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Jia-Wei Mei

Publications and source records attributed to Jia-Wei Mei.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Spin Splitter without Spin-Split Bands: A Reconfigurable Altermagnetic Texture

The altermagnetic spin-splitter effect converts an electric field into a transverse pure spin current, with no net magnetization and no charge-Hall counterpart. In established materials this function is tied to crystal-fixed spin-split bands that lock the polarization axis to the lattice. We show that the noncoplanar counter-spiral ground state of a frustrated honeycomb magnet instead carries the altermagnetic operation through a $\mathbf Q$-locked helicity mirror $g$. The mirror selects the spin-current polarization and forbids the perpendicular one, while an antitranslation $Θ$ forbids even-parity spin splitting. Band splitting and spin-splitter response therefore rest on different symmetry elements. Either element alone enforces the charge-Hall zero---a redundancy absent from other spin--orbit-free noncollinear routes---and a charge Hall appears only when both elements are removed. Hole doping then realizes a \emph{spin splitter without spin-split bands}---the symmetry-allowed odd-parity residual below $2\times10^{-7}$ of the hopping $t$ at the Fermi level---with $σ_H^{(s_y)}=0.082\,e^2/h$ without spin--orbit coupling and with zero charge Hall response. Selecting among the three degenerate $\mathbf{Q}$ orientations rotates the polarization axis in exact $120^\circ$ steps at fixed magnitude and charge-Hall zero; the selection rules persist in a $32$-site cell accessible to programmable photonic and circuit lattices.

cond-mat.str-el

Generalized Holstein-Primakoff transformation with optimizable bosonic truncation

Spin-wave theory provides a quasiparticle description of excitation spectra in quantum spin systems. In this theory, the spin operators are usually bosonized by the Holstein-Primakoff transformation or the Dyson-Maleev transformation. In practical calculations, the bosonized Hamiltonian has to be truncated, and thus the resulting excitation spectra depend on the choice of bosonic representation. Here, we introduce a generalized Holstein-Primakoff transformation that continuously interpolates between the conventional Holstein-Primakoff and Dyson-Maleev transformations through a single parameter. The formulation naturally extends to the SU(N) algebra and provides a flexible framework for optimizing bosonic truncations beyond harmonic order. As an application, we investigate the spin-1 bilinear-biquadratic model on the square lattice. By combining the generalized Holstein-Primakoff transformation with continuous similarity transformations, we obtain excitation spectra in excellent agreement with tensor-network calculations. Our results demonstrate that optimizing the bosonic representation substantially reduces truncation errors and provides quantitatively reliable descriptions of both quasiparticle dispersions and multi-boson continua.

cond-mat.str-el

Beyond-adiabatic flat Chern bands from a double-helix skyrmion crystal

A central challenge in flat-band engineering is suppressing kinetic energy without sacrificing Berry curvature. We show that a double-helix skyrmion crystal (DHSKX)--two sublattice-resolved skyrmion textures locked at opposite helicities, obtained here as the classical ground state of a frustrated honeycomb spin model--provides such a route under double exchange. The key mechanism is a single real-space organization, phase clustering: the $π$-locked helicities expel the wave function's phase winding from the skyrmion cores, and the magnetic $C_3$ symmetry pins it into three phase-locked clusters whose distributed destructive interference cancels net transport while preserving the Berry curvature. Ordinary skyrmion crystals, even with the same symmetry, do not develop this organization. Phase clustering yields isolated flat $|C| = 1$ Chern bands over broad coupling windows, one of which surpasses the adiabatic reference in quantum geometry at intermediate coupling. In this beyond-adiabatic window, band-projected exact diagonalization gives finite-size evidence consistent with $ν= 1/3$ Laughlin-type fractional-Chern-insulator physics; the same texture also hosts a higher-Chern ($C = -2$) flat band. Built from site-resolved complex hoppings alone, the DHSKX architecture is directly programmable in topolectric, acoustic, and photonic platforms.

