Non-Hermitian topological Anderson insulators

Non-Hermitian systems can exhibit exotic topological and localization properties.Here we elucidate the non-Hermitian effects on disordered topological systems using a nonreciprocal disordered Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model.We show that the non-Hermiticity can enhance the topological phase against disorders by increasing bulk gaps.Moreover,we uncover a topological phase which emerges under both moderate non-Hermiticity and disorders,and is characterized by localized insulating bulk states with a disorder-averaged winding number and zero-energy edge modes.Such topological phases induced by the combination of non-Hermiticity and disorders are dubbed non-Hermitian topological Anderson insulators.We reveal that the system has unique non-monotonous localization behavior and the topological transition is accompanied by an Anderson transition.These properties are general in other non-Hermitian models.     

Quantum coherent effects in layered nanostructures

Magnetotransport in structures based on NbSe₃, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_{8 + x} , and graphite has been examined. The stimulation of the charge density wave gap by a high magnetic field in NbSe₃ has been detected and studied using interlayer tunneling spectroscopy. It has been shown that this stimulation is of orbital character and the effect of the Zeeman splitting of the ground state of the charge density wave on this stimulation has been analyzed. The second harmonic of the gap singularity of the charge density wave in tunneling spectra, which is associated with the cascade relaxation of quasiparticles with the excess energy 2Δ. The effects caused by the interaction between Josephson vortices and Abrikosov vortex filaments have been studied on Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_{8 + x} mesas. Studies of the magnetoresistance of thin graphite with nanoholes reveal a significant contribution to the magnetotransport from Dirac fermions and provide experimental evidence of the existence of edge states around nanoholes.     

Quantum coherent effects in multi-Zeeman-sublevel atomic systems

This paper reports the experimental results on electromagnetically induced absorption （EIA） spectra observed in the system which does not satisfy completely the conditions given by Lezama et al [1999 Phys. Rev. A 59 4732]. EIA signals on the transitions in the Cs D2 line are able to be observed, where Fg ←→ Fe = Fg-1 as open systems. Theoretical model of Lezama et al is good for the case Fg ←→ Fc = Fg ＋ 1, considering spontaneous transfer of atomic coherences or populations this model is not able to explain our experimental results obtained in the case Fg ←→ Fe = Fg - 1. This paper offers a theoretical model which is able to well explain the case Fg ←→ Fc = Fg - 1. It also uses this theoretical model to explain the split and shift of EIA peaks, which have been obtained in experiments.     

Interacting Anderson insulators: The intrinsic electron glass

The out-of-equilibrium transport properties of Anderson insulators exhibit many glassy features such as slow relaxation, slow approach to a steady state, ageing, and other memory effects. These non-equilibrium features were theoretically anticipated and are believed to result from the interplay between disorder and interactions. Here we review the field-effect experiments that establish the generic nature of electron glasses. It is pointed out that the common feature to all systems that exhibit the characteristic electron-glass properties is their relatively high carrier concentration. Experiments performed as a function of the carrier concentration indicate that below a critical value, the relaxation time becomes very short. It is suggested that this may be the reason why lightly doped semiconductors do not exhibit intrinsic electron-glass effects. The possible connection between the Coulomb gap and the memory dip is discussed.     

Quantum diffusion of muonium in insulators

In this paper we review our recent experiments conducted at TRIUMF on muonium diffusion in alkali halides. First, the technique of longitudinal-field muonium spin relaxation (T ₁) due to nuclear hyperfine interaction, an indispensabletour de force for the present work. is described. It is demonstrated in KCl that the technique provides spectacular sensitivity for muonium diffusion as well as determining the average nuclear hyperfine coupling constant. The muonium hop rate shows a minimum (T ^*≃80 K) and steep increase with decreasing temperature. The result is compared with the current theory of quantum diffusion in non-metallic crystals. A few more sets of new data may be presented for other alkali halides. In addition, we show that muonium forms a delocalized state in NaCl as evidenced by a large change of the average nuclear hyperfine parameter. Related topics of local tunneling system may be briefly reviewed.     

