Universal Entanglement Spectrum in One-Dimensional Gapless Symmetry Protected Topological States.

Quantum entanglement marks a definitive feature of topological states. However, the entanglement spectrum remains insufficiently explored for topological states without a bulk energy gap. Using a combination of field theory and numerical techniques, we accurately calculate and analyze the entanglement spectrum of gapless symmetry protected topological states in one dimension. We highlight that the universal entanglement spectrum not only encodes the nontrivial edge degeneracy, generalizing the Li-Haldane conjecture to gapless topological states, but also contains the operator content of the underlying boundary conformal field theory. This implies that the bulk wave function can act as a fingerprint of both quantum criticality and topology in gapless symmetry protected topological states. We also identify a symmetry enriched conformal boundary condition that goes beyond the conventional conformal boundary condition.

Non-Hermitian Strongly Interacting Dirac Fermions.

Exotic quantum phases and phase transition in the strongly interacting Dirac systems have attracted tremendous interests. On the other hand, non-Hermitian physics, usually associated with dissipation arising from the coupling to environment, emerges as a frontier of modern physics in recent years. In this Letter, we investigate the interplay between non-Hermitian physics and strong correlation in Dirac-fermion systems. We generalize the projector quantum Monte-Carlo (PQMC) algorithm to the non-Hermitian interacting fermionic systems. Employing PQMC simulation, we decipher the ground-state phase diagram of the honeycomb Hubbard model with spin resolved non-Hermitian asymmetric hopping processes. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering induced by Hubbard interaction is enhanced by the non-Hermitian asymmetric hopping. Combining PQMC simulation and renormalization group analysis, we reveal that the quantum phase transition between Dirac semi-metal and AFM phases belongs to Hermitian chiral XY universality class, implying that a Hermitian Gross-Neveu transition is emergent at the quantum critical point although the model is non-Hermitian.

Emergence of Competing Orders and Possible Quantum Spin Liquid in SU(N) Fermions.

In the past few decades, tremendous efforts have been made toward understanding the exotic physics emerging from competition between various ordering tendencies in strongly correlated systems. Employing state-of-the-art quantum Monte Carlo simulation, we investigate an interacting SU(N) fermionic model with varying interaction strength and value of N, and we unveil the ground-state phase diagram of the model exhibiting a plethora of exotic phases. For small values of N-namely, N=2, 3-the ground state is an antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase, whereas in the large-N limit, a staggered valence bond solid (VBS) order is dominant. For intermediate values of N such as N=4, 5, remarkably, our study reveals that distinct VBS orders appear in the weak and strong coupling regimes. More fantastically, the competition between staggered and columnar VBS ordering tendencies gives rise to a Mott insulating phase without spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB), existing in a large interacting parameter regime, which is consistent with a gapped quantum spin liquid. Our study not only provides a platform to investigate the fundamental physics of quantum many-body systems-it also offers a novel route toward searching for exotic states of matter such as quantum spin liquid in realistic quantum materials.

Quantum criticality of a Z_{3}-symmetric spin chain with long-range interactions.

Based on large-scale density matrix renormalization group techniques, we investigate the critical behaviors of quantum three-state Potts chains with long-range interactions. Using fidelity susceptibility as an indicator, we obtain a complete phase diagram of the system. The results show that as the long-range interaction power α increases, the critical points f_{c}^{*} shift towards lower values. In addition, the critical threshold α_{c}(≈1.43) of the long-range interaction power is obtained for the first time by a nonperturbative numerical method. This indicates that the critical behavior of the system can be naturally divided into two distinct universality classes, namely the long-range (α<α_{c}) and short-range (α>α_{c}) universality classes, qualitatively consistent with the classical ϕ^{3} effective field theory. This work provides a useful reference for further research on phase transitions in quantum spin chains with long-range interaction.

Conformal Boundary Conditions of Symmetry-Enriched Quantum Critical Spin Chains.

Some quantum critical states cannot be smoothly deformed into each other without either crossing some multicritical points or explicitly breaking certain symmetries even if they belong to the same universality class. This brings up the notion of "symmetry-enriched" quantum criticality. While recent works in the literature focused on critical states with robust degenerate edge modes, we propose that the conformal boundary condition (B.C.) is a more generic characteristic of such quantum critical states. We show that in two families of quantum spin chains, which generalize the Ising and the three-state Potts models, the quantum critical point between a symmetry-protected topological phase and a symmetry-breaking order realizes a conformal B.C. distinct from the simple Ising and Potts chains. Furthermore, we argue that the conformal B.C. can be derived from the bulk effective field theory, which realizes a novel bulk-boundary correspondence in symmetry-enriched quantum critical states.

Expression and purification of recombinant human apolipoprotein C-I in Pichia pastoris.

Apolipoprotein C-I (ApoC-I) is a small, basic apolipoprotein which is mainly secreted by the liver as a component of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins whose importance in plasma lipoprotein metabolism is increasingly evident. At present, the only way to obtain native ApoC-I is separating it from human plasma. The methods have some restrictions on source, the complicated technology, the potential infections and a high cost which limits the research and application of native ApoC-I. Because of its small size, ApoC-I has previously been prepared by peptide synthesis which is also limited by a high cost. Therefore, in this study, a Pichia pastoris expression system was first used to obtain a high level expression of secreted, recombinant human ApoC-I (rhApoC-I).