arXiv subjects

Zhan Cao

Publications and source records attributed to Zhan Cao.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Lepton-flavor violation and muon $(g-2)$ in the flavor-dependent $U(1)_F$ model

Lepton flavor violation (LFV) processes are forbidden in the standard model (SM), hence the observation of LFV transitions would represent a clear signal of new physics beyond the SM. In this work, we investigate the muon anomalous magnetic dipole moments (MDM) and LFV processes $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}\gamma $ and $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{+}$ in the extension of the SM with $U(1)_F$ local gauge symmetry (FDM). The muon anomalous MDM is one of the most precisely measured quantities in particle physics, which can be used to constrain the contributions from new couplings in the FDM. The newly incorporated $U(1)_F$ charges are correlated with the flavor properties of fermions, hence the newly added Yukawa couplings make contributions to these LFV processes. Considering the latest experimental constraints on the muon anomalous MDM, the new interactions in the FDM can make significant contributions to the LFV processes $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}\gamma $ and $l_{j}^{-}\to l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{-}l_{i}^{+}$, the predicted branching ratios can well reach the future experimental sensitivity.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

The Higgs boson decay $h \rightarrow bs$ in the NB-LSSM

Within the framework of the next to minimum B-L supersymmetric model (NB-LSSM), we investigate the flavor transition process $\bar B\rightarrow X_s\gamma$. Building upon this foundation, we further discuss the Higgs decay process $h \to bs$ under the constraint from the $\bar B\rightarrow X_s\gamma$ process. Our study reveals that the branching ratio of $h \to bs$ can significantly deviate from the Standard Model (SM) expectation, depending on the values of the new parameters introduced in the model. This finding highlights the modulation of new physics parameters on the Higgs flavor-violating decay and provides important theoretical grounds for exploring new physics beyond the SM through flavor observables.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Excess photon-assisted noise of Majorana and Andreev bound states

Photon-assisted tunneling arises under an ac bias, with the drive frequency setting the photon energy. The excess photon-assisted noise is defined as the difference between the shot noise under a combined dc and ac bias and that under a dc bias alone. We investigate this quantity in tunneling into Majorana or Andreev bound states, which are of great interest in the search for topological superconductors. Under a harmonic bias $V(t)=V_\mathrm{dc}[1-\cos(\Omega t)]$, the excess photon-assisted noise exhibits distinct behaviors: for Majorana or quasi-Majorana bound states, it undergoes multiple sign reversals as $V_\mathrm{dc}$ increases and vanishes at nonzero integer values of $eV_\mathrm{dc}/\Omega$ (with $e$ the elementary charge), whereas for zero-energy Andreev bound states--particularly those producing nearly quantized zero-bias conductance peaks--it remains strictly negative over the entire $V_\mathrm{dc}$ range.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

125 GeV Higgs boson rare decays in a flavor-dependent $U(1)_F$ model

In this work, we analyze the Higgs boson decay channels, specifically, $h{\rightarrow}\gamma\gamma$, $h{\rightarrow} VV^*$ (with $V=Z,W$), and $h{\rightarrow} f\bar{f}$ (for $f=b,c,\tau$) within the flavor-dependent $U(1)_F$ model (FDM). We also investigate processes induced by flavor-changing neutral currents, including the decays $\bar B \to X_s\gamma$ and $B_s^0 \to \mu^+\mu^-$, the top quark decays $t\to c h$ and $t\to u h$, and the lepton flavor-violating decays $\tau \to 3e$, $\tau \to 3\mu$, and $\mu \to 3e$. Furthermore, we incorporate the electroweak precision observables constraints via the S, T, and U parameters. Compared to the Standard Model, the scalar sector of the FDM is extended by two Higgs doublets and one Higgs singlet, which affects the 125 GeV Higgs properties significantly. Meanwhile, the decays $h{\rightarrow} Z\gamma$, $h\rightarrow MZ$, and $h{\rightarrow} M\gamma$ (where $M$ is a vector meson $(\rho,\omega,\phi,J/\Psi,\Upsilon)$ of the Standard-Model-like Higgs are studied, and we illustrate how changes in the scalar sector and the Yukawa coupling influence the signal strengths for the 125 GeV Higgs decay channels and the Higgs mass in the FDM.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Probing the light charged Higgs boson, pseudoscalar Higgs boson, and $Z^\prime$ boson in the $U(1)_F$ model at the LHC

