Exotic superfluidity and pairing phenomena in atomic Fermi gases in mixed dimensions.

PubMed

Zhang, Leifeng; Che, Yanming; Wang, Jibiao; Chen, Qijin

2017-10-11

Atomic Fermi gases have been an ideal platform for simulating conventional and engineering exotic physical systems owing to their multiple tunable control parameters. Here we investigate the effects of mixed dimensionality on the superfluid and pairing phenomena of a two-component ultracold atomic Fermi gas with a short-range pairing interaction, while one component is confined on a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice whereas the other is in a homogeneous 3D continuum. We study the phase diagram and the pseudogap phenomena throughout the entire BCS-BEC crossover, using a pairing fluctuation theory. We find that the effective dimensionality of the non-interacting lattice component can evolve from quasi-3D to quasi-1D, leading to strong Fermi surface mismatch. Upon pairing, the system becomes effectively quasi-two dimensional in the BEC regime. The behavior of T c bears similarity to that of a regular 3D population imbalanced Fermi gas, but with a more drastic departure from the regular 3D balanced case, featuring both intermediate temperature superfluidity and possible pair density wave ground state. Unlike a simple 1D optical lattice case, T c in the mixed dimensions has a constant BEC asymptote.

Engineering frequency-dependent superfluidity in Bose-Fermi mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arzamasovs, Maksims; Liu, Bo

2018-04-01

Unconventional superconductivity and superfluidity are among the most exciting and fascinating quantum phenomena in condensed-matter physics. Usually such states are characterized by nontrivial spin or spatial symmetry of the pairing order parameter, such as "spin triplet" or "p wave." However, besides spin and spatial dependence the order parameter may have unconventional frequency dependence which is also permitted by Fermi-Dirac statistics. Odd-frequency fermionic pairing is an exciting paradigm when discussing exotic superfluidity or superconductivity and is yet to be realized in experiments. In this paper we propose a symmetry-based method of controlling frequency dependence of the pairing order parameter via manipulating the inversion symmetry of the system. First, a toy model is introduced to illustrate that frequency dependence of the order parameter can be achieved through our proposed approach. Second, by taking advantage of recent rapid developments in producing spin-orbit-coupled dispersions in ultracold gases, we propose a Bose-Fermi mixture to realize such frequency-dependent superfluid. The key idea is introducing the frequency-dependent attraction between fermions mediated by Bogoliubov phonons with asymmetric dispersion. Our proposal should pave an alternative way for exploring frequency-dependent superfluids with cold atoms.

Pair momentum distribution in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+delta) measured by positron annihilation - Existence and nature of the Fermi surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, L. P.; Lynn, K. G.; Harshman, D. R.; Massidda, S.; Mitzi, D. B.

1991-09-01

The first measurement is reported of the position-electron momentum density in superconducting single-crystal Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+delta)(Tc roughly 90 K). The observed anisotropy exhibits a twofold (rather than fourfold) symmetry, which is attributed to the superlattice modulation along the b axis of the BiO2 layers. Subtraction of the superlattice contribution also reveals a pair momentum distribution consistent with the CuO2 and BiO2 Fermi surfaces, and in reasonable agreement with the theoretical pair momentum density derived from band theory.

Pairing matrix elements and pairing gaps with bare, effective, and induced interactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barranco, F.; Bortignon, P.F.; Colo, G.

2005-11-01

The dependence on the single-particle states of the pairing matrix elements of the Gogny force and of the bare low-momentum nucleon-nucleon potential v{sub low-k}--designed so as to reproduce the low-energy observables avoiding the use of a repulsive core--is studied for a typical finite, superfluid nucleus ({sup 120}Sn). It is found that the matrix elements of v{sub low-k} follow closely those of v{sub Gogny} on a wide range of energy values around the Fermi energy e{sub F}, those associated with v{sub low-k} being less attractive. This result explains the fact that around e{sub F} the pairing gap {delta}{sub Gogny} associated withmore » the Gogny interaction (and with a density of single-particle levels corresponding to an effective k mass m{sub k}{approx_equal}0.7 m) is a factor of about 2 larger than {delta}{sub low-k}, being in agreement with {delta}{sub exp}=1.4 MeV. The exchange of low-lying collective surface vibrations among pairs of nucleons moving in time-reversal states gives rise to an induced pairing interaction v{sub ind} peaked at e{sub F}. The interaction (v{sub low-k}+v{sub ind}) Z{sub {omega}} arising from the renormalization of the bare nucleon-nucleon potential and of the single-particle motion ({omega}-mass and quasiparticle strength Z{sub {omega}}) associated with the particle-vibration coupling mechanism, leads to a value of the pairing gap at the Fermi energy {delta}{sub ren} that accounts for the experimental value. An important question that remains to be studied quantitatively is to what extent {delta}{sub Gogny}, which depends on average parameters, and {delta}{sub ren}, which explicitly depends on the parameters describing the (low-energy) nuclear structure, display or not a similar isotopic dependence and whether this dependence is borne out by the data.« less

Topological semimetals carrying arbitrary Hopf numbers: Fermi surface topologies of a Hopf link, Solomon's knot, trefoil knot, and other linked nodal varieties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezawa, Motohiko

2017-07-01

We propose a type of Hopf semimetal indexed by a pair of numbers (p ,q ) , where the Hopf number is given by p q . The Fermi surface is given by a preimage of the Hopf map, which consists of loops nontrivially linked for a nonzero Hopf number. The Fermi surface forms a torus link, whose examples are a Hopf link indexed by (1 ,1 ) , Solomon's knot (2 ,1 ) , a double Hopf link (2 ,2 ) , and a double trefoil knot (3 ,2 ) . We may choose p or q to be a half integer, where the Fermi surface is a torus knot, such as a trefoil knot (3 /2 ,1 ) . It is even possible to make the Hopf number an arbitrary rational number, where a semimetal whose Fermi surface forms open strings is generated.

Anisotropic surface-state-mediated RKKY interaction between adatoms on a hexagonal lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patrone, Paul N.; Einstein, T. L.

2012-01-01

Motivated by recent numerical studies of Ag on Pt(111), we derive an expression for the RKKY interaction mediated by surface states, considering the effect of anisotropy in the Fermi edge. Our analysis is based on a stationary phase approximation. The main contribution to the interaction comes from electrons whose Fermi velocity vF is parallel to the vector R connecting the interacting adatoms; we show that, in general, the corresponding Fermi wave vector kF is not parallel to R. The interaction is oscillatory; the amplitude and wavelength of oscillations have angular dependence arising from the anisotropy of the surface-state band structure. The wavelength, in particular, is determined by the projection of this kF (corresponding to vF) onto the direction of R. Our analysis is easily generalized to other systems. For Ag on Pt(111), our results indicate that the RKKY interaction between pairs of adatoms should be nearly isotropic and so cannot account for the anisotropy found in the studies motivating our work. However, for metals with surface-state dispersions similar to Be(101¯0), we show that the RKKY interaction should have considerable anisotropy.

Orbital selectivity causing anisotropy and particle-hole asymmetry in the charge density wave gap of 2 H -TaS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, J.; Wijayaratne, K.; Butler, A.; Yang, J.; Malliakas, C. D.; Chung, D. Y.; Louca, D.; Kanatzidis, M. G.; van Wezel, J.; Chatterjee, U.

2017-09-01

We report an in-depth angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study on 2 H -TaS2 , a canonical incommensurate charge density wave (CDW) system. This study demonstrates that just as in related incommensurate CDW systems, 2 H -TaSe2 and 2 H -NbSe2 , the energy gap (ΔCDW) of 2 H -TaS2 is localized along the K -centered Fermi surface barrels and is particle-hole asymmetric. The persistence of ΔCDW even at temperatures higher than the CDW transition temperature TCDW in 2 H -TaS2 , reflects the similar pseudogap behavior observed previously in 2 H -TaSe2 and 2 H -NbSe2 . However, in sharp contrast to 2 H -NbSe2 , where ΔCDW is nonzero only in the vicinity of a few "hot spots" on the inner K -centered Fermi surface barrels, ΔCDW in 2 H -TaS2 is nonzero along the entirety of both K -centered Fermi surface barrels. Based on a tight-binding model, we attribute this dichotomy in the momentum dependence and the Fermi surface specificity of ΔCDW between otherwise similar CDW compounds to the different orbital orientations of their electronic states that participate in the CDW pairing. Our results suggest that the orbital selectivity plays a critical role in the description of incommensurate CDW materials.

Balancing act: Evidence for a strong subdominant d -wave pairing channel in Ba 0.6 K 0.4 Fe 2 As 2

DOE PAGES

Böhm, T.; Kemper, A. F.; Moritz, B.; ...

2014-12-18

We present detailed measurements of the temperature-dependent Raman spectra of optimally doped Ba 0.6K 0.4Fe 2As 2 and analyze the low-temperature spectra based on local-density-approximation band-structure calculations and the subsequent estimation of effective Raman vertices. Experimentally, a narrow, emergent mode appears in the B 1g (d x2-y2) Raman spectra only below T c, well into the superconducting state and at an energy below twice the energy gap on the electron Fermi-surface sheets. The Raman spectra can be reproduced quantitatively with estimates for the magnitude and momentum-space structure of an A 1g (s-wave) pairing gap on different Fermi-surface sheets, as wellmore » as the identification of the emergent sharp feature as a Bardasis-Schrieffer exciton. Formed as a Cooper-pair bound state in a subdominant d x2-y2 channel, the binding energy of the exciton relative to the gap edge shows that the coupling strength in the subdominant channel is as strong as 60% of that in the dominant s-wave channel. This result suggests that d x2-y2 may be the dominant pairing symmetry in Fe-based superconductors that lack central hole bands.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kondo, Takeshi; Palczewski, Ari; Hamaya, Yoichiro

We use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and a new quantitative approach based on the partial density of states to study properties of seemingly disconnected portions of the Fermi surface (FS) that are present in the pseudogap state of cuprates called Fermi arcs. We find that the normal state FS collapses very abruptly into Fermi arcs at the pseudogap temperature (T*). Surprisingly, the length of the Fermi arcs remains constant over an extended temperature range between (T*) and T pair, consistent with the presence of an ordered state below T*. These arcs collapse again at the temperature below which pair formation occursmore » (T pair) either to a point or a very short arc, whose length is limited by our experimental resolution. The tips of the arcs span between points defining a set of wave vectors in momentum space, which are the fingerprints of the ordered state that causes the pseudogap.« less

Weyl semimetals in optical lattices: moving and merging of Weyl points, and hidden symmetry at Weyl points

PubMed Central

Hou, Jing-Min; Chen, Wei

2016-01-01

We propose to realize Weyl semimetals in a cubic optical lattice. We find that there exist three distinct Weyl semimetal phases in the cubic optical lattice for different parameter ranges. One of them has two pairs of Weyl points and the other two have one pair of Weyl points in the Brillouin zone. For a slab geometry with (010) surfaces, the Fermi arcs connecting the projections of Weyl points with opposite topological charges on the surface Brillouin zone is presented. By adjusting the parameters, the Weyl points can move in the Brillouin zone. Interestingly, for two pairs of Weyl points, as one pair of them meet and annihilate, the originial two Fermi arcs coneect into one. As the remaining Weyl points annihilate further, the Fermi arc vanishes and a gap is opened. Furthermore, we find that there always exists a hidden symmetry at Weyl points, regardless of anywhere they located in the Brillouin zone. The hidden symmetry has an antiunitary operator with its square being −1. PMID:27644114

Cooperative Search of Autonomous Vehicles for Unknown Targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Sheng Qing; Yu, Jian Qiao; Zhang, Si Yu

2013-01-01

We study the orbital-dependent superconducting pairing in a five-orbital t-J1-J2 model for iron pnictides. Depending on the orbital selectivity of electron correlations and the orbital characters along the Fermi surface, the superconducting gap in an A_{1g} pairing state may exhibit anisotropy. This anisotropy varies with the degree of J1-J2 magnetic frustration. We have also calculated the dynamical spin susceptibility in the superconducting state. The frequency dependence of the susceptibility at the antiferromagnetic wavevector (\\pi,0) shows a resonance, whose width is enhanced by the orbital dependence of the superconducting gap; when the latter is sufficiently strong, the resonance peak may be split into two. We discuss the implications of our results on the recent angle-resolved photoemission and neutron-scattering measurements in several superconducting iron pnictides.

PREFACE: Anisotropic and multiband pairing: from borides to multicomponent superconductivity Anisotropic and multiband pairing: from borides to multicomponent superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Annett, James; Kusmartsev, Feodor; Bianconi, Antonio

2009-01-01

In 2001, the discovery of superconductivity in MgB2 rapidly led to the understanding that its complex multi-sheeted Fermi surface had two distinct values of the gap parameter Δ, each with its own characteristic temperature dependence. While the theory of multigap superconductivity had been developed long ago, this was the first well studied example where multigap behaviour was observed clearly, and indeed is essential to understand the full superconducting properties of the material. Following this discovery, evidence for multigap behaviour has appeared in a number of materials, including cuprates, ruthenates, and most recently the iron pnictides. As well as multigap pairing on different Fermi-surface sheets, strong gap anisotropy in k-space and strong modulations of the gap in real space (e.g. stripes and phase separation models) are also important in cuprates. The aim of this special section is to present a selection of high-quality papers from experts in these diverse systems, showing the links and common physical issues arising from the existence of multi-component Cooper pairing. The papers collected together for the special section provide a snapshot of the current state of the understanding of multi-component superconductivity in a wide range of materials. In a model motivated by MgB2, Tanaka and Eschrig describe Abrikosov vortex lattice in a two-gap superconductor, examining how the vortex structure is modified by three-dimensionality or quasi two-dimensionality of the Fermi surface. The multi-sheeted Fermi surfaces of the nickel borocarbides are probed using angle-resolved positron annihilation spectroscopy, described by Dugdale et al, leading to a full three-dimensional picture of the complex Fermi surface in this superconducting material. Possible evidence for multigap superconductivity in the iron pnictides, obtained using Andreev point contact spectroscopy, is described by Samuely et al. The iron pnictides are also the subject of the article by Caivano et al, in which it is proposed that the Feschbach resonance mechanism operating near to a quantum critical point may lead to stripe-like fluctuations in these materials. A number of papers describe multigap-related effects in high-Tc superconductors. In particular, Atkinson shows how the existence of CuO chain states at the Fermi surface leads to a set of resonances in the induced gap in the chain layer, which have a pronounced effect on the vortex core shape. Kristoffel et al discuss the existence of the two coherence lengths in two-gap superconductors, and describe how this leads to spatially periodic fluctuations, with possible application to high-temperature superconductivity. Kugel et al describe a scenario for phase separation due to long-range Coulomb forces leading to microstrain and nanoscale inhomogeneities in high-Tc cuprates. Kusmartsev and Saarela also argue that charge over-screening may lead to 'Coulomb bubbles' in high-Tc superconductors. Finally, Wysokiński et al describe multigap effects in strontium ruthenate, in particular the effects on the NMR relaxation rate spectra, which are obtained for NMR on different nuclear species.

Multiparticle instability in a spin-imbalanced Fermi gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whitehead, T. M.; Conduit, G. J.

2018-01-01

Weak attractive interactions in a spin-imbalanced Fermi gas induce a multiparticle instability, binding multiple fermions together. The maximum binding energy per particle is achieved when the ratio of the number of up- and down-spin particles in the instability is equal to the ratio of the up- and down-spin densities of states in momentum at the Fermi surfaces, to utilize the variational freedom of all available momentum states. We derive this result using an analytical approach, and verify it using exact diagonalization. The multiparticle instability extends the Cooper pairing instability of balanced Fermi gases to the imbalanced case, and could form the basis of a many-body state, analogously to the construction of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity out of Cooper pairs.

Lifshitz transitions and zero point lattice fluctuations in sulfur hydride showing near room temperature superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianconi, Antonio; Jarlborg, Thomas

2015-11-01

Emerets's experiments on pressurized sulfur hydride have shown that H3S metal has the highest known superconducting critical temperature Tc = 203 K. The Emerets data show pressure induced changes of the isotope coefficient between 0.25 and 0.5, in disagreement with Eliashberg theory which predicts a nearly constant isotope coefficient.We assign the pressure dependent isotope coefficient to Lifshitz transitions induced by pressure and zero point lattice fluctuations. It is known that pressure could induce changes of the topology of the Fermi surface, called Lifshitz transitions, but were neglected in previous papers on the H3S superconductivity issue. Here we propose thatH3S is a multi-gap superconductor with a first condensate in the BCS regime (located in the large Fermi surface with high Fermi energy) which coexists with second condensates in the BCS-BEC crossover regime (located on the Fermi surface spots with small Fermi energy) near the and Mpoints.We discuss the Bianconi-Perali-Valletta (BPV) superconductivity theory to understand superconductivity in H3S since the BPV theory includes the corrections of the chemical potential due to pairing and the configuration interaction between different condensates, neglected by the Eliashberg theory. These two terms in the BPV theory give the shape resonance in superconducting gaps, similar to Feshbach resonance in ultracold fermionic gases, which is known to amplify the critical temperature. Therefore this work provides some key tools useful in the search for new room temperature superconductors.

Effect of the particle-hole channel on BCS–Bose-Einstein condensation crossover in atomic Fermi gases

PubMed Central

Chen, Qijin

2016-01-01

BCS–Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover is effected by increasing pairing strength between fermions from weak to strong in the particle-particle channel, and has attracted a lot of attention since the experimental realization of quantum degenerate atomic Fermi gases. Here we study the effect of the (often dropped) particle-hole channel on the zero T gap Δ(0), superfluid transition temperature Tc, the pseudogap at Tc, and the mean-field ratio 2Δ(0)/, from BCS through BEC regimes, using a pairing fluctuation theory which includes self-consistently the contributions of finite-momentum pairs and features a pseudogap in single particle excitation spectrum. Summing over the infinite particle-hole ladder diagrams, we find a complex dynamical structure for the particle-hole susceptibility χph, and conclude that neglecting the self-energy feedback causes a serious over-estimate of χph. While our result in the BCS limit agrees with Gor’kov et al., the particle-hole channel effect becomes more complex and pronounced in the crossover regime, where χph is reduced by both a smaller Fermi surface and a big (pseudo)gap. Deep in the BEC regime, the particle-hole channel contributions drop to zero. We predict a density dependence of the magnetic field at the Feshbach resonance, which can be used to quantify χph and test different theories. PMID:27183875

Kosterlitz-Thouless transition and vortex-antivortex lattice melting in two-dimensional Fermi gases with p - or d -wave pairing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Gaoqing; He, Lianyi; Huang, Xu-Guang

2017-12-01

We present a theoretical study of the finite-temperature Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) and vortex-antivortex lattice (VAL) melting transitions in two-dimensional Fermi gases with p - or d -wave pairing. For both pairings, when the interaction is tuned from weak to strong attractions, we observe a quantum phase transition from the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluidity to the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of difermions. The KT and VAL transition temperatures increase during this BCS-BEC transition and approach constant values in the deep BEC region. The BCS-BEC transition is characterized by the nonanalyticities of the chemical potential, the superfluid order parameter, and the sound velocities as functions of the interaction strength at both zero and finite temperatures; however, the temperature effect tends to weaken the nonanalyticities compared to the zero-temperature case. The effect of mismatched Fermi surfaces on the d -wave pairing is also studied.

Bulk Fermi surface of the Weyl type-II semimetallic candidate γ - MoTe 2

DOE PAGES

Rhodes, D.; Schönemann, R.; Aryal, N.; ...

2017-10-17

The electronic structure of semi-metallic transition-metal dichalcogenides, such as WTemore » $$_2$$ and orthorhombic $$\\gamma-$$MoTe$$_2$$, are claimed to contain pairs of Weyl points or linearly touching electron and hole pockets associated with a non-trivial Chern number. For this reason, these compounds were recently claimed to conform to a new class, deemed type-II, of Weyl semi-metallic systems. A series of angle resolved photoemission experiments (ARPES) claim a broad agreement with these predictions detecting, for example, topological Fermi arcs at the surface of these crystals. We synthesized single-crystals of semi-metallic MoTe$$_2$$ through a Te flux method to validate these predictions through measurements of its bulk Fermi surface (FS) via quantum oscillatory phenomena. We find that the superconducting transition temperature of $$\\gamma-$$MoTe$$_2$$ depends on disorder as quantified by the ratio between the room- and low-temperature resistivities, suggesting the possibility of an unconventional superconducting pairing symmetry. Similarly to WTe$$_2$$, the magnetoresistivity of $$\\gamma-$$MoTe$$_2$$ does not saturate at high magnetic fields and can easily surpass $$10^{6}$$ \\%. Remarkably, the analysis of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) signal superimposed onto the magnetic torque, indicates that the geometry of its FS is markedly distinct from the calculated one. The dHvA signal also reveals that the FS is affected by the Zeeman-effect precluding the extraction of the Berry-phase. A direct comparison between the previous ARPES studies and density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations reveals a disagreement in the position of the valence bands relative to the Fermi level $$\\varepsilon_F$$. Here in this paper, we show that a shift of the DFT valence bands relative to $$\\varepsilon_F$$, in order to match the ARPES observations, and of the DFT electron bands to explain some of the observed dHvA frequencies, leads to a good agreement between the calculations and the angular dependence of the FS cross-sectional areas observed experimentally. However, this relative displacement between electron- and hole-bands eliminates their crossings and, therefore, the Weyl type-II points predicted for $$\\gamma-$$MoTe$$_2$$« less

Bulk Fermi surface of the Weyl type-II semimetallic candidate γ -MoTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rhodes, D.; Schönemann, R.; Aryal, N.; Zhou, Q.; Zhang, Q. R.; Kampert, E.; Chiu, Y.-C.; Lai, Y.; Shimura, Y.; McCandless, G. T.; Chan, J. Y.; Paley, D. W.; Lee, J.; Finke, A. D.; Ruff, J. P. C.; Das, S.; Manousakis, E.; Balicas, L.

2017-10-01

The electronic structure of semimetallic transition-metal dichalcogenides, such as WTe2 and orthorhombic γ -MoTe2 , are claimed to contain pairs of Weyl points or linearly touching electron and hole pockets associated with a nontrivial Chern number. For this reason, these compounds were recently claimed to conform to a new class, deemed type-II, of Weyl semimetallic systems. A series of angle-resolved photoemission experiments (ARPES) claim a broad agreement with these predictions detecting, for example, Fermi arcs at the surface of these crystals. We synthesized single crystals of semimetallic MoTe2 through a Te flux method to validate these predictions through measurements of its bulk Fermi surface (FS) via quantum oscillatory phenomena. We find that the superconducting transition temperature of γ -MoTe2 depends on disorder as quantified by the ratio between the room- and low-temperature resistivities, suggesting the possibility of an unconventional superconducting pairing symmetry. Similarly to WTe2, the magnetoresistivity of γ -MoTe2 does not saturate at high magnetic fields and can easily surpass 106%. Remarkably, the analysis of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) signal superimposed onto the magnetic torque indicates that the geometry of its FS is markedly distinct from the calculated one. The dHvA signal also reveals that the FS is affected by the Zeeman effect precluding the extraction of the Berry phase. A direct comparison between the previous ARPES studies and density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations reveals a disagreement in the position of the valence bands relative to the Fermi level ɛF. Here, we show that a shift of the DFT valence bands relative to ɛF, in order to match the ARPES observations, and of the DFT electron bands to explain some of the observed dHvA frequencies, leads to a good agreement between the calculations and the angular dependence of the FS cross-sectional areas observed experimentally. However, this relative displacement between electron and hole bands eliminates their crossings and, therefore, the Weyl type-II points predicted for γ -MoTe2 .

Superconductivity across Lifshitz transition and anomalous insulating state in surface K-dosed (Li0.8Fe0.2OH)FeSe.

PubMed

Ren, Mingqiang; Yan, Yajun; Niu, Xiaohai; Tao, Ran; Hu, Die; Peng, Rui; Xie, Binping; Zhao, Jun; Zhang, Tong; Feng, Dong-Lai

2017-07-01

In iron-based superconductors, understanding the relation between superconductivity and electronic structure upon doping is crucial for exploring the pairing mechanism. Recently, it was found that, in iron selenide (FeSe), enhanced superconductivity ( T c of more than 40 K) can be achieved via electron doping, with the Fermi surface only comprising M-centered electron pockets. By using surface K dosing, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we studied the electronic structure and superconductivity of (Li 0.8 Fe 0.2 OH)FeSe in the deep electron-doped regime. We find that a Γ-centered electron band, which originally lies above the Fermi level ( E F ), can be continuously tuned to cross E F and contribute a new electron pocket at Γ. When this Lifshitz transition occurs, the superconductivity in the M-centered electron pocket is slightly suppressed, and a possible superconducting gap with a small size (up to ~5 meV) and a dome-like doping dependence is observed on the new Γ electron pocket. Upon further K dosing, the system eventually evolves into an insulating state. Our findings provide new clues to understand superconductivity versus Fermi surface topology and the correlation effect in FeSe-based superconductors.

Superconductivity across Lifshitz transition and anomalous insulating state in surface K–dosed (Li0.8Fe0.2OH)FeSe

PubMed Central

Ren, Mingqiang; Yan, Yajun; Niu, Xiaohai; Tao, Ran; Hu, Die; Peng, Rui; Xie, Binping; Zhao, Jun; Zhang, Tong; Feng, Dong-Lai

2017-01-01

In iron-based superconductors, understanding the relation between superconductivity and electronic structure upon doping is crucial for exploring the pairing mechanism. Recently, it was found that, in iron selenide (FeSe), enhanced superconductivity (Tc of more than 40 K) can be achieved via electron doping, with the Fermi surface only comprising M-centered electron pockets. By using surface K dosing, scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we studied the electronic structure and superconductivity of (Li0.8Fe0.2OH)FeSe in the deep electron-doped regime. We find that a Γ-centered electron band, which originally lies above the Fermi level (EF), can be continuously tuned to cross EF and contribute a new electron pocket at Γ. When this Lifshitz transition occurs, the superconductivity in the M-centered electron pocket is slightly suppressed, and a possible superconducting gap with a small size (up to ~5 meV) and a dome-like doping dependence is observed on the new Γ electron pocket. Upon further K dosing, the system eventually evolves into an insulating state. Our findings provide new clues to understand superconductivity versus Fermi surface topology and the correlation effect in FeSe-based superconductors. PMID:28740865

Three-component fermions with surface Fermi arcs in tungsten carbide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, J.-Z.; He, J.-B.; Xu, Y.-F.; Lv, B. Q.; Chen, D.; Zhu, W.-L.; Zhang, S.; Kong, L.-Y.; Gao, X.; Rong, L.-Y.; Huang, Y.-B.; Richard, P.; Xi, C.-Y.; Choi, E. S.; Shao, Y.; Wang, Y.-L.; Gao, H.-J.; Dai, X.; Fang, C.; Weng, H.-M.; Chen, G.-F.; Qian, T.; Ding, H.

2018-04-01

Topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals not only host quasiparticles analogous to the elementary fermionic particles in high-energy physics, but also have a non-trivial band topology manifested by gapless surface states, which induce exotic surface Fermi arcs1,2. Recent advances suggest new types of topological semimetal, in which spatial symmetries protect gapless electronic excitations without high-energy analogues3-11. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we observe triply degenerate nodal points near the Fermi level of tungsten carbide with space group P 6 ¯m 2 (no. 187), in which the low-energy quasiparticles are described as three-component fermions distinct from Dirac and Weyl fermions. We further observe topological surface states, whose constant-energy contours constitute pairs of `Fermi arcs' connecting to the surface projections of the triply degenerate nodal points, proving the non-trivial topology of the newly identified semimetal state.

First-order chiral to non-chiral transition in the angular dependence of the upper critical induction of the Scharnberg-Klemm p-wave pair state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klemm, Richard; Zhang, Jingchuan; Lorscher, Christopher; Gu, Qiang

2014-03-01

We calculate the temperature T and angular (θ , ϕ) dependence of the upper critical induction Bc 2(θ , ϕ , T) for parallel-spin superconductors with an axially symmetric p-wave pairing interaction pinned to the lattice and a dominant ellipsoidal Fermi surface (FS). When both parallel-spin states are allowed, the chiral Scharnberg-Klemm state Bc 2(θ , ϕ , T) exceeds that of the chiral Anderson-Brinkman-Morel state for all FS anisotropies, and exhibits a kink at θ =θ*(T , ϕ) , indicative of a first-order transition from its chiral, nodal-direction behavior to its non-chiral, antinodal-direction behavior. Potential applicability to Sr2RuO4, UCoGe, and topological superconductors is discussed.

Evidence for a small hole pocket in the Fermi surface of underdoped YBa2Cu3Oy

PubMed Central

Doiron-Leyraud, N.; Badoux, S.; René de Cotret, S.; Lepault, S.; LeBoeuf, D.; Laliberté, F.; Hassinger, E.; Ramshaw, B. J.; Bonn, D. A.; Hardy, W. N.; Liang, R.; Park, J.-H..; Vignolles, D.; Vignolle, B.; Taillefer, L.; Proust, C.

2015-01-01

In underdoped cuprate superconductors, the Fermi surface undergoes a reconstruction that produces a small electron pocket, but whether there is another, as yet, undetected portion to the Fermi surface is unknown. Establishing the complete topology of the Fermi surface is key to identifying the mechanism responsible for its reconstruction. Here we report evidence for a second Fermi pocket in underdoped YBa2Cu3Oy, detected as a small quantum oscillation frequency in the thermoelectric response and in the c-axis resistance. The field-angle dependence of the frequency shows that it is a distinct Fermi surface, and the normal-state thermopower requires it to be a hole pocket. A Fermi surface consisting of one electron pocket and two hole pockets with the measured areas and masses is consistent with a Fermi-surface reconstruction by the charge–density–wave order observed in YBa2Cu3Oy, provided other parts of the reconstructed Fermi surface are removed by a separate mechanism, possibly the pseudogap. PMID:25616011

Effect of Fermi surface nesting on resonant spin excitations in Ba{<_1-x}K{<_x}Fe{<_2}As{<_2}.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Castellan, J.-P.; Rosenkranz, S.; Goremychkin, E.A.

2011-01-01

We report inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the resonant spin excitations in Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} over a broad range of electron band filling. The fall in the superconducting transition temperature with hole doping coincides with the magnetic excitations splitting into two incommensurate peaks because of the growing mismatch in the hole and electron Fermi surface volumes, as confirmed by a tight-binding model with s{sub {+-}}-symmetry pairing. The reduction in Fermi surface nesting is accompanied by a collapse of the resonance binding energy and its spectral weight, caused by the weakening of electron-electron correlations.

Pair Creation Transparency in Gamma-Ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Story, Sarah A.

Pulsars are rapidly rotating, highly magnetized neutron stars that produce photon pulses in energies from radio to gamma-rays. The population of known gamma-ray pulsars has been increased nearly twenty-fold in the past six years since the launch of the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope; it now exceeds 145 sources and has defined an important part of Fermi's science legacy. In order to understand the detectability of pulsars in gamma-rays, it is important to consider not only the radiative mechanisms that produce gamma-rays, but the processes that can attenuate photons before they can leave the pulsar magnetosphere. Here I explore two such processes, one-photon magnetic pair creation and two-photon pair creation. Magnetic pair creation has been at the core of radio pulsar paradigms and central to polar cap models of gamma-ray pulsars for over three decades. Among the population characteristics well established for Fermi pulsars is the common occurrence of exponential turnovers in the spectra in the 1-10 GeV range. These turnovers are too gradual to arise from magnetic pair creation in the strong magnetic fields of pulsar inner magnetospheres. By demanding insignificant photon attenuation precipitated by such single-photon pair creation, the energies of these turnovers for Fermi pulsars can be used to compute lower bounds for the typical altitude of GeV band emission. In this thesis, I explore such pair transparency constraints below the turnover energy and update earlier altitude bound determinations that have been deployed in various gamma-ray pulsar papers by the Fermi-LAT collaboration. For low altitude emission locales, general relativistic influences are found to be important, increasing cumulative opacity, shortening the photon attenuation lengths, and also reducing the maximum energy that permits escape of photons from a neutron star magnetosphere. Rotational aberration influences are also explored, and are found to be small at low altitudes, except near the magnetic pole. Our analysis clearly demonstrates that including near-threshold physics in the pair creation rate is essential to deriving accurate attenuation lengths and escape energies. The altitude bounds we compute for Fermi pulsars are typically in the range of 2-7 stellar radii and provide key information on the emission altitude in radio quiet pulsars that do not possess double peaked pulse profiles. The bound for the Crab pulsar is at a much higher altitude, with the detection by the atmospheric Cherenkov telescope MAGIC out to 350-400 GeV implying a lower bound of 310 km to the emission region, i.e., approximately 20% of the light cylinder radius. These results are also extended to the super-critical field domain, where it is found that emission in magnetars originating below around 10 stellar radii will not appear in the Fermi-LAT band. Two-photon pair creation becomes important at high altitudes and for photons produced by curvature radiation from charges flowing downward along magnetic field lines. Because the efficiency of two-photon pair creation does not depend on the local magnetic field strength, it can continue to be active in the weak-field regions far from the neutron star. It is found that two-photon pair creation can strongly attenuate photons emitted from downward-traveling charges except at very high altitudes of emission, but in the absence of rotational aberration, it is unable to produce significant opacity for upward-traveling charges unless unrealistically high neutron star surface temperatures are assumed.

Nuclear relaxation rate in layered superconductors with unconventional pairing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maleyev, S.V.; Yashenkin, A.G.; Aristov, D.N.

1994-11-01

The cubic temperature dependence of the nuclear relaxation rate (NRR) in layered superconductors with the order parameter having zeros at the Fermi surface (FS) is found to be universal under quite general conditions. The coefficient in the quasi-Korringa term for the NRR appearing at low temperatures due to impurity scattering is estimated. It is shown that an anisotropy of the gap function over the FS leads to the disappearance of the Hebel-Slichter coherence peak close to [ital T][sub [ital c

s± pairing near a Lifshitz transition

DOE PAGES

Mishra, Vivek; Scalapino, Douglas J.; Maier, Thomas A.

2016-08-26

Observations of robust superconductivity in some of the iron based superconductors in the vicinity of a Lifshitz point where a spin density wave instability is suppressed as the hole band drops below the Fermi energy raise questions for spin-fluctuation theories. In this paper we discuss spin-fluctuation pairing for a bilayer Hubbard model, which goes through such a Lifshitz transition. Our results show s± pairing with a transition temperature that peaks beyond the Lifshitz point and a gap function that has essentially the same magnitude but opposite sign on the incipient hole band as it does on the electron band thatmore » has a Fermi surface.« less

Superconductivity in doped Dirac semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashimoto, Tatsuki; Kobayashi, Shingo; Tanaka, Yukio; Sato, Masatoshi

2016-07-01

We theoretically study intrinsic superconductivity in doped Dirac semimetals. Dirac semimetals host bulk Dirac points, which are formed by doubly degenerate bands, so the Hamiltonian is described by a 4 ×4 matrix and six types of k -independent pair potentials are allowed by the Fermi-Dirac statistics. We show that the unique spin-orbit coupling leads to characteristic superconducting gap structures and d vectors on the Fermi surface and the electron-electron interaction between intra and interorbitals gives a novel phase diagram of superconductivity. It is found that when the interorbital attraction is dominant, an unconventional superconducting state with point nodes appears. To verify the experimental signature of possible superconducting states, we calculate the temperature dependence of bulk physical properties such as electronic specific heat and spin susceptibility and surface state. In the unconventional superconducting phase, either dispersive or flat Andreev bound states appear between point nodes, which leads to double peaks or a single peak in the surface density of states, respectively. As a result, possible superconducting states can be distinguished by combining bulk and surface measurements.

Homogeneous Atomic Fermi Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Biswaroop; Yan, Zhenjie; Patel, Parth B.; Hadzibabic, Zoran; Yefsah, Tarik; Struck, Julian; Zwierlein, Martin W.

2017-03-01

We report on the creation of homogeneous Fermi gases of ultracold atoms in a uniform potential. In the momentum distribution of a spin-polarized gas, we observe the emergence of the Fermi surface and the saturated occupation of one particle per momentum state: the striking consequence of Pauli blocking in momentum space for a degenerate gas. Cooling a spin-balanced Fermi gas at unitarity, we create homogeneous superfluids and observe spatially uniform pair condensates. For thermodynamic measurements, we introduce a hybrid potential that is harmonic in one dimension and uniform in the other two. The spatially resolved compressibility reveals the superfluid transition in a spin-balanced Fermi gas, saturation in a fully polarized Fermi gas, and strong attraction in the polaronic regime of a partially polarized Fermi gas.

Superconductivity in the two-dimensional Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beenen, J.; Edwards, D. M.

1995-11-01

Quasiparticle bands of the two-dimensional Hubbard model are calculated using the Roth two-pole approximation to the one-particle Green's function. Excellent agreement is obtained with recent Monte Carlo calculations, including an anomalous volume of the Fermi surface near half-filling, which can possibly be explained in terms of a breakdown of Fermi liquid theory. The calculated bands are very flat around the (π,0) points of the Brillouin zone in agreement with photoemission measurements of cuprate superconductors. With doping there is a shift in spectral weight from the upper band to the lower band. The Roth method is extended to deal with superconductivity within a four-pole approximation allowing electron-hole mixing. It is shown that triplet p-wave pairing never occurs. A self-consistent solution with singlet dx2-y2-wave pairing is found and optimal doping occurs when the van Hove singularity, corresponding to the flat band part, lies at the Fermi level. Nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic correlations play an important role in flattening the bands near the Fermi level and in favoring superconductivity. However, the mechanism for superconductivity is a local one, in contrast to spin-fluctuation exchange models. For reasonable values of the hopping parameter the transition temperature Tc is in the range 10-100 K. The optimum doping δc lies between 0.14 and 0.25, depending on the ratio U/t. The gap equation has a BCS-like form and 2Δmax/kTc~=4.

Fulde–Ferrell superfluids in spinless ultracold Fermi gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Zhen-Fei; Guo, Guang-Can; Zheng, Zhen; Zou, Xu-Bo

2018-06-01

The Fulde–Ferrell (FF) superfluid phase, in which fermions form finite momentum Cooper pairings, is well studied in spin-singlet superfluids in past decades. Different from previous works that engineer the FF state in spinful cold atoms, we show that the FF state can emerge in spinless Fermi gases confined in optical lattice associated with nearest-neighbor interactions. The mechanism of the spinless FF state relies on the split Fermi surfaces by tuning the chemistry potential, which naturally gives rise to finite momentum Cooper pairings. The phase transition is accompanied by changed Chern numbers, in which, different from the conventional picture, the band gap does not close. By beyond-mean-field calculations, we find the finite momentum pairing is more robust, yielding the system promising for maintaining the FF state at finite temperature. Finally we present the possible realization and detection scheme of the spinless FF state.

Evolution of Fermi Surface Properties in CexLa1-xB6 and PrxLa1-xB6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Endo, Motoki; Nakamura, Shintaro; Isshiki, Toshiyuki; Kimura, Noriaki; Nojima, Tsutomu; Aoki, Haruyoshi; Harima, Hisatomo; Kunii, Satoru

2006-11-01

We report the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect measurements of the Fermi surface properties in LaB6, CexLa1-xB6 (x = 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0) and PrxLa1-xB6 (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0) with particular attention to the spin dependence of the Fermi surface properties. The Fermi surface shape and dimension of CexLa1-xB6 change considerably with Ce concentration, while those of PrxLa1-xB6 change very slightly up to x = 0.75, and in PrB6 the Fermi surface splits into the up and down spin Fermi surfaces. The effective mass of CexLa1-xB6 increases considerably with Ce concentration and is nearly proportional to the number of Ce ions, whereas that of PrxLa1-xB6 increases slightly with Pr concentration. In CexLa1-xB6 the effective mass depends very strongly on field and increases divergently with decreasing field, while that of PrxLa1-xB6 increases slightly with decreasing field. The contribution to the dHvA signal from the conduction electrons of one spin direction diminishes with Ce concentration and appears to disappear somewhere around x = 0.25--0.5. A weak spin dependence is also found in PrxLa1-xB6. The behaviors of CexLa1-xB6 and PrxLa1-xB6 are compared to discuss the origin of the spin dependence of the Fermi surface properties.

Small Fermi surfaces of PtSn4 and Pt3In7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yara, T.; Kakihana, M.; Nishimura, K.; Hedo, M.; Nakama, T.; Ōnuki, Y.; Harima, H.

2018-05-01

An extremely large magnetoresistance of PtSn4 has been recently observed and discussed from a viewpoint of de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations and theoretical small Fermi surfaces. We have studied precisely the Fermi surfaces by measuring angular dependences of dHvA frequencies and have also carried out the full potential LAPW band calculation. Furthermore, small Fermi surfaces have been detected in another Pt-based compound of Pt3In7 with the cubic structure.

Theoretical studies of superconductivity in doped BaCoSO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Shengshan; Li, Yinxiang; Zhang, Qiang; Le, Congcong; Hu, Jiangping

2018-06-01

We investigate superconductivity that may exist in the doped BaCoSO, a multi-orbital Mott insulator with a strong antiferromagnetic ground state. The superconductivity is studied in both t-J type and Hubbard type multi-orbital models by mean field approach and random phase approximation (RPA) analysis. Even if there is no C 4 rotational symmetry, it is found that the system still carries a d-wave like pairing symmetry state with gapless nodes and sign changed superconducting order parameters on Fermi surfaces. The results are largely doping insensitive. In this superconducting state, the three {t_{{2_g}}} orbitals have very different superconducting form factors in momentum space. In particular, the intra-orbital pairing of the {d_{{x^2} - {y^2}}} orbital has an s-wave like pairing form factor. The two methods also predict very different pairing strength on different parts of Fermi surfaces. These results suggest that BaCoSO and related materials can be a new ground to test and establish fundamental principles for unconventional high temperature superconductivity.

Structural and electronic properties of AlN(0001) surface under partial N coverage as determined by ab initio approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Strak, Pawel; Sakowski, Konrad; Kempisty, Pawel

2015-09-07

Properties of bare and nitrogen-covered Al-terminated AlN(0001) surface were determined using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. At a low nitrogen coverage, the Fermi level is pinned by Al broken bond states located below conduction band minimum. Adsorption of nitrogen is dissociative with an energy gain of 6.05 eV/molecule at a H3 site creating an overlap with states of three neighboring Al surface atoms. During this adsorption, electrons are transferred from Al broken bond to topmost N adatom states. Accompanying charge transfer depends on the Fermi level. In accordance with electron counting rule (ECR), the DFT results confirm the Fermi levelmore » is not pinned at the critical value of nitrogen coverage θ{sub N}(1) = 1/4 monolayer (ML), but it is shifted from an Al-broken bond state to Np{sub z} state. The equilibrium thermodynamic potential of nitrogen in vapor depends drastically on the Fermi level pinning being shifted by about 4 eV for an ECR state at 1/4 ML coverage. For coverage above 1/4 ML, adsorption is molecular with an energy gain of 1.5 eV at a skewed on-top position above an Al surface atom. Electronic states of the admolecule are occupied as in the free molecule, no electron transfer occurs and adsorption of a N{sub 2} molecule does not depend on the Fermi level. The equilibrium pressure of molecular nitrogen above an AlN(0001) surface depends critically on the Fermi level position, being very low and very high for low and high coverage, respectively. From this fact, one can conclude that at typical growth conditions, the Fermi level is not pinned, and the adsorption and incorporation of impurities depend on the position of Fermi level in the bulk.« less

Gap Symmetry of the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeCu2Si2 at Ambient Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yu; Liu, Min; Fu, Zhaoming; Chen, Xiangrong; Yang, Fan; Yang, Yi-feng

2018-05-01

Recent observations of two nodeless gaps in superconducting CeCu2 Si2 have raised intensive debates on its exact gap symmetry, while a satisfactory theoretical basis is still lacking. Here we propose a phenomenological approach to calculate the superconducting gap functions, taking into consideration both the realistic Fermi surface topology and the intra- and interband quantum critical scatterings. Our calculations yield a nodeless s±-wave solution in the presence of strong interband pairing interaction, in good agreement with experiments. This provides a possible basis for understanding the superconducting gap symmetry of CeCu2 Si2 at ambient pressure and indicates the potential importance of multiple Fermi surfaces and interband pairing interaction in understanding heavy fermion superconductivity.

Theory of Kerr and Faraday rotations and linear dichroism in Topological Weyl Semimetals.

PubMed

Kargarian, Mehdi; Randeria, Mohit; Trivedi, Nandini

2015-08-03

We consider the electromagnetic response of a topological Weyl semimetal (TWS) with a pair of Weyl nodes in the bulk and corresponding Fermi arcs in the surface Brillouin zone. We compute the frequency-dependent complex conductivities σαβ(ω) and also take into account the modification of Maxwell equations by the topological θ-term to obtain the Kerr and Faraday rotations in a variety of geometries. For TWS films thinner than the wavelength, the Kerr and Faraday rotations, determined by the separation between Weyl nodes, are significantly larger than in topological insulators. In thicker films, the Kerr and Faraday angles can be enhanced by choice of film thickness and substrate refractive index. We show that, for radiation incident on a surface with Fermi arcs, there is no Kerr or Faraday rotation but the electric field develops a longitudinal component inside the TWS, and there is linear dichroism signal. Our results have implications for probing the TWS phase in various experimental systems.

Impact of the Order Parameter Symmetries on the Vortex Core Structure in Iron-Based Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belova, Polina; Zakharchuk, Ivan; Traito, Konstantin Borisovich; Lähderanta, Erkki

2012-08-01

Effects of the order parameter symmetries on the cutoff parameter ξh (determining the magnetic field distribution) in the mixed state are investigated in the framework of quasiclassical Eilenberger theory for isotropic s±, s++ and anisotropic dx2-y2-wave superconducting pairings. These symmetries are proposed for the pairing state of the Fe-pnictides. In s± pairing symmetry, the gap function has opposite sign at the electron and hole pockets of the Fermi surface, it is connected with interband antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations. In s++ pairing symmetry, the gap function has the same sign at the Fermi surface, it is mediated by moderate electron-phonon interaction due to Fe-ion oscillation and the critical orbital fluctuation. The dx2-y2 pairing symmetry can rise from intraband antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation in strongly hole overdoped iron pnictide KFe2As2 and ternary chalcogenides. The s± pairing symmetry results in different effects of intraband (Γ0) and interband (Γπ) impurity scattering on ξh. It is found that ξh/ξc2 value decreases with Γ0 leading to the values much less than those predicted by the analytical Ginzburg-Landau (AGL) theory for high Γ0. At very high Γ0, the interband scattering suppresses ξh/ξc2 considerably below one in the whole field range making it flat for both s± and s++ pairing symmetries. Scaling of the cutoff parameter with the electromagnetic coherence length shows the importance of the nonlocal effects in mixed state. The small values of ξh/ξc2 were observed in μSR measurements of Co-doped BaFe2As2. If Γ0 and Γπ are small and equal than the ξh/ξc2(B/Bc2) dependence for s± symmetry behaves like that of the AGL model and shows a minimum with value much more than that obtained for s++ superconductors. With high Γπ, the ξh/ξc2(B/Bc2) dependence resides above the AGL curve for s± pairing symmetry, as observed in SANS measurements of stoichiometrical LiFeAs compound. In d-wave superconductors, ξh/ξc2 always increases with Γ similar to the s± symmetry case with Γ0 = Γπ.

Superconductivity in an almost localized Fermi liquid of quasiparticles with spin-dependent masses and effective-field induced by electron correlations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaczmarczyk, Jan; Spałek, Jozef

2009-06-01

Paired state of nonstandard quasiparticles is analyzed in detail in two model situations. Namely, we consider the Cooper-pair bound state and the condensed phase of an almost localized Fermi liquid composed of quasiparticles in a narrow band with the spin-dependent masses and an effective field, both introduced earlier and induced by strong electronic correlations. Each of these novel characteristics is calculated in a self-consistent manner. We analyze the bound states as a function of Cooper-pair momentum |Q| in applied magnetic field in the strongly Pauli limiting case (i.e., when the orbital effects of applied magnetic field are disregarded). The spin-direction dependence of the effective mass makes the quasiparticles comprising Cooper-pair spin distinguishable in the quantum-mechanical sense, whereas the condensed gas of pairs may still be regarded as composed of identical entities. The Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) condensed phase of moving pairs is by far more robust in the applied field for the case with spin-dependent masses than in the situation with equal masses of quasiparticles. Relative stability of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer vs FFLO phase is analyzed in detail on temperature-applied field plane. Although our calculations are carried out for a model situation, we can conclude that the spin-dependent masses should play an important role in stabilizing high-field low-temperature unconventional superconducting phases (FFLO, for instance) in systems such as CeCoIn5 , organic metals, and possibly others.

Quasiparticle interference of Fermi arc states in the type-II Weyl semimetal candidate WT e2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Yuan; Yang, Xing; Peng, Lang; Wang, Zhi-Jun; Li, Jian; Yi, Chang-Jiang; Xian, Jing-Jing; Shi, You-Guo; Fu, Ying-Shuang

2018-04-01

Weyl semimetals possess linear dispersions through pairs of Weyl nodes in three-dimensional momentum spaces, whose hallmark arclike surface states are connected to Weyl nodes with different chirality. WT e2 was recently predicted to be a new type of Weyl semimetal. Here, we study the quasiparticle interference (QPI) of its Fermi arc surface states by combined spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. We observed the electron scattering on two types of WT e2 surfaces unambiguously. Its scattering signal can be ascribed mainly to trivial surface states. We also address the QPI feature of nontrivial surface states from theoretical calculations. The experimental QPI patterns show some features that are likely related to the nontrivial Fermi arc states, whose existence is, however, not conclusive. Our study provides an indispensable clue for studying the Weyl semimetal phase in WT e2 .

Andreev reflection without Fermi surface alignment in high- T c van der Waals heterostructures

DOE PAGES

Zareapour, Parisa; Hayat, Alex; Zhao, Shu Yang F.; ...

2017-04-05

We address the controversy over the proximity effect between topological materials and high-T c superconductors. Junctions are produced between Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2Omore » $${}_{8+\\delta }$$ and materials with different Fermi surfaces (Bi 2Te 3 and graphite). Both cases reveal tunneling spectra that are consistent with Andreev reflection. This is confirmed by a magnetic field that shifts features via the Doppler effect. This is modeled with a single parameter that accounts for tunneling into a screening supercurrent. Thus the tunneling involves Cooper pairs crossing the heterostructure, showing that the Fermi surface mismatch does not hinder the ability to form transparent interfaces, which is accounted for by the extended Brillouin zone and different lattice symmetries.« less

Number of holes contained within the Fermi surface volume in underdoped high-temperature superconductors

DOE PAGES

Harrison, Neil

2016-08-16

Here, we provide a potential solution to the longstanding problem relating Fermi surface reconstruction to the number of holes contained within the Fermi surface volume in underdoped high T c superconductors. On considering uniaxial and biaxial charge-density wave order, we show that there exists a relationship between the ordering wave vector, the hole doping, and the cross-sectional area of the reconstructed Fermi surface whose precise form depends on the volume of the starting Fermi surface. We consider a “large” starting Fermi surface comprising 1+p hole carriers, as predicted by band structure calculations, and a “small” starting Fermi surface comprising pmore » hole carriers, as proposed in models in which the Coulomb repulsion remains the dominant energy. Using the reconstructed Fermi surface cross-sectional area obtained in quantum oscillation experiments in YBa 2Cu 3O 6+x and HgBa 2CuO 4+x and the established methods for estimating the chemical hole doping, we find the ordering vectors obtained from x-ray scattering measurements to show a close correspondence with those expected for the small starting Fermi surface. We therefore show the quantum oscillation frequency and charge-density wave vectors provide accurate estimates for the number of holes contributing to the Fermi surface volume in the pseudogap regime.« less

Number of holes contained within the Fermi surface volume in underdoped high-temperature superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harrison, Neil

Here, we provide a potential solution to the longstanding problem relating Fermi surface reconstruction to the number of holes contained within the Fermi surface volume in underdoped high T c superconductors. On considering uniaxial and biaxial charge-density wave order, we show that there exists a relationship between the ordering wave vector, the hole doping, and the cross-sectional area of the reconstructed Fermi surface whose precise form depends on the volume of the starting Fermi surface. We consider a “large” starting Fermi surface comprising 1+p hole carriers, as predicted by band structure calculations, and a “small” starting Fermi surface comprising pmore » hole carriers, as proposed in models in which the Coulomb repulsion remains the dominant energy. Using the reconstructed Fermi surface cross-sectional area obtained in quantum oscillation experiments in YBa 2Cu 3O 6+x and HgBa 2CuO 4+x and the established methods for estimating the chemical hole doping, we find the ordering vectors obtained from x-ray scattering measurements to show a close correspondence with those expected for the small starting Fermi surface. We therefore show the quantum oscillation frequency and charge-density wave vectors provide accurate estimates for the number of holes contributing to the Fermi surface volume in the pseudogap regime.« less

Instability of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov states in atomic Fermi gases in three and two dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jibiao; Che, Yanming; Zhang, Leifeng; Chen, Qijin

2018-04-01

The exotic Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) states have been actively searched for experimentally since the mean-field based FFLO theories were put forward half a century ago. Here, we investigate the stability of FFLO states in the presence of pairing fluctuations. We conclude that FFLO superfluids cannot exist in continuum in three and two dimensions, due to their intrinsic instability, associated with infinite quantum degeneracy of the pairs. These results address the absence of convincing experimental observations of FFLO phases in both condensed matter and in ultracold atomic Fermi gases with a population imbalance. We predict that the true ground state has a pair momentum distribution highly peaked on an entire constant energy surface.

Orbital selectivity causing anisotropy and particle-hole asymmetry in the charge density wave gap of 2 H - TaS 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, J.; Wijayaratne, K.; Butler, A.

We report an in-depth angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study on 2H-TaS2, a canonical incommensurate charge density wave (CDW) system. This study demonstrates that just as in related incommensurate CDW systems, 2H-TaSe2 and 2H-NbSe2, the energy gap (triangle(CDW)) of 2H-TaS2 is localized along the K-centered Fermi surface barrels and is particle-hole asymmetric. The persistence of triangle(CDW) even at temperatures higher than the CDW transition temperature T-CDW in 2H-TaS2, reflects the similar pseudogap behavior observed previously in 2H-TaSe2 and 2H-NbSe2. However, in sharp contrast to 2H-NbSe2, where triangle(CDW) is nonzero only in the vicinity of a few "hot spots" on the innerK-centered Fermimore » surface barrels, triangle(CDW) in 2H-TaS2 is nonzero along the entirety of both K-centered Fermi surface barrels. Based on a tight-binding model, we attribute this dichotomy in the momentum dependence and the Fermi surface specificity of triangle(CDW) between otherwise similar CDW compounds to the different orbital orientations of their electronic states that participate in the CDW pairing. Our results suggest that the orbital selectivity plays a critical role in the description of incommensurate CDW materials.« less

Quasiparticle energy bands and Fermi surfaces of monolayer NbSe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sejoong; Son, Young-Woo

2017-10-01

A quasiparticle band structure of a single layer 2 H -NbSe2 is reported by using first-principles G W calculation. We show that a self-energy correction increases the width of a partially occupied band and alters its Fermi surface shape when comparing those using conventional mean-field calculation methods. Owing to a broken inversion symmetry in the trigonal prismatic single layer structure, the spin-orbit interaction is included and its impact on the Fermi surface and quasiparticle energy bands are discussed. We also calculate the doping dependent static susceptibilities from the band structures obtained by the mean-field calculation as well as G W calculation with and without spin-orbit interactions. A complete tight-binding model is constructed within the three-band third nearest neighbor hoppings and is shown to reproduce our G W quasiparticle energy bands and Fermi surface very well. Considering variations of the Fermi surface shapes depending on self-energy corrections and spin-orbit interactions, we discuss the formations of charge density wave (CDW) with different dielectric environments and their implications on recent controversial experimental results on CDW transition temperatures.

Probing and Manipulating Ultracold Fermi Superfluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Lei

Ultracold Fermi gas is an exciting field benefiting from atomic physics, optical physics and condensed matter physics. It covers many aspects of quantum mechanics. Here I introduce some of my work during my graduate study. We proposed an optical spectroscopic method based on electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) as a generic probing tool that provides valuable insights into the nature of Fermi paring in ultracold Fermi gases of two hyperfine states. This technique has the capability of allowing spectroscopic response to be determined in a nearly non-destructive manner and the whole spectrum may be obtained by scanning the probe laser frequency faster than the lifetime of the sample without re-preparing the atomic sample repeatedly. Both quasiparticle picture and pseudogap picture are constructed to facilitate the physical explanation of the pairing signature in the EIT spectra. Motivated by the prospect of realizing a Fermi gas of 40K atoms with a synthetic non-Abelian gauge field, we investigated theoretically BEC-HCS crossover physics in the presence of a Rashba spin-orbit coupling in a system of two-component Fermi gas with and without a Zeeman field that breaks the population balance. A new bound state (Rashba pair) emerges because of the spin-orbit interaction. We studied the properties of Rashba pairs using a standard pair fluctuation theory. As the two-fold spin degeneracy is lifted by spin-orbit interaction, bound pairs with mixed singlet and triplet pairings (referred to as rashbons) emerge, leading to an anisotropic superfluid. We discussed in detail the experimental signatures for observing the condensation of Rashba pairs by calculating various physical observables which characterize the properties of the system and can be measured in experiment. The role of impurities as experimental probes in the detection of quantum material properties is well appreciated. Here we studied the effect of a single classical impurity in trapped ultracold Fermi superfluids. Although a non-magnetic impurity does not change macroscopic properties of s-wave Fermi superfluids, depending on its shape and strength, a magnetic impurity can induce single or multiple mid-gap bound states. The multiple mid-gap states could coincide with the development of a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase within the superfluid. As an analog of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope, we proposed a modified radio frequency spectroscopic method to measure the focal density of states which can be employed to detect these states and other quantum phases of cold atoms. A key result of our self consistent Bogoliubov-de Gennes calculations is that a magnetic impurity can controllably induce an FFLO state at currently accessible experimental parameters.

Hole Fermi surface in Bi2Se3 probed by quantum oscillations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piot, B. A.; Desrat, W.; Maude, D. K.; Orlita, M.; Potemski, M.; Martinez, G.; Hor, Y. S.

2016-04-01

Transport and torque magnetometry measurements are performed at high magnetic fields and low temperatures in a series of p-type (Ca-doped) Bi2Se3 crystals. The angular dependence of the Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen quantum oscillations enables us to determine the Fermi surface of the bulk valence band states as a function of the carrier density. At low density, the angular dependence exhibits a downturn in the oscillations frequency between 0∘ and 90∘, reflecting a bag-shaped hole Fermi surface. The detection of a single frequency for all tilt angles rules out the existence of a Fermi surface with different extremal cross sections down to 24 meV. There is therefore no signature of a camelback in the valence band of our bulk samples, in accordance with the direct band gap predicted by G W calculations.

Splitting Fermi Surfaces and Heavy Electronic States in Non-Centrosymmetric U3Ni3Sn4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maurya, Arvind; Harima, Hisatomo; Nakamura, Ai; Shimizu, Yusei; Homma, Yoshiya; Li, DeXin; Honda, Fuminori; Sato, Yoshiki J.; Aoki, Dai

2018-04-01

We report the single-crystal growth of the non-centrosymmetric paramagnet U3Ni3Sn4 by the Bridgman method and the Fermi surface properties detected by de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) experiments. We have also investigated single-crystal U3Ni3Sn4 by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetization, electrical resistivity, and heat capacity measurements. The angular dependence of the dHvA frequencies reveals many closed Fermi surfaces, which are nearly spherical in topology. The experimental results are in good agreement with local density approximation (LDA) band structure calculations based on the 5f-itinerant model. The band structure calculation predicts many Fermi surfaces, mostly with spherical shape, derived from 12 bands crossing the Fermi energy. To our knowledge, the splitting of Fermi surfaces due to the non-centrosymmetric crystal in 5f-electron systems is experimentally detected for the first time. The temperature dependence of the dHvA amplitude reveals a large cyclotron effective mass of up to 35 m0, indicating the heavy electronic state of U3Ni3Sn4 due to the proximity of the quantum critical point. From the field dependence of the dHvA amplitude, a mean free path of conduction electrons of up to 1950 Å is detected, reflecting the good quality of the grown crystal. The small splitting energy related to the antisymmetric spin-orbit interaction is most likely due to the large cyclotron effective mass.

Fermi Surface of Sr_{2}RuO_{4}: Spin-Orbit and Anisotropic Coulomb Interaction Effects.

PubMed

Zhang, Guoren; Gorelov, Evgeny; Sarvestani, Esmaeel; Pavarini, Eva

2016-03-11

The topology of the Fermi surface of Sr_{2}RuO_{4} is well described by local-density approximation calculations with spin-orbit interaction, but the relative size of its different sheets is not. By accounting for many-body effects via dynamical mean-field theory, we show that the standard isotropic Coulomb interaction alone worsens or does not correct this discrepancy. In order to reproduce experiments, it is essential to account for the Coulomb anisotropy. The latter is small but has strong effects; it competes with the Coulomb-enhanced spin-orbit coupling and the isotropic Coulomb term in determining the Fermi surface shape. Its effects are likely sizable in other correlated multiorbital systems. In addition, we find that the low-energy self-energy matrix-responsible for the reshaping of the Fermi surface-sizably differs from the static Hartree-Fock limit. Finally, we find a strong spin-orbital entanglement; this supports the view that the conventional description of Cooper pairs via factorized spin and orbital part might not apply to Sr_{2}RuO_{4}.

Superconductivity mediated by quantum critical antiferromagnetic fluctuations: the rise and fall of hot spots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaoyu; Schattner, Yoni; Berg, Erez; Fernandes, Rafael

The maximum transition temperature Tc observed in the phase diagrams of several unconventional superconductors takes place in the vicinity of a putative antiferromagnetic quantum critical point. This observation motivated the theoretical proposal that superconductivity in these systems may be driven by quantum critical fluctuations, which in turn can also promote non-Fermi liquid behavior. In this talk, we present a combined analytical and sign-problem-free Quantum Monte Carlo investigation of the spin-fermion model - a widely studied low-energy model for the interplay between superconductivity and magnetic fluctuations. By engineering a series of band dispersions that interpolate between near-nested and open Fermi surfaces, and by also varying the strength of the spin-fermion interaction, we find that the hot spots of the Fermi surface provide the dominant contribution to the pairing instability in this model. We show that the analytical expressions for Tc and for the pairing susceptibility, obtained within a large-N Eliashberg approximation to the spin-fermion model, agree well with the Quantum Monte Carlo data, even in the regime of interactions comparable to the electronic bandwidth. DE-SC0012336.

Weakly Anisotropic Noncentrosymmetric Superconductors with Radial Line Nodes and the Origin of the Anomalous Thermodynamic Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Günay, Mehmet; Hakioğlu, Tuğrul; Hüseyin Sömek, Hasan

2017-03-01

In noncentrosymmetric superconductors (NCSs), the inversion symmetry (IS) is most commonly broken by an antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Removing the spin degeneracy and splitting the Fermi surface (FS) into two branches. A two component condensate is then produced mixing an even singlet and an odd triplet. When the triplet and the singlet strengths are comparable, the pair potential can have rich nodes. The angular line nodes (ALNs) are associated with the point group symmetries of the anisotropic lattice structure and they are widely studied in the literature. When the anisotropy is weak, other types of nodes can be present which then affect differently the low temperature properties. Here, we focus on the weakly anisotropic NCSs and the line nodes which survive in the limit of full isotropy. We study the topology of these radial line nodes (RLNs) and show that it is characterized by the Z2 index similar to the quantum-spin-Hall Insulators. From the thermodynamic perspective, the RLNs cause, even in the topological phases, an exponentially suppressed low temperature behaviour which can be mistaken by nodeless s-wave pairing, thus, providing an explanation to a number of recent experiments with contraversial pairing symmetries. In the rare case when the RLN is on the Fermi surface, the exponential suppression is replaced by a linear temperature dependence. The RLNs are difficult to detect, and for this reason, they may have escaped experimental attention. We demonstrate that Andreev conductance measurements with clean interfaces can efficiently identify the weakly anisotropic (WA) conditions where the RLNs are expected to be found.

Surface effects in the unitary Fermi gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salasnich, L.; Ancilotto, F.; Toigo, F.

2010-01-01

We study the extended Thomas-Fermi (ETF) density functional of the superfluid unitary Fermi gas. This functional includes a gradient term which is essential to describe accurately the surface effects of the system, in particular with a small number of atoms, where the Thomas-Fermi (local density) approximation fails. We find that our ETF functional gives density profiles which are in good agreement with recent Monte Carlo results and also with a more sophisticated superfluid density functional based on Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. In addition, by using extended hydrodynamics equations of superfluids, we calculate the frequencies of collective surface oscillations of the unitary Fermi gas, showing that quadrupole and octupole modes strongly depend on the number of trapped atoms.

Spectroscopic Visualization of Inversion and Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking Weyl Semi-metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beidenkopf, Haim

A defining property of a topological material is the existence of surface bands that cannot be realized but as the termination of a topological bulk. In a Weyl semi-metal these surface states are in the form of Fermi-arcs. Their open-contour Fermi-surface curves between pairs of surface projections of bulk Weyl cones. Such Dirac-like bulk bands, as opposed to the gapped bulk of topological insulators, land a unique opportunity to examine the deep notion of bulk to surface correspondence. We study the intricate properties both of inversion symmetry broken and of time-reversal symmetry broken Weyl semimetals using scanning tunneling spectroscopy. We visualize the Fermi arc states on the surface of the non-centrosymmetric Weyl semi-metal TaAs. Using the distinct structure and spatial distribution of the wavefunctions associated with the different topological and trivial bands we detect the scattering processes that involve Fermi arcs. Each of these imaged scattering processes entails information on the unique nature of Fermi arcs and their correspondence to the topological bulk. We further visualize the magnetic response of the candidate magnetic Weyl semimetal GdPtBi in which the magnetic order parameter is coupled to the topological classification. European Research Council (ERC-StG no. 678702, TOPO-NW\\x9D), the Israel Science Foundation (ISF), and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF).

High-temperature superconductivity from fine-tuning of Fermi-surface singularities in iron oxypnictides.

PubMed

Charnukha, A; Evtushinsky, D V; Matt, C E; Xu, N; Shi, M; Büchner, B; Zhigadlo, N D; Batlogg, B; Borisenko, S V

2015-12-18

In the family of the iron-based superconductors, the REFeAsO-type compounds (with RE being a rare-earth metal) exhibit the highest bulk superconducting transition temperatures (Tc) up to 55 K and thus hold the key to the elusive pairing mechanism. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the intrinsic electronic structure of SmFe0.92Co0.08AsO (Tc = 18 K) is highly nontrivial and consists of multiple band-edge singularities in close proximity to the Fermi level. However, it remains unclear whether these singularities are generic to the REFeAsO-type materials and if so, whether their exact topology is responsible for the aforementioned record Tc. In this work, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to investigate the inherent electronic structure of the NdFeAsO0.6F0.4 compound with a twice higher Tc = 38 K. We find a similarly singular Fermi surface and further demonstrate that the dramatic enhancement of superconductivity in this compound correlates closely with the fine-tuning of one of the band-edge singularities to within a fraction of the superconducting energy gap Δ below the Fermi level. Our results provide compelling evidence that the band-structure singularities near the Fermi level in the iron-based superconductors must be explicitly accounted for in any attempt to understand the mechanism of superconducting pairing in these materials.

High-temperature superconductivity from fine-tuning of Fermi-surface singularities in iron oxypnictides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charnukha, A.; Evtushinsky, D. V.; Matt, C. E.; Xu, N.; Shi, M.; Büchner, B.; Zhigadlo, N. D.; Batlogg, B.; Borisenko, S. V.

2015-12-01

In the family of the iron-based superconductors, the REFeAsO-type compounds (with RE being a rare-earth metal) exhibit the highest bulk superconducting transition temperatures (Tc) up to 55 K and thus hold the key to the elusive pairing mechanism. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the intrinsic electronic structure of SmFe0.92Co0.08AsO (Tc = 18 K) is highly nontrivial and consists of multiple band-edge singularities in close proximity to the Fermi level. However, it remains unclear whether these singularities are generic to the REFeAsO-type materials and if so, whether their exact topology is responsible for the aforementioned record Tc. In this work, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to investigate the inherent electronic structure of the NdFeAsO0.6F0.4 compound with a twice higher Tc = 38 K. We find a similarly singular Fermi surface and further demonstrate that the dramatic enhancement of superconductivity in this compound correlates closely with the fine-tuning of one of the band-edge singularities to within a fraction of the superconducting energy gap Δ below the Fermi level. Our results provide compelling evidence that the band-structure singularities near the Fermi level in the iron-based superconductors must be explicitly accounted for in any attempt to understand the mechanism of superconducting pairing in these materials.

