arXiv subjects

Zi-Ting Sun

Publications and source records attributed to Zi-Ting Sun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Probing Antialtermagnetism via Orbital-Field-Induced Spin Splitting

Layer compensation can conceal spin polarization behind a spin-degenerate bulk spectrum in antialtermagnets, preventing spectroscopic identification of the underlying magnetic order. Here we show that the orbital effect of an in-plane magnetic field converts the hidden spin texture into an observable spin splitting of opposite momentum parity, thereby restoring spectroscopic access. Once the parity of the hidden exchange order is determined, complementary response functions in the weak-field regime further resolve its wave character: within a minimal model, we illustrate that a band sum rule over the induced band splittings isolates the momentum gradient of the form factor and differentiates hidden even-parity orders, whereas for odd-parity sectors the induced net spin polarization exhibits characteristic field-amplitude and angular dependences. These results establish orbital-field-induced spin splitting as a generic route to identifying the hidden altermagnetic order parameter without layer resolution.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Heesch Nodal Lines in Inadmissible Achiral Antiferromagnets

Recently, a new class of Weyl semimetals in antiferromagnets named Heesch Weyl semimetals was discovered, which have inadmissible chiral magnetic point group symmetries (inadmissible magnetic point groups are incompatible with ferromagnetic order) and distinctive surface Fermi arcs. In Heesch Weyl semimetals, the Weyl points are pinned at high symmetry momenta with two-dimensional irreducible corepresentations in the Brillouin zone. As the Weyl points are pinned, the Weyl points with opposite topological charges cannot emerge or be brought together for creation and annihilation as in conventional Weyl semimetals. In this work, we show that when mirror or rotoinversion symmetries are restored so that the point group becomes achiral, long doubly degenerate lines connecting Weyl points with opposite topological charges emerge. We call these lines the Heesch nodal lines (HNLs) and their host materials the Heesch nodal line antiferromagnets. HNLs result in a large number of two-dimensional massless Dirac cones for planes intercepting the HNLs in the Brillouin zone. Moreover, a large subset of the HNL antiferromagnets has the special property that the lowest nonvanishing order of the nonlinear anomalous Hall effect starts with the third order. First-principles calculations on representative collinear and noncollinear antiferromagnets, such as MnTe, CrSb, and Mn$_3$GaN, confirm our predictions on the presence of HNLs. When the inadmissible symmetry is broken by strain, the double degeneracy of the HNLs is lifted and the associated massless Dirac cones are gapped out, providing a route to realizing sizable anomalous Hall effects in antiferromagnetic crystals. We conclude that all inadmissible antiferromagnets without parity-time symmetry are topological. They are either Heesch Weyl antiferromagnets or Heesch nodal line antiferromagnets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Theory of In-Plane Orbital Magnetization with Layer Hybridization

The modern theory of orbital magnetization successfully describes the response of Bloch electrons to magnetic fields in fully periodic crystals, but it does not directly address the distinct regime of an in-plane field in multilayer systems with layer hybridization. Coherent interlayer tunneling allows electrons to form circulating current loops, producing an in-plane orbital response that is absent in a strictly two-dimensional limit and qualitatively different from the conventional three-dimensional one. Here we develop a theory of in-plane orbital magnetization for this {\it transdimensional} regime, where the layer thickness is comparable to the vertical mean free path. Starting from the current-loop picture, we construct the in-plane orbital angular momentum operator and derive exact expressions for the orbital magnetic moment and the in-plane orbital magnetic susceptibility. As an application, we predict a gate-tunable in-plane orbital magnetoelectric effect in layered materials. Our framework establishes a general foundation for in-plane orbital responses and suggests new opportunities for orbitronics in layer-hybridized quantum materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Quantum Information Geometry of Multicomponent Superconducting Fluctuation Transport

