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Marvin L. Cohen

Publications and source records attributed to Marvin L. Cohen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

Pairing interaction from Demons in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$

We investigate the properties of the recently observed "demon" mode, a 3D acoustic plasmon, in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ with an emphasis on evaluating its role for the pairing interactions in this superconductor. The demon mode is a low-energy electronic excitation, and it has been suggested that it could contribute to a reduced Coulomb repulsion and even a possible attractive interaction between electrons. In this study, we explicitly calculate the dynamically screened Coulomb interaction for Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ by using a renormalized tight-binding band structure and the random phase approximation for the dielectric function. Although the focus here is on Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, this material is considered mainly as a prototype system, having an observed demon mode, and our results should be considered as a guide for application to other systems. Our calculations show that there are regions in ($\mathbf{q}$, $ω$) space where the Coulomb interaction becomes attractive. We find that, although the demon mode is not capable of producing a total attractive electron pairing interaction in Sr$_2$RuO$_4$, it does contribute to a significant reduction in the Coulomb repulsion at the relevant pairing energy scale.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2024

Pressure-induced superconductivity in a novel germanium allotrope

High-pressure studies on elements play an essential role in superconductivity research, with implications for both fundamental science and applications. Here we report the experimental discovery of surprisingly low pressure driving a novel germanium allotrope into a superconducting state in comparison to that for alpha-Ge. Raman measurements revealed structural phase transitions and possible electronic topological transitions under pressure up to 58 GPa. Based on pressure-dependent resistivity measurements, superconductivity was induced above 2 GPa and the maximum Tc of 6.8 K was observed under 4.6 GPa. Interestingly, a superconductivity enhancement was discovered during decompression, indicating the possibility of maintaining pressure-induced superconductivity at ambient pressure with better superconducting performance. Density functional theory analysis further suggested that the electronic structure of Ge (oP32) is sensitive to its detailed geometry and revealed that disorder in the beta-tin structure leads to a higher Tc in comparison to the perfect beta-tin Ge.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2023

Anisotropy and Isotope Effect in Superconducting Solid Hydrogen

Elucidating the phase diagram of solid hydrogen is a key objective in condensed matter physics. Several decades ago, it was proposed that at low temperatures and high pressures, solid hydrogen would be a metal with a high superconducting transition temperature. This transition to a metallic state can happen through the closing of the energy gap in the molecular solid or through a transition to an atomic solid. Recent experiments have managed to reach pressures in the range of 400-500 GPa, providing valuable insights. There is strong evidence suggesting that metallization via either of these mechanisms occurs within this pressure range. Computational and experimental studies have identified multiple promising crystal phases, but the limited accuracy of calculations and the limited capabilities of experiments prevent us from determining unequivocally the observed phase or phases. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the superconducting properties of all the candidate phases. Recently, we reported the superconducting properties of the C2/c-24, Cmca-12, Cmca-4 and I41/amd-2 phases, including anharmonic effects. Here, we report the effects of anisotropy on superconducting properties using Eliashberg theory. Then, we investigate the superconducting properties of deuterium and estimate the size of the isotope effect for each phase. We find that the isotope effect on superconductivity is diminished by anharmonicity in the C2/c-24 and Cmca-12 phases and enlarged in the Cmca-4 and I41/amd-2 phases. Our anharmonic calculations of the C2/c-24 phase of deuterium agree closely with the most recent experiment by Loubeyre et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 29, 035501 (2022)], indicating that the C2/c-24 phase remains the leading candidate in this pressure range, and has a strong anharmonic character. These characteristics can serve to distinguish among crystal phases in experiment.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2022

Magnetism and Interlayer Bonding in Pores of Bernal-Stacked Hexagonal Boron Nitride

When single-layer h-BN is subjected to a high-energy electron beam, triangular pores with nitrogen edges are formed. Because of the broken sp2 bonds, these pores are known to possess magnetic states. We report on the magnetism and electronic structure of triangular pores as a function of their size. Moreover, in the Bernal-stacked h-BN (AB-h-BN), multilayer pores with parallel edges can be created, which is not possible in the commonly fabricated multilayer AA'-h-BN. Given that these pores can be manufactured in a well-controlled fashion using an electron beam, it is important to understand the interactions of pores in neighboring layers. We find that in certain configurations, the edges of the neighboring pores remain open and retain their magnetism, and in others, they form interlayer bonds. We present a comprehensive report on these configurations for small nanopores. We find that at low temperatures, these pores have near degenerate magnetic configurations, and may be utilized in magnetoresistance and spintronics applications. In the process of forming larger multilayer nanopores, interlayer bonds can form, reducing the magnetization. Yet, unbonded parallel multilayer edges remain available at all sizes. Understanding these pores is also helpful in a multitude of applications such as DNA sequencing and quantum emission.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2022

