Quasiparticle Interaction Research Articles

Universal correlation between H-linear magnetoresistance and T-linear resistivity in high-temperature superconductors

The signature feature of the ‘strange metal’ state of high-Tc cuprates—its linear-in-temperature resistivity—has a coefficient α1 that correlates with Tc, as expected were α1 derived from scattering off the same bosonic fluctuations that mediate pairing. Recently, an anomalous linear-in-field magnetoresistance (=γ1H) has also been observed, but only over a narrow doping range, leaving its relation to the strange metal state and to the superconductivity unclear. Here, we report in-plane magnetoresistance measurements on three hole-doped cuprate families spanning a wide range of temperatures, magnetic field strengths and doping. In contrast to expectations from Boltzmann transport theory, γ1 is found to correlate universally with α1. A phenomenological model incorporating real-space inhomogeneity is proposed to explain this correlation. Within this picture, superconductivity in hole-doped cuprates is governed not by the strength of quasiparticle interactions with a bosonic bath, but by the concentration of strange metallic carriers.

Interplay of Cooper Pairs and Zero-Energy Quasiparticles in a Gapless Superconductor.

The interplay between Cooper pairs and Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) quasiparticles is a topic of considerable interest in the quantum properties of solids, but its important ingredient, the sufficient amount of low-energy quasiparticles to interact with Cooper pairs remains elusive in conventional superconductors. Here a gapless superconductor with coupled paramagnetic atomic layers is used to generate a significant amount of zero-energy quasiparticles that Anderson-localize and bifurcate into regions of high and low zero-energy quasiparticle density of states. The enriched zero-energy quasiparticles induce puddled superconductivity and Josephson vortices. This discovery not only advances the understanding of the mutual interaction of Cooper pairs and BdG quasiparticles but also opens a new avenue for exploring and controlling exotic quantum phenomena where superconductivity, disorder, and spin degrees of freedom are entangled.

C3N based heterobilayers: a potential platform to explore optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties

We theoretically investigate the full thermal transport and optoelectronic features of two established van der Waals heterostructures based on the recently synthesized monolayer of C3N using the machinery of the Boltzmann transport equation and GW+BSE calculations. Among the structures, C3N/hBN tends to exhibit a small indirect gap semiconducting nature with an admixture of comparatively higher ‘flat-and-dispersiveness’ and band degeneracy in the conduction band minima. A nearly comparable high thermoelectric power factor is observed for both carrier types at 300 K and 900 K at specific concentrations. The other material, C3N/Graphene however maintains a low Seebeck coefficient with large electrical conductivity which correctly manifests its metallic character. A combination of low atomic mass, higher anharmonicity and longer lifetime of acoustic phonons in C3N/hBN results in an intermediate lattice thermal conductivity (196 W m−1 K−1) at room temperature as compared to its constituent monolayers. Under heavy n-type doping, C3N/hBN hetero-bilayer displays a figure of merit value of 0.13 (and 0.36) at room temperature (and at 900 K). As per the optical signatures are concerned, C3N/hBN reveals two distinct absorption peaks with a high electron–hole quasiparticle interaction energy correction. Besides both the heterostructures display a much better absorption throughout the spectrum as compared to graphene. We expect these findings will motivate future research in designing thermoelectric and optoelectronic materials made of light mass, earth-abundant and non-toxic elements.

Quasiparticles for the one-dimensional nonlocal Fisher-Kolmogorov-Petrovskii-Piskunov equation

We construct quasiparticles-like solutions to the one-dimensional Fisher-Kolmogorov-Petrovskii-Piskunov (FKPP) with a nonlocal nonlinearity using the method of semiclassically concentrated states in the weak diffusion approximation. Such solutions are of use for predicting the dynamics of population patterns using analytical or semi-analytical approach. The interaction of quasiparticles stems from nonlocal competitive losses in the FKPP model. We developed the formalism of our approach relying on ideas of the Maslov method. The construction of the asymptotic expansion of a solution to the original nonlinear evolution equation is based on solutions to an auxiliary dynamical system of ODEs. The asymptotic solutions for various specific cases corresponding to various spatial profiles of the reproduction rate and nonlocal competitive losses are studied within the framework of the approach proposed.

