arXiv subjects

Jun-Won Rhim

Publications and source records attributed to Jun-Won Rhim.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Classification of Non-Hermitian Flat Bands

Exact flat bands provide a versatile setting for correlated and topological phenomena, yet their properties are controlled not only by their dispersion but also by the structure of their Bloch projectors. Here, we establish a projector-based classification of non-Hermitian flat bands. In contrast to Hermitian flat bands, non-Hermiticity introduces a biorthogonal projector whose left-right pairing permits a distinct norm-pole singularity. We identify four classes: analytic NH-A, continuous but nonanalytic NH-C, bounded but discontinuous NH-D, and pole-singular NH-E. We show that continuity of the biorthogonal projector preserves the locking of the right, left, and biorthogonal Chern numbers, $C_R=C_L=C_{\rm bi}$, thereby realizing non-Hermitian critical topological flat bands. Once continuity is lost, this locking can break down; in particular, a mismatch $C_R\neq C_L$ can occur in the NH-E class. Finally, we show that this Chern number mismatch ensures to produce an anomalous enhancement of resonant cross-orbital transfer. Our results establish biorthogonal projector regularity as the organizing principle linking compact localized states, topology, and driven response in non-Hermitian flat bands.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Enhancement of exciton radius near a band-gap closing through quantum geometry

Exciton engineering traditionally focuses on modifying semiclassical material properties, such as the effective mass and dielectric screening, while largely overlooking the quantum geometry of the underlying electron and hole Bloch states. This approximation is adequate for many materials but breaks down near a topological band-gap closing, where the quantum metric around the band extrema becomes strongly enhanced. In this regime, Bloch states at different momenta become less similar, reducing the projected electron--hole Coulomb matrix elements and consequently weakening exciton binding. We demonstrate this mechanism in a spin--orbit-coupled Lieb-lattice model tuned toward a topological phase transition. The suppressed Coulomb matrix elements narrow the exciton wavefunction in momentum space, leading to an enlarged exciton radius in real space. This increase in exciton size produces an experimentally accessible enhancement of the weak-field diamagnetic response. Our results show that quantum geometry can fundamentally reshape exciton properties near a topological phase transition, revealing a previously underexplored route for engineering excitonic states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Ultrafast Current Switching from Quantum Geometry in Semimetals

Technological progress towards next-generation electronics critically relies on achieving faster switching with reduced energy consumption. Because device operation speeds are fundamentally constrained by the intrinsic properties of constituent materials, identifying systems with inherently superior switching capabilities is essential. Here, we propose that semimetallic systems characterized by non-trivial quantum geometry, including quadratic band-touching semimetals and singular flat bands, can serve as a promising platform for ultrafast switching at voltages compatible with modern electronics. We show that, in such quantum geometric semimetals, an electric current is generated instantaneously upon application of a moderate external electric field, reaching its steady-state value. As a consequence, the current exhibits rapid and stable on-off switching behaviour under periodic optical pulse trains, demonstrating robustness under experimentally feasible conditions. In terms of switching speed, this quantum geometric semimetal outperforms conventional metals, semiconductors, and graphene. We identify the microscopic origin of this behaviour as interband coupling governed by the Hilbert-Schmidt quantum distance, together with a finite density of states at the band-touching point. This mechanism further leads to a universal classification of conductivity for both gapless and gapped quantum geometric semimetals. Finally, first-principles calculations suggest realistic material platforms, including bilayer graphene, cyclic graphene, monolayer bismuth and V3F8-in which the predicted instantaneous current switching can be directly realized, further supported by time-dependent density functional theory simulations performed for representative systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Klein tunneling in quantum geometric semimetals

Klein tunneling stands as a fundamental probe of relativistic quantum transport in two-dimensional materials. We investigate this phenomenon in quadratic band-touching systems, where the Hilbert-Schmidt quantum distance plays a central role in the underlying mechanism. By employing a generic parabolic model, we systematically disentangle the cooperative effects of intrinsic mass asymmetry and tunable quantum geometry. We demonstrate that mass asymmetry sets the overall transmission profile, including the angular distribution and the resonance channels. In contrast, we show that quantum geometry provides a universal parameter that modulates tunneling efficiency by tuning the quantum distance, while leaving the energy dispersion unchanged. Specifically, quantum geometry plays a dual role: it governs the overall transmission amplitude through pseudospin mismatch, while its interplay with Fabry-Perot interference induces observable shifts in resonance angles. Our findings reveal that incorporating quantum geometry alongside band structure is essential for a complete description of quantum transport.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Topological Protection by Local Support Symmetry and Destructive Interference