In this papar, we study the production and decay of a charged Higgs boson, a pseudoscalar Higgs boson, and a $Z'$ boson at the LHC within the flavor-dependent model (FDM), at the LHC. Considering the constraints from perturbative unitarity and experimental measurements (e.g., the flavor physics data, higgs signal strengths, electroweak precision observables), we investigate the relevant processes by analyzing several common LHC search channels. Motivated by the excess in $t \to b\bar{b}c$ reported by ATLAS, which suggests a charged Higgs boson with a mass near 130 GeV and consistent with B-anomaly expectations, we perform a dedicated simulation for a charged Higgs around this mass. Our results support the experimental hint and predict that this particle has a high discovery potential at the future High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC). In contrast, for the pseudoscalar and $Z'$ bosons predicted in our model, they remain beyond the reach of current experiments as well as the expected sensitivity at a 14 TeV collider with an integrated luminosity of 300 fb$^{-1}$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Laughlin charge pumping from interplay of chiral Dirac and chiral Majorana modes

Laughlin charge pumping has provided critical insights into the topological classification of individual materials, but remains largely unexplored in topological junctions. We explore Laughlin charge pumping in junctions composed of a chiral topological superconductor sandwiched between two quantum anomalous Hall insulators, driven by an adiabatically varying magnetic flux. Here, charge pumping can be mediated merely by chiral Dirac modes or by the interplay of chiral Dirac and chiral Majorana modes (CMMs). In the former case, a variation of one magnetic flux quantum induces the pumping of a unit charge, as the chiral Dirac mode accumulates the full flux-induced phase. In contrast, in the latter case, pumping a unit charge requires a variation of fractional magnetic flux quanta, determined by the device geometry and the parity of the number of enclosed superconducting vortices. This unique feature results from the charge-neutral and zero-momentum nature of zero-energy CMMs. Our work offers an experimentally viable pathway toward detecting CMMs and could also inspire further research into Laughlin charge or spin pumping in diverse topological junctions, which are now within experimental reach.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Lepton flavor violating decays of Higgs boson in the NB-LSSM

Lepton flavor violation (LFV) represents a clear new physics (NP) signal beyond the standard model (SM). NB-LSSM, the next to minimal supersymmetric extension of the SM with local B-L gauge symmetry, includes three Higgs singlets and three generations of right-handed neutrinos in the basis of MSSM, motivated by the new definition of SM-like Higgs resultly from the introducing of three Higgs singlets which mix with the two Higgs doublets at the tree level in the NB-LSSM. We calculate LFV processes $h\rightarrow l_i l_j$ in the mass eigenstate basis and the electroweak interaction basis separately, and the latter adopts the mass insertion approximation (MIA) method. In the suitable parameter space, we obtain the reasonable numerical results. At the same time, the corresponding constraints from the LFV rare decays $l_j\rightarrow l_i\gamma$ are considered to analyze the numerical results.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Protocol for detecting the nonlocality of the multi-Majorana Systems

Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are non-Abelian quasiparticles with the potential to serve as topological qubits for fault-tolerant quantum computing due to their ability to encode quantum information nonlocally. In multi-Majorana systems configured into two separated subsystems, nontrivial quantum correlations persist, but the presence of trivial Andreev bound states (ABSs) can obscure this nonlocality if MZM preparation fails. To address this, we propose a protocol using an entanglement witness based solely on parity measurements to distinguish the nonlocal characteristics of MZM systems. Our framework, which is experimentally implementable, achieves a detection probability of approximately 18% in a 6-site system and demonstrates robustness under environmental noise, albeit with a reduced detection rate in the resence of quasiparticle contamination.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Coulomb blockade in open superconducting islands on InAs nanowires

