Universal Critical Exponents Research Articles

Graphene ripples as a realization of a two-dimensional Ising model: A scanning tunneling microscope study

Ripples in pristine freestanding graphene naturally orient themselves in an array that is alternately curved-up and curved-down; maintaining an average height of zero. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to apply a local force, the graphene sheet will reversibly rise and fall in height until the height reaches 60-70 percent of its maximum at which point a sudden, permanent jump occurs. We successfully model the ripples as a spin-half Ising magnetic system, where the height of the graphene is the spin. The permanent jump in height, controlled by the tunneling current, is found to be equivalent to an antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition. The thermal load underneath the STM tip alters the local tension and is identified as the responsible mechanism for the phase transition. Four universal critical exponents are measured from our STM data, and the model provides insight into the statistical role of graphenes unusual negative thermal expansion coefficient.

Universal Nonequilibrium Signatures of Majorana Zero Modes in Quench Dynamics

The quantum evolution after a metallic lead is suddenly connected to an electron system contains information about the excitation spectrum of the combined system. We exploit this type of "quantum quench" to probe the presence of Majorana fermions at the ends of a topological superconducting wire. We obtain an algebraically decaying overlap (Loschmidt echo) ${\cal L}(t)=| < \psi(0) | \psi(t) > |^2\sim t^{-\alpha}$ for large times after the quench, with a universal critical exponent $\alpha$=1/4 that is found to be remarkably robust against details of the setup, such as interactions in the normal lead, the existence of additional lead channels or the presence of bound levels between the lead and the superconductor. As in recent quantum dot experiments, this exponent could be measured by optical absorption, offering a new signature of Majorana zero modes that is distinct from interferometry and tunneling spectroscopy.

Coarsening dynamics of binary Bose condensates.

We study the dynamics of domain formation and coarsening in a binary Bose-Einstein condensate that is quenched across a miscible-immiscible phase transition. The late-time evolution of the system is universal and governed by scaling laws for the correlation functions. We numerically determine the scaling forms and extract the critical exponents that describe the growth rate of domain size and autocorrelations. Our data are consistent with inviscid hydrodynamic domain growth, which is governed by a universal dynamical critical exponent of 1/z=0.68(2). In addition, we analyze the effect of domain wall configurations which introduce a nonanalytic term in the short-distance structure of the pair correlation function, leading to a high-momentum "Porod" tail in the static structure factor, which can be measured experimentally.

Nonlinear Midinfrared Photothermal Spectroscopy Using Zharov Splitting and Quantum Cascade Lasers.

We report on the mid-infrared nonlinear photothermal spectrum of the neat liquid crystal 4-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) using a tunable Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL). The nonequilibrium steady state characterized by the nonlinear photothermal infrared response undergoes a supercritical bifurcation. The bifurcation, observed in heterodyne two-color pump–probe detection, leads to ultrasharp nonlinear infrared spectra similar to those reported in the visible region. A systematic study of the peak splitting as a function of absorbed infrared power shows the bifurcation has a critical exponent of 0.5. The observation of an apparently universal critical exponent in a nonequilibrium state is explained using an analytical model analogous of mean field theory. Apart from the intrinsic interest for nonequilibrium studies, nonlinear photothermal methods lead to a dramatic narrowing of spectral lines, giving rise to a potential new contrast mechanism for the rapidly emerging new field of mid-infrared microspectroscopy using QCLs.

Electrical, mechanical, and thermal analysis of natural rubber/polyaniline-Dbsa composite

A composite of natural rubber (NR) with polyaniline (PANI) was obtained by mixing an aqueous dispersion of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA)-doped PANI with NR latex in different concentrations. Films were obtained by the casting method and characterized by ultraviolet visible near-infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/ DTG), stress-strain testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and DC electrical conductivity measurements. The UV-vis-NIR spectrum showed that PANI remained doped in the composite, and this improved the mechanical and electrical proprieties of NR films and afforded them good thermal stability up to ~200°C. The percolation threshold did not follow the universal critical exponent, and in this case, conduction preferentially occurs by hopping and tunneling.

