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  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Nikita M. Kondratiev, Valery E. Lobanov, Artem E. Shitikov, Ramzil R. Galiev, Dmitry A. Chermoshentsev, Nikita Yu. Dmitriev, Andrey N. Danilin, Evgeny A. Lonshakov, Kirill N. Min’kov, Daria M. Sokol, Steevy J. Cordette, Yi-Han Luo, Wei Liang, Junqiu Liu, Igor A. Bilenko
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 21305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1245-3

    The stabilization and manipulation of laser frequency by means of an external cavity are nearly ubiquitously used in fundamental research and laser applications. While most of the laser light transmits through the cavity, in the presence of some back-scattered light from the cavity to the laser, the self-injection locking effect can take place, which locks the laser emission frequency to the cavity mode of similar frequency. The self-injection locking leads to dramatic reduction of laser linewidth and noise. Using this approach, a common semiconductor laser locked to an ultrahigh-Q microresonator can obtain sub-Hertz linewidth, on par with state-of-the-art fiber lasers. Therefore it paves the way to manufacture high-performance semiconductor lasers with reduced footprint and cost. Moreover, with high laser power, the optical nonlinearity of the microresonator drastically changes the laser dynamics, offering routes for simultaneous pulse and frequency comb generation in the same microresonator. Particularly, integrated photonics technology, enabling components fabricated via semiconductor CMOS process, has brought increasing and extending interest to laser manufacturing using this method. In this article, we present a comprehensive tutorial on analytical and numerical methods of laser self-injection locking, as well a review of most recent theoretical and experimental achievements.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Yuan Wang, Fayuan Zhang, Meng Zeng, Hongyi Sun, Zhanyang Hao, Yongqing Cai, Hongtao Rong, Chengcheng Zhang, Cai Liu, Xiaoming Ma, Le Wang, Shu Guo, Junhao Lin, Qihang Liu, Chang Liu, Chaoyu Chen
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 21304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1250-6

    Topological states of matter possess bulk electronic structures categorized by topological invariants and edge/surface states due to the bulk-boundary correspondence. Topological materials hold great potential in the development of dissipationless spintronics, information storage and quantum computation, particularly if combined with magnetic order intrinsically or extrinsically. Here, we review the recent progress in the exploration of intrinsic magnetic topological materials, including but not limited to magnetic topological insulators, magnetic topological metals, and magnetic Weyl semimetals. We pay special attention to their characteristic band features such as the gap of topological surface state, gapped Dirac cone induced by magnetization (either bulk or surface), Weyl nodal point/line and Fermi arc, as well as the exotic transport responses resulting from such band features. We conclude with a brief envision for experimental explorations of new physics or effects by incorporating other orders in intrinsic magnetic topological materials.

