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arXiv · 2406.15984

Tuning electronic pairing by uniaxial strain in kagome lattices

Abstract

We study the interplay of attractive electron interactions and topological states in strained kagome lattices with spin-orbit coupling via a Hubbard Hamiltonian in the mean-field approximation. In the unstrained lattice, there is a topological phase transition from a quantum spin Hall state to a charge density wave (CDW) with increasing interaction strength. Upon applying a uniform uniaxial strain to the lattice, we find a new phase with coexisting CDWs and topological states. For increasing interaction strength or strain, the system is driven into a pure CDW, signaling topological phase transitions. The directionality (nematicity) of the CDW is controlled by the direction of the applied strain. When $s$ wave electronic pairing is allowed, the system develops a superconducting order beyond a threshold attraction, which is totally suppressed by the onset of a CDW with increasing interaction. Most interestingly, moderate strain allows the coexistence of superconductivity and CDWs for a range of interaction values. This illustrates how electronic interactions and single-particle topological structures compete to create unusual correlated phases in kagome systems.

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BibTeXRIS

M. A. Mojarro, Sergio E. Ulloa. 2024-06-23. Tuning electronic pairing by uniaxial strain in kagome lattices. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.110.235129

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