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一种被称为“拓扑”材料的新型材料的热、电和磁性能。这些材料的性质受量子物理定律和基于对称数学和拓扑学的组织原理的支配，后者可以被视作对形变不敏感的物质的性质。这项研究侧重于预测物质的拓扑相的性质，特别是由绝缘体和超导体组成的拓扑超导体、超流体和由绝缘体和超导体组成的混合系统，这些物质在电场和磁场或与其他材料接触时失去平衡。重点将放在局限于小空间区域的系统上，例如比人类头发、水滴或超薄通道和薄膜小约100倍的空腔，因为据预测，拓扑材料的表面和界面上会出现独特的物理性质。作为基础研究的结果而预测和发现的凝聚态的许多性质已经产生了应用和新技术--从用于医疗诊断的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。人们有理由预计，拓扑凝聚物质的发现将导致下一代电子和磁性设备，其潜在的社会影响从重大到变革不等。该研究项目还包含强大的教育内容，包括将研究生培养为下一代研究领导者，并延续了PI招募本科生进入尖端研究项目的承诺。建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。该奖项支持新发现和新预测的物质量子相的理论物理研究和教育，特别是拓扑超流、液氦-3和非传统超导体，包括拓扑超导、锶、铀铂-3、铜铋硒和表现出铁磁性和超导共存的重电子材料的候选材料。这项研究的重点是研究非平衡条件下的拓扑凝聚物质，目的是预测和解释在非平衡条件下物质的拓扑量子相的实验观测和特征。这项研究的一个关键目标是建立一个关于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：为边缘和表面态的分布函数建立量子传输方程，为这些态的非平衡谱函数建立动力学方程，为表面和界面边界条件建立微观模型，以及整体的反向作用的影响，包括可能与玻色子集体模的耦合。这项研究的第二条线索是研究拓扑超导体和超流体中的涡旋、磁畴壁和杂质的动力学，以及耗散机制。第三类研究使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，这种无序存在于几乎所有的宏观物质形式中。人们有理由预计，拓扑凝聚态物质，包括受限几何物质、新的电子材料和非均质超导和磁性材料的发现，将导致下一代量子电子和磁性设备，其潜在的社会影响从重大到变革不等。该研究项目还包含强大的教育内容，包括将研究生培养为下一代研究领导者，并延续了PI招募本科生进入尖端研究项目的承诺。这项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企业。

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.