arXiv subjects

Frédéric Piéchon

Publications and source records attributed to Frédéric Piéchon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Theory of local orbital magnetization: local Berry curvature

We develop a thermodynamic theory of local orbital magnetization based on a perturbative expansion of the magnetic-field-dependent local density of states. Applicable to periodic crystals, finite systems with open boundaries, and ribbons alike, the formalism resolves orbital magnetic textures at the sublattice scale. It further reveals a previously unidentified local Berry curvature that captures the magnetic-field-induced redistribution of electronic weight in real space. We establish the consistency of the theory across geometries, identify orbital ferro-, antiferro-, and ferrimagnetic phases in both topological and trivial insulators, and demonstrate that the local Berry curvature provides a bulk description of topology in finite systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Local spin magnetization in itinerant non-collinear magnets: The local spin Berry curvature

Conventionally, the local spin magnetization in itinerant magnets is determined from the equilibrium local spin density. Here, we propose a thermodynamic approach in which the local spin magnetization is defined from the response of the system to an infinitesimal external magnetic field. The predictions of the two theories are identical for collinear magnets, but differ qualitatively and quantitatively for non-collinear magnets. In the present thermodynamic approach, the spin coherences determine an alternative distribution of local spin magnetization due to the field-induced deformation of the energy eigenstates. This effect is captured by a Berry-curvature-like contribution reminiscent of orbital magnetization and has several distinct observable consequences. We explore the differences between the conventional and thermodynamic approaches in several test cases.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Quantum geometric scattering of a Dirac particle by a Berry curvature domain wall

We investigate the scattering of a three-dimensional massless Dirac particle through a domain wall separating two regions with identical energy spectra but distinct Berry curvature dipoles. We demonstrate that the quantum geometric mismatch induces partial reflection and transmission despite identical incident and refracted momenta. These results highlight the role of engineered quantum geometric interfaces as key tools to control Dirac particle scattering.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Scattering of a Dirac particle by a Berry phase domain wall

Massless Dirac particles are characterized by an effective pseudospin-momentum locking, which is the origin of the peculiar scattering properties of Dirac particles through potential barriers. This pseudospin-momentum locking also governs the quantum geometric properties (such as the Berry phase and Berry curvature) of Dirac particles. In the present work, we demonstrate that a domain wall separating two regions with distinct quantum geometric properties can serve as an alternative to potential barriers. Specifically, using the three-band $α-T_3$ model of two-dimensional Dirac particles, we show that a Berry phase domain wall results in partial reflection and transmission of the Dirac particles, despite the fact that the incident and refracted momenta are identical.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Massless multifold Hopf semimetals

Three-dimensional topological semimetals exhibit linear energy band crossing points that act as monopoles of Berry curvature. Here, an alternative class of semimetals is introduced, featuring linear $N$-fold crossing points each of which acts as a source of a \emph{Berry dipole}. We construct continuum and lattice models for such \emph{massless multifold Hopf semimetals (MMHSs)} with $N=3,4,5$ bands and study nontrivial effects of a Berry dipole crossing: (i) A Landau level spectrum that is strongly tunable by the orientation of the magnetic field relative to the dipole axis. (ii) An anomalous Hall conductivity that is an odd function of the Fermi level. (iii) Weak-field dissipative magnetoconductivities that resemble the chiral anomaly, chiral magnetic and magnetochiral effects familiar from a pair of coupled Weyl nodes, but that are even functions of the Fermi level. By gapping out MMHSs, multiband Hopf insulators with Hopf numbers as high as $\mathcal{N}_\text{Hopf}=10$ are obtained, providing a fertile playground to explore delicate topology.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Experimental Observation of Multifractality in Fibonacci Chains

The tight-binding model for a chain, where the hopping constants follow a Fibonacci sequence, predicts multifractality in the spectrum and wavefunctions. Experimentally, we realize this model by chains of small dielectric resonators with high refractive index ($ε_r \approx 45$) of cylindrical form that exhibit evanescent coupling. We show that the fractality of the measured local density of state (LDOS) is best understood when the sites are rearranged according to the similarities in their local surrounding, i.e., their conumbers. This allows us to deduce simple recursive construction schemes for the LDOS for the two cases of dominant strong and weak coupling, despite our limited resolution due to non-zero resonance width and size constraints. We measure the singularity spectrum and the fractal dimensions of the wavefunctions and find good agreement with theoretical predictions for the multifractality based on a perturbative description in the quasiperiodic limit.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2023

Non-Lifshitz invariants corrections to Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction energy

