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M. A. N. Araujo

Publications and source records attributed to M. A. N. Araujo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Emergent Nesting of the Fermi Surface from Local-Moment Description of Iron-Pnictide High-Tc Superconductors

We uncover the low-energy spectrum of a t-J model for electrons on a square lattice of spin-1 iron atoms with 3dxz and 3dyz orbital character by applying Schwinger-boson-slave-fermion mean-field theory and by exact diagonalization of one hole roaming over a 4 x 4 x 2 lattice. Hopping matrix elements are set to produce hole bands centered at zero two-dimensional (2D) momentum in the free-electron limit. Holes can propagate coherently in the t-J model below a threshold Hund coupling when long-range antiferromagnetic order across the d+ = 3d(x+iy)z and d- = 3d(x-iy)z orbitals is established by magnetic frustration that is off-diagonal in the orbital indices. This leads to two hole-pocket Fermi surfaces centered at zero 2D momentum. Proximity to a commensurate spin-density wave (cSDW) that exists above the threshold Hund coupling results in emergent Fermi surface pockets about cSDW momenta at a quantum critical point (QCP). This motivates the introduction of a new Gutzwiller wavefunction for a cSDW metal state. Study of the spin-fluctuation spectrum at cSDW momenta indicates that the dispersion of the nested band of one-particle states that emerges is electron-type. Increasing Hund coupling past the QCP can push the hole-pocket Fermi surfaces centered at zero 2D momentum below the Fermi energy level, in agreement with recent determinations of the electronic structure of mono-layer iron-selenide superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Hubbard-model description of the high-energy spin-spectral-weight distribution in La(2)CuO(4)

The spectral-weight distribution in recent neutron scattering experiments on the parent compound La$_2$CuO$_4$ (LCO), which are limited in energy range to about 450\,meV, is studied in the framework of the Hubbard model on the square lattice with effective nearest-neighbor transfer integral $t$ and on-site repulsion $U$. Our study combines a number of numerical and theoretical approaches, including, in addition to standard treatments, density matrix renormalization group calculations for Hubbard cylinders and a suitable spinon approach for the spin excitations. Our results confirm that the $U/8t$ magnitude suitable to LCO corresponds to intermediate $U$ values smaller than the bandwidth $8t$, which we estimate to be $8t \approx 2.36$ eV for $U/8t\approx 0.76$. This confirms the unsuitability of the conventional linear spin-wave theory. Our theoretical studies provide evidence for the occurrence of ground-state d-wave spinon pairing in the half-filled Hubbard model on the square lattice. This pairing applies only to the rotated-electron spin degrees of freedom, but it could play a role in a possible electron d-wave pairing formation upon hole doping. We find that the higher-energy spin spectral weight extends to about 566 meV and is located at and near the momentum $[π,π]$. The continuum weight energy-integrated intensity vanishes or is extremely small at momentum $[π,0]$. This behavior of this intensity is consistent with that of the spin waves observed in recent high-energy neutron scattering experiments, which are damped at the momentum $[π,0]$. We suggest that future LCO neutron scattering experiments scan the energies between 450 meV and 566 meV and momenta around $[π,π]$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Spin-spectral-weight distribution and energy range of the parent compound La$_2$CuO$_4$

The spectral-weight distribution in recent neutron scattering experiments on the parent compound La$_2$CuO$_4$ (LCO), which are limited in energy range to about 450\,meV, is studied in the framework of the Hubbard model on the square lattice. We find that the higher-energy weight extends to about 566\,meV and is located at and near the momentum $[π,π]$. Our results confirm that the $U/t$ value suitable to LCO is in the range $U/t\in (6,8)$. The continuum weight energy-integrated intensity vanishes or is extremely small at momentum $[π,0]$. This behavior of the intensity is consistent with that of spin waves, which are damped at $[π,0]$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Fermi surfaces of iron-pnictide high-Tc superconductors from the limit of local magnetic moments

A 2-orbital t-J model over the square lattice that describes low-energy electronic excitations in iron-pnictide high-Tc superconductors is analyzed with Schwinger-boson-slave-fermion meanfield theory and by exact numerical diagonalization on a finite system. A quantum critical point (QCP) is identified that separates a commensurate spin-density wave (cSDW) state at strong Hund's rule coupling from a hidden half-metal state at weak Hund's rule coupling when inter-orbital hole hopping is suppressed. Low-energy spinwaves that disperse anisotropically from cSDW momenta are predicted at the QCP. Nested Fermi surfaces similar to those observed experimentally in iron-pnictide materials are also predicted in such case.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Supercurrent induced domain wall motion

