Takahara N, Takahashi KS, Nagaosa N
… +2 more, Tokura Y, Kawasaki M
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251564
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Oxide heterostructures provide excellent playgrounds to investigate novel transport phenomena emerging at interfaces due to broken inversion symmetry, in stark contrast to constituent compounds. Here, we fabricate GdTiO_...Oxide heterostructures provide excellent playgrounds to investigate novel transport phenomena emerging at interfaces due to broken inversion symmetry, in stark contrast to constituent compounds. Here, we fabricate GdTiO_{3}/EuTiO_{3} heterostructures, where a two-dimensional electron system emerges due to the Ti^{3+}/Ti^{4+} valence-mismatch interface in the background of a large magnetic moment from half-filled 4f electrons on Gd^{3+} and Eu^{2+} ions. Reflecting the coexistence of electric polarization and magnetism at the interface, nonreciprocal transport properties are observed, with distinct dependencies on temperature and magnetic field, originating from the scattering by chiral magnons. We discovered that, despite the extremely small Rashba band splitting, the nonreciprocal conduction is surprisingly large, presenting a promising route to the materials design of polar-magnetic metals composed of transition metal oxides.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251563
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We study diffusion on multiplex networks with directed interlayer couplings. We demonstrate both numerically and analytically that even with undirected layers, interlayer directionality alone reproduces superdiffusion an...We study diffusion on multiplex networks with directed interlayer couplings. We demonstrate both numerically and analytically that even with undirected layers, interlayer directionality alone reproduces superdiffusion and the prime regime. We further reveal a new phenomenon, the directionality-induced jamming, whereby directed interlayer links hinder diffusion, fragmenting the system into dynamically disconnected components and preventing convergence to the steady state of the diffusion process. Via an optimization process, we show that this new regime is attainable in both toy models and real-world topologies. These findings underscore the crucial role of interlayer link directionality in shaping the emergent behavior of multiplex systems, with potential implications for the design and control of such systems.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251562
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Quasinormal modes universally describe resonances in open non-Hermitian systems. However, a first-principles scattering theory bridging internal Floquet dynamics with external excitation in time-varying open systems has...Quasinormal modes universally describe resonances in open non-Hermitian systems. However, a first-principles scattering theory bridging internal Floquet dynamics with external excitation in time-varying open systems has remained elusive. Here, we develop a generalized ab initio Floquet-quasinormal mode theory for open Floquet photonic systems, revealing complex phenomena inaccessible to phenomenological temporal coupled-mode theory. It enables rigorous analysis of the mode coupling induced by time modulation and more importantly, the measurable response of eigenmodes under external excitation. As an example, we calculate the scattering cross section of a spherical particle with a time-modulated shell, demonstrating a case study of photonic Autler-Townes splitting. Our framework allows efficient first-principles simulations by decoupling spectral and spatial evaluations, avoiding costly full-wave resimulations.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251561
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GW231123, the heaviest binary black hole merger detected by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration to date, lies in the pair-instability mass gap and exhibits unusually high component spins. In this Letter, we show that both...GW231123, the heaviest binary black hole merger detected by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration to date, lies in the pair-instability mass gap and exhibits unusually high component spins. In this Letter, we show that both merging black holes may have a primordial origin with smaller initial masses. The observed masses and, crucially, the spins of GW231123 are naturally accommodated within the most vanilla primordial black hole framework, once cosmological accretion is taken into account. Interestingly, the parameter space needed to explain the inferred GW231123 rate is at the edge of the exclusion region from x-ray and CMB observations, suggesting that this interpretation can be either confirmed or ruled out. The upcoming O5 observing run by the collaboration should detect O(20) similar events, testing their mass-spin correlation, while next-generation detectors would be capable of observing high-redshift events, as predicted in this scenario.
