scholarly journals Observation of phononic helical edge states in a mechanical topological insulator

Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 349 (6243) ◽  
pp. 47-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Süsstrunk ◽  
Sebastian D. Huber
Keyword(s):  
Topological Insulator ◽  
Energy Gap ◽  
Equations Of Motion ◽  
Quantum Spin ◽  
Edge States ◽  
Acoustic Metamaterials ◽  
Wave Guides ◽  
Mechanical Oscillators ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Open Question

A topological insulator, as originally proposed for electrons governed by quantum mechanics, is characterized by a dichotomy between the interior and the edge of a finite system: The bulk has an energy gap, and the edges sustain excitations traversing this gap. However, it has remained an open question whether the same physics can be observed for systems obeying Newton’s equations of motion. We conducted experiments to characterize the collective behavior of mechanical oscillators exhibiting the phenomenology of the quantum spin Hall effect. The phononic edge modes are shown to be helical, and we demonstrate their topological protection via the stability of the edge states against imperfections. Our results may enable the design of topological acoustic metamaterials that can capitalize on the stability of the surface phonons as reliable wave guides.

scholarly journals Superconducting edge states in a topological insulator

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Yurkevich ◽  
V. Kagalovsky
Keyword(s):  
Topological Insulator ◽  
Time Reversal ◽  
Collective Motion ◽  
Effective Theory ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Time Reversal Symmetry ◽  
Edge States ◽  
Translation Invariant ◽  
Clean System ◽  
The Stability

AbstractWe study the stability of multiple conducting edge states in a topological insulator against perturbations allowed by the time-reversal symmetry. A system is modeled as a multi-channel Luttinger liquid, with the number of channels equal to the number of Kramers doublets at the edge. Assuming strong interactions and weak disorder, we first formulate a low-energy effective theory for a clean translation invariant system and then include the disorder terms allowed by the time-reversal symmetry. In a clean system with N Kramers doublets, N − 1 edge states are gapped by Josephson couplings and the single remaining gapless mode describes collective motion of Cooper pairs synchronous across the channels. Disorder perturbation in this regime, allowed by the time reversal symmetry is a simultaneous backscattering of particles in all N channels. Its relevance depends strongly on the parity if the number of channel N is not very large. Our main result is that disorder becomes irrelevant with the increase of the number of edge modes leading to the stability of the edge states superconducting regime even for repulsive interactions.

scholarly journals Emergent Helical Edge States in a Hybridized Three-Dimensional Topological Insulator

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Kong Chong ◽  
Lizhe Liu ◽  
Kenji Watanabe ◽  
Takashi Taniguchi ◽  
Taylor Sparks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Topological Insulator ◽  
Quantum Tunneling ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Quantum Spin ◽  
Topological Phase ◽  
Edge States ◽  
Experimental Realization ◽  
Transition Mechanism ◽  
Topological Quantum ◽  
Topological State

Abstract As the thickness of a three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI) becomes comparable to the penetration depth of surface states, quantum tunneling between surfaces turns their gapless Dirac electronic structure into a gapped spectrum. Whether the surface hybridization gap can host topological edge states is still an open question. Herein, we provide transport evidence of 2D topological states in the quantum tunneling regime of a bulk insulating 3D TI BiSbTeSe2. Different from its trivial insulating phase, this 2D topological state exhibits a finite longitudinal conductance at ~2e2/h when the Fermi level is aligned within the surface gap, indicating an emergent quantum spin Hall (QSH) state. The transition from the QSH to quantum Hall (QH) state in a transverse magnetic field further supports the existence of this distinguished 2D topological phase. In addition, we demonstrate a second route to realize the 2D topological state via surface gap-closing and topological phase transition mechanism mediated by a transverse electric field. The experimental realization of the 2D topological phase in a 3D TI enriches its phase diagram and marks an important step toward functional topological quantum devices.