Quantum coherent effects and Zener tunneling in superconducting tunnel junctions

We calculate the current-voltage characteristics of a small capacitance underdamped superconducting tunnel junction and find the value of the critical current which corresponds to switching between coherent voltage oscillations and uncorrelated single electron tunneling. Both Zener tunneling and dissipative relaxation are important in this context.     

Quantum coherent versus classical coherent light

The paper shows that the Wigner distribution function of quantum optical coherent states, or of a superposition of such states, can be produced and measured with a classical optical set-up using classical coherent light fields. This measurement cannot be done directly in quantum optics since the quantum phase space variables correspond to non-commuting operators. As an example, the Wigner distribution function of Schrödinger cat states of light has been measured. It is also shown that the possibility of measuring the Wigner distribution function of quantum coherent states with classical coherent fields is unique in the sense that it cannot be extended to other quantum states, not even to the incoherent limit of the superposition of coherent states.     

Quantum correlations in two-particle Anderson localization

We predict quantum correlations between noninteracting particles evolving simultaneously in a disordered medium. While the particle density follows the single-particle dynamics and exhibits Anderson localization, the two-particle correlation develops unique features that depend on the quantum statistics of the particles and their initial separation. On short time scales, the localization of one particle becomes dependent on whether or not the other particle is localized. On long time scales, the localized particles show oscillatory correlations within the localization length. These effects can be observed in Anderson localization of nonclassical light and ultracold atoms.     

相干瞬态的量子干涉效应和Berry相位

利用解析方法描述了相干瞬态量子体系中不同类型的量子干涉效应,分别讨论了光学干涉与量子干涉所起的作用,分析了在时域对称光场作用下,几何相位在量子干涉效应中所扮演的角色,从理论上证明了通过适当改变抽运场脉冲面积,可实现对几何相位的测量. 同时研究也发现利用啁啾抽运场可以实现对量子干涉效应的有效控制. 关键词： 相干瞬态 量子干涉 几何相位 啁啾脉冲     

Kondo insulators in the periodic Anderson model: a local moment approach

The symmetric periodic Anderson model is well known to capture the essential physics of Kondo insulator materials. Within the framework of dynamical mean-field theory, we develop a local moment approach to its single-particle dynamics in the paramagnetic phase. The approach is intrinsically non-perturbative, encompasses all energy scales and interaction strengths, and satisfies the low-energy dictates of Fermi liquid theory. It captures in particular the strong coupling behaviour and exponentially small quasiparticle scales characteristic of the Kondo lattice regime, as well as simple perturbative behaviour in weak coupling. Particular emphasis is naturally given to strong coupling dynamics, where the resultant clean separation of energy scales enables the scaling behaviour of single-particle spectra to be obtained. Received 19 December 2002 Published online 14 March 2003     

Dephasing effects in topological insulators

Topological insulators, a class of typical topological materials in both two dimensions and three dimensions,are insulating in bulk and metallic at surface. The spin-momentum locked surface states and peculiar transport properties exhibit promising potential applications on quantum devices, which generate extensive interest in the last decade. Dephasing is the process of the loss of phase coherence, which inevitably exists in a realistic sample. In this review, we focus on recent progress in dephasing effects on the topological insulators. In general, there are two types of dephasing processes: normal dephasing and spin dephasing. In two-dimensional topological insulators, the phenomenologically numerical investigation shows that the longitudinal resistance plateaus is robust against normal dephasing but fragile with spin dephasing. Several microscopic mechanisms of spin dephasing are then discussed. In three-dimensional topological insulators, the helical surface states exhibit a helical spin texture due to the spin-momentum locking mechanism. Thus, normal dephasing has close connection to spin dephasing in this case, and gives rise to anomalous “gap-like” feature. Dephasing effects on properties of helical surface states are investigated.     

