Two-component Fermi systems: II. Superfluid coupled cluster theory

In this second paper of a series the coupled cluster method (CCM) or exp(S) formalism is applied to two-component Fermi superfluids using a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) ground state as a zeroth-order approximation. We concentrate on developing the formalism necessary for carrying out eventual numerical calculations on realistic superconducting systems. We do this by generalising the one-component formalism in an appropriate manner and by using the results in the first paper of this series, where we studied two-component Fermi fluids. We stress the previous successes of the CCM, both from the point of view of analytic and numerical results, and we further indicate its potential for studying superconductivity. We restrict ourselves here to a so-called ring plus single particle energy (RING+SPE) approximation for general potentials and show how it can be formulated as a set of four coupled, bilinear integral equations for the cluster-integrated amplitudes. These latter amplitudes are themselves derived from the four-point functions of the system which provide a measure of the two-particle/two-hole component in the true ground-state wavefunction with respect to the BCS model state. We indicate how to obtain possible analytic solutions.     

Dynamical mean-field theory for pairing and spin gap in the attractive hubbard model

We solve the attractive Hubbard model for arbitrary interaction strengths within dynamical mean-field theory. We compute the transition temperature for superconductivity and analyze electron pairing in the normal phase. The normal state is a Fermi liquid at weak coupling and a non-Fermi-liquid state with a spin gap at strong coupling. Away from half filling, the quasiparticle weight vanishes discontinuously at the transition between the two normal states.     

Dislocations and torsion in graphene and related systems

A continuum model to study the influence of dislocations on the electronic properties of condensed matter systems is described and analyzed. The model is based on a geometrical formalism that associates a density of dislocations with the torsion tensor and uses the technique of quantum field theory in curved space. When applied to two-dimensional systems with Dirac points like graphene we find that dislocations couple in the form of vector gauge fields similar to these arising from curvature or elastic strain. We also describe the ways to couple dislocations to normal metals with a Fermi surface.     

Perturbation theory of the Fermi surface in a quantum liquid. A general quasiparticle formalism and one-dimensional systems

We develop a perturbation theory formalism for the theory of the Fermi surface in a Fermi liquid of particles interacting via a bounded short-range repulsive pair potential. The formalism is based on the renormalization group and provides a formal expansion of the large-distance Schwinger functions in terms of a family of running couplings consisting of one- and two-body quasiparticle potentials. The flow of the running couplings is described in terms of a beta function, which is studied to all orders of perturbation theory and shown to obey, in thenth order,n! bounds. The flow equations are written in general dimensiond1 for the spinless case (for simplicity). The picture that emerges is that on a large scale the system looks like a system of fermions interacting via a-like interaction potential (i.e., a potential approaching 0 everywhere except at the origin, where it diverges, although keeping the integral bounded); the theory is not asymptotically free in the usual sense and the freedom mechanism is thus more delicate than usual: the technical problem of dealing with unbounded effective potentials is solved by introducing a mathematically precise notion ofquasiparticles, which turn out to be natural objects with finite interaction even when the physical potential diverges as a deltalike function. A remarkable kind of gauge symmetry is associated with the quasiparticles. To substantiate the analogy with the quasiparticle theory we discuss the mean field theory using our notion of quasiparticles: the resulting self-consistency relations are closely reminiscent of those of the BCS model. The formalism seems suited for a joint theory of normal states of Fermi liquids and of BCS states: the first are associated with the trivial fixed point of our flow or with nearby nontrivial fixed points (or invariant sets) and the second may naturally correspond to really nontrivial fixed points (which may nevertheless turn out to be accessible to analysis because the BCS state is a quasi free state, hence quite simple, unlike the nontrivial fixed points of field theory). Thed=1 case is deeply different from thed> 1 case, for our spinless fermions: we can treat it essentially completely for small coupling. The system is not asymptotically free and presents anomalous renormalization group flow with a vanishing beta function, and the discontinuity of the occupation number at the Fermi surface is smoothed by the interaction (remaining singular with a coupling-dependent singularity of power type with exponent identified with the anomalous dimension). Finally, we present a heuristic discussion of the theory for the flow of the running coupling constants in spinlessd> 1 systems: their structure is simplified further and the relevant part of the running interaction is precisely the interaction between pairs of quasiparticles which we identify with the Cooper pairs of superconductivity. The formal perturbation theory seems to have a chance to work only if the interaction between the Cooper pairs is repulsive: and to second order we show that in the spin-0 case this happens if the physical potential is repulsive. Our results indicate the possibility of the existence of a normal Fermi surface only if the interaction is repulsive.     