  • REPORT
    M. Achasov, X. C. Ai, L. P. An, R. Aliberti, Q. An, X. Z. Bai, Y. Bai, O. Bakina, A. Barnyakov, V. Blinov, V. Bobrovnikov, D. Bodrov, A. Bogomyagkov, A. Bondar, I. Boyko, Z. H. Bu, F. M. Cai, H. Cai, J. J. Cao, Q. H. Cao, X. Cao, Z. Cao, Q. Chang, K. T. Chao, D. Y. Chen, H. Chen, H. X. Chen, J. F. Chen, K. Chen, L. L. Chen, P. Chen, S. L. Chen, S. M. Chen, S. Chen, S. P. Chen, W. Chen, X. Chen, X. F. Chen, X. R. Chen, Y. Chen, Y. Q. Chen, H. Y. Cheng, J. Cheng, S. Cheng, T. G. Cheng, J. P. Dai, L. Y. Dai, X. C. Dai, D. Dedovich, A. Denig, I. Denisenko, J. M. Dias, D. Z. Ding, L. Y. Dong, W. H. Dong, V. Druzhinin, D. S. Du, Y. J. Du, Z. G. Du, L. M. Duan, D. Epifanov, Y. L. Fan, S. S. Fang, Z. J. Fang, G. Fedotovich, C. Q. Feng, X. Feng, Y. T. Feng, J. L. Fu, J. Gao, Y. N. Gao, P. S. Ge, C. Q. Geng, L. S. Geng, A. Gilman, L. Gong, T. Gong, B. Gou, W. Gradl, J. L. Gu, A. Guevara, L. C. Gui, A. Q. Guo, F. K. Guo, J. C. Guo, J. Guo, Y. P. Guo, Z. H. Guo, A. Guskov, K. L. Han, L. Han, M. Han, X. Q. Hao, J. B. He, S. Q. He, X. G. He, Y. L. He, Z. B. He, Z. X. Heng, B. L. Hou, T. J. Hou, Y. R. Hou, C. Y. Hu, H. M. Hu, K. Hu, R. J. Hu, W. H. Hu, X. H. Hu, Y. C. Hu, J. Hua, G. S. Huang, J. S. Huang, M. Huang, Q. Y. Huang, W. Q. Huang, X. T. Huang, X. J. Huang, Y. B. Huang, Y. S. Huang, N. Hüsken, V. Ivanov, Q. P. Ji, J. J. Jia, S. Jia, Z. K. Jia, H. B. Jiang, J. Jiang, S. Z. Jiang, J. B. Jiao, Z. Jiao, H. J. Jing, X. L. Kang, X. S. Kang, B. C. Ke, M. Kenzie, A. Khoukaz, I. Koop, E. Kravchenko, A. Kuzmin, Y. Lei, E. Levichev, C. H. Li, C. Li, D. Y. Li, F. Li, G. Li, G. Li, H. B. Li, H. Li, H. N. Li, H. J. Li, H. L. Li, J. M. Li, J. Li, L. Li, L. Li, L. Y. Li, N. Li, P. R. Li, R. H. Li, S. Li, T. Li, W. J. Li, X. Li, X. H. Li, X. Q. Li, X. H. Li, Y. Li, Y. Y. Li, Z. J. Li, H. Liang, J. H. Liang, Y. T. Liang, G. R. Liao, L. Z. Liao, Y. Liao, C. X. Lin, D. X. Lin, X. S. Lin, B. J. Liu, C. W. Liu, D. Liu, F. Liu, G. M. Liu, H. B. Liu, J. Liu, J. J. Liu, J. B. Liu, K. Liu, K. Y. Liu, K. Liu, L. Liu, Q. Liu, S. B. Liu, T. Liu, X. Liu, Y. W. Liu, Y. Liu, Y. L. Liu, Z. Q. Liu, Z. Y. Liu, Z. W. Liu, I. Logashenko, Y. Long, C. G. Lu, J. X. Lu, N. Lu, Q. F. Lü, Y. Lu, Y. Lu, Z. Lu, P. Lukin, F. J. Luo, T. Luo, X. F. Luo, Y. H. Luo, H. J. Lyu, X. R. Lyu, J. P. Ma, P. Ma, Y. Ma, Y. M. Ma, F. Maas, S. Malde, D. Matvienko, Z. X. Meng, R. Mitchell, A. Nefediev, Y. Nefedov, S. L. Olsen, Q. Ouyang, P. Pakhlov, G. Pakhlova, X. Pan, Y. Pan, E. Passemar, Y. P. Pei, H. P. Peng, L. Peng, X. Y. Peng, X. J. Peng, K. Peters, S. Pivovarov, E. Pyata, B. B. Qi, Y. Q. Qi, W. B. Qian, Y. Qian, C. F. Qiao, J. J. Qin, J. J. Qin, L. Q. Qin, X. S. Qin, T. L. Qiu, J. Rademacker, C. F. Redmer, H. Y. Sang, M. Saur, W. Shan, X. Y. Shan, L. L. Shang, M. Shao, L. Shekhtman, C. P. Shen, J. M. Shen, Z. T. Shen, H. C. Shi, X. D. Shi, B. Shwartz, A. Sokolov, J. J. Song, W. M. Song, Y. Song, Y. X. Song, A. Sukharev, J. F. Sun, L. Sun, X. M. Sun, Y. J. Sun, Z. P. Sun, J. Tang, S. S. Tang, Z. B. Tang, C. H. Tian, J. S. Tian, Y. Tian, Y. Tikhonov, K. Todyshev, T. Uglov, V. Vorobyev, B. D. Wan, B. L. Wang, B. Wang, D. Y. Wang, G. Y. Wang, G. L. Wang, H. L. Wang, J. Wang, J. H. Wang, J. C. Wang, M. L. Wang, R. Wang, R. Wang, S. B. Wang, W. Wang, W. P. Wang, X. C. Wang, X. D. Wang, X. L. Wang, X. L. Wang, X. P. Wang, X. F. Wang, Y. D. Wang, Y. P. Wang, Y. Q. Wang, Y. L. Wang, Y. G. Wang, Z. Y. Wang, Z. Y. Wang, Z. L. Wang, Z. G. Wang, D. H. Wei, X. L. Wei, X. M. Wei, Q. G. Wen, X. J. Wen, G. Wilkinson, B. Wu, J. J. Wu, L. Wu, P. Wu, T. W. Wu, Y. S. Wu, L. Xia, T. Xiang, C. W. Xiao, D. Xiao, M. Xiao, K. P. Xie, Y. H. Xie, Y. Xing, Z. Z. Xing, X. N. Xiong, F. R. Xu, J. Xu, L. L. Xu, Q. N. Xu, X. C. Xu, X. P. Xu, Y. C. Xu, Y. P. Xu, Y. Xu, Z. Z. Xu, D. W. Xuan, F. F. Xue, L. Yan, M. J. Yan, W. B. Yan, W. C. Yan, X. S. Yan, B. F. Yang, C. Yang, H. J. Yang, H. R. Yang, H. T. Yang, J. F. Yang, S. L. Yang, Y. D. Yang, Y. H. Yang, Y. S. Yang, Y. L. Yang, Z. W. Yang, Z. Y. Yang, D. L. Yao, H. Yin, X. H. Yin, N. Yokozaki, S. Y. You, Z. Y. You, C. X. Yu, F. S. Yu, G. L. Yu, H. L. Yu, J. S. Yu, J. Q. Yu, L. Yuan, X. B. Yuan, Z. Y. Yuan, Y. F. Yue, M. Zeng, S. Zeng, A. L. Zhang, B. W. Zhang, G. Y. Zhang, G. Q. Zhang, H. J. Zhang, H. B. Zhang, J. Y. Zhang, J. L. Zhang, J. Zhang, L. Zhang, L. M. Zhang, Q. A. Zhang, R. Zhang, S. L. Zhang, T. Zhang, X. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. J. Zhang, Y. X. Zhang, Y. T. Zhang, Y. F. Zhang, Y. C. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Y. M. Zhang, Y. L. Zhang, Z. H. Zhang, Z. Y. Zhang, Z. Y. Zhang, H. Y. Zhao, J. Zhao, L. Zhao, M. G. Zhao, Q. Zhao, R. G. Zhao, R. P. Zhao, Y. X. Zhao, Z. G. Zhao, Z. X. Zhao, A. Zhemchugov, B. Zheng, L. Zheng, Q. B. Zheng, R. Zheng, Y. H. Zheng, X. H. Zhong, H. J. Zhou, H. Q. Zhou, H. Zhou, S. H. Zhou, X. Zhou, X. K. Zhou, X. P. Zhou, X. R. Zhou, Y. L. Zhou, Y. Zhou, Y. X. Zhou, Z. Y. Zhou, J. Y. Zhu, K. Zhu, R. D. Zhu, R. L. Zhu, S. H. Zhu, Y. C. Zhu, Z. A. Zhu, V. Zhukova, V. Zhulanov, B. S. Zou, Y. B. Zuo
    Frontiers of Physics, 2024, 19(1): 14701. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1333-z

