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A. L. Rakhmanov

Publications and source records attributed to A. L. Rakhmanov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Weak-coupling theory of half-metals and other fractional metallic phases in biased doped Bernal bilayer graphene

The paper presents a theoretical study of many-body electronic phases in doped and electrically biased Bernal-stacked (AB) bilayer graphene. We develop a variational mean-field theory with no fitted parameters. For the electron-electron interaction, we employ a parameter-free random-phase approximation to model the short-range screened Coulomb repulsion. The remaining long-range Coulomb potential energy is dictated by the geometry of the sample, behaving as a parallel-plate capacitor. We formulate the theory directly in terms of the experimentally controlled displacement field $\frak D$ rather than the interaction-renormalized interlayer potential difference. It makes our theory better suited for direct comparison with experiment. The resulting phase diagram is quite rich. It hosts several fractional-metal states connected by first- and second-order transitions. At higher bias and doping, three distinct fractional metallic states emerge. We classify these phases by the number of doped sectors and the symmetry of the order parameters. Our results - obtained without any parameter fitting - reproduce key qualitative and quantitative features of recent experiments. This includes the energy scale associated with the loss of fractional metallic order. At lower bias and doping, the model stabilizes a broad spectrum of fractional-metal phases with more exotic symmetry-breaking patterns. This suggests that further experimental exploration of the latter regime is warranted.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Ordered states of undoped AB bilayer graphene: bias induced cascade of transitions

Using mean-field theory, we determine the electronic phase diagram of undoped AB-stacked bilayer graphene in the presence of a transverse electric field. In addition to multiple competing electronic instabilities characterized by excitonic order parameters, our framework incorporates the long-range Coulomb energy associated with interlayer polarization. This long-range interaction plays a crucial role, as it significantly influences both the structure and the relative energies of the competing ordered states. We derive a set of self-consistency equations and solve them both numerically and analytically. Our findings reveal that, as the bias field is varied, the bilayer undergoes a cascade of first-order transitions between several ordered insulating phases for which order-parameter structures are explicitly identified. Some of these phases are characterized by two inequivalent single-particle gaps, whose magnitudes depend on the valley and spin quantum numbers. Field-driven transitions are accompanied by discontinuous and non-monotonic variations of the single-electron gap. We relate our results to Hartree-Fock numerical calculations and to experimental research, including observations of fractional metallic phases that emerge upon doping the bilayer system.

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Nesting-driven ferromagnetism of itinerant electrons

We theoretically investigate a model with electrons and holes whose Fermi surfaces are perfectly nested. The fermions are assumed to be interacting, both with each other and with the lattice. To suppress inhomogeneous states, a sufficiently strong long-range Coulomb repulsion is included into the model. Using the mean field approximation, one can demonstrate that in the absence of doping, the ground state of such a model is insulating and possesses a density-wave order, either SDW, or CDW. Upon doping, a finite ferromagnetic polarization emerges. It is argued that the mechanism driving the ferromagnetism is not of the Stoner type. A phase diagram of the model is constructed, and various properties of the ordered phases, such as half-metallicity and cone magnetic structure, are studied.

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Anomalous superconductivity and unusual normal state properties of bilayer and twisted graphene (Brief review)

It has been shown that the Kohn--Luttinger superconductivity mechanism interplaying with other types of ordering can be implemented in systems with a hexagonal lattice. A number of unusual properties of such systems in the normal phase have also been considered. Our previous results on Kohn--Luttinger superconductivity with $p$-, $d$-, and $f$-wave pairing in monolayer and AB bilayer graphene, obtained disregarding the effect of substrate potential and impurities, have been presented in the first part. Then, the interplay of the superconducting Kohn--Luttinger state with the spin density wave state in actual AB, AA, and twisted bilayer graphene has been discussed in detail. In the last parts, a number of anomalous properties in the normal phase and the appearance of nematic superconductivity alongside with the spin density wave in the twisted bilayer graphene have been presented.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Ordered states in AB bilayer graphene in SU(4)-symmetric model