Exactly solvable subspaces of nonintegrable spin chains with boundaries and quasiparticle interactions

Exactly solvable subspaces of nonintegrable spin chains with boundaries and quasiparticle interactions

Divergent Nonlinear Response from Quasiparticle Interactions.

We demonstrate that nonlinear response functions in many-body systems carry a sharp signature of interactions between gapped low-energy quasiparticles. Such interactions are challenging to deduce from linear response measurements. The signature takes the form of a divergent-in-time contribution to the response-linear in time in the case when quasiparticles propagate ballistically-that is absent for free bosonic excitations. We give a physically transparent semiclassical picture of this singular behavior. While the semiclassical picture applies to a broad class of systems we benchmark it in two simple models: in the Ising chain using a form-factor expansion, and in a nonintegrable model-the spin-1 Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki chain-using time-dependent density matrix renormalization group simulations. We comment on extensions of these results to finite temperatures.

The Influence of Electrochemical Bias on the Exciton Dynamics of MoS2 thin Films

2D transition metal dichalcogenides are an attractive family of materials in the field of electronics and optoelectronics. They are excellent candidates for sensitive photodetectors, light harvesting devices (photovoltaics, photocatalysts or photoelectrodes), lasers or non-linear optical devices. All these applications rely on light-matter interactions, which processes will ultimately decide the efficiency of the derived devices. Understanding carrier dynamics and the interaction of various exotic quasi-particles (excitons, trions) in these materials is of paramount importance to design better performing devices.Pump-probe transient absorption/reflection spectroscopy (TAS/TRS) is a powerful technique to study photophysical processes involved in charge carrier generation and recombination on the ultrafast timescale. In MoS2 photoelectrodes after light excitation different types of excitons are generated, and their decay can be monitored with these techniques. Coupling electrochemical techniques with these ultrafast methods, allows to probe the decay of the excited state in these materials under working conditions. In this manner the effect of trap state filling [1] or the effect of charge extraction [2] on the charge carrier dynamics of photoelectrochemical systems can be revealed.In my presentation I will show ultrafast spectroelectrochemical measurements on ITO/MoS2 photoelectrodes and reveal how the decay of excitons are influenced by the applied electrochemical bias. By comparing results from TAS/TRS spectroscopy the separation of carrier dynamics on the surface and bulk of these systems can be performed. These measurements reveal that the dissociation of excitons occurs at the ITO/MoS2 interface, resulting in a long living exciton population on the surface of these samples. Charging/discharging studies carried out in these systems reveal that the trap states involved in the dissociation of excitons in these systems can be permanently filled. The electrochemical filling of these trap states allows the tuning of the excited state lifetime of these systems, which can aid the better design of photoelectrochemical devices based on MoS2.

Control of magnon-magnon coupling in Ni80Fe20 nanocross arrays through system dimensions

Hybrid magnonics, founded on the coherent interplay between magnons and various quasiparticles, provides avenues for quantum transduction and the seamless transmission of coherent information. Magnon-magnon coupling, which exhibits remarkable coupling strength advantages over light-matter interactions, has emerged as a promising field. This research investigates magnon-magnon coupling in Ni80Fe20 nanocross arrays, with a focus on controlling the anticrossing phenomenon. Through a methodical adjustment of the nanocross arm length, it becomes possible to fine-tune the strength of coupling. The significance of the observed effect becomes evident when examining the power and phase profiles of distinct spin-wave (SW) modes in close proximity to and at a considerable distance from the anticrossing point. The research contributes to bridging the gap in hybrid quasi-particle interactions and offers insights into magnon-magnon coupling control. The findings open avenues for efficient magnon-based technologies and systems enabling efficient control of SW propagation characteristics and coupling, with implications for efficient quantum information processing architectures.

