Correlated Electron Systems Research Articles

Electrical switching of a bistable moiré superconductor.

Electrical control of superconductivity is critical for nanoscale superconducting circuits including cryogenic memory elements1-4, superconducting field-effect transistors (FETs)5-7 and gate-tunable qubits8-10. Superconducting FETs operate through continuous tuning of carrier density, but no bistable superconducting FET, which could serve as a new type of cryogenic memory element, has been reported. Recently, gate hysteresis and resultant bistability in Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene aligned to its insulating hexagonal boron nitride gate dielectrics were discovered11,12. Here we report the observation of this same hysteresis in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG) with aligned boron nitride layers. This bistable behaviour coexists alongside the strongly correlated electron system of MATBG without disrupting its correlated insulator or superconducting states. This all-van der Waals platform enables configurable switching between different electronic states of this rich system. To illustrate this new approach, we demonstrate reproducible bistable switching between the superconducting, metallic and correlated insulator states of MATBG using gate voltage or electric displacement field. These experiments unlock the potential to broadly incorporate this new switchable moiré superconductor into highly tunable superconducting electronics.

Exact solution of the topological symplectic Kondo problem

The Kondo effect is an archetypical phenomenon in the physics of strongly correlated electron systems. Recent attention has focused on the application of Kondo physics to quantum information science by exploiting overscreened Kondo impurities with residual anyon-like impurity entropy. While this physics was proposed in the fine-tuned multi-channel Kondo setup or in the Majorana-based topological Kondo effect, we here study the Kondo effect with symplectic symmetry Sp(2k) and present details about the implementation which importantly only involves conventional s-wave superconductivity coupled to an array of resonant levels and neither requires perfect channel symmetry nor Majorana fermions. We carefully discuss the role of perturbations and show that a global Zeeman drives the system to a 2-channel SU(k) fixed point. Exact results for the residual entropy, specific heat and magnetization are derived using the thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz for Sp(2k). This solution not only proves the existence of a quantum critical ground state with anyon-like Hilbert space dimension, but also a particularly weak non-Fermi liquid behavior at criticality. We interpret the weakness of non-analyticities as a manifestation of suppressed density of states at the impurity causing only a very weak connection of putative anyons and conduction electrons. Given this weak connection, the simplicity of the design and the stability of the effect, we conjecture that the symplectic Kondo effect may be particularly suitable for quantum information applications.

Connection between the Kitaev chain and the Gutzwiller-projected BCS model

We show that the topological Kitaev model can be placed in the context of phenomena associated with strongly correlated electron systems. This can be achieved implementing the Gutzwiller projection of the conventional s-wave BCS superconductor. Within that approach, neither spin–orbit coupling nor time-reversal symmetry breaking are needed to produce such an effect.

Low-energy plasmon excitations in infinite-layer nickelates

The discovery of superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates is presently an important topic in condensed-matter physics, and potential similarities to and differences from cuprates are under intense debate. We determine general features of the charge excitation spectrum in nickelates from two opposite viewpoints: (i) Nickelates are regarded as strongly correlated electron systems like cuprate superconductors and thus can be described by the $t\text{\ensuremath{-}}J$ model, and (ii) electron correlation effects are not as strong as in cuprates, and thus, random-phase approximation (RPA) calculations may capture the essential physics. We find that in both cases, plasmon excitations are realized around the momentum transfer $\mathbf{q}=(0,0,{q}_{z})$, although they tend to be damped more strongly in the RPA. In particular, this damping is enhanced by the relatively large interlayer hopping expected in nickelates. Besides reproducing the optical plasmon at $\mathbf{q}=(0,0,0)$ observed in ${\mathrm{Nd}}_{0.8}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.2}{\mathrm{NiO}}_{2}$, we obtain low-energy plasmons with gaps of $\ensuremath{\sim}360$ and $\ensuremath{\sim}560$ meV at $\mathbf{q}=(0,0,{q}_{z})$ for finite ${q}_{z}$ in cases (i) and (ii), respectively. The present work offers a possible theoretical hint to answer whether nickelates are cupratelike or not and contributes to the general understanding of the charge dynamics in nickelates.

Methods of Modeling of Strongly Correlated Electron Systems.