Electrons in closed systems can exhibit Coulomb blockade (CB) oscillations due to charge quantization. Here, we report CB oscillations in aluminum superconducting islands on InAs nanowires in the open regime. The Al island is connected to the source/drain leads through two contacts: One is fully transmitting while the other is tuned into the tunneling regime. This device configuration is typical for tunneling spectroscopy where charging energy is generally considered negligible. The oscillation periods are 2$e$ or 1$e$, depending on the gate settings. A magnetic field can induce the 2$e$ to 1$e$ transition. Our result is reminiscent of the "mesoscopic Coulomb blockade" in open quantum dots caused by electron interference.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Quantized Andreev conductance in semiconductor nanowires

Clean one-dimensional electron systems can exhibit quantized conductance. The plateau conductance doubles if the transport is dominated by Andreev reflection. Here, we report quantized conductance observed in both Andreev and normal-state transports in PbTe-Pb and PbTe-In hybrid nanowires. The Andreev plateau is observed at $4e^2/h$, twice of the normal plateau value of $2e^2/h$. In comparison, Andreev conductance in the best-optimized III-V nanowires is non-quantized due to mode-mixing induced dips (a disorder effect), despite the quantization of normal-state transport. The negligible mode mixing in PbTe hybrids indicates an unprecedented low-disorder transport regime for nanowire devices, beneficial for Majorana researches.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Gate-tunable subband degeneracy in semiconductor nanowires

Degeneracy and symmetry have a profound relation in quantum systems. Here, we report gate-tunable subband degeneracy in PbTe nanowires with a nearly symmetric cross-sectional shape. The degeneracy is revealed in electron transport by the absence of a quantized plateau. Utilizing a dual gate design, we can apply an electric field to lift the degeneracy, reflected as emergence of the plateau. This degeneracy and its tunable lifting were challenging to observe in previous nanowire experiments, possibly due to disorder. Numerical simulations can qualitatively capture our observation, shedding light on device parameters for future applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

In situ tuning of dynamical Coulomb blockade on Andreev bound states in hybrid nanowire devices

Electron interactions in quantum devices can exhibit intriguing phenomena. One example is assembling an electronic device in series with an on-chip resistor. The quantum laws of electricity of the device is modified at low energies and temperatures by dissipative interactions induced by the resistor, a phenomenon known as dynamical Coulomb blockade (DCB). The DCB strength is usually non-adjustable in a fixed environment defined by the resistor. Here, we design an on-chip circuit for InAs-Al hybrid nanowires where the DCB strength can be gate-tuned in situ. InAs-Al nanowires could host Andreev or Majorana zero-energy states. This technique enables tracking the evolution of the same state while tuning the DCB strength from weak to strong. We observe the transition from a zero-bias conductance peak to split peaks for Andreev zero-energy states. Our technique opens the door to in situ tuning interaction strength on zero-energy states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Electrostatic environment and Majorana bound states in full-shell topological insulator nanowires

The combination of a superconductor (SC) and a topological insulator (TI) nanowire was proposed as a potential candidate for realizing Majorana zero modes (MZMs). In this study, we adopt the Schrödinger-Poisson formalism to incorporate the electrostatic environment inside the nanowire and systematically explore its topological properties. Our calculations reveal that the proximity to the SC induces a band bending effect, leading to a non-uniform potential across the TI nanowire. As a consequence, there is an upward shift of the Fermi level within the conduction band. This gives rise to the coexistence of surface and bulk states, localized in an accumulation layer adjacent to the TI-SC interface. When magnetic flux is applied, these occupied states have different flux-penetration areas, suppressing the superconducting gap. However, this impact can be mitigated by increasing the radius of the nanowire. Finally, We demonstrate that MZMs can be achieved across a wide range of parameters centered around one applied flux quantum, $ϕ_0 = h/2e$. Within this regime, MZMs can be realized even in the presence of conduction bands, which are not affected by the band bending effect. These findings provide valuable insights into the practical realization of MZMs in TI nanowire-based devices, especially in the presence of a complicated electrostatic environment.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Differential current noise as an identifier of Andreev bound states that induce nearly quantized conductance plateaus

