The achievable precision of parameter estimation plays a significant role in evaluating a strategy of metrology. In practice, one may employ approximations in a theoretical model development for simplicity, which, however, will cause systematic error and lead to a loss of precision. We derive the error of maximum likelihood estimation in the weak-value amplification technique where the linear approximation of the coupling parameter is used. We show that this error is positively related to the coupling strength and can be effectively suppressed by improving the Fisher information. Considering the roles played by weak values and initial meter states in the weak-value amplification, we also point out that the estimation error can be decreased by several orders of magnitude by averaging the estimations resulted from different initial meter states or weak values. These results are finally illustrated in a numerical example where an extended linear response regime to the parameter is observed.

To study controlled evolution of nonautonomous matter-wave breathers and rogue waves in spinor Bose–Einstein condensates with spatiotemporal modulation, we focus on a system of three coupled Gross–Pitaevskii equations with spacetime-dependent external potentials and temporally modulated gain-loss distributions. With different external potentials and gain-loss distributions, various solutions for controlled nonautonomous matter-wave breathers and rogue waves are derived by the Darboux transformation method, such as breathers and rogue waves on arched and constant backgrounds which have the periodic and parabolic trajectories. Effects of the gain-loss distribution and linear potential on the breathers and rogue waves are studied. Nonautonomous two-breathers on the arched and constant backgrounds are also derived.

Existing pion+nucleus Drell-Yan and electron+pion scattering data are used to develop ensembles of model-independent representations of the pion generalized parton distribution (GPD). Therewith, one arrives at a data-driven prediction for the pion mass distribution form factor, $\theta_2^\pi $. Compared with the pion elastic electromagnetic form factor, $\theta_2^\pi$ is harder: the ratio of the radii derived from these two form factors is $r_\pi^{\theta_2}/r_\pi = 0.79(3)$. Our data-driven predictions for the pion GPD, related form factors and distributions should serve as valuable constraints on theories of pion structure.

Valuable information on dynamics of expanding fluids can be inferred from the response of such systems to perturbations in their initial geometry. We apply this technique in high-energy $^{96}$Ru+$^{96}$Ru and $^{96}$Zr+$^{96}$Zr collisions to scrutinize the expansion dynamics of the quark-gluon plasma, where the initial geometry perturbations are sourced by the differences in deformations and radial profiles between $^{96}$Ru and $^{96}$Zr, and the collective response is captured by the change in anisotropic flow $V_n$ between the two collision systems. Using a transport model, we analyze how the nonlinear coupling between lower-order flow harmonics $V_2$ and $V_3$ to the higher-order flow harmonics $V_4$ and $V_5$, expected to scale as $V_{4\mathrm{NL}}=\chi_4 V_2^2$ and $V_{5\mathrm{NL}}=\chi_5 V_2V_3$, gets modified as one moves from $^{96}$Ru+$^{96}$Ru to $^{96}$Zr+$^{96}$Zr systems. We find that these scaling relations are valid to high precision: variations of order 20% in $V_{4\mathrm{NL}}$ and $V_{5\mathrm{NL}}$ due to differences in quadrupole deformation, octupole deformation, and nuclear skin modify $\chi_{4}$ and $\chi_5$ by about 1–2%. Percent-level deviations are however larger than the expected experimental uncertainties and could be measured. Therefore, collisions of isobars with different nuclear structures are a unique tool to isolate subtle nonlinear effects in the expansion of the quark-gluon plasma that would be otherwise impossible to access in a single collision system.

We study charge transfer of a multi-electron collision system Li$^{2+}$ + Ar using the time-dependent density functional theory non-adiabatically coupled to the molecular dynamics. By implementing the particle number projection method, the single- and double-charge transfer cross sections are extracted at MeV energies, which are in good agreement with the experimental data available. The analysis of charge transfer probabilities shows that for energies higher than 1.0 MeV, the single-charge transfer occurs for a broader range of impact parameters, while the double-charge transfer is dominated by close collisions. To gain the population of captured electrons on the projectile, we compute the orbital projection probabilities. It is found that the electrons of the Ar atom will most possibly transfer to the $2p$ orbitals of the Li$^{2+}$, and only a small portion of captured electrons distribute on the $s$ orbitals. This work verifies the capability of the present methodology in dealing with charge transfer in dressed ion collisions at MeV energies.

Realizing single light solitons that are stable in high dimensions is a long-standing goal in research of nonlinear optical physics. Here, we address a scheme to generate stable two-dimensional solitons in a cold Rydberg atomic system with a parity-time (PT) symmetric moiré optical lattice. We uncover the formation, properties, and their dynamics of fundamental and two-pole gap solitons as well as vortical ones. The PT symmetry, lattice strength, and the degrees of local and nonlocal nonlinearity are tunable and can be used to control solitons. The stability regions of these solitons are evaluated in two numerical ways: linear-stability analysis and time evolutions with perturbations. Our results provide an insightful understanding of solitons physics in combined versatile platforms of PT-symmetric systems and Rydberg–Rydberg interaction in cold gases.