Quantum oscillations and upper critical magnetic field of the iron-based superconductor FeSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Audouard, Alain; Duc, Fabienne; Drigo, Loïc; Toulemonde, Pierre; Karlsson, Sandra; Strobel, Pierre; Sulpice, André

2015-01-01

Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations and upper critical magnetic field (Hc2) of the iron-based superconductor FeSe (Tc = 8.6 \\text{K}) have been studied by tunnel diode oscillator-based measurements in magnetic fields of up to 55 T and temperatures down to 1.6 K. Several Fourier components enter the SdH oscillations spectrum with frequencies definitely smaller than predicted by band structure calculations indicating band renormalization and reconstruction of the Fermi surface at low temperature, in line with previous ARPES data. The Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg model accounts for the temperature dependence of (Hc2) for magnetic field applied both parallel (\\textbf{H} \\| ab) and perpendicular (\\textbf{H} \\| c) to the iron conducting plane, suggesting that one band mainly controls the superconducting properties in magnetic fields despite the multiband nature of the Fermi surface. Whereas Pauli pair breaking is negligible for \\textbf{H} \\| c , a Pauli paramagnetic contribution is evidenced for \\textbf{H} \\| ab with Maki parameter α = 2.1 , corresponding to Pauli field HP = 36.5 \\text{T} .

Critical temperature for shape transition in hot nuclei within covariant density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W.; Niu, Y. F.

2018-05-01

Prompted by the simple proportional relation between critical temperature for pairing transition and pairing gap at zero temperature, we investigate the relation between critical temperature for shape transition and ground-state deformation by taking even-even Cm-304286 isotopes as examples. The finite-temperature axially deformed covariant density functional theory with BCS pairing correlation is used. Since the Cm isotopes are the newly proposed nuclei with octupole correlations, we studied in detail the free energy surface, the Nilsson single-particle (s.p.) levels, and the components of s.p. levels near the Fermi level in 292Cm. Through this study, the formation of octupole equilibrium is understood by the contribution coming from the octupole driving pairs with Ω [N ,nz,ml] and Ω [N +1 ,nz±3 ,ml] for single-particle levels near the Fermi surfaces as it provides a good manifestation of the octupole correlation. Furthermore, the systematics of deformations, pairing gaps, and the specific heat as functions of temperature for even-even Cm-304286 isotopes are discussed. Similar to the relation between the critical pairing transition temperature and the pairing gap at zero temperature Tc=0.6 Δ (0 ) , a proportional relation between the critical shape transition temperature and the deformation at zero temperature Tc=6.6 β (0 ) is found for both octupole shape transition and quadrupole shape transition for the isotopes considered.

Separation of charge-order and magnetic QCPs in heavy fermions and high Tc cuprates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrison, Neil

2010-03-01

The Fermi surface topology of high temperature superconductors inferred from magnetic quantum oscillation measurements provides clues for the origin of unconventional pairing thus previously not accessed by other spectroscopy techniques. While the overdoped regime of the high Tc phase diagram has a large Fermi surface consistent with bandstructure calculations, the underdoped regime of YBa2Cu2O6+x is found to be composed of small pockets. There is considerable debate as to whether the small observed ``pocket'' is hole-like or electron-like- whether the Fermi surface is best described by a t-J model or a conventional band folding picture- whether or not a Fermi liquid description applies- or- whether bilayer coupling splits the degeneracy of the observed pockets. We (myself and collaborators) have now collected an extensive body of experimental data that brings this debate to rest, but raises new questions about the nature of itinerant magnetism in underdoped high Tc cuprates. Quantum oscillation measurements are performed on multiple samples in magnetic fields extending to 85 T, temperatures between 30 mK (dilution fridge in dc fields to 45 T) and 18 K, over a range of hole dopings and with samples rotated in-situ about multiple axes with respect to the magnetic field. We perform a topographical map of the Fermi surface, enabling the in-plane shape of one of the pockets to be determined- imposing stringent constraints on the origin of the Fermi surface. While quantum oscillations measurements are consistent with a topological Fermi surface change associated with magnetism near optimal doping, they also point to a secondary instability deep within the underdoped regime beneath a high Tc superconducting sub-dome. An steep upturn in the quasiparticle effective mass is observed on underdoping, suggestive of a quantum critical point near x= 0.46 separating the metallic regime (composed of small pockets) from a more underdoped insulating charge-ordered regime (earlier reported in neutron scattering measurements). Our findings suggest the importance of two critical instabilities affecting the Fermi surface beneath the high Tc superconducting dome(s). While one of these has been proposed to provide the likely origin of unconventional pairing in the cuprates, the other can be an important factor in boosting transition temperatures. [4pt] This work is supported by the DoE BES grant ``Science in 100 T''. The author would like to thank collaborators S. E. Sebastian, C. H. Mielke, P. A. Goddard, M. M. Altarawneh, R. Liang, D. A. Bonn, W. N. Hardy and G. G. Lonzarich, and supporting staff at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL). Quantum oscillation experiments are performed at the NHMFL, which is funded by the NSF with support from the DoE and State of Florida.

Spin–orbit coupling, minimal model and potential Cooper-pairing from repulsion in BiS2-superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cobo-Lopez, Sergio; Saeed Bahramy, Mohammad; Arita, Ryotaro; Akbari, Alireza; Eremin, Ilya

2018-04-01

We develop the realistic minimal electronic model for recently discovered BiS2 superconductors including the spin–orbit (SO) coupling based on the first-principles band structure calculations. Due to strong SO coupling, characteristic for the Bi-based systems, the tight-binding low-energy model necessarily includes p x , p y , and p z orbitals. We analyze a potential Cooper-pairing instability from purely repulsive interaction for the moderate electronic correlations using the so-called leading angular harmonics approximation. For small and intermediate doping concentrations we find the dominant instabilities to be {d}{x2-{y}2}-wave, and s ±-wave symmetries, respectively. At the same time, in the absence of the sizable spin fluctuations the intra and interband Coulomb repulsions are of the same strength, which yield the strongly anisotropic behavior of the superconducting gaps on the Fermi surface. This agrees with recent angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy findings. In addition, we find that the Fermi surface topology for BiS2 layered systems at large electron doping can resemble the doped iron-based pnictide superconductors with electron and hole Fermi surfaces maintaining sufficient nesting between them. This could provide further boost to increase T c in these systems.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Radzihovsky, Leo

Motivated by a realization of imbalanced Feshbach-resonant atomic Fermi gases, we formulate a low-energy theory of the Fulde-Ferrell and the Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) states and use it to analyze fluctuations, stability, and phase transitions in these enigmatic finite momentum-paired superfluids. Focusing on the unidirectional LO pair-density-wave state, which spontaneously breaks the continuous rotational and translational symmetries, we show that it is characterized by two Goldstone modes, corresponding to a superfluid phase and a smectic phonon. Because of the liquid-crystalline ''softness'' of the latter, at finite temperature the three-dimensional state is characterized by a vanishing LO order parameter, quasi-Bragg peaks in themore » structure and momentum distribution functions, and a ''charge''-4, paired-Cooper-pairs, off-diagonal long-range order, with a superfluid-stiffness anisotropy that diverges near a transition into a nonsuperfluid state. In addition to conventional integer vortices and dislocations, the LO superfluid smectic exhibits composite half-integer vortex-dislocation defects. A proliferation of defects leads to a rich variety of descendant states, such as the charge-4 superfluid and Fermi-liquid nematics and topologically ordered nonsuperfluid states, that generically intervene between the LO state and the conventional superfluid and the polarized Fermi liquid at low and high imbalance, respectively. The fermionic sector of the LO gapless superconductor is also quite unique, exhibiting a Fermi surface of Bogoliubov quasiparticles associated with the Andreev band of states, localized on the array of the LO domain walls.« less

3D Quantum Hall Effect of Fermi Arc in Topological Semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, C. M.; Sun, Hai-Peng; Lu, Hai-Zhou; Xie, X. C.

2017-09-01

The quantum Hall effect is usually observed in 2D systems. We show that the Fermi arcs can give rise to a distinctive 3D quantum Hall effect in topological semimetals. Because of the topological constraint, the Fermi arc at a single surface has an open Fermi surface, which cannot host the quantum Hall effect. Via a "wormhole" tunneling assisted by the Weyl nodes, the Fermi arcs at opposite surfaces can form a complete Fermi loop and support the quantum Hall effect. The edge states of the Fermi arcs show a unique 3D distribution, giving an example of (d -2 )-dimensional boundary states. This is distinctly different from the surface-state quantum Hall effect from a single surface of topological insulator. As the Fermi energy sweeps through the Weyl nodes, the sheet Hall conductivity evolves from the 1 /B dependence to quantized plateaus at the Weyl nodes. This behavior can be realized by tuning gate voltages in a slab of topological semimetal, such as the TaAs family, Cd3 As2 , or Na3Bi . This work will be instructive not only for searching transport signatures of the Fermi arcs but also for exploring novel electron gases in other topological phases of matter.

Theoretical reconsideration of antiferromagnetic Fermi surfaces in URu2Su2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamagami, Hiroshi

2011-01-01

In an itinerant 5f-band model, the antiferromagnetic (AFM) Fermi surfaces of URu2Si2 are reconsidered using a relativistic LAPW method within a local spin-density approximation, especially taking into account the lattice parameters dependent on pressures. The reduction of the z-coordinate of the Si sites results in the effect of flattening the Ru-Si layers of URu2Si2 crystal structure, thus weakening a hybridization/mixing between the U-5f and Ru-4d states in the band structure. Consequently the 5f bands around the Fermi level are more flat in the dispersion with decreasing the z-coordinate, thus producing three closed Fermi surfaces like "curing-stone", "rugby-ball " and "ball". The origins of de Haas-van Alphen branches can be qualitatively interpreted from the obtained AFM Fermi surfaces.

Signatures of Fermi Arcs in the Quasiparticle Interferences of the Weyl Semimetals TaAs and NbP.

PubMed

Chang, Guoqing; Xu, Su-Yang; Zheng, Hao; Lee, Chi-Cheng; Huang, Shin-Ming; Belopolski, Ilya; Sanchez, Daniel S; Bian, Guang; Alidoust, Nasser; Chang, Tay-Rong; Hsu, Chuang-Han; Jeng, Horng-Tay; Bansil, Arun; Lin, Hsin; Hasan, M Zahid

2016-02-12

The recent discovery of the first Weyl semimetal in TaAs provides the first observation of a Weyl fermion in nature. Such a topological semimetal features a novel type of anomalous surface state, the Fermi arc, which connects a pair of Weyl nodes through the boundary of the crystal. Here, we present theoretical calculations of the quasiparticle interference (QPI) patterns that arise from the surface states including the topological Fermi arcs in the Weyl semimetals TaAs and NbP. Most importantly, we discover that the QPI exhibits termination points that are fingerprints of the Weyl nodes in the interference pattern. Our results, for the first time, propose a universal interference signature of the topological Fermi arcs in TaAs, which is fundamental for scanning tunneling microscope (STM) measurements on this prototypical Weyl semimetal compound. More generally, our work provides critical guideline and methodology for STM studies on new Weyl semimetals. Further, the scattering channels revealed by our QPIs are broadly relevant to surface transport and device applications based on Weyl semimetals.

Topological Weyl superconductor to diffusive thermal Hall metal crossover in the B phase of UPt3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goswami, Pallab; Nevidomskyy, Andriy H.

2015-12-01

The recent phase-sensitive measurements in the superconducting B phase of UPt3 provide strong evidence for the triplet, chiral kz(kx±i ky) 2 pairing symmetries, which endow the Cooper pairs with orbital angular momentum projections Lz=±2 along the c axis. In the absence of disorder such pairing can support both line and point nodes, and both types of nodal quasiparticles exhibit nontrivial topology in the momentum space. The point nodes, located at the intersections of the closed Fermi surfaces with the c axis, act as the double monopoles and the antimonopoles of the Berry curvature, and generalize the notion of Weyl quasiparticles. Consequently, the B phase should support an anomalous thermal Hall effect, the polar Kerr effect, in addition to the protected Fermi arcs on the (1 ,0 ,0 ) and the (0 ,1 ,0 ) surfaces. The line node at the Fermi surface equator acts as a vortex loop in the momentum space and gives rise to the zero-energy, dispersionless Andreev bound states on the (0 ,0 ,1 ) surface. At the transition from the B phase to the A phase, the time-reversal symmetry is restored, and only the line node survives inside the A phase. As both line and double-Weyl point nodes possess linearly vanishing density of states, we show that weak disorder acts as a marginally relevant perturbation. Consequently, an infinitesimal amount of disorder destroys the ballistic quasiparticle pole, while giving rise to a diffusive phase with a finite density of states at the zero energy. The resulting diffusive phase exhibits T -linear specific heat, and an anomalous thermal Hall effect. We predict that the low-temperature thermodynamic and transport properties display a crossover between a ballistic thermal Hall semimetal and a diffusive thermal Hall metal. By contrast, the diffusive phase obtained from a time-reversal-invariant pairing exhibits only the T -linear specific heat without any anomalous thermal Hall effect.

Entanglement entropy and the Fermi surface.

PubMed

Swingle, Brian

2010-07-30

Free fermions with a finite Fermi surface are known to exhibit an anomalously large entanglement entropy. The leading contribution to the entanglement entropy of a region of linear size L in d spatial dimensions is S∼L(d-1)logL, a result that should be contrasted with the usual boundary law S∼L(d-1). This term depends only on the geometry of the Fermi surface and on the boundary of the region in question. I give an intuitive account of this anomalous scaling based on a low energy description of the Fermi surface as a collection of one-dimensional gapless modes. Using this picture, I predict a violation of the boundary law in a number of other strongly correlated systems.

Quasiparticles and Fermi liquid behaviour in an organic metal

PubMed Central

Kiss, T.; Chainani, A.; Yamamoto, H.M.; Miyazaki, T.; Akimoto, T.; Shimojima, T.; Ishizaka, K.; Watanabe, S.; Chen, C.-T.; Fukaya, A.; Kato, R.; Shin, S.

2012-01-01

Many organic metals display exotic properties such as superconductivity, spin-charge separation and so on and have been described as quasi-one-dimensional Luttinger liquids. However, a genuine Fermi liquid behaviour with quasiparticles and Fermi surfaces have not been reported to date for any organic metal. Here, we report the experimental Fermi surface and band structure of an organic metal (BEDT-TTF)3Br(pBIB) obtained using angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, and show its consistency with first-principles band structure calculations. Our results reveal a quasiparticle renormalization at low energy scales (effective mass m*=1.9 me) and ω2 dependence of the imaginary part of the self energy, limited by a kink at ~50 meV arising from coupling to molecular vibrations. The study unambiguously proves that (BEDT-TTF)3Br(pBIB) is a quasi-2D organic Fermi liquid with a Fermi surface consistent with Shubnikov-de Haas results. PMID:23011143

Color Superconductivity and Charge Neutrality in Yukawa Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alford, Mark G.; Pangeni, Kamal; Windisch, Andreas

2018-02-01

It is generally believed that when Cooper pairing occurs between two different species of fermions, their Fermi surfaces become locked together so that the resultant state remains "neutral," with equal number densities of the two species, even when subjected to a chemical potential that couples to the difference in number densities. This belief is based on mean-field calculations in models with a zero-range interaction, where the anomalous self-energy is independent of energy and momentum. Following up on an early report of a deviation from neutrality in a Dyson-Schwinger calculation of color-flavor-locked quark matter, we investigate the neutrality of a two-species condensate using a Yukawa model which has a finite-range interaction. In a mean field calculation we obtain the full energy-momentum dependence of the self-energy and find that the energy dependence leads to a population imbalance in the Cooper-paired phase when it is stressed by a species-dependent chemical potential. This gives some support to the suggestion that the color-flavor-locked phase of quark matter might not be an insulator.

Fermi arc mediated entropy transport in topological semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCormick, Timothy M.; Watzman, Sarah J.; Heremans, Joseph P.; Trivedi, Nandini

2018-05-01

The low-energy excitations of topological Weyl semimetals are composed of linearly dispersing Weyl fermions that act as monopoles of Berry curvature in the bulk momentum space. Furthermore, on the surface there exist topologically protected Fermi arcs at the projections of these Weyl points. We propose a pathway for entropy transport involving Fermi arcs on one surface connecting to Fermi arcs on the other surface via the bulk Weyl monopoles. We present results for the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the magnetothermal conductance of this conveyor belt channel. The circulating currents result in a net entropy transport without any net charge transport. We provide results for the Fermi arc mediated magnetothermal conductivity in the low-field semiclassical limit as well as in the high-field ultraquantum limit, where only chiral Landau levels are involved. Our work provides a proposed signature of Fermi arc mediated magnetothermal transport and sets the stage for utilizing and manipulating the topological Fermi arcs in thermal applications.

Angular dependence of spin-orbit spin-transfer torques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Ki-Seung; Go, Dongwook; Manchon, Aurélien; Haney, Paul M.; Stiles, M. D.; Lee, Hyun-Woo; Lee, Kyung-Jin

2015-04-01

In ferromagnet/heavy-metal bilayers, an in-plane current gives rise to spin-orbit spin-transfer torque, which is usually decomposed into fieldlike and dampinglike torques. For two-dimensional free-electron and tight-binding models with Rashba spin-orbit coupling, the fieldlike torque acquires nontrivial dependence on the magnetization direction when the Rashba spin-orbit coupling becomes comparable to the exchange interaction. This nontrivial angular dependence of the fieldlike torque is related to the Fermi surface distortion, determined by the ratio of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling to the exchange interaction. On the other hand, the dampinglike torque acquires nontrivial angular dependence when the Rashba spin-orbit coupling is comparable to or stronger than the exchange interaction. It is related to the combined effects of the Fermi surface distortion and the Fermi sea contribution. The angular dependence is consistent with experimental observations and can be important to understand magnetization dynamics induced by spin-orbit spin-transfer torques.

Fermi arcs vs. fermi pockets in electron-doped perovskite iridates

DOE PAGES

He, Junfeng; Hafiz, H.; Mion, Thomas R.; ...

2015-02-23

We report on an angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) study of bulk electron-doped perovskite iridate, (Sr 1-xLa x)₃Ir₂O₇. Fermi surface pockets are observed with a total electron count in keeping with that expected from La substitution. Depending on the energy and polarization of the incident photons, these pockets show up in the form of disconnected “Fermi arcs”, reminiscent of those reported recently in surface electron-doped Sr₂IrO₄. Our observed spectral variation is consistent with the coexistence of an electronic supermodulation with structural distortion in the system.

Scattering of surface electrons by isolated steps versus periodic step arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortega, J. E.; Lobo-Checa, J.; Peschel, G.; Schirone, S.; Abd El-Fattah, Z. M.; Matena, M.; Schiller, F.; Borghetti, P.; Gambardella, P.; Mugarza, A.

2013-03-01

We investigate the scattering of electrons belonging to Shockley states of (111)-oriented noble metal surfaces using angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Both ARPES and STM indicate that monatomic steps on a noble metal surface may act either as strongly repulsive or highly transmissive barriers for surface electrons, depending on the coherence of the step lattice, and irrespectively of the average step spacing. By measuring curved crystal surfaces with terrace length ranging from 30 to 180 Å, we show that vicinal surfaces of Au and Ag with periodic step arrays exhibit a remarkable wave function coherence beyond 100 Å step spacings, well beyond the Fermi wavelength limit and independently of the projection of the bulk band gap on the vicinal plane. In contrast, the analysis of transmission resonances investigated by STM shows that a pair of isolated parallel steps defining a 58 Å wide terrace confines and decouples the surface state of the small terrace from that of the (111) surface. We conclude that the formation of laterally confined quantum well states in vicinal surfaces as opposed to propagating superlattice states depends on the loss of coherence driven by imperfection in the superlattice order.

Optimized Hypernetted-Chain Solutions for Helium -4 Surfaces and Metal Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Guo-Xin

This thesis is a study of inhomogeneous Bose systems such as liquid ('4)He slabs and inhomogeneous Fermi systems such as the electron gas in metal films, at zero temperature. Using a Jastrow-type many-body wavefunction, the ground state energy is expressed by means of Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood -Yvon and Hypernetted-Chain techniques. For Bose systems, Euler-Lagrange equations are derived for the one- and two -body functions and systematic approximation methods are physically motivated. It is shown that the optimized variational method includes a self-consistent summation of ladder- and ring-diagrams of conventional many-body theory. For Fermi systems, a linear potential model is adopted to generate the optimized Hartree-Fock basis. Euler-Lagrange equations are derived for the two-body correlations which serve to screen the strong bare Coulomb interaction. The optimization of the pair correlation leads to an expression of correlation energy in which the state averaged RPA part is separated. Numerical applications are presented for the density profile and pair distribution function for both ('4)He surfaces and metal surfaces. Both the bulk and surface energies are calculated in good agreement with experiments.

The electronic structure of the high-TC cuprates within the hidden rotating order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azzouz, M.; Ramakko, B. W.; Presenza-Pitman, G.

2010-09-01

The doping dependence of the Fermi surface and energy distribution curves of the high-TC cuprate materials La2 - xSrxCuO4 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + δ are analyzed within the rotating antiferromagnetism theory. Using three different quantities; the k-dependent occupation probability, the spectral function, and the chemical potential (energy spectra), the Fermi surface is calculated and compared to experimental data for La2 - xSrxCuO4. The Fermi surface we calculate evolves from hole-like pockets in the underdoped regime to large electron-like contours in the overdoped regime. This is in agreement with recent findings by Sebastian et al for the α-pocket of Y Ba2Cu3O6 + x (2010 Phys. Rev. B 81 214524). In addition, the full width at half maximum of the energy distribution curves is found to behave linearly with their peak position in agreement with experiment for Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 + δ. The effect of scattering on both the Fermi surface and energy distribution curves is examined.

Superconductivity mediated by quantum critical antiferromagnetic fluctuations: The rise and fall of hot spots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaoyu; Schattner, Yoni; Berg, Erez; Fernandes, Rafael M.

2017-05-01

In several unconventional superconductors, the highest superconducting transition temperature Tc is found in a region of the phase diagram where the antiferromagnetic transition temperature extrapolates to zero, signaling a putative quantum critical point. The elucidation of the interplay between these two phenomena—high-Tc superconductivity and magnetic quantum criticality—remains an important piece of the complex puzzle of unconventional superconductivity. In this paper, we combine sign-problem-free quantum Monte Carlo simulations and field-theoretical analytical calculations to unveil the microscopic mechanism responsible for the superconducting instability of a general low-energy model, called the spin-fermion model. In this approach, low-energy electronic states interact with each other via the exchange of quantum critical magnetic fluctuations. We find that even in the regime of moderately strong interactions, both the superconducting transition temperature and the pairing susceptibility are governed not by the properties of the entire Fermi surface, but instead by the properties of small portions of the Fermi surface called hot spots. Moreover, Tc increases with increasing interaction strength, until it starts to saturate at the crossover from hot-spots-dominated to Fermi-surface-dominated pairing. Our work provides not only invaluable insights into the system parameters that most strongly affect Tc, but also important benchmarks to assess the origin of superconductivity in both microscopic models and actual materials.

Inhomogeneous Weyl and Dirac Semimetals: Transport in Axial Magnetic Fields and Fermi Arc Surface States from Pseudo-Landau Levels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grushin, Adolfo G.; Venderbos, Jörn W. F.; Vishwanath, Ashvin; Ilan, Roni

2016-10-01

Topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals have an energy spectrum that hosts Weyl nodes appearing in pairs of opposite chirality. Topological stability is ensured when the nodes are separated in momentum space and unique spectral and transport properties follow. In this work, we study the effect of a space-dependent Weyl node separation, which we interpret as an emergent background axial-vector potential, on the electromagnetic response and the energy spectrum of Weyl and Dirac semimetals. This situation can arise in the solid state either from inhomogeneous strain or nonuniform magnetization and can also be engineered in cold atomic systems. Using a semiclassical approach, we show that the resulting axial magnetic field B5 is observable through an enhancement of the conductivity as σ ˜B52 due to an underlying chiral pseudomagnetic effect. We then use two lattice models to analyze the effect of B5 on the spectral properties of topological semimetals. We describe the emergent pseudo-Landau-level structure for different spatial profiles of B5, revealing that (i) the celebrated surface states of Weyl semimetals, the Fermi arcs, can be reinterpreted as n =0 pseudo-Landau levels resulting from a B5 confined to the surface, (ii) as a consequence of position-momentum locking, a bulk B5 creates pseudo-Landau levels interpolating in real space between Fermi arcs at opposite surfaces, and (iii) there are equilibrium bound currents proportional to B5 that average to zero over the sample, which are the analogs of bound currents in magnetic materials. We conclude by discussing how our findings can be probed experimentally.

Peculiarities of the momentum distribution functions of strongly correlated charged fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larkin, A. S.; Filinov, V. S.; Fortov, V. E.

2018-01-01

New numerical version of the Wigner approach to quantum thermodynamics of strongly coupled systems of particles has been developed for extreme conditions, when analytical approximations based on different kinds of perturbation theories cannot be applied. An explicit analytical expression of the Wigner function has been obtained in linear and harmonic approximations. Fermi statistical effects are accounted for by effective pair pseudopotential depending on coordinates, momenta and degeneracy parameter of particles and taking into account Pauli blocking of fermions. A new quantum Monte-Carlo method for calculations of average values of arbitrary quantum operators has been developed. Calculations of the momentum distribution functions and the pair correlation functions of degenerate ideal Fermi gas have been carried out for testing the developed approach. Comparison of the obtained momentum distribution functions of strongly correlated Coulomb systems with the Maxwell-Boltzmann and the Fermi distributions shows the significant influence of interparticle interaction both at small momenta and in high energy quantum ‘tails’.

Chiral pair of Fermi arcs, anomaly cancellation, and spin or valley Hall effects in Weyl metals with broken inversion symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Iksu; Kim, Ki-Seok

2018-04-01

Anomaly cancellation has been shown to occur in broken time-reversal symmetry Weyl metals, which explains the existence of a Fermi arc. We extend this result in the case of broken inversion symmetry Weyl metals. Constructing a minimal model that takes a double pair of Weyl points, we demonstrate the anomaly cancellation explicitly. This demonstration explains why a chiral pair of Fermi arcs appear in broken inversion symmetry Weyl metals. In particular, we find that this pair of Fermi arcs gives rise to either "quantized" spin Hall or valley Hall effects, which corresponds to the "quantized" version of the charge Hall effect in broken time-reversal symmetry Weyl metals.

Electronic topological transitions in the AgPd system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skorodumova, N. V.; Simak, S. I.; Smirnova, E. A.; Vekilov, Yu. Kh.

1995-02-01

“First-principles” LMTO-CPA calculations of the Fermi surfaces and thermodynamic properties of AgPd random alloys are presented. We show that there are at least four electronic topological transitions (ETT) in the system. The changes of the Fermi surface topology lead to the appearance of peculiarities in the concentration dependence of the thermodynamic (ground state) properties.

Thermodynamics of the relativistic Fermi gas in D dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sevilla, Francisco J.; Piña, Omar

2017-09-01

The influence of spatial dimensionality and particle-antiparticle pair production on the thermodynamic properties of the relativistic Fermi gas, at finite chemical potential, is studied. Resembling a "phase transition", qualitatively different behaviors of the thermodynamic susceptibilities, namely the isothermal compressibility and the specific heat, are markedly observed at different temperature regimes as function of the system dimensionality and of the rest mass of the particles. A minimum in the temperature dependence of the isothermal compressibility marks a characteristic temperature, in the range of tenths of the Fermi temperature, at which the system transit from a "normal" phase, to a phase where the gas compressibility grows as a power law of the temperature.

Anomalous transport phenomena in Weyl metal beyond the Drude model for Landau's Fermi liquids.

PubMed

Kim, Ki-Seok; Kim, Heon-Jung; Sasaki, M; Wang, J-F; Li, L

2014-12-01

Landau's Fermi-liquid theory is the standard model for metals, characterized by the existence of electron quasiparticles near a Fermi surface as long as Landau's interaction parameters lie below critical values for instabilities. Recently this fundamental paradigm has been challenged by the physics of strong spin-orbit coupling, although the concept of electron quasiparticles remains valid near the Fermi surface, where Landau's Fermi-liquid theory fails to describe the electromagnetic properties of this novel metallic state, referred to as Weyl metal. A novel ingredient is that such a Fermi surface encloses a Weyl point with definite chirality, referred to as a chiral Fermi surface, which can arise from breaking of either time reversal or inversion symmetry in systems with strong spin-orbit coupling, responsible for both the Berry curvature and the chiral anomaly. As a result, electromagnetic properties of the Weyl metallic state are described not by conventional Maxwell equations but by axion electrodynamics, where Maxwell equations are modified with a topological-in-origin spatially modulated [Formula: see text] term. This novel metallic state was realized recently in Bi[Formula: see text]Sb x around [Formula: see text] under magnetic fields, where the Dirac spectrum appears around the critical point between the normal semiconducting ([Formula: see text]) and topological semiconducting phases ([Formula: see text]) and the time reversal symmetry breaking perturbation causes the Dirac point to split into a pair of Weyl points along the direction of the applied magnetic field for a very strong spin-orbit coupled system. In this review article, we discuss how the topological structure of both the Berry curvature and the chiral anomaly (axion electrodynamics) gives rise to anomalous transport phenomena in [Formula: see text]Sb x around [Formula: see text] under magnetic fields, thus modifying the Drude model of Landau's Fermi liquids.

Secondary electron emission yield dependence on the Fermi level in Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urrabazo, David; Goeckner, Matthew; Overzet, Lawrence

2013-09-01

Secondary Electron Emission (SEE) by ion bombardment plays a key role in determining the properties of many plasmas. As a result, significant efforts have been expended to control the SEE coefficient (increasing or decreasing it) by tailoring the electron work function of surfaces. A few recent publications point to the possibility of controlling the SEE coefficient of semiconductor surfaces in real time through controlling the numbers of electrons in the conduction band near the surface. Large control over the plasma was achieved by injecting electrons into the semiconductor just under the cathode surface via a subsurface PN junction. The hypothesis was that SEE is dependent on the numbers of electrons in the conduction band near the surface (which is related to the position of the Fermi level near the surface). We are testing the validity of this hypothesis. We have begun fundamental ion beam studies to explore this possible dependence of SEE on the Fermi energy level using Si. Various doping levels and dopants are being evaluated and the results of these tests will be presented. This work was supported in part by US Dept. of Energy. Acknowledgement to Dr. L. Raja at UT Austin.

Topological Dirac semimetal phase in Pd and Pt oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Gang; Yan, Binghai; Wang, Zhijun; Held, Karsten

2017-01-01

Topological Dirac semimetals (DSMs) exhibit nodal points through which energy bands disperse linearly in three-dimensional (3D) momentum space, a 3D analog of graphene. The first experimentally confirmed DSMs with a pair of Dirac points (DPs), Na3Bi and Cd3As2 , show topological surface Fermi arc states and exotic magnetotransport properties, boosting the interest in the search for stable and nontoxic DSM materials. Based on density-functional theory and dynamical mean-field theory calculations, we predict a family of palladium and platinum oxides to be robust 3D DSMs with three pairs of Dirac points that are well separated from bulk bands. The Fermi arcs at the surface display a Lifshitz transition upon a continuous change of the chemical potential. Corresponding oxides are already available as high-quality single crystals, an excellent precondition for the verification of our predictions by photoemission and magnetotransport experiments, extending DSMs to the versatile family of transition-metal oxides.

COSMIC-RAY POSITRONS FROM MILLISECOND PULSARS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Venter, C.; Kopp, A.; Büsching, I.

2015-07-10

Observations by the Fermi Large Area Telescope of γ-ray millisecond pulsar (MSP) light curves imply copious pair production in their magnetospheres, and not exclusively in those of younger pulsars. Such pair cascades may be a primary source of Galactic electrons and positrons, contributing to the observed enhancement in positron flux above ∼10 GeV. Fermi has also uncovered many new MSPs, impacting Galactic stellar population models. We investigate the contribution of Galactic MSPs to the flux of terrestrial cosmic-ray electrons and positrons. Our population synthesis code predicts the source properties of present-day MSPs. We simulate their pair spectra invoking an offset-dipolemore » magnetic field. We also consider positrons and electrons that have been further accelerated to energies of several TeV by strong intrabinary shocks in black widow (BW) and redback (RB) systems. Since MSPs are not surrounded by pulsar wind nebulae or supernova shells, we assume that the pairs freely escape and undergo losses only in the intergalactic medium. We compute the transported pair spectra at Earth, following their diffusion and energy loss through the Galaxy. The predicted particle flux increases for non-zero offsets of the magnetic polar caps. Pair cascades from the magnetospheres of MSPs are only modest contributors around a few tens of GeV to the lepton fluxes measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, PAMELA, and Fermi, after which this component cuts off. The contribution by BWs and RBs may, however, reach levels of a few tens of percent at tens of TeV, depending on model parameters.« less

“Nodal Gap” induced by the incommensurate diagonal spin density modulation in underdoped high- T c superconductors

DOE PAGES

Zhou, Tao; Gao, Yi; Zhu, Jian -Xin

2015-03-07

Recenmore » tly it was revealed that the whole Fermi surface is fully gapped for several families of underdoped cuprates. The existence of the finite energy gap along the d -wave nodal lines (nodal gap) contrasts the common understanding of the d -wave pairing symmetry, which challenges the present theories for the high- T c superconductors. Here we propose that the incommensurate diagonal spin-density-wave order can account for the above experimental observation. The Fermi surface and the local density of states are also studied. Our results are in good agreement with many important experiments in high- T c superconductors.« less

Quasiparticle interference of the Fermi arcs and surface-bulk connectivity of a Weyl semimetal.

PubMed

Inoue, Hiroyuki; Gyenis, András; Wang, Zhijun; Li, Jian; Oh, Seong Woo; Jiang, Shan; Ni, Ni; Bernevig, B Andrei; Yazdani, Ali

2016-03-11

Weyl semimetals host topologically protected surface states, with arced Fermi surface contours that are predicted to propagate through the bulk when their momentum matches that of the surface projections of the bulk's Weyl nodes. We used spectroscopic mapping with a scanning tunneling microscope to visualize quasiparticle scattering and interference at the surface of the Weyl semimetal TaAs. Our measurements reveal 10 different scattering wave vectors, which can be understood and precisely reproduced with a theory that takes into account the shape, spin texture, and momentum-dependent propagation of the Fermi arc surface states into the bulk. Our findings provide evidence that Weyl nodes act as sinks for electron transport on the surface of these materials. Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The contact of a homogeneous unitary Fermi gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukherjee, Biswaroop; Patel, Parth; Yan, Zhenjie; Fletcher, Richard; Struck, Julian; Zwierlein, Martin

2017-04-01

The contact is a fundamental quantity that measures the strength of short-range correlations in quantum gases. As one of its most important implications, it provides a link between the microscopic two-particle correlation function at small distance and the macroscopic thermodynamic properties of the gas. In particular, pairing and superfluidity in a unitary Fermi gas can be expected to leave its mark in behavior of the contact. Here we present measurements on the temperature dependence of the contact of a unitary Fermi gas across the superfluid transition. By trapping ultracold 6Li atoms in a potential that is homogeneous in two directions and harmonic in the third, we obtain radiofrequency spectra of the homogeneous gas at a high signal-to-noise ratio. We compare our data to existing, but often mutually excluding theoretical calculations for the strongly interacting Fermi gas.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gyenis, András; Inoue, Hiroyuki; Jeon, Sangjun

Following the intense studies on topological insulators, significant efforts have recently been devoted to the search for gapless topological systems. These materials not only broaden the topological classification of matter but also provide a condensed matter realization of various relativistic particles and phenomena previously discussed mainly in high energy physics. Weyl semimetals host massless, chiral, low-energy excitations in the bulk electronic band structure, whereas a symmetry protected pair of Weyl fermions gives rise to massless Dirac fermions.Weemployed scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy to explore the behavior of electronic states both on the surface and in the bulk of topological semimetal phases. Bymore » mapping the quasiparticle interference (QPI) and emerging Landau levels at high magnetic field in Dirac semimetals Cd 3As 2 and Na 3Bi, we observed extended Dirac-like bulk electronic bands. QPI imaged on Weyl semimetal TaAs demonstrated the predicted momentum dependent delocalization of Fermi arc surface states in the vicinity of the surface projected Weyl nodes.« less

Concealed d -wave pairs in the s ± condensate of iron-based superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ong, Tzen; Coleman, Piers; Schmalian, Jörg

A central question in iron-based superconductivity is the mechanism by which the paired electrons minimize their strong mutual Coulomb repulsion. In most unconventional superconductors, Coulomb repulsion is minimized through the formation of higher angular momentum Cooper pairs, with Fermi surface nodes in the pair wavefunction. The apparent absence of such nodes in the iron-based superconductors has led to a belief they form an s-wave (s ±) singlet state, which changes sign between the electron and hole pockets. However, the multiorbital nature of these systems opens an alternative possibility. In this paper, we propose a new class of s ± statemore » containing a condensate of d-wave Cooper pairs, concealed by their entanglement with the iron orbitals. By combining the d-wave (L=2) motion of the pairs with the internal angular momenta I =2 of the iron orbitals to make a singlet (J =L+I =0), an s ± superconductor with a nontrivial topology is formed. This scenario allows us to understand the development of octet nodes in potassium-doped Ba 1$-$xK XFe 2As 2 as a reconfiguration of the orbital and internal angular momentum into a high spin (J =L+I =4) state; the reverse transition under pressure into a fully gapped state can then be interpreted as a return to the low-spin singlet. Finally, the formation of orbitally entangled pairs is predicted to give rise to a shift in the orbital content at the Fermi surface, which can be tested via laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.« less

Concealed d -wave pairs in the s ± condensate of iron-based superconductors

DOE PAGES

Ong, Tzen; Coleman, Piers; Schmalian, Jörg

2016-05-02

A central question in iron-based superconductivity is the mechanism by which the paired electrons minimize their strong mutual Coulomb repulsion. In most unconventional superconductors, Coulomb repulsion is minimized through the formation of higher angular momentum Cooper pairs, with Fermi surface nodes in the pair wavefunction. The apparent absence of such nodes in the iron-based superconductors has led to a belief they form an s-wave (s ±) singlet state, which changes sign between the electron and hole pockets. However, the multiorbital nature of these systems opens an alternative possibility. In this paper, we propose a new class of s ± statemore » containing a condensate of d-wave Cooper pairs, concealed by their entanglement with the iron orbitals. By combining the d-wave (L=2) motion of the pairs with the internal angular momenta I =2 of the iron orbitals to make a singlet (J =L+I =0), an s ± superconductor with a nontrivial topology is formed. This scenario allows us to understand the development of octet nodes in potassium-doped Ba 1$-$xK XFe 2As 2 as a reconfiguration of the orbital and internal angular momentum into a high spin (J =L+I =4) state; the reverse transition under pressure into a fully gapped state can then be interpreted as a return to the low-spin singlet. Finally, the formation of orbitally entangled pairs is predicted to give rise to a shift in the orbital content at the Fermi surface, which can be tested via laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.« less

Concealed d-wave pairs in the s± condensate of iron-based superconductors.

PubMed

Ong, Tzen; Coleman, Piers; Schmalian, Jörg

2016-05-17

A central question in iron-based superconductivity is the mechanism by which the paired electrons minimize their strong mutual Coulomb repulsion. In most unconventional superconductors, Coulomb repulsion is minimized through the formation of higher angular momentum Cooper pairs, with Fermi surface nodes in the pair wavefunction. The apparent absence of such nodes in the iron-based superconductors has led to a belief they form an s-wave ([Formula: see text]) singlet state, which changes sign between the electron and hole pockets. However, the multiorbital nature of these systems opens an alternative possibility. Here, we propose a new class of [Formula: see text] state containing a condensate of d-wave Cooper pairs, concealed by their entanglement with the iron orbitals. By combining the d-wave ([Formula: see text]) motion of the pairs with the internal angular momenta [Formula: see text] of the iron orbitals to make a singlet ([Formula: see text]), an [Formula: see text] superconductor with a nontrivial topology is formed. This scenario allows us to understand the development of octet nodes in potassium-doped Ba1-x KXFe2As2 as a reconfiguration of the orbital and internal angular momentum into a high spin ([Formula: see text]) state; the reverse transition under pressure into a fully gapped state can then be interpreted as a return to the low-spin singlet. The formation of orbitally entangled pairs is predicted to give rise to a shift in the orbital content at the Fermi surface, which can be tested via laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

Enhancement of the superconducting gap by nesting in CaKFe 4 As 4 : A new high temperature superconductor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mou, Daixiang; Kong, Tai; Meier, William R.

We use high resolution angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory with measured crystal structure parameters to study the electronic properties of CaKFe 4As 4. In contrast to the related CaFe 2As 2 compounds, CaKFe 4As 4 has a high T c of 35 K at stochiometric composition. This presents a unique opportunity to study the properties of high temperature superconductivity in the iron arsenides in the absence of doping or substitution. The Fermi surface consists of several hole and electron pockets that have a range of diameters. We find that the values of the superconducting gap are nearlymore » isotropic (within the explored portions of the Brillouin zone), but are significantly different for each of the Fermi surface (FS) sheets. Most importantly, we find that the momentum dependence of the gap magnitude plotted across the entire Brillouin zone displays a strong deviation from the simple cos( k x)cos( k y) functional form of the gap function, proposed by the scenario of Cooper pairing driven by a short range antiferromagnetic exchange interaction. Instead, the maximum value of the gap is observed on FS sheets that are closest to the ideal nesting condition, in contrast to previous observations in other ferropnictides. Finally, these results provide strong support for the multiband character of superconductivity in CaKFe 4As 4, in which Cooper pairing forms on the electron and the hole bands interacting via a dominant interband repulsive interaction, enhanced by band nesting.« less

Enhancement of the superconducting gap by nesting in CaKFe 4 As 4 : A new high temperature superconductor

DOE PAGES

Mou, Daixiang; Kong, Tai; Meier, William R.; ...

2016-12-28

We use high resolution angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory with measured crystal structure parameters to study the electronic properties of CaKFe 4As 4. In contrast to the related CaFe 2As 2 compounds, CaKFe 4As 4 has a high T c of 35 K at stochiometric composition. This presents a unique opportunity to study the properties of high temperature superconductivity in the iron arsenides in the absence of doping or substitution. The Fermi surface consists of several hole and electron pockets that have a range of diameters. We find that the values of the superconducting gap are nearlymore » isotropic (within the explored portions of the Brillouin zone), but are significantly different for each of the Fermi surface (FS) sheets. Most importantly, we find that the momentum dependence of the gap magnitude plotted across the entire Brillouin zone displays a strong deviation from the simple cos( k x)cos( k y) functional form of the gap function, proposed by the scenario of Cooper pairing driven by a short range antiferromagnetic exchange interaction. Instead, the maximum value of the gap is observed on FS sheets that are closest to the ideal nesting condition, in contrast to previous observations in other ferropnictides. Finally, these results provide strong support for the multiband character of superconductivity in CaKFe 4As 4, in which Cooper pairing forms on the electron and the hole bands interacting via a dominant interband repulsive interaction, enhanced by band nesting.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kondo, Takeshi; Palczewski, Ari D.; Hamaya, Yoichiro

We use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and a new quantitative approach based on the partial density of states to study properties of seemingly disconnected portions of the Fermi surface (FS) that are present in the pseudogap state of cuprates called Fermi arcs. We find that the normal state FS collapses very abruptly into Fermi arcs at the pseudogap temperature (T*). Surprisingly, the length of the Fermi arcs remains constant over an extended temperature range between T* and Tpair, consistent with the presence of an ordered state below T*. These arcs collapse again at the temperature below which pair formation occurs (Tpair)more » either to a point or a very short arc, whose length is limited by our experimental resolution. The tips of the arcs span between points defining a set of wave vectors in momentum space, which are the fingerprints of the ordered state that causes the pseudogap.« less

Charge transport and ac response under light illumination in gate-modulated DNA molecular junctions.

PubMed

Zhang, Yan; Zhu, Wen-Huan; Ding, Guo-Hui; Dong, Bing; Wang, Xue-Feng

2015-05-22

Using a two-strand tight-binding model and within nonequilibrium Green's function approach, we study charge transport through DNA sequences (GC)NGC and (GC)1(TA)NTA (GC)3 sandwiched between two Pt electrodes. We show that at low temperature DNA sequence (GC)NGC exhibits coherent charge carrier transport at very small bias, since the highest occupied molecular orbital in the GC base pair can be aligned with the Fermi energy of the metallic electrodes by a gate voltage. A weak distance dependent conductance is found in DNA sequence (GC)1(TA)NTA (GC)3 with large NTA. Different from the mechanism of thermally induced hopping of charges proposed by the previous experiments, we find that this phenomenon is dominated by quantum tunnelling through discrete quantum well states in the TA base pairs. In addition, ac response of this DNA junction under light illumination is also investigated. The suppression of ac conductances of the left and right lead of DNA sequences at some particular frequencies is attributed to the excitation of electrons in the DNA to the lead Fermi surface by ac potential, or the excitation of electrons in deep DNA energy levels to partially occupied energy levels in the transport window. Therefore, measuring ac response of DNA junctions can reveal a wealth of information about the intrinsic dynamics of DNA molecules.

Hartree-Fock treatment of Fermi polarons using the Lee-Low-Pine transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kain, Ben; Ling, Hong Y.

2017-09-01

We consider the Fermi polaron problem at zero temperature, where a single impurity interacts with noninteracting host fermions. We approach the problem starting with a Fröhlich-like Hamiltonian where the impurity is described with canonical position and momentum operators. We apply the Lee-Low-Pine (LLP) transformation to change the fermionic Fröhlich Hamiltonian into the fermionic LLP Hamiltonian, which describes a many-body system containing host fermions only. We adapt the self-consistent Hartree-Fock (HF) approach, first proposed by Edwards, to the fermionic LLP Hamiltonian in which a pair of host fermions with momenta k and k' interact with a potential proportional to k .k' . We apply the HF theory, which has the advantage of not restricting the number of particle-hole pairs, to repulsive Fermi polarons in one dimension. When the impurity and host fermion masses are equal our variational ansatz, where HF orbitals are expanded in terms of free-particle states, produces results in excellent agreement with McGuire's exact analytical results based on the Bethe ansatz. This work raises the prospect of using the HF ansatz and its time-dependent generalization as building blocks for developing all-coupling theories for both equilibrium and nonequilibrium Fermi polarons in higher dimensions.

Pairing States of Spin-3/2 Fermions: Symmetry-Enforced Topological Gap Functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venderbos, Jörn W. F.; Savary, Lucile; Ruhman, Jonathan; Lee, Patrick A.; Fu, Liang

2018-01-01

We study the topological properties of superconductors with paired j =3/2 quasiparticles. Higher spin Fermi surfaces can arise, for instance, in strongly spin-orbit coupled band-inverted semimetals. Examples include the Bi-based half-Heusler materials, which have recently been established as low-temperature and low-carrier density superconductors. Motivated by this experimental observation, we obtain a comprehensive symmetry-based classification of topological pairing states in systems with higher angular momentum Cooper pairing. Our study consists of two main parts. First, we develop the phenomenological theory of multicomponent (i.e., higher angular momentum) pairing by classifying the stationary points of the free energy within a Ginzburg-Landau framework. Based on the symmetry classification of stationary pairing states, we then derive the symmetry-imposed constraints on their gap structures. We find that, depending on the symmetry quantum numbers of the Cooper pairs, different types of topological pairing states can occur: fully gapped topological superconductors in class DIII, Dirac superconductors, and superconductors hosting Majorana fermions. Notably, we find a series of nematic fully gapped topological superconductors, as well as double- and triple-Dirac superconductors, with quadratic and cubic dispersion, respectively. Our approach, applied here to the case of j =3/2 Cooper pairing, is rooted in the symmetry properties of pairing states, and can therefore also be applied to other systems with higher angular momentum and high-spin pairing. We conclude by relating our results to experimentally accessible signatures in thermodynamic and dynamic probes.

Theory of inhomogeneous quantum systems. III. Variational wave functions for Fermi fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krotscheck, E.

1985-04-01

We develop a general variational theory for inhomogeneous Fermi systems such as the electron gas in a metal surface, the surface of liquid 3He, or simple models of heavy nuclei. The ground-state wave function is expressed in terms of two-body correlations, a one-body attenuation factor, and a model-system Slater determinant. Massive partial summations of cluster expansions are performed by means of Born-Green-Yvon and hypernetted-chain techniques. An optimal single-particle basis is generated by a generalized Hartree-Fock equation in which the two-body correlations screen the bare interparticle interaction. The optimization of the pair correlations leads to a state-averaged random-phase-approximation equation and a strictly microscopic determination of the particle-hole interaction.

Local antiferromagnetic exchange and collaborative Fermi surface as key ingredients of high temperature superconductors

PubMed Central

Hu, Jiangping; Ding, Hong

2012-01-01

Cuprates, ferropnictides and ferrochalcogenides are three classes of unconventional high temperature superconductors, who share similar phase diagrams in which superconductivity develops after a magnetic order is suppressed, suggesting a strong interplay between superconductivity and magnetism, although the exact picture of this interplay remains elusive. Here we show that there is a direct bridge connecting antiferromagnetic exchange interactions determined in the parent compounds of these materials to the superconducting gap functions observed in the corresponding superconducting materials: in all high temperature superconductors, the Fermi surface topology matches the form factor of the pairing symmetry favored by local magnetic exchange interactions. We suggest that this match offers a principle guide to search for new high temperature superconductors. PMID:22536479

Origins of Fermi-level pinning on GaN and InN polar and nonpolar surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Segev, D.; Van de Walle, C. G.

2006-10-01

Using band structure and total energy methods, we study the atomic and electronic structures of the polar (+c and - c plane) and nonpolar (a and m plane) surfaces of GaN and InN. We identify two distinct microscopic origins for Fermi-level pinning on GaN and InN, depending on surface stoichiometry and surface polarity. At moderate Ga/N ratios unoccupied gallium dangling bonds pin the Fermi level on n-type GaN at 0.5 0.7 eV below the conduction-band minimum. Under highly Ga-rich conditions metallic Ga adlayers lead to Fermi-level pinning at 1.8 eV above the valence-band maximum. We also explain the source of the intrinsic electron accumulation that has been universally observed on polar InN surfaces. It is caused by In-In bonds leading to occupied surface states above the conduction-band minimum. We predict that such a charge accumulation will be absent on the nonpolar surfaces of InN, when prepared under specific conditions.

GaAsSb bandgap, surface fermi level, and surface state density studied by photoreflectance modulation spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, J. S.; Tsai, J. T.; Su, I. C.; Lin, H. C.; Lu, Y. T.; Chiu, P. C.; Chyi, J. I.

2012-05-01

The bandgap, surface Fermi level, and surface state density of a series of GaAs1-xSbx surface intrinsic-n+ structures with GaAs as substrate are determined for various Sb mole fractions x by the photoreflectance modulation spectroscopy. The dependence of the bandgap on the mole composition x is in good agreement with previous measurements as well as predictions calculated using the dielectric model of Van Vechten and Bergstresser in Phys. Rev. B 1, 3551 (1970). For a particular composition x, the surface Fermi level is always strongly pinned within the bandgap of GaAs1-xSbx and we find its variation with composition x is well described by a function EF = 0.70 - 0.192 x for 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.35, a result which is notably different from that reported by Chouaib et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 041913 (2008)]. Our results suggest that the surface Fermi level is pinned at the midgap of GaAs and near the valence band of the GaSb.

Fermi Surface as a Driver for the Shape-Memory Effect in AuZn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lashley, Jason

2005-03-01

Martensites are materials that undergo diffusionless, solid-state transitions. The martensitic transition yields properties that depend on the history of the material and if reversible can allow it to recover its previous shape after plastic deformation. This is known as the shape-memory effect (SME). We have succeeded in identifying the operative electronic mechanism responsible for the martensitic transition in the shape-memory alloy AuZn by using Fermi-surface measurements (de Haas-van Alphen oscillations) and band-structure calculations. Our findings suggest that electronic band structure gives rise to special features on the Fermi surface that is important to consider in the design of SME alloys.

Odd-frequency superconductivity induced in topological insulators with and without hexagonal warping.

PubMed

Vasenko, A S; Golubov, A A; Silkin, V M; Chulkov, E V

2017-07-26

We study the effect of the Fermi surface anisotropy on the odd-frequency spin-triplet pairing component of the induced pair potential. We consider a superconductor/ ferromagnetic insulator (S/FI) hybrid structure formed on the 3D topological insulator (TI) surface. In this case three ingredients ensure the possibility of the odd-frequency pairing: (1) the topological surface states, (2) the induced pair potential, and (3) the magnetic moment of a nearby ferromagnetic insulator. We take into account the strong anisotropy of the Dirac point in topological insulators when the chemical potential lies well above the Dirac cone and its constant energy contour has a snowflake shape. Within this model, we propose that the S/FI boundary should be properly aligned with respect to the snowflake constant energy contour to have an odd-frequency symmetry of the corresponding pairing component and to insure the Majorana bound state at the S/FI boundary. For arbitrary orientation of the boundary, the Majorana bound state is absent. This provides a selection rule to the realization of Majorana modes in S/FI hybrid structures, formed on the topological insulator surface.

Electronic properties of Cr-N codoped rutile TiO2(110) thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Zhengwang; Zhang, Lili; Dong, Shihui; Ma, Xiaochuan; Ju, Huanxin; Zhu, Junfa; Cui, Xuefeng; Zhao, Jin; Wang, Bing

2017-12-01

We report our investigation on the electronic properties of Cr-N codoped rutile TiO2(110) single crystal thin films, homoepitaxially grown by pulsed-laser-deposition method, and characterized using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), X-ray/ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (XPS/UPS), in combination with first-principles calculations. Our results show that the bandgap reduction of the TiO2(110) surface is mainly contributed by the delocalized states whose position is at 2.0 eV below the Fermi level, introduced by the substitutional codoped Cr-2N pair, which is evidenced by the accordance of the results between the STS spectra and the calculated DOS. The codoped Cr-N pair contributes the gap state at about 0.8 eV below the Fermi level, in consistent with the theoretical calculations. While, the monodoped Cr contributes the states either close to the valence band maximum or the conduction band minimum, which should not contribute to the bandgap reduction too much. Our experimental results joint with theoretical calculations provide an atomic view of the bandgap reduction of the rutile TiO2(110) surface, which indicates that the excess substitutional N atoms should be important to efficiently narrow the bandgap by introducing the Cr-2N pairs.

Three-dimensionality of the bulk electronic structure in WTe 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wu, Yun; Jo, Na Hyun; Mou, Daixiang

Inmore » this paper, we use temperature- and field-dependent resistivity measurements (Shubnikov–de Haas quantum oscillations) and ultrahigh-resolution, tunable, vacuum ultraviolet laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to study the three-dimensionality (3D) of the bulk electronic structure in WTe 2 , a type II Weyl semimetal. The bulk Fermi surface (FS) consists of two pairs of electron pockets and two pairs of hole pockets along the Χ–Γ–Χ direction as detected by using an incident photon energy of 6.7 eV, which is consistent with the previously reported data. However, if using an incident photon energy of 6.36 eV, another pair of tiny electron pockets is detected on both sides of the Γ point, which is in agreement with the small quantum oscillation frequency peak observed in the magnetoresistance. Therefore, the bulk, 3D FS consists of three pairs of electron pockets and two pairs of hole pockets in total. With the ability of fine tuning the incident photon energy, we demonstrate the strong three-dimensionality of the bulk electronic structure in WTe 2 . Finally, the combination of resistivity and ARPES measurements reveals the complete, and consistent, picture of the bulk electronic structure of this material.« less

Three-dimensionality of the bulk electronic structure in WTe 2

DOE PAGES

Wu, Yun; Jo, Na Hyun; Mou, Daixiang; ...

2017-05-18

Inmore » this paper, we use temperature- and field-dependent resistivity measurements (Shubnikov–de Haas quantum oscillations) and ultrahigh-resolution, tunable, vacuum ultraviolet laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to study the three-dimensionality (3D) of the bulk electronic structure in WTe 2 , a type II Weyl semimetal. The bulk Fermi surface (FS) consists of two pairs of electron pockets and two pairs of hole pockets along the Χ–Γ–Χ direction as detected by using an incident photon energy of 6.7 eV, which is consistent with the previously reported data. However, if using an incident photon energy of 6.36 eV, another pair of tiny electron pockets is detected on both sides of the Γ point, which is in agreement with the small quantum oscillation frequency peak observed in the magnetoresistance. Therefore, the bulk, 3D FS consists of three pairs of electron pockets and two pairs of hole pockets in total. With the ability of fine tuning the incident photon energy, we demonstrate the strong three-dimensionality of the bulk electronic structure in WTe 2 . Finally, the combination of resistivity and ARPES measurements reveals the complete, and consistent, picture of the bulk electronic structure of this material.« less

Anisotropy of the Fermi surface, Fermi velocity, many-body enhancement, and superconducting energy gap in Nb

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Crabtree, G.W.; Dye, D.H.; Karim, D.P.

1987-02-01

The detailed angular dependence of the Fermi radius k/sub F/, the Fermi velocity v/sub F/(k), the many-body enhancement factor lambda(k), and the superconducting energy gap ..delta..(k), for electrons on the Fermi surface of Nb are derived with use of the de Haas--van Alphen (dHvA) data of Karim, Ketterson, and Crabtree (J. Low Temp. Phys. 30, 389 (1978)), a Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker parametrization scheme, and an empirically adjusted band-structure calculation of Koelling. The parametrization is a nonrelativistic five-parameter fit allowing for cubic rather than spherical symmetry inside the muffin-tin spheres. The parametrized Fermi surface gives a detailed interpretation of the previously unexplained kappa,more » ..cap alpha..', and ..cap alpha..'' orbits in the dHvA data. Comparison of the parametrized Fermi velocities with those of the empirically adjusted band calculation allow the anisotropic many-body enhancement factor lambda(k) to be determined. Theoretical calculations of the electron-phonon interaction based on the tight-binding model agree with our derived values of lambda(k) much better than those based on the rigid-muffin-tin approximation. The anisotropy in the superconducting energy gap ..delta..(k) is estimated from our results for lambda(k), assuming weak anisotropy.« less

Anisotropy of the Fermi surface, Fermi velocity, many-body enhancement, and superconducting energy gap in Nb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crabtree, G. W.; Dye, D. H.; Karim, D. P.; Campbell, S. A.; Ketterson, J. B.

1987-02-01

The detailed angular dependence of the Fermi radius kF, the Fermi velocity vF(k), the many-body enhancement factor λ(k), and the superconducting energy gap Δ(k), for electrons on the Fermi surface of Nb are derived with use of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) data of Karim, Ketterson, and Crabtree [J. Low Temp. Phys. 30, 389 (1978)], a Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker parametrization scheme, and an empirically adjusted band-structure calculation of Koelling. The parametrization is a nonrelativistic five-parameter fit allowing for cubic rather than spherical symmetry inside the muffin-tin spheres. The parametrized Fermi surface gives a detailed interpretation of the previously unexplained κ, α', and α'' orbits in the dHvA data. Comparison of the parametrized Fermi velocities with those of the empirically adjusted band calculation allow the anisotropic many-body enhancement factor λ(k) to be determined. Theoretical calculations of the electron-phonon interaction based on the tight-binding model agree with our derived values of λ(k) much better than those based on the rigid-muffin-tin approximation. The anisotropy in the superconducting energy gap Δ(k) is estimated from our results for λ(k), assuming weak anisotropy.

Topologically nontrivial electronic states in CaSn3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Sunny; Juneja, Rinkle; Shinde, Ravindra; Singh, Abhishek K.

2017-06-01

Based on the first-principles calculations, we theoretically propose topologically non-trivial states in a recently experimentally discovered superconducting material CaSn3. When the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is ignored, the material is a host to three-dimensional topological nodal-line semimetal states. Drumhead like surface states protected by the coexistence of time-reversal and mirror symmetry emerge within the two-dimensional regions of the surface Brillouin zone connecting the nodal lines. When SOC is included, unexpectedly, each nodal line evolves into two Weyl nodes (W1 and W2) in this centrosymmetric material. Berry curvature calculations show that these nodes occur in a pair and act as either a source or a sink of Berry flux. This material also has unique surface states in the form of Fermi arcs, which unlike other known Weyl semimetals forms closed loops of surface states on the Fermi surface. Our theoretical realization of topologically non-trivial states in a superconducting material paves the way towards unraveling the interconnection between topological physics and superconductivity.

Asymptotic correlation functions and FFLO signature for the one-dimensional attractive Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Song; Jiang, Yuzhu; Yu, Yi-Cong; Batchelor, Murray T.; Guan, Xi-Wen

2018-04-01

We study the long-distance asymptotic behavior of various correlation functions for the one-dimensional (1D) attractive Hubbard model in a partially polarized phase through the Bethe ansatz and conformal field theory approaches. We particularly find the oscillating behavior of these correlation functions with spatial power-law decay, of which the pair (spin) correlation function oscillates with a frequency ΔkF (2 ΔkF). Here ΔkF = π (n↑ -n↓) is the mismatch in the Fermi surfaces of spin-up and spin-down particles. Consequently, the pair correlation function in momentum space has peaks at the mismatch k = ΔkF, which has been observed in recent numerical work on this model. These singular peaks in momentum space together with the spatial oscillation suggest an analog of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state in the 1D Hubbard model. The parameter β representing the lattice effect becomes prominent in critical exponents which determine the power-law decay of all correlation functions. We point out that the backscattering of unpaired fermions and bound pairs within their own Fermi points gives a microscopic origin of the FFLO pairing in 1D.

Optically induced Lifshitz transition in bilayer graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iorsh, I. V.; Dini, K.; Kibis, O. V.; Shelykh, I. A.

2017-10-01

It is shown theoretically that the renormalization of the electron energy spectrum of bilayer graphene with a strong high-frequency electromagnetic field (dressing field) results in the Lifshitz transition—the abrupt change in the topology of the Fermi surface near the band edge. This effect substantially depends on the polarization of the field: The linearly polarized dressing field induces the Lifshitz transition from the quadruply connected Fermi surface to the doubly connected one, whereas the circularly polarized field induces the multicritical point where the four different Fermi topologies may coexist. As a consequence, the discussed phenomenon creates a physical basis to control the electronic properties of bilayer graphene with light.

Friedel oscillation near a van Hove singularity in two-dimensional Dirac materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Chi-Ken

2016-02-01

We consider Friedel oscillation in the two-dimensional Dirac materials when the Fermi level is near the van Hove singularity. Twisted graphene bilayer and the surface state of topological crystalline insulator are the representative materials which show low-energy saddle points that are feasible to probe by gating. We approximate the Fermi surface near saddle point with a hyperbola and calculate the static Lindhard response function. Employing a theorem of Lighthill, the induced charge density δ n due to an impurity is obtained and the algebraic decay of δ n is determined by the singularity of the static response function. Although a hyperbolic Fermi surface is rather different from a circular one, the static Lindhard response function in the present case shows a singularity similar with the response function associated with circular Fermi surface, which leads to the δ n\\propto {{R}-2} at large distance R. The dependences of charge density on the Fermi energy are different. Consequently, it is possible to observe in twisted graphene bilayer the evolution that δ n\\propto {{R}-3} near Dirac point changes to δ n\\propto {{R}-2} above the saddle point. Measurements using scanning tunnelling microscopy around the impurity sites could verify the prediction.

Theoretical approach to resonant inelastic x-ray scattering in iron-based superconductors at the energy scale of the superconducting gap

PubMed Central

Marra, Pasquale; van den Brink, Jeroen; Sykora, Steffen

2016-01-01

We develop a phenomenological theory to predict the characteristic features of the momentum-dependent scattering amplitude in resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) at the energy scale of the superconducting gap in iron-based super-conductors. Taking into account all relevant orbital states as well as their specific content along the Fermi surface we evaluate the charge and spin dynamical structure factors for the compounds LaOFeAs and LiFeAs, based on tight-binding models which are fully consistent with recent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data. We find a characteristic intensity redistribution between charge and spin dynamical structure factors which discriminates between sign-reversing and sign-preserving quasiparticle excitations. Consequently, our results show that RIXS spectra can distinguish between s± and s++ wave gap functions in the singlet pairing case. In addition, we find that an analogous intensity redistribution at small momenta can reveal the presence of a chiral p-wave triplet pairing. PMID:27151253

Ab-initio Pulsar Magnetosphere: Particle Acceleration in Oblique Rotators and High-energy Emission Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philippov, Alexander A.; Spitkovsky, Anatoly

2018-03-01

We perform global particle-in-cell simulations of pulsar magnetospheres, including pair production, ion extraction from the surface, frame-dragging corrections, and high-energy photon emission and propagation. In the case of oblique rotators, the effects of general relativity increase the fraction of the open field lines that support active pair discharge. We find that the plasma density and particle energy flux in the pulsar wind are highly non-uniform with latitude. A significant fraction of the outgoing particle energy flux is carried by energetic ions, which are extracted from the stellar surface. Their energies may extend up to a large fraction of the open field line voltage, making them interesting candidates for ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. We show that pulsar gamma-ray radiation is dominated by synchrotron emission, produced by particles that are energized by relativistic magnetic reconnection close to the Y-point and in the equatorial current sheet. In most cases, the calculated light curves contain two strong peaks, which is in general agreement with Fermi observations. The radiative efficiency decreases with increasing pulsar inclination and increasing efficiency of pair production in the current sheet, which explains the observed scatter in L γ versus \\dot{E}. We find that the high-frequency cutoff in the spectra is regulated by the pair-loading of the current sheet. Our findings lay the foundation for quantitative interpretation of Fermi observations of gamma-ray pulsars.

Angular-dependent magnetoresistance study in Ca0.73La0.27FeAs2: a ‘parent’ compound of 112-type iron pnictide superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xing, Xiangzhuo; Xu, Chunqiang; Li, Zhanfeng; Feng, Jiajia; Zhou, Nan; Zhang, Yufeng; Sun, Yue; Zhou, Wei; Xu, Xiaofeng; Shi, Zhixiang

2018-01-01

We report a study of angular-dependent magnetoresistance (AMR) with the magnetic field rotated in the plane perpendicular to the current on a Ca0.73La0.27FeAs2 single crystal, which is regarded as a ‘parent’ compound of 112-type iron pnictide superconductors. A pronounced AMR with twofold symmetry is observed, signifying the highly anisotropic Fermi surface. By further analyzing the AMR data, we find that the Fermi surface above the structural/antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition (T s/T N) is quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D), as revealed by the 2D scaling behavior of the AMR, Δρ/ρ(0) (H, θ)  =  Δρ/ρ(0) (µ 0 Hcosθ), θ being the magnetic field angle with respect to the c axis. While such 2D scaling becomes invalid at temperatures below T s/T N, the three-dimensional (3D) scaling approach by inclusion of the anisotropy of the Fermi surface is efficient, indicating that the appearance of the 3D Fermi surface contributes to anisotropic electronic transport. Compared with other experimental observations, we suspect that the additional 3D hole pocket (generated by the Ca d orbital and As1 p z orbital) around the Γ point in CaFeAs2 will disappear in the heavily electron doped regime, and moreover, the Fermi surface should be reconstructed across the structural/AFM transition. Besides, a quasi-linear in-plane magnetoresistance with H//ab is observed at low temperatures and its possible origins are also discussed. Our results provide more information to further understand the electronic structure of 112-type IBSs.

Imaging electronic states on topological semimetals using scanning tunneling microscopy

DOE PAGES

Gyenis, András; Inoue, Hiroyuki; Jeon, Sangjun; ...

2016-10-18

Following the intense studies on topological insulators, significant efforts have recently been devoted to the search for gapless topological systems. These materials not only broaden the topological classification of matter but also provide a condensed matter realization of various relativistic particles and phenomena previously discussed mainly in high energy physics. Weyl semimetals host massless, chiral, low-energy excitations in the bulk electronic band structure, whereas a symmetry protected pair of Weyl fermions gives rise to massless Dirac fermions.Weemployed scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy to explore the behavior of electronic states both on the surface and in the bulk of topological semimetal phases. Bymore » mapping the quasiparticle interference (QPI) and emerging Landau levels at high magnetic field in Dirac semimetals Cd 3As 2 and Na 3Bi, we observed extended Dirac-like bulk electronic bands. QPI imaged on Weyl semimetal TaAs demonstrated the predicted momentum dependent delocalization of Fermi arc surface states in the vicinity of the surface projected Weyl nodes.« less

Surface electronic structure of the topological Kondo-insulator candidate correlated electron system SmB6.

PubMed

Neupane, M; Alidoust, N; Xu, S-Y; Kondo, T; Ishida, Y; Kim, D J; Liu, Chang; Belopolski, I; Jo, Y J; Chang, T-R; Jeng, H-T; Durakiewicz, T; Balicas, L; Lin, H; Bansil, A; Shin, S; Fisk, Z; Hasan, M Z

2013-01-01

The Kondo insulator SmB6 has long been known to exhibit low-temperature transport anomalies whose origin is of great interest. Here we uniquely access the surface electronic structure of the anomalous transport regime by combining state-of-the-art laser and synchrotron-based angle-resolved photoemission techniques. We observe clear in-gap states (up to ~4 meV), whose temperature dependence is contingent on the Kondo gap formation. In addition, our observed in-gap Fermi surface oddness tied with the Kramers' point topology, their coexistence with the two-dimensional transport anomaly in the Kondo hybridization regime, as well as their robustness against thermal recycling, taken together, collectively provide strong evidence for protected surface metallicity with a Fermi surface whose topology is consistent with the theoretically predicted topological Fermi surface. Our observations of systematic surface electronic structure provide the fundamental electronic parameters for the anomalous Kondo ground state of correlated electron material SmB6.

