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Results for “Band structure methods”

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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Topological Exact Flat Bands in Two-Dimensional Materials under Periodic Strain

Here we study flat bands and their topology in 2D materials with quadratic band crossing points under periodic strain. In contrast to Dirac points in graphene, where strain acts as a vector potential, strain for quadratic band crossing points serves as a director potential with angular momentum . We prove that when the strengths of the strain fields hit certain “magic” values, exact flat bands with emerge at charge neutrality point in the chiral limit, in strong analogy to magic angle twisted-bilayer graphene. These flat bands have ideal quantum geometry for the realization of fractional Chern insulators, and they are always fragile topological. The number of flat bands can be doubled for certain point group, and the interacting Hamiltonian is exactly solvable at integer fillings. We further demonstrate the stability of these flat bands against deviations from the chiral limit, and discuss possible realization in 2D materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Composite Fermi Liquid at Zero Magnetic Field in Twisted MoTe 2

Here, the pursuit of exotic phases of matter outside of the extreme conditions of a quantizing magnetic field is a long-standing quest of solid state physics. Recent experiments have observed spontaneous valley polarization and fractional Chern insulators in zero magnetic field in twisted bilayers of MoTe 2 , at partial filling of the topological valence band (ν =-2/3 and -3/5). We study the topological valence band at half filling, using exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group calculations. We discover a composite Fermi liquid (CFL) phase even at zero magnetic field that covers a large portion of the phase diagram near twist angle ~3.6°. The CFL is a non-Fermi liquid phase with metallic behavior despite the absence of Landau quasiparticles. We discuss experimental implications including the competition between the CFL and a Fermi liquid, which can be tuned with a displacement field. The topological valence band has excellent quantum geometry over a wide range of twist angles and a small bandwidth that is, remarkably, reduced by interactions. These key properties stabilize the exotic zero field quantum Hall phases. Finally, we present an optical signature involving “extinguished” optical responses that detects Chern bands with ideal quantum geometry.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

Three-dimensional higher-order saddle-point-induced flatbands in Co-based kagome metals

The saddle point (Van Hove singularity) exhibits a divergent density of states in two-dimensional systems, leading to fascinating phenomena such as strong correlations and unconventional superconductivity, yet it is seldom observed in three-dimensional (3D) systems. In this work we find two types of 3D higher-order saddle points (HOSPs) in emerging 3D kagome metals YbCo 6⁢ Ge 6 and MgCo 6 ⁢Ge 6 . Both HOSPs exhibit a singularity in their density of states, which is significantly enhanced compared to the ordinary saddle point. The HOSP near the Fermi energy generates a flatband extending a large area in the Brillouin zone, potentially amplifying the correlation effect and fostering electronic instabilities. Two types of HOSPs exhibit distinct robustness upon element substitution and lattice distortions in these kagome compounds. Our work paves the way for engineering exotic band structures, such as saddle points and flatbands, and exploring interesting phenomena in Co-based kagome materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Relationship between atomic and electronic structure in Ln-bearing oxides

Metastable states of matter are of great interest as they offer the promise of novel functionality. They are often a natural consequence of exposure to nonequilibrium environments. In oxides, metastability can take the form of new polymorphs, chemical disorder, and even amorphization. While significant attention has been given to the impact those changes have on the atomic properties of the material, the corresponding changes in the electronic structure have received less attention. Here, using density functional theory, we consider how the electronic structure varies with potential metastable structures in two classes of lanthanide-bearing oxides—pyrochlores and interlanthanide sesquioxides. We find that the changes depend strongly on both the crystal structure and crystal chemistry of the compound with, for example, disordering and amorphization either increasing or decreasing the bandgap depending on the chemistry. For the 𝐴 2 ⁢𝐵 2 ⁢O 7 pyrochlores, we find different dependencies of the bandgap on the 𝐴 = 𝐿⁢𝑛 cations as the 𝐵 cation is changed, which we relate to the nature of the density of states at the conduction band minimum for different 𝐵 chemistries. Our calculations are validated by electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements for two pyrochlore compounds in which amorphization does reduce the bandgap, consistent with our calculations on these two compounds. In conclusion, our results highlight the relationship between atomic and electronic structure and how radiation can be used to modify and potentially control the electronic properties of oxides.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spectral-partitioned Kohn-Sham density functional theory

