arXiv subjects

Yin Shi

Publications and source records attributed to Yin Shi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Quench of chiral superconductivity by quantum phase fluctuations in twisted cuprate bilayers

Following theoretical proposals of chiral $d+id'$ superconductivity in twisted cuprate bilayers, experimental signatures of time-reversal symmetry breaking (TRSB) remain highly controversial. Here we demonstrate that quantum phase fluctuations fundamentally reshape the phase diagram of this proposed chiral state. Unlike regular superconducting orders, the chiral $d+id'$ state requires long-range coherence of an interlayer phase degree of freedom and is therefore intrinsically vulnerable to phase fluctuations. Incorporating these fluctuations nearly eliminates the chiral phase over most parts of the phase diagram, restricting it to a narrow twist-angle window and ultra-low temperatures. Phase fluctuations also strongly weaken Josephson phase locking near a twist angle of $45^\circ$. More broadly, our work establishes quantum phase fluctuations as a fundamental constraint on the emergence of TRSB phases in low-dimensional layered quantum materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Collective phase modes in twisted $d$-wave superconducting bilayers

Twisted cuprate bilayers have been predicted to host high-temperature chiral $d+id'$ superconductivity, originating from higher-order Josephson coupling processes. In such two-dimensional superconducting systems, long-wavelength fluctuations in the phase of the superconducting order parameter constitute gapless collective modes and therefore remain significant even at zero temperature. Here, we perform a theoretical analysis of the low-energy phase fluctuations in twisted $d$-wave superconducting bilayers within a self-consistent harmonic approximation, systematically retaining Josephson coupling to all orders. We demonstrate that higher-order Josephson coupling processes lead to nontrivial modifications of the phase dynamics. The momentum-resolved summand of the relative-phase stiffness is nonzero even in the normal state because interlayer tunneling explicitly breaks the intralayer U(1) symmetry, but its momentum integral vanishes for the continuum dispersion. The relative-phase stiffness is smaller in the $d+id'$ phase than in the $d$-wave phase, while the overall-phase stiffness has the opposite behavior. Furthermore, phase fluctuations strongly soften the Josephson plasma frequency near a twist angle of $45^\circ$ and also substantially reduce the Josephson critical current.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Electrically steered conduction topologies and period-doubling phase dynamics in VO2

The insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) in strongly correlated materials, such as vanadium dioxide (VO2), offers a transformative platform for next-generation adaptive electronics and neuromorphic computing. However, harnessing this non-equilibrium phase transition for deterministic device operation is fundamentally hindered by the inability to disentangle electric-field effects from Joule heating, owing to a lack of operando techniques capable of resolving phase dynamics at nanoscale spatial and sub-nanosecond temporal scales. Here, using a newly developed electrical-pulse-pump ultrafast transmission electron microscope (E-UTEM), we directly visualize the multi-scale electro-thermo-mechanical dynamics of the IMT in suspended VO2 devices. Our results reveal that electric-field-induced Poole-Frenkel (PF) emission, localized by patterned oxygen vacancies, plays a decisive role in redistributing the internal electric field to trigger a deterministic Mott transition. The extreme non-linearity of this PF effect enables the formation of dynamically reconfigurable connectivity topologies that bypass conventional thermal limits. Furthermore, we observe that the coupling of thermal and elastic energies governs a discrete domain evolution, characterized by step-wise and period-doubling configurational resets, which is a hallmark of non-equilibrium phase dynamics in constrained geometries. By integrating experimental imaging with phase-field simulations, we establish a comprehensive framework for the electrically-driven IMT and predict sub-100-ps switching kinetics. These findings provide a fundamental basis for the rational design of ultrafast, low-energy functional devices through nanoscale defect and strain engineering in correlated systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Tracking unconventional superconductivity in the presence of strongly correlated Fermi arcs

One of the primary reasons that superconductivity in underdoped cuprates is enigmatic is that it emerges from an incoherent Fermi-arc state, so the applicability of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory is questionable. Here we approach this problem by investigating unconventional $d$-wave superconductivity in a recently proposed solvable model for strongly correlated Fermi arcs. We show analytically that the exact incorporation of Fermi arcs fundamentally modifies the BCS equations, which enables us to isolate a many-body effect that suppresses the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ beyond the simple reduction expected from a shrinking Fermi surface. The theory unambiguously produces: (i) a $T_c$ tracing out a dome as a function of hole doping, (ii) a new low-energy mode upon entering superconductivity, (iii) a suppressed superfluid stiffness in the underdoped regime, and (iv) a gap-to-$T_c$ ratio far exceeding the BCS limit, all consistent with experimental observations in cuprate superconductors. These findings provide an analytic benchmark for understanding how superconductivity emerges from a correlated Fermi-arc state in high-$T_c$ superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Quantum fluctuation-induced first-order breaking of time-reversal symmetry in unconventional superconductors

Spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking in superconductors with competing non-degenerate pairing channels is an exotic quantum phase transition that could give rise to robust topological superconductivity and unusual magnetism. It is proposed mostly in two-dimensional systems and is signaled by a nonzero relative phase between the two superconducting order parameters, hence it should particularly be prone to order-parameter phase fluctuations. Nevertheless, the existing understanding of it is still at the mean-field level. Here, we illustrate the non-negligible effects of the phase fluctuations on such quantum phase transitions using the hole-doped square-lattice $t$-$J$ model as an example. We derive the phase fluctuation-corrected free energy and show that under the quantum phase fluctuations, the time-reversal asymmetric $s+id$ phase region splits off a dome featuring a first-order border with the $d$ phase, indicating the possibility of a phase separation into the time-reversal symmetric and asymmetric phases. The phase fluctuations also narrow the range of the $s+id$ phase considerably. We further discuss the implications of our findings for recent experiments on disorder-induced first-order quantum breakdown of superconductivity and promising high-temperature topological superconductivity in twisted cuprate Josephson junctions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

A Particle-in-Cell Simulation Framework for Thomson Scattering Analysis in Inertial Confinement Fusion

In inertial confinement fusion (ICF), Thomson scattering (TS) is a widely used diagnostic technique for probing plasma conditions. We present a first-principles numerical approach to obtaining scattered light signals of ion acoustic features with high resolution in angle and frequency space using particle-in-cell simulations under typical ICF conditions. Our method demonstrates good agreement with existing theories for thermal collective TS. In the super-thermal collective regime, the results align with theory when the driven plasma modes are well-matched in wave vectors to the probe and collecting beams. Moreover, we also find that TS signals can remain significant even under imperfect wave-vector matching-a result that contradicts the conventional expectation that the TS spectrum strictly follows the plasma density spectrum. We attribute this discrepancy to a beating wave mechanism arising from the interaction between the probe beam and driven plasma density modulations. Our work thus provides a practical framework for interpreting TS signals from driven ion modes, a common yet complex feature in ICF plasmas.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Advances in laser-plasma interactions using intense vortex laser beams

Low-intensity light beams carrying Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM), commonly known as vortex beams, have garnered significant attention due to promising applications in areas ranging from optical trapping to communication. In recent years, there has been a surge in global research exploring the potential of high-intensity vortex laser beams and specifically their interactions with plasmas. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in this area. Compared to conventional laser beams, intense vortex beams exhibit unique properties such as twisted phase fronts, OAM delivery, hollow intensity distribution, and spatially isolated longitudinal fields. These distinct characteristics give rise to a multitude of rich phenomena, profoundly influencing laser-plasma interactions and offering diverse applications. The paper also discusses future prospects and identifies promising general research areas involving vortex beams. These areas include low-divergence particle acceleration, instability suppression, high-energy photon delivery with OAM, and the generation of strong magnetic fields. With growing scientific interest and application potential, the study of intense vortex lasers is poised for rapid development in the coming years.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Generation of 10 kT Axial Magnetic Fields Using Multiple Conventional Laser Beams: A Sensitivity Study for kJ PW-Class Laser Facilities

Strong multi-kilotesla magnetic fields have various applications in high-energy density science and laboratory astrophysics, but they are not readily available. In our previous work [Y. Shi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 155101 (2023)], we developed a novel approach for generating such fields using multiple conventional laser beams with a twist in the pointing direction. This method is particularly well-suited for multi-kilojoule petawatt-class laser systems like SG-II UP, which are designed with multiple linearly polarized beamlets. Utilizing three-dimensional kinetic particle-in-cell simulations, we examine critical factors for a proof-of-principle experiment, such as laser polarization, relative pulse delay, phase offset, pointing stability, and target configuration, and their impact on magnetic field generation. Our general conclusion is that the approach is very robust and can be realized under a wide range of laser parameters and plasma conditions. We also provide an in-depth analysis of the axial magnetic field configuration, azimuthal electron current, and electron and ion orbital angular momentum densities. Supported by a simple model, our analysis shows that the axial magnetic field decays due to the expansion of hot electrons.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Hall Coefficient and Resistivity in the Doped Bilayer Hubbard Model

