arXiv subjects

I. Paul

Publications and source records attributed to I. Paul.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Raman Response of the Charge Density Wave in Cuprate Superconductors

We study the Raman response, for $B_{1g}$ and $B_{2g}$ light-polarization symmetries, of the charge density wave phase appearing in the underdoped region of cuprate superconductors. We show that the $B_{2g}$ response provides a distinctive signature of the charge order, independently of the details of the electronic structure and from the concomitant presence of a pseudogap, in sharp contrast with the behavior of the $B_{1g}$ response. This well accounts for the Raman experimental results. We then clearly identify a charge density wave energy scale, and show that its doping dependence is eventually driven by the monotonic behavior of the pesudogap. This has also been pointed out in Raman experiments, and it is suggestive of a pseudogap ruling the multiple energy scales of the exotic phases appearing in the cuprate phase diagram.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Nematic fluctuations mediated superconductivity revealed by anisotropic strain in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$

Anisotropic strain is an external field capable of selectively addressing the role of nematic fluctuations in promoting superconductivity. We demonstrate this using polarization-resolved elasto-Raman scattering to probe the evolution of nematic fluctuations under strain in the normal and superconducting states of the paradigmatic iron-based superconductor Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$. In the non-superconducting parent compound BaFe$_2$As$_2$ we observe a strain-induced suppression of the nematic susceptibility which follows the expected behavior of an Ising order parameter under a symmetry breaking field. For the superconducting compound, the suppression of the nematic susceptibility correlates with the decrease of the superconducting critical temperature $T_c$. Our results indicate a significant contribution of nematic fluctuations to electron pairing and validate theoretical scenarios of enhanced $T_c$ near a nematic quantum critical point.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Effect of pseudogap on electronic anisotropy in the strain dependence of the superconducting $T_c$ of underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$

For orthorhombic superconductors we define thermodynamic anisotropy $N \equiv d T_c/d ε_{22} - dT_c/d ε_{11}$ as the difference in how superconducting $T_c$ varies with strains $ε_{ii}$, $i=(1, 2)$, along the in-plane directions. We study the hole doping ($p$) dependence of $N$ on detwinned single crystals of underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ (YBCO) using ultrasound technique. While the structural orthorhombicity of YBCO reduces monotonically with decreasing doping over $0.065 <p<0.16$, we find that the thermodynamic anisotropy shows an intriguing enhancement at intermediate doping level, which is of electronic origin. Our theoretical analysis shows that the enhancement of the electronic anisotropy can be related to the pseudogap potential in the electronic specturm that itself increases when the Mott insulating state is approached. Our results imply that the pseudogap is controlled by a local energy scale that can be tuned by varying the nearest neighbor Cu-Cu bond length. Our work opens the possibility to strain engineer the pseudogap potential to enhance the superconducting \Tc.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Ultrasound evidence for a two-component superconducting order parameter in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$

The quasi-2D metal Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ is one of the best characterized unconventional superconductors, yet the nature of its superconducting order parameter is still highly debated. This information is crucial to determine the pairing mechanism of Cooper pairs. Here we use ultrasound velocity to probe the superconducting state of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. This thermodynamic probe is symmetry-sensitive and can help to identify the superconducting order symmetry. Indeed, we observe a sharp jump in the shear elastic constant $c_{66}$ as the temperature is raised across the superconducting transition at $T_c$. This directly implies that the superconducting order parameter is of a two-component nature. Based on symmetry argument and given the other known properties of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, we discuss what states are compatible with this requirement and propose that the two-component order parameter, namely $\lbrace d_{xz}; d_{yz} \rbrace$, is the most likely candidate.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Nonlinear terahertz electro-optical responses in centrosymmetric electronic systems