Zhang S, Wang J, Sun G
… +2 more, van de Wetering JJ, Romalis MV
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251560
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Nuclear spin comagnetometers offer exceptional precision in measurements of spin energy levels and exhibit long-term stability, making them powerful tools for probing spin-dependent physics beyond the standard model as w...Nuclear spin comagnetometers offer exceptional precision in measurements of spin energy levels and exhibit long-term stability, making them powerful tools for probing spin-dependent physics beyond the standard model as well as for inertial rotation sensing. We describe a new ^{3}He-^{21}Ne Ramsey comagnetometer operating with an in situ ^{87}Rb magnetometer for initialization and sensing of nuclear spins. During free precession of nuclear spins we turn off all lasers and introduce a microwave field to suppress back action from Rb atoms. We demonstrate that scalar and dipolar interactions between nuclear spins can be eliminated via control of the polarized sample geometry. These improvements result in a bias-free measurement with a frequency sensitivity of 0.6 nHz after six hours of integration.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251559
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Constructing fast and accurate surrogate models is a key ingredient for making robust predictions in many topics. We introduce a new model, the multiparameter eigenvalue problem (MEP) emulator. The new method connects em...Constructing fast and accurate surrogate models is a key ingredient for making robust predictions in many topics. We introduce a new model, the multiparameter eigenvalue problem (MEP) emulator. The new method connects emulators and can make predictions directly from observables to observables. We show that the MEP emulator can be trained with data from eigenvector continuation and parametric matrix model emulators. A simple simulation on a one-dimensional lattice confirms the performance of the MEP emulator. Using ^{28}O as an example, we also demonstrate that the predictive probability distribution of the target observables can be straightforwardly obtained through the new emulator.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251558
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It has been a long, interesting, and mysterious nonequilibrium phenomenon that hot water may freeze faster than warm water, which is known as Mpemba effect. Studying its physical origin and exploring new Mpembalike effec...It has been a long, interesting, and mysterious nonequilibrium phenomenon that hot water may freeze faster than warm water, which is known as Mpemba effect. Studying its physical origin and exploring new Mpembalike effects have attracted broad interests. Here, we report experimental evidence of a novel Mpembalike effect in the aging process of glasses: a glass with an initial higher energy state ages (enthalpy decreases) faster and surpasses the glass with an initial lower energy state. This phenomenon is universally observed in different types of structural glasses, including metallic, polymer, and molecular glasses. The underlying thermodynamic mechanism is also studied using high-precision nanocalorimetry. It is found that preannealing at a higher temperature is critical to triggering the faster aging kinetics of the Mpembalike effect. This is attributed to the activation of a secondary β relaxation peak with a substantially lower kinetic barrier than the primary α relaxation peak. Thus, besides the α relaxation, the β relaxation plays a pivotal role in the enthalpy aging process, which is very sensitive to the thermal history. These findings may have broad implications for optimizing the thermal treatment and relaxations of different types of glasses.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251557
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We present a quantitative demonstration that, without additional theoretical and experimental efforts, realistic variations in final-state interaction (FSI) modeling may alter reconstructed neutrino-energy spectra at nex...We present a quantitative demonstration that, without additional theoretical and experimental efforts, realistic variations in final-state interaction (FSI) modeling may alter reconstructed neutrino-energy spectra at next-generation long-baseline experiments by amounts comparable to, or larger than, variations induced by oscillation-parameter shifts at their projected precision. Using the DUNE flux and baseline as a case study, we show that these FSI-driven distortions can mimic the effects of changes in the oscillation parameters Δm_{32}^{2} or δ_{CP}, producing a potential degeneracy. Our analysis thereby underscores the urgent need for an improved characterization of FSI to enable robust constraints from near detectors through the development of theory-driven uncertainty parameterizations benchmarked with dedicated new measurements.
