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.

Enabling lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to operate in a wider temperature range, e.g., as low or high as possible or capable of both, is an urgent need and shared goal. Here we report, for the first time, a low-temperature electrolyte consisting of traditional ethylene carbonate, methyl acetate, butyronitrile solvents, and 1 M LiPF$_{6}$ salt, attributed to its very low freezing point ($T_{\rm f} = -126.3\,^{\circ}\!$C) and high ion conductivity at extremely low temperatures (0.21 mS/cm at $-100\,^{\circ}\!$C), successfully extends the service temperature of a practical 9.6 Ah LIB down to $-100\,^{\circ}\!$C (49.6% capacity retention compared to that at room temperature), which is the lowest temperature reported for practical cells so far as we know, and is lower than the lowest natural temperature ($-89.2\,^{\circ}\!$C) recorded on earth. Meanwhile, the high-temperature performance of lithium-ion batteries is not affected. The capacity retention is 88.2% and 83.4% after 800 cycles at 25$\,^{\circ}\!$C and 45$\,^{\circ}\!$C, respectively. The progress also makes LIB a proper power supplier for space vehicles in astronautic explorations.

Motivated by the recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in bilayer La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ under pressure, we study its electronic properties and superconductivity due to strong electron correlation. Using the inversion symmetry, we decouple the low-energy electronic structure into block-diagonal symmetric and antisymmetric sectors. It is found that the antisymmetric sector can be reduced to a one-band system near half filling, while the symmetric bands occupied by about two electrons are heavily overdoped individually. Using the strong coupling mean field theory, we obtain strong superconducting pairing with $B_{\rm 1g}$ symmetry in the antisymmetric sector. We propose that due to the spin-orbital exchange coupling between the two sectors, $B_{\rm 1g}$ pairing is induced in the symmetric bands, which in turn boosts the pairing gap in the antisymmetric band and enhances the high-temperature superconductivity with a congruent d-wave symmetry in pressurized La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$.

Non-Abelian anyons are exotic quasiparticle excitations hosted by certain topological phases of matter. They break the fermion-boson dichotomy and obey non-Abelian braiding statistics: their interchanges yield unitary operations, rather than merely a phase factor, in a space spanned by topologically degenerate wavefunctions. They are the building blocks of topological quantum computing. However, experimental observation of non-Abelian anyons and their characterizing braiding statistics is notoriously challenging and has remained elusive hitherto, in spite of various theoretical proposals. Here, we report an experimental quantum digital simulation of projective non-Abelian anyons and their braiding statistics with up to 68 programmable superconducting qubits arranged on a two-dimensional lattice. By implementing the ground states of the toric-code model with twists through quantum circuits, we demonstrate that twists exchange electric and magnetic charges and behave as a particular type of non-Abelian anyons, i.e., the Ising anyons. In particular, we show experimentally that these twists follow the fusion rules and non-Abelian braiding statistics of the Ising type, and can be explored to encode topological logical qubits. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to implement both single- and two-qubit logic gates through applying a sequence of elementary Pauli gates on the underlying physical qubits. Our results demonstrate a versatile quantum digital approach for simulating non-Abelian anyons, offering a new lens into the study of such peculiar quasiparticles.

Within the extended vector meson dominance model, we investigate the $e^+ e^- \to \varLambda^+_c \bar{\varLambda}^-_c$ reaction and the electromagnetic form factors of the charmed baryon $\varLambda_c^+$. The model parameters are determined by fitting them to the cross sections of the process $e^+e^-\rightarrow \varLambda_c^+ \bar{\varLambda}_c^-$ and the magnetic form factor $|G_{\scriptscriptstyle{\rm M}}|$ of $\varLambda^+_c$. By considering four charmonium-like states, called $\psi(4500)$, $\psi(4660)$, $\psi(4790)$, and $\psi(4900)$, we can well describe the current data on the $e^+ e^- \to \varLambda^+_c \bar{\varLambda}^-_c$ reaction from the reaction threshold up to $4.96$ GeV. In addition to the total cross sections and $|G_{\scriptscriptstyle{\rm M}}|$, the ratio $|G_{\scriptscriptstyle{\rm E}}/G_{\scriptscriptstyle{\rm M}}|$ and the effective form factor $|G_{\mathrm{eff}}|$ for $\varLambda^+_c$ are also calculated, and found that these calculations are consistent with the experimental data. Within the fitted model parameters, we have also estimated the charge radius of the charmed $\varLambda_c^+$ baryon.

