Dirac Spinors Research Articles

Continuum Excitations in a Spin Supersolid on a Triangular Lattice.

Magnetic, thermodynamic, neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering are used to study spin correlations in the easy-axis XXZ triangular lattice magnet K_{2}Co(SeO_{3})_{2}. Despite the presence of quasi-2D "supersolid" magnetic order, the low-energy excitation spectrum contains no sharp modes and is instead a broad and structured multiparticle continuum. Applying a weak magnetic field drives the system into an m=1/3 fractional magnetization plateau phase and restores sharp spin wave modes. To some extent, the behavior at zero field can be understood in terms of spin wave decay. However, the presence of clear excitation minima at the M points of the Brillouin zone suggest that the spinon language may provide a more adequate description, and signals a possible proximity to a Dirac spin liquid state.

Dirac fermions and spin transport in the SrVO3/SrTiO3 quantum well

The type-II Dirac fermions are characterized by a tilted Dirac cone and sustain exotic quantum transport phenomena. Here, we show the emergence of a type-II Dirac nodal loop in the SrVO3/SrTiO3 quantum well structure by density functional theory calculations and symmetry arguments. When the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) is neglected, the unavoidable crossing between two t2g bands gives rise to a nodal loop in the Brillouin zone, which is protected by the mirror symmetry. Such a nodal loop is fully gapped by including SOC, which results in a large spin Hall effect due to large spin Berry curvatures. Our findings add the unexplored functionality to oxide quantum wells and offer a practical platform to explore the interplay between topological fermions and spin transport phenomena.

Fermionized dual vortex theory for magnetized kagomé spin liquid

Abstract Inspired by the recent quantum oscillation measurement on the kagomé lattice antiferromagnet in finite magnetic fields, we raise the question about the physical contents of the emergent fermions and the gauge fields if the U(1) spin liquid is relevant for the finite-field kagomé lattice antiferromagnet. Clearly, the magnetic field is non-perturbative in this regime, and the finite-field state has no direct relation with the U(1) Dirac spin liquid proposal at zero field. We here consider the fermionized dual vortex liquid state as one possible candidate theory to understand the magnetized kagomé spin liquid. Within the dual vortex theory, the $S^z$ magnetization is the emergent U(1) gauge flux, and the fermionized dual vortex is the emergent fermion. The magnetic field polarizes the spin component that modulates the U(1) gauge flux for the fermionized vortices and generates the quantum oscillation. Within the mean-field theory, we discuss the gauge field correlation, the vortex-antivortex continuum and the vortex thermal Hall effect.

Equivalence of regular spinor fields

In the Lounesto classification, there are three types of regular spinors. They are classified by the condition that at least one of the scalar or pseudo scalar norms are non-vanishing. The Dirac spinors are regular spinors because their scalar and pseudo scalar norms are non-zero and zero respectively. We construct local and Lorentz-covariant fermionic fields from all three classes of regular spinors. By computing the invariants and bilinear covariants of the regular spinor fields, we show that they are physically equivalent to the Dirac fields in the sense that whatever interactions one writes down using the regular spinor fields, they can always be expressed in terms of the Dirac fields.

Variational MonteCarlo Study of the 1/9-Magnetization Plateau in Kagome Antiferromagnets.

Motivated by very recent experimental observations of the 1/9-magnetization plateaus in YCu_{3}(OH)_{6+x}Br_{3-x} and YCu_{3}(OD)_{6+x}Br_{3-x}, our study delves into the magnetic-field-induced phase transitions in the nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice using the variational MonteCarlo technique. We uncover a phase transition from a zero-field Dirac spin liquid to a field-induced magnetically disordered phase that exhibits the 1/9-magnetization plateau. Through a comprehensive analysis encompassing the magnetization distribution, spin correlations, chiral order parameter, topological entanglement entropy, ground-state degeneracy, Chern number, and excitation spectrum, we pinpoint the phase associated with this magnetization plateau as a chiral Z_{3} topological quantum spin liquid and elucidate its diverse physical properties.

Physics and geometry from a Lagrangian: Dirac spinors on a generalised frame bundle

We clarify the structure obtained in Hélein and Vey's proposition for a variational principle for the Einstein-Cartan gravitation formulated on a frame bundle, starting from a structure-less differentiable 10-manifold [17]. The obtained structure is locally equivalent to a frame bundle thus we term it “generalised frame bundle”. In the same time, we enrich the model with a Dirac spinor coupled to the Einstein-Cartan spacetime. The obtained variational equations generalise the usual Einstein-Cartan-Dirac field equations in the sense that they are shown to imply the usual field equations when the generalised frame bundle is a standard frame bundle.

Quantum Effects on Cosmic Scales as an Alternative to Dark Matter and Dark Energy

The spin-torsion theory is a gauge theory approach to gravity that expands upon Einstein’s general relativity (GR) by incorporating the spin of microparticles. In this study, we further develop the spin-torsion theory to examine spherically symmetric and static gravitational systems that involve free-falling macroscopic particles. We posit that the quantum spin of macroscopic matter becomes noteworthy at cosmic scales. We further assume that the Dirac spinor and Dirac equation adequately capture all essential physical characteristics of the particles and their associated processes. A crucial aspect of our approach involves substituting the constant mass in the Dirac equation with a scale function, allowing us to establish a connection between quantum effects and the scale of gravitational systems. This mechanism ensures that the quantum effect of macroscopic matter is scale-dependent and diminishes locally, a phenomenon not observed in microparticles. For any given matter density distribution, our theory predicts an additional quantum term, the quantum potential energy (QPE), within the mass expression. The QPE induces time dilation and distance contraction, and thus mimics a gravitational well. When applied to cosmology, our theory yields a static cosmological model. The QPE serves as a counterpart to the cosmological constant introduced by Einstein to balance gravity in his static cosmological model. The QPE also offers a plausible explanation for the origin of Hubble redshift (traditionally attributed to the universe’s expansion). The predicted luminosity distance–redshift relation aligns remarkably well with SNe Ia data from the cosmological sample of SNe Ia. In the context of galaxies, the QPE functions as the equivalent of dark matter. The predicted circular velocities align well with rotation curve data from the SPARC (Spitzer Photometry and Accurate Rotation Curves database) sample. Importantly, our conclusions in this paper are reached through a conventional approach, with the sole assumption of the quantum effects of macroscopic matter at large scales, without the need for additional modifications or assumptions.

Spin-Peierls instability of the U(1) Dirac spin liquid

Quantum fluctuations can inhibit long-range ordering in frustrated magnets and potentially lead to quantum spin liquid (QSL) phases. A prime example are gapless QSLs with emergent U(1) gauge fields, which have been understood to be described in terms of quantum electrodynamics in 2+1 dimension (QED3). Despite several promising candidate materials, however, a complicating factor for their realisation is the presence of other degrees of freedom. In particular lattice distortions can act to relieve magnetic frustration, precipitating conventionally ordered states. In this work, we use field-theoretic arguments as well as extensive numerical simulations to show that the U(1) Dirac QSL on the triangular and kagome lattices exhibits a weak-coupling instability due to the coupling of monopoles of the emergent gauge field to lattice distortions, leading to valence-bond solid ordering. This generalises the spin-Peierls instability of one-dimensional quantum critical spin chains to two-dimensional algebraic QSLs. We study static distortions as well as quantum-mechanical phonons. Even in regimes where the QSL is stable, the singular spin-lattice coupling leads to marked temperature-dependent corrections to the phonon spectrum, which provide salient experimental signatures of spin fractionalisation. We discuss the coupling of QSLs to the lattice as a general tool for their discovery and characterisation.

Dirac fermions in a spinning conical Gödel-type spacetime

Abstract In this paper, we determine the relativistic and nonrelativistic energy levels for Dirac fermions in a spinning conical Gödel-type spacetime in (2+1)-dimensions, where we work with the Dirac equation in polar coordinates and we use the tetrads formalism. Solving a second-order differential equation for the two components of the Dirac spinor, we obtain a generalized Laguerre equation, and the relativistic energy levels, where such levels are quantized in terms of the quantum numbers n and m j, and explicitly depends on the spin parameter s, spinorial parameter u, curvature and rotation parameters α and β, and on the vorticity parameter Ω. In particular, the quantization is a direct result of the existence of Ω (i.e., Ω acts as a kind of ``external field or potential''). We see that for m j>0, the energy levels do not depend on s and u; however, depend on n, m j, α, and β. In this case, α breaks the degeneracy of the energy levels and such levels can increase infinitely in the limit 4Ωβ/α→1. Already for m j<0, we see that the energy levels depend on s, u and n; however, it no longer depends on m j, α and β. In this case, it is as if the fermion ``lives only in a flat Gödel-type spacetime''. Besides, we also study the low-energy or nonrelativistic limit of the system. In both cases (relativistic and nonrelativistic), we graphically analyze the behavior of energy levels as a function of Ω, α, and β for three different values of n.

Pauli-type coupling of spinors and curved spacetime

Abstract In this study we prove that the Pauli interaction---which is associated with a length parameter---emerges when the minimal coupling recipe is applied to the non-degenerate Dirac Lagrangian.
The conventional Dirac Lagrangian is rendered non-degenerate if supplemented by a particular term quadratic in the derivatives of the spinors.
For dimensional reasons, this non-degenerate Dirac Lagrangian is associated with a length parameter $\ell$.
It yields---just as the conventional degenerate Dirac Lagrangian---the standard free Dirac equation in Minkowski space as the $\ell$ terms cancel when setting up the Euler-Lagrange equations.
However, if the Dirac spinor is minimally coupled to gauge fields, then the length parameter~$\ell$ becomes a physical coupling constant yielding novel interactions.
For the U($1$) symmetry the Pauli coupling of fermions to electromagnetic fields arises, modifying the fermion's magnetic moment.
We discuss the impact of these findings on electrodynamics, and estimate the upper bound of the length parameter~$\ell$ from the yet existing discrepancy between the (SM) theory and measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of light leptons.
This, and also recent studies of the renormalization theory, suggest that the Pauli coupling of leptons to the electromagnetic field is a necessary ingredient in QED, supporting the notion of a fundamental nature of the non-degenerate Dirac Lagrangian.

In a second step we then investigate how analogous ``Pauli-type'' couplings of gravity and matter arise if fermions are embedded in curved spacetime.
The diffeomorphism and Lorentz invariance of that system leads to an anomalous spin-torsion interaction and a curvature-dependent mass correction.
We calculate the mass correction in the De~Sitter geometry of vacuum with the cosmological constant $\Lambda$.
Possible implications for the existence of effective non-zero rest masses of neutrinos are addressed.
Finally, an outlook on the impact of mass correction on the physics of ``Big Bang'' cosmology, black holes, and of neutron stars is provided.

Quantum spin supersolid as a precursory Dirac spin liquid in a triangular lattice antiferromagnet

Based on the recent experiments on the triangular lattice antiferromagnet Na2BaCo(PO4)2, we propose the easy-axis XXZ spin-1/2 model on the triangular lattice, that exhibits a quantum spin supersolid, to be a precursory Dirac spin liquid. Despite the presence of a three-sublattice magnetic order as a spin supersolid, we suggest that this system is close to a Dirac spin liquid by exploring its spectroscopic response. The physical consequence is examined from the spectroscopic response, and we establish the continuous spectra near the M point in addition to the K point excitation from the spinon continuum on top of the three-sublattice order. Moreover, the satellite peaks were predicted at the mid-points connecting the Γ and K points. This proposal offers a plausible understanding of the recent inelastic neutron scattering measurement in Na2BaCo(PO4)2 and could inspire further research in relevant models and materials, such as K2Co(SeO3)2 and Rb2Co(SeO3)2, and even more anisotropic magnets like PrMgAl11O19. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Recent advances in relativistic excitation of atomic hydrogen

Within the framework of the relativistic regime ( E k > 2700 eV) and the first Born approximation, we investigate the inelastic excitation of atomic hydrogen by electron impact from 1 s to 2 p state. The incoming and outgoing electrons are described by free Dirac spinors, while the hydrogen atom target is described by the exact solutions of Dirac equation with a central potential. A detailed study has been devoted to the non-relativistic regime as well as the relativistic regime of the process, and the results obtained show the differences between the two regimes. These differences have revealed that the differential cross section (DCS) is influenced by the parameters of the 1 s and 2 p states, along with significant effects on diffusion during small pulse transfers. The relativistic effects are responsible for the significant changes in the DCS as a function of diffusion angles which depend on the chosen geometry.

Relativistic Bohmian mechanics revisited: A covariant reformulation for spin-1/2 particles

We present a novel covariant relativistic guidance formula à la de Broglie-Bohm derived from conserved quantities associated with the Lagrangian of the Dirac equation in a 1+1-dimensional spacetime. In line with the standard guidance formula of Bohmian mechanics, this generalized guidance formula incorporates space-time derivatives of the Dirac spinor phases and consistently reproduces relativistic features such as mass-dependent trajectories and zitterbewegung. We formally show that this formulation explicitly reveals how the relativistic quantum potential affects the trajectories. Using numerical simulations, we compare these trajectories with those presented in the usual approaches. Finally, we show how the guidance formula naturally transitions to the standard de Broglie-Bohm theory in the non-relativistic limit and gives additional contributions in the expansions giving new insight into the zitterbewegung in pilot-wave theories.

On the geometry and quantum theory of regular and singular spinors

We relate the Lounesto classification of regular and singular spinors to the orbits of the Spin(3,1) group in the space of Dirac spinors. We find that regular spinors are associated with the principal orbits of the spin group while singular spinors are associated with special orbits whose isotropy group is C. We use this to clarify some aspects of the classical and quantum theory of spinors restricted to a class in this classification. In particular, we show that the degrees of freedom of an ELKO field, which has been proposed as a candidate for dark matter, can be reexpressed as a Dirac field preserving locality. Alternatively after introducing the ELKO dual, it can be re-interpreted as four anticommuting Lorentz scalar fields with internal symmetry the spin representation of the Lorentz group. We also propose an interacting Lagrangian which can consistently describe all 6 classes of regular and singular spinors.

Large-Gap and Topological Crystalline Insulating Phase in RbZnBi and CsZnBi.

Topological insulators (TIs) are a new class of materials with gapless boundary states inside the bulk insulating gap. This metallic boundary state hosts intriguing phenomena such as helical spin textures and Dirac crossing points. Here, we theoretically propose RbZnBi and CsZnBi as a new family of TIs exhibiting large bulk band gaps and unique gapless surface states. Our first-principles density functional calculations show that two materials can be stabilized in two different structures depending on the stacking order of hexagonal ZnBi layers. While both materials in the AA-stacked structure become TI, the AB-stacked RbZnBi and CsZnBi are topological crystalline insulators with hourglass-shaped Fermion surface states protected by nonsymmorphic glide symmetry. The calculated bulk gap is about 1.5-1.8 times larger than that of Bi2Se3, which makes RbZnBi and CsZnBi promising candidates for future applications.