Vallés-Sanclemente S, Vroomans THF, van Abswoude TR
… +8 more, Stavenga T, Brulleman F, van der Meer SLM, Xin Y, Lawrence A, Singh V, Rol MA, DiCarlo L
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251556
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We experimentally optimize the frequency of flux-tunable couplers in a superconducting quantum processor to minimize the impact of spectator transmons during quantum operations (single-qubit gates, two-qubit gates, and r...We experimentally optimize the frequency of flux-tunable couplers in a superconducting quantum processor to minimize the impact of spectator transmons during quantum operations (single-qubit gates, two-qubit gates, and readout) on other transmons. We adapt a popular transmonlike tunable-coupling element, achieving high-fidelity, low-leakage controlled-Z gates with unipolar, fast-adiabatic pulsing only on the coupler. We demonstrate the ability of the tunable coupler to null residual-ZZ coupling as well as exchange couplings in the one- and two-excitation manifolds. However, the nulling of these coherent interactions is not simultaneous, prompting the exploration of trade-offs. We present experiments pinpointing spectator effects on specific quantum operations. We also study the combined effect on the three types of operations using repeated quantum parity measurements.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251555
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We introduce a novel class of bosonic dark matter candidates that we dub wallions, featuring boundaries in field space. The wallion mass is exponentially suppressed when the separation between boundaries far exceeds thei...We introduce a novel class of bosonic dark matter candidates that we dub wallions, featuring boundaries in field space. The wallion mass is exponentially suppressed when the separation between boundaries far exceeds their intrinsic width and remains radiatively stable under self-interactions. We study the early universe evolution of wallions and the associated cosmological signatures. Finally, we show that instanton effects can dynamically generate field-space boundaries and discuss possible experimental probes once the wallion couples to standard model fields.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251554
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We demonstrate that anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in metal-ferromagnet bilayers can arise entirely from interfacial scattering, without invoking bulk spin Hall or inverse spin Hall effects. Using a minimal boundary...We demonstrate that anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in metal-ferromagnet bilayers can arise entirely from interfacial scattering, without invoking bulk spin Hall or inverse spin Hall effects. Using a minimal boundary-value formulation of the Boltzmann equation with interfacial exchange and Rashba spin-orbit coupling, we identify a resonant spin-filtering mechanism whereby one spin projection becomes immune to backscattering at a clean interface. This mechanism quantitatively reproduces the magnitude (Δρ/ρ∼10^{-4}-10^{-3}), thickness dependence, and angular symmetry conventionally attributed to spin Hall magnetoresistance in Pt/YIG. Crucially, the maximal AMR scales linearly in the smaller of the interfacial exchange or spin-orbit coupling: a parametric behavior forbidden in any spin-Hall-based theory. The effect is intrinsically sensitive to interface quality, charge transfer, and disorder, providing clear signatures that can be experimentally tested. Our results establish interfacial spin filtering as an essential and previously overlooked origin of AMR in metal-ferromagnet heterostructures, calling for a fundamental reassessment of magnetotransport mechanisms in spin-orbit-coupled metals.
Mauri ZN, Ciccarino CJ, Haber JB
… +2 more, Qiu DY, da Jornada FH
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251553
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We present an ab initio formalism based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) to describe exciton-polaritons, capturing photonic and matter components on the same footing and obtaining polariton dispersions at the same co...We present an ab initio formalism based on the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) to describe exciton-polaritons, capturing photonic and matter components on the same footing and obtaining polariton dispersions at the same cost as standard, static BSE calculations. We show in MgO that, near the light cone, the Bohr radii of excitons dramatically shrink by 50% while retaining primarily (>75%) excitonic character. Our calculations agree well with experiments in CdS and can capture drastic changes in the exciton wave function in structurally complex materials, including crystalline pentacene.
Li Z, Qin ZH, Wu SM
… +10 more, Hao CB, Pan FY, Yan H, He YH, Zhou YC, Yan XJ, Yu SY, He C, Lu MH, Chen YF
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251552
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We experimentally demonstrate boundary-induced helical bulk states (BI-HBSs) for rf acoustic transport in LiNbO3 thin-film phononic crystals (∼175-200 MHz). A boundary-symmetry selection rule at an accidental Γ-point fo...We experimentally demonstrate boundary-induced helical bulk states (BI-HBSs) for rf acoustic transport in LiNbO3 thin-film phononic crystals (∼175-200 MHz). A boundary-symmetry selection rule at an accidental Γ-point fourfold degeneracy creates interior bulk channels that couple to wide-aperture interdigital transducers without edge-aperture mismatch. Near-field vibrometry and two-port rf S parameters confirm low-loss propagation with strongly suppressed backscattering through wavelength-scale defects. The helical band also provides slow-wave, low-dispersion delay and phase control on chip.