In a Dirac semimetal, the massless Dirac fermion has zero chirality, leading to surface states connected adiabatically to a topologically trivial surface state as well as vanishing anomalous Hall effect. Recently, it is predicted that in the nonrelativistic limit of certain collinear antiferromagnets, there exists a type of chiral “Dirac-like” fermion, whose dispersion manifests four-fold degenerate crossing points formed by spin-degenerate linear bands, with topologically protected Fermi arcs. Such an unconventional chiral fermion, protected by a hidden $SU(2)$ symmetry in the hierarchy of an enhanced crystallographic group, namely spin space group, is not experimentally verified yet. Here, by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements, we reveal the surface origin of the electron pocket at the Fermi surface in collinear antiferromagnet CoNb$_{3}$S$_{6}$. Combining with neutron diffraction and first-principles calculations, we suggest a multidomain collinear antiferromagnetic configuration, rendering the existence of the Fermi-arc surface states induced by chiral Dirac-like fermions. Our work provides spectral evidence of the chiral Dirac-like fermion caused by particular spin symmetry in CoNb$_{3}$S$_{6}$, paving an avenue for exploring new emergent phenomena in antiferromagnets with unconventional quasiparticle excitations.

Random numbers are one of the key foundations of cryptography. This work implements a discrete quantum random number generator (QRNG) based on the tunneling effect of electrons in an avalanche photo diode. Without any post-processing and conditioning, this QRNG can output raw sequences at a rate of 100 Mbps. Remarkably, the statistical min-entropy of the 8,000,000 bits sequence reaches 0.9944 bits/bit, and the min-entropy validated by NIST SP 800-90B reaches 0.9872 bits/bit. This metric is currently the highest value we have investigated for QRNG raw sequences. Moreover, this QRNG can continuously and stably output raw sequences with high randomness over extended periods. The system produced a continuous output of 1,174 Gbits raw sequence for a duration of 11,744 s, with every 8 Mbits forming a unit to obtain a statistical min-entropy distribution with an average value of 0.9892 bits/bit. The statistical min-entropy of all data (1,174 Gbits) achieves the value of 0.9951 bits/bit. This QRNG can produce high-quality raw sequences with good randomness and stability. It has the potential to meet the high demand in cryptography for random numbers with high quality.

As a prototypical half-metallic ferromagnet, La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_{3}$ (LSMO) has been extensively studied due to its versatile physical properties and great potential in spintronic applications. However, the weak perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) limits the controllability and detection of magnetism in LSMO, thus hindering the realization of oxide-based spintronic devices with low energy consumption and high integration level. Motivated by this challenge, we develop an experimental approach to enhance the PMA of LSMO epitaxial films. By cooperatively introducing 4$d$ Ru doping and a moderate compressive strain, the maximum uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in Ru-doped LSMO can reach $3.0 \times 10^{5}$ J/m$^{3}$ at 10 K. Furthermore, we find a significant anisotropic magnetoresistance effect in these Ru-doped LSMO films, which is dominated by the strong PMA. Our findings offer an effective pathway to harness and detect the orientations of magnetic moments in LSMO films, thus promoting the feasibility of oxide-based spintronic devices, such as spin valves and magnetic tunnel junctions.

The new dimensional deformation approach is proposed to generate higher-dimensional analogues of integrable systems. An arbitrary ($K$+1)-dimensional integrable Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) system, as an example, exhibiting symmetry, is illustrated to arise from a reconstructed deformation procedure, starting with a general symmetry integrable (1+1)-dimensional dark KdV system and its conservation laws. Physically, the dark equation systems may be related to dark matter physics. To describe nonlinear physics, both linear and nonlinear dispersions should be considered. In the original lower-dimensional integrable systems, only liner or nonlinear dispersion is included. The deformation algorithm naturally makes the model also include the linear dispersion and nonlinear dispersion.

The physical concept of synthetic dimensions has recently been introduced into optics. The fundamental physics and applications are not yet fully understood, and this report explores an approach to optical neural networks using synthetic dimension in time domain, by theoretically proposing to utilize a single resonator network, where the arrival times of optical pulses are interconnected to construct a temporal synthetic dimension. The set of pulses in each roundtrip therefore provides the sites in each layer in the optical neural network, and can be linearly transformed with splitters and delay lines, including the phase modulators, when pulses circulate inside the network. Such linear transformation can be arbitrarily controlled by applied modulation phases, which serve as the building block of the neural network together with a nonlinear component for pulses. We validate the functionality of the proposed optical neural network for the deep learning purpose with examples handwritten digit recognition and optical pulse train distribution classification problems. This proof of principle computational work explores the new concept of developing a photonics-based machine learning in a single ring network using synthetic dimensions, which allows flexibility and easiness of reconfiguration with complex functionality in achieving desired optical tasks.