Mediated quasiparticle interactions observed in ultracold mixtures

Mediated quasiparticle interactions observed in ultracold mixtures

Anharmonic phonon scattering study in wide bandgap semiconductor β -Ga2O3 by Raman spectroscopy

The low thermal conductivity of β-Ga2O3 single crystal imposes limitations on its device performance under high-temperature and high-power conditions. Phonons are widely recognized to play the main role in heat transport, while the anharmonic scattering among these quasi-particles significantly diminishes thermal conductivity. Therefore, investigating the anharmonic phonon scattering within β-Ga2O3 single crystal holds paramount significance. In this study, we mainly employed temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and first-principles calculation to give a quantitative analysis on the anharmonic phonon scattering. The mode Grüneisen parameters and temperature-dependent thermal expansion coefficient were studied. Strong anharmonic phonon scattering was also confirmed, which was mainly caused by cubic scattering, but quartic scattering is also nonnegligible and causes nonlinear linewidth broadening. Moreover, high wavenumber peaks are more likely to undergo asymmetric phonon scattering by comparing the symmetric and asymmetric scattering models. In all, this study provides a profound understanding of the anharmonic phonon scattering properties within the β-Ga2O3 single crystal. It enriches our understanding of quasi-particle interaction dynamics and offers theoretical pathways for expanding the applications of β-Ga2O3 single crystal and optimizing its device performance.

Numerical investigation of the quasi-particles of metals with specific thermodynamic properties at elevated temperatures

The application of the Landau theory of Fermi Liquids to certain thermodynamic properties, like the specific heat of quasi-particles in metals, was investigated in this study. The FORTRAN compiler was used to scientifically coordinate the generation of values of specific heat by writing programs for each thermodynamic property as a function of electron density parameter, temperature, Boltzmann’s constant, and effective mass of the quasi-particle. The results indicate that as the temperature of metals increases, the specific heat of quasi-particles also increases, and the electron density parameter increases for all metals. This suggests that at low densities, the specific heat of quasi-particles is large and there is a large separation between them. Additionally, the ability to absorb heat decreases as the temperature of the quasi-particles increases. The specific heat of quasi-particles calculated in this paper differs greatly from Landau's observations, indicating that the inclusion of the electron density parameter plays a role in the generation of quasi-particles and the observed specific heat of metals. The computed specific heat is close to Laudau’s specific heat but far from the observed specific heat. This research examines the interaction of landau quasi-particles in the overall characteristics of metals and evaluates the reliability of the model used. The results of the calculated specific heat and the actual specific heat demonstrate variations with the model underestimating the specific heat at observed temperatures and higher temperatures.

Dynamical downfolding for localized quantum states

We introduce an approach to treat localized correlated electronic states in the otherwise weakly correlated host medium. Here, the environment is dynamically downfolded on the correlated subspace. It is captured via renormalization of one and two quasiparticle interaction terms which are evaluated using many-body perturbation theory. We outline the strategy on how to take the dynamical effects into account by going beyond the static limit approximation. Further, we introduce an efficient stochastic implementation that enables treating the host environment with a large number of electrons at a minimal computational cost. For a small explicitly correlated subspace, the dynamical effects are critical. We demonstrate the methodology by reproducing optical excitations in the negatively charged NV center defect in diamond, that agree with experimental results.

Laser‐induced Fano interference subsumed by electron–phonon coupling in orthorhombic KNbO3nano‐bricks: An ab initio vibrational and Raman spectroscopic investigation

AbstractHydrothermally prepared potassium niobate (KNbO3) nanoparticles are characterized meticulously to explore various crystallographic, microstructural, morphological, optical, compositional, and lattice‐vibrational properties. Laser power‐dependent Raman spectroscopy is employed to study the Fano effect in asymmetrically broadened optic (LO/TO) phonon modes in the orthorhombic KNbO3system, considering interference with the interband electronic continuum. The phonon softening, alterations in charge‐phonon coupling constant, linewidth and lifetime of phonon modes, and so on are explained in the light of theories formulated by Fano, Allen, and Hui, accompanying factor group analysis of the Raman‐active modes. Under local heating via focused laser irradiation, highly sensitive Raman spectra introspect perturbations in the generic vibrations at the first Brillouin zone center and moderations in the constructive/destructive interference conditions of resonant Fano scattering. Density functional theory (DFT)‐based calculations on phonon dispersion, density of phonon states, and relevant thermodynamic attributes decipher the theoretical background. Amid photoexcited electron plasma, the charge‐phonon coupling for distinct modes is strengthened considerably against strong excitation intensity without any unwanted anharmonicity, extensive lattice thermal expansion, phonon decay, or microscopic phase transformation. Finally, the direction of asymmetry, particle–particle, and particle–quasiparticle interactions are illustrated using Feynman diagrams for the associated and phonon modes.

Carriers, Quasi-particles, and Collective Excitations in Halide Perovskites.