We study the continuum limit of two-dimensional chiral magnets in which Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) is due to the interplay between a smooth magnetic texture and spin-orbit coupling. The resulting free-energy density of the system contains linear terms in the spatial gradient of the magnetic texture, which mark an instability of the system towards the formation of nontrivial magnetic orders such as skyrmions or chiral domain walls. We perform a microscopic analysis of DMI tensors responsible for this contribution to free energy based on a Berry phase formulation in the mixed space of momentum and position, and reveal that they exhibit non-Lifshitz invariants features. In particular, a perturbation theory shows in the case of Rashba spin-orbit interactions the presence of non-Lifshitz invariants to third order in the small spin-orbit interaction and fourth order in the small exchange coupling. The higher-order terms may even lead to an enhancement of DMI interaction at strong spin-orbit coupling due to divergences in the density of states at the bottom of the conduction band. Finally, we also study the DMI free energy generated from Rashba spin-orbit interaction in different symmetry groups.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Stacking-induced Chern insulator

Graphene can be turned into a semimetal with broken time-reversal symmetry by adding a valley-dependent pseudo-scalar potential that shifts the Dirac point energies in opposite directions, as in the modified Haldane model. We consider a bilayer obtained by stacking two time-reversed copies of the modified Haldane model, where conduction and valence bands cross to give rise to a nodal line in each valleys. In the AB stacking, the interlayer hopping lifts the degeneracy of the nodal lines and induces a band repulsion, leading surprisingly to a chiral insulator with a Chern number $C=\pm2$. As a consequence a pair of chiral edge states appears at the boundaries of the ribbon bilayer geometry. In contrast, the AA stacking does not show nontrivial topological phases. We discuss possible experimental implementations of our results.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Designing flat-band tight-binding models with tunable multifold band touching points

Being dispersionless, flat bands on periodic lattices are solely characterized by their macroscopically degenerate eigenstates: compact localized states (CLSs) in real space and Bloch states in reciprocal space. Based on this property, this work presents a straightforward method to build flat-band tight-binding models with short-range hoppings \emph{on any periodic lattice}. The method consists in starting from a CLS and engineering families of Bloch Hamiltonians as quadratic (or linear) functions of the associated Bloch state. The resulting tight-binding models not only exhibit a flat band, but also multifold quadratic (or linear) band touching points (BTPs) whose number, location, and degeneracy can be controlled to a large extent. Quadratic flat-band models are ubiquitous: they can be built from any arbitrary CLS, on any lattice, in any dimension and with any number $N\geq2$ of bands. Linear flat-band models are rarer: they require $N\geq3$ and can only be built from CLSs that fulfill certain compatibility relations with the underlying lattice. Most flat-band models from the literature can be classified according to this scheme: Mielke's and Tasaki's models belong to the quadratic class, while the Lieb, dice and breathing Kagome models belong to the linear class. Many novel flat-band models are introduced, among which an $N=4$ bilayer honeycomb model with fourfold quadratic BTPs, an $N=5$ dice model with fivefold linear BTPs, and an $N=3$ Kagome model with BTPs that can be smoothly tuned from linear to quadratic.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Berry Curvature and Quantum Metric in $N$-band systems -- an Eigenprojector Approach

The eigenvalues of a parameter-dependent Hamiltonian matrix form a band structure in parameter space. In such $N$-band systems, the quantum geometric tensor (QGT), consisting of the Berry curvature and quantum metric tensors, is usually computed from numerically obtained energy eigenstates. Here, an alternative approach to the QGT based on eigenprojectors and (generalized) Bloch vectors is exposed. It offers more analytical insight than the eigenstate approach. In particular, the full QGT of each band can be obtained without computing eigenstates, using only the Hamiltonian matrix and the respective band energy. Most saliently, the well-known two-band formula for the Berry curvature in terms of the Hamiltonian vector is generalized to arbitrary $N$. The formalism is illustrated using three- and four-band multifold fermion models that have very different geometrical and topological properties despite an identical band structure. From a broader perspective, the methodology used in this work can be applied to compute any physical quantity or to study the quantum dynamics of any observable without the explicit construction of energy eigenstates.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2020

Dirac points emerging from flat bands in Lieb-kagomé lattices

The energy spectra for the tight-binding models on the Lieb and kagomé lattices both exhibit a flat band. We present a model which continuously interpolates between these two limits. The flat band located in the middle of the three-band spectrum for the Lieb lattice is distorted, generating two pairs of Dirac points. While the upper pair evolves into graphene-like Dirac cones in the kagomé limit, the low energy pair evolves until it merges producing the band-bottom flat band. The topological characterization of the Dirac points is achieved by projecting the Hamiltonian on the two relevant bands in order to obtain an effective Dirac Hamiltonian. The low energy pair of Dirac points is particularly interesting in this respect: when they emerge, they have opposite winding numbers, but as they merge, they have the same winding number. This apparent paradox is due to a continuous rotation of their states in pseudo-spin space, characterized by a winding vector. This simple, but quite rich model, suggests a way to a systematic characterization of two-band contact points in multiband systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Winding vector: how to annihilate two Dirac points with the same charge

