The breaking of time-reversal symmetry in a triplet superconductor Josephson junction is shown to cause a magnetic instability of the tunneling barrier. Using a Ginzburg-Landau analysis of the free energy, we predict that this novel functional behavior reflects the formation of an exotic Josephson state, distinguished by the existence of fractional flux quanta at the barrier. The crucial role of the orbital pairing state is demonstrated by studying complementary microscopic models of the junction. Signatures of the magnetic instability are found in the critical current of the junction.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.197001 | DOI Listing |
PNAS Nexus
January 2025
The Harrison M. Randall Laboratory of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1040, USA.
The direct, ultrafast excitation of polar phonons with electromagnetic radiation is a potent strategy for controlling the properties of a wide range of materials, particularly in the context of influencing their magnetic behavior. Here, we show that, contrary to common perception, the origin of phonon-induced magnetic activity does not stem from the Maxwellian fields resulting from the motion of the ions themselves or the effect their motion exerts on the electron subsystem. Through the mechanism of electron-phonon coupling, a coherent state of circularly polarized phonons generates substantial non-Maxwellian fields that disrupt time-reversal symmetry, effectively emulating the behavior of authentic magnetic fields.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNature
January 2025
Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
In a dilute two-dimensional electron gas, Coulomb interactions can stabilize the formation of a Wigner crystal. Although Wigner crystals are topologically trivial, it has been predicted that electrons in a partially filled band can break continuous translational symmetry and time-reversal symmetry spontaneously, resulting in a type of topological electron crystal known as an anomalous Hall crystal. Here we report signatures of a generalized version of the anomalous Hall crystal in twisted bilayer-trilayer graphene, whose formation is driven by the moiré potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Condens Matter
January 2025
Biozentrum, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, Basel, Basel-Stadt, 4056, SWITZERLAND.
Activity and autonomous motion are fundamental aspects of many living and engineering systems. Here, the scale of biological agents covers a wide range, from nanomotors, cytoskeleton, and cells, to insects, fish, birds, and people. Inspired by biological active systems, various types of autonomous synthetic nano- and micromachines have been designed, which provide the basis for multifunctional, highly responsive, intelligent active materials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhys Chem Chem Phys
January 2025
Ronin Institute, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, USA.
The Rashba effect in a nonmagnetic condensed-matter system is described by the reduction of point-group symmetries. The inversion, two-fold rotation, and reflection symmetries transforming the wavevector to - are identified as the origin of a degenerate state according to the time-reversal symmetry. The lack of these symmetries in a bulk system or the breaking of these in a surface system is then identified as the origin of a nondegenerate state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Applied Physics, School of Engineering Sciences, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
Non-trivial band topology along with magnetism leads to different novel quantum phases. When time-reversal symmetry is broken in three-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) through, e.g.
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