Halide perovskites (HPs) are potential game-changing materials for a broad spectrum of optoelectronic applications ranging from photovoltaics, light-emitting devices, lasers to radiation detectors, ferroelectrics, thermoelectrics, etc. Underpinning this spectacular expansion is their fascinating photophysics involving a complex interplay of carrier, lattice, and quasi-particle interactions spanning several temporal orders that give rise to their remarkable optical and electronic properties. Herein, we critically examine and distill their dynamical behavior, collective interactions, and underlying mechanisms in conjunction with the experimental approaches. This review aims to provide a unified photophysical picture fundamental to understanding the outstanding light-harvesting and light-emitting properties of HPs. The hotbed of carrier and quasi-particle interactions uncovered in HPs underscores the critical role of ultrafast spectroscopy and fundamental photophysics studies in advancing perovskite optoelectronics.

Two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy of trion-polaritons and exciton-polaritons in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides

We present a microscopic many-body calculation of the nonlinear two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy (2DCS) of trion-polaritons and exciton-polaritons in charge-tunable transition-metal-dichalcogenides monolayers placed in an optical microcavity. The charge tunability leads to an electron gas with nonzero density that brings brightness to the trion — a polaron quasiparticle formed by an exciton with a nonzero residue bounded to the electron gas. As a result, a trion-polariton is created under strong light-matter coupling, as observed in the recent experiment by Sidler et al. [Nat. Phys. 13, 255 (2017)]. We analyze in detail the structure of trion-polaritons, by solving an extended Chevy ansatz for the trion quasiparticle wave-function. We confirm that the effective light-matter coupling for trion-polaritons is determined by the residue of the trion quasiparticle. The solution of the full many-body polaron states within Chevy ansatz enables us to microscopically calculate the nonlinear 2DCS spectrum of both trion-polaritons and exciton-polaritons. We predict the existence of three kinds of off-diagonal cross-peaks in the 2DCS spectrum, as an indication of the coherence among the different branches of trion-polaritons and exciton-polaritons. Due to the sensitivity of 2DCS spectrum to quasiparticle interactions, our work provides a good starting point to explore the strong nonlinearity exhibited by trion-polaritons in some recent exciton-polariton experiments.

Separating single- from multi-particle dynamics in nonlinear spectroscopy.

Quantum states depend on the coordinates of all their constituent particles, with essential multi-particle correlations. Time-resolved laser spectroscopy1 is widely used to probe the energies and dynamics of excited particles and quasiparticles such as electrons and holes2,3, excitons4-6, plasmons7, polaritons8 or phonons9. However, nonlinear signals from single- and multiple-particle excitations are all present simultaneously and cannot be disentangled without a priori knowledge of the system4,10. Here, we show that transient absorption-the most commonly used nonlinear spectroscopy-with N prescribed excitation intensities allows separation of the dynamics into N increasingly nonlinear contributions; in systems well-described by discrete excitations, these N contributions systematically report on zero to N excitations. We obtain clean single-particle dynamics even at high excitation intensities and can systematically increase the number of interacting particles, infer their interaction energies and reconstruct their dynamics, which are not measurable via conventional means. We extract single- and multiple-exciton dynamics in squaraine polymers11,12 and, contrary to common assumption6,13, we find that the excitons, on average, meet several times before annihilating. This surprising ability of excitons to survive encounters is important for efficient organic photovoltaics14,15. As we demonstrate on five diverse systems, our procedure is general, independent of the measured system or type of observed (quasi)particle and straightforward to implement. We envision future applicability in the probing of (quasi)particle interactions in such diverse areas as plasmonics7, Auger recombination2 and exciton correlations in quantum dots5,16,17, singlet fission18, exciton interactions in two-dimensional materials19 and in molecules20,21, carrier multiplication22, multiphonon scattering9 or polariton-polariton interaction8.

Electron-Phonon Interaction Contribution to the Total Energy of Group IV Semiconductor Polymorphs: Evaluation and Implications.