Mahan excitons in degenerate wurtzite InN: Photoluminescence spectroscopy and reflectivity measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feneberg, Martin; Däubler, Jürgen; Thonke, Klaus; Sauer, Rolf; Schley, Pascal; Goldhahn, Rüdiger

2008-06-01

Unintentionally degenerately doped n -type hexagonal wurtzite InN samples were studied by using Fourier-transform photoluminescence spectroscopy and reflectivity measurements. We found in luminescence overlapping band acceptor (e,A0) transitions related to two different acceptors with a strong enhancement of their intensities close to the Fermi energy of the electrons recombining with the localized holes. Our explanation is in terms of a Fermi-edge singularity of the electrons due to strongly increased electron-hole scattering. Electron-hole pairs with such resonantly enhanced oscillator strengths have been referred to as Mahan excitons. Temperature-dependent reflectivity measurements confirm this interpretation.

Composite Fermi surface in the half-filled Landau level with anisotropic electron mass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ippoliti, Matteo; Geraedts, Scott; Bhatt, Ravindra

We study the problem of interacting electrons in the lowest Landau level at half filling in the quantum Hall regime, when the electron dispersion is given by an anisotropic mass tensor. Based on experimental observations and theoretical arguments, the ground state of the system is expected to consist of composite Fermions filling an elliptical Fermi sea, with the anisotropy of the ellipse determined by the competing effects of the isotropic Coulomb interaction and anisotropic electron mass tensor. We test this idea quantitatively by using a numerical density matrix renormalization group method for quantum Hall systems on an infinitely long cylinder. Singularities in the structure factor allow us to map the Fermi surface of the composite Fermions. We compute the composite Fermi surface anisotropy for several values of the electron mass anisotropy which allow us to deduce the functional dependence of the former on the latter. This research was supported by Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences through Grant No. DE-SC0002140.

Magnetic field-induced Fermi surface reconstruction and quantum criticality in CeRhIn 5

DOE PAGES

Jiao, Lin; Weng, Z. F.; Smidman, Michael; ...

2017-02-06

Here, we present detailed results of the field evolution of the de Haas–van Alphen (dHvA) effect in CeRhIn 5. A magnetic field-induced reconstruction of the Fermi surface is clearly shown to occur inside the antiferromagnetic state, in an applied field of around B* ≃ 30 T, which is evidenced by the appearance of several new dHvA branches. The angular dependence of the dHvA frequencies reveals that the Fermi surfaces of CeRhIn 5 at B > B* and CeCoIn5 are similar. The results suggest that the Ce-4f electrons in become itinerant at B > B* due to the Kondo effect, priormore » to the field-induced quantum critical point (QCP) at Bc0 ≃ 50 T. The electronic states at the field-induced QCP are therefore different from that of the pressure-induced QCP where a dramatic Fermi surface reconstruction occurs exactly at the critical pressure, indicating that multiple types of QCP may exist in CeRhIn 5.« less

Effective mass and Fermi surface complexity factor from ab initio band structure calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbs, Zachary M.; Ricci, Francesco; Li, Guodong; Zhu, Hong; Persson, Kristin; Ceder, Gerbrand; Hautier, Geoffroy; Jain, Anubhav; Snyder, G. Jeffrey

2017-02-01

The effective mass is a convenient descriptor of the electronic band structure used to characterize the density of states and electron transport based on a free electron model. While effective mass is an excellent first-order descriptor in real systems, the exact value can have several definitions, each of which describe a different aspect of electron transport. Here we use Boltzmann transport calculations applied to ab initio band structures to extract a density-of-states effective mass from the Seebeck Coefficient and an inertial mass from the electrical conductivity to characterize the band structure irrespective of the exact scattering mechanism. We identify a Fermi Surface Complexity Factor: Nv*K* from the ratio of these two masses, which in simple cases depends on the number of Fermi surface pockets (Nv* ) and their anisotropy K*, both of which are beneficial to high thermoelectric performance as exemplified by the high values found in PbTe. The Fermi Surface Complexity factor can be used in high-throughput search of promising thermoelectric materials.

Locking of length scales in two-band superconductors

DOE PAGES

Ichioka, M.; Kogan, Vladimir G.; Schmalian, J.

2017-02-21

Here, a model of a clean two-band s-wave superconductor with cylindrical Fermi surfaces, different Fermi velocities v 1,2, and a general 2×2 coupling matrix V αβ is used to study the order parameter distribution in vortex lattices. The Eilenberger weak coupling formalism is used to calculate numerically the spatial distributions of the pairing amplitudes Δ 1 and Δ 2 of the two bands for vortices parallel to the Fermi cylinders. For generic values of the interband coupling V 12, it is shown that, independently of the couplings V αβ, of the ratio v 1/v 2, of the temperature, and themore » applied field, the length scales of spatial variation of Δ 1 and of Δ 2 are the same within the accuracy of our calculations. The only exception from this single length-scale behavior is found for V 12 << V 11, i.e., for nearly decoupled bands.« less

Analytical pair correlations in ideal quantum gases: temperature-dependent bunching and antibunching.

PubMed

Bosse, J; Pathak, K N; Singh, G S

2011-10-01

The fluctuation-dissipation theorem together with the exact density response spectrum for ideal quantum gases has been utilized to yield a new expression for the static structure factor, which we use to derive exact analytical expressions for the temperature-dependent pair distribution function g(r) of the ideal gases. The plots of bosonic and fermionic g(r) display "Bose pile" and "Fermi hole" typically akin to bunching and antibunching as observed experimentally for ultracold atomic gases. The behavior of spin-scaled pair correlation for fermions is almost featureless, but bosons show a rich structure including long-range correlations near T(c). The coherent state at T=0 shows no correlation at all, just like single-mode lasers. The depicted decreasing trend in correlation with decrease in temperature for T

Fermi surface in the hidden-order state of URu2Si2 under intense pulsed magnetic fields up to 81 T

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheerer, G. W.; Knafo, W.; Aoki, D.; Nardone, M.; Zitouni, A.; Béard, J.; Billette, J.; Barata, J.; Jaudet, C.; Suleiman, M.; Frings, P.; Drigo, L.; Audouard, A.; Matsuda, T. D.; Pourret, A.; Knebel, G.; Flouquet, J.

2014-04-01

We present measurements of the resistivity ρx ,x of URu2Si2 high-quality single crystals in pulsed high magnetic fields up to 81 T at a temperature of 1.4 K and up to 60 T at temperatures down to 100 mK. For a field H applied along the magnetic easy axis c, a strong sample dependence of the low-temperature resistivity in the hidden-order phase is attributed to a high carrier mobility. The interplay between the magnetic and orbital properties is emphasized by the angle dependence of the phase diagram, where magnetic transition fields and crossover fields related to the Fermi surface properties follow a 1/cosθ law, θ being the angle between H and c. For H ∥c, a crossover defined at a kink of ρx ,x, as initially reported in [Shishido, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 156403 (2009), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.156403], is found to be strongly sample dependent: its characteristic field μ0H* varies from ≃20 T in our best sample with a residual resistivity ratio RRR = ρx ,x(300K)/ ρx ,x(2K) of 225 to ≃25 T in a sample with a RRR of 90. A second crossover is defined at the maximum of ρx ,x at the sample-independent low-temperature (LT) characteristic field μ0Hρ,maxLT≃30 T. Fourier analyses of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations show that Hρ,maxLT coincides with a sudden modification of the Fermi surface, while H* lies in a regime where the Fermi surface is smoothly modified. For H ∥a, (i) no phase transition is observed at low temperature and the system remains in the hidden-order phase up to 81 T, (ii) quantum oscillations surviving up to 7 K are related to a new orbit observed at the frequency Fλ≃1350 T and associated with a low effective mass mλ*=(1±0.5)m0, where m0 is the free electron mass, and (iii) no Fermi surface modification occurs up to 81 T.

Specific heat and effects of strong pairing fluctuations in a superfluid Fermi atom gas in the BCS-BEC crossover region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Wyk, Pieter; Inotani, Daisuke; Ohashi, Yoji

2018-03-01

We theoretically investigate the specific heat at constant volume C V in the BCS(Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC(Bose-Einstein-condensation)-crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas, below the superfluid phase transition temperature T c. Within the strong-coupling framework developed by Nozières and Schmitt-Rink, we show that the temperature dependence of C V drastically changes as one passes through the crossover region, and is sensitive to strong fluctuations in the Cooper channel near the unitarity limit. We also compare our results to a recent experiment on a 6Li unitary Fermi gas. Since fluctuation effects are a crucial key in the BCS-BEC-crossover phenomenon, our results would be helpful in considering how the fermionic BCS superfluid changes into BEC with increasing the interaction strength, from the viewpoint of specific heat.

Electrical Conductivity through a Single Atomic Step Measured with the Proximity-Induced Superconducting Pair Correlation

DOE PAGES

Kim, Howon; Lin, Shi -Zeng; Graf, Matthias J.; ...

2016-09-08

Local disordered nanostructures in an atomically thick metallic layer on a semiconducting substrate play significant and decisive roles in transport properties of two-dimensional (2D) conductive systems. We measured the electrical conductivity through a step of monoatomic height in a truly microscopic manner by using as a signal the superconducting pair correlation induced by the proximity effect. The transport property across a step of a one-monolayer Pb surface metallic phase, formed on a Si(111) substrate, was evaluated by inducing the pair correlation around the local defect and measuring its response, i.e., the reduced density of states at the Fermi energy usingmore » scanning tunneling microscopy. We found that the step resistance has a significant contribution to the total resistance on a nominally flat surface. Our study also revealed that steps in the 2D metallic layer terminate the propagation of the pair correlation. Furthermore, superconductivity is enhanced between the first surface step and the superconductor–normal-metal interface by reflectionless tunneling when the step is located within a coherence length.« less

Electrical Conductivity through a Single Atomic Step Measured with the Proximity-Induced Superconducting Pair Correlation.

PubMed

Kim, Howon; Lin, Shi-Zeng; Graf, Matthias J; Miyata, Yoshinori; Nagai, Yuki; Kato, Takeo; Hasegawa, Yukio

2016-09-09

Local disordered nanostructures in an atomically thick metallic layer on a semiconducting substrate play significant and decisive roles in transport properties of two-dimensional (2D) conductive systems. We measured the electrical conductivity through a step of monoatomic height in a truly microscopic manner by using as a signal the superconducting pair correlation induced by the proximity effect. The transport property across a step of a one-monolayer Pb surface metallic phase, formed on a Si(111) substrate, was evaluated by inducing the pair correlation around the local defect and measuring its response, i.e., the reduced density of states at the Fermi energy using scanning tunneling microscopy. We found that the step resistance has a significant contribution to the total resistance on a nominally flat surface. Our study also revealed that steps in the 2D metallic layer terminate the propagation of the pair correlation. Superconductivity is enhanced between the first surface step and the superconductor-normal-metal interface by reflectionless tunneling when the step is located within a coherence length.

Surface Andreev Bound States and Odd-Frequency Pairing in Topological Superconductor Junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Yukio; Tamura, Shun

2018-04-01

In this review, we summarize the achievement of the physics of surface Andreev bound states (SABS) up to now. The route of this activity has started from the physics of SABS of unconventional superconductors where the pair potential has a sign change on the Fermi surface. It has been established that SABS can be regarded as a topological edge state with topological invariant defined in the bulk Hamiltonian. On the other hand, SABS accompanies odd-frequency pairing like spin-triplet s-wave or spin-singlet p-wave. In a spin-triplet superconductor junction, induced odd-frequency pairing can penetrate into a diffusive normal metal (DN) attached to the superconductor. It causes so called anomalous proximity effect where the local density of states of quasiparticle in DN has a zero energy peak. When bulk pairing symmetry is spin-triplet px-wave, the anomalous proximity effect becomes prominent and the zero bias voltage conductance is always quantized independent of the resistance in DN and interface. Finally, we show that the present anomalous proximity effect is realized in an artificial topological superconducting system, where a nanowire with spin-orbit coupling and Zeeman field is put on the conventional spin-singlet s-wave superconductor.

Separation of electron and hole dynamics in the semimetal LaSb

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han, F.; Xu, J.; Botana, A. S.

We report investigations on the magnetotransport in LaSb, which exhibits extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR). Foremost, we demonstrate that the resistivity plateau can be explained without invoking topological protection. We then determine the Fermi surface from Shubnikov–de Haas (SdH) quantum oscillation measurements and find good agreement with the bulk Fermi pockets derived from first-principles calculations. Using a semiclassical theory and the experimentally determined Fermi pocket anisotropies, we quantitatively describe the orbital magnetoresistance, including its angle dependence.We show that the origin of XMR in LaSb lies in its high mobility with diminishing Hall effect, where the high mobility leads to a strongmore » magnetic-field dependence of the longitudinal magnetoconductance. Unlike a one-band material, when a system has two or more bands (Fermi pockets) with electron and hole carriers, the added conductance arising from the Hall effect is reduced, hence revealing the latent XMR enabled by the longitudinal magnetoconductance. With diminishing Hall effect, the magnetoresistivity is simply the inverse of the longitudinal magnetoconductivity, enabling the differentiation of the electron and hole contributions to the XMR, which varies with the strength and orientation of the magnetic field. This work demonstrates a convenient way to separate the dynamics of the charge carriers and to uncover the origin of XMR in multiband materials with anisotropic Fermi surfaces. Our approach can be readily applied to other XMR materials.« less

Magnetic pair creation transparency in gamma-ray pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Story, Sarah A.

Magnetic pair creation, gamma → e+e- , is a key component in polar cap models of gamma-ray pulsars, and has informed assumptions about the still poorly understood radio emission. The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope has now detected more than 100 gamma-ray pulsars, providing rich information for the interpretation of young energetic pulsars and old millisecond pulsars. Fermi observations have established that the high-energy spectra of most of these pulsars have exponential turnovers in the 1--10 GeV range. These turnovers are too gradual to arise from magnetic pair creation in the strong magnetic fields of pulsar inner magnetospheres, so their energy can be used to provide a physically motivated lower bound to the typical altitude of GeV band emission. This work computes pair creation opacities for photon propagation in neutron star magnetospheres. It explores the constraints that can be placed on the emission location of Fermi gamma-rays due to single-photon pair creation transparency below the turnover energy, as well as the limitations of this technique. These altitude bounds are typically in the range of 2--6 neutron star radii for the Fermi pulsar sample, and provide one of the few possible constraints on the emission altitude in radio quiet pulsars that do not possess double-peaked pulse profiles.

A maximally particle-hole asymmetric spectrum emanating from a semi-Dirac point.

PubMed

Quan, Yundi; Pickett, Warren E

2018-02-21

Tight binding models have proven an effective means of revealing Dirac (massless) dispersion, flat bands (infinite mass), and intermediate cases such as the semi-Dirac (sD) dispersion. This approach is extended to a three band model that yields, with chosen parameters in a two-band limit, a closed line with maximally asymmetric particle-hole dispersion: infinite mass holes, zero mass particles. The model retains the sD points for a general set of parameters. Adjacent to this limiting case, hole Fermi surfaces are tiny and needle-like. A pair of large electron Fermi surfaces at low doping merge and collapse at half filling to a flat (zero energy) closed contour with infinite mass along the contour and enclosing no carriers on either side, while the hole Fermi surface has shrunk to a point at zero energy, also containing no carriers. The tight binding model is used to study several characteristics of the dispersion and density of states. The model inspired generalization of sD dispersion to a general  ±[Formula: see text] form, for which analysis reveals that both n and m must be odd to provide a diabolical point with topological character. Evolution of the Hofstadter spectrum of this three band system with interband coupling strength is presented and discussed.

A maximally particle-hole asymmetric spectrum emanating from a semi-Dirac point

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quan, Yundi; Pickett, Warren E.

2018-02-01

Tight binding models have proven an effective means of revealing Dirac (massless) dispersion, flat bands (infinite mass), and intermediate cases such as the semi-Dirac (sD) dispersion. This approach is extended to a three band model that yields, with chosen parameters in a two-band limit, a closed line with maximally asymmetric particle-hole dispersion: infinite mass holes, zero mass particles. The model retains the sD points for a general set of parameters. Adjacent to this limiting case, hole Fermi surfaces are tiny and needle-like. A pair of large electron Fermi surfaces at low doping merge and collapse at half filling to a flat (zero energy) closed contour with infinite mass along the contour and enclosing no carriers on either side, while the hole Fermi surface has shrunk to a point at zero energy, also containing no carriers. The tight binding model is used to study several characteristics of the dispersion and density of states. The model inspired generalization of sD dispersion to a general  ± \\sqrt{k_x2n +k_y2m} form, for which analysis reveals that both n and m must be odd to provide a diabolical point with topological character. Evolution of the Hofstadter spectrum of this three band system with interband coupling strength is presented and discussed.

Precursor of superfluidity in a strongly interacting Fermi gas with negative effective range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tajima, Hiroyuki

2018-04-01

We investigate theoretically the effects of pairing fluctuations in an ultracold Fermi gas near a Feshbach resonance with a negative effective range. By employing a many-body T -matrix theory with a coupled fermion-boson model, we show that the single-particle density of states exhibits the so-called pseudogap phenomenon, which is a precursor of superfluidity induced by strong pairing fluctuations. We clarify the region where strong pairing fluctuations play a crucial role in single-particle properties, from the broad-resonance region to the narrow-resonance limit at the divergent two-body scattering length. We also extrapolate the effects of pairing fluctuations to the positive-effective-range region from our results near the narrow Feshbach resonance. Results shown in this paper are relevant to the connection between ultracold Fermi gases and low-density neutron matter from the viewpoint of finite-effective-range corrections.

Triplet p + ip pairing correlations in the doped Kane-Mele-Hubbard model: A quantum Monte Carlo study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Tianxing; Lin, Hai-Qing; Gubernatis, James E.

2015-09-01

By using the constrained-phase quantum Monte Carlo method, we performed a systematic study of the pairing correlations in the ground state of the doped Kane-Mele-Hubbard model on a honeycomb lattice. We find that pairing correlations with d + id symmetry dominate close to half filling, but pairing correlations with p+ip symmetry dominate as hole doping moves the system below three-quarters filling. We correlate these behaviors of the pairing correlations with the topology of the Fermi surfaces of the non-interacting problem. We also find that the effective pairing correlation is enhanced greatly as the interaction increases, and these superconducting correlations aremore » robust against varying the spin-orbit coupling strength. Finally, our numerical results suggest a possible way to realize spin triplet superconductivity in doped honeycomb-like materials or ultracold atoms in optical traps.« less

Pairing induced superconductivity in holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bagrov, Andrey; Meszena, Balazs; Schalm, Koenraad

2014-09-01

We study pairing induced superconductivity in large N strongly coupled systems at finite density using holography. In the weakly coupled dual gravitational theory the mechanism is conventional BCS theory. An IR hard wall cut-off is included to ensure that we can controllably address the dynamics of a single confined Fermi surface. We address in detail the interplay between the scalar order parameter field and fermion pairing. Adding an explicitly dynamical scalar operator with the same quantum numbers as the fermion-pair, the theory experiences a BCS/BEC crossover controlled by the relative scaling dimensions. We find the novel result that this BCS/BEC crossover exposes resonances in the canonical expectation value of the scalar operator. This occurs not only when the scaling dimension is degenerate with the Cooper pair, but also with that of higher derivative paired operators. We speculate that a proper definition of the order parameter which takes mixing with these operators into account stays finite nevertheless.

Electrostatic interactions between ions near Thomas-Fermi substrates and the surface energy of ionic crystal at imperfect metals

PubMed Central

Kaiser, V.; Comtet, J.; Niguès, A.; Siria, A.; Coasne, B.; Bocquet, L.

2017-01-01

The electrostatic interaction between two charged particles is strongly modified in the vicinity of a metal. This situation is usually accounted for by the celebrated image charges approach, which was further extended to account for the electronic screening properties of the metal at the level of the Thomas-Fermi description. In this paper we build upon the approach by [Kornyshev et al. Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz., 78(3):1008–1019, 1980] and successive works to calculate the 1-body and 2-body electrostatic energy of ions near a metal in terms of the Thomas-Fermi screening length. We propose workable approximations suitable for molecular simulations of ionic systems close to metallic walls. Furthermore, we use this framework to calculate analytically the electrostatic contribution to the surface energy of a one dimensional crystal at a metallic wall and its dependence on the Thomas-Fermi screening length. These calculations provide a simple interpretation for the surface energy in terms of image charges, which allow for an estimate of interfacial properties in more complex situations of a disordered ionic liquid close to a metal surface. A counterintuitive outcome is that electronic screening, as characterized by a molecular Thomas-Fermi length ℓTF, profoundly affects the wetting of ionic systems close to a metal, in line with the recent experimental observation of capillary freezing of ionic liquids in metallic confinement. PMID:28436506

Anomalous Nernst and thermal Hall effects in tilted Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreiros, Yago; Zyuzin, A. A.; Bardarson, Jens H.

2017-09-01

We study the anomalous Nernst and thermal Hall effects in a linearized low-energy model of a tilted Weyl semimetal, with two Weyl nodes separated in momentum space. For inversion symmetric tilt, we give analytic expressions in two opposite limits: For a small tilt, corresponding to a type-I Weyl semimetal, the Nernst conductivity is finite and independent of the Fermi level; for a large tilt, corresponding to a type-II Weyl semimetal, it acquires a contribution depending logarithmically on the Fermi energy. This result is in a sharp contrast to the nontilted case, where the Nernst response is known to be zero in the linear model. The thermal Hall conductivity similarly acquires Fermi surface contributions, which add to the Fermi level-independent, zero-tilt result, and is suppressed as one over the tilt parameter at half filling in the type-II phase. In the case of inversion-breaking tilt, with the tilting vector of equal modulus in the two Weyl cones, all Fermi surface contributions to both anomalous responses cancel out, resulting in zero Nernst conductivity. We discuss two possible experimental setups, representing open and closed thermoelectric circuits.

Magnetic and Fermi Surface Properties of EuGa4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Ai; Hiranaka, Yuichi; Hedo, Masato; Nakama, Takao; Miura, Yasunao; Tsutsumi, Hiroki; Mori, Akinobu; Ishida, Kazuhiro; Mitamura, Katsuya; Hirose, Yusuke; Sugiyama, Kiyohiro; Honda, Fuminori; Settai, Rikio; Takeuchi, Tetsuya; Hagiwara, Masayuki; Matsuda, Tatsuma D.; Yamamoto, Etsuji; Haga, Yoshinori; Matsubayashi, Kazuyuki; Uwatoko, Yoshiya; Harima, Hisatomo; Ōnuki, Yoshichika

2013-10-01

We grew a high-quality single crystal EuGa4 with the tetragonal structure by the Ga self-flux method, and measured the electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization, specific heat, thermoelectric power and de Haas--van Alphen (dHvA) effect, together with the electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power under pressure. EuGa4 is found to be a Eu-divalent compound without anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility in the paramagnetic state and to reveal the same magnetization curve between H \\parallel [100] and [001] in the antiferromagnetic state, where the antiferromagnetic easy-axis is oriented along the [100] direction below a Néel temperature TN=16.5 K. The magnetization curve is discussed on the basis of a simple two-sublattice model. The Fermi surface in the paramagnetic state was clarified from the results of a dHvA experiment for EuGa4 and an energy band calculation for a non-4f reference compound SrGa4, which consists of a small ellipsoidal hole--Fermi surface and a compensated cube-like electron--Fermi surface with vacant space in center. We observed an anomaly in the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power at TCDW=150 K under 2 GPa. This might correspond to an emergence of the charge density wave (CDW). The similar phenomenon was also observed in EuAl4 at ambient pressure. We discussed the CDW phenomenon on the basis of the present peculiar Fermi surfaces.

Theory of Magnetic Ordering in the Heavy Rare Earths: Ab Initio Electronic Origin of Pair- and Four-Spin Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendive-Tapia, Eduardo; Staunton, Julie B.

2017-05-01

We describe a disordered local moment theory for long-period magnetic phases and investigate the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the magnetic states in the heavy rare earth elements (HREs), namely, paramagnetic, conical and helical antiferromagnetic (HAFM), fan, and ferromagnetic (FM) states. We obtain a generic HRE magnetic phase diagram which is consequent on the response of the common HRE valence electronic structure to f -electron magnetic moment ordering. The theory directly links the first-order HAFM-FM transition to the loss of Fermi surface nesting, induced by this magnetic ordering, as well as provides a template for analyzing the other phases and exposing where f -electron correlation effects are particularly intricate. Gadolinium, for a range of hexagonal, close-packed lattice constants c and a , is the prototype, described ab initio, and applications to other HREs are made straightforwardly by scaling the effective pair and quartic local moment interactions that emerge naturally from the theory with de Gennes factors and choosing appropriate lanthanide-contracted c and a values.

Analyse des proprietes electroniques de supraconducteurs a l'aide de la theorie de la fonctionnelle de la densite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blackburn, Simon

In this thesis, the electronic structure of different kinds of superconductors is explored with the density functional theory. A brief explanation of this theory is done in the introduction. The Hubbard model is also presented as it can be used to solve shortcomings of the theory in some materials such as cuprates. The blend of the two theories is the DFT+U which is used to describe materials with strongly correlated electrons. Afterward, a paper describing the electron-phonon coupling in the superconductor NbC1- xNx is presented. Results from this work show the role of the Fermi surface in the electron pairing mechanism leading to superconductivity. Based on these results, a model is developed explaining how the critical temperature is influenced by the change in frequency of the vibration modes. Then, quantum oscillation results based on a detailed analysis of Fermi surfaces, allowing a direct comparison with experimental data, are presented within two papers. The first one is about a material in the iron pnictide family, the LaFe2P2. Our calculations show that the Fermi surface of this material is different from the superconducting doped BaFe2As2 which explains why this material shows no sign of superconductivity. The second paper is about the heavy fermion system YbCoIn5. To do this, a new efficient method to calculate de Haas-van Alphen frequencies is developed. Finally, a paper on superconducting YBa2Cu3O6.5 is presented. Using DFT+U, the role of various magnetic orders on the Fermi surface are studied. The results allow a better understanding of the measured quantum oscillations in this material.

Thermal transitions, pseudogap behavior, and BCS-BEC crossover in Fermi-Fermi mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karmakar, Madhuparna

2018-03-01

We study the mass imbalanced Fermi-Fermi mixture within the framework of a two-dimensional lattice fermion model. Based on the thermodynamic and species-dependent quasiparticle behavior, we map out the finite-temperature phase diagram of this system and show that unlike the balanced Fermi superfluid, there are now two different pseudogap regimes as PG-I and PG-II. While within the PG-I regime both the fermionic species are pseudogapped, PG-II corresponds to the regime where pseudogap feature survives only in the light species. We believe that the single-particle spectral features that we discuss in this paper are observable through the species-resolved radio-frequency spectroscopy and momentum-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements on systems such as 6Li-40K mixture. We further investigate the interplay between the population and mass imbalances and report that at a fixed population imbalance, the BCS-BEC crossover in a Fermi-Fermi mixture would require a critical interaction (Uc) for the realization of the uniform superfluid state. The effect of imbalance in mass on the exotic Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov superfluid phase has been probed in detail in terms of the thermodynamic and quasiparticle behavior of this phase. It has been observed that in spite of the s -wave symmetry of the pairing field, a nodal superfluid gap is realized in the Larkin-Ovchinnikov regime. Our results on the various thermal scales and regimes are expected to serve as benchmarks for the experimental observations on 6Li-40K mixture.

Chemical contrast in STM imaging of transition metal aluminides

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Duguet, T.; Thiel, Patricia A.

2012-08-01

The present manuscript reviews recent scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) studies of transition metal (TM) aluminide surfaces. It provides a general perspective on the contrast between Al atoms and TM atoms in STM imaging. A general trend is the much stronger bias dependence of TM atoms, or TM-rich regions of the surface. This dependence can be attenuated by the local chemical arrangements and environments. Al atoms can show a stronger bias dependence when their chemical environment, such as their immediate subsurface, is populated with TM. All this is well explained in light of combined results of STM and both theoretical andmore » experimental electronic and crystallographic structure determinations. Since STM probes the Fermi surface, the electronic structure in the vicinity of the Fermi level (EF) is essential for understanding contrast and bias dependence. Hence, partial density of states provides information about the TM d band position and width, s–p–d hybridization or interactions, or charge transfer between constituent elements. In addition, recent developments in STM image simulations are very interesting for elucidating chemical contrast at Al–TM alloy surfaces, and allow direct atomic identification, when the surface does not show too much disorder. Overall, we show that chemically-specific imaging is often possible at these surfaces.« less

Superconductivity in three-dimensional spin-orbit coupled semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savary, Lucile; Ruhman, Jonathan; Venderbos, Jörn W. F.; Fu, Liang; Lee, Patrick A.

2017-12-01

Motivated by the experimental detection of superconductivity in the low-carrier density half-Heusler compound YPtBi, we study the pairing instabilities of three-dimensional strongly spin-orbit coupled semimetals with a quadratic band touching point. In these semimetals the electronic structure at the Fermi energy is described by spin j =3/2 quasiparticles, which are fundamentally different from those in ordinary metals with spin j =1/2 . For both local and nonlocal pairing channels in j =3/2 materials we develop a general approach to analyzing pairing instabilities, thereby providing the computational tools needed to investigate the physics of these systems beyond phenomenological considerations. Furthermore, applying our method to a generic density-density interaction, we establish that: (i) The pairing strengths in the different symmetry channels uniquely encode the j =3/2 nature of the Fermi surface band structure—a manifestation of the fundamental difference with ordinary metals. (ii) The leading odd-parity pairing instabilities are different for electron doping and hole doping. Finally, we argue that polar phonons, i.e., Coulomb interactions mediated by the long-ranged electric polarization of the optical phonon modes, provide a coupling strength large enough to account for a Kelvin-range transition temperature in the s -wave channel, and are likely to play an important role in the overall attraction in non-s -wave channels. Moreover, the explicit calculation of the coupling strengths allows us to conclude that the two largest non-s -wave contributions occur in nonlocal channels, in contrast with what has been commonly assumed.

Thermodynamics of GaN(s)-NH3(v)+N2(v)+H2(v) system - Electronic aspects of the processes at GaN(0001) surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kempisty, Pawel; Strak, Pawel; Sakowski, Konrad; Krukowski, Stanislaw

2017-08-01

Comprehensive analysis of GaN(0001) surface in equilibrium with ammonia/hydrogen mixture was undertaken using results of ab initio calculations. Adsorption energies of the species derived from ammonia and molecular hydrogen and their stable sites were obtained. It was shown that the adsorption process type and energy depend on the position of Fermi level at the surface. Hydrogen decomposes into two separate H atoms, always adsorbed in the positions on top of the surface Ga atoms (On-top). Ammonia adsorption at GaN(0001) surface proceeds molecularly to ammonia in the On-top position or dissociatively into NH2 radicals in bridge (NH2-bridge) or On-top positions or into NH radicals in H3 (NH-H3) site. Presence of these species affects Fermi level pinning at the surface due to creation of new surface states. The Fermi level pinning in function of the surface attached species concentration was determined using extended electron counting rule (EECR). Results of ab initio calculations fully proved validity of the EECR predictions. Thermodynamic analysis of the surface in equilibrium with molecular hydrogen and ammonia vapor mixture is made giving the range of ammonia and hydrogen pressures, corresponding to Fermi level pinned at Ga-broken bond state for NH-H3&H and NH3&H and NH2-bridge&H coverage and at VBM for NH3 & H coverage. As the region of Fermi level pinned at Ga broken bond state corresponds to very low pressures, at pressures close to normal, GaN(0001) surface is almost totally covered by H, NH3 and NH2 located in On-top positions. It is also shown however that dominant portion of the hydrogen and ammonia pressures corresponds to Fermi level not pinned. Among them are these corresponding to MOVPE and HVPE growth conditions in which the surface is almost fully covered by NH3, NH2 and H species in On-top positions.

Superfluidity and BCS-BEC crossover of ultracold atomic Fermi gases in mixed dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Leifeng; Chen, Qijin

Atomic Fermi gases have been under active investigation in the past decade. Here we study the superfluid and pairing phenomena of a two-component ultracold atomic Fermi gas in the presence of mixed dimensionality, in which one component is confined on a 1D optical lattice whereas the other is free in the 3D continuum. We assume a short-range pairing interaction and determine the superfluid transition temperature Tc and the phase diagram for the entire BCS-BEC crossover, using a pairing fluctuation theory which includes self-consistently the contributions of finite momentum pairs. We find that, as the lattice depth increases and the lattice spacing decreases, the behavior of Tc becomes very similar to that of a population imbalance Fermi gas in a simple 3D continuum. There is no superfluidity even at T = 0 below certain threshold of pairing strength in the BCS regime. Nonmonotonic Tc behavior and intermediate temperature superfluidity emerge, and for deep enough lattice, the Tc curve will split into two parts. Implications for experiment will be discussed. References: 1. Q.J. Chen, Ioan Kosztin, B. Janko, and K. Levin, Phys. Rev. B 59, 7083 (1999). 2. Chih-Chun Chien, Qijin Chen, Yan He, and K. Levin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 090402(2006). Work supported by NSF of China and the National Basic Research Program of China.

The ultrafast dynamics and conductivity of photoexcited graphene at different Fermi energies

PubMed Central

Turchinovich, Dmitry; Kläui, Mathias; Hendry, Euan; Polini, Marco

2018-01-01

For many of the envisioned optoelectronic applications of graphene, it is crucial to understand the subpicosecond carrier dynamics immediately following photoexcitation and the effect of photoexcitation on the electrical conductivity—the photoconductivity. Whereas these topics have been studied using various ultrafast experiments and theoretical approaches, controversial and incomplete explanations concerning the sign of the photoconductivity, the occurrence and significance of the creation of additional electron-hole pairs, and, in particular, how the relevant processes depend on Fermi energy have been put forward. We present a unified and intuitive physical picture of the ultrafast carrier dynamics and the photoconductivity, combining optical pump–terahertz probe measurements on a gate-tunable graphene device, with numerical calculations using the Boltzmann equation. We distinguish two types of ultrafast photo-induced carrier heating processes: At low (equilibrium) Fermi energy (EF ≲ 0.1 eV for our experiments), broadening of the carrier distribution involves interband transitions (interband heating). At higher Fermi energy (EF ≳ 0.15 eV), broadening of the carrier distribution involves intraband transitions (intraband heating). Under certain conditions, additional electron-hole pairs can be created [carrier multiplication (CM)] for low EF, and hot carriers (hot-CM) for higher EF. The resultant photoconductivity is positive (negative) for low (high) EF, which in our physical picture, is explained using solely electronic effects: It follows from the effect of the heated carrier distributions on the screening of impurities, consistent with the DC conductivity being mostly due to impurity scattering. The importance of these insights is highlighted by a discussion of the implications for graphene photodetector applications. PMID:29756035

Doping dependence of charge order in electron-doped cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mou, Yingping; Feng, Shiping

2017-12-01

In the recent studies of the unconventional physics in cuprate superconductors, one of the central issues is the interplay between charge order and superconductivity. Here the mechanism of the charge-order formation in the electron-doped cuprate superconductors is investigated based on the t-J model. The experimentally observed momentum dependence of the electron quasiparticle scattering rate is qualitatively reproduced, where the scattering rate is highly anisotropic in momentum space, and is intriguingly related to the charge-order gap. Although the scattering strength appears to be weakest at the hot spots, the scattering in the antinodal region is stronger than that in the nodal region, which leads to the original electron Fermi surface is broken up into the Fermi pockets and their coexistence with the Fermi arcs located around the nodal region. In particular, this electron Fermi surface instability drives the charge-order correlation, with the charge-order wave vector that matches well with the wave vector connecting the hot spots, as the charge-order correlation in the hole-doped counterparts. However, in a striking contrast to the hole-doped case, the charge-order wave vector in the electron-doped side increases in magnitude with the electron doping. The theory also shows the existence of a quantitative link between the single-electron fermiology and the collective response of the electron density.

Superconducting pairing and the pseudogap in the nematic dynamical stripe phase of La2-xSrxCuO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugai, S.; Takayanagi, Y.; Hayamizu, N.; Muroi, T.; Shiozaki, R.; Nohara, J.; Takenaka, K.; Okazaki, K.

2013-11-01

Fully absorption coefficient corrected Raman spectra were obtained in La2-xSrxCuO4. The B1g spectra have a Fleury-Loudon type two-magnon peak (resonant term) whose energy decreases from 3180 cm-1 (394 meV) to 440 cm-1 (55 meV) on increasing the carrier density from x = 0 to 0.25, while the B2g spectra have a 1000-3500 cm-1 (124-434 meV) hump (hill) whose lower-edge energy increases from x = 0 to 0.115 and then stays constant to x = 0.25. The B2g hump is assigned to the electronic scattering (non-resonant term) of the spectral function with magnetic self-energy. The completely different carrier density dependence arises from anisotropic magnetic excitations of spin-charge stripes. The B1g spectra were assigned to the sum of k ∥ and k⊥ stripe excitations and the B2g spectra to k⊥ stripe excitations according to the calculation by Seibold and Lorenzana (2006 Phys. Rev. B 73 144515). The k ∥ and k⊥ stripe excitations in fluctuating spin-charge stripes were separately detected for the first time. The appearance of only k⊥ stripe excitations in the electronic scattering arises from the charge hopping perpendicular to the stripe. This is the same direction as the Burgers vector of the edge dislocation in metal. The successive charge hopping in the Burgers vector direction across the charge stripes may cause Cooper pairs as predicted by Zaanen et al (2004 Ann. Phys. 310 181). Indeed, this is supported by the experimental fact that the superconducting coherent length coincides with the inter-charge stripe distance in the wide carrier density range. The one-directional charge hopping perpendicular to the stripe causes the flat Fermi surface and the pseudogap near (π,0) and (0,π), but the states around (π/2,π/2) cannot be produced. The low-energy Raman scattering disclosed that the electronic states at the Fermi arc around (π/2,π/2) are coupled to the A1g soft phonon of the tetragonal-orthorhombic phase transition. This suggests that the Fermi arc is produced by the electron-phonon interaction. All the present Raman data suggest that Cooper pairs are formed at moving edge dislocations of dynamical charge stripes.

Fermion superfluid with hybridized s- and p-wave pairings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, LiHong; Yi, Wei; Cui, XiaoLing

2017-12-01

Ever since the pioneering work of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer in the 1950s, exploring novel pairing mechanisms for fermion superfluids has become one of the central tasks in modern physics. Here, we investigate a new type of fermion superfluid with hybridized s- and p-wave pairings in an ultracold spin-1/2 Fermi gas. Its occurrence is facilitated by the co-existence of comparable s- and p-wave interactions, which is realizable in a two-component 40K Fermi gas with close-by s- and p-wave Feshbach resonances. The hybridized superfluid state is stable over a considerable parameter region on the phase diagram, and can lead to intriguing patterns of spin densities and pairing fields in momentum space. In particular, it can induce a phase-locked p-wave pairing in the fermion species that has no p-wave interactions. The hybridized nature of this novel superfluid can also be confirmed by measuring the s- and p-wave contacts, which can be extracted from the high-momentum tail of the momentum distribution of each spin component. These results enrich our knowledge of pairing superfluidity in Fermi systems, and open the avenue for achieving novel fermion superfluids with multiple partial-wave scatterings in cold atomic gases.

Nematic superconductivity in CuxBi2Se3 : Surface Andreev bound states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Lei; Ting, C. S.

2017-10-01

We study theoretically the topological surface states (TSSs) and the possible surface Andreev bound states (SABSs) of CuxBi2Se3 , which is known to be a topological insulator at x =0 . The superconductivity (SC) pairing of this compound is assumed to have broken spin-rotation symmetry, similar to that of the A-phase of 3He as suggested by recent nuclear-magnetic resonance experiments. For both spheroidal and corrugated cylindrical Fermi surfaces with the hexagonal warping terms, we show that the bulk SC gap is rather anisotropic; the minimum of the gap is negligibly small as compared to the maximum of the gap. This would make the fully gapped pairing effectively nodal. For a clean system, our results indicate the bulk of this compound to be a topological superconductor with the SABSs appearing inside the bulk SC gap. The zero-energy SABSs, which are Majorana fermions, together with the TSSs not gapped by the pairing, produce a zero-energy peak in the surface density of states (SDOS). The SABSs are expected to be stable against short-range nonmagnetic impurities, and the local SDOS is calculated around a nonmagnetic impurity. The relevance of our results to experiments is discussed.

Search for extended γ-ray emission around AGN with H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

H. E. S. S. Collaboration; Abramowski, A.; Aharonian, F.; Ait Benkhali, F.; Akhperjanian, A. G.; Angüner, E.; Anton, G.; Backes, M.; Balenderan, S.; Balzer, A.; Barnacka, A.; Becherini, Y.; Becker Tjus, J.; Bernlöhr, K.; Birsin, E.; Bissaldi, E.; Biteau, J.; Böttcher, M.; Boisson, C.; Bolmont, J.; Bordas, P.; Brucker, J.; Brun, F.; Brun, P.; Bulik, T.; Carrigan, S.; Casanova, S.; Chadwick, P. M.; Chalme-Calvet, R.; Chaves, R. C. G.; Cheesebrough, A.; Chrétien, M.; Colafrancesco, S.; Cologna, G.; Conrad, J.; Couturier, C.; Cui, Y.; Dalton, M.; Daniel, M. K.; Davids, I. D.; Degrange, B.; Deil, C.; deWilt, P.; Dickinson, H. J.; Djannati-Atäı, A.; Domainko, W.; Drury, L. O'C.; Dubus, G.; Dutson, K.; Dyks, J.; Dyrda, M.; Edwards, T.; Egberts, K.; Eger, P.; Espigat, P.; Farnier, C.; Fegan, S.; Feinstein, F.; Fernandes, M. V.; Fernandez, D.; Fiasson, A.; Fontaine, G.; Förster, A.; Füßling, M.; Gajdus, M.; Gallant, Y. A.; Garrigoux, T.; Giavitto, G.; Giebels, B.; Glicenstein, J. F.; Grondin, M.-H.; Grudzińska, M.; Häffner, S.; Hahn, J.; Harris, J.; Heinzelmann, G.; Henri, G.; Hermann, G.; Hervet, O.; Hillert, A.; Hinton, J. A.; Hofmann, W.; Hofverberg, P.; Holler, M.; Horns, D.; Jacholkowska, A.; Jahn, C.; Jamrozy, M.; Janiak, M.; Jankowsky, F.; Jung, I.; Kastendieck, M. A.; Katarzyński, K.; Katz, U.; Kaufmann, S.; Khélifi, B.; Kieffer, M.; Klepser, S.; Klochkov, D.; Kluźniak, W.; Kneiske, T.; Kolitzus, D.; Komin, Nu.; Kosack, K.; Krakau, S.; Krayzel, F.; Krüger, P. P.; Laffon, H.; Lamanna, G.; Lefaucheur, J.; Lemie`re, A.; Lemoine-Goumard, M.; Lenain, J.-P.; Lohse, T.; Lopatin, A.; Lu, C.-C.; Marandon, V.; Marcowith, A.; Marx, R.; Maurin, G.; Maxted, N.; Mayer, M.; McComb, T. J. L.; Méhault, J.; Meintjes, P. J.; Menzler, U.; Meyer, M.; Moderski, R.; Mohamed, M.; Moulin, E.; Murach, T.; Naumann, C. L.; de Naurois, M.; Niemiec, J.; Nolan, S. J.; Oakes, L.; Odaka, H.; Ohm, S.; de Oña Wilhelmi, E.; Opitz, B.; Ostrowski, M.; Oya, I.; Panter, M.; Parsons, R. D.; Paz Arribas, M.; Pekeur, N. W.; Pelletier, G.; Perez, J.; Petrucci, P.-O.; Peyaud, B.; Pita, S.; Poon, H.; Pühlhofer, G.; Punch, M.; Quirrenbach, A.; Raab, S.; Raue, M.; Reichardt, I.; Reimer, A.; Reimer, O.; Renaud, M.; de los Reyes, R.; Rieger, F.; Rob, L.; Romoli, C.; Rosier-Lees, S.; Rowell, G.; Rudak, B.; Rulten, C. B.; Sahakian, V.; Sanchez, D. A.; Santangelo, A.; Schlickeiser, R.; Schüssler, F.; Schulz, A.; Schwanke, U.; Schwarzburg, S.; Schwemmer, S.; Sol, H.; Spengler, G.; Spies, F.; Stawarz, Ł.; Steenkamp, R.; Stegmann, C.; Stinzing, F.; Stycz, K.; Sushch, I.; Tavernet, J.-P.; Tavernier, T.; Taylor, A. M.; Terrier, R.; Tluczykont, M.; Trichard, C.; Valerius, K.; van Eldik, C.; van Soelen, B.; Vasileiadis, G.; Venter, C.; Viana, A.; Vincent, P.; Völk, H. J.; Volpe, F.; Vorster, M.; Vuillaume, T.; Wagner, S. J.; Wagner, P.; Wagner, R. M.; Ward, M.; Weidinger, M.; Weitzel, Q.; White, R.; Wierzcholska, A.; Willmann, P.; Wörnlein, A.; Wouters, D.; Yang, R.; Zabalza, V.; Zacharias, M.; Zdziarski, A. A.; Zech, A.; Zechlin, H.-S.; Malyshev, D.

2014-02-01

Context. Very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-ray emission from blazars inevitably gives rise to electron-positron pair production through the interaction of these γ-rays with the extragalactic background light (EBL). Depending on the magnetic fields in the proximity of the source, the cascade initiated from pair production can result in either an isotropic halo around an initially beamed source or a magnetically broadened cascade flux. Aims: Both extended pair-halo (PH) and magnetically broadened cascade (MBC) emission from regions surrounding the blazars 1ES 1101-232, 1ES 0229+200, and PKS 2155-304 were searched for using VHE γ-ray data taken with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) and high-energy (HE; 100 MeV < E < 100 GeV) γ-ray data with the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). Methods: By comparing the angular distributions of the reconstructed γ-ray events to the angular profiles calculated from detailed theoretical models, the presence of PH and MBC was investigated. Results: Upper limits on the extended emission around 1ES 1101-232, 1ES 0229+200, and PKS 2155-304 are found to be at a level of a few per cent of the Crab nebula flux above 1 TeV, depending on the assumed photon index of the cascade emission. Assuming strong extra-Galactic magnetic field (EGMF) values, >10-12 G, this limits the production of pair haloes developing from electromagnetic cascades. For weaker magnetic fields, in which electromagnetic cascades would result in MBCs, EGMF strengths in the range (0.3-3)× 10-15 G were excluded for PKS 2155-304 at the 99% confidence level, under the assumption of a 1 Mpc coherence length.

Superconductor-insulator transition and Fermi-Bose crossovers

DOE PAGES

Loh, Yen Lee; Randeria, Mohit; Trivedi, Nandini; ...

2016-05-31

The direct transition from an insulator to a superconductor (SC) in Fermi systems is a problem of long-standing interest, which necessarily goes beyond the standard BCS paradigm of superconductivity as a Fermi surface instability. We introduce here a simple, translationally invariant lattice fermion model that undergoes a SC-insulator transition (SIT) and elucidate its properties using analytical methods and quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We show that there is a fermionic band insulator to bosonic insulator crossover in the insulating phase and a BCS-to-BEC crossover in the SC. The SIT is always found to be from a bosonic insulator to a BEC-likemore » SC, with an energy gap for fermions that remains finite across the SIT. Hence, the energy scales that go critical at the SIT are the gap to pair excitations in the insulator and the superfluid stiffness in the SC. In addition to giving insight into important questions about the SIT in solid-state systems, our model should be experimentally realizable using ultracold fermions in optical lattices.« less

Electrostatic interactions between ions near Thomas-Fermi substrates and the surface energy of ionic crystals at imperfect metals.

PubMed

Kaiser, V; Comtet, J; Niguès, A; Siria, A; Coasne, B; Bocquet, L

2017-07-01

The electrostatic interaction between two charged particles is strongly modified in the vicinity of a metal. This situation is usually accounted for by the celebrated image charges approach, which was further extended to account for the electronic screening properties of the metal at the level of the Thomas-Fermi description. In this paper we build upon a previous approach [M. A. Vorotyntsev and A. A. Kornyshev, Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz., 1980, 78(3), 1008-1019] and successive works to calculate the 1-body and 2-body electrostatic energy of ions near a metal in terms of the Thomas-Fermi screening length. We propose workable approximations suitable for molecular simulations of ionic systems close to metallic walls. Furthermore, we use this framework to calculate analytically the electrostatic contribution to the surface energy of a one dimensional crystal at a metallic wall and its dependence on the Thomas-Fermi screening length. These calculations provide a simple interpretation for the surface energy in terms of image charges, which allows for an estimation of the interfacial properties in more complex situations of a disordered ionic liquid close to a metal surface. The counter-intuitive outcome is that electronic screening, as characterized by a molecular Thomas-Fermi length l TF , profoundly affects the wetting of ionic systems close to a metal, in line with the recent experimental observation of capillary freezing of ionic liquids in metallic confinement.

Fermi surface in the absence of a Fermi liquid in the Kondo insulator SmB6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartstein, M.; Toews, W. H.; Hsu, Y.-T.; Zeng, B.; Chen, X.; Hatnean, M. Ciomaga; Zhang, Q. R.; Nakamura, S.; Padgett, A. S.; Rodway-Gant, G.; Berk, J.; Kingston, M. K.; Zhang, G. H.; Chan, M. K.; Yamashita, S.; Sakakibara, T.; Takano, Y.; Park, J.-H.; Balicas, L.; Harrison, N.; Shitsevalova, N.; Balakrishnan, G.; Lonzarich, G. G.; Hill, R. W.; Sutherland, M.; Sebastian, Suchitra E.

2018-02-01

The search for a Fermi surface in the absence of a conventional Fermi liquid has thus far yielded very few potential candidates. Among promising materials are spin-frustrated Mott insulators near the insulator-metal transition, where theory predicts a Fermi surface associated with neutral low-energy excitations. Here we reveal another route to experimentally realize a Fermi surface in the absence of a Fermi liquid by the experimental study of a Kondo insulator SmB6 positioned close to the insulator-metal transition. We present experimental signatures down to low temperatures (<<1 K) associated with a Fermi surface in the bulk, including a sizeable linear specific heat coefficient, and on the application of a finite magnetic field, bulk magnetic quantum oscillations, finite quantum oscillatory entropy, and substantial enhancement in thermal conductivity well below the charge gap energy scale. Thus, the weight of evidence indicates that despite an extreme instance of Fermi liquid breakdown in Kondo insulating SmB6, a Fermi surface arises from novel itinerant low-energy excitations that couple to magnetic fields, but not weak DC electric fields.

Influence of topological transitions in a quantizing magnetic field and anisotropy of current carrier scattering by acoustic phonons on the longitudinal electrical conductivity of layered crystals with open fermi surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorskii, P. V.

2011-03-01

It is demonstrated that the dependence of Fermi's energy on the magnetic field causes a set of the Shubnikov - de Haas (SDH) oscillation frequencies to change, and their relative contribution to the total longitudinal conductivity of layered crystals depends on whether the scattering of current carriers is isotropic or anisotropic. Owing to the topological transition in a strong magnetic field, Fermi's surface (FS) is transformed from open into closed one and is compressed in the magnetic field direction. Therefore, in an ultraquantum limit, disregarding the Dingle factor, the longitudinal electrical conductivity of the layered crystal tends to zero as a reciprocal square of the magnetic field for the isotropic scattering and as a reciprocal cube of the magnetic field for the anisotropic scattering. All calculations are performed in the approximation of relaxation time considered to be constant versus the quantum numbers for the isotropic scattering and proportional to the longitudinal velocity of current carriers for the anisotropic scattering.

Large optical conductivity of Dirac semimetal Fermi arc surface states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Li-kun; Song, Justin C. W.

2017-08-01

Fermi arc surface states, a hallmark of topological Dirac semimetals, can host carriers that exhibit unusual dynamics distinct from that of their parent bulk. Here we find that Fermi arc carriers in intrinsic Dirac semimetals possess a strong and anisotropic light-matter interaction. This is characterized by a large Fermi arc optical conductivity when light is polarized transverse to the Fermi arc; when light is polarized along the Fermi arc, Fermi arc optical conductivity is significantly muted. The large surface spectral weight is locked to the wide separation between Dirac nodes and persists as a large Drude weight of Fermi arc carriers when the system is doped. As a result, large and anisotropic Fermi arc conductivity provides a novel means of optically interrogating the topological surfaces states of Dirac semimetals.

Positron trapping in Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ and the Fermi surface of YBa2Cu3O7-δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukla, A.; Hoffmann, L.; Manuel, A. A.; Walker, E.; Barbiellini, B.; Peter, M.

1995-03-01

Temperature-dependent positron lifetime measurements in ceramic Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ samples reveal positron trapping, in particular at low temperature and for small x. Positrons appear to be completely delocalized for T~400 K and higher. At high temperatures the lifetime for YBa2Cu3O7-δ and PrBa2Cu3O7-δ is identical (~165 ps) and close to the theoretical value. For these reasons a two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR) spectrum was measured in YBa2Cu3O7 at T=400 K. The spectrum width confirms the delocalization of the positron and the 2D-ACAR shows, apart from the one-dimensional Fermi surface due to CuO chains, a smaller Fermi surface sheet centered around the S point, in the first Brillouin zone.

The influence of pairing correlations on the isospin symmetry breaking corrections of superallowed Fermi beta decays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cal Latin-Small-Letter-Dotless-I k, A. E., E-mail: engincalik@yahoo.com; Gerceklioglu, M.; Selam, C.

2013-05-15

Within the framework of quasi-particle random phase approximation, the isospin breaking correction of superallowed 0{sup +} {yields} 0{sup +} beta decay and unitarity of Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa mixing matrix have been investigated. The broken isotopic symmetry of nuclear part of Hamiltonian has been restored by Pyatov's method. The isospin symmetry breaking correction with pairing correlations has been compared with the previous results without pairing. The effect of pairing interactions has been examined for nine superallowed Fermi beta decays; their parent nuclei are {sup 26}Al, {sup 34}Cl, {sup 38}K, {sup 42}Sc, {sup 46}V, {sup 50}Mn, {sup 54}Co, {sup 62}Ga, {sup 74}Rb.

Determination of the Point-Spread Function for the FERMI Large Area Telescope from On-Orbit Data and Limits on Pair Halos of Active Galactic Nuclei

DOE PAGES

Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.; Allafort, A.; ...

2013-02-15

We present the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is a pair-conversion telescope designed to detect photons with energies from ≈20 MeV to >300 GeV. The pre-launch response functions of the LAT were determined through extensive Monte Carlo simulations and beam tests. The point-spread function (PSF) characterizing the angular distribution of reconstructed photons as a function of energy and geometry in the detector is determined here from two years of on-orbit data by examining the distributions of γ rays from pulsars and active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Above 3 GeV, the PSF is found to be broadermore » than the pre-launch PSF. We checked for dependence of the PSF on the class of γ-ray source and observation epoch and found none. We also investigated several possible spatial models for pair-halo emission around BL Lac AGNs. Finally, we found no evidence for a component with spatial extension larger than the PSF and set upper limits on the amplitude of halo emission in stacked images of low- and high-redshift BL Lac AGNs and the TeV blazars 1ES0229+200 and 1ES0347–121.« less

Fermi surfaces in Kondo insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hsu; Hartstein, Máté; Wallace, Gregory J.; Davies, Alexander J.; Ciomaga Hatnean, Monica; Johannes, Michelle D.; Shitsevalova, Natalya; Balakrishnan, Geetha; Sebastian, Suchitra E.

2018-04-01

We report magnetic quantum oscillations measured using torque magnetisation in the Kondo insulator YbB12 and discuss the potential origin of the underlying Fermi surface. Observed quantum oscillations as well as complementary quantities such as a finite linear specific heat capacity in YbB12 exhibit similarities with the Kondo insulator SmB6, yet also crucial differences. Small heavy Fermi sections are observed in YbB12 with similarities to the neighbouring heavy fermion semimetallic Fermi surface, in contrast to large light Fermi surface sections in SmB6 which are more similar to the conduction electron Fermi surface. A rich spectrum of theoretical models is suggested to explain the origin across different Kondo insulating families of a bulk Fermi surface potentially from novel itinerant quasiparticles that couple to magnetic fields, yet do not couple to weak DC electric fields.

Magnon-induced superconductivity in a topological insulator coupled to ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hugdal, Henning G.; Rex, Stefan; Nogueira, Flavio S.; Sudbø, Asle

2018-05-01

We study the effective interactions between Dirac fermions on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator due to the proximity coupling to the magnetic fluctuations in a ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic insulator. Our results show that the magnetic fluctuations can mediate attractive interactions between Dirac fermions of both Amperean and BCS types. In the ferromagnetic case, we find pairing between fermions with parallel momenta, so-called Amperean pairing, whenever the effective Lagrangian for the magnetic fluctuations does not contain a quadratic term. The pairing interaction also increases with increasing Fermi momentum and is in agreement with previous studies in the limit of high chemical potential. If a quadratic term is present, the pairing is instead of BCS type above a certain chemical potential. In the antiferromagnetic case, BCS pairing occurs when the ferromagnetic coupling between magnons on the same sublattice exceeds the antiferromagnetic coupling between magnons on different sublattices. Outside this region in parameter space, we again find that Amperean pairing is realized.

Momentum dependence of the superconducting gap and in-gap states in MgB 2 multiband superconductor

DOE PAGES

Mou, Daixiang; Jiang, Rui; Taufour, Valentin; ...

2015-06-29

We use tunable laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study the electronic structure of the multiband superconductor MgB 2. These results form the baseline for detailed studies of superconductivity in multiband systems. We find that the magnitude of the superconducting gap on both σ bands follows a BCS-like variation with temperature with Δ 0 ~ 7meV. Furthermore, the value of the gap is isotropic within experimental uncertainty and in agreement with a pure s-wave pairing symmetry. We observe in-gap states confined to k F of the σ band that occur at some locations of the sample surface. As a result, themore » energy of this excitation, ~ 3 meV, was found to be somewhat larger than the previously reported gap on π Fermi sheet and therefore we cannot exclude the possibility of interband scattering as its origin.« less

Fermi surface in the absence of a Fermi liquid in the Kondo insulator SmB 6

DOE PAGES

Hartstein, M.; Toews, W. H.; Hsu, Y. -T.; ...

2017-10-23

The search for a Fermi surface in the absence of a conventional Fermi liquid has thus far yielded very few potential candidates. Among promising materials are spin-frustrated Mott insulators near the insulator–metal transition, where theory predicts a Fermi surface associated with neutral low-energy excitations. In this paper, we reveal another route to experimentally realize a Fermi surface in the absence of a Fermi liquid by the experimental study of a Kondo insulator SmB 6 positioned close to the insulator–metal transition. We present experimental signatures down to low temperatures (<<1 K) associated with a Fermi surface in the bulk, including amore » sizeable linear specific heat coefficient, and on the application of a finite magnetic field, bulk magnetic quantum oscillations, finite quantum oscillatory entropy, and substantial enhancement in thermal conductivity well below the charge gap energy scale. Finally, the weight of evidence indicates that despite an extreme instance of Fermi liquid breakdown in Kondo insulating SmB 6, a Fermi surface arises from novel itinerant low-energy excitations that couple to magnetic fields, but not weak DC electric fields.« less

Correlation between non-Fermi-liquid behavior and superconductivity in (Ca, La)(Fe,Co)As2 iron arsenides: A high-pressure study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, W.; Ke, F.; Xu, Xiaofeng; Sankar, R.; Xing, X.; Xu, C. Q.; Jiang, X. F.; Qian, B.; Zhou, N.; Zhang, Y.; Xu, M.; Li, B.; Chen, B.; Shi, Z. X.

2017-11-01

Non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) phenomena associated with correlation effects have been widely observed in the phase diagrams of unconventional superconducting families. Exploration of the correlation between the normal state NFL, regardless of its microscopic origins, and the superconductivity has been argued as a key to unveiling the mystery of the high-Tc pairing mechanism. Here we systematically investigate the pressure-dependent in-plane resistivity (ρ ) and Hall coefficient (RH) of a high-quality 112-type Fe-based superconductor Ca1 -xLaxFe1 -yCoyAs2 (x =0.2 ,y =0.02 ). With increasing pressure, the normal-state resistivity of the studied sample exhibits a pronounced crossover from non-Fermi-liquid to Fermi-liquid behaviors. Accompanied with this crossover, Tc is gradually suppressed. In parallel, the extremum in the Hall coefficient RH(T ) curve, possibly due to anisotropic scattering induced by spin fluctuations, is also gradually suppressed. The symbiosis of NFL and superconductivity implies that these two phenomena are intimately related. Further study on the pressure-dependent upper critical field reveals that the two-band effects are also gradually weakened with increasing pressure and reduced to the one-band Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg limit in the low-Tc regime. Overall, our paper supports the picture that NFL, multigap, and extreme RH(T ) are all of the same magnetic origin, i.e., the spin fluctuations in the 112 iron arsenide superconductors.

REVIEWS OF TOPICAL PROBLEMS: Cooling of neutron stars and superfluidity in their cores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yakovlev, Dmitrii G.; Levenfish, Kseniya P.; Shibanov, Yurii A.

1999-08-01

We study the heat capacity and neutrino emission reactions (direct and modified Urca processes, nucleon-nucleon bremsstrahlung, Cooper pairing of nucleons) in the supranuclear density matter of neutron star cores with superfluid neutrons and protons. Various superfluidity types are analysed (singlet-state pairing and two types of triplet-state pairing, without and with gap nodes at the nucleon Fermi surface). The results are used for cooling simulations of isolated neutron stars. Both the standard cooling and the cooling enhanced by the direct Urca process are strongly affected by nucleon superfluidity. Comparison of the cooling theory of isolated neutron stars with observations of their thermal radiation may give stringent constraints on the critical temperatures of the neutron and proton superfluidities in the neutron star cores.

Validating simple dynamical simulations of the unitary Fermi gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forbes, Michael McNeil; Sharma, Rishi

2014-10-01

We present a comparison between simulated dynamics of the unitary fermion gas using the superfluid local density approximation (SLDA) and a simplified bosonic model, the extended Thomas-Fermi (ETF) with a unitary equation of state. Small-amplitude fluctuations have similar dynamics in both theories for frequencies far below the pair-breaking threshold and wave vectors much smaller than the Fermi momentum. The low-frequency linear responses in both match well for surprisingly large wave vectors, even up to the Fermi momentum. For nonlinear dynamics such as vortex generation, the ETF provides a semiquantitative description of SLDA dynamics as long as the fluctuations do not have significant power near the pair-breaking threshold; otherwise the dynamics of the ETF cannot be trusted. Nonlinearities in the ETF tend to generate high-frequency fluctuations, and with no normal component to remove this energy from the superfluid, features such as vortex lattices cannot relax and crystallize as they do in the SLDA.

First-Principles Momentum Dependent Local Ansatz Approach to the Momentum Distribution Function in Iron-Group Transition Metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakehashi, Yoshiro; Chandra, Sumal

2017-03-01

The momentum distribution function (MDF) bands of iron-group transition metals from Sc to Cu have been investigated on the basis of the first-principles momentum dependent local ansatz wavefunction method. It is found that the MDF for d electrons show a strong momentum dependence and a large deviation from the Fermi-Dirac distribution function along high-symmetry lines of the first Brillouin zone, while the sp electrons behave as independent electrons. In particular, the deviation in bcc Fe (fcc Ni) is shown to be enhanced by the narrow eg (t2g) bands with flat dispersion in the vicinity of the Fermi level. Mass enhancement factors (MEF) calculated from the jump on the Fermi surface are also shown to be momentum dependent. Large mass enhancements of Mn and Fe are found to be caused by spin fluctuations due to d electrons, while that for Ni is mainly caused by charge fluctuations. Calculated MEF are consistent with electronic specific heat data as well as recent angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy data.

Magnetic pair creation transparency in gamma-ray pulsars

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Story, Sarah A.; Baring, Matthew G., E-mail: ss16@rice.edu, E-mail: baring@rice.edu

2014-07-20

Magnetic pair creation, γ → e {sup +} e {sup –}, has been at the core of radio pulsar paradigms and central to polar cap models of gamma-ray pulsars for over three decades. The Fermi gamma-ray pulsar population now exceeds 140 sources and has defined an important part of Fermi's science legacy, providing rich information for the interpretation of young energetic pulsars and old millisecond pulsars. Among the population characteristics well established is the common occurrence of exponential turnovers in their spectra in the 1-10 GeV range. These turnovers are too gradual to arise from magnetic pair creation in themore » strong magnetic fields of pulsar inner magnetospheres. By demanding insignificant photon attenuation precipitated by such single-photon pair creation, the energies of these turnovers for Fermi pulsars can be used to compute lower bounds for the typical altitude of GeV band emission. This paper explores such pair transparency constraints below the turnover energy and updates earlier altitude bound determinations that have been deployed in various Fermi pulsar papers. For low altitude emission locales, general relativistic influences are found to be important, increasing cumulative opacity, shortening the photon attenuation lengths, and also reducing the maximum energy that permits escape of photons from a neutron star magnetosphere. Rotational aberration influences are also explored, and are found to be small at low altitudes, except near the magnetic pole. The analysis presented in this paper clearly demonstrates that including near-threshold physics in the pair creation rate is essential to deriving accurate attenuation lengths and escape energies. The altitude bounds are typically in the range of 2-7 stellar radii for the young Fermi pulsar population, and provide key information on the emission altitude in radio quiet pulsars that do not possess double-peaked pulse profiles. The bound for the Crab pulsar is at a much higher altitude, with the putative detection by MAGIC out to 350-400 GeV implying a lower bound of 310 km to the emission region, i.e., approximately 20% of the light cylinder radius. These results are also extended to the super-critical field domain, where it is found that emission in neurton stars originating below around 10 stellar radii will not appear in the Fermi-LAT band.« less

Magnetic Pair Creation Transparency in Gamma-Ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Story, Sarah A.; Baring, Matthew G.

2014-07-01

Magnetic pair creation, γ → e + e -, has been at the core of radio pulsar paradigms and central to polar cap models of gamma-ray pulsars for over three decades. The Fermi gamma-ray pulsar population now exceeds 140 sources and has defined an important part of Fermi's science legacy, providing rich information for the interpretation of young energetic pulsars and old millisecond pulsars. Among the population characteristics well established is the common occurrence of exponential turnovers in their spectra in the 1-10 GeV range. These turnovers are too gradual to arise from magnetic pair creation in the strong magnetic fields of pulsar inner magnetospheres. By demanding insignificant photon attenuation precipitated by such single-photon pair creation, the energies of these turnovers for Fermi pulsars can be used to compute lower bounds for the typical altitude of GeV band emission. This paper explores such pair transparency constraints below the turnover energy and updates earlier altitude bound determinations that have been deployed in various Fermi pulsar papers. For low altitude emission locales, general relativistic influences are found to be important, increasing cumulative opacity, shortening the photon attenuation lengths, and also reducing the maximum energy that permits escape of photons from a neutron star magnetosphere. Rotational aberration influences are also explored, and are found to be small at low altitudes, except near the magnetic pole. The analysis presented in this paper clearly demonstrates that including near-threshold physics in the pair creation rate is essential to deriving accurate attenuation lengths and escape energies. The altitude bounds are typically in the range of 2-7 stellar radii for the young Fermi pulsar population, and provide key information on the emission altitude in radio quiet pulsars that do not possess double-peaked pulse profiles. The bound for the Crab pulsar is at a much higher altitude, with the putative detection by MAGIC out to 350-400 GeV implying a lower bound of 310 km to the emission region, i.e., approximately 20% of the light cylinder radius. These results are also extended to the super-critical field domain, where it is found that emission in magnetars originating below around 10 stellar radii will not appear in the Fermi-LAT band.

Fermi surface properties of NbAs2 studied by de Haas-van Alphen oscillation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singha, Ratnadwip; Mandal, Prabhat

2018-04-01

We have grown high quality single crystal of NbAs2, a member of the transition metal dipnictide family and measured magnetotransport properties. Very large magnetoresistance ˜1.3×105 % has been observed at 2 K with 9 T magnetic field. The Fermi surface properties have been studied by de Haas-van Alphen oscillation technique. The Fermi surface is highly anisotropic and consists of multiple Fermi pockets. From quantum oscillation results, different Fermi surface related parameters have been quantified.

Thermally Driven Electronic Topological Transition in FeTi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, F. C.; Muñoz, J. A.; Hellman, O.; Mauger, L.; Lucas, M. S.; Tracy, S. J.; Stone, M. B.; Abernathy, D. L.; Xiao, Yuming; Fultz, B.

2016-08-01

Ab initio molecular dynamics, supported by inelastic neutron scattering and nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, showed an anomalous thermal softening of the M5- phonon mode in B 2 -ordered FeTi that could not be explained by phonon-phonon interactions or electron-phonon interactions calculated at low temperatures. A computational investigation showed that the Fermi surface undergoes a novel thermally driven electronic topological transition, in which new features of the Fermi surface arise at elevated temperatures. The thermally induced electronic topological transition causes an increased electronic screening for the atom displacements in the M5- phonon mode and an adiabatic electron-phonon interaction with an unusual temperature dependence.