Quantum geometry underlies many electronic responses, but its transport signatures have so far been established mainly for pure single-particle Bloch states. Whether collective many-body fluctuations possess a measurable quantum geometry remains largely unexplored. Here we show that superconducting fluctuation transport provides a direct probe of quantum information geometry in collective many-body matter. Starting from a multicomponent time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory in the Gaussian fluctuation regime, we identify the equilibrium density matrix of fluctuating Cooper pairs as the static pair propagator, which defines a positive mixed-state manifold in momentum space. The geometry of this manifold is directly measurable through paraconductivity: the longitudinal paraconductivity is governed by the quantum Fisher information of superconducting fluctuation modes, while the fluctuational anomalous Hall effect is governed by the mean Uhlmann curvature, the mixed-state counterpart of Berry curvature. This correspondence further yields geometric bounds between these two transport components, with no direct analogue in normal electronic transport. Applied to chiral superconducting fluctuations in quarter-metal systems motivated by rhombohedral multilayer graphene, a symmetry-allowed Lifshitz invariant generates finite mean Uhlmann curvature and logarithmically enhances the anomalous Hall conductivity above the critical temperature. Our results establish collective superconducting fluctuations as an experimentally accessible transport probe of mixed-state quantum information geometry.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Hidden Zeeman Field in Odd-Parity Magnets: An Ideal Platform for Topological Superconductivity

Odd-parity magnets (OPMs) have emerged as a fundamental class of unconventional magnetisms, characterized by time-reversal-preserving non-relativistic spin splitting (NSS). Despite growing interest, the fundamental understanding of OPMs remains critically incomplete, as previous studies have focused exclusively on NSS while overlooking the intrinsically broken time-reversal symmetry ($\mathcal{T}$) inherent to magnetic order. In this work, we reveal that OPMs universally host a hidden Zeeman field rooted in this $\mathcal{T}$-breaking, which fundamentally reshapes their band structure. Through an analytical $f$-wave magnet model, we show that NSS microscopically originates from an emergent gauge field, manifesting as a real-space spin loop current order. Crucially, the large NSS (eV scale) enables conventional superconductivity to coexist robustly with the hidden Zeeman field, with Zeeman splitting reaches hundreds of meV. This unique band structure establishes OPMs as an ideal platform for topological superconductors (TSCs), supporting large topological regions. Based on OPMs, we engineer a series of TSCs hosting distinct Majorana boundary modes, including unidirectional Majorana edge states. Our work corrects a fundamental misconception about OPMs and establishes them as a versatile platform for field-free and robust TSCs.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Quantum-Geometric Fingerprints of Altermagnetic Order in Planar Magnetotransport

Identifying altermagnetic order through transport requires signatures that are sensitive to magnetic symmetry but do not rely on a net magnetization. Here we show that planar magnetotransport provides such quantum-geometric fingerprints. In two-dimensional altermagnets with $C_n\mathcal{T}$ magnetic symmetry, an in-plane Zeeman field explicitly breaks the mirror and emergent $C_{2z}$ symmetries that otherwise suppress intrinsic Hall and second-order transport responses. The resulting magnetic field susceptibilities of the Berry curvature and quantum metric produce linear planar Hall, nonlinear planar Hall, and nonreciprocal longitudinal responses. Crucially, the leading magnetic field powers and angular periodicities of these responses are fixed by the underlying altermagnetic order. For $d$-, $g$-, and $i$-wave altermagnets, we find distinct fingerprint patterns associated with quantum geometric susceptibilities. Our results establish planar magnetotransport as a symmetry selective probe of both band quantum geometry and altermagnetic order.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Transverse superconducting diode without parity and time-reversal violation

The superconducting diode effect (SDE) is characterized by its nonreciprocal nature in critical supercurrents. However, realizing a longitudinal SDE typically requires simultaneous time-reversal ($\mathcal{T}$) and inversion ($\mathcal{P}$) symmetry breaking in the device, raising challenges in applications. In this Letter, we reveal that an off-axis direct-current bias applied to a planar anisotropic superconductor can convert intrinsic anisotropy into transverse nonreciprocity, generating ultra-tunable SDE without breaking either $\mathcal{P}$ or $\mathcal{T}$ symmetry. Using both Ginzburg-Landau theory and self-consistent mean-field calculations, we show that diode efficiency can be continuously tuned via bias current amplitude. Notably, when the injected bias current exceeds a critical threshold, the system is driven into a ``unidirectional superconductivity" regime, where transverse dissipationless currents are permitted in only one direction. Based on this mechanism, we propose the ``current-gated orthogonal superconducting transistor (CGOST)" and demonstrate its utility in tunable supercurrent range controllers and half-wave rectifiers. Our findings open new avenues for nonreciprocal superconducting electronics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Layer Pseudospin Superconductivity in Twisted MoTe$_2$