The simple kagome-lattice band structure possesses Dirac cones, flat band, and saddle point with van Hove singularities in the electronic density of states, facilitating the emergence of various electronic orders. Here we report a titanium-based kagome metal CsTi$_{3}$Bi$_{5}$ where titanium atoms form a kagome network, resembling its isostructural compound CsV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$. Thermodynamic properties including the magnetization, resistance, and heat capacity reveal the conventional Fermi liquid behavior in the kagome metal CsTi$_{3}$Bi$_{5}$ and no signature of superconducting or charge density wave (CDW) transition anomaly down to 85 mK. Systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements reveal multiple bands crossing the Fermi level, consistent with the first-principles calculations. The flat band formed by the destructive interference of hopping in the kagome lattice is observed directly. Compared to CsV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$, the van Hove singularities are pushed far away above the Fermi level in CsTi$_{3}$Bi$_{5}$, in line with the absence of CDW. Furthermore, the first-principles calculations identify the nontrivial $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological properties for those bands crossing the Fermi level, accompanied by several local band inversions. Our results suppose CsTi$_{3}$Bi$_{5}$ as a complementary platform to explore the superconductivity and nontrivial band topology.

Moiré superlattices in twisted two-dimensional materials have emerged as ideal platforms for engineering quantum phenomena, which are highly sensitive to twist angles, including both the global value and the spatial inhomogeneity. However, only a few methods provide spatial-resolved information for characterizing local twist angle distribution. Here we directly visualize the variations of local twist angles and angle-dependent evolutions of the quantum states in twisted bilayer graphene by scanning microwave impedance microscopy (sMIM). Spatially resolved sMIM measurements reveal a pronounced alteration in the local twist angle, approximately 0.3$^{\circ}$ over several micrometers in some cases. The variation occurs not only when crossing domain boundaries but also occasionally within individual domains. Additionally, the full-filling density of the flat band experiences a change of over $2 \times 10^{11}$ cm$^{-2}$ when crossing domain boundaries, aligning consistently with the twist angle inhomogeneity. Moreover, the correlated Chern insulators undergo variations in accordance with the twist angle, gradually weakening and eventually disappearing as the deviation from the magic angle increases. Our findings signify the crucial role of twist angles in shaping the distribution and existence of quantum states, establishing a foundational cornerstone for advancing the study of twisted two-dimensional materials.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) is a powerful technique for investigating quantum phases appearing in two-dimensional electron systems. The electrons respond to the piezoelectric field of SAW through screening, attenuating its amplitude, and shifting its velocity, which is described by the relaxation model. In this work, we systematically study this interaction using orders of magnitude lower SAW amplitude than those in previous studies. At high magnetic fields, when electrons form highly correlated states such as the quantum Hall effect, we observe an anomalously large attenuation of SAW, while the acoustic speed remains considerably high, inconsistent with the conventional relaxation model. This anomaly exists only when the SAW power is sufficiently low.

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity near 80 K in bilayer nickelate La$_{3}$Ni$_{2}$O$_{7}$ under high pressures has renewed the exploration of superconducting nickelate in bulk materials. The extension of superconductivity in other nickelates in a broader family is also essential. Here, we report the experimental observation of superconducting signature in trilayer nickelate La$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{10}$ under high pressures. By using a modified sol-gel method and post-annealing treatment under high oxygen pressure, we successfully obtained polycrystalline La$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{10}$ samples with different transport behaviors at ambient pressure. Then we performed high-pressure electrical resistance measurements on these samples in a diamond-anvil-cell apparatus. Surprisingly, the signature of possible superconducting transition with a maximum transition temperature ($T_{\rm c}$) of about 20 K under high pressures is observed, as evidenced by a clear drop of resistance and the suppression of resistance drops under magnetic fields. Although the resistance drop is sample-dependent and relatively small, it appears in all of our measured samples. We argue that the observed superconducting signal is most likely to originate from the main phase of La$_{4}$Ni$_{3}$O$_{10}$. Our findings will motivate the exploration of superconductivity in a broader family of nickelates and shed light on the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of high-$T_{\rm c}$ superconductivity in nickelates.