cond-mat.str-el

Direct Raman observation of the quantum metric in a quantum magnet

The quantum geometric tensor (QGT) unifies the Berry curvature (its imaginary part) and the quantum metric (its real part), yet Raman studies of chiral phonons have so far accessed only the former. We perform circularly polarized Raman spectroscopy on the quantum magnet K2Co(SeO3)2, where the field-odd chiral splitting and the field-even center-frequency shift collapse onto a single curve across temperature and magnetic field, revealing a common microscopic origin for both observables. Since the chiral splitting reflects the Berry curvature, the concomitant even component, arising from the same microscopic origin, captures the field-induced change of the quantum metric, corresponding to the diagonal Born-Oppenheimer correction. Across two resolvable Eg modes, the unified data are well captured by a simple empirical quadratic relation. These results establish Raman spectroscopy as a direct probe of the quantum metric and an operational decomposition of quantum geometry within a single measurement.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Possible Observation of Quadrupole Waves in Spin Nematics

Discovery of new states of matter is a key objective in modern condensed matter physics, which often leads to revolutionary technological advancements such as superconductivity. Quantum spin nematic, a ``hidden order'' that evades conventional magnetic probes, is one such state. Na$_2$BaNi(PO$_4$)$_2$ is a potential spin nematic material, suggested by the observation of a two-magnon Bose-Einstein condensation from above the saturation field. However, direct confirmation of the spin nematicity remains elusive. This Letter presents inelastic neutron scattering spectra from the putative spin nematic phases of Na$_2$BaNi(PO$_4$)$_2$, revealing low-energy quadrupole waves that are absent in the neighboring conventional magnetic phases. A spin-one model quantitatively captures the full details of the spin excitation spectra across all low-temperature phases, providing direct evidence of the spin nematic orders. Additionally, we show evidence of the three-magnon continuum and two-magnon bound states in the $1/3$-magnetization plateau, revealing condensation of the two-magnon bound state as the origin of the low-field spin nematic supersolid phase.

cond-mat.str-el

Simulating Bulk Gap in Chiral Projected Entangled-Pair States

Projected entangled-pair states (PEPS) have proven effective in capturing chiral spin liquid ground states, yet the presence of long-range ``gossamer'' correlation tails raises concerns about their ability to accurately describe bulk gaps. Here, we address this challenge and demonstrate that PEPS can reliably characterize gapped bulk excitations in chiral topological phases. Using a variational principle for excited states within a local mode approximation, we establish that correlation functions decaying faster than $r^{-2}$ are not necessarily related to gapless modes and thus long-range ``gossamer'' correlation tails in chiral PEPS do not contradict the presence of a bulk gap. This framework is validated in the spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ Kitaev model with a chiral term, where PEPS yields excitation gaps that agree well with exact solutions. Extending our approach to the $\mathbb{Z}_3$ Kitaev model, we present compelling evidence for its chiral ground state and accurately resolve its gapped excitations. These findings thus solidify PEPS as a powerful tool for studying both ground and excited states in chiral topological systems, thereby bridging a key gap in the understanding of their bulk properties.

cond-mat.str-el

Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless region and magnetization plateaus in easy-axis triangular weak-dimer antiferromagnet K$_2$Co$_2$(SeO$_3$)$_3$

We investigate the magnetic phase diagram of the bilayer triangular antiferromagnet K$_2$Co$_2$(SeO$_3$)$_3$, revealing a rich interplay among geometric frustration, bilayer coupling, and symmetry-driven phenomena. High-field magnetization measurements show fractional magnetization plateaus at 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, and 5/6 of the saturation magnetization. To elucidate the experimental magnetic phase diagram at low fields, we propose that K$_2$Co$_2$(SeO$_3$)$_3$ can be described as an easy-axis triangular weak-dimer antiferromagnet. We emphasize the critical role of the emergent $U(1) \otimes S_3$ symmetry, where $S_3 = \mathbb{Z}_3 \otimes \mathbb{Z}_2^d$, in determining the magnetic phases at low fields. The remarkable agreement between the experimental and theoretical phase diagrams suggests that the phase transitions are governed by this symmetry. Notably, our combined experimental and theoretical results identify a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) phase region at finite fields. These findings provide new insights into the phase structure of frustrated magnets and establish K$_2$Co$_2$(SeO$_3$)$_3$ as a compelling platform for exploring unconventional quantum phenomena in $U(1) \otimes S_3$ systems.