Finding and understanding non-Fermi liquid transport behaviors are at the core of condensed matter physics. Most of the existing studies were devoted to the monolayer Hubbard model, which is the simplest model that captures essential features of high-temperature superconductivity. Here we discover a new type of non-Fermi liquid behavior emergent in the hole-doped bilayer Hubbard model, using dynamical mean-field theory with a full consideration of the short-range interlayer electron correlation. We find that at low temperatures, the Hall coefficient has a strong nonmonotonic dependence on temperature, leading to a double or quadruple reversal of its sign depending on the doping level. At the same time, the resistivity exhibits two plateaus rather than linearity in its temperature dependence. We show that these intriguing transport behaviors stem from the formation of coherent interlayer singlets, which scatter off gapped collective modes arising from short-range interlayer antiferromagnetic fluctuations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Efficient generation of axial magnetic field by multiple laser beams with twisted pointing directions

Strong laser-driven magnetic fields are crucial for high-energy-density physics and laboratory astrophysics research, but generation of axial multi-kT fields remains a challenge. The difficulty comes from the inability of a conventional linearly polarized laser beam to induce the required azimuthal current or, equivalently, angular momentum (AM). We show that several laser beams can overcome this difficulty. Our three-dimensional kinetic simulations demonstrate that a twist in their pointing directions {enables them to carry orbital AM and transfer it to the plasma, thus generating a hot electron population carrying AM needed to sustain the magnetic field.} The resulting multi-kT field occupies a volume that is tens of thousands of cubic microns and it persists on a ps time scale. The mechanism can be realized for a wide range of laser intensities and pulse durations. Our scheme is well-suited for implementation using {multi-kJ PW-class lasers, because, by design, they have multiple beamlets and because the scheme requires only linear-polarization.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2022

Generating axial magnetic fields via two plasmon decay driven by a twisted laser

We propose a new way of axial magnetic fields generation in a non-relativistic laser intensity regime by using a twisted light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) to stimulate two-plasmon decay (TPD) in a plasma. The growth of TPD driven by an OAM light in a Laguerre-Gauss (LG) mode is investigated through three dimensional fluid simulations and theory. A theory based on the assumption that the electron plasma waves (EPWs) are locally driven by a number of local plane-wave lasers predicts the maximum growth rate proportional to the peak amplitude of the pump laser field and is verified by the simulations. The OAM conservation during its transportation from the laser to the TPD daughter EWPs is shown by both the theory and the simulations. The theory predicts generation of ~40T axial magnetic fields through the OAM absorption via TPD, which has perspective applications in the field of high energy density physics.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2022

Electron pulse train accelerated by a linearly polarized Laguerre-Gaussian laser beam

A linearly polarized Laguerre-Gaussian (LP-LG) laser beam with a twist index $l = -1$ has field structure that fundamentally differs from the field structure of a conventional linearly polarized Gaussian beam. Close to the axis of the LP-LG beam, the longitudinal electric and magnetic fields dominate over the transverse components. This structure offers an attractive opportunity to accelerate electrons in vacuum. It is shown, using three dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, that this scenario can be realized by reflecting an LP-LG laser off a plasma with a sharp density gradient. The simulations indicate that a 600~TW LP-LG laser beam effectively injects electrons into the beam during the reflection. The electrons that are injected close to the laser axis experience a prolonged longitudinal acceleration by the longitudinal laser electric field. The electrons form distinct monoenergetic bunches with a small divergence angle. The energy in the most energetic bunch is 0.29 GeV. The bunch charge is 6~pC and its duration is $\sim 270$~as. The divergence angle is just \dg{0.57} (10~mrad). By using a linearly polarized rather than a circularly polarized Laguerre-Gausian beam, our scheme makes it easier to demonstrate the electron acceleration experimentally at a high-power laser facility.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2022

Twisted plasma waves driven by twisted ponderomotive force

We present results of twisted plasma waves driven by twisted ponderomotive force. With beating of two, co-propagating, Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) orbital angular momentum (OAM) laser pulses with different frequencies and also different twist indices, we can get twisted ponderomotive force. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are used to demonstrate the twisted plasma waves driven by lasers. The twisted plasma waves have an electron density perturbation with a helical rotating structure. Different from the predictions of the linear fluid theory, the simulation results show a nonlinear rotating current and a static axial magnetic field. Along with the rotating current is the axial OAM carried by particles in the twisted plasma waves. Detailed theoretical analysis of twisted plasma waves is given too.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Electron Acceleration Using Twisted Laser Wavefronts