    The super τ-charm facility (STCF) is an electron−positron collider proposed by the Chinese particle physics community. It is designed to operate in a center-of-mass energy range from 2 to 7 GeV with a peak luminosity of 0.5 × 1035 cm−2·s−1 or higher. The STCF will produce a data sample about a factor of 100 larger than that of the present τ-charm factory — the BEPCII, providing a unique platform for exploring the asymmetry of matter-antimatter (charge-parity violation), in-depth studies of the internal structure of hadrons and the nature of non-perturbative strong interactions, as well as searching for exotic hadrons and physics beyond the Standard Model. The STCF project in China is under development with an extensive R&D program. This document presents the physics opportunities at the STCF, describes conceptual designs of the STCF detector system, and discusses future plans for detector R&D and physics case studies.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Jian-Sheng Wang, Jiebin Peng, Zu-Quan Zhang, Yong-Mei Zhang, Tao Zhu
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 43602. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1260-z

    We review the description and modeling of transport phenomena among the electron systems coupled via scalar or vector photons. It consists of three parts. The first part is about scalar photons, i.e., Coulomb interactions. The second part is with transverse photons described by vector potentials. The third part is on ϕ = 0 or temporal gauge, which is a full theory of the electrodynamics. We use the nonequilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) formalism as a basic tool to study steady-state transport. Although with local equilibrium it is equivalent to the fluctuational electrodynamics (FE), the advantage of NEGF is that it can go beyond FE due to its generality. We have given a few examples in the review, such as transfer of heat between graphene sheets driven by potential bias, emission of light by a double quantum dot, and emission of energy, momentum, and angular momentum from a graphene nanoribbon. All of these calculations are based on a generalization of the Meir−Wingreen formula commonly used in electronic transport in mesoscopic systems, with materials properties represented by photon self-energy, coupled with the Keldysh equation and the solution to the Dyson equation.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Junchao Hu, Xinglin Wen, Dehui Li
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(3): 33602. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1256-8

    The optical properties of two-dimensional (2D) perovskites recently receive numerous research focus thanks to the strong quantum and dielectric confinement effects. In addition to the strong excitonic effect at room temperature, 2D perovskites also have appealing features that their optical properties can be flexibly tuned by alternating organic or inorganic layers. Particularly, 2D chiral perovskites and 2D perovskites based heterostructures are emerging as new platforms to extend their functionalities. To optimize performance of 2D perovskites-based optoelectronic devices, it is critical to understand the fundamentals and explore the strategies to engineer their optical properties. This review begins with an introduction to the excitons and self-trapped excitons of 2D perovskites. Subsequently, inorganic/organic layer effects on optical properties and 2D perovskites based heterostructures are discussed. We also discussed the nonlinear optical properties of 2D perovskite. We are looking forward to that this review can stimulate more efforts to understand and optimize the optical properties of 2D perovskites.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Shanzhen Chen, Yiming Li, Wenbin Qian, Zhihong Shen, Yuehong Xie, Zhenwei Yang, Liming Zhang, Yanxi Zhang
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 44601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1247-1

    Heavy flavour physics provides excellent opportunities to indirectly search for new physics at very high energy scales and to study hadron properties for deep understanding of the strong interaction. The LHCb experiment has been playing a leading role in the study of heavy flavour physics since the start of the LHC operations about ten years ago, and made a range of high-precision measurements and unexpected discoveries, which may have far-reaching implications on the field of particle physics. This review highlights a selection of the most influential physics results on CP violation, rare decays, and heavy flavour production and spectroscopy obtained by LHCb using the data collected during the first two operation periods of the LHC. The upgrade plan of LHCb and the physics prospects are also briefly discussed.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Bin Cheng, Xiu-Hao Deng, Xiu Gu, Yu He, Guangchong Hu, Peihao Huang, Jun Li, Ben-Chuan Lin, Dawei Lu, Yao Lu, Chudan Qiu, Hui Wang, Tao Xin, Shi Yu, Man-Hong Yung, Junkai Zeng, Song Zhang, Youpeng Zhong, Xinhua Peng, Franco Nori, Dapeng Yu
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 21308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1249-z