Prediction of High Temperature Superconductivity in C2/c-24 Solid Hydrogen

Recent experimental developments in hydrogen-rich materials in high pressures have put this class of materials above others in the race toward room temperature superconductivity. As it is the basis of all the materials in this class, the efforts to determine the properties of pure solid hydrogen at high pressures remain intense. Most notably, a recent experimental study of the metallization of hydrogen identified the crystal phase of the solid as the C2/c-24 molecular phase up to ~425 GPa. It is possible that the observed metallization is caused by band structure effects and not a structural phase transition, and the material remains in this crystal phase up to higher pressures. Therefore it is of crucial importance to determine the superconducting properties of the C2/c-24 phase. Here, we employ a Wannier function-based dense k-point and q-point sampling to compute the electron-phonon coupling and superconducting properties of molecular hydrogen in the C2/c-24 phase. We find that the material has a high superconducting transition temperature of 242 K at 500 GPa. We also find that the transition temperature rapidly increases with pressure in the 400 - 500 GPa range.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2021

High Temperature Superconductivity in the Candidate Phases of Solid Hydrogen

As the simplest element in nature, unraveling the phase diagram of hydrogen is a primary task for condensed matter physics. As conjectured many decades ago, in the low-temperature and high-pressure part of the phase diagram, solid hydrogen is expected to become metallic with a high superconducting transition temperature. The metallization may occur via band gap closure in the molecular solid or via a transition to the atomic solid. Recently, a few experimental studies pushed the achievable pressures into the 400 - 500 GPa range. There are strong indications that at some pressure in this range metallization via either of these mechanisms occurs, although there are disagreements between experimental reports. Furthermore, there are multiple good candidate crystal phases that have emerged from recent computational and experimental studies which may be realized in upcoming experiments. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the superconducting properties of these candidate phases. In a recent study, we reported the superconducting properties of the C2/c-24 phase, which we believe to be a strong candidate for metallization via band gap closure [M. Dogan et al., arXiv:2107.03889 (2021)]. Here, we report the superconducting properties of the Cmca-12, Cmca-4 and I41/amd-2 phases including the anharmonic effects using a Wannier function-based dense k-point and q-point sampling. We find that the Cmca-12 phase has a superconducting transition temperature that rises from 86 K at 400 GPa to 212 K at 500 GPa, whereas the Cmca-4 and I41/amd-2 phases show a less pressure-dependent behavior with their Tc in the 74 - 94 K and 307 - 343 K ranges, respectively. These properties can be used to distinguish between crystal phases in future experiments. Understanding superconductivity in pure hydrogen is also important in the study of high-Tc hydrides.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2021

Anomalous behavior in high-pressure carbonaceous sulfur hydride

A new experimental study by Snider et al. [Nature 586, 373-377 (2020)] reported behavior in a high-pressure carbon-sulfur-hydrogen system that has been interpreted by the authors as superconductivity at room temperature. The sudden drop of electrical resistance at a critical temperature and the change of the R vs. T behavior with an applied magnetic field point to superconductivity. This is a very exciting study in one of the most important areas of science, hence, it is crucial for the community to investigate these findings and hopefully reproduce these results. In this comment, we present calculations that expand upon the arguments put forth by Hirsch and Marsiglio [arXiv:2010.10307], and offer some speculations about physical mechanisms that might explain the observed data. In agreement with Hirsch and Marsiglio, we show that there are errors in the analysis presented in the experimental paper, and with the correct analysis, the reported R vs. T data significantly deviate from the expected behavior. In particular, the extremely sharp change in resistance at the superconducting transition is not consistent with a strongly type II superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2020

