arXiv subjects

Wenqin Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Wenqin Chen.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Nonadiabatic Theory of Phonon Magnetic Moments in Insulators and Metals

We develop a nonadiabatic theory of phonon magnetic moments applicable to both insulators and metals. By relating the phonon magnetic moment to the force-velocity response of ions in a magnetic field, we derive a gauge-invariant expression using a gauge-covariant Wigner expansion. The formalism naturally separates Fermi-sea and Fermi-surface contributions and captures the full dependence on phonon frequency. In gapped systems, our theory reduces to previous adiabatic expressions in the low-frequency limit. Beyond this limit, it reveals additional contributions arising from resonant interband processes and the Fermi surface. Applying our theory to Pb$_{1-x}$Sn$_x$Te, we find that the Fermi-surface contribution substantially enhances the phonon magnetic moment, reproducing the same order of magnitude as the experimental observation. Our results provide a unified framework for describing phonon magnetic moments beyond the adiabatic regime.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Quantum Geometric Quadrupole of Cooper Pairs

The size of Cooper pairs defines a fundamental length scale of superconductivity, conventionally set by band dispersion and the superconducting gap. This picture breaks down in flat bands, where quenched dispersion makes quantum geometry essential. Here we develop a general framework based on the Cooper pair quadrupole moment, whose trace gives the pair size. The framework holds for both dispersive and flat-band cases, and provides a unified description of the geometric origin of this length scale. In particular, when time-reversal symmetry is broken, Berry curvature enters through the phase structure of the pair wavefunction and gives an essential contribution absent from previous quantum-metric theories. Together, Berry curvature and quantum metric impose a geometric lower bound on the pair size. Applying this framework to rhombohedral graphene, we find that the Berry-curvature-induced contribution can dominate and yields pair sizes comparable to experimentally inferred coherence lengths. These results identify Berry curvature as a central geometric ingredient controlling the microscopic length scale of superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Geometric Origin of Phonon Magnetic Moment in Dirac Materials

We develop a theory for the phonon magnetic moment in doped Dirac materials, treating phonons as emergent gauge and gravitational fields coupled to Dirac fermions in curved space. By classifying electron-phonon coupling into angular momentum channels of Fermi surface deformation, we show that the phonon moment arises from two mechanisms: proportional to the electron Hall conductivity through the emergent gauge field coupling, and to the Hall viscosity through the frame field coupling. Applying our theory to Cd$_3$As$_2$ with first-principles calculations, we find quantitative agreement with experiment. Our results reveal a general mechanism for dynamically generating large phonon magnetism in metals and suggest a new route for probing Hall viscosity via phonon dynamics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Adiabatic Pumping of Orbital Magnetization by Spin Precession

We propose adiabatic pumping of orbital magnetization driven by coherent spin precession, facilitating the rectification of this precession. The orbital magnetization originates from the adiabatic evolution of valence electrons with a topological bulk contribution expressed as a Chern-Simons form. When the precession cone angle of spin $\mathbf{S}$ is small, the resulting magnetization is proportional to $\mathbf{S}\times \dot{\mathbf{S}}$, contributing to the magnon Zeeman effect. With a large cone angle, the magnetization can reach its natural unit, $e/T$, in an antiferromagnetic topological insulator with $e$ as the elementary charge and $T$ as the precession period. This significant magnetization is related to the global properties of the electronic geometric phases in the parameter space spanned by $\mathbf{S}$ and momentum $\mathbf{k}$. When the pumped magnetization is inhomogeneous, induced by spin textures or electronic topological phase domains, a dissipationless charge current is also pumped. At last, we discuss the boundary contributions from the spin-driving edge states, which are intricately linked to the gauge-dependent quantum uncertainty of the Chern-Simons form.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Gauge theory of giant phonon magnetic moment in doped Dirac semimetals

We present a quantum theory of phonon magnetic moment in doped Dirac semimetals. Our theory is based on an emergent gauge field approach to the electron-phonon coupling, applicable to both gapless and gapped systems. We find that the magnetic moment is directly proportional to the electrical Hall conductivity through the phonon Hall viscosity. Our theory is combined with the first-principles calculations, allowing us to quantitatively implement it to realistic materials. Magnetic moments are found to be on the order of Bohr magneton for certain phonon modes in graphene and $\text{Cd}_3 \text{As}_2$. Our results provide practical guidance for the dynamical generation of large magnetization in the topological quantum materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Minimal setup for non-Abelian braiding of Majorana zero modes

Braiding Majorana zero modes (MZMs) is the key procedure toward topological quantum computation. However, the complexity of the braiding manipulation hinders its experimental realization. Here we propose an experimental setup composing of MZMs and a quantum dot state which can substantially simplify the braiding protocol of MZMs. Such braiding scheme, which corresponds to a specific closed loop in the parameter space, is quite universal and can be realized in various platforms. Moreover, the braiding results can be directly measured and manifested through electric current, which provides a simple and novel way to detect the non-Abelian statistics of MZMs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Non-Abelian statistics of Majorana zero modes in the presence of an Andreev bound state

Braiding Majorana zero modes (MZMs) is the key procedure toward topological quantum computation. We show such braiding can be well performed in a parallel semiconductor-superconductor nanowire structure. Considering the fact that the low-energy Andreev bound states (ABSs) usually mix with the MZMs in the present set-up, we further investigate the braiding properties of MZMs when an ABS is presented. Our numerical simulation suggests that ABS can be regarded as a pair of weakly coupled MZMs. The dynamical hybridization of MZMs plus the non-Abelian braiding of MZMs would induce an arbitrary rotation on the Bloch sphere of a single qubit. Remarkably, such rotation is manipulable since the rotation parameters could be individually modulated. Thus, the dynamic evolution can be eliminated and the non-Abelian braiding statistics, independent of the braiding time, retrieves.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Observation of three-state nematicity in the triangular lattice antiferromagnet Fe$_{1/3}$ NbS$_2$

Nematic order is the breaking of rotational symmetry in the presence of translational invariance. While originally defined in the context of liquid crystals, the concept of nematic order has arisen in crystalline matter with discrete rotational symmetry, most prominently in the tetragonal Fe-based superconductors where the parent state is four-fold symmetric. In this case the nematic director takes on only two directions, and the order parameter in such "Ising-nematic" systems is a simple scalar. Here, using a novel spatially-resolved optical polarimetry technique, we show that a qualitatively distinct nematic state arises in the triangular lattice antiferromagnet Fe$_{1/3}$NbS$_2$. The crucial difference is that the nematic order on the triangular lattice is a Z$_3$, or three-state Potts-nematic order parameter. As a consequence, the anisotropy axes of response functions such as the resistivity tensor can be continuously re-oriented by external perturbations. This discovery provides insight into realizing devices that exploit analogies with nematic liquid crystals.

cond-mat.str-el↗