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Hao Zheng

Publications and source records attributed to Hao Zheng.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Fermi arc topology and interconnectivity in Weyl fermion semimetals TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP

The family of binary compounds including TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP was recently discovered as the first realization of Weyl semimetals. In order to develop a comprehensive description of the charge carriers in these Weyl semimetals, we performed systematic electronic structure calculations which reveal the nature of Fermi surfaces and their complex interconnectivity in TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP. Our work report the first comparative and comprehensive study of Fermi surface topology and band structure details of all known members of the Weyl semimetal family and provide the necessary building blocks for advancing our understanding of their unique topologically protected low-energy Weyl fermion physics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Line and Point Defects in MoSe2 Bilayer Studied by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy

Bilayer (BL) MoSe2 films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/S). Similar to monolayer (ML) films, networks of inversion domain boundary (DB) defects are observed both in the top and bottom layers of BL MoSe2, and often they are seen spatially correlated such that one is on top of the other. There are also isolated ones in the bottom layer without companion in the top-layer and are detected by STM/S through quantum tunneling of the defect states through the barrier of the MoSe2 ML. Comparing the DB states in BL MoSe2 with that of ML film reveals some common features as well as differences. Quantum confinement of the defect states is indicated. Point defects in BL MoSe2 are also observed by STM/S, where ionization of the donor defect by the tip-induced electric field is evidenced. These results are of great fundamental interests as well as practical relevance of devices made of MoSe2 ultrathin layers.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

A new type of Weyl semimetal with quadratic double Weyl fermions in SrSi2

We identify a Weyl semimetal state in an inversion breaking, stoichiometric compound strontium silicide, SrSi$_2$, with many new and novel properties that are distinct from the TaAs family. We theoretically show that SrSi$_2$ is a Weyl semimetal even without spin-orbit coupling and that, after the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling, two Weyl fermions stick together forming an exotic double Weyl fermion with quadratic dispersions and a higher chiral topological charge of 2. Moreover, we find that the Weyl nodes with opposite charges are located at different energies due to the absence of mirror symmetry in SrSi$_2$, leading to a unique topological quantum response that an external magnetic field can induce a dissipationless current. Our systematic results not only identify a much-needed robust Weyl semimetal candidate but also open the door to new topological Weyl physics that is not possible in the TaAs family of materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Old neutron stars as probes of isospin-violating dark matter

Isospin-violating dark matter (IVDM), which couples differently with protons and neutrons, provides a promising mechanism to ameliorate the tension among recent direct detection experiments. Assuming DM is non-interacting bosonic asymmetric IVDM, we investigate how the existence of old neutron stars limits the DM-proton scattering cross-section $σ_{\rm p}$, especially the effects of the isospin violating DM-nucleon interactions and the symmetry energy in the equation of state of isospin asymmetric nuclear matter. Our calculations are completely based on general relativity and especially the structure of neutron stars is obtained by solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations with nuclear matter equation of state constrained by terrestrial experiments. We find that, by considering the more realistic neutron star model rather than a simple uniform neutron sphere as usual, the $σ_{\rm p}$ bounds from old neutron stars can be varied by more than an order of magnitude depending on the specific values of the DM neutron-to-proton coupling ratio $f_{\rm n}/f_{\rm p}$, and they can be further varied by more than a factor of two depending on the density dependence of the symmetry energy. In particular, we demonstrate that the observed nearby isolated old neutron star PSR B1257+12 can set a very strong limit on $σ_{\rm p}$ for low-mass DM particles ($ \le 20 \, {\rm GeV}$) that reaches a sensitivity beyond the current best limits from direct detection experiments and disfavors the DM interpretation of previously-reported positive experimental results, including the IVDM.

nucl-th↗

Form Factor Effects in the Direct Detection of Isospin-Violating Dark Matter

Isospin-violating dark matter (IVDM) provides a possible mechanism to ameliorate the tension among recent direct detection experiments. For IVDM, we demonstrate that the results of direct detection experiments based on neutron-rich target nuclei may depend strongly on the density dependence of the symmetry energy which is presently largely unknown and controls the neutron skin thickness that reflects the relative difference of neutron and proton form factors in the neutron-rich nuclei. In particular, using the neutron and proton form factors obtained from Skyrme-Hartree-Fock calculations by varying the symmetry energy within the uncertainty region set by the latest model-independent measurement of the neutron skin thickness of $^{208}$Pb from PREX experiment at JLab, we find that, for IVDM with neutron-to-proton coupling ratio fixed to $f_n/f_p=-0.7$, the form factor effect may enhance the sensitivity of Xe-based detectors (e.g., XENON100 and LUX) to the DM-proton cross section by a factor of $3$ in the DM mass region constrained by CMDS-II(Si) and even by more than an order of magnitude for heavy DM with mass larger than $80$ GeV, compared with the results using the empirical Helm form factor. Our results further indicate that the form factor effect can significantly modify the recoil spectrum of Xe-based detectors for heavy IVDM with $f_n/f_p=-0.7$.

nucl-th↗

Nuclear constraints on non-Newtonian gravity at femtometer scale

Effects of the non-Newtonian gravity on properties of finite nuclei are studied by consistently incorporating both the direct and exchange contribution of the Yukawa potential in the Hartree-Fock approach using a well-tested Skyrme force for the strong interaction. It is shown for the first time that the strength of the Yukawa term in the non-Newtonian gravity is limited to $\log(|α|)<1.75/[λ(\rm fm)]^{0.54} + 33.6$ within the length scale of $λ=1-10$ fm in order for the calculated properties of finite nuclei not to be in conflict with accurate experimental data available.

astro-ph.SR↗

Non-Newtonian gravity in finite nuclei

In this talk, we report our recent study of constraining the non-Newtonian gravity at femtometer scale. We incorporate the Yukawa-type non-Newtonian gravitational potential consistently to the Skyrme functional form using the exact treatment for the direct contribution and density-matrix expansion method for the exchange contribution. The effects from the non-Newtonian potential on finite nuclei properties are then studied together with a well-tested Skyrme force. Assuming that the framework without non-Newtonian gravity can explain the binding energies and charge radii of medium to heavy nuclei within 2% error, we set an upper limit for the strength of the non-Newtonian gravitational potential at femtometer scale.

nucl-th↗

Effects of the U-boson on the inner edge of neutron star crusts

We explore effects of the light vector $U$-boson, which is weakly coupled to nucleons, on the transition density $ρ_{t}$ and pressure $P_{t}$ at the inner edge separating the liquid core from the solid crust of neutron stars. Three methods, i.e., the thermodynamical approach, the curvature matrix approach and the Vlasov equation approach are used to determine the transition density $ρ_{t}$ with the Skyrme effective nucleon-nucleon interactions. We find that the $ρ_{t}$ and $P_{t}$ depend on not only the ratio of coupling strength to mass squared of the $U$-boson $g^{2}/μ^{2}$ but also its mass $μ$ due to the finite range interaction from the $U$-boson exchange. In particular, our results indicate that the $ρ_{t}$ and $P_{t}$ are sensitive to both $g^{2}/μ^{2}$ and $μ$ if the $U$-boson mass $μ$ is larger than about 2 MeV. Furthermore, we show that both $g^{2}/μ^{2}$ and $μ$ can have significant influence on the mass-radius relation and the crustal fraction of total moment of inertia of neutron stars. In addition, we study the exchange term contribution of the $U$-boson based on the density matrix expansion method, and demonstrate that the exchange term effects on the nuclear matter equation of state as well as the $ρ_{t}$ and $P_{t}$ are generally negligible.

nucl-th↗

Categorification of integrable representations of quantum groups

We categorify the highest weight integrable representations and their tensor products of a symmetric quantum Kac-Moody algebra. As byproducts, we obtain a geometric realization of Lusztig's canonical bases of these representations as well as a new positivity result. The main ingredient in the underlying geometric construction is a class of micro-local perverse sheaves on quiver varieties.

math.RT↗

A trace formula for the forcing relation of braids

The forcing relation of braids has been introduced for a 2-dimensional analogue of the Sharkovskii order on periods for maps of the interval. In this paper, by making use of the Nielsen fixed point theory and a representation of braid groups, we deduce a trace formula for the computation of the forcing order.

math.DS↗

A geometric categorification of tensor products of $U_q(sl_2)$-modules

We give a purely geometric categorification of tensor products of finite-dimensional simple $U_q(sl_2)$-modules and $R$-matrices on them. The work is developed in the framework of category of perverse sheaves and the categorification theorems are understood as consequences of Deligne's theory of weights.

math.RT↗

On tame embeddings of solenoids into 3-space

Solenoids are ``inverse limits'' of the circle, and the classical knot theory is the theory of tame embeddings of the circle into the 3-space. We give some general study, including certain classification results, of tame embeddings of solenoids into the 3-space as the ``inverse limits'' of the tame embeddings of the circle. Some applications are discussed. In particular, there are ``tamely'' embedded solenoids $Σ\subset \R^3$ which are strictly achiral. Since solenoids are non-planar, this contrasts sharply with the known fact that if there is a strictly achiral embedding $Y\subset \R^3$ of a compact polyhedron $Y$, then $Y$ must be planar.

math.GT↗