arXiv subjects

Debmalya Chakraborty

Publications and source records attributed to Debmalya Chakraborty.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Breathing mode inducing dynamical pairing in Kagome materials

The breathing mode in Kagome materials is a structural modulation that breaks inversion symmetry and has been shown to be a crucial source for intriguing phases in the normal state. In this work, we carry out a full classification of superconducting symmetries in kagome superconductors and demonstrate the emergence of odd-frequency dynamical Cooper pairs entirely driven by the breathing mode. We then show that odd-frequency spin-singlet Cooper pairs can be realized by controlling the breathing mode in kagome lattices with conventional spin-singlet $s$-wave superconductivity. Since odd-frequency pairing is intrinsically nonlocal in time, our results put forward the breathing mode for designing dynamical Cooper pairs in kagome materials.

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arXiv2026

Boosting superconductivity in ultrathin YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$ films via nanofaceted substrates

In cuprate high-temperature superconductors the doping level is fixed during synthesis, hence the charge carrier density per CuO$_2$ plane cannot be easily tuned by conventional gating, unlike in 2D materials. Strain engineering has recently emerged as a powerful tuning knob for manipulating the properties of cuprates, in particular charge and spin orders, and their delicate interplay with superconductivity. In thin films, additional tunability can be introduced by the substrate surface morphology, particularly nanofacets formed by substrate surface reconstruction. Here we show a remarkable enhancement of the superconducting onset temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}^{\mathrm{on}}$ and the upper critical magnetic field $H_{c,2}$ in nanometer-thin YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$ films grown on a substrate with a nanofaceted surface. We theoretically show that the enhancement is driven by electronic nematicity and unidirectional charge density waves, where both elements are captured by an additional effective potential at the interface between the film and the uniquely textured substrate. Our findings show a new paradigm in which substrate engineering can effectively enhance the superconducting properties of cuprates. This approach opens an exciting frontier in the design and optimization of high-performance superconducting materials.

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arXiv2025

Conditions for orbital selective altermagnetism in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$: tight binding model, similarities with cuprates and implications on superconductivity

The vibrational modes in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ easily induce octahedral rotations without tilting. Being on the verge of a magnetic instability, such propensity of octahedral rotation may also produce magnetic fluctuations. In this work, we analyze the long-range magnetic phase diagram incorporating such octahedral rotations and demonstrate the possibility of an altermagnetic phase in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. Using ab-initio calculations, we first study single layer Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ with octahedral rotations, obtaining an orbital-selective $g$-wave altermagnetic phase. We further provide an effective $t_{2g}$ tight-binding model, demonstrating that the $g$-wave altermagnetism is primarily a product of second and third nearest neighbor interorbital hybridizations between the $γz$ ($γ=x,y$) orbitals, but only a much longer range intraorbital hybridization in the $xy$ orbitals, establishing a strong orbital-selectiveness for the altermagnetism. Notably, by replacing the $xy$ orbital with the $x^2-y^2$ orbital, a similar tight-biding model may be used to investigate the hole-doped cuprate superconductors. We then study bulk Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, where we find the altermagnetic phase as the magnetic ground state for a range of finite octahedral rotations. In the bulk, interlayer hopping breaks some of the symmetries of the $g$-wave altermagnet, resulting in a $d_{xy}$-wave altermagnet, still with orbital selectiveness. We also include relativistic effects through spin-orbit coupling and obtain that an effective staggered Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction generates weak ferromagnetism. Finally, we discuss the implications of the altermagnetic order on the intrinsic superconductivity of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. Assuming in-plane and intraorbital pairing, the altermagnetism favors spin-singlet $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave or $g$-wave pairing, or (nematic or chiral) combinations thereof.

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arXiv2025

Out-of-plane bond-order phase, superconductivity, and their competition in the $t$-$J_\parallel$-$J_\perp$ model: Possible implications for bilayer nickelates

Almost four decades of intense research have been invested to study the physics of high-T$_c$ cuprate superconductors. The recent discovery of high-T$_c$ superconductivity in pressurized bilayer nickelates and its potential similarities with cuprate superconductors may open a new window to understand this long-standing problem. We have studied the proposed bilayer $t$-$J_\parallel$-$J_\perp$ model [where $J_\parallel$ ($J_\perp$) is the in-plane (out-of-plane) magnetic exchange] in a large-$N$ approach on the basis of the path integral representation for Hubbard operators, which allows to obtain results at mean-field and beyond mean-field level. We find that $J_\perp$ is a candidate for triggering high superconducting $T_c$ values at quarter filling (hole doping $δ=0.5$) of the $d_{x^2-y^2}$ orbitals. Beyond mean-field level, we find a new phase, an out-of-plane bond-order phase (z-BOP), triggered also by $J_\perp$. z-BOP develops below a critical temperature which decreases with increasing doping and vanishes at a quantum critical point below quarter filling. The occurrence of this phase and its competition with superconductivity leads to a superconducting dome-shaped behavior as a function of doping and as a function of $J_\perp$. Qualitative comparisons with the physics of cuprates and the recent literature on the new pressurized nickelates are given along the paper.

