Superconductivity in CeCoIn5-xSnx: veil over an ordered state or novel quantum critical point?

Measurements of specific heat and electrical resistivity in magnetic fields up to 9 T along [001] and temperatures down to 50 mK of Sn-substituted CeCoIn5 are reported. The maximal -ln(T) divergence of the specific heat at the upper critical field Hc2 down to the lowest temperature characteristic of non-Fermi-liquid systems at the quantum critical point (QCP), the universal scaling of the Sommerfeld coefficient, and agreement of the data with spin-fluctuation theory provide strong evidence for quantum criticality at Hc2 for all x< or =0.12 in CeCoIn5-xSnx. These results indicate the "accidental" coincidence of the QCP located near Hc2 in pure CeCoIn5, in actuality, constitute a novel quantum critical point associated with unconventional superconductivity.     

Critical local-moment fluctuations,anomalous exponents,and omega/T scaling in the Kondo problem with a pseudogap

Experiments in heavy-fermion metals and related theoretical work suggest that critical local-moment fluctuations can play an important role near a zero-temperature phase transition. We study such fluctuations at the quantum critical point of a Kondo impurity model in which the density of band states vanishes as /epsilon/(r) at the Fermi energy (epsilon=0). The local spin response is described by a set of critical exponents that vary continuously with r. For 0相似文献   

Multiband nodeless superconductivity near the charge-density-wave quantum critical point in ZrTe_(3-x)Se_x

It was found that selenium doping can suppress the charge-density-wave(CDW) order and induce bulk superconductivity in ZrTe_3. The observed superconducting dome suggests the existence of a CDW quantum critical point(QCP) in ZrTe_3-xSex near x ≈ 0.04. To elucidate the superconducting state near the CDW QCP, we measure the thermal conductivity of two ZrTe_(3-x)Se_x single crystals(x = 0.044 and 0.051) down to 80 m K. For both samples, the residual linear term κ_0/T at zero field is negligible, which is a clear evidence for nodeless superconducting gap. Furthermore, the field dependence of κ_0/T manifests a multigap behavior. These results demonstrate multiple nodeless superconducting gaps in ZrTe_(3-x)Se_x,which indicates conventional superconductivity despite of the existence of a CDW QCP.     

Universal scaling of the conductivity at the superfluid-insulator phase transition

The scaling of the conductivity at the superfluid-insulator quantum phase transition in two dimensions is studied by numerical simulations of the Bose-Hubbard model. In contrast to previous studies, we focus on properties of this model in the experimentally relevant thermodynamic limit at finite temperature T. We find clear evidence for deviations from omega k scaling of the conductivity towards omega k/T scaling at low Matsubara frequencies omega k. By careful analytic continuation using Padé approximants we show that this behavior carries over to the real frequency axis where the conductivity scales with omega/T at small frequencies and low temperatures. We estimate the universal dc conductivity to be sigma* = 0.45(5)Q2/h, distinct from previous estimates in the T = 0, omega/T > 1 limit.     

Low energy spin waves and magnetic interactions in SrFe2As2

We report inelastic neutron scattering studies of magnetic excitations in antiferromagnetically ordered SrFe2As2 (T_{N}=200-220 K), the parent compound of the FeAs-based superconductors. At low temperatures (T=7 K), the magnetic spectrum S(Q,Planck's omega) consists of a Bragg peak at the elastic position (Planck's omega=0 meV), a spin gap (Delta< or =6.5 meV), and sharp spin-wave excitations at higher energies. Based on the observed dispersion relation, we estimate the effective magnetic exchange coupling using a Heisenberg model. On warming across T_{N}, the low-temperature spin gap rapidly closes, with weak critical scattering and spin-spin correlations in the paramagnetic state. The antiferromagnetic order in SrFe2As2 is therefore consistent with a first order phase transition, similar to the structural lattice distortion.     

Quantum critical scaling in graphene

We show that the emergent relativistic symmetry of electrons in graphene near its quantum critical point (QCP) implies a crucial importance of the Coulomb interaction. We derive scaling laws, valid near the QCP, that dictate the nontrivial magnetic and charge response of interacting graphene. Our analysis yields numerous predictions for how the Coulomb interaction will be manifested in experimental observables such as the diamagnetic response and electronic compressibility.     