scholarly journals Imaging quantum spin Hall edges in monolayer WTe2

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. eaat8799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanmeng Shi ◽  
Joshua Kahn ◽  
Ben Niu ◽  
Zaiyao Fei ◽  
Bosong Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Topological Insulator ◽  
Gate Voltage ◽  
Quantum Spin ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Edge States ◽  
Local Conductivity ◽  
Quantum Spin Hall

A two-dimensional (2D) topological insulator exhibits the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect, in which topologically protected conducting channels exist at the sample edges. Experimental signatures of the QSH effect have recently been reported in an atomically thin material, monolayer WTe2. Here, we directly image the local conductivity of monolayer WTe2 using microwave impedance microscopy, establishing beyond doubt that conduction is indeed strongly localized to the physical edges at temperatures up to 77 K and above. The edge conductivity shows no gap as a function of gate voltage, and is suppressed by magnetic field as expected. We observe additional conducting features which can be explained by edge states following boundaries between topologically trivial and nontrivial regions. These observations will be critical for interpreting and improving the properties of devices incorporating WTe2. Meanwhile, they reveal the robustness of the QSH channels and the potential to engineer them in the monolayer material platform.

Using FRET to Measure the Time it Takes for a Cell to Destroy a Virus

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Candace E. Benjamin ◽  
Zhuo Chen ◽  
Olivia Brohlin ◽  
Hamilton Lee ◽  
Stefanie Boyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Uptake ◽  
Rhodamine B ◽  
Virus Like Particle ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Viral Nanoparticles ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Viral Surface ◽  
Fret Pair

<div><div><div><p>The emergence of viral nanotechnology over the preceding two decades has created a number of intellectually captivating possible translational applications; however, the in vitro fate of the viral nanoparticles in cells remains an open question. Herein, we investigate the stability and lifetime of virus-like particle (VLP) Qβ - a representative and popular VLP for several applications - following cellular uptake. By exploiting the available functional handles on the viral surface, we have orthogonally installed the known FRET pair, FITC and Rhodamine B, to gain insight of the particle’s behavior in vitro. Based on these data, we believe VLPs undergo aggregation in addition to the anticipated proteolysis within a few hours of cellular uptake.</p></div></div></div>

Structure, Stability and Water Adsorption on Ultra-Thin TiO2 Supported on TiN

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Julio Gutierrez Moreno ◽  
Marco Fronzi ◽  
Pierre Lovera ◽  
alan O'Riordan ◽  
Mike J Ford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Density Functional ◽  
Water Adsorption ◽  
Chemical Potential ◽  
Energy Gap ◽  
Molecular Water ◽  
Structure Stability ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Rutile Structure ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The One

<p></p><p>Interfacial metal-oxide systems with ultrathin oxide layers are of high interest for their use in catalysis. In this study, we present a density functional theory (DFT) investigation of the structure of ultrathin rutile layers (one and two TiO<sub>2</sub> layers) supported on TiN and the stability of water on these interfacial structures. The rutile layers are stabilized on the TiN surface through the formation of interfacial Ti–O bonds. Charge transfer from the TiN substrate leads to the formation of reduced Ti<sup>3+</sup> cations in TiO<sub>2.</sub> The structure of the one-layer oxide slab is strongly distorted at the interface, while the thicker TiO<sub>2</sub> layer preserves the rutile structure. The energy cost for the formation of a single O vacancy in the one-layer oxide slab is only 0.5 eV with respect to the ideal interface. For the two-layer oxide slab, the introduction of several vacancies in an already non-stoichiometric system becomes progressively more favourable, which indicates the stability of the highly non-stoichiometric interfaces. Isolated water molecules dissociate when adsorbed at the TiO<sub>2</sub> layers. At higher coverages the preference is for molecular water adsorption. Our ab initio thermodynamics calculations show the fully water covered stoichiometric models as the most stable structure at typical ambient conditions. Interfacial models with multiple vacancies are most stable at low (reducing) oxygen chemical potential values. A water monolayer adsorbs dissociatively on the highly distorted 2-layer TiO<sub>1.75</sub>-TiN interface, where the Ti<sup>3+</sup> states lying above the top of the valence band contribute to a significant reduction of the energy gap compared to the stoichiometric TiO<sub>2</sub>-TiN model. Our results provide a guide for the design of novel interfacial systems containing ultrathin TiO<sub>2</sub> with potential application as photocatalytic water splitting devices.</p><p></p>

scholarly journals Observation and control of the weak topological insulator state in ZrTe5

