Log-periodic quantum oscillations and discrete scale invariance in Dirac materials

One fundamental problem of quantum electrodynamics is the fate of the superheavy atomic nucleus, which is proposed to collapse when the atomic number exceeds certain value. However, this intriguing supercritical collapse phenomenon remains elusive in experiments. Discrete scale invariance (DSI) is a scale anomaly with the violation of the continuous scale symmetry. The intriguing log-periodicity is the characteristic signature of DSI,…