arXiv subjects

Awadhesh Narayan

Publications and source records attributed to Awadhesh Narayan.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Strain-induced topological charge control in multifold fermion systems

Multifold fermion systems feature free fermionic excitations, which have no counterparts in high-energy physics, and exhibit several unconventional properties. Using first-principles calculations, we predict that strain engineering can be used to control the distribution of topological charges in transition metal silicide candidate CoSi, hosting multifold fermions. We demonstrate that breaking the rotational symmetry of the system, by choosing a suitable strain, destroys the multifold fermions, and at the same time results in the creation of Weyl points. We introduce a low energy effective model to complement the results obtained from density functional calculations. Our findings suggest that strain-engineering is a useful approach to tune topological properties of multifold fermions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Topological Properties of Bulk and Bilayer 2M WS$_2$: A First-Principles Study

Recently discovered 2M phase of bulk WS$_2$ was observed to exhibit superconductivity with a critical temperature of 8.8 K, the highest reported among superconducting transition metal dichalcogenides. Also predicted to support protected surface states, it could be a potential topological superconductor. In the present study, we perform a detailed first-principles analysis of bulk and bilayer 2M WS$_2$. We report a comprehensive investigation of the bulk phase, comparing structural and electronic properties obtained from different exchange correlation functionals to the experimentally reported values. By calculation of the $Z_2$ invariant and surface states, we give support for its non-trivial band nature. Based on the insights gained from the analysis of the bulk phase, we predict bilayer 2M WS$_2$ as a new two-dimensional topological material. We demonstrate its dynamical stability from first-principles phonon computations and present its electronic properties, highlighting the band inversions between the W $d$ and S $p$ states. By means of $Z_2$ invariant computations and a calculation of the edge states, we show that bilayer 2M WS$_2$ exhibits protected, robust edge states. The broken inversion symmetry in this newly proposed bilayer also leads to the presence of Berry curvature dipole and resulting non-linear responses. We compute the Berry curvature distribution and the dipole as a function of Fermi energy. We propose that BCD signals, which are absent in the centrosymmetric bulk 2M WS$_2$, can be signatures of the bilayer. We hope our predictions lead to the experimental realization of this as-yet-undiscovered two-dimensional topological material.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Light-driven Lifshitz transitions in non-Hermitian multi-Weyl semimetals

Non-Hermitian topological systems are the newest additions to the growing field of topological matter. In this work, we report of the light-driven exceptional physics in a multi-Weyl semi-metal. The driving is not only a key ingredient to control the position of the exceptional contours (ECs), light also has the ability to generate new ECs. Interestingly, we also demonstrate topological charge distribution and Lifshitz transition, which are controllable by the driving field in such generated ECs. Our findings present a promising platform for the manipulation and control over exceptional physics in non-Hermitian topological matter.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Non-Hermitian semi-Dirac semi-metals

Recently, many novel and exotic phases have been proposed by considering the role of topology in non-Hermitian systems, and their emergent properties are of wide current interest. In this work we propose the non-Hermitian generalization of semi-Dirac semimetals, which feature a linear dispersion along one momentum direction and a quadratic one along the other. We study the topological phase transitions in such two-dimensional semi-Dirac semimetals in the presence of a particle gain-and-loss term. We show that such a non-Hermitian term creates exceptional points originating out of each semi-Dirac point. We map out the topological phase diagram of our model, using winding number and vorticity as topological invariants of the system. By means of numerical and analytical calculations, we examine the nature of edge states for different types of semi-Dirac models and establish bulk-boundary correspondence and absence of the non-Hermitian skin effect, in one class. On the other hand, for other classes of semi-Dirac models with asymmetric hopping, we restore the non-Hermitian skin effect, an anomalous feature usually present in non-Hermitian topological systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Machine learning non-Hermitian topological phases

