Self-healing in a representative self-organizing physical system is presented based on three-dimensional nonlinear numerical simulations. The significance of nonphysical spatial boundaries of surface energy discontinuities that create static interfaces in liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is inv…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044026] Published Fri Apr 10, 2026

We present a detailed simulation and design framework for realizing traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) using the nonlinear kinetic inductance of disordered superconductors—in our case niobium-titanium-nitride ($\mathrm{Nb}\mathrm{Ti}\mathrm{N}$). These kinetic inductance TWPAs (KITs) operate via three-wave mixing to a…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044027] Published Fri Apr 10, 2026

Proximity coupling of bilayer graphene (BLG) to transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offers a promising route to engineer gate-tunable spin-orbit coupling (SOC) while preserving BLG’s exceptional electronic properties. This tunability arises from the layer-asymmetric electronic structure of gappe…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044028] Published Fri Apr 10, 2026

Topological insulators (TIs) enable highly efficient charge-to-spin conversion, making them attractive for spintronic devices. However, their integration into MRAM technologies has been hindered by thermal degradation during device fabrication. This Letter demonstrates magnetron-sputtered Sb${}_2$Te${}_3$ thin films that withstand some annealing, without structural or functional degradation. In heterostructures, these films exhibit a spin Hall angle that is an order of magnitude higher than for heavy metals, and field-free perpendicular magnetization switching with good critical-current density. Here is an industrially compatible pathway toward thermally robust, energy-efficient TI MRAM.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, L041003] Published Fri Apr 10, 2026

Electrochemical conversion of NO to NH${}_3$ is vital for sustainable ammonia synthesis and environmental remediation, but suffers from sluggish reaction kinetics. The authors identify the topological nodal-line semimetal CaAgAs as a highly efficient and selective catalyst, with a free-energy change ΔG of just 0.22 eV and drumheadlike topological surface states near the Fermi level that provide enhanced surface density of states to facilitate charge transfer. Strain engineering can reduce ΔG to 0.08 eV. Notably, symmetry-breaking transitions that eliminate the topological phase degrade catalytic performance, showing that here topology offers a robust and tunable design principle.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044023] Published Thu Apr 09, 2026

The light-cone transform (LCT) is a mathematical technique used in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging; it is used to reconstruct hidden objects by analyzing the temporal evolution of scattered light paths. Wiener filtering is commonly employed to reduce noise that often distorts these three-dimensiona…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044024] Published Thu Apr 09, 2026

We present an analytical model for power transfer in a magnetoelectric-film bulk-acoustic resonator (FBAR) comprising a piezoelectric-magnetostrictive bilayer. The model describes the power flow between the elastic and magnetic systems, quantifying the transduction efficiency when the FBAR operates …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044025] Published Thu Apr 09, 2026

The nitrogen-vacancy ($\mathrm{N}$-V) center in diamond provides a robust, solid-state platform for magnetic field measurements at room temperature. To harness its potential in inspecting inaccessible regions, here we present a compact endoscopic configuration of a $\mathrm{N}$-V diamond–based magnetometer. The endoscopi…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044019] Published Wed Apr 08, 2026

In this article, we propose a passive parity-time ($\mathcal{P}\mathcal{T}$)-symmetric metasurface mirror composed of only a lossy stepped waveguide per period, exhibiting perfect retroflection for positive incidence (PI) but perfect absorption for negative incidence (NI) at the exceptional point. The mechanism underlyin…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044020] Published Wed Apr 08, 2026

Superconducting circuits are being used for large-scale quantum devices, and a major challenge is to perform accurate numerical simulations of device parameters. One of the most advanced methods for analyzing superconducting circuit designs is the energy-participation-ratio (EPR) method, which const…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044021] Published Wed Apr 08, 2026

We characterize an efficient optically heated neutral atom source for ion trapping. We observe loading rates of up to $24(3){\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$ with heating powers below 85 mW, and demonstrate loading of a single ion in under 30 s with 41.4(4) mW of optical power in a room-temperature ion-trap system with an ionizat…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044022] Published Wed Apr 08, 2026

Current-induced spin-orbit torque (SOT) offers a promising approach for manipulating perpendicular magnetization in spintronic devices, enabling low-power and ultrafast applications. However, deterministic SOT switching typically requires an external in-plane magnetic field to break symmetry, compli…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044015] Published Tue Apr 07, 2026

The emergence of sliding ferroelectricity has opened new avenues for the development of two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics. However, the fundamental mechanisms governing sliding-induced multistate ferroelectricity and its correlation with optoelectronic properties remain poorly understood. Using fir…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044016] Published Tue Apr 07, 2026

Highly efficient deep-blue photoluminescence (PL) of two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) is critical for optoelectronic applications. However, the formation of lattice distortion–induced self-trapped excitons (STEs) and nonradiative recombination significantly impede th…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044017] Published Tue Apr 07, 2026

Synthetic antiferromagnets offer rich magnon energy spectra in which optical and acoustic magnon branches can hybridize. Here, we demonstrate a broken-intrinsic-symmetry-induced coupling of acoustic and optical magnons in a synthetic ferrimagnet consisting of two dissimilar antiferromagnetically int…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044018] Published Tue Apr 07, 2026

Nonlinear dynamical systems with continuous variables can be used for solving combinatorial optimization problems with discrete variables. Numerical simulations of them are also useful as heuristic algorithms with a desirable property, namely, parallelizability, which allows us to execute them in a …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044011] Published Mon Apr 06, 2026

Spintronic devices have emerged as promising candidates for neuromorphic computing, owing to their nonvolatility and plasticity that enable the emulation of synaptic and neuronal functions. Compared with conventional ferromagnets, synthetic antiferromagnets (SAFs) exhibit unique and fascinating prop…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044012] Published Mon Apr 06, 2026

Thermal boundary conductance (TBC) between silicon and diamond influences heat removal in next-generation electronics where $\mathrm{Si}$ and diamond serve as substrates or channels. In this paper, we report simulations of $\mathrm{Si}$/diamond interfaces using machine-learning interatomic potential (MLIP)-driven molecul…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044013] Published Mon Apr 06, 2026

We report on an optical magnetometer enhanced by vacuum-squeezed light, employing an Mx magnetometer based on ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ vapor in a micrometer-scale cell (approximately 100 µm). Using the well-established polarization self-rotation effect in a room-temperature ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ vapor cell, we achieve 4 dB of vacuum sq…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044014] Published Mon Apr 06, 2026

The increasing number of qubits in quantum processors necessitates a corresponding increase in the number of control lines between the processor, which is typically operated at cryogenic temperatures, and external electronics. Scaling poses significant challenges in terms of the thermal loads, formi…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044007] Published Fri Apr 03, 2026

We present a technical approach to determine whether a nuclear weapon experiment was a supercritical test—tests with a self-sustaining, growing fission chain reaction. It is based on on-site gamma spectroscopy measurements taken of test debris weeks or months later. Analyzing simulated spectra, we c…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044008] Published Fri Apr 03, 2026

Quantum processors require rapid and high-fidelity simultaneous measurements of many qubits. While superconducting qubits are among the leading modalities toward a useful quantum processor, their readout remains a bottleneck. Traditional approaches to processing measurement data often struggle to ac…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044009] Published Fri Apr 03, 2026

Hybrid quantum systems integrating spin qubits and superconducting qubits have emerged as promising candidates for scalable quantum information processing. In hybrid architectures, the development of high-fidelity quantum buses is a crucial but challenging element. Here we design a quantum bus that …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044010] Published Fri Apr 03, 2026

Heavily doped graphene excels in electrical and thermal transport, far outperforming most other two-dimensional (2D) metals. Goldene, a single-atom-thick 2D metal with hexagonal lattice, has been demonstrated to possess conductivity rivaling that of heavily doped graphene. The recent synthesis of bi…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044004] Published Thu Apr 02, 2026

Extrinsic traps created by dopants or impurities are ubiquitous in organic semiconductors and can critically influence charge transport. Here we report a comprehensive study, using low-temperature thermally stimulated luminescence measurements complemented by quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044005] Published Thu Apr 02, 2026

Noise characteristics of state-of-the art light sources are crucial parameters in understanding their limitations regarding quantum applications. This work describes a method to study the electrical noise transfer of current driver sources to the intensity noise of midinfrared emission by commercial…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044006] Published Thu Apr 02, 2026

Reversing the propagation direction of a wave intuitively requires the inversion of its momentum, typically produced by spatial reflections induced by broken spatial invariance. This Letter shows that, in a plasmonic waveguide that is translationally invariant across its length, propagation direction reversal is possible without changing the total momentum of the system, relying only on slow, spatially uniform changes of the material properties in time. This phenomenon expands the plethora of exotic phenomena enabled by time-varying media and time metamaterials, realizing pulse reversal without requiring ultrafast material changes.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, L041002] Published Thu Apr 02, 2026

Atmospheric turbulence in free space affects communication links, leading to a deterioration of the frequency stability of frequency-transmission systems. We establish a relation between the effect of phase fluctuations induced by atmospheric turbulence and the instability of frequency transmission …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044001] Published Wed Apr 01, 2026

Unlike other quantum hardware, photonic quantum architectures can produce millions of qubits from a single device. However, controlling photonic qubits remains challenging, even at small scales, due to their weak interactions, making nondeterministic gates in linear optics unavoidable. Nevertheless,…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044002] Published Wed Apr 01, 2026

Efficient qubit reset and leakage reduction are essential for scalable superconducting quantum computing, particularly in the context of quantum error correction. However, such operations often require additional on-chip components. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a hardware-efficien…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 044003] Published Wed Apr 01, 2026

Resonant dispersive wave emission in hollow-core optical fibers offers a promising route to the vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) sources essential for ${}^{229}$Th nuclear clocks. Unfortunately, standard capillaries force a strict trade-off between the large core diameters needed for efficient input coupling and the high intensities required for efficient nonlinear conversion. The authors use a gas-filled tapered capillary fiber to avoid the trade-off, combining a large input aperture with adiabatic field concentration. This yields a widely tunable source with doubled efficiency specifically at the 148.38-nm isomer energy, in a scalable architecture for much-needed high-flux tabletop VUV tools.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, L041001] Published Wed Apr 01, 2026

High-fidelity coherent population transfer plays a vital role in the realization of quantum memories. However, population transfer with high performance across a broad frequency range is still challenging due to the finite Rabi coupling strength limited by laser powers. Here we propose a population-…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034094] Published Tue Mar 31, 2026

In this work, we demonstrate theoretically and numerically that propagating waves can be fully converted into surface waves, and vice versa, using an aperiodic metasurface composed of simple, electrically small metallic elements loaded with reactive components. The proposed approach achieves nearly …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034095] Published Tue Mar 31, 2026

Although nonlocal connectivity is essential for universal logical gates and low-overhead quantum error correction, it is largely absent from today’s superconducting platforms, which are restricted to nearest-neighbor coupling. This work demonstrates an on-chip coupler with centimeter-scale interaction length, to provide high-fidelity, low-crosstalk nonlocal qubit coupling and serve as a building block for binary-tree connectivity graphs, reducing the average entangling distance from $O$($N$) to $O$(ln $N$). This capability supports the implementation of innovative quantum algorithms on superconducting processors, and strengthens their competitiveness with other hardware platforms.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034096] Published Tue Mar 31, 2026

We present a practical design framework for high-fidelity quantum control in coupled Kerr-nonlinear oscillators, directly addressing the challenge of spectral crowding. We show that systematic spectral degeneracies, which hinder selective addressing, are a direct consequence of rational Kerr-nonline…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034097] Published Tue Mar 31, 2026

The active stabilization of polarization channels is a task of growing importance as quantum networks move to deployed demonstrations over existing fiber infrastructure. However, the uniquely strict requirements for high-fidelity qubit transmission complicate the extent to which classical solutions …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034090] Published Mon Mar 30, 2026

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs), as elastic waves generated by piezoelectric or piezomagnetic media, have been used in gyroscopes for more than 40 years due to their unique propagation characteristics. However, their working principle, based on Coriolis effects, has become increasingly ineffective for…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034091] Published Mon Mar 30, 2026

Electrical control of magnetic order by current-induced spin-orbit torque (SOT) plays a pivotal role in spintronics. Recently, SOT in heavy metal/magnetic insulator bilayers have gained increasing interest due to their low magnetic damping and ultrafast spin dynamics, making them ideal for applicati…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034092] Published Mon Mar 30, 2026

Thermoelectric technology is promising for energy conversion and solid-state refrigeration. As is well known, though, the strong coupling among the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and lattice thermal conductivity substantially limits thermoelectric efficiency. Guided by orbital-mixing theory and first-principles calculations, the authors propose a biaxial-strain strategy to increase the Seebeck coefficient without sacrificing electrical conductivity (enhancing the power factor) and to weaken chemical bonding (suppressing lattice thermal conductivity), in two candidate materials. Consequently, tensile strains of 1–3% yield can double or triple the figure of merit at 300 K.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034086] Published Fri Mar 27, 2026

Cryogenic electronics requires amplifiers that can operate at millikelvin temperatures with low noise, while dissipating almost no power—two serious challenges. The authors propose and numerically analyze a fully voltage-controlled three-terminal superconducting transconductance amplifier based on thermally modulating a SINIS structure via quasiparticle injection through an additional NIS tunnel junction. Simulations predict millisiemens-level transconductance and high current gain with nanowatt power dissipation, suggesting a possible route to scalable low-power cryogenic amplification for quantum technologies and low-temperature detectors.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034087] Published Fri Mar 27, 2026

We have developed a compact magneto-optical trap (MOT) that employs a two-dimensional (2D) quadrupole magnetic field generated by a double-layer planar coil with a single current source. The combination of the 2D quadrupole magnetic field with the mirror MOT expands the capture region, thereby enabl…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034088] Published Fri Mar 27, 2026

Circularly polarized light (CPL) has diverse applications in a myriad of fields. Crucial to CPL technologies is the ability to discern between left- and right-handed CPL through CPL-sensitive photodetectors. Here, we studied chiral photodetectors based on two enantiomers of chiral bulk heterojunctio…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034089] Published Fri Mar 27, 2026

Laser-induced discharge in a xenon jet is considered a promising source of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light for lithography. In this Letter, the authors experimentally demonstrate that the EUV-emitting region extends outside the laser beam, which is important for understanding innovative EUV emission schemes for industrial applications.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, L031005] Published Fri Mar 27, 2026

A key trait of stochastic optimizers is that multiple runs of the same optimizer in attempting to solve the same problem can produce different results. As a result, their performance is evaluated over several repeats, or runs, on the problem. However, the accuracy of the estimated performance metric…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034081] Published Thu Mar 26, 2026

Acoustic holography has become a research hot spot in the field of acoustics due to its exceptional sound field manipulation capability, showing a great potential in biomedical engineering, acoustic communication, and additive manufacturing. Here we realize three-dimensional (3D) underwater holograp…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034082] Published Thu Mar 26, 2026

Detecting the magnetic states of synthetic antiferromagnets (SAFs) at the nanoscale is challenging due to their low net magnetization. We demonstrate an electrical method based on tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) in nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions to selectively detect the magnetization of a si…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034083] Published Thu Mar 26, 2026

Kernel methods serve as powerful tools to capture nonlinear patterns behind data in machine learning. Quantum kernels, by mapping data into exponentially large Hilbert spaces, offer the potential to solve problems intractable for classical models. However, existing studies encounter performance bott…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034084] Published Thu Mar 26, 2026

The maximum-independent-set (MIS) problem is a fundamental combinatorial optimization task that can be naturally mapped onto the Ising Hamiltonian of neutral-atom quantum processors. Given its connection to NP-hard problems and real-world applications, there has been significant interest in explorin…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034085] Published Thu Mar 26, 2026

Guest Editors Kerem Camsari and Supriyo Datta reflect on the Collection at its closing.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 030001] Published Wed Mar 25, 2026

The highly lyophobic perfluoropolymer Cytop is widely recognized as an excellent interfacial layer material for organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), owing to its ability to eliminate interfacial traps and to enable steep subthreshold swing (SS), high carrier mobility, and stable operation. However…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034077] Published Wed Mar 25, 2026

Non-Gaussian low-frequency noise, such as random telegraph noise (RTN), is widely present in quantum sensing systems and is usually regarded as the main perturbation limiting sensitivity and stability. However, whether it can be transformed into a usable spectroscopic resource still lacks systematic…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034078] Published Wed Mar 25, 2026

We report the experimental realization of a quantum silicon carbide microscope and demonstrate its functionality by imaging magnetic fields generated by electrical currents. We employ a dual-frequency sensing protocol to enhance the readout contrast and suppress noise arising from strain and tempera…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034079] Published Wed Mar 25, 2026

