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J. W. Clark

Publications and source records attributed to J. W. Clark.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

A unified quasiparticle approach to the theory of strongly correlated electron liquids

Landau's quasiparticle formalism is generalized to describe a wide class of strongly correlated Fermi systems, in addition to conventional Fermi liquids. This class includes (i) so-called marginal exemplars and (ii) systems that harbor interaction-driven flat bands, in both of which manifestations of non-Fermi-liquid behavior are well documented. Specifically, the advent of such flat bands is attributed to a spontaneous topological rearrangement of the Landau state that supplements the conventional Landau quasiparticle picture with a different set of quasiparticles, the so-called fermion condensate, whose single-particle spectrum is dispersionless. The celebrated Landau-Luttinger theorem is extended to marginal Fermi liquids, in which the density of the augmented quasiparticle system is shown to coincide with the particle density. On the other hand, the total density of a system hosting an interaction-driven flat band turns out to be the sum of the densities of the two quasiparticle subsystems: the Landau-like component and the fermion condensate. We demonstrate that within the framework of the scenario proposed, a long-standing problem faced by theories of $D$-wave superconductivity in cuprates, namely a consistent explanation of the so-called Uemera plot, can be naturally resolved.

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arXiv2023

Alpha matter revisited

We examine in detail two alternative descriptions of a system of $α$ particles interacting via local interactions of different character, highlighting the fact that a faithful microscopic description of such systems demands a consistent treatment of both short- and long-range correlations. In preparation, we examine four different versions of modern microscopic many-body theory and conclude by emphasizing that these approaches, although {\it a priori} very different, actually lead to the same equations for their efficient application. The only quantity that depends on the formulation of many-body theory chosen is an {\it irreducible} interaction correction. In the language of Green's functions and Feynman diagrams, it is the set of both particle-particle and particle-hole irreducible diagrams, and in variational Jastrow-Feenberg theory it is determined by {\it multipartite correlations} and {\it elementary diagrams}. We apply these theoretical methods to the calculation of the energetics, structure, thermodynamics, and dynamics of $α$ matter, as well as its condensate fraction. In dimensionless units, $α$ matter appears to be remarkably similar to the much-studied $^4$He quantum fluid, its low-temperature properties now basically solved in the Jastrow-Feenberg framework. Accordingly, one can have confidence in the results of application of the same procedure to $α$ matter. Even so, closer examination reveals significant differences between the physics of the two systems. Within an infinite nuclear medium, alpha matter is subject to a spinoidal instability. Extended mixtures of nucleons and alpha particles are yet to be given rigorous consideration in a corresponding theoretical framework.

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arXiv2021

Quasiparticle Pattern of Phenomena in Exotic Superconductors

The quasiparticle formalism invented by Lev Landau for description of conventional Fermi liquids is generalized to exotic superconductivity attributed to Cooper pairing, whose measured properties defy explanation within the standard BCS-Fermi Liquid description. We demonstrate that in such systems the quasiparticle number remains equal to particle number, just as in common Fermi liquids. We are then able to explain the puzzling relationship between the variation with doping $x$ of two key properties of the family La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$Cu0$_4$ of exotic superconductors, namely the $T=0$ superfluid density $ρ_{s0}(x)$ and the coefficient $A_1(x)$ in the linear-in-$T$ component of the normal-state low-$T$ resistivity $ρ(T)=ρ_0+A_1T+A_2T^2$, in terms of the presence of interaction-induced flat bands in the ground states of these metals.

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arXiv2020

Topological disorder triggered by interaction-induced flattening of electron spectra in solids

We address the intervention of classical-like behavior, well documented in experimental studies of strongly correlated electron systems of solids that emerges at temperatures $T$ far below the Debye temperature $T_D$. We attribute this unexpected phenomenon to spontaneous rearrangement of the conventional Landau state beyond a critical point at which the topological stability of this state breaks down, leading to the formation of an interaction-induced flat band adjacent to the nominal Fermi surface. We demonstrate that beyond the critical point, the quasiparticle picture of such correlated Fermi systems still holds, since the damping of single-particle excitations remains small compared with the Fermi energy $T_F=p^2_F/2m_e$. A Pitaevskii-style equation for determination of the rearranged quasiparticle momentum distribution $n_*({\bf p})$ is derived, which applies to explanation of the linear-in-$T$ behavior of the resistivity $ρ(T)$ found experimentally.

