Electron-phonon coupling and the soft phonon mode in TiSe2

We report high-resolution inelastic x-ray measurements of the soft phonon mode in the charge-density-wave compound TiSe(2). We observe a complete softening of a transverse optic phonon at the L point, i.e., q=(0.5, 0, 0.5), at T≈T(CDW). Detailed ab initio calculations for the electronic and lattice dynamical properties of TiSe(2) are in quantitative agreement with experimental frequencies for the soft phonon mode. The observed broad range of renormalized phonon frequencies, (0.3, 0, 0.5)≤q≤(0.5, 0, 0.5), is directly related to a broad peak in the electronic susceptibility stabilizing the charge-density-wave ordered state. Our analysis demonstrates that a conventional electron-phonon coupling mechanism can explain a structural instability and the charge-density-wave order in TiSe(2) although other mechanisms might further boost the transition temperature.     

X-ray studies of phonon softening in tise2

The charge-density-wave transition in TiSe (2), which results in a commensurate (2x2x2) superlattice at temperatures below approximately 200 K, presumably involves softening of a zone-boundary phonon mode. For the first time, this phonon-softening behavior has been examined over a wide temperature range by synchrotron x-ray thermal diffuse scattering.     

Semimetal-to-semimetal charge density wave transition in 1T-TiSe(2)

We report an infrared study on 1T-TiSe(2), the parent compound of the newly discovered superconductor Cu(x)TiSe(2). Previous studies of this compound have not conclusively resolved whether it is a semimetal or a semiconductor-information that is important in determining the origin of its unconventional charge density wave (CDW) transition. Here we present optical spectroscopy results that clearly reveal that the compound is metallic in both the high-temperature normal phase and the low-temperature CDW phase. The carrier scattering rate is dramatically different in the normal and CDW phases and the carrier density is found to change with temperature. We conclude that the observed properties can be explained within the scenario of an Overhauser-type CDW mechanism.     

Emergence of Fermi pockets in a new excitonic charge-density-wave melted superconductor

A superconducting state (T(c) approximately 4.2 K) has very recently been observed upon successful doping of the charge-density-wave (CDW) ordered triangular lattice TiSe(2), with copper. Using state-of-the-art photoemission spectroscopy we identify, for the first time, momentum-space locations of doped electrons that form the Fermi sea of the superconductor. With doping, we find that kinematic nesting volume increases, whereas coherence of the CDW collective order sharply drops. In superconducting doping, as chemical potential rises, we observe the emergence of a large density of states in the form of a narrow electron pocket near the L point of the Brillouin zone with d-like character. The k-space spectral evolution directly demonstrates, for the first time, that the CDW order parameter microscopically competes with superconductivity in the same band.     

Superfluid transition in a rotating fermi gas with resonant interactions

We study a rotating atomic Fermi gas near a narrow s-wave Feshbach resonance in a uniaxial trap with frequencies Omega perpendicular, Omega z. We predict the upper-critical angular velocity, omega c2(delta,T), as a function of temperature T and detuning delta across the BEC-BCS crossover. The suppression of superfluidity at omega c2 is distinct in the BCS and BEC regimes, with the former controlled by depairing and the latter by the dilution of bosonic molecules. At low T and Omega z < Omega perpendicular, in the BCS and crossover regimes of 0 less similar delta less similar delta c, omega c2 is implicitly given by [formula: see text], vanishing as omega c2 approximately Omega perpendicular(1 - delta/delta c)(1/2) near [formula: see text] (with Delta the BCS gap and gamma the resonance width), and extending the bulk result variant Planck's over 2pi omega c2 approximately 2Delta2/epsilonF to a trap. In the BEC regime of delta < 0 we find omega c2-->Omega perpendicular-, where molecular superfluidity is destroyed only by large quantum fluctuations associated with comparable boson and vortex densities.     

Critical spin dynamics of the 2D quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnets Sr2CuO2Cl2 and Sr2Cu3O4Cl2

We report a neutron scattering study of the long-wavelength dynamic spin correlations in the model two-dimensional S = 1/2 square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnets Sr2CuO2Cl2 and Sr2Cu3O4Cl2. The characteristic energy scale, omega(0)(T/J), is determined by measuring the quasielastic peak width in the paramagnetic phase over a wide range of temperature ( 0.2 less similarT/J less similar0.7). The obtained values for omega(0)(T/J) agree quantitatively between the two compounds and also with values deduced from quantum Monte Carlo simulations. The combined data show scaling behavior, omega approximately xi(-z), over the entire temperature range with z = 1.0(1), in agreement with dynamic scaling theory.     

