications of their unique electronic properties. The gapless surface states in three-dimensional insulators indicate a distinct topological phase of matter with a non-trivial Z2 invariant that can be verified by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy or magnetoresistance quantum oscillation. In TI nanowires, the gapless surface states exhibit Aharonov-Bohm (AB) oscillations in conductance, with this quantum interference effect accompanying a change in the number of transverse one-dimensional modes in transport. Thus, while the density of states (DOS) of such nanowires is expected to show such AB oscillation, this effect has yet to be observed. Here, we adopt nanomechanical measurements that reveal AB oscillations in the DOS of a topological insulator. The TI nanowire under study is an electromechanical resonator embedded in an electrical circuit, and quantum capacitance effects from DOS oscillation modulate the circuit capacitance thereby altering the spring constant to generate mechanical resonant frequency shifts. Detection of the quantum capacitance effects from surface-state DOS is facilitated by the small effective capacitances and high quality factors of nanomechanical resonators, and as such the present technique could be extended to study diverse quantum materials at nanoscale., Comment: 15+16 pages, 4+11 figures

Room-temperature superconductivity has been one of the most challenging subjects in modern physics. Recent experiments reported that lanthanum hydride LaH$_{10{\pm}x}$ ($x$$<$1) raises a superconducting transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ up to ${\sim}$260 (or 215) K at high pressures around 190 (150) GPa. Here, based on first-principles calculations, we reveal the existence of topological Dirac-nodal-line (DNL) states in compressed LaH$_{10}$. Remarkably, the DNLs protected by the combined inversion and time-reversal symmetry and the rotation symmetry create a van Hove singularity (vHs) near the Fermi energy, giving rise to large electronic density of states. Contrasting with other La hydrides containing cationic La and anionic H atoms, LaH$_{10}$ shows a peculiar characteristic of electrical charges with anionic La and both cationic and anionic H species, caused by a strong hybridization of the La $f$ and H $s$ orbitals. We find that a large number of electronic states at the vHs are strongly coupled to the H-derived high-frequency phonon modes that are induced via the unusual, intricate bonding network of LaH$_{10}$, thereby yielding a high $T_{\rm c}$. Our findings not only elucidate the microscopic origin of the observed high-$T_{\rm c}$ BCS-type superconductivity in LaH$_{10}$, but also pave the route for achieving room-temperature topological superconductors in compressed hydrogen-rich compounds., Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures

Topological semimetals with nodal line are a novel class of topological matter extending the concept of topological matter beyond topological insulators and Weyl/Dirac semimetals. Here, we show that a Floquet topological semimetal with nodal helix can be generated by irradiating graphene or the surface of a topological insulator with circularly polarized light. Nodal helix is a form of nodal line running across the Brillouin zone with helical winding. Specifically, it is shown that the dynamics of irradiated graphene is described by the time Stark Hamiltonian, which can host a Floquet topological insulator and a weakly driven Floquet topological semimetal with nodal helix in the high and low frequency limits, respectively. It is predicted that, at low frequency, the $\pi$ shift of the Zak phase generates a topological discontinuity along the projected nodal helix in the momentum spectrum of the Floquet states. At intermediate frequency, this topological discontinuity can create an interesting change of patterns in the quasienergy dispersion of the Floquet states., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures

Topological mechanical metamaterials translate condensed matter phenomena, like non-reciprocity and robustness to defects, into classical platforms. At small scales, topological nanoelectromechanical metamaterials (NEMM) can enable the realization of on-chip acoustic components, like unidirectional waveguides and compact delay-lines for mobile devices. Here, we report the experimental realization of NEMM phononic topological insulators, consisting of two-dimensional arrays of free-standing silicon nitride (SiN) nanomembranes that operate at high frequencies (10-20 MHz). We experimentally demonstrate the presence of edge states, by characterizing their localization and Dirac cone-like frequency dispersion. Our topological waveguides also exhibit robustness to waveguide distortions and pseudospin-dependent transport. The suggested devices open wide opportunities to develop functional acoustic systems for high-frequency signal processing applications.