cond-mat.str-el

Bose-Einstein condensation of a two-magnon bound state in a spin-one triangular lattice

In ordered magnets, the elementary excitations are spin waves (magnons), which obey Bose-Einstein statistics. Similarly to Cooper pairs in superconductors, magnons can be paired into bound states under attractive interactions. The Zeeman coupling to a magnetic field is able to tune the particle density through a quantum critical point (QCP), beyond which a "hidden order" is predicted to exist. Here we report direct observation of the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of the two-magnon bound state in Na$_2$BaNi(PO$_4$)$_2$. Comprehensive thermodynamic measurements confirmed the two-dimensional BEC-QCP at the saturation field. Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were performed to establish the microscopic model. An exact solution revealed stable 2-magnon bound states that were further confirmed by electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, demonstrating that the QCP is due to the pair condensation and the phase below saturation field is likely the long-sought-after spin nematic phase.

cond-mat.str-el

Quantum dynamics in a spin-1/2 square lattice $J_{1}$-$J_{2}$-$δ$ altermagnet

A key feature of the newly discovered altermagnet is that its spin degeneracy is lifted, although it has an antiferromagnetic order and zero net magnetization. In this work, we investigate a frustrated spin-1/2 $J_1$-$J_2$-$δ$ Heisenberg model on the square lattice by the tensor network methodin combination with the linear spin-wave theory, with our focus on both the magnon excitations and longitudinal excitations.For a small $J_2$ and a finite range of $δ$ we demonstrate that such a model hosts an altermagnetic ground state. Its magnon spectrum is split into two branches and the largest splitting occurs at $\left(\pmπ/2, \pmπ/2\right)$ in the Brillouin zone. The magnitudes of splitting in the two magnon modes are equal with respect to the case of $δ=0$. Dynamical spin structure factors show that the low-energy peak in the longitudinal spectral weight around $(π/2, π/2)$ is also split, and thus the relative positions of the magnon modes and longitudinal modes in energy may change in the presence of a finite $δ$. These findings demonstrate that the altermagnets harbor more complex quantum dynamics than the conventional collinear antiferromagnets.

cond-mat.str-el

Muon Spin Relaxation Study of Spin Dynamics on a Kitaev honeycomb material H$_3$LiIr$_2$O$_6$

The vacancy effect in quantum spin liquid (QSL) has been extensively studied. A finite density of random vacancies in the Kitaev model can lead to a pileup of low-energy density of states (DOS), which is generally experimentally determined by a scaling behavior of thermodynamic or magnetization quantities. Here, we report detailed muon spin relaxation ($μ$SR) results of H$_3$LiIr$_2$O$_6$, a Kitaev QSL candidate with vacancies. The absence of magnetic order is confirmed down to 80 mK, and the spin fluctuations are found to be persistent at low temperatures. Intriguingly, the time-field scaling law of longitudinal-field (LF)-$μ$SR polarization is observed down to 0.1 K. This indicates a dynamical scaling, whose critical exponent 0.46 is excellently consistent with the scaling behavior of specific heat and magnetization data. All the observations point to the finite DOS with the form $N(E) \sim E^{-0.5}$ , which is expected for the Kitaev QSL in the presence of vacancies. Our μSR study provides a dynamical fingerprint of the power-law low-energy DOS, and introduces a crucial new insight into the vacancy effect in QSL.