Our understanding of how photons couple to different degrees of freedom in solids forms the bedrock of ultrafast physics and materials sciences. In this review, the emergent ultrafast dynamics in condensed matter at the attosecond timescale have been intensively discussed. In particular, the focus is put on recent developments of attosecond dynamics of charge, exciton, and magnetism. New concepts and indispensable role of interactions among multiple degrees of freedom in solids are highlighted. Applications of attosecond electronic metrology and future prospects toward attosecond dynamics in condensed matter are further discussed. These pioneering studies promise future development of advanced attosecond science and technology such as attosecond lasers, laser medical engineering, and ultrafast electronic devices.

The discovery and manipulation of topological Hall effect (THE), an abnormal magnetoelectric response mostly related to the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), are promising for next-generation spintronic devices based on topological spin textures such as magnetic skyrmions. However, most skyrmions and THE are stabilized in a narrow temperature window either below or over room temperature with high critical current manipulation. It is still elusive and challenging to achieve large THE with both wide temperature window till room temperature and low critical current manipulation. Here, using controllable, naturally oxidized sub-20 and sub-10 nm 2D van der Waals room-temperature ferromagnetic Fe$_{3}$GaTe$_{2-x}$ crystals, we report robust 2D skyrmion THE with ultrawide temperature window ranging in three orders of magnitude from 2 to 300 K, in combination with giant THE of $\sim$ 5.4 $µ \Omega\cdot$cm at 10 K and $\sim$ 0.15 $µ \Omega\cdot$cm at 300 K, which is 1–3 orders of magnitude larger than that of all known room-temperature 2D skyrmion systems. Moreover, room-temperature current-controlled THE is also realized with a low critical current density of $\sim$ $6.2\times10^{5}$ A$\cdot$cm$^{-2}$. First-principles calculations unveil natural oxidation-induced highly enhanced 2D interfacial DMI reasonable for robust giant THE. This work paves the way to room-temperature electrically controlled 2D THE-based practical spintronic devices.

Semiconductor devices are often operated at elevated temperatures that are well above zero Kelvin, which is the temperature in most first-principles density functional calculations. Computational approaches to computing and understanding the properties of semiconductors at finite temperatures are thus in critical demand. In this review, we discuss the recent progress in computationally assessing the electronic and phononic band structures of semiconductors at finite temperatures. As an emerging semiconductor with particularly strong temperature-induced renormalization of the electronic and phononic band structures, halide perovskites are used as a representative example to demonstrate how computational advances may help to understand the band structures at elevated temperatures. Finally, we briefly illustrate the remaining computational challenges and outlook promising research directions that may help to guide future research in this field.

The implementation of scalable quantum networks requires photons at the telecom band and long-lived spin coherence. The single Er$^{3+}$ in solid-state hosts is an important candidate that fulfills these critical requirements simultaneously. However, to entangle distant Er$^{3+}$ ions through photonic connections, the emission frequency of individual Er$^{3+}$ in solid-state matrix must be the same, which is challenging because the emission frequency of Er$^{3+}$ depends on its local environment. Herein, we propose and experimentally demonstrate the Stark tuning of the emission frequency of a single Er$^{3+}$ in a Y$_2$SiO$_5$ crystal by employing electrodes interfaced with a silicon photonic crystal cavity. We obtain a Stark shift of 182.9$\pm 0.8$ MHz, which is approximately 27 times of the optical emission linewidth, demonstrating promising applications in tuning the emission frequency of independent Er$^{3+}$ into the same spectral channels. Our results provide a useful solution for construction of scalable quantum networks based on single Er$^{3+}$ and a universal tool for tuning emission of individual rare-earth ions.

Stochastic gradient descent (SGD), a widely used algorithm in deep-learning neural networks, has attracted continuing research interests for the theoretical principles behind its success. A recent work reported an anomaly (inverse) relation between the variance of neural weights and the landscape flatness of the loss function driven under SGD [Feng Y and Tu Y Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 118 e2015617118 (2021)}]. To investigate this seeming violation of statistical physics principle, the properties of SGD near fixed points are analyzed with a dynamic decomposition method. Our approach recovers the true “energy” function under which the universal Boltzmann distribution holds. It differs from the cost function in general and resolves the paradox raised by the anomaly. The study bridges the gap between the classical statistical mechanics and the emerging discipline of artificial intelligence, with potential for better algorithms to the latter.