An order parameter for impurity systems at quantum criticality.

A quantum phase transition may occur in the ground state of a system at zero temperature when a controlling field or interaction is varied. The resulting quantum fluctuations which trigger the transition produce scaling behaviour of various observables, governed by universal critical exponents. A particularly interesting class of such transitions appear in systems with quantum impurities where a non-extensive term in the free energy becomes singular at the critical point. Curiously, the notion of a conventional order parameter that exhibits scaling at the critical point is generically missing in these systems. Here we explore the possibility to use the Schmidt gap, which is an observable obtained from the entanglement spectrum, as an order parameter. A case study of the two-impurity Kondo model confirms that the Schmidt gap faithfully captures the scaling behaviour by correctly predicting the critical exponent of the dynamically generated length scale at the critical point.

Thermal avalanches near a Mott transition

We probe the volume collapse transition (ΔV/Vo ∼ 15%) between the isostructural γ and α phases (T ∼ 100 K) of Ce0.9Th0.1 using the Hall effect, three-terminal capacitive dilatometry, and electrical resistivity measurements. Hall effect measurements confirm the itinerant ground state as the carrier concentration increases by a factor of 7 in the α phase, γ phase (nH = 5.28 × 1026 m−3), and the α phase (nH = 3.76 × 1027 m−3). We were able to detect a noise spectrum consisting of avalanches while slowly varying the temperature through the hysteretic region. We surmise that the avalanches originate from intergranular stresses at the interfaces between partially transformed high-volume and low-volume phases. The statistical distribution of avalanches obey power laws with energy exponent ϵ ≃ 1.5. Hall effect measurements, combined with universal critical exponents, point to short electron mean-free percolation pathways and carrier localization at phase interfaces. Carrier localization was predicted many years ago for elemental cerium by Johansson (1974 Phil. Mag. 30 469).

Critical correlations in an ultra-cold Bose gas revealed by means of a temporal Talbot–Lau interferometer

The transition from a thermal cloud to a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) in an interacting ultra-cold Bose gas is a prototype in a universality class of diverse phase transitions. For a trapped ultra-cold Bose gas, we were able to study the critical regime both above and below the critical temperature with a Talbot–Lau interferometer, observing a peak in the correlation length. From this peak, we managed to determine the universal critical exponents for this phase transition as well as the finite-size and interaction corrections to the critical temperature. The results are all in quantitative agreement with theory. This work demonstrates the potential application of the Talbot–Lau interferometer to a wide range of critical phase transitions in ultra-cold atomic gases.

Scaling theory of continuum dislocation dynamics in three dimensions: Self-organized fractal pattern formation

We focus on mesoscopic dislocation patterning via a continuum dislocation dynamics theory (CDD) in three dimensions (3D). We study three distinct physically motivated dynamics which consistently lead to fractal formation in 3D with rather similar morphologies, and therefore we suggest that this is a general feature of the 3D collective behavior of geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) ensembles. The striking self-similar features are measured in terms of correlation functions of physical observables, such as the GND density, the plastic distortion, and the crystalline orientation. Remarkably, all these correlation functions exhibit spatial power-law behaviors, sharing a single underlying universal critical exponent for each type of dynamics.

Universality versus nonuniversality in asymmetric fluid criticality

Critical phenomena in real fluids demonstrate a combination of universal features caused by the divergence of long-range fluctuations of density and nonuniversal (system-dependent) features associated with specific intermolecular interactions. Asymptotically, all fluids belong to the Ising-model class of universality. The asymptotic power laws for the thermodynamic properties are described by two independent universal critical exponents and by two independent nonuniversal critical amplitudes; other critical amplitudes can be obtained by universal relations. The nonuniversal critical parameters (critical temperature, pressure, and density) can be absorbed in the property units. Nonasymptotic critical behavior of fluids can be divided into two parts, symmetric ("Ising-like") and asymmetric ("fluid-like"). The symmetric nonasymptotic behavior contains a new universal exponent (Wegner exponent) and the system-dependent crossover scale (Ginzburg number) associated with the range of intermolecular interactions, while the asymmetric features are generally described by an additional universal exponent and by three nonasymptotic amplitudes associated with mixing of the physical fields into the scaling fields.

