Orbital-Ordering Driven Simultaneous Tunability of Magnetism and Electric Polarization in Strained Monolayer VCl_(3)

Two-dimensional(2D)van der Waals magnetic materials have promising and versatile electronic and magnetic properties in the 2D limit,indicating a considerable potential to advance spintronic applications.Theoretical predictions thus far have not ascertained whether monolayer VCl_(3) is a ferromagnetic(FM)or anti-FM monolayer;this also remains to be experimentally verified.We theoretically investigate the influence of potential factors,including C_(3) symmetry breaking,orbital ordering,epitaxial strain,and charge doping,on the magnetic ground state.Utilizing first-principles calculations,we predict a collinear type-Ⅲ FM ground state in monolayer VCl_(3) with a broken C_(3) symmetry,wherein only the former two of three t_(2g)orbitals(a_(1g),e_(g2)^(π)and e_(g1)^(π))are occupied.The atomic layer thickness and bond angles of monolayer VCl_(3) undergo abrupt changes driven by an orbital ordering switch,resulting in concomitant structural and magnetic phase transitions.Introducing doping to the underlying Cl atoms of monolayer VCl_(3) without C_(3) symmetry simultaneously induces in-and out-of-plane polarizations.This can achieve a multiferroic phase transition if combined with the discovered adjustments of magnetic ground state and polarization magnitude under strain.The establishment of an orbital-ordering driven regulatory mechanism can facilitate deeper exploration and comprehension of magnetic properties of strongly correlated systems in monolayer VCl_(3).

Measurement of electronic structure in van der Waals ferromagnet Fe_(5-x)GeTe_(2)

As a van der Waals ferromagnet with high Curie temperature,Fe_(5-x)GeTe_(2) has attracted tremendous interests recently.Here,using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy(ARPES),we systematically investigated the electronic structure of Fe_(5-x)GeTe_(2) crystals and its temperature evolution.Our ARPES measurement reveals two types of band structures from two different terminations with slight kz evolution.Interestingly,across the ferromagnetic transition,we observed the merging of two split bands above the Curie temperature,suggesting the band splitting due to the exchange interaction within the itinerant Stoner model.Our results provide important insights into the electronic and magnetic properties of Fe_(5-x)GeTe_(2) and the understanding of magnetism in a two-dimensional ferromagnetic system.

Shoot rot of Zizania latifolia and the first record of its pathogen Pantoea ananatis in China

The aquatic grass Zizania latifolia grows symbiotically with the fungus Ustilago esculenta producing swollen structures called Jiaobai,widely cultivated in China.A new disease of Z.latifolia was found in Zhejiang Province,China.Initial lesions appeared on the leaf sheaths or sometimes on the leaves near the leaf sheaths.The lesions extended along the axis of the leaf shoots and formed long brown to dark brown streaks from the leaf sheath to the leaf,causing sheath rot and death of entire leaves on young plants.The pathogen was isolated and identified as the bacterium Pantoea ananatis,based on 16 S ribosomal RNA(r RNA)gene sequencing,multilocus sequence analysis(atp D(β-subunit of ATP synthase F1),gyr B(DNA gyrase subunit B),inf B(translation initiation factor 2),and rpo B(β-subunit of RNA polymerase)genes),and pathogenicity tests.Ultrastructural observations using scanning electron microscopy revealed that the bacterial cells colonized the vascular tissues in leaf sheaths,forming biofilms on the inner surface of vessel walls,and extended between vessel elements via the perforated plates.To achieve efficient detection and diagnosis of P.ananatis,species-specific primer pairs were designed and validated by testing closely related and unrelated species and diseased tissues of Z.latifolia.This is the first report of bacterial sheath rot disease of Z.latifolia caused by P.ananatis in China.

Two-dimensional Dirac-line semimetals resistant to strong spin–orbit coupling

Topological materials have attracted extensive attention in condensed matter physics because of their exotic physical properties and promising potential applications.If the bulk gap of an insulator closes at certain nodal points or lines in the Brillouin zone(BZ),the resultant gapless phase is known as the topological semimetal(TSM)[1].Dirac nodal line semimetals(DNLSMs)[2,3]have been sought as novel quantum materials presenting quantum anomalies[4,5].The DNLSMs against spin-orbit coupling(SOC)were discovered in several three-dimensional(3D)bulk materials[6–8].Flourishing two-dimensional(2D)van der Waals(vdW)materials are,in comparison with their 3D counterparts,easier to experimentally measure and manipulate.However,2D materials have one less dimension of translation symmetry operation,and the corresponding symmetry operations and groups are significantly reduced,narrowing the range of candidate structures.