Spin current plays a central role in spintronics. In particular, finding more efficient ways to generate spin current has been an important issue and studied actively. For example, representative methods of spin current generation include spin polarized current injections from ferromagnetic metals, spin Hall effect, and spin battery. Here we theoretically propose a new mechanism of spin current generation based on nonlinear phenomena. By using Boltzmann transport theory, we show that a simple application of the electric field $\bf{E}$ induces spin current proportional to $\bf{E^2}$ in noncentrosymmetric spin-orbit coupled systems. We demonstrate that the nonlinear spin current of the proposed mechanism is supported in the surface state of three-dimensional topological insulators and two-dimensional semiconductors with the Rashba and/or Dresselhaus interaction. In the latter case, the angular dependence of the nonlinear spin current can be manipulated by the direction of the electric field and by the ratio of the Rashba and Dresselhaus interactions. We find that the magnitude of the spin current largely exceeds those in the previous methods for a reasonable magnitude of the electric field. Furthermore, we show that application of AC electric fields (e.g. terahertz light) leads to the rectifying effect of the spin current where DC spin current is generated. These findings will pave a new route to manipulate the spin current in noncentrosymmetric crystals., Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures

We investigate the quantum phase transition of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model by inspecting the two-site entanglements in the ground state. It is shown that the topological phase transition of the SSH model is signified by a nonanalyticity of local entanglement, which becomes discontinuous for finite even system sizes, and that this nonanalyticity has a topological origin. Such a peculiar singularity has a universal nature in one-dimensional topological phase transitions of noninteracting fermions. We make this clearer by pointing out that an analogous quantity in the Kitaev chain exhibiting the identical nonanalyticity is the local electron density. As a byproduct, we show that there exists a different type of phase transition, whereby the pattern of the two-site entanglements undergoes a sudden change. This transition is characterised solely by quantum information theory and does not accompany the closure of the spectral gap. We analyse the scaling behaviours of the entanglement in the vicinities of the transition points.

A hallmark of Weyl semimetal is the existence of surface Fermi arcs connecting two surface-projected Weyl nodes with opposite chiralities. An intriguing question is what determines the connectivity of surface Fermi arcs, when multiple pairs of Weyl nodes are present. To answer this question, we first show that the locations of surface Fermi arcs are predominantly determined by the condition that the Zak phase integrated along the normal direction to the surface is $\pi$. More importantly, the Zak phase can reveal the peculiar topological structure of Weyl semimetal directly in the bulk. Here, we show that the non-trivial winding of the Zak phase around each projected Weyl node manifests itself as a topological defect of the Wannier-Stark ladder, the energy eigenstates emerging under an electric field. Remarkably, this structure leads to "bulk Fermi arcs," i.e., open line segments in the bulk momentum spectra. It is argued that bulk Fermi arcs should exist in conjunction with the surface counterparts to conserve the Weyl fermion number under an electric field, which is supported by explicit numerical evidence., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures

The generation of photocurrent in condensed matter is of main interest for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. Shift current, a nonlinear photoresponse, has attracted recent intensive attention as a dominant player of bulk photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric materials. In three dimensional topological insulators $\text{Bi}_2\text{X}_3$ (X: Te, Se), we find that Dirac surface states with a hexagonal warping term carry shift current by linearly polarized light. In addition, shift spin-current is introduced with the time-reversal symmetry breaking perturbation. The estimate for the magnitudes of the shift charge- and spin-currents are 0.13$I_0$ and 0.21$I_0$(nA/m) with the intensity of light $I_0$ measured in $(\text{W}/\text{m}^2)$, respectively, which can offer a useful method to generate these currents efficiently., Comment: 12 pages including supplementary information, 2 figures

The effect of surface disorder on electronic systems is particularly interesting for topological phases with surface and edge states. Using exact diagonalization, it has been demonstrated that the surface states of a 3D topological insulator survive strong surface disorder, and simply get pushed to a clean part of the bulk. Here we explore a new method which analytically eliminates the clean bulk, and reduces a $D$-dimensional problem to a Hamiltonian-diagonalization problem within the $(D-1)$-dimensional disordered surface. This dramatic reduction in complexity allows the analysis of significantly bigger systems than is possible with exact diagonalization. We use our method to analyze a 2D topological spin-Hall insulator with non-magnetic and magnetic edge impurities, and we calculate the probability density (or local density of states) of the zero-energy eigenstates as a function of edge-parallel momentum and layer index. Our analysis reveals that the system size needed to reach behavior in the thermodynamic limit increases with disorder. We also compute the edge conductance as a function of disorder strength, and chart a lower bound for the length scale marking the crossover to the thermodynamic limit., Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures