Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251584
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Dark matter (DM) models with a conserved particle-antiparticle number, n_{χ}-n_{χ[over ˜]}, and the asymmetry in the cosmological abundance n_{χ}≠n_{χ[over ˜]}, are known to be challenged by the existence of old neutron...Dark matter (DM) models with a conserved particle-antiparticle number, n_{χ}-n_{χ[over ˜]}, and the asymmetry in the cosmological abundance n_{χ}≠n_{χ[over ˜]}, are known to be challenged by the existence of old neutron stars (NSs), as the sufficient accumulation of DM will lead to the collapse of NSs into black holes. We demonstrate that the applicability of these constraints is much wider and covers models with symmetric populations of DM, n_{χ}=n_{χ[over ˜]}, as the process of DM capture regulated by a nucleon-DM scattering can be inherently asymmetric, σ_{χn}≠σ_{χ[over ˜]n}. The asymmetry is induced by the interference of different types of χ-n interactions, provided that their combination is odd under charge conjugation in the DM sector, C_{χ}, and even under combined parity P_{χ+n}. We provide a complete analysis of DM-nucleon bilinear χ-n interactions and find that this asymmetry is very generic. Using canonical NS parameters and local DM halo inputs, we exclude spin-averaged scattering cross sections down to σ_{nχ}≳10^{-46} cm^{2} at DM mass m_{χ}≲10^{10} GeV for the maximally asymmetric capture rate and show that the constraints persist down to very small values of the cross-section asymmetry, A=(σ_{χn}-σ_{χ[over ˜]n})/(σ_{χn}+σ_{χ[over ˜]n})≳10^{-5}.
Alkorta M, Gutierrez-Amigo M, Dangić Đ
… +4 more, Guo CM, Moll PJW, Vergniory MG, Errea I
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251583
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The newly discovered family of nonmagnetic kagome metals AV_{3}Sb_{5} (A=K, Rb, or Cs) provides a unique platform for exploring the interplay between charge-density wave (CDW) order, superconductivity, nontrivial topolog...The newly discovered family of nonmagnetic kagome metals AV_{3}Sb_{5} (A=K, Rb, or Cs) provides a unique platform for exploring the interplay between charge-density wave (CDW) order, superconductivity, nontrivial topology, and spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking. Although characterizing the CDW phase is essential for understanding and modeling these exotic phenomena, its nature remains unresolved. In this Letter, we employ first-principles free-energy calculations, accounting for both ionic kinetic energy and anharmonic effects, to resolve the atomistic phase diagram of CsV_{3}Sb_{5} and its charge ordering structure. Our results uncover that the CDW ground state is formed by reconstructed vanadium kagome layers in a triangular-hexagonal pattern, featuring energetically degenerate different stacking orders. This accounts for the various out-of-plane modulations observed experimentally and supports the coexistence of multiple domains. The discovered symmetry-broken ground state is consistent with the absence of any electronic anisotropy in transport experiments. By combining anharmonic phonons with the calculation of electron-phonon matrix elements, we predict a superconducting critical temperature for the CDW phase in agreement with experiments showing that superconductivity is phonon mediated. These findings not only resolve a long-standing structural puzzle, but also clarify the impact of the CDW in superconductivity, highlighting its fundamental importance in shaping the low-temperature quantum phase diagram of kagome metals.
Read HE, Risso G, Djellouli A
… +2 more, Bertoldi K, Lazarus A
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251582
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Parametric instabilities are a known feature of periodically driven dynamic systems; at particular frequencies and amplitudes of the driving modulation, the system's quasiperiodic response undergoes a frequency lock-in,...Parametric instabilities are a known feature of periodically driven dynamic systems; at particular frequencies and amplitudes of the driving modulation, the system's quasiperiodic response undergoes a frequency lock-in, leading to a periodically unstable response. Here, we demonstrate an analogous phenomenon in a purely static context. We show that the buckling patterns of an elastic beam resting on a modulated Winkler foundation display the same kind of frequency lock-in observed in dynamic systems. Through simulations and experiments, we reveal that compressed elastic strips with modulated height alternate between predictable quasiperiodic and periodic buckling modes. Our findings uncover previously unexplored analogies between structural and dynamic instabilities, highlighting how even simple elastic structures can give rise to rich and intriguing behaviors.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251581
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Non-Hermitian extensions of the Aubry-André-Harper (AAH) model reveal a rich variety of phase transitions arising from the interplay of quasiperiodicity and nonhermiticity. Despite their theoretical significance, experim...Non-Hermitian extensions of the Aubry-André-Harper (AAH) model reveal a rich variety of phase transitions arising from the interplay of quasiperiodicity and nonhermiticity. Despite their theoretical significance, experimental explorations remain challenging due to intricacies in realizing controlled nonhermiticity. Here, we present the first experimental realization of the unitary almost-Mathieu operator that simulates the AAH model by employing single-photon quantum walks. We systematically observe a phase transition between localized and delocalized regimes in the Hermitian limit. Subsequently, by introducing a nonreciprocal hopping, we experimentally probe the parity-time symmetry-breaking transition that is characterized by the emergence of complex quasienergies. Moreover, we identify a novel spectral transition exclusive to discrete-time settings, beyond which the real parts of all quasienergies vanish. These results clarify the interplay between localization, symmetry breaking, and topology in non-Hermitian quasicrystals, thereby paving the way for future exploration of synthetic quantum matter.
