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Sheng Meng

Publications and source records attributed to Sheng Meng.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2026

Phonon-modulated Kerr nonlinearity in ultrathin 2H-MoTe2

Controlling nonequilibrium responses in optically driven quantum materials is essential for advancing applications in energy conversion, ultrafast electronics, and quantum computation. Nonlinear optical spectroscopy serves as a powerful tool to investigate ultrafast electron and phonon dynamics in these systems; however, conventional nonlinear approaches often require intense laser pulses (> 10 GW/cm2) and typically encounter a strong background. Here, we introduce a phase-sensitive nonlinear spectroscopic technique that operates at low laser powers (~ 10 kW/cm2, pulse energies ~ 10 pJ) and enables real-time monitoring and active control of coherent phonons in a few-layer (three to five) thick 2H-MoTe2. Upon excitation with ultrashort (~ 10 fs) pump pulses, we achieve displacive excitation of coherent phonons, which periodically modulate the Kerr nonlinearity of the material, leading to cross-phase modulation (XPM) of a delayed probe pulse. This phase modulation induces spectral broadening and oscillations in the center of mass (COM) of the probe spectrum in time, enabling the detection of subtle nonlinear optical responses in a background-free manner. The nonlinear response can be selectively amplified or attenuated by adjusting the strength of the pump pulse, which controls the distribution of photoexcited carriers in the electronic bands. By combining two-color nondegenerate pump-probe measurements and time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, we directly resolve the coupled nonequilibrium electronic and phonon dynamics. A dual-pump pulse scheme enables precise control of phonon oscillations, allowing selective activation or suppression of specific phonon modes and correspondingly the modulation of the Kerr nonlinearity.

physics.optics↗
arXiv2026

Robust and tunable Floquet altermagnets in sliding A-type antiferromagnetic bilayers

Arranging the stacking orders of A-type antiferromagnetic (A-AFM) bilayers offers a practical pathway to realizing two-dimensional altermagnets. Previous proposals, however, rely on stringent symmetry constraints, including layer groups and stacking registries. In this work, we demonstrate that circularly polarized light (CPL) irradiation breaks time-reversal symmetry, enabling altermagnetism without these restrictions. Our comprehensive symmetry analysis reveals that inversionsymmetric A-AFM bilayer building blocks can host altermagnetism that is robust against stacking slides and variations in illumination direction, with rich and continuously tunable symmetry representations. Using bilayer MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ as a case study, we show that out-of-plane CPL stabilizes distinct $f$-wave or $p$-wave altermagnetic states in forward stacking, while reverse stacking manifests an even-odd parity conversion of altermagnetism based upon specific sliding configurations. These revealments broaden the scope of altermagnet design in inversion-symmetric A-AFM bilayers and establish CPL as a versatile control knob for engineering altermagnetic symmetries.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Synthesis of Monolayer Ice on a Hydrophobic Metal Surface

Understanding water-metal interactions is central to disciplines spanning catalysis, electrochemistry, and atmospheric science. Monolayer ice phases are well established on hydrophilic surfaces, where strong water-substrate interactions stabilize ordered hydrogen-bond networks. In contrast, their formation on hydrophobic metals has been deemed ther-modynamically unfavourable, with water typically assembling into amorphous films, three-dimensional crystallites, or interlocked bilayer ice. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of a monolayer ice phase on the hydrophobic Au(111) surface using a low-energy-electron-assisted growth method. Combined experimental characterizations including low-energy electron diffraction, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, complemented by first-principles calculations, prove that the monolayer ice phase composes of intact water molecules. This approach provides a generalizable strategy for stabilizing ordered two-dimensional ice on inert substrates and offers new insight into the interplay between water and low-energy electrons at hydrophobic interfaces.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

Anisotropic Photostriction and Strain-modulated Carrier Lifetimes in Orthorhombic Semiconductors