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Ryo Noguchi ◽  
Kenta Kuroda ◽  
Chun Lin ◽  
Kaishu Kawaguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Band Gap ◽  
Topological Insulator ◽  
Spin Current ◽  
Side Surface ◽  
Quantum Spin ◽  
Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy ◽  
Dirac Semimetal ◽  
Topological States ◽  
The One ◽  
And Control

AbstractA quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator hosts topological states at the one-dimensional (1D) edge, along which backscattering by nonmagnetic impurities is strictly prohibited. Its 3D analogue, a weak topological insulator (WTI), possesses similar quasi-1D topological states confined at side surfaces. The enhanced confinement could provide a route for dissipationless current and better advantages for applications relative to strong topological insulators (STIs). However, the topological side surface is usually not cleavable and is thus hard to observe. Here, we visualize the topological states of the WTI candidate ZrTe5 by spin and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES): a quasi-1D band with spin-momentum locking was revealed on the side surface. We further demonstrate that the bulk band gap is controlled by external strain, realizing a more stable WTI state or an ideal Dirac semimetal (DS) state. The highly directional spin-current and the tunable band gap in ZrTe5 will provide an excellent platform for applications.

scholarly journals Room temperature electrically pumped topological insulator lasers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Hyuck Choi ◽  
William E. Hayenga ◽  
Yuzhou G. N. Liu ◽  
Midya Parto ◽  
Babak Bahari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Topological Insulator ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Phase Locking ◽  
Quantum Spin ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
Laser Array ◽  
Quantum Spin Hall Effect ◽  
Electrically Pumped ◽  
Spatially Extended ◽  
Synthetic Gauge Fields

AbstractTopological insulator lasers (TILs) are a recently introduced family of lasing arrays in which phase locking is achieved through synthetic gauge fields. These single frequency light source arrays operate in the spatially extended edge modes of topologically non-trivial optical lattices. Because of the inherent robustness of topological modes against perturbations and defects, such topological insulator lasers tend to demonstrate higher slope efficiencies as compared to their topologically trivial counterparts. So far, magnetic and non-magnetic optically pumped topological laser arrays as well as electrically pumped TILs that are operating at cryogenic temperatures have been demonstrated. Here we present the first room temperature and electrically pumped topological insulator laser. This laser array, using a structure that mimics the quantum spin Hall effect for photons, generates light at telecom wavelengths and exhibits single frequency emission. Our work is expected to lead to further developments in laser science and technology, while opening up new possibilities in topological photonics.

Efficient Dynamic Computer Simulation of Simple-Closed Spatial Linkages

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. T. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
Computational Algorithm ◽  
Equations Of Motion ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Kinematic Chains ◽  
Spatial Linkages ◽  
Dynamic Computer Simulation ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Coordinate Partitioning ◽  
Generalized Coordinate

Abstract A new method of formulating the generalized equations of motion for simple-closed (single loop) spatial linkages is presented in this paper. This method is based on the generalized principle of D’Alembert and the use of the transformation Jacobian matrices. The number of the differential equations of motion is minimized by performing the method of generalized coordinate partitioning in the joint space. Based on this formulation, a computational algorithm for computer simulation the dynamic motions of the linkage is developed, this algorithm is not only numerically stable but also fully exploits the efficient recursive computational schemes developed earlier for open kinematic chains. Two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the stability and efficiency of the algorithm.

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