One-dimensional Incommensurate Lattice Research Articles

Spatially correlated incommensurate lattice modulations in an atomically thin high-temperature Bi2.1Sr1.9CaCu2.0O8+y superconductor

Strong variations in superconducting critical temperatures in different families of the cuprate perovskites, even with similar hole doping in their copper-oxygen planes, suggest the importance of lattice modulation effects. The one-dimensional incommensurate lattice modulation (ILM) of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+y}, with the average atomic positions perturbed beyond the unit cell, offers an ideal test ground for studying the interplay between superconductivity and the long-range incommensurate lattice fluctuations. Here we report Scanning nano X-ray Diffraction (SnXRD) imaging of incommensurate lattice modulations in Bi_{2.1}Sr_{1.9}CaCu_{2.0}O_{8+{\delta}} Van der Waals heterostructures of thicknesses down to two-unit cells. Using SnXRD, we probe that the long-range and short-range incommensurate lattice modulations in bulk sample surface with spatial resolution below 100 nm. We find that puddle-like domains of ILM of size uniformly evolving with dimensionality. In the 2-unit cell thin sample, it is observed that the wavevectors of the long- and short-range orders become anti-correlated with emerging spatial patterns having a directional gradient. The emerging patterns, originated by tiny tuning of lattice strain, induce static mesoscopic charge density waves. Our findings thus demonstrate that the strain can be used to tune and control the electromagnetic properties of two-dimensional high-temperature superconductors.

Mobility edge and intermediate phase in one-dimensional incommensurate lattice potentials

We study theoretically the localization properties of two distinct one-dimensional quasiperiodic lattice models with a single-particle mobility edge (SPME) separating extended and localized states in the energy spectrum. The first one is the familiar Soukoulis-Economou trichromatic potential model with two incommensurate potentials, and the second is a system consisting of two coupled 1D Aubry-Andre chains each containing one incommensurate potential. We show that as a function of the Hamiltonian model parameters, both models have a wide single-particle intermediate phase (SPIP), defined as the regime where localized and extended single-particle states coexist in the spectrum, leading to a behavior intermediate between purely extended or purely localized when the system is dynamically quenched from a generic initial state. Our results thus suggest that both systems could serve as interesting experimental platforms for studying the interplay between localized and extended states, and may provide insight into the role of the coupling of small baths to localized systems. We also calculate the Lyapunov (or localization) exponent for several incommensurate 1D models exhibiting SPME, finding that such localization critical exponents for quasiperiodic potential induced localization are nonuniversal and depend on the microscopic details of the Hamiltonian.

Dynamical signature of localization-delocalization transition in a one-dimensional incommensurate lattice

We investigate the quench dynamics of a one-dimensional incommensurate lattice described by the Aubry-Andr\'{e} model by a sudden change of the strength of incommensurate potential $\Delta$ and unveil that the dynamical signature of localization-delocalization transition can be characterized by the occurrence of zero points in the Loschmit echo. For the quench process with quenching taking place between two limits of $\Delta=0$ and $\Delta=\infty$, we give analytical expressions of the Loschmidt echo, which indicate the existence of a series of zero points in the Loschmidt echo. For a general quench process, we calculate the Loschmidt echo numerically and analyze its statistical behavior. Our results show that if both the initial and post-quench Hamiltonian are in extended phase or localized phase, Loschmidt echo will always be greater than a positive number; however if they locate in different phases, Loschmidt echo can reach nearby zero at some time intervals.

Topological equivalence of crystal and quasicrystal band structures

A number of recent articles have reported the existence of topologically non-trivial states and associated end states in one-dimensional incommensurate lattice models that would usually only be expected in higher dimensions. Using an explicit construction, we here argue that the end states have precisely the same origin as their counterparts in commensurate models and that incommensurability does not in fact provide a meaningful connection to the topological classification of systems in higher dimensions. In particular, we show that it is possible to smoothly interpolate between states with commensurate and incommensurate modulation parameters without closing the band gap and without states crossing the band gap.

Visibility pattern of Bose–Fermi mixtures in one-dimensional incommensurate lattices

We performed numerical simulations to demonstrate localization phenomena of Bose–Fermi mixture systems on incommensurate optical lattices by changing Bose–Bose and Bose–Fermi interactions. Visibility patterns of the bosons were measured to observe bosonic coherence in various selections of the interaction parameters. We found that the coherence was enhanced with repulsive Bose–Fermi interactions. It was also enhanced with attractive Bose–Fermi interactions but only in certain conditions. The enhancement by repulsive interactions and that by attractive interactions occurred with different mechanisms.

Topological Superconductor to Anderson Localization Transition in One-Dimensional Incommensurate Lattices

We study the competition of disorder and superconductivity for a one-dimensional p-wave superconductor in incommensurate potentials. With the increase in the strength of the incommensurate potential, the system undergoes a transition from a topological superconducting phase to a topologically trivial localized phase. The phase boundary is determined both numerically and analytically from various aspects and the topological superconducting phase is characterized by the presence of Majorana edge fermions in the system with open boundary conditions. We also calculate the topological Z2 invariant of the bulk system and find it can be used to distinguish the different topological phases even for a disordered system.

Localization of Bose-Fermi Mixtures in One-Dimensional Incommensurate Lattices

We studied the localization property of Bose-Fermi mixture systems on incommensurate optical lattices by using quantum Monte-Carlo simulations. We found a characteristic behavior of the superfluid density when changing the Bose-Bose interactions and Bose-Fermi interactions over a wide range. The superfluidity of the bosons was enhanced in the presence of the fermions by the repulsive Bose-Fermi interactions which counteracted the localization of the bosons. With attractive Bose-Fermi interactions, on the other hand, the superfluidity is also enhanced by a different mechanism when the number of the bosons is much larger than that of the fermions.

Localization in momentum space of ultracold atoms in incommensurate lattices

We characterize the disorder induced localization in momentum space for ultracold atoms in one-dimensional incommensurate lattices, according to the dual Aubry-Andr\'e model. For low disorder the system is localized in momentum space, and the momentum distribution exhibits time-periodic oscillations of the relative intensity of its components. The behavior of these oscillations is explained by means of a simple three-mode approximation. We predict their frequency and visibility by using typical parameters of feasible experiments. Above the transition the system diffuses in momentum space, and the oscillations vanish when averaged over different realizations, offering a clear signature of the transition.

Predicted Mobility Edges in One-Dimensional Incommensurate Optical Lattices: An Exactly Solvable Model of Anderson Localization

Localization properties of noninteracting quantum particles in one-dimensional incommensurate lattices are investigated with an exponential short-range hopping that is beyond the minimal nearest-neighbor tight-binding model. Energy dependent mobility edges are analytically predicted in this model and verified with numerical calculations. The results are then mapped to the continuum Schrödinger equation, and an approximate analytical expression for the localization phase diagram and the energy dependent mobility edges in the ground band is obtained.

Localization in one-dimensional incommensurate lattices beyond the Aubry-André model

Localization properties of particles in one-dimensional incommensurate lattices without interaction are investigated with models beyond the tight-binding Aubry-Andr\'e (AA) model. Based on a tight-binding ${t}_{1}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{t}_{2}$ model with finite next-nearest-neighbor hopping ${t}_{2}$, we find the localization properties qualitatively different from those of the AA model, signaled by the appearance of mobility edges. We then further go beyond the tight-binding assumption and directly study the system based on the more fundamental single-particle Schr\"odinger equation. With this approach, we also observe the presence of mobility edges and localization properties dependent on incommensuration.

Adiabaticity and Localization in One-Dimensional Incommensurate Lattices

We experimentally investigate the role of localization on the adiabaticity of loading a Bose-Einstein condensate into a one-dimensional optical potential comprised of a shallow primary lattice plus one or two perturbing lattice(s) of incommensurate period. We find that even a very weak perturbation causes dramatic changes in the momentum distribution and makes adiabatic loading of the combined lattice much more difficult than for a single period lattice. We interpret our results using a band-structure model and the one-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

Phase Mode in Fluctuating Charge-Density-Wave State of One-Dimensional Systems

The lattice vibration of a one-dimensional incommensurate lattice is investigated at finite temperature by using the dynamical matrix approach. We consider the temperature region where the short ranse order or a charge density wave is well develored. By a transformation of coordinates, the dynamical matrix is separated into two terms, the dominant term or which coincides with that or the state with long range order. Using the perturbation theory it is found that the spectrum of the phase mode has a finite gap. It is shown that the phason mode appearing in the dynamical structure factor has the gap and broadening.

The harmonic lattice vibrations of a one-dimensional incommensurate lattice

The properties of the dynamical matrix for a one-dimensional incommensurate lattice are found, as are the normal mode vibrational frequencies and eigenvectors. A theory of the equilibrium state of the incommensurate structure is developed before the dynamical matrix is obtained, and a first harmonic lattice distortion of wave vector 2Q is found, in addition to the fundamental distortion of wave vector Q. New first harmonic phase and amplitude modes are also found, in addition to the previously discovered fundamental phase and amplitude modes; also, the previously discovered (Overhauser) phase mode is found to be mixed with the long-wavelength phonon mode. Several of the parameters of interest (e.g. the amplitude of the first harmonic distortion, the phason velocity, the frequency of the amplitude mode, and the effective mass) are evaluated using the microscopic Frohlich electron–phonon model, and are found to depend strongly on the magnitude of the dimensionless Frohlich coupling constant. The implications for various experiments, including inelastic neutron scattering, are discussed.