$XY$ (planar-spin) Hamiltonians arise in phase synchronization and retrieval and analog formulations of hard optimization, which motivates fast, low-power physical solvers. However, gain-based $XY$ systems that encode each spin with a single complex field can become trapped in metastable states. The authors introduce an annealer that represents each spin with two coupled complex components, and uses a graph-independent locking term that exploits the extra degree of freedom to bypass barriers. For challenging graph families, this higher-dimensional annealing improves ground-state recovery compared to one-component approaches, supporting more reliable photonic and analog $XY$ optimization.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034080] Published Wed Mar 25, 2026

Reconfigurable photonics have rapidly become an invaluable tool for information processing. Light-based computing accelerators are promising for boosting neural-network learning and inference [X. Xiao et al., APL Photonics 6, 126107 (2021); X. Meng et al., Nat. Commun. 14, 3000 (2023); J. Cheng et a…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034072] Published Tue Mar 24, 2026

Photovoltaic materials facilitate the conversion of sunlight into electricity by harnessing the interaction between light and matter, offering an eco-friendly and cost-efficient energy solution. Combining data-driven approaches with static and time-dependent density-functional theories and nonadiaba…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034073] Published Tue Mar 24, 2026

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures assembled from two-dimensional (2D) materials offer a highly versatile platform for developing multifunctional devices. Here we systematically investigate the electronic structure and photocatalytic properties of the $\beta$-$\mathrm{As}\mathrm{P}$/${\mathrm{Mo}\mathrm{Si}}_2{\mathrm{N}}_4$ vdW heterostructure via first-pr…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034074] Published Tue Mar 24, 2026

Surface properties are critical in catalytic reactions, with increasing evidence that structural and mechanical factors, alongside electronic properties, play significant roles. Despite progress in catalyst design based on adsorption energy, these approaches often fail in practical applications beca…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034075] Published Tue Mar 24, 2026

High-coherence superconducting quantum technologies demand as little microwave loss as possible, and niobium-based devices are often limited by dissipation associated with surface oxides. Inspired by processing developed for accelerator cavities, the authors employ a strategy to reduce oxide-related loss in a three-dimensional niobium cavity, achieving ultralow dissipation in the single-photon regime at millikelvin temperatures. This improved performance is largely preserved across multiple cooldown cycles, and after hours of air exposure. These results highlight oxide engineering as a practical route to longer-lived niobium-based qubits and resonators.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034076] Published Tue Mar 24, 2026

Noninvasive localization of brain activity remains a fundamental challenge in neuroscience and clinical medicine. Magnetoencephalography source imaging (MSI) offers high spatiotemporal resolution but is constrained by its reliance on magnetically shielded environments. We propose a source-imaging ap…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034068] Published Mon Mar 23, 2026

The Mølmer-Sørensen (MS) gate is a two-qubit controlled-phase gate in ion traps that is highly valued due to its ability to preserve the motional state of the ions. However, its fidelity is obstructed by errors affecting the motion of the ions as well as the rotation of the qubits. In this work, we …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034069] Published Mon Mar 23, 2026

The effect of spin-orbit coupling in a Josephson diode has not been elucidated due to its interplay with the complexity of Josephson devices. Here, we systematically control local electric fields in epitaxial $\mathrm{Al}$-$\mathrm{In}\mathrm{As}$ Josephson junctions under in-plane magnetic fields and observe a polarity reversal …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034070] Published Mon Mar 23, 2026

Quantum optimization solvers typically rely on one-variable-to-one-qubit mapping. However, the low qubit count of current quantum computers is a major obstacle to competing against classical methods. Here, we develop a qubit-efficient algorithm that overcomes this limitation by mapping a candidate b…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034071] Published Mon Mar 23, 2026

With the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence, efficiently training complex neural networks has emerged as a central challenge in deep learning. Ising machines, as specialized quantum-inspired hardware, show considerable promise for solving combinatorial optimization problems and …

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034067] Published Fri Mar 20, 2026

Analog Ising machines are dedicated hardware solvers designed to solve NP hard optimization problems. However, the global optimum is often not found as the system gets stuck in local minima. While several strategies exist to increase the chance of escaping local minima, these methods often require e…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034068] Published Fri Mar 20, 2026