The merging or emergence of a pair of Dirac points may be classified according to whether the winding numbers which characterize them are opposite ($+-$ scenario) or identical ($++$ scenario). From the touching point between two parabolic bands (one of them can be flat), two Dirac points with the {\it same} winding number emerge under appropriate distortion (interaction, etc), following the $++$ scenario. Under further distortion, these Dirac points merge following the $+-$ scenario, that is corresponding to {\it opposite} winding numbers. This apparent contradiction is solved by the fact that the winding number is actually defined around a unit vector on the Bloch sphere and that this vector rotates during the motion of the Dirac points. This is shown here within the simplest two-band lattice model (Mielke) exhibiting a flat band. We argue on several examples that the evolution between the two scenarios is general.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Critical eigenstates and their properties in one and two dimensional quasicrystals

We present exact solutions for some eigenstates of hopping models on one and two dimensional quasiperiodic tilings and show that they are "critical" states, by explicitly computing their multifractal spectra. These eigenstates are shown to be generically present in 1D quasiperiodic chains, of which the Fibonacci chain is a special case. We then describe properties of the ground states for a class of tight-binding Hamiltonians on the 2D Penrose and Ammann-Beenker tilings. Exact and numerical solutions are seen to be in good agreement.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2017

Gap structure of 1D cut and project Hamiltonians

We study the gap properties of nearest neighbors tight binding models on quasiperiodic chains. We argue that two kind of gaps should be distinguished: stable and transient. We show that stable gaps have a well defined quasiperiodic limit. We also show that there is a direct relation between the gap size and the gap label.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2017

Statistical mechanics approach to the electric polarization and dielectric constant of band insulators

We develop a theory for the analytic computation of the free energy of band insulators in the presence of a uniform and constant electric field. The two key ingredients are a perturbation-like expression of the Wannier-Stark energy spectrum of electrons and a modified statistical mechanics approach involving a local chemical potential in order to deal with the unbounded spectrum and impose the physically relevant electronic filling. At first order in the field, we recover the result of King-Smith, Vanderbilt and Resta for the electric polarization in terms of a Zak phase - albeit at finite temperature - and, at second order, deduce a general formula for the electric susceptibility, or equivalently for the dielectric constant. Advantages of our method are the validity of the formalism both at zero and finite temperature and the easy computation of higher order derivatives of the free energy. We verify our findings on two different one-dimensional tight-binding models.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Geometric orbital susceptibility: quantum metric without Berry curvature

The orbital magnetic susceptibility of an electron gas in a periodic potential depends not only on the zero field energy spectrum but also on the geometric structure of cell-periodic Bloch states which encodes interband effects. In addition to the Berry curvature, we explicitly relate the orbital susceptibility of two-band models to a quantum metric tensor defining a distance in Hilbert space. Within a simple tight-binding model allowing for a tunable Bloch geometry, we show that interband effects are essential even in the absence of Berry curvature. We also show that for a flat band model, the quantum metric gives rise to a very strong orbital paramagnetism.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Competition between Spin Echo and Spin Self-Rephasing in a Trapped Atom Interferometer

We perform Ramsey interferometry on an ultracold 87Rb ensemble confined in an optical dipoletrap. We use a π-pulse set at the middle of the interferometer to restore the coherence of the spinensemble by canceling out phase inhomogeneities and creating a spin echo in the contrast. However,for high atomic densities, we observe the opposite behavior: the π-pulse accelerates the dephasingof the spin ensemble leading to a faster contrast decay of the interferometer. We understand thisphenomenon as a competition between the spin-echo technique and an exchange-interaction drivenspin self-rephasing mechanism based on the identical spin rotation effect. Our experimental data iswell reproduced by a numerical model.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Chemical potential asymmetry and quantum oscillations in insulators

We present a theory of quantum oscillations in insulators that are particle-hole symmetric and non-topological but with arbitrary band dispersion, at both zero and non-zero temperature. At temperatures $T$ less than or comparable to the gap, the dependence of oscillations on $T$ is markedly different from that in metals and depends crucially on the position of the chemical potential $μ$ in the gap. If $μ$ is in the middle of the gap, oscillations do not change with $T$; however, if $μ$ is asymmetrically positioned in the gap, surprisingly, oscillations go to zero at a critical value of the inverse field determined by $T$ and $μ$ and then change their phase by $π$ and grow again. Additionally, the temperature dependence is different for quantities derived from the grand canonical potential, such as magnetization and susceptibility, and those derived from the density of states, such as resistivity. However, the non-trivial features arising from asymmetric $μ$ are present in both.

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