Conventionally, symmetry-protected topological phases and band crossings are protected by global symmetries acting on the entire system. Here, we show that symmetries preserved only on a partial region of a system, termed local support symmetries, can protect topological features of the full system, even in the presence of symmetry-breaking couplings. We establish a unified framework by deriving explicit conditions for such protection in both insulating and metallic phases and show that destructive interference of Bloch wave functions plays a key role. Using representative tight-binding models, we demonstrate band crossings and topological bands protected by local support crystalline and time-reversal symmetries, and further present a realistic material realization in a fluorinated biphenylene network, where a band crossing is protected by a local support C$_2$ symmetry.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Magnetic phase transitions driven by quantum geometry

We explore how the quantum geometric properties of the Bloch wave function, characterized by the Hilbert-Schmidt quantum distance, impact magnetic phases in solid-state systems. To this end, we investigate the spin susceptibility within the random phase approximation, considering the onsite Coulomb interaction. We demonstrate that spin susceptibility can be decomposed into a trivial part, dependent solely on the band dispersion, and a geometric part, where the quantum distance plays a crucial role. Focusing on a model of a quadratic band-touching semimetal, we show that a magnetic phase transition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic order can be induced solely by tuning the wavefunction geometry, even while the energy spectrum is held constant. This highlights the versatility of quantum geometry as a mechanism for tuning magnetic properties independent of the energy spectrum. Applying our framework to the Fe-pnictide and kagome lattice models, we further show that the geometric contribution is decisive in stabilizing their known antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic states, respectively. Our work sheds light on the hidden quantum geometric aspects necessary for understanding and engineering magnetic order in quantum materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Enhancing van-Hove singularities in SrRuO$_3$ films by vacancy engineerings

Flat bands, characterized by their localized electronic states and van Hove singularities, provide an ideal platform for exploring many-body physics. However, transition metal oxides hosting flat bands are quite rare. In this study, we investigate the origin of the existing nearly flat bands (NFBs) in SrRuO$_3$ thin films and demonstrate how to increase the number of them through structural modifications. Using a tight-binding model that replicates experimental band structures, we analyze the SrRuO$_3$ monolayer, revealing the origin of its NFBs along the $x$ and $y$ directions. These NFBs arise from destructive interference stabilizing strip-type compact localized states. By introducing periodic Ru-site vacancies, additional NFBs are generated, classified as partial or complete, depending on their Brillouin zone coverage. The compact localized states associated with these NFBs are identified, providing insight into their physical origin. For a 4-layer SrRuO$_3$ multilayer film, we uncover many partial NFBs along the $Γ$X and XM directions and reveal the distinct origin of their development. Our findings highlight the potential of engineering flat bands in SrRuO$_3$ films, offering new opportunities for exploring correlated electronic phases and expanding the material platform for flat-band physics.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Mass-invariant universal optical conductivity from quantum geometry

Mass is a defining property of particles, shaping their fundamental nature and interactions. In condensed matter systems, the effective mass of electrons has long been regarded as a key factor influencing material properties, including their transport and optical responses. In this work, we challenge this conventional wisdom by unveiling a mass-invariant universal optical conductivity, purely derived from quantum geometry, in quadratic band-touching semimetals. Specifically, the optical conductivity simplifies to $\sigma = (e^2/8\hbar)d^2_\mathrm{max}$, independent of effective mass and other band structure details, where $d_\mathrm{max}$ represents the maximum Hilbert-Schmidt quantum distance. Furthermore, under time-reversal and rotational symmetries, $d_\mathrm{max}$ is restricted to discrete values of 0 or 1, leading to a quantized universal optical conductivity. % We also use first principles calculations to demonstrate the mass-invariant universal optical conductivity across multiple materials, including bilayer graphene, monolayer bismuth, monolayer kagome Pd$_3$P$_2$S$_8$, and other realistic material candidates. % Our work establishes a new class of universal quantities in quantum materials entirely governed by quantum geometry.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Magneto-nonlinear Hall effect in time-reversal breaking system