Magnetism, f-electron localization and superconductivity in 122-type heavy-fermion metals

Both CeCu2Si2 and YbRh2Si2 crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr2Si2 crystal structure. Recent neutron-scattering results on normal-state CeCu2Si2 reveal a slowing down of the quasielastic response which complies with the scaling expected for a quantum critical point (QCP) of itinerant, i.e., three-dimensional spin-density-wave (SDW), type. This interpretation is in full agreement with the non-Fermi-liquid behavior observed in transport and thermodynamic measurements. The momentum dependence of the magnetic excitation spectrum reveals two branches of an overdamped dispersive mode whose coupling to the heavy charge carriers is strongly retarded. These overdamped spin fluctuations are considered to be the driving force for superconductivity in CeCu2Si2 (Tc = 600 mK). The weak antiferromagnet YbRh2Si2 (TN = 70 mK) exhibits a magnetic-field-induced QCP at BN = 0.06 T (B⊥c). There is no indication of superconductivity down to T = 10 mK. The magnetic QCP appears to concur with a breakdown of the Kondo effect. Doping-induced variations of the average unit-cell volume result in a detachment of the magnetic and electronic instabilities. A comparison of the properties of these isostructural compounds suggests that 3D SDW QCPs are favorable for unconventional superconductivity. The question whether a Kondo-breakdown QCP may also give rise to superconductivity, however, remains to be clarified.     

Quantum and classical mode softening near the charge-density-wave-superconductor transition of CuxTiSe2

Temperature- and x-dependent Raman scattering studies of the charge-density-wave (CDW) amplitude modes in Cu(x)TiSe(2) show that the amplitude mode frequency omega(0) exhibits identical power-law scaling with the reduced temperature T/T(CDW) and the reduced Cu content x/x(c), i.e., omega(0) approximately (1-p)(0.15) for p=T/T(CDW) or x/x(c), suggesting that mode softening is independent of the control parameter used to approach the CDW transition. We provide evidence that x-dependent mode softening in Cu(x)TiSe(2) is associated with the reduction of the electron-phonon coupling constant, and that x-dependent "quantum" (T approximately 0) mode softening suggests the presence of a quantum critical point within the superconductor phase of Cu(x)TiSe(2).     

YbRh2Si2: spin fluctuations in the vicinity of a quantum critical point at low magnetic field

We report a 29Si NMR study on aligned single crystals of YbRh2Si2 which shows behavior characteristic of a quantum critical point (QCP: T(N)-->0). The Knight shift K and the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T(1) of Si show a strong dependence on the external field H, especially below 5 kOe. At the lowest H used in this measurement (H approximately 1.5 kOe), it was found that 1/T(1)T continues to increase down to 50 mK, whereas K stays constant with a large magnitude below 200 mK. This result strongly suggests the development of antiferromagnetic fluctuations with finite q vectors that compete with q=0 spin fluctuations in the vicinity of the QCP near H=0.5 kOe.     

Diffusion and thermal diffusion of semidilute to concentrated solutions of polystyrene in toluene in the vicinity of the glass transition

The approaching glass transition in polystyrene/toluene solutions leads to a sharp decay of both the collective diffusion coefficient D and the thermal diffusion coefficient D(T) at concentrations above 0.2 g/cm(3). The Soret coefficient S(T) = D(T)/D follows power-law scaling from semidilute to concentrated and is not influenced by the slowing down of the dynamics associated with the glass transition. Both D and D(T) are governed by the same friction coefficient. The scaling behavior of S(T) with concentration on approach of the glass transition is compared to the divergence of S(T) near a consolute critical point.     

Numerical renormalization-group study of the Bose-Fermi Kondo model

We extend the numerical renormalization-group method to Bose-Fermi Kondo models (BFKMs), describing a local moment coupled to a conduction band and a dissipative bosonic bath. We apply the method to the Ising-symmetry BFKM with a bosonic bath spectral function eta(omega) proportional omega(s), of interest in connection with heavy-fermion criticality. For 0 < s < 1, an interacting critical point, characterized by hyperscaling of exponents and omega/T scaling, describes a quantum phase transition between Kondo-screened and localized phases. A connection is made to other results for the BFKM and the spin-boson model.     

铁基超导体的量子临界行为

铁基超导体呈现丰富的电子相图, 各种有序态相互交叠. 本文主要介绍利用核磁共振手段在空穴型和电子型掺杂的BaFe₂As₂以及LaFeAsO_1-xF_x这三种具有代表性的铁基超导体中探测到的反铁磁序与超导序的微观共存、量子临界点和量子临界行为. 实验发现, 无论在空穴型还是电子型掺杂的铁基超导体中, 反铁磁相变温度都随着掺杂被抑制, 并最终在某个掺杂量降到零温而形成量子临界点. 在反铁磁转变温度之上存在结构相变, 其转变温度也随着掺杂而降低. 核磁共振谱证实结构相变也形成一个量子临界点. 本文介绍核磁共振及输运测量揭示的这两种量子临界点附近存在的量子临界行为, 共存态下奇异的超导性质等.     