Motivated by the recent developments in terahertz spectroscopy using pump-probe setups to study correlated electronic materials, we review the field theoretical formalism to compute finite frequency nonlinear electro-optical responses in centrosymmetric systems starting from basic time dependent perturbation theory. We express the nonlinear current kernel as a sum of several causal response functions. These causal functions cannot be evaluated using perturbative field theory methods, since they are not contour ordered. Consequently, we associate each response function with a corresponding imaginary time ordered current correlation function, since the latter can be factorized using Wick's theorem. The mapping between the response functions and the correlation functions, suitably analytically continued to real frequencies, is proven exactly. We derive constraints satisfied by the nonlinear current kernel and we prove a generalized $f$-sum rule for the nonlinear conductivity, all of which are consequences of particle number conservation. The constraints guarantee that the nonlinear static responses are free from spurious divergences. We apply the theory to compute the gauge invariant nonlinear conductivity of a system of noninteracting electrons in the presence of weak disorder. As special cases of this generalized nonlinear response, we discuss its third harmonic and its instantaneous terahertz Kerr signals. The formalism can be used to compute the nonlinear conductivity in symmetry broken phases of electronic systems such as superconductors, density waves and nematic states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Lattice-Shifted Nematic Quantum Critical Point in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_x$

We report the evolution of nematic fluctuations in FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_x$ single crystals as a function of Sulfur content $x$ across the nematic quantum critical point (QCP) $x_c\sim$ 0.17 via Raman scattering. The Raman spectra in the $B_{1g}$ nematic channel consist of two components, but only the low energy one displays clear fingerprints of critical behavior and is attributed to itinerant carriers. Curie-Weiss analysis of the associated nematic susceptibility indicates a substantial effect of nemato-elastic coupling which shifts the location of the nematic QCP. We argue that this lattice-induced shift likely explains the absence of any enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature at the QCP. The presence of two components in the nematic fluctuations spectrum is attributed to the dual aspect of electronic degrees of freedom in Hund's metals, with both itinerant carriers and local moments contributing to the nematic susceptibility.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Universal relationship between the energy scales of the pseudogap phase, the superconducting state and the charge density wave order in copper oxide superconductors

We report the hole doping dependencies of the pseudogap phase energy scale, $2Δ_{\rm PG}$, the anti-nodal (nodal) superconducting energy scales $2Δ^{AN}_{\rm SC}$ ($2Δ^{N}_{\rm SC}$) and the charge density wave energy scale, $2Δ_{\rm CDW}$. They have been extracted from the electronic Raman responses of distinct copper oxide families. For all the cuprates studied, we reveal universal doping dependencies which suggest that $2Δ_{\rm PG}$, $2Δ^{AN}_{\rm SC}$ and $2Δ_{\rm CDW}$ are governed by common microscopic interactions and that these interactions become relevant well above the superconducting transition at $T_c$. In sharp contrast, $2Δ^N_{\rm SC}$ tracks the doping dependence of $T_c$, appearing to be controlled by a different kind of interactions than the energy scales above.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Nematic Fluctuations in the Cuprate Superconductor Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$

Establishing the presence and the nature of a quantum critical point in their phase diagram is a central enigma of the high-temperature superconducting cuprates. It could explain their pseudogap and strange metal phases, and ultimately their high superconducting temperatures. Yet, while solid evidences exist in several unconventional superconductors of ubiquitous critical fluctuations associated to a quantum critical point, in the cuprates they remain undetected until now. Here using symmetry-resolved electronic Raman scattering in the cuprate Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$, we report the observation of enhanced electronic nematic fluctuations near the endpoint of the pseudogap phase. While our data hint at the possible presence of an incipient nematic quantum critical point, the doping dependence of the nematic fluctuations deviates significantly from a canonical quantum critical scenario. The observed nematic instability rather appears to be tied to the presence of a van Hove singularity in the band structure.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