cond-mat.str-el

Gauge symmetry of excited states in projected entangled-pair state simulations

While gauge symmetry is a well-established requirement for representing topological orders in projected entangled-pair state (PEPS), its impact on the properties of low-lying excited states remains relatively unexplored. Here we perform PEPS simulations of low-energy dynamics in the Kitaev honeycomb model, which supports fractionalized gauge flux (vison) excitations. We identify gauge symmetry emerging upon optimizing an unbiased PEPS ground state. Using the PEPS adapted local mode approximation, we further classify the low-lying excited states by discerning different vison sectors. Our simulations of spin and spin-dimer dynamical correlations establish close connections with experimental observations. Notably, the selection rule imposed by the locally conserved visons results in nearly flat dispersions in momentum space for excited states belonging to the 2-vison or 4-vison sectors.

cond-mat.str-el

Local excitation of kagome spin ice magnetism in HoAgGe seen by scanning tunneling microscopy

The kagome spin ice can host frustrated magnetic excitations by flipping its local spin. Under an inelastic tunneling condition, the tip in a scanning tunneling microscope can flip the local spin, and we apply this technique to kagome metal HoAgGe with a long-range ordered spin ice ground state. Away from defects, we discover a pair of pronounced dips in the local tunneling spectrum at symmetrical bias voltages with negative intensity values, serving as a striking inelastic tunneling signal. This signal disappears above the spin ice formation temperature and has a dependence on the magnetic fields, demonstrating its intimate relation with the spin ice magnetism. We provide a two-level spin-flip model to explain the tunneling dips considering the spin ice magnetism under spin-orbit coupling. Our results uncover a local emergent excitation of spin ice magnetism in a kagome metal, suggesting that local electrical field induced spin flip climbs over a barrier caused by spin-orbital locking.

cond-mat.str-el

1-Form Symmetric Projected Entangled-Pair States

The 1-form symmetry, manifesting as loop-like symmetries, has gained prominence in the study of quantum phases, deepening our understanding of symmetry. However, the role of 1-form symmetries in Projected Entangled-Pair States (PEPS), two-dimensional tensor network states, remains largely underexplored. We present a novel framework for understanding 1-form symmetries within tensor networks, specifically focusing on the derivation of algebraic relations for symmetry matrices on the PEPS virtual legs. Our results reveal that 1-form symmetries impose stringent constraints on tensor network representations, leading to distinct anomalous braiding phases carried by symmetry matrices. We demonstrate how these symmetries influence the ground state and tangent space in PEPS, providing new insights into their physical implications for enhancing ground state optimization efficiency and characterizing the 1-form symmetry structure in excited states.

cond-mat.str-el

Magnetic phase transitions in the triangular-lattice spin-1 dimer compound K2Ni2(SeO3)3

In our study, we conduct magnetization and heat capacity measurements to investigate field induced magnetic phase transitions within the newly synthesized compound K2Ni2(SeO3)3, a spin-1 dimer system arranged on a triangular lattice. From our first-principles simulations, we determine that the spin system in K2Ni2(SeO3)3 can be represented as a two-dimensional triangular-lattice spin-1 dimer model, including an intra-dimer exchange of J1 = 0.32 meV, an inter-dimer exchange of J2 = 0.79 meV, and an easy-axis anisotropy of D = 0.14 meV. The presence of easy-axis magnetic anisotropy explains the distinct magnetic phase diagrams observed under c-axis directional and in-plane magnetic fields. Notably, our investigation unveils a two-step phase transition with the magnetic field aligned with the c direction. Our findings yield valuable insights into the magnetic phase transitions inherent to geometrically frustrated magnetic systems featuring dimer structures.

cond-mat.str-el

Surprising pressure-induced magnetic transformations from Helimagnetic order to Antiferromagnetic state in NiI2