Collective mode in a superconductor with mixed-symmetry order parameter components

We consider a superconducting state with mixed-symmetry order parameter components, e.g., d+is or d+id(') with d(') = d(xy). We argue for the existence of a new orbital magnetization mode which corresponds to oscillations of relative phase straight phi between two components around an equilibrium value of straight phi = pi / 2. It is similar to the "clapping" mode in superfluid 3He-A. We estimate the frequency of this mode omega(0)(B,T) depending on the field and temperature for the specific case of magnetic field induced d(') = d(xy) state. This mode is tunable with a magnetic field with omega(0)(B,T) approximately BDelta(0), where Delta(0) is the magnitude of the d-wave order parameter. We also estimate the velocity s(B,T) of this mode.     

STM studies of TbTe3: evidence for a fully incommensurate charge density wave

We observe unidirectional charge density wave (CDW) ordering on the quasi-2D material TbTe3 with a scanning tunneling microscope at approximately 6 K. Our analysis indicates that the CDW is fully incommensurate, with wave vector qCDW approximately 0.71x2pi/c. By imaging at various tip-sample voltages, we highlight effects of the subsurface layer and its effect on the CDW. We also observe an additional (possibly surface) dimerization and approximately 0.68x2pi/a ordering perpendicular to the CDW.     

The angular magnetothermoelectric power of a charge density wave system

The angular dependence of the magnetothermopower of a charge transfer organic salt α-(ET)(2)KHg(SCN)(4) below (4 K) and above (9 K) the phase transition temperature, T(p) = 8 K, and under fields of 15 T and 25 T, below and above the 'kinkfield', has been studied. We find that for a longitudinal thermoelectric measurement both an interlayer thermopower (the Seebeck effect), S(zz), and a transverse thermopower (the Nernst effect), S(yz), exist in all three different B-T phases (the CDW (0), CDW (x) and metallic states) with large amplitude. Both thermoelectric effects display a resonant-like behavior without a sign reversal at the angles corresponding to angular magnetoresistance oscillation minima and maxima in this compound. The resonant behavior is most evident in the CDW(0) state, indicating a mechanism involving the Fermi surface nesting. Angular dependences reveal different behaviors of the thermopower and Nernst effect in the high magnetic field (CDW(x)) state.     

Phason and amplitudon in the charge-density-wave phase of one-dimensional charge stripes in La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO4

The present systematic Raman scattering experiments reveal the phason and amplitudon of the charge density wave (CDW) mode in the charge stripes of La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO4. Only about 15% of the electronic density of states condenses into the CDW state. The symmetries of the CDW modes change by the rotation of the stripes at the insulator-metal transition. The energy of the phason is finite at 0.06 < or = x < or = 0.1 and zero at x = 0.035 and 0.115 < or = x < or = 0.135, which suggests that the CDW is commensurate at 0.06 < or = x < or = 0.1 and incommensurate otherwise. The zero-energy phason seems to reduce T(c) at x = 1/8.     

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.     

Soft acoustic modes in the two-dimensional spin system SrCu2(BO3)(2)

SrCu2(BO3)(2) is a two-dimensional dimerized quantum spin system which is close to a quantum critical point. The sound velocity for the longitudinal and transverse acoustic modes shows strong spin-lattice effects. The shear c(66) mode exhibits a pronounced softening of 4.5% as a function of temperature and softens more than 25% in fields up to 50 T. This huge effect occurs in the vicinity of the magnetization plateaus m/m(0) = 1/4 and 1/3. We can analyze quantitatively the temperature dependence of all measured elastic modes c(11), c(44), and c(66) with an exchange striction mechanism. The soft c(66) mode with B(2g) symmetry enables us to predict the possible symmetry of the condensed triplets in some plateaus.     

Inhomogeneous level splitting in Pr 2-x BixRu2O7

We report that Bi doping drives Pr 2-x BixRu2O7 from an antiferromagnetic insulator (x = 0) to a metallic paramagnet (x approximately 1) with a broad low T maximum in C/T. Neutron scattering reveals local low energy spin excitations (variant Planck's omega approximately 1 meV) with a spectrum that is unaffected by heating to k(B)T > variant Planck's omega. We show that a continuous distribution of splittings of the non-Kramers Pr3+ ground-state doublet such as might result from various types of lattice strain can account for all the data.     

Quantum melting of the charge-density-wave state in 1T-TiSe2

We report a Raman scattering study of low-temperature, pressure-induced melting of the charge-density-wave (CDW) phase of 1T-TiSe2. Our measurements reveal that the collapse of the CDW state occurs in three stages: (i) For P<5 kbar, the pressure dependence of the CDW amplitude mode energies and intensities are indicative of a "crystalline" CDW regime; (ii) for 525 kbar, the absence of amplitude modes reveals a metallic regime in which the CDW has melted.     