Quantized conductance plateaus, a celebrated hallmark of Majorana bound states (MBSs) predicted a decade ago, have recently been observed with small deviations in iron-based superconductors and hybrid nanowires. Here, we demonstrate that nearly quantized conductance plateaus can also arise from trivial Andreev bound states (ABSs). To avoid ABS interruptions, we propose identifying ABS-induced quantized conductance plateaus by measuring the associated differential current noise $P$ versus bias voltage $V$. Specifically, for a quantized conductance plateau induced by one or multiple low-energy ABSs, the associated $P(V)$ curve exhibits a double-peak around zero bias, with the peak positions at $e|V|\approx 3k_B T$ (where $T$ is the temperature) and peak values larger than $2e^3/h$. These features greatly contrast those of an MBS or quasi-MBS, whose $P(V)$ curve displays a broad zero-bias dip and is consistently below $2e^3/h$. This protocol can be practically implemented in a variety of MBS candidate platforms using an electrode or STM tip as a probe.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Conductance Quantization in PbTe Nanowires

PbTe nanowires coupled to a superconductor have recently been proposed as a potential Majorana platform. The hallmark of the one-dimensional nature of ballistic nanowires is their quantized conductance. Here, we report the observation of conductance plateaus at multiples of the quantized value $2e^2/h$ in PbTe nanowires at finite magnetic fields. The quantized plateaus, as a function of source-drain bias and magnetic field, allow for the extraction of the Landé $g$-factor, sub-band spacing and effective mass. The coefficient of 2 in the plateau conductance indicates the presence of valley degeneracy arising from the crystal orientation of the nanowires, which are grown on a (001) substrate. Occasionally, this degeneracy can be lifted by a gate voltage that breaks the mirror symmetry. Our results demonstrate the one-dimensionality of PbTe nanowires and fulfill one of the necessary conditions for the realization of Majorana zero modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Electrostatic effects of the MnBi2Te4-superconductor hetero-structures in chiral Majorana search

The realization of chiral Majorana modes is a challenging task. We aim to comprehend the phase diagrams and parameter control capabilities of the actual devices used in the chiral Majorana search. Beyond the well-known minimal models, we develop a numerical simulation scheme using a self-consistent Schrodinger-Poisson approach to study, as an example, the MnBi2Te4 thin film coupled to an s-wave superconductor. We show that both the superconducting proximity effect and the tunability of the chemical potential for the topological surface states are significantly influenced by the gate-induced electrostatic potential. This complicates the implementation in experiments, and the actual topological region will be narrowed in stark contrast to those predicted in the previous minimal models. Nevertheless, we demonstrate that the chiral Majorana mode still exists in a wide range of experimental parameters with practical tunability.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Recent progress on Majorana in semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures--Engineering and detection

Majorana zero modes (MZMs) are exotic excitations (in condensed matter systems) that have potential applications in topological quantum computation. Though MZMs have been predicted on many platforms, their existence of them is still under debate. In this paper, we review the recent progress of engineering and detecting MZMs in semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures. We also briefly review the protocols of implementing topological quantum computation by hybrid semiconductor-superconductor nanowires.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Influence of topological degeneracy on the boundary Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless quantum phase transition of a dissipative resonant level

The interplay between a topological degeneracy and the residue degeneracy (also known as the residue entropy) of quantum criticality remains as an important but not thoroughly understood topic. We find that this topological degeneracy, provided by a Majorana zero mode pair, relaxes the otherwise strictly requested symmetry requirement, to observe the boundary Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) quantum phase transition (QPT) of a dissipative resonant level. Our work indicates that the topological degeneracy can be potentially viewed as an auxiliary symmetry that realizes a robust boundary QPT. The relaxation of the symmetry requirement extends the transition from a point to a finite area, thus greatly reducing the difficulty to experimentally observe the QPT. This topology-involved exotic BKT phase diagram, on the other hand, provides another piece of evidence that can further confirm the existence of a Majorana zero mode.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