Non-Hermitian topological phases have gained widespread interest due to their unconventional properties, which have no Hermitian counterparts. In this work, we propose to use machine learning to identify and predict non-Hermitian topological phases, based on their winding number. We consider two examples -- non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model and its generalized version in one dimension and non-Hermitian nodal line semimetal in three dimensions -- to demonstrate the use of neural networks to accurately characterize the topological phases. We show that for the one dimensional model, a fully connected neural network gives an accuracy greater than 99.9\%, and is robust to the introduction of disorder. For the three dimensional model, we find that a convolutional neural network accurately predicts the different topological phases.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Floquet Engineering of Multifold Fermions

Using Floquet theory, we investigate the effect of light on triple fold fermions. We study a low energy model as well as a simplified tight binding model under illumination. We find that the three fold degeneracy remains symmetry protected even after applying light if the original band structure is rotationally symmetric around the degeneracy. Otherwise, light can lift the degeneracy and open up a gap. We further investigate the effect of light on the topological Fermi arcs by means of numerical computations. The changes caused by illumination are reflected in experimentally detectable signatures, such as the anomalous Hall conductivity, which we calculate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Controlling Exceptional Points with Light

We propose and show that application of light leads to an intriguing platform for controlling exceptional points in non-Hermitian topological systems. We demonstrate our proposal using three different non-Hermitian systems -- nodal line semimetals, semi-Dirac semimetals and Dirac semimetals -- and show that using illumination with light one can engineer the positions and stability of exceptional points. We illustrate the topological properties of these models and map out their light-driven topological phase transitions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Electron Condensation in a Jellium Coupled to a Finite Photonic Cavity

We describe the process of electron condensation into a localized state in a structureless jellium that is coupled to a finite cavity. It is shown that there exists a temperature T_0 below which electrons within the jellium localize. This process is driven by enhancement of correlations between the electrons that are coupled to the cavity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Edge superconductivity in Multilayer WTe2 Josephson junction

WTe2, as a type-II Weyl semimetal, has 2D Fermi arcs on the (001) surface in the bulk and 1D helical edge states in its monolayer. These features have recently attracted wide attention in condensed matter physics. However, in the intermediate regime between the bulk and monolayer, the edge states have not been resolved owing to its closed band gap which makes the bulk states dominant. Here, we report the signatures of the edge superconductivity by superconducting quantum interference measurements in multilayer WTe2 Josephson junctions and we directly map the localized supercurrent. In thick WTe2 (~60 nm), the supercurrent is uniformly distributed by bulk states with symmetric Josephson effect ($\left|I_c^+(B)\right|=\left|I_c^-(B)\right|$). In thin WTe2 (10 nm), however, the supercurrent becomes confined to the edge and its width reaches up to 1.4 um and exhibits non-symmetric behavior $\left|I_c^+(B)\right|\neq \left|I_c^-(B)\right|$. The ability to tune the edge domination by changing thickness and the edge superconductivity establishes WTe2 as a promising topological system with exotic quantum phases and a rich physics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Giant orbital polarization of Ni$^{2+}$ in square planar environment

Understanding the electronic behavior of Ni$^{2+}$ in a square planar environment of oxygen is the key to unravel the origin of the recently discovered superconductivity in the hole doped nickelate Nd$_{0.8}$Sr$_{0.2}$NiO$_2$. To identify the major similarities/dissimilarities between nickelate and cuprate superconductivity, the study of the electronic structure of Ni$^{2+}$ and Cu$^{2+}$ in an identical square planar environment is essential. In order to address these questions, we investigate the electronic structure of Sr$_2$CuO$_3$ and Ni doped Sr$_2$CuO$_3$ single crystals containing (Cu/Ni)O$_4$ square planar units. Our polarization dependent X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments for Ni in Sr$_2$Cu$_{0.9}$Ni$_{0.1}$O$_3$ have revealed very large orbital polarization, which is a characteristic feature of high $T_c$ cuprate. This arises due to the low spin $S$=0 configuration with two holes in Ni 3$d_{x^2-y^2}$ orbitals - in contrast to the expected high spin $S$=1 state from Hund's first rule. The presence of such $S$=0 Ni$^{2+}$ in hole doped nickelate would be analogous to the Zhang Rice singlet. However, the Mott Hubbard insulating nature of the NiO$_4$ unit would point towards a different electronic phase space of nickelates, compared to high $T_c$ cuprates.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Theoretical investigation of twin boundaries in WO$_3$: Structure, properties and implications for superconductivity