A Microscopic Description of Displacive Coherent Phonons

We develop a Hamiltonian-based microscopic description of laser pump induced displacive coherent phonons. The theory captures the feedback of the phonon excitation upon the electronic fluid, which is missing in the state-of-the-art phenomenological formulation. We show that this feedback leads to chirping at short time scales, even if the phonon motion is harmonic. At long times this feedback appears as a finite phase in the oscillatory signal. We apply the theory to BaFe$_2$As$_2$, explain the origin of the phase in the oscillatory signal reported in recent experiments, and we predict that the system will exhibit red-shifted chirping at larger fluence. Our theory also opens the possibility to extract equilibrium information from coherent phonon dynamics.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Intimate link between Charge Density Wave, Pseudogap and Superconducting Energy Scales in Cuprates

The cuprate high temperature superconductors develop spontaneous charge density wave (CDW) order below a temperature $T_{CDW}$ and over a wide range of hole doping (p). An outstanding challenge in the field is to understand whether this modulated phase is related to the more exhaustively studied pseudogap and superconducting phases. To address this issue it is important to extract the energy scale $Δ_{CDW}$ associated with the charge modulations, and to compare it with the pseudogap (PG) $Δ_{PG}$ and the superconducting gap $Δ_{SC}$. However, while $T_{CDW}$ is well-characterized from earlier works little has been known about $Δ_{CDW}$ until now. Here, we report the extraction of $Δ_{CDW}$ for several cuprates using electronic Raman spectroscopy. Crucially, we find that, upon approaching the parent Mott state by lowering $p$, $Δ_{CDW}$ increases in a manner similar to the doping dependence of $Δ_{PG}$ and $Δ_{SC}$. This shows that CDW is an unconventional order, and that the above three phases are controlled by the same electronic correlations. In addition, we find that $Δ_{CDW} \approx Δ_{SC}$ over a substantial doping range, which is suggestive of an approximate emergent symmetry connecting the charge modulated phase with superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Spectral analysis of flow and scalar primitive variables in near and far laminar wake of an elliptic cylinder

We analyze the primitive variables of fluid flow and scalar fields through fast Fourier transform (FFT) in the near and far wake of an elliptic cylinder. Numerical simulation of flow and scalar fields behind an elliptic cylinder of axis ratio 0.4 at a Reynolds number of 130 is performed. The semi-major axis of the elliptic cylinder is kept perpendicular to the incoming flow, where the fluid flow is two-dimensional and the Prandtl number is 0.71. The scalar is injected into the flow field by means of heating the cylinder continuously. The simulation is run for a long time to show that the secondary vortex street is a time-dependent phenomenon. Three distinguishable flow and scalar regions are observed in the wake of the cylinder. This study reveals the presence of low-frequency structures besides the primary shedding structures in linear, transition and saturation regions of temporal wake development. We show that the spectral source of the primary frequency is the saturated state of the temporal wake development, while its physical source is the periodic arrangement of structures of primitive variables, which inhibits the transmutation of their wavelength. On the other hand, the secondary low frequency is embedded in the transitional developing stage of the wake and its physical source is the chaotic behaviour of the transition process, which aids in the transmutation of the wavelength of the structures. Our spectral analysis also reveals that the scalar is predominately carried by the streamwise velocity and the pressure throughout the wake.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2018

Lattice effects on nematic quantum criticality in metals

Theoretically, it is commonly held that in metals near a nematic quantum critical point the electronic excitations become incoherent on the entire `hot' Fermi surface, triggering non Fermi liquid behavior. However, such conclusions are based on electron-only theories, ignoring a symmetry-allowed coupling between the electronic nematic variable and a suitable crystalline lattice strain. Here we show that including this coupling leads to entirely different conclusions because the critical fluctuations are mostly cutoff by the non-critical lattice shear modes. At sufficiently low temperatures the thermodynamics remain Fermi liquid type, while, depending on the Fermi surface geometry, either the entire Fermi surface stays cold, or at most there are hot spots. In particular, our predictions are relevant for the iron-based superconductors.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Pairing instability near a lattice-influenced nematic quantum critical point