Using self-consistent electron Monte Carlo simulations, we optimize an alloy-graded heterobarrier layer for in situ recycling of phonons emitted in $\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{N}$ semiconductor diode devices, leading to improved electrical and thermal performance. The band offset and effective mass of $\mathrm{Al}\mathrm{In}\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{N}$ quaternary alloyi…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034063] Published Thu Mar 19, 2026

Employing time-resolved Kerr rotation microscopy, we demonstrate electrical control over the orientation of the persistent spin helix in a double $\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{As}$ quantum well structure equipped with independent front and back gates. We map spin polarization patterns under varying gate voltages and show that co…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034064] Published Thu Mar 19, 2026

Linearly polarized elastic waves propagating in a linear path have been extensively explored in numerous applications from biomedical imaging to structural health monitoring; however, elastic waves propagating in a circularly polarized helical path have been less explored because of the challenges i…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034065] Published Thu Mar 19, 2026

Determining the ground and low-lying excited states is critical in numerous scenarios. Recent work has proposed the ancilla-entangled variational quantum eigensolver (AEVQE) that utilizes entanglement between ancilla and physical qubits to simultaneously target multiple low-lying energy levels. In t…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034066] Published Thu Mar 19, 2026

Frequency noise in nanomechanical resonators limits their performance in precision sensing and frequency-tracking applications, yet its origin—particularly that of intrinsic flicker ($1/f$) noise—remains poorly understood. This study uses ultracoherent nanomechanical resonators cointegrated with a photonic cavity to reveal strong correlations in the $1/f$ noise of distinct mechanical modes. By exploiting nonlinear optomechanical transduction, the authors generate an on-chip difference signal with strongly suppressed thermal and flicker frequency fluctuations, enabling direct frequency-noise cancellation.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, L031004] Published Thu Mar 19, 2026

Dispersive readout is widely used to perform high-fidelity measurement of superconducting qubits. Much work has been focused on the qubit readout fidelity, which depends on the achievable signal-to-noise ratio and the qubit relaxation time. As groups have pushed to increase readout fidelity by incre…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034058] Published Wed Mar 18, 2026

We implement a feedback protocol to suppress the ac Stark shift in a two-photon rubidium optical frequency reference, reducing its sensitivity to optical power variations by a factor of 1000. This method alleviates the tradeoff between short-term and long-term stability imposed by the ac Stark shift…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034059] Published Wed Mar 18, 2026

Phase correlations are an underexplored vulnerability in quantum key distribution. Here, we present an experimental and simulated characterization of correlations arising from electro-optic phase encoding, over repetition rates up to the GHz level. To mitigate this vulnerability (and all side channe…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034060] Published Wed Mar 18, 2026

Probabilistic processors promise significant efficiency gains over GPUs, but scaling is bottlenecked by a reliance on hard-to-manufacture hardware for random number generation. In this study, researchers overcome this hurdle by demonstrating circuits built entirely from standard transistors that harness intrinsic thermal noise to efficiently sample from programmable probability distributions. Because these probabilistic circuits can be seamlessly integrated alongside standard CMOS cells, this approach paves the way for scalable, near-term probabilistic computing.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034061] Published Wed Mar 18, 2026

Delay-line detectors (DLDs) are essential instruments for precise spatiotemporal particle detection. Traditional DLD event reconstruction methods struggle with overlapping signals from particles that arrive close together in space and time, limiting their multi-hit capabilities. Here, we report subs…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034062] Published Wed Mar 18, 2026

Birefringence in optical fiber causes polarization mode dispersion (PMD), which can broaden telecommunication signals, degrade fiber-sensor measurements, and scramble polarization-encoded quantum states. Though widely studied, PMD is typically modeled using statistical descriptions that obscure its underlying physical origins. The authors present BIFROST, a first-principles model that links PMD to specific physical parameters such as core geometry, temperature, and bend radius. Using this model, they simulate the impact of environmental variations on PMD compensation and demonstrate how knowledge of fiber properties (e.g. fiber spinning) can be applied to emerging quantum networks.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034054] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

This investigation employed microwave whispering-gallery mode (WGM) analysis to characterize the dielectric properties of a cylindrical, single-crystal sample of calcium tungstate (${\mathrm{Ca}\mathrm{WO}}_4$). Through investigation of quasi-transverse-magnetic and quasi-transverse-electric mode families, we can assess l…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034055] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

