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Results for “Fermionic condensates”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Polar Kerr effect studies of time reversal symmetry breaking states in heavy fermion superconductors

The connection between chiral superconductivity and topological order has emerged as an active direction in research as more instances of both have been identified in condensed matter systems. Moreover, with the notable exception of 3 He-B, all of the known or suspected chiral – that is to say time-reversal symmetry-breaking (TRSB) – superfluids arise in heavy fermion superconductors, although the vast majority of heavy fermion superconductors preserve time-reversal symmetry. We review recent experimental efforts to identify TRSB states in heavy fermion systems via measurement of polar Kerr effect, which is a direct consequence of TRSB.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Selective enhancement of Coulomb interactions in planar Weyl fermions

We report on our study of the electron interaction effects in topological two-dimensional (2D) materials placed in a quantizing magnetic field. Taking our cue from a recent experimental report, we consider a particular case of bismuthene monolayer with a strong spin-orbit interaction which can be a Weyl semimetal when placed on a specially tuned substrate. Interestingly, we observe that in some Landau levels of this material, the interaction effects are enhanced compared to those for a conventional 2D system and graphene monolayer. Such an enhancement of electron-electron interactions in these materials is largely due to an anisotropy present in the materials. Additionally, the interaction effects can be tuned by changing the coupling to the substrate and the strongest inter-electron interactions are observed when the system is a Weyl semimetal. Furthermore, the observed enhancement of the interaction effects can therefore be an important signature of the 2D Weyl fermions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Observation of topological nodal fermion semimetal phase in ZrSiS

We present that unveiling new topological phases of matter is one of the current objectives in condensed matter physics. Recent experimental discoveries of Dirac and Weyl semimetals prompt the search for other exotic phases of matter. Here we present a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of ZrSiS, a prime topological nodal semimetal candidate. Our wider Brillouin zone (BZ) mapping shows multiple Fermi surface pockets such as the diamond-shaped Fermi surface, elliptical-shaped Fermi surface, and a small electron pocket encircling at the zone center (Γ) point, the M point, and the X point of the BZ, respectively. We experimentally establish the spinless nodal fermion semimetal phase in ZrSiS, which is supported by our first-principles calculations. Our findings evidence that the ZrSiS-type of material family is a new platform on which to explore exotic states of quantum matter; these materials are expected to provide an avenue for engineering two-dimensional topological insulator systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Origin of the $ν$ = 1/2 fractional quantum Hall effect in wide quantum wells

The nature of the fractional quantum Hall effect at ν = 1/2, observed in wide quantum wells al- most three decades ago, is still under debate. Previous studies have investigated it by the variational Monte Carlo method, which assumes that the transverse wave function and the gap between the symmetric and antisymmetric subbands obtained in a local density approximation at zero magnetic field remain valid even at high perpendicular magnetic fields; this method also ignores the effect of Landau level mixing. We develop in this work a three-dimensional fixed phase diffusion Monte Carlo method, which gives, in a single framework, the total energies of various candidate states in a finite width quantum well, including Landau level mixing, directly in a large magnetic field. This method can be applied to one-component states, and also to two-component states in the limit where the symmetric and antisymmetric bands are nearly degenerate. Our three-dimensional fixed-phase diffusion Monte Carlo calculations find that the one-component composite-fermion Fermi sea and the one-component Pfaffian states are very close in energy for a range of quantum well widths and densities, suggesting that the observed 1/2 fractional quantum Hall state in wide quantum wells is likely to be the one-component Pfaffian state. Furthermore, we hope that this will motivate further experimental studies of this state.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Interaction-dependent anisotropy of fractional quantum Hall states

In the absence of rotational symmetry, a fractional quantum Hall (FQH) system can exploit a geometric degree of freedom to minimize its ground-state energy. The mass anisotropy of bare particles interacting isotropically is partially inherited by the many-body FQH state, to an extent that depends on the type of interaction, filling fraction, and ground-state phase. Using numerical infinite density matrix renormalization group simulations, we investigate the transference of elliptical (C 2 -symmetric) anisotropy from the band mass of the bare particles to the FQH states, for various power-law interactions. We map out the response of FQH states to small anisotropy as a function of power-law exponent, filling, and statistics (bosonic or fermionic) of the constituents. Interestingly, we find a nonanalyticity in the linear response of the FQH state at a special filling-dependent value of the power-law exponent, above which the interactions effectively become zero-range (pointlike). In conclusion, we also investigate the effect of C 4 -symmetric band distortions, where we observe a strikingly different dependence on filling.