We study the dynamics of a magnetic domain wall, inserted in, or juxtaposed to, a conventional superconductor, via the passage of a spin polarized current through a FSF junction. Solving the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation of motion for the magnetic moments we calculate the velocity of the domain wall and compare it with the case of a FNF junction. We find that in several regimes the domain wall velocity is larger when it is driven by a supercurrent.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Anomalous Hall effect in superconductors with spin-orbit interaction

We calculate the anomalous Hall conductance of superconductors with spin-orbit interaction and with either uniform or local magnetization. In the first case we consider a uniform ferromagnetic ordering in a spin triplet superconductor, while in the second case we consider a conventional s-wave spin singlet superconductor with a magnetic impurity (or a diluted set of magnetic impurities). In the latter case we show that the anomalous Hall conductance can be used to track the quantum phase transition, that occurs when the spin coupling between the impurity and electronic spin density exceeds a certain critical value. In both cases we find that for large spin-orbit coupling the superconductivity is destroyed and the Hall conductance oscillates strongly.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

U(1) slave-particle study of the finite-temperature doped Hubbard model in one and two dimensions

One-dimensional systems have unusual properties such as fractionalization of degrees of freedom. Possible extensions to higher dimensional systems have been considered in the literature. In this work we construct a mean field theory of the Hubbard model taking into account a separation of the degrees of freedom inspired by the one-dimensional case and study the finite-temperature phase diagram for the Hubbard chain and square lattice. The mean field variables are defined along the links of the underlying lattice. We obtain the spectral function and identify the regions of higher spectral weight with the fractionalized fermionic (spin) and bosonic (charge) excitations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Single vortex structure in two models of iron pnictide $s^\pm$ superconductivity

The structure of a single vortex in a FeAs superconductor is studied in the framework of two formulations of superconductivity for the recently proposed sign-reversed $s$ wave ($s^\pm$) scenario: {\it (i)} a continuum model taking into account the existence of an electron and a hole band with a repulsive local interaction between the two; {\it (ii)} a lattice tight-binding model with two orbitals per unit cell and a next-nearest-neighbour attractive interaction. In the first model, the local density of states (LDOS) at the vortex centre, as a function of energy, exhibits a peak at the Fermi level, while in the second model such LDOS peak is deviated from the Fermi level and its energy depends on band filling. An impurity located outside the vortex core has little effect on the LDOS peak, but an impurity close to the vortex core can almost suppress it and modify its position.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Theory of Andreev reflection in a two-orbital model of iron-pnictide superconductors

A recently developed theory for the problem of Andreev reflection between a normal metal (N) and a multiband superconductor (MBS) assumes that the incident wave from the normal metal is coherently transmitted through several bands inside the superconductor. Such splitting of the probability amplitude into several channels is the analogue of a quantum waveguide. Thus, the appropriate matching conditions for the wave function at the N/MBS interface are derived from an extension of quantum waveguide theory. Interference effects between the transmitted waves inside the superconductor manifest themselves in the conductance. We provide results for a FeAs superconductor, in the framework of a recently proposed effective two-band model and two recently proposed gap symmetries: in the sign-reversed s-wave ($Δ\cos(k_x)\cos(k_y)$) scenario resonant transmission through surface Andreev bound states (ABS) at nonzero energy is found as well as destructive interference effects that produce zeros in the conductance; in the extended s-wave ($Δ[\cos(k_x)+\cos(k_y)]$) scenario no ABS at finite energy are found.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Quantum waveguide theory of Andreev reflection in multiband superconductors: the case of Fe-pnictides

The problem of Andreev reflection between a normal metal and a multiband superconductor is addressed. The appropriate matching conditions for the wave function at the interface are established on the basis of an extension of quantum waveguide theory to these systems. Interference effects between different bands of the superconductor manifest themselves in the conductance and the case of FeAs superconductors is specifically considered, in the framework of a recently proposed effective two-band model, in the sign-reversed s-wave pairing scenario. Resonant transmission through surface Andreev bound states is found as well as destructive interference effects that produce zeros in the conductance at normal incidence. Both these effects occur at nonzero bias voltage.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Electron transmission in normal/heavy-fermion superconductor junctions