We apply SU(4)-symmetric model to examine possible ordered states in AB stacked bilayer graphene (AB-BLG). The Hamiltonian of the system possesses this symmetry under certain assumptions. In such a model the multicomponent order parameter can be presented as a $4\times4$ matrix $\hat{Q}$. Using a mean field approximation, we derive a self-consistency equation for $\hat{Q}$. Among possible solutions of the obtained equation there are anomalous quantum Hall states, spin, charge, spin-valley density waves, inter-layer excitonic phases and their combinations. We argue that the proposed approach is a useful tool for classification of the ordered states in AB-BLG. The ordered states of the SU(4)-symmetric model demonstrate extensive degeneracies. The degeneracies can be removed by taking into account the neglected non-SU(4)-symmetric terms, disorder, substrate, as well as other perturbations. The ordered states have varying sensitivity to these factors. This suggests that, for AB-BLG, a ground state ordering type is a non-universal property, susceptible to particulars of extrinsic conditions.

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Superconductivity and spin density wave in AA stacked bilayer graphene

This work theoretically analyzes electronic ordering in AA-stacked bilayer graphene and the role of the Coulomb interaction in these many-body phenomena. Using the random phase approximation to account for screening, we find intra-layer effective interactions to be much stronger than inter-layer interactions; under certain circumstances, the latter may also become attractive. At zero doping, the Coulomb repulsion stabilizes the spin-density wave state, with a N{é}el temperature in the tens of Kelvin. While dominant in the undoped system, the spin-density wave is destroyed by sufficiently strong doping and a superconducting phase emerges. We find that the effective Coulomb inter-layer interaction can give rise to superconductivity. However, the corresponding critical temperature is negligibly small, and phonon-mediated attraction must be introduced to observe it. Strong intra-layer repulsion suppresses order parameters that couple two intra-layer electrons. We point out a possible superconducting state with finite Cooper pair momentum.

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Evidence for spin droplets (ferrons) formation in the heavy fermion metal CeB$_6$ with dynamic charge stripes

The presented studies of resistivity (R), thermal conductivity (k) and specific heat (C) at low temperature 1.8-7 K in magnetic field up to 90 kOe made it possible to detect for the first time the exponential field dependences R(H), 1/k(H), $C(H) \sim \exp(-μ_{\rm eff}H/kBT)$ of the charge transport and thermal characteristics in the so-called antiferroquadrupole (AFQ) phase of the archetypal heavy-fermion CeB$_6$ hexaboride. From magnetoresistance measurements it is shown that in the AFQ state the effective magnetic moment varies in the range $μ_{\rm eff}(T) = 1.4$-1.9$μ$B, and its value is very close to $μ_{\rm eff}(τ)(T) = 2μ$B, derived from the field dependence of the relaxation time $|tau(H)$ observed in the heat capacity and thermal conductivity experiments. The phenomenological model proposed here allowed us to attribute the magnetic moments to spin droplets (ferrons), that appear in the bulk AFQ phase of CeB$_6$ crystals. The relevant electron phase separation at the nanoscale, manifested by dynamic charge stripes, that leads to the formation of ferrons, was revealed from the analysis of low-temperature X-ray diffraction experiments using the maximum entropy method. We argue that the Jahn-Teller collective mode of B$_6$ clusters is responsible for the charge stripe formation, which subsequently induces transverse quasi-local vibrations of Ce ions in the form of pairs and triples. These lead to 4f-5d spin fluctuations providing spin-polarons (ferrons) in the CeB$_6$ matrix.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Simple model for the gap in the surface states of the antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi$_2$Te$_4$

We study the influence of the antiferromagnetic order on the surface states of topological insulators. We derive an effective Hamiltonian for these states, taking into account the spatial structure of the antiferromagnetic order. We obtain a typical (gapless) Dirac Hamiltonian for the surface states when the surface of the sample is not perturbed. Gapless spectrum is protected by the combination of time-reversal and half-translation symmetries. However, a shift in the chemical potential of the surface layer opens a gap in the spectrum away from the Fermi energy. Such a gap occurs only in systems with finite antiferromagnetic order. We observe that the system topology remains unchanged even for large values of the disorder. We calculate the spectrum using the tight-binding model with different boundary conditions. In this case we get a gap in the spectrum of the surface states. This discrepancy arises due to the violation of the combined time-reversal symmetry. We compare our results with experiments and density functional theory calculations.

