Optimal charge inhomogeneity for the d+id-wave superconductivity in the intercalated graphite CaC6

The coexistence of superconductivity and charge inhomogeneity was observed in many cuprate superconductors. The relationship between those two is still controversial. Similarly, in the graphene sheets of the intercalated graphitic superconductor CaC₆, the charge inhomogeneity was also observed. We simulate such a system by constructing the Hubbard model on the honeycomb lattice with charge inhomogeneity imposed by force. Utilizing the finite-temperature determinant quantum Monte Carlo algorithm, we examine the relationship between the superconducting pairing and the charge inhomogeneity. An optimal charge inhomogeneity for the d+id-wave pairing is found. While for other artificial charge inhomogeneities, the d+id-wave pairing is monotonically suppressed. The possible π-phase shift induced by charge inhomogeneity is also examined.     

Two dimensional GeO2/MoSi2N4 van der Waals heterostructures with robust type-II band alignment

Constructing two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) can expand the electronic and optoelectronic applications of 2D semiconductors. However, the work on the 2D vdWHs with robust band alignment is still scarce. Here, we employ a global structure search approach to construct the vdWHs with monolayer MoSi₂N₄ and wide-bandgap GeO₂. The studies show that the GeO₂/MoSi₂N₄ vdWHs have the characteristics of direct structures with the band gap of 0.946 eV and type-II band alignment with GeO₂ and MoSi₂N₄ layers as the conduction band minimum (CBM) and valence band maximum (VBM), respectively. Also, the direct-to-indirect band gap transition can be achieved by applying biaxial strain. In particular, the 2D GeO₂/MoSi₂N₄ vdWHs show a robust type-II band alignment under the effects of biaxial strain, interlayer distance and external electric field. The results provide a route to realize the robust type-II band alignment vdWHs, which is helpful for the implementation of optoelectronic nanodevices with stable characteristics.     

Neutron skin thickness of 90Zr and symmetry energy constrained by charge exchange spin-dipole excitations

The charge exchange spin-dipole (SD) excitations of \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr are studied using the Skyrme Hartee-Fock plus proton-neutron random phase approximation with SAMi-J interactions. The experimental value of the model-independent sum rule obtained from the SD strength distributions of \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr(p, n)\begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Nb and \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr(n, p)\begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Y is used to deduce the neutron skin thickness. The neutron skin thickness \begin{document}$ \Delta r_{np} $\end{document} of \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr is extracted as \begin{document}$ 0.083\pm0.032 $\end{document} fm, which is similar to the results of other studies. Based on the correlation analysis of the neutron skin thickness \begin{document}$ \Delta r_{np} $\end{document} and the nuclear symmetry energy J as well as its slope parameter L, a constraint from the extracted \begin{document}$ \Delta r_{np} $\end{document} leads to the limitation of J to \begin{document}$ 29.2 \pm 2.6 $\end{document} MeV and L to \begin{document}$ 53.3 \pm 28.2 $\end{document} MeV.