Zhao J, Wang J, Liu Y
… +4 more, Li X, Dai Y, Huang B, Ma Y
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251551
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The search for multiferroicity in two-dimensional (2D) systems has predominantly focused on spin-driven mechanisms, leaving the distinct physics of coupled spin-orbital orders largely unexplored. Here, we propose a theor...The search for multiferroicity in two-dimensional (2D) systems has predominantly focused on spin-driven mechanisms, leaving the distinct physics of coupled spin-orbital orders largely unexplored. Here, we propose a theoretical mechanism for orbital multiferroicity on 2D triangular lattices, arising from the intrinsic interplay between ferro-orbital and magnetic orders. Through symmetry analysis and effective model derivation, we reveal that the orbital order imposes a strong interaction on the magnetic sector, activating robust orbiton-magnon hybridization. Using density-functional theory calculations, we substantiate this mechanism in monolayer FeH_{2}, where cooperative orbital and spin interactions stabilize an antiferro-orbital antiferromagnetic ground state. Remarkably, mechanical strain efficiently tunes these interactions, enabling reversible phase transitions between the antiferro-orbital and ferro-orbital states. Crucially, the elementary excitation spectrum exhibits hybridization gaps, serving as a definitive fingerprint of the formed entangled magnon-orbiton modes. Our Letter thus establishes a novel paradigm for exploring orbital multiferroicity in 2D systems.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251550
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We present a model for strongly interacting fermions with internal O(3) symmetry on the fuzzy sphere that (i) preserves the rotational symmetry of the fuzzy sphere and (ii) undergoes a quantum phase transition in the (2+...We present a model for strongly interacting fermions with internal O(3) symmetry on the fuzzy sphere that (i) preserves the rotational symmetry of the fuzzy sphere and (ii) undergoes a quantum phase transition in the (2+1)-dimensional O(3) Wilson-Fisher universality class. Using exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group, we locate the quantum critical point via conformal perturbation theory and obtain scaling dimensions from finite-size spectra. We identify 24 primary operators and determine some of their operator product expansion coefficients through first-order conformal perturbation theory. The results are benchmarked against conformal bootstrap and large quantum-number expansions and reveal a weakly irrelevant operator that plays a role in dimerized antiferromagnets. Our Letter provides a general framework for quantitatively accessing conformal data for O(N) Wilson-Fisher conformal field theories.
Young YN, Quaife B, Nganguia H
… +3 more, Pak OS, Feng J, Stone HA
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251549
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The deformation and rupture of a lipid vesicle due to the forced normal approach of an inclusion are essential for optimizing the design of magnetic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) [Malik et al., Nanoscale 17, 13720 (20...The deformation and rupture of a lipid vesicle due to the forced normal approach of an inclusion are essential for optimizing the design of magnetic giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) [Malik et al., Nanoscale 17, 13720 (2025)NANOHL2040-336410.1039/D5NR00942A], with implications for active colloid-membrane interactions and cellular-scale chemical delivery. Here, we investigate vesicles propelled by a force-driven rigid inclusion and reveal a robust elastohydrodynamic mechanism: the inclusion outpaces the vesicle, sustaining a thinning film that drains symmetrically and self-similarly, largely independent of the initial shape. For soft membranes and small inclusions, the coupling drives a monotonic tension increase that can exceed the lysis tension. Evaluating the maximal tension over a delivery distance, we map an operating window in a vesicle reduced area and size relative to the inclusion.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251548
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Heat waste is a bottleneck in the development of green information technologies and much effort has been devoted to suppress the heating effect in both electronic and spintronic devices. Here, we take an alternative appr...Heat waste is a bottleneck in the development of green information technologies and much effort has been devoted to suppress the heating effect in both electronic and spintronic devices. Here, we take an alternative approach and show that controllable heating at the nanoscale can actually benefit information processing. In particular, we study a hybrid nanostructure consisting of a metallic square frame and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) thin film and show that the plasmonic heating can reversibly switch two perpendicularly oriented AFM domains without the assistance of magnetic fields and electric currents. The required switching energy is at the order 1 nJ, 3 to 6 orders of magnitude lower than the current-driven AFM switching. The physical mechanism arises from the thermal-induced strain fields inside the frame, which couple to and manipulate the magnetic orientation via magnetoelastic effect. The strain field direction can be well controlled by selectively exciting the longitudinal and transverse plasmon modes by varying the polarization of the waves, which readily allows for a reversible switching of the AFM vector. Our findings provide tremendous opportunities for optically manipulating the magnetism with ultralow energy consumption and may further promote the interdisciplinary study of photonics, acoustics, and spintronics.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251547
