Nonequilibrium States of Topological Quantum Fluids and Unconventional Superconductors

非技术总结：获得该奖项的研究旨在预测和发现被称为“拓扑”材料的一类新材料的热、电和磁性能。这些材料的特性是由量子物理定律和基于对称和拓扑数学的组织原理控制的，后者可以被可视化为对变形不敏感的物质的特性。研究重点是预测物质拓扑相的性质，特别是拓扑超导体、超流体和由绝缘体和超导体组成的混合系统，这些系统在电场和磁场的作用下或与其他材料接触时被逐出平衡状态。重点将放在局限于小空间区域的系统上，比如比人类头发、液滴或超薄通道和薄膜小100倍的空腔，因为预计在拓扑材料的表面和界面上会出现独特的物理特性。作为基础研究的结果，凝聚态物质的许多特性已经被预测和发现，并带来了应用和新技术——从医疗诊断仪器到用于信息存储和高速计算的电子和磁性设备。这些发现带来了改变我们社会的技术。有理由期望拓扑凝聚态物质的发现将导致下一代电子和磁性设备，具有从重大到变革性的潜在社会影响。这个研究项目也有很强的教育成分，包括培养研究生作为下一代研究领导者，以及继续PI在招募本科生参与尖端研究项目方面的承诺。拟议的研究涉及与英国和日本的研究人员的国际合作，这将丰富美国的物理科学研究事业。该奖项支持理论物理学中新发现和新预测的物质量子相的研究和教育，特别是拓扑超流体、液态氦- 3和非常规超导体，包括拓扑超导候选物质、钌酸锶、铀铂- 3、硒化铜铋和表现出铁磁性和超导性共存的重电子材料。提出的研究重点是对非平衡状态下拓扑凝聚态物质的研究，目的是预测和解释非平衡条件下物质拓扑量子相的实验观察和特征。本研究的一个关键目标是建立拓扑超导体和超流体的非平衡响应和动力学的定量和预测理论。该奖项将进行的具体研究包括边缘和表面态分布函数的量子输运方程的发展，这些状态的非平衡谱函数的动力学方程，表面和界面边界条件的微观模型的发展，以及体的反作用的影响，包括可能与玻色子集体模式的耦合。本研究的第二条线索是对涡旋、畴壁和杂质的动力学以及拓扑超导体和超流体中的耗散机制的研究。第三条研究路线采用理论模型和统计方法来分析拓扑有序和外在无序之间的相互作用，这种相互作用几乎存在于所有物质的宏观形式中。人们有理由期待拓扑凝聚态物质的发现，包括受限几何物质、新型电子材料和非均质超导和磁性材料，将导致下一代量子电子和磁性器件，具有从重大到变革性的潜在社会影响。这个研究项目也有很强的教育成分，包括培养研究生作为下一代研究领导者，以及继续PI在招募本科生参与尖端研究项目方面的承诺。拟议的研究涉及与英国和日本的研究人员的国际合作，这将丰富美国的物理科学研究事业。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe research made possible with this award is directed toward prediction and discovery of the thermal, electrical and magnetic properties of a new class of materials described as "topological" materials. The properties of these materials are governed by the laws of quantum physics and organizing principles based on the mathematics of symmetry and topology, the latter of which can be visualized as the properties of matter that are insensitive to deformations. The research focuses on the prediction of the properties of topological phases of matter, particularly topological superconductors, superfluids, and hybrid systems composed of insulators and superconductors, which are driven out of equilibrium by electric and magnetic fields or by contact with other materials. The emphasis will be on systems that are confined in small regions of space, such as cavities that are some 100 times smaller than the human hair, droplets or ultra-thin channels and films, because unique physical properties are predicted to occur on surfaces and interfaces of topological materials. Many properties of condensed matter that have been predicted and discovered as a result of basic research have resulted in applications and new technologies - from instrumentation for medical diagnostics to electronic and magnetic devices for information storage and high-speed computation. These discoveries have led to technologies that have transformed our society. There is reasoned expectation that discoveries in topological condensed matter will lead to next-generation electronic and magnetic devices, with potential societal impacts that range from significant to transformative. This research project also has strong education components involving the training of graduate students as next generation of research leaders, and a continuation of the PI's commitment in recruiting undergraduates into cutting edge research projects. The proposed research involves international collaborations with researchers in the United Kingdom and Japan which will enrich the research enterprise in physical sciences in the US.TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports research and education in theoretical physics of newly discovered and newly predicted quantum phases of matter, particularly topological superfluids, liquid helium-three, and unconventional superconductors, including candidates for topological superconductivity, strontium ruthenate, uranium platinum-three, copper bismuth selenide, and heavy electron materials exhibiting coexistent ferromagnetism and superconductivity. The proposed research is focused on investigations of topological condensed matter out of equilibrium, with the goal of predicting and interpreting experimental observations on, and signatures of, topological quantum phases of matter under non-equilibrium conditions. A key goal of this research is a quantitative and predictive theory of the non-equilibrium response and dynamics of topological superconductors and superfluids. Specific studies that will be pursued with this award include the development of quantum transport equations for the distribution functions for edge and surface states, the dynamical equations for the non-equilibrium spectral functions for these states, the development of microscopic models for surface and interface boundary conditions, and the effects of back-action of the bulk, including possible coupling to Bosonic collective modes. A second thread in this research is the investigation of the dynamics of vortices, domain walls and impurities, and mechanisms of dissipation in topological superconductors and superfluids. A third line of research employs theoretical models and statistical methods for analyzing the interplay between topological order and extrinsic disorder that is present in virtually all macroscopic forms of matter. There is reasoned expectation that discoveries in topological condensed matter, including matter in confined geometries, new electronic materials and heterogeneous superconducting and magnetic materials, will lead to next-generation quantum electronic and magnetic devices, with potential societal impacts that range from significant to transformative. This research project also has strong education components involving the training of graduate students as next generation of research leaders, and a continuation of the PI's commitment in recruiting undergraduates into cutting edge research projects. The proposed research involves international collaborations with researchers in the United Kingdom and Japan which will enrich the research enterprise in physical sciences in the US.