Visualizing Type-II Weyl Points in Tungsten Ditelluride by Quasiparticle Interference.

PubMed

Lin, Chun-Liang; Arafune, Ryuichi; Liu, Ro-Ya; Yoshimura, Masato; Feng, Baojie; Kawahara, Kazuaki; Ni, Zeyuan; Minamitani, Emi; Watanabe, Satoshi; Shi, Youguo; Kawai, Maki; Chiang, Tai-Chang; Matsuda, Iwao; Takagi, Noriaki

2017-11-28

Weyl semimetals (WSMs) are classified into two types, type I and II, according to the topology of the Weyl point, where the electron and hole pockets touch each other. Tungsten ditelluride (WTe 2 ) has garnered a great deal of attention as a strong candidate to be a type-II WSM. However, the Weyl points for WTe 2 are located above the Fermi level, which has prevented us from identifying the locations and the connection to the Fermi arc surface states by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Here, we present experimental proof that WTe 2 is a type-II WSM. We measured energy-dependent quasiparticle interference patterns with a cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope, revealing the position of the Weyl point and its connection with the Fermi arc surface states, in agreement with prior theoretical predictions. Our results provide an answer to this crucial question and stimulate further exploration of the characteristics of WSMs.

Anisotropic Fermi surface and quantum limit transport in high mobility three-dimensional Dirac semimetal Cd 3As 2

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Yanfei; Liu, Haiwen; Zhang, Chenglong; ...

2015-09-16

Three-dimensional (3D) topological Dirac semimetals have a linear dispersion in the 3D momentum space and are viewed as the 3D analogues of graphene. Here, we report angle dependent magnetotransport on the newly revealed Cd 3As 2 single crystals and clearly show how the Fermi surface evolves with crystallographic orientations. Remarkably, when the magnetic field lies in [112] or [44more » $$\\bar{1}$$] axis, magnetoresistance oscillations with only single period are present. However, the oscillation shows double periods when the field is applied along [1$$\\bar{1}$$0] direction. Moreover, aligning the magnetic field at certain directions also gives rise to double period oscillations. We attribute the observed anomalous oscillation behavior to the sophisticated geometry of Fermi surface and illustrate a complete 3D Fermi surfaces with two nested anisotropic ellipsoids around the Dirac points. Additionally, a sub-millimeter mean free path at 6 K is found in Cd 3As 2 crystals, indicating ballistic transport in this material. By measuring the magnetoresistance up to 60 T, we reach the quantum limit (n = 1 Landau level) at about 43 T. Lastly, these results improve the knowledge of the Dirac semimetal material Cd 3As 2, and also pave the way for proposing new electronic applications based on 3D Dirac materials.« less

Electron theory of fast and ultrafast dissipative magnetization dynamics.

PubMed

Fähnle, M; Illg, C

2011-12-14

For metallic magnets we review the experimental and electron-theoretical investigations of fast magnetization dynamics (on a timescale of ns to 100 ps) and of laser-pulse-induced ultrafast dynamics (few hundred fs). It is argued that for both situations the dominant contributions to the dissipative part of the dynamics arise from the excitation of electron-hole pairs and from the subsequent relaxation of these pairs by spin-dependent scattering processes, which transfer angular momentum to the lattice. By effective field theories (generalized breathing and bubbling Fermi-surface models) it is shown that the Gilbert equation of motion, which is often used to describe the fast dissipative magnetization dynamics, must be extended in several aspects. The basic assumptions of the Elliott-Yafet theory, which is often used to describe the ultrafast spin relaxation after laser-pulse irradiation, are discussed very critically. However, it is shown that for Ni this theory probably yields a value for the spin-relaxation time T(1) in good agreement with the experimental value. A relation between the quantity α characterizing the damping of the fast dynamics in simple situations and the time T(1) is derived. © 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd

Pairing of one-dimensional Bose-Fermi mixtures with unequal masses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rizzi, Matteo; Max Planck Institut fuer QuantenOptik, Hans Kopfermann Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching; Imambekov, Adilet

We have considered one-dimensional Bose-Fermi mixture with equal densities and unequal masses using numerical density matrix renormalization group. For the mass ratio of K-Rb mixture and attraction between bosons and fermions, we determined the phase diagram. For weak boson-boson interactions, there is a direct transition between two-component Luttinger liquid and collapsed phases as the boson-fermion attraction is increased. For strong enough boson-boson interactions, we find an intermediate 'paired' phase, which is a single-component Luttinger liquid of composite particles. We investigated correlation functions of such a 'paired' phase, studied the stability of 'paired' phase to density imbalance, and discussed various experimentalmore » techniques which can be used to detect it.« less

Single-Particle Properties of a Strongly Interacting Bose-Fermi Mixture Above the BEC Phase Transition Temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kharga, D.; Inotani, D.; Hanai, R.; Ohashi, Y.

2017-06-01

We theoretically investigate the normal state properties of a Bose-Fermi mixture with a strong attractive interaction between Fermi and Bose atoms. We extend the ordinary T-matrix approximation (TMA) with respect to Bose-Fermi pairing fluctuations, to include the Hugenholtz-Pines' relation for all Bose Green's functions appearing in TMA self-energy diagrams. This extension is shown to be essentially important to correctly describe the physical properties of the Bose-Fermi mixture, especially near the Bose-Einstein condensation instability. Using this improved TMA, we clarify how the formation of composite fermions affects Bose and Fermi single-particle excitation spectra, over the entire interaction strength.

Magnetotransport study of Dirac fermions in YbMnBi 2 antiferromagnet

DOE PAGES

Wang, Aifeng; Zaliznyak, I.; Ren, Weijun; ...

2016-10-15

We report quantum transport and Dirac fermions in YbMnBi 2 single crystals. YbMnBi 2 is a layered material with anisotropic conductivity and magnetic order below 290 K. Magnetotransport properties, nonzero Berry phase, and small cyclotron mass indicate the presence of Dirac fermions. Lastly, angular-dependent magnetoresistance indicates a possible quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surface, whereas the deviation from the nontrivial Berry phase expected for Dirac states suggests the contribution of parabolic bands at the Fermi level or spin-orbit coupling.

Superconducting proximity effect in topological materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reeg, Christopher R.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the proximity effect due to its role in the realization of topological superconductivity. In this dissertation, we discuss several results that have been obtained in the field of proximity-induced superconductivity and relate the results to the search for Majorana fermions. First, we show that repulsive electron-electron interactions can induce a non-Majorana zero-energy bound state at the interface between a conventional superconductor and a normal metal. We show that this state is very sensitive to disorder, owing to its lack of topological protection. Second, we show that Rashba spin-orbit coupling, which is one of the key ingredients in engineering a topological superconductor, induces triplet pairing in the proximity effect. When the spin-orbit coupling is strong (i.e., when the characteristic energy scale for spin-orbit coupling is comparable to the Fermi energy), the induced singlet and triplet pairing amplitudes can be comparable in magnitude. Finally, we discuss how the size of the proximity-induced gap, which appears in a low-dimensional material coupled to a superconductor, evolves as the thickness of the (quasi-)low-dimensional material is increased. We show that the induced gap can be comparable to the bulk energy gap of the underlying superconductor in materials that are much thicker than the Fermi wavelength, even in the presence of an interfacial barrier and strong Fermi surface mismatch. This result has important experimental consequences for topological superconductivity, as a sizable gap is required to isolate and detect the Majorana modes.

Fermi surfaces of the pyrite-type cubic AuSb2 compared with split Fermi surfaces of the ullmannite-type cubic chiral NiSbS and PdBiSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishimura, K.; Kakihana, M.; Nakamura, A.; Aoki, D.; Harima, H.; Hedo, M.; Nakama, T.; Ōnuki, Y.

2018-05-01

We grew high-quality single crystals of AuSb2 with the pyrite (FeS2)-type cubic structure by the Bridgman method and studied the Fermi surface properties by the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) experiment and the full potential LAPW band calculation. The Fermi surfaces of AuSb2 are found to be similar to those of NiSbS and PdBiSe with the ullmannite (NiSbS)-type cubic chiral structure because the crystal structures are similar each other and the number of valence electrons is the same between two different compounds. Note that each Fermi surface splits into two Fermi surfaces in NiSbS and PdBiSe, reflecting the non-centrosymmetric crystal structure.

Quasiclassical theory for the superconducting proximity effect in Dirac materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hugdal, Henning G.; Linder, Jacob; Jacobsen, Sol H.

2017-06-01

We derive the quasiclassical nonequilibrium Eilenberger and Usadel equations to first order in quantities small compared to the Fermi energy, valid for Dirac edge and surface electrons with spin-momentum locking p .σ ¯ , as relevant for topological insulators. We discuss in detail several of the key technical points and assumptions of the derivation, and provide a Riccati parametrization of the equations. Solving first the equilibrium equations for S/N and S/F bilayers and Josephson junctions, we study the superconducting proximity effect in Dirac materials. Similarly to related works, we find that the effect of an exchange field depends strongly on the direction of the field. Only components normal to the transport direction lead to attenuation of the Cooper pair wave function inside the F. Fields parallel to the transport direction lead to phase shifts in the dependence on the superconducting phase difference for both the charge current and density of states in an S/F/S junction. Moreover, we compute the differential conductance in S/N and S/F bilayers with an applied voltage bias and determine the dependence on the length of the N and F regions and the exchange field.

Angle-Dependent Magnetoresistance in Organic Metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blundell, Stephen J.; Singleton, John

1996-12-01

Recent experimental studies of the angle-dependent magnetoresistance in various organic metals have been remarkably successful in elucidating the nature of the low-temperature ground state and providing information about the Fermi surface shape which is hard or impossible to obtain using other techniques. We review various theoretical approaches to describe angel-dependent magnetoresistance and a number of important experimental results which have been obtained.

Superconductivity versus quantum criticality: Effects of thermal fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Huajia; Wang, Yuxuan; Torroba, Gonzalo

2018-02-01

We study the interplay between superconductivity and non-Fermi liquid behavior of a Fermi surface coupled to a massless SU(N ) matrix boson near the quantum critical point. The presence of thermal infrared singularities in both the fermionic self-energy and the gap equation invalidates the Eliashberg approximation, and makes the quantum-critical pairing problem qualitatively different from that at zero temperature. Taking the large N limit, we solve the gap equation beyond the Eliashberg approximation, and obtain the superconducting temperature Tc as a function of N . Our results show an anomalous scaling between the zero-temperature gap and Tc. For N greater than a critical value, we find that Tc vanishes with a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless scaling behavior, and the system retains non-Fermi liquid behavior down to zero temperature. This confirms and extends previous renormalization-group analyses done at T =0 , and provides a controlled example of a naked quantum critical point. We discuss the crucial role of thermal fluctuations in relating our results with earlier work where superconductivity always develops due to the special role of the first Matsubara frequency.

Two-dimensional Fermi surfaces in Kondo insulating SmB6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Gang

There has been renewed interest in Samarium Hexaboride, which is a strongly correlated heavy Fermion material. Hybridization between itinerant electrons and localized orbitals lead to an opening of charge gap at low temperature. However, the resistivity of SmB6 does not diverge at low temperature. Former studies suggested that this residual conductance is contributed by various origins. Recent theoretical developments suggest that the particular symmetry of energy bands of SmB6 may host a topologically non-trivial surface state, i.e., a topological Kondo insulator. To probe the Fermiology of the possible metallic surface state, we use sensitive torque magnetometry to detect the de Haas van Alphen (dHvA) effect due to Landau level quantization on flux-grown crystals, down to He-3 temperature and up to 45 Tesla. Our angular and temperature dependent data suggest two-dimensional Fermi Surfaces lie in both crystalline (001) and (101) surface planes of SmB6.

Phases of a fermionic model with chiral condensates and Cooper pairs in 1+1 dimensions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mihaila, Bogdan; Blagoev, Krastan B.; MIND Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131

2006-01-01

We study the phase structure of a 4-fermi model with three bare coupling constants, which potentially has three types of bound states. This model is a generalization of the model discussed previously by [A. Chodos, F. Cooper, W. Mao, H. Minakata, and A. Singh, Phys. Rev. D 61, 045011 (2000).], which contained both chiral condensates and Cooper pairs. For this generalization we find that there are two independent renormalized coupling constants which determine the phase structure at finite density and temperature. We find that the vacuum can be in one of three distinct phases depending on the value of thesemore » two renormalized coupling constants.« less

Enhancement of pairing interaction and magnetic fluctuations toward a band insulator in an electron-doped Li(x)ZrNCl Superconductor.

PubMed

Kasahara, Yuichi; Kishiume, Tsukasa; Takano, Takumi; Kobayashi, Katsuki; Matsuoka, Eiichi; Onodera, Hideya; Kuroki, Kazuhiko; Taguchi, Yasujiro; Iwasa, Yoshihiro

2009-08-14

The doping dependence of specific heat and magnetic susceptibility has been investigated for Li(x)ZrNCl superconductors derived from a band insulator. As the carrier concentration is decreased, the anisotropy of superconducting gap changes from highly anisotropic to almost isotropic. It was also found that, upon reducing carrier density, the superconducting coupling strength and the magnetic susceptibility are concomitantly enhanced in parallel with T(c), while the density of states at the Fermi level is kept almost constant. Theoretical calculations taking into account the on-site Coulomb interaction reproduced the experimental results, suggesting a possible pairing mediated by magnetic fluctuations, even in the doped band insulators.

Probing topological Fermi-Arcs and bulk boundary correspondence in the Weyl semimetal TaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batabyal, Rajib; Morali, Noam; Avraham, Nurit; Sun, Yan; Schmidt, Marcus; Felser, Claudia; Stern, Ady; Yan, Binghai; Beidenkopf, Haim

The relation between surface Fermi-arcs and bulk Weyl cones in a Weyl semimetal, uniquely allows to study the notion of bulk to surface correspondence. We visualize these topological Fermi arc states on the surface of the Weyl semi-metal tantalum arsenide using scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Its surface hosts 12 Fermi arcs amongst several other surface bands of non-topological origin. We detect the possible scattering processes of surface bands in which Fermi arcs are involved including intra- and inter arc scatterings and arc-trivial scatterings. Each of the measured scattering processes entails additional information on the unique nature of Fermi arcs in tantalum arsenide: their contour, their energy-momentum dispersion and its relation with the bulk Weyl nodes. We further identify a sharp distinction between the wave function's spatial distribution of topological versus trivial bands. The non-topological surface bands, which are derived from the arsenic dangling bonds, are tightly bound to the arsenic termination layer. In contrast, the Fermi-arc bands reside on the deeper tantalum layer, penetrating into the bulk, which is predominantly derived from tantalum orbitals.

Interacting preformed Cooper pairs in resonant Fermi gases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gubbels, K. B.; Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, NL-6525 AJ Nijmegen; Institute for Theoretical Physics, Utrecht University, Leuvenlaan 4, NL-3584 CE Utrecht

2011-07-15

We consider the normal phase of a strongly interacting Fermi gas, which can have either an equal or an unequal number of atoms in its two accessible spin states. Due to the unitarity-limited attractive interaction between particles with different spin, noncondensed Cooper pairs are formed. The starting point in treating preformed pairs is the Nozieres-Schmitt-Rink (NSR) theory, which approximates the pairs as being noninteracting. Here, we consider the effects of the interactions between the Cooper pairs in a Wilsonian renormalization-group scheme. Starting from the exact bosonic action for the pairs, we calculate the Cooper-pair self-energy by combining the NSR formalismmore » with the Wilsonian approach. We compare our findings with the recent experiments by Harikoshi et al. [Science 327, 442 (2010)] and Nascimbene et al. [Nature (London) 463, 1057 (2010)], and find very good agreement. We also make predictions for the population-imbalanced case, which can be tested in experiments.« less

Adsorption of ammonia at GaN(0001) surface in the mixed ammonia/hydrogen ambient - a summary of ab initio data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kempisty, Paweł; Krukowski, Stanisław; Interdisciplinary Centre for Materials Modelling, Warsaw University, Pawińskiego 5a, 02-106 Warsaw

Adsorption of ammonia at NH{sub 3}/NH{sub 2}/H-covered GaN(0001) surface was analyzed using results of ab initio calculations. The whole configuration space of partially NH{sub 3}/NH{sub 2}/H-covered GaN(0001) surface was divided into zones of differently pinned Fermi level: at the Ga broken bond state for dominantly bare surface (region I), at the valence band maximum (VBM) for NH{sub 2} and H-covered surface (region II), and at the conduction band minimum (CBM) for NH{sub 3}-covered surface (region III). The electron counting rule (ECR) extension was formulated for the case of adsorbed molecules. The extensive ab intio calculations show the validity of themore » ECR in case of all mixed H-NH{sub 2}-NH{sub 3} coverages for the determination of the borders between the three regions. The adsorption was analyzed using the recently identified dependence of the adsorption energy on the charge transfer at the surface. For region I ammonia adsorbs dissociatively, disintegrating into a H adatom and a HN{sub 2} radical for a large fraction of vacant sites, while for region II adsorption of ammonia is molecular. The dissociative adsorption energy strongly depends on the Fermi level at the surface (pinned) and in the bulk (unpinned) while the molecular adsorption energy is determined by bonding to surface only, in accordance to the recently published theory. Adsorption of Ammonia in region III (Fermi level pinned at CBM) leads to an unstable configuration both molecular and dissociative, which is explained by the fact that broken Ga-bonds are doubly occupied by electrons. The adsorbing ammonia brings 8 electrons to the surface, necessitating the transfer of these two electrons from the Ga broken bond state to the Fermi level. This is an energetically costly process. Adsorption of ammonia at H-covered site leads to the creation of a NH{sub 2} radical at the surface and escape of H{sub 2} molecule. The process energy is close to 0.12 eV, thus not large, but the direct inverse process is not possible due to the escape of the hydrogen molecule.« less

Implementation of a method for calculating temperature-dependent resistivities in the KKR formalism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahr, Carsten E.; Czerner, Michael; Heiliger, Christian

2017-10-01

We present a method to calculate the electron-phonon induced resistivity of metals in scattering-time approximation based on the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism. The general theory as well as its implementation in a density-functional theory based Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker code are described and subsequently verified by studying copper as a test system. We model the thermal expansion by fitting a Debye-Grüneisen curve to experimental data. Both the electronic and vibrational structures are discussed for different temperatures, and employing a Wannier interpolation of these quantities we evaluate the scattering time by integrating the electron linewidth on a triangulation of the Fermi surface. Based thereupon, the temperature-dependent resistivity is calculated and found to be in good agreement with experiment. We show that the effect of thermal expansion has to be considered in the whole calculation regime. Further, for low temperatures, an accurate sampling of the Fermi surface becomes important.

Fermi arc plasmons in Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Justin C. W.; Rudner, Mark S.

2017-11-01

In the recently discovered Weyl semimetals, the Fermi surface may feature disjoint, open segments—the so-called Fermi arcs—associated with topological states bound to exposed crystal surfaces. Here we show that the collective dynamics of electrons near such surfaces sharply departs from that of a conventional three-dimensional metal. In magnetic systems with broken time reversal symmetry, the resulting Fermi arc plasmons (FAPs) are chiral, with dispersion relations featuring open, hyperbolic constant frequency contours. As a result, a large range of surface plasmon wave vectors can be supported at a given frequency, with corresponding group velocity vectors directed along a few specific collimated directions. Fermi arc plasmons can be probed using near-field photonics techniques, which may be used to launch highly directional, focused surface plasmon beams. The unusual characteristics of FAPs arise from the interplay of bulk and surface Fermi arc carrier dynamics and give a window into the unusual fermiology of Weyl semimetals.

Fermi-surface-free superconductivity in underdoped (Bi,Pb)(Sr,La) 2CuO 6+δ (Bi2201)

DOE PAGES

Mistark, Peter; Hafiz, Hasnain; Markiewicz, Robert S.; ...

2015-06-18

Fermi-surface-free superconductivity arises when the superconducting order pulls down spectral weight from a band that is completely above the Fermi energy in the normal state. Here, we show that this can arise in hole-doped cuprates when a competing order causes a reconstruction of the Fermi surface. The change in Fermi surface topology is accompanied by a characteristic rise in the spectral weight. Finally, our results support the presence of a trisected superconducting dome, and suggest that superconductivity is responsible for stabilizing the (π,π) magnetic order at higher doping.

Observation of universal strong orbital-dependent correlation effects in iron chalcogenides

DOE PAGES

Yi, M.; Liu, Z. -K.; Zhang, Y.; ...

2015-07-23

Establishing the appropriate theoretical framework for unconventional superconductivity in the iron-based materials requires correct understanding of both the electron correlation strength and the role of Fermi surfaces. This fundamental issue becomes especially relevant with the discovery of the iron chalcogenide superconductors. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to measure three representative iron chalcogenides, FeTe 0.56Se 0.44, monolayer FeSe grown on SrTiO 3 and K 0.76Fe 1.72Se 2. We show that these superconductors are all strongly correlated, with an orbital-selective strong renormalization in the dxy bands despite having drastically different Fermi surface topologies. Furthermore, raising temperature brings all three compounds frommore » a metallic state to a phase where the dxy orbital loses all spectral weight while other orbitals remain itinerant. As a result, these observations establish that iron chalcogenides display universal orbital-selective strong correlations that are insensitive to the Fermi surface topology, and are close to an orbital-selective Mott phase, hence placing strong constraints for theoretical understanding of iron-based superconductors.« less

Observation of universal strong orbital-dependent correlation effects in iron chalcogenides

PubMed Central

Yi, M.; Liu, Z-K; Zhang, Y.; Yu, R.; Zhu, J.-X.; Lee, J.J.; Moore, R.G.; Schmitt, F.T.; Li, W.; Riggs, S.C.; Chu, J.-H.; Lv, B.; Hu, J.; Hashimoto, M.; Mo, S.-K.; Hussain, Z.; Mao, Z.Q.; Chu, C.W.; Fisher, I.R.; Si, Q.; Shen, Z.-X.; Lu, D.H.

2015-01-01

Establishing the appropriate theoretical framework for unconventional superconductivity in the iron-based materials requires correct understanding of both the electron correlation strength and the role of Fermi surfaces. This fundamental issue becomes especially relevant with the discovery of the iron chalcogenide superconductors. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to measure three representative iron chalcogenides, FeTe0.56Se0.44, monolayer FeSe grown on SrTiO3 and K0.76Fe1.72Se2. We show that these superconductors are all strongly correlated, with an orbital-selective strong renormalization in the dxy bands despite having drastically different Fermi surface topologies. Furthermore, raising temperature brings all three compounds from a metallic state to a phase where the dxy orbital loses all spectral weight while other orbitals remain itinerant. These observations establish that iron chalcogenides display universal orbital-selective strong correlations that are insensitive to the Fermi surface topology, and are close to an orbital-selective Mott phase, hence placing strong constraints for theoretical understanding of iron-based superconductors. PMID:26204461

π and 4 π Josephson Effects Mediated by a Dirac Semimetal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, W.; Pan, W.; Medlin, D. L.; Rodriguez, M. A.; Lee, S. R.; Bao, Zhi-qiang; Zhang, F.

2018-04-01

Cd3As2 is a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal with connected Fermi-arc surface states. It has been suggested that topological superconductivity can be achieved in the nontrivial surface states of topological materials by utilizing the superconductor proximity effect. Here we report observations of both π and 4 π periodic supercurrents in aluminum-Cd3As2 -aluminum Josephson junctions. The π period is manifested by both the magnetic-field dependence of the critical supercurrent and the appearance of half-integer Shapiro steps in the ac Josephson effect. Our macroscopic theory suggests that the π period arises from interference between the induced bulk superconductivity and the induced Fermi-arc surface superconductivity. The 4 π period is manifested by the missing first Shapiro steps and is expected for topological superconductivity.

Surface structure of neutron stars with high magnetic fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fushiki, I.; Gudmundsson, E. H.; Pethick, C. J.

1989-01-01

The equation of state of cold dense matter in strong magnetic fields is calculated in the Thomas-Fermi and Thomas-Fermi-Dirac approximations. For use in the latter calculation, a new expression is derived for the exchange energy of the uniform electron gas in a strong magnetic field. Detailed calculations of the density profile in the surface region of a neutron star are described for a variety of equations of state, and these show that the surface density profile is strongly affected by the magnetic field, irrespective of whether or not matter in a magnetic field has a condensed state bound with respect to isolated atoms. It is also shown that, as a consequence of the field dependence of the screening potential, magnetic fields can significantly increase nuclear reaction rates.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hartstein, M.; Toews, W. H.; Hsu, Y. -T.

The search for a Fermi surface in the absence of a conventional Fermi liquid has thus far yielded very few potential candidates. Among promising materials are spin-frustrated Mott insulators near the insulator–metal transition, where theory predicts a Fermi surface associated with neutral low-energy excitations. In this paper, we reveal another route to experimentally realize a Fermi surface in the absence of a Fermi liquid by the experimental study of a Kondo insulator SmB 6 positioned close to the insulator–metal transition. We present experimental signatures down to low temperatures (<<1 K) associated with a Fermi surface in the bulk, including amore » sizeable linear specific heat coefficient, and on the application of a finite magnetic field, bulk magnetic quantum oscillations, finite quantum oscillatory entropy, and substantial enhancement in thermal conductivity well below the charge gap energy scale. Finally, the weight of evidence indicates that despite an extreme instance of Fermi liquid breakdown in Kondo insulating SmB 6, a Fermi surface arises from novel itinerant low-energy excitations that couple to magnetic fields, but not weak DC electric fields.« less

Thermally Driven Electronic Topological Transition in FeTi

DOE PAGES

Yang, F. C.; Muñoz, J. A.; Hellman, O.; ...

2016-08-08

In this paper, ab initio molecular dynamics, supported by inelastic neutron scattering and nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, showed an anomalous thermal softening of the M 5 - phonon mode in B2-ordered FeTi that could not be explained by phonon-phonon interactions or electron-phonon interactions calculated at low temperatures. A computational investigation showed that the Fermi surface undergoes a novel thermally driven electronic topological transition, in which new features of the Fermi surface arise at elevated temperatures. Finally, the thermally induced electronic topological transition causes an increased electronic screening for the atom displacements in the M 5 - phonon mode andmore » an adiabatic electron-phonon interaction with an unusual temperature dependence.« less

Regime of validity of the pairing Hamiltonian in the study of Fermi gases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chang, S. Y.; Pandharipande, V. R.

2006-06-01

The ground state energy and pairing gap of the interacting Fermi gases calculated by the ab initio stochastic method are compared with those estimated from the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer pairing Hamiltonian. We discuss the ingredients of this Hamiltonian in various regimes of interaction strength. In the weakly interacting (1/ak{sub F}<<0) regime the BCS Hamiltonian should describe Landau quasiparticle energies and interactions, on the other hand, in the strongly pairing regime, that is, 1/ak{sub F} > or approx. 0, it becomes part of the bare Hamiltonian. However, the bare BCS Hamiltonian is not adequate for describing atomic gases in the regime of weakmore » to moderate interaction strength -{infinity}<1/ak{sub F}<0 such as ak{sub F}{approx}-1.« less

High surface conductivity of Fermi-arc electrons in Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Resta, Giacomo; Pi, Shu-Ting; Wan, Xiangang; Savrasov, Sergey Y.

2018-02-01

Weyl semimetals (WSMs), a new type of topological condensed matter, are currently attracting great interest due to their unusual electronic states and intriguing transport properties such as chiral anomaly induced negative magnetoresistance, a semiquantized anomalous Hall effect, and the debated chiral magnetic effect. These systems are close cousins of topological insulators (TIs) which are known for their disorder-tolerant surface states. Similarly, WSMs exhibit unique topologically protected Fermi-arc surface states. Here, we analyze electron-phonon scattering, a primary source of resistivity in metals at finite temperatures, as a function of the shape of the Fermi arc where we find that the impact on surface transport is significantly dependent on the arc curvature and disappears in the limit of a straight arc. Next, we discuss the effect of strong surface disorder on the resistivity by numerically simulating a tight-binding model with the presence of quenched surface vacancies using the coherent potential approximation and Kubo-Greenwood formalism. We find that the limit of a straight arc geometry is remarkably disorder tolerant, producing surface conductivity that is one to two orders of magnitude larger than a comparable setup with surface states of TI. This is primarily attributed to a significantly different hybridization strength of the surface states with the remaining electrons in two systems. Finally, a simulation of the effects of surface vacancies on TaAs is presented, illustrating the disorder tolerance of the topological surface states in a recently discovered WSM material.

Depletion region surface effects in electron beam induced current measurements.

PubMed

Haney, Paul M; Yoon, Heayoung P; Gaury, Benoit; Zhitenev, Nikolai B

2016-09-07

Electron beam induced current (EBIC) is a powerful characterization technique which offers the high spatial resolution needed to study polycrystalline solar cells. Current models of EBIC assume that excitations in the p - n junction depletion region result in perfect charge collection efficiency. However we find that in CdTe and Si samples prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) milling, there is a reduced and nonuniform EBIC lineshape for excitations in the depletion region. Motivated by this, we present a model of the EBIC response for excitations in the depletion region which includes the effects of surface recombination from both charge-neutral and charged surfaces. For neutral surfaces we present a simple analytical formula which describes the numerical data well, while the charged surface response depends qualitatively on the location of the surface Fermi level relative to the bulk Fermi level. We find the experimental data on FIB-prepared Si solar cells is most consistent with a charged surface, and discuss the implications for EBIC experiments on polycrystalline materials.

Facet-specific interaction between methanol and TiO2 probed by sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy.

PubMed

Yang, Deheng; Li, Yadong; Liu, Xinyi; Cao, Yue; Gao, Yi; Shen, Y Ron; Liu, Wei-Tao

2018-04-24

The facet-specific interaction between molecules and crystalline catalysts, such as titanium dioxides (TiO 2 ), has attracted much attention due to possible facet-dependent reactivity. Using surface-sensitive sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy, we have studied how methanol interacts with different common facets of crystalline TiO 2 , including rutile(110), (001), (100), and anatase(101), under ambient temperature and pressure. We found that methanol adsorbs predominantly in the molecular form on all of the four surfaces, while spontaneous dissociation into methoxy occurs preferentially when these surfaces become defective. Extraction of Fermi resonance coupling between stretch and bending modes of the methyl group in analyzing adsorbed methanol spectra allows determination of the methanol adsorption isotherm. The isotherms obtained for the four surfaces are nearly the same, yielding two adsorbed Gibbs free energies associated with two different adsorption configurations singled out by ab initio calculations. They are ( i ) ∼-20 kJ/mol for methanol with its oxygen attached to a low-coordinated surface titanium, and ( ii ) ∼-5 kJ/mol for methanol hydrogen-bonded to a surface oxygen and a neighboring methanol molecule. Despite similar adsorption energetics, the Fermi resonance coupling strength for adsorbed methanol appears to depend sensitively on the surface facet and coverage.

Kinematically irreversible particle motion in 2D suspensions due to surface-pressure-dependent surface rheology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manikantan, Harishankar; Squires, Todd

2017-11-01

The surface viscosity of many insoluble surfactants depends strongly on the surface pressure (or surface tension) of that surfactant. Surface pressure gradients naturally arise in interfacial flows, and surface-pressure-dependent surface rheology alters 2D suspension dynamics in significant ways. We use the Lorentz reciprocal theorem to asymptotically quantify the irreversible dynamics that break Newtonian symmetries. We first show that a particle embedded in a surfactant-laden interface and translating parallel to or rotating near an interfacial boundary experiences a force in the direction perpendicular to the boundary. Building on this, we extend the theory to compute the first effects of pressure-dependent surface viscosity on 2D particle pairs in suspension. The fore-aft symmetry of pair trajectories in a Newtonian interface is lost, leading to well-separated (when pressure-thickening) or aggregated (when pressure-thinning) particles. Notably, the relative motion is kinematically irreversible, and pairs steadily evolve toward a particular displacement. Based on these irreversible pair interactions, we hypothesize that pressure-thickening (or -thinning) leads to shear-thinning (or -thickening) in 2D suspensions.

Complementary views on electron spectra: From fluctuation diagnostics to real-space correlations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunnarsson, O.; Merino, J.; Schäfer, T.; Sangiovanni, G.; Rohringer, G.; Toschi, A.

2018-03-01

We study the relation between the microscopic properties of a many-body system and the electron spectra, experimentally accessible by photoemission. In a recent paper [O. Gunnarsson et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 236402 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.236402], we introduced the "fluctuation diagnostics" approach to extract the dominant wave-vector-dependent bosonic fluctuations from the electronic self-energy. Here, we first reformulate the theory in terms of fermionic modes to render its connection with resonance valence bond (RVB) fluctuations more transparent. Second, by using a large-U expansion, where U is the Coulomb interaction, we relate the fluctuations to real-space correlations. Therefore, it becomes possible to study how electron spectra are related to charge, spin, superconductivity, and RVB-like real-space correlations, broadening the analysis of an earlier work [J. Merino and O. Gunnarsson, Phys. Rev. B 89, 245130 (2014), 10.1103/PhysRevB.89.245130]. This formalism is applied to the pseudogap physics of the two-dimensional Hubbard model, studied in the dynamical cluster approximation. We perform calculations for embedded clusters with up to 32 sites, having three inequivalent K points at the Fermi surface. We find that as U is increased, correlation functions gradually attain values consistent with an RVB state. This first happens for correlation functions involving the antinodal point and gradually spreads to the nodal point along the Fermi surface. Simultaneously, a pseudogap opens up along the Fermi surface. We relate this to a crossover from a Kondo-type state to an RVB-like localized cluster state and to the presence of RVB and spin fluctuations. These changes are caused by a strong momentum dependence in the cluster bath couplings along the Fermi surface. We also show, from a more algorithmic perspective, how the time-consuming calculations in fluctuation diagnostics can be drastically simplified.

Spin-split fermi surfaces in CexLa1-xB6 and PrxLa1-xB6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isshiki, T.; Endo, M.; Sugi, M.; Kimura, N.; Nakamura, S.; Nojima, T.; Aoki, H.; Kunii, S.

2006-05-01

We have performed the dHvA measurements on CexLa1-xB6 and PrxLa1-xB6 compounds to study spin splitting of the Fermi surfaces. In PrB 6 we have found new frequency branches to confirm that the Fermi surface splits into up and down spin Fermi surfaces, whereas no spin splitting has been found for x=0.25,0.5,0.75. We have also found several new frequency branches in CeB6. The new frequency branches imply that the Fermi surfaces of up and down spin conduction electrons are significantly different in CeB6 as well as in PrB6.

Importance of nonlocal electron correlation in the BaNiS2 semimetal from quantum oscillations studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klein, Yannick; Casula, Michele; Santos-Cottin, David; Audouard, Alain; Vignolles, David; Fève, Gwendal; Freulon, Vincent; Plaçais, Bernard; Verseils, Marine; Yang, Hancheng; Paulatto, Lorenzo; Gauzzi, Andrea

2018-02-01

By means of Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen oscillations, and ab initio calculations, we have studied the Fermi surface of high-quality BaNiS2 single crystals, with mean free path l ˜400 Å . The angle and temperature dependence of quantum oscillations indicates a quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surface, made of an electronlike tube centered at Γ , and of four holelike cones, generated by Dirac bands, weakly dispersive in the out-of-plane direction. Ab initio electronic structure calculations, in the density functional theory framework, show that the inclusion of screened exchange is necessary to account for the experimental Fermi pockets. Therefore, the choice of the functional becomes crucial. A modified HSE hybrid functional with 7% of exact exchange outperforms both GGA and GGA +U density functionals, signaling the importance of nonlocal screened-exchange interactions in BaNiS2, and, more generally, in 3 d compensated semimetals.

Observation of the spin-polarized surface state in a noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Neupane, Madhab; Alidoust, Nasser; Hosen, M. Mofazzel

Recently, noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd has attracted considerable research interest due to the possibility of hosting topological superconductivity. Here in this paper we report a systematic high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and spin-resolved ARPES study of the normal state electronic and spin properties of BiPd. Our experimental results show the presence of a surface state at higher-binding energy with the location of Dirac point at around 700 meV below the Fermi level. The detailed photon energy, temperature-dependent and spin-resolved ARPES measurements complemented by our first-principles calculations demonstrate the existence of the spin-polarized surface states at high-binding energy. The absence of suchmore » spin-polarized surface states near the Fermi level negates the possibility of a topological superconducting behaviour on the surface. Our direct experimental observation of spin-polarized surface states in BiPd provides critical information that will guide the future search for topological superconductivity in noncentrosymmetric materials.« less

Observation of the spin-polarized surface state in a noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd

DOE PAGES

Neupane, Madhab; Alidoust, Nasser; Hosen, M. Mofazzel; ...

2016-11-07

Recently, noncentrosymmetric superconductor BiPd has attracted considerable research interest due to the possibility of hosting topological superconductivity. Here in this paper we report a systematic high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and spin-resolved ARPES study of the normal state electronic and spin properties of BiPd. Our experimental results show the presence of a surface state at higher-binding energy with the location of Dirac point at around 700 meV below the Fermi level. The detailed photon energy, temperature-dependent and spin-resolved ARPES measurements complemented by our first-principles calculations demonstrate the existence of the spin-polarized surface states at high-binding energy. The absence of suchmore » spin-polarized surface states near the Fermi level negates the possibility of a topological superconducting behaviour on the surface. Our direct experimental observation of spin-polarized surface states in BiPd provides critical information that will guide the future search for topological superconductivity in noncentrosymmetric materials.« less

Towards a complete Fermi surface in underdoped high Tc superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrison, Neil

The discovery of magnetic quantum oscillations in underdoped high Tc superconductors raised many questions, and initiated a quest to understand the origin of the Fermi surface the like of which had not been seen since the very first discovery of quantum oscillations in elemental bismuth. While studies of the Fermi surface of materials are today mostly assisted by computer codes for calculating the electronic band structure, this was not the case in the underdoped high Tc materials. The Fermi surface was shown to reconstructed into small pockets, yet there was no hint of a viable order parameter. Crucial clues to understanding the origin of the Fermi surface were provided by the small value of the observed Fermi surface cross-section, the negative Hall coefficient and the small electronic heat capacity at high magnetic fields. We also know that the magnetic fields were likely to be too weak to destroy the pseudogap and that vortex pinning effects could be seen to persist to high magnetic fields at low temperatures. I will show that the Fermi surface that appears to fit best with the experimental observations is a small electron pocket formed by connecting the nodal `Fermi arcs' seen in photoemission experiments, corresponding to a density-wave state with two different orthogonal ordering vectors. The existence of such order has subsequently been detected by x-ray scattering experiments, thereby strengthening the case for charge ordering being responsible for reconstructing the Fermi surface. I will discuss new efforts to understand the relationship between the charge ordering and the pseudogap state, discussing the fate of the quasiparticles in the antinodal region and the dimensionality of the Fermi surface. The author acknowledges contributions from Suchitra Sebastian, Brad Ramshaw, Mun Chan, Yu-Te Hsu, Mate Hartstein, Gil Lonzarich, Beng Tan, Arkady Shekhter, Fedor Balakirev, Ross McDonald, Jon Betts, Moaz Altarawneh, Zengwei Zhu, Chuck Mielke, James Day, Doug Bonn, Ruixing Liang, Walter Hardy. Supported by BES ``Science of 100 tesla'' program.

Bell pair creation in current of Kondo-correlated dot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakano, Rui; Oguri, Akira; Nishikawa, Yunori; Abe, Eisuke

Recently, local-Fermi-liquid properties in non-linear currents and shot noises through the Kondo dot have been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. We suggest a new entangled-electron-pair generator utilizing mechanism of quasiparticle-pair creation which has been observed as enhancement of shot noise in the quantum dot. Using the renormalized perturbation theory for an orbital-degenerate impurity Anderson model and the full counting statistics, we calculate the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt type Bell's correlator for currents through correlated two different channels of a Kondo correlated dot. It is shown that residual exchange-interactions of the local-Fermi-liquid create spin-entangled quasiparticle-pairs in nonlinear current and this results in violation of the Bell's inequality. This work was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP26220711, JP26400319, JP15K05181 and JP16K17723.

Do the surface Fermi arcs in Weyl semimetals survive disorder?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Justin H.; Pixley, J. H.; Huse, David A.; Refael, Gil; Das Sarma, S.

2018-06-01

We theoretically study the topological robustness of the surface physics induced by Weyl Fermi-arc surface states in the presence of short-ranged quenched disorder and surface-bulk hybridization. This is investigated with numerically exact calculations on a lattice model exhibiting Weyl Fermi arcs. We find that the Fermi-arc surface states, in addition to having a finite lifetime from disorder broadening, hybridize with nonperturbative bulk rare states making them no longer bound to the surface (i.e., they lose their purely surface spectral character). Thus, we provide strong numerical evidence that the Weyl Fermi arcs are not topologically protected from disorder. Nonetheless, the surface chiral velocity is robust and survives in the presence of strong disorder, persisting all the way to the Anderson-localized phase by forming localized current loops that live within the localization length of the surface. Thus, the Weyl semimetal is not topologically robust to the presence of disorder, but the surface chiral velocity is.

Nodal-line pairing with 1D-3D coupled Fermi surfaces: A model motivated by Cr-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wachtel, Gideon; Kim, Yong Baek

2016-09-01

Motivated by the recent discovery of a new family of chromium-based superconductors, we consider a two-band model, where a band of electrons dispersing only in one direction interacts with a band of electrons dispersing in all three directions. Strong 2 kf density fluctuations in the one-dimensional band induces attractive interactions between the three-dimensional electrons, which, in turn, makes the system superconducting. Solving the associated Eliashberg equations, we obtain a gap function which is peaked at the "poles" of the three-dimensional Fermi sphere, and decreases towards the "equator." When strong enough local repulsion is included, the gap actually changes sign around the equator and nodal rings are formed. These nodal rings manifest themselves in several experimentally observable quantities, some of which resemble unconventional observations in the newly discovered superconductors which motivated this work.

Discovery of orbital-selective Cooper pairing in FeSe

DOE PAGES

Sprau, P. O.; Kostin, A.; Kreisel, A.; ...

2017-07-07

The superconductor iron selenide (FeSe) is of intense interest owing to its unusual nonmagnetic nematic state and potential for high-temperature superconductivity. But its Cooper pairing mechanism has not been determined. Here, we used Bogoliubov quasiparticle interference imaging to determine the Fermi surface geometry of the electronic bands surrounding the Γ = (0,0) and X = (π/a Fe, 0) points of FeSe and to measure the corresponding superconducting energy gaps. We show that both gaps are extremely anisotropic but nodeless and that they exhibit gap maxima oriented orthogonally in momentum space. Moreover, by implementing a novel technique, we demonstrate that thesemore » gaps have opposite sign with respect to each other. This complex gap configuration reveals the existence of orbital-selective Cooper pairing that, in FeSe, is based preferentially on electrons from the d yz orbitals of the iron atoms.« less

Observation of multiple superconducting gaps in Fe1+y Se x Te 1-x through Andreev reflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de, Debtanu; Diaz-Pinto, Carlos; Wu, Zheng; Hor, Pei-Herng; Peng, Haibing

2011-03-01

Iron-based superconductors have been under intensive study because of the high transition temperature and the intriguing physical mechanisms involving the superconductivity and magnetic orders. Theoretical studies on the role of spin fluctuation suggest unconventional S wave pairing and multiple superconducting (SC) gaps due to the five disjoint Fermi surfaces. However, this multiple SC-gap scenario has yet to be confirmed in experiments. Here we report the experimental observation of five SC gaps in Fe 1+y Se x Te 1-x from Andreev reflection spectra, along with negative differential conductance dips due to the pair breaking related to the largest SC gap. The evolution of the multiple SC gaps is further investigated as a function of both temperature and magnetic field. For the largest SC gap, the Andreev reflection signal persists above bulk Tc, suggesting the existence of phase incoherent Cooper pairs.

Discovery of orbital-selective Cooper pairing in FeSe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sprau, P. O.; Kostin, A.; Kreisel, A.

The superconductor iron selenide (FeSe) is of intense interest owing to its unusual nonmagnetic nematic state and potential for high-temperature superconductivity. But its Cooper pairing mechanism has not been determined. Here, we used Bogoliubov quasiparticle interference imaging to determine the Fermi surface geometry of the electronic bands surrounding the Γ = (0,0) and X = (π/a Fe, 0) points of FeSe and to measure the corresponding superconducting energy gaps. We show that both gaps are extremely anisotropic but nodeless and that they exhibit gap maxima oriented orthogonally in momentum space. Moreover, by implementing a novel technique, we demonstrate that thesemore » gaps have opposite sign with respect to each other. This complex gap configuration reveals the existence of orbital-selective Cooper pairing that, in FeSe, is based preferentially on electrons from the d yz orbitals of the iron atoms.« less

Fermi-surface reconstruction by stripe order in cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laliberté, Francis

2012-02-01

The origin of pairing in a superconductor resides in the underlying normal state. In the cuprate high-temperature superconductor YBCO, application of a magnetic field to suppress superconductivity reveals a ground state that appears to break the translational symmetry of the lattice, pointing to some density-wave order [1,2,3]. In another cuprate, Eu-LSCO, the onset of stripe order - a modulation of spin and charge densities - at low temperature is well established [4]. By a comparative study of thermoelectric transport in the cuprates YBCO and Eu-LSCO, we show that the two materials exhibit a very similar process of Fermi-surface reconstruction as a function of temperature and doping [5,6]. This strongly suggests that Fermi-surface reconstruction is caused by stripe order in both cases, compelling evidence that stripe order is a generic tendency of hole-doped cuprates.[4pt] Work done in collaboration with J. Chang, N. Doiron-Leyraud, E. Hassinger, R. Daou, D. LeBoeuf, M. Rondeau, B. J. Ramshaw, R. Liang, D. A. Bonn, W. N. Hardy, S. Pyon, T. Takayama, H. Takagi, I. Sheikin, L. Malone, C. Proust, K. Behnia and L. Taillefer.[4pt] [1] N. Doiron-Leyraud et al., Nature 447, 565 (2007).[0pt] [2] D. LeBoeuf et al., Nature 450, 533 (2007).[0pt] [3] D. LeBoeuf et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 054506 (2011).[0pt] [4] J. Fink et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 092503 (2011).[0pt] [5] J. Chang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 057005 (2010).[0pt] [6] F. Lalibert'e et al., Nat. Commun. 2, 432 (2011).

Momentum density and Fermi surface of Nd2-xCexCuO4-δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukla, A.; Barbiellini, B.; Hoffmann, L.; Manuel, A. A.; Sadowski, W.; Walker, E.; Peter, M.

1996-02-01

High-temperature positron two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR) measurements have recently been succesfully applied to map parts of the Fermi surface of YBa2Cu3O7-δ. Using the same principle, we have been able to observe with a bulk sensitive method, the Fermi surface of Nd2-xCexCuO4-δ. Although positron trapping by defects and correlation effects are strong, positron 2D-ACAR measurements provide a signal from the Fermi surface which agrees with band-structure calculations, confirming earlier surface sensitive photoemission experiments.

Systematics of the temperature-dependent interplane resistivity in Ba(Fe 1-xM x)₂As₂ (M=Co, Rh, Ni, and Pd)

DOE PAGES

Tanatar, M. A.; Ni, N.; Thaler, A.; ...

2011-07-27

Temperature-dependent interplane resistivity ρ c(T) was measured systematically as a function of transition-metal substitution in the iron-arsenide superconductors Ba(Fe 1-xM x)₂As₂, M=Ni, Pd, Rh. The data are compared with the behavior found in Ba(Fe 1-xCo x)₂As₂, revealing resistive signatures of pseudogap. In all compounds we find resistivity crossover at a characteristic pseudogap temperature T* from nonmetallic to metallic temperature dependence on cooling. Suppression of T* proceeds very similarly in cases of Ni and Pd doping and much faster than in similar cases of Co and Rh doping. In cases of Co and Rh doping an additional minimum in the temperature-dependentmore » ρ c emerges for high dopings, when superconductivity is completely suppressed. These features are consistent with the existence of a charge gap covering part of the Fermi surface. The part of the Fermi surface affected by this gap is notably larger for Ni- and Pd-doped compositions than in Co- and Rh-doped compounds.« less

DERIVATION OF A RELATION FOR THE STEEPENING OF TeV-SELECTED BLAZAR {gamma}-RAY SPECTRA WITH ENERGY AND REDSHIFT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stecker, Floyd William; Scully, Sean T.

2010-02-01

We derive a relation for the steepening of blazar {gamma}-ray spectra between the multi-GeV Fermi energy range and the TeV energy range observed by atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes. The change in spectral index is produced by two effects: (1) an intrinsic steepening, independent of redshift, owing to the properties of emission and absorption in the source and (2) a redshift-dependent steepening produced by intergalactic pair production interactions of blazar {gamma}-rays with low-energy photons of the 'intergalactic background light' (IBL). Given this relation, with good enough data on the mean {gamma}-ray spectral energy distribution of TeV-selected BL Lac objects, the redshift evolutionmore » of the IBL can, in principle, be determined independently of stellar evolution models. We apply our relation to the results of new Fermi observations of TeV-selected blazars.« less

AMS-02 positron excess and indirect detection of three-body decaying dark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Hsin-Chia; Huang, Wei-Chih; Huang, Xiaoyuan; Low, Ian; Sming Tsai, Yue-Lin; Yuan, Qiang

2017-03-01

We consider indirect detection of meta-stable dark matter particles decaying into a stable neutral particle and a pair of standard model fermions. Due to the softer energy spectra from the three-body decay, such models could potentially explain the AMS-02 positron excess without being constrained by the Fermi-LAT gamma-ray data and the cosmic ray anti-proton measurements. We scrutinize over different final state fermions, paying special attention to handling of the cosmic ray background and including various contributions from cosmic ray propagation with the help of the LIKEDM package. It is found that primary decays into an electron-positron pair and a stable neutral particle could give rise to the AMS-02 positron excess and, at the same time, stay unscathed against the gamma-ray and anti-proton constraints. Decays to a muon pair or a mixed flavor electron-muon pair may also be viable depending on the propagation models. Decays to all other standard model fermions are severely disfavored.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Hsin-Chia; Huang, Wei-Chih; Huang, Xiaoyuan

We consider indirect detection of meta-stable dark matter particles decaying into a stable neutral particle and a pair of standard model fermions. Due to the softer energy spectra from the three-body decay, such models could potentially explain the AMS-02 positron excess without being constrained by the Fermi-LAT gamma-ray data and the cosmic ray anti-proton measurements. We scrutinize over different final state fermions, paying special attention to handling of the cosmic ray background and including various contributions from cosmic ray propagation with the help of the LIKEDM package. It is found that primary decays into an electron-positron pair and a stablemore » neutral particle could give rise to the AMS-02 positron excess and, at the same time, stay unscathed against the gamma-ray and anti-proton constraints. Decays to a muon pair or a mixed flavor electron-muon pair may also be viable depending on the propagation models. Decays to all other standard model fermions are severely disfavored.« less

p-wave triggered superconductivity in single-layer graphene on an electron-doped oxide superconductor.

PubMed

Di Bernardo, A; Millo, O; Barbone, M; Alpern, H; Kalcheim, Y; Sassi, U; Ott, A K; De Fazio, D; Yoon, D; Amado, M; Ferrari, A C; Linder, J; Robinson, J W A

2017-01-19

Electron pairing in the vast majority of superconductors follows the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, which describes the condensation of electrons into pairs with antiparallel spins in a singlet state with an s-wave symmetry. Unconventional superconductivity was predicted in single-layer graphene (SLG), with the electrons pairing with a p-wave or chiral d-wave symmetry, depending on the position of the Fermi energy with respect to the Dirac point. By placing SLG on an electron-doped (non-chiral) d-wave superconductor and performing local scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, here we show evidence for a p-wave triggered superconducting density of states in SLG. The realization of unconventional superconductivity in SLG offers an exciting new route for the development of p-wave superconductivity using two-dimensional materials with transition temperatures above 4.2 K.

p-wave triggered superconductivity in single-layer graphene on an electron-doped oxide superconductor

PubMed Central

Di Bernardo, A.; Millo, O.; Barbone, M.; Alpern, H.; Kalcheim, Y.; Sassi, U.; Ott, A. K.; De Fazio, D.; Yoon, D.; Amado, M.; Ferrari, A. C.; Linder, J.; Robinson, J. W. A.

2017-01-01

Electron pairing in the vast majority of superconductors follows the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, which describes the condensation of electrons into pairs with antiparallel spins in a singlet state with an s-wave symmetry. Unconventional superconductivity was predicted in single-layer graphene (SLG), with the electrons pairing with a p-wave or chiral d-wave symmetry, depending on the position of the Fermi energy with respect to the Dirac point. By placing SLG on an electron-doped (non-chiral) d-wave superconductor and performing local scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, here we show evidence for a p-wave triggered superconducting density of states in SLG. The realization of unconventional superconductivity in SLG offers an exciting new route for the development of p-wave superconductivity using two-dimensional materials with transition temperatures above 4.2 K. PMID:28102222

Intertwined order in a frustrated four-leg t - J cylinder

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dodaro, John F.; Jiang, Hong -Chen; Kivelson, Steven A.

Here, we report a density-matrix renormalization group study of the t–J model with nearest (t 1 and J 1) and next-nearest (t 2 and J 2) interactions on a four-leg cylinder with concentration δ=1/8 of doped holes. We observe an astonishingly complex interplay between uniform d-wave superconductivity (SC) and strong spin and charge-density wave ordering tendencies (SDW and CDW). Depending on parameters, the CDWs can be commensurate with period 4 or 8. By comparing the charge ordering vectors with 2k F, we rule out Fermi surface nesting-induced density wave order in our model. Magnetic frustration (i.e., J 2/J 1~1/2) significantlymore » quenches SDW correlations with little effect on the CDW. Typically, the SC order is strongly modulated at the CDW ordering vector and exhibits d-wave symmetry around the cylinder. There is no evidence of a near-degenerate tendency to pair-density wave (PDW) ordering, charge 4e SC, or orbital current order.« less

Intertwined order in a frustrated four-leg t - J cylinder

DOE PAGES

Dodaro, John F.; Jiang, Hong -Chen; Kivelson, Steven A.

2017-04-12

Here, we report a density-matrix renormalization group study of the t–J model with nearest (t 1 and J 1) and next-nearest (t 2 and J 2) interactions on a four-leg cylinder with concentration δ=1/8 of doped holes. We observe an astonishingly complex interplay between uniform d-wave superconductivity (SC) and strong spin and charge-density wave ordering tendencies (SDW and CDW). Depending on parameters, the CDWs can be commensurate with period 4 or 8. By comparing the charge ordering vectors with 2k F, we rule out Fermi surface nesting-induced density wave order in our model. Magnetic frustration (i.e., J 2/J 1~1/2) significantlymore » quenches SDW correlations with little effect on the CDW. Typically, the SC order is strongly modulated at the CDW ordering vector and exhibits d-wave symmetry around the cylinder. There is no evidence of a near-degenerate tendency to pair-density wave (PDW) ordering, charge 4e SC, or orbital current order.« less

Spin-valley locking in the normal state of a transition-metal dichalcogenide superconductor.

PubMed

Bawden, L; Cooil, S P; Mazzola, F; Riley, J M; Collins-McIntyre, L J; Sunko, V; Hunvik, K W B; Leandersson, M; Polley, C M; Balasubramanian, T; Kim, T K; Hoesch, M; Wells, J W; Balakrishnan, G; Bahramy, M S; King, P D C

2016-05-23

Metallic transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are benchmark systems for studying and controlling intertwined electronic orders in solids, with superconductivity developing from a charge-density wave state. The interplay between such phases is thought to play a critical role in the unconventional superconductivity of cuprates, Fe-based and heavy-fermion systems, yet even for the more moderately-correlated TMDCs, their nature and origins have proved controversial. Here, we study a prototypical example, 2H-NbSe2, by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission and first-principles theory. We find that the normal state, from which its hallmark collective phases emerge, is characterized by quasiparticles whose spin is locked to their valley pseudospin. This results from a combination of strong spin-orbit interactions and local inversion symmetry breaking, while interlayer coupling further drives a rich three-dimensional momentum dependence of the underlying Fermi-surface spin texture. These findings necessitate a re-investigation of the nature of charge order and superconducting pairing in NbSe2 and related TMDCs.

Cooper-pair and Bose-Einstein condensations in two dimensions: A critical analysis based on the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink formalism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tokumitu, A.; Miyake, K.; Yamada, K.

1993-05-01

The crossover between the Cooper-pair condensation and the Bose-Einstein condensation of di-electronic'' molecules in two-dimensional superconductors is investigated in detail on the basis of the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink formalism. It is shown that temperature dependence of the chemical potential [mu] so calculated is classified into two classes as decreasing temperatures; i.e., class (a) where [mu] approaches the point of Bose-Einstein condensation of two-dimensional ideal Bose gas of di-electronic'' molecules, and class (b) where [mu] diverges positively along the line of BCS-type mean-field pair condensation. This feature is rather universal irrespective of strength [ital V] of the attractive interaction of themore » [ital s]-wave type. While the former class (a) has been found by Schmitt-Rink, Varma, and Ruckenstein, existence of the latter class (b) is recognized here. In the case where [ital V] is fixed, class (a) is realized for electron number density [ital N] smaller than [ital N][sub cr], which is an increasing function of [ital V], and class (b) is realized for [ital N] larger than [ital N][sub cr]. If [ital N][much gt][ital N][sub cr] in particular, there exists a regime, where the Fermi-liquid-like description is valid, between the BCS-type mean-field transition temperature and the Fermi temperature. In the situation where [ital V] is changed with [ital N] being fixed, low-temperature states for the strong-coupling case belong to class (a) while those for the weak-coupling case belong to class (b). Therefore, with decreasing [ital V], the chemical potential [mu]([ital T]), at temperatures far below the Fermi temperature, shows a discontinuous jump at [ital V]=[ital V][sub cr]([ital N]) corresponding to the transition from class (a) to (b).« less

Fermi-edge superfluorescence from a quantum-degenerate electron-hole gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Ji-Hee; , G. Timothy Noe, II; McGill, Stephen A.; Wang, Yongrui; Wójcik, Aleksander K.; Belyanin, Alexey A.; Kono, Junichiro

2013-11-01

Nonequilibrium can be a source of order. This rather counterintuitive statement has been proven to be true through a variety of fluctuation-driven, self-organization behaviors exhibited by out-of-equilibrium, many-body systems in nature (physical, chemical, and biological), resulting in the spontaneous appearance of macroscopic coherence. Here, we report on the observation of spontaneous bursts of coherent radiation from a quantum-degenerate gas of nonequilibrium electron-hole pairs in semiconductor quantum wells. Unlike typical spontaneous emission from semiconductors, which occurs at the band edge, the observed emission occurs at the quasi-Fermi edge of the carrier distribution. As the carriers are consumed by recombination, the quasi-Fermi energy goes down toward the band edge, and we observe a continuously red-shifting streak. We interpret this emission as cooperative spontaneous recombination of electron-hole pairs, or superfluorescence (SF), which is enhanced by Coulomb interactions near the Fermi edge. This novel many-body enhancement allows the magnitude of the spontaneously developed macroscopic polarization to exceed the maximum value for ordinary SF, making electron-hole SF even more ``super'' than atomic SF.

Closed-channel contribution in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas with an orbital Feshbach resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mondal, S.; Inotani, D.; Ohashi, Y.

2018-03-01

We theoretically investigate strong-coupling properties of an ultracold Fermi gas with an orbital Feshbach resonance (OFR). Including tunable pairing interaction associated with an OFR within the framework of the strong-coupling theory developed by Nozières and Schmitt-Rink (NSR), we examine the occupation of the closed channel. We show that, although the importance of the closed channel is characteristic of the system with an OFR, the occupation number of the closed channel is found to actually be very small at the superfluid phase transition temperature T c, in the whole BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC (Bose-Einstein condensation) crossover region, when we use the scattering parameters for an ultracold 173Yb Fermi gas. The occupation of the closed channel increases with increasing the temperature above T c, which is more remarkable for a stronger pairing interaction. We also present a prescription to remove effects of an experimentally inaccessible deep bound state from the NSR formalism, which we meet when we theoretically deal with a 173Yb Fermi gas with an OFR.

Fermi surface and quantum well states of V(110) films on W(110)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krupin, Oleg; Rotenberg, Eli; Kevan, S. D.

2007-09-01

Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we have measured the Fermi surface of V(110) films epitaxially grown on a W(110) substrate. We compare our results for thicker films to existing calculations and measurements for bulk vanadium and find generally very good agreement. For thinner films, we observe and analyse a diverse array of quantum well states that split and distort the Fermi surface segments. We have searched unsuccessfully for a thickness-induced topological transition associated with contact between the zone-centre jungle gym and zone-boundary hole ellipsoid Fermi surface segments. We also find no evidence for ferromagnetic splitting of any bands on this surface.

Photoemission spectrum and effect of inhomogeneous pairing fluctuations in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsuchiya, Shunji; Ohashi, Yoji; CREST

2010-09-15

We investigate the photoemission-type spectrum in a cold Fermi gas which was recently measured by the JILA group [Stewart et al., Nature (London) 454, 744 (2008)]. This quantity gives us very useful information about single-particle properties in the BCS-BEC crossover. In this paper, including pairing fluctuations within a T-matrix theory, as well as effects of a harmonic trap within the local density approximation, we show that spatially inhomogeneous pairing fluctuations due to the trap potential are an important key to understanding the observed spectrum. In the crossover region, while strong pairing fluctuations lead to the so-called pseudogap phenomenon in themore » trap center, such strong-coupling effects are found to be weak around the edge of the gas. Our results including this effect are shown to agree well with the recent photoemission data of the JILA group.« less

Dark soliton pair of ultracold Fermi gases for a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation model.

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Zhou, Yu; Zhou, Shuyu; Zhang, Yongsheng

2016-07-01

We present the theoretical investigation of dark soliton pair solutions for one-dimensional as well as three-dimensional generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GGPE) which models the ultracold Fermi gas during Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-Bose-Einstein condensates crossover. Without introducing any integrability constraint and via the self-similar approach, the three-dimensional solution of GGPE is derived based on the one-dimensional dark soliton pair solution, which is obtained through a modified F-expansion method combined with a coupled modulus-phase transformation technique. We discovered the oscillatory behavior of the dark soliton pair from the theoretical results obtained for the three-dimensional case. The calculated period agrees very well with the corresponding reported experimental result [Weller et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 130401 (2008)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.101.130401], demonstrating the applicability of the theoretical treatment presented in this work.

Noise of a Chargeless Fermi Liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moca, Cǎtǎlin Paşcu; Mora, Christophe; Weymann, Ireneusz; Zaránd, Gergely

2018-01-01

We construct a Fermi liquid theory to describe transport in a superconductor-quantum dot-normal metal junction close to the singlet-doublet (parity changing) transition of the dot. Though quasiparticles do not have a definite charge in this chargeless Fermi liquid, in the case of particle-hole symmetry, a mapping to the Anderson model unveils a hidden U(1) symmetry and a corresponding pseudocharge. In contrast to other correlated Fermi liquids, the back scattering noise reveals an effective charge equal to the charge of Cooper pairs, e*=2 e . In addition, we find a strong suppression of noise when the linear conductance is unitary, even for its nonlinear part.

Electronic structure in high temperature superconducting oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howell, R. H.; Sterne, P.; Solal, F.; Fluss, M. J.; Tobin, J.; Obrien, J.; Radousky, H. B.; Haghighi, H.; Kaiser, J. H.; Rayner, S. L.

1991-08-01

We have performed measurements on entwined single crystals of YBCO using both photoemission and positron angular correlation of annihilation radiation and on single crystals of LSCO using only angular correlation. Fermi surface features in good agreement with band theory were found and identified in all of the measurements. In photoemission, the Fermi momentum was fixed for several points and the band dispersion below the Fermi energy was mapped. In positron angular correlation measurements, the shape of the Fermi surface was mapped for the CuO chains (YBCO) and the CuO planes (LSCO). Demonstration of the existence of Fermi surfaces in the HTSC materials points a direction for future theoretical considerations.

Quasiparticle interference, quasiparticle interactions, and the origin of the charge density wave in 2 H – NbSe 2

DOE PAGES

Arguello, C. J.; Rosenthal, E. P.; Andrade, E. F.; ...

2015-01-21

We show that a small number of intentionally introduced defects can be used as a spectroscopic tool to amplify quasiparticle interference in 2H-NbSe₂ that we measure by scanning tunneling spectroscopic imaging. We show, from the momentum and energy dependence of the quasiparticle interference, that Fermi surface nesting is inconsequential to charge density wave formation in 2H-NbSe₂. We demonstrate that, by combining quasiparticle interference data with additional knowledge of the quasiparticle band structure from angle resolved photoemission measurements, one can extract the wave vector and energy dependence of the important electronic scattering processes thereby obtaining direct information both about the fermiologymore » and the interactions. In 2H-NbSe₂, we use this combination to confirm that the important near-Fermi-surface electronic physics is dominated by the coupling of the quasiparticles to soft mode phonons at a wave vector different from the charge density wave ordering wave vector.« less

Quasiparticle interference, quasiparticle interactions, and the origin of the charge density wave in 2H-NbSe2.

PubMed

Arguello, C J; Rosenthal, E P; Andrade, E F; Jin, W; Yeh, P C; Zaki, N; Jia, S; Cava, R J; Fernandes, R M; Millis, A J; Valla, T; Osgood, R M; Pasupathy, A N

2015-01-23

We show that a small number of intentionally introduced defects can be used as a spectroscopic tool to amplify quasiparticle interference in 2H-NbSe2 that we measure by scanning tunneling spectroscopic imaging. We show, from the momentum and energy dependence of the quasiparticle interference, that Fermi surface nesting is inconsequential to charge density wave formation in 2H-NbSe2. We demonstrate that, by combining quasiparticle interference data with additional knowledge of the quasiparticle band structure from angle resolved photoemission measurements, one can extract the wave vector and energy dependence of the important electronic scattering processes thereby obtaining direct information both about the fermiology and the interactions. In 2H-NbSe2, we use this combination to confirm that the important near-Fermi-surface electronic physics is dominated by the coupling of the quasiparticles to soft mode phonons at a wave vector different from the charge density wave ordering wave vector.

Temperature dependence of magnetoresistance in copper single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bian, Q.; Niewczas, M.

2018-03-01

Transverse magnetoresistance of copper single crystals has been measured in the orientation of open-orbit from 2 K to 20 K for fields up to 9 T. The experimental Kohler's plots display deviation between individual curves below 16 K and overlap in the range of 16 K-20 K. The violation of the Kohler's rule below 16 K indicates that the magnetotransport can not be described by the classical theory of electron transport on spherical Fermi surface with a single relaxation time. A theoretical model incorporating two energy bands, spherical and cylindrical, with different relaxation times has been developed to describe the magnetoresistance data. The calculations show that the electron-phonon scattering rates at belly and neck regions of the Fermi surface have different temperature dependencies, and in general, they do not follow T3 law. The ratio of the relaxation times in belly and neck regions decreases parabolically with temperature as A - CT2 , with A and C being constants.

Visualizing weakly bound surface Fermi arcs and their correspondence to bulk Weyl fermions

PubMed Central

Batabyal, Rajib; Morali, Noam; Avraham, Nurit; Sun, Yan; Schmidt, Marcus; Felser, Claudia; Stern, Ady; Yan, Binghai; Beidenkopf, Haim

2016-01-01

Fermi arcs are the surface manifestation of the topological nature of Weyl semimetals, enforced by the bulk-boundary correspondence with the bulk Weyl nodes. The surface of tantalum arsenide, similar to that of other members of the Weyl semimetal class, hosts nontopological bands that obscure the exploration of this correspondence. We use the spatial structure of the Fermi arc wave function, probed by scanning tunneling microscopy, as a spectroscopic tool to distinguish and characterize the surface Fermi arc bands. We find that, as opposed to nontopological states, the Fermi arc wave function is weakly affected by the surface potential: it spreads rather uniformly within the unit cell and penetrates deeper into the bulk. Fermi arcs reside predominantly on tantalum sites, from which the topological bulk bands are derived. Furthermore, we identify a correspondence between the Fermi arc dispersion and the energy and momentum of the bulk Weyl nodes that classify this material as topological. We obtain these results by introducing an analysis based on the role the Bloch wave function has in shaping quantum electronic interference patterns. It thus carries broader applicability to the study of other electronic systems and other physical processes. PMID:27551687

High-injection effects in near-field thermophotovoltaic devices.

PubMed

Blandre, Etienne; Chapuis, Pierre-Olivier; Vaillon, Rodolphe

2017-11-20

In near-field thermophotovoltaics, a substantial enhancement of the electrical power output is expected as a result of the larger photogeneration of electron-hole pairs due to the tunneling of evanescent modes from the thermal radiator to the photovoltaic cell. The common low-injection approximation, which considers that the local carrier density due to photogeneration is moderate in comparison to that due to doping, needs therefore to be assessed. By solving the full drift-diffusion equations, the existence of high-injection effects is studied in the case of a GaSb p-on-n junction cell and a radiator supporting surface polaritons. Depending on doping densities and surface recombination velocity, results reveal that high-injection phenomena can already take place in the far field and become very significant in the near field. Impacts of high injection on maximum electrical power, short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, recombination rates, and variations of the difference between quasi-Fermi levels are analyzed in detail. By showing that an optimum acceptor doping density can be estimated, this work suggests that a detailed and accurate modeling of the electrical transport is also key for the design of near-field thermophotovoltaic devices.