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arXiv2020

Universal $T/B$ scaling behavior of heavy fermion compounds

In our mini-review, we address manifestations of $T/B$ scaling behavior of heavy-fermion (HF) compounds, where $T$ and $B$ are respectively temperature and magnetic field. Using experimental data and the fermion condensation theory, we show that this scaling behavior is typical of HF compounds including HF metals, quasicrystals, and quantum spin liquids. We demonstrate that such scaling behavior holds down to the lowest temperature and field values, so that $T/B$ varies in a wide range, provided the HF compound is located near the topological fermion condensation quantum phase transition (FCQPT). Due to the topological properties of FCQPT, the effective mass $M^*$ exhibits a universal behavior, and diverges as $T$ goes to zero. Such a behavior of $M^*$ has important technological applications. We also explain how to extract the universal scaling behavior from experimental data collected on different heavy-fermion compounds. As an example, we consider the HF metal $\rm YbCo_2Ge_4$, and show that its scaling behavior is violated at low temperatures. Our results obtained show good agreement with experimental facts.

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arXiv2019

Impact of $e-e$ interactions on the superfluid density of dirty superconductors

Landau's theory of the Fermi liquid is adapted to analyze the impact of electron-electron ($e-e$) interactions on the deficit of the superfluid density $ρ_{s0}=ρ_s(T=0)$ in dirty superconducting electron systems in which the damping $γ$ of single-particle excitations exceeds the zero temperature BCS gap $Δ_0$. In the dirty strong-coupling limit $γ/Δ_0\gg 1,m^*/m_e\gg 1$, the formula derived for $ρ_{s0}$ is shown to coincide with the well-known empirical Uemura relation provided pair-breaking contributions are nonexistent. The roles of the crystal lattice and magnetic pair-breaking effects in the observed decline of the zero-temperature superfluid density $ρ_{s0}$ in overdoped LSCO compounds are also discussed. Our method is also applied to elucidation of results from the pioneering experimental studies performed recently by Bozovic and collaborators in overdoped LSCO compounds.

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arXiv2018

Toward a topological scenario for high-temperature superconductivity of copper oxides

The structure of the joint phase diagram demonstrating high-$T_c$ superconductivity of copper oxides is studied on the basis of the theory of interaction-induced flat bands. Prerequisites of an associated topological rearrangement of the Landau state are established, and related non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior of the normal states of cuprates is investigated. We focus on manifestations of this behavior in the electrical resistivity $ρ(T)$, especially the observed gradual crossover from normal-state $T$-linear behavior $ρ(T,x)=A_1(x)T$ at doping $x$ below the critical value $x_c^h$ for termination of superconductivity, to $T$-quadratic behavior at $x>x_c^h$, which is incompatible with predictions of the conventional quantum-critical-point scenario. It is demonstrated that at $x<x^h_c$, in agreement with available experimental data, the coefficient $A_1( x)$ is decomposed into the product of two factors, one of which changes linearly with doping $x$, while the second is universal, being of the Planckian form.

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arXiv2018

Revealing quantum spin liquid in the herbertsmithite $\rm ZnCu_{3}(OH)_6Cl_{2}$

Based on experimental data and our theoretical analysis, we provide a strategy for unambiguous establishing of gapless quantum spin liquid state (QSL) in herbertsmithite and other materials. To clarify the nature of QSL, we recommend measurements of heat transport, low-energy inelastic neutron scattering and optical conductivity under the application of external magnetic field at low temperatures. We also suggest that artificially introduced inhomogeneity into $\rm ZnCu_{3}(OH)_6Cl_2$ can stabilize QSL, and serves as a test elucidating the contribution coming from impurities. We predict the results of these measurements in the case of gapless QSL.

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arXiv2018

New state of matter: heavy-fermion systems, quantum spin liquids, quasicrystals, cold gases, and high temperature superconductors