    Quantum computers have made extraordinary progress over the past decade, and significant milestones have been achieved along the path of pursuing universal fault-tolerant quantum computers. Quantum advantage, the tipping point heralding the quantum era, has been accomplished along with several waves of breakthroughs. Quantum hardware has become more integrated and architectural compared to its toddler days. The controlling precision of various physical systems is pushed beyond the fault-tolerant threshold. Meanwhile, quantum computation research has established a new norm by embracing industrialization and commercialization. The joint power of governments, private investors, and tech companies has significantly shaped a new vibrant environment that accelerates the development of this field, now at the beginning of the noisy intermediate-scale quantum era. Here, we first discuss the progress achieved in the field of quantum computation by reviewing the most important algorithms and advances in the most promising technical routes, and then summarizing the next-stage challenges. Furthermore, we illustrate our confidence that solid foundations have been built for the fault-tolerant quantum computer and our optimism that the emergence of quantum killer applications essential for human society shall happen in the future.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Xudong Zhu, Yuqian Chen, Zheng Liu, Yulei Han, Zhenhua Qiao
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 23302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1228-4

    We numerically study the general valley polarization and anomalous Hall effect in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures based on monolayer jacutingaite family materials Pt2AX3 (A = Hg, Cd, Zn; X = S, Se, Te). We perform a systematic study on the atomic, electronic, and topological properties of vdW heterostructures composed of monolayer Pt2AX3 and two-dimensional ferromagnetic insulators. We show that four kinds of vdW heterostructures exhibit valley-polarized quantum anomalous Hall phase, i.e., Pt2HgS3/NiBr2, Pt2HgSe3/CoBr2, Pt2HgSe3/NiBr2, and Pt2ZnS3/CoBr2, with a maximum valley splitting of 134.2 meV in Pt2HgSe3/NiBr2 and sizable global band gap of 58.8 meV in Pt2HgS3/NiBr2. Our findings demonstrate an ideal platform to implement applications on topological valleytronics.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Mucheng Guo, Shuping Liu, Weiye Sun, Miaomiao Ren, Fudong Wang, Manjin Zhong
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 21303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1240-8

    Rare-earth doped crystals carry great prospect in developing ensemble-based solid state quantum memories for remote quantum communication and fast quantum processing applications. In recent years, with this system, remarkable quantum storage performances have been realized, and more exciting applications have been exploited, while the technical challenges are also significant. In this paper, we outlined the status quo in the development of rare-earth-based quantum memories from the point of view of different storage protocols, with a focus on the experimental demonstrations. We also analyzed the challenges and provided feasible solutions.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Rijia Lin, Tommy Tai, Linhu Li, Ching Hua Lee
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(5): 53605. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1309-z

    This article reviews recent developments in the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE), particularly on its rich interplay with topology. The review starts off with a pedagogical introduction on the modified bulk-boundary correspondence, the synergy and hybridization of NHSE and band topology in higher dimensions, as well as, the associated topology on the complex energy plane such as spectral winding topology and spectral graph topology. Following which, emerging topics are introduced such as non-Hermitian criticality, dynamical NHSE phenomena, and the manifestation of NHSE beyond the traditional linear non-interacting crystal lattices, particularly its interplay with quantum many-body interactions. Finally, we survey the recent demonstrations and experimental proposals of NHSE.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Tao Zhu, Yao Zhang, Xin Wei, Man Jiang, Hua Xu
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(3): 33601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1231-9

    Single-element two-dimensional (2D) tellurium (Te) which possesses an unusual quasi-one-dimensional atomic chain structure is a new member in 2D materials family. 2D Te possesses high carrier mobility, wide tunable bandgap, strong light-matter interaction, better environmental stability, and strong anisotropy, making Te exhibit tremendous application potential in next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, as an emerging 2D material, the research on fundamental property and device application of Te is still in its infancy. Hence, this review summarizes the most recent research progresses about the new star 2D Te and discusses its future development direction. Firstly, the structural features, basic physical properties, and various preparation methods of 2D Te are systemically introduced. Then, we emphatically summarize the booming development of 2D Te-based electronic and optoelectronic devices including field effect transistors, photodetectors and van der Waals heterostructure photodiodes. Finally, the future challenges, opportunities, and development directions of 2D Te-based electronic and optoelectronic devices are prospected.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Yu-Long Hai, He-Jin Yan, Yong-Qing Cai
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 23303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1227-5

    In our study, we constructed a series of inorganic nonmetallic ternary hydrides PSH6 by first-principles structural screening under pressure of 200 GPa. The structural stability under lower pressure are examined. Focusing on the structural stability, electronic and phonon properties, as well as the possible superconducting properties within the framework of Bardeen−Cooper−Schrieffer (BCS) theory, we show that PSH6 with space group \textcolor[RGB]12,108,100Pm3¯m possesses a superconducting transition temperature of 146 K at 130 GPa. In the pressure range of 100−200 GPa, our work suggests that the ternary phosphorus-sulfur-hydrogen would act as a promising compositional and elemental space for achieving high-temperature superconductivity.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Na Sa, Meng Wu, Hui-Qiong Wang
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 43601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1258-6

