Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Komijani, Yashar

Publications and source records attributed to Komijani, Yashar.

6 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Observation of a critical charge mode in a strange metal

Understanding the strange metallic behavior that develops at the brink of localization in quantum materials requires probing the underlying electronic charge dynamics. Using synchrotron radiation–based Mössbauer spectroscopy, we studied the charge fluctuations of the strange metal phase of β-YbAlB 4 as a function of temperature and pressure. We found that the usual single absorption peak in the Fermi-liquid regime splits into two peaks upon entering the critical regime. Here, we interpret this spectrum as a single nuclear transition, modulated by nearby electronic valence fluctuations whose long time scales are further enhanced by the formation of charged polarons. These critical charge fluctuations may prove to be a distinct signature of strange metals.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Frustrated Kondo impurity triangle: A simple model of deconfinement

We report that the concepts of deconfinement and topological order are of great current interest for quantum information science and for our understanding of quantum materials. Here, we introduce a simple model of three antiferromagnetically coupled Kondo impurities, a Kondo triangle, which can be used to further extend the application of these concepts to electronic systems. We show that, by tuning the magnetic frustration, the Kondo triangle undergoes a quantum phase transition between two phases of unbroken symmetry, signaling a phase transition beyond the Landau paradigm. We demonstrate that the frustrated spin liquid phase is described by a three-channel Kondo (3CK) fixed point and thus displays an irrational ground state degeneracy. Using an Abrikosov pseudofermion representation, this quantum state is categorized by an emergent U(1) gauge field and its projective symmetry group. The gauge theory is deconfining in the sense that a miniature Wilson loop orders and topological defects (instantons in the gauge field) are expelled. This phase persists in the presence of moderate Kondo screening until proliferation of topological defects leads to a quantum phase transition to an unfrustrated Fermi liquid phase. Based on this evidence, we propose that the 3CK phase displays topological order in a similar sense as gapless spin liquids.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Emergent moments in a Hund's impurity

Here, motivated by the relevance of Hund's coupling in the context of multiorbital superconductors, we revisit the problem of a multiorbital Kondo impurity with Hund's interaction. Using dynamical large-N techniques, we propose an efficient approach that retains the essential physics at play, while providing a pathway to scalable quantum impurity solvers. We are able to follow the ground state, dynamic, and thermodynamic properties of this system over many decades of temperature. Our approach captures the emergence of large moments and follows the stretched evolution of the physics down to their exponentially suppressed Kondo temperature. We focus our analysis on the intermediate finite temperature phase which presents an alternate paramagnetic state due to the emergent moment and discuss the relevance of this regime to Hund's metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Triplet Resonating Valence Bond State and Superconductivity in Hund’s Metals

A central idea in strongly correlated systems is that doping a Mott insulator leads to a superconductor by transforming the resonating valence bonds (RVBs) into spin-singlet Cooper pairs. Here, we argue that a spin-triplet RVB (tRVB) state, driven by spatially, or orbitally anisotropic ferromagnetic interactions can provide the parent state for triplet superconductivity. We apply this idea to the iron-based superconductors, arguing that strong on site Hund’s interactions develop intra-atomic tRVBs between the $t_{2_g}$ orbitals. On doping, the presence of two iron atoms per unit cell allows these interorbital triplets to coherently delocalize onto the Fermi surface, forming a fully gapped triplet superconductor. In this work, this mechanism gives rise to a unique staggered structure of on site pair correlations, detectable as an alternating π phase shift in a scanning Josephson tunneling microscope.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