arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Kejia Zhu.
We prove that for any algebraic plane curve $C$ of degree at most $5$, the fundamental group $π_1(\mathbb CP^2\setminus C)$ is linear and virtually polyfree. As a consequence, we answer positively the open question on the residual finiteness of these groups for all plane curves of degree at most $5$.
Motivated by geometrically capturing generic directions in Teichmüller space -- that is, tracking rays for random walks of the mapping class group -- we use work of Chaika--Masur--Wolf and Durham--Zalloum to construct the first examples of a sublinearly-Morse Teichmüller geodesic rays with minimal non-uniquely ergodic vertical foliations.
Motivated by the question of whether braid groups are CAT(0), we investigate the CAT(0) behavior of fundamental groups of plane curve complements and certain universal families. If $C$ is the branch locus of a generic projection of a smooth, complete intersection surface to $\PP^2$, we show that $π_1(\PP^2\setminus C)$ is CAT(0). In the other direction, we prove that the fundamental group of the universal family associated with the singularities of type $E_6$, $E_7$, and $E_8$ is not CAT(0).
We study the connection between the fundamental groups of complex hyperbolic manifolds and those of spaces arising from the (relative) strict hyperbolization process due to Charney--Davis and Davis--Januszkiewicz--Weinberger. Viewing a non-uniform lattice $Γ$ in $\text{PU}(n,1)$ as a relatively hyperbolic group with respect to its cusp subgroups in the usual way, we show that when $n\geq 2$, $Γ$ is not isomorphic to any relatively hyperbolic group arising from the relative strict hyperbolization process, via work of Lafont--Ruffoni. We also prove that a uniform lattice in $\text{PU}(n,1)$ is not the fundamental group of a Charney-Davis strict hyperbolization when $n\geq 2$, assuming the initial complex satisfies some mild conditions.
The coexistence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic order at room temperature in single-phase van der Waals materials, particularly within the two-dimensional limit, has attracted significant research interest. Nonetheless, such materials are rare. In this work, we introduce an itinerant van der Waals antiferromagnet (Fe0.56Co0.44)5GeTe2, where the ferromagnetic order of its exfoliated flakes remains discernible up to room temperature, extending down to the monolayer limit. A notable phenomenon observed is the evident odd-even layer-number effect at high temperature (e.g., T = 150 K). Such behaviour can be expounded by a linear-chain model. Of particular interest is the robust ferromagnetic order observed in even-layer flakes at low temperature (e.g., T = 2 K), which could potentially be attributed to spin-polarized defects. The intricate interplay among magnetic field strength, layer number, and temperature gives rise to a diverse array of phenomena, holding promise not only for new physics but also for practical applications.
In order to determine when surface-by-surface bundles are non-positively curved, Llosa Isenrich and Py give a necessary condition: given a surface-by-surface group $G$ with infinite monodromy, if $G$ is CAT(0) then the monodromy representation is injective. We extend this to a more general result: Let $G$ be a group with a normal surface subgroup $R$. Assume $G/R$ satisfies the property that for every infinite normal subgroup $Λ$ of $G/R$, there is an infinite subgroup $Λ_0<Λ$ so that the centralizer $C_{G/R}(Λ_0)$ is finite. If $G$ is CAT(0) with infinite monodromy, then the monodromy representation has a finite kernel. We prove that acylindrically hyperbolic groups satisfy this property.
We prove that for $n\geq 2$, a non-uniform lattice in $\text{PU}(n,1)$ does not admit a relatively geometric action on a $\mathrm{CAT}(0)$ cube complex, in the sense of Einstein and Groves. As a consequence, if $Γ$ is a non-uniform lattice in a non-compact semisimple Lie group $G$ without compact factors that admits a relatively geometric action on a $\mathrm{CAT}(0)$ cube complex, then $G$ is commensurable with $\text{SO}(n,1)$. We also prove that if a Kähler group is hyperbolic relative to residually finite parabolic subgroups, and acts relatively geometrically on a $\mathrm{CAT}(0)$ cube complex, then it is virtually a surface group.
Let $π:X\to Y$ be an $n$-dimensional iterated Kodaira fibration with fiber of genus $g$ and injective monodromy. Llosa Isenrich and Py proved that we can pass to a finite index subgroup of $π_1(X)$ to get the base space of an n+1-dimensional iterated Kodaira fibration with injective monodromy and they asked about bounding the index of such a group. We provide a bound on this index.
Strong spin-orbital-coupling magnetic systems with the honeycomb structure can provide bond-directional interactions which may result in Kitaev quantum spin liquids and exotic anyonic excitations. However, one of the key ingredients in real materials$-$disorders$-$has been much less studied in Kitaev systems. Here we synthesized a trigonal SrIr$_2$O$_{6-δ}$ with $δ\approx 0.25$, which consists of two-dimensional honeycomb Ir planes with edge-sharing IrO$_6$ octahedra. First-principles computation and experimental measurements suggest that the electronic system is gapped, and there should be no magnetic moment as the Ir$^{5+}$ ion has no unpaired electrons. However, significant magnetism has been observed in the material, and it can be attributed to disorders that are most likely from oxygen vacancies. No magnetic order is found down to 0.05 K, and the low-temperature magnetic properties exhibit power-law behaviors in magnetic susceptibility and zero-field specific heat, and a single-parameter scaling of the specific heat under magnetic fields. These results provide strong evidence for the existence of the random singlet phase in SrIr$_2$O$_{6-δ}$, which offers a different member to the family of spin-orbital entangled iridates and Kitaev materials.