    Ionic liquids (ILs) are expected to be used as readily available “designer” solvents, characterized by a number of tunable properties that can be obtained by modulating anion and cation combinations and ion chain lengths. Among them, its high ionicity is outstanding in the preparation and property modulation of two-dimensional (2D) materials. In this review, we mainly focus on the ILs-assisted exfoliation of 2D materials towards large-scale as well as functionalization. Meanwhile, electric-field controlled ILs-gating of 2D material systems have shown novel electronic, magnetic, optical and superconducting properties, attracting a broad range of scientific research activities. Moreover, ILs have also been extensively applied in various field practically. We summarize the recent developments of ILs modified 2D material systems from the electrochemical, solar cells and photocatalysis aspects, discuss their advantages and possibilities as “designer solvent”. It is believed that the design of ILs accompanying with diverse 2D materials will not only solve several scientific problems but also enrich materials design and engineer of 2D materials.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Lei Shi, Hai-Zhou Lu
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 21307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1259-5

    We review our most recent research on quantum transport, organizing the review according to the intensity of the magnetic field and focus mostly on topological semimetals and topological insulators. We first describe the phenomenon of quantum transport when a magnetic field is not present. We introduce the nonlinear Hall effect and its theoretical descriptions. Then, we discuss Coulomb instabilities in 3D higher-order topological insulators. Next, we pay close attention to the surface states and find a function to identify the axion insulator in the antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4. Under weak magnetic fields, we focus on the decaying Majorana oscillations which has the correlation with spin−orbit coupling. In the section on strong magnetic fields, we study the helical edge states and the one-sided hinge states of the Fermi-arc mechanism, which are relevant to the quantum Hall effect. Under extremely large magnetic fields, we derive a theoretical explanation of the negative magnetoresistance without a chiral anomaly. Then, we show how magnetic responses can be used to detect relativistic quasiparticles. Additionally, we introduce the 3D quantum Hall effect’s charge-density wave mechanism and compare it with the theory of 3D transitions between metal and insulator driven by magnetic fields.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Yuchen Cai, Jia Yang, Feng Wang, Shuhui Li, Yanrong Wang, Xueying Zhan, Fengmei Wang, Ruiqing Cheng, Zhenxing Wang, Jun He
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(3): 33308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1241-7

    Detection of solar-blind ultraviolet (SB-UV) light is important in applications like confidential communication, flame detection, and missile warning system. However, the existing SB-UV photodetectors still show low sensitivities. In this work, we demonstrate the extraordinary SB-UV detection performance of α-In2Se3 phototransistors. Benefiting from the coupled semiconductor and ferroelectricity property, the phototransistor has an ultraweak detectable power of 17.85 fW, an ultrahigh gain of 1.2 × 106, a responsivity of 2.6 × 105 A/W, a detectivity of 1.3 × 1016 Jones and an ultralow noise-equivalent-power of 4.2 × 10−20 W/Hz1/2 for 275 nm light. Its performance exceeds most other UV detectors, even including commercial photomultiplier tubes and avalanche photodiodes. It can be also implemented as an optoelectronic synapse for neuromorphic computing. A 784×300×10 artificial neural network (ANN) based on this optoelectronic synapse is constructed and demonstrated with a high recognition accuracy and good noise-tolerance for the Fashion-MNIST dataset. These extraordinary features endow this phototransistor with the potential for constructing advanced SB-UV detectors and intelligent hardware.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Yuxin Cai, Muhammad Faizan, Huimin Mu, Yilin Zhang, Hongshuai Zou, Hong Jian Zhao, Yuhao Fu, Lijun Zhang
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 43303. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1276-4

    Two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs) have attracted growing attention in optoelectronic devices due to their intriguing anisotropic physical properties. Different members of 2DLMs exhibit unique anisotropic electrical, optical, and thermal properties, fundamentally related to their crystal structure. Among them, directional heat transfer plays a vital role in the thermal management of electronic devices. Here, we use density functional theory calculations to investigate the thermal transport properties of representative layered materials: β-InSe, γ-InSe, MoS2, and h-BN. We found that the lattice thermal conductivities of β-InSe, γ-InSe, MoS2, and h-BN display diverse anisotropic behaviors with anisotropy ratios of 10.4, 9.4, 64.9, and 107.7, respectively. The analysis of the phonon modes further indicates that the phonon group velocity is responsible for the anisotropy of thermal transport. Furthermore, the low lattice thermal conductivity of the layered InSe mainly comes from low phonon group velocity and atomic masses. Our findings provide a fundamental physical understanding of the anisotropic thermal transport in layered materials. We hope this study could inspire the advancement of 2DLMs thermal management applications in next-generation integrated electronic and optoelectronic devices.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Vitaly L. Galinsky, Lawrence R. Frank
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 45301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1273-7