Angular dependent XPS study of surface band bending on Ga-polar n-GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Rong; Liu, Tong; Zhao, Yanfei; Zhu, Yafeng; Huang, Zengli; Li, Fangsen; Liu, Jianping; Zhang, Liqun; Zhang, Shuming; Dingsun, An; Yang, Hui

2018-05-01

Surface band bending and composition of Ga-polar n-GaN with different surface treatments were characterized by using angular dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Upward surface band bending of varying degree was observed distinctly upon to the treatment methods. Besides the nitrogen vacancies, we found that surface states of oxygen-containing absorbates (O-H component) also contribute to the surface band bending, which lead the Fermi level pined at a level further closer to the conduction band edge on n-GaN surface. The n-GaN surface with lower surface band bending exhibits better linear electrical properties for Ti/GaN Ohmic contacts. Moreover, the density of positively charged surface states could be derived from the values of surface band bending.

Shubnikov-de Haas Oscillations in LaTiO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veit, Michael; Ramshaw, Brad; Chan, Mun; Suzuki, Yuri

Emergent metallic behavior in heterostructures of the Mott insulator LaTiO3 and the band insulator SrTiO3 was observed for the first time more than a decade ago. It has often been compared to other oxide systems which have a two-dimensional Fermi surface, but there have been few studies probing the dimensionality of the metallicity in this system. We have studied the transport properties of thin films of LaTiO3 on SrTiO3 substrates. Our measurements have indicated that the entirety of the LaTiO3 film is conductive with an additional contribution near the interface. When the film thickness is on the order of 3-4 unit cells, we observe two sets of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations - low frequency oscillations with a frequency of 2T and high frequency of 36T. We attribute the observation of these two sets of oscillations to a Rashba splitting which creates a smaller inner Fermi pocket and a larger outer Fermi pocket. These results are consistent with our measurements of in plane anisotropic magnetoresistance and a weak antilocalization correction to the magnetoconductance Further measurements on the angular dependence of the oscillations indicate that their frequency does not change, thus indicating that the Fermi surface is more three-dimensional.

Critical temperature of metallic hydrogen sulfide at 225-GPa pressure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kudryashov, N. A.; Kutukov, A. A.; Mazur, E. A., E-mail: EAMazur@mephi.ru

2017-01-15

The Eliashberg theory generalized for electron—phonon systems with a nonconstant density of electron states and with allowance made for the frequency behavior of the electron mass and chemical potential renormalizations is used to study T{sub c} in the SH{sub 3} phase of hydrogen sulfide under pressure. The phonon contribution to the anomalous electron Green’s function is considered. The pairing within the total width of the electron band and not only in a narrow layer near the Fermi surface is taken into account. The frequency and temperature dependences of the complex mass renormalization ReZ(ω), the density of states N(ε) renormalized bymore » the electron—phonon interactions, and the electron—phonon spectral function obtained computationally are used to calculate the anomalous electron Green’s function. A generalized Eliashberg equation with a variable density of electron states has been solved. The frequency dependence of the real and imaginary parts of the order parameter in the SH{sub 3} phase has been obtained. The value of T{sub c} ≈ 177 K in the SH{sub 3} phase of hydrogen sulfide at pressure P = 225 GPa has been determined by solving the system of Eliashberg equations.« less

Depletion region surface effects in electron beam induced current measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haney, Paul M.; Zhitenev, Nikolai B.; Yoon, Heayoung P.

2016-09-07

Electron beam induced current (EBIC) is a powerful characterization technique which offers the high spatial resolution needed to study polycrystalline solar cells. Current models of EBIC assume that excitations in the p-n junction depletion region result in perfect charge collection efficiency. However, we find that in CdTe and Si samples prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) milling, there is a reduced and nonuniform EBIC lineshape for excitations in the depletion region. Motivated by this, we present a model of the EBIC response for excitations in the depletion region which includes the effects of surface recombination from both charge-neutral and chargedmore » surfaces. For neutral surfaces, we present a simple analytical formula which describes the numerical data well, while the charged surface response depends qualitatively on the location of the surface Fermi level relative to the bulk Fermi level. We find that the experimental data on FIB-prepared Si solar cells are most consistent with a charged surface and discuss the implications for EBIC experiments on polycrystalline materials.« less

Quantum oscillations in vortex-liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Sumilan; Zhang, Shizhong; Randeria, Mohit

2012-02-01

Motivated by observations of quantum oscillations in underdoped cuprates [1], we examine the electronic density of states (DOS) in a vortex-liquid state, where long-range phase coherence is destroyed by an external magnetic field H but the local pairing amplitude survives. We note that this regime is distinct from that studied in most of the recent theories, which have focused on either a Fermi liquid with a competing order parameter or on a d-wave vortex lattice. The cuprate experiments are very likely in a resistive vortex-liquid state. We generalize the s-wave analysis of Maki and Stephen [2] to d-wave pairing and examine various regimes of the chemical potential, gap and field. We find that the (1/H) oscillations of the DOS at the chemical potential in a d-wave vortex-liquid are much more robust, i.e., have a reduced damping, compared to the s-wave case. We critically investigate the conventional wisdom relating the observed frequency to the area of an underlying Fermi surface. We also show that the oscillations in the DOS cross over to a √H behavior in the low field limit, in agreement with the recent specific heat measurements. [1] L. Taillefer, J. Phys. Cond. Mat. 21, 164212 (2009). [2] M. J. Stephen, Phys. Rev. B 45, 5481 (1992).

Brueckner G -matrix approach for neutron-proton pairing correlations in the deformed BCS approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ha, Eunja; Cheoun, Myung-Ki; Šimkovic, F.

2015-10-01

Ground states of even-even Ge isotopes with mass number A =64 -76 have been studied in the deformed Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory by taking neutron-proton (n p ) pairing correlations as well as neutron-neutron (n n ) and proton-proton (p p ) pairing correlations. The n p pairing has two different modes J =0 ,T =1 (isotriplet) and J =1 ,T =0 (isosinglet). In this work, the Brueckner G matrix, based on the CD-Bonn potential, has been exploited to reduce the ambiguity regarding nucleon-nucleon interactions inside nuclei compared to the results by a simple schematic phenomenological force. We found that the G matrix plays important roles to obtain reasonable descriptions of even-even nuclei compared to the schematic force. The n p pairing strength has been shown to have a clear correlation with quadrupole deformation parameter β2 for the isotopes, and affects the smearing of the Fermi surfaces of not only N =Z nuclei but also N ≠Z nuclei. In particular, the coexistence of the like particle (n n and p p ) and the n p pairing modes was found to become more salient by the G -matrix approach than by the schematic force approach.

Leptonic v.s. Hadronic Origin of the Gamma-ray Emission of the Fermi bubbles: Updates from Fermi-LAT and Forecast for Future Gamma-ray Telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Su, Meng

2014-06-01

Data from the Fermi-LAT revealed two large gamma-ray bubbles, extending 50 degrees above and below the Galactic center, with a width of about 40 degrees in longitude. Such structure has been confirmed with multi-wavelength observations. With the most up to date Fermi-LAT data analysis, I will show that the Fermi bubbles have a spectral cutoff at both low energy < 1 GeV and high energy > 150 GeV. Detailed analysis of the spectral features will help us to distinguish the leptonic origin from hadronic origin of the gamma-ray emission from the bubbles. I will also describe what we expect to learn about the bubbles from future gamma-ray telescopes after Fermi, with an emphasis on Dark Matter Particle Explorer and Pair Production Gamma-ray Unit.

Effective field theories for superconducting systems with multiple Fermi surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Braga, P.R., E-mail: pedro.rangel.braga@gmail.com; Granado, D.R., E-mail: diegorochagrana@uerj.br; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281-S9, 9000 Gent

2016-11-15

In this work we investigate the description of superconducting systems with multiple Fermi surfaces. For the case of one Fermi surface we re-obtain the result that the superconductor is more precisely described as a topological state of matter. Studying the case of more than one Fermi surface, we obtain the effective theory describing a time reversal symmetric topological superconductor. These results are obtained by employing a general procedure to construct effective low energy actions describing states of electromagnetic systems interacting with charges and defects. The procedure consists in taking into account the proliferation or dilution of these charges and defectsmore » and its consequences for the low energy description of the electromagnetic response of the system. We find that the main ingredient entering the low energy characterization of the system with more than one Fermi surface is a non-conservation of the canonical supercurrent triggered by particular vortex configurations.« less

Angular studies of the magnetoresistance in the density wave state of the quasi-two-dimensional purple bronze KMo6O17

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guyot, H.; Dumas, J.; Kartsovnik, M. V.; Marcus, J.; Schlenker, C.; Sheikin, I.; Vignolles, D.

2007-07-01

The purple molybdenum bronze KMo6O17 is a quasi-two-dimensional compound which shows a Peierls transition towards a commensurate metallic charge density wave (CDW) state. High magnetic field measurements have revealed several transitions at low temperature and have provided an unusual phase diagram “temperature-magnetic field”. Angular studies of the interlayer magnetoresistance are now reported. The results suggest that the orbital coupling of the magnetic field to the CDW is the most likely mechanism for the field induced transitions. The angular dependence of the magnetoresistance is discussed on the basis of a warped quasi-cylindrical Fermi surface and provides information on the geometry of the Fermi surface in the low temperature density wave state.

Effects of disordered Ru substitution in BaFe2As2: possible realization of superdiffusion in real materials.

PubMed

Wang, Limin; Berlijn, Tom; Wang, Yan; Lin, Chia-Hui; Hirschfeld, P J; Ku, Wei

2013-01-18

An unexpected insensitivity of the Fermi surface to impurity scattering is found in Ru substituted BaFe(2)As(2) from first-principles theory, offering a natural explanation of the unusual resilience of transport and superconductivity to a high level of disordered substitution in this material. This robustness is shown to originate from a coherent interference of correlated on-site and intersite impurity scattering, similar in spirit to the microscopic mechanism of superdiffusion in one dimension. Our result also demonstrates a strong substitution dependence of the Fermi surface and carrier concentration and provides a resolution to current discrepancies in recent photoelectron spectroscopy. These effects offer a natural explanation of the diminishing long-range magnetic, orbital, and superconducting orders with high substitution.

Superconducting parity effect across the Anderson limit

PubMed Central

Vlaic, Sergio; Pons, Stéphane; Zhang, Tianzhen; Assouline, Alexandre; Zimmers, Alexandre; David, Christophe; Rodary, Guillemin; Girard, Jean-Christophe; Roditchev, Dimitri; Aubin, Hervé

2017-01-01

How small can superconductors be? For isolated nanoparticles subject to quantum size effects, P.W. Anderson in 1959 conjectured that superconductivity could only exist when the electronic level spacing δ is smaller than the superconducting gap energy Δ. Here we report a scanning tunnelling spectroscopy study of superconducting lead (Pb) nanocrystals grown on the (110) surface of InAs. We find that for nanocrystals of lateral size smaller than the Fermi wavelength of the 2D electron gas at the surface of InAs, the electronic transmission of the interface is weak; this leads to Coulomb blockade and enables the extraction of electron addition energy of the nanocrystals. For large nanocrystals, the addition energy displays superconducting parity effect, a direct consequence of Cooper pairing. Studying this parity effect as a function of nanocrystal volume, we find the suppression of Cooper pairing when the mean electronic level spacing overcomes the superconducting gap energy, thus demonstrating unambiguously the validity of the Anderson criterion. PMID:28240294

Quantum chaos on a critical Fermi surface.

PubMed

Patel, Aavishkar A; Sachdev, Subir

2017-02-21

We compute parameters characterizing many-body quantum chaos for a critical Fermi surface without quasiparticle excitations. We examine a theory of [Formula: see text] species of fermions at nonzero density coupled to a [Formula: see text] gauge field in two spatial dimensions and determine the Lyapunov rate and the butterfly velocity in an extended random-phase approximation. The thermal diffusivity is found to be universally related to these chaos parameters; i.e., the relationship is independent of [Formula: see text], the gauge-coupling constant, the Fermi velocity, the Fermi surface curvature, and high-energy details.

Unconventional and conventional quantum criticalities in CeRh0.58Ir0.42In5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Yongkang; Lu, Xin; Dioguardi, Aadm P.; Rosa, Priscila F. S.; Bauer, Eric D.; Si, Qimiao; Thompson, Joe D.

2018-03-01

An appropriate description of the state of matter that appears as a second order phase transition is tuned toward zero temperature, viz. quantum-critical point (QCP), poses fundamental and still not fully answered questions. Experiments are needed both to test basic conclusions and to guide further refinement of theoretical models. Here, charge and entropy transport properties as well as AC specific heat of the heavy-fermion compound CeRh0.58Ir0.42In5, measured as a function of pressure, reveal two qualitatively different QCPs in a single material driven by a single non-symmetry-breaking tuning parameter. A discontinuous sign-change jump in thermopower suggests an unconventional QCP at pc1 accompanied by an abrupt Fermi-surface reconstruction that is followed by a conventional spin-density-wave critical point at pc2 across which the Fermi surface evolves smoothly to a heavy Fermi-liquid state. These experiments are consistent with some theoretical predictions, including the sequence of critical points and the temperature dependence of the thermopower in their vicinity.

Renormalization of Coulomb interactions in a system of two-dimensional tilted Dirac fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Yu-Wen; Lee, Yu-Li

2018-01-01

We investigate the effects of long-ranged Coulomb interactions in a tilted Dirac semimetal in two dimensions by using the perturbative renormalization-group (RG) method. Depending on the magnitude of the tilting parameter, the undoped system can have either Fermi points (type I) or Fermi lines (type II). Previous studies usually performed the renormalization-group transformations by integrating out the modes with large momenta. This is problematic when the Fermi surface is open, like type-II Dirac fermions. In this work we study the effects of Coulomb interactions, following the spirit of Shankar [Rev. Mod. Phys. 66, 129 (1994), 10.1103/RevModPhys.66.129], by introducing a cutoff in the energy scale around the Fermi surface and integrating out the high-energy modes. For type-I Dirac fermions, our result is consistent with that of the previous work. On the other hand, we find that for type-II Dirac fermions, the magnitude of the tilting parameter increases monotonically with lowering energies. This implies the stability of type-II Dirac fermions in the presence of Coulomb interactions, in contrast with previous results. Furthermore, for type-II Dirac fermions, the velocities in different directions acquire different renormalization even if they have the same bare values. By taking into account the renormalization of the tilting parameter and the velocities due to the Coulomb interactions, we show that while the presence of a charged impurity leads only to charge redistribution around the impurity for type-I Dirac fermions, for type-II Dirac fermions, the impurity charge is completely screened, albeit with a very long screening length. The latter indicates that the temperature dependence of physical observables are essentially determined by the RG equations we derived. We illustrate this by calculating the temperature dependence of the compressibility and specific heat of the interacting tilted Dirac fermions.

Resonant pair tunneling in double quantum dots.

PubMed

Sela, Eran; Affleck, Ian

2009-08-21

We present exact results on the nonequilibrium current fluctuations for 2 quantum dots in series throughout a crossover from non-Fermi liquid to Fermi liquid behavior described by the 2 impurity Kondo model. The result corresponds to resonant tunneling of carriers of charge 2e for a critical interimpurity coupling. At low energy scales, the result can be understood from a Fermi liquid approach that we develop and use to also study nonequilibrium transport in an alternative double dot realization of the 2 impurity Kondo model under current experimental study.

High-temperature atomic superfluidity in lattice Bose-Fermi mixtures.

PubMed

Illuminati, Fabrizio; Albus, Alexander

2004-08-27

We consider atomic Bose-Fermi mixtures in optical lattices and study the superfluidity of fermionic atoms due to s-wave pairing induced by boson-fermion interactions. We prove that the induced fermion-fermion coupling is always attractive if the boson-boson on-site interaction is repulsive, and predict the existence of an enhanced BEC-BCS crossover as the strength of the lattice potential is varied. We show that for direct on-site fermion-fermion repulsion, the induced attraction can give rise to superfluidity via s-wave pairing at striking variance with the case of pure systems of fermionic atoms with direct repulsive interactions.

Competing order parameters in Fermi systems with engineered band dispersion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chien-Te; Boyack, Rufus; Anderson, Brandon; Levin, K.

We explore a variety of competing phases in 2D and 3D Fermi gases in the presence of novel dispersion relations resulting from a shaken optical lattice. We incorporate spin imbalance along with attractive interactions. In 3D, at the mean field level we present phase diagrams reflecting the stability of alternative order parameters in the pairing (including LOFF) and charge density wave channels. We perform analogous studies in 2D, where we focus on the competition between different paired phases. Important in this regard is that our 2D studies are consistent with the Mermin Wagner theorem, so that, while there is competition, conventional superfluidity cannot occur

Chiral sp-orbital paired superfluid of fermionic atoms in a 2D spin-dependent optical lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bo; Li, Xiaopeng; Wu, Biao; Liu, W. Vincent

2014-03-01

Recent progress in realizing synthetic quantum orbital materials in chequerboard and hexagonal optical lattices opens an avenue towards exploiting unconventional quantum states, advancing our understanding of correlated quantum matter. Here, we unveil a chiral sp -orbital paired superfluid state for an interacting two-component Fermi gas in a 2D spin-dependent optical lattice. Surprisingly, this novel state is found to exist in a wide regime of experimentally tunable interaction strengths. The coexistence of this chiral superfluid and the ferro-orbital order is reminiscent of that of magnetism and superconductivity which is a long-standing issue in condensed matter physics. The topological properties are demonstrated by the existence of gapless chiral fermions in the presence of domain wall defects, reminiscent of quantum Hall edge states. Such properties can be measured by radio frequency spectroscopy in cold atomic experiments. Work supported in part by U.S. ARO, AFOSR, and DARPA-OLE-ARO, Kaufman Foundation, and NSF of China.

Anomalous torsional tripling in the ν9 and ν10 CH3-deformation modes of ethane 12CH313CH3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lattanzi, F.; di Lauro, C.

2017-12-01

We have investigated the anomalous torsional behavior in the coupled ν9 and ν10 vibrational fundamentals of 12CH313CH3, both states exhibiting a splitting into three components, instead of two, only in those rotational levels which are very close to resonance. We conclude that the intrinsic additional splitting, which occurs in the E-torsional components, for these two vibrational states is too small to be detected in the high resolution infrared spectrum, but it is substantively enhanced by their coupling. It is shown that this effect requires the simultaneous action of torsion independent operators, such as Fermi-type and z-Coriolis, not allowed in the more symmetric isotopologue 12CH312CH3, and torsion dependent operators, such as torsional-Coriolis, connecting the two vibrational states. Our conclusions lead to a simple model for the coupling of ν9 and ν10, with effective Fermi-type matrix elements W for the A-torsional components, and W ± w for the two pairs of E-torsional components. This causes the additional splitting in the E-pairs. This model is consistent with the mechanism causing the Coriolis-dependent decrease of the A-E torsional splitting in degenerate vibrational states. Exploratory calculations were performed making use of results from a normal mode analysis, showing that the effects predictable by the proposed model are of the correct order of magnitude compared to the observed features, with coupling parameter values reasonably consistent with those determined by the least squares fit of the observed transition wavenumbers.

Nonlinear electrodynamics of high-temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zutic, Igor

We investigate the effects of nonlinear electrodynamics in unconventional superconductors. These effects can serve as fingerprints to identify the symmetry of the superconducting pairing state and to provide information about the unknown pairing mechanism in High Temperature Superconductors (HTSC). In the Meissner regime, at low temperatures, a nonlinear magnetic response arises from the presence of lines on the Fermi surface where the superconducting energy gap is very small or zero. This can be used to perform "node spectroscopy", that is, as a sensitive bulk probe to locate the angular position of those lines. We first compute the nonlinear magnetic moment as a function of applied field and geometry, assuming d-wave pairing and anisotropic penetration depth, for realistic finite sample. Our novel, numerically implemented, perturbative procedure exploits the small ratio of the penetration depths to the sample size and substantially reduces the computational work required. We next generalize these considerations to other candidates for the energy gap and to perform node spectroscopy. In calculating the nonlinear supercurrent response, we include the effects of orthorhombic distortion and a-b plane anisotropy. Analytic results presented demonstrate a systematic way to experimentally distinguish order parameters of different symmetries, including cases with mixed symmetry (for example, d+s and s+id). We finally extend our findings to the case of low frequency harmonic magnetic field. The nonlinear magnetic response for various physical quantities generates higher harmonics of the frequency of the applied field. We discuss how examination of the field and angular dependences of these harmonics allows determination of the structure of the energy gap. We show how to distinguish nodes from small minima ("quasinodes"). Gaps with nodal lines give rise to universal power law field dependences for the nonlinear magnetic moment and torque. They both have separable temporal and angular dependences. In contrast, with gap functions which only have quasinodes, these quantities do not display power laws in the applied field, and their temporal and angular dependences are not separable. We discuss how to perform measurements so as to maximize the nonlinear signal, and how to determine the gap function symmetry.

Emergent phases of fractonic matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prem, Abhinav; Pretko, Michael; Nandkishore, Rahul M.

2018-02-01

Fractons are emergent particles which are immobile in isolation, but which can move together in dipolar pairs or other small clusters. These exotic excitations naturally occur in certain quantum phases of matter described by tensor gauge theories. Previous research has focused on the properties of small numbers of fractons and their interactions, effectively mapping out the "standard model" of fractons. In the present work, however, we consider systems with a finite density of either fractons or their dipolar bound states, with a focus on the U (1 ) fracton models. We study some of the phases in which emergent fractonic matter can exist, thereby initiating the study of the "condensed matter" of fractons. We begin by considering a system with a finite density of fractons, which we show can exhibit microemulsion physics, in which fractons form small-scale clusters emulsed in a phase dominated by long-range repulsion. We then move on to study systems with a finite density of mobile dipoles, which have phases analogous to many conventional condensed matter phases. We focus on two major examples: Fermi liquids and quantum Hall phases. A finite density of fermionic dipoles will form a Fermi surface and enter a Fermi liquid phase. Interestingly, this dipolar Fermi liquid exhibits a finite-temperature phase transition, corresponding to an unbinding transition of fractons. Finally, we study chiral two-dimensional phases corresponding to dipoles in "quantum Hall" states of their emergent magnetic field. We study numerous aspects of these generalized quantum Hall systems, such as their edge theories and ground state degeneracies.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xiang, Z.; Lawson, B.; Asaba, T.

The Kondo insulator samarium hexaboride (SmB 6) has been intensely studied in recent years as a potential candidate of a strongly correlated topological insulator. One of the most exciting phenomena observed in SmB 6 is the clear quantum oscillations appearing in magnetic torque at a low temperature despite the insulating behavior in resistance. These quantum oscillations show multiple frequencies and varied effective masses. The origin of quantum oscillation is, however, still under debate with evidence of both two-dimensional Fermi surfaces and three-dimensional Fermi surfaces. Here, we carry out angle-resolved torque magnetometry measurements in a magnetic field up to 45 Tmore » and a temperature range down to 40 mK. With the magnetic field rotated in the (010) plane, the quantum oscillation frequency of the strongest oscillation branch shows a fourfold rotational symmetry. However, in the angular dependence of the amplitude of the same branch, this fourfold symmetry is broken and, instead, a twofold symmetry shows up, which is consistent with the prediction of a two-dimensional Lifshitz-Kosevich model. No deviation of Lifshitz-Kosevich behavior is observed down to 40 mK. Our results suggest the existence of multiple light-mass surface states in SmB 6, with their mobility significantly depending on the surface disorder level.« less

Bulk Rotational Symmetry Breaking in Kondo Insulator SmB 6

DOE PAGES

Xiang, Z.; Lawson, B.; Asaba, T.; ...

2017-09-25

The Kondo insulator samarium hexaboride (SmB 6) has been intensely studied in recent years as a potential candidate of a strongly correlated topological insulator. One of the most exciting phenomena observed in SmB 6 is the clear quantum oscillations appearing in magnetic torque at a low temperature despite the insulating behavior in resistance. These quantum oscillations show multiple frequencies and varied effective masses. The origin of quantum oscillation is, however, still under debate with evidence of both two-dimensional Fermi surfaces and three-dimensional Fermi surfaces. Here, we carry out angle-resolved torque magnetometry measurements in a magnetic field up to 45 Tmore » and a temperature range down to 40 mK. With the magnetic field rotated in the (010) plane, the quantum oscillation frequency of the strongest oscillation branch shows a fourfold rotational symmetry. However, in the angular dependence of the amplitude of the same branch, this fourfold symmetry is broken and, instead, a twofold symmetry shows up, which is consistent with the prediction of a two-dimensional Lifshitz-Kosevich model. No deviation of Lifshitz-Kosevich behavior is observed down to 40 mK. Our results suggest the existence of multiple light-mass surface states in SmB 6, with their mobility significantly depending on the surface disorder level.« less

Quantum Monte Carlo studies of superfluid Fermi gases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chang, S.Y.; Pandharipande, V.R.; Carlson, J.

2004-10-01

We report results of quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the ground state of dilute Fermi gases with attractive short-range two-body interactions. The strength of the interaction is varied to study different pairing regimes which are characterized by the product of the s-wave scattering length and the Fermi wave vector, ak{sub F}. We report results for the ground-state energy, the pairing gap {delta}, and the quasiparticle spectrum. In the weak-coupling regime, 1/ak{sub F}<-1, we obtain Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluid and the energy gap {delta} is much smaller than the Fermi gas energy E{sub FG}. When a>0, the interaction is strong enough tomore » form bound molecules with energy E{sub mol}. For 1/ak{sub F} > or approx. 0.5, we find that weakly interacting composite bosons are formed in the superfluid gas with {delta} and gas energy per particle approaching E{sub mol}/2. In this region, we seem to have Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of molecules. The behavior of the energy and the gap in the BCS-to-BEC transition region, -0.5<1/ak{sub F}<0.5, is discussed.« less

Dual origin of pairing in nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Idini, A.; Potel, G.; Barranco, F.; Vigezzi, E.; Broglia, R. A.

2016-11-01

The pairing correlations of the nucleus 120Sn are calculated by solving the Nambu-Gor'kov equations, including medium polarization effects resulting from the interweaving of quasiparticles, spin and density vibrations, taking into account, within the framework of nuclear field theory (NFT), processes leading to self-energy and vertex corrections and to the induced pairing interaction. From these results one can not only demonstrate the inevitability of the dual origin of pairing in nuclei, but also extract information which can be used at profit to quantitatively disentangle the contributions to the pairing gap Δ arising from the bare and from the induced pairing interaction. The first is the strong 1 S 0 short-range NN potential resulting from meson exchange between nucleons moving in time reversal states within an energy range of hundreds of MeV from the Fermi energy. The second results from the exchange of vibrational modes between nucleons moving within few MeV from the Fermi energy. Short- ( v p bare) and long-range ( v p ind) pairing interactions contribute essentially equally to nuclear Cooper pair stability. That is to the breaking of gauge invariance in open-shell superfluid nuclei and thus to the order parameter, namely to the ground state expectation value of the pair creation operator. In other words, to the emergent property of generalized rigidity in gauge space, and associated rotational bands and Cooper pair tunneling between members of these bands.

Spin-density wave state in simple hexagonal graphite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mosoyan, K. S.; Rozhkov, A. V.; Sboychakov, A. O.; Rakhmanov, A. L.

2018-02-01

Simple hexagonal graphite, also known as AA graphite, is a metastable configuration of graphite. Using tight-binding approximation, it is easy to show that AA graphite is a metal with well-defined Fermi surface. The Fermi surface consists of two sheets, each shaped like a rugby ball. One sheet corresponds to electron states, another corresponds to hole states. The Fermi surface demonstrates good nesting: a suitable translation in the reciprocal space superposes one sheet onto another. In the presence of the electron-electron repulsion, a nested Fermi surface is unstable with respect to spin-density-wave ordering. This instability is studied using the mean-field theory at zero temperature, and the spin-density-wave order parameter is evaluated.

The relationship between anisotropic magnetoresistance and topology of Fermi surface in Td-MoTe2 crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Yang-Yang; Li, Xiao; Pang, Bin; Cao, Lin; Lin, Dajun; Zhang, Bin-Bin; Yao, Shu-Hua; Chen, Y. B.; Zhou, Jian; Dong, Song-Tao; Zhang, Shan-Tao; Lu, Ming-Hui; Chen, Yan-Feng

2017-07-01

Layered transition-metal dichalcogenides have been recently attracted a lot of attention because of their unique physical properties, such as extremely large and anisotropic magnetoresistance (MR) in WTe2. In this work, we observed the abnormally anisotropic MR on Td-MoTe2 crystal that is strongly dependent on the temperature, as well as the orientations of both magnetic field B and electric field E with respect to crystallographic axes of Td-MoTe2. When E//a-axis and B//c-axis, MR is parabolically dependent on B and is as high as 520% under 9 T and 2 K conditions; the MR is quasi-linearly dependent on B when E//a-axis and B//b-axis (E//b-axis and B//c-axis), and the corresponding MR is only 130% (220%); MR is initially parabolically dependent on B, then linearly on B, and finally shows a saturate trend under E//B//a-axis (or E//B//b-axis) conditions, and the MR is about 16% (30%). These anisotropic MR behaviors can be qualitatively explained by the features of the Fermi surface of Td-MoTe2. This work may demonstrate the rich anisotropic physical behavior in layered transition-metal dichalcognides.

The novel metallic states of the cuprates: Topological Fermi liquids and strange metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sachdev, Subir; Chowdhury, Debanjan

2016-12-01

We review ideas on the nature of the metallic states of the hole-doped cuprate high temperature superconductors, with an emphasis on the connections between the Luttinger theorem for the size of the Fermi surface, topological quantum field theories (TQFTs), and critical theories involving changes in the size of the Fermi surface. We begin with the derivation of the Luttinger theorem for a Fermi liquid, using momentum balance during a process of flux insertion in a lattice electronic model with toroidal boundary conditions. We then review the TQFT of the ℤ spin liquid, and demonstrate its compatibility with the toroidal momentum balance argument. This discussion leads naturally to a simple construction of "topological" Fermi liquid states: the fractionalized Fermi liquid (FL*) and the algebraic charge liquid (ACL). We present arguments for a description of the pseudogap metal of the cuprates using ℤ-FL* or ℤ-ACL states with Ising-nematic order. These pseudogap metal states are also described as Higgs phases of a SU(2) gauge theory. The Higgs field represents local antiferromagnetism, but the Higgs-condensed phase does not have long-range antiferromagnetic order: the magnitude of the Higgs field determines the pseudogap, the reconstruction of the Fermi surface, and the Ising-nematic order. Finally, we discuss the route to the large Fermi surface Fermi liquid via the critical point where the Higgs condensate and Ising nematic order vanish, and the application of Higgs criticality to the strange metal.

Unitary Fermi gas in a harmonic trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, S. Y.; Bertsch, G. F.

2007-08-01

We present an ab initio calculation of small numbers of trapped, strongly interacting fermions using the Green’s function Monte Carlo method. The ground-state energy, density profile, and pairing gap are calculated for particle numbers N=2 22 using the parameter-free “unitary” interaction. Trial wave functions are taken in the form of correlated pairs in a harmonic oscillator basis. We find that the lowest energies are obtained with a minimum explicit pair correlation beyond that needed to exploit the degeneracy of oscillator states. We find that the energies can be well fitted by the expression aTFETF+Δmod(N,2) where ETF is the Thomas-Fermi energy of a noninteracting gas in the trap and Δ is the pairing gap. There is no evidence of a shell correction energy in the systematics, but the density distributions show pronounced shell effects. We find the value Δ=0.7±0.2ω for the pairing gap. This is smaller than the value found for the uniform gas at a density corresponding to the central density of the trapped gas.

First principle study of structural, electronic and fermi surface properties of aluminum praseodymium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shugani, Mani; Aynyas, Mahendra; Sanyal, S. P.

2018-05-01

We present a structural, Electronic and Fermi surface properties of Aluminum Praseodymium (AlPr) using First-principles density functional calculation by using full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The ground state properties along with electronic and Fermi surface properties are studied. It is found that AlPr is metallic and the bonding between Al and Pr is covalent.

First-Order Antiferromagnetic Transition and Fermi Surfaces in Semimetal EuSn3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, Akinobu; Miura, Yasunao; Tsutsumi, Hiroki; Mitamura, Katsuya; Hagiwara, Masayuki; Sugiyama, Kiyohiro; Hirose, Yusuke; Honda, Fuminori; Takeuchi, Tetsuya; Nakamura, Ai; Hiranaka, Yuichi; Hedo, Masato; Nakama, Takao; Ōnuki, Yoshichika

2014-02-01

We grew high-quality single crystals of the antiferromagnet EuSn3 with the AuCu3-type cubic crystal structure by the Sn self-flux method and measured the electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization, specific heat, thermal expansion, and de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect, in order to study the magnetic and Fermi surface properties. We observed steplike changes in the electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility, and a sharp peak of the specific heat and thermal expansion coefficient at a Néel temperature TN = 36.4 K. The first-order nature of the antiferromagnetic transition was ascertained by the observation of thermal hysteresis as well as of latent heat at TN. The present antiferromagnetic transition is found to be not a typical second-order phase transition but a first-order one. From the results of dHvA experiment, we clarified that the Fermi surface is very similar to that of the divalent compound YbSn3, mainly consisting of a nearly spherical hole Fermi surface and eight ellipsoidal electron Fermi surfaces. EuSn3 is possibly a compensated metal, and the occupation of a nearly spherical hole Fermi surface is 3.5% in its Brillouin zone, indicating that EuSn3 is a semimetal.

Emergent loop-nodal s(±)-wave superconductivity in CeCu(2)Si(2): similarities to the iron-based superconductors.

PubMed

Ikeda, Hiroaki; Suzuki, Michi-To; Arita, Ryotaro

2015-04-10

Heavy-fermion superconductors are prime candidates for novel electron-pairing states due to the spin-orbital coupled degrees of freedom and electron correlations. Superconductivity in CeCu_{2}Si_{2} discovered in 1979, which is a prototype of unconventional (non-BCS) superconductors in strongly correlated electron systems, still remains unsolved. Here we provide the first report of superconductivity based on the advanced first-principles theoretical approach. We find that the promising candidate is an s_{±}-wave state with loop-shaped nodes on the Fermi surface, different from the widely expected line-nodal d-wave state. The dominant pairing glue is magnetic but high-rank octupole fluctuations. This system shares the importance of multiorbital degrees of freedom with the iron-based superconductors. Our findings reveal not only the long-standing puzzle in this material, but also urge us to reconsider the pairing states and mechanisms in all heavy-fermion superconductors.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Loh, Yen Lee; Randeria, Mohit; Trivedi, Nandini

The direct transition from an insulator to a superconductor (SC) in Fermi systems is a problem of long-standing interest, which necessarily goes beyond the standard BCS paradigm of superconductivity as a Fermi surface instability. We introduce here a simple, translationally invariant lattice fermion model that undergoes a SC-insulator transition (SIT) and elucidate its properties using analytical methods and quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We show that there is a fermionic band insulator to bosonic insulator crossover in the insulating phase and a BCS-to-BEC crossover in the SC. The SIT is always found to be from a bosonic insulator to a BEC-likemore » SC, with an energy gap for fermions that remains finite across the SIT. Hence, the energy scales that go critical at the SIT are the gap to pair excitations in the insulator and the superfluid stiffness in the SC. In addition to giving insight into important questions about the SIT in solid-state systems, our model should be experimentally realizable using ultracold fermions in optical lattices.« less

Fermi surface properties of paramagnetic NpCd11 with a large unit cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Homma, Yoshiya; Aoki, Dai; Haga, Yoshinori; Settai, Rikio; Sakai, Hironori; Ikeda, Shugo; Yamamoto, Etsuji; Nakamura, Akio; Shiokawa, Yoshinobu; Takeuchi, Tetsuya; Yamagami, Hiroshi; Ōnuki, Yoshichika

2010-03-01

We succeeded in growing a high-quality single crystal of NpCd11 with the cubic BaHg11-type structure by the Cd-self flux method. The lattice parameter of a = 9.2968(2) Å and crystallographic positions of the atoms were determined by x-ray single-crystal structure analysis. From the results of the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat experiments, this compound is found to be a 5f-localized paramagnet with the singlet ground state in the crystalline electric field (CEF) scheme. Fermi surface properties were measured using the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) technique. Long-period oscillations were observed in the dHvA frequency range of 9.1 x 105 to 1.9 x 107 Oe, indicating small cross-sectional areas of Fermi surfaces, which is consistent with a small Brillouin zone based on a large unit cell. From the results of dHvA and magnetoresistance experiments, the Fermi surface of NpCd11 is found to consist of many kinds of closed Fermi surfaces and a multiply-connected-like Fermi surface, although the result of energy band calculations based on the 5f-localized Np3+(5f4) configuration reveals the existence of only closed Fermi surfaces. The corresponding cyclotron effective mass is small, ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 m0, which is consistent with a small electronic specific heat coefficient γ ≅ 10mJ/K2·mol, revealing no hybridization between the 5f electrons and conduction electrons.

Influence of ion pairing in ionic liquids on electrical double layer structures and surface force using classical density functional approach.

PubMed

Ma, Ke; Forsman, Jan; Woodward, Clifford E

2015-05-07

We explore the influence of ion pairing in room temperature ionic liquids confined by planar electrode surfaces. Using a coarse-grained model for the aromatic ionic liquid [C4MIM(+)][BF4 (-)], we account for an ion pairing component as an equilibrium associating species within a classical density functional theory. We investigated the resulting structure of the electrical double layer as well as the ensuing surface forces and differential capacitance, as a function of the degree of ion association. We found that the short-range structure adjacent to surfaces was remarkably unaffected by the degree of ion pairing, up to several molecular diameters. This was even the case for 100% of ions being paired. The physical implications of ion pairing only become apparent in equilibrium properties that depend upon the long-range screening of charges, such as the asymptotic behaviour of surface forces and the differential capacitance, especially at low surface potential. The effect of ion pairing on capacitance is consistent with their invocation as a source of the anomalous temperature dependence of the latter. This work shows that ion pairing effects on equilibrium properties are subtle and may be difficult to extract directly from simulations.

Topological Properties and the Dynamical Crossover from Mixed-Valence to Kondo-Lattice Behavior in the Golden Phase of SmS.

PubMed

Kang, Chang-Jong; Choi, Hong Chul; Kim, Kyoo; Min, B I

2015-04-24

We have investigated temperature-dependent behaviors of electronic structure and resistivity in a mixed-valent golden phase of SmS, based on the dynamical mean-field-theory band-structure calculations. Upon cooling, the coherent Sm 4f bands are formed to produce the hybridization-induced pseudogap near the Fermi level, and accordingly the topology of the Fermi surface is changed to exhibit a Lifshitz-like transition. The surface states emerging in the bulk gap region are found to be not topologically protected states but just typical Rashba spin-polarized states, indicating that SmS is not a topological Kondo semimetal. From the analysis of anomalous resistivity behavior in SmS, we have identified universal energy scales, which characterize the Kondo-mixed-valent semimetallic systems.

Pressure variation of Rashba spin splitting toward topological transition in the polar semiconductor BiTeI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ideue, T.; Checkelsky, J. G.; Bahramy, M. S.; Murakawa, H.; Kaneko, Y.; Nagaosa, N.; Tokura, Y.

2014-10-01

BiTeI is a polar semiconductor with gigantic Rashba spin-split bands in bulk. We have investigated the effect of pressure on the electronic structure of this material via magnetotransport. Periods of Shubunikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations originating from the spin-split outer Fermi surface and inner Fermi surface show disparate responses to pressure, while the carrier number derived from the Hall effect is unchanged with pressure. The associated parameters which characterize the spin-split band structure are strongly dependent on pressure, reflecting the pressure-induced band deformation. We find the SdH oscillations and transport response are consistent with the theoretically proposed pressure-induced band deformation leading to a topological phase transition. Our analysis suggests the critical pressure for the quantum phase transition near Pc=3.5 GPa.

Unconventional Fermi surface associated with novel quasiparticles in the Kondo insulator SmB6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sebastian, Suchitra

The search for a Fermi surface in the absence of a Fermi liquid has endured for decades. We present evidence for the realisation of such a state in the Kondo Insulator SmB6, which is an extreme example of Fermi liquid breakdown. Experimental results are presented from complementary techniques including quantum oscillations, specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and oscillatory entropy down to low temperatures. An experimental comparison is made with alternative theoretical models that associate novel quasiparticles with the unconventional Fermi surface we uncover in SmB6. A new paradigm for the realisation of a Fermi surface in the absence of conventional quasiparticles is proposed in the vicinity of a Kondo insulator transition. This work was performed in collaboration with M. Hartstein, W. H. Toews, Y.-T. Hsu, B. Zeng, X. Chen, M. Ciomaga Hatnean, Q. R. Zhang, S. Nakamura, A. S. Padgett, G. Rodway-Gant, J. Berk, M. K. Kingston, G. H. Zhang, M. K. Chan, S. Yamashita, T. Sakakibara, Y. Takano, J. -H. Park, L. Balicas, N. Harrison, N. Shitsevalova, G. Balakrishnan, G. G. Lonzarich, R. W. Hill, and M. Sutherland.

Berry phase and anomalous transport of the composite fermions at the half-filled Landau level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, W.; Kang, W.; Baldwin, K. W.; West, K. W.; Pfeiffer, L. N.; Tsui, D. C.

2017-12-01

The fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) in two-dimensional electron systems is an exotic, superfluid-like matter with an emergent topological order. From the consideration of the Aharonov-Bohm interaction between electrons and magnetic field, the ground state of a half-filled lowest Landau level is mathematically transformed to a Fermi sea of composite objects of electrons bound to two flux quanta, termed composite fermions (CFs). A strong support for the CF theories comes from experimental confirmation of the predicted Fermi surface at ν = 1/2 (where ν is the Landau level filling factor) from the detection of the Fermi wavevector in semi-classical geometrical resonance experiments. Recent developments in the theory of CFs have led to the prediction of a π Berry phase for the CF circling around the Fermi surface at half-filling. In this paper we provide experimental evidence for the detection of the Berry phase of CFs in the fractional quantum Hall effect. Our measurements of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations of CFs as a function carrier density at a fixed magnetic field provide strong support for the existence of a π Berry phase at ν = 1/2. We also discover that the conductivity of composite fermions at ν = 1/2 displays an anomalous linear density dependence, whose origin remains mysterious yet tantalizing.

Electrical properties of metal/Al2O3/In0.53Ga0.47As capacitors grown on InP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrandis, Philippe; Billaud, Mathilde; Duvernay, Julien; Martin, Mickael; Arnoult, Alexandre; Grampeix, Helen; Cassé, Mikael; Boutry, Hervé; Baron, Thierry; Vinet, Maud; Reimbold, Gilles

2018-04-01

To overcome the Fermi-level pinning in III-V metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors, attention is usually focused on the choice of dielectric and surface chemical treatments prior to oxide deposition. In this work, we examined the influence of the III-V material surface cleaning and the semiconductor growth technique on the electrical properties of metal/Al2O3/In0.53Ga0.47As capacitors grown on InP(100) substrates. By means of the capacitance-voltage measurements, we demonstrated that samples do not have the same total oxide charge density depending on the cleaning solution used [(NH4)2S or NH4OH] prior to oxide deposition. The determination of the interface trap density revealed that a Fermi-level pinning occurs for samples grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition but not for similar samples grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Deep level transient spectroscopy analysis explained the Fermi-level pinning by an additional signal for samples grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, attributed to the tunneling effect of carriers trapped in oxide toward interface states. This work emphasizes that the choice of appropriate oxide and cleaning treatment is not enough to prevent a Fermi-level pinning in III-V metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors. The semiconductor growth technique needs to be taken into account because it impacts the trapping properties of the oxide.

Fermiology of Ce2 Rh3 Ge5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wartenbe, Mark

The competition between localized and delocalized f electrons in heavy fermion materials produces a wide variety of interesting physical phenomena. Among these compounds is Ce2Rh3Ge5. This heavy-fermion system undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition below 4K and exhibits an angle dependent magnetic phase transition around 25 tesla. In addition, RF conductivity measurements in pulsed field (65T) have revealed quantum oscillations. Temperature dependence at fixed angle indicates relatively heavy effective masses of values ranging from ~3me on up to ~10me. This indicates that the narrow f-electron density of states is partially hybridized close to the Fermi energy, but also places strict cryogenic constraints upon the measurement (3Helium temperatures are required). Fermi surface calculations have produced complex figures which lend validation to such rich behavior. Presented are updated measurements including magnetization and revised theoretical calculations..

Fractionalized Fermi liquids and exotic superconductivity in the Kitaev-Kondo lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seifert, Urban F. P.; Meng, Tobias; Vojta, Matthias

2018-02-01

Fractionalized Fermi liquids (FL*) have been introduced as non-Fermi-liquid metallic phases, characterized by coexisting electron-like charge carriers and local moments which form a fractionalized spin liquid. Here we investigate a Kondo lattice model on the honeycomb lattice with Kitaev interactions among the local moments, a concrete model hosting FL* phases based on Kitaev's Z2 spin liquid. We characterize the FL* phases via perturbation theory, and we employ a Majorana-fermion mean-field theory to map out the full phase diagram. Most remarkably we find nematic triplet superconducting phases which mask the quantum phase transition between fractionalized and conventional Fermi liquid phases. Their pairing structure is inherited from the Kitaev spin liquid; i.e., superconductivity is driven by Majorana glue.

Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov correlation and free fluids in the one-dimensional attractive Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Song; Yu, Yi-Cong; Batchelor, M. T.; Guan, Xi-Wen

2018-03-01

In this Rapid Communication, we show that low-energy macroscopic properties of the one-dimensional (1D) attractive Hubbard model exhibit two fluids of bound pairs and of unpaired fermions. Using the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equations of the model, we first determine the low-temperature phase diagram and analytically calculate the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) pairing correlation function for the partially polarized phase. We then show that for such an FFLO-like state in the low-density regime the effective chemical potentials of bound pairs and unpaired fermions behave like two free fluids. Consequently, the susceptibility, compressibility, and specific heat obey simple additivity rules, indicating the "free" particle nature of interacting fermions on a 1D lattice. In contrast to the continuum Fermi gases, the correlation critical exponents and thermodynamics of the attractive Hubbard model essentially depend on two lattice interacting parameters. Finally, we study scaling functions, the Wilson ratio and susceptibility, which provide universal macroscopic properties and dimensionless constants of interacting fermions at low energy.

Topological π Junctions from Crossed Andreev Reflection in the Quantum Hall Regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finocchiaro, F.; Guinea, F.; San-Jose, P.

2018-03-01

We consider a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the quantum Hall regime in the presence of a Zeeman field, with the Fermi level tuned to a filling factor of ν =1 . We show that, in the presence of spin-orbit coupling, contacting the 2DEG with a narrow strip of an s -wave superconductor produces a topological superconducting gap along the contact as a result of crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) processes across the strip. The sign of the topological gap, controlled by the CAR amplitude, depends periodically on the Fermi wavelength and strip width and can be externally tuned. An interface between two halves of a long strip with topological gaps of opposite sign implements a robust π junction, hosting a pair of Majorana zero modes that do not split despite their overlap. We show that such a configuration can be exploited to perform protected non-Abelian tunnel-braid operations without any fine tuning.

Superconductivity in an electron band just above the Fermi level: possible route to BCS-BEC superconductivity.

PubMed

Okazaki, K; Ito, Y; Ota, Y; Kotani, Y; Shimojima, T; Kiss, T; Watanabe, S; Chen, C-T; Niitaka, S; Hanaguri, T; Takagi, H; Chainani, A; Shin, S

2014-02-28

Conventional superconductivity follows Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer(BCS) theory of electrons-pairing in momentum-space, while superfluidity is the Bose-Einstein condensation(BEC) of atoms paired in real-space. These properties of solid metals and ultra-cold gases, respectively, are connected by the BCS-BEC crossover. Here we investigate the band dispersions in FeTe(0.6)Se(0.4)(Tc = 14.5 K ~ 1.2 meV) in an accessible range below and above the Fermi level(EF) using ultra-high resolution laser angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We uncover an electron band lying just 0.7 meV (~8 K) above EF at the Γ-point, which shows a sharp superconducting coherence peak with gap formation below Tc. The estimated superconducting gap Δ and Fermi energy [Symbol: see text]F indicate composite superconductivity in an iron-based superconductor, consisting of strong-coupling BEC in the electron band and weak-coupling BCS-like superconductivity in the hole band. The study identifies the possible route to BCS-BEC superconductivity.

Thermodynamics of Thomas-Fermi screened Coulomb systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Firey, B.; Ashcroft, N. W.

1977-01-01

We obtain in closed analytic form, estimates for the thermodynamic properties of classical fluids with pair potentials of Yukawa type, with special reference to dense fully ionized plasmas with Thomas-Fermi or Debye-Hueckel screening. We further generalize the hard-sphere perturbative approach used for similarly screened two-component mixtures, and demonstrate phase separation in this simple model of a liquid mixture of metallic helium and hydrogen.

The nuclear Thomas-Fermi model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Myers, W.D.; Swiatecki, W.J.

1994-08-01

The statistical Thomas-Fermi model is applied to a comprehensive survey of macroscopic nuclear properties. The model uses a Seyler-Blanchard effective nucleon-nucleon interaction, generalized by the addition of one momentum-dependent and one density-dependent term. The adjustable parameters of the interaction were fitted to shell-corrected masses of 1654 nuclei, to the diffuseness of the nuclear surface and to the measured depths of the optical model potential. With these parameters nuclear sizes are well reproduced, and only relatively minor deviations between measured and calculated fission barriers of 36 nuclei are found. The model determines the principal bulk and surface properties of nuclear mattermore » and provides estimates for the more subtle, Droplet Model, properties. The predicted energy vs density relation for neutron matter is in striking correspondence with the 1981 theoretical estimate of Friedman and Pandharipande. Other extreme situations to which the model is applied are a study of Sn isotopes from {sup 82}Sn to {sup 170}Sn, and the rupture into a bubble configuration of a nucleus (constrained to spherical symmetry) which takes place when Z{sup 2}/A exceeds about 100.« less

The Nuclear Thomas-Fermi Model

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Myers, W. D.; Swiatecki, W. J.

1994-08-01

The statistical Thomas-Fermi model is applied to a comprehensive survey of macroscopic nuclear properties. The model uses a Seyler-Blanchard effective nucleon-nucleon interaction, generalized by the addition of one momentum-dependent and one density-dependent term. The adjustable parameters of the interaction were fitted to shell-corrected masses of 1654 nuclei, to the diffuseness of the nuclear surface and to the measured depths of the optical model potential. With these parameters nuclear sizes are well reproduced, and only relatively minor deviations between measured and calculated fission barriers of 36 nuclei are found. The model determines the principal bulk and surface properties of nuclear matter and provides estimates for the more subtle, Droplet Model, properties. The predicted energy vs density relation for neutron matter is in striking correspondence with the 1981 theoretical estimate of Friedman and Pandharipande. Other extreme situations to which the model is applied are a study of Sn isotopes from {sup 82}Sn to {sup 170}Sn, and the rupture into a bubble configuration of a nucleus (constrained to spherical symmetry) which takes place when Z{sup 2}/A exceeds about 100.

Unified mechanism of the surface Fermi level pinning in III-As nanowires.

PubMed

Alekseev, Prokhor A; Dunaevskiy, Mikhail S; Cirlin, George E; Reznik, Rodion R; Smirnov, Alexander N; Kirilenko, Demid A; Davydov, Valery Yu; Berkovits, Vladimir L

2018-08-03

Fermi level pinning at the oxidized (110) surfaces of III-As nanowires (GaAs, InAs, InGaAs, AlGaAs) is studied. Using scanning gradient Kelvin probe microscopy, we show that the Fermi level at oxidized cleavage surfaces of ternary Al x Ga 1-x As (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.45) and Ga x In 1-x As (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) alloys is pinned at the same position of 4.8 ± 0.1 eV with regard to the vacuum level. The finding implies a unified mechanism of the Fermi level pinning for such surfaces. Further investigation, performed by Raman scattering and photoluminescence spectroscopy, shows that photooxidation of the Al x Ga 1-x As and Ga x In 1-x As nanowires leads to the accumulation of an excess of arsenic on their crystal surfaces which is accompanied by a strong decrease of the band-edge photoluminescence intensity. We conclude that the surface excess arsenic in crystalline or amorphous forms is responsible for the Fermi level pinning at oxidized (110) surfaces of III-As nanowires.

Fermi Surface Properties, Metamagnetic Transition and Quantum Phase Transition of CeRu2Si2 and Its Alloys Probed by the dHvA Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoki, Haruyoshi; Kimura, Noriaki; Terashima, Taichi

2014-07-01

This article describes the Fermi surface properties of CeRu2Si2 and its alloy systems CeRu2(SixGe1-x)2 and CexLa1-xRu2Si2 studied by the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect. We pay particular attention to how the Fermi surface properties and the f electron state change with magnetic properties, in particular how they change associated with metamagnetic transition and quantum phase transition. After summarizing the important physical properties of CeRu2Si2, we present the magnetic phase diagrams of CeRu2(SixGe1-x)2 and CexLa1-xRu2Si2 as a function of temperature, magnetic field and concentration x. From the characteristic features of the magnetic phase diagram, we argue that the ferromagnetic interaction in addition to the antiferromagnetic interaction and the Kondo effect is responsible for the magnetic properties and that the metamagnetic transitions in these systems are relevant to the ferromagnetic interaction. We summarize the Fermi surface properties of CeRu2Si2 in fields below the metamagnetic transition where the f electron state is now well understood theoretically as well as experimentally. We present experimental results in fields above the metamagnetic transitions in CeRu2(SixGe1-x)2 and CexLa1-xRu2Si2 as well as CeRu2Si2 to show that the Fermi surface properties above the metamagnetic transitions are significantly different from those below in many important aspects. We argue that the Fermi surface properties above the metamagnetic transitions are not appropriately described in terms of either itinerant or localized f electron. The experimental results in fields below the metamagnetic transitions in CeRu2(SixGe1-x)2 and CexLa1-xRu2Si2 are presented to discuss the f electron state in the ground state. The Fermi surface properties of dilute Kondo alloys of CexLa1-xRu2Si2 have been revealed as a function of Ce concentration and temperature. We show that the f electron state can be regarded as itinerant in the ground state together with the definition of the term "itinerant" in this case. The Fermi surface properties are measured also in high concentration alloys of CeRu2(SixGe1-x)2 and CexLa1-xRu2Si2 as a function of x. With the help of the angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies, we show that the f electron nature does not change at the quantum phase transition between the paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases. However, the picture for the f electron state may be ambiguous and depend on which property one considers in the magnetic states of these systems. The ambiguity and confusion of the f electron state may come from the inherent dual nature of the f electron and we would like to point out that it is sometimes misleading and may not be fruitful to discriminate the f electron state either as itinerant or localized without any clear definition for the terms "itinerant" and "localized".

Fermi level pinning at the Ge(001) surface—A case for non-standard explanation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wojtaszek, Mateusz; Zuzak, Rafal; Godlewski, Szymon

2015-11-14

To explore the origin of the Fermi level pinning in germanium, we investigate the Ge(001) and Ge(001):H surfaces. The absence of relevant surface states in the case of Ge(001):H should unpin the surface Fermi level. This is not observed. For samples with donors as majority dopants, the surface Fermi level appears close to the top of the valence band regardless of the surface structure. Surprisingly, for the passivated surface, it is located below the top of the valence band allowing scanning tunneling microscopy imaging within the band gap. We argue that the well known electronic mechanism behind band bending doesmore » not apply and a more complicated scenario involving ionic degrees of freedom is therefore necessary. Experimental techniques involve four point probe electric current measurements, scanning tunneling microscopy, and spectroscopy.« less

Anomalous Quasiparticle Reflection from the Surface of a ^{3}He-^{4}He Dilute Solution.

PubMed

Ikegami, Hiroki; Kim, Kitak; Sato, Daisuke; Kono, Kimitoshi; Choi, Hyoungsoon; Monarkha, Yuriy P

2017-11-10

A free surface of a dilute ^{3}He-^{4}He liquid mixture is a unique system where two Fermi liquids with distinct dimensions coexist: a three-dimensional (3D) ^{3}He Fermi liquid in the bulk and a two-dimensional (2D) ^{3}He Fermi liquid at the surface. To investigate a novel effect generated by the interaction between the two Fermi liquids, the mobility of a Wigner crystal of electrons formed on the free surface of the mixture is studied. An anomalous enhancement of the mobility, compared with the case where the 3D and 2D systems do not interact with each other, is observed. The enhancement is explained by the nontrivial reflection of 3D quasiparticles from the surface covered with the 2D ^{3}He system.

Goldstone mode and pair-breaking excitations in atomic Fermi superfluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoinka, Sascha; Dyke, Paul; Lingham, Marcus G.; Kinnunen, Jami J.; Bruun, Georg M.; Vale, Chris J.

2017-10-01

Spontaneous symmetry breaking is a central paradigm of elementary particle physics, magnetism, superfluidity and superconductivity. According to Goldstone's theorem, phase transitions that break continuous symmetries lead to the existence of gapless excitations in the long-wavelength limit. These Goldstone modes can become the dominant low-energy excitation, showing that symmetry breaking has a profound impact on the physical properties of matter. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the elementary excitations in a homogeneous strongly interacting Fermi gas through the crossover from a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluid to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of molecules using two-photon Bragg spectroscopy. The spectra exhibit a discrete Goldstone mode, associated with the broken-symmetry superfluid phase, as well as pair-breaking single-particle excitations. Our techniques yield a direct determination of the superfluid pairing gap and speed of sound in close agreement with strong-coupling theories.

Quasi-continuous transition from a Fermi liquid to a spin liquid in κ-(ET)2Cu2(CN)3.

PubMed

Furukawa, Tetsuya; Kobashi, Kazuhiko; Kurosaki, Yosuke; Miyagawa, Kazuya; Kanoda, Kazushi

2018-01-22

The Mott metal-insulator transition-a manifestation of Coulomb interactions among electrons-is known as a discontinuous transition. Recent theoretical studies, however, suggest that the transition is continuous if the Mott insulator carries a spin liquid with a spinon Fermi surface. Here, we demonstrate the case of a quasi-continuous Mott transition from a Fermi liquid to a spin liquid in an organic triangular-lattice system κ-(ET) 2 Cu 2 (CN) 3 . Transport experiments performed under fine pressure tuning have found that as the Mott transition is approached, the Fermi liquid coherence temperature continuously falls to the scale of kelvins, with a divergent quasi-particle decay rate on the metal side, and the charge gap continuously closes on the insulator side. A Clausius-Clapeyron analysis provides thermodynamic evidence for the extremely weak first-order nature of the transition. These results provide additional support for the existence of a spinon Fermi surface, which becomes an electron Fermi surface when charges are delocalized.

Diffusive and inelastic scattering in ballistic-electron-emission spectroscopy and ballistic-electron-emission microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, E.Y.; Turner, B.R.; Schowalter, L.J.

1993-07-01

Ballistic-electron-emission microscopy (BEEM) of Au/Si(001) n type was done to study whether elastic scattering in the Au overlayer is dominant. It was found that there is no dependence of the BEEM current on the relative gradient of the Au surface with respect to the Si interface, and this demonstrates that significant elastic scattering must occur in the Au overlayer. Ballistic-electron-emission spectroscopy (BEES) was also done, and, rather than using the conventional direct-current BEES, alternating-current (ac) BEES was done on Au/Si and also on Au/PtSi/Si(001) n type. The technique of ac BEES was found to give linear threshold for the Schottkymore » barrier, and it also clearly showed the onset of electron-hole pair creation and other inelastic scattering events. The study of device quality PtSi in Au/PtSi/Si(001) yielded an attenuation length of 4 nm for electrons of energy 1 eV above the PtSi Fermi energy. 20 refs., 5 figs.« less

Bulk Fermi Surfaces of the Dirac Type-II Semimetallic Candidates M Al3 (Where M =V , Nb, and Ta)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, K.-W.; Lian, X.; Lai, Y.; Aryal, N.; Chiu, Y.-C.; Lan, W.; Graf, D.; Manousakis, E.; Baumbach, R. E.; Balicas, L.

2018-05-01

We report a de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect study on the Dirac type-II semimetallic candidates M Al3 (where, M =V , Nb and Ta). The angular dependence of their Fermi surface (FS) cross-sectional areas reveals a remarkably good agreement with our first-principles calculations. Therefore, dHvA supports the existence of tilted Dirac cones with Dirac type-II nodes located at 100, 230 and 250 meV above the Fermi level ɛF for VAl3 , NbAl3 and TaAl3 respectively, in agreement with the prediction of broken Lorentz invariance in these compounds. However, for all three compounds we find that the cyclotron orbits on their FSs, including an orbit nearly enclosing the Dirac type-II node, yield trivial Berry phases. We explain this via an analysis of the Berry phase where the position of this orbit, relative to the Dirac node, is adjusted within the error implied by the small disagreement between our calculations and the experiments. We suggest that a very small amount of doping could displace ɛF to produce topologically nontrivial orbits encircling their Dirac node(s).

Superfluid transition temperature in a trapped gas of Fermi atoms with a Feshbach resonance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ohashi, Y.; Institute of Physics, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305; Griffin, A.

2003-03-01

We investigate strong-coupling effects on the superfluid phase transition in a gas of Fermi atoms with a Feshbach resonance. The Feshbach resonance describes a composite quasiboson that can give rise to an additional pairing interaction between the Fermi atoms. This attractive interaction becomes stronger as the threshold energy 2{nu} of the Feshbach resonance two-particle bound state is lowered. In a recent paper, we showed that in the uniform Fermi gas, this tunable pairing interaction naturally leads to a crossover from a BCS state to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of the Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink kind, in which the BCS-type superfluid phasemore » transition continuously changes into the BEC type as the threshold energy is decreased. In this paper, we extend our previous work by including the effect of a harmonic trap potential, treated within the local-density approximation. We also give results for both weak and strong coupling to the Feshbach resonance. We show that the BCS-BEC crossover phenomenon strongly modifies the shape of the atomic density profile at the superfluid phase-transition temperature T{sub c}, reflecting the change of the dominant particles going from Fermi atoms to composite bosons. In the BEC regime, these composite bosons are shown to first appear well above T{sub c}. We also discuss the 'phase diagram' above T{sub c} as a function of the tunable threshold energy 2{nu}. We introduce a characteristic temperature T*(2{nu}) describing the effective crossover in the normal phase from a Fermi gas of atoms to a gas of stable molecules.« less

Dependence of Ion Transport on the Electronegativity of the Constituting Atoms in Ionic Crystals.

PubMed

Zhang, Qian; Kaghazchi, Payam

2017-04-19

Ion transport in electrode and electrolyte materials is a key process in Li-based batteries. In this work, we study the mechanism and activation energy of ion transport (Ea ) in rock-salt Li-based LiX (X=Cl, Br, and I) materials. It is found that Ea at low external voltages, where Li-X Schottky pairs are the most favorable defect types, is about 0.42 times the Gibbs energy of formation of LiX compound (ΔGf ). The value of 0.42 is the slope of the electronegativity of anions of binary Li-based materials as a function of ΔGf . At high voltages, where the Fermi level is located very close to the valence band maximum (VBM), electrons can be excited from the VB to Li vacancy-induced states close to the Fermi level. Under this condition, the formation of Li vacancies that are compensated by holes is energetically more favorable than that of Li-X Schottky pairs, and therefore, the activation energies are lower in the former case. The wide range of reported experimental values of activation energies lies between calculated values at low and high voltage regimes. This work motivates further studies on the relation between the activation energy for ionic conductivity in solid materials and the intrinsic ground-state properties of their free atoms. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Schottky-barrier-free contacts with two-dimensional semiconductors by surface-engineered MXenes

DOE PAGES

Liu, Yuanyue; Xiao, Hai; Goddard, III, William A.

2016-11-22

Two-dimensional (2D) metal carbides and nitrides, called MXenes, have attracted great interest for applications such as energy storage. Here we demonstrate their potential as Schottky-barrier-free metal contacts to 2D semiconductors, providing a solution to the contact-resistance problem in 2D electronics. Based on first principles calculations, we find that the surface chemistry strongly affects the Fermi level of MXenes: O termination always increases the work function with respect to that of bare surface, OH always decreases it, while F exhibits either trend depending on the specific material. This phenomenon originates from the effect of surface dipoles, which together with the weakmore » Fermi level pinning, enable Schottky-barrier-free hole (or electron) injection into 2D semiconductors through van der Waals junctions with some of the O-terminated (or all the OH-terminated) MXenes. Furthermore, we suggest synthetic routes to control the surface terminations based on the calculated formation energies. Finally, this study enhances the understanding of the correlation between surface chemistry and electronic/transport properties of 2D materials, and also gives practical predictions for improving 2D electronics.« less

The BCS-BEC crossover: From ultra-cold Fermi gases to nuclear systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strinati, Giancarlo Calvanese; Pieri, Pierbiagio; Röpke, Gerd; Schuck, Peter; Urban, Michael

2018-04-01

This report addresses topics and questions of common interest in the fields of ultra-cold gases and nuclear physics in the context of the BCS-BEC crossover. By this crossover, the phenomena of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluidity and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), which share the same kind of spontaneous symmetry breaking, are smoothly connected through the progressive reduction of the size of the fermion pairs involved as the fundamental entities in both phenomena. This size ranges, from large values when Cooper pairs are strongly overlapping in the BCS limit of a weak inter-particle attraction, to small values when composite bosons are non-overlapping in the BEC limit of a strong inter-particle attraction, across the intermediate unitarity limit where the size of the pairs is comparable with the average inter-particle distance. The BCS-BEC crossover has recently been realized experimentally, and essentially in all of its aspects, with ultra-cold Fermi gases. This realization, in turn, has raised the interest of the nuclear physics community in the crossover problem, since it represents an unprecedented tool to test fundamental and unanswered questions of nuclear many-body theory. Here, we focus on the several aspects of the BCS-BEC crossover, which are of broad joint interest to both ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter, and which will likely help to solve in the future some open problems in nuclear physics (concerning, for instance, neutron stars). Similarities and differences occurring in ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter will then be emphasized, not only about the relative phenomenologies but also about the theoretical approaches to be used in the two contexts. Common to both contexts is the fact that at zero temperature the BCS-BEC crossover can be described at the mean-field level with reasonable accuracy. At finite temperature, on the other hand, inclusion of pairing fluctuations beyond mean field represents an essential ingredient of the theory, especially in the normal phase where they account for precursor pairing effects. After an introduction to present the key concepts of the BCS-BEC crossover, this report discusses the mean-field treatment of the superfluid phase, both for homogeneous and inhomogeneous systems, as well as for symmetric (spin- or isospin-balanced) and asymmetric (spin- or isospin-imbalanced) matter. Pairing fluctuations in the normal phase are then considered, with their manifestations in thermodynamic and dynamic quantities. The last two Sections provide a more specialized discussion of the BCS-BEC crossover in ultra-cold Fermi gases and nuclear matter, respectively. The separate discussion in the two contexts aims at cross communicating to both communities topics and aspects which, albeit arising in one of the two fields, share a strong common interest.

Contactless electroreflectance study of the Fermi level pinning on GaSb surface in n-type and p-type GaSb Van Hoof structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudrawiec, R.; Nair, H. P.; Latkowska, M.; Misiewicz, J.; Bank, S. R.; Walukiewicz, W.

2012-12-01

Contactless electroreflectance (CER) has been applied to study the Fermi-level position on GaSb surface in n-type and p-type GaSb Van Hoof structures. CER resonances, followed by strong Franz-Keldysh oscillation of various periods, were clearly observed for two series of structures. This period was much wider (i.e., the built-in electric field was much larger) for n-type structures, indicating that the GaSb surface Fermi level pinning position is closer to the valence-band than the conduction-band. From analysis of the built-in electric fields in undoped GaSb layers, it was concluded that on GaSb surface the Fermi-level is located ˜0.2 eV above the valence band.

Response of the Shockley surface state on Cu(111) to an external electrical field: A density-functional theory study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berland, Kristian; Hyldgaard, Per; Einstein, T. L.

2011-03-01

We study the response of the Cu(111) Shockley surface state to an external electrical field E by combining a density-functional theory calculation for a finite slab geometry with an analysis of the Kohn-Sham wavefunctions to obtain a well-converged characterization. We find that the surface state displays isotropic dispersion, quadratic until the Fermi wave vector but with a significant quartic contribution beyond. We find that the shift in band minimum and effective mass depend linearly on E. Most change in electrostatic potential profile, and charge transfer occurs outside the outermost copper atoms, and most of the screening is due to bulk electrons. Our analysis is facilitated by a method used to decouple the Kohn-Sham states due to the finite slab geometry, using a rotation in Hilbert space. We discuss applications to tuning the Fermi wavelength and so the many patterns attributed to metallic surface states. Supported by (KB and PH) Swedish Vetenskapsrådet VR 621-2008-4346 and (TLE) NSF CHE 07-50334 & UMD MRSEC DMR 05-20471.

