We consider the rheology of soft-core frictionless disks in two dimensions in the neighborhood of the athermal jamming transition. From numerical simulations of bidisperse, overdamped particles, we argue that the divergence of the viscosity below jamming is characteristic of the hard-core limit, independent of the particular soft-core interaction. We develop a mapping from soft-core to hard-core particles that recovers all the critical behavior found in earlier scaling analyses. Using this mapping we derive a relation that gives the exponent of the nonlinear Herschel-Bulkley rheology above jamming in terms of the exponent of the diverging viscosity below jamming.

The electron mass shift in a laser field has long remained an elusive concept. We show that the mass shift can exist in pulses but that it is neither unique nor universal: it can be reduced by pulse shaping. We show also that the detection of mass shift effects in laser-particle scattering experiments is feasible with current technology, even allowing for the transverse structure of realistic beams.

We provide a security analysis for continuous variable quantum key distribution protocols based on the transmission of two-mode squeezed vacuum states measured via homodyne detection. We employ a version of the entropic uncertainty relation for smooth entropies to give a lower bound on the number of secret bits which can be extracted from a finite number of runs of the protocol. This bound is valid under general coherent attacks, and gives rise to keys which are composably secure. For comparison, we also give a lower bound valid under the assumption of collective attacks. For both scenarios, we find positive key rates using experimental parameters reachable today.

Complex dynamical systems often show multiple metastable states. In macroevolution, such behavior is suggested by punctuated equilibrium and discrete geological epochs. In molecular biology, bistability is found in epigenetics and in the many mutually exclusive states that a human cell can take. Sociopolitical systems can be single-party regimes or a pluralism of balancing political fractions. To introduce multistability, we suggest a model system of $D$ mutually exclusive microstates that battle for dominance in a large system. Assuming one common intermediate state, we obtain $D+1$ metastable macrostates for the system, one of which is a self-reinforced mixture of all $D+1$ microstates. Robustness of this metastable mixed state increases with diversity $D$.

We present a generating functional which describes the equilibrium thermodynamic response of a relativistic system to external sources. A variational principle gives rise to constraints on the response parameters of relativistic hydrodynamics without making use of an entropy current. Our method reproduces and extends results available in the literature. It also provides a technique for efficiently computing $n$-point zero-frequency correlation functions within the hydrodynamic derivative expansion without the need to explicitly solve the equations of hydrodynamics.

The first measurement is reported of the double-polarization observable $G$ in the photoproduction of neutral pions off protons, covering the photon energy range from 620 to 1120 MeV and the full solid angle. $G$ describes the correlation between the photon polarization plane and the scattering plane for protons polarized along the direction of the incoming photon. The observable is highly sensitive to contributions from baryon resonances. The new results are compared to the predictions from SAID, MAID, and BnGa partial wave analyses. In spite of the long-lasting efforts to understand $\gamma p\to p{\pi }^0$ as the simplest photoproduction reaction, surprisingly large differences between the new data and the latest predictions are observed which are traced to different contributions of the $N(1535)$ resonance with spin parity $J^P=1/2^{-}$ and $N(1520)$ with $J^P=3/2^{-}$. In the third resonance region, where $N(1680)$ with $J^P=5/2^{+}$ production dominates, the new data are reasonably close to the predictions.

Under drift forces, a monostable pattern propagates. However, examples of nonpropagative dynamics have been observed. We show that the origin of this pinning effect comes from the coupling between the slow scale of the envelope to the fast scale of the modulation of the underlying pattern. We evidence that this effect stems from spatial inhomogeneities in the system. Experiments and numerics on drifting pattern-forming systems subjected to inhomogeneous spatial pumping or boundary conditions confirm this origin of pinning dynamics.

Recent experimental breakthroughs in realizing spin-orbit (SO) coupling for cold atoms have spurred considerable interest in the physics of two-dimensional SO coupled Fermi superfluids, especially topological Majorana fermions (MFs) which were predicted to exist at zero temperature. However, it is well known that long-range superfluid order is destroyed in two dimensions by phase fluctuations at finite temperature, and the relevant physics is the BKTs transition. In this Letter, we examine finite temperature effects on SO coupled Fermi gases and show that finite temperature is indeed necessary for the observation of MFs. Majorana fermions are topologically protected by a quasiparticle energy gap which is found to be much larger than the temperature. The restrictions to the parameter region for the observation of MFs have been obtained.

A highly nonthermal electron distribution is generated when quantum Hall edge states originating from sources at different potentials meet at a quantum point contact. The relaxation of this distribution to a stationary form as a function of distance downstream from the contact has been observed in recent experiments [C. Altimiras et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 056803 (2010)]. Here we present an exact treatment of a minimal model for the system at filling factor $\nu =2$, with results that account well for the observations.

We study the charge character of the Andreev bound states (ABSs) in one-dimensional topological superconductors with spatial inversion symmetry (SIS) breaking. Despite the absence of the SIS, we show a hidden symmetry for the Bogoliubov–de Gennes equations around Fermi points in addition to the particle-hole symmetry. This hidden symmetry protects that the charge of the ABSs is solely dependent on the corresponding Fermi velocities. On the other hand, if the SIS is present, the ABSs are charge neutral, similar to Majorana fermions. We also propose that the charge of the ABSs can be experimentally measured in the tunneling transport spectroscopy from the resonant differential tunneling conductance.

The chemotaxis of eukaryotic cells depends both on the average concentration of the chemoattractant and on the steepness of its gradient. For the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, we test quantitatively the prediction by Ueda and Shibata [Biophys. J. 93, 11 (2007)] that the efficacy of chemotaxis depends on a single control parameter only, namely, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), determined by the stochastic fluctuations of (i) the binding of the chemoattractant molecule to the transmembrane receptor and (ii) the intracellular activation of the effector of the signaling cascade. For SNR $\lesssim 1$, the theory captures the experimental findings well, while for larger SNR noise sources further downstream in the signaling pathway need to be taken into account.

Possible mechanisms for overlimiting current (OLC) through aqueous ion-exchange membranes (exceeding diffusion limitation) have been debated for half a century. Flows consistent with electro-osmotic instability have recently been observed in microfluidic experiments, but the existing theory neglects chemical effects and remains to be quantitatively tested. Here, we show that charge regulation and water self-ionization can lead to OLC by “current-induced membrane discharge” (CIMD), even in the absence of fluid flow, in ion-exchange membranes much thicker than the local Debye screening length. Salt depletion leads to a large electric field resulting in a local $p\mathrm{H}$ shift within the membrane with the effect that the membrane discharges and loses its ion selectivity. Since salt co-ions, ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ ions, and ${\mathrm{OH}}^{-}$ ions contribute to OLC, CIMD interferes with electrodialysis (salt counterion removal) but could be exploited for current-assisted ion exchange and $p\mathrm{H}$ control. CIMD also suppresses the extended space charge that leads to electro-osmotic instability, so it should be reconsidered in both models and experiments on OLC.

Using a novel theoretical approach, we study the mean first-encounter time (MFET) between the two ends of a polymer. Previous approaches used various simplifications that reduced the complexity of the problem, leading, however, to incompatible results. We construct here for the first time a general theory that allows us to compute the MFET. The method is based on estimating the mean time for a Brownian particle to reach a narrow domain in the polymer configuration space. In dimension two and three, we find that the MFET depends mainly on the first eigenvalue of the associated Fokker-Planck operator and provide precise estimates that are confirmed by Brownian simulations. Interestingly, although many time scales are involved in the encounter process, its distribution can be well approximated by a single exponential, which has several consequences for modeling chromosome dynamics in the nucleus. Another application of our result is computing the mean time for a DNA molecule to form a closed loop (when its two ends meet for the first time).