We report on a new state of matter manifested by strongly correlated Fermi systems including various heavy-fermion (HF) metals, two-dimensional quantum liquids such as $\rm ^3He$ films, certain quasicrystals, and systems behaving as quantum spin liquids. Generically, these systems can be viewed as HF systems or HF compounds, in that they exhibit typical behavior of HF metals. At zero temperature, such systems can experience a so-called fermion-condensation quantum phase transition (FCQPT). Combining analytical considerations with arguments based entirely on experimental grounds we argue and demonstrate that the class of HF systems is characterized by universal scaling behavior of their thermodynamic, transport, and relaxation properties. That is, the quantum physics of different HF compounds is found to be universal, emerging irrespective of the individual details of their symmetries, interactions, and microscopic structure. This observed universal behavior reveals the existence of a new state of matter manifest in HF compounds. We propose a simple, realistic model to study the appearance of flat bands in two-dimensional ensembles of ultracold fermionic atoms, interacting with coherent resonant light. It is shown that signatures of these flat bands may be found in peculiarities in their thermodynamic and spectroscopic properties. We also show that the FCQPT, in generating flat bands and altering Fermi surface topology, is an essential progenitor of the exotic behavior of the overdoped high-temperature superconductors represented by $\rm La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4$, whose superconductivity differs from that predicted by the classical Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory. The theoretical results presented are in good agreement with recent experimental observations, closing the colossal gap between these empirical findings and Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-like theories.

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arXiv2017

$^1S_0$ pairing in neutron matter

We report calculations of the superfluid pairing gap in neutron matter for the $^1S_0$ components of the Reid soft-core $V_6$ and the Argonne $V_{4}'$ two-nucleon interactions. Ground-state calculations have been carried out using the central part of the operator-basis representation of these interactions to determine optimal Jastrow-Feenberg correlations and corresponding effective pairing interactions within the correlated-basis formalism (CBF), the required matrix elements in the correlated basis being evaluated by Fermi hypernetted-chain techniques. Different implementations of the Fermi-Hypernetted Chain Euler-Lagrange method (FHNC-EL) agree at the percent level up to nuclear matter saturation density. For the assumed interactions, which are realistic within the low density range involved in $^1S_0$ neutron pairing, we did not find a dimerization instability arising from divergence of the in-medium scattering length, as was reported recently for simple square-well and Lennard-Jones potential models (Phys. Rev. A {\bf 92}, 023640 (2015)).

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arXiv2017

Three-nucleon forces and superfluidity in neutron matter

The existence of superfluidity of the neutron component in the core of a neutron star, associated specifically with triplet $P-$wave pairing, is currently an open question that is central to interpretation of the observed cooling curves and other neutron-star observables. Ab initio theoretical calculations aimed at resolving this issue face unique challenges in the relevant high-density domain, which reaches beyond the saturation density of symmetrical nuclear matter. These issues include uncertainties in the three-nucleon (3N) interaction and in the effects of strong short-range correlations -- and more generally of in-medium modification of nucleonic self-energies and interactions. A survey of existing solutions to the gap equations in the triplet channel shows that the separate or combined impacts of 3N forces, coupled channels, and mass renormalization range from moderate to strong to devastating, thus motivating a detailed analysis of the competing effects. In the present work we track the effects of the 3N force and in-medium modifications in the representative case of the $^3P_2$ channel, based on the Argonne V18 two-nucleon (2N) interaction supplemented by 3N interactions of the Urbana IX family. Sensitivity of the results to the input interaction is clearly demonstrated, while consistency issues arise with respect to the simultaneous treatment of 3N forces and in-medium effects. We consider this pilot study as the first step towards a systematic and comprehensive exploration of coupled-channel $^3P F_2$ pairing using a broad range of 2N and 3N interactions from the current generation of refined semi-phenomenological models and models derived from chiral effective field theory.

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arXiv2017

Microscopic Study of ${}^1{S_0}$ Superfluidity in Dilute Neutron Matter

Singlet $S$-wave superfluidity of dilute neutron matter is studied within the correlated BCS method, which takes into account both pairing and short-range correlations. First, the equation of state (EOS) of normal neutron matter is calculated within the Correlated Basis Function (CBF) method in lowest cluster order using the ${}^1{S_0}$ and ${}^3P$ components of the Argonne $V_{18}$ potential, assuming trial Jastrow-type correlation functions. The ${}^1{S_0}$ superfluid gap is then calculated with the corresponding component of the Argonne $V_{18}$ potential and the optimally determined correlation functions. The dependence of our results on the chosen forms for the correlation functions is studied, and the role of the $P$-wave channel is investigated. Where comparison is meaningful, the values obtained for the ${}^1{S_0}$ gap within this simplified scheme are consistent with the results of similar and more elaborate microscopic methods.

