Integer-valued topological indices, characterizing nonlocal properties of quantum states of matter, are known to directly predict robust physical properties of equilibrium systems. The Chern number, e.g., determines the quantized Hall conductivity of an insulator. Using non-interacting fermionic atoms in a periodically driven optical lattice, here we demonstrate experimentally that the Chern number determines also the far-from-equilibrium dynamics of a quantum system. Extending a respective proposal to Floquet systems, we measure the linking number that characterizes the trajectories of momentum-space vortices emerging after a strong quench. We observe that it directly corresponds to the ground-state Chern number. This one-to-one relation between a dynamical and a static topological index allows us to experimentally map out the phase diagram of our system. Furthermore, we measure the instantaneous Chern number and show that it remains zero under the unitary dynamics.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09668-y | DOI Listing |
Science
January 2025
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Axions, hypothetical elementary particles that remain undetectable in nature, can arise as quasiparticles in three-dimensional crystals known as axion insulators. Previous implementations of axion insulators have largely been limited to two-dimensional systems, leaving their topological properties in three dimensions unexplored in experiment. Here, we realize an axion insulator in a three-dimensional photonic crystal and probe its topological properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhys Rev Lett
December 2024
Institute for Structure and Function and Department of Physics and Chongqing Key Laboratory for Strongly Coupled Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China and Center of Quantum Materials and Devices, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China.
Phys Rev Lett
December 2024
Microelectronics Research Center, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78758, USA.
Theoretical calculations show that twisted double bilayer graphene (TDBG) under a transverse electric field develops a valley Chern number 2 at charge neutrality. Using thermodynamic and thermal activation measurements we report the experimental observation of a universal closing of the charge neutrality gap in the Hofstadter spectrum of TDBG at 1/2 magnetic flux per unit cell, in agreement with theoretical predictions for a valley Chern number 2 gap. Our theoretical analysis of the experimental data shows that the interaction energy, while larger than the flat-band bandwidth in TDBG near 1° does not alter the emergent valley symmetry or the single-particle band topology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhys Rev Lett
December 2024
Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
Measuring bipartite fluctuations of a conserved charge, such as the particle number, is a powerful approach to understanding quantum systems. When the measured region has sharp corners, the bipartite fluctuation receives an additional contribution known to exhibit a universal angle dependence in 2D isotropic and uniform systems. Here we establish that, for generic lattice systems of interacting particles, the corner charge fluctuation is directly related to quantum geometry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExp Eye Res
December 2024
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, 53226, USA; Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI, 53226, USA. Electronic address:
Genome or prime editing has become a promising tool for the treatment of hereditary disorders affecting the inner retina, such as dominant optic neuropathies. In vivo delivery of gene editors, such as Cas9, is typically achieved using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors, which have a broad range of cellular tropisms and are well tolerated following intravitreal administration. Owing to the large size of gene editing constructs and the limited carrying capacity of rAAV (<5.
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