2-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2021

Composite fermion nonlinear sigma models

We study particle-hole symmetry at the integer quantum Hall plateau transition using composite fermion mean-field theory. Because this theory implicitly includes some electron-electron interactions, it also has applications to certain fractional quantum Hall plateau transitions. Previous work [P. Kumar et al., Phys. Rev. B 100, 235124 (2019)] using this approach showed that the diffusive quantum criticality of this transition is described by a nonlinear sigma model with topological θ = π term. This result, which holds for both the Dirac and Halperin, Lee, and Read composite fermion theories, signifies an emergent particle-hole (reflection) symmetry of the integer (fractional) quantum Hall transition. Here we consider the stability of this result to various particle-hole symmetry-violating perturbations. In the presence of quenched disorder that preserves particle-hole symmetry, we find that finite longitudinal conductivity at this transition requires the vanishing of a symmetry-violating composite fermion effective mass, which if present would generally lead to θ ≠ π and a corresponding violation of particle-hole symmetric electrical transport σ xy ≠ $\frac1{2}$$\frac{e^2}{h}$ . When the disorder does not preserve particle-hole symmetry, we find that θ can vary continuously within the diffusive regime. Our results call for further study of the universality of the quantum Hall plateau transition.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

A duality web in 2 + 1 dimensions and condensed matter physics

Building on earlier work in the high energy and condensed matter communities, we present a web of dualities in 2 + 1 dimensions that generalize the known particle/vortex duality. Some of the dualities relate theories of fermions to theories of bosons. Others relate different theories of fermions. For example, the long distance behavior of the 2+1-dimensional analog of QED with a single Dirac fermion (a theory known as U(1) 1/2 ) is identified with the O(2) Wilson-Fisher fixed point. The gauged version of that fixed point with a Chern-Simons coupling at level one is identified as a free Dirac fermion. The latter theory also has a dual version as a fermion interacting with some gauge fields. Assuming some of these dualities, other dualities can be derived. Our analysis resolves a number of confusing issues in the literature including how time reversal is realized in these theories. It also has many applications in condensed matter physics like the theory of topological insulators (and their gapped boundary states) and the problem of electrons in the lowest Landau level at half filling. (Our techniques also clarify some points in the fractional Hall effect and its description using flux attachment.) In addition to presenting several consistency checks, we also present plausible (but not rigorous) derivations of the dualities and relate them to 3 + 1-dimensional S-duality.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Odd-frequency pairing of interacting Majorana fermions

In this study, Majorana fermions are rising as a promising key component in quantum computation. Although the prevalent approach is to use a quadratic (i.e., noninteracting) Majorana Hamiltonian, when expressed in terms of Dirac fermions, generically the Hamiltonian involves interaction terms. Here we focus on the possible pair correlations in a simple model system. We study a model of Majorana fermions coupled to a boson mode and show that the anomalous correlator between different Majorana fermions, located at opposite ends of a topological wire, exhibits odd-frequency behavior. It is stabilized when the coupling strength g is above a critical value g c . We use both, conventional diagrammatic theory and a functional integral approach, to derive the gap equation, the critical temperature, the gap function, the critical coupling, and a Ginzburg-Landau theory that allows discussing a possible subleading admixture of even-frequency pairing.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Spin waves in doped graphene: A time-dependent spin density functional approach to collective excitations in paramagnetic two-dimensional Dirac fermion gases

In spin-polarized itinerant electron systems, collective spin-wave modes arise from dynamical exchange and correlation (xc) effects. We consider here spin waves in doped paramagnetic graphene with adjustable Zeeman-type band splitting. The spin waves are described using time-dependent spin density functional response theory, treating dynamical xc effects within the Slater and Singwi-Tosi-Land-Sjölander approximations. We obtain spin-wave dispersions and spin stiffnesses as a function of doping and spin polarization, and we discuss the prospects for their experimental observation.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Random magnetic field and the Dirac Fermi surface

In this paper, we study a single two-dimensional Dirac fermion at finite density, subject to a quenched random magnetic field. At low energies and sufficiently weak disorder, the theory maps onto an infinite collection of 1D chiral fermions (associated to each point on the Fermi surface) coupled by a random vector potential. This low-energy theory exhibits an exactly solvable random fixed line, along which we directly compute various disorder-averaged observables without the need for the usual replica, supersymmetry, or Keldysh techniques. We find the longitudinal dc conductivity in the collisionless $\hbar$ω/k B T→∞ limit to be nonuniversal and to vary continuously along the fixed line.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Two-channel multi-impurity Kondo model: RKKY-induced criticality

We show that the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasua-Yoisida interaction between overscreened spins in two-channel Kondo impurity systems is a relevant perturbation when the number of impurities N is greater than 3 driving the system to a new quantum critical point with anomalous dimensions $\frac{1}{(𝑁+1)}$ for the spin operator and the Sommerfeld coefficient of the specific heat scales as 𝛾 ∼ 𝑇 −$\frac{3}{𝑁+1}$ . The critical point universal properties are relevant to many strong correlation problems, such as impurity placed in a Majorana metal and the multichannel Kondo lattice model of heavy fermion materials. In conclusion, we discuss relevance of our results for cluster DMFT studies of quantum criticality.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Scalable fermionic error correction in Majorana surface codes