Thermodynamics of a Fermi liquid beyond the low-energy limit

We consider the nonanalytic temperature dependences of the specific heat coefficient, C(T)/T, and spin susceptibility, chi(s)(T), of 2D interacting fermions beyond the weak-coupling limit. We demonstrate within the Luttinger-Ward formalism that the leading temperature dependences of C(T)/T and chi(s)(T) are linear in T, and are described by the Fermi liquid theory. We show that these temperature dependences are universally determined by the states near the Fermi level and, for a generic interaction, are expressed via the spin and charge components of the exact backscattering amplitude of quasiparticles. We compare our theory to recent experiments on monolayers of He3.     

High-momentum response of liquid 3He

A final-state-effects formalism suitable to analyze the high-momentum response of Fermi liquids is presented and used to study the dynamic structure function of liquid 3He. The theory, developed as a natural extension of the Gersch-Rodriguez formalism, incorporates the Fermi statistics explicitly through a new additive term which depends on the semidiagonal two-body density matrix. The use of a realistic momentum distribution, calculated using the diffusion Monte Carlo method, and the inclusion of this additive correction allows for good agreement with available deep-inelastic neutron scattering data.     

Lifetime broadening in angle-resolved photoemission

The register line formalism of angle-resolved photoemission is applied to the special case where electrons are excited from sp surface states. By considering lifetime broadening alone, it is demonstrated that it is possible to explain why photoemission linewidths increase as the initial states disperse towards the Fermi level. Favourable comparisons are made between the theory and with measurements of the surface state widths on Cu(111) and Al(001).     

Landau theory of relativistic Fermi liquids

A relativistic extension of the Landau Fermi liquid theory, applicable to the study of high density matter, is developed. Consequences of Lorentz invariance in the theory are explored. The formalism is illustrated by a study of relativistic Fermi systems weakly interacting via scalar and vector meson exchange. Second order exchange energies for both massless scalar and massless vector interactions are calculated in terms of Landau parameters on the Fermi surface. Zero sound and “color-plasma oscillations” are studied in quark matter with SU(3) color gluon coupling.     

Application of a lindhard like model for normal state transport properties of the cuprate superconductors

We account for the transport properties of the cuprates and of organic superconductors in the normal state by a model in which, following Lindhard's theory, the velocity near the Fermi surface is increased by reduced screening. We show that the conductivity due to elastic scattering becomes temperature dependent. We account for the conductivity anisotropy, the thermoelectric power, and the Hall constant. An analysis of the London penetration depth, which takes into account the low dimensionality of the conduction, gives large Fermi velocities and small effective masses, consistent with the analysis of the transport properties.     

Another Possible Phenomenological Model of the Normal State of the High-Tc Oxide Superconductors

A new phenomenological model has been proposed to account for the anomalous normal state properties of the high-T_c, oxide superconductors. Comparison with the assumed one in the marginal Fermi liquid theory is made. Both of them are similar, but also different. It is shown that in a small frequency region of ω < T (T being the temperature), the conventional Fermi liquid picture still holds, while for ω > T the marginal Fermi liquid theory is appropriate.     

An extension of the coupled cluster formalism to excited states (I)

The expS method (coupled cluster formalism) is extended to excited states of finite and infinite systems. We obtain equations which are formally similar to the known ground-state equations of the expS theory. The method is applicable to Fermi as well as Bose systems.     

Quantum size effects for the extraordinary Hall effect in thin magnetic films

A theory for the extraordinary Hall effect in thin films is derived using the Kubo formalism. We calculate the skew-scattering contribution to the Hall resistivity. Oscillations of the resistivity with the thickness of the magnetic layers are obtained similar to the diagonal resistivity, but as the Hall current is due to d-electrons, the period of these oscillations is connected with the Fermi wave vector of the d-electrons.     

Evolution of the Fermi surface of d-wave superconductors in the presence of thermal phase fluctuations

One of the most puzzling aspects of the high Tc superconductors is the appearance of Fermi arcs in the normal state of the underdoped cuprate materials. These are loci of low energy excitations covering part of the Fermi surface that suddenly appear above Tc instead of the nodal quasiparticles. Based on a semiclassical theory, we argue that partial Fermi surfaces arise naturally in a d-wave superconductor that is destroyed by thermal phase fluctuations. Specifically, we show that the electron spectral function develops a square root singularity at low frequencies for wave vectors positioned on the bare Fermi surface. We predict a temperature dependence of the arc length that can partially account for the results of recent angle resolved photoemission experiments.     