We study how superconducting Tc is affected as an electronic system in a tetragonal environment is tuned to a nematic quantum critical point (QCP). Including coupling of the electronic nematic variable to the relevant lattice strain restricts criticality only to certain high symmetry directions. This allows a weak-coupling treatment, even at the QCP. We develop a criterion distinguishing weak and strong Tc enhancements upon approaching the QCP. We show that negligible Tc enhancement occurs only if pairing is dominated by a non-nematic interaction away from the QCP, and simultaneously if the electron-strain coupling is sufficiently strong. We argue this is the case of the iron superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Vertical temperature-boundary of the pseudogap under the superconducting dome of the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d phase-diagram

Combining electronic Raman scattering experiments with cellular dynamical mean field theory, we present evidence of the pseudogap in the superconducting state of various hole-doped cuprates. In Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d we track the superconducting pseudogap hallmark, a peak-dip feature, as a function of temperature T and doping p, well beyond the optimal one. We show that, at all temperatures under the superconducting dome, the pseudogap disappears at the doping pc, between 0.222 and 0.226, where also the normal-state pseudogap collapses at a Lifshitz transition. This demonstrates that the superconducting pseudogap boundary forms a vertical line in the T-p phase diagram.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Charge induced nematicity in FeSe

The spontaneous appearance of nematicity, a state of matter that breaks rotation but not translation symmetry, is one of the most intriguing property of the iron based superconductors (Fe SC), and has relevance for the cuprates as well. Establishing the critical electronic modes behind nematicity remains however a challenge, because their associated susceptibilities are not easily accessible by conventional probes. Here using FeSe as a model system, and symmetry resolved electronic Raman scattering as a probe, we unravel the presence of critical charge nematic fluctuations near the structural / nematic transition temperature, T$_S\sim$ 90 K. The diverging behavior of the associated nematic susceptibility foretells the presence of a Pomeranchuk instability of the Fermi surface with d-wave symmetry. The excellent scaling between the observed nematic susceptibility and elastic modulus data demonstrates that the structural distortion is driven by this d-wave Pomeranchuk transition. Our results make a strong case for charge induced nematicity in FeSe.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Collapse of the Normal State Pseudogap at a Lifshitz Transition in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$ Cuprate Superconductor

We report a fine tuned doping study of strongly overdoped Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ single crystals using electronic Raman scattering. Combined with theoretical calculations, we show that the doping, at which the normal state pseudogap closes, coincides with a Lifshitz quantum phase transition where the active hole-like Fermi surface becomes electron-like. This conclusion suggests that the microscopic cause of the pseudogap is sensitive to the Fermi surface topology. Furthermore, we find that the superconducting transition temperature is unaffected by this transition, demonstrating that their origins are different on the overdoped side.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Nematic resonance in the Raman response of iron-based superconductors

In a fully-gapped superconductor the electronic Raman response has a pair-breaking peak at twice the superconducting gap $Δ$, if the Bogoliubov excitations are uncorrelated. Motivated by the iron based superconductors, we study how this peak is modified if the superconducting phase hosts a nematic-structural quantum critical point. We show that, upon approaching this point by tuning, e.g., doping, the growth of nematic correlations between the quasiparticles transforms the pair-breaking peak into a nematic resonance. The mode energy is below 2$Δ$, and stays finite at the quantum critical point, where its spectral weight is sharply enhanced. The latter is consistent with recent experiments on electron-doped iron based superconductors and provides direct evidence of nematic correlations in their superconducting phases.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Nesting Induced Large Magnetoelasticity in the Iron Arsenide Systems

A novel feature of the iron arsenides is the magnetoelastic coupling between the long wavelength in-plane strains of the lattice and the collective spin fluctuations of the electrons near the magnetic ordering wavevectors. Here, we study its microscopic origin from an electronic model with nested Fermi pockets and a nominal interaction. We find the couplings diverge with a power-law as the system is tuned to perfect nesting. Furthermore, the theory reveals how nematicity is boosted by nesting. These results are relevant for other systems with nesting driven density wave transitions.

cond-mat.str-el↗