Recent experiments have observed signatures of spin-valley-polarized unconventional superconductivity in twisted bilayer MoTe$_2$ (tMoTe$_2$). Here, we explore the rich physics of superconducting tMoTe$_2$, enabled by its unique layer-pseudospin structure. Within a minimal two-orbital layer-pseudospin model framework, both interlayer and intralayer Cooper pairings can be effectively visualized using a layer-space Bloch sphere representation. Remarkably, we find that interlayer pairing prevails in the spin-valley-polarized state, whereas intralayer pairing dominates in the spin-valley-unpolarized state. Strikingly, we further predict that for spin-valley-polarized intravalley superconducting state, experimentally feasible weak displacement fields can stabilize finite-momentum pairings at low temperatures. Additionally, in-plane magnetic fields, which break three-fold rotational symmetry, induce field-direction-dependent finite-momentum pairing states, leading to a versatile momentum-selection phase diagram. Our work highlights the crucial role of layer pseudospin in tMoTe$_2$'s unconventional superconductivity and demonstrates its unique tunability via external fields.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Topological Fermi-arc-like surface states in Kramers nodal line metals

The discovery of Kramers nodal line metals (KNLMs) and Kramers Weyl semimetals (KWSs) has significantly expanded the range of metallic topological materials to all noncentrosymmetric crystals. However, a key characteristic of this topology - the presence of topologically protected surface states in KNLMs - is not well understood. In this work, we use a model of a $C_{1v}$ KNLM with curved Kramers nodal lines (KNLs) to demonstrate that Fermi-arc-like surface states (FALSSs), which have a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological origin, appear on surfaces parallel to the mirror plane. These states connect two surface momenta, corresponding to the projections of two touching points on the Fermi surfaces. Notably, as achiral symmetries (mirrors and roto-inversions) are gradually broken, the KNLM transitions into a KWS, allowing the FALSSs to evolve continuously into the Fermi arc states of the KWS. We also explore the conditions under which FALSSs emerge in KNLMs with straight KNLs. Through bulk-boundary correspondence, we clarify the topological nature of KNLMs.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Topological altermagnetic Josephson junctions

Planar Josephson junctions are pivotal for engineering topological superconductivity, yet are severely hindered by orbital effects induced by in-plane magnetic fields. In this work, we introduce the generic topological altermagnetic Josephson junctions (TAJJs) by leveraging the intrinsic spin-polarized band splitting and zero net magnetization attributes of altermagnets. Our proposed TAJJs effectively mitigate the detrimental orbital effects while robustly hosting Majorana end modes (MEMs) at both ends of the junction. Specifically, we demonstrate that MEMs emerge in $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave TAJJs but vanish in the $d_{xy}$-wave configuration, thereby establishing the crystallographic orientation angle $\theta$ of the altermagnet as a novel control parameter of topology. The distinct spin-polarization of the MEMs provides an unambiguous experimental signature for the spin-resolved measurement. Furthermore, by harnessing the synergy between the $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave altermagnet and its superconducting counterpart, our proposal extends to high-$T_c$ platforms naturally. Overall, this work establishes altermagnets as a versatile paradigm for realizing topological superconductivity, bridging conceptual innovations with scalable quantum architectures devoid of orbital effects and stray fields.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Asynchronous mass inversion enriched quantum anomalous Hall states in multilayer graphene

Recently, multilayer graphene systems have attracted significant attention due to the discovery of a variety of intriguing phases, particularly quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) states. In rhombohedral pentalayer graphene (RPG), both QAH states with Chern number $C = -5$ and $C = -3$ have been observed. While the $C = -5$ QAH state is well understood, the origin of the $C = -3$ QAH state remains unclear. In this letter, we propose that the $C = -3$ QAH state, as well as the topological phase transition from $C = -3$ to $C = -5$ state in RPG, arises from an asynchronous mass inversion mechanism driven by the interplay between trigonal warping, staggered layer order, and the displacement field: Trigonal warping splits the low-energy bands of RPG into a central touching point and three satellite Dirac cones. Meanwhile, the coexistence of the staggered layer order and displacement field induces a momentum-dependent effective mass in the low-energy bands. Consequently, mass inversions at the central touching point and the satellite Dirac cones, induced by an increasing displacement field, can occur asynchronously, leading to the formation of the $C = -3$ QAH state and the topological phase transition from QAH state with $C=-3$ to $C=-5$. Additionally, based on this mechanism, we predict the presence of a $C=3$ QAH state in rhombohedral tetralayer graphene (RTG), which can be detected experimentally. Furthermore, this mechanism can also be applied to Bernal tetralayer graphene (BTG), explaining the origin of the observed $C=6$ QAH state.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Pseudo-spin-polarized topological superconductivity in kagome RbV$_3$Sb$_5$