In density functional theory (DFT)-based total energy studies, the van der Waals (vdW) and zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE) correction terms are included to obtain energy differences between polymorphs. We propose and compute a new correction term to the total energy, due to electron-phonon interactions (EPI). We rely on Allen's general formalism, which goes beyond the quasi-harmonic approximation (QHA), to include the free energy contributions due to quasiparticle interactions. We show that, for semiconductors and insulators, the EPI contributions to the free energies of electrons and phonons are the corresponding zero-point energy contributions. Using an approximate version of Allen's formalism in combination with the Allen-Heine theory for EPI corrections, we calculate the zero-point EPI corrections to the total energy for cubic and hexagonal polytypes of carbon, silicon and silicon carbide. The EPI corrections alter the energy differences between polytypes. In SiC polytypes, the EPI correction term is more sensitive to crystal structure than the vdW and ZPVE terms and is thus essential in determining their energy differences. It clearly establishes that the cubic SiC-3C is metastable and hexagonal SiC-4H is the stable polytype. Our results are consistent with the experimental results of Kleykamp. Our study enables the inclusion of EPI corrections as a separate term in the free energy expression. This opens the way to go beyond the QHA by including the contribution of EPI on all thermodynamic properties.

The Spin Texture Topology of Polygonal Plasmon Fields

Spin and field textures define the topology of the electric and magnetic fields in vacuum. These textures can be imposed on matter by light–matter interactions on the nanometer spatial and DC to femtosecond time scales to define the spatial and temporal symmetries of quasiparticle interactions. How to define the topology of thermodynamically evolving or dynamically imposed polaritonic textures is still an open question in applying control parameters such as temperature or phase of structured light. In this Perspective, we specifically consider the spin topology of geometrical plasmonic lattices formed by surface plasmon polariton fields spanning the full range of polygonal symmetries, ranging from the triangular to the circular including the intermediate aperiodic quasicrystalline tilings. Our premise is that the distortion of a triangular or a square lattice into a circular one, without introducing discontinuous geometric change, as by cutting, must preserve the polariton topology. From this perspective, we review the recent studies of stable optical field-induced dynamic quasiparticles with topological spin textures on the nanoscale. Specifically, we draw attention to how the topological spin textures evolve through the continuous deformation of the surface plasmon generating polygon geometries from triangular to circular. The goal of this Perspective is to introduce the topological properties of plasmonic vortices and to expand the discussion and understanding of how their topological spin and field textures dress material properties for exploration of fundamental physics and applications in photonics and spintronics.

Acoustic plasmons and isotropic short-range interaction in two-component electron liquids

Dispersion of acoustic plasmons and isotropic Landau parameters are calculated in three- and two-dimensional two-component electron-electron and electron-hole liquids at various concentration and mass ratios using Landau-Silin kinetic equation and the random phase approximation for the self-energy. It is shown that the mode propagation and the strength of quasiparticle interaction are determined by the intercomponent screening and are asymmetric with respect to charge composition of two-component liquid. The well-defined acoustic plasmon-zero sound mode arises at strong difference in concentrations between components and its renormalization by the short-range exchange-correlation interaction is negligible. The acoustic plasmon mediated interparticle effective interaction in the fast component is weak in both the three- and two-dimensional electron liquids with parabolic dispersion, so the associated plasmonic superconductivity and the formation of acoustic plasmarons are unfavorable.

Spin-excitons in high magnetic fields

Spin-Excitons are sharp branches of dispersive triplet excitations found with energies within the gap of paramagnetic Kondo Insulators, which exist for a restricted range of wave-vectors around Q̲a=(π,π,π). The application of a high applied magnetic field is expected to drive the non-magnetic Kondo Insulating State to become unstable. The instability occurs through different routes, which depend on the strength of the quasi-particle interactions. One route towards instability, which occurs for strong quasi-particle interactions, is by a transition to a field-induced antiferromagnetic state. The second mode of instability, which occurs for weak interactions, is simply due to the magnetic field closing the hybridization gap. In this route, the non-magnetic Kondo insulator becomes unstable to a spin-polarized metallic state. Here we examine the effects of an applied magnetic field on spin-excitons. In the presence of a weak magnetic field, the excitations split into three branches, where the splittings of the dispersion relation are proportional to the applied field. The three branches exist for different ranges of Q̲ and have different intensities. For strong interactions, the lowest-energy branch, which has the weakest intensity and exists for the smallest Q̲ range, completely softens at the transition to the antiferromagnetic phase. This lower branch of excitations is found to disappear at the boundary separating the two modes of instability, leaving the upper two branches intact.