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Hua-Yu Li

Publications and source records attributed to Hua-Yu Li.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Symmetry Criterion for Van Hove Criticality at Non-Time-Reversal-Invariant Momenta

At non-time-reversal-invariant momenta (non-TRIMs), time-reversal symmetry does not constrain the linear term of the band dispersion. Whether $\nabla E$ vanishes is therefore determined entirely by the representation theory of the little group. For nondegenerate bands, $\nabla E$ is forced to zero if and only if the vector representation $\Gamma_{\mathrm{vec}}$ of the little group does not contain the trivial representation $\Gamma_1$. When $\Gamma_{\mathrm{vec}}$ does contain $\Gamma_1$, $\nabla E$ is not forced to vanish for any nondegenerate band; the classification instead depends on the multiplicity of $\Gamma_1$ in $\Gamma_{\mathrm{vec}}$. For degenerate bands, the Wigner-Eckart theorem and Clebsch--Gordan coefficients determine whether linear couplings vanish, with classification performed at the subband level. Applied to space group 225, the criterion explains why the $W$ point is critical for all nondegenerate bands, the degenerate $E$ bands are generically noncritical, and the $K$ and $U$ points host parameter-dependent criticality. Supporting phase diagrams reveal a two-tier hierarchy: symmetry enforces $\nabla E=0$, while band parameters determine higher-order character. We extend this classification to all space groups hosting non-TRIMs in the single-group limit, providing a symmetry-dictated, parameter-independent framework for engineering Van Hove singularities in three-dimensional quantum materials.

cond-mat.str-el

Type-I and Type-II Saddle Points and a Topological Flat Band in a Bi-Pyrochlore Superconductor CsBi2

The divergence of the electron density of states (DOS) plays an important role in enhancing many-body interactions and inducing various quantum phases in low-dimensional systems. However, such unique electronic structures remain experimentally elusive in three-dimensional (3D) systems, particularly those with strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations for a Laves-phase superconductor CsBi$_2$, which features a Bi-pyrochlore 3D network with strong SOC, we identify two characteristic electronic structures with a large DOS. One is a dispersionless topological flat band with p-orbital character, locally formed around the U-K line, which enhances DOS near the Fermi level. The other involves type-I and type-II saddle points connected by a flat band, which cooperatively produce an enhancement in the DOS. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism for achieving a DOS enhancement and lay a foundation for exploring exotic phenomena driven by the interplay of multiple singularities with a large DOS, nontrivial topology, and strong SOC in 3D pyrochlores.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Directional Criticality and Higher-Order Flatness: Designing Van Hove Singularities in Three Dimensions

Van Hove singularities (VHSs) play a pivotal role in driving correlated electronic phenomena. Traditional classifications focus only on critical points where the band gradient vanishes in all directions. Here we establish a unified classification of VHSs in three-dimensional systems, characterized by the number of vanishing gradient components and Hessian eigenvalues: ordinary ($M$-type), higher-order ($T_1$, $T_2$, $T_3$), noncritical ordinary ($N_0$, $N_1$, $N_2$), and noncritical higher-order ($S_1$, $S_2$) types. Noncritical VHSs exhibit directional quenching: the gradient vanishes in a two-dimensional subspace while remaining finite along the orthogonal direction, yielding finite density-of-states enhancements with distinct energy dependencies. Using an $s$-orbital tight-binding model on the pyrochlore lattice with spin-orbit coupling, we demonstrate that all singularity classes emerge at distinct high-symmetry points through controlled tuning of the hopping ratio. This work establishes directional criticality and higher-order flatness as design principles for tailoring density-of-states enhancements in three-dimensional quantum materials.

cond-mat.str-el