Nature Physics, Published online: 31 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03196-5
Atomic insulators come in two varieties: so-called unobstructed and obstructed types. The former are common and now scanning tunnelling microscopy experiments provide evidence for the latter.
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- Observation of an obstructed atomic band in a transition metal dichalcogenide
- Real-space imaging of the band topology of transition metal dichalcogenidesNature Physics, Published online: 31 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03197-4 Two distinct types of atomic insulator can be distinguished by the distribution of charges within the unit cell. Now, real-space imaging of WSe2 shows that it is a so-called obstructed insulator.
- Observation of giant nonlinear valley Hall effectNature Physics, Published online: 31 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03221-7 Previous observations of the valley Hall effect have been limited to the linear regime. Now a nonlinear version is demonstrated with a larger magnitude than in the linear case.
- A tunable topological photonic interferometerNature Physics, Published online: 30 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03227-1 Robust interference between photonic topological edge states, without compromising unidirectional transmission, is achieved. Optical gain enables fast, reconfigurable control of mode coupling, thus realizing a tunable on-chip topological interferometer.
- The hydrodynamic torque dipole from rotary bacterial flagella powers symmetric discsNature Physics, Published online: 27 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03189-4 It is known that placing asymmetric objects in a bacterial bath results in the net rotation of those objects. Now it is shown that the torque dipole of confined E.coli can rotate symmetric objects hydrodynamically.
- Symmetry-broken Kondo screening and zero-energy mode in a kagome superconductorNature Physics, Published online: 24 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03223-5 Defects in quantum materials can reveal hidden electronic behaviour. Now a hidden chiral current state intertwined with a charge density wave has been observed in a kagome superconductor doped with magnetic impurities.
- MagnetoARPES reveals time-reversal symmetry breaking in a kagome superconductorNature Physics, Published online: 23 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03207-5 The electronic structure of a kagome metal has been investigated using magnetoARPES — the newly developed capability to perform angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in the presence of a tunable magnetic field. The momentum-resolved spectral response to a magnetic field was seen to develop in the charge density wave order, revealing electronic evidence of time-reversal symmetry breaking.
- Exceptional sensitivity near the bistable transition point of a hybrid quantum systemNature Physics, Published online: 20 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41567-026-03217-3 Operating devices close to a phase transition can improve performance due to the singular behaviour at critical points. An enhancement in sensitivity has now been achieved using the bistable transition point in a hybrid quantum system.