Kagome superconductors AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A=K, Rb, Cs) have sparked considerable interest due to the presence of several intertwined symmetry-breaking phases within a single material. Interestingly, in a recent experiment, magnetic hysteresis was observed in the superconducting state through magnetoresistance measurements in RbV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ [Nature Comm \textbf{17}, 1310 (2026)], providing strong evidence of a spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking superconducting state. The magnetic hysteresis, combined with crystalline symmetry, imposes strong constraints on the possible pairing symmetries of the superconducting state. In this work, we propose that RbV$_3$Sb$_5$ is a nodal topological superconductor with pseudo-spin-polarized Cooper pairs. The pseudo-spin-polarized superconducting domains resemble the properties of ferromagnetic domains and induce hysteresis. Moreover, the nodal topological superconducting state possesses Majorana flat band modes at the sample boundary, which can be detected by tunneling experiments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Pseudo-Ising superconductivity induced by $p$-wave magnetism

Unconventional magnetic orders usually interplay with superconductivity in intriguing ways. Here we propose that a conventional superconductor in proximity to a compensated $p$-wave magnet exhibits behaviors analogous to those of Ising superconductivity found in transition-metal dichalcogenides, which we refer to as pseudo-Ising superconductivity. The pseudo-Ising superconductivity is characterized by several distinctive features: (i) it stays much more robust under strong $p$-wave magnetism than usual ferromagnetism or $d$-wave altermagnetism, thanks to the apparent time-reversal symmetry in $p$-wave spin splitting; (ii) in the low-temperature regime, a second-order superconducting phase transition occurs at a significantly enhanced in-plane upper critical magnetic field $B_{c2}$; (iii) the supercurrent-carrying state establishes non-vanishing out-of-plane spin magnetization, which is forbidden by symmetry in Rahsba and Ising superconductors. We further propose a spin-orbit-free scheme to realize Majorana zero modes by placing superconducting quantum wires on a $p$-wave magnet. Our work establishes a new form of unconventional superconductivity generated by $p$-wave magnetism.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Flat-band Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov State from Quantum Geometric Discrepancy

We propose a new scheme for realizing Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) Cooper pairing states within flat bands, in contrast to the conventional paradigm such as the Zeeman effect. Central to our scheme is the concept of ``quantum geometric discrepancy'' (QGD) that measures differences in the quantum geometry of paired electrons and drives the flat-band FFLO instability. Remarkably, we find that this instability is directly related to a quantum geometric quantity known as ``anomalous quantum distance'', which formally captures QGD. To model both QGD and the anomalous quantum distance, we examine a flat-band electronic Hamiltonian with tunable spin-dependent quantum metrics. Utilizing the band-projection method, we analyze the QGD-induced FFLO instability from pairing susceptibility. Furthermore, we perform mean-field numerical simulations to obtain the phase diagram of the BCS-FFLO transition, which aligns well with our analytical results. Our work demonstrates that QGD offers a general and distinctive mechanism for stabilizing the flat-band FFLO phase.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Signatures of spin-polarized p-wave superconductivity in the kagome material RbV$_3$Sb$_5$

