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Kivelson, Steven A.

Publications and source records attributed to Kivelson, Steven A..

“Quantum Geometric Nesting” and Solvable Model Flat-Band Systems

We introduce the concept of “quantum geometric nesting” (QGN) to characterize the idealized ordering tendencies of certain flat-band systems implicit in the geometric structure of the flat-band subspace. Perfect QGN implies the existence of an infinite class of local interactions that can be explicitly constructed and give rise to solvable ground states with various forms of possible fermion bilinear order, including flavor ferromagnetism, density waves, and superconductivity. For the ideal Hamiltonians constructed in this way, we show that certain aspects of the low-energy spectrum can also be exactly computed including, in the superconducting case, the phase stiffness. Examples of perfect QGN include flat bands with certain symmetries (e.g., chiral or time reversal) and non-symmetry-related cases exemplified with an engineered model for pair-density wave. Extending this approach, we obtain exact superconducting ground states with nontrivial pairing symmetry. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Anomalous Landau Level Gaps Near Magnetic Transitions in Monolayer WSe 2

First-order phase transitions produce abrupt changes to the character of both ground and excited electronic states. Here we conduct electronic compressibility measurements to map the spin phase diagram and Landau level (LL) energies of monolayer WSe 2 in a magnetic field. We resolve a sequence of first-order phase transitions between completely spin-polarized LLs and states with LLs of both spins. Unexpectedly, the LL gaps are roughly constant over a wide range of magnetic fields below the transitions, which we show reflects spin-polarized ground states with opposite spin excitations. These transitions also extend into compressible regimes, with a sawtooth boundary between full and partial spin polarization. We link these observations to the important influence of LL filling on the exchange energy beyond a smooth density-dependent contribution. Our results show that WSe 2 realizes a unique hierarchy of energy scales where such effects induce reentrant magnetic phase transitions tuned by density and magnetic field. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Anomalous Superfluid Density in a Disordered Charge-Density-Wave Material: Pd-Intercalated ErTe 3

We image local superfluid density in single crystals of Pd-intercalated ErTe 3 below the superconducting critical temperature T c , well below the onset temperature T CDW of (disordered) charge-density-wave order. We find no detectable inhomogeneities on micron scales. Furthermore, we observe a rapid increase of the superfluid density below T c , deviating from the behavior expected in a conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superconductor, and show that the temperature dependence is qualitatively consistent with a combination of quantum and thermal phase fluctuations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Dynamical defects in a two-dimensional Wigner crystal: Self-doping and kinetic magnetism

We study the quantum dynamics of interstitials and vacancies in a two-dimensional Wigner crystal (WC) using a semi-classical instanton method that is asymptotically exact at low density, i.e., in the r s → ∞ limit. Here, the dynamics of these point defects mediates magnetism with much higher energy scales than the exchange energies of the pure WC. Via exact diagonalization of the derived effective Hamiltonians in the single-defect sectors, we find the dynamical corrections to the defect energies. The resulting expression for the interstitial (vacancy) energy extrapolates to 0 at r s = r mit ≈ 70 (r s ≈ 30), suggestive of a self-doping instability to a partially melted WC for some range of r s below r mit . We thus propose a “metallic electron crystal” phase of the two-dimensional electron gas at intermediate densities between a low density insulating WC and a high density Fermi fluid.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Quantum Bipolaron Superconductivity from Quadratic Electron-Phonon Coupling

When the electron-phonon coupling is quadratic in the phonon coordinates, electrons can pair to form bipolarons due to phonon zero-point fluctuations, a purely quantum effect. Here we study superconductivity originating from this pairing mechanism in a minimal model and reveal that, in the strong coupling regime, the critical temperature (T c ) is only mildly suppressed by the coupling strength, in stark contrast to the exponential suppression in linearly coupled systems, thus implying higher optimal T c values. We demonstrate that large coupling constants of this flavor are achieved in known materials such as perovskites, and discuss strategies to realize such superconductivity using superlattices.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Emergent tetragonality in a fundamentally orthorhombic material

Symmetry plays a key role in determining the physical properties of materials. By Neumann’s principle, the properties of a material remain invariant under the symmetry operations of the space group to which the material belongs. Continuous phase transitions are associated with a spontaneous reduction in symmetry. Less common are examples where proximity to a continuous phase transition leads to an increase in symmetry. We find signatures of an emergent tetragonal symmetry close to a charge density wave (CDW) bicritical point in a fundamentally orthorhombic material, ErTe 3 , for which the two distinct CDW phase transitions are tuned via anisotropic strain. We first establish that tension along the a axis favors an abrupt rotation of the CDW wave vector from the c to a axis and infer the presence of a bicritical point where the two continuous phase transitions meet. We then observe a divergence of the nematic elastoresistivity approaching this putative bicritical point, indicating an emergent tetragonality in the critical behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermal transport measurements through the charge density wave transition in CsV 3 Sb 5

We study thermal transport and thermalization in single crystals of CsV 3 Sb 5 through the CDW transition by directly measuring thermal diffusivity (D), thermal conductivity (κ), specific heat (c), and resistivity (ρ). Commensurate with previous reports, we observe a sharp, narrow anomaly in specific heat associated with a first-order transition that results in a CDW state below ~94 K. While a corresponding sharp anomaly in thermal diffusivity is also observed, resistivity and thermal conductivity only exhibit small steps at the transition, where the feature is sharp for resistivity and broader for thermal conductivity. Scrutinizing the thermal Einstein relation κ = cD, we find that this relation is generally satisfied, except in the narrow two-phase regime of the putative first-order transition. Here, the Wiedemann-Franz law as well seems to work outside the two-phase regime, where strong resemblance between the specific heat and the resistivity derivative below the transition may point to a concurrent emergence of a secondary electronic order parameter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