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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Time-reversal invariant and fully gapped unconventional superconducting state in the bulk of the topological compound Nb 0.25 Bi 2 Se 3

Recently, the niobium (Nb) doped topological insulator Bi 2 Se 3 , in which the finite magnetic moments of the Nb atoms are intercalated in the van der Waals gap between the Bi 2 Se 3 layers, has been shown to exhibit both superconductivity with $T_c$ ≃ 3 K and topological surface states. Here we report on muon spin rotation experiments probing the temperature and field dependence of effective magnetic penetration depth $λ_{\text{eff}}(T)$ in the layered topological superconductor candidate Nb 0.25 Bi 2 Se 3 . In this work the exponential temperature dependence of $λ^{–2}_{\text{eff}}(T)$ at low temperatures suggests a fully gapped superconducting state in the bulk with the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ = 2.9 K and the gap to $T_c$ ratio 2Δ /$k_BT_c$ = 3.95(19). We also reveal that the ratio Tc/λ–2eff is comparable to those of unconventional superconductors, which hints at an unconventional pairing mechanism. Furthermore, time-reversal symmetry breaking was excluded in the superconducting state with sensitive zero-field μSR experiments. We hope the present results will stimulate theoretical investigations to obtain a microscopic understanding of the relation between superconductivity and the topologically nontrivial electronic structure of Nb 0.25 Bi 2 Se 3 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Spinodal electronic phase separation during insulator-metal transitions

Electronic phase transitions such as insulator-metal transitions are common in strongly correlated systems. Here, using a combination of thermodynamic linear-stability analysis and phase-field simulations and employing VO 2 as a prototypical example, we predict that an insulator-metal transition driven by photoexcitation may involve an intermediate, modulated charge density state with a temperature-dependent characteristic wavelength. It is shown that such an intermediate two-phase electronic state is formed through a spinodal mechanism and that its formation can be generic for insulator-metal transitions driven by fast stimuli. This transient electronic phase separation is expected to stimulate future experimental and computational efforts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ultrafast laser-driven many-body dynamics and Kondo coherence collapse

Ultrafast laser pulse has provided a systematic way to inspect the dynamics of electrons in condensed matter systems. In this paper, by means of time-dependent density matrix renormalization group, we study an ultrafast laser-driven Kondo lattice model, in which conduction electrons are strongly coupled with magnetically local moments. The single-particle spectral function due to strong correlation effects and photon emission in the nonequilibrium states under laser driving are calculated. We find laser field excited collective doublon-hole pairs and an associated transient melting of Kondo coherence phase, signifying the collapse of Kondo energy gap. Moreover, we show that the photon emission, induced by a strong laser field, exhibits a different intensity characteristics than in the equilibrium Kondo insulator, which could be explained by the Kondo collapse and related suppression of both intraband and interband contribution in Kondo melting liquid. This theoretical insight is accessible with time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and high-harmonic generation spectroscopy and will stimulate the investigation of nonequilibrium dynamics and nonlinear phenomenon in heavy fermion systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Separation of Kondo lattice coherence from crystal electric field in CeIn 3 with Nd substitutions