Here we introduce a general, variational scheme for systematic approximation of a given Kohn-Sham free-energy functional by partitioning the density matrix into distinct spectral domains, each of which may be spanned by an independent diagonal representation without requirement of mutual orthogonality. It is shown that by generalizing the entropic contribution to the free energy to allow for independent representations in each spectral domain, the free energy becomes an upper bound to the exact (unpartitioned) Kohn-Sham free energy, attaining this limit as the representations approach Kohn-Sham eigenfunctions. A numerical procedure is devised for calculation of the generalized entropy associated with spectral partitioning of the density matrix. The result is a powerful framework for Kohn-Sham calculations of systems whose occupied subspaces span multiple energy regimes. As a case in point, we apply the proposed framework to warm- and hot-dense matter described by finite-temperature density functional theory, where at high energies the density matrix is represented by that of the free-electron gas, while at low energies it is variationally optimized. We derive expressions for the spectral-partitioned Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian, atomic forces, and macroscopic stresses within the projector-augmented wave (PAW) and the norm-conserving pseudopotential methods. It is demonstrated that at high temperatures, spectral partitioning facilitates accurate calculations at dramatically reduced computational cost. Moreover, as temperature is increased, fewer exact Kohn-Sham states are required for a given accuracy, leading to further reductions in computational cost. Finally, it is shown that standard multiprojector expansions of electronic orbitals within atomic spheres in the PAW method lack sufficient completeness at high temperatures. Spectral partitioning provides a systematic solution for this fundamental problem.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Targeted Dy intercalation under graphene/SiC for tuning its electronic band structure

Metal intercalation of graphene is a promising method to tune its electronic band structure and generate novel electronic and topological phases. The tuning depends critically on the ability to bond the intercalated atoms at predesigned, subsurface interlayer locations because the emerging band structure depends on metal location. In this work, we have studied Dy intercalation under single-layer graphene (SLG) on SiC using spot profile analysis–low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The experimental work is complemented with density-functional theory (DFT) analysis. Because different diffraction spots originate from different subsurface interlayer regions, it is possible to identify changes in the intercalation location by monitoring the spot intensity as a function of growth conditions. DFT calculations of the chemical potential as a function of intercalated Dy coverage support the variation of the stability of the intercalated phase at different intercalated locations. The preferred location is confirmed from STM studies showing the removal of the 6 × 6 moiré corrugation at the preferred location, observed at higher Dy coverage.

2-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2025

𝐴𝑏 initio density-matrix approach to exciton coherence: Phonon scattering, Coulomb interactions, and radiative recombination

Relaxation processes following light excitation in semiconductors are key in materials-based quantum technology applications. These processes are broadly studied in atomically thin transition-metal dichalcogenides, quasi-two-dimensional excitonic semiconductors in which atomistic design allows for tunable excited-state properties, such as relaxation lifetimes and photoinduced coherence. In this work, we present a density-matrix-based approach to compute exciton relaxation within a many-body ab initio perspective. We expand our previously developed Lindblad density-matrix formalism to capture multichannel electron-hole pair relaxation processes, including phonon and Coulomb scattering as well as radiative recombination, and we study their effect on the time-resolved excited-state propagation. Using monolayer MoSe 2 as a prototypical example, we examine many-body effects on the time-dependent dynamics of photoactive excitations, exploring how the electron-hole pair interactions are reflected in variations of the excitation energy, spectral signature, and state coherence. In conclusion, our method supplies a detailed understanding of exciton relaxation mechanisms in realistic materials, offering a previously unexplored pathway to study excited-state dynamics in semiconductors from first principles.