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arXiv2024

Perfect superconducting diode effect in altermagnets

We investigate intrinsic superconducting diode effect in the unconventional superconducting state of $d$-wave altermagnets. We find large diode efficiencies in the wide-reaching finite-momentum pairing regimes of the phase diagram. Remarkably, even perfect diode efficiency of 100% can be obtained in the presence of an external magnetic field. We attribute the largest efficiencies to competition between multiple zero-momentum (BCS) and finite-momentum superconducting states, which is connected to a topological nodal-to-nodeless transition in altermagnets with magnetic field, making our results applicable to a wide range of altermagnets.

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arXiv2024

Constraints on superconducting pairing in altermagnets

Superconductivity in the recently discovered altermagnetic materials hosts large prospects for both fundamental physics and technological applications. In this work we show that a characteristic spin-sublattice locking in altermagnets puts severe constraints on possible superconducting pairing. In particular, we uncover that the most common form of superconductivity, uniform $s$-wave spin-singlet pairing is not possible to achieve in altermagnets. Considering an effective model for a $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave altermagnet on a square lattice, we instead find that the most likely forms of spin-singlet pairing have $d_{x^2-y^2}$- or extended $s$-wave symmetry. We also find that the simplest form of equal-spin-triplet $p$-wave pairing is not allowed, but it can only exist as a mixed-spin-triplet $p$-wave state. We verify these constraints on pairing within an interaction-induced model of altermagnetism, where we also establish their validity for finite-momentum pairing. Additionally we discuss the possible pairing symmetries for odd-frequency superconducting pairing. Due to the generality of our results, they are applicable to both intrinsic superconductivity and proximity-induced superconductivity in altermagnet-superconductor hybrid junctions.

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arXiv2024

Interaction-driven first-order and higher-order topological superconductivity

We investigate topological superconductivity in the Rashba-Hubbard model, describing heavy-atom superlattice and van der Waals materials with broken inversion. We focus in particular on fillings close to the van Hove singularities, where a large density of states enhances the superconducting transition temperature. To determine the topology of the superconducting gaps and to analyze the stability of their surface states in the presence of disorder and residual interactions, we employ an fRG+MFT approach, which combines the unbiased functional renormalization group (fRG) with a real-space mean-field theory (MFT). Our approach uncovers a cascade of topological superconducting states, including $A_1$ and $B_1$ pairings, whose wave functions are of dominant $p$- and $d$-wave character, respectively, as well as a time-reversal breaking $A_1 + i B_1$ pairing. While the $A_1$ and $B_1$ states have first order topology with helical and flat-band Majorana edge states, respectively, the $A_1 + i B_1$ pairing exhibits second-order topology with Majorana corner modes. We investigate the disorder stability of the bulk superconducting states, analyze interaction-induced instabilites of the edge states, and discuss implications for experimental systems.

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arXiv2024

Zero-field finite-momentum and field-induced superconductivity in altermagnets

We explore the possibilities for spin-singlet superconductivity in newly discovered altermagnets. Investigating $d$-wave altermagnets, we show that finite-momentum superconductivity can easily emerge in altermagnets even though they have no net magnetization, when the superconducting order parameter also has $d$-wave symmetry with nodes coinciding with the altermagnet nodes. Additionally, we find a rich phase diagram when both altermagnetism and an external magnetic field are considered, including superconductivity appearing at high magnetic fields from a parent zero-field normal state.

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arXiv2024

Crossover between electron-electron and electron-phonon mediated pairing on the Kagome lattice

We study electron-electron and electron-phonon mediated pairing in the Holstein extended Hubbard model on the Kagome lattice near the van Hove fillings, and investigate their combined effects on electron pairing states. We find that their combination can promote exotic pairings in a crossover region, where the filling is close to a van Hove singularity. In particular, at the $p$-type van Hove filling the $E_{1u}$ ($p$-wave) and $B_{2u}$ ($f_{y^3-3yx^2}$-wave) pairings become leading, and at the $m$-type van Hove filling the $E_{1u}$ and $A_{2g}$ ($i$-wave) pairings get promoted. Moreover, we show that the electron-phonon interaction acquires a significant momentum dependence, due to the sublattice texture of the Fermi surfaces, which can promote non $s$-wave pairing. We present a detailed analysis of these pairing propensities and discuss implications for the vanadium-based kagome superconductors AV$_3$Sb$_5$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Disorder-robust phase crystal in high-temperature superconductors stabilized by strong correlations