Quantum critical behavior in an antiferromagnetic heavy-fermion Kondo lattice system(Ce_(1-x)La_x)_2Ir_3Ge_5

The measurements on temperature dependences of magnetic susceptibility χ(T), specific heat C(T), and electrical resistivity ρ(T) were carried out for the antiferromagnetic(AFM)(Ce_(1-x)La_x)_2Ir_3Ge_5(0 ≤ x ≤ 0.66) system. It was found that the Neel temperature TNdecreases with increasing La content x, and reaches 0 K near a critical content xcr =0.6. A new phase diagram was constructed based on these measurements. A non-Fermi liquid behavior in ρ(T) and a log T relationship in C(T) were found in the samples near xcr, indicating them to be near an AFM quantum critical point(QCP) with strong spin fluctuation. Our finding indicates that(Ce_(1-x)La_x)_2Ir_3Ge_5 may be a new platform to search for unconventional superconductivity.     

Low temperature magnetism in the rare-earth perovskite GdScO_3

The magnetic phase diagram of rare-earth perovskite compound, GdScO_3, has been investigated by magnetization and heat capacity. The system undergoes an antiferromagnetic phase transition at T_N= 2.6K, with an easy axis of magnetization along the a axis. The magnetization measurements show that it exists a spin-flop transition around 0.3 T for the applied field along the a axis. The critical magnetic field for the antiferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic transition is near 3.2 T when temperature approaches zero. By scaling susceptibilities, we presume this point(B = 3.2 T, T = 0 K) might be a fieldinduced quantum critical point and the magnetic critical fluctuations can even be felt above TN.     

Universal scaling and a novel quantum critical behavior of CeRhSb1-xSnx

We observe and explain a universal scaling rhochi = const for the electrical resistivity rho with the inverse magnetic susceptibility chi(-1) for the Kondo insulator CeRhSb(1-x)Snx. In the regime where the Kondo gap disappears (x > 0.12), the system forms a non-Fermi liquid (NFL), which transforms into a Fermi liquid at higher temperature. The NFL behavior is associated with the presence of a novel quantum critical point (QCP) at the Kondo insulator-correlated metal boundary. The divergent behavior of the resistivity, the susceptibility, and the specific heat has been observed when approaching the QCP from the metallic side and is interpreted as due to the competition between the Kondo and the intersite magnetic correlations.     

Current noise in the vicinity of the 2D superconductor-insulator quantum critical point

Systems near to quantum critical points show universal scaling in response to external probes. We consider whether this scaling is reflected in their out-of-equilibrium fluctuations. We study current noise in the metallic state at the z=1 quantum critical point between a superconductor and an insulator in two dimensions. Using a Boltzmann-Langevin approach within a 1/N expansion, we show that the current noise obeys a universal scaling form S_{j}=TPhi[T/T_{eff}(E)], with T_{eff} proportional, variantsqrt[E]. This treatment recovers Johnson noise in thermal equilibrium and S_{j} proportional, variantsqrt[E] at strong electric fields. The latter differs significantly from both the shot noise in conventional metals (diffusive Fermi liquids) and the free carrier result, due to strong correlations between the critical bosonic excitations. Current-noise measurements could therefore help clarify the physics of the destruction of superconductivity in thin film superconductors.     

Excitations of one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates in a random potential

We examine bosons hopping on a one-dimensional lattice in the presence of a random potential at zero temperature. Bogoliubov excitations of the Bose-Einstein condensate formed under such conditions are localized, with the localization length diverging at low frequency as l(omega) approximately 1/omega(alpha). We show that the well-known result alpha=2 applies only for sufficiently weak random potential. As the random potential is increased beyond a certain strength, alpha starts decreasing. At a critical strength of the potential, when the system of bosons is at the transition from a superfluid to an insulator, alpha=1. This result is relevant for understanding the behavior of the atomic Bose-Einstein condensates in the presence of random potential, and of the disordered Josephson junction arrays.     

Exotic versus conventional scaling and universality in a disordered bilayer quantum heisenberg antiferromagnet

We present Monte Carlo simulations of a two-dimensional bilayer quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet with random dimer dilution. In contrast with exotic scaling scenarios found in other random quantum systems, the quantum phase transition in this system is characterized by a finite-disorder fixed point with power-law scaling. After accounting for corrections to scaling, with a leading irrelevant exponent of omega approximately 0.48, we find universal critical exponents z=1.310(6) and nu=1.16(3). We discuss the consequences of these findings and suggest new experiments.     

Asymmetric metal-insulator transition in disordered ferromagnetic films

We present experimental data and a theoretical interpretation of the conductance near the metal-insulator transition in thin ferromagnetic Gd films of thickness b ≈ 2-10 nm. A large phase relaxation rate caused by scattering of quasiparticles off spin-wave excitations renders the dephasing length L(?) ? b in the range of sheet resistances considered, so that the effective dimension is d = 3. The conductivity data at different stages of disorder obey a fractional power-law temperature dependence and collapse onto two scaling curves for the metallic and insulating regimes, indicating an asymmetric metal-insulator transition with two distinctly different critical exponents; the best fit is obtained for a dynamical exponent z ≈ 2.5 and a correlation (localization) length critical exponent ν- ≈ 1.4 (ν+ ≈ 0.8) on the metallic (insulating) side.