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Coexistence of nematic superconductivity and spin density wave in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene

We argue that doped twisted bilayer graphene with magical twist angle can become superconducting. In our theoretical scenario, the superconductivity coexists with the spin-density-wave-like ordering. Numerical mean-field analysis demonstrates that the spin-density-wave order, which is much stronger than the superconductivity, leaves parts of the Fermi surface ungapped. This Fermi surface serves as a host for the superconductivity. Since the magnetic texture at finite doping breaks the point group of the twisted bilayer graphene, the stabilized superconducting order parameter is nematic. We also explore the possibility of a purely Coulomb-based mechanism of superconductivity in the studied system. The screened Coulomb interaction is calculated within the random phase approximation. It is shown that near the half-filling the renormalized Coulomb repulsion indeed induces the superconducting state, with the order parameter possessing two nodes on the Fermi surface. We estimate the superconducting transition temperature, which turns out to be very low. The implications of our proposal are discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Triplet superconductivity and spin density wave in biased AB bilayer graphene

We examine spin density wave and triplet superconductivity as possible ground states of the Bernal bilayer graphene. The spin density wave is stable for the unbiased and undoped bilayer. Both the doping and the applied bias voltage destroy this phase. We show that, when biased and slightly doped, bilayer can host a triplet superconducting phase. The mechanisms for both ordered phases rely on the renormalized Coulomb interaction. Consistency of our theoretical conclusions with recent experimental results are discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Ordering in SU(4)-symmetric model of AA bilayer graphene

We examine possible ordered states of AA stacked bilayer graphene arising due to electron-electron coupling. We show that under certain assumptions the Hamiltonian of the system possesses an SU(4) symmetry. The multicomponent order parameter is described by a $4\times4$ matrix $\hat{Q}$, for which a mean-field self-consistency equation is derived. This equation allows Hermitian and non-Hermitian solutions. Hermitian solutions can be grouped into three topologically-distinct classes. First class corresponds to the charge density wave. Second class includes spin density wave, valley density wave, and spin-valley density wave. An ordered state in the third class is a combination of all the aforementioned density-wave types. For anti-Hermitian $\hat{Q}$ the ordered states are characterized by spontaneous inter-layer loop currents flowing in the bilayer. Depending on the topological class of the solution these currents can carry charge, spin, valley, and spin-valley quanta. We also discuss the special case when matrix $\hat{Q}$ is not Hermitian and not anti-Hermitian. Utility and weak points of the proposed SU(4)-based classification scheme of the ordered states are analyzed.

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Magic radius of AA bilayer graphene quantum dot

We study analytically and numerically electronic properties of a circular quantum dot made from AA bilayer graphene. We observe a discrete set of dot radii for which the low-energy electron states are degenerate with respect to the layer parity. By analogy with the ``magic angles" in the twisted bilayer graphene we refer to these radii as ``magic". Such a feature is unique for the AA structures and is related to a specific layer-symmetry of the AA graphene bilayer: the parity of the highest occupied level changes from layer-symmetric to layer-antisymmetric when the radius of the AA dot is equal to its magic value. We explore an analogy in the electronic structure between twisted bilayer graphene at the magic twist angle and the AA quantum dot with magic radius. We argue that this analogy can be helpful for theoretical description of the electronic properties of the twisted bilayer graphene.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Interaction between spin and Abrikosov vortices in doped topological insulators

In the topological superconductor with the nematic superconductivity in $E_u$ representation, it is possible to have different types of vortices. One is associated with the vorticity in the particle-hole space and corresponds to the Abrikosov vortex. Another type corresponds to the vorticity in the spin space and is called spin vortex. We study the interaction of the Abrikosov vortex with the spin vortices. We derive the free energy of the sample with the Abrikosov and the strain-induced spin vortices using the Ginzburg-Landau approach for the two-component superconducting order parameter. We calculate the critical strain at which the spin vortex is formed. We show that the spin vortex and the Abrikosov vortex attract to each other and, as a result, they have a common core. We show that there are no zero-energy states (Majorana fermions) localized near the common vortex core of the Abrikosov vortex and the spin vortex of any type. Possible experimental realization is discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Half-metal and other fractional metal phases in doped AB bilayer graphene