Hybrid sound-magnet interactions attract growing interest for advanced signal processing and computing, but generating complex, controllable nonlinear magnetic responses in such systems remains challenging for chip-scale platforms. The authors use a device that concentrates high-frequency sound waves to strongly couple a magnetic film to acoustic motion, revealing nonlinear magnetoelastic waves that generate phase-locked harmonic and subharmonic magnetic signals. Notably, the subharmonic process closely resembles optical parametric down-conversion. These nonlinear magnon-phonon hybrid excitations may represent an important step toward quantum magnonics with propagating excitations.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034056] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

Networks of coupled nonlinear oscillators are emerging as powerful physical platforms for implementing Ising machines, yet the relationship between parametric oscillator implementations and traditional oscillator-based Ising machines remains underexplored. In this work, we develop a Kuramoto-style c…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034057] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

Precision frequency references are essential for quantum technologies and navigation systems, but stabilization methods are often constrained by narrow locking ranges and noise sensitivity, which thwart long-term stability and operation outside a laboratory. The authors use continuous spectroscopy with the vertical position of a magneto-optical trap as a frequency reference, to achieve resolution 30 times below the natural transition linewidth and expand locking range by orders of magnitude. Their direct extraction of optical and rf references with superior long-term stability offers a practical route toward robust references for quantum technology and potential GPS redundancy.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, L031003] Published Tue Mar 17, 2026

We study a rain-powered energy-harvesting device inspired by the natural impact of raindrops on leaves. In nature, a raindrop striking a leaf at high speed causes it to deform and vibrate. Inspired by this dynamic response, our device uses an elastic beam coupled to a piezoelectric material to conve…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034049] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

The (inverse) magnetostrictive effect in ferromagnets couples the magnetic properties to the mechanical stress, allowing for an interaction between the magnetic and mechanical degrees of freedom. In this work, we present a time-integration scheme for the self-consistent simulation of coupled magneto…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034050] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

Noise-aware compilation on near-term quantum processors requires accurate noise models, but standard ones often miss algorithm- and hardware-specific error mechanisms, and full characterization can be costly. In this study a data-efficient framework combines a physically motivated parametrized noise model with Bayesian optimization, to infer algorithm- and hardware-specific error parameters from routine circuit-execution data. Remarkably, models trained only on small-circuit data generalize well to larger validation circuits, yielding 65% better model fidelity. This provides a scalable, low-overhead route to more predictive, application-aware noise models for quantum compilation workflows.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034051] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

Fisher information provides a rigorous theoretical benchmark for evaluating quantum sensor sensitivity; however, a comprehensive framework for quantifying the fundamental limits of Rydberg-atom microwave electrometers remains lacking. In this work, we establish such a framework by deriving the Fishe…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034052] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

We demonstrate a quasicontinuous sub-$\text{μ}\mathrm{K}$ strontium source achieved without the use of a high-finesse cavity-locked laser. Our frequency reference is based on a dispersion-optimized, fiber-based frequency comb that enables sub-kHz linewidths. The long-term stability of the comb is defined by an extern…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034053] Published Mon Mar 16, 2026

Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling in two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) is of great interest for efficient charge-to-spin conversion. Ultrathin ${\mathrm{La}\mathrm{Ti}\mathrm{O}}_3$ films on ${\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Ti}\mathrm{O}}_3$ (LTO/STO) give rise to a 2DEG and have previously been shown to exhibit giant Rashba spin-orbit coupling, making this a promising p…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034044] Published Fri Mar 13, 2026

Molecular spins offer a promising platform for quantum sensing, particularly in organic, supramolecular, and biological environments. Recognition of signals by these systems is of particular interest given their possible integration into more complex structures and their possible use as sensors in c…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034045] Published Fri Mar 13, 2026

Gadolinium ($\mathrm{Gd}$), a heavy rare-earth metal with a well-defined second-order magnetic transition near room temperature, serves as a benchmark for magnetocaloric materials. Extensive research on $\mathrm{Gd}$-based magnetocaloric materials has revealed an inherent inverse relationship between the breadth of the o…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034046] Published Fri Mar 13, 2026