The discovery of high-Tc superconductivity in cuprates in 1986 moved strongly correlated systems from exotic worlds interesting only for pure theorists to the focus of solid-state research. In recent decades, the majority of hot topics in condensed matter physics (high-Tc superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance, multiferroicity, ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors, etc.) have been related to strongly correlated transition metal compounds. The highly successful electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory lose their predictive power when applied to such compounds. It is necessary to go beyond the mean field approximation and use the many-body theory. The methods and models that were developed for the description of strongly correlated systems are reviewed together with the examples of response function calculations that are needed for the interpretation of experimental information (inelastic neutron scattering, optical conductivity, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering, electron energy loss spectroscopy, angle-resolved photoemission, electron spin resonance, and magnetic and magnetoelectric properties). The peculiarities of (quasi-) 0-, 1-, 2-, and 3- dimensional systems are discussed.

Laboratory experiments based on tip probe － Scanning probe detection and regulation of ferroelectric domains and their microscopic physical properties

<sec>Ferroelectric and multiferroic materials have gained significant attention due to their potential applications in investigating emergent cross-coupling phenomena among spin, charge, orbit, and lattice in correlated electron systems, as well as promising candidates for prospective applications in advanced industries, <i>e.g.</i> data memory/processing, sensors, actuators, and energy-relevant devices. The structure and dynamic characteristics of ferroelectric domains can significantly affect the physical properties and device functions of materials, such as electrical conductivity, photovoltaics, and magnetoelectric coupling, particularly, novel topological domains can bring many new physical properties. These make it possible to design materials and devices through domain engineering methods. Therefore, exploring the microdomain structures and related physical property is expected to bring new material and device solutions for post-Moore's era information technology.</sec><sec>Accurate understanding of domain structures and their corresponding functionalities pose challenges to characterization techniques. In particular, it remains challenging to investigate the dynamics and cross-coupling behaviors on a nanoscale <i>in situ</i>. Nowadays, it is worthwhile to pay more attention to the multifunctional scanning probe microscopy technique, as it serves as a versatile and powerful nanoscale probe capable of exploring multifunctionalities. Multi-field stimulation such as electric field, magnetic field, light illumination, strain field, and thermal field can be combined with the advanced scanning probe microscopy technique, making it an ideal platform for in-situ manipulation of domain structure and its related functional response on a nano-scale.</sec><sec>In this study, we give a brief overview on the recent advances in our research group in detection and manipulation of ferroelectric domains and microscopic physical properties through multifunctional scanning probe microscopy technique. Special attention is paid to those topological domain structures such as vortex, center domain state and bubble domain in size-confined systems (ultrathin films/multilayers and nanodots/nanoislands) and their associated novel physical phenomena. In addition, the controllability of electric field driven magnetic switching in multiferroic heterostructures is also studied through size effect, interfacial coupling and domain engineering. Finally, we present some suggestions for future directions. Most of these studies are conducted by using the tip probe, so it is named the “Laboratory experiments based on tip probe”.</sec>

К аналитической теории магнитных скирмионов высокого порядка в неоднородном магнитном поле

It is shown that axially symmetric inhomogeneous magnetic fields can lead to stabilization of higher-order magnetic skyrmions with topological charge |Q| > 1 due to orbital effects. We describe the analytical theory on the energy, size, and domain wall width of the such skyrmions in a power-law inhomogeneous fields, with a parameters corresponding to strongly correlated electron systems. The results obtained may have applications in describing the formation of nontrivial magnetic structures in inhomogeneous fields of superconducting vortices in heterostructures superconductor - chiral magnet of the type [Ir1Fe0.5Co0.5Pt1]10 /MgO/Nb.

To an analytical theory of higher-order magnetic skyrmions in nonuniform magnetic fields

It is shown that axially symmetric inhomogeneous magnetic fields can lead to stabilization of higher-order magnetic skyrmions with topological charge |Q|>1 due to orbital effects. We developed the analytical theory on the energy, size, and domain wall width of the such skyrmions in a power-law inhomogeneous fields, with a parameters corresponding to strongly correlated electron systems. The results obtained may have applications in describing the formation of nontrivial magnetic structures in inhomogeneous fields of superconducting vortices in heterostructures superconductor --- chiral magnet of the type [Ir1Fe0.5Co0.5Pt1]10/MgO/Nb. Keywords: magnetic skyrmions, nonuniform magnetic fields.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of voltage-induced resistance transition in the double-exchange model

We present multi-scale dynamical simulations of voltage-induced insulator-to-metal transition in the double exchange model, a canonical example of itinerant magnet and correlated electron systems. By combining nonequilibrium Green's function method with large-scale Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert dynamics, we show that the transition from an antiferromagnetic insulator to the low-resistance state is initiated by the nucleation of a thin ferromagnetic conducting layer at the anode. The metal-insulator interface separating the two phases is then driven toward the opposite electrode by the voltage stress, giving rise to a growing metallic region. We further show that the initial transformation kinetics is well described by the Kolmogorov-Avrami-Ishibashi model with an effective spatial-dimension that depends on the applied voltage. Implications of our findings for the resistive switching in colossal magnetoresistant materials are also discussed.

Ab initio low-energy effective Hamiltonians for the high-temperature superconducting cuprates Bi2Sr2CuO6, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, HgBa2CuO4, and CaCuO2

We derive $ab$ $initio$ low-energy effective Hamiltonians (LEH) for high-temperature superconducting (SC) copper oxides Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CuO$_6$ (Bi2201, $N_{\ell}=1$, $T_c^{\rm exp} \sim 10$ K), Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_8$ (Bi2212, $N_{\ell}=2$, $T_c^{\rm exp} \sim 84$ K), HgBa$_2$CuO$_4$ (Hg1201, $N_{\ell}=1$, $T_c^{\rm exp} \sim 90$ K) and CaCuO$_2$ (Ca11, $N_{\ell}=\infty$, $T_c^{\rm exp} \sim 110$ K), with different experimental optimal SC transition temperature $T_c^{\rm exp}$ and number $N_{\ell}$ of laminated CuO$_2$ planes between the two neighboring block layers. We apply the latest methodology of the multiscale $ab$ $initio$ scheme for correlated electron systems (MACE), and focus on the LEH consisting of one antibonding (AB) Cu$3d_{x^2-y^2}$/O$2p_{\sigma}$ orbital centered on each Cu atom. We discuss prominent features of this LEH: (1) The ratio $U/|t_1|$ between the onsite effective Coulomb repulsion (ECR) $U$ and amplitude of nearest neighbour hopping $t_1$ increases with $T^{\rm exp}_c$ and $N_{\ell}$, consistently with the expected increase in $d$-wave SC correlation function $P_{dd}$ with $U/|t_1|$. One possible cause of the increase of $U/|t_1|$ is the replacement of apical O atoms by Cu atoms from neighbouring CuO$_2$ planes when $N_{\ell}$ increases. Furthermore, we show that the increase in distance between Cu and apical O atoms decreases the effective screening (ES) by electrons outside of the LEH and increases $U/|t_1|$. (2) For Hg1201 and Ca11, we show that $U/|t_1|$ decreases when hole doping per AB orbital $\delta$ increases, which may partly account for the disappearance of SC when $\delta$ exceeds the optimal value in experiment. (3) For $N_{\ell} \geq 2$, off-site inter-CuO$_2$ plane ECR is comparable to off-site intra-CuO$_2$ plane ECR. We discuss contributions of inter-CuO$_2$ plane ECR to both $P_{dd}$ and the stability of the SC state.

TRACK: A python code for calculating the transport properties of correlated electron systems using Kubo formalism

Exploring the transport properties of different materials brings new avenue for basic understanding of emergent phenomena and practical applications in many different fields. Here, we report a program named as TRACK (TRAnsport properties for Correlated materials using Kubo formalism) which is written in Python 3 for calculating temperature dependent electrical conductivity, electronic part of thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and Lorenz number. In this code, Kubo linear-response formalism is utilized for computing these parameters using both interacting and non-interacting electronic structure methods. The formula for transport coefficients is accordingly modified to obtain the transport parameters under relaxation time approximation using band-theory. The basic inputs of this program are the structural information, dense k-points sampling in the irreducible part of the Brillouin zone and the information of velocity matrix elements, which can be calculated using third-party ab-initio package. TRACK is expected to calculate the transport properties of different class of materials. The code has been benchmarked by performing calculation on three different types of materials namely Vanadium (V), FeSi and LaCoO3, which are metal, semiconductor and Mott insulator, respectively. The temperature dependent behaviour of the transport coefficients for these materials show fairly good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. Program summaryProgram Title: TRACKCPC Library link to program files:https://doi.org/10.17632/jdt9tfkt4v.1Developer's repository link:https://sourceforge.net/projects/track-code/files/TRACK.zip/downloadLicensing provisions: GPLv3Programming language: Python3External routines/libraries: NumPy, SciPy, TimeNature of problem: Calculating the transport parameters using the Kubo linear-response formalism.Solution method: We present a Python3 open source code for calculating transport coefficients using Kubo formalism. Both interacting and non-interacting electronic structure methodology are possible to be used for computing transport parameters.