In-plane charge modulation below T(c) and charge-density-wave correlations in the chain layer in YBa2Cu3O7

Nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements have been performed on Cu(2) plane sites and Cu(1) chain sites in fully doped YBa2Cu3O7 between 300 and 4.2 K. The sharp increase of the Cu(1) NQR linewidth across the superconducting transition and the T dependence of the Cu(1) spin lattice relaxation rate confirm the existence of a charge-density-wave state (CDW) in the chains. The simultaneous broadening of the Cu(2) linewidth below T(c) and the anomalous T dependence of Cu(1) and Cu(2) NQR parameters indicate that these in-chain CDW correlations are strongly involved in the appearance of an in-plane charge modulated structure below T(c).     

Phase fluctuations and the pseudogap in YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x)

The thermodynamics of the superconducting transition is studied as a function of doping using high-resolution expansivity data of YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x) single crystals and Monte Carlo simulations of the anisotropic 3D- XY model. We directly show that T(c) of underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x) is strongly suppressed from its mean-field value (T(MF)(c)) by phase fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter. For overdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x) fluctuation effects are greatly reduced and T(c) approximately T(MF)(c). We find that T(MF)(c) exhibits a similar doping dependence as the pseudogap energy, naturally suggesting that the pseudogap arises from phase-incoherent Cooper pairing.     

Effect of Lattice Quantum Fluctuation on CDW of MX Solids

The reduction of charge density wave (CDW) amplitude of MX solids caused by the lattice quantum fluctuation is investigated in a wide range of electron-phonon coupling by using the self-consistent renormalization method. In contrast to polyacetylene, where the bond order wave (BOW) exists well in arbitrary coupling, the effect of the quantum Auctuatipn on CDW of MX solids distinctly depends on the coupling. When the coupling is strol; the reduction of CDW is small; but, if the coupling is weak, CDW is seriously suppressed and even nearly destroyed. This contrast is related to the fact that for weak coupling, the renormalized frequencies of both the acoustic and optical branches are greatly reduced in polyacetylene, but these frequencies in MX solids are not well different from the bare value ω₀.     

Microscopic evidence for the modification of the electronic structure at grain boundaries of Cu(In(1-x),Ga(x))Se2 films

We investigated the electronic properties around grain boundaries of polycrystalline Cu(In(1-x),Ga(x)Se(2)) films as a function of Ga content, using scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Spectra acquired on samples with low Ga content (x=0 and 0.33) reveal downward band bending with respect to adjacent p-type grains, suggesting type inversion at the surface of grain boundaries. Such a behavior was not observed for samples with high Ga contents. These results are consistent with our atomic force microscopy data and may shed light on the origin of the x-dependent efficiency for polycrystalline Cu(In(1-x),Ga(x)Se(2))-based solar cells.     

Ideal soft mode-type quantum phase transition and phase coexistence at quantum critical point in 18O-exchanged SrTiO3

The quantum ferroelectric phase transition of 18O-exchanged SrTiO3 (x% exchanged SrTiO3 is abbreviated as STO18-x) was investigated by Raman scattering as a function of x. The result indicates the ideal soft mode-type quantum ferroelectric phase transition of STO18-x, where the 18O exchange enhances the softening of the soft mode by the suppression of quantum fluctuation. In the vicinity of the quantum critical point (x approximately xc=33%), the system results in the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase coexistence state, in clear contrast to the homogeneous ferroelectric phase in STO18-x, whose x is sufficiently larger than xc. Simultaneously, the softening of the soft mode becomes strongly rounded with the underdamped oscillation. The present result indicates that the sensitivity of the soft phonon vibration to the mass disorder is dramatically enhanced in the vicinity of the quantum critical point.     

Quantum critical scaling and the origin of non-fermi-liquid behavior in Sc1-xUxPd3

We used inelastic neutron scattering to study magnetic excitations of Sc1-xUxPd3 for U concentrations (x=0.25, 0.35) near the spin glass quantum critical point (QCP). The excitations are spatially incoherent, broad in energy (E=variant Planck's over 2piomega), and follow omega/T scaling at all wave vectors investigated. Since similar omega/T scaling has been observed for UCu5-xPdx and CeCu6-xAux near the antiferromagnetic QCP, we argue that the observed non-Fermi-liquid behavior in these f-electron materials arises from the critical phenomena near a T=0 K phase transition, irrespective of the nature of the transition.