The Andreev reflection between a normal metal (N) and a heavy-fermion superconductor (HFS) is studied and the boundary conditions for the electron's wave function in the two systems are established in the framework of a two band model for the HFS. Hence we show in a simple and explicit way that the mass enhancement factors in the heavy-fermion (HF) metal do not cause impedance at the N/HFS interface, in accordance with arguments previously presented. We also present an extension of the theory to a two-fluid model for the heavy-fermion, as possibly applicable to, e.g., CeCoIn_5.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Electron transmission between normal and heavy electron metallic phases in a Kondo lattice system

The interface between a heavy electron coherent metallic phase and an incoherent normal metal phase is discussed. The Fermi momentum mismatch between the two phases causes the carriers to scatter at the interface. The interface conductance is a monotonous increasing function of conduction electron density, n_c, and is less than 60% of that of a clean heavy fermion metal at half-filling ($n_c=1$) and can be measured experimentally. Interface experiments can be used as probe of the nature of the homogenous heavy-fermion state and provide important information on the effects of inhomogeneities in heavy-fermion alloys.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Transmission of correlated electrons through sharp domain walls in magnetic nanowires: a renormalization group approach

The transmission of correlated electrons through a domain wall in a ferromagnetic one dimensional system is studied theoretically in the limit of a domain wall width smaller or comparable to the electron Fermi wavelength. The domain wall gives rise to both potential and spin dependent scattering of the charge carriers. Using a poor man's renormalization group approach for the electron-electron interactions, we obtain the low temperature behavior of the reflection and transmission coefficients. The results show that the low-temperature conductance is governed by the electron correlations, which may suppress charge transport without suppressing spin current. The results may account for a huge magnetoresistance associated with a domain wall in ballistic nanocontacs.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Role of electron correlations in transport through domain walls in magnetic nanowires

The transmission of correlated electrons through a domain wall in ferromagnetic quasi-one-dimensional systems is studied theoretically in the case when the domain wall width is comparable with the Fermi wavelength of the charge carriers. The wall gives rise to both potential and spin dependent scattering. Using a poor man's renormalization group approach, we obtain scaling equations for the scattering amplitudes. For repulsive interactions, the wall is shown to reflect all incident electrons at the zero temperature fixed points. In one of the fixed points the wall additionally flips the spin of all incident electrons, generating a finite spin current without associated charge current.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Current-induced motion of a domain wall in magnetic nanowires

The dynamics of current-induced motion of a magnetic domain wall in a quasi-one-dimensional ferromagnet with both easy-axis and easy-plane anisotropy, is studied. We pay a special attention to the case of a sharp domain wall, and calculate the spin torque created by the electric current. The torque has two components, one of which is acting as a driving force for the motion of the domain wall while the other distorts its shape, forcing thus the magnetic moments to deviate from the easy plane.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Phase diagram and magnetic collective excitations of the Hubbard model in graphene sheets and layers

We discuss the magnetic phases of the Hubbard model for the honeycomb lattice both in two and three spatial dimensions. A ground state phase diagram is obtained depending on the interaction strength U and electronic density n. We find a first order phase transition between ferromagnetic regions where the spin is maximally polarized (Nagaoka ferromagnetism) and regions with smaller magnetization (weak ferromagnetism). When taking into account the possibility of spiral states, we find that the lowest critical U is obtained for an ordering momentum different from zero. The evolution of the ordering momentum with doping is discussed. The magnetic excitations (spin waves) in the antiferromagnetic insulating phase are calculated from the random-phase-approximation for the spin susceptibility. We also compute the spin fluctuation correction to the mean field magnetization by virtual emission/absorpion of spin waves. In the large $U$ limit, the renormalized magnetization agrees qualitatively with the Holstein-Primakoff theory of the Heisenberg antiferromagnet, although the latter approach produces a larger renormalization.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Spin waves in La_2CuO_4: band structure and correlation effects

We calculate the antiferromagnetic spin wave dispersion in the half-filled (electronic density n=1) Hubbard model for a two-dimensional square lattice, using the random phase approximation (RPA) in a broken symmetry (spin density wave) ground state. Our results for the spin wave dispersion, ω(\vec q), are compared with high-resolution inelastic neutron scattering performed on La_2CuO$_4. The effects of different band structures and different values of the on-site Coulomb interaction on the spin wave spectrum is studied. Particular attention is put on the high energy dispersion values ω(π/2,π/2) and ω(0,π).

cond-mat.str-el↗