Condensed matter physics and materials science form a dynamic partnership, exploring how the collective behavior of atoms gives rise to the unique properties of solids and liquids. This field bridges the gap between fundamental quantum mechanics and the practical engineering of everything from flexible electronics to superconductors, turning abstract theories into tangible innovations that shape our daily lives.

At Gist.Science, we process every new preprint in this category directly from arXiv to make these complex discoveries accessible to everyone. Our team generates both plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries for each paper, ensuring that researchers, students, and curious minds alike can grasp the latest breakthroughs without getting lost in dense jargon.

Below are the latest papers in condensed matter and materials science, organized by their most recent publication dates.

🔬 materials science

SemiConLens: Visual Analytics for 2D Semiconductor Discovery

SemiConLens is a visual analytics system that integrates a novel correlation-aware multivariate imputation method (CAMI) with interactive visualizations to overcome challenges related to data scarcity and reliability, thereby enabling materials researchers to effectively discover and evaluate promising candidates for 2D semiconductors.

Kavinda Athapaththu, Shiwei Chen, Yuan Fang, Sanchali Mitra, Yee Sin Ang, Yong Wang2026-05-07
🔬 materials science

An extended ab initio theory of the VB_{\text{B}}^- center in hBN: excited states, Jahn-Teller distortion, and pressure dependence

This paper employs high-level CASSCF-NEVPT2 calculations to comprehensively model the excited states, structural distortions, and stress-dependent properties of the VB_{\text{B}}^- center in hBN, thereby clarifying its complex optical cycle and establishing a theoretical foundation for advanced 2D quantum sensing applications.

Zsolt Benedek, Ádám Ganyecz, Oscar Bulancea-Lindvall, Gergely Barcza, Viktor Ivády2026-05-07
🔬 materials science

Spin Dynamics from Atomistic Quantum Simulations

This work establishes a unified theoretical framework using Kubo linear response theory and machine learning–assisted molecular dynamics to accurately predict spin-lattice relaxation and decoherence times of solid-state spin defects, demonstrating excellent agreement between theoretical calculations and experimental measurements for the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond.

Enrico Drigo, Marquis M. McMillan, Benjamin Pingault, Yinan Dong, F. Joseph Heremans, David D. Awschalom, Giulia Galli2026-05-07
🔬 optics

Scattering-Induced Loss in Ferroelectric Photonic Devices

This paper presents a perturbative theory quantifying elastic photon scattering losses in ferroelectric photonic devices caused by interface roughness and domain disorder, revealing that attenuation is maximized when domain sizes match the optical wavelength and suggesting that sub-micron or single-domain waveguides are optimal strategies for minimizing loss at telecom wavelengths.

Jonah Townsend, Enzo Conceição Picinini, Rogério de Sousa2026-05-07
🔬 materials science

Magnetic influence on ion transport in concentrated solid solutions: An analytic investigation

This contribution presents an analytical investigation of the influence of magnetic fields on ion transport in concentrated solid solutions, derives general multicomponent transport equations, and demonstrates that a specific model for binary conductors accurately describes the experimental magnetoresistance data for Pb0.66_{0.66}Cd0.34_{0.34}F2_2 under the assumption of nearly degenerate multicomponent transport.

Timothy Carlson, Sanjay Govindjee2026-05-07
🔬 materials science

Thermodynamics of stacking faults and phase stability in cobalt alloys: A combined computational and experimental study

This study integrates first-principles thermodynamics with experimental characterization to elucidate how atomic misfit volume and magnetic contributions govern stacking fault energy and phase stability in cobalt alloys, thereby providing a predictive framework for designing Co-based materials and WC-Co cemented carbides.

Zheng Zhong, Ziqi Cui, Yu Zhuo, Tianyu Yu, Jianfeng Cai, Kaibo Zou, Jiacheng Shen, Bowen Huang, Zhuoming Xie, Huiqiu Den (…)2026-05-07
🔬 materials science

Plastic deformation of B19' martensite where -- where it matters in NiTi technology

This paper reviews the unique plastic deformation mechanism of B19' martensite in NiTi alloys, known as "kwinking," which combines dislocation slip, kinking, and deformation twinning to explain a wide range of unusual phenomena observed over the last 50 years and discusses its critical role in constitutive modeling and NiTi technology.

Petr Šittner, Hanuš. Seiner, Petr Sedlák, Orsolya. Molnárová, Lukáš Kadeřávek, Ondřej Tyc, Elizaveta Iaparova, Luděk Hel (…)2026-05-07
🔬 materials science

Predicting the Brittle-to-Ductile Transition in Amorphous Polymers

This paper proposes a simple scalar model based on the Sanchez-Lacombe two-state, two-timescale framework that predicts the brittle-to-ductile transition in amorphous polymers by linking the transition's upper strain rate bound to the inverse of the Johari-Goldstein beta-relaxation time, demonstrating good agreement with experimental data for polystyrene, poly(methylmethacrylate), and poly(vinylchloride).

Valeriy V. Ginzburg, Oleg Gendelman, Alessio Zaccone2026-05-07
🔬 mesoscale physics

Spin-wave bandgap engineering via mode hybridization in dipolar-coupled YIG film/CoFeB nanodisk magnonic crystals

This study demonstrates that pronounced and tunable spin-wave bandgaps in hybrid YIG/CoFeB magnonic crystals arise from mode hybridization between fundamental and standing modes rather than conventional Bragg scattering, offering a versatile mechanism for engineering reconfigurable magnonic devices through geometric and magnetic control.

Junyoung Hyun, Krzysztof Szulc, Mateusz Zelent, Nikolai Kuznetsov, Lukáš Flajšman, Maciej Krawczyk, Paweł Gruszecki, Seb (…)2026-05-07