arXiv subjects

X. C. Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to X. C. Zhang.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Higher-Order Exceptional Points Induced by Non-Markovian Environments

Exceptional points (EPs) are central to non-Hermitian physics because of their unique properties and broad application prospects. While extensively studied in parity-time ($\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$)-symmetric systems and under Markovian dynamics, their exploration in broader pseudo-Hermitian settings, particularly in those involving non-Markovian environments, remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigate a pseudo-Hermitian system consisting of three coupled optical cavities interacting with non-Markovian environments. Compared to the Markovian baseline, we demonstrate that the emergence of non-Markovian memory effects enlarges the dimensionality of the parameter space of the system, thereby giving rise to higher-order EPs. Furthermore, we show that these non-Markovianity-induced higher-order EPs admit a topological characterization as defects in the relevant pseudo-Hermitian parameter space, with quantized charges described by resultant winding numbers. Moreover, we observe that the pseudo-Hermitian system with an effective gain induced by coherent perfect absorption enables the higher-order EPs to be directly read out from the output spectrum. We also note that the non-Markovian mechanism for generating higher-order EPs is not restricted to pseudo-Hermitian systems, but can be extended to generic non-Hermitian quantum systems. Additionally, possible experimental implementations based on superconducting circuits are also discussed.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Development of a hardened THz energy meter for use on the kilojoule-scale, short-pulse OMEGA EP laser

A highly adaptable and robust THz energy meter has been designed and implemented to detect energetic THz pulses from high intensity (greater than 1E18 watts per square centimeter) laser plasma interactions on OMEGA EP. THz radiation from the laser driven target is detected by a shielded pyrometer. A second identical pyrometer is used for background subtraction. The detector can be configured to detect THz pulses in the 1 mm to 30 microns (0.3 to 10 THz) range and pulse energies from joules to microjoules via changes in filtration, aperture size and position. Additional polarization selective filtration can also be used to determine THz pulse polarization. The design incorporates significant radiation and EMP shielding to survive and operate within the OMEGA EP radiation environment. We describe the design, operational principle, calibration and testing of the THz energy meter. The pyrometers were calibrated using a benchtop laser and show linear sensitivity up to 1000 nJ of absorbed energy. Initial results from four OMEGA EP THz experiments detected up to 15 microjoules at the detector, which can correspond to 100s of mJ depending on THz emission and reflection models.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2007

Observation of an in-plane magnetic-field-driven phase transition in a quantum Hall system with SU(4) symmetry

In condensed matter physics, the study of electronic states with SU(N) symmetry has attracted considerable and growing attention in recent years, as systems with such a symmetry can often have a spontaneous symmetry-breaking effect giving rise to a novel ground state. For example, pseudospin quantum Hall ferromagnet of broken SU(2) symmetry has been realized by bringing two Landau levels close to degeneracy in a bilayer quantum Hall system. In the past several years, the exploration of collective states in other multi-component quantum Hall systems has emerged. Here we show the conventional pseudospin quantum Hall ferromagnetic states with broken SU(2) symmetry collapsed rapidly into an unexpected state with broken SU(4) symmetry, by in-plane magnetic field in a two-subband GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron system at filling factor around $ν=4$. Within a narrow tilting range angle of 0.5 degrees, the activation energy increases as much as 12 K. While the origin of this puzzling observation remains to be exploited, we discuss the possibility of a long-sought pairing state of electrons with a four-fold degeneracy.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

NMR Probing Spin Excitations in the Ring-Like Structure of a Two-Subband System

Resistively detected nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is observed inside the ring-like structure, with a quantized Hall conductance of 6e^2/h, in the phase diagram of a two subband electron system. The NMR signal persists up to 400 mK and is absent in other states with the same quantized Hall conductance. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time, T1, is found to decrease rapidly towards the ring center. These observations are consistent with the assertion of the ring-like region being a ferromagnetic state that is accompanied by collective spin excitations.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2006

Landau Level Anticrossing Manifestations in the Phase Diagram Topology of a Two Subband System

In a two-subband GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron system, the phase diagram of longitudinal resistivity ρ_xx in density and magnetic field plane exhibits an intriguing structure centered at filling factor ν= 4 which is strikingly different from the ring-like structures at lower magnetic fields. Thermal activation measurements reveal an anticrossing gap on each boundary of the structure where intersubband Landau Levels with parallel or antiparallel spin are brought into degeneracy. While the physics of the anticrossing can be ascribed to the pseudospin quantum Hall ferromagnetism, as reported earlier by Muraki et al, the mapping and modeling of the phase diagram topology allow us to establish a more complete picture of the consequences of real spin / pseudo-spin interactions for the two subband system.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Multiple Phases with the Same Quantized Hall Conductance in a Two-Subband System

In a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron system with two occupied subbands, the experimentally determined phase diagram in the density-magnetic field plane exhibits rich topological features. Ring-like structures are observed at even integer filling factors, in the phase diagram. Even with the identical quantized Hall resistance values as those given rise by the ordinary integer quantum Hall effect due to the Landau level quantization; the activation energies of these states within the rings are much smaller. These ring structures cannot account for by the simple single particle picture. We argue that ferromagnetic quantum Hall states, due to the interaction of two energy levels with opposite spin and different subband indices, are responsible for these unusual structures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