arXiv subjects

Alexander Balatsky

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Balatsky.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Induction of p-wave and d-wave order parameters in s-wave superconductors with light pulses

We construct a generalized time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model to demonstrate the possibility of inducing p- and d-wave components in an originally pure s-wave centrosymmetric superconductor via microwave radiation. In this framework, specializing to $O_h$ point-group symmetry, we introduce gradient terms that couple the s-wave superconducting order parameter with other symmetry-allowed components. The singlet-to-singlet gradient terms are quadratic in spatial derivatives, while, in the presence of spin-orbit coupling, linear-in-derivatives terms coupling singlet and triplet order parameters are also permitted. Through the minimal substitution procedure, these terms enable coupling between different superconducting order parameters via the vector potential, thereby leading to the generation of p-wave, d-wave, and other symmetry-allowed components. Such a manipulation of the superconducting state locally via a microwave beam could be considered as one more facet of the concept of quantum printing.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Light induced Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in Superconducting Films

We report a light-driven non-equilibrium vortex Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition in a superconductor. We use a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model to demonstrate vortex-antivortex deconfinement via light induced fields. The transformation occurs independently of thermal fluctuations and is viewed as a quantum phase transition. The resulting phase map mirrors QCD phase diagram, delineating confined, premelted, and fully deconfined vortex phases. The nature of these phases is discussed. Transitions between phases are governed by light induced depairing and phase fluctuations, establishing a new class of light-induced topological transitions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Thermoelectric AC Josephson effect

A temperature gradient ${\Delta}T$ across a Josephson junction induces a thermoelectric current. We predict the AC Josephson effect is activated when this current surpasses the junction's critical current. Our investigation of this phenomenon employs the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory framework in proximity to the critical temperature. Our results indicate that the frequency of the AC current is approximately given by ${\pi} S {\Delta} T / (2 {\Phi}_0)$, where $S$ represents the Seebeck coefficient and ${\Phi}_0$ the magnetic flux quantum and we estimate the frequency be on the range of GHz for Sn up to a THz for larger $S$ and $T_c$ materials. Furthermore, we propose two distinct experimental configurations to observe this effect.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Structured light and induced vorticity in superconductors II: Quantum Print with Laguerre-Gaussian beam

Challenge to control the quantum states of matter via light have been at the forefront of modern research on driven quantum matter. We explore the imprinting effects of structured light on superconductors, demonstrating how the quantum numbers of light-specifically spin angular momentum, orbital angular momentum, and radial order-can be transferred to the superconducting order parameter and control vortex dynamics. Using Laguerre-Gaussian beams, we show that by tuning the quantum numbers and the amplitude of the electric field, it is possible to manipulate a variety of vortex behaviors, including breathing vortex pairs, braiding vortex pairs, vortex droplets, supervortices, and swirling 2D vortex rings. More complex structure of vortex-clusters, such as vortex-flake structures, and standing wave motions, also emerge under specific quantum numbers. These results demonstrate the ability to control SC vortex motion and phase structures through structured light, offering potential applications in quantum fluids and optical control of superconducting states. Our findings present a diagram that links light's quantum numbers to the resulting SC vortex behaviors, highlighting the capacity of light to transfer its symmetry onto superconducting condensates. We point that this approach represents the extension of the printing to quantum printing by light in a coherent state of electrons.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Structured light and induced vorticity in superconductors I: Linearly polarized light

We propose an approach to use linearly polarized light to imprint superconducting vortices. Within the framework of the generalized time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations we demonstrate the induction of the coherent vortex pairs that are moving in phase with electormagnetic wave oscillations. The overall vorticity of the superconductor remain zero throughout the cycle. Our results uncover rich multiscale dynamics of SC vorticity and suggest new optical applications for various types of structured light. In departure from classical laser printing, the laser printing proposed here can be viewed as quantum print where we induce quantum excitations in the SC liquid.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Laguerre-Gaussian light induction of orbital currents and Kapitza stabilization in superconducting circuits

We investigate the effects of a Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam on the superconducting state. We show that the vortex angular momentum of a LG beam affects the superconducting state and induces currents. The induction of the current by light is illustrated on a Josephson loop and SQUID devices. In particular, we establish that coupling a dc SQUID to the AC magnetic flux of a LG beam can stabilize pi phase in the SQUID. This can happen via developing a global or local minimum in the effective potential at pi. In the latter case, this happens via the Kapitza mechanism.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Two-tone spectroscopy for the detection of two-level systems in superconducting qubits