The Ce m M n In 3m+2n (m=1,2;n=0,1) family has been one of the most studied families of heavy fermion compounds. This family has revealed many interesting low-temperature physics phenomena, like quantum critical points, heavy fermion superconductivity, and non-Fermi liquid behavior, when these materials are exposed to pressure, magnetic fields, and/or chemical substitution. In this work, we provide a thorough investigation of the Ce 1-x Nd x In 3 phase diagram through single crystal synthesis, x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical resistivity measurements. Previous electrical resistivity measurements on CeIn 3 reveal a broad maximum, T max ~50 K, which has been associated with the Kondo lattice coherence crossover and/or the crystal electric field depopulation effect as the 4f electrons condense from the high-energy quartet down to the ground state doublet. Our findings show that in the most disordered substitution region, x=0.4–0.5, these features disjoin to reveal two distinct broad humps in electrical resistivity measurements. Magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity data on Ce 1-x Nd x In 3 also reveal the antiferromagnetic ordering competition between CeIn 3 and NdIn 3 , where the T N of CeIn 3 is linearly suppressed to a critical concentration of x Nd ~0.6. This concentration is slightly lower than what was previously reported in nonmagnetically substituted Ce 1-x La x In 3 . Our magnetic susceptibility measurements and subsequent simulations show that in the CeIn 3 antiferromagnetic regime, x Nd ≤0.4, the Nd ions act as free paramagnets. The large magnitude of the associated paramagnetic response then masks the overlapping antiferromagnetic ordering signature of the Ce ions. Overall our study further sheds light on the underlying crystal electric field and Kondo lattice coherence interactions within the Ce m M n In 3m+2n family and could stimulate further studies of these systems via neutron diffraction or under applied pressure.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Interplay of itinerant electrons and Ising moments in a hybrid honeycomb quantum magnet TmNi 3 Al 9

The interplay between itinerant electrons and local magnetic moments in quantum materials brings about rich and fascinating phenomena and stimulates various developments in the theoretical framework. In this work, thermodynamic, electric transport, and neutron diffraction measurements were performed on a newly synthesized honeycomb lattice magnet TmNi 3 Al 9 . Based on the experimental data, a magnetic-field–temperature phase diagram was constructed, exhibiting three essentially different magnetic regions. Below T N =2.97±0.02KTm 3+ , moments order antiferromagnetically in zero field. We found that the Tm 3+ ions form a pseudodoublet ground state with the Ising-like moments lying normal to the two-dimensional honeycomb layers. Application of a magnetic field along the easy axis gradually suppresses the antiferromagnetic order in favor of an induced ferromagnetic state above the critical field B c =0.92±0.05T. In the vicinity of B c , a strong enhancement of the quantum spin fluctuations was observed. The quantum Ising nature of the local moments and the coupling to itinerant electrons are discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Identifying $\textit{f}$-electron symmetries of UTe 2 with O-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

The recent discovery of spin-triplet superconductivity emerging from a nonmagnetic parent state in UTe 2 has stimulated great interest in the underlying mechanism of Cooper pairing. Experimental characterization of short-range electronic and magnetic correlations is vital to understanding these phenomena. Here we use resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS), x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and atomic-multiplet-based modeling to shed light on the active debate between $5f^26d^1$-based models with singlet crystal field states versus $5f^3$-based models that predict atomic Kramers doublets and much greater $5\textit{f}$ itinerancy. In this work, the XAS and RIXS data are found to agree strongly with predictions for a $5f^26d^1$-like valence electron configuration with weak intradimer magnetic correlations, and provide a context for interpreting recent investigations of the electronic structure and superconducting pairing mechanism.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Effect of nitrogen doping and pressure on the stability of $\mathrm{LuH_3}$

A report on the near-ambient superconductivity in a nitrogen-doped lutetium hydride has stimulated great interest in this material [Dasenbrock-Gammon et al. , Nature (London) 615, 244 (2023)]. While its superconductivity is still a subject of debate, the structure of the claimed cubic phase remains uncertain. In this work, we study the effect of nitrogen doping and pressure on the energetic and dynamic stability of cubic $\mathrm{LuH_3}$. Our findings indicate that both pressure and nitrogen doping can enhance the stability of the cubic $\mathrm{LuH_3}$ phase. Here, we propose a $\mathrm{Lu_8}$$\mathrm{H_{21}}$$\mathrm{Lu}$ structure that exhibits a stable phonon, reasonable thermodynamic stability at 1 GPa, and an x-ray diffraction pattern similar to the experimental data. However, we do not observe electron-phonon coupling in the zone-center phonon modes of these crystal structures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Electronic structure, magnetic correlations, and superconducting pairing in the reduced Ruddlesden-Popper bilayer La 3 Ni 2 O 6 under pressure: Different role of d 3 z 2 - r 2 orbital compared with La 3 Ni 2 O 7