Li Y, Rojas-Gatjens E, Guo Y
… +10 more, Yang B, Sun D, Holtzman L, Oh J, Barmak K, Dean CR, Hone JC, Gabor N, Arsenault EA, Zhu X
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251580
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Photoexcitation has been utilized to control quantum matter and to uncover metastable phases far from equilibrium. Among demonstrations to date, the most common is the photoinduced transition from correlated insulators t...Photoexcitation has been utilized to control quantum matter and to uncover metastable phases far from equilibrium. Among demonstrations to date, the most common is the photoinduced transition from correlated insulators to metallic states; however, the reverse process without initial orders has not been observed. Here, we show ultrafast metal-to-insulator transition in gate-doped WS_{2}/WSe_{2} and WSe_{2}/WSe_{2} moiré devices using photothermionic hole injection from graphite gates. The resulting correlated insulators are metastable, with lifetimes exceeding microseconds. These findings establish an effective mechanism for the ultrafast control of correlated electronic phases in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251579
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We theoretically investigate the role of spatial dimension and driving frequency in a nonequilibrium phase transition of a driven-dissipative interacting bosonic system. In this setting, spatial dimension is dictated by...We theoretically investigate the role of spatial dimension and driving frequency in a nonequilibrium phase transition of a driven-dissipative interacting bosonic system. In this setting, spatial dimension is dictated by the shape of the external driving field. We consider both homogeneous driving configurations, which correspond to standard integer-dimensional systems, and fractal driving patterns, which give rise to a noninteger Hausdorff dimension for the spatial density. The onset of criticality is characterized by critical slowing down in the excited density dynamics as the system asymptotically approaches the steady state. By analyzing the system-size dependence of the asymptotic decay rate using numerical simulations of the full multimode dynamics, complemented by an analytical statistical mean-field treatment, we determine the lower critical dimension of the nonequilibrium phase transition. We show that this dimension can be noninteger and fractal in nature, and that it can be tuned continuously via the frequency detuning of the driving field.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251578
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Experiments using intermediate- to high-energy radioactive nuclear beams present numerous findings. Extracting important properties of physical observables relies on a firm theoretical analysis. Though Glauber theory is...Experiments using intermediate- to high-energy radioactive nuclear beams present numerous findings. Extracting important properties of physical observables relies on a firm theoretical analysis. Though Glauber theory is believed to work well, no convincing calculation has so far been done. We perform Glauber-theory calculations of both elastic differential cross sections and total reaction cross sections for p+^{12}C, ^{12}C+^{12}C, and ^{6}He+^{12}C systems. The wave functions of both ^{6}He and ^{12}C are generated by variational Monte Carlo calculations with spatial and spin-isospin correlations induced by realistic two- and three-nucleon potentials. Glauber's phase-shift function is computed by Monte Carlo integration up to all orders of nucleon-nucleon multiple scatterings. We show an excellent performance of the Glauber description to the selected data on the above systems. We also find that the cumulant expansion of the phase-shift function converges rapidly up to the second order for the above systems. This finding will open up interesting applications for the analysis of high-energy nuclear experiments.