We report the laser-chirp controlled terahertz (THz) wave generation from two-color-laser-induced air plasma. Our experimental results reveal that the THz wave is affected by both the laser energy and chirp, leading to radiation minima that can be quantitatively reconstructed using the linear-dipole-array model. The phase difference between the two colors, determined by the chirp and intensity of the laser, can account for the radiation minima. Furthermore, we observe an asynchronous variation in the generated THz spectrum, which suggests a THz frequency-dependent phase matching between the laser pulse and THz wave. These results highlight the importance of laser chirp during the THz wave generation and demonstrate the possibility of modulating the THz yields and spectrum through chirping the incident laser pulse. This work can provide valuable insights into the mechanism of plasma-based THz wave generation and offer a unique means to control THz emissions.

The lutetium dihydride LuH$_{2}$ is stable at ambient conditions. Here we show that its color undergoes sequential changes from dark blue at ambient pressure to pink at $\sim$ $2.2$ GPa and then to bright red at $\sim$ $4$ GPa upon compression in a diamond anvil cell. Such a pressure-induced color change in LuH$_{2}$ is reversible and it is very similar to that recently reported in the N-doped lutetium hydride [Nature 615, 244 (2023)]. However, our preliminary resistance measurements on LuH$_{2}$ under pressures up to $\sim$ $7$ GPa evidenced no superconductivity down to 1.5 K.

One of the greatest triumph of condensed matter physics in the past ten years is the classification of materials by the principle of topology. The existence of topological protected dissipationless surface state makes topological insulators great potential for applications and hotly studied. However, compared with the prosperity of strong topological insulators, theoretical predicted candidate materials and experimental confirmation of weak topological insulators (WTIs) are both extremely rare. By combining systematic first-principles calculation and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements, we have studied the electronic structure of the dark surface of the WTI candidate Zintl Ba$_{3}$Cd$_{2}$Sb$_{4}$ and another related material Ba$_{3}$Cd$_{2}$As$_{4}$. The existence of two Dirac surface states on specific side surfaces predicted by theoretical calculations and the observed two band inversions in the Brillouin zone give strong evidence to prove that the Ba$_{3}$Cd$_{2}$Sb$_{4}$ is a WTI. The spectroscopic characterization of this Zintl Ba$_{3}$Cd$_{2}N_{4}$ ($N$ = As and Sb) family materials will facilitate applications of their novel topological properties.

Kagome materials have been studied intensively in condensed matter physics. With rich properties, various Kagome materials emerge during this process. Here, we grew single crystals of Y$_{0.5}$Fe$_{3}$Sn$_{3}$ and confirmed an YCo$_{6}$Ge$_{6}$-type Kagome-lattice structure by detailed crystal structure characterizations. This compound bears an antiferromagnetic ordering at $T_{\rm N} = 551$ K, and shows a weak ferromagnetism at low temperatures, where an anomalous Hall effect was observed, suggesting the non-zero Berry curvature. With the unstable antiferromagnetic ground state, our systematic investigations make Y$_{0.5}$Fe$_{3}$Sn$_{3}$ a potential Kagome compound for Kagome or topological physics.

Recently discovered kagome metals $A$V$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ ($A$ = K, Rb, and Cs) provide an ideal platform to study the correlation among nontrivial band topology, unconventional charge density wave (CDW), and superconductivity. The evolution of electronic structures associated with the change of lattice modulations is crucial for understanding of the CDW mechanism, with the combination of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and density functional theory calculations, we investigate how band dispersions change with the increase of lattice distortions. In particular, we focus on the electronic states around $\bar{M}$ point, where the van Hove singularities are expected to play crucial roles in the CDW transition. Previous ARPES studies reported a spectral weight splitting of the van Hove singularity around $\bar{M}$ point, which is associated with the 3D lattice modulations. Our studies reveal that this “splitting” can be connected to the two van Hove singularities at $k_{z}=0$ and $k_{z}=\pi /c$ in the normal states. When the electronic system enters into the CDW state, both van Hove singularities move down. Such novel properties are important for understanding of the CDW transition.

We study a gate-tunable superconducting qubit (gatemon) based on a thin InAs-Al hybrid nanowire. Using a gate voltage to control its Josephson energy, the gatemon can reach the strong coupling regime to a microwave cavity. In the dispersive regime, we extract the energy relaxation time $T_1\sim0.56$ µs and the dephasing time $T_2^* \sim0.38$ µs. Since thin InAs-Al nanowires can have fewer or single sub-band occupation and recent transport experiment shows the existence of nearly quantized zero-bias conductance peaks, our result holds relevancy for detecting Majorana zero modes in thin InAs-Al nanowires using circuit quantum electrodynamics.

