arXiv subjects

M. Breitkreiz

Publications and source records attributed to M. Breitkreiz.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Long-range spin-polarized Josephson effect in ballistic S/F/S junctions with precessing magnetization

We present a theory of ballistic N/F/S and S/F/S junctions with a uniformly precessing magnetization, which generates long-range equal-spin superconducting correlations [Takahashi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 057003 (2007), Houzet, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 057009 (2008)]. The non-equilibrium distribution of Andreev bound states leads to a strongly non-sinusoidal current-phase relationship for large precession angles. We derive detailed results for ballistic junctions involving partially and fully polarized ferromagnets. In the fully polarized half-metal limit, the magnetization precession switches the junction from an "off" state with vanishing subgap current to an "on" state with finite Andreev conductance and finite Josephson current.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Surface photogalvanic effect in Weyl semimetals

The photogalvanic effect -- a rectified current induced by light irradiation -- requires the intrinsic symmetry of the medium to be sufficiently low, which strongly limits candidate materials for this effect. In this work we explore how in Weyl semimetals the photogalvanic effect can be enabled and controlled by design of the material surface. Specifically, we provide a theory of ballistic linear and circular photogalvanic current in a Weyl semimetal spatially confined to a slab under general and variable surface boundary conditions. The results are applicable to Weyl semimetals with an arbitrary number of Weyl nodes at radiation frequencies small compared to the energy of non-linear terms in the dispersion at the Fermi level. The confinement-induced response is tightly linked to the configuration of Fermi-arc surface states, specifically the Fermi-arc connectivity and direction of emanation from the Weyl nodes, thus inheriting the same directionality and sensitivity to boundary conditions. As a result, the photogalvanic response of the system becomes much richer than that of an infinite system, and may be tuned via surface manipulations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Determination of the Fermi surface and field-induced quasi-particle tunneling around the Dirac nodal-loop in ZrSiS

Unambiguous and complete determination of the Fermi surface is a primary step in understanding the electronic properties of topical metals and semi-metals, but only in a relatively few cases has this goal been realized. In this work, we present a systematic high-field quantum oscillation study up to 35 T on ZrSiS, a textbook example of a nodal-line semimetal with only linearly dispersive bands crossing the Fermi energy. The topology of the Fermi surface is determined with unprecedented precision and all pockets are identified by comparing the measured angle dependence of the quantum oscillations to density functional theory calculations. Comparison of the Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen oscillations at low temperatures and analysis of the respective Dingle plots reveal the presence of significantly enhanced scattering on the electron pocket. Above a threshold field that is aligned along the c-axis of the crystal, the specific cage-like Fermi surface of ZrSiS allows for electron-hole tunneling to occur across finite gaps in momentum space leading to quantum oscillations with a complex frequency spectrum. Additional high-frequency quantum oscillations signify magnetic breakdown orbits that encircle the entire Dirac nodal loop. We suggest that the persistence of quantum oscillations in the resistivity to high temperatures is caused by Stark interference between orbits of nearly equal masses.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Phase shift of cyclotron orbits at type-I and type-II multi-Weyl nodes

Quantum oscillations of response functions in high magnetic fields tend to reveal some of the most interesting properties of metals. In particular, the oscillation phase shift is sensitive to topological band features, thereby helping to identify the presence of Weyl fermions. In this work we predict characteristic parameter dependence of the phase shift for Weyl fermions with tilted and overtilted dispersion (type I and type II Weyl fermions) and an arbitrary topological charge (multi-Weyl fermions). For type-II Weyl fermions our calculations capture the case of magnetic breakthrough between the electron and the hole part of the dispersion. Here the phase shift turns out to depend only on the quantized topological charge due to cancellation of non-universal contributions from the electron and the hole part.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Electron-hole tunneling revealed by quantum oscillations in the nodal-line semimetal HfSiS

We report a study of quantum oscillations in the high-field magneto-resistance of the nodal-line semimetal HfSiS. In the presence of a magnetic field up to 31 T parallel to the c-axis, we observe quantum oscillations originating both from orbits of individual electron and hole pockets, and from magnetic breakdown between these pockets. In particular, we find an oscillation associated with a breakdown orbit enclosing one electron and one hole pocket in the form of a `figure of eight'. This observation represents an experimental confirmation of the momentum space analog of Klein tunneling. When the c-axis and the magnetic field are misaligned with respect to one another, this oscillation rapidly decreases in intensity. Finally, we extract the cyclotron masses from the temperature dependence of the oscillations, and find that the mass of the 'figure of eight' orbit corresponds to the sum of the individual pockets, consistent with theoretical predictions for Klein tunneling in topological semimetals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Twisted Fermi surface of a thin-film Weyl semimetal

The Fermi surface of a conventional two-dimensional electron gas is equivalent to a circle, up to smooth deformations that preserve the orientation of the equi-energy contour. Here we show that a Weyl semimetal confined to a thin film with an in-plane magnetization and broken spatial inversion symmetry can have a topologically distinct Fermi surface that is twisted into a $\mbox{figure-8}$ $-$ opposite orientations are coupled at a crossing which is protected up to an exponentially small gap. The twisted spectral response to a perpendicular magnetic field $B$ is distinct from that of a deformed Fermi circle, because the two lobes of a \mbox{figure-8} cyclotron orbit give opposite contributions to the Aharonov-Bohm phase. The magnetic edge channels come in two counterpropagating types, a wide channel of width $βl_m^2\propto 1/B$ and a narrow channel of width $l_m\propto 1/\sqrt B$ (with $l_m=\sqrt{\hbar/eB}$ the magnetic length and $β$ the momentum separation of the Weyl points). Only one of the two is transmitted into a metallic contact, providing unique magnetotransport signatures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Chirality blockade of Andreev reflection in a magnetic Weyl semimetal

A Weyl semimetal with broken time-reversal symmetry has a minimum of two species of Weyl fermions, distinguished by their opposite chirality, in a pair of Weyl cones at opposite momenta $\pm K$ that are displaced in the direction of the magnetization. Andreev reflection at the interface between a Weyl semimetal in the normal state (N) and a superconductor (S) that pairs $\pm K$ must involve a switch of chirality, otherwise it is blocked. We show that this "chirality blockade" suppresses the superconducting proximity effect when the magnetization lies in the plane of the NS interface. A Zeeman field at the interface can provide the necessary chirality switch and activate Andreev reflection.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Weyl-Majorana solenoid

A Weyl semimetal wire with an axial magnetization has metallic surface states (Fermi arcs) winding along its perimeter, connecting bulk Weyl cones of opposite topological charge (Berry curvature). We investigate what happens to this "Weyl solenoid" if the wire is covered with a superconductor, by determining the dispersion relation of the surface modes propagating along the wire. Coupling to the superconductor breaks up the Fermi arc into a pair of Majorana modes, separated by an energy gap. Upon variation of the coupling strength along the wire there is a gap inversion that traps the Majorana fermions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