Kusuno G, Hayashida T, Nagai T
… +4 more, Watanabe H, Oiwa R, Kimura T, Satoh T
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251577
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Raman optical activity (ROA), the dependence of Raman intensity on the circular polarization of incident and scattered light, has traditionally been observed in chiral molecules and magnetic materials, where inversion or...Raman optical activity (ROA), the dependence of Raman intensity on the circular polarization of incident and scattered light, has traditionally been observed in chiral molecules and magnetic materials, where inversion or time-reversal symmetry is broken. Here we demonstrate that ROA can also arise in a centrosymmetric and nonmagnetic ferroaxial crystal. Using circularly polarized Raman spectroscopy on single-crystalline NiTiO_{3}, we observed a pronounced ROA signal in the cross-circular polarization configurations, which correlates with the ferroaxial domain structure. Our symmetry analysis, first-principles calculations of phonons, and tight-binding model calculations reveal that the natural ROA originates from the ferroaxial order and persists even within the electric dipole approximation. These results establish ROA as a powerful probe of ferroaxial order in centrosymmetric systems.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251576
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We derive an analog of the Lellouch-Lüscher (LL) relation for few-body bosonic systems, linking few-body scattering loss rates to the energies and widths of the corresponding harmonically trapped few-body states. Three-b...We derive an analog of the Lellouch-Lüscher (LL) relation for few-body bosonic systems, linking few-body scattering loss rates to the energies and widths of the corresponding harmonically trapped few-body states. Three-body numerical simulations show that the LL relation applies across a broad range of interaction strengths and energies and allows the determination of scattering rates within a single partial wave. Our Letter establishes a robust theoretical framework for understanding the role of the finite-volume effect in few-body observables in optical lattice and tweezer experiments, enabling precise determination of multibody scattering rates.
Nishida S, Kitou S, Toyoda S
… +3 more, Nakamura Y, Tokunaga Y, Arima TH
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251575
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We investigate displacive short-range order in pyrochlore Y_{2}Nb_{2}O_{7}, which exhibits a nonmagnetic insulating state despite the presence of formally tetravalent Nb^{4+} (S=1/2) ions on the pyrochlore network. Synch...We investigate displacive short-range order in pyrochlore Y_{2}Nb_{2}O_{7}, which exhibits a nonmagnetic insulating state despite the presence of formally tetravalent Nb^{4+} (S=1/2) ions on the pyrochlore network. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction on a single crystal reveals a characteristic x-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) pattern primarily around q={0.5,0.5,2}. Reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) simulations uncover local Nb displacements along the ⟨111⟩ axes, leading to the formation of linear Nb_{4} tetramers. Our findings highlight a crucial role of molecular orbital degrees of freedom in stabilizing the nonmagnetic insulating state. This study demonstrates that RMC analysis of XDS provides a powerful approach for elucidating short-range correlations and the underlying mechanisms governing the physical properties of crystalline materials.
Castaldi G, Coppolaro M, Moccia M
… +3 more, Rizza C, Engheta N, Galdi V
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251574
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Temporal metamaterials, created by modulating the refractive index in time, offer powerful means of controlling wave propagation but still lack a systematic design methodology. Here, we develop an analytic inverse-design...Temporal metamaterials, created by modulating the refractive index in time, offer powerful means of controlling wave propagation but still lack a systematic design methodology. Here, we develop an analytic inverse-design framework rooted in space-time duality and the established theory of one-dimensional spatial inverse scattering. By prescribing reflection (backward-wave) and transmission (forward-wave) responses in rational-function form, we obtain closed-form refractive-index modulations that are guaranteed to be physically admissible. This approach avoids iterative optimization and provides direct analytic control of the modulation. We illustrate the method with syntheses of mathematical operators, such as derivatives and integrals, as well as Chebyshev- and Butterworth-type filters, and validate the results through finite-difference time-domain simulations. Our findings establish a general route to temporal media with tailored functional and spectral responses, enabling applications in wave-based information processing, programmable filtering, and amplification schemes inspired by photonic time crystals.