Exotic continuous quantum phase transition betweenZ2topological spin liquid and Néel order

Recent numerical simulations with different techniques have all suggested the existence of a continuous quantum phase transition between the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ topological spin-liquid phase and a conventional N\'eel order. Motivated by this numerical progress, we propose a candidate theory for such ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$-N\'eel transition. We first argue on general grounds that, for a SU(2)-invariant system, this transition can not be interpreted as the condensation of spinons in the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin-liquid phase. Then, we propose that such ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$-N\'eel transition is driven by proliferating the bound state of the bosonic spinon and vison excitation of the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquid, i.e., the so-called $(e,m)$-type excitation. Universal critical exponents associated with this exotic transition are computed using $1/N$ expansion. This theory predicts that at the ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$-N\'eel transition, there is an emergent quasi-long-range power-law correlation of columnar valence bond solid order parameter.

A quantum phase transition in a quantum external field: Superposing two magnetic phases

We study an Ising chain undergoing a quantum phase transition in a quantum magnetic field. Such a field can be emulated by coupling the chain to a central spin initially in a superposition state. We show that – by adiabatically driving such a system – one can prepare a quantum superposition of any two ground states of the Ising chain. In particular, one can end up with the Ising chain in a superposition of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases – a scenario with no analogue in prior studies of quantum phase transitions. Remarkably, the resulting magnetization of the chain encodes the position of the critical point and universal critical exponents, as well as the ground state fidelity.

Probing slow dynamics by ultrafast process: Sol–gel transition detected by transient absorption spectroscopy of quantum dots

Sol–gel transition is a second-order phase transition depending on the creation of the macroscopic solute network, which confines the solvent in its pores. The phase transition from the sol state to the gel state takes place, when small clusters of molecules join together and create one huge cluster, which fills most of the volume of the sample. The aim of this paper is to study the phase transition process using as detectors the semiconductor PbS nanocrystals, called quantum dots, embedded in the solution. As a material we are using the aqueous solution of gelatin, which creates the gel network due to hydrogen bonds between monomers belonging to different chains. The lifetimes of excitons generated in quantum dots by the light pulse appear to be very sensitive to the polymer surrounding. These lifetimes have been measured by use of the transient absorption spectroscopy. In order to show the dynamics of the gelation process the measurements were performed with appropriate time lags in train of the process duration. It appears that dynamics of the exciton lifetime significantly changes during the sol–gel transition, what allows the indication of the gel point in the system and the appropriate universal critical exponents.

Non-smooth transitions in a simple city traffic model analyzed through supertracks

We explore the nontrivial behavior of a particular city traffic model due to its minimalistic representation of basic city traffic dynamics. The chaotic behavior is studied through the supertrack functions, an approach that in some cases exposes more information than usual methods. In particular, we explore a parameter region that may be related to the high sensitivity of traffic flow and eventually could lead to traffic jams. First, we describe analytically a period adding region, that has a universal critical exponent of α=1. Second, we analyze a chaotic crisis giving rise to an inverse supertrack cascade with a period scaling of α≈0.49. This cascade seems to be universal when approaching to the chaotic behavior, but in general it depends on the braking and accelerating capabilities of the vehicles.

TRANSPORT VIA CLASSICAL PERCOLATION AT QUANTUM HALL PLATEAU TRANSITIONS

We consider transport properties of disordered two-dimensional electron gases under high perpendicular magnetic field, focusing in particular on the peak longitudinal conductivity [Formula: see text] at the quantum Hall plateau transition. We use a local conductivity model, valid at temperatures high enough such that quantum tunneling is suppressed, taking into account the random drift motion of the electrons in the disordered potential landscape and inelastic processes provided by electron-phonon scattering. A diagrammatic solution of this problem is proposed, which leads to a rich interplay of conduction mechanisms, where classical percolation effects play a prominent role. The scaling function for [Formula: see text] is derived in the high temperature limit, which can be used to extract universal critical exponents of classical percolation from experimental data.

