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arXiv · 2412.10346

Large Kohn anomaly and phonon collapse induced by charge density wave in UPt$_2$Si$_2$

Jooseop Lee·Greta L. Chappell·Ryan E. Baumbach·Ayman H. Said·Igor A. Zaliznyak
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Abstract

Using high-energy-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering, we observe anomalous softening and damping of the transverse acoustic phonon in UPt$_2$Si$_2$ as the system is cooled towards the charge density wave (CDW) transition temperature, T$_{\rm{CDW}}$. The phonon exhibits a marked Kohn-type anomaly around the CDW wave vector, Q$_{\rm{CDW}}$, and becomes overdamped within a finite momentum range already well above T$_{\rm{CDW}}$. The dispersion anomaly is consistent with potential Fermi surface nesting, which together with the extended phonon collapse indicate strong electron-phonon coupling. The transition temperature estimated from the phonon softening is markedly lower than T$_{\rm{CDW}}$, consistent with a primarily electronic instability rather than a phonon-driven transition. Our results establish UPt$_2$Si$_2$ as a prime example of a strongly correlated electron CDW system with exceptionally strong electron-phonon coupling driving phonon softening and collapse.

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Jooseop Lee, Greta L. Chappell, Ryan E. Baumbach, Ayman H. Said, Igor A. Zaliznyak. 2024-12-13. Large Kohn anomaly and phonon collapse induced by charge density wave in UPt$_2$Si$_2$. https://doi.org/10.1103/clg4-2zzb

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