Ultra-Narrow TaS2 Nanoribbons

Imposing additional confinement in two-dimensional (2D) materials can yield further control over the associated electronic, optical, and topological properties. However, synthesis of ultra-narrow nanoribbons (NRs) remains a challenge, particularly for the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and synthesizing TMD NRs narrower than 50 nm has remained elusive. Here, we report the vapor-phase synthesis of ultra-narrow TaS2 NRs. The NRs are grown within the hollow cavity of carbon nanotubes, thereby limiting their lateral dimensions and layer number, while simultaneously stabilizing them against the environment. The NRs reach the monolayer (ML) limit and exhibit widths as low as 2.5 nm. Atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) reveals the detailed atomic structure of the ultra-narrow NRs and we observe a hitherto unseen atomic structure supermodulation phenomenon of ordered defect arrays within the NRs. First-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) show the presence of flat bands, as well as edge- and boundary-localized states, and help identify the atomic configuration of the supermodulation. Nanotube-templated synthesis represents a unique, transferable, and broadly deployable route toward ultra-narrow TMD NR growth.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2020

Stabilization of NbTe3, VTe3, and TiTe3 via Nanotube Encapsulation

The structure of MX3 transition metal trichalcogenides (TMTs, with M a transition metal and X a chalcogen) is typified by one-dimensional (1D) chains weakly bound together via van der Waals interactions. This structural motif is common across a range of M and X atoms (e.g. NbSe3, HfTe3, TaS3), but not all M and X combinations are stable. We report here that three new members of the MX3 family which are not stable in bulk, specifically NbTe3, VTe3, and TiTe3, can be synthesized in the few- to single-chain limit via nano-confined growth within the stabilizing cavity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) reveal the chain-like nature and the detailed atomic structure. The synthesized materials exhibit behavior unique to few-chain quasi-1D structures, such as multi-chain spiraling and a trigonal anti-prismatic rocking distortion in the single-chain limit. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide insight into the crystal structure and stability of the materials, as well as their electronic structure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2020

Magnetic Multilayer Edges in Bernal-Stacked Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Single-layer $\it{h}$-BN is known to have edges with unique magnetism, however, in the commonly fabricated multilayer $\text{AA}^{\prime}$-$\it{h}$-BN, edge relaxations occur that create interlayer bonds and eliminate the unpaired electrons at the edge. Recently, a robust method of growing the unconventional Bernal-stacked $\it{h}$-BN (AB-$\it{h}$-BN) has been reported. Here, we use theoretical approaches to investigate the nitrogen-terminated zigzag edges in AB-$\it{h}$-BN that can be formed in a controlled fashion using a high-energy electron beam. We find that these "open" edges remain intact in bilayer and multilayer AB-$\it{h}$-BN, enabling researchers potentially to investigate these edge states experimentally. We also investigate the thermodynamics of the spin configurations at the edge by constructing a lattice model that is based on parameters extracted from a set of first-principles calculations. We find that the edge spins in neighboring layers interact very weakly, resulting in a sequence of independent spin chains in multilayer samples. By solving this model using Monte Carlo simulations, we can determine nm-scale correlation lengths at liquid-N$_{2}$ temperatures and lower. At low temperatures, these edges may be utilized in magnetoresistance and spintronics applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2020

Observed Metallization of Hydrogen Interpreted as a Band Structure Effect

A recent experimental study of the metallization of hydrogen tracked the direct band gap and vibron frequency via infrared measurements up to ~425 GPa [P. Loubeyre et al., Nature 577, 631 (2020)]. Above this pressure, the direct gap has a discontinuous drop to below the minimum experimentally accessible energy (~0.1 eV). The authors suggested that this observation is caused by a structural phase transition between the C2/c-24 molecular phase to another molecular phase such as Cmca-12. Here, through ab initio calculations of pressure dependent vibron frequency and direct band gap, we find that the experimental data is consistent with the C2/c-24 phase up to 425 GPa, and suggest that this consistency extends beyond that pressure. Specifically, we find that qualitative changes in the band structure of the C2/c-24 phase lead to a discontinuous drop of the direct band gap, which can explain the observed drop without a structural transition. This alternative scenario naturally explains the absence of hysteresis in the measurements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2020

Electron Beam-Induced Nanopores in Bernal-Stacked Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Controlling the size and shape of nanopores in two-dimensional materials is a key challenge in applications such as DNA sequencing, sieving, and quantum emission in artificial atoms. We here investigate experimentally and theoretically triangular vacancies in (unconventional) Bernal-stacked AB-h-BN formed using a high-energy electron beam. Due to the geometric configuration of AB-h-BN, triangular pores in different layers are aligned, and their sizes are controlled by the duration of the electron irradiation. Interlayer covalent bonding at the vacancy edge is not favored, as opposed to what occurs in the more common AA'-stacked BN. A variety of monolayer, concentric and bilayer pores in bilayer AB-h-BN are observed in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and characterized using ab initio simulations. Bilayer pores in AB-h-BN are commonly formed, and grow without breaking the bilayer character. Nanopores in AB-h-BN exhibit a wide range of electronic properties, ranging from half-metallic to non-magnetic and magnetic semiconducting. Therefore, because of the controllability of the pore size, the electronic structure is also highly controllable in these systems, and can potentially be tuned for particular applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2020