Two-level systems (TLS) of unclear physical origin are a major contributor to decoherence in superconducting qubits. The interactions of individual TLS with a qubit can be detected via various spectroscopic methods, most of which have relied on the tunability of the qubit frequency. We propose a novel method that requires only a microwave drive and dispersive readout, and thus also works fixed-frequency qubits. The proposed two-tone spectroscopy involves a microwave pulse of varying frequency and length to excite TLSs of unknown frequencies, followed by a second pulse at the qubit frequency. TLS parameters can be estimated from the qubit population as a function of the first pulse frequency and length.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Comment on "Axion-matter coupling in multiferroics"

A previous publication [H. S. Roising et al., Phys. Rev. Research 3, 033236 (2021)] involving the current authors pointed out a coupling between dark matter axions and ferroic orders in multiferroics. In this comment we argue that using this coupling for dark matter sensing is likely not feasible for the material class we considered, with present-day technologies and level of materials synthesis. The proposed effect (for QCD axions) is small and is overwhelmed by thermal noise. This finding means that likely materials for the proposed detection scheme would need to be found with significantly lower magnetic ordering temperatures.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Multiband condensate of magnons in two dimensions

Wavelike bosonic particles can accumulate in a single mode characterized by a particular wavelength, and such condensates are at the heart of phenomena such as superconductivity and superfluidity where usually a single complex number describes their state. If there are several flavors of excitations or particles, a vector containing several complex numbers can characterize multicomponent condensation, thus opening new possibilities for textures, dynamics, and devices. Thus far, multicomponent condensates have long represented a rewarding subfield of cold atom physics, as well as a theme for research on exotic superconductors where the constituent bosons are not atoms but electron pairs. Here we consider the case where the bosons are magnons (collective spin excitations), injected by microwaves into high-quality yttrium iron garnet (YIG) crystals. Recent advances in fabrication yield thin (128 nm) films of sufficiently high quality to display multiple magnon bands quantized along the film normal. Microwave pumping can populate these bands, providing a new two-dimensional multiband condensate optimized in a narrow range of powers and frequencies due to a four-magnon scattering resonance. We establish a phase diagram for this magnonic system, reminiscent of that for exotic superconductors, revealing both single and multiband condensation.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Dark Sound

We discuss the axion dark matter (DM) condensate and the consequences the interactions of dark matter would have on the spectrum of collective modes. We find that DM self-interactions change the spectrum of excitations from a quadratic to a linear-like dispersion with velocity $v_s$ which is set by the interactions, but dominated by gravity. For typical DM densities and interactions we find $v_s \sim 10^{-12}c$. This sound-like mode corresponds to DM density oscillations just like in any other Bose liquid, hence we call it {\em Dark Sound} (DS). The DS mode is well defined and describes stable density oscillations at intermediate length scales $k \geq k_{\text{min}} \sim 10^{4}\mathrm{lyr^{-1}}$. In the extreme long wavelength limit gravity dominates and leads to Jeans instability of the sound mode at the scale of clump formation $ k \leq k_{\text{min}}$. We also discuss the possible observable consequences of the DS, including quantized DS modes inside clumps, their characteristic energy, and noise features that might facilitate the observation of DM.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Classification of superconducting orders in nonhermitian systems

We have investigated the effects of nonhermiticity on superconducting states. We have shown the definition of the time-ordered product in the Green's function requires the introduction of a bi-orthogonal basis in nonhermitian systems. This modification allows a classification scheme of nonhermitian superconductors with new classes of states not present in hermitian systems. Furthermore, we have discussed the density of state profiles and signatures in spin susceptibility measurements for different nonhermitian superconducting orders using the simplest case of BCS superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Transient Hot Electron Dynamics in Single-Layer TaS$_2$

Using time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we study the response of metallic single layer TaS$_2$ in the 1H structural modification to the generation of excited carriers by a femtosecond laser pulse. A complex interplay of band structure modifications and electronic temperature increase is observed and analyzed by direct fits of model spectral functions to the two-dimensional (energy and $k$-dependent) photoemission data. Upon excitation, the partially occupied valence band is found to shift to higher binding energies by up to 150 meV, accompanied by electronic temperatures exceeding 3000~K. These observations are explained by a combination of temperature-induced shifts of the chemical potential, as well as temperature-induced changes in static screening. Both contributions are evaluated in a semi-empirical tight-binding model. The shift resulting from a change in the chemical potential is found to be dominant.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Dual nature of magnetic dopants and competing trends in topological insulators