Recent developments in the functional renormalization group approach to correlated electron systems

This topical issue compiles a series of articles on recent developments in the functional renormalization group approach to correlated electron systems. In our Editorial, we provide some background on the motivation for the special issue and briefly introduce the topics covered in it.

Direct measurement of the evolution of magnetism and superconductivity toward the quantum critical point

Nontrivial quantum states can be realized in the vicinity of the quantum critical point (QCP) in many strongly correlated electron systems. In particular, an emergence of unconventional superconductivity around the QCP strongly suggests that the quantum critical fluctuations play a central role in the superconducting pairing mechanism. However, a clear signature of the direct coupling between the superconducting pairing states and the quantum criticality has not yet been elucidated by the microscopic probes. Herein, we present muon spin rotation/relaxation and neutron diffraction measurements in the superconducting dome of CeCo(In1 - xZnx)5. It was found that a magnetically ordered state develops at x≥ 0.03, coexisting with the superconductivity. The magnitude of the ordered magnetic moment is continuously reduced with decreasing x, and it disappears below x∼ 0.03, indicating a second-order phase transition and the presence of the QCP at this critical Zn concentration. Furthermore, the magnetic penetration depth diverges toward the QCP. These facts provide evidence for the intimate coupling between quantum criticality and Cooper pairing.

Quantum mechanical interpretation of the minimum viscosity of metallic liquids.

Possible fundamental quantum bounds for viscosity and many other physical properties have drawn serious considerations recently from diverse communities encompassing those studying quantum gravity, high-energy physics, condensed matter physics, strongly correlated electron systems, and "strange metals," to name a few. However, little attention has been paid by materials scientists and the fluid dynamics community, perhaps because of the general belief that quantum mechanics is of little consequence for classical fluid dynamics. Here, considering the extrapolated high-temperature viscosity of 32 metallic alloy liquids as representative of minimum viscosity, experimental results are presented and evaluated in terms of a number of quantum- and statistical-mechanics-based theories. The surprising result is that the experimental data are within one order of magnitude of estimates from those theories. That quantum mechanics could be of importance at such high temperatures in conventional classical fluids is quite interesting. Another surprise is that the minimum viscosities of metallic alloy liquids are not too different from an archetypal quantum liquid, such as He.

Ingredients for Generalized Models of κ-Phase Organic Charge-Transfer Salts: A Review

The families of organic charge-transfer salts κ-(BEDT-TTF)2X and κ-(BETS)2X, where BEDT-TTF and BETS stand for the organic donor molecules C10H8S8 and C10H8S4Se4, respectively, and X for an inorganic electron acceptor, have been proven to serve as a powerful playground for the investigation of the physics of frustrated Mott insulators. These materials have been ascribed a model character, since the dimerization of the organic molecules allows to map these materials onto a single band Hubbard model, in which the dimers reside on an anisotropic triangular lattice. By changing the inorganic unit X or applying physical pressure, the correlation strength and anisotropy of the triangular lattice can be varied. This has led to the discovery of a variety of exotic phenomena, including quantum-spin liquid states, a plethora of long-range magnetic orders in proximity to a Mott metal-insulator transition, and unconventional superconductivity. While many of these phenomena can be described within this effective one-band Hubbard model on a triangular lattice, it has become evident in recent years that this simplified description is insufficient to capture all observed magnetic and electronic properties. The ingredients for generalized models that are relevant include, but are not limited to, spin-orbit coupling, intra-dimer charge and spin degrees of freedom, electron-lattice coupling, as well as disorder effects. Here, we review selected theoretical and experimental discoveries that clearly demonstrate the relevance thereof. At the same time, we outline that these aspects are not only relevant to this class of organic charge-transfer salts, but are also receiving increasing attention in other classes of inorganic strongly correlated electron systems. This reinforces the model character that the κ-phase organic charge-transfer salts have for understanding and discovering novel phenomena in strongly correlated electron systems from a theoretical and experimental point of view.