Band structure methods↗
DOE OSTI2024

Charge self-consistent density functional theory plus ghost rotationally invariant slave-boson theory for correlated materials

We present a charge self-consistent density functional theory combined with the ghost rotationally invariant slave-boson (DFT+gRISB) formalism for studying correlated materials. Here, this method is applied to SrVO 3 and NiO, representing prototypical correlated metals and charge-transfer insulators. For SrVO 3 , we demonstrate that DFT+gRISB yields an accurate equilibrium volume and effective mass close to experimentally observed values. Regarding NiO, DFT+gRISB enables the simultaneous description of charge-transfer and Mott-Hubbard bands, significantly enhancing the accuracy of the original DFT+RISB approach. Furthermore, the calculated equilibrium volume and spectral function reasonably agree with experimental observations.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

Charge correlations and magnetoelastic coupling in intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides

The large van der Waals gap in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offers an avenue to tune the ground state of 2D materials through the intercalation of magnetic atoms. Here, we investigate the charge correlations in Fe 1/3 ⁢TaS 2 , Co 1/3 ⁢TaS 2 , and Fe 0.35 ⁢NbS 2 by combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), x-ray scattering, magnetometry, and density functional theory (DFT). We find that, while short-range charge fluctuations develop in Ta-based compounds, Fe 0.35 ⁢NbS 2 exhibits long-range charge order which is strongly coupled with magnetic order and tunable by external magnetic field. Our electronic structure analysis reveals that intercalation reconstructs the Fermi surface via charge transfer and band renormalization, yet does not generate the nesting conditions compatible with the observed ordering vectors. Complementary phonon calculations further exclude a conventional electron-phonon origin of charge order. Together, these results establish magnetoelastic coupling as the dominant mechanism behind charge ordering in Fe 0.35 ⁢NbS 2 and highlight the contrasting role of Nb and Ta hosts in stabilizing correlated ground states in intercalated TMDs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Network model for periodically strained graphene

The long-wavelength physics of monolayer graphene in the presence of periodic strain fields has a natural chiral scattering network description. When the strain field varies slowly compared to the graphene lattice and the effective magnetic length of the induced valley pseudomagnetic field, the low-energy physics can be understood in terms of valley-polarized percolating domain-wall modes. Inspired by a recent experiment, we consider a strain field with threefold rotation and mirror symmetries but without twofold rotation symmetry, resulting in a system with the connectivity of the oriented kagome network. Scattering processes in this network are captured by a symmetry-constrained phenomenological S matrix. Here, we analyze the phase diagram of the kagome network and show that the bulk physics of the strained graphene can be qualitatively captured by the network when we account for a percolation transition at charge neutrality. We also discuss the limitations of this approach to properly account for boundary physics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Tuning superconductivity and spin-vortex instabilities in CaKFe 4 As 4 through in-plane antisymmetric strains

Lattice strains of appropriate symmetry have served as an excellent tool to explore the interaction of superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors with orthorhombic-nematic and stripe spin-density-wave (SSDW) order. In this Letter, we contribute to a broader understanding of the coupling of strain to superconductivity and competing normal-state orders by studying CaKFe 4 As 4 under large, in-plane strains of B 1 g and B 2 g symmetry. In contrast to the majority of iron-based superconductors, pure CaKFe 4 As 4 exhibits superconductivity with a relatively high transition temperature of T c ∼ 35 K in proximity of a noncollinear, tetragonal, hedgehog spin-vortex crystal (SVC) order. Through experiments and calculations, we demonstrate an anisotropic in-plane strain response of T c and the favored SVC configuration in CaKFe 4 As 4 . This supports a scenario, in which the change in spin fluctuations dominates the strain response of superconducting T c . Overall, by suggesting moderate B 2 g strains as an effective parameter to change the stability of SVC and SSDW, we outline a pathway to a unified phase diagram of iron-based superconductivity. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering in the topological semimetal FeSi

