Thermoelectric studies of the non-thermal equilibrium dynamics in chiral metals

Abstract

The conventional pyroelectric effect is intimately connected to the symmetry, or rather lack of center of symmetry, of the material. Although the experiments we discuss involve studies of low symmetry materials, the pyroelectric currents observed are of an entirely new origin. Systems with broken-translational-symmetry phases that incorporate orbital quantization can exhibit significant departures from thermodynamic equilibrium due to a change in magnetic induction. For example, orbitally quantized field-induced spin- or charge density wave systems, in which the competition between the elastic forces of the density wave and pinning leads to a critical state analogous to the vortex phase of type II superconductors. This metastable state consists of a balance between the density-wave pinning force and the Lorentz force on the extended currents due to the drift of cyclotron orbits. This results in the establishment of a three-dimensional chiral metal that can extend deep into the bulk of the crystal. In this way the density wave pinning potential plays a similar role to the edge potential in a two-dimensional electron gas, leading to a large Hall angle and quantization of the Hall resistance. A thermal perturbation that reduces the pinning potential returns the system toward thermal equilibrium, which can only be achieved by current flow orthogonal to the surface. The observation of this new form of pyroelectric effect in the high magnetic field phase ( B > 30 T ) of the organic charge transfer salt α - ( BEDT - TTF ) 2 KHg ( SCN ) 4 is conclusive proof of the existence of a three-dimensional chiral metal.