We theoretically argue that, in doped AB bilayer graphene, the electron-electron coupling can give rise to the spontaneous formation of fractional metal phases. These states, being generalizations of a more common half-metal, have a Fermi surface that is perfectly polarized not only in terms of a spin-related quantum number, but also in terms of the valley index. The proposed mechanism assumes that the ground state of undoped bilayer graphene is a spin density wave insulator, with a finite gap in the single-electron spectrum. Upon doping, the insulator is destroyed, and replaced by a fractional metal phase. As doping increases, transitions between various types of fractional metal (half-metal, quarter-metal, etc.) are triggered. Our findings are consistent with recent experiments on doped AB bilayer graphene, in which a cascade of phase transitions between different isospin states was observed.

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Charge distribution and spin textures in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene

We examine the coexisting spin and charge density waves as a possible ground state of the magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene. When interactions are not included, the spectrum of the material has 4 (8 if spin is taken into account) almost flat almost degenerate bands. Interactions break down the degeneracy forming an order parameter which is usually assumed to be a spin density wave with a preset spin structure. Here we take into account a possible charge density wave contribution to the order parameter, that is, inhomogeneous distribution of the charge density within a twisted graphene supercell. We also calculate self-consistently the spin structure of the order parameter. We find that the density wave order is stable in the whole doping range from $-4$ to $+4$ extra electrons per supercell. The spin texture changes from collinear at zero doping to almost coplanar at finite doping. The density wave order shows nematic distortion when we dope the system. We demonstrate that the local spin magnetization is much stronger than the charge density variation, unless the doping exceeds $3$ extra electrons or holes per supercell.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Strain induced spin vortex and Majorana Kramer's pairs in doped topological insulators with nematic superconductivity

Using Ginzburg-Landau approach we show that the strain of the nematic superconductor can generate a specific (nematic) vorticity. In the case of doped topological insulators that vorticity forms a spin vortex. We find two types of topologically different spin vortices that either enhance (type I) or suppress (type II) superconductivity far from the vortex core. We apply Bogoliubov-de Geunnes equations to study electronic states in the nematic superconductor with spin vortices. We find that in the case of the vortex of type I, zero-energy states are localized near the vortex core. These states can be identified as Majorana Kramer's pairs. In the case of the vortex of type II, zero-energy states form Majorana flat bands. Thus, we establish a non-trivial connection between the strain and Majorana fermions in the doped topological insulators with nematic superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Anomalous Josephson Hall effect in doped topological insulators with the nematic superconductivity

We study the physics of the Josephson effect in nematic superconductors with $E_u$ odd parity in the Ginzburg-Landau approach. Two-component vector superconducting order parameter makes this effect rather unusual. We get that the Meissner kernel has off-diagonal components. We derive current-phase relations for different configurations of the junction, crystallographic axes of the sample, and nematicity direction. We show that an anomalous Josephson Hall effect can be observed in such a system without any magnetization. That is, for definite orientations of the junction and crystal axes, a component of the Josephson current along the junction is induced by the order parameter phase difference across the contact. We also calculate the magnetic field dependence of the maximum current through the junction. We find that the period of the Fraunhofer oscillations of the maximum Josephson current depends on the geometry of the junction, direction of the magnetic field, and nematicity vector.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Breaking of Ginzburg-Landau description in the temperature dependence of the anisotropy in the nematic superconductor

Nematic superconductors are characterized by an apparent crystal symmetry breaking that results in the anisotropy of the in-plane upper critical magnetic field $H_{c2}$. The symmetry breaking is usually attributed to the strain of the crystal lattice. The nature and the value of the strain are debatable. We perform systematic measurements of the $H_{c2}$ anisotropy in the high-quality Sr$_x$Bi$_2$Se$_3$ single crystals in the temperature range 1.8~K$<T<T_c\approx 2.7$~K using temperature stabilization with an accuracy of 0.0001 K. We observe that in all tested samples the anisotropy is weakly temperature dependent when $T<0.8\,T_c$ and smoothly decreases at higher temperatures without any sign of singularity when $T\rightarrow T_c$. Such a behavior {is in a drastic contradiction with the prediction of} the Ginzburg-Landau theory for the nematic superconductors. We discuss possible reasons for this discrepancy.

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