The simultaneous interplay of strong electron-electron correlations, topological zero-energy states, and disorder is yet an unexplored territory but of immense interest due to their inevitable presence in many materials. Copper oxide high-temperature superconductors (cuprates) with pair breaking edges host a flat band of topological zero-energy states, making them an ideal playground where strong correlations, topology, and disorder are strongly intertwined. Here we show that this interplay in cuprates generates a new phase of matter: a fully gapped ``phase crystal" state that breaks both translational and time-reversal invariance, characterized by a modulation of the $d$-wave superconducting phase co-existing with a modulating extended $s$-wave superconducting order. In contrast to conventional wisdom, we find that this phase crystal state is remarkably robust to omnipresent disorder, but only in the presence of strong correlations, thus giving a clear route to its experimental realization.

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arXiv2023

Interplay of finite-energy and finite-momentum superconducting pairing

Understanding the nature of Cooper pairs is essential to describe the properties of superconductors. The original proposal of Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer (BCS) was based on electrons pairing with same energy and zero center-of-mass momentum. With the advent of new superconductors, different forms of pairing have been discussed. In particular, Cooper pairs with finite center-of-mass momentum have received large interest. Along with such finite-momentum pairs, pairing of electrons at different energies is also central to understanding some superconductors. Here, we investigate the interplay of finite-momentum and finite-energy Cooper pairs considering two different systems: a conventional $s$-wave superconductor under applied magnetic field and a $d$-wave finite-momentum pairing state in the absence of magnetic field relevant to correlated superconductors. Investigating both these systems, we find finite-energy pairs persisting independently of finite-momentum pairing, and that they lead to odd-frequency superconducting correlations. We contrast this finding by showing that the even-frequency correlations are predominantly driven by zero-energy pairs for most frequencies. We further calculate the Meissner effect and find that odd-frequency correlations are essential for correctly describing the Meissner effect.

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arXiv2023

Quasiparticle interference as a direct experimental probe of bulk odd-frequency superconducting pairing

We show that quasiparticle interference (QPI) due to omnipresent weak impurities and probed by Fourier transform scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy acts as a direct experimental probe of bulk odd-frequency superconducting pairing. Taking the example of a conventional $s$-wave superconductor under applied magnetic field, we show that the nature of the QPI peaks can only be characterized by including the odd-frequency pairing correlations generated in this system. In particular, we identify that the defining feature of odd-frequency pairing gives rise to a bias asymmetry in the QPI, present generically in materials with odd-frequency pairing irrespective of its origin.

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arXiv2021

Odd-frequency pair density wave correlations in underdoped cuprates

Pair density waves, identified by Cooper pairs with finite center-of-mass momentum, have recently been observed in copper oxide based high T$_\textrm{c}$ superconductors (cuprates). A charge density modulation or wave is also ubiquitously found in underdoped cuprates. Within a general mean-field one-band model we show that the coexistence of charge density waves and uniform superconductivity in $d$-wave superconductors like cuprates, generates an odd-frequency spin-singlet pair density wave, in addition to the even-frequency counterparts. The strength of the induced odd-frequency pair density wave depends on the modulation wave vector of the charge density wave, with the odd-frequency pair density waves even becoming comparable to the even-frequency ones in parts of the Brillouin zone. We show that a change in the modulation wave vector of the charge density wave from bi-axial to uni-axial, can enhance the odd-frequency component of the pair density waves. Such a coexistence of superconductivity and uni-axial charge density wave has already been experimentally verified at high magnetic fields in underdoped cuprates. We further discuss the possibility of an odd-frequency spin-triplet pair density wave generated in the coexistence regime of superconductivity and spin density waves, applicable to the iron-based superconductors. Our work thus presents a route to bulk odd-frequency superconductivity in high T$_c$ superconductors.

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arXiv2020

Electronic spectral function in fractionalized Pair Density Wave scenario

Studies of the electronic spectral function in cuprates by Angle-Resolved Photo-Emission Spectroscopy reveal unusual features in the pseudogap phase that persist in the superconducting phase. We address here these observations based on the recently proposed idea that the pseudogap is due to the fractionalization of modulated particle-particle pairs (a Pair Density Wave) into uniform particle-particle and modulated particle-hole pairs. The constraint that appears between these two types of pairs can be seen has an amplitude for the pseudogap energy scale. This constraint directly modify the electronic spectral function in the pseudogap phase. We derive a self-consistent equation for the pseudogap amplitude and show that it leads to the formation of Fermi arcs. The band dispersion obtained in the anti-nodal region is in good agreement with experimental ARPES observations in Pb$_{0.55}$Bi$_{1.5}$Sr$_{1.6}$La$_{0.4}$CuO$_{6+δ}$ (Bi2201) and present a back-bending that goes to the Fermi level as we go away from the antinodal region. We also discuss the temperature dependence of the ARPES spectrum in the pseudogap and in the superconducting state.