Topological insulators interacting with magnetic impurities have been reported to host several unconventional effects. These phenomena are described within the framework of gapping Dirac quasiparticles due to broken time-reversal symmetry. However, the overwhelming majority of studies demonstrate the presence of a finite density of states near the Dirac point even once Topological insulators become magnetic. Here, we map the response of topological states to magnetic impurities at the atomic scale. We demonstrate that magnetic order and gapless states can coexist. We show how this is the result of the delicate balance between two opposite trends, i.e. gap opening and emergence of a Dirac node impurity band, both induced by the magnetic dopants. Our results evidence a more intricate and rich scenario with respect to the once generally assumed, showing how different electronic and magnetic states may be generated and controlled in this fascinating class of materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Classical and quantum temperature fluctuations via holography

We study local temperature fluctuations in a 2+1 dimensional CFT on the sphere, dual to a black hole in asymptotically AdS spacetime. The fluctuation spectrum is governed by the lowest-lying hydrodynamic modes of the system whose frequency and damping rate determine whether temperature fluctuations are thermal or quantum. We calculate numerically the corresponding quasinormal frequencies and match the result with the hydrodynamics of the dual CFT at large temperature. As a by-product of our analysis we determine the appropriate boundary conditions for calculating low-lying quasinormal modes for a four-dimensional Reissner-Nordström black hole in global AdS.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Josephson coupling between superconducting islands on single and bilayer graphene

We study the Josephson coupling of superconducting (SC) islands through the surface of single-layer (SLG) and bilayer (BLG) graphene, as a function of distance between the grains, temperature, chemical potential and external (transverse) gate-voltage. For SLG, we provide a comparison with existing literature. The proximity effect is analyzed through a Matsubara Green function approach. This represents the first step in a discussion of the conditions for the onset of a granular superconductivity within the film, made possible by Josephson currents flowing between superconductors. To ensure phase coherence over the 2D sample, a random spatial distribution can be assumed for the SC islands on the SLG sheet (or intercalating the BLG sheets). The tunable gate-voltage-induced band gap of BLG affects the asymptotic decay of the Josephson coupling-distance characteristic for each pair of SC islands in the sample, which results in the end in a qualitatively strong field-dependence of the relation between Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition critical temperature and gate-voltage.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

The macroscopic monopolization in diagonal magnetoelectrics

We develop the formalism of the macroscopic monopolization -- that is the monopole moment per unit volume -- in periodic solids, and discuss its relationship to the diagonal magnetoelectric effect. For the series of lithium transition metal phosphate compounds we use first-principles density functional theory to calculate the contributions to the macroscopic monopolization from the global distribution of magnetic moments within the unit cell, as well as from the distribution of magnetization around the atomic sites. We find one example within the series (LiMnPO$_4$) that shows a macroscopic monopolization corresponding to a ferromonopolar ordering consistent with its diagonal magnetoelectric response. The other members of the series (LiMPO$_4$, with M = Co, Fe and Ni) have zero net monopolization but have antiferromonopolar orderings that should lead to $q$-dependent diagonal magnetoelectric effects

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Optimization of the design of superconducting inhomogeneous nanowires

We study optimization of superconducting properties of inhomogeneous nanowires. The main goal of this research is to find an optimized geometry that allows one to maximize the desired property of superconductors, such as the maximum value of local superconducting gap or total condensation energy. We consider axially symmetric design of multi-layered nanowires with possibility to adjust and change the layers thickness. We use numerical solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations to obtain the local superconducting gap for different arrangements of the inhomogeneous structures. The value of the optimized properties can be up to 300% greater compared to a non-optimized geometry. The optimized configuration of multilayers strongly depends on the desired property one wants to optimize and on the number of layers in the nanowire.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Optimal control of electromagnetic field using metallic nanoclusters

The dielectric properties of metallic nanoclusters in the presence of an applied electromagnetic field are investigated using non-local linear response theory. In the quantum limit we find a non-trivial dependence of the induced field and charge distribution on the spatial separation between the clusters and on the frequency of the driving field. Using a genetic algorithm, these quantum functionalities are exploited to custom-design sub-wavelength lenses with a frequency controlled switching capability.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