The study of kagome materials has attracted much attention in the past few years due to the presence of many electron-electron interaction-driven phases in a single material. These include charge density waves, nematic phases, superconducting phases, and pair density waves. In this work, we report the discovery of intrinsic spin-polarized p-wave superconductivity in the thin-flake kagome material RbV$_3$Sb$_5$. Firstly, when an in-plane magnetic field is swept in opposite directions, we observe a unique form of hysteresis in magnetoresistance which is different from the hysteresis induced by extrinsic mechanisms such as flux-trapping or superheating and supercooling effects. The unconventional hysteresis indicates the emergence of an intrinsic time-reversal symmetry-breaking superconducting phase. Strikingly, at a fixed magnetic field, the finite-resistance state can be transitioned into the superconducting state by applying and subsequently removing a large current. Secondly, at temperatures around 400 mK, the re-entrance of superconductivity occurs during an in-plane field-sweeping process. This kind of re-entrance is asymmetric about the zero field axis and observed in all field directions for a fixed current direction, which is different from the re-entrance observed in conventional superconductors. These findings put very strong constraints on the possible superconducting pairing symmetry of RbV$_3$Sb$_5$. We point out that the pairing symmetry, which is consistent with the crystal symmetry and all the observed novel properties, is possibly a time-reversal symmetry-breaking, p-wave pairing with net spin polarization. Importantly, this p-wave pairing gives rise to a nodal topological superconducting state with Majorana flat bands on the sample edges.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Anomalous $h/2e$ periodicity and Majorana zero modes in chiral Josephson junctions

Recent experiments reported that quantum Hall chiral edge state-mediated Josephson junctions (chiral Josephson junctions) could exhibit Fraunhofer oscillations with a periodicity of either $h/e$ [Vignaud \textit{et al}.,~Nature~(2023)] or $h/2e$ [Amet \textit{et al}.,~Science~\textbf{352}~966~(2016)]. While the $h/e$-periodic component of the supercurrent had been anticipated theoretically before, the emergence of the $h/2e$-periodicity is still not fully understood. In this work, we show that the chiral edge states coupled to the superconductors become chiral Andreev edge states. In short junctions, the coupling of the chiral Andreev edge states can cause the $h/2e$-magnetic flux periodicity. Our theory resolves the long-standing puzzle concerning the appearance of the $h/2e$-periodicity in chiral Josephson junctions. Furthermore, we explain that when the chiral Andreev edge state couple, a pair of localized Majorana modes appear at the ends of the Josephson junction, which are robust and independent of the phase difference between the two superconductors. As the $h/2e$-periodicity and the Majorana zero modes have the same physical origin, the Fraunhofer oscillation period can be used to identify the regime with Majorana zero modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Josephson Diode Effect Induced by Valley Polarization in Twisted Bilayer Graphene

Recently, the Josephson diode effect (JDE), in which the superconducting critical current magnitudes differ when the currents flow in opposite directions, has attracted great interest. In particular, it was demonstrated that gate-defined Josephson junctions based on magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene showed a strong nonreciprocal effect when the weak-link region is gated to a correlated insulating state at half-filling (two holes per moiré cell). However, the mechanism behind such a phenomenon is not yet understood. In this work, we show that the interaction-driven valley polarization, together with the trigonal warping of the Fermi surface, induce the JDE. The valley polarization, which lifts the degeneracy of the states in the two valleys, induces a relative phase difference between the first and the second harmonics of supercurrent and results in the JDE. We further show that the nontrivial current phase relation, which is responsible for the JDE, also generates the asymmetric Shapiro steps.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Three-Dimensional Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in Magnetic Topological Insulator Trilayers of Hundred-Nanometer Thickness

Magnetic topological states refer to a class of exotic phases in magnetic materials with their non-trivial topological property determined by magnetic spin configurations. An example of such states is the quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) state, which is a zero magnetic field manifestation of the quantum Hall effect. Current research in this direction focuses on QAH insulators with a thickness of less than 10nm. The thick QAH insulators in the three-dimensional(3D) regime are limited, largely due to inevitable bulk carriers being introduced in thick magnetic TI samples. Here, we employ molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to synthesize magnetic TI trilayers with a thickness of up to ~106 nm. We find these samples exhibit well-quantized Hall resistance and vanishing longitudinal resistance at zero magnetic field. By varying magnetic dopants, gate voltages, temperature, and external magnetic fields, we examine the properties of these thick QAH insulators and demonstrate the robustness of the 3D QAH effect. The realization of the well-quantized 3D QAH effect indicates that the nonchiral side surface states of our thick magnetic TI trilayers are gapped and thus do not affect the QAH quantization. The 3D QAH insulators of hundred-nanometer thickness provide a promising platform for the exploration of fundamental physics, including axion physics and image magnetic monopole, and the advancement of electronic and spintronic devices to circumvent Moore's law.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