Magneto-nonlinear Hall effect is known to be intrinsic and requires time-reversal symmetry. Here we show that a new type of magneto-nonlinear Hall effect can occur in the time-reversal breaking materials within the second-order response to in-plane electric and vertical magnetic fields. Such a Hall response is generated by the oscillation of the electromagnetic field and has a quantum origin arising from a geometric quantity associated with the Berry curvature and band velocity. We demonstrate that the massive Dirac model of LaAlO3/LaNiO3/LaAlO3 quantum well can be used to detect this Hall effect. Our work widens the theory of the Hall effect in the time-reversal breaking system by proposing a new kind of nonlinear electromagnetic response.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Revisiting the magnetic responses of bilayer graphene from the perspective of the quantum distance

We study the influence of the quantum geometry on the magnetic responses of quadratic band crossing semimetals. More explicitly, we examine the Landau levels, quantum Hall effect, and magnetic susceptibility of a general two-band Hamiltonian that has fixed isotropic quadratic band dispersion but with tunable quantum geometry, in which the interband coupling is fully characterized by the maximum quantum distance $d_\mathrm{max}$. By continuously tuning $d_\mathrm{max}$ in the range of $0\leq d_\mathrm{max}\leq 1$, we investigate how the magnetic properties of the free electron model with $d_\mathrm{max}=0$ evolve into those of the bilayer graphene with $d_\mathrm{max}=1$. We demonstrate that despite sharing the same energy dispersion $ε(p) =\pm\frac{p^2}{2m}$, the charge carriers in the free electron model and bilayer graphene exhibit entirely distinct Landau levels and quantum Hall responses due to the nontrivial quantum geometry of the wave functions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Thermoelectric Transport Driven by Quantum Distance

The geometric characteristics of Bloch wave functions play a crucial role in electronic transport properties. We show that the thermoelectric performance of materials is governed by the geometric structure of Bloch wave functions within the framework of the Boltzmann equation. The essential geometric notion is the Hilbert-Schmidt quantum distance, measuring the resemblance between two quantum states. We establish a geometric characterization of the scattering rate by extending the concept of quantum distance between two states in momentum space at a distance.Employing isotropic quadratic band touching semimetals, where one can concentrate on the role of quantum geometric effects other than the Berry curvature, we find that the response functions for electrical quantum transport and, therefore, the thermoelectric power factor can be succinctly expressed in terms of the maximum quantum distance, $d_\mathrm{max}$. Specifically, when $d_\mathrm{max}$ reaches one, the power factor doubles compared to the case with trivial geometry ($d_\mathrm{max}=0$). Our finding highlights the significance of quantum geometry in improving the performance of thermoelectric devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Engineering two-dimensional nodal semimetals in functionalized biphenylene by fluorine adatoms

We propose a new band engineering scheme on the biphenylene network, a newly synthesized carbon allotrope. First, we investigate the mechanism for the appearance of type II Dirac fermion in a pristine biphenylene network. We show that the essential ingredients are mirror symmetries and the stabilization of the compact localized eigenstates via destructive interference. While the former is used for the band-crossing point along high symmetry lines, the latter makes the obtained Dirac dispersion highly inclined. Then, we demonstrate that many other different kinds of Dirac fermions, such as type-I Dirac, gapped type-II Dirac, and nodal line semimetals, can be developed by fluorinating the biphenylene network periodically in various ways. In this program, the key role of the fluorine atoms is manipulating the condition of the destructive interference and mirror symmetries.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

An unconventional platform for two-dimensional Kagome flat bands on semiconductor surfaces

In condensed matter physics, the Kagome lattice and its inherent flat bands have attracted considerable attention for their potential to host a variety of exotic physical phenomena. Despite extensive efforts to fabricate thin films of Kagome materials aimed at modulating the flat bands through electrostatic gating or strain manipulation, progress has been limited. Here, we report the observation of a novel $d$-orbital hybridized Kagome-derived flat band in Ag/Si(111) $\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}$ as revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our findings indicate that silver atoms on a silicon substrate form a Kagome-like structure, where a delicate balance in the hopping parameters of the in-plane $d$-orbitals leads to destructive interference, resulting in a flat band. These results not only introduce a new platform for Kagome physics but also illuminate the potential for integrating metal-semiconductor interfaces into Kagome-related research, thereby opening a new avenue for exploring ideal two-dimensional Kagome systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Quasi-localization and Wannier Obstruction in Partially Flat Bands