Carroll fermions

Using carefully chosen projections, we consider different Carroll limits of relativistic Dirac fermions in any spacetime dimensions. These limits define Carroll fermions of two types: electric and magnetic. The latter type transforms as a reducible but indecomposable representation of the Carroll group. We also build action principles for all Carroll fermions we introduce; in particular, in even dimensions we provide an action principle for a minimal magnetic Carroll fermion, having the same number of components as a Dirac spinor. We then explore the coupling of these fermions to magnetic Carroll gravity in both its first-order and second-order formulations.

Coulomb effect on elastic electron scattering by hydrogen atom and hydrogen-like ions in their metastable 2s state in the 511–770 KeV energy range

This paper reports on a study investigating the elastic scattering of hydrogen atoms in their metastable state (2S-2S) when subjected to electron impact, with a focus on the Coulomb effect within an energy range spanning from 511 keV to 770 keV . The analysis employs semi-relativistic wave functions to depict the hydrogen states. The validity of using Darwin wave functions is confirmed by ensuring that the condition Zα << 1 is met, where α represents the structure constant. Both incident and scattered free electrons are described using Dirac spinors. Notably, the semi-relativistic calculations converge with those of the non-relativistic case at low electron velocities. Additionally, in the presence of the Coulomb effect, the electron wave function is approximated by a Dirac function modulated by the confluent hypergeometric function. The paper presents the relativistic differential cross-section (RDCS) as a function of the final scattering angle for various energies of the incident electron, revealing intriguing insights into diffusion probabilities in specific directions. Moreover, the impact of the atomic number Z on the elastic scattering of hydrogen atoms and hydrogen-like ions by electron impact under the influence of the Coulomb effect is thoroughly examined.

The Dirac equation as a linear tensor equation for one component

The Dirac equation is one of the most fundamental equations of modern physics. It is a spinor equation, but some tensor equivalents of the equation were proposed previously. Those equivalents were either nonlinear or involved several components of the Dirac field. On the other hand, the author showed previously that the Dirac equation in electromagnetic field is equivalent to a fourth-order equation for one component of the Dirac spinor. The equivalency is used in this work to derive a linear tensor equivalent of the Dirac equation for just one component. This surprising result can be used in applications of the Dirac equation, for example, in general relativity or for lattice approximation of the Dirac field, and can improve our understanding of the Dirac equation.

Monopoles in Dirac spin liquids and their symmetries from instanton calculus

The Dirac spin liquid (DSL) is a two-dimensional (2D) fractionalized Mott insulator featuring massless Dirac spinon excitations coupled to a compact U(1) gauge field, which allows for flux-tunneling instanton events described by magnetic monopoles in (2+1)D Euclidean spacetime. The state-operator correspondence of conformal field theory has been used recently to define associated monopole operators and determine their quantum numbers, which encode the microscopic symmetries of conventional ordered phases proximate to the DSL. In this work, we utilize semiclassical instanton methods not relying on conformal invariance to construct monopole operators directly in (2+1)D spacetime as instanton-induced ’t Hooft vertices, i.e., fermion-number-violating effective interactions originating from zero modes of the Euclidean Dirac operator in an instanton background. In the presence of a flavor-adjoint fermion mass, resummation of the instanton gas is shown to select the correct monopole to be proliferated, in accordance with predictions of the state-operator correspondence. We also show that our instanton-based approach is able to determine monopole quantum numbers on bipartite lattices.

Kink of the nuclear charge radius isotope shift and overlaps of the neutron and proton orbitals in lead

Within the relativistic mean field approximation, we analyse the kink effect (KE) in the evolution of the charge radius isotope shift of lead isotopes as a function of the neutron number N. We show that if the interactions between neutron and proton states responsible for the KE are assumed to be proportional either to the overlaps of their corresponding wave functions or to those of their corresponding probability density distributions, it is not possible, by themselves, to explain the KE. However, we find that the small component of the single-particle Dirac spinors plays a relevant role in the kink formation. By considering the contribution of the N−126 valence neutrons to the proton central potential, we can explain the generation of the KE and why neutrons in the 1i11/2 orbital are more kinky than when they are in the 2g9/2 orbital.