Interlayer magnetic interactions play a pivotal role in determining the magnetic arrangement within van der Waals (vdW) magnets, and the remarkable tunability of these interactions through applied pressure further enhances their significance. Here, we investigate NiI2 flakes, a representative vdW magnet, under hydrostatic pressures up to 11 GPa. We reveal a notable increase in magnetic transition temperatures for both helimagnetic and antiferromagnetic states, and find that a reversible transition from helimagnetic to antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases at approximately 7 GPa challenges established theoretical and experimental expectations. While the increase in transition temperature aligns with pressure-enhanced overall exchange interaction strengths, we identify the significant role of the second-nearest neighbor interlayer interaction, which competes with intra-layer frustration and favors the AFM state as demonstrated in the Monte Carlo simulations. Experimental and simulated results converge on the existence of an intermediate helimagnetic ordered state in NiI2 before transitioning to the AFM state. These findings underscore the pivotal role of interlayer interactions in shaping the magnetic ground state, providing fresh perspectives for innovative applications in nanoscale magnetic device design.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Continuum of spin excitations in an ordered magnet

Continuum of spin excitations observed in inelastic neutron scattering experiments are often considered as a strong evidence of quantum spin liquid formation. When quantum spin liquid is indeed the ground state of a disorder-free magnetic compound, the elementary excitation is no longer the conventional spin waves (magnons). Instead, the magnons fractionalize into spinons, leaving only a two-spinon continuum detectable in inelastic neutron scattering experiments. For a clean ordered antiferromagnet, it was unclear if we can observe a continuous spectrum similar to the ones in a quantum spin liquid state. Here we show that the magnetically ordered state in Na$_2$BaCo(PO$_4$)$_2$ is able to host a spin excitation continuum induced by strong quantum fluctuations. Thus, a second thought is necessary when concluding such continuum as signature of quantum spin liquid in new material explorations.

cond-mat.str-el

Anomalous exchange bias effect in ferromagnetic VI3 flakes

The exchange bias (EB) effect, pivotal in magnetic data storage and sensing devices, has been observed not only in interfacial regions but also in intrinsic ferromagnetic materials. Here, we've uncovered a robust and stable exchange bias effect within the layered van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnet VI3 employing magnetic circular dichroism microscopy. At 10 K, we observed a significant exchange field of approximately 0.1 T, accompanied by random shifts (positive or negative relative to zero magnetic field) after zero-field cooling. Notably, this effect is effectively controllable after field cooling, with shift direction opposing the applied magnetic field. The presence of strong magnetic anisotropic energy within VI3 results in larger coercivity-bound magnetic domains. These domains dictate the neighboring ferromagnetic alignment and induce shifts in the hysteresis loop. Our study not only contributes to comprehending fundamental nanoscale magnetic interactions but also sheds light on emergent phenomena within layered van der Waals magnets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

The s$^\pm$-Wave Pairing and the Destructive Role of Apical-Oxygen Deficiencies in La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ Under Pressure

Recently, the bilayer perovskite nickelate La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ has been reported to show evidence of high-temperature superconductivity (SC) under a moderate pressure of about 14 GPa. To investigate the superconducting mechanism, pairing symmetry, and the role of apical-oxygen deficiencies in this material, we perform a random-phase-approximation based study on a bilayer model consisting of the $d_{x^2-y^2}$ and $d_{3z^2-r^2}$ orbitals of Ni atoms in both the pristine crystal and the crystal with apical-oxygen deficiencies. Our analysis reveals an $s^{\pm}$-wave pairing symmetry driven by spin fluctuations. The crucial role of pressure lies in that it induces the emergence of the $γ$-pocket, which is involved in the strongest Fermi-surface nesting. We further found the emergence of local moments in the vicinity of apical-oxygen deficiencies, which significantly suppresses the $T_c$. Therefore, it is possible to significantly enhance the $T_c$ by eliminating oxygen deficiencies during the synthesis of the samples.

cond-mat.supr-con