We present a theoretical study of the structure and functionality of ferroelastic domain walls in tungsten trioxide, WO$_3$. WO$_3$ has a rich structural phase diagram, with the stability and properties of the various structural phases strongly affected both by temperature and by electron doping. The existence of superconductivity is of particular interest, with the underlying mechanism as of now not well understood. In addition, reports of enhanced superconductivity at structural domain walls are particularly intriguing. Focusing specifically on the orthorhombic $β$ phase, we calculate the structure and properties of the domain walls both with and without electron doping. We use two theoretical approaches: Landau-Ginzburg theory, with free energies constructed from symmetry considerations and parameters extracted from our first-principles density functional calculations, and direct calculation using large-scale, GPU-enabled density functional theory. We find that the structure of the $β$-phase domain walls resembles that of the bulk tetragonal $α_1$ phase, and that the electronic charge tends to accumulate at the walls. Motivated by this finding, we perform ab initio computations of electron-phonon coupling in the bulk $α_1$ structure and extract the superconducting critical temperatures , $T_c$, within Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory. Our results provide insight into the experimentally observed unusual trend of decreasing Tc with increasing electronic charge carrier concentration.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Anomalous band renormalization due to high energy $kink$ in the colossal thermoelectric material K$_{0.65}$RhO$_2$

We report on low-energy electronic structure and electronic correlations of K$_{0.65}$RhO$_2$, studied using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) technique and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We observe a highly correlated hole pocket on the Fermi surface. We further notice that the correlations are momentum dependent. Most importantly, two $kinks$ at binding energies of 75 meV and 195 meV have been observed from the band dispersion in the vicinity of the Fermi level. While the low energy $kink$ at 75 meV can be understood as a result of the electron-phonon interaction, the presence of high energy $kink$ at 195 meV is totally a new discovery of this system leading to an anomalous band renormalization. Based on systematic analysis of our experimental data, we propose high frequency bosonic excitations as a plausible origin of the high energy anomaly. Further, we notice that the high energy anomaly has important implications in obtaining the colossal thermoelectric power of K$_{0.65}$RhO$_2$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Effect of strain and doping on the polar metal phase in LiOsO$_3$

We systematically investigate the effect of strain and doping on the polar metal phase in lithium osmate, LiOsO$_3$, using first-principles calculations. We demonstrate that the polar metal phase in LiOsO$_3$ can be controlled by biaxial strain. Based on density functional calculations, we show that a compressive biaxial strain enhances the stability of the polar $R3c$ phase. On the other hand, a tensile biaxial strain favors the centrosymmetric $R\overline{3}c$ structure. Thus, strain emerges as a promising control parameter over polar metallicity in this material. We uncover a strain-driven quantum phase transition under tensile strain, and highlight intriguing properties that could emerge in the vicinity of this polar to non-polar metal transition. We examine the effect of charge doping on the polar metal phase. By means of electrostatic doping as well as supercell calculations, we find that screening from additional charge carriers, expected to suppress the polar distortions, have only a small effect on them. Rather remarkably, and in contrast to conventional ferroelectrics, the polar metal phase in LiOsO$_3$ remains robust against charge doping up to large doping values.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Electronic Structure Studies of FeSi: A Chiral Topological System