The energy spectrum of topological semimetals contains protected degeneracies in reciprocal space that correspond to Weyl, Dirac, or multifold fermionic states. To exploit the unconventional properties of these states, one has to access the electronic structure of the three-dimensional bulk. In this paper, we present a joint theory-experiment study of the electronic structure of a candidate topological semimetal with resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). We resolve the bulk electronic states of FeSi using momentum-dependent RIXS at the Fe L 3 edge. We observe a broad excitation continuum devoid of sharp features, consistent with particle-hole scattering in an underlying electronic band structure. Using density functional theory (DFT), we calculate the electronic structure of FeSi and derive a band theory formulation of RIXS in the fast collision approximation to model the scattering process with zero adjustable parameters. While band theory predicts an excitation continuum with broad spectral features similar to the observed ones, discrepancies between theory and experiment suggest the presence of low-energy processes that DFT alone does not account for. Further, this study of RIXS in a topological semimetal shows that RIXS is a useful tool for revealing unanticipated behavior of bulk electronic states in this class of materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Higher-order Van Hove singularities in kagome topological bands

Motivated by the growing interest in band structures featuring higher-order Van Hove singularities (HOVHS), we investigate a spinless fermion kagome system characterized by nearest-neighbor (NN) and next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) hopping amplitudes. While NN hopping preserves time-reversal symmetry, NNN hopping, akin to chiral hopping on the Haldane lattice, breaks time-reversal symmetry and leads to the formation of topological bands with Chern numbers ranging from 𝐶 = ±1 to ±4. We perform analytical and numerical analysis of the energy bands near the high-symmetry points Γ, ±𝐊, and 𝐌 𝑖 (𝑖 = 1, 2, and 3), which uncover a rich and complex landscape of HOVHS, controlled by the magnitude and phase of the NNN hopping. We observe power-law divergences in the density of states (DOS), 𝜌⁡(𝜀)∼|𝜀| −𝜈 , with exponents 𝜈 = 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, which can significantly affect the anomalous Hall response at low temperatures when the Fermi level crosses the HOVHS. Additionally, the NNN hopping induces the formation of higher Chern number bands 𝐶 = ±2, ±4 in the middle of the spectrum obeying a sublattice interference whereupon electronic states are maximally localized in each of the sublattices when the momentum approaches the three high-symmetry points 𝐌 𝑖 (𝑖 = 1, 2, and 3) on the Brillouin zone boundary. Finally, this classification of HOVHS in kagome systems provides a platform to explore unconventional electronic orders induced by electronic correlations.

Chern insulators↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mapping the three-dimensional fermiology of the triangular lattice magnet EuAg 4 Sb 2

In this paper, we report the temperature-field phase diagram as well as present a comprehensive study of the electronic structure and three-dimensional fermiology of the triangular-lattice magnet EuAg 4 ⁢Sb 2 , utilizing quantum oscillation measurements, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and first-principles calculations. The complex magnetic phase diagram of EuAg 4 ⁢Sb 2 highlights many transitions through nontrivial AFM states. Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen oscillations were observed in the polarized ferromagnetic state of EuAg 4 ⁢Sb 2 , revealing three pairs of distinct spin-split frequency branches with small effective masses. A comparison of the angle-dependent oscillation data with first-principles calculations in the ferromagnetic state and angle-resolved photoemission spectra shows good agreement, identifying tubular hole pockets and hourglass-shaped hole pockets at the Brillouin zone center, as well as diamond-shaped electron pockets at the zone boundary. As the temperature increases, the frequency branches of the tiny hourglass pockets evolve into a more cylindrical shape, while the larger pockets remain unchanged. This highlights that variations in exchange splitting, driven by changes in the magnetic moment, primarily impact the small Fermi pockets without significantly altering the overall band structure. As a result, this is consistent with first-principles calculations, which show minimal changes near the Fermi level across ferromagnetic and simple antiferromagnetic states or under varying on-site Coulomb repulsion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Charge order driven multiferroic behavior in Sr 4 Fe 6 O 12 : An ab-initio study

