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    Tunable bands in one-dimensional fractional quantum media

    Brenden R. Guyette1,2, Joshua M. Lewis1,2, and Lincoln D. Carr1,2,3

    Phys. Rev. E 114, 014106 – Published 6 July, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/yrtd-m3tt

    Abstract

    Fractional calculus has become an essential framework in geophysics, optics, and biological systems to capture long-range correlations and anomalous transport. In this article, we extend the success of fractional calculus in physical models to explore a particle in a periodic potential, where the Schrödinger equation is extended to its fractional form. This framework enables us to study how the Lévy index q governs the formation and inversion of energy bands, offering a pathway to engineer new physical behaviors and device functionalities by tuning q in periodic quantum systems. We solve the fractional Schrödinger equation for periodic rectangular potentials of varying height V0, barrier thickness L, and well width W using an imaginary-time evolution algorithm, and supplement the discrete energy dispersion through Gaussian process regression. This analysis reveals a qualitative shift in the system's band structure at q=2, separating into distinct regimes of dispersion that define behavior for q>2 and q<2. For q>2, the energy bands undergo an inverting transformation as symmetric minima emerge within the first Brillouin zone and shift from k=0 toward k=±π/a with increasing q. These degenerate minima define a Bloch-momentum qubit, suggesting an analog to valley degrees of freedom used in valleytronics. The q at which the inversion completes scales as q∝V0−0.28±0.05, q∝L−0.35±0.08, and q∝W−0.49±0.06 when varying potential parameters individually, indicating a tunable transformation sensitivity to potential geometry. In contrast, for q<2, the ground band hardens around k=0, with a dispersion following the functional form of C|k|q+E0 near k=0. This suggests an effective mass of 0 for 1<q<2 at the band's lowest energy state. These results demonstrate that the Lévy index serves as a tunable degree of freedom in quantum periodic systems, capable of driving band inversion, modulating the band gap, and reshaping carrier dynamics through effective-mass control.

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