Most recent observation of topological Fermi arcs on the surface of manyfold degenerate B20 systems, CoSi and RhSi, have attracted enormous research interests. Although an another isostructural system, FeSi, has been predicted to show bulk chiral fermions, it is yet to be clear theoretically and as well experimentally that whether FeSi possesses the topological surface Fermi arcs associated with the exotic chiral fermions in vicinity of the Fermi level. In this contribution, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT), we present the low-energy electronic structure of FeSi. We further report the surface state calculations to provide insights into the surface band structure of FeSi near the Fermi level. Unlike in CoSi or RhSi, FeSi has no topological Fermi arcs near the Fermi level as confirmed both from ARPES and surface state calculations. Further, the ARPES data show spin-orbit coupling (SOC) band splitting of 40 meV, which is in good agreement with bulk band structure calculations. We noticed an anomalous temperature dependent resistivity in FeSi which can be understood through the electron-phonon interactions as we find a Debye energy of 80 meV from the ARPES data.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Unraveling the topology of ZrTe$_5$ by changing temperature

We study the effects of temperature on the topological nature of ZrTe$_5$, which sits near the phase boundary between strong and weak topological insulating orders. Using first-principles calculations, we show that the band gap and the topological indices of ZrTe$_5$ are extremely sensitive to thermal expansion, and that the electron-phonon interaction accounts for more than a third of the total temperature-dependent effects in ZrTe$_5$. We find that the temperature dependence of the band gap has an opposite sign in the strong and weak topological insulator phases. Based on this insight, we propose a robust and unambiguous method to determine the topological nature of any given sample of ZrTe$_5$: if the band gap decreases with temperature it is a strong topological insulator, and if it increases with temperature it is a weak topological insulator. An analogous strategy is expected to be generally applicable to other materials and to become particularly important in the vicinity of topological phase boundaries where other methods provide ambiguous results.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Multiferroic Quantum Criticality

The zero-temperature limit of a continuous phase transition is marked by a quantum critical point, which can generate exotic physics that extends to elevated temperatures. Magnetic quantum criticality is now well known, and has been explored in systems ranging from heavy fermion metals to quantum Ising materials. Ferroelectric quantum critical behaviour has also been recently established, motivating a flurry of research investigating its consequences. Here, we introduce the concept of multiferroic quantum criticality, in which both magnetic and ferroelectric quantum criticality occur in the same system. We develop the phenomenology of multiferroic quantum critical behaviour, describe the associated experimental signatures, and propose material systems and schemes to realize it.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Spin-Polarized Tunneling through Chemical Vapor Deposited Multilayer Molybdenum Disulfide

The two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted widespread attention for its extraordinary electrical, optical, spin and valley related properties. Here, we report on spin polarized tunneling through chemical vapor deposited (CVD) multilayer MoS2 (~7 nm) at room temperature in a vertically fabricated spin-valve device. A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) of 0.5 - 2 % has been observed, corresponding to spin polarization of 5 - 10 % in the measured temperature range of 300 - 75 K. First principles calculations for ideal junctions results in a tunnel magnetoresistance up to 8 %, and a spin polarization of 26 %. The detailed measurements at different temperatures and bias voltages, and density functional theory calculations provide information about spin transport mechanisms in vertical multilayer MoS2 spin-valve devices. These findings form a platform for exploring spin functionalities in 2D semiconductors and understanding the basic phenomenon that control their performance.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Strain and ferroelectric soft mode induced superconductivity in strontium titanate

We investigate the effects of strain on superconductivity with particular reference to SrTiO$_3$. Assuming that a ferroelectric mode that softens under tensile strain is responsible for the coupling, an increase in the critical temperature and range of carrier densities for superconductivity is predicted, while the peak of the superconducting dome shifts towards lower carrier densities. Using a Ginzburg-Landau approach in 2D, we find a linear dependence of the critical temperature on strain: if the couplings between the order parameter and strains in different directions differ while their sum is fixed, different behaviours under uniaxial and biaxial (uniform) strain can be understood.

cond-mat.supr-con↗