The topological characteristics, including invariant topological orders, band inversion, and the topological edge mode (TEM) in the photonic insulators, have been widely studied. Whether people can take advantage of intriguing topological modes in simple one-dimensional systems to implement some practical applications is an issue which people are increasingly concerned about. In this work, based on a photonic dimer chain composed of ultra-subwavelength resonators, we verify experimentally that the TEM in the effective second-order parity-time (PT) system is immune to the inner disorder perturbation, and can be used to realize the long-range wireless power transfer (WPT) with high transmission efficiency. To intuitively show the TEM can be used for WPT, a power signal source is used to excite the TEM. It can be clearly seen that two LED lamps with 0.5-W at both ends of the structure are lighted up with the aid of TEMs. In addition, in order to solve the special technical problems of standby power loss and frequency tracking, we further propose that a WPT system with effective third-order PT symmetry can be constructed by using one topological interface mode and two TEMs. Inspired by the long-range WPT with TEMs in this work, it is expected to use more complex topological structures to achieve energy transmission with more functions, such as the WPT devices whose direction can be selected flexibly in the quasiperiodic or trimer topological chains.
The exploration of non-Hermitian systems with parity-time (PT) symmetry has witnessed immense research interest both fundamentally and technologically in a wide range of subject areas in physics and engineering. One significant example of the principal emerging fields in this context is the PT symmetric wireless applications using multiple coils that are spatially separated but mutually coupled with position-dependent coupling strength. Such a spatial PT configuration limits the flexibility and miniaturization of the PT symmetric designs. As far as this is concerned, inspired by scattering induced two opposite whispering-gallery (WG) modes in an optical resonator, analogously here we experimentally demonstrate a specially constructed second-order (2-nd order) PT symmetry in a single coil resonator, whose currents with two different directions are excited by internal bypass capacitor. Our proposed structure has the following peculiar feature: First, the bypass capacitor induces coupling in spectral resonances allow us to observe a 2-nd order phase transition between symmetry regimes, without the need of a second coil in the spatial PT case. Under this circumstance, this specially constructed PT symmetry can be regarded as synthetic PT symmetry, which is enabled by coupling modes with different directions. Second, by introducing two or more internal bypass capacitors, the synthetic high-order PT symmetric system bearing such as third-order exceptional point in a single coil resonator can be realized. These results will provide a new paradigm to realize higher-order PT symmetry towards the investigation of non-Hermitian physics in a synthetic perspective, which can be extended to other physical platforms such as optics and acoustics.
Controlling magnetism and spin structures in strongly correlated systems by using electric field is of fundamental importance but challenging. Here, a high-spin ruthenate phase is achieved via a solid ionic chemical junction at SrRuO3/SrTiO3 interface with distinct formation energies and diffusion barriers of oxygen vacancies, analogue to electronic band alignment in semiconductor heterojunction. Oxygen vacancies trapped within this interfacial SrRuO3 reconstruct Ru-4d electronic structure and orbital occupancy, leading to an enhanced magnetic moment. Furthermore, an interfacial magnetic phase can be switched reversibly by electric-field-rectifying oxygen migration in a solid-state ionic gating device, providing a framework for atomic design of functionalities in strongly correlated oxides using a way of solid chemistry.
The search for quantum spin liquid (QSL) materials has attracted significant attention in the field of condensed matter physics in recent years, but until now only a handful of them are considered as candidates hosting QSL ground state. Owning to their geometrically frustrated structure, Kagome materials are ideal system to realize QSL. In this study, we synthesized the kagome structured material Claringbullite (Cu$_4$(OH)$_6$FCl) and then performed Zn doping to form Cu$_3$Zn(OH)$_6$FCl. Comprehensive measurements reveal that doping Zn$^{2+}$ ions transforms magnetically ordered Cu$_4$(OH)$_6$FCl into a non-magnetic QSL candidate Cu$_3$Zn(OH)$_6$FCl. Therefore, the successful syntheses of Cu$_4$(OH)$_6$FCl and Cu$_3$Zn(OH)$_6$FCl not only provide a new platform for the study of QSL but also a novel pathway of investigating the transition between QSL and magnetically ordered systems.
By exploring the extraordinary property of exceptional points (EPs) in non-Hermitian systems, we here demonstrate that losses can play constructive roles in controlling bistable states. We experimentally realize the EP in a non-Hermitian meta-molecule of coupled resonators in microwave regime. By increasing the loss, we first observe the bistable state suppression at the weak-dissipative regime, but then the bistable state recovery in strong-dissipative regime. Both the experimental and theoretical analysis demonstrate that the revival of bistable states results from the revival of the field intensity after the system encounters EPs, in spite of the increasing loss. Our results provide an alternative way to controlling and manifesting bistable systems, so as to achieve flexible photonic devices, not limited to the microwave regime.