Using plasma mirror injection we demonstrate, both analytically and numerically, that a circularly polarized helical laser pulse can accelerate highly collimated dense bunches of electrons to several hundred MeV using currently available laser systems. The circular-polarized helical (Laguerre-Gaussian) beam has a unique field structure where the transverse fields have helix-like wave-fronts which tend to zero on-axis where, at focus, there are large on-axis longitudinal magnetic and electric fields. The acceleration of electrons by this type of laser pulse is analysed as a function of radial mode number and it is shown that the radial mode number has a profound effect on electron acceleration close to the laser axis.Using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations a circular-polarized helical laser beam with power of 0.6 PW is shown to produce several dense attosecond bunches. The bunch nearest the peak of the laser envelope has an energy of 0.47 GeV with spread as narrow as 10\%, a charge of 26 pC with duration of $\sim 400$ as, and a very low divergence of 20 mrad}. The confinement by longitudinal magnetic fields in the near-axis region allows the longitudinal electric fields to accelerate the electrons over a long period after the initial reflection. Both the longitudinal E and B fields are shown to be essential for electron acceleration in this scheme. This opens up new paths towards attosecond electron beams, or attosecond radiation, at many laser facilities around the world.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Integral boundary conditions in phase field models

Modeling the chemical, electric, and thermal transport as well as phase transitions and the accompanying mesoscale microstructure evolution within a material in an electronic device setting involves the solution of partial differential equations often with integral boundary conditions. Employing the familiar Poisson equation describing the electric potential evolution in a material exhibiting insulator-to-metal transitions, we exploit a special property of such an integral boundary condition, and we properly formulate the variational problem and establish its well-posedness. We then compare our method with the commonly-used Lagrange multiplier method that can also handle such boundary conditions. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our new method achieves an optimal convergence rate in contrast to the conventional Lagrange multiplier method. Furthermore, the linear system derived from our method is symmetric positive definite, and can be efficiently solved by Conjugate Gradient method with algebraic multigrid preconditioning.

math.NA↗

arXiv2021

Generation of ultra-relativistic monoenergetic electron bunches via a synergistic interaction of longitudinal electric and magnetic fields of a twisted laser

We use 3D simulations to demonstrate that high-quality ultra-relativistic electron bunches can be generated upon reflection of a twisted laser beam off a plasma mirror. The unique topology of the beam with a twist index $|l| = 1$ creates an accelerating structure dominated by longitudinal laser electric and magnetic fields in the near-axis region. We show that the magnetic field is essential for creating a train of dense mono-energetic bunches. For a 6.8~PW laser, the energy reaches 1.6~GeV with a spread of 5.5\%. The bunch duration is 320 as, its charge is 60~pC and density is $\sim 10^{27}$~m$^{-3}$. The results are confirmed by an analytical model for the electron energy gain. These results enable development of novel laser-driven accelerators at multi-PW laser facilities.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Universal phase dynamics in VO2 switches revealed by ultrafast operando diffraction

Strongly correlated materials that exhibit an insulator-metal transition are key candidates in the search for new computing platforms. Understanding the pathways and timescales underlying the electrically-driven insulator-metal transition is crucial for uncovering the fundamental limits of device operation. Using stroboscopic electron diffraction, we perform synchronized time-resolved measurements of atomic motions and electronic transport in operating vanadium dioxide switches. We discover an electrically-triggered, isostructural state that forms transiently on microsecond timescales, stabilized by local heterogeneities and interfacial interactions between the equilibrium phases. This metastable phase bears striking similarity to that formed under photoexcitation within picoseconds, suggesting a universal transformation pathway across eight orders of magnitude of timescale. Our results establish a new route for uncovering non-equilibrium and metastable phases in correlated materials, and open avenues for engineering novel dynamical behavior in nanoelectronics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Landau theory of metal-insulator transition in VO$_\text{2}$ doped with metal ions

Metal-ion doping can effectively regulate the metal-insulator transition temperature in $\mathrm{VO}_2$. Experiments found that the pentavalent and hexavalent ion doping dramatically reduces the transition temperature while the trivalent ion doping increases the transition temperature and induces intermediate phases. Based on the phase-field model of the metal-insulator transition in $\mathrm{VO}_2$ we developed previously, we formulate a Landau potential of the metal-ion-doped $\mathrm{VO}_2$ taking account of the effects of doping on the electron correlation and lattice structure. The effect of metal-ion doping on the lattice structure is accounted for in a phenomenological way. Using the Landau potential, we calculate the temperature-dopant-concentration phase diagrams of $\mathrm{VO}_2$ doped with various metal ions consistent with the experiments and provide explanation to the different behaviors of different metal-ion doping. The phenomenological theory can provide estimations of phase diagrams of $\mathrm{VO}_2$ doped with other metal ions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