The recent discovery of superconductivity in bilayer La 3 Ni 2 O 7 (327-LNO) under pressure stimulated much interest in layered nickelates. However, superconductivity was not found in another bilayer nickelate system, La 3 Ni 2 O 6 (326-LNO), even under pressure. To understand the similarities and differences between 326-LNO and 327-LNO, using density functional theory and the random phase approximation (RPA), we systematically investigate 326-LNO under pressure. The large crystal-field splitting between the e g orbitals caused by the missing apical oxygen moves the d 3z 2 -r 2 orbital farther away from the Fermi level, implying that the d 3z 2 -r 2 orbital plays a less important role in 326-LNO than in 327-LNO. This also results in a smaller bandwidth for the d x 2 -y 2 orbital and a reduced energy gap for the bonding-antibonding splitting of the d 3z 2 -r 2 orbital in 326-LNO, as compared to 327-LNO. Moreover, the in-plane hybridization between the d x 2 -y 2 and d 3z 2 -r 2 orbitals is found to be small in 326-LNO, while it is much stronger in 327-LNO. Furthermore, the low-spin ferromagnetic state is found to be the likely ground state in 326-LNO under high pressure. The weak interlayer coupling suggests that s ± -wave pairing is unlikely in 326-LNO. The robust in-plane ferromagnetic coupling also suggests that d-wave superconductivity, which is usually caused by antiferromagnetic fluctuations of the d x 2 -y 2 orbital, is also unlikely in 326-LNO. These conclusions are supported by our many-body RPA calculations of the pairing behavior. Additionally, contrasting with the cuprates, for the bilayer cuprate HgBa 2 CaCu 2 O 6 , we find a strong self-doping effect of the d x 2 -y 2 orbital under pressure, with the charge of Cu being reduced by approximately 0.13 electrons from 0 GPa to 25 GPa. In contrast, we do not observe such a change in the electronic density in 326-LNO under pressure, establishing another important difference between the nickelates and the cuprates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

From nonmetal to strange metal at the stripe-percolation transition in La 2 - x Sr x CuO 4

The nature of the normal state of cuprate superconductors continues to stimulate considerable speculation. Of particular interest has been the linear temperature dependence of the in-plane resistivity in the low-temperature limit, which violates the prediction for a Fermi liquid. We present measurements of anisotropic resistivity in La$_{2–x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ that confirm the strange-metal behavior for crystals with doped-hole concentration $p = x > p^* \sim 0.19$ and contrast with the nonmetallic behavior for $p < p^*$. We propose that the changes at $p^*$ are associated with a first-order transition from doped Mott insulator to conventional metal; the transition appears as a crossover due to intrinsic dopant disorder. We consider results from the literature that support this picture; in particular, we present a simulation of the impact of the disorder on the first-order transition and the doping dependence of stripe correlations. Below $p^*$, the strong electronic interactions result in charge and spin stripe correlations that percolate across the CuO 2 planes; above $p^*$, residual stripe correlations are restricted to isolated puddles. Here we suggest that the $T$-linear resistivity results from scattering of quasiparticles from antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations within the correlated puddles. This is a modest effect compared to the case at $p < p^*$, where the data suggest that there are no coherent quasiparticles in the normal state.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Revealing rotational symmetry breaking charge density wave order in the kagome superconductor (Rb, K)⁢V 3 ⁢Sb 5 by ultrafast pump-probe experiments