Photogalvanic effects in topological insulators

We discuss optical absorption in topological insulators and study possible photoelectric effects theoretically. We found that absorption of circularly polarized electromagnetic waves in two-dimensional topological insulators results in electric current in the conducting 1D edge channels, the direction of the current being determined by the light polarization. We suggest two ways of inducing such a current: due to magnetic dipole electron transitions stimulated by irradiation of frequency below the bulk energy gap, and due to electric dipole transitions in the bulk at frequencies larger than the energy gap with subsequent capture of the photogenerated carriers on conducting edge states.     

Quantum coherent operators: A generalization of coherent states

We introduce a technique to compare different, but related, quantum systems, thereby generalizing the way that coherent states are used to compare quantum systems to classical systems in semiclassical analysis. We then use this technique to estimate the dependence of the free energy of the quantum Heisenberg model on the spin value, and to estimate the relation between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic free energies.Work supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation grant PHY-9019433.Work supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation grant DMS-9002416.     

二维拓扑绝缘体退相干效应研究

拓扑绝缘体是当前凝聚态物理研究的热点.退相干效应对该体系的影响的研究不仅有重要的理论意义,而且也是实现未来量子器件的不可或缺的前期工作.文章作者从理论上研究了退相干对二维拓扑绝缘体特别是量子自旋霍尔效应的影响.研究结果表明,作为量子自旋霍尔效应的标志的量子化纵向电阻平台对不破坏自旋记忆的退相干效应（普通退相干）不敏感,但却对破坏自旋记忆的退相干效应（自旋退相干）非常敏感.因此,该量子化平台只能在尺寸小于自旋退相干长度的介观样品中存在,从而解释了量子自旋霍尔效应实验中所观测到的结果(见Science ,20     

Quantum noise property in coherent atomic system

The coherent superposition of atomic states leads to the characteristic change of interacting lights because of the coupling between the lights and atoms. In this paper, the noise spectrum of the quantified light interacting with the atoms is studied under the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). It is shown that the noise spectrum displays a double M-shape noise profile resulted from the conversion of phase noise of probe beam. A squeezing of 0.3 dB can be observed at the detuning of probe light at the proper parameters of atoms and coupling beam.     

二维拓扑绝缘体退相干效应研究

拓扑绝缘体是当前凝聚态物理研究的热点.退相干效应对该体系的影响的研究不仅有重要的理论意义,而且也是实现未来量子器件的不可或缺的前期工作.文章作者从理论上研究了退相干对二维拓扑绝缘体特别是量子自旋霍尔效应的影响.研究结果表明,作为量子自旋霍尔效应的标志的量子化纵向电阻平台对不破坏自旋记忆的退相干效应(普通退相干)不敏感,但却对破坏自旋记忆的退相干效应(自旋退相干)非常敏感.因此,该量子化平台只能在尺寸小于自旋退相干长度的介观样品中存在,从而解释了量子自旋霍尔效应实验中所观测到的结果(见Science,2007,318:766).同时,文章作者还定义了一个新的物理量,即自旋霍尔电阻,并发现该自旋霍尔电阻也有量子化平台.特别是该量子化平台对两种类型的退相干都不敏感.这说明在宏观样品中也能观测到自旋霍尔电阻的量子化平台,因此更能全面地反映量子自旋霍尔效应的拓扑特性.     

Quantum phase transitions in the bosonic single-impurity Anderson model

We consider a quantum impurity model in which a bosonic impurity level is coupled to a non-interacting bosonic bath, with the bosons at the impurity site subject to a local Coulomb repulsion U. Numerical renormalization group calculations for this bosonic single-impurity Anderson model reveal a zero-temperature phase diagram where Mott phases with reduced charge fluctuations are separated from a Bose-Einstein condensed phase by lines of quantum critical points. We discuss possible realizations of this model, such as atomic quantum dots in optical lattices. Furthermore, the bosonic single-impurity Anderson model appears as an effective impurity model in a dynamical mean-field theory of the Bose-Hubbard model.