We demonstrate anisotropic photostriction in two-dimensional orthorhombic semiconductors using time-dependent density functional theory. By tracing the dynamics of photoexcited carriers, we establish a quantitative link between carrier density and lattice deformation in layered black phosphorus and germanium selenides. The structural response exhibits significant anisotropy, featuring lattice expansion along the armchair direction and contraction along the zigzag direction, which is attributed to the interplay between charge redistribution and intrinsic lattice anisotropy. Both the magnitude and orientation of the photostrictive strains can be tuned by photodoping densities, enabling precise control over the photoinduced response. Notably, the photoinduced strains significantly increase carrier recombination lifetimes by suppressing nonradiative recombination, primarily due to the enlarged bandgap and weakened nonadiabatic coupling. These results provide microscopic insight into the origin of anisotropic photostriction in low-dimensional systems and lay the groundwork for light-controllable, directionally sensitive optomechanical devices at the atomic scale.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

Evidence of a two-dimensional nitrogen crystalline structure on silver surfaces

Nitrogen, the most abundant element in Earth's atmosphere, exists as a diatomic gas under standard temperature and pressure. In the two-dimensional (2D) limit, atomically thin nitrogen, termed nitrogene, has been theoretically predicted to form crystalline materials with various polymorphic configurations, exhibiting diverse chemical and physical properties. However, the synthesis of nitrogene has remained elusive due to the strong nitrogen-nitrogen triple bonds. Here, we report experimental evidence of the formation of nitrogen-based crystalline structures compatible with nitrogene on silver surfaces via ion-beam-assisted epitaxy. Through a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that the nitrogene-like structure adopts a puckered honeycomb lattice. Notably, our calculations predict a nitrogene band gap of up to 7.5 eV, positioning it as a promising candidate for ultraviolet optoelectronic devices and high-k dielectric applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

Quasi-steady electron-excitonic complexes coupling in a two-dimensional semiconductor

Excitons and their complexes govern optical-related behaviors in semiconductors. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we have elucidated the light-matter interaction mediated by quasi-steady excitonic complexes within a monolayer of the prototypical two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor WSe2. Under continuous incident light, we have observed the generation of quasi-steady excitons and their complexes, encompassing ground and excited state excitons, trions, as well as their intricate interplay. We further show spectral evidence of electronic excitation states within the background of quasi-steady excitonic complexes, characterized by valence band (VB) effective mass renormalization, the enhanced spin-orbit coupling (SOC), the formation of an excitonic gap near the Fermi level (EF ) of the conduction band (CB), and intervalley excitonic band folding. Our findings not only unveil a quasi-steady excitonic complex background for the creation of diverse electronic excitations in 2D semiconductors but also offer new insights into the role of excitons in the charge density wave (CDW) formation mechanism and facilitate the advancement of correlated electronic state engineering based on the coupling between electrons and excitonic complexes in a quasi-equilibrium state.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2025

Floquet-engineered Valley Topology with Anisotropic Response in 1T'-WSe$_2$ and Janus WSeTe monolayers

Valley topology has emerged as a key concept for realizing new classes of quantum states. Here, we investigate Floquet-engineered topological phase transitions in anisotropic 1T'-WSe$_2$ and its Janus derivative WSeTe monolayers, which exhibit valley-degenerate and valley-polarized characteristics, respectively. In 1T'-WSe$_2$, a single topological-phase-transition (TPT) occurs from the quantum-spin-Hall state (QSH) to the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state, involving one spin channel at both valleys simultaneously. In contrast, Janus WSeTe undergoes a two-stage Floquet-driven TPT that occurs within a single valley and sequentially involves two spin components. The intermediate phase manifests as a valley-polarized QAH (vp-QAH) state with a finite valley Chern number, while the final phase evolves into a high-Chern-number QAH state with distinct valley gaps. Furthermore, an in-plane anisotropic response of the TPTs is predicted under oblique light incidence, reflecting the intrinsic low-symmetry nature of the lattice. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of Floquet-engineered valley-based topological properties and offer guidance for designing light-controllable valleytronic and topological devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2025

Light-engineered Multichannel Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in High-order Topological Plumbene