Here, in this paper, we report the structural, electronic, and ferroelectric properties of the layered mixed-valent transition-metal compound Sr 4 ⁢ Fe 6 ⁢O 12 (SFO). We demonstrate how SFO undergoes a phase transition from a high-temperature (𝑇) centrosymmetric tetragonal phase (𝑃⁢4 2 /𝑚⁢𝑛⁢𝑚) to a low-𝑇 polar orthorhombic phase (𝑃⁢𝑚⁢𝑛⁢2 1 ). The transition is primarily driven by charge ordering at tetrahedral Fe-layer creating Fe 3+ and Fe 2+ cations between two edge-sharing tetrahedra. This charge ordering induces electronic polarization, which is remarkably larger (3.5 times) in magnitude than ionic polarization and oppositely directed, giving a net polarization of 0.05 C/m 2 which is comparable to the state-of-the-art rare-earth nickelets and manganite perovskites. The direction of structural distortion, governed by the polar mode irrep $Γ^−_5$, depends sensitively on the type of magnetic ordering in the Fe-octahedral layer. Consequently, both the ionic and electronic polarization directions are influenced by magnetic ordering, suggesting the potential for multiferroic behavior with strong magnetoelectric coupling in this material.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Disorder driven crossover between anomalous Hall regimes in Fe 3 GaTe 2

The large anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) of the Fe 3 ⁢(Ge,Ga)⁢Te 2 compounds has attracted considerable attention. Here, we expose the intrinsic nature of the AHC in Fe 3 ⁢GaTe 2 crystals characterized by high conductivities, which show disorder-independent AHC with a pronounced value 𝜎$^{c}_{𝑥⁢𝑦}$≈ 420 Ω −1 ⁢cm −1 . In the low-conductivity regime, we observe the scaling relation 𝜎 𝑥⁢𝑦 ∝ 𝜎$^{1.6}_{𝑥⁢𝑥}$, which crosses over to 𝜎 𝑥⁢𝑦 ≃ 𝜎$^{c}_{𝑥⁢𝑦}$ as 𝜎 𝑥⁢𝑥 increases. Disorder in low-conductivity crystals is confirmed by the broadening of a first-order transition between ferromagnetism and the ferrimagnetic ground state. Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we reveal that the dominant sources of Berry curvature are located a few hundred meV below the Fermi energy around the Γ point. Furthermore, Fe 3⁢ GaTe 2 clearly exposes the disorder-induced crossover among distinct AHC regimes, previously inferred from measurements on different ferromagnets located on either side of the crossover region.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Strong-Field Bloch Electron Interferometry for Band-Structure Retrieval

When Bloch electrons in a solid are exposed to a strong optical field, they are coherently driven in their respective bands where they acquire a quantum phase as the imprint of the band shape. If an electron approaches an avoided crossing formed by two bands, it may be split by undergoing a Landau-Zener transition. We here employ subsequent Landau-Zener transitions to realize strong-field Bloch electron interferometry (SFBEI), allowing us to reveal band structure information. In particular, we measure the Fermi velocity (band slope) of graphene in the vicinity of the K points as 1.07±0.04 nm fs –1 . As a result, we expect SFBEI for band structure retrieval to apply to a wide range of material systems and experimental conditions, making it suitable for studying transient changes in band structure with femtosecond temporal resolution at ambient conditions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Elastic Screening of Pseudogauge Fields in Graphene

Lattice deformations in graphene couple to the low-energy electronic degrees of freedom as effective scalar and gauge fields. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the optical component of the displacement field, i.e., the relative motion of different sublattices, contributes at equal order as the acoustic component and effectively screens the pseudogauge fields. In particular, we consider twisted bilayer graphene and corrugated monolayer graphene. In both cases, optical lattice displacements significantly reduce the overall magnitude of the pseudomagnetic fields. For corrugated graphene, optical contributions also reshape the pseudomagnetic field and significantly modify the electronic bands near charge neutrality. Previous studies based on continuum elasticity, which ignores this effect, have therefore systematically overestimated the strength of the strain-induced pseudomagnetic field. Furthermore, our results have important consequences for the interpretation of experiments and design of straintronic applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