Multidimensionally constrained relativistic mean-field study of triple-humped barriers in actinides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jie; Lu, Bing-Nan; Vretenar, Dario; Zhao, En-Guang; Zhou, Shan-Gui

2015-01-01

Background: Potential energy surfaces (PES's) of actinide nuclei are characterized by a two-humped barrier structure. At large deformations beyond the second barrier, the occurrence of a third barrier was predicted by macroscopic-microscopic model calculations in the 1970s, but contradictory results were later reported by a number of studies that used different methods. Purpose: Triple-humped barriers in actinide nuclei are investigated in the framework of covariant density functional theory (CDFT). Methods: Calculations are performed using the multidimensionally constrained relativistic mean field (MDC-RMF) model, with the nonlinear point-coupling functional PC-PK1 and the density-dependent meson exchange functional DD-ME2 in the particle-hole channel. Pairing correlations are treated in the BCS approximation with a separable pairing force of finite range. Results: Two-dimensional PES's of 226,228,230,232Th and 232,235,236,238U are mapped and the third minima on these surfaces are located. Then one-dimensional potential energy curves along the fission path are analyzed in detail and the energies of the second barrier, the third minimum, and the third barrier are determined. The functional DD-ME2 predicts the occurrence of a third barrier in all Th nuclei and 238U . The third minima in 230 ,232Th are very shallow, whereas those in 226 ,228Th and 238U are quite prominent. With the functional PC-PK1 a third barrier is found only in 226 ,228 ,230Th . Single-nucleon levels around the Fermi surface are analyzed in 226Th, and it is found that the formation of the third minimum is mainly due to the Z =90 proton energy gap at β20≈1.5 and β30≈0.7 . Conclusions: The possible occurrence of a third barrier on the PES's of actinide nuclei depends on the effective interaction used in multidimensional CDFT calculations. More pronounced minima are predicted by the DD-ME2 functional, as compared to the functional PC-PK1. The depth of the third well in Th isotopes decreases with increasing neutron number. The origin of the third minimum is due to the proton Z =90 shell gap at relevant deformations.

Defect characterization in Mg-doped GaN studied using a monoenergetic positron beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uedono, A.; Ishibashi, S.; Tenjinbayashi, K.; Tsutsui, T.; Nakahara, K.; Takamizu, D.; Chichibu, S. F.

2012-01-01

Vacancy-type defects in Mg-doped GaN grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy were probed using a monoenergetic positron beam. For a sample fabricated with a high H2-flow rate, before post-growth annealing the major defect species detected by positrons was identified as vacancy-clusters. Evidence suggested that other donor-type defects such as nitrogen vacancies also existed. The defects increased the Fermi level position, and enhanced the diffusion of positrons toward the surface. The annihilation of positrons at the top surface was suppressed by Mg-doping. This was attributed to the introduction of a subsurface layer (<6 nm) with a low defect concentration, where the Fermi level position was considered to decrease due to partial activation of Mg. For samples after annealing, the trapping of positrons by residual vacancy-type defects was observed, and the sample crystal quality was found to depend on that before annealing.

Non-equilibrium dynamics of artificial quantum matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babadi, Mehrtash

The rapid progress of the field of ultracold atoms during the past two decades has set new milestones in our control over matter. By cooling dilute atomic gases and molecules to nano-Kelvin temperatures, novel quantum mechanical states of matter can be realized and studied on a table-top experimental setup while bulk matter can be tailored to faithfully simulate abstract theoretical models. Two of such models which have witnessed significant experimental and theoretical attention are (1) the two-component Fermi gas with resonant s-wave interactions, and (2) the single-component Fermi gas with dipole-dipole interactions. This thesis is devoted to studying the non-equilibrium collective dynamics of these systems using the general framework of quantum kinetic theory. We present a concise review of the utilized mathematical methods in the first two chapters, including the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism of non-equilibrium quantum fields, two-particle irreducible (2PI) effective actions and the framework of quantum kinetic theory. We study the collective dynamics of the dipolar Fermi gas in a quasi-two-dimensional optical trap in chapter 3 and provide a detailed account of its dynamical crossover from the collisionless to the hydrodynamical regime. Chapter 4 is devoted to studying the dynamics of the attractive Fermi gas in the normal phase. Starting from the self-consistent T-matrix (pairing fluctuation) approximation, we systematically derive a set of quantum kinetic equations and show that they provide a globally valid description of the dynamics of the attractive Fermi gas, ranging from the weak-coupling Fermi liquid phase to the intermediate non-Fermi liquid pairing pseudogap regime and finally the strong-coupling Bose liquid phase. The shortcomings of the self-consistent T-matrix approximation in two spatial dimensions are discussed along with a proposal to overcome its unphysical behaviors. The developed kinetic formalism is finally utilized to reproduce and interpret the findings of a recent experiment done on the collective dynamics of trapped two-dimensional ultracold gases.

Distinct evolutions of Weyl fermion quasiparticles and Fermi arcs with bulk band topology in Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Nan; Autes, Gabriel; Matt, Christian; Lv, Baiqing; Bisti, Federico; Strocov, Vladimir; Gawryluk, Dariusz; Pomjakushina, Ekaterina; Conder, Kazimierz; Plumb, Nicholas; Radovic, Milan; Qian, Tian; Yazyev, Oleg; Mesot, Joel; Ding, Hong; Shi, Ming

By performing ARPES and first-principle calculations, we demonstrate that Weyl fermions quasiparticles in bulk and Fermi arc on surface show distinct evolutions with the bulk band topology in transition-metal monophosphides. While Weyl fermion quasiparticles exist only when the chemical potential is located between two saddle points of the Weyl cone features, the Fermi arc states extend in a larger energy scale and are robust across the bulk Lifshitz transitions associated with the recombination of two non-trivial Fermi surfaces enclosing one Weyl point into a single trivial Fermi surface enclosing two Weyl points of opposite chirality. Therefore, in some systems (NbP), Fermi arc states are preserved even if Weyl fermion quasiparticles are absent in the bulk. Our findings not only provide insight into the relationship between the exotic physical phenomena and the intrinsic bulk band topology in Weyl semimetals, but also resolve the apparent puzzle of the different magneto-transport properties observed in TaAs, TaP and NbP, where the Fermi arc states are similar. The Sino-Swiss Science and Technology Cooperation (No. IZLCZ2138954), NCCR-MARVEL funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Surface-state depopulation on small Ag(111) terraces.

PubMed

Morgenstern, Karina; Braun, Kai-Felix; Rieder, Karl-Heinz

2002-11-25

The dependence of the local density of states near the Fermi energy E(F) on the width of terraces T is investigated by tunneling scanning spectroscopy on Ag(111) at 7 K. With decreasing T, the electronic density in the occupied surface state shifts monotonically towards E(F), leading to a depopulation at T=3.2 nm in quantitative agreement with a Fabry-Pérot model. Depopulation coincides with a switch from confinement by terrace modulation to step modulation.

High Magnetic Field Properties of Ce2Rh3Ge5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wartenbe, Mark

2015-03-01

The competition between localized and delocalized f electrons in heavy fermion materials produces a wide variety of interesting physical phenomena. Among these compounds is Ce2Rh3Ge5. This heavy-fermion system undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition below 4K and exhibits an angle dependent magnetic phase transition around 25 tesla. In addition, RF conductivity measurements in pulsed field (65T) have revealed quantum oscillations. Temperature dependence at fixed angle indicates relatively heavy effective masses of values ranging from around 3me on up to 10me. This indicates that the narrow f-electron density of states is partially hybridized close to the Fermi energy, but also places strict cryogenic constraints upon the measurement (3Helium temperatures are required). Fermi surface calculations have produced complex figures which lend validation to such rich behavior. Ryan Baumbach, Andrew Gallagher, Eric Bauer, Ross McDonald, Kuan-Wen Chen,David Graf.

Three-Dimensional Majorana Fermions in Chiral Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozii, Vladyslav; Venderbos, Jorn; Fu, Liang

Through a systematic symmetry and topology analysis we establish that three-dimensional chiral superconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling and odd-parity pairing generically host low-energy nodal quasiparticles that are spin-non-degenerate and realize Majorana fermions in three dimensions. By examining all types of chiral Cooper pairs with total angular momentum J formed by Bloch electrons with angular momentum j in crystals, we obtain a comprehensive classification of gapless Majorana quasiparticles in terms of energy-momentum relation and location on the Fermi surface. We show that the existence of bulk Majorana fermions in the vicinity of spin-selective point nodes is rooted in the non-unitary nature of chiral pairing in spin-orbit-coupled superconductors. We address experimental signatures of Majorana fermions, and find that the nuclear magnetic resonance spin relaxation rate is significantly suppressed for nuclear spins polarized along the nodal direction as a consequence of the spin-selective Majorana nature of nodal quasiparticles. Furthermore, Majorana nodes in the bulk have nontrivial topology and imply the presence of Majorana bound states on the surface that form arcs in momentum space. This work is supported by DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering under Award de-sc0010526 (LF and VK), and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) through a Rubicon Grant (JV).

Three-dimensional Majorana fermions in chiral superconductors

DOE PAGES

Kozii, Vladyslav; Venderbos, Jorn W. F.; Fu, Liang

2016-12-07

Using a systematic symmetry and topology analysis, we establish that three-dimensional chiral superconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling and odd-parity pairing generically host low-energy nodal quasiparticles that are spin-nondegenerate and realize Majorana fermions in three dimensions. By examining all types of chiral Cooper pairs with total angular momentum J formed by Bloch electrons with angular momentum j in crystals, we obtain a comprehensive classification of gapless Majorana quasiparticles in terms of energy-momentum relation and location on the Fermi surface. We show that the existence of bulk Majorana fermions in the vicinity of spin-selective point nodes is rooted in the nonunitary naturemore » of chiral pairing in spin-orbit–coupled superconductors. We address experimental signatures of Majorana fermions and find that the nuclear magnetic resonance spin relaxation rate is significantly suppressed for nuclear spins polarized along the nodal direction as a consequence of the spin-selective Majorana nature of nodal quasiparticles. Furthermore, Majorana nodes in the bulk have nontrivial topology and imply the presence of Majorana bound states on the surface, which form arcs in momentum space. We conclude by proposing the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs 4Sb 12 and related materials as promising candidates for nonunitary chiral superconductors hosting three-dimensional Majorana fermions.« less

Three-dimensional Majorana fermions in chiral superconductors.

PubMed

Kozii, Vladyslav; Venderbos, Jörn W F; Fu, Liang

2016-12-01

Using a systematic symmetry and topology analysis, we establish that three-dimensional chiral superconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling and odd-parity pairing generically host low-energy nodal quasiparticles that are spin-nondegenerate and realize Majorana fermions in three dimensions. By examining all types of chiral Cooper pairs with total angular momentum J formed by Bloch electrons with angular momentum j in crystals, we obtain a comprehensive classification of gapless Majorana quasiparticles in terms of energy-momentum relation and location on the Fermi surface. We show that the existence of bulk Majorana fermions in the vicinity of spin-selective point nodes is rooted in the nonunitary nature of chiral pairing in spin-orbit-coupled superconductors. We address experimental signatures of Majorana fermions and find that the nuclear magnetic resonance spin relaxation rate is significantly suppressed for nuclear spins polarized along the nodal direction as a consequence of the spin-selective Majorana nature of nodal quasiparticles. Furthermore, Majorana nodes in the bulk have nontrivial topology and imply the presence of Majorana bound states on the surface, which form arcs in momentum space. We conclude by proposing the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs 4 Sb 12 and related materials as promising candidates for nonunitary chiral superconductors hosting three-dimensional Majorana fermions.

Three-dimensional Majorana fermions in chiral superconductors

PubMed Central

Kozii, Vladyslav; Venderbos, Jörn W. F.; Fu, Liang

2016-01-01

Using a systematic symmetry and topology analysis, we establish that three-dimensional chiral superconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling and odd-parity pairing generically host low-energy nodal quasiparticles that are spin-nondegenerate and realize Majorana fermions in three dimensions. By examining all types of chiral Cooper pairs with total angular momentum J formed by Bloch electrons with angular momentum j in crystals, we obtain a comprehensive classification of gapless Majorana quasiparticles in terms of energy-momentum relation and location on the Fermi surface. We show that the existence of bulk Majorana fermions in the vicinity of spin-selective point nodes is rooted in the nonunitary nature of chiral pairing in spin-orbit–coupled superconductors. We address experimental signatures of Majorana fermions and find that the nuclear magnetic resonance spin relaxation rate is significantly suppressed for nuclear spins polarized along the nodal direction as a consequence of the spin-selective Majorana nature of nodal quasiparticles. Furthermore, Majorana nodes in the bulk have nontrivial topology and imply the presence of Majorana bound states on the surface, which form arcs in momentum space. We conclude by proposing the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12 and related materials as promising candidates for nonunitary chiral superconductors hosting three-dimensional Majorana fermions. PMID:27957543

Short-period oscillations in photoemission from thin films of Cr(100)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vyalikh, Denis V.; Zahn, Peter; Richter, Manuel; Dedkov, Yu. S.; Molodtsov, S. L.

2005-07-01

Angle-resolved photoemission (PE) study of thin films of Cr grown on Fe(100) reveals thickness-dependent short-period oscillations of the PE intensity close to the Fermi energy at k‖˜0 . The oscillations are assigned to quantum-well states (QWS) caused by the nesting between the Fermi-surface sheets around the Γ and the X points in the Brillouin zone of antiferromagnetic Cr. The experimental data are confirmed by density-functional calculations applying a screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green’s function method. The period of the experimentally observed QWS oscillations amounts to about 2.6 monolayers and is larger than the fundamental 2-monolayer period of antiferromagnetic coupling in Cr.

Dual origin of pairing in nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Idini, A.; Potel, G.; Barranco, F.

The pairing correlations of the nucleus {sup 120}Sn are calculated by solving the Nambu–Gor’kov equations, including medium polarization effects resulting from the interweaving of quasiparticles, spin and density vibrations, taking into account, within the framework of nuclear field theory (NFT), processes leading to self-energy and vertex corrections and to the induced pairing interaction. From these results one can not only demonstrate the inevitability of the dual origin of pairing in nuclei, but also extract information which can be used at profit to quantitatively disentangle the contributions to the pairing gap Δ arising from the bare and from the induced pairingmore » interaction. The first is the strong {sup 1}S{sub 0} short-range NN potential resulting from meson exchange between nucleons moving in time reversal states within an energy range of hundreds of MeV from the Fermi energy. The second results from the exchange of vibrational modes between nucleons moving within few MeV from the Fermi energy. Short- (v{sub p}{sup bare}) and long-range (v{sub p}{sup ind}) pairing interactions contribute essentially equally to nuclear Cooper pair stability. That is to the breaking of gauge invariance in open-shell superfluid nuclei and thus to the order parameter, namely to the ground state expectation value of the pair creation operator. In other words, to the emergent property of generalized rigidity in gauge space, and associated rotational bands and Cooper pair tunneling between members of these bands.« less

Spin-triplet superconductivity in a weak-coupling Hubbard model for the quasi-one-dimensional compound Li0.9Mo6O17

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Weejee; Platt, Christian; McKenzie, Ross H.; Raghu, Srinivas

2015-10-01

The purple bronze Li0.9Mo6O17 is of interest due to its quasi-one-dimensional electronic structure and the possible Luttinger liquid behavior resulting from it. For sufficiently low temperatures, it is a superconductor with a pairing symmetry that is still to be determined. To shed light on this issue, we analyze a minimal Hubbard model for this material involving four molybdenum orbitals per unit cell near quarter filling, using asymptotically exact perturbative renormalization group methods. We find that spin-triplet odd-parity superconductivity is the dominant instability. Approximate nesting properties of the two quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surfaces enhance certain second-order processes, which play crucial roles in determining the structure of the pairing gap. Notably, we find that the gap has more sign changes than required by the point-group symmetry.

Spin triplet superconductivity in a weak-coupling Hubbard model for the quasi-one-dimensional compound Li0.9 Mo6 O17

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Platt, Christian; Cho, Weejee; McKenzie, Ross H.; Raghu, Sri

The purple bronze Li0.9Mo6O17 is of interest due to its quasi-one-dimensional electronic structure and the possible Luttinger liquid behavior resulting from it. For sufficiently low temperatures, it is a superconductor with a pairing symmetry that is still to be determined. To shed light on this issue, we analyze a minimal Hubbard model for this material involving four Molybdenum orbitals per unit cell near quarter filling, using asymptotically exact perturbative renormalization group methods. We find that spin triplet odd-parity superconductivity is the dominant instability. Approximate nesting properties of the two quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surfaces enhance certain second-order processes, which play crucial roles in determining the structure of the pairing gap. Notably, we find that the gap has accidental nodes, i.e. it has more sign changes than required by the point-group symmetry.

Fermi-surface topologies and low-temperature phases of the filled skutterudite compounds CeOs 4 Sb 12 and NdOs 4 Sb 12

DOE PAGES

Ho, Pei Chun; Singleton, John; Goddard, Paul A.; ...

2016-11-28

We use MHz conductivity, torque magnetometer, and magnetization measurements to report on single crystals of CeOs 4 Sb 12 and NdOs 4 Sb 12 using temperatures down to 0.5 K and magnetic fields of up to 60 tesla. The field-orientation dependence of the de Haas-van Alphen and Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations is deduced by rotating the samples about the [ 010 ] and [ 0more » $$\\bar{1}$$ 1 1 ] directions. Our results indicate that NdOs 4 Sb 12 has a similar Fermi surface topology to that of the unusual superconductor PrOs 4 Sb 12 , but with significantly smaller effective masses, supporting the importance of local phonon modes in contributing to the low-temperature heat capacity of NdOs 4 Sb 12 . By contrast, CeOs 4 Sb 12 undergoes a field-induced transition from an unusual semimetal into a high-field, high-temperature state characterized by a single, almost spherical Fermi-surface section. Furthermore, the behavior of the phase boundary and comparisons with models of the band structure lead us to propose that the field-induced phase transition in CeOs 4 Sb 12 is similar in origin to the well-known α - γ transition in Ce and its alloys.« less

Observation of two-dimensional Fermi surface and Dirac dispersion in the new material YbMnSb2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kealhofer, Robert; Jang, Sooyoung; Griffin, Sinead; John, Caolan; Doyle, Spencer; Neaton, Jeffrey; Analytis, James G.; Denlinger, J. D.; Benavides, Katherine; Chan, Julia

We present the synthesis, crystal structure, electronic structure, and transport properties of the new material YbMnSb2. Our measurements reveal that this system is a low-carrier-density semimetal with a 2D Fermi surface arising from a 3D Dirac dispersion. This Fermi surface is consistent with the predictions of antiferromagnetic density functional theory calculations and the Fermi surface observed via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The quantitative agreement between these measurements and calculations indicates that YbMnSb2 may be a new topological semimetal in the presence of magnetic order. R. K. is supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE-1106400. C. J., J. G. A., and much of this work received support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Grant No. GBMF4374.

Breakdown of the Migdal approximation at Lifshitz transitions with giant zero-point motion in the H3S superconductor.

PubMed

Jarlborg, Thomas; Bianconi, Antonio

2016-04-20

While 203 K high temperature superconductivity in H3S has been interpreted by BCS theory in the dirty limit here we focus on the effects of hydrogen zero-point-motion and the multiband electronic structure relevant for multigap superconductivity near Lifshitz transitions. We describe how the topology of the Fermi surfaces evolves with pressure giving different Lifshitz-transitions. A neck-disrupting Lifshitz-transition (type 2) occurs where the van Hove singularity, vHs, crosses the chemical potential at 210 GPa and new small 2D Fermi surface portions appear with slow Fermi velocity where the Migdal-approximation becomes questionable. We show that the neglected hydrogen zero-point motion ZPM, plays a key role at Lifshitz transitions. It induces an energy shift of about 600 meV of the vHs. The other Lifshitz-transition (of type 1) for the appearing of a new Fermi surface occurs at 130 GPa where new Fermi surfaces appear at the Γ point of the Brillouin zone here the Migdal-approximation breaks down and the zero-point-motion induces large fluctuations. The maximum Tc = 203 K occurs at 160 GPa where EF/ω0 = 1 in the small Fermi surface pocket at Γ. A Feshbach-like resonance between a possible BEC-BCS condensate at Γ and the BCS condensate in different k-space spots is proposed.

Reduction of Fermi level pinning and recombination at polycrystalline CdTe surfaces by laser irradiation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simonds, Brian J.; Kheraj, Vipul; Department of Applied Physics, S. V. National Institute of Technology, Surat 395 007

2015-06-14

Laser processing of polycrystalline CdTe is a promising approach that could potentially increase module manufacturing throughput while reducing capital expenditure costs. For these benefits to be realized, the basic effects of laser irradiation on CdTe must be ascertained. In this study, we utilize surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) to investigate the changes to the electronic properties of the surface of polycrystalline CdTe solar cell stacks induced by continuous-wave laser annealing. The experimental data explained within a model consisting of two space charge regions, one at the CdTe/air interface and one at the CdTe/CdS junction, are used to interpret our SPS results.more » The frequency dependence and phase spectra of the SPS signal are also discussed. To support the SPS findings, low-temperature spectrally-resolved photoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence were also measured. The data show that a modest laser treatment of 250 W/cm{sup 2} with a dwell time of 20 s is sufficient to reduce the effects of Fermi level pinning at the surface due to surface defects.« less

Fully gapped superconductivity with no sign change in the prototypical heavy-fermion CeCu2Si2.

PubMed

Yamashita, Takuya; Takenaka, Takaaki; Tokiwa, Yoshifumi; Wilcox, Joseph A; Mizukami, Yuta; Terazawa, Daiki; Kasahara, Yuichi; Kittaka, Shunichiro; Sakakibara, Toshiro; Konczykowski, Marcin; Seiro, Silvia; Jeevan, Hirale S; Geibel, Christoph; Putzke, Carsten; Onishi, Takafumi; Ikeda, Hiroaki; Carrington, Antony; Shibauchi, Takasada; Matsuda, Yuji

2017-06-01

In exotic superconductors, including high- T c copper oxides, the interactions mediating electron Cooper pairing are widely considered to have a magnetic rather than a conventional electron-phonon origin. Interest in this exotic pairing was initiated by the 1979 discovery of heavy-fermion superconductivity in CeCu 2 Si 2 , which exhibits strong antiferromagnetic fluctuations. A hallmark of unconventional pairing by anisotropic repulsive interactions is that the superconducting energy gap changes sign as a function of the electron momentum, often leading to nodes where the gap goes to zero. We report low-temperature specific heat, thermal conductivity, and magnetic penetration depth measurements in CeCu 2 Si 2 , demonstrating the absence of gap nodes at any point on the Fermi surface. Moreover, electron irradiation experiments reveal that the superconductivity survives even when the electron mean free path becomes substantially shorter than the superconducting coherence length. This indicates that superconductivity is robust against impurities, implying that there is no sign change in the gap function. These results show that, contrary to long-standing belief, heavy electrons with extremely strong Coulomb repulsions can condense into a fully gapped s-wave superconducting state, which has an on-site attractive pairing interaction.

Fermi surfaces, spin-mixing parameter, and colossal anisotropy of spin relaxation in transition metals from ab initio theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmermann, Bernd; Mavropoulos, Phivos; Long, Nguyen H.; Gerhorst, Christian-Roman; Blügel, Stefan; Mokrousov, Yuriy

2016-04-01

The Fermi surfaces and Elliott-Yafet spin-mixing parameter (EYP) of several elemental metals are studied by ab initio calculations. We focus first on the anisotropy of the EYP as a function of the direction of the spin-quantization axis [B. Zimmermann et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 236603 (2012), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.236603]. We analyze in detail the origin of the gigantic anisotropy in 5 d hcp metals as compared to 5 d cubic metals by band structure calculations and discuss the stability of our results against an applied magnetic field. We further present calculations of light (4 d and 3 d ) hcp crystals, where we find a huge increase of the EYP anisotropy, reaching colossal values as large as 6000 % in hcp Ti. We attribute these findings to the reduced strength of spin-orbit coupling, which promotes the anisotropic spin-flip hot loops at the Fermi surface. In order to conduct these investigations, we developed an adapted tetrahedron-based method for the precise calculation of Fermi surfaces of complicated shape and accurate Fermi-surface integrals within the full-potential relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green function method.

Pseudogap and Fermi-Surface Topology in the Two-Dimensional Hubbard Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Wei; Scheurer, Mathias S.; Chatterjee, Shubhayu; Sachdev, Subir; Georges, Antoine; Ferrero, Michel

2018-04-01

One of the distinctive features of hole-doped cuprate superconductors is the onset of a "pseudogap" below a temperature T* . Recent experiments suggest that there may be a connection between the existence of the pseudogap and the topology of the Fermi surface. Here, we address this issue by studying the two-dimensional Hubbard model with two distinct numerical methods. We find that the pseudogap only exists when the Fermi surface is holelike and that, for a broad range of parameters, its opening is concomitant with a Fermi-surface topology change from electronlike to holelike. We identify a common link between these observations: The polelike feature of the electronic self-energy associated with the formation of the pseudogap is found to also control the degree of particle-hole asymmetry, and hence the Fermi-surface topology transition. We interpret our results in the framework of an SU(2) gauge theory of fluctuating antiferromagnetism. We show that a mean-field treatment of this theory in a metallic state with U(1) topological order provides an explanation of this polelike feature and a good description of our numerical results. We discuss the relevance of our results to experiments on cuprates.

Recent Developments in Non-Fermi Liquid Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Sung-Sik

2018-03-01

Non-Fermi liquids are unconventional metals whose physical properties deviate qualitatively from those of noninteracting fermions due to strong quantum fluctuations near Fermi surfaces. They arise when metals are subject to singular interactions mediated by soft collective modes. In the absence of well-defined quasiparticles, universal physics of non-Fermi liquids is captured by interacting field theories which replace Landau Fermi liquid theory. However, it has been difficult to understand their universal low-energy physics due to a lack of theoretical methods that take into account strong quantum fluctuations in the presence of abundant low-energy degrees of freedom. In this review, we discuss two approaches that have been recently developed for non-Fermi liquid theory with emphasis on two space dimensions. The first is a perturbative scheme based on a dimensional regularization, which achieves a controlled access to the low-energy physics by tuning the codimension of Fermi surface. The second is a nonperturbative approach which treats the interaction ahead of the kinetic term through a non-Gaussian scaling called interaction-driven scaling. Examples of strongly coupled non-Fermi liquids amenable to exact treatments through the interaction-driven scaling are discussed.

Parity-violating hybridization in heavy Weyl semimetals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Po-Yao; Coleman, Piers

2018-04-01

We introduce a simple model to describe the formation of heavy Weyl semimetals in noncentrosymmetric heavy fermion compounds under the influence of a parity-mixing, onsite hybridization. A key aspect of interaction-driven heavy Weyl semimetals is the development of surface Kondo breakdown, which is expected to give rise to a temperature-dependent reconfiguration of the Fermi arcs and the Weyl cyclotron orbits which connect them via the chiral bulk states. Our theory predicts a strong temperature-dependent transformation in the quantum oscillations at low temperatures. In addition to the effects of surface Kondo breakdown, the renormalization effects in heavy Weyl semimetals will appear in a variety of thermodynamic and transport measurements.

First-principles study of electronic structure and Fermi surface in semimetallic YAs

DOE PAGES

Swatek, Przemys?aw Wojciech

2018-03-23

In the course of searching for new systems, which exhibit nonsaturating and extremely large positive magnetoresistance, electronic structure, Fermi surface, and de Haas-van Alphen characteristics of the semimetallic YAs compound were studied using the all-electron full-potential linearized augmented-plane wave (FP–LAPW) approach in the framework of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). In the scalar-relativistic calculation, the cubic symmetry splits fivefold degenerate Y- d orbital into low-energy threefold-degenerate and twofold degenerate doublet states at point around the Fermi energy. Furthermore one of them, together with the threefold degenerate character of As-p orbital, render the YAs semimetal with a topologically trivial band ordermore » and fairly low density of states at the Fermi level. Including spin–orbit (SO) coupling into the calculation leads to pronounced splitting of the state and shifting the bands in the energy scale. Consequently, the determined four different 3-dimensional Fermi surface sheets of YAs consists of three concentric hole-like bands at and one ellipsoidal electron-like sheet centred at the X points. In full accordance with the previous first-principles calculations for isostructural YSb and YBi, the calculated Fermi surface of YAs originates from fairly compensated multi-band electronic structures.« less

First-principles study of electronic structure and Fermi surface in semimetallic YAs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swatek, Przemys?aw Wojciech

In the course of searching for new systems, which exhibit nonsaturating and extremely large positive magnetoresistance, electronic structure, Fermi surface, and de Haas-van Alphen characteristics of the semimetallic YAs compound were studied using the all-electron full-potential linearized augmented-plane wave (FP–LAPW) approach in the framework of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). In the scalar-relativistic calculation, the cubic symmetry splits fivefold degenerate Y- d orbital into low-energy threefold-degenerate and twofold degenerate doublet states at point around the Fermi energy. Furthermore one of them, together with the threefold degenerate character of As-p orbital, render the YAs semimetal with a topologically trivial band ordermore » and fairly low density of states at the Fermi level. Including spin–orbit (SO) coupling into the calculation leads to pronounced splitting of the state and shifting the bands in the energy scale. Consequently, the determined four different 3-dimensional Fermi surface sheets of YAs consists of three concentric hole-like bands at and one ellipsoidal electron-like sheet centred at the X points. In full accordance with the previous first-principles calculations for isostructural YSb and YBi, the calculated Fermi surface of YAs originates from fairly compensated multi-band electronic structures.« less

Relativistic Thomas-Fermi treatment of compressed atoms and compressed nuclear matter cores of stellar dimensions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rotondo, M.; Rueda, Jorge A.; Xue, S.-S.

The Feynman-Metropolis-Teller treatment of compressed atoms is extended to the relativistic regimes. Each atomic configuration is confined by a Wigner-Seitz cell and is characterized by a positive electron Fermi energy. The nonrelativistic treatment assumes a pointlike nucleus and infinite values of the electron Fermi energy can be attained. In the relativistic treatment there exists a limiting configuration, reached when the Wigner-Seitz cell radius equals the radius of the nucleus, with a maximum value of the electron Fermi energy (E{sub e}{sup F}){sub max}, here expressed analytically in the ultrarelativistic approximation. The corrections given by the relativistic Thomas-Fermi-Dirac exchange term are alsomore » evaluated and shown to be generally small and negligible in the relativistic high-density regime. The dependence of the relativistic electron Fermi energies by compression for selected nuclei are compared and contrasted to the nonrelativistic ones and to the ones obtained in the uniform approximation. The relativistic Feynman-Metropolis-Teller approach here presented overcomes some difficulties in the Salpeter approximation generally adopted for compressed matter in physics and astrophysics. The treatment is then extrapolated to compressed nuclear matter cores of stellar dimensions with A{approx_equal}(m{sub Planck}/m{sub n}){sup 3}{approx}10{sup 57} or M{sub core}{approx}M{sub {circle_dot}}. A new family of equilibrium configurations exists for selected values of the electron Fermi energy varying in the range 0

Hunting for treasures among the Fermi unassociated sources: A multiwavelength approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Acero, F.; Ojha, R.; Donato, D.

2013-12-20

The Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope has been detecting a wealth of sources where the multiwavelength counterpart is either inconclusive or missing altogether. We present a combination of factors that can be used to identify multiwavelength counterparts to these Fermi unassociated sources. This approach was used to select and investigate seven bright, high-latitude unassociated sources with radio, UV, X-ray, and γ-ray observations. As a result, four of these sources are candidates to be active galactic nuclei, and one to be a pulsar, while two do not fit easily into these known categories of sources. The latter pair of extraordinary sources mightmore » reveal a new category subclass or a new type of γ-ray emitter. These results altogether demonstrate the power of a multiwavelength approach to illuminate the nature of unassociated Fermi sources.« less

Optical Asymmetry and Nonlinear Light Scattering from Colloidal Gold Nanorods.

PubMed

Lien, Miao-Bin; Kim, Ji-Young; Han, Myung-Geun; Chang, You-Chia; Chang, Yu-Chung; Ferguson, Heather J; Zhu, Yimei; Herzing, Andrew A; Schotland, John C; Kotov, Nicholas A; Norris, Theodore B

2017-06-27

A systematic study is presented of the intensity-dependent nonlinear light scattering spectra of gold nanorods under resonant excitation of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The spectra exhibit features due to coherent second and third harmonic generation as well as a broadband feature that has been previously attributed to multiphoton photoluminescence arising primarily from interband optical transitions in the gold. A detailed study of the spectral dependence of the scaling of the scattered light with excitation intensity shows unexpected scaling behavior of the coherent signals, which is quantitatively accounted for by optically induced damping of the SPR mode through a Fermi liquid model of the electronic scattering. The broadband feature is shown to arise not from luminescence, but from scattering of the second-order longitudinal SPR mode with the electron gas, where efficient excitation of the second order mode arises from an optical asymmetry of the nanorod. The electronic-temperature-dependent plasmon damping and the Fermi-Dirac distribution together determine the intensity dependence of the broadband emission, and the structure-dependent absorption spectrum determines the spectral shape through the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. Hence a complete self-consistent picture of both coherent and incoherent light scattering is obtained with a single set of physical parameters.

High-resolution Compton scattering study of the electron momentum density in Al

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohata, T.; Itou, M.; Matsumoto, I.; Sakurai, Y.; Kawata, H.; Shiotani, N.; Kaprzyk, S.; Mijnarends, P. E.; Bansil, A.

2000-12-01

We report high-resolution Compton profiles (CP's) of Al along the three principal symmetry directions at a photon energy of 59.38 keV, together with corresponding highly accurate theoretical profiles obtained within the local-density approximation (LDA) based band-theory framework. A good accord between theory and experiment is found with respect to the overall shapes of the CP's and their first and second derivatives, as well as the anisotropies in the CP's defined as differences between pairs of various CP's. There are, however, discrepancies in that, in comparison to the LDA predictions, the measured profiles are lower at low momenta, show a Fermi cutoff that is broader, and display a tail that is higher at momenta above the Fermi momentum. A number of simple model calculations are carried out in order to gain insight into the nature of the underlying 3D momentum density in Al and the role of the Fermi surface in inducing fine structure in the CP's. The present results when compared with those on Li show clearly that the size of discrepancies between theoretical and experimental CP's is markedly smaller in Al than in Li. This indicates that, with increasing electron density, the conventional picture of the electron gas becomes more representative of the momentum density and that shortcomings of the LDA framework in describing the electron correlation effects become less important.

Unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle graphene superlattices.

PubMed

Cao, Yuan; Fatemi, Valla; Fang, Shiang; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Kaxiras, Efthimios; Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo

2018-04-05

The behaviour of strongly correlated materials, and in particular unconventional superconductors, has been studied extensively for decades, but is still not well understood. This lack of theoretical understanding has motivated the development of experimental techniques for studying such behaviour, such as using ultracold atom lattices to simulate quantum materials. Here we report the realization of intrinsic unconventional superconductivity-which cannot be explained by weak electron-phonon interactions-in a two-dimensional superlattice created by stacking two sheets of graphene that are twisted relative to each other by a small angle. For twist angles of about 1.1°-the first 'magic' angle-the electronic band structure of this 'twisted bilayer graphene' exhibits flat bands near zero Fermi energy, resulting in correlated insulating states at half-filling. Upon electrostatic doping of the material away from these correlated insulating states, we observe tunable zero-resistance states with a critical temperature of up to 1.7 kelvin. The temperature-carrier-density phase diagram of twisted bilayer graphene is similar to that of copper oxides (or cuprates), and includes dome-shaped regions that correspond to superconductivity. Moreover, quantum oscillations in the longitudinal resistance of the material indicate the presence of small Fermi surfaces near the correlated insulating states, in analogy with underdoped cuprates. The relatively high superconducting critical temperature of twisted bilayer graphene, given such a small Fermi surface (which corresponds to a carrier density of about 10 11 per square centimetre), puts it among the superconductors with the strongest pairing strength between electrons. Twisted bilayer graphene is a precisely tunable, purely carbon-based, two-dimensional superconductor. It is therefore an ideal material for investigations of strongly correlated phenomena, which could lead to insights into the physics of high-critical-temperature superconductors and quantum spin liquids.

Unconventional superconductivity in magic-angle graphene superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Yuan; Fatemi, Valla; Fang, Shiang; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Kaxiras, Efthimios; Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo

2018-04-01

The behaviour of strongly correlated materials, and in particular unconventional superconductors, has been studied extensively for decades, but is still not well understood. This lack of theoretical understanding has motivated the development of experimental techniques for studying such behaviour, such as using ultracold atom lattices to simulate quantum materials. Here we report the realization of intrinsic unconventional superconductivity—which cannot be explained by weak electron–phonon interactions—in a two-dimensional superlattice created by stacking two sheets of graphene that are twisted relative to each other by a small angle. For twist angles of about 1.1°—the first ‘magic’ angle—the electronic band structure of this ‘twisted bilayer graphene’ exhibits flat bands near zero Fermi energy, resulting in correlated insulating states at half-filling. Upon electrostatic doping of the material away from these correlated insulating states, we observe tunable zero-resistance states with a critical temperature of up to 1.7 kelvin. The temperature–carrier-density phase diagram of twisted bilayer graphene is similar to that of copper oxides (or cuprates), and includes dome-shaped regions that correspond to superconductivity. Moreover, quantum oscillations in the longitudinal resistance of the material indicate the presence of small Fermi surfaces near the correlated insulating states, in analogy with underdoped cuprates. The relatively high superconducting critical temperature of twisted bilayer graphene, given such a small Fermi surface (which corresponds to a carrier density of about 1011 per square centimetre), puts it among the superconductors with the strongest pairing strength between electrons. Twisted bilayer graphene is a precisely tunable, purely carbon-based, two-dimensional superconductor. It is therefore an ideal material for investigations of strongly correlated phenomena, which could lead to insights into the physics of high-critical-temperature superconductors and quantum spin liquids.

Orbital-selective pairing and superconductivity in iron selenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nica, Emilian M.; Yu, Rong; Si, Qimiao

2017-12-01

An important challenge in condensed matter physics is understanding iron-based superconductors. Among these systems, the iron selenides hold the record for highest superconducting transition temperature and pose especially striking puzzles regarding the nature of superconductivity. The pairing state of the alkaline iron selenides appears to be of d-wave type based on the observation of a resonance mode in neutron scattering, while it seems to be of s-wave type from the nodeless gaps observed everywhere on the Fermi surface. Here we propose an orbital-selective pairing state, dubbed sτ3, as a natural explanation of these disparate properties. The pairing function, containing a matrix τ3 in the basis of 3d-electron orbitals, does not commute with the kinetic part of the Hamiltonian. This dictates the existence of both intraband and interband pairing terms in the band basis. A spin resonance arises from a d-wave-type sign change in the intraband pairing component, whereas the quasiparticle excitation is fully gapped on the FS due to an s-wave-like form factor associated with the addition in quadrature of the intraband and interband pairing terms. We demonstrate that this pairing state is energetically favored when the electron correlation effects are orbitally selective. More generally, our results illustrate how the multiband nature of correlated electrons affords unusual types of superconducting states, thereby shedding new light not only on the iron-based materials but also on a broad range of other unconventional superconductors such as heavy fermion and organic systems.

Electronic and Structural Studies of Intercalated Graphite and Buckminsterfullerene.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelty, Stephen Paul

Under the direction of Prof. C. M. Lieber, the surface electronic and structural properties of binary MC_{rm x} and ternary rm MM^' C_{x } donor graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) were investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and other surface sensitive techniques. The STM images revealed previously unobserved superstructures in the local density of states contours. These new superstructures include a commensurate 4.9 A periodicity (MC_8, where M = Li, K, Rb, Cs, KHg, rm K_2Hg_2 and rm K_2Tl _3). This superstructure has been interpreted as a modulation of the surface density of states due to the underlying commensurate intercalate lattice. Other GICs exhibit longer wavelength incommensurate superstructures, including: 19 A rm (KH_{0.8}C _8), 12 A rm (KH_{0.8 }C_4), 8.9 A rm (KHgC _4) and 7.5 A rm (KTl_ {1.5}C_8) periodicities. The direct -space wavelength of these incommensurate superstructures was found to scale inversely with the amount of charge transferred from the intercalate to the graphite layers. Such a correlation is consistent with the wavelength dependence on Fermi surface expansion of a charge density wave (CDW) state. STM investigations of adsorbed films of colloidal BiI_3, prepared by a solution-phase method, revealed the presence of mono-disperse 10-50 A single-layer particles with atomic resolution. This investigation demonstrated both the validity of the preparative method for the BiI_3 particles and the capability of the STM to atomically resolve small semiconducting particles. The structural and superconducting properties of alkali metal intercalated Buckminsterfullerene (C _{60}) were also investigated. A new preparatory method was developed using heavy metal alloys instead of pure alkali metal. Using these alloys, it was discovered that high superconducting fraction intercalation compounds could be prepared under milder conditions than by using the pure alkali metal. In addition, intercalation of Hg, Tl and Bi alloys of Cs was found to form a superconducting phase which has never been prepared by direct intercalation of Cs metal. Finally, other investigators have empirically derived a linear dependence of T_{ rm c} on lattice constant for intercalated C_{60}. This dependence has been used to model the electron pairing mechanism for the superconducting state. Investigations presented herein indicate that for lattice constants greater than 14.5 A, no further increases in T_{rm c} are observed. This finding places constraints on the above mentioned electron pairing models.

Discovery of Weyl Fermion Semimetals and Topological Fermi Arc States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, M. Zahid; Xu, Su-Yang; Belopolski, Ilya; Huang, Shin-Ming

2017-03-01

Weyl semimetals are conductors whose low-energy bulk excitations are Weyl fermions, whereas their surfaces possess metallic Fermi arc surface states. These Fermi arc surface states are protected by a topological invariant associated with the bulk electronic wave functions of the material. Recently, it has been shown that the TaAs and NbAs classes of materials harbor such a state of topological matter. We review the basic phenomena and experimental history of the discovery of the first Weyl semimetals, starting with the observation of topological Fermi arcs and Weyl nodes in TaAs and NbAs by angle and spin-resolved surface and bulk sensitive photoemission spectroscopy and continuing through magnetotransport measurements reporting the Adler-Bell-Jackiw chiral anomaly. We hope that this article provides a useful introduction to the theory of Weyl semimetals, a summary of recent experimental discoveries, and a guideline to future directions.

Phenomenological view at the two-component physics of cuprates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teitel'baum, G. B.

2017-08-01

In the search for mechanisms of high- T c superconductivity it is critical to know the electronic spectrum in the pseudogap phase from which superconductivity evolves. The lack of ARPES data for every cuprate family precludes an agreement as to its structure, doping and temperature dependence and the role of charge ordering. No approach has been developed yet to address the issue theoretically, and we limit ourselves by the phenomenological analysis of the experimental data. We argue that, in the Fermi-liquid-like regime ubiquitous in underdoped cuprates, the spectrum consists of holes on the Fermi arcs and an electronic pocket in contrast to the idea of the Fermi surface reconstruction via charge ordering. At high temperatures, the electrons are dragged by holes while at lower temperatures they get decoupled. The longstanding issue of the origin of the negative Hall coefficient in YBCO and Hg1201 at low temperature is resolved: the electronic contribution prevails, as its mobility becomes temperature independent, while the mobility of holes, scattered by the shortwavelength charge density waves, decreases.

Hydrogenated borophene as a stable two-dimensional Dirac material with an ultrahigh Fermi velocity.

PubMed

Xu, Li-Chun; Du, Aijun; Kou, Liangzhi

2016-10-05

The recent synthesis of monolayer borophene (triangular boron monolayer) on a substrate has opened the era of boron nanosheets (Science, 2015, 350, 1513), but the structural instability and a need to explore the novel physical properties are still open issues. Here we demonstrated that borophene can be stabilized by full surface hydrogenation (borophane), from first-principles calculations. Most interestingly, our calculations show that borophane has direction-dependent Dirac cones, which are mainly caused by the in-plane p x and p y orbitals of boron atoms. The Dirac fermions possess an ultrahigh Fermi velocity of up to 3.5 × 10 6 m s -1 under the HSE06 level, which is 4 times higher than that of graphene. The Young's moduli are calculated to be 190 and 120 GPa nm along two different directions, which are comparable to those of steel. The ultrahigh Fermi velocity and good mechanical features render borophane ideal for nanoelectronic applications.

Multiple Fermi pockets revealed by Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in WTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Fei-Xiang; Veldhorst, Menno; Dou, Shi-Xue; Wang, Xiao-Lin

2015-11-01

The recently discovered non-saturating and parabolic magnetoresistance and the pressure-induced superconductivity at low temperature in WTe2 imply its rich electronic structure and possible practical applications. Here we use magnetotransport measurements to investigate the electronic structure of WTe2 single crystals. A non-saturating and parabolic magnetoresistance is observed from low temperature to high temperature up to 200 K with magnetic fields up to 8 T. Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations with beating patterns are observed, the fast Fourier transform of which reveals three oscillation frequencies, corresponding to three pairs of Fermi pockets with comparable effective masses, m* ∼ 0.31~me . By fitting the Hall resistivity, we infer that they can be attributed to one pair of electron pockets and two pairs of hole pockets, together with nearly perfect compensation of the electron-hole carrier concentration. These magnetotransport measurements reveal the complex electronic structure in WTe2, explaining the non-saturating magnetoresistance.

Single-particle spectral density of the unitary Fermi gas: Novel approach based on the operator product expansion, sum rules and the maximum entropy method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gubler, Philipp, E-mail: pgubler@riken.jp; RIKEN Nishina Center, Wako, Saitama 351-0198; Yamamoto, Naoki

2015-05-15

Making use of the operator product expansion, we derive a general class of sum rules for the imaginary part of the single-particle self-energy of the unitary Fermi gas. The sum rules are analyzed numerically with the help of the maximum entropy method, which allows us to extract the single-particle spectral density as a function of both energy and momentum. These spectral densities contain basic information on the properties of the unitary Fermi gas, such as the dispersion relation and the superfluid pairing gap, for which we obtain reasonable agreement with the available results based on quantum Monte-Carlo simulations.

Emission of neutron–proton and proton–proton pairs in neutrino scattering

DOE PAGES

Ruiz Simo, I.; Amaro, J. E.; Barbaro, M. B.; ...

2016-11-10

For this paper, we use a recently developed model of relativistic meson-exchange currents to compute the neutron–proton and proton–proton yields in (νμ, μ -)scattering from 12C in the 2p–2h channel. We compute the response functions and cross sections with the relativistic Fermi gas model for different kinematics from intermediate to high momentum transfers. We find a large contribution of neutron–proton configurations in the initial state, as compared to proton–proton pairs. In the case of charge-changing neutrino scattering the 2p–2h cross section of proton–proton emission (i.e.,np in the initial state) is much larger than for neutron–proton emission (i.e.,two neutrons in themore » initial state) by a (ω, q)-dependent factor. The different emission probabilities of distinct species of nucleon pairs are produced in our model only by meson-exchange currents, mainly by the Δ isobar current. We also analyze other effects including exchange contributions and the effect of the axial and vector currents.« less

Monte Carlo studies of thermalization of electron-hole pairs in spin-polarized degenerate electron gas in monolayer graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borowik, Piotr; Thobel, Jean-Luc; Adamowicz, Leszek

2018-02-01

Monte Carlo method is applied to the study of relaxation of excited electron-hole (e-h) pairs in graphene. The presence of background of spin-polarized electrons, with high density imposing degeneracy conditions, is assumed. To such system, a number of e-h pairs with spin polarization parallel or antiparallel to the background is injected. Two stages of relaxation: thermalization and cooling are clearly distinguished when average particles energy < E> and its standard deviation σ _E are examined. At the very beginning of thermalization phase, holes loose energy to electrons, and after this process is substantially completed, particle distributions reorganize to take a Fermi-Dirac shape. To describe the evolution of < E > and σ _E during thermalization, we define characteristic times τ _ {th} and values at the end of thermalization E_ {th} and σ _ {th}. The dependence of these parameters on various conditions, such as temperature and background density, is presented. It is shown that among the considered parameters, only the standard deviation of electrons energy allows to distinguish between different cases of relative spin polarizations of background and excited electrons.

Unconventional aspects of electronic transport in delafossite oxides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daou, Ramzy; Frésard, Raymond; Eyert, Volker; Hébert, Sylvie; Maignan, Antoine

2017-12-01

The electronic transport properties of the delafossite oxides ? are usually understood in terms of two well-separated entities, namely the triangular ? and (? layers. Here, we review several cases among this extensive family of materials where the transport depends on the interlayer coupling and displays unconventional properties. We review the doped thermoelectrics based on ? and ?, which show a high-temperature recovery of Fermi-liquid transport exponents, as well as the highly anisotropic metals ?, ?, and ?, where the sheer simplicity of the Fermi surface leads to unconventional transport. We present some of the theoretical tools that have been used to investigate these transport properties and review what can and cannot be learned from the extensive set of electronic structure calculations that have been performed.

Fermi level dependence of hydrogen diffusivity in GaN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polyakov, A. Y.; Smirnov, N. B.; Pearton, S. J.; Ren, F.; Theys, B.; Jomard, F.; Teukam, Z.; Dmitriev, V. A.; Nikolaev, A. E.; Usikov, A. S.; Nikitina, I. P.

2001-09-01

Hydrogen diffusion studies were performed in GaN samples with different Fermi level positions. It is shown that, at 350 °C, hydrogen diffusion is quite fast in heavily Mg doped p-type material with the Fermi level close to Ev+0.15 eV, considerably slower in high-resistivity p-GaN(Zn) with the Fermi level Ev+0.9 eV, while for conducting and semi-insulating n-GaN samples with the Fermi level in the upper half of the band gap no measurable hydrogen diffusion could be detected. For these latter samples it is shown that higher diffusion temperature of 500 °C and longer times (50 h) are necessary to incorporate hydrogen to appreciable depth. These findings are in line with previously published theoretical predictions of the dependence of hydrogen interstitials formation in GaN on the Fermi level position.

N-H Stretching Excitations in Adenosine-Thymidine Base Pairs in Solution: Base Pair Geometries, Infrared Line Shapes and Ultrafast Vibrational Dynamics

PubMed Central

Greve, Christian; Preketes, Nicholas K.; Fidder, Henk; Costard, Rene; Koeppe, Benjamin; Heisler, Ismael A.; Mukamel, Shaul; Temps, Friedrich; Nibbering, Erik T. J.; Elsaesser, Thomas

2013-01-01

We explore the N-H stretching vibrations of adenosine-thymidine base pairs in chloroform solution with linear and nonlinear infrared spectroscopy. Based on estimates from NMR measurements and ab initio calculations, we conclude that adenosine and thymidine form hydrogen bonded base pairs in Watson-Crick, reverse Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen and reverse Hoogsteen configurations with similar probability. Steady-state concentration- and temperature dependent linear FT-IR studies, including H/D exchange experiments, reveal that these hydrogen-bonded base pairs have complex N-H/N-D stretching spectra with a multitude of spectral components. Nonlinear 2D-IR spectroscopic results, together with IR-pump-IR-probe measurements, as also corroborated by ab initio calculations, reveal that the number of N-H stretching transitions is larger than the total number of N-H stretching modes. This is explained by couplings to other modes, such as an underdamped low-frequency hydrogen-bond mode, and a Fermi resonance with NH2 bending overtone levels of the adenosine amino-group. Our results demonstrate that modeling based on local N-H stretching vibrations only is not sufficient and call for further refinement of the description of the N-H stretching manifolds of nucleic acid base pairs of adenosine and thymidine, incorporating a multitude of couplings with fingerprint and low-frequency modes. PMID:23234439

Tunable Magnon Weyl Points in Ferromagnetic Pyrochlores.

PubMed

Mook, Alexander; Henk, Jürgen; Mertig, Ingrid

2016-10-07

The dispersion relations of magnons in ferromagnetic pyrochlores with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are shown to possess Weyl points, i. e., pairs of topologically nontrivial crossings of two magnon branches with opposite topological charge. As a consequence of their topological nature, their projections onto a surface are connected by magnon arcs, thereby resembling closely Fermi arcs of electronic Weyl semimetals. On top of this, the positions of the Weyl points in reciprocal space can be tuned widely by an external magnetic field: rotated within the surface plane, the Weyl points and magnon arcs are rotated as well; tilting the magnetic field out of plane shifts the Weyl points toward the center Γ[over ¯] of the surface Brillouin zone. The theory is valid for the class of ferromagnetic pyrochlores, i. e., three-dimensional extensions of topological magnon insulators on kagome lattices. In this Letter, we focus on the (111) surface, identify candidates of established ferromagnetic pyrochlores which apply to the considered spin model, and suggest experiments for the detection of the topological features.

Observation of an electron band above the Fermi level in FeTe₀.₅₅Se₀.₄₅ from in-situ surface doping

DOE PAGES

Zhang, P.; Richard, P.; Xu, N.; ...

2014-10-27

We used in-situ potassium (K) evaporation to dope the surface of the iron-based superconductor FeTe₀.₅₅Se₀.₄₅. The systematic study of the bands near the Fermi level confirms that electrons are doped into the system, allowing us to tune the Fermi level of this material and to access otherwise unoccupied electronic states. In particular, we observe an electron band located above the Fermi level before doping that shares similarities with a small three-dimensional pocket observed in the cousin, heavily-electron-doped KFe₂₋ xSe₂ compound.

Electronic structure of dense Pb overlayers on Si(111) investigated using angle-resolved photoemission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, W. H.; Koh, H.; Rotenberg, E.; Yeom, H. W.

2007-02-01

Dense Pb overlayers on Si(111) are important as the wetting layer for anomalous Pb island growth as well as for their own complex “devil’s-staircase” phases. The electronic structures of dense Pb overlayers on Si(111) were investigated in detail by angle-resolved photoemission. Among the series of ordered phases found recently above one monolayer, the low-coverage 7×3 and the high-coverage 14×3 phases are studied; they are well ordered and form reproducibly in large areas. The band dispersions and Fermi surfaces of the two-dimensional (2D) electronic states of these overlayers are mapped out. A number of metallic surface-state bands are identified for both phases with complex Fermi contours. The basic features of the observed Fermi contours can be explained by overlapping 2D free-electron-like Fermi circles. This analysis reveals that the 2D electrons near the Fermi level of the 7×3 and 14×3 phases are mainly governed by strong 1×1 and 3×3 potentials, respectively. The origins of the 2D electronic states and their apparent Fermi surface shapes are discussed based on recent structure models.

Electron and positron states in HgBa2CuO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbiellini, B.; Jarlborg, T.

1994-08-01

Local-density-calculations of the electronic structure of HgBa2CuO4 have been performed with the self-consistent linear muffin-tin orbital method. The positron-density distribution and its sensitivity due to different potentials are calculated. The annihilation rates are computed in order to study the chemical bonding and to predict the Fermi-surface signal. Comparisons are made with previous calculations on other high-Tc copper oxides concerning the Fermi-surface properties and electron-positron overlap. We discuss the possibility of observing the Fermi surface associated with the Cu-O planes in positron-annihilation experiments.

Superfluid density and condensate fraction in the BCS-BEC crossover regime at finite temperatures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fukushima, N.; Ohashi, Y.; Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Hiyoshi, Yokohama 223

2007-03-15

The superfluid density is a fundamental quantity describing the response to a rotation as well as in two-fluid collisional hydrodynamics. We present extensive calculations of the superfluid density {rho}{sub s} in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of a uniform superfluid Fermi gas at finite temperatures. We include strong-coupling or fluctuation effects on these quantities within a Gaussian approximation. We also incorporate the same fluctuation effects into the BCS single-particle excitations described by the superfluid order parameter {delta} and Fermi chemical potential {mu}, using the Nozieres-Schmitt-Rink approximation. This treatment is shown to be necessary for consistent treatment of {rho}{sub s} over themore » entire BCS-BEC crossover. We also calculate the condensate fraction N{sub c} as a function of the temperature, a quantity which is quite different from the superfluid density {rho}{sub s}. We show that the mean-field expression for the condensate fraction N{sub c} is a good approximation even in the strong-coupling BEC regime. Our numerical results show how {rho}{sub s} and N{sub c} depend on temperature, from the weak-coupling BCS region to the BEC region of tightly bound Cooper pair molecules. In a companion paper [Phys. Rev. A 74, 063626 (2006)], we derive an equivalent expression for {rho}{sub s} from the thermodynamic potential, which exhibits the role of the pairing fluctuations in a more explicit manner.« less

Study of the model of hole superconductivity in multiple band cases and its application to transition metals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hong, X.Q.

1992-01-01

The authors have studied a simple model consisting of a chain of atoms with two atoms per unit cell. This model develops two bands when the inter-cell and intra-cell hopping amplitudes are different. They have found that superconductivity predominantly occurs when the Fermi level is close to the top of the upper band where the wavefunction has antibonding feature both inside the unit cell and between unit cells. Superconductivity occurs only in a restricted parameter range when the Fermi level is close to the top of the lower band because of the repulsive interaction within the unit cell. They findmore » that pair expectation values that 'mix' carriers of both bands can exist when interband interactions other than V12 of Suhl et al are present. But the magnitude of the 'mixed pairs' order parameters is much smaller than that of the intra-band pairs. The V12 of Suhl et al is the most important interband interaction that gives rise to the main features of a two-band model: a single transition temperature and two different gaps. They have used the model of hole superconductivity to study the variation of T(sub c) among transition metal series--the Matthias rules. They have found that the observed T(sub c)'s are consistent with superconductivity of a metal with multiple bands at the Fermi level being caused by the single band with strongest antibonding character at the Fermi level. When the Fermi level is the lower part of a band, there is no T(sub c). As the band is gradually filled, T(sub c) rises, passes through a maximum, then drops to zero when the band is full. This characteristic feature is independent of any fine structure of the band. The position of the peak and the width of the peak are correlated. Quantitative agreement with the experimental results is obtained by choosing parameters of onsite Coulomb interaction U, modulated hopping term Delta-t, and nearest neighbor repulsion V to fit the magnitude of T(sub c) and the positions of experimental peaks.« less

Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debehets, J.; Homm, P.; Menghini, M.; Chambers, S. A.; Marchiori, C.; Heyns, M.; Locquet, J. P.; Seo, J. W.

2018-05-01

In this paper, changes in surface Fermi-level of Si and GaAs, caused by doping and cleaning, are investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. Based on the Auger voltage contrast, we compared the Auger transition peak energy but with higher accuracy by using a more accurate analyzer and an improved peak position determination method. For silicon, a peak shift as large as 0.46 eV was detected when comparing a cleaned p-type and n-type wafer, which corresponds rather well with the theoretical difference in Fermi-levels. If no cleaning was applied, the peak position did not differ significantly for both wafer types, indicating Fermi-level pinning in the band gap. For GaAs, peak shifts were detected after cleaning with HF and (NH4)2S-solutions in an inert atmosphere (N2-gas). Although the (NH4)2S-cleaning in N2 is very efficient in removing the oxygen from the surface, the observed Ga- and As-peak shifts are smaller than those obtained after the HF-cleaning. It is shown that the magnitude of the shift is related to the surface composition. After Si-deposition on the (NH4)2S-cleaned surface, the Fermi-level shifts back to a similar position as observed for an as-received wafer, indicating that this combination is not successful in unpinning the Fermi-level of GaAs.

Temperature-driven Topological Phase Transition in MoTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Notis Berger, Ayelet; Andrade, Erick; Kerelsky, Alex; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Li, Jian; Bernevig, B. Andrei; Pasupathy, Abhay

The discovery of several candidates predicted to be weyl semimetals has made it possible to experimentally study weyl fermions and their exotic properties. One example is MoTe2, a transition metal dichalcogenide. At temperatures below 240 K it is predicted to be a type II Weyl semimetal with four Weyl points close to the fermi level. As with most weyl semimetals, the complicated band structure causes difficulty in distinguishing features related to bulk states and those related to topological fermi arc surface states characteristic of weyl semimetals. MoTe2 is unique because of its temperature-driven phase change. At high temperatures, MoTe2 is monoclinic, with trivial surface states. When cooled below 240K, it undergoes a first order phase transition to become an orthorhombic weyl semimetal with topologically protected fermi arc surface states. We present STM and STS measurements on MoTe2 crystals in both states. In the orthorhombic phase, we observe scattering that is consistent with the presence of the Fermi-arc surface states. Upon warming into the monoclinic phase, these features disappear in the observed interference patterns, providing direct evidence of the topological nature of the fermi arcs in the Weyl phase

Reconstruction de la surface de Fermi dans l'etat normal d'un supraconducteur a haute Tc: Une etude du transport electrique en champ magnetique intense

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Boeuf, David

Des mesures de resistance longitudinale et de resistance de Hall en champ magnetique intense transverse (perpendiculaire aux plans CuO2) ont ete effectuees au sein de monocristaux de YBa2Cu3Oy (YBCO) demacles, ordonnes et de grande purete, afin d'etudier l'etat fondamental des supraconducteurs a haute Tc dans le regime sous-dope. Cette etude a ete realisee en fonction du dopage et de l'orientation du courant d'excitation J par rapport a l'axe orthorhombique b de la structure cristalline. Les mesures en champ magnetique intense revelent par suppression de la supraconductivite des oscillations magnetiques des resistances longitudinale et de Hall dans YBa2Cu 3O6.51 et YBa2Cu4O8. La conformite du comportement de ces oscillations quantiques au formalisme de Lifshitz-Kosevich, apporte la preuve de l'existence d'une surface de Fermi fermee a caractere quasi-2D, abritant des quasiparticules coherentes respectant la statistique de Fermi-Dirac, dans la phase pseudogap d'YBCO. La faible frequence des oscillations quantiques, combinee avec l'etude de la partie monotone de la resistance de Hall en fonction de la temperature indique que la surface de Fermi d'YBCO sous-dope comprend une petite poche de Fermi occupee par des porteurs de charge negative. Cette particularite de la surface de Fermi dans le regime sous-dope incompatible avec les calculs de structure de bande est en fort contraste avec la structure electronique presente dans le regime surdope. Cette observation implique ainsi l'existence d'un point critique quantique dans le diagramme de phase d'YBCO, au voisinage duquel la surface de Fermi doit subir une reconstruction induite par l'etablissement d'une brisure de la symetrie de translation du reseau cristallin sous-jacent. Enfin, l'etude en fonction du dopage de la resistance de Hall et de la resistance longitudinale en champ magnetique intense suggere qu'un ordre du type onde de densite (DW) est responsable de la reconstruction de la surface de Fermi. L'analogie de la phenomenologie entourant le comportement des resistances longitudinale et de Hall dans YBa2Cu3Oy, avec des systemes dans lesquels l'existence d'un ordre du type DW est etablie, notamment des cuprates a structure tetragonale a basse temperature ("Low Temperature Tetragonal", LTT), indique que l'ordre causant la reconstruction de la surface de Fermi est stabilise au voisinage du dopage p = 1/8, et est en competition directe avec la supraconductivite.

Hall number across a van Hove singularity

DOE PAGES

Maharaj, Akash V.; Esterlis, Ilya; Zhang, Yi; ...

2017-07-24

In this paper, in the context of the relaxation time approximation to Boltzmann transport theory, we examine the behavior of the Hall number n H of a metal in the neighborhood of a Lifshitz transition from a closed Fermi surface to open sheets. We find a universal nonanalytic dependence of n H on the electron density in the high-field limit, but a nonsingular dependence at low fields. Finally, the existence of an assumed nematic transition produces a doping dependent n H similar to that observed in recent experiments in the high-temperature superconductor YBa 2Cu 3O 7-x.

Observation of non-Fermi liquid behavior in hole-doped LiFe 1-x V xAs

DOE PAGES

Xing, L. Y.; Shi, X.; Richard, P.; ...

2016-09-28

Here we synthesized a series of V-doped LiFe 1₋xV xAs single crystals. The superconducting transition temperature T c of LiFeAs decreases rapidly at a rate of 7 K per 1% V. The Hall coefficient of LiFeAs switches from negative to positive with 4.2% V doping, showing that V doping introduces hole carriers. This observation is further confirmed by the evaluation of the Fermi surface volume measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), from which a 0.3 hole doping per V atom introduced is deduced. Interestingly, the introduction of holes does not follow a rigid band shift. We also show that themore » temperature evolution of the electrical resistivity as a function of doping is consistent with a crossover from a Fermi liquid to a non-Fermi liquid. Our ARPES data indicate that the non-Fermi liquid behavior is mostly enhanced when one of the hole d xz/dyz Fermi surfaces is well nested by the antiferromagnetic wave vector to the inner electron Fermi surface pocket with the d xy orbital character. In conclusion, the magnetic susceptibility of LiFe 1₋xV xAs suggests the presence of strong magnetic impurities following V doping, thus providing a natural explanation to the rapid suppression of superconductivity upon V doping.« less

Observation of non-Fermi liquid behavior in hole-doped LiFe 1-x V xAs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xing, L. Y.; Shi, X.; Richard, P.

Here we synthesized a series of V-doped LiFe 1₋xV xAs single crystals. The superconducting transition temperature T c of LiFeAs decreases rapidly at a rate of 7 K per 1% V. The Hall coefficient of LiFeAs switches from negative to positive with 4.2% V doping, showing that V doping introduces hole carriers. This observation is further confirmed by the evaluation of the Fermi surface volume measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), from which a 0.3 hole doping per V atom introduced is deduced. Interestingly, the introduction of holes does not follow a rigid band shift. We also show that themore » temperature evolution of the electrical resistivity as a function of doping is consistent with a crossover from a Fermi liquid to a non-Fermi liquid. Our ARPES data indicate that the non-Fermi liquid behavior is mostly enhanced when one of the hole d xz/dyz Fermi surfaces is well nested by the antiferromagnetic wave vector to the inner electron Fermi surface pocket with the d xy orbital character. In conclusion, the magnetic susceptibility of LiFe 1₋xV xAs suggests the presence of strong magnetic impurities following V doping, thus providing a natural explanation to the rapid suppression of superconductivity upon V doping.« less

Observations of MilkyWay Dwarf Spheroidal galaxies with the Fermi-LAT detector and

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abdo, A.A.; Ackermann, M.; Ajello, M.

We report on the observations of 14 dwarf spheroidal galaxies with the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope taken during the first 11 months of survey mode operations. The Fermi telescope, which is conducting an all-sky {gamma}-ray survey in the 20 MeV to >300 GeV energy range, provides a new opportunity to test particle dark matter models through the expected {gamma}-ray emission produced by pair annihilation of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Local Group dwarf spheroidal galaxies, the largest galactic substructures predicted by the cold dark matter scenario, are attractive targets for such indirect searches for dark matter because they are nearbymore » and among the most extreme dark matter dominated environments. No significant {gamma}-ray emission was detected above 100 MeV from the candidate dwarf galaxies. We determine upper limits to the {gamma}-ray flux assuming both power-law spectra and representative spectra from WIMP annihilation. The resulting integral flux above 100 MeV is constrained to be at a level below around 10{sup -9} photons cm{sup -2}s{sup -1}. Using recent stellar kinematic data, the {gamma}-ray flux limits are combined with improved determinations of the dark matter density profile in 8 of the 14 candidate dwarfs to place limits on the pair annihilation cross-section ofWIMPs in several widely studied extensions of the standard model, including its supersymmetric extension and other models that received recent attention. With the present data, we are able to rule out large parts of the parameter space where the thermal relic density is below the observed cosmological dark matter density and WIMPs (neutralinos here) are dominantly produced non-thermally, e.g. in models where supersymmetry breaking occurs via anomaly mediation. The {gamma}-ray limits presented here also constrain some WIMP models proposed to explain the Fermi and PAMELA e{sup +}e{sup -} data, including low-mass wino-like neutralinos and models with TeV masses pair-annihilating into muon-antimuon pairs.« less

Density dependence of the saturated velocity in graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferry, D. K.

2016-11-01

The saturated velocity of a semiconductor is an important measure in bench-marking performance for either logic or microwave applications. Graphene has been of interest for such applications due to its apparently high value of the saturated velocity. Recent experiments have suggested that this value is very density dependent and can even exceed the band limiting Fermi velocity. Some of these measurements have also suggested that the scattering is dominated by the low energy surface polar mode of the SiO2 substrate. Here, we show that the saturated velocity of graphene on SiO2 is relatively independent of the density and that the scattering is dominated by the high energy surface polar mode of the substrate.

Spin-fluctuation-induced non-Fermi-liquid behavior with suppressed superconductivity in LiFe 1-xCo xAs

DOE PAGES

Y. M. Dai; Miao, H.; Xing, L. Y.; ...

2015-09-15

A series of LiFe 1–xCo xAs compounds with different Co concentrations by transport, optical spectroscopy, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance. We observe a Fermi-liquid to non-Fermi-liquid to Fermi-liquid (FL-NFL-FL) crossover alongside a monotonic suppression of the superconductivity with increasing Co content. In parallel to the FL-NFL-FL crossover, we find that both the low-energy spin fluctuations and Fermi surface nesting are enhanced and then diminished, strongly suggesting that the NFL behavior in LiFe 1–xCo xAs is induced by low-energy spin fluctuations that are very likely tuned by Fermi surface nesting. Our study reveals a unique phase diagram of LiFemore » 1–xCo xAs where the region of NFL is moved to the boundary of the superconducting phase, implying that they are probably governed by different mechanisms.« less

Origin of Pressure-induced Superconducting Phase in K xFe 2-ySe 2 studied by Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction and Spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Yamamoto, Yoshiya; Yamaoka, Hitoshi; Tanaka, Masashi; ...