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Generalized Brillouin zones (GBZs) are integral in the analysis of non-Hermitian band structures. Conventional wisdom suggests that the GBZ should be connected, where each point can be indexed by the real part of the wav...Generalized Brillouin zones (GBZs) are integral in the analysis of non-Hermitian band structures. Conventional wisdom suggests that the GBZ should be connected, where each point can be indexed by the real part of the wave vector, similar to the Brillouin zone. Here we demonstrate rich topological features of the GBZs in generic non-Hermitian one-dimensional models. We prove and discuss a set of sufficient conditions for a single-band model to ensure the connectivity of its GBZ. Breaking these conditions allows us to explicitly construct disconnected GBZs, with more connected components than the number of bands in multiband models. This novel GBZ topology is applied to further demonstrate a counterintuitive effect, where the line gap of a two-band open-boundary spectrum with sublattice symmetry may be closed without changing its point-gap topology. Our results challenge the current understanding of bands and gaps in non-Hermitian systems and highlight the need to further investigate the topological effects associated with the GBZ, including topological invariants and open-boundary braiding.
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251546
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The activation of O_{2} on Au surfaces is a fundamental step for heterogeneous catalysis and surface oxidation. Although Au is widely recognized for its selectivity in various oxidation reactions, its limited ability to...The activation of O_{2} on Au surfaces is a fundamental step for heterogeneous catalysis and surface oxidation. Although Au is widely recognized for its selectivity in various oxidation reactions, its limited ability to dissociate O_{2} remains a challenge for Au-based catalysis. In this Letter, we show that the surface reconstructions that Au(110) and Au(100) display contribute significantly to their inertness. By studying a series of Au surfaces with different surface geometries, we show that in general hexagonal Au surface structures exhibit a high O_{2} dissociation barrier, while rectangular or square surfaces show a significantly lower barrier. Thus, the reconstruction of the Au(110) and Au(100) surfaces to quasihexagonal structures slows O_{2} dissociation by many orders of magnitude, and Au would likely oxidize quickly under ambient conditions if these surfaces did not reconstruct. This provides new understanding as to why Au is so inert toward O_{2} and suggests that creating surfaces with square or rectangular structures may significantly improve catalytic activity for oxidation reactions on Au.
Tian M, Cui C, Zhang Z
… +3 more, Duan J, Feng W, Zhang RW
Phys Rev Lett
· 2026 May · PMID 42251545
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Two-dimensional (2D) magnetism, particularly 2D altermagnetism (AM), has attracted considerable interest due to its exceptional physical properties and broad application potential. However, the classification of AM under...Two-dimensional (2D) magnetism, particularly 2D altermagnetism (AM), has attracted considerable interest due to its exceptional physical properties and broad application potential. However, the classification of AM undergoes a fundamental paradigm shift when transitioning from three-dimensional (3D) to 2D symmetry-enforced fully compensated collinear magnetism-a shift that has remained largely overlooked. Here, by extending unconventional magnetism to 2D collinear systems, we identify the symmetry conditions and electronic band characteristics of a distinct magnetic phase: type-IV magnetism. This new class lies beyond the established descriptions of ferromagnetism, conventional antiferromagnetism, and AM. Type-IV magnetism supports the successive emergence of both nonrelativistic spin-degenerate and relativistic spin-splitting phenomena, belonging strictly to neither conventional antiferromagnetism nor standard AM. We further establish a universal symmetry classification framework for 2D type-IV magnets via a mapping from the collinear spin layer group to the magnetic layer group. Monolayer MgCr_{2}O_{4} and monolayer BaMn_{2}Ch_{3} (Ch=Se, Te) are showcased as representative materials, exhibiting gate-tunable reversible spin textures and the quantum electric Hall effect, respectively. Our Letter underscores the rich functional prospects of type-IV magnets, offering a new route toward spin manipulation and anomalous transport that promises innovative designs for high-performance spintronic devices.