    Analytical expressions for scaling of brain wave spectra derived from the general nonlinear wave Hamiltonian form show excellent agreement with experimental “neuronal avalanche” data. The theory of the weakly evanescent nonlinear brain wave dynamics [Phys. Rev. Research 2, 023061 (2020); J. Cognitive Neurosci. 32, 2178 (2020)] reveals the underlying collective processes hidden behind the phenomenological statistical description of the neuronal avalanches and connects together the whole range of brain activity states, from oscillatory wave-like modes, to neuronal avalanches, to incoherent spiking, showing that the neuronal avalanches are just the manifestation of the different nonlinear side of wave processes abundant in cortical tissue. In a more broad way these results show that a system of wave modes interacting through all possible combinations of the third order nonlinear terms described by a general wave Hamiltonian necessarily produces anharmonic wave modes with temporal and spatial scaling properties that follow scale free power laws. To the best of our knowledge this has never been reported in the physical literature and may be applicable to many physical systems that involve wave processes and not just to neuronal avalanches.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Xu Zhou, Daowen Qiu, Le Luo
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(5): 51305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1327-x

    Distributed quantum computation has gained extensive attention. In this paper, we consider a search problem that includes only one target item in the unordered database. After that, we propose a distributed exact Grover’s algorithm (DEGA), which decomposes the original search problem into n/ 2 parts. Specifically, (i) our algorithm is as exact as the modified version of Grover’s algorithm by Long, which means the theoretical probability of finding the objective state is 100%; (ii) the actual depth of our circuit is 8(nmod 2)+ 9, which is less than the circuit depths of the original and modified Grover’s algorithms, 1+ 8 π4 2n and 9+ 8 π42n 12, respectively. It only depends on the parity of n, and it is not deepened as n increases; (iii) we provide particular situations of the DEGA on MindQuantum (a quantum software) to demonstrate the practicality and validity of our method. Since our circuit is shallower, it will be more resistant to the depolarization channel noise.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Bo Wen, Da-Ning Luo, Ling-Long Zhang, Xiao-Lin Li, Xin Wang, Liang-Liang Huang, Xi Zhang, Dong-Feng Diao
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(3): 33306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1232-8

    Interface engineering in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is becoming an important and powerful technique to alter their properties, enabling new optoelectronic applications and quantum devices. Interface engineering in a monolayer WSe2 sample via introduction of high-density edges of standing structured graphene nanosheets (GNs) is realized. A strong photoluminescence (PL) emission peak from intravalley and intervalley trions at about 750 nm is observed at the room temperature, which indicated the heavily p-type doping of the monolayer WSe2/thin graphene nanosheet-embedded carbon (TGNEC) film heterostructure. We also successfully triggered the emission of biexcitons (excited state biexciton) in a monolayer WSe2, via the electron trapping centers of edge quantum wells of a TGNEC film. The PL emission of a monolayer WSe2/GNEC film is quenched by capturing the photoexcited electrons to reduce the electron-hole recombination rate. This study can be an important benchmark for the extensive understanding of light–matter interaction in TMDs, and their dynamics.

  • REVIEW ARTICLE
    Hui Zeng, Yao Wen, Lei Yin, Ruiqing Cheng, Hao Wang, Chuansheng Liu, Jun He
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(5): 53603. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1286-2

    Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with fascinating electronic energy band structures, rich valley physical properties and strong spin–orbit coupling have attracted tremendous interest, and show great potential in electronic, optoelectronic, spintronic and valleytronic fields. Stacking 2D TMDs have provided unprecedented opportunities for constructing artificial functional structures. Due to the low cost, high yield and industrial compatibility, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is regarded as one of the most promising growth strategies to obtain high-quality and large-area 2D TMDs and heterostructures. Here, state-of-the-art strategies for preparing TMDs details of growth control and related heterostructures construction via CVD method are reviewed and discussed, including wafer-scale synthesis, phase transition, doping, alloy and stacking engineering. Meanwhile, recent progress on the application of multi-functional devices is highlighted based on 2D TMDs. Finally, challenges and prospects are proposed for the practical device applications of 2D TMDs.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Yichang Shou, Jiawei Liu, Hailu Luo
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 42601. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1271-9

    As a revolutionary observation tool in life science, biomedical, and material science, optical microscopy allows imaging of samples with high spatial resolution and a wide field of view. However, conventional microscopy methods are limited to single imaging and cannot accomplish real-time image processing. The edge detection, image enhancement and phase visualization schemes have attracted great interest with the rapid development of optical analog computing. The two main physical mechanisms that enable optical analog computing originate from two geometric phases: the spin-redirection Rytov-Vlasimirskii-Berry (RVB) phase and the Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase. Here, we review the basic principles and recent research progress of the RVB phase and PB phase based optical differentiators. Then we focus on the innovative and emerging applications of optical analog computing in microscopic imaging. Optical analog computing is accelerating the transformation of information processing from classical imaging to quantum techniques. Its intersection with optical microscopy opens opportunities for the development of versatile and compact optical microscopy systems.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    San-Dong Guo, Yu-Ling Tao, Wen-Qi Mu, Bang-Gui Liu
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(3): 33304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1243-5