Quantum excitation is usually regarded as a transient process occurring instantaneously, leaving the underlying physics shrouded in mystery. Recent research shows that Rydberg-state excitation with ultrashort laser pulses can be investigated and manipulated with state-of-the-art few-cycle pulses. We theoretically find that the efficiency of Rydberg state excitation can be enhanced with a short laser pulse and modulated by varying the laser intensities. We also uncover new facets of the excitation dynamics, including the launching of an electron wave packet through strong-field ionization, the re-entry of the electron into the atomic potential and the crucial step where the electron makes a U-turn, resulting in twin captures into Rydberg orbitals. By tuning the laser intensity, we show that the excitation of the Rydberg state can be coherently controlled on a sub-optical-cycle timescale. Our work paves the way toward ultrafast control and coherent manipulation of Rydberg states, thus benefiting Rydberg-state-based quantum technology.

Excitons in solid state are bosons generated by electron-hole pairs as the Coulomb screening is sufficiently reduced. The exciton condensation can result in exotic physics such as super-fluidity and insulating state. In charge density wave (CDW) state, 1T-TiSe$_{2}$ is one of the candidates that may host the exciton condensation. However, to envision its excitonic effect is still challenging, particularly at the two-dimensional limit, which is applicable to future devices. Here, we realize the epitaxial 1T-TiSe$_{2}$ bilayer, the two-dimensional limit for its $2 \times 2\times 2$ CDW order, to explore the exciton-associated effect. By means of high-resolution scanning tunneling spectroscopy and quasiparticle interference, we discover an unexpected state residing below the conduction band and right within the CDW gap region. As corroborated by our theoretical analysis, this mysterious phenomenon is in good agreement with the electron-exciton coupling. Our study provides a material platform to explore exciton-based electronics and opto-electronics.

We theoretically study the charge order and orbital magnetic properties of a new type of antiferromagnetic kagome metal FeGe. Based on first-principles density functional theory calculations, we study the electronic structures, Fermi-surface quantum fluctuations, as well as phonon properties of the antiferromagnetic kagome metal FeGe. It is found that charge density wave emerges in such a system due to a subtle cooperation between electron–electron interactions and electron–phonon couplings, which gives rise to an unusual scenario of interaction-triggered phonon instabilities, and eventually yields a charge density wave (CDW) state. We further show that, in the CDW phase, the ground-state current density distribution exhibits an intriguing star-of-David pattern, leading to flux density modulation. The orbital fluxes (or current loops) in this system emerge as a result of the subtle interplay between magnetism, lattice geometries, charge order, and spin-orbit coupling (SOC), which can be described by a simple, yet universal, tight-binding theory including a Kane–Mele-type SOC term and a magnetic exchange interaction. We further study the origin of the peculiar step-edge states in FeGe, which sheds light on the topological properties and correlation effects in this new type of kagome antiferromagnetic material.

We report the interplay between two different topological phases in condensed matter physics, the magnetic chiral domain wall (DW), and the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) effect. It is shown that the chiral DW driven by Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction can divide the uniform domain into several zones where the neighboring zone possesses opposite quantized Hall conductance. The separated domain with a chiral edge state (CES) can be continuously modified by external magnetic field-induced domain expansion and thermal fluctuation, which gives rise to the reconfigurable QAH effect. More interestingly, we show that the position of CES can be tuned by spin current driven chiral DW motion. Several two-dimensional magnets with high Curie temperature and large topological band gaps are proposed for realizing these phenomena. The present work thus reveals the possibility of chiral DW controllable QAH effects.

Aqueous Na-ion batteries (ANIBs) are considered to be promising secondary battery systems for grid-scale energy storage applications and have attracted widespread attention due to their unique merits of rich resources of Na, as well as the inherent safety and low cost of aqueous electrolytes. However, the narrow electrochemical stability widow and high freezing point of traditional dilute aqueous electrolytes restrict their multi-scenario applications. Considering the charge-storage mechanism of ANIBs, the optimization and design of aqueous Na-based electrolytes dominate their low-temperature performance, which is also hot off the press in this field. In this review, we first systematically comb the research progress of the novel electrolytes and point out their remaining challenges in ANIBs. Then our perspectives on how to further improve the low-temperature performance of ANIBs will also be discussed. Finally, this review briefly sheds light on the potential direction of low-temperature ANIBs, which would guide the future design of high-performance aqueous rechargeable batteries.