Karbashewski S, Granstedt EM, Kamio S
… +5 more, Onofri M, DeHaas T, Fujiwara Y, Groenewald RE, Veksler A
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251573
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We report observations of an energetic-particle mode (EPM) in a linear plasma device that corresponds to an axial bounce resonance of fast ions sourced from neutral-beam injection (NBI). In our experiment, novel dynamic...We report observations of an energetic-particle mode (EPM) in a linear plasma device that corresponds to an axial bounce resonance of fast ions sourced from neutral-beam injection (NBI). In our experiment, novel dynamic shaping of a magnetic mirror field reduces the distance between the turning points of fast ions while introducing a minimum in the expected bounce frequency; this method decouples the plasma length from the fast-ion motion. We observe an axisymmetric magnetic mode with frequency evolution and axial extent that matches the predicted bounce motion. This experiment is repeated for two different NBI configurations with distinct bounce motions, thus confirming the mode's origin as an axial bounce resonance. We then show that the EPM persists during a transition from a magnetic mirror to a field-reversed configuration (FRC), making this the first observation of an axial bounce resonance in an FRC. Additionally, we use the spatial structure of the EPM to diagnose the change in magnetic topology from mirror to FRC. Finally, a 2D simulation of the FRC formation accurately models the experimental observations and confirms that the mode arises from the clustering of resonant fast ions. These results have insightful implications for the control and design of linear fusion devices with substantial populations of fast ions.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251572
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We present an approach for efficiently simulating strongly damped quantum systems subjected to periodic driving, employing a periodic matrix product operator representation of the influence functional. This representatio...We present an approach for efficiently simulating strongly damped quantum systems subjected to periodic driving, employing a periodic matrix product operator representation of the influence functional. This representation enables the construction of a numerically exact Floquet propagator that captures the non-Markovian open system dynamics, thus providing a dissipative analog to the Floquet Hamiltonian of driven isolated quantum systems. We apply this method to study the asymptotic heating of a reservoir in spin-boson models, characterizing the deviation from equilibrium conditions. Moreover, we show how a local driving of two qubits can be utilized to stabilize a transient entanglement buildup of the qubits originating from the interaction with a common environment. Our results make it possible to directly study both stationary and transient dynamics of strongly damped and driven quantum systems within a transparent theoretical and numerical framework.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251571
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We establish universal relations between surface defect Weyl anomalies, the ground state energy, and entanglement structure in higher-dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories. As a concrete example, we show that...We establish universal relations between surface defect Weyl anomalies, the ground state energy, and entanglement structure in higher-dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories. As a concrete example, we show that for surface defects in 6d superconformal field theories (SCFTs), the defect contribution to supersymmetric Casimir energy is determined by the combination of b and d_{2}, where b and d_{2} are the surface defect Weyl anomalies. A similar closed-form expression is also derived for the defect contribution to supersymmetric Rényi entropy. The comprehensive method we develop here combines supersymmetric localization, anomaly polynomials, and holography, with applications to broader SCFTs with defects.
Dekens W, de Vries J, Gialidi L
… +3 more, Menéndez J, Mulder H, Romeo B
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251570
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Electric dipole moment (EDM) measurements using paramagnetic molecules have significantly advanced over the last decade. Traditionally, these experiments have been analyzed in terms of the electron EDM. However, paramagn...Electric dipole moment (EDM) measurements using paramagnetic molecules have significantly advanced over the last decade. Traditionally, these experiments have been analyzed in terms of the electron EDM. However, paramagnetic molecules are also sensitive to hadronic sources of charge-parity (CP) violation, highlighting the need for a new framework to interpret the experimental results. In this Letter, we introduce an effective field theory framework to relate molecular EDMs to the EDMs of neutrons and protons. We identify the dominant contributions through power counting and pinpoint the necessary nuclear matrix elements. As a practical application, we employ the nuclear shell model to calculate these nuclear matrix elements for the polar molecule BaF. Finally, we estimate the limits on the nucleon EDMs set by current molecular EDM experiments.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251569
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We derive an inequality relating the finite-frequency linear response and fluctuations of an observable in a physical system in steady state. The relation holds for arbitrary observables and perturbations in general Mark...We derive an inequality relating the finite-frequency linear response and fluctuations of an observable in a physical system in steady state. The relation holds for arbitrary observables and perturbations in general Markovian dynamics, including overdamped and underdamped Langevin systems and jump processes, both in and out of equilibrium. As a consequence, we obtain a universal upper bound on the broadband signal-to-noise ratio of noisy dynamics, which only depends on the damping constant and temperature. We further show that the inequality reduces to an equality for appropriately chosen observables or perturbations in linear systems, both overdamped and underdamped and both in and out of equilibrium.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251568
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The theory of the intrinsic nonlinear Hall effect, a key probe of quantum geometry, is plagued by conflicting expressions for the conductivity that is independent of the dissipation strength (rate, Γ^{0}). We clarify the...The theory of the intrinsic nonlinear Hall effect, a key probe of quantum geometry, is plagued by conflicting expressions for the conductivity that is independent of the dissipation strength (rate, Γ^{0}). We clarify the origin of this ambiguity by demonstrating that the "intrinsic" response is not universal, but is inextricably linked to how the dissipation mechanism shapes the nonequilibrium steady state (NESS) density matrix. We establish a benchmark by solving the exact NESS density matrix for a generic Bloch system coupled to a featureless fermionic bath. Our exact Γ^{0} conductivity decomposes into two parts: (i) a geometric contribution, σ^{geo}, which establishes the definitive structure of the quantum metric contribution (including the intraband ∼∂_{k}g term), clarifying inconsistencies in the literature, and (ii) a novel, purely kinetic contribution, σ^{kin}∝v^{3}f_{0}^{(4)}, arising from mechanism-specific modifications to the occupation functions, which is absent in approaches that postulate, rather than derive, the relaxation dynamics. The discrepancies in both σ^{geo} and σ^{kin} between these distinct physical mechanisms prove that the Γ^{0} nonlinear conductivity is not a unique property of the Bloch Hamiltonian, but is contingent on the physical system-bath coupling.