Optically pumped atomic magnetometers have previously been used in arrays to reject interference from distant sources and enable the sensitive detection of local sources of radio-frequency (rf) signals, which is useful, for instance, in the detection of low-field NMR signals in an unshielded environ…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034047] Published Fri Mar 13, 2026

Efficient ultrasound transmission and focusing through acoustic barriers are crucial for advancing high-resolution imaging, targeted therapy, and acoustic manipulation. However, impedance mismatch and the geometric complexity of practical barriers, particularly stiff solids such as metal or bone, le…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034048] Published Fri Mar 13, 2026

Mesa avalanche photodiodes (APDs) fabricated on $4H$ silicon carbide ($4H$-$\mathrm{Si}\mathrm{C}$) substrates have consistently produced spatially nonuniform optical responses, particularly at high gain. In this work, we propose that this nonuniformity can be explained by an interplay of several factors: the anisotropic b…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034040] Published Thu Mar 12, 2026

We investigate the impact of missing input data on the construction of second-generation time-delay-interferometry (TDI) variables, which enable data analysis for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). TDI relies on the introduction of precise time delays into the raw interferometric data st…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034041] Published Thu Mar 12, 2026

We propose a method to detect exoplanets based on their host star’s intensity centroid after it passes through a vortex filter. Based on our calculations with planets in face-on orbits, exoplanets with relative proximity to their host stars and with low mass ratios ($m_p/m_s$) can have discernible signa…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034042] Published Thu Mar 12, 2026

Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables information-theoretically secure communication against eavesdropping. However, phase instability remains a challenge across many QKD applications, particularly in schemes such as twin-field QKD and measurement-device-independent QKD. The most dominant source of…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034043] Published Thu Mar 12, 2026

Imaging out-of-plane magnetization is essential for understanding and controlling nanoscale spintronic devices. Here researchers demonstrate a simple magnetic imaging technique based on the anomalous Nernst effect, using a conventional atomic force microscope. By touching the probe tip with a heated nanowire to induce a lateral temperature gradient, multidomain structures of out-of-plane magnetization are visualized with sub-200-nm resolution. This approach provides a practical, robust means of characterizing spin–orbit-torque-driven magnetic structures in nanoscale devices.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, L031002] Published Thu Mar 12, 2026

We study experimentally the nonlinear propagation of short pulses of forward volume spin waves in out-of-plane magnetized nanometer-thick yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films. We show that nonlinearity of the spin system can efficiently counteract dispersion broadening of the pulses, leading to the forma…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034035] Published Wed Mar 11, 2026

Quasi-phase-matching in ${\chi }^{(2)}$ media underpins many nonlinear conversion techniques, yet conventional sinc-squared gain models assume monochromatic pumps and wavelength-independent efficiency, limiting their accuracy for broadband sources. We introduce spectral-crystal efficiency mapping (SCEM), an an…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034036] Published Wed Mar 11, 2026

Spin polarimetry of low-energy electron beams is of considerable importance for a wide range of applications. However, an efficient method for two-dimensional, quantitative spin mapping is still lacking as state-of-art detectors rely on the sequential measurement of the spin polarization at individu…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034037] Published Wed Mar 11, 2026

Second-harmonic injection (SHI) has emerged as a critical mechanism enabling networks of coupled oscillators to function as oscillator Ising machines (OIMs) capable of minimizing the Ising Hamiltonian. While SHI facilitates phase binarization, which is essential for mapping oscillator phases to spin…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034038] Published Wed Mar 11, 2026

Sensors based on silicon micromechanical resonators play an important part in many aspects of daily life, such as motion sensors in mobile phones and navigation sensors in automobiles. Traditionally, a very small perturbation of the resonators induces a linear frequency shift with a scaling factor o…

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034039] Published Wed Mar 11, 2026

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) using undetected photons is a promising technique for studying layered materials at wavelengths including the midinfrared, where traditional methods face challenges. However, OCT relies on large optical setups that require high laser power and are difficult to miniaturize. This work explores performance benchmarks for integrated sensors, which offer a path toward smaller, more practical devices, and finds that a less-common system configuration exploiting induced coherence works particularly well in integrated setups. This result not only improves performance but also provides useful guidance for designing future compact quantum sensing systems.

[Phys. Rev. Applied 25, 034031] Published Tue Mar 10, 2026