Utilizing some conservation laws of the (1+1)-dimensional Camassa–Holm (CH) equation and/or its reciprocal forms, some (n+1)-dimensional CH equations for $n\geq 1$ are constructed by a modified deformation algorithm. The Lax integrability can be proven by applying the same deformation algorithm to the Lax pair of the (1+1)-dimensional CH equation. A novel type of peakon solution is implicitly given and expressed by the LambertW function.

Fe$_{3}$GaTe$_{2}$, a recently discovered van der Waals ferromagnetic crystal with the highest Curie temperature and strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy among two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials, has attracted significant attention and makes it a promising candidate for next-generation spintronic applications. Compared with Fe$_{3}$GeTe$_{2}$, which has the similar crystal structure, the mechanism of the enhanced ferromagnetic properties in Fe$_{3}$GaTe$_{2}$ is still unclear and needs to be investigated. Here, by using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements, we find that both Ga and Te atoms contribute to the total magnetic moment of the system with antiferromagnetic coupling to Fe atoms. Our first-principles calculations reveal that Fe$_{3}$GaTe$_{2}$ has van Hove singularities at the Fermi level in nonmagnetic state, resulting in the magnetic instability of the system and susceptibility to magnetic phase transitions. In addition, the calculation results about the density of states in ferromagnetic states of two materials suggest that the exchange interaction between Fe atoms is strengthened by replacing Ge atoms with Ga atoms. These findings indicate the increase of both the itinerate and local moments in Fe$_{3}$GaTe$_{2}$ in view of Stoner and exchange interaction models, which results in the enhancement of the overall magnetism and a higher Curie temperature. Our work provides insight into the underlying mechanism of Fe$_{3}$GaTe$_{2}$'s remarkable magnetic properties and has important implications for searching 2D materials with expected magnetic properties in the future.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a promising platform for fabricating high-voltage, high-frequency and high-temperature electronic devices such as metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors in which many junctions or interfaces are involved. The work function (WF) plays an essential role in these devices. However, studies of the effect of conductive type and polar surfaces on the WF of SiC are limited. Here, we report the measurement of WFs of Si- and C-terminated polar surfaces for both p-type and n-type conductive 4H-SiC single crystals by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPFM). The results show that p-type SiC exhibits a higher WF than n-type SiC. The WF of a C-terminated polar surface is higher than that of a Si-terminated polar surface, which is further confirmed by first-principles calculations. By revealing this long-standing knowledge gap, our work facilitates the fabrication and development of SiC-based electronic devices, which have tremendous potential applications in electric vehicles, photovoltaics, and so on. This work also shows that SKPFM is a good method for identifying polar surfaces of SiC and other polar materials nondestructively, quickly and conveniently.

This concise review summarizes recent advancements in theoretical studies of vortex quantum droplets (VQDs) in matter-wave fields. These are robust self-trapped vortical states in two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) with intrinsic nonlinearity. Stability of VQDs is provided by additional nonlinearities resulting from quantum fluctuations around mean-field states, often referred to as the Lee–Huang–Yang (LHY) corrections. The basic models are presented, with emphasis on the interplay between the mean-field nonlinearity, LHY correction, and spatial dimension, which determines the structure and stability of VQDs. We embark by delineating fundamental properties of VQDs in the 3D free space, followed by consideration of their counterparts in the 2D setting. Additionally, we address stabilization of matter-wave VQDs by optical potentials. Finally, we summarize results for the study of VQDs in the single-component BEC of atoms carrying magnetic moments. In that case, the anisotropy of the long-range dipole-dipole interactions endows the VQDs with unique characteristics. The results produced by the theoretical studies in this area directly propose experiments for the observation of novel physical effects in the realm of quantum matter, and suggest potential applications to the design of new schemes for processing classical and quantum information.

We report a linear-scaling random Green's function (rGF) method for large-scale electronic structure calculation. In this method, the rGF is defined on a set of random states and is efficiently calculated by projecting onto Krylov subspace. With the rGF method, the Fermi–Dirac operator can be obtained directly, avoiding the polynomial expansion to Fermi–Dirac function. To demonstrate the applicability, we implement the rGF method with the density-functional tight-binding method. It is shown that the Krylov subspace can maintain at small size for materials with different gaps at zero temperature, including H$_{2}$O and Si clusters. We find with a simple deflation technique that the rGF self-consistent calculation of H$_{2}$O clusters at $T=0$ K can reach an error of $\sim$ $1$ meV per H$_{2}$O molecule in total energy, compared to deterministic calculations. The rGF method provides an effective stochastic method for large-scale electronic structure simulation.