Comparison of GW band structure to semi-empirical approach for an FeSe monolayer

We present the G$_0$W$_0$ band structure, core levels, and deformation potential of monolayer FeSe in the paramagnetic phase based on a starting mean field of the Kohn Sham density functional theory (DFT) with the PBE functional. We find the GW correction increases the bandwidth of the states forming the $M$ pocket near the Fermi energy, while leaving the $Γ$ pocket roughly unchanged. We then compare the G$_0$W$_0$ quasiparticle band energies with the band structure from a simple empirical +A approach, which was recently proposed to capture the renormalization of the electron-phonon interaction going beyond DFT in FeSe, when used as a starting point in density functional perturbation theory (DFPT). We show that this empirical correction succeeds in approximating the GW non-local and dynamical self energy in monolayer FeSe and reproduces the GW band structure near the Fermi surface, the core energy levels, and the deformation potential (electron-phonon coupling).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2020

Emergence of Topologically Non-trivial Spin-polarized States in a Segmented Linear Chain

The synthesis of new materials with novel or useful properties is one of the most important drivers in the fields of condensed matter physics and materials science. Discoveries of this kind are especially significant when they point to promising future basic research and applications. Van der Waals bonded materials comprised of lower-dimensional building blocks have been shown to exhibit emergent properties when isolated in an atomically thin form1-8. Here, we report the discovery of a transition metal chalcogenide in a heretofore unknown segmented linear chain form, where basic building blocks each consisting of two hafnium atoms and nine tellurium atoms (Hf2Te9) are van der Waals bonded end-to-end. First-principle calculations based on density functional theory reveal striking crystal-symmetry-related features in the electronic structure of the segmented chain, including giant spin splitting and nontrivial topological phases of selected energy band states. Atomic-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals single segmented Hf2Te9 chains isolated within the hollow cores of carbon nanotubes, with a structure consistent with theoretical predictions. Van der Waals-bonded segmented linear chain transition metal chalcogenide materials could open up new opportunities in low-dimensional, gate-tunable, magnetic and topological crystalline systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2019

Topological carbon materials: a new perspective

Carbon has numerous one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) allotropic structures. The study of carbon materials has been a major focus of material science and condensed matter physics. Previous studies have identified different classes of topological semimetallic carbon allotropes with different topological phases. In this review, we first give a brief summary of the development of carbon allotropes from 1D to 3D. Next, we discuss topological properties of carbon materials and their physical origin. Then, we consider possible expansion of the topological study of carbon materials to other light-element materials such as boron. Finally, we present future prospects in pursue of topological physics within carbon allotropes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2019

Metal-insulator transition in quasi-one-dimensional HfTe3 in the few-chain limit

The quasi-one-dimensional linear chain compound HfTe3 is experimentally and theoretically explored in the few- to single-chain limit. Confining the material within the hollow core of carbon nanotubes allows isolation of the chains and prevents the rapid oxidation which plagues even bulk HfTe3. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy combined with density functional theory calculations reveals that, once the triple-chain limit is reached, the normally parallel chains spiral about each other, and simultaneously a short-wavelength trigonal anti-prismatic rocking distortion occurs that opens a significant energy gap. This results in a size-driven metal-insulator transition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2018

Alternative Stacking Sequences in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

The relative orientation of successive sheets, i.e. the stacking sequence, in layered two-dimensional materials is central to the electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties of the material. Often different stacking sequences have comparable cohesive energy, leading to alternative stable crystal structures. Here we theoretically and experimentally explore different stacking sequences in the van der Waals bonded material hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). We examine the total energy, electronic bandgap, and dielectric response tensor for five distinct high symmetry stacking sequences for both bulk and bilayer forms of h-BN. Two sequences, the generally assumed AA' sequence and the relatively unknown (for h-BN) AB (Bernal) sequence, are predicted to have comparably low energy. We present a scalable modified chemical vapor deposition method that produces large flakes of virtually pure AB stacked h-BN; this new material complements the generally available AA' stacked h-BN.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