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arXiv2019

Incipient loop current order in the under-doped cuprate superconductors

There are growing experimental evidence which indicate discrete symmetry breaking like time-reversal ($\mathcal{T}$), parity ($\mathcal{P}$) and C$_{4}$ lattice rotation in the pseudo-gap state of the under-doped copper-oxide based (cuprate) superconductors. The discrete symmetry breaking manifests a true phase transition to an ordered state. A detailed thermodynamic understanding of these orders can answer various puzzles related to the nature of the transition at the pseudo-gap temperature T$^*$. In this work, we investigate thermodynamic signature of $\mathcal{T-P}$ symmetry breaking considering superconductivity (SC) and bond-density wave (BDW) as two primary orders. The BDW can generate both modulating charge and current densities. This framework takes into account an intricate competition between the ubiquitous charge density wave and SC, which is prominent in various cuprates in the under-doped regime. We demonstrate that within mean-field approach of competing BDW and SC orders, a $\mathcal{T-P}$ breaking ground state of coexisting BDW and SC can be stabilized, provided the BDW itself breaks $\mathcal{T}-\mathcal{P}$. But this ground state ceases to occur at higher temperatures. However, we show that fluctuations in SC and BDW can drive emergence of a new unusual translational symmetry preserving order due to a preemptive phase transition by spontaneously breaking $\mathcal{T-P}$ at a higher temperature before the primary orders set in. We refer this order to be magneto-electric loop current (MELC) order. We present possible nature of phase transition for this new incipient MELC order and discuss some experimental relevance.

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arXiv2019

Fractionalizing a local pair density wave: a good "recipe" for opening a pseudo-gap

We give a concise version of a recently proposed concept of fractionalization of an order parameter, thus generating a constraint through a fictitious gauge field. We argue that this new line of approach is key to explain the longstanding mystery of the pseudo-gap phase in cuprate superconductors. For example, the fractionalization of a finite momentum, charge two state living on latice bonds -- also called Pair Density Wave, into a particle-particle and a particle-hole pair leads to the opening of a gap in the fermionic spectrum. It induces "phase-locking" between the particle-particle and particle-hole pairs. We describe the formation of the Fermi arcs in the spectrum and give an account of recent Raman spectroscopy results from a minimal microscopic model. We relate the "phase-locking" to intriguing STM experimental observations.

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arXiv2019

Collective mode in the SU(2) theory of cuprates

Recent advances in momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (MEELS) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) now allow one to access the charge response function with unprecedented versatility and accuracy. This allows for the study of excitations which were inaccessible recently, such as low-energy and finite momentum collective modes. The SU(2) theory of the cuprates is based on a composite order parameter with SU(2) symmetry fluctuating between superconductivity and charge order. The phase where it fluctuates is a candidate for the pseudogap phase of the cuprates. This theory has a signature, enabling its strict experimental test, which is the fluctuation between these two orders, corresponding to a charge 2 spin 0 mode at the charge ordering wave-vector. Here we derive the influence of this SU(2) collective mode on the charge susceptibility in both strong and weak coupling limits, and discuss its relation to MEELS, RIXS and Raman experiments. We find two peaks in the charge susceptibility at finite energy, whose middle is the charge ordering wave-vector, and discuss their evolution in the phase diagram.

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arXiv2018

Pseudo-spin Skyrmions in the Phase Diagram of Cuprate Superconductors

Topological states of matter are at the root of some of the most fascinating phenomena in condensed matter physics. Here we argue that skyrmions in the pseudo-spin space related to an emerging SU(2) symmetry enlighten many mysterious properties of the pseudogap phase in under-doped cuprates. We detail the role of the SU(2) symmetry in controlling the phase diagram of the cuprates, in particular how a cascade of phase transitions explains the arising of the pseudogap, superconducting and charge modulation phases seen at low temperature. We specify the structure of the charge modulations inside the vortex core below $T_{c}$, as well as in a wide temperature region above $T_{c}$, which is a signature of the skyrmion topological structure. We argue that the underlying SU(2) symmetry is the main structure controlling the emergent complexity of excitations at the pseudogap scale $T^{*}$. The theory yields a gapping of a large part of the anti-nodal region of the Brillouin zone, along with $q=0$ phase transitions, of both nematic and loop currents characters.

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