    Spin−orbit coupling (SOC) combined with electronic correlation can induce topological phase transition, producing novel electronic states. Here, we investigate the impact of SOC combined with correlation effects on physical properties of monolayer OsBr2, based on first-principles calculations with generalized gradient approximation plus U (GGA+U) approach. With intrinsic out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy, OsBr2 undergoes threefold topological phase transition with increasing U, and valley-polarized quantum anomalous Hall insulator (VQAHI) to half-valley-metal (HVM) to ferrovalley insulator (FVI) to HVM to VQAHI to HVM to FVI transitions can be induced. These topological phase transitions are connected with sign-reversible Berry curvature and band inversion between \textcolor[RGB]12,108,100dxy/\textcolor[RGB]12,108,100dx2y2 and \textcolor[RGB]12,108,100dz2 orbitals. Due to \textcolor[RGB]12,108,1006¯m2 symmetry, piezoelectric polarization of OsBr2 is confined along the in-plane armchair direction, and only one d11 is independent. For a given material, the correlation strength should be fixed, and OsBr2 may be a piezoelectric VQAHI (PVQAHI), piezoelectric HVM (PHVM) or piezoelectric FVI (PFVI). The valley polarization can be flipped by reversing the magnetization of Os atoms, and the ferrovalley (FV) and nontrivial topological properties will be suppressed by manipulating out-of-plane magnetization to in-plane one. In considered reasonable U range, the estimated Curie temperatures all are higher than room temperature. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding on possible electronic states of OsBr2, and confirm that strong SOC combined with electronic correlation can induce multiple quantum phase transition.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Qiugang Liao, Hao Liu, Ziqiang Chen, Yinggan Zhang, Rui Xiong, Zhou Cui, Cuilian Wen, Baisheng Sa
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(3): 33300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1234-6

    With the development of modern electronics, especially the next generation of wearable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials requires flexibility, ultrathin, lightweight and robustness to protect electronic devices from radiation pollution. In this work, the flexible and ultrathin dopamine modified MXene@cellulose nanofiber (DM@CNF) composite films with alternate multilayer structure have been developed by a facile vacuum filtration induced self-assembly approach. The multilayered DM@CNF composite films exhibit improved mechanical properties compared with the homogeneous DM/CNF film. By adjusting the layer number, the multilayered DM3@CNF2 composite film exhibits a tensile strength of 48.14 MPa and a toughness of 5.28 MJ·m−3 with a thickness about 19 μm. Interestingly that, the DM@CNF film with annealing treatment achieves significant improvement in conductivity (up to 17264 S·m−1) and EMI properties (SE of 41.90 dB and SSE/t of 10169 dB·cm2·g−1), which still maintains relatively high mechanical properties. It is highlighted that the ultrathin multilayered DM@CNF film exhibits superior EMI shielding performance compared with most of the metal-based, carbon-based and MXene-based shielding materials reported in the literature. These results will offer an appealing strategy to develop the ultrathin and flexible MXene-based materials with excellent EMI shielding performance for the next generation intelligent protection devices.

  • TOPICAL REVIEW
    Yongjie Wang, Qiang Yu, Jie Li, Junyong Wang, Kai Zhang
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 43603. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1265-7

    Two-dimensional (2D) black phosphorus (BP) has attracted great attention in recent years in fundamental research as well as optoelectronics applications. The controllable synthesis of high-quality BP is vital to the investigation of its intrinsic physical properties and versatile applications. Originally, BP was mostly synthesized under high temperatures and pressures. Subsequently, metal flux, wet chemical and chemical vapor transport (CVT) methods had been appeared successively. The pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and CVT methods have been used to prepare high-quality BP thin films on silicon substrates, which is significant for its monolithic integration and practical applications. To meet the demand of the scalable applications of BP, the direct preparation of BP films on dielectric substrates that avoids additional transfer process, is crucial to high-performance device implementation. In this review, the growing methods and corresponding mechanisms of BP are summarized and analyzed. Meanwhile, the view on the controllable growth of large-area, high-quality BP films is envisioned.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Xiaobing Yan, Xu Han, Ziliang Fang, Zhen Zhao, Zixuan Zhang, Jiameng Sun, Yiduo Shao, Yinxing Zhang, Lulu Wang, Shiqing Sun, Zhenqiang Guo, Xiaotong Jia, Yupeng Zhang, Zhiyuan Guan, Tuo Shi
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(6): 63301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1308-0

    Neuromorphic computing aims to achieve artificial intelligence by mimicking the mechanisms of biological neurons and synapses that make up the human brain. However, the possibility of using one reconfigurable memristor as both artificial neuron and synapse still requires intensive research in detail. In this work, Ag/SrTiO3(STO)/Pt memristor with low operating voltage is manufactured and reconfigurable as both neuron and synapse for neuromorphic computing chip. By modulating the compliance current, two types of resistance switching, volatile and nonvolatile, can be obtained in amorphous STO thin film. This is attributed to the manipulation of the Ag conductive filament. Furthermore, through regulating electrical pulses and designing bionic circuits, the neuronal functions of leaky integrate and fire, as well as synaptic biomimicry with spike-timing-dependent plasticity and paired-pulse facilitation neural regulation, are successfully realized. This study shows that the reconfigurable devices based on STO thin film are promising for the application of neuromorphic computing systems.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Xue Lin, Jingwei Fan, Runchuan Ye, Mingti Zhou, Yumeng Song, Dawei Lu, Nanyang Xu
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(2): 21301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-022-1235-5

    The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond has been developed as a promising platform for quantum sensing, especially for magnetic field measurements in the nano-tesla range with a nano-meter resolution. Optical spin readout performance has a direct effect on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of experiments. In this work, we introduce an online optimization method to customize the laser waveform for readout. Both simulations and experiments reveal that our new scheme optimizes the optically detected magnetic resonance in NV center. The SNR of optical spin readout has been witnessed a 44.1% increase in experiments. In addition, we applied the scheme to the Rabi oscillation experiment, which shows an improvement of 46.0% in contrast and a reduction of 12.1% in mean deviation compared to traditional constant laser power SNR optimization. This scheme is promising to improve sensitivities for a wide range of NV-based applications in the future.