Floquet engineering severs as a forceful technique for uncovering high Chern numbers of quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) states with feasible tunability in high-order topologically insulating plumbene, which is readily accessible for experimental investigations. Under the irradiation of righthanded circularly polarized light, we predict a three-stage topological phase transition in plumbene, whether it is in a free-standing form or grown on h-BN. Initially, a metallic state evolves into a K(K')-valley-based QAH state with a Chern number of -8, which then decreases to -6 after the valley gap closes. Finally, a band inversion occurs at the $Γ$ point, resulting in a multichannel QAH state with C = -3. The trigonal warping model accounts for both K(K')-valley-based and $Γ$-pointbased QAH states. Additionally, growing plumbene on a non-van-der-Waals substrate eliminates the K(K')-valley-based topology, leaving only the $Γ$-point-based QAH state with C = +3. Our findings propose the tunability of various high Chern numbers derived from high-order topological insulators, aiming to advance the next-generation dissipationless electronic devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2025

Ultrafast μeV-Precision Bandgap Engineering in Low-Dimensional Topological Insulators

Precise and ultrafast control of electronic band structures is a central challenge for advancing quantum functional materials and devices. Conventional approaches--such as chemical doping, lattice strain, or external gating--offer robust stability but remain confined to the quasi-static regime, far from the intrinsic femto- to picosecond dynamics that govern many-body interactions. Here, using cryogenic transient reflectance spectroscopy, we realize dynamic bandgap engineering in the anisotropic topological insulator $α$-Bi$_4$Br$_4$ with unprecedented micro-electron-volt ($μ$eV) precision. The exceptional sensitivity arises from the cooperative action of long-lived topological carriers, stabilized by restricted bulk-to-edge scattering phase space, together with symmetry-resolved coherent phonons that modulate inter-chain hopping. These channels jointly modify Coulomb screening and interband transitions, enabling both gradual and oscillatory control of the electronic structure. Supported by first-principles and tight-binding theory, we further demonstrate a dual-pump coherent control strategy for continuous, mode-selective tuning of electronic energies with $μ$eV accuracy. This framework paves the way for ultrafast on-demand band-structure engineering, pointing toward new frontiers in quantum optoelectronics, precision measurement in molecular and biological systems, and attosecond control of matter.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2025

Laser-engineered $Γ$-point Topology in Trigonal Bismuthene

The $Γ$-point topology represents a significant segment in the family of topological insulators. Here we provide a comprehensive prediction of light-induced $Γ$-point-based topological manipulation in trigonal bismuthene and its derivatives. Our findings unveil a two-stage process of topological phase transitions (TPT) as the laser intensity increases. Initially, a quantum-spin-Hall or metallic state transitions to a quantum-anomalous-Hall (QAH) state ($C$ = $\pm$3), followed by another TPT that yields a compensated Chern-insulating state ($C$ = 0). The trigonal warping model accounts for these states, describing the $C_{3z}$-rotational band-inversion process, which is determined by $\pm$1 orders of replica bands. Notably, this high Chern-number QAH state persists over a broad range of laser parameters, maintaining functionality beyond room temperature as evidenced by the large global gaps ($\geq$ 60 meV). Our work provides a comprehensive roadmap towards the designer $Γ$-point topology under laser excitation, facilitating applications of artificial topological materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2025

Log Calabi-Yau structure of projective threefolds admitting polarized endomorphisms

Let $X$ be a normal projective variety admitting a polarized endomorphism $f$, i.e., $f^*H\sim qH$ for some ample divisor $H$ and integer $q>1$. It was conjectured by Broustet and Gongyo that $X$ is of Calabi-Yau type, i.e., $(X,Δ)$ is lc for some effective $\mathbb{Q}$-divisor such that $K_X+Δ\sim_{\mathbb{Q}} 0$. In this paper, we establish a general guideline based on the equivariant minimal model program and the canonical bundle formula. In this way, we prove the conjecture when $X$ is a smooth projective threefold.

math.AG↗
arXiv2025

FastTrack: a fast method to evaluate mass transport in solid leveraging universal machine learning interatomic potential