Moiré superlattices have emerged as a highly controllable quantum platform for exploration of various fascinating phenomena, such as Mott insulator states, ferroelectric order, unconventional superconductivity and orbital ferromagnetism. Although remarkable progress has been achieved, current research in moiré physics has mainly focused on the single species properties, while the coupling between distinct moiré quantum phenomena remains elusive. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, the strong coupling between ferroelectricity and correlated states in a twisted quadrilayer MoS$_{2}$ moiré superlattice, where the twist angles are controlled in sequence to be $\sim$ $57^{\circ}$, $\sim$ $0^{\circ}$, and $\sim$ $-57 ^{\circ}$. Correlated insulator states are unambiguously established at moiré band filling factors $v = 1$, 2, 3 of twisted quadrilayer MoS$_{2}$. Remarkably, ferroelectric order can occur at correlated insulator states and disappears quickly as the moiré band filling deviates from the integer fillings, providing smoking gun evidences of the coupling between ferroelectricity and correlated states. Our results demonstrate the coupling between different moiré quantum properties and will hold great promise for new moiré physics and applications.

We investigate the structural, static magnetic and damping properties in two Mn-deficient magnetic Weyl semimetal Co-Mn-Ga (CMG) alloy films, i.e., Co$_{55}$Mn$_{18}$Ga$_{27}$ (CMG1) and Co$_{50}$Mn$_{18}$Ga$_{32}$ (CMG2), which were epitaxially grown on MgO (001) substrates. CMG1 has a mixing phase of $B_{2}$ and $L2_{1}$, larger saturation magnetization ($M_{\rm s} \sim 760$ emu/cm$^{3}$), stronger in-plane magnetic anisotropy. CMG2 has an almost pure $B2$ phase, smaller $M_{\rm s}$ ($\sim$ $330$ emu/cm$^{3}$), negligible in-plane magnetic anisotropy. Time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect results unambiguously demonstrate an obvious perpendicular standing spin wave (PSSW) mode in addition to the Kittel mode for both of the CMG films. The intrinsic damping constant is about 0.0055 and 0.015 for CMG1 and CMG2, respectively, which are both significantly larger than that of the stoichiometric CMG (i.e., Co$_{2}$MnGa) film reported previously. In combination with the first-principles calculations, the intrinsic damping properties of the Mn-deficient CMG films can be well explained by considering the increase of density of states at the Fermi level, reduction of $M_{\rm s}$, and excitation of the PSSW mode. These findings provide a new clue to tuning the magnetic damping of the magnetic Weyl semimetal film through slight off-stoichiometry.

Ferroelectricity of group-IV chalcogenides $MX$ ($M$ = Ge, Sn; $X$ = Se, S) monolayers has been extensively investigated. However, how the ferroelectricity evolves in their one-dimensional nanotubes remains largely unclear. Employing an accurate deep-learning interatomic potential of first-principles precision, we uncover a general stepwise mechanism for polarization switching in zigzag and chiral GeS nanotubes, which has an energy barrier that is substantially lower than the one associated with the conventional one-step switching mechanism. The switching barrier (per atom) gradually decreases with increasing the number of intermediate steps and converges to a value that is almost independent of the tube diameter. In the chiral GeS nanotubes, the switching path of polarization with chirality coupling is preferred at less intermediate steps. This study unveils novel ferroelectric switching behaviors in one-dimensional nanotubes, which is critical to coupling ferroelectricity and chirality.

High-energy-density rechargeable lithium batteries are being pursued by researchers because of their revolutionary potential nature. Current advanced practical lithium-ion batteries have an energy density of around 300 W$\cdot$h$\cdot$kg$^{-1}$. Continuing to increase the energy density of batteries to a higher level could lead to a major explosion development in some fields, such as electric aviation. Here, we have manufactured practical pouch-type rechargeable lithium batteries with both a gravimetric energy density of 711.3 W$\cdot$h$\cdot$kg$^{-1}$ and a volumetric energy density of 1653.65 W$\cdot$h$\cdot$L$^{-1}$. This is achieved through the use of high-performance battery materials including high-capacity lithium-rich manganese-based cathode and thin lithium metal anode with high specific energy, combined with extremely advanced process technologies such as high-loading electrode preparation and lean electrolyte injection. In this battery material system, the structural stability of cathode material in a widened charge/discharge voltage range and the deposition/dissolution behavior of interfacial modified thin lithium electrode are studied.

A simple extension of the standard model (SM) with a $\mu$-flavored vector-like lepton (VLL) doublet and a real singlet scalar can have an interesting implication to the $h \to\mu^+\mu^-$ decay while offering the simplest possible explanation for the dark matter (DM) phenomenology. Assuming the real singlet scalar to be a viable DM candidate, it has been shown that the muon Yukawa coupling can have a negative contribution at the one-loop order if the $2^{\rm nd}$ generation SM leptons are allowed to couple with the VLL doublet. The stringent direct detection bounds corresponding to a real singlet scalar DM can easily be relaxed if the SM quark sector was augmented with a dimension-6 operator at some new physics (NP) scale $\varLambda_{\scriptscriptstyle{\rm NP}}$. Thus, this model presents a significant phenomenological study where the muon Yukawa coupling can be corrected within a real singlet scalar DM framework. The considered parameter space can be tested/constrained through the high luminosity run of the LHC (HL-LHC) and future direct detection experiments.