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arXiv2017

Interplay between BCS and Mott physics in the phenomenon of high-$T_c$ superconductivity

Superconducting electron systems of solids hosting flat bands are studied, with a view to improved understanding of the fundamental physics giving rise to high-temperature superconductivity. We present a modified form of the set of Gor'kov equations of BCS theory that incorporates a Mott-like gap in the single-particle spectrum. Such a quantity is emergent in systems with flat bands having interactions repulsive in the Cooper channel, provided particle-hole symmetry is broken. The equations so obtained are applied to the elucidation of features of the two-gap structure of single-particle spectra of underdoped high-$T_c$ superconductors, as revealed in angle-resolved photoemission spectrometry.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2016

Comment on "Correlated impurities and intrinsic spin liquid physics in the kagome material Herbertsmithite" (T. H. Han et al., Phys. Rev. B 94, 060409(R) (2016))

Recently Han et al. have provided an analysis of the observed behavior of $\rm ZnCu_{3}(OH)_6Cl_2$ Herbertsmithite based on a separation of the contributions to its thermodynamic properties due to impurities from those due to the kagome lattice. The authors developed an impurity model to account for the experimental data and claimed that it is compatible with the presence of a small spin gap in the kagome layers. We argue that the model they advocate is problematic, conflicting with the intrinsic properties of $\rm ZnCu_{3}(OH)_6Cl_2$ as observed and explained in recent experimental and theoretical investigations. We show that the existence of the gap in the kagome layers is not in itself of a vital importance, for it does not govern the thermodynamic and transport properties of $\rm ZnCu_3(OH)_6Cl_2$. Measurements of heat transport in magnetic fields could clarify the quantum-critical features of spin-liquid physics of $\rm ZnCu_{3}(OH)_6Cl_2$.

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arXiv2016

Topological basis for understanding the behavior of the heavy-fermion metal $\rm {β-YbAlB_4}$ under application of magnetic field and pressure

Informative recent measurements on the heavy-fermion metal $\rm β-YbAlB_4$ performed with applied magnetic field and pressure as control parameters are analyzed with the goal of establishing a sound theoretical explanation for the inferred scaling laws and non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior, which demonstrate some unexpected features. Most notably, the robustness of the NFL behavior of the thermodynamic properties and of the anomalous $T^{3/2}$ temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity under applied pressure $P$ in zero magnetic field $B$ is at variance with the fragility of the NFL phase under application of a field. We show that a consistent topological basis for this combination of observations, as well as the empirical scaling laws, may be found within fermion-condensation theory in the emergence and destruction of a flat band, and explain that the paramagnetic NFL phase takes place without magnetic criticality, thus not from quantum critical fluctuations. Schematic $T-B$ and $T-P$ phase diagrams are presented to illuminate this scenario.

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arXiv2016

Scaling behavior of the thermopower of the archetypical heavy-fermion metal $\rm{YbRh_2Si_2}$

We reveal and explain a scaling behavior of the thermopower $S/T$ exhibiting by the archetypical heavy-fermion (HF) metal $\rm{YbRh_2Si_2}$ under the application of magnetic field $B$ at temperatures $T$. We show that the same scaling is demonstrated by such different HF compounds as $β$-${\rm YbAlB_4}$ and the strongly correlated layered cobalt oxide $\rm [BiBa_{0.66}K_{0.36}O_{2}]CoO_{2}$. Using $\rm{YbRh_2Si_2}$ as an example, we demonstrate that the scaling behavior of $S/T$ is violated at the antiferromagnetic phase transition, while both the residual resistivity $ρ_0$ and the density of states $N$ experience jumps at the phase transition, making the thermopower experience two jumps and change its sign. Our elucidation is based on flattening of the single-particle spectrum that profoundly affects $ρ_0$ and $N$. To depict the main features of the $S/T$ behavior, we construct the $T-B$ schematic phase diagram of $\rm{YbRh_2Si_2}$. Our calculated $S/T$ for the HF compounds are in good agreement with experimental facts and support our observations.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2015

Fate of the Wiedemann-Franz law near quantum critical points of electron systems in solids

We introduce and analyze two different scenarios for violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law in strongly correlated electron systems of solids, close to a topological quantum critical point (TQCP) where the density of states $N(0)$ diverges. The first, applicable to the Fermi-liquid (FL) side of the TQCP, involves a transverse zero-sound collective mode that opens a new channel for the thermal conductivity, thereby enhancing the Lorenz number $L(0)$ relative to the value $L_0=π^2k^2_B/3e^2$ dictated by conventional FL theory. The second mechanism for violation of the WF law, relevant to the non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) side of the TQCP, involves the formation of a flat band and leads instead to a reduction of the Lorenz number.

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