The recently discovered Kagome superconductor 𝐴⁢V 3 ⁢Sb 5 (where 𝐴 refers to K, Rb, Cs) has stimulated widespread research interest due to its interplay of nontrivial topology and unconventional correlated physics including charge-density waves (CDW) and superconductivity. The essential prerequisite to understanding the microscopic mechanisms of this complex electronic landscape is to unveil the configuration and symmetry of the charge-density wave order. As to now, little consensus has been made on what symmetry is broken. Herein, we clarify the microscopic structure and symmetry breaking of the CDW phase in RbV 3 ⁢Sb 5 and KV 3 ⁢Sb 5 by ultrafast time-resolved reflectivity. Our approach is based on extracting coherent phonon spectra induced by three-dimensional CDW and comparing them to calculated phonon frequencies via density-functional theory. The combination of these experimental results and calculations provides compelling evidence that the CDW structure of both compounds prevailing up to 𝑇 CDW is the 2 × 2 × 2 staggered inverse Star-of-David pattern with interlayer 𝜋 phase shift, in which the sixfold rotational symmetry is broken. Finally, these observations thus corroborate sixfold rotational symmetry breaking throughout the CDW phase of RbV 3 ⁢Sb 5 and KV 3⁢ Sb 5 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Nuclear-level effective theory of 𝜇 → 𝑒 conversion: Inelastic process

Mu2e and COMET will search for electrons produced via the neutrinoless conversion of stopped muons bound in 1s atomic orbits of 27 Al, improving existing limits on charged lepton flavor violation (CLFV) by roughly four orders of magnitude. Conventionally, 𝜇 → 𝑒 conversion experiments are optimized to detect electrons originating from transitions where the nucleus remains in the ground state, thereby maximizing the energy of the outgoing electron. Clearly, detection of a positive signal in forthcoming experiments would stimulate additional work—including subsequent conversion experiments using complementary nuclear targets—to further constrain the new physics responsible for CLFV. Here we argue that additional information can be extracted without the need for additional experiments, by considering inelastic conversion in 27 Al. Transitions to low-lying nuclear excited states can modify the near-endpoint spectrum of conversion electrons, with the ratio of the elastic and inelastic responses being sensitive to the underlying CLFV operator. We extend the nuclear effective theory of 𝜇 → 𝑒 conversion to the inelastic case, which adds five new response functions to the six that arise for the elastic process. We evaluate these nuclear response functions in 27 Al and calculate the resulting conversion-electron signal, taking into account the resolution anticipated in Mu2e/COMET. We find that 27 Al is an excellent target choice from the perspective of the new information that can be obtained from inelastic 𝜇 → 𝑒 conversion.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Data-driven model validation for neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements

Neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements are needed to improve interaction modeling to meet the precision needs of neutrino experiments in efforts to measure oscillation parameters and search for physics beyond the Standard Model. We review the difficulties associated with modeling neutrino-nucleus interactions that lead to a dependence on event generators in oscillation analyses and cross section measurements alike. We then describe data-driven model validation techniques intended to address this model dependence. The method relies on utilizing various goodness-of-fit tests and the correlations between different observables and channels to probe the model for defects in the phase space relevant for the desired analysis. These techniques shed light on relevant mismodeling, allowing it to be detected before it begins to bias the cross section results. We compare more commonly used model validation methods which directly validate the model against alternative ones to these data-driven techniques and show their efficacy with fake data studies. These studies demonstrate that employing data-driven model validation in cross section measurements represents a reliable strategy to produce robust results that will stimulate the desired improvements to interaction modeling.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Measurements of pressure-induced $Kβ$ line shifts in ramp compressed cobalt up to 8 Mbar

Here we report measurements of K -shell fluorescence lines induced by fast electrons in ramp-compressed Co targets. The fluorescence emission was stimulated by fast electrons generated through short-pulse laser-solid interaction with an Al target layer. Compression up to 2.1 × solid density was achieved while maintaining temperatures well below the Fermi energy, effectively removing the thermal effects from consideration. We observed small but unambiguous redshifts in the K β fluorescence line relative to unshifted Cu K α . Redshifts up to 2.6 eV were found to increase with compression and to be consistent with predictions from self-consistent models based on density-functional theory.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Cogeneration of hot electrons from multiple laser-plasma instabilities