2016-08-08

Pressure dependence of the electronic and crystal structures of K xFe 2–ySe 2, which has pressure-induced two superconducting domes of SC I and SC II, was investigated by x-ray emission spectroscopy and diffraction. X-ray diffraction data show that compressibility along the c-axis changes around 12 GPa, where a new superconducting phase of SC II appears. This suggests a possible tetragonal to collapsed tetragonal phase transition. X-ray emission spectroscopy data also shows the change in the electronic structure around 12 GPa. These results can be explained by the scenario that the two SC domes under pressure originate from the change ofmore » Fermi surface topology. Lastly, our results here show the pronounced increase of the density of states near the Fermi surface under pressure with a structural phase transition, which can help address our fundamental understanding for the appearance of the SC II phase.« less

Origin of Pressure-induced Superconducting Phase in KxFe2-ySe2 studied by Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction and Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Yoshiya; Yamaoka, Hitoshi; Tanaka, Masashi; Okazaki, Hiroyuki; Ozaki, Toshinori; Takano, Yoshihiko; Lin, Jung-Fu; Fujita, Hidenori; Kagayama, Tomoko; Shimizu, Katsuya; Hiraoka, Nozomu; Ishii, Hirofumi; Liao, Yen-Fa; Tsuei, Ku-Ding; Mizuki, Jun'Ichiro

2016-08-01

Pressure dependence of the electronic and crystal structures of KxFe2-ySe2, which has pressure-induced two superconducting domes of SC I and SC II, was investigated by x-ray emission spectroscopy and diffraction. X-ray diffraction data show that compressibility along the c-axis changes around 12 GPa, where a new superconducting phase of SC II appears. This suggests a possible tetragonal to collapsed tetragonal phase transition. X-ray emission spectroscopy data also shows the change in the electronic structure around 12 GPa. These results can be explained by the scenario that the two SC domes under pressure originate from the change of Fermi surface topology. Our results here show the pronounced increase of the density of states near the Fermi surface under pressure with a structural phase transition, which can help address our fundamental understanding for the appearance of the SC II phase.

Electronic origin of high-temperature superconductivity in single-layer FeSe superconductor.

PubMed

Liu, Defa; Zhang, Wenhao; Mou, Daixiang; He, Junfeng; Ou, Yun-Bo; Wang, Qing-Yan; Li, Zhi; Wang, Lili; Zhao, Lin; He, Shaolong; Peng, Yingying; Liu, Xu; Chen, Chaoyu; Yu, Li; Liu, Guodong; Dong, Xiaoli; Zhang, Jun; Chen, Chuangtian; Xu, Zuyan; Hu, Jiangping; Chen, Xi; Ma, Xucun; Xue, Qikun; Zhou, X J

2012-07-03

The recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in iron-based compounds has attracted much attention. How to further increase the superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) and how to understand the superconductivity mechanism are two prominent issues facing the current study of iron-based superconductors. The latest report of high-T(c) superconductivity in a single-layer FeSe is therefore both surprising and significant. Here we present investigations of the electronic structure and superconducting gap of the single-layer FeSe superconductor. Its Fermi surface is distinct from other iron-based superconductors, consisting only of electron-like pockets near the zone corner without indication of any Fermi surface around the zone centre. Nearly isotropic superconducting gap is observed in this strictly two-dimensional system. The temperature dependence of the superconducting gap gives a transition temperature T(c)~ 55 K. These results have established a clear case that such a simple electronic structure is compatible with high-T(c) superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

a Positron Study of the Electronic Structure of Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haghighi, Hossein

The work described in this thesis is concerned with a study of the electronic structure of the high T _{c} superconductor YBa _2Cu_3O _7 using the technique of two dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR). We have studied this compound with a view to clarifying whether YBa_2Cu_3O _7 possess a Fermi surface. The numerous different theories that have been proposed to explain the superconductivity phase of these types of materials can be classified into two main groups. The theories in the first group assume the existence of a conventional Fermi fluid and Fermi surface. The alternative more exotic models do not require a Fermi surface but are based on the Mott-Hubbard model of strongly correlated charge and spin excitations. Prior to this work all 2D-ACAR studies of YBa _2Cu_3O _7 involved twinned crystals and modest statistics and little of significance was learned other than that, consistent with that of predictions of theory, the positron was preferentially annihilating on the copper-oxygen chains. The studies of untwinned crystals of YBa_2Cu _3O_7, herein described are of much higher statistics and resulted in one of the clearest imaginable manifestations of a Fermi surface in the form of an extended discontinuity in the measured momentum spectrum. This discontinuity is even more apparent in the LCW-folded spectrum with a form and profile in substantial agreement with the theoretical predictions of a Gamma-X electron ridge Fermi surface section arising from states in the Cu-O chains.

Rigorous Free-Fermion Entanglement Renormalization from Wavelet Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haegeman, Jutho; Swingle, Brian; Walter, Michael; Cotler, Jordan; Evenbly, Glen; Scholz, Volkher B.

2018-01-01

We construct entanglement renormalization schemes that provably approximate the ground states of noninteracting-fermion nearest-neighbor hopping Hamiltonians on the one-dimensional discrete line and the two-dimensional square lattice. These schemes give hierarchical quantum circuits that build up the states from unentangled degrees of freedom. The circuits are based on pairs of discrete wavelet transforms, which are approximately related by a "half-shift": translation by half a unit cell. The presence of the Fermi surface in the two-dimensional model requires a special kind of circuit architecture to properly capture the entanglement in the ground state. We show how the error in the approximation can be controlled without ever performing a variational optimization.

Quantum oscillations and nodal pockets from Fermi surface reconstruction in the underdoped cuprates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrison, Neil

2012-02-01

Fermiology in the underdoped high Tc cuprates presents us with unique challenges, requiring experimentalists to look deeper into the data than is normally required for clues. Recent measurements of an oscillatory chemical potential affecting the oscillations at high magnetic fields provide a strong indication of a single type of carrier pocket. When considered in conjunction with photoemission and specific heat measurements, a Fermi surface comprised almost entirely of nodal pockets is suggested. The mystery of the Fermi surface is deepened, however, by a near doping-independent Fermi surface cross-sectional area and negative Hall and Seebeck coefficients. We explore ways in which these findings can be reconciled, taking an important hint from the diverging effective mass yielded by quantum oscillations at low dopings. The author wishes to thank Suchitra Sebastian, Moaz Atarawneh, Doug Bonn, Walter Hardy, Ruixing Liang, Charles Mielke and Gilbert Lonzarich who have contributed to this work. The work is supported by the NSF through the NHMFL and by the DOE project ``Science at 100 tesla.''

CsI Calorimeter for a Compton-Pair Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grove, Eric J.

We propose to build and test a hodoscopic CsI(Tl) scintillating-crystal calorimeter for a medium-energy γ-ray Compton and pair telescope. The design and technical approach for this calorimeter relies deeply on heritage from the Fermi LAT CsI Calorimeter, but it dramatically improves the low-energy performance of that design by reading out the scintillation light with silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs), making the technology developed for Fermi applicable in the Compton regime. While such a hodoscopic calorimeter is useful for an entire class of medium-energy γ-ray telescope designs, we propose to build it explicitly to support beam tests and balloon flight of the Proto-ComPair telescope, the development and construction of which was funded in a four-year APRA program beginning in 2015 ("ComPair: Steps to a Medium Energy γ-ray Mission" with PI J. McEnery of GSFC). That award did not include funding for its CsI calorimeter subsystem, and this proposal is intended to cover that gap. ComPair is a MIDEX-class instrument concept to perform a high-sensitivity survey of the γ-ray sky from 0.5 MeV to 500 MeV. ComPair is designed to provide a dramatic increase in sensitivity relative to previous instruments in this energy range (predominantly INTEGRAL/SPI and Compton COMPTEL), with the same transformative sensitivity increase - and corresponding scientific return- that the Fermi Large Area Telescope provided relative to Compton EGRET. To enable transformative science over a broad range of MeV energies and with a wide field of view, ComPair is a combined Compton telescope and pair telescope employing a silicon-strip tracker (for Compton scattering and pair conversion and tracking) and a solid-state CdZnTe calorimeter (for Compton absorption) and CsI calorimeter (for pair calorimetry), surrounded by a plastic scintillator anti-coincidence detector. Under the current proposal, we will complete the detailed design, assembly, and test of the CsI calorimeter for the risk-reduction prototype telescope, Proto-ComPair. We will: 1. Purchase CsI(Tl) crystals, Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs), and components for the analog and digital readout of the SiPMs; 2. Assemble and test Crystal Detector Elements (CDEs) from crystals, SiPMs and optical wrap; 3. Assemble and test analog and digital front-end and readout control boards; 4. Fabricate the mechanical structure that supports and contains the CDEs and electronics boards; and 5. Assemble and test the CsI calorimeter, and integrate it with the remainder of the Proto-ComPair subsystems. The PI team for this proposal conceived, designed, developed, assembled, tested, and currently operates the LAT calorimeter and is uniquely qualified to leverage the experience gained from that effort for ComPair.

Quantum transport in topological semimetals under magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Hai-Zhou; Shen, Shun-Qing

2017-06-01

Topological semimetals are three-dimensional topological states of matter, in which the conduction and valence bands touch at a finite number of points, i.e., the Weyl nodes. Topological semimetals host paired monopoles and antimonopoles of Berry curvature at the Weyl nodes and topologically protected Fermi arcs at certain surfaces. We review our recent works on quantum transport in topological semimetals, according to the strength of the magnetic field. At weak magnetic fields, there are competitions between the positive magnetoresistivity induced by the weak anti-localization effect and negative magnetoresistivity related to the nontrivial Berry curvature. We propose a fitting formula for the magnetoconductivity of the weak anti-localization. We expect that the weak localization may be induced by inter-valley effects and interaction effect, and occur in double-Weyl semimetals. For the negative magnetoresistance induced by the nontrivial Berry curvature in topological semimetals, we show the dependence of the negative magnetoresistance on the carrier density. At strong magnetic fields, specifically, in the quantum limit, the magnetoconductivity depends on the type and range of the scattering potential of disorder. The high-field positive magnetoconductivity may not be a compelling signature of the chiral anomaly. For long-range Gaussian scattering potential and half filling, the magnetoconductivity can be linear in the quantum limit. A minimal conductivity is found at the Weyl nodes although the density of states vanishes there.

Momentum-resolved spectroscopy of a Fermi liquid

PubMed Central

Doggen, Elmer V. H.; Kinnunen, Jami J.

2015-01-01

We consider a recent momentum-resolved radio-frequency spectroscopy experiment, in which Fermi liquid properties of a strongly interacting atomic Fermi gas were studied. Here we show that by extending the Brueckner-Goldstone model, we can formulate a theory that goes beyond basic mean-field theories and that can be used for studying spectroscopies of dilute atomic gases in the strongly interacting regime. The model hosts well-defined quasiparticles and works across a wide range of temperatures and interaction strengths. The theory provides excellent qualitative agreement with the experiment. Comparing the predictions of the present theory with the mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory yields insights into the role of pair correlations, Tan's contact, and the Hartree mean-field energy shift. PMID:25941948

Toward the theory of fermionic condensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khodel, V. A.

2017-04-01

The diagrammatic technique elaborated by Belyaev for the theory of a Fermi liquid has been implemented to analyze the behavior of Fermi systems beyond the topological phase transition point, where the fermionic condensate appears. It has been shown that the inclusion of the interaction between the condensate and above-condensate particles leads to the emergence of a gap in the single-particle excitation spectrum of these particles even in the absence of Cooper pairing. Hence, the emergence of this gap in homogeneous electron systems of silicon field-effect structures leads to a metal-insulator phase transition rather than to superconductivity. It has been shown that the same interaction explains the nature of the Fermi arc structure in twodimensional electron systems of cuprates.

Visualizing the BEC-BCS crossover in a two-dimensional Fermi gas: Pairing gaps and dynamical response functions from ab initio computations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitali, Ettore; Shi, Hao; Qin, Mingpu; Zhang, Shiwei

2017-12-01

Experiments with ultracold atoms provide a highly controllable laboratory setting with many unique opportunities for precision exploration of quantum many-body phenomena. The nature of such systems, with strong interaction and quantum entanglement, makes reliable theoretical calculations challenging. Especially difficult are excitation and dynamical properties, which are often the most directly relevant to experiment. We carry out exact numerical calculations, by Monte Carlo sampling of imaginary-time propagation of Slater determinants, to compute the pairing gap in the two-dimensional Fermi gas from first principles. Applying state-of-the-art analytic continuation techniques, we obtain the spectral function and the density and spin structure factors providing unique tools to visualize the BEC-BCS crossover. These quantities will allow for a direct comparison with experiments.

Experimental observation of optical Weyl points and Fermi arcs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rechtsman, Mikael

We directly observe the presence type-II Weyl points for optical photons in a three-dimensional dielectric structure comprising arrays of evanescently-coupled, single-mode, helical waveguides. We also observe the corresponding Fermi arc surface states emerging from Weyl points (despite the use of the `Fermi arc' terminology, we are referring to bosons rather than fermions). The Weyl points are manifested by the presence of conical diffraction at the Weyl frequency in the photonic band structure, and the Fermi arc states are manifested by the emergence of surface states as we scan in frequency past the Weyl point. We map the Weyl points to Dirac points of the isofrequency surface, and the Fermi arcs to chiral edge states of an anomalous Floquet insulator. In collaboration with: Jiho Noh, Sheng Huang, Daniel Leykam*, Y. D. Chong, Kevin Chen, and Mikael C. Rechtsman M.C.R. acknowledges the National Science Foundation under Award Number ECCS-1509546, the Penn State MRSEC, Center for Nanoscale Science, under Award Number NSF DMR-1420620, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation under fellowship number FG-2016-6418.

Fractionalized Fermi liquid with bosonic chargons as a candidate for the pseudogap metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatterjee, Shubhayu; Sachdev, Subir

2016-11-01

Doping a Mott-insulating Z2 spin liquid can lead to a fractionalized Fermi liquid (FL*). Such a phase has several favorable features that make it a candidate for the pseudogap metal for the underdoped cuprates. We focus on a particular, simple Z2-FL* state which can undergo a confinement transition to a spatially uniform superconductor which is smoothly connected to the "plain vanilla" BCS superconductor with d -wave pairing. Such a transition occurs by the condensation of bosonic particles carrying +e charge but no spin ("chargons"). We show that modifying the dispersion of the bosonic chargons can lead to confinement transitions with charge density waves and pair density waves at the same wave vector K , coexisting with d -wave superconductivity. We also compute the evolution of the Hall number in the normal state during the transition from the plain vanilla FL* state to a Fermi liquid, and argue, following Coleman, Marston, and Schofield [Phys. Rev. B 72, 245111 (2005), 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.245111], that it exhibits a discontinuous jump near optimal doping. We note the distinction between these results and those obtained from models of the pseudogap with fermionic chargons.

Quasi-particles ultrafastly releasing kink bosons to form Fermi arcs in a cuprate superconductor.

PubMed

Ishida, Y; Saitoh, T; Mochiku, T; Nakane, T; Hirata, K; Shin, S

2016-01-05

In a conventional framework, superconductivity is lost at a critical temperature (Tc) because, at higher temperatures, gluing bosons can no longer bind two electrons into a Cooper pair. In high-Tc cuprates, it is still unknown how superconductivity vanishes at Tc. We provide evidence that the so-called ≲ 70-meV kink bosons that dress the quasi-particle excitations are playing a key role in the loss of superconductivity in a cuprate. We irradiated a 170-fs laser pulse on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+δ) and monitored the responses of the superconducting gap and dressed quasi-particles by time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We observe an ultrafast loss of superconducting gap near the d-wave node, or light-induced Fermi arcs, which is accompanied by spectral broadenings and weight redistributions occurring within the kink binding energy. We discuss that the underlying mechanism of the spectral broadening that induce the Fermi arc is the undressing of quasi-particles from the kink bosons. The loss mechanism is beyond the conventional framework, and can accept the unconventional phenomena such as the signatures of Cooper pairs remaining at temperatures above Tc.

Quasi-particles ultrafastly releasing kink bosons to form Fermi arcs in a cuprate superconductor

PubMed Central

Ishida, Y.; Saitoh, T.; Mochiku, T.; Nakane, T.; Hirata, K.; Shin, S.

2016-01-01

In a conventional framework, superconductivity is lost at a critical temperature (Tc) because, at higher temperatures, gluing bosons can no longer bind two electrons into a Cooper pair. In high-Tc cuprates, it is still unknown how superconductivity vanishes at Tc. We provide evidence that the so-called ≲70-meV kink bosons that dress the quasi-particle excitations are playing a key role in the loss of superconductivity in a cuprate. We irradiated a 170-fs laser pulse on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ and monitored the responses of the superconducting gap and dressed quasi-particles by time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We observe an ultrafast loss of superconducting gap near the d-wave node, or light-induced Fermi arcs, which is accompanied by spectral broadenings and weight redistributions occurring within the kink binding energy. We discuss that the underlying mechanism of the spectral broadening that induce the Fermi arc is the undressing of quasi-particles from the kink bosons. The loss mechanism is beyond the conventional framework, and can accept the unconventional phenomena such as the signatures of Cooper pairs remaining at temperatures above Tc. PMID:26728626

Self-energy of an impurity in an ideal Fermi gas to second order in the interaction strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trefzger, Christian; Castin, Yvan

2014-09-01

We study in three dimensions the problem of a spatially homogeneous zero-temperature ideal Fermi gas of spin-polarized particles of mass m perturbed by the presence of a single distinguishable impurity of mass M. The interaction between the impurity and the fermions involves only the partial s wave through the scattering length a and has negligible range b compared to the inverse Fermi wave number 1/kF of the gas. Through the interactions with the Fermi gas the impurity gives birth to a quasiparticle, which will be here a Fermi polaron (or more precisely a monomeron). We consider the general case of an impurity moving with wave vector K ≠0: Then the quasiparticle acquires a finite lifetime in its initial momentum channel because it can radiate particle-hole pairs in the Fermi sea. A description of the system using a variational approach, based on a finite number of particle-hole excitations of the Fermi sea, then becomes inappropriate around K =0. We rely thus upon perturbation theory, where the small and negative parameter kFa→0- excludes any branches other than the monomeronic one in the ground state (as, e.g., the dimeronic one), and allows us a systematic study of the system. We calculate the impurity self-energy Σ(2)(K,ω) up to second order included in a. Remarkably, we obtain an analytical explicit expression for Σ(2)(K,ω), allowing us to study its derivatives in the plane (K,ω). These present interesting singularities, which in general appear in the third-order derivatives ∂3Σ(2)(K,ω). In the special case of equal masses, M =m, singularities appear already in the physically more accessible second-order derivatives ∂2Σ(2)(K,ω); using a self-consistent heuristic approach based on Σ(2) we then regularize the divergence of the second-order derivative ∂K2ΔE(K) of the complex energy of the quasiparticle found in Trefzger and Castin [Europhys. Lett. 104, 50005 (2013), 10.1209/0295-5075/104/50005] at K =kF, and we predict an interesting scaling law in the neighborhood of K =kF. As a by product of our theory we have access to all moments of the momentum of the particle-hole pair emitted by the impurity while damping its motion in the Fermi sea at the level of Fermi's golden rule.

Optical Asymmetry and Nonlinear Light Scattering from Colloidal Gold Nanorods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lien, Miao-Bin; Kim, Ji-Young; Han, Myung-Geun

A systematic study is presented of the intensity-dependent nonlinear light scattering spectra of gold nanorods under resonant excitation of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The spectra exhibit features due to coherent second and third harmonic generation as well as a broadband feature that has been previously attributed to multiphoton photoluminescence arising primarily from interband optical transitions in the gold. A detailed study of the spectral dependence of the scaling of the scattered light with excitation intensity shows unexpected scaling behavior of the coherent signals, which is quantitatively accounted for by optically induced damping of the SPR mode through amore » Fermi liquid model of the electronic scattering. The broadband feature is shown to arise not from luminescence, but from scattering of the secondorder longitudinal SPR mode with the electron gas, where efficient excitation of the 2nd order mode arises from an optical asymmetry of the nanorod. The electronic-temperature-dependent plasmon damping and the Fermi-Dirac distribution together determine the intensity dependence of the broadband emission, and the structure-dependent absorption spectrum determines the spectral shape through the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. Hence a complete self-consistent picture of both coherent and incoherent light scattering is obtained with a single set of physical parameters.« less

Optical Asymmetry and Nonlinear Light Scattering from Colloidal Gold Nanorods

DOE PAGES

Lien, Miao-Bin; Kim, Ji-Young; Han, Myung-Geun; ...

2017-05-16

A systematic study is presented of the intensity-dependent nonlinear light scattering spectra of gold nanorods under resonant excitation of the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The spectra exhibit features due to coherent second and third harmonic generation as well as a broadband feature that has been previously attributed to multiphoton photoluminescence arising primarily from interband optical transitions in the gold. A detailed study of the spectral dependence of the scaling of the scattered light with excitation intensity shows unexpected scaling behavior of the coherent signals, which is quantitatively accounted for by optically induced damping of the SPR mode through amore » Fermi liquid model of the electronic scattering. The broadband feature is shown to arise not from luminescence, but from scattering of the secondorder longitudinal SPR mode with the electron gas, where efficient excitation of the 2nd order mode arises from an optical asymmetry of the nanorod. The electronic-temperature-dependent plasmon damping and the Fermi-Dirac distribution together determine the intensity dependence of the broadband emission, and the structure-dependent absorption spectrum determines the spectral shape through the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. Hence a complete self-consistent picture of both coherent and incoherent light scattering is obtained with a single set of physical parameters.« less

Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Debehets, J.; Homm, P.; Menghini, M.

In this study, changes in surface Fermi-level of Si and GaAs, caused by doping and cleaning, are investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. Based on the Auger voltage contrast, we compared the Auger transition peak energy but with higher accuracy by using a more accurate analyzer and an improved peak position determination method. For silicon, a peak shift as large as 0.46 eV was detected when comparing a cleaned p-type and n-type wafer, which corresponds rather well with the theoretical difference in Fermi-levels. If no cleaning was applied, the peak position did not differ significantly for both wafer types, indicating Fermi-levelmore » pinning in the band gap. For GaAs, peak shifts were detected after cleaning with HF and (NH 4) 2S-solutions in an inert atmosphere (N 2-gas). Although the (NH 4) 2S-cleaning in N 2 is very efficient in removing the oxygen from the surface, the observed Ga- and As-peak shifts are smaller than those obtained after the HF-cleaning. It is shown that the magnitude of the shift is related to the surface composition. After Si-deposition on the (NH 4) 2S-cleaned surface, the Fermi-level shifts back to a similar position as observed for an as-received wafer, indicating that this combination is not successful in unpinning the Fermi-level of GaAs.« less

Detecting Fermi-level shifts by Auger electron spectroscopy in Si and GaAs

DOE PAGES

Debehets, J.; Homm, P.; Menghini, M.; ...

2018-01-12

In this study, changes in surface Fermi-level of Si and GaAs, caused by doping and cleaning, are investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy. Based on the Auger voltage contrast, we compared the Auger transition peak energy but with higher accuracy by using a more accurate analyzer and an improved peak position determination method. For silicon, a peak shift as large as 0.46 eV was detected when comparing a cleaned p-type and n-type wafer, which corresponds rather well with the theoretical difference in Fermi-levels. If no cleaning was applied, the peak position did not differ significantly for both wafer types, indicating Fermi-levelmore » pinning in the band gap. For GaAs, peak shifts were detected after cleaning with HF and (NH 4) 2S-solutions in an inert atmosphere (N 2-gas). Although the (NH 4) 2S-cleaning in N 2 is very efficient in removing the oxygen from the surface, the observed Ga- and As-peak shifts are smaller than those obtained after the HF-cleaning. It is shown that the magnitude of the shift is related to the surface composition. After Si-deposition on the (NH 4) 2S-cleaned surface, the Fermi-level shifts back to a similar position as observed for an as-received wafer, indicating that this combination is not successful in unpinning the Fermi-level of GaAs.« less

Fully gapped superconductivity with no sign change in the prototypical heavy-fermion CeCu2Si2

PubMed Central

Yamashita, Takuya; Takenaka, Takaaki; Tokiwa, Yoshifumi; Wilcox, Joseph A.; Mizukami, Yuta; Terazawa, Daiki; Kasahara, Yuichi; Kittaka, Shunichiro; Sakakibara, Toshiro; Konczykowski, Marcin; Seiro, Silvia; Jeevan, Hirale S.; Geibel, Christoph; Putzke, Carsten; Onishi, Takafumi; Ikeda, Hiroaki; Carrington, Antony; Shibauchi, Takasada; Matsuda, Yuji

2017-01-01

In exotic superconductors, including high-Tc copper oxides, the interactions mediating electron Cooper pairing are widely considered to have a magnetic rather than a conventional electron-phonon origin. Interest in this exotic pairing was initiated by the 1979 discovery of heavy-fermion superconductivity in CeCu2Si2, which exhibits strong antiferromagnetic fluctuations. A hallmark of unconventional pairing by anisotropic repulsive interactions is that the superconducting energy gap changes sign as a function of the electron momentum, often leading to nodes where the gap goes to zero. We report low-temperature specific heat, thermal conductivity, and magnetic penetration depth measurements in CeCu2Si2, demonstrating the absence of gap nodes at any point on the Fermi surface. Moreover, electron irradiation experiments reveal that the superconductivity survives even when the electron mean free path becomes substantially shorter than the superconducting coherence length. This indicates that superconductivity is robust against impurities, implying that there is no sign change in the gap function. These results show that, contrary to long-standing belief, heavy electrons with extremely strong Coulomb repulsions can condense into a fully gapped s-wave superconducting state, which has an on-site attractive pairing interaction. PMID:28691082

Spectral probes of the holographic Fermi ground state: Dialing between the electron star and AdS Dirac hair

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cubrovic, Mihailo; Liu Yan; Schalm, Koenraad

2011-10-15

We argue that the electron star and the anti-de Sitter (AdS) Dirac hair solution are two limits of the free charged Fermi gas in AdS. Spectral functions of holographic duals to probe fermions in the background of electron stars have a free parameter that quantifies the number of constituent fermions that make up the charge and energy density characterizing the electron star solution. The strict electron star limit takes this number to be infinite. The Dirac hair solution is the limit where this number is unity. This is evident in the behavior of the distribution of holographically dual Fermi surfaces.more » As we decrease the number of constituents in a fixed electron star background the number of Fermi surfaces also decreases. An improved holographic Fermi ground state should be a configuration that shares the qualitative properties of both limits.« less

Time-reversal symmetry-breaking superconductivity in epitaxial bismuth/nickel bilayers.

PubMed

Gong, Xinxin; Kargarian, Mehdi; Stern, Alex; Yue, Di; Zhou, Hexin; Jin, Xiaofeng; Galitski, Victor M; Yakovenko, Victor M; Xia, Jing

2017-03-01

Superconductivity that spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry (TRS) has been found, so far, only in a handful of three-dimensional (3D) crystals with bulk inversion symmetry. We report an observation of spontaneous TRS breaking in a 2D superconducting system without inversion symmetry: the epitaxial bilayer films of bismuth and nickel. The evidence comes from the onset of the polar Kerr effect at the superconducting transition in the absence of an external magnetic field, detected by the ultrasensitive loop-less fiber-optic Sagnac interferometer. Because of strong spin-orbit interaction and lack of inversion symmetry in a Bi/Ni bilayer, superconducting pairing cannot be classified as singlet or triplet. We propose a theoretical model where magnetic fluctuations in Ni induce the superconducting pairing of the [Formula: see text] orbital symmetry between the electrons in Bi. In this model, the order parameter spontaneously breaks the TRS and has a nonzero phase winding number around the Fermi surface, thus making it a rare example of a 2D topological superconductor.

Possible superconductivity in Sr₂IrO₄ probed by quasiparticle interference.

PubMed

Gao, Yi; Zhou, Tao; Huang, Huaixiang; Wang, Qiang-Hua

2015-03-18

Based on the possible superconducting (SC) pairing symmetries recently proposed, the quasiparticle interference (QPI) patterns in electron- and hole-doped Sr₂IrO₄ are theoretically investigated. In the electron-doped case, the QPI spectra can be explained based on a model similar to the octet model of the cuprates while in the hole-doped case, both the Fermi surface topology and the sign of the SC order parameter resemble those of the iron pnictides and there exists a QPI vector resulting from the interpocket scattering between the electron and hole pockets. In both cases, the evolution of the QPI vectors with energy and their behaviors in the nonmagnetic and magnetic impurity scattering cases can well be explained based on the evolution of the constant-energy contours and the sign structure of the SC order parameter. The QPI spectra presented in this paper can be compared with future scanning tunneling microscopy experiments to test whether there are SC phases in electron- and hole-doped Sr₂IrO₄ and what the pairing symmetry is.

Evidence of a 2D Fermi surface due to surface states in a p-type metallic Bi2Te3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrestha, K.; Marinova, V.; Lorenz, B.; Chu, C. W.

2018-05-01

We present a systematic quantum oscillations study on a metallic, p-type Bi2Te3 topological single crystal in magnetic fields up to B  =  7 T. The maxima/minima positions of oscillations measured at different tilt angles align to one another when plotted as a function of the normal component of magnetic field, confirming the presence of the 2D Fermi surface. Additionally, the Berry phase, β  =  0.4  ±  0.05 obtained from the Landau level fan plot, is very close to the theoretical value of 0.5 for the Dirac particles, confirming the presence of topological surface states in the Bi2Te3 single crystal. Using the Lifshitz–Kosevich analyses, the Fermi energy is estimated to be meV, which is lower than that of other bismuth-based topological systems. The detection of surface states in the Bi2Te3 crystal can be explained by our previous hypothesis of the lower position of the Fermi surface that cuts the ‘M’-shaped valence band maxima. As a result, the bulk state frequency is shifted to higher magnetic fields, which allows measurement of the surface states signal at low magnetic fields.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saperstein, E. E., E-mail: saper@mbslab.kiae.ru; Tolokonnikov, S. V.

Recent results obtained on the basis of the self-consistent theory of finite Fermi systems by employing the energy density functional proposed by Fayans and his coauthors are surveyed. These results are compared with the predictions of Skyrme–Hartree–Fock theory involving several popular versions of the Skyrme energy density functional. Spherical nuclei are predominantly considered. The charge radii of even and odd nuclei and features of low-lying 2{sup +} excitations in semimagic nuclei are discussed briefly. The single-particle energies ofmagic nuclei are examined inmore detail with allowance for corrections to mean-field theory that are induced by particle coupling to low-lying collective surfacemore » excitations (phonons). The importance of taking into account, in this problem, nonpole (tadpole) diagrams, which are usually disregarded, is emphasized. The spectroscopic factors of magic and semimagic nuclei are also considered. In this problem, only the surface term stemming from the energy dependence induced in the mass operator by the exchange of surface phonons is usually taken into account. The volume contribution associated with the energy dependence initially present in the mass operator within the self-consistent theory of finite Fermi systems because of the exchange of high-lying particle–hole excitations is also included in the spectroscopic factor. The results of the first studies that employed the Fayans energy density functional for deformed nuclei are also presented.« less

Numerical analysis of spin-orbit-coupled one-dimensional Fermi gas in a magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Y. H.

2015-06-01

Based on the density-matrix renormalization group and the infinite time-evolving block decimation methods we study the interacting spin-orbit-coupled 1D Fermi gas in a transverse magnetic field. We find that the system with an attractive interaction can have a polarized insulator phase, a superconducting (SC) phase, a Luther-Emery (LE) phase, and a band insulator phase as we vary the chemical potential and the strength of the magnetic field. Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) enhances the triplet pairing order at zero momentum in both the SC and the LE phase, which leads to an algebraically decaying correlation with the same exponent as that of the singlet pairing one. In contrast to the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase found in the spin imbalanced system without SOC, pairings at finite momentum in these two phases have larger exponents hence do not dictate the long-range behavior. We also test for the presence of Majorana fermions in this system. Unlike results from the mean-field study, we do not find positive evidence of Majorana fermions.

Proximity-induced mixed odd- and even-frequency pairing in monolayer NbSe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aliabad, Mojtaba Rahimi; Zare, Mohammad-Hossein

2018-06-01

Monolayer superconducting transition-metal dichalcogenide NbSe2 is a candidate for a nodal topological superconductor by magnetic field. Because of the so-called Ising spin-orbit coupling that strongly pins the electron spins to the out-of-plane direction, Cooper pairs in monolayer superconductor NbSe2 are protected against an applied in-plane magnetic field much larger than the Pauli limit. In monolayer NbSe2, in addition to the Fermi pockets at the corners of Brillouin zone with opposite crystal momentum similar to other semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenids, there is an extra Fermi pocket around the Γ point with much smaller spin splitting, which could lead to an alternative strategy for pairing possibilities that are manipulable by a smaller magnetic field. By considering a monolayer NbSe2-ferromagnet substrate junction, we explore the modified pairing correlations on the pocket at Γ point in hole-doped monolayer NbSe2. The underlying physics is fascinating as there is a delicate interplay of the induced exchange field and the Ising spin-orbit coupling. We realize a mixed singlet-triplet superconductivity, s +f , due to the Ising spin-orbit coupling. Moreover, our results reveal the admixture state including both odd- and even-frequency components, associated with the ferromagnetic proximity effect. Different frequency symmetries of the induced pairing correlations can be realized by manipulating the magnitude and direction of the induced magnetization.

Quantum dimer model for the pseudogap metal

PubMed Central

Punk, Matthias; Allais, Andrea; Sachdev, Subir

2015-01-01

We propose a quantum dimer model for the metallic state of the hole-doped cuprates at low hole density, p. The Hilbert space is spanned by spinless, neutral, bosonic dimers and spin S=1/2, charge +e fermionic dimers. The model realizes a “fractionalized Fermi liquid” with no symmetry breaking and small hole pocket Fermi surfaces enclosing a total area determined by p. Exact diagonalization, on lattices of sizes up to 8×8, shows anisotropic quasiparticle residue around the pocket Fermi surfaces. We discuss the relationship to experiments. PMID:26195771

Potentiometric Titrations for Measuring the Capacitance of Colloidal Photodoped ZnO Nanocrystals.

PubMed

Brozek, Carl K; Hartstein, Kimberly H; Gamelin, Daniel R

2016-08-24

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals offer a unique opportunity to bridge molecular and bulk semiconductor redox phenomena. Here, potentiometric titration is demonstrated as a method for quantifying the Fermi levels and charging potentials of free-standing colloidal n-type ZnO nanocrystals possessing between 0 and 20 conduction-band electrons per nanocrystal, corresponding to carrier densities between 0 and 1.2 × 10(20) cm(-3). Potentiometric titration of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals has not been described previously, and little precedent exists for analogous potentiometric titration of any soluble reductants involving so many electrons. Linear changes in Fermi level vs charge-carrier density are observed for each ensemble of nanocrystals, with slopes that depend on the nanocrystal size. Analysis indicates that the ensemble nanocrystal capacitance is governed by classical surface electrical double layers, showing no evidence of quantum contributions. Systematic shifts in the Fermi level are also observed with specific changes in the identity of the charge-compensating countercation. As a simple and contactless alternative to more common thin-film-based voltammetric techniques, potentiometric titration offers a powerful new approach for quantifying the redox properties of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals.

Interplanar coupling-dependent magnetoresistivity in high-purity layered metals

DOE PAGES

Kikugawa, N.; Goswami, P.; Kiswandhi, A.; ...

2016-03-29

The magnetic field-induced changes in the conductivity of metals are the subject of intense interest, both for revealing new phenomena and as a valuable tool for determining their Fermi surface. Here we report a hitherto unobserved magnetoresistive effect in ultra-clean layered metals, namely a negative longitudinal magnetoresistance that is capable of overcoming their very pronounced orbital one. This effect is correlated with the interlayer coupling disappearing for fields applied along the so-called Yamaji angles where the interlayer coupling vanishes. Therefore, it is intrinsically associated with the Fermi points in the field-induced quasi-one-dimensional electronic dispersion, implying that it results from themore » axial anomaly among these Fermi points. In its original formulation, the anomaly is predicted to violate separate number conservation laws for left- and right-handed chiral (for example, Weyl) fermions. Furthermore, its observation in PdCoO 2, PtCoO 2 and Sr 2RuO 4 suggests that the anomaly affects the transport of clean conductors, in particular near the quantum limit.« less

Effects of impurity adsorption on topological surface states of Bi2Te3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shati, Khaqan; Arshad Farhan, M.; Selva Chandrasekaran, S.; Shim, Ji Hoon; Lee, Geunsik

2017-08-01

Electronic structures of Bi2Te3 with adsorption of Rb, In, Ga and Au atoms are studied by using the first-principle method, focusing on the effect of non-magnetic impurities on the topologically protected surface states. Upon monolayer formation, the bulk conduction band is moved down to the Fermi level with a significant Rashba splitting due to n-doping behavior with band modification details depending on the adatom chemistry. Our study shows the robustness of the intrinsic spin-momentum coupled surface band and emergence of a new similar one, which could provide helpful insight for developing novel spintronic devices.

Superconducting materials with electron pairs localized on lattice ions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moizhes, B.Y.; Drabkin, I.A.

1983-07-01

We propose the following classification scheme for superconductors, depending on the probable type of electron--electron interaction: A) Semiconductors containing impurities with negative Hubbard energy in which pairs exist in r-space when T>T/sub c/: Pb/sub 1-x/Tl/sub x/Te, Ba(Pb/sub 1-x/Bi/sub x/)O/sub 3/xxx. In this case the superconducting phase transition must compete with the ordering of ions having different charges: Pb/sub 1-x/In/sub x/Te. B) Metals near the metal--insulator transition with virtual two-electron levels near the Fermi level: Na/sub x/WO/sub 3/. C) Metals containing ''active'' atoms (ions) with an odd number of electrons and a small Hubbard energy. We suggest that the contribution ofmore » diamagnetic polar configurations to the total energy of the metal can increase when coherent states are formed: Nb, La/sub 3/S/sub 4/, Nb/sub 1-x/Ti/sub x/xxx.« less

Superconductivity versus bound-state formation in a two-band superconductor with small Fermi energy: Applications to Fe pnictides/chalcogenides and doped SrTiO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chubukov, Andrey V.; Eremin, Ilya; Efremov, Dmitri V.

2016-05-01

We analyze the interplay between superconductivity and the formation of bound pairs of fermions (BCS-BEC crossover) in a 2D model of interacting fermions with small Fermi energy EF and weak attractive interaction, which extends to energies well above EF. The 2D case is special because a two-particle bound state forms at arbitrary weak interaction, and already at weak coupling, one has to distinguish between the bound-state formation and superconductivity. We briefly review the situation in the one-band model and then consider two different two-band models: one with one hole band and one electron band and another with two hole or two electron bands. In each case, we obtain the bound-state energy 2 E0 for two fermions in a vacuum and solve the set of coupled equations for the pairing gaps and the chemical potentials to obtain the onset temperature of the pairing Tins and the quasiparticle dispersion at T =0 . We then compute the superfluid stiffness ρs(T =0 ) and obtain the actual Tc. For definiteness, we set EF in one band to be near zero and consider different ratios of E0 and EF in the other band. We show that at EF≫E0 , the behavior of both two-band models is BCS-like in the sense that Tc≈Tins≪EF and Δ ˜Tc . At EF≪E0 , the two models behave differently: in the model with two hole/two electron bands, Tins˜E0/lnE/0EF , Δ ˜(E0EF) 1 /2 , and Tc˜EF , like in the one-band model. In between Tins and Tc, the system displays a preformed pair behavior. In the model with one hole and one electron bands, Tc remains of order Tins, and both remain finite at EF=0 and of the order of E0. The preformed pair behavior still does exist in this model because Tc is numerically smaller than Tins. For both models, we reexpress Tins in terms of the fully renormalized two-particle scattering amplitude by extending to the two-band case (the method pioneered by Gorkov and Melik-Barkhudarov back in 1961). We apply our results for the model with a hole and an electron band to Fe pnictides and Fe chalcogenides in which a superconducting gap has been detected on the bands that do not cross the Fermi level, and to FeSe, in which the superconducting gap is comparable to the Fermi energy. We apply the results for the model with two electron bands to Nb-doped SrTiO3 and argue that our theory explains the rapid increase of Tc when both bands start crossing the Fermi level.

The limits of the nuclear landscape explored by the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, X. W.; Lim, Y.; Zhao, P. W.; Liang, H. Z.; Qu, X. Y.; Chen, Y.; Liu, H.; Zhang, L. F.; Zhang, S. Q.; Kim, Y.; Meng, J.

2018-05-01

The ground-state properties of nuclei with 8 ⩽ Z ⩽ 120 from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line have been investigated using the spherical relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) theory with the relativistic density functional PC-PK1. With the effects of the continuum included, there are totally 9035 nuclei predicted to be bound, which largely extends the existing nuclear landscapes predicted with other methods. The calculated binding energies, separation energies, neutron and proton Fermi surfaces, root-mean-square (rms) radii of neutron, proton, matter, and charge distributions, ground-state spins and parities are tabulated. The extension of the nuclear landscape obtained with RCHB is discussed in detail, in particular for the neutron-rich side, in comparison with the relativistic mean field calculations without pairing correlations and also other predicted landscapes. It is found that the coupling between the bound states and the continuum due to the pairing correlations plays an essential role in extending the nuclear landscape. The systematics of the separation energies, radii, densities, potentials and pairing energies of the RCHB calculations are also discussed. In addition, the α-decay energies and proton emitters based on the RCHB calculations are investigated.

Electronegativity-dependent tin etching from thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pachecka, M., E-mail: m.pachecka@utwente.nl; Sturm, J. M.; Kruijs, R. W. E. van de

2016-07-15

The influence of a thin film substrate material on the etching of a thin layer of deposited tin (Sn) by hydrogen radicals was studied. The amount of remaining Sn was quantified for materials that cover a range of electronegativities. We show that, for metals, etching depends on the relative electronegativity of the surface material and Sn. Tin is chemically etched from surfaces with an electronegativity smaller than Sn, while incomplete Sn etching is observed for materials with an electronegativity larger than Sn. Furthermore, the amount of remaining Sn increases as the electronegativity of the surface material increases. We speculate, that,more » due to Fermi level differences in the material’s electronic structure, the energy of the two conduction bands shift such that the availability of electrons for binding with hydrogen is significantly reduced.« less

Model construction and superconductivity analysis of organic conductors β-(BDA-TTP)2MF6 (M = P, As, Sb and Ta) based on first-principles band calculation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aizawa, H.; Kuroki, K.; Yasuzuka, S.; Yamada, J.

2012-11-01

We perform a first-principles band calculation for a group of quasi-two-dimensional organic conductors β-(BDA-TTP)2MF6 (M = P, As, Sb and Ta). The ab-initio calculation shows that the density of states is correlated with the bandwidth of the singly occupied (highest) molecular orbital, while it is not necessarily correlated with the unit-cell volume. The direction of the major axis of the cross section of the Fermi surface lies in the Γ-B-direction, which differs from that obtained by the extended Hückel calculation. Then, we construct a tight-binding model which accurately reproduces the ab-initio band structure. The obtained transfer energies give a smaller dimerization than in the extended Hückel band. As to the difference in the anisotropy of the Fermi surface, the transfer energies along the inter-stacking direction are smaller than those obtained in the extended Hückel calculation. Assuming spin-fluctuation-mediated superconductivity, we apply random phase approximation to a two-band Hubbard model. This two-band Hubbard model is composed of the tight-binding model derived from the first-principles band structure and an on-site (intra-molecule) repulsive interaction taken as a variable parameter. The obtained superconducting gap changes sign four times along the Fermi surface like in a d-wave gap, and the nodal direction is different from that obtained in the extended Hückel model. Anion dependence of Tc is qualitatively consistent with the experimental observation.

Symmetry lowering of pentacene molecular states interacting with a Cu surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baldacchini, Chiara; Mariani, Carlo; Betti, Maria Grazia; Vobornik, Ivana; Fujii, Jun; Annese, Emilia; Rossi, Giorgio; Ferretti, Andrea; Calzolari, Arrigo; di Felice, Rosa; Ruini, Alice; Molinari, Elisa

2007-12-01

Pentacene adsorbed on the Cu(119) vicinal surface forms long-range ordered chain structures. Photoemission spectroscopy measurements and ab initio density functional theory simulations provide consistent evidences that pentacene molecular orbitals mix with the copper bands, giving rise to interaction states localized at the interface. Angular-resolved and polarization dependent photoemission spectroscopy shows that most of the pentacene derived intensity is strongly dichroic. The symmetry of the molecular states of the free pentacene molecules is reduced upon adsorption on Cu(119), as a consequence of the molecule-metal interaction. Theoretical results show a redistribution of the charge density in π molecular states close to the Fermi level, consistent with the photoemission intensities (density of states) and polarization dependence (orbital symmetry).

Anisotropic strain induced directional metallicity in highly epitaxial LaBaCo 2O 5.5+δ thin films on (110) NdGaO 3

DOE PAGES

Ma, Chunrui; Han, Dong; Liu, Ming; ...

2016-11-21

Highly directional-dependent metal-insulator transition is observed in epitaxial double perovskite LaBaCo 2O 5.5+δ films. The film exhibit metallic along [100], but remain semiconducting along [010] under application of a magnetic field parallel to the surface of the film. The physical origin for the properties is identified as in-plane tensile strain arising from oxygen vacancies. First-principle calculations suggested the tensile strain drastically alters the band gap, and the vanishing gap opens up [100] conduction channels for Fermi-surface electrons. Lastly, our observation of strain-induced highly directional-dependent metal-insulator transition may open up new dimension for multifunctional devices.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Koshelev, A. E.

Multiple-band electronic structure and proximity to antiferromagnetic (AF) instability are the key properties of iron-based superconductors. In this paper, we explore the influence of scattering by the AF spin fluctuations on transport of multiple-band metals above the magnetic transition. A salient feature of scattering on the AF fluctuations is that it is strongly enhanced at the Fermi surface locations where the nesting is perfect (“hot spots” or “hot lines”). We review derivation of the collision integral for the Boltzmann equation due to AF-fluctuations scattering. In the paramagnetic state, the enhanced scattering rate near the hot lines leads to anomalous behaviormore » of electronic transport in magnetic field. We explore this behavior by analytically solving the Boltzmann transport equation with approximate transition rates. This approach accounts for return scattering events and is more accurate than the relaxation-time approximation. The magnetic-field dependences are characterized by two very different field scales: the lower scale is set by the hot-spot width and the higher scale is set by the total scattering amplitude. A conventional magnetotransport behavior is limited to magnetic fields below the lower scale. In the wide range in-between these two scales, the longitudinal conductivity has linear dependence on the magnetic field and the Hall conductivity has quadratic dependence. The linear dependence of the diagonal component reflects growth of the Fermi-surface area affected by the hot spots proportional to the magnetic field. Finally, we discuss applicability of this theoretical framework for describing of anomalous magnetotransport properties in different iron pnictides and chalcogenides in the paramagnetic state.« less

Interaction quantum quenches in the one-dimensional Fermi-Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heidrich-Meisner, Fabian; Bauer, Andreas; Dorfner, Florian; Riegger, Luis; Orso, Giuliano

2016-05-01

We discuss the nonequilibrium dynamics in two interaction quantum quenches in the one-dimensional Fermi-Hubbard model. First, we study the decay of the Néel state as a function of interaction strength. We observe a fast charge dynamics over which double occupancies are built up, while the long-time decay of the staggered moment is controlled by spin excitations, corroborated by the analysis of the entanglement dynamics. Second, we investigate the formation of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) correlations in a spin-imbalanced system in quenches from the noninteracting case to attractive interactions. Even though the quench puts the system at a finite energy density, peaks at the characteristic FFLO quasimomenta are visible in the quasi-momentum distribution function, albeit with an exponential decay of s-wave pairing correlations. We also discuss the imprinting of FFLO correlations onto repulsively bound pairs and their rapid decay in ramps. Supported by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) via FOR 1807.

Pseudogap Regime of a Two-dimensional Uniform Fermi Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, Morio; Hanai, Ryo; Inotani, Daisuke; Ohashi, Yoji

2018-01-01

We investigate pseudogap phenomena in a two-dimensional Fermi gas. Including pairing fluctuations within a self-consistent T-matrix approximation, we determine the pseudogap temperature T* below which a dip appears in the density of states ρ(ω) around the Fermi level. Evaluating T*, we identify the pseudogap region in the phase diagram of this system. We find that, while the observed Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition temperature TBKTexp in a 6Li Fermi gas is in the pseudogap regime, the detailed pseudogap structure in ρ(ω) at TBKTexp still differs from a fully-gapped one, indicating the importance of amplitude fluctuations in the Cooper channel there. Since the observed TBKTexp in the weak-coupling regime cannot be explained by the recent BKT theory which only includes phase fluctuations, our results may provide a hint about how to improve this BKT theory. Although ρ(ω) has not been measured in this system, we show that the assessment of our results is still possible by using the observable Tan's contact.

Magnetic Pair Creation Attenuation Altitude Constraints in Gamma-Ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baring, Matthew; Story, Sarah

The Fermi gamma-ray pulsar database now exceeds 150 sources and has defined an important part of Fermi's science legacy, providing rich information for the interpretation of young energetic pulsars and old millisecond pulsars. Among the well established population characteristics is the common occurrence of exponential turnovers in the 1-10 GeV range. These turnovers are too gradual to arise from magnetic pair creation in the strong magnetic fields of pulsar inner magnetospheres, so their energy can be used to provide lower bounds to the typical altitude of GeV band emission. We explore such constraints due to single-photon pair creation transparency at and below the turnover energy. Our updated computations span both domains when general relativistic influences are important and locales where flat spacetime photon propagation is modified by rotational aberration effects. The altitude bounds, typically in the range of 2-5 stellar radii, provide key information on the emission altitude in radio quiet pulsars that do not possess double-peaked pulse profiles. However, the exceptional case of the Crab pulsar provides an altitude bound of around 20% of the light cylinder radius if pair transparency persists out to 350 GeV, the maximum energy detected by MAGIC. This is an impressive new physics-based constraint on the Crab's gamma-ray emission locale.

Magnetic Pair Creation Transparency in Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Story, Sarah; Baring, M. G.

2013-04-01

The Fermi gamma-ray pulsar database now exceeds 115 sources and has defined an important part of Fermi's science legacy, providing rich information for the interpretation of young energetic pulsars and old millisecond pulsars. Among the well established population characteristics is the common occurrence of exponential turnovers in the 1-10 GeV range. These turnovers are too gradual to arise from magnetic pair creation in the strong magnetic fields of pulsar inner magnetospheres, so their energy can be used to provide lower bounds to the typical altitude of GeV band emission. We explore such constraints due to single-photon pair creation transparency below the turnover energy. We adopt a semi-analytic approach, spanning both domains when general relativistic influences are important and locales where flat spacetime photon propagation is modified by rotational aberration effects. Our work clearly demonstrates that including near-threshold physics in the pair creation rate is essential to deriving accurate attenuation lengths. The altitude bounds, typically in the range of 2-6 neutron star radii, provide key information on the emission altitude in radio quiet pulsars that do not possess double-peaked pulse profiles. For the Crab pulsar, which emits pulsed radiation up to energies of 120 GeV, we obtain a lower bound of around 15 neutron star radii to its emission altitude.

Stimulated emission of Cooper pairs in a high-temperature cuprate superconductor

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Wentao; Miller, Tristan; Smallwood, Christopher L.; ...

2016-07-01

The concept of stimulated emission of bosons has played an important role in modern science and technology, and constitutes the working principle for lasers. In a stimulated emission process, an incoming photon enhances the probability that an excited atomic state will transition to a lower energy state and generate a second photon of the same energy. It is expected, but not experimentally shown, that stimulated emission contributes significantly to the zero resistance current in a superconductor by enhancing the probability that scattered Cooper pairs will return to the macroscopically occupied condensate instead of entering any other state. Here, we usemore » time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study the initial rise of the non-equilibrium quasiparticle population in a Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ cuprate superconductor induced by an ultrashort laser pulse. Our finding reveals significantly slower buildup of quasiparticles in the superconducting state than in the normal state. The slower buildup only occurs when the pump pulse is too weak to deplete the superconducting condensate, and for cuts inside the Fermi arc region. We propose this is a manifestation of stimulated recombination of broken Cooper pairs, and signals an important momentum space dichotomy in the formation of Cooper pairs inside and outside the Fermi arc region.« less

Resonant Compton Upscattering Models of Magnetar Hard X-ray Emission and Polarization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baring, Matthew G.; Wadiasingh, Zorawar; Gonthier, Peter L.; Kust Harding, Alice

2017-08-01

Non-thermal quiescent X-ray emission extending between 10 keV and around 150 keV has been seen in about 10 magnetars by RXTE, INTEGRAL, Suzaku and Fermi-GBM. For inner magnetospheric models of such hard X-ray signals, resonant Compton upscattering is anticipated to be the most efficient process for generating the continuum radiation. This is because the scattering becomes resonant at the cyclotron frequency, and the effective cross section exceeds the classical Thomson value by over two orders of magnitude. We present angle-dependent hard X-ray upscattering model spectra for uncooled monoenergetic relativistic electrons injected in inner regions of pulsar magnetospheres. These spectra are integrated over closed field lines and obtained for different observing perspectives. The spectral cut-off energies are critically dependent on the observer viewing angles and electron Lorentz factor. We find that electrons with energies less than around 15 MeV will emit most of their radiation below 250 keV, consistent with the observed turnovers in magnetar hard X-ray tails. Moreover, electrons of higher energy still emit most of the radiation below around 1 MeV, except for quasi-equatorial emission locales for select pulses phases. In such cases, attenuation mechanisms such as pair creation will be prolific, thereby making it difficult to observe signals extending into the Fermi-LAT band. Our spectral computations use new state-of-the-art, spin-dependent formalism for the QED Compton scattering cross section in strong magnetic fields. The emission exhibits strong polarization above around 30 keV that is anticipated to be dependent on pulse phase, thereby defining science agendas for future hard X-ray polarimeters.

Spin-dependent analysis of two-dimensional electron liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bulutay, C.; Tanatar, B.

2002-05-01

Two-dimensional electron liquid (2D EL) at full Fermi degeneracy is revisited, giving special attention to the spin-polarization effects. First, we extend the recently proposed classical-map hypernetted-chain (CHNC) technique to the 2D EL, while preserving the simplicity of the original proposal. An efficient implementation of CHNC is given utilizing Lado's quadrature expressions for the isotropic Fourier transforms. Our results indicate that the paramagnetic phase stays to be the ground state until the Wigner crystallization density, even though the energy separation with the ferromagnetic and other partially polarized states become minute. We analyze compressibility and spin stiffness variations with respect to density and spin polarization, the latter being overlooked until now. Spin-dependent static structure factor and pair-distribution functions are computed; agreement with the available quantum Monte Carlo data persists even in the strong-coupling regime of the 2D EL.

Nonmonotonic pressure evolution of the upper critical field in superconducting FeSe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaluarachchi, Udhara S.; Taufour, Valentin; Böhmer, Anna E.

2016-02-01

The pressure dependence of the upper critical field, H c2,c, of single crystalline FeSe was studied using measurements of the interplane resistivity, ρ c, in magnetic fields parallel to tetragonal c axis. H c2,c(T) curves obtained under hydrostatic pressures up to 1.56 GPa, the range over which the superconducting transition temperature, T c, of FeSe exhibits a nonmonotonic dependence with local maximum at p 1 ≈ 0.8 GPa and local minimum at p 2 ≈ 1.2 GPa. The slope of the upper critical field at T c,(dH c2,c/dT)T c, also exhibits a nonmonotonic pressure dependence with distinct changes at pmore » 1 and p 2. For p < p 1 the slope can be described within a multiband orbital model. For both p 1 < p < p 2 and p > p 2 the slope is in good semiquantitative agreement with a single band, orbital Helfand-Werthamer theory with Fermi velocities determined from Shubnikov–de Haas measurements. Lastly, this finding indicates that Fermi surface changes are responsible for the local minimum of T c(p) at p 2 ≈ 1.2 GPa.« less

Enhanced electron emission from coated metal targets: Effect of surface thickness on performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Madas, Saibabu; Mishra, S. K.; Upadhyay Kahaly, Mousumi

2018-03-01

In this work, we establish an analytical formalism to address the temperature dependent electron emission from a metallic target with thin coating, operating at a finite temperature. Taking into account three dimensional parabolic energy dispersion for the target (base) material and suitable thickness dependent energy dispersion for the coating layer, Fermi Dirac statistics of electron energy distribution and Fowler's mechanism of the electron emission, we discuss the dependence of the emission flux on the physical properties such as the Fermi level, work function, thickness of the coating material, and operating temperature. Our systematic estimation of how the thickness of coating affects the emission current demonstrates superior emission characteristics for thin coating layer at high temperature (above 1000 K), whereas in low temperature regime, a better response is expected from thicker coating layer. This underlying fundamental behavior appears to be essentially identical for all configurations when work function of the coating layer is lower than that of the bulk target work function. The analysis and predictions could be useful in designing new coated materials with suitable thickness for applications in the field of thin film devices and field emitters.

Nodal quasiparticle dynamics in the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn₅ revealed by precision microwave spectroscopy.

PubMed

Truncik, C J S; Huttema, W A; Turner, P J; Ozcan, S; Murphy, N C; Carrière, P R; Thewalt, E; Morse, K J; Koenig, A J; Sarrao, J L; Broun, D M

2013-01-01

CeCoIn₅ is a heavy fermion superconductor with strong similarities to the high-Tc cuprates, including quasi-two-dimensionality, proximity to antiferromagnetism and probable d-wave pairing arising from a non-Fermi-liquid normal state. Experiments allowing detailed comparisons of their electronic properties are of particular interest, but in most cases are difficult to realize, due to their very different transition temperatures. Here we use low-temperature microwave spectroscopy to study the charge dynamics of the CeCoIn₅ superconducting state. The similarities to cuprates, in particular to ultra-clean YBa₂Cu₃O(y), are striking: the frequency and temperature dependence of the quasiparticle conductivity are instantly recognizable, a consequence of rapid suppression of quasiparticle scattering below T(c); and penetration-depth data, when properly treated, reveal a clean, linear temperature dependence of the quasiparticle contribution to superfluid density. The measurements also expose key differences, including prominent multiband effects and a temperature-dependent renormalization of the quasiparticle mass.

Structure of the two-neutrino double-β decay matrix elements within perturbation theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Štefánik, Dušan; Šimkovic, Fedor; Faessler, Amand

2015-06-01

The two-neutrino double-β Gamow-Teller and Fermi transitions are studied within an exactly solvable model, which allows a violation of both spin-isospin SU(4) and isospin SU(2) symmetries, and is expressed with generators of the SO(8) group. It is found that this model reproduces the main features of realistic calculation within the quasiparticle random-phase approximation with isospin symmetry restoration concerning the dependence of the two-neutrino double-β decay matrix elements on isovector and isoscalar particle-particle interactions. By using perturbation theory an explicit dependence of the two-neutrino double-β decay matrix elements on the like-nucleon pairing, particle-particle T =0 and T =1 , and particle-hole proton-neutron interactions is obtained. It is found that double-β decay matrix elements do not depend on the mean field part of Hamiltonian and that they are governed by a weak violation of both SU(2) and SU(4) symmetries by the particle-particle interaction of Hamiltonian. It is pointed out that there is a dominance of two-neutrino double-β decay transition through a single state of intermediate nucleus. The energy position of this state relative to energies of initial and final ground states is given by a combination of strengths of residual interactions. Further, energy-weighted Fermi and Gamow-Teller sum rules connecting Δ Z =2 nuclei are discussed. It is proposed that these sum rules can be used to study the residual interactions of the nuclear Hamiltonian, which are relevant for charge-changing nuclear transitions.

Fermi-surface reconstruction and the origin of high-temperature superconductivity.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Norman, M. R.; Materials Science Division

2010-01-01

In crystalline lattices, the conduction electrons form waves, known as Bloch states, characterized by a momentum vector k. The defining characteristic of metals is the surface in momentum space that separates occupied from unoccupied states. This 'Fermi' surface may seem like an abstract concept, but it can be measured and its shape can have profound consequences for the thermal, electronic, and magnetic properties of a material. In the presence of an external magnetic field B, electrons in a metal spiral around the field direction, and within a semiclassical momentum-space picture, orbit around the Fermi surface. Physical properties, such as themore » magnetization, involve a sum over these orbits, with extremal orbits on the Fermi surface, i.e., orbits with minimal or maximal area, dominating the sum [Fig. 1(a)]. Upon quantization, the resulting electron energy spectrum consists of Landau levels separated by the cyclotron energy, which is proportional to the magnetic field. As the magnetic field causes subsequent Landau levels to cross through the Fermi energy, physical quantities, such as the magnetization or resistivity, oscillate in response. It turns out that the period of these oscillations, when plotted as a function of 1/B, is proportional to the area of the extremal orbit in a plane perpendicular to the applied field [Fig. 1(b)]. The power of the quantum oscillation technique is obvious: By changing the field direction, one can map out the Fermi surface, much like a blind man feeling an elephant. The nature and topology of the Fermi surface in high-T{sub c} cuprates has been debated for many years. Soon after the materials were discovered by Bednorz and Mueller, it was realized that superconductivity was obtained by doping carriers into a parent insulating state. This insulating state appears to be due to strong electronic correlations, and is known as a Mott insulator. In the case of cuprates, the electronic interactions force the electrons on the copper ion lattice into a d{sup 9} configuration, with one localized hole in the 3d shell per copper site. Given the localized nature of this state, it was questioned whether a momentum-space picture was an appropriate description of the physics of the cuprates. In fact, this question relates to a long-standing debate in the physics community: Since the parent state is also an antiferromagnet, one can, in principle, map the Mott insulator to a band insulator with magnetic order. In this 'Slater' picture, Mott physics is less relevant than the magnetism itself. It is therefore unclear which of the two, magnetism or Mott physics, is more fundamentally tied to superconductivity in the cuprates. After twenty years of effort, definitive quantum oscillations that could be used to map the Fermi surface were finally observed in a high-temperature cuprate superconductor in 2007. This and subsequent studies reveal a profound rearrangement of the Fermi surface in underdoped cuprates. The cause of the reconstruction, and its implication for the origin of high-temperature superconductivity, is a subject of active debate.« less

Textured-surface quartz resonator fluid density and viscosity monitor

DOEpatents

Martin, Stephen J.; Wiczer, James J.; Cernosek, Richard W.; Frye, Gregory C.; Gebert, Charles T.; Casaus, Leonard; Mitchell, Mary A.

1998-08-25

A pair of thickness-shear mode resonators, one smooth and one with a textured surface, allows fluid density and viscosity to be independently resolved. A textured surface, either randomly rough or regularly patterned, leads to trapping of liquid at the device surface. The synchronous motion of this trapped liquid with the oscillating device surface allows the device to weigh the liquid; this leads to an additional response that depends on liquid density. This additional response enables a pair of devices, one smooth and one textured, to independently resolve liquid density and viscosity; the difference in responses determines the density while the smooth device determines the density-viscosity product, and thus, the pair determines both density and viscosity.

Pairing fluctuations and the superfluid density through the BCS-BEC crossover

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, E.; Griffin, A.; Fukushima, N.

2006-12-15

We derive an expression for the superfluid density of a uniform two-component Fermi gas through the BCS-BEC crossover in terms of the thermodynamic potential in the presence of an imposed superfluid flow. Treating the pairing fluctuations in a Gaussian approximation following the approach of Nozieres and Schmitt-Rink, we use this definition of {rho}{sub s} to obtain an explicit result which is valid at finite temperatures and over the full BCS-BEC crossover. It is crucial that the BCS gap {delta}, the chemical potential {mu}, and {rho}{sub s} all include the effect of fluctuations at the same level in a self-consistent manner.more » We show that the normal fluid density {rho}{sub n}{identical_to}n-{rho}{sub s} naturally separates into a sum of contributions from Fermi BCS quasiparticles ({rho}{sub n}{sup F}) and Bose collective modes ({rho}{sub n}{sup B}). The expression for {rho}{sub n}{sup F} is just Landau's formula for a BCS Fermi superfluid but now calculated over the BCS-BEC crossover. The expression for the Bose contribution {rho}{sub n}{sup B} is more complicated and only reduces to Landau's formula for a Bose superfluid in the extreme BEC limit, where all the fermions have formed stable Bose pairs and the Bogoliubov excitations of the associated molecular Bose condensate are undamped. In a companion paper, we present numerical calculations of {rho}{sub s} using an expression equivalent to the one derived in this paper, over the BCS-BEC crossover, including unitarity, and at finite temperatures.« less

Gap structure in Fe-based superconductors with accidental nodes: The role of hybridization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinojosa, Alberto; Chubukov, Andrey V.

2015-06-01

We study the effects of hybridization between the two electron pockets in Fe-based superconductors with s -wave gap with accidental nodes. We argue that hybridization reconstructs the Fermi surfaces and also induces an additional interpocket pairing component. We analyze how these two effects modify the gap structure by tracing the position of the nodal points of the energy dispersions in the superconducting state. We find three possible outcomes. In the first, the nodes simply shift their positions in the Brillouin zone; in the second, the nodes merge and disappear, in which case the gap function has either equal or opposite signs on the electron pockets; in the third, a new set of nodal points emerges, doubling the original number of nodes.

Gyrotropic Magnetic Effect and the Magnetic Moment on the Fermi Surface.

PubMed

Zhong, Shudan; Moore, Joel E; Souza, Ivo

2016-02-19

The current density j^{B} induced in a clean metal by a slowly-varying magnetic field B is formulated as the low-frequency limit of natural optical activity, or natural gyrotropy. Working with a multiband Pauli Hamiltonian, we obtain from the Kubo formula a simple expression for α_{ij}^{GME}=j_{i}^{B}/B_{j} in terms of the intrinsic magnetic moment (orbital plus spin) of the Bloch electrons on the Fermi surface. An alternate semiclassical derivation provides an intuitive picture of the effect, and takes into account the influence of scattering processes in dirty metals. This "gyrotropic magnetic effect" is fundamentally different from the chiral magnetic effect driven by the chiral anomaly and governed by the Berry curvature on the Fermi surface, and the two effects are compared for a minimal model of a Weyl semimetal. Like the Berry curvature, the intrinsic magnetic moment should be regarded as a basic ingredient in the Fermi-liquid description of transport in broken-symmetry metals.

Shubnikov-de Haas quantum oscillations reveal a reconstructed Fermi surface near optimal doping in a thin film of the cuprate superconductor Pr 1.86 Ce 0.14 CuO 4 ± δ

DOE PAGES

Breznay, Nicholas P.; Hayes, Ian M.; Ramshaw, B. J.; ...

2016-09-16

In this work, we study magnetotransport properties of the electron-doped superconductor Pr 2-xCe xCuO 4±δ with x = 0.14 in magnetic fields up to 92 T, and observe Shubnikov-de Haas magnetic quantum oscillations. The oscillations display a single frequency F = 255 ± 10 T, indicating a small Fermi pocket that is ~1 % of the two-dimensional Brillouin zone and consistent with a Fermi surface reconstructed from the large holelike cylinder predicted for these layered materials. Despite the low nominal doping, all electronic properties including the effective mass and Hall effect are consistent with overdoped compounds. In conclusion, our studymore » demonstrates that the exceptional chemical control afforded by high quality thin films will enable Fermi surface studies deep into the overdoped cuprate phase diagram.« less

Gyrotropic Magnetic Effect and the Magnetic Moment on the Fermi Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Shudan; Moore, Joel E.; Souza, Ivo

2016-02-01

The current density jB induced in a clean metal by a slowly-varying magnetic field B is formulated as the low-frequency limit of natural optical activity, or natural gyrotropy. Working with a multiband Pauli Hamiltonian, we obtain from the Kubo formula a simple expression for αij GME=jiB/Bj in terms of the intrinsic magnetic moment (orbital plus spin) of the Bloch electrons on the Fermi surface. An alternate semiclassical derivation provides an intuitive picture of the effect, and takes into account the influence of scattering processes in dirty metals. This "gyrotropic magnetic effect" is fundamentally different from the chiral magnetic effect driven by the chiral anomaly and governed by the Berry curvature on the Fermi surface, and the two effects are compared for a minimal model of a Weyl semimetal. Like the Berry curvature, the intrinsic magnetic moment should be regarded as a basic ingredient in the Fermi-liquid description of transport in broken-symmetry metals.