The localized nature of a flat band is understood by the existence of a compact localized eigenstate. However, the localization properties of a partially flat band, ubiquitous in surface modes of topological semimetals, have been unknown. We show that the partially flat band is characterized by a non-normalizable compact localized state(NCLS). The partially flat band develops only in a momentum range, where normalizable Bloch wave functions can be obtained by the linear combination of the NCLSs. Outside this momentum region, a ghost flat band, unseen from the band structure, is introduced for the consistent counting argument with the full set of NCLSs. Then, we demonstrate that the Wannier function corresponding to the partially flat band exhibits an algebraic($\sim 1/r^{1+ε}$ in 1D and $\sim 1/r^{3/2+ε}$ in 2D) decay behavior, where $ε$ is a positive number. Namely, one can have the Wannier obstruction even in a topologically trivial band if it is partially flat. Finally, we develop a construction scheme of a tight-binding model of the topological semimetal by designing an NCLS.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

General construction scheme for geometrically nontrivial flat band models

A singular flat band(SFB), a distinct class of the flat band, has been shown to exhibit various intriguing material properties characterized by a geometric quantity of the Bloch wave function called the quantum distance. We present a general construction scheme for a tight-binding model hosting an SFB, where the quantum distance profile can be controlled. We first introduce how to build a compact localized state(CLS), a characteristic eigenstate of the flat band, providing the flat band with a band-touching point, where a specific value of the maximum quantum distance is assigned. Then, we develop a scheme designing a tight-binding Hamiltonian hosting an SFB starting from the obtained CLS, satisfying the desired hopping range and symmetries by applying the construction scheme. While the scheme can be applied to any dimensions and lattice structures, we propose several simple SFB models on the square and kagome lattices. Finally, we establish a bulk-boundary correspondence between the maximum quantum distance and the boundary modes for the open boundary condition, which can be used to detect the quantum distance via the electronic structure of the boundary states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Flat bands in Network Superstructures of Atomic Chains

We investigate the origin of the ubiquitous existence of flat bands in the network superstructures of atomic chains, where one-dimensional(1D) atomic chains array periodically. While there can be many ways to connect those chains, we consider two representative ways of linking them, the dot-type and triangle-type links. Then, we construct a variety of superstructures, such as the square, rectangular, and honeycomb network superstructures with dot-type links and the honeycomb superstructure with triangle-type links. These links provide the wavefunctions with an opportunity to have destructive interference, which stabilizes the compact localized state(CLS). The CLS is a localized eigenstate whose amplitudes are finite only inside a finite region and guarantees the existence of a flat band. In the network superstructures, there exist multiple flat bands proportional to the number of atoms of each chain, and the corresponding eigenenergies can be found from the stability condition of the compact localized state. Finally, we demonstrate that the finite bandwidth of the nearly flat bands of the network superstructures arising from the next-nearest-neighbor hopping processes can be suppressed by increasing the length of the chains consisting of the superstructures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Bulk-interface correspondence from quantum distance in flat band systems

The bulk-boundary correspondence is an integral feature of topological analysis and the existence of boundary or interface modes offers direct insight into the topological structure of the Bloch wave function. While only the topology of the wave function has been considered relevant to boundary modes, we demonstrate that another geometric quantity, the so-called quantum distance, can also host a bulk-interface correspondence. We consider a generic class of two-dimensional flat band systems, where the flat band has a parabolic band-crossing with another dispersive band. While such flat bands are known to be topologically trivial, we show that the nonzero maximum quantum distance between the eigenstates of the flat band around the touching point guarantees the existence of boundary modes at the interfaces between two domains with different chemical potentials or different maximum quantum distance. Moreover, the maximum quantum distance can predict even the explicit form of the dispersion relation and decay length of the interface modes.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Geometric Origin of Intrinsic Spin Hall Effect in an Inhomogeneous Electric Field

In recent years, the spin Hall effect has received great attention because of its potential application in spintronics and quantum information processing and storage. However, this effect is usually studied under the external homogeneous electric field. Understanding how the inhomogeneous electric field affects the spin Hall effect is still lacking. Here, we investigate a two-dimensional two-band time-reversal symmetric system and give an expression for the intrinsic spin Hall conductivity in the presence of the inhomogeneous electric field, which is shown to be expressed through gauge-invariant geometric quantities. On the other hand, when people get physical intuition on transport phenomena from the wave packet, one issue appears. It is shown that the conductivity obtained from the conventional wave packet approach cannot be fully consistent with the one predicted by the Kubo-Greenwood formula. Here, we attempt to solve this problem.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