Interactions of two plasmon decay (TPD) and side stimulated Raman scattering (SSRS) were studied using 3-D particle-in-cell simulations under ICF-relevant conditions for linearly and circularly polarized lasers. In the linear stage, SSRS took place under n e = 0.235n c and TPD dominated near the quarter-critical density surface and their growth rates agreed with theory. In the nonlinear stage, SSRS reduced TPD through pump depletion. Hot electrons were found to be first accelerated by the SSRS plasma waves and then by TPD plasma waves through a co-generation mechanism. Compared to the linearly polarized case with the same laser intensity, both SSRS and TPD were reduced due to the lower laser amplitude in the circularly-polarized case. As a result, a 30 percent decrease in hot electron flux was observed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Nonlinear transmission of laser light through coronal plasma due to self-induced incoherence

The success of direct laser-driven inertial con nement fusion (ICF) relies critically on the efficient coupling of laser light to plasma. At ignition scale, the absolute stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) instability can severely inhibit this coupling by redirecting and strongly depleting laser light. This article describes a new dynamic saturation regime of the absolute SRS instability near one quarter of the critical density. The saturation occurs when spatiotemporal ion-acoustic fluctuations in the plasma density detune the instability resonance. Here, the dynamic saturation mitigates the strong depletion of laser light and enhances its transmission through the instability region, explaining the coupling of laser light to ICF targets at higher plasma densities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Buckling-induced interaction between circular inclusions in an infinite thin plate

Design of slender artificial materials and morphogenesis of thin biological tissues typically involve stimulation of isolated regions (inclusions) in the growing body. These inclusions apply internal stresses on their surrounding areas that are ultimately relaxed by out-of-plane deformation (buckling). Here, we utilize the Föppl-von Kármán model to analyze the interaction between two circular inclusions in an infinite plate that their centers are separated a distance of 2ℓ. In particular, we investigate a region in phase space where buckling occurs at a narrow transition layer of length ℓ D around the radius of the inclusion, $R (ℓ_D \ll R)$. We show that the latter length scale defines two regions within the system, the close separation region, $ℓ – R \sim ℓ_D$, where the transition layers of the two inclusions approximately coalesce, and the far separation region, $ℓ – R \gg ℓ_D$. While the interaction energy decays exponentially in the latter region, $E_{\text{int}} ∝ e^{– (ℓ – R)/ℓ_D}$, it presents nonmonotonic behavior in the former region. While this exponential decay is predicted by our analytical analysis and agrees with the numerical observations, the close separation region is treated only numerically. In particular, we utilize the numerical investigation to explore two different scenarios within the final configuration: The first where the two inclusions buckle in the same direction (up-up solution) and the second where the two inclusions buckle in opposite directions (up-down solution). We show that the up-down solution is always energetically favorable over the up-up solution. In addition, we point to a curious symmetry breaking within the up-down scenario; we show that this solution becomes asymmetric in the close separation region.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Resonant four-photon scattering of collinear laser pulses in plasma

Exact four-photon resonance of collinear planar laser pulses is known to be prohibited by the classical dispersion law of electromagnetic waves in plasma. We show here that the renormalization produced by an arbitrarily small relativistic electron nonlinearity removes this prohibition. The laser frequency shifts in collinear resonant four-photon scattering increase with laser intensities. For laser pulses of frequencies much greater than the electron plasma frequency, the shifts can also be much greater than the plasma frequency and even nearly double the input laser frequency at still small relativistic electron nonlinearities. Furthermore, this may enable broad range tunable lasers of very high frequencies and powers. Since the four-photon scattering does not rely on the Langmuir wave, which is very sensitive to plasma homogeneity, such lasers would also be able to operate at much larger plasma inhomogeneities than lasers based on stimulated Raman scattering in plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Pump depletion and the Raman gap in ignition-scale plasmas

Laser-plasma instabilities under ignition conditions for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion are studied using two-dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations with a combination of in-plane (PP) and out-of-the-plane (SP) lasers. The results show that stimulated Raman side scattering can induce significant pump depletion and form a gap in the Raman scattered light spectra that have been observed in experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