Avalanche spatial structure and multivariable scaling functions: Sizes, heights, widths, and views through windows

We introduce a systematic method for extracting multivariable universal scaling functions and critical exponents from data. We exemplify our insights by analyzing simulations of avalanches in an interface using simulations from a driven quenched Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (qKPZ) equation. We fully characterize the spatial structure of these avalanches--we report universal scaling functions for size, height, and width distributions, and also local front heights. Furthermore, we resolve a problem that arises in many imaging experiments of crackling noise and avalanche dynamics, where the observed distributions are strongly distorted by a limited field of view. Through artificially windowed data, we show these distributions and their multivariable scaling functions may be written in terms of two control parameters: the window size and the characteristic length scale of the dynamics. For the entire system and the windowed distributions we develop accurate parametrizations for the universal scaling functions, including corrections to scaling and systematic error bars, facilitated by a novel software environment SloppyScaling.

Critical dynamics of decoherence

We study decoherence induced by a dynamic environment undergoing a quantum phase transition. Environment's susceptibility to perturbations - and, consequently, efficiency of decoherence - is amplified near a critical point. Over and above this near-critical susceptibility increase, we show that decoherence is dramatically enhanced by non-equilibrium critical dynamics of the environment. We derive a simple expression relating decoherence to the universal critical exponents exhibiting deep connections with the theory of topological defect creation in non-equilibrium phase transitions.

Analytical computation of critical exponents in several holographic superconductors

It is very interesting that all holographic superconductors, such as s-wave, p-wave and d-wave holographic superconductors, show the universal mean-field critical exponent 1/2 at the critical temperature, just like Gindzburg-Landau (G-L) theory for second order phase transitions. Now it is believed that the universal critical exponents appear because the dual gravity theory is classic in the large N limit. However, even in the large N limit there is an exception called “non-mean-field theory”: an extension of the s-wave model with a cubic term of the charged scalar field shows a different critical exponent 1. In this paper, we try to use analytical methods to obtain the critical exponents for these models to see how the properties of the gravity action decides the appearance of the mean-field behaviors. It will be seen that just like the G-L theory, it is the fundamental symmetries rather than the detailed parameters of the bulk theory that lead to the universal properties of the holographic superconducting phase transition. The feasibility of the called “non-mean-field theory” is also discussed.

Asymptotic safety: A simple example

We use the Gross-Neveu model in 2<d<4 as a simple fermionic example for Weinberg's asymptotic safety scenario: despite being perturbatively nonrenormalizable, the model defines an interacting quantum field theory being valid to arbitrarily high momentum scales owing to the existence of a non-Gaussian fixed point. Using the functional renormalization group, we study the UV behavior of the model in both the purely fermionic as well as a partially bosonized language. We show that asymptotic safety is realized at non-Gaussian fixed points in both formulations, the universal critical exponents of which we determine quantitatively. The partially bosonized formulation allows to make contact to the large-Nf expansion where the model is known to be renormalizable to all-orders. In this limit, the fixed-point action as well as all universal critical exponents can be computed analytically. As asymptotic safety has become an important scenario for quantizing gravity, our description of a well-understood model is meant to provide for an easily accessible and controllable example of modern nonperturbative quantum field theory.

Anomalous ordering in inhomogeneously strained materials

We study a continuous quasi-two-dimensional order-disorder phase transition that occurs in a simple model of a material that is inhomogeneously strained due to the presence of dislocation lines. Performing Monte Carlo simulations of different system sizes and using finite size scaling, we measure critical exponents describing the transition of β=0.18±0.02, γ=1.0±0.1, and α=0.10±0.02. Comparable exponents have been reported in a variety of physical systems. These systems undergo a range of different types of phase transitions, including structural transitions, exciton percolation, and magnetic ordering. In particular, similar exponents have been found to describe the development of magnetic order at the onset of the pseudogap transition in high-temperature superconductors. Their common universal critical exponents suggest that the essential physics of the transition in all of these physical systems is the same as in our simple model. We argue that the nature of the transition in our model is related to surface transitions although our model has no free surface.