Enhanced Electromagnetic and Chemical/Biological Sensing. Properties of Atomic Cluster-Derived Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-02-24

electron injection at interfaces, analysis of the voltage dependence of the electrostatic potential across molecules, the nature of binding at the...nanoscale titania into a metallic surface), analysis of the so-called band lineup between the molecular levels and the Fermi levels of the metal...observe the CNT’s in the electron microscope with the possibility to manipulate them externally and to apply potentials to them. These new

Converting topological insulators into topological metals within the tetradymite family

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, K.-W.; Aryal, N.; Dai, J.; Graf, D.; Zhang, S.; Das, S.; Le Fèvre, P.; Bertran, F.; Yukawa, R.; Horiba, K.; Kumigashira, H.; Frantzeskakis, E.; Fortuna, F.; Balicas, L.; Santander-Syro, A. F.; Manousakis, E.; Baumbach, R. E.

2018-04-01

We report the electronic band structures and concomitant Fermi surfaces for a family of exfoliable tetradymite compounds with the formula T2C h2P n , obtained as a modification to the well-known topological insulator binaries Bi2(Se,Te ) 3 by replacing one chalcogen (C h ) with a pnictogen (P n ) and Bi with the tetravalent transition metals T = Ti, Zr, or Hf. This imbalances the electron count and results in layered metals characterized by relatively high carrier mobilities and bulk two-dimensional Fermi surfaces whose topography is well-described by first-principles calculations. Intriguingly, slab electronic structure calculations predict Dirac-like surface states. In contrast to Bi2Se3 , where the surface Dirac bands are at the Γ point, for (Zr,Hf ) 2Te2 (P,As) there are Dirac cones of strong topological character around both the Γ ¯ and M ¯ points, which are above and below the Fermi energy, respectively. For Ti2Te2P , the surface state is predicted to exist only around the M ¯ point. In agreement with these predictions, the surface states that are located below the Fermi energy are observed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements, revealing that they coexist with the bulk metallic state. Thus this family of materials provides a foundation upon which to develop novel phenomena that exploit both the bulk and surface states (e.g., topological superconductivity).

Metal-insulator quantum critical point beneath the high Tc superconducting dome.

PubMed

Sebastian, Suchitra E; Harrison, N; Altarawneh, M M; Mielke, C H; Liang, Ruixing; Bonn, D A; Hardy, W N; Lonzarich, G G

2010-04-06

An enduring question in correlated systems concerns whether superconductivity is favored at a quantum critical point (QCP) characterized by a divergent quasiparticle effective mass. Despite such a scenario being widely postulated in high T(c) cuprates and invoked to explain non-Fermi liquid transport signatures, experimental evidence is lacking for a critical divergence under the superconducting dome. We use ultrastrong magnetic fields to measure quantum oscillations in underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6+x), revealing a dramatic doping-dependent upturn in quasiparticle effective mass at a critical metal-insulator transition beneath the superconducting dome. Given the location of this QCP under a plateau in T(c) in addition to a postulated QCP at optimal doping, we discuss the intriguing possibility of two intersecting superconducting subdomes, each centered at a critical Fermi surface instability.

Electronic structures of of PuX (X=S, Se, Te)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maehira, Takahiro; Sakai, Eijiro; Tatetsu, Yasutomi

2013-08-01

We have calculated the energy band structures and the Fermi surfaces of PuS, PuSe, and PuTe by using a self-consistent relativistic linear augmented-plane-wave method with the exchange and correlation potential in the local density approximation. In general, the energy bands near the Fermi level are mainly caused by the hybridization between the Pu 5 f and the monochalcogenide p electrons. The obtained main Fermi surfaces consisted of two hole sheets and one electron sheet, which were constructed from the band having both the Pu 5 f state and the monochalcogenide p state.

Multiple charge density wave states at the surface of TbT e 3

DOE PAGES

Fu, Ling; Kraft, Aaron M.; Sharma, Bishnu; ...

2016-11-01

We studied TbTe 3 using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in the temperature range of 298–355 K. Our measurements detect a unidirectional charge density wave (CDW) state in the surface Te layer with a wave vector consistent with that of the bulk q CDW = 0.30 ± 0.01c*. However, unlike previous STM measurements, and differing from measurements probing the bulk, we detect two perpendicular orientations for the unidirectional CDW with no directional preference for the in-plane crystal axes (a or c axis) and no noticeable difference in wave vector magnitude. In addition, we find regions in which the bidirectional CDW statesmore » coexist. We propose that observation of two unidirectional CDW states indicates a decoupling of the surface Te layer from the rare-earth block layer below, and that strain variations in the Te surface layer drive the local CDW direction to the specific unidirectional or, in rare occurrences, bidirectional CDW orders observed. This indicates that similar driving mechanisms for CDW formation in the bulk, where anisotropic lattice strain energy is important, are at play at the surface. Furthermore, the wave vectors for the bidirectional order we observe differ from those theoretically predicted for checkerboard order competing with stripe order in a Fermi-surface nesting scenario, suggesting that factors beyond Fermi-surface nesting drive CDW order in TbTe 3. As a result, our temperature-dependent measurements provide evidence for localized CDW formation above the bulk transition temperature T CDW.« less

Quantum oscillations in nodal line systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hui; Moessner, Roderich; Lim, Lih-King

2018-04-01

We study signatures of magnetic quantum oscillations in three-dimensional nodal line semimetals at zero temperature. The extended nature of the degenerate bands can result in a Fermi surface geometry with topological genus one, as well as a Fermi surface of electron and hole pockets encapsulating the nodal line. Moreover, the underlying two-band model to describe a nodal line is not unique, in that there are two classes of Hamiltonian with distinct band topology giving rise to the same Fermi-surface geometry. After identifying the extremal cyclotron orbits in various magnetic field directions, we study their concomitant Landau levels and resulting quantum oscillation signatures. By Landau-fan-diagram analyses, we extract the nontrivial π Berry phase signature for extremal orbits linking the nodal line.

Heavy fermion behavior in the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice CeCo 2Ga 8

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Le; Fu, Zhaoming; Sun, Jianping

Dimensionality plays an essential role in determining the anomalous non-Fermi liquid properties in heavy fermion systems. So far most heavy fermion compounds are quasi-two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Here we report the synthesis and systematic investigations of the single crystals of the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice CeCo 2Ga 8. Resistivity measurements at ambient pressure reveal the onset of coherence at T * ≈ 20 K and non-Fermi liquid behavior with linear temperature dependence over a decade in temperature from 2 to 0.1 K. The specific heat increases logarithmically with lowering temperature between 10 and 2 K and reaches 800 mJ/mol K 2 atmore » 1 K, suggesting that CeCo 2Ga 8 is a heavy fermion compound in the close vicinity of a quantum critical point. Resistivity measurements under pressure further confirm the non-Fermi liquid behavior in a large temperature–pressure range. The magnetic susceptibility is found to follow the typical behavior for a one-dimensional spin chain from 300 K down to T *, and first-principles calculations predict flat Fermi surfaces for the itinerant f-electron bands. These suggest that CeCo 2Ga 8 is a rare example of the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice, but its non-Fermi liquid behaviors resemble those of the quasi-two-dimensional YbRh 2Si 2 family. The study of the quasi-one-dimensional CeCo 2Ga 8 family may therefore help us to understand the role of dimensionality on heavy fermion physics and quantum criticality.« less

Heavy fermion behavior in the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice CeCo2Ga8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Le; Fu, Zhaoming; Sun, Jianping; Liu, Min; Yi, Wei; Yi, Changjiang; Luo, Yongkang; Dai, Yaomin; Liu, Guangtong; Matsushita, Yoshitaka; Yamaura, Kazunari; Lu, Li; Cheng, Jin-Guang; Yang, Yi-feng; Shi, Youguo; Luo, Jianlin

2017-07-01

Dimensionality plays an essential role in determining the anomalous non-Fermi liquid properties in heavy fermion systems. So far most heavy fermion compounds are quasi-two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Here we report the synthesis and systematic investigations of the single crystals of the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice CeCo2Ga8. Resistivity measurements at ambient pressure reveal the onset of coherence at T * ≈ 20 K and non-Fermi liquid behavior with linear temperature dependence over a decade in temperature from 2 to 0.1 K. The specific heat increases logarithmically with lowering temperature between 10 and 2 K and reaches 800 mJ/mol K2 at 1 K, suggesting that CeCo2Ga8 is a heavy fermion compound in the close vicinity of a quantum critical point. Resistivity measurements under pressure further confirm the non-Fermi liquid behavior in a large temperature-pressure range. The magnetic susceptibility is found to follow the typical behavior for a one-dimensional spin chain from 300 K down to T *, and first-principles calculations predict flat Fermi surfaces for the itinerant f-electron bands. These suggest that CeCo2Ga8 is a rare example of the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice, but its non-Fermi liquid behaviors resemble those of the quasi-two-dimensional YbRh2Si2 family. The study of the quasi-one-dimensional CeCo2Ga8 family may therefore help us to understand the role of dimensionality on heavy fermion physics and quantum criticality.

Heavy fermion behavior in the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice CeCo 2Ga 8

DOE PAGES

Wang, Le; Fu, Zhaoming; Sun, Jianping; ...

2017-07-04

Dimensionality plays an essential role in determining the anomalous non-Fermi liquid properties in heavy fermion systems. So far most heavy fermion compounds are quasi-two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Here we report the synthesis and systematic investigations of the single crystals of the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice CeCo 2Ga 8. Resistivity measurements at ambient pressure reveal the onset of coherence at T * ≈ 20 K and non-Fermi liquid behavior with linear temperature dependence over a decade in temperature from 2 to 0.1 K. The specific heat increases logarithmically with lowering temperature between 10 and 2 K and reaches 800 mJ/mol K 2 atmore » 1 K, suggesting that CeCo 2Ga 8 is a heavy fermion compound in the close vicinity of a quantum critical point. Resistivity measurements under pressure further confirm the non-Fermi liquid behavior in a large temperature–pressure range. The magnetic susceptibility is found to follow the typical behavior for a one-dimensional spin chain from 300 K down to T *, and first-principles calculations predict flat Fermi surfaces for the itinerant f-electron bands. These suggest that CeCo 2Ga 8 is a rare example of the quasi-one-dimensional Kondo lattice, but its non-Fermi liquid behaviors resemble those of the quasi-two-dimensional YbRh 2Si 2 family. The study of the quasi-one-dimensional CeCo 2Ga 8 family may therefore help us to understand the role of dimensionality on heavy fermion physics and quantum criticality.« less

Study of sulfur bonding on gallium arsenide (100) surfaces using supercritical fluid extraction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cabauy, P.; Darici, Y.; Furton, K.G.

1995-12-01

In the last decades Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) has been considered the semiconductor that will replace silicon because of its direct band gap and high electron mobility. Problems with GaAs Fermi level pinning has halted its widespread use in the electronics industry. The formation of oxides on GaAs results in a high density of surface states that effectively pin the surface Fermi level at the midgap. Studies on sulfur passivation have eliminated oxidation and virtually unpinned the Fermi level on the GaAs surface. This has given rise to interest in sulfur-GaAs bonds. In this presentation, we will discuss the types ofmore » sulfur bonds extracted from a sulfur passivated GaAs (100) using Supercritical Fluid (CO2) Extraction (SFE). SFE can be a valuable tool in the study of chemical speciations on semiconductor surfaces. The variables evaluated to effectively study the sulfur species from the GaAs surface include passivation techniques, supercritical fluid temperatures, densities, and extraction times.« less

Topological semimetals with Riemann surface states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Chen; Lu, Ling; Liu, Junwei; Fu, Liang

Topological semimetals have robust bulk band crossings between the conduction and the valence bands. Among them, Weyl semimetals are so far the only class having topologically protected signatures on the surface known as the ``Fermi arcs''. Here we theoretically find new classes of topological semimetals protected by nonsymmorphic glide reflection symmetries. On a symmetric surface, there are multiple Fermi arcs protected by nontrivial Z2 spectral flows between two high-symmetry lines (or two segments of one line) in the surface Brillouin zone. We observe that so far topological semimetals with protected Fermi arcs have surface dispersions that can be mapped to noncompact Riemann surfaces representing simple holomorphic functions. We propose perovskite superlattice [(SrIrO3)2m, (CaIrO3)2n] as a nonsymmorphic Dirac semimetal. C.F. and L.F. were supported by the S3TEC Solid State Solar Thermal Energy Conversion Center, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (BES), under Award No. DE-SC0001299/DE.

Anisotropic breakdown of Fermi liquid quasiparticle excitations in overdoped La₂-xSrxCuO₄.

PubMed

Chang, J; Månsson, M; Pailhès, S; Claesson, T; Lipscombe, O J; Hayden, S M; Patthey, L; Tjernberg, O; Mesot, J

2013-01-01

High-temperature superconductivity emerges from an un-conventional metallic state. This has stimulated strong efforts to understand exactly how Fermi liquids breakdown and evolve into an un-conventional metal. A fundamental question is how Fermi liquid quasiparticle excitations break down in momentum space. Here we show, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, that the Fermi liquid quasiparticle excitations of the overdoped superconducting cuprate La1.77Sr0.23CuO4 is highly anisotropic in momentum space. The quasiparticle scattering and residue behave differently along the Fermi surface and hence the Kadowaki-Wood's relation is not obeyed. This kind of Fermi liquid breakdown may apply to a wide range of strongly correlated metal systems where spin fluctuations are present.

Competition Between Pairing and Ferromagnetic Instabilities in Ultracold Fermi Gases Near Feshbach Resonances

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-13

see the inset of Fig. 1). Thus, the two-body pairing process becomes for- bidden when the binding energy ∼ 1/ ma2 exceeds the maxi- mum energy that can...matrix in vacuum. For each value of the scattering length, the T-matrix has a line of poles on the BEC side located at ωq = Ωq+i∆q = −1/ ma2 + mq2/4

Quantum Phases of Matter in Optical Lattices

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-30

doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.89.013625 Hyungwon Kim, David A. Huse. Ballistic Spreading of Entanglement in a Diffusive Nonintegrable System, Physical...Review B, (07 2013): 0. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.014206 Lin Dong, Lei Jiang, Han Pu. Fulde–Ferrell pairing instability in spin–orbit coupled Fermi...PhysRevA.87.051603 Kuei Sun, C. J. Bolech. Pair tunneling, phase separation, and dimensional crossover in imbalanced fermionic superfluids in a coupled

Controlled calculation of the thermal conductivity for a spinon Fermi surface coupled to a U(1) gauge field

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Freire, Hermann, E-mail: hfreire@mit.edu

2014-10-15

Motivated by recent transport measurements on the candidate spin-liquid phase of the organic triangular lattice insulator EtMe{sub 3}Sb[Pd(dmit){sub 2}]{sub 2}, we perform a controlled calculation of the thermal conductivity at intermediate temperatures in a spin liquid system where a spinon Fermi surface is coupled to a U(1) gauge field. The present computation builds upon the double expansion approach developed by Mross et al. (2010) for small ϵ=z{sub b}−2 (where z{sub b} is the dynamical critical exponent of the gauge field) and large number of fermionic species N. Using the so-called memory matrix formalism that most crucially does not assume the existencemore » of well-defined quasiparticles at low energies in the system, we calculate the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity κ of this model due to non-critical Umklapp scattering of the spinons for a finite N and small ϵ. Then we discuss the physical implications of such theoretical result in connection with the experimental data available in the literature.« less

The overdoped region of the high Tc superconducting Bi2212 revisited

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaki, N.; Yang, H.-B.; Rameau, J. D.; Johnson, P. D.; Claus, H.; Hinks, D. G.

High-resolution angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) is used to probe the temperature dependence of the gaps observed in the antinodal region of the Fermi surface (FS) in overdoped Bi2212. In particular we study samples with doping levels greater than 0.19, the latter having previously been determined to be the doping level associated with a Fermi surface reconstruction. Careful simulation of the measured ARPES spectra indicates that any gap observed in this region of the FS at these doping levels is a reflection of the range of superconducting gaps associated with inhomogeneities observed in STM studies of the same systems. With this observation we are able to reexamine the phase diagram associated with the Bi2212 system and discuss the origin of the pseudogap associated with the underdoped region. This work is supported in part by the Center for Emergent Superconductivity (CES), an EFRC funded by the U.S. DOE. The work is also supported in part by the U.S. DOE under Contract No. DE-AC02- 98CH10886 at BNL and Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357 at ANL.

Analysis of Deep and Shallow Traps in Semi-Insulating CdZnTe

DOE PAGES

Kim, Kihyun; Yoon, Yongsu; James, Ralph B.

2018-03-13

Trap levels which are deep or shallow play an important role in the electrical and the optical properties of a semiconductor; thus, a trap level analysis is very important in most semiconductor devices. Deep-level defects in CdZnTe are essential in Fermi level pinning at the middle of the bandgap and are responsible for incomplete charge collection and polarization effects. However, a deep level analysis in semi-insulating CdZnTe (CZT) is very difficult. Theoretical capacitance calculation for a metal/insulator/CZT (MIS) device with deep-level defects exhibits inflection points when the donor/acceptor level crosses the Fermi level in the surface-charge layer (SCL). Three CZTmore » samples with different resistivities, 2 × 10 4 (n-type), 2 × 10 6 (p-type), and 2 × 10 10 (p-type) Ω·cm, were used in fabricating the MIS devices. These devices showed several peaks in their capacitance measurements due to upward/downward band bending that depend on the surface potential. In conclusion, theoretical and experimental capacitance measurements were in agreement, except in the fully compensated case.« less

Classification of reflection-symmetry-protected topological semimetals and nodal superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiu, Ching-Kai; Schnyder, Andreas P.

2014-11-01

While the topological classification of insulators, semimetals, and superconductors in terms of nonspatial symmetries is well understood, less is known about topological states protected by crystalline symmetries, such as mirror reflections and rotations. In this work, we systematically classify topological semimetals and nodal superconductors that are protected, not only by nonspatial (i.e., global) symmetries, but also by a crystal reflection symmetry. We find that the classification crucially depends on (i) the codimension of the Fermi surface (nodal line or point) of the semimetal (superconductor), (ii) whether the mirror symmetry commutes or anticommutes with the nonspatial symmetries, and (iii) how the Fermi surfaces (nodal lines or points) transform under the mirror reflection and nonspatial symmetries. The classification is derived by examining all possible symmetry-allowed mass terms that can be added to the Bloch or Bogoliubov-de Gennes Hamiltonian in a given symmetry class and by explicitly deriving topological invariants. We discuss several examples of reflection-symmetry-protected topological semimetals and nodal superconductors, including topological crystalline semimetals with mirror Z2 numbers and topological crystalline nodal superconductors with mirror winding numbers.

Analysis of Deep and Shallow Traps in Semi-Insulating CdZnTe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Kihyun; Yoon, Yongsu; James, Ralph B.

Trap levels which are deep or shallow play an important role in the electrical and the optical properties of a semiconductor; thus, a trap level analysis is very important in most semiconductor devices. Deep-level defects in CdZnTe are essential in Fermi level pinning at the middle of the bandgap and are responsible for incomplete charge collection and polarization effects. However, a deep level analysis in semi-insulating CdZnTe (CZT) is very difficult. Theoretical capacitance calculation for a metal/insulator/CZT (MIS) device with deep-level defects exhibits inflection points when the donor/acceptor level crosses the Fermi level in the surface-charge layer (SCL). Three CZTmore » samples with different resistivities, 2 × 10 4 (n-type), 2 × 10 6 (p-type), and 2 × 10 10 (p-type) Ω·cm, were used in fabricating the MIS devices. These devices showed several peaks in their capacitance measurements due to upward/downward band bending that depend on the surface potential. In conclusion, theoretical and experimental capacitance measurements were in agreement, except in the fully compensated case.« less

Superconducting symmetries and magnetic responses of uranium heavy-fermion systems UBe13 and UPd2Al3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimizu, Yusei; Kittaka, Shunichiro; Sakakibara, Toshiro; Aoki, Dai

2018-05-01

Low-temperature thermodynamic investigation for UBe13 and UPd2Al3 were performed in order to gain insight into their unusual ground states of 5 f electrons. Our heat-capacity data for the cubic UBe13 strongly suggest that nodal quasiparticles are absent and its superconducting (SC) gap is fully open over the Fermi surface. Moreover, two unusual thermodynamic anomalies are also observed in UBe13 at ∼ 3 T and ∼ 9 T; the lower-field anomaly is seen only in the SC mixed state by dc magnetization M (H) as well as heat-capacity C (H) , while the higher-field anomaly appears for C (H) in the normal phase above the upper critical field. On the other hand, field-orientation dependence of the heat capacity in the hexagonal UPd2Al3 shows a significantly anisotropic behavior of C (H) ∝H 1 / 2 , reflecting the nodal gap structure of this system. Our result strongly suggests the presence of a horizontal line node on the Fermi surface with heavy effective mass in UPd2Al3.

Spectroscopic determination of surface geometry: Ti(0001)-H(1×1)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feibelman, Peter J.; Hamann, D. R.

1980-02-01

The electronic structure of a Ti(0001) film covered by a monolayer of H is shown to depend strongly on the location of the H atom in the surface unit cell. Best agreement with experiment is found with the H's in three-fold sites, 0.8 a.u. outside the outer Ti layer. In this geometry the H atoms "heal" the surface-the clean Ti(0001) surface state near the Fermi level is removed and the outer layer d-like local density of states (LDOS) is quite similar to that of the interior. Additionally, the calculated work function is 4.0 eV and an H-derived peak in the calculated LDOS appears 5 eV below EF, in agreement with photoemission measurements.

Carrier-density-dependent recombination dynamics of excitons and electron-hole plasma in m -plane InGaN/GaN quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, W.; Butté, R.; Dussaigne, A.; Grandjean, N.; Deveaud, B.; Jacopin, G.

2016-11-01

We study the carrier-density-dependent recombination dynamics in m -plane InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells in the presence of n -type background doping by time-resolved photoluminescence. Based on Fermi's golden rule and Saha's equation, we decompose the radiative recombination channel into an excitonic and an electron-hole pair contribution, and extract the injected carrier-density-dependent bimolecular recombination coefficients. Contrary to the standard electron-hole picture, our results confirm the strong influence of excitons even at room temperature. Indeed, at 300 K, excitons represent up to 63 ± 6% of the photoexcited carriers. In addition, following the Shockley-Read-Hall model, we extract the electron and hole capture rates by deep levels and demonstrate that the increase in the effective lifetime with injected carrier density is due to asymmetric capture rates in presence of an n -type background doping. Thanks to the proper determination of the density-dependent recombination coefficients up to high injection densities, our method provides a way to evaluate the importance of Auger recombination.

Energy and Momentum Relaxation Times of 2D Electrons Due to Near Surface Deformation Potential Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pipa, Viktor; Vasko, Fedor; Mitin, Vladimir

1997-03-01

The low temperature energy and momentum relaxation rates of 2D electron gas placed near the free or clamped surface of a semi-infinit sample are calculated. To describe the electron-acoustic phonon interaction with allowance of the surface effect the method of elasticity theory Green functions was used. This method allows to take into account the reflection of acoustic waves from the surface and related mutual conversion of LA and TA waves. It is shown that the strength of the deformation potential scattering at low temperatures substantially depends on the mechanical conditions at the surface: relaxation rates are suppressed for the free surface while for the rigid one the rates are enhanced. The dependence of the conductivity on the distance between the 2D layer and the surface is discussed. The effect is most pronounced in the range of temperatures 2 sl pF < T < (2 hbar s_l)/d, where pF is the Fermi momentum, sl is the velocity of LA waves, d is the width of the quantum well.

Experimental observation of topological Fermi arcs in type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, Ke; Wan, Guoliang; Deng, Peng; Zhang, Kenan; Ding, Shijie; Wang, Eryin; Yan, Mingzhe; Huang, Huaqing; Zhang, Hongyun; Xu, Zhilin; Denlinger, Jonathan; Fedorov, Alexei; Yang, Haitao; Duan, Wenhui; Yao, Hong; Wu, Yang; Fan, Shoushan; Zhang, Haijun; Chen, Xi; Zhou, Shuyun

2016-12-01

Weyl semimetal is a new quantum state of matter hosting the condensed matter physics counterpart of the relativistic Weyl fermions originally introduced in high-energy physics. The Weyl semimetal phase realized in the TaAs class of materials features multiple Fermi arcs arising from topological surface states and exhibits novel quantum phenomena, such as a chiral anomaly-induced negative magnetoresistance and possibly emergent supersymmetry. Recently it was proposed theoretically that a new type (type-II) of Weyl fermion that arises due to the breaking of Lorentz invariance, which does not have a counterpart in high-energy physics, can emerge as topologically protected touching between electron and hole pockets. Here, we report direct experimental evidence of topological Fermi arcs in the predicted type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe2 (refs ,,). The topological surface states are confirmed by directly observing the surface states using bulk- and surface-sensitive angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and the quasi-particle interference pattern between the putative topological Fermi arcs in scanning tunnelling microscopy. By establishing MoTe2 as an experimental realization of a type-II Weyl semimetal, our work opens up opportunities for probing the physical properties of this exciting new state.

Anisotropy of the Seebeck Coefficient in the Cuprate Superconductor YBa2 Cu3 Oy : Fermi-Surface Reconstruction by Bidirectional Charge Order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cyr-Choinière, O.; Badoux, S.; Grissonnanche, G.; Michon, B.; Afshar, S. A. A.; Fortier, S.; LeBoeuf, D.; Graf, D.; Day, J.; Bonn, D. A.; Hardy, W. N.; Liang, R.; Doiron-Leyraud, N.; Taillefer, Louis

2017-07-01

The Seebeck coefficient S of the cuprate YBa2 Cu3 Oy is measured in magnetic fields large enough to suppress superconductivity, at hole dopings p =0.11 and p =0.12 , for heat currents along the a and b directions of the orthorhombic crystal structure. For both directions, S /T decreases and becomes negative at low temperature, a signature that the Fermi surface undergoes a reconstruction due to broken translational symmetry. Above a clear threshold field, a strong new feature appears in Sb, for conduction along the b axis only. We attribute this feature to the onset of 3D-coherent unidirectional charge-density-wave modulations seen by x-ray diffraction, also along the b axis only. Because these modulations have a sharp onset temperature well below the temperature where S /T starts to drop towards negative values, we infer that they are not the cause of Fermi-surface reconstruction. Instead, the reconstruction must be caused by the quasi-2D bidirectional modulations that develop at significantly higher temperature. The unidirectional order only confers an additional anisotropy to the already reconstructed Fermi surface, also manifest as an in-plane anisotropy of the resistivity.

Quartz resonator fluid density and viscosity monitor

DOEpatents

Martin, Stephen J.; Wiczer, James J.; Cernosek, Richard W.; Frye, Gregory C.; Gebert, Charles T.; Casaus, Leonard; Mitchell, Mary A.

1998-01-01

A pair of thickness-shear mode resonators, one smooth and one with a textured surface, allows fluid density and viscosity to be independently resolved. A textured surface, either randomly rough or regularly patterned, leads to trapping of liquid at the device surface. The synchronous motion of this trapped liquid with the oscillating device surface allows the device to weigh the liquid; this leads to an additional response that depends on liquid density. This additional response enables a pair of devices, one smooth and one textured, to independently resolve liquid density and viscosity; the difference in responses determines the density while the smooth device determines the density-viscosity product, and thus, the pair determines both density and viscosity.

Electronic structures of Plutonium compounds with the NaCl-type monochalcogenides structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maehira, Takahiro; Tatetsu, Yasutomi

2012-12-01

We calculate the energy band structure and the Fermi surface of PuS, PuSe and PuTe by using a self-consistent relativistic linear augmented-plane-wave method with the exchange and correlation potential in a local density approximation. It is found in common that the energy bands in the vicinity of the Fermi level are mainly due to the hybridization between Pu 5/ and monochalcogenide p electrons. The obtained main Fermi surfaces are composed of two hole sheets and one electron sheet, all of which are constructed from the band having the Pu 5/ state and the monochalcogenide p state.

Quasiparticle lifetime in a mixture of Bose and Fermi superfluids.

PubMed

Zheng, Wei; Zhai, Hui

2014-12-31

In this Letter, we study the effect of quasiparticle interactions in a Bose-Fermi superfluid mixture. We consider the lifetime of a quasiparticle of the Bose superfluid due to its interaction with quasiparticles in the Fermi superfluid. We find that this damping rate, i.e., the inverse of the lifetime, has quite a different threshold behavior at the BCS and the BEC side of the Fermi superfluid. The damping rate is a constant near the threshold momentum in the BCS side, while it increases rapidly in the BEC side. This is because, in the BCS side, the decay process is restricted by the constraint that the fermion quasiparticle is located near the Fermi surface, while such a restriction does not exist in the BEC side where the damping process is dominated by bosonic quasiparticles of the Fermi superfluid. Our results are related to the collective mode experiment in the recently realized Bose-Fermi superfluid mixture.

Radiation-mediated Shocks in Gamma-Ray Bursts: Pair Creation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lundman, Christoffer; Beloborodov, Andrei M.; Vurm, Indrek

2018-05-01

Relativistic sub-photospheric shocks are a possible mechanism for producing prompt gamma-ray burst (GRB) emission. Such shocks are mediated by scattering of radiation. We introduce a time-dependent, special relativistic code which dynamically couples Monte Carlo radiative transfer to the flow hydrodynamics. The code also self-consistently follows electron–positron pair production in photon–photon collisions. We use the code to simulate shocks with properties relevant to GRBs. We focus on plane-parallel solutions, which are accurate deep below the photosphere. The shock generates a power-law photon spectrum through the first-order Fermi mechanism, extending upward from the typical upstream photon energy. Strong (high Mach number) shocks produce rising νF ν spectra. We observe that in non-relativistic shocks the spectrum extends to {E}\\max ∼ {m}e{v}2, where v is the speed difference between the upstream and downstream. In relativistic shocks the spectrum extends to energies E> 0.1 {m}e{c}2 where its slope softens due to Klein–Nishina effects. Shocks with Lorentz factors γ > 1.5 are prolific producers of electron–positron pairs, yielding hundreds of pairs per proton. The main effect of pairs is to reduce the shock width by a factor of ∼ {Z}+/- -1. Most pairs annihilate far downstream of the shock, and the radiation spectrum relaxes to a Wien distribution, reaching equilibrium with the plasma at a temperature determined by the shock jump conditions and the photon number per proton. We discuss the implications of our results for observations of radiation generated by sub-photospheric shocks.

Electrostatic energy and screened charge interaction near the surface of metals with different Fermi surface shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabovich, A. M.; Il'chenko, L. G.; Pashitskii, E. A.; Romanov, Yu. A.

1980-04-01

Using the Poisson equation Green function for a self-consistent field in a spatially inhomogeneous system, expressions for the electrostatic energy and screened charge interaction near the surface of a semi-infinite metal and a thin quantizing film are derived. It is shown that the decrease law and Friedel oscillation amplitude of adsorbed atom indirect interaction are determined by the electron spectrum character and the Fermi surface shape. The results obtained enable us to explain, in particular, the submonolayer adsorbed film structure on the W and Mo surfaces.

Magnetotransport of multiple-band nearly antiferromagnetic metals due to hot-spot scattering

DOE PAGES

Koshelev, A. E.

2016-09-30

Multiple-band electronic structure and proximity to antiferromagnetic (AF) instability are the key properties of iron-based superconductors. In this paper, we explore the influence of scattering by the AF spin fluctuations on transport of multiple-band metals above the magnetic transition. A salient feature of scattering on the AF fluctuations is that it is strongly enhanced at the Fermi surface locations where the nesting is perfect (“hot spots” or “hot lines”). We review derivation of the collision integral for the Boltzmann equation due to AF-fluctuations scattering. In the paramagnetic state, the enhanced scattering rate near the hot lines leads to anomalous behaviormore » of electronic transport in magnetic field. We explore this behavior by analytically solving the Boltzmann transport equation with approximate transition rates. This approach accounts for return scattering events and is more accurate than the relaxation-time approximation. The magnetic-field dependences are characterized by two very different field scales: the lower scale is set by the hot-spot width and the higher scale is set by the total scattering amplitude. A conventional magnetotransport behavior is limited to magnetic fields below the lower scale. In the wide range in-between these two scales, the longitudinal conductivity has linear dependence on the magnetic field and the Hall conductivity has quadratic dependence. The linear dependence of the diagonal component reflects growth of the Fermi-surface area affected by the hot spots proportional to the magnetic field. Finally, we discuss applicability of this theoretical framework for describing of anomalous magnetotransport properties in different iron pnictides and chalcogenides in the paramagnetic state.« less

Potential Antiferromagnetic Fluctuations in Hole-Doped Iron-Pnictide Superconductor Ba1-xKxFe2As2 Studied by 75As Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurement0.1143/JPSJ.81.054704

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hirano, Masanori; Yamada, Yuji; Saito, Taku

2012-04-12

We have performed 75As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements on single-crystalline Ba1-xKxFe2As2 for x = 0.27–1. 75As nuclear quadruple resonance frequency (νQ) increases linearly with increasing x. The Knight shift K in the normal state shows Pauli paramagnetic behavior with a weak temperature T dependence. K increases gradually with increasing x. By contrast, the nuclear spin–lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 in the normal state has a strong T dependence, which indicates the existence of large antiferomagnetic (AF) spin fluctuations for all x's. The T dependence of 1/T1 shows a gaplike behavior below approximately 100 K formore » 0.6 < x < 0.9. This behaviors is well explained by the change in the band structure with the expansion of hole Fermi surfaces and the shrinkage and disappearance of electron Fermi surfaces at the Brillouin zone (BZ) with increasing x. The anisotropy of 1/T1, represented by the ratio of 1/T1ab to 1/T1c, is always larger than 1 for all x's, which indicates that stripe-type AF fluctuations are dominant in this system. The K in the superconducting (SC) state decreases, which corresponds to the appearance of spin-singlet superconductivity. The T dependence of 1/T1 in the SC state indicates a multiple-SC-gap feature. A simple two-gap model analysis shows that the larger superconducting gap gradually decreases with increasing x from 0.27 to 1 and a smaller gap decreases rapidly and nearly vanishes for x > 0.6 where electron pockets in BZ disappear.« less

Fields in laser-ablated plasmas generalized to degenerate electrons and to Fermi energy in nuclei with change to quark-gluon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hora, Heinrich; Miley, George H.; Osman, Frederick; Hammerling, Peter X.

2004-09-01

The studies of laser ablation have lead to a new theory of nuclei, endothermic nuclei generation and quark-gluon plasmas. The surface of ablated plasma expanding into vacuum after high power laser irradiation of targets, contains an electric double layer having the thickness of the Debye length. This led to the discovery of surface tension of plasmas and to the internal dynamic electric fields in all inhomogeneous plasmas. The surface causes stabilization by short length surface waves smoothing the expanding plasma plume. Generalizing this to the degenerate electrons in a metal with the Fermi energy instead of the temperature, resulted in the surface tension of metals in agreement with measurements. Taking then the Fermi energy in the Debye length for nucleons results in a theory of nuclei with stable confinement of protons and neutrons just at the well known nuclear density, and in the Debye length equal to Hofstadter's decay of the nuclear surface. Increasing the nuclear density by a factor of 6 leads to the change of the Fermi energy into its relativistic branch where no surface energy is possible and the particle mass is not defined, permitting the quark-gluon plasma. Expansion of this higher density at the big band or in a supernova results in nucleation and element generation. The Boltzmann equilibrium permits the synthesis of nuclei even in the endothermic range limited to about uranium.

Stability of rhombohedral phases in vanadium at high-pressure and high-temperature: first-principles investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yi X.; Wu, Q.; Chen, Xiang R.; Geng, Hua Y.

2016-09-01

The pressure-induced transition of vanadium from BCC to rhombohedral structures is unique and intriguing among transition metals. In this work, the stability of these phases is revisited by using density functional theory. At finite temperatures, a novel transition of rhombohedral phases back to BCC phase induced by thermal electrons is discovered. This reentrant transition is found not driven by phonons, instead it is the electronic entropy that stabilizes the latter phase, which is totally out of expectation. Parallel to this transition, we find a peculiar and strong increase of the shear modulus C44 with increasing temperature. It is counter-intuitive in the sense that it suggests an unusual harding mechanism of vanadium by temperature. With these stability analyses, the high-pressure and finite-temperature phase diagram of vanadium is proposed. Furthermore, the dependence of the stability of RH phases on the Fermi energy and chemical environment is investigated. The results demonstrate that the position of the Fermi level has a significant impact on the phase stability, and follows the band-filling argument. Besides the Fermi surface nesting, we find that the localization/delocalization of the d orbitals also contributes to the instability of rhombohedral distortions in vanadium.

Nonadiabatic Dynamics May Be Probed through Electronic Coherence in Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Bennett, Kochise; Kowalewski, Markus; Mukamel, Shaul

2016-02-09

We present a hierarchy of Fermi golden rules (FGRs) that incorporate strongly coupled electronic/nuclear dynamics in time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) signals at different levels of theory. Expansion in the joint electronic and nuclear eigenbasis yields the numerically most challenging exact FGR (eFGR). The quasistatic Fermi Golden Rule (qsFGR) neglects nuclear motion during the photoionization process but takes into account electronic coherences as well as populations initially present in the pumped matter as well as those generated internally by coupling between electronic surfaces. The standard semiclassical Fermi Golden Rule (scFGR) neglects the electronic coherences and the nuclear kinetic energy during the ionizing pulse altogether, yielding the classical Condon approximation. The coherence contributions depend on the phase-profile of the ionizing field, allowing coherent control of TRPES signals. The photoelectron spectrum from model systems is simulated using these three levels of theory. The eFGR and the qsFGR show temporal oscillations originating from the electronic or vibrational coherences generated as the nuclear wave packet traverses a conical intersection. These oscillations, which are missed by the scFGR, directly reveal the time-evolving splitting between electronic states of the neutral molecule in the curve-crossing regime.

Global Well-Posedness of the NLS System for Infinitely Many Fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Thomas; Hong, Younghun; Pavlović, Nataša

2017-04-01

In this paper, we study the mean field quantum fluctuation dynamics for a system of infinitely many fermions with delta pair interactions in the vicinity of an equilibrium solution (the Fermi sea) at zero temperature, in dimensions d = 2, 3, and prove global well-posedness of the corresponding Cauchy problem. Our work extends some of the recent important results obtained by Lewin and Sabin in [33,34], who addressed this problem for more regular pair interactions.

Biexciton relaxation associated with dissociation into a surface polariton pair in semiconductor films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitsumori, Yasuyoshi; Matsuura, Shimpei; Uchiyama, Shoichi; Saito, Kentarao; Edamatsu, Keiichi; Nakayama, Masaaki; Ajiki, Hiroshi

2018-04-01

We study the biexciton relaxation process in CuCl films ranging from 6 to 200 nm. The relaxation time is measured as the dephasing time and the lifetime. We observe a unique thickness dependence of the biexciton relaxation time and also obtain an ultrafast relaxation time with a timescale as short as 100 fs, while the exciton lifetime monotonically decreases with increasing thickness. By analyzing the exciton-photon coupling energy for a surface polariton, we theoretically calculate the biexciton relaxation time as a function of the thickness. The calculated dependence qualitatively reproduces the observed relaxation time, indicating that the biexciton dissociation into a surface polariton pair is one of the major biexciton relaxation processes.

Redox-dependent spatially resolved electrochemistry at graphene and graphite step edges.

PubMed

Güell, Aleix G; Cuharuc, Anatolii S; Kim, Yang-Rae; Zhang, Guohui; Tan, Sze-yin; Ebejer, Neil; Unwin, Patrick R

2015-04-28

The electrochemical (EC) behavior of mechanically exfoliated graphene and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) is studied at high spatial resolution in aqueous solutions using Ru(NH3)6(3+/2+) as a redox probe whose standard potential sits close to the intrinsic Fermi level of graphene and graphite. When scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) data are coupled with that from complementary techniques (AFM, micro-Raman) applied to the same sample area, different time-dependent EC activity between the basal planes and step edges is revealed. In contrast, other redox couples (ferrocene derivatives) whose potential is further removed from the intrinsic Fermi level of graphene and graphite show uniform and high activity (close to diffusion-control). Macroscopic voltammetric measurements in different environments reveal that the time-dependent behavior after HOPG cleavage, peculiar to Ru(NH3)6(3+/2+), is not associated particularly with any surface contaminants but is reasonably attributed to the spontaneous delamination of the HOPG with time to create partially coupled graphene layers, further supported by conductive AFM measurements. This process has a major impact on the density of states of graphene and graphite edges, particularly at the intrinsic Fermi level to which Ru(NH3)6(3+/2+) is most sensitive. Through the use of an improved voltammetric mode of SECCM, we produce movies of potential-resolved and spatially resolved HOPG activity, revealing how enhanced activity at step edges is a subtle effect for Ru(NH3)6(3+/2+). These latter studies allow us to propose a microscopic model to interpret the EC response of graphene (basal plane and edges) and aged HOPG considering the nontrivial electronic band structure.

Spin Imbalanced Quasi-Two-Dimensional Fermi Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ong, Willie C.

Spin-imbalanced Fermi gases serve as a testbed for fundamental notions and are efficient table-top emulators of a variety of quantum matter ranging from neutron stars, the quark-gluon plasma, to high critical temperature superconductors. A macroscopic quantum phenomenon which occurs in spin-imbalanced Fermi gases is that of phase separation; in three dimensions, a spin-balanced, fully-paired superfluid core is surrounded by an imbalanced normal-fluid shell, followed by a fully polarized shell. In one dimension, the behavior is reversed; a balanced phase appears outside a spin-imbalanced core. This thesis details the first density profile measurements and studies on spin-imbalanced quasi-2D Fermi gases, accomplished with high-resolution, rapid sequential spin-imaging. The measured cloud radii and central densities are in disagreement with mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory for a 2D system. Data for normal-fluid mixtures are well fit by a simple 2D polaron model of the free energy. Not predicted by the model is an observed phase transition to a spin-balanced central core above a critical polarisation.

Tuning Surface Energy Landscapes in Metallic Quantum Films using Alkali Adsorbates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khajetoorians, Alexander; Qin, Shengyong; Zhu, Wenguang; Eisele, Holger; Zhang, Zhenyu; Shih, Chih-Kang

2008-03-01

Quantum confinement shows a strong interplay with growth and kinetics in thin metal systems where the Fermi wavelength has a special relationship to the surface normal lattice constant. In the case of Pb/Si(111) systems, this relationship reveals an interesting thickness-dependent bilayer oscillation in the density of states and surface energy up to a phase. In this paper, we report on a novel effect: tuning of the energy landscape of a flat-top quantum Pb mesa using Cs adsorbates. Using STM/STS, we show that depositing Cs adsorbates on a thin Pb mesa promotes quantum stable Pb nanoislands on preferentially unstable thicknesses. Thickness-dependent nanoisland densities show a strong bilayer oscillation correlating with quantum stability. By modifying the Cs coverage on the mesa surface, we can tune the lateral size distribution of the nanoislands and the overall amplitude of the island density oscillation. Nanoisland formation is linked to a step decoration of Cs adatoms along the step edge of the nanoisland.

Twisted Fermi surface of a thin-film Weyl semimetal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bovenzi, N.; Breitkreiz, M.; O'Brien, T. E.; Tworzydło, J.; Beenakker, C. W. J.

2018-02-01

The Fermi surface of a conventional two-dimensional electron gas is equivalent to a circle, up to smooth deformations that preserve the orientation of the equi-energy contour. Here we show that a Weyl semimetal confined to a thin film with an in-plane magnetization and broken spatial inversion symmetry can have a topologically distinct Fermi surface that is twisted into a figure-8—opposite orientations are coupled at a crossing which is protected up to an exponentially small gap. The twisted spectral response to a perpendicular magnetic field B is distinct from that of a deformed Fermi circle, because the two lobes of a figure-8 cyclotron orbit give opposite contributions to the Aharonov-Bohm phase. The magnetic edge channels come in two counterpropagating types, a wide channel of width β {l}m2\\propto 1/B and a narrow channel of width {l}m\\propto 1/\\sqrt{B} (with {l}m=\\sqrt{{\\hslash }/{eB}} the magnetic length and β the momentum separation of the Weyl points). Only one of the two is transmitted into a metallic contact, providing unique magnetotransport signatures.

Hybrid nodal loop metal: Unconventional magnetoresponse and material realization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiaoming; Yu, Zhi-Ming; Lu, Yunhao; Sheng, Xian-Lei; Yang, Hui Ying; Yang, Shengyuan A.

2018-03-01

A nodal loop is formed by a band crossing along a one-dimensional closed manifold, with each point on the loop a linear nodal point in the transverse dimensions, and can be classified as type I or type II depending on the band dispersion. Here, we propose a class of nodal loops composed of both type-I and type-II points, which are hence termed as hybrid nodal loops. Based on first-principles calculations, we predict the realization of such loops in the existing electride material Ca2As . For a hybrid loop, the Fermi surface consists of coexisting electron and hole pockets that touch at isolated points for an extended range of Fermi energies, without the need for fine-tuning. This leads to unconventional magnetic responses, including the zero-field magnetic breakdown and the momentum-space Klein tunneling observable in the magnetic quantum oscillations, as well as the peculiar anisotropy in the cyclotron resonance.

Temperature dependence of the vibrational spectra of acetanilide: Davydov solitons or Fermi coupling?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnston, Clifford T.; Swanson, Basil I.

1985-03-01

The unusual temperature dependence of the amide-I region in the IR spectrum of acetanilide (C 6H 5NHCOCH 3) has recently been attributed to a self-trapped Davydov-like soliton. The temperature dependence of the single-crystal Raman scattering, from acetanilide and its ND and 13CO substituted analogs in the phonon and internal mode regions has now been studied. The behavior of the amide-I region in the Raman spectra of the normal isotopic species is similar to that observed earlier in infrared studies. However, on the basis of results obtained from the ND and 13CO substituted species the unusual temperature dependence in the 1650 cm -1 region has been attributed to Fermi coupling of the amide-I fundamental and a combination band involving the in-plane NH deformation and a low-frequency torsional mode. As temperature is lowered, the strong blue-shift of the torsional mode results in a commensurate blue-shift in the combination level thereby increasing the Fermi coupling. Temperature tuning of the Fermi coupling results in the anomalous intensity changes observed in the IR and Raman spectra of the amide-I region for the normal isotopic species.

Trivial and topological Fermi arcs in the type-II Weyl semimetal candidate MoTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamai, Anna; Wu, Quansheng; Cucchi, Irene; Bruno, Flavio; Barreteau, Celine; Giannini, Enrico; Soluyanov, Alexey; Baumberger, Felix

Weyl semimetals are commonly identified by detecting their characteristic open surface state Fermi arcs in angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) experiments. However, in type-II Weyl semimetals the Fermi arcs generally disappear in the bulk carrier pockets before reaching the Weyl points where they terminate - making it harder to unambiguously identify this new electronic state. Using laser-based ARPES, we have resolved multiple distinct Fermi arcs on the inequivalent top and bottom (001) surfaces of the candidate type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe2. By comparing our ARPES data with systematic electronic structure calculations simulating different Weyl point arrangements, we show that some of these arcs are false positives as they can be explained without Weyl points, while others are only reproduced in scenarios with at least eight Weyl points. Our results thus suggest that MoTe2 is the first experimental realisation of a type-II Weyl semimetal.

Pseudogap temperature and effects of a harmonic trap in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsuchiya, Shunji; Research and Education Center for Natural Sciences, Keio University, 4-1-1 Hiyoshi, Kanagawa 223-8521; CREST

2011-10-15

We theoretically investigate excitation properties in the pseudogap regime of a trapped Fermi gas. Using a combined T-matrix theory with the local density approximation, we calculate strong-coupling corrections to single-particle local density of states (LDOS), as well as the single-particle local spectral weight (LSW). Starting from the superfluid phase transition temperature T{sub c}, we clarify how the pseudogap structures in these quantities disappear with increasing the temperature. As in the case of a uniform Fermi gas, LDOS and LSW give different pseudogap temperatures T{sup *} and T{sup **} at which the pseudogap structures in these quantities completely disappear. Determining T{supmore » *} and T{sup **} over the entire BCS (Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer)-BEC (Bose-Einstein condensation) crossover region, we identify the pseudogap regime in the phase diagram with respect to the temperature and the interaction strength. We also show that the so-called back-bending peak recently observed in the photoemission spectra by the JILA group may be explained as an effect of pseudogap phenomenon in the trap center. Since strong pairing fluctuations, spatial inhomogeneity, and finite temperatures are important keys in considering real cold Fermi gases, our results would be useful for clarifying normal-state properties of this strongly interacting Fermi system.« less

Large magnetoresistance and Fermi surface study of Sb2Se2Te single crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrestha, K.; Marinova, V.; Graf, D.; Lorenz, B.; Chu, C. W.

2017-09-01

We have studied the magnetotransport properties of a Sb2Se2Te single crystal. Magnetoresistance (MR) is maximum when the magnetic field is perpendicular to the sample surface and reaches a value of 1100% at B = 31 T with no sign of saturation. MR shows Shubnikov de Haas (SdH) oscillations above B = 15 T. The frequency spectrum of SdH oscillations consists of three distinct peaks at α = 32 T, β = 80 T, and γ = 117 T indicating the presence of three Fermi surface pockets. Among these frequencies, β is the prominent peak in the frequency spectrum of SdH oscillations measured at different tilt angles of the sample with respect to the magnetic field. From the angle dependence β and Berry phase calculations, we have confirmed the trivial topology of the β-pocket. The cyclotron masses of charge carriers, obtained by using the Lifshitz-Kosevich formula, are found to be mβ*=0.16mo and m γ*=0.63 mo for the β and γ bands, respectively. The Large MR of Sb2Se2Te is suitable for utilization in electronic instruments such as computer hard discs, high field magnetic sensors, and memory devices.

Correlation between the Knight shift of chemisorbed CO and the Fermi level local density of states at clean platinum catalyst surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tong, Y.Y.; Rice, C.; Godbout, N.

1999-04-07

Due to its fundamental importance in heterogeneous catalysis, as well as in electrocatalysis, the chemisorption and reaction of CO on transition metal surfaces has been an important focus of modern surface science. Here, the NMR spectroscopy of {sup 13}CO adsorbed onto transition metal surfaces has been shown to be a very powerful probe of molecular structure and dynamics of CO itself, as well as a probe of the electronic properties of the transition metal surfaces onto which it is adsorbed. The authors have investigated the {sup 195}Pt and {sup 13}C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of clean-surface platinum catalysts andmore » of CO chemisorbed onto Pt catalysts surfaces. They use Knight shift, relaxation, and J-coupling data to deduce information about the Fermi level local density of states (E{sub f}-LDOS) at catalyst surfaces. There is a linear correlation between the Knight shifts of chemisorbed CO and the clean surface E{sub f}-LDOS of platinum onto which the CO is bound, as determined by {sup 13}C and {sup 195}Pt NMR. The correlation amounts to {approximately} 12 ppm/Ry{sup {minus}1} {center_dot} atom{sup {minus}1}, the same as that which can be deduced for CO on palladium, as well as from the electrode potential dependence of {sup 13}C Knight shifts and infrared vibrational frequencies, {nu}{sub CO}, and the relationship between {nu}{sub CO} and the E{sub f}-LDOS at clean platinum surfaces. The ability to now directly relate meal and adsorbate electronic properties opens up new avenues for investigating metal-ligand interactions in heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis.« less

Time-reversal symmetry-breaking superconductivity in epitaxial bismuth/nickel bilayers

DOE PAGES

Gong, Xinxin; Kargarian, Mehdi; Stern, Alex; ...

2017-03-31

Superconductivity that spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry (TRS) has been found, so far, only in a handful of three-dimensional (3D) crystals with bulk inversion symmetry. We report an observation of spontaneous TRS breaking in a 2D superconducting system without inversion symmetry: the epitaxial bilayer films of bismuth and nickel. The evidence comes from the onset of the polar Kerr effect at the superconducting transition in the absence of an external magnetic field, detected by the ultrasensitive loop-less fiber-optic Sagnac interferometer. Because of strong spin-orbit interaction and lack of inversion symmetry in a Bi/Ni bilayer, superconducting pairing cannot be classified as singletmore » or triplet.We propose a theoretical model where magnetic fluctuations in Ni induce the superconducting pairing of the d xy ± id x2-y2 orbital symmetry between the electrons in Bi. In this model, the order parameter spontaneously breaks the TRS and has a nonzero phase winding number around the Fermi surface, thus making it a rare example of a 2D topological superconductor.« less

Three superconducting phases with different categories of pairing in hole- and electron-doped LaFeAs1 -xPxO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyasaka, S.; Uekubo, M.; Tsuji, H.; Nakajima, M.; Tajima, S.; Shiota, T.; Mukuda, H.; Sagayama, H.; Nakao, H.; Kumai, R.; Murakami, Y.

2017-06-01

The phase diagram of the LaFeAs1 -xPxO system has been extensively studied through hole and electron doping as well as As/P substitution. It has been revealed that there are three different superconducting phases with different Fermi surface (FS) topologies and thus with possibly different pairing glues. One of them is well understood as spin fluctuation-mediated superconductivity within a FS nesting scenario. Another one with the FSs in a bad nesting condition must be explained in a different context such as orbital or spin fluctuation in a strongly correlated electronic system. In both phases, T -linear resistivity was commonly observed when the superconducting transition temperature Tc becomes the highest value, indicating that the strength of bosonic fluctuation determines Tc. In the last superconducting phase, the nesting condition of FSs and the related bosonic fluctuation are moderate. Variety of phase diagram characterizes the multiple orbital nature of the iron-based superconductors which are just near the boundary between weak and strong correlation regimes.

Superconductivity pairing mechanism from cobalt impurity doping in FeSe: Spin (s±) or orbital (s++) fluctuation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urata, T.; Tanabe, Y.; Huynh, K. K.; Yamakawa, Y.; Kontani, H.; Tanigaki, K.

2016-01-01

In high-superconducting transition temperature (Tc) iron-based superconductors, interband sign reversal (s±) and sign preserving (s++) s -wave superconducting states have been primarily discussed as the plausible superconducting mechanism. We study Co impurity scattering effects on the superconductivity in order to achieve an important clue on the pairing mechanism using single-crystal Fe1 -xCoxSe and depict a phase diagram of a FeSe system. Both superconductivity and structural transition/orbital order are suppressed by the Co replacement on the Fe sites and disappear above x = 0.036. These correlated suppressions represent a common background physics behind these physical phenomena in the multiband Fermi surfaces of FeSe. By comparing experimental data and theories so far proposed, the suppression of Tc against the residual resistivity is shown to be much weaker than that predicted in the case of general sign reversal and full gap s± models. The origin of the superconducting paring in FeSe is discussed in terms of its multiband electronic structure.

Possible superconductivity in Sr2IrO4 probed by quasiparticle interference

PubMed Central

Gao, Yi; Zhou, Tao; Huang, Huaixiang; Wang, Qiang-Hua

2015-01-01

Based on the possible superconducting (SC) pairing symmetries recently proposed, the quasiparticle interference (QPI) patterns in electron- and hole-doped Sr2IrO4 are theoretically investigated. In the electron-doped case, the QPI spectra can be explained based on a model similar to the octet model of the cuprates while in the hole-doped case, both the Fermi surface topology and the sign of the SC order parameter resemble those of the iron pnictides and there exists a QPI vector resulting from the interpocket scattering between the electron and hole pockets. In both cases, the evolution of the QPI vectors with energy and their behaviors in the nonmagnetic and magnetic impurity scattering cases can well be explained based on the evolution of the constant-energy contours and the sign structure of the SC order parameter. The QPI spectra presented in this paper can be compared with future scanning tunneling microscopy experiments to test whether there are SC phases in electron- and hole-doped Sr2IrO4 and what the pairing symmetry is. PMID:25783417

High-energy radiation from the relativistic jet of Cygnus X-3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerutti, B.; Dubus, G.; Henri, G.

2010-12-01

Cygnus X-3 is an accreting high-mass X-ray binary composed of a Wolf-Rayet star and an unknown compact object, possibly a black hole. The gamma-ray space telescope Fermi found definitive evidence that high-energy emission is produced in this system. We propose a scenario to explain the GeV gamma-ray emission in Cygnus X-3. In this model, energetic electron-positron pairs are accelerated at a specific location in the relativistic jet, possibly related to a recollimation shock, and upscatter the stellar photons to high energies. The comparison with Fermi observations shows that the jet should be inclined close to the line of sight and pairs should not be located within the system. Energetically speaking, a massive compact object is favored. We report also on our investigations of the gamma-ray absorption of GeV photons with the radiation emitted by a standard accretion disk in Cygnus X-3. This study shows that the gamma-ray source should not lie too close to the compact object.

Prediction of Ideal Topological Semimetals with Triply Degenerate Points in the NaCu3 Te2 Family

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jianfeng; Sui, Xuelei; Shi, Wujun; Pan, Jinbo; Zhang, Shengbai; Liu, Feng; Wei, Su-Huai; Yan, Qimin; Huang, Bing

2017-12-01

Triply degenerate points (TDPs) in band structure of a crystal can generate novel TDP fermions without high-energy counterparts. Although identifying ideal TDP semimetals, which host clean TDP fermions around the Fermi level (EF) without coexisting with other quasiparticles, is critical to explore the intrinsic properties of this new fermion, it is still a big challenge and has not been achieved up to now. Here, we disclose an effective approach to search for ideal TDP semimetals via selective band crossing between antibonding s and bonding p orbitals along a line in the momentum space with C3 v symmetry. Applying this approach, we have successfully identified the NaCu3 Te2 family of compounds to be ideal TDP semimetals, where two, and only two, pairs of TDPs are located around the EF. Moreover, we demonstrate a fundamental mechanism to modulate energy splitting between a pair of TDPs, and we illustrate the intrinsic features of TDP Fermi arcs in these ideal TDP semimetals.

The limits of the nuclear landscape explored by the relativistic continuum Hartree–Bogoliubov theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xia, X. W.; Lim, Y.; Zhao, P. W.

The ground-state properties of nuclei with 8more » $$\\leqslant$$ Z $$\\leqslant$$ 120 from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line have been investigated using the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) theory with the relativistic density functional PC-PK1. With the effects of the continuum included, there are totally 9035 nuclei predicted to be bound, which largely extends the existing nuclear landscapes predicted with other methods. The calculated binding energies, separation energies, neutron and proton Fermi surfaces, root-mean-square (rms) radii of neutron, proton, matter, and charge distributions, ground-state spins and parities are tabulated. The extension of the nuclear landscape obtained with RCHB is discussed in detail, in particular for the neutron-rich side, in comparison with the relativistic mean field calculations without pairing correlations and also other predicted landscapes. Here, it is found that the coupling between the bound states and the continuum due to the pairing correlations plays an essential role in extending the nuclear landscape. The systematics of the separation energies, radii, densities, potentials and pairing energies of the RCHB calculations are also discussed. In addition, the α-decay energies and proton emitters based on the RCHB calculations are investigated.« less

The limits of the nuclear landscape explored by the relativistic continuum Hartree–Bogoliubov theory

DOE PAGES

Xia, X. W.; Lim, Y.; Zhao, P. W.; ...

2017-11-01

The ground-state properties of nuclei with 8more » $$\\leqslant$$ Z $$\\leqslant$$ 120 from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line have been investigated using the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) theory with the relativistic density functional PC-PK1. With the effects of the continuum included, there are totally 9035 nuclei predicted to be bound, which largely extends the existing nuclear landscapes predicted with other methods. The calculated binding energies, separation energies, neutron and proton Fermi surfaces, root-mean-square (rms) radii of neutron, proton, matter, and charge distributions, ground-state spins and parities are tabulated. The extension of the nuclear landscape obtained with RCHB is discussed in detail, in particular for the neutron-rich side, in comparison with the relativistic mean field calculations without pairing correlations and also other predicted landscapes. Here, it is found that the coupling between the bound states and the continuum due to the pairing correlations plays an essential role in extending the nuclear landscape. The systematics of the separation energies, radii, densities, potentials and pairing energies of the RCHB calculations are also discussed. In addition, the α-decay energies and proton emitters based on the RCHB calculations are investigated.« less

Spatially Resolved Quantification of the Surface Reactivity of Solid Catalysts.

PubMed

Huang, Bing; Xiao, Li; Lu, Juntao; Zhuang, Lin

2016-05-17

A new property is reported that accurately quantifies and spatially describes the chemical reactivity of solid surfaces. The core idea is to create a reactivity weight function peaking at the Fermi level, thereby determining a weighted summation of the density of states of a solid surface. When such a weight function is defined as the derivative of the Fermi-Dirac distribution function at a certain non-zero temperature, the resulting property is the finite-temperature chemical softness, termed Fermi softness (SF ), which turns out to be an accurate descriptor of the surface reactivity. The spatial image of SF maps the reactive domain of a heterogeneous surface and even portrays morphological details of the reactive sites. SF analyses reveal that the reactive zones on a Pt3 Y(111) surface are the platinum sites rather than the seemingly active yttrium sites, and the reactivity of the S-dimer edge of MoS2 is spatially anisotropic. Our finding is of fundamental and technological significance to heterogeneous catalysis and industrial processes demanding rational design of solid catalysts. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Trigonal warping induced unusual spin texture and strong spin polarization in graphene with the Rashba effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Da-Shuai; Yu, Zhi-Ming; Pan, Hui; Yao, Yugui

2018-02-01

We study the electronic and scattering properties of graphene with moderate Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC). The Rashba SOC in graphene tends to distort the band structure and gives rise to a trigonally warped Fermi surface. For electrons at a pronouncedly warped Fermi surface, the spin direction exhibits a staircase profile as a function of the momentum, making an unusual spin texture. We also study the spin-resolved scattering on a Rashba barrier and find that the trigonal warping is essential for producing spin polarization of the transmitted current. Particularly, both the direction and strength of the spin polarization can be controlled by kinds of electric methods. Our work unveils that not only SOC but also the geometry of the Fermi surface is important for generating spin polarization.

Fermi surface interconnectivity and topology in Weyl fermion semimetals TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP

DOE PAGES

Lee, Chi-Cheng; Xu, Su-Yang; Huang, Shin-Ming; ...

2015-12-01

The family of binary compounds including TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP was recently discovered as the first realization of Weyl semimetals. In order to develop a comprehensive description of the charge carriers in these Weyl semimetals, we performed detailed and systematic electronic band structure calculations which reveal the nature of Fermi surfaces and their complex interconnectivity in TaAs, TaP, NbAs, and NbP. In conclusion, our work reports a comparative and comprehensive study of Fermi surface topology and band structure details of all known members of the Weyl semimetal family and hence provides the fundamental knowledge for realizing the many predictedmore » exotic topological quantum physics of Weyl semimetals based on the TaAs class of materials.« less

2D massless Dirac Fermi gas model of superconductivity in the surface state of a topological insulator at high magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuravlev, Vladimir; Duan, Wenye; Maniv, Tsofar

2017-10-01

The Nambu-Gorkov Green's function approach is applied to strongly type-II superconductivity in a 2D spin-momentum-locked (Weyl) Fermi gas model at high perpendicular magnetic fields. The resulting phase diagram can be mapped onto that derived for the standard, parabolic band-structure model, having the same Fermi surface parameters, E F and v, but with cyclotron effective mass m\\ast=EF/2v2 . Significant deviations from the predicted mapping are found only for very small E F , when the Landau-Level filling factors are smaller than unity, and E F shrinks below the cutoff energy.

Time-dependent Models for Blazar Emission with the Second-order Fermi Acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asano, Katsuaki; Takahara, Fumio; Kusunose, Masaaki; Toma, Kenji; Kakuwa, Jun

2014-01-01

The second-order Fermi acceleration (Fermi-II) driven by turbulence may be responsible for the electron acceleration in blazar jets. We test this model with time-dependent simulations. The hard electron spectrum predicted by the Fermi-II process agrees with the hard photon spectrum of 1ES 1101-232. For other blazars that show softer spectra, the Fermi-II model requires radial evolution of the electron injection rate and/or diffusion coefficient in the outflow. Such evolutions can yield a curved electron spectrum, which can reproduce the synchrotron spectrum of Mrk 421 from the radio to the X-ray regime. The photon spectrum in the GeV energy range of Mrk 421 is hard to fit with a synchrotron self-Compton model. However, if we introduce an external radio photon field with a luminosity of 4.9 × 1038 erg s-1, GeV photons are successfully produced via inverse Compton scattering. The temporal variability of the diffusion coefficient or injection rate causes flare emission. The observed synchronicity of X-ray and TeV flares implies a decrease of the magnetic field in the flaring source region.

Large Fermi Surface of Heavy Electrons at the Border of Mott Insulating State in NiS 2

DOE PAGES

Friedemann, S.; Chang, H.; Gamża, M. B.; ...

2016-05-12

One early triumph of quantum physics is the explanation why some materials are metallic whereas others are insulating. While a treatment based on single electron states is correct for most materials this approach can fail spectacularly, when the electrostatic repulsion between electrons causes strong correlations. Not only can these favor new and subtle forms of matter, such as magnetism or superconductivity, they can even cause the electrons in a half-filled energy band to lock into position, producing a correlated, or Mott insulator. The transition into the Mott insulating state raises important fundamental questions. Foremost among these is the fate ofmore » the electronic Fermi surface and the associated charge carrier mass, as the Mott transition is approached. We report the first direct observation of the Fermi surface on the metallic side of a Mott insulating transition by high pressure quantum oscillatory measurements in NiS 2. We find our results point at a large Fermi surface consistent with Luttinger's theorem and a strongly enhanced quasiparticle effective mass. These two findings are in line with central tenets of the Brinkman-Rice picture of the correlated metal near the Mott insulating state and rule out alternative scenarios in which the carrier concentration vanishes continuously at the metal-insulator transition.« less

Dimensional Crossover and Its Interplay with In-Plane Anisotropy of Upper Critical Field in β-(BDA-TTP)2SbF6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasuzuka, Syuma; Koga, Hiroaki; Yamamura, Yasuhisa; Saito, Kazuya; Uji, Shinya; Terashima, Taichi; Akutsu, Hiroki; Yamada, Jun-ichi

2017-08-01

Resistance measurements have been performed to investigate the dimensionality and the in-plane anisotropy of the upper critical field (Hc2) for β-(BDA-TTP)2SbF6 in fields H up to 15 T and at temperatures T from 1.5 to 7.5 K, where BDA-TTP stands for 2,5-bis(1,3-dithian-2-ylidene)-1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene. The upper critical fields parallel and perpendicular to the conduction layer are determined and dimensional crossover from anisotropic three-dimensional behavior to two-dimensional behavior is found at around 6 K. When the direction of H is varied within the conducting layer at 6.0 K, Hc2 shows twofold symmetry: Hc2 along the minimum Fermi wave vector (maximum Fermi velocity) is larger than that along the maximum Fermi wave vector (minimum Fermi velocity). The normal-state magnetoresistance has twofold symmetry similar to Hc2 and shows a maximum when the magnetic field is nearly parallel to the maximum Fermi wave vector. This tendency is consistent with the Fermi surface anisotropy. At 3.5 K, we found clear fourfold symmetry of Hc2 despite the fact that the normal-state magnetoresistance shows twofold symmetry arising from the Fermi surface anisotropy. The origin of the fourfold symmetry of Hc2 is discussed in terms of the superconducting gap structure in β-(BDA-TTP)2SbF6.

Bragg spectroscopy of strongly interacting Fermi gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lingham, M. G.; Fenech, K.; Peppler, T.; Hoinka, S.; Dyke, P.; Hannaford, P.; Vale, C. J.

2016-10-01

This article provides an overview of recent developments and emerging topics in the study of two-component Fermi gases using Bragg spectroscopy. Bragg scattering is achieved by exposing a gas to two intersecting laser beams with a slight frequency difference and measuring the momentum transferred to the atoms. By varying the Bragg laser detuning, it is possible to measure either the density or spin response functions which characterize the basic excitations present in the gas. Specifically, one can measure properties such as the dynamic and static structure factors, Tan's universal contact parameter and observe signatures for the onset of pair condensation locally within a gas.

Pressure from dark matter annihilation and the rotation curve of spiral galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wechakama, M.; Ascasibar, Y.

2011-05-01

The rotation curves of spiral galaxies are one of the basic predictions of the cold dark matter paradigm, and their shape in the innermost regions has been hotly debated over the last decades. The present work shows that dark matter annihilation into electron-positron pairs may affect the observed rotation curve by a significant amount. We adopt a model-independent approach, where all the electrons and positrons are injected with the same initial energy E0˜mdmc2 in the range from 1 MeV to 1 TeV and the injection rate is constrained by INTEGRAL, Fermi and HESS data. The pressure of the relativistic electron-positron gas is determined by solving the diffusion-loss equation, considering inverse Compton scattering, synchrotron radiation, Coulomb collisions, bremsstrahlung and ionization. For values of the gas density and magnetic field that are representative of the Milky Way, it is estimated that pressure gradients are strong enough to balance gravity in the central parts if E0 < 1 GeV. The exact value depends somewhat on the astrophysical parameters, and it changes dramatically with the slope of the dark matter density profile. For very steep slopes, as those expected from adiabatic contraction, the rotation curves of spiral galaxies would be affected on ˜kpc scales for most values of E0. By comparing the predicted rotation curves with observations of dwarf and low surface brightness galaxies, we show that the pressure from dark matter annihilation may improve the agreement between theory and observations in some cases, but it also imposes severe constraints on the model parameters (most notably, the inner slope of halo density profile, as well as the mass and the annihilation cross-section of dark matter particles into electron-positron pairs).