Ab initio study on fcc Pr with correlation matrix renormalization theory

We studied fcc praseodymium (Pr) with the ab initio correlation matrix renormalization theory (CMRT) explicitly calculating the Coulomb interactions among basis orbitals and without using any adjustable parameters to work for strongly correlated electron systems. We calculated its total energy in a paramagnetic ground state and studied the role of the correlated $4f$ electrons in the system. Good agreement was obtained between CMRT and experiments in the pressure volume dependence of the fcc phase. We also compared the CMRT results against other theoretical methods including local density $\text{approximation}+\text{dynamical}$ mean-field theory and showed consistent results among them. Moreover, we found the normalized local charge fluctuation of the $4f$ electrons as the function of volume exhibits a clear slope change at the volume collapse region, indicating a switch in their correlation nature there.

Valence-skipping and quasi-two-dimensionality of superconductivity in a van der Waals insulator

Valence fluctuation of interacting electrons plays a crucial role in emergent quantum phenomena in correlated electron systems. The theoretical rationale is that this effect can drive a band insulator into a superconductor through charge redistribution around the Fermi level. However, the root cause of such a fluctuating leap in the ionic valency remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate a valence-skipping-driven insulator-to-superconductor transition and realize quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity in a van der Waals insulator GeP under pressure. This is shown to result from valence skipping of the Ge cation, altering its average valency from 3+ to 4+, turning GeP from a layered compound to a three-dimensional covalent system with superconducting critical temperature reaching its maximum of 10 K. Such a valence-skipping-induced superconductivity with a quasi-two-dimensional nature in thin samples, showing a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless-like character, is further confirmed by angle-dependent upper-critical-field measurements. These findings provide a model system to examine competing order parameters in valence-skipping systems.

Consistency of potential energy in the dynamical vertex approximation

In the last decades, dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) and its diagrammatic extensions have been successfully applied to describe local and nonlocal correlation effects in correlated electron systems. Unfortunately, except for the exact solution, it is impossible to fulfill both the Pauli principle and conservation laws at the same time. Consequently, fundamental observables such as the kinetic and potential energies are ambiguously defined. In this work, we propose an approach to overcome the ambiguity in the calculation of the potential energy within the ladder dynamical vertex approximation (D$\Gamma$A) by introducing an effective mass renormalization parameter in both the charge and the spin susceptibility of the system. We then apply our method to the half-filled single-band Hubbard model on a three-dimensional bipartite cubic lattice. We find that: (i) at weak-to-intermediate coupling, a reasonable modification of the transition temperature $\TN$ to the antiferromagnetically ordered state with respect to previous ladder D$\Gamma$A calculations without charge renormalization. This is in good agreement with dual fermion and Monte Carlo results; (ii) the renormalization of charge fluctuations in our new approach leads to a unique value for the potential energy which is substantially lower than corresponding ones from DMFT and non-self-consistent ladder D$\Gamma$A; and (iii) the hierarchy of the kinetic energies between the DMFT and the ladder D$\Gamma$A in the weak coupling regime is restored by the consideration of charge renormalization.

Study on superconductivity of strongly correlated electronic systems by high voltage method

The study of condensed matter system with strongly correlated electron characteristics shows that the strongly correlated electron leads the system to have macroscopic quantum characteristics, which has multiple degrees of freedom in practical application and strong coupling relationship between them, resulting in abundant and peculiar quantum phenomena in the system. Nowadays, the research on unconventional superconductors is more and more in-depth, which not only expands the topics and ideas of practical research, but also makes excellent achievements. Therefore, on the basis of understanding the strongly correlated electron system, this paper studies the deep analysis of Fermion superconductor, copper oxide superconductor and iron based superconductor by means of high pressure experiment, so as to provide effective information for better understanding the microscopic mechanism on the basis of mastering the relevant unconventional superconductor refined research methods.

A rotationally invariant approach based on Gutzwiller wave function for correlated electron systems

We introduce a rotationally invariant approach combined with the Gutzwiller conjugate gradient minimization method to study correlated electron systems. In the approach, the Gutzwiller projector is parametrized based on the number of electrons occupying the onsite orbitals instead of the onsite configurations. The approach efficiently groups the onsite orbitals according to their symmetry and greatly reduces the computational complexity, which yields a speedup of in the minimal basis energy calculation of dimers. The computationally efficient approach promotes more accurate calculations beyond the minimal basis that is inapplicable in the original approach. A large-basis energy calculation of F2 demonstrates favorable agreements with standard quantum-chemical calculations Bytautas et al (2007 J. Chem. Phys. 127 164317)