  • VIEW & PERSPECTIVE
    Cheuk-Yin Wong
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(6): 64401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1288-0

    If we approximate light quarks as massless and apply the Schwinger confinement mechanism to light quarks, we will reach the conclusion that a light quark q and its antiquark q¯ will be confined as a qq¯ boson in the Abelian U(1) QED gauge interaction in (1+1)D, as in an open string. From the work of Coleman, Jackiw, and Susskind, we can infer further that the Schwinger confinement mechanism persists even for massive quarks in (1+1)D. Could such a QED-confined qq¯ one-dimensional open string in (1+1)D be the idealization of a flux tube in the physical world in (3+1)D, similar to the case of QCD-confined qq¯ open string? If so, the QED-confined qq¯ bosons may show up as neutral QED mesons in the mass region of many tens of MeV [Phys. Rev. C 81, 064903 (2010) & J. High Energy Phys. 2020(8), 165 (2020)]. Is it ever possible that a quark and an antiquark be produced and interact in QED alone to form a confined QED meson? Is there any experimental evidence for the existence of a QED meson (or QED mesons)? The observations of the anomalous soft photons, the X17 particle, and the E38 particle suggest that they may bear the experimental evidence for the existence of such QED mesons. Further confirmation and investigations on the X17 and E38 particles will shed definitive light on the question of quark confinement in QED in (3+1)D. Implications of quark confinement in the QED interaction are discussed.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Huawei Fan, Ya Wang, Xingang Wang
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 45302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1324-0

    Whereas topological symmetries have been recognized as crucially important to the exploration of synchronization patterns in complex networks of coupled dynamical oscillators, the identification of the symmetries in large-size complex networks remains as a challenge. Additionally, even though the topological symmetries of a complex network are known, it is still not clear how the system dynamics is transited among different synchronization patterns with respect to the coupling strength of the oscillators. We propose here the framework of eigenvector-based analysis to identify the synchronization patterns in the general complex networks and, incorporating the conventional method of eigenvalue-based analysis, investigate the emergence and transition of the cluster synchronization states. We are able to argue and demonstrate that, without a prior knowledge of the network symmetries, the method is able to predict not only all the cluster synchronization states observable in the network, but also the critical couplings where the states become stable and the sequence of these states in the process of synchronization transition. The efficacy and generality of the proposed method are verified by different network models of coupled chaotic oscillators, including artificial networks of perfect symmetries and empirical networks of non-perfect symmetries. The new framework paves a way to the investigation of synchronization patterns in large-size, general complex networks.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Shengshi Li, Weixiao Ji, Jianping Zhang, Yaping Wang, Changwen Zhang, Shishen Yan
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(4): 43301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1262-x

    Dual topological insulator (DTI), which simultaneously hosts topological insulator (TI) and topological crystalline insulator (TCI) phases, has attracted extensive attention since it has a better robustness of topological nature and broad application prospects in spintronics. However, the realization of DTI phase in two-dimensional (2D) system is extremely scarce. By first-principles calculations, we predict that the 2D rectangular bismuth (R−Bi) bilayer is a novel DTI, featured by \textcolor [RGB ]12,108,100Z2 topological invariant \textcolor[ RGB] 12,108,100Z2 = 1, mirror Chern number CM = −1, and metallic edge states within the bulk band gap. More interestingly, the TCI phase in bilayer is protected by horizontal glide mirror symmetries, rather than the usual mirror symmetry. The bulk band gap can be effectively tuned by vertical electric field and strain. Besides, the electric field can trigger the transition between TI and metallic phases for the bilayer, accompanied by the annihilation of TCI phase. On this basis, a topological field effect transistor is proposed, which can rapidly manipulate spin and charge carriers via electric field. The KBr(110) surface is demonstrated as an ideal substrate for the deposition of bilayer. These findings provide not only a new strategy for exploiting 2D DTI, but also a promising candidate for spintronic applications.

  • RESEARCH ARTICLE
    Gaoyang Li, Fuming Xu, Jian Wang
    Frontiers of Physics, 2023, 18(3): 33310. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11467-023-1275-5

    We numerically investigate magnon-mediated spin transport through nonmagnetic metal/ferromagnetic insulator (NM/FI) heterostructures in the presence of Anderson disorder, and discover universal behaviors of the spin conductance in both one-dimensional (1D) and 2D systems. In the localized regime, the variance of logarithmic spin conductance σ2(lnGT) shows a universal linear scaling with its average ⟨lnGT⟩, independent of Fermi energy, temperature, and system size in both 1D and 2D cases. In 2D, the competition between disorder-enhanced density of states at the NM/FI interface and disorder-suppressed spin transport leads to a non-monotonic dependence of average spin conductance on the disorder strength. As a result, in the metallic regime, average spin conductance is enhanced by disorder, and a new linear scaling between spin conductance fluctuation rms(GT) and average spin conductance GT is revealed which is universal at large system width. These universal scaling behaviors suggest that spin transport mediated by magnon in disordered 2D NM/FI systems belongs to a new universality class, different from that of charge conductance in 2D normal metal systems.