Liu H, Xu H, Chen S
… +8 more, Han R, Sun Z, Xu M, Huang S, Zhang X, Huang L, Luo J, Liu D
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251567
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Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers represent promising platforms for next-generation optoelectronic devices, wherein interlayer excitons serve as carriers for energy and information transport....Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers represent promising platforms for next-generation optoelectronic devices, wherein interlayer excitons serve as carriers for energy and information transport. At the atomic scale, quantum many-body interactions give rise to rich correlation states that challenge classical transport models. However, direct insights into how these correlation states govern exciton dynamics have been limited by the constraints of conventional electrical measurements. Here, we directly image ultrafast exciton diffusion in WS_{2}/WSe_{2} moiré superlattices and uncover a tunable cascade transport mechanism governed by the interplay between Hubbard interactions and correlated electron states. By independently tuning exciton and carrier populations via optical injection and electrostatic doping, we demonstrate that strong on-site Hubbard interactions can significantly enhance exciton mobility. In contrast, correlated electron phases-such as generalized Wigner crystals-dramatically suppress transport through enhanced exciton-electron scattering. These findings provide a quantum-based strategy for controlling exciton transport, offering a versatile framework for designing reconfigurable excitonic circuits and multifunctional quantum optoelectronic devices.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251566
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We demonstrate that coupling itinerant electrons to a noncollinear classical exchange field can induce anisotropic Josephson coupling between superconducting d vectors, analogous to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya and Γ-type i...We demonstrate that coupling itinerant electrons to a noncollinear classical exchange field can induce anisotropic Josephson coupling between superconducting d vectors, analogous to the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya and Γ-type interactions in magnetism. Using perturbative methods, we analyze an s-d model on a geometrically frustrated lattice. Noncollinear local spin textures generate spin triplet pairing correlations and can favor spatially varying superconducting order due to anisotropic Josephson couplings between d vectors, endowing a "pliability" to the pairing order that competes with the superfluid stiffness. For nonunitary pairing, this spatial texture of d vectors can give rise to anomalous vortices in the absence of an external magnetic field. We further predict a Josephson diode effect with efficiency proportional to the spin chirality of the underlying magnetic texture. These results establish a link between frustrated magnetism and spatial textures of triplet superconducting pairing, with implications for a range of materials such as Mn_{3}Ge and 4H_{b}-TaS_{2}, where superconductivity can be proximity induced or intrinsic.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251565
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Understanding the g-factor physics of Si/SiGe quantum dots is crucial for realizing high-quality spin qubits. While previous work has explained some aspects of g-factor physics in idealized geometries, the results do not...Understanding the g-factor physics of Si/SiGe quantum dots is crucial for realizing high-quality spin qubits. While previous work has explained some aspects of g-factor physics in idealized geometries, the results do not extend to general cases and they miss several important features. Here, we construct a theory that gives g in terms of readily computable matrix elements, and can be applied to all Si/SiGe heterostructures of current interest. As a concrete example, which currently has no g-factor understanding, we study the so-called wiggle well structure, containing Ge concentration oscillations inside the quantum well. Here we find a significant renormalization of the g factor compared to conventional Si/SiGe quantum wells. We also uncover a giant g-factor suppression of order O(1), which arises due to spin-valley coupling, and occurs at locations of low valley splitting. Our work therefore opens up new avenues for g-factor engineering in Si/SiGe quantum dots.