We study the error correcting properties of Majorana surface codes (MSCs), topological quantum codes constructed out of interacting Majorana fermions, which can be used to store quantum information and perform quantum computation. Furthermore, these quantum memories suffer from purely “fermionic” errors, such as quasiparticle poisoning (QP), that have no analog in conventional platforms with bosonic qubits. In physical realizations where QP dominates, we show that errors can be corrected provided that the poisoning rate is below a threshold of ~11%. When QP is highly suppressed and fermionic bilinear (“bosonic”) errors become dominant, we find an error threshold of ~16%, which is much higher than the threshold for spin-based topological memories like the surface code or the color code. In addition, we derive lattice gauge theories to account for measurement errors. These results, together with the inherent error suppression provided by the superconducting gap in physical realizations of the MSCs, makes this a strong candidate for a robust topological quantum memory.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Linearly dispersive bands at the onset of correlations in K 𝑥 ⁢C 60 films

Molecular crystals are a flexible platform to induce novel electronic phases. Due to the weak forces between molecules, intermolecular distances can be varied over larger ranges than interatomic distances in atomic crystals. On the other hand, the hopping terms are generally small, which results in narrow bands, strong correlations, and heavy electrons. Here, by growing K x C 60 fullerides on hexagonal layered Bi 2 Se 3 , we show that upon doping the series undergoes a Mott transition from a molecular insulator to a correlated metal and an in-gap state evolves into highly dispersive Dirac-like fermions at half filling, where superconductivity occurs. This picture challenges the commonly accepted description of the low-energy quasiparticles as appearing from a gradual electron doping of the conduction states and suggests an intriguing parallel with the more famous family of the cuprate superconductors. More in general, it indicates that molecular crystals offer a viable route to engineer electron-electron interactions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Composite fermions in Fock space: Operator algebra, recursion relations, and order parameters

We develop recursion relations, in particle number, for all (unprojected) Jain composite fermion (CF) wave functions. These recursions generalize a similar recursion originally written down by Read for Laughlin states, in mixed first-second quantized notation. In contrast, our approach is purely second-quantized, giving rise to an algebraic, “pure guiding center” definition of CF states that de-emphasizes first quantized many-body wave functions. Key to the construction is a second-quantized representation of the flux attachment operator that maps any given fermion state to its CF counterpart. An algebra of generators of edge excitations is identified. In particular, in those cases where a well-studied parent Hamiltonian exists, its properties can be entirely understood in the present framework, and the identification of edge state generators can be understood as an instance of “microscopic bosonization.” Here, the intimate connection of Read's original recursion with “nonlocal order parameters” generalizes to the present situation, and we are able to give explicit second-quantized formulas for nonlocal order parameters associated with CF states.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Fusion dynamics of Majorana zero modes

Braiding and fusion of Majorana zero modes are key elements of any future topological Majorana-based quantum computer. In this article, we investigate the fusion dynamics of Majorana zero modes in the spinless Kitaev model, as well as in a spinful model describing magnet-superconductor hybrid structures. We consider various scenarios allowing us to reproduce the fusion rules of the Ising anyon model. Particular emphasis is given to the charge of the fermion obtained after fusing two Majorana zero modes: as long as it remains on the superconductor, charge quantization is absent. When moving the fermion to a nonsuperconducting region, such as a quantum dot, nearly quantized charge can be measured. Our findings confirm for both platforms that fusion dynamics of Majorana zero modes can indeed be used for the readout of Majorana qubits.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Stationary Solutions of Second-Order Equations for Point Fermions in the Schwarzschild Gravitational Field

When using a second-order Schrödinger-type equation with the effective potential of the Schwarzschild field, the existence of a stationary state of half-spin particles with energy E = 0 is proved. For each of the values of quantum numbers j, l, the physically meaningful energy E = 0 (the binding energy is E{sub b}=mc{sup 2}) is implemented at the value of the gravitational coupling constant α⩾α{sub min}. The particles with E = 0 are, with the overwhelming probability, at some distance from the event horizon within the range from zero to several fractions of the Compton wavelength of a fermion depending on value of the gravitational coupling constants and the values of j, l. In this paper, similar solutions of the second-order equation are announced for bound states of fermions in the Reissner–Nordström, Kerr, Kerr–Newman fields. Atomic-type systems (the point sources of the Schwarzschild gravitational field) with fermions in bound states are proposed as particles of dark matter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2017

Charge carrier holes and Majorana fermions

Understanding Luttinger holes in low dimensions is crucial for numerous spin-dependent phenomena and nanotechnology. In particular, hole quantum wires that are proximity coupled to a superconductor is a promising system for the observation of Majorana fermions. Earlier treatments of confined Luttinger holes ignored a mutual transformation of heavy and light holes at the heteroboundaries. Here, we derive the effective hole Hamiltonian in the ground state. The mutual transformation of holes is crucial for Zeeman and spin-orbit coupling, and results in several spin-orbit terms linear in momentum in hole quantum wires. We discuss the criterion for realizing Majorana modes in charge carrier hole systems. GaAs or InSb hole wires shall exhibit stronger topological superconducting pairing, and provide additional opportunities for its control compared to InSb electron systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