Asymptotic correlation functions and FFLO signature for the one-dimensional attractive spin-1/2 Fermi gas

We investigate the long distance asymptotics of various correlation functions for the one-dimensional spin-1/2 Fermi gas with attractive interactions using the dressed charge formalism. In the spin polarized phase, these correlation functions exhibit spatial oscillations with a power-law decay whereby their critical exponents are found through conformal field theory. We show that spatial oscillations of the leading terms in the pair correlation function and the spin correlation function solely depend on ΔkF and 2ΔkF, respectively. Here ΔkF=π(n_↑−n_↓) denotes the mismatch between the Fermi surfaces of spin-up and spin-down fermions. Such spatial modulations are characteristics of a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state. Our key observation is that backscattering among the Fermi points of bound pairs and unpaired fermions results in a one-dimensional analog of the FFLO state and displays a microscopic origin of the FFLO nature. Furthermore, we show that the pair correlation function in momentum space has a peak at the point of mismatch between both Fermi surfaces k=ΔkF, which has recently been observed in numerous numerical studies.     

Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism for Fermi classical systems

The Weyl-Wigner-Moyal formalism of fermionic classical systems with a finite number of degrees of freedom is considered. The Weyl correspondence is studied by computing the relevant Stratonovich-Weyl quantizer. The Moyal -product, Wigner functions and normal ordering are obtained for generic fermionic systems. Finally, this formalism is used to perform the deformation quantization of the Fermi oscillator and the supersymmetric quantum mechanics.     

A Phenomenological Study of Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectra for High-Tc Superconductors

Using a phenomenological model for the normal state of high-T_c superconductors, we have analyzed the angle-resolved photoemission spectra, and compared our results with the MFL theory and other microscopic models as well as with the experiments. In contrast to the MFL theory we predict that there exists a narrow lower energy region near the Fermi surface showing the conventional Fermi liquid behavior, which needs to be approved by fine experiments in future.     

Relativistic version of Landau theory of Fermi liquid in presence of strong quantizing magnetic field—an exact formalism

An exact formalism for the relativistic version of Landau theory of Fermi liquid in presence of strong quantizing magnetic field is developed. Both direct and exchange type interactions with scalar and vector coupling cases are considered.     

Asymmetric Tunneling Conductance and the Non-Fermi Liquid Behavior of Strongly Correlated Fermi Systems

Tunneling differential conductivity (or resistivity) is a sensitive tool to experimentally test the non-Fermi liquid behavior of strongly correlated Fermi systems. In the case of common metals the Landau–Fermi liquid theory demonstrates that the differential conductivity is a symmetric function of bias voltage V. This is because the particle–hole symmetry is conserved in the Landau–Fermi liquid state. When a strongly correlated Fermi system turns out to be near the topological fermion condensation quantum phase transition, its Landau–Fermi liquid properties disappear so that the particle–hole symmetry breaks making the differential tunneling conductivity to be asymmetric function of V. This asymmetry can be observed when a strongly correlated metal is in its normal, superconducting or pseudogap states. We show that the asymmetric part of the dynamic conductance does not depend on temperature provided that the metal is in its superconducting or pseudogap states. In normal state, the asymmetric part diminishes at rising temperatures. Under the application of magnetic field the metal transits to the Landau–Fermi liquid state and the differential tunneling conductivity becomes a symmetric function of V. These findings are in good agreement with recent experimental observations.     

Quantum-critical theory of the spin-fermion model and its application to cuprates: Normal state analysis

We present the full analysis of the normal state properties of the spin-fermion model near the antiferromagnetic instability in two dimensions. The model describes low-energy fermions interacting with their own collective spin fluctuations, which soften at the antiferromagnetic transition. We argue that in 2D, the system has two typical energies—an effective spin-fermion interaction g¯ and an energy ω_sf below which the system behaves as a Fermi liquid. The ratio of the two determines the dimensionless coupling constant for spin-fermion interaction λ² ∝ g¯/ω_sf. We show that λ scales with the spin correlation length and diverges at criticality. This divergence implies that the conventional perturbative expansion breaks down. We develop a novel approach to the problem—the expansion in either the inverse number of hot spots in the Brillouin zone, or the inverse number of fermionic flavours—which allows us to explicitly account for all terms which diverge as powers of λ, and treat the remaining, O(log λ) terms in the RG formalism. We apply this technique to study the properties of the spin-fermion model in various frequency and temperature regimes. We present the results for the fermionic spectral function, spin susceptibility, optical conductivity and other observables. We compare our results in detail with the normal state data for the cuprates, and argue that the spin-fermion model is capable of explaining the anomalous normal state properties of the high T _c materials. We also show that the conventional {⁴ theory of the quantum-critical behaviour is inapplicable in 2D due to the singularity of the {⁴ vertex.