We introduce a rapid, accurate framework for computing atomic migration barriers in crystals by combining universal machine learning force fields (MLFFs) with 3D potential energy surface sampling and interpolation. Our method suppresses periodic self interactions via supercell expansion, builds a continuous PES from MLFF energies on a spatial grid, and extracts minimum energy pathways without predefined NEB images. Across twelve benchmark electrode and electrolyte materials including LiCoO2, LiFePO4, and LGPS our MLFF-derived barriers lie within tens of meV of DFT and experiment, while achieving ~10^2 x speedups over DFT-NEB. We benchmark GPTFF, CHGNet, and MACE, show that fine-tuning on PBE/PBE+U data further enhances accuracy, and provide an open-source package for high-throughput materials screening and interactive PES visualization.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

Observation of quasi-steady dark excitons and gap phase in a doped semiconductor

Exciton plays an important role in optics and optics-related behaviors and leads to novel correlated phases like charge order, exciton insulator, and exciton-polariton condensation. Dark exciton shows distinct properties from bright one. However, it cannot be directly detected by conventional optic measurements. The electronic modulation effect of dark excitons in quasi-equilibrium distribution, critical for electronic devices in working status, is still elusive. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we report creating, detecting, and controlling dark excitons in the quasi-equilibrium distribution in a doped semiconductor SnSe2. Surprisingly, we observe an excitonic gap phase, with a conduction band opening an anisotropic gap. Our results broaden the scope of dark excitons, extending their studies from the picosecond timescale in the ultrafast photoemission process to conditions occurring under quasi-equilibrium. We reveal the light-matter interaction in the engineering of electronic structures and provide a new way to realize the excitonic gap phase in semiconductors with large band gaps.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

Dynamical Iitaka theory on Fano contractions

We give several structure theorems for certain surjective endomorphisms on Mori fibre spaces, based on the dynamical Iitaka fibration of the ramification divisor. As an application, we prove the Kawaguchi-Silverman conjecture for projective bundles over abelian varieties or smooth projective varieties of Picard number one.

math.AG↗
arXiv2025

Photostriction-tunable Polarization and Structural Dynamics in Interlayer Sliding Ferroelectrics

Two-dimensional ferroelectrics with robust polarization offer promising opportunities for non-volatile memory, field-effect transistors, and optoelectronic devices. However, the impact of lattice deformation on polarization and photoinduced structural response remains poorly understood. Here, we employ first-principles calculations to demonstrate photodoping-induced lattice expansion in rhombohedrally stacked bilayer MoS2, revealing a strong coupling between photodoping carrier and lattice structure. We identify a pronounced photostrictive response in sliding ferroelectrics, wherein electron-hole excitation leads to substantial in-plane expansion, increased interlayer spacing, and enhanced ferroelectric polarization. This strain-induced modulation drives significant bandgap renormalization. The photostriction-tunable polarization and structural dynamics arise from the strong electromechanical coupling inherent to the non-centrosymmetric rhombohedral stacking. The findings provide critical insights into the nonthermal lattice expansion governing sliding ferroelectrics at atomic-scale timescales, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for next-generation electronic and memory technologies by leveraging lattice-tunable polarization switching.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2025

On endomorphisms of projective varieties with numerically trivial canonical divisors

Let $X$ be a klt projective variety with numerically trivial canonical divisor. A surjective endomorphism $f:X\to X$ is amplified (resp.~quasi-amplified) if $f^*D-D$ is ample (resp.~big) for some Cartier divisor $D$. We show that after iteration and equivariant birational contractions, an quasi-amplified endomorphism will descend to an amplified endomorphism. As an application, when $X$ is Hyperkähler, $f$ is quasi-amplified if and only if it is of positive entropy. In both cases, $f$ has Zariski dense periodic points. When $X$ is an abelian variety, we give and compare several cohomological and geometric criteria of amplified endomorphisms and endomorphisms with countable and Zariski dense periodic points (after an uncountable field extension).

math.AG↗