We study the nematic phase of rodlike $fd$-virus particles confined to channels with wedge-structured walls. Using laser scanning confocal microscopy we observe a splay-to-bend transition at the single particle level as a function of the wedge opening angle. Lattice Boltzmann simulations reveal the underlying origin of the transition and its dependence on nematic elasticity and wedge geometry. Our combined work provides a simple method to estimate the splay-to-bend elasticity ratios of the virus and offers a way to control the position of defects through the confining boundary conditions.

Entanglement appears under two different forms in quantum theory, namely, as a property of states of joint systems and as a property of measurement eigenstates in joint measurements. By combining these two aspects of entanglement, it is possible to generate nonlocality between particles that never interacted, using the protocol of entanglement swapping. We show that even in the more constraining bilocal scenario where distant sources of particles are assumed to be independent, i.e., to share no prior randomness, entanglement swapping can be simulated classically with bounded communication, using only 9 bits in total. Our result thus provides an upper bound on the nonlocality of the entanglement swapping process.

A quantum spline is a smooth curve parametrized by time in the space of unitary transformations, whose associated orbit on the space of pure states traverses a designated set of quantum states at designated times, such that the trace norm of the time rate of change of the associated Hamiltonian is minimized. The solution to the quantum spline problem is obtained, and is applied in an example that illustrates quantum control of coherent states. An efficient numerical scheme for computing quantum splines is discussed and implemented in the examples.

Free energy calculations are an important tool in statistical physics and biomolecular simulation. This Letter outlines a Bayesian method to estimate free energies from equilibrium Monte Carlo simulations. A Gibbs sampler is developed that allows efficient sampling of free energies and the density of states. The Gibbs sampling output can be used to estimate expected free energy differences and their uncertainties. The probabilistic formulation offers a unifying framework for existing methods such as the weighted histogram analysis method and the multistate Bennett acceptance ratio; both are shown to be approximate versions of the full probabilistic treatment.

Isochronous mass spectrometry has been applied to neutron-deficient ${}^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$ projectile fragments at the HIRFL-CSR facility in Lanzhou, China. Masses of a series of short-lived $T_z=-3/2$ nuclides including ${}^{41}\mathrm{Ti}$, ${}^{45}\mathrm{Cr}$, ${}^{49}\mathrm{Fe}$, and ${}^{53}\mathrm{Ni}$ have been measured with a precision of 20–40 keV. The new data enable us to test for the first time the isobaric multiplet mass equation (IMME) in $fp$-shell nuclei. We observe that the IMME is inconsistent with the generally accepted quadratic form for the $A=53$, $T=3/2$ quartet. We perform full space shell model calculations and compare them with the new experimental results.

Motional heating of trapped atomic ions is a major obstacle to their use as quantum bits in a scalable quantum computer. The detailed physical origin of this heating is not well understood, but experimental evidence suggests that it is caused by electric-field noise emanating from the surface of the trap electrodes. In this study, we have investigated the role of adsorbates on the electrodes by identifying contaminant overlayers, implementing an in situ argon-ion-beam cleaning treatment, and measuring ion heating rates before and after treating the trap electrodes’ surfaces. We find a 100-fold reduction in heating rate after treatment. The experiments described here are sensitive to low levels of electric-field noise in the MHz frequency range. Therefore, this approach could become a useful tool in surface science that complements established techniques.

Spontaneous photon scattering by an atomic qubit is a notable example of environment-induced error and is a fundamental limit to the fidelity of quantum operations. In the scattering process, the qubit loses its distinctive and coherent character owing to its entanglement with the photon. Using a single trapped ion, we show that by utilizing the information carried by the photon, we are able to coherently reverse this process and correct for the scattering error. We further used quantum process tomography to characterize the photon-scattering error and its correction scheme and demonstrate a correction fidelity greater than 85% whenever a photon was measured.