arXiv subjects

Rohit Prasankumar

Publications and source records attributed to Rohit Prasankumar.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Ultrafast dynamics and light-induced superconductivity from first principles

Experiments on superconducting materials have unveiled unique emergent properties when they are driven far from equilibrium. However, a quantitative first-principles treatment that describes experimental observations is lacking. In this work, we develop an ab-initio model for the nonequilibrium response of optically irradiated superconducting films within the framework of conventional electron-phonon-mediated superconductivity, leveraging new numerical techniques to solve the Migdal-Eliashberg equations directly on the real-frequency axis. This enables us to quantitatively reproduce the optical response of superconducting films in pump-probe experiments and validate our approach on measurements of the differential reflectance of Pb and LaH$_{10}$ in response to a pump excitation. Similar calculations performed on the alkali-doped fulleride K$_3$C$_{60}$ reveal that a photo-induced superconducting state is generated after irradiation by an ultrafast mid-infrared pulse of sufficient intensity, as reported in prior experimental work. The enhancement in this framework is attributed to the excitation of quasiparticles to energies resonant with the strongest electron-phonon coupling in K$_3$C$_{60}$, in close analogy to the mechanism for enhancement of superconductivity under microwave irradiation, explaining the nature of the photo-induced superconducting state and elucidating the subsequent quasiparticle and phonon dynamics. Our results suggest that photo-induced superconductivity is accessible in more materials than previously recognized. We demonstrate this by performing calculations on calcium-intercalated graphite, CaC$_6$, and predict a similar photo-induced superconducting gap.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Fast Real-Axis Eliashberg Calculations: Full-bandwidth solutions beyond the constant density of states approximation

Experimentally relevant signatures of superconductivity require access to real-frequency quantities, such as the spectral functions, optical response, and transport properties, yet Migdal-Eliashberg calculations are commonly performed on the imaginary axis and then analytically continued, a step that is numerically delicate and can obscure physically relevant spectral features. Here we present a practical route to solving the finite-temperature Migdal-Eliashberg equations directly on the real-frequency axis, while retaining the effects from the full-bandwidth electronic structure. Our formulation accounts for particle-hole asymmetry through an energy-dependent electronic density of states, avoiding the constant density of states approximation often used in real-axis calculations, and includes a static screened Coulomb contribution. We introduce an efficient numerical technique to solve the Migdal-Eliashberg integrals whose computational cost scales linearly with the real-frequency grid, making high-resolution, full-bandwidth real-axis calculations feasible and providing direct access to the interacting Green's function and derived observables without analytic continuation. As an illustration, we apply the method to H$_{3}$S, where a van-Hove singularity near the Fermi level produces strong particle-hole asymmetry. The full-bandwidth solution yields noticeably different spectra than the constant density of states approximation and brings the superconducting gap and lineshapes into closer agreement with experiment, highlighting when band-structure details are essential. Furthermore, the methods presented here open the door to time-dependent, nonequilibrium simulations within Eliashberg theory.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Why Mg$_2$IrH$_6$ is predicted to be a high temperature superconductor, but Ca$_2$IrH$_6$ is not

The X$_2$MH$_6$ family, consisting of an electropositive cation X and a main group metal M octahedrally coordinated by hydrogen, has been predicted to hold promise for high-temperature conventional superconductivity. Herein, we analyze the electronic structure of two members of this family, Mg$_2$IrH$_6$ and Ca$_2$IrH$_6$, showing why the former may possess superconducting properties rivaling those of the cuprates, whereas the latter does not. Within Mg$_2$IrH$_6$ the vibrations of the IrH$_6^{4-}$ anions are key for the superconducting mechanism, and they induce coupling in the $e_g^*$ set, which are antibonding between the H 1$s$ and the Ir $d_{x^2-y^2}$ or $d_{z^2}$ orbitals. Because calcium possesses low-lying d-orbitals, $e_g^* \rightarrow$ Ca $d$ back-donation is preferred, quenching the superconductivity. Our analysis explains why high critical temperatures were only predicted for second or third row X metal atoms, and may hold implications for superconductivity in other systems where the antibonding anionic states are filled.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Computationally efficient method for calculating electron-phonon coupling for high-throughput superconductivity search

Using a computationally inexpensive frozen phonon approach we have developed a technique which can be used to screen large unit cell materials and systems for enhanced superconducting critical temperatures. The method requires only density functional theory (DFT) calculated electronic band structures of phonon modes corresponding to atomic displacements for various materials. We have applied this method to well known conventional superconductors including MgB$_2$, H$_{3}$S and other hydrides as examples.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Feasible route to high-temperature ambient-pressure hydride superconductivity

A key challenge in materials discovery is to find high-temperature superconductors. Hydrogen and hydride materials have long been considered promising materials displaying conventional phonon-mediated superconductivity. However, the high pressures required to stabilize these materials have restricted their application. Here, we present results from high-throughput computation, considering a wide range of high-symmetry ternary hydrides from across the periodic table at ambient pressure. This large composition space is then reduced by considering thermodynamic, dynamic, and magnetic stability, before direct estimations of the superconducting critical temperature. This approach has revealed a metastable ambient-pressure hydride superconductor, Mg$_2$IrH$_6$, with a predicted critical temperature of 160 K, comparable to the highest temperature superconducting cuprates. We propose a synthesis route via a structurally related insulator, Mg$_2$IrH$_7$, which is thermodynamically stable above 15 GPa and discuss the potential challenges in doing so.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Theoretical study of high harmonic generation in monolayer NbSe$_2$

High harmonic generation (HHG) is a powerful probe of electron dynamics on attosecond to femtosecond timescales and has been successfully used to detect electronic and structural changes in solid-state quantum materials, including transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Among TMDs, bulk NbSe2 exhibits charge density wave (CDW) order below 33 K and becomes superconducting below 7.3 K. Monolayer NbSe2 is therefore interesting as a material whose different structural and electronic properties could be probed via HHG. Here, we predict the HHG response of the pristine 2H and CDW phases of monolayer NbSe2 using real-time time-dependent density functional theory under the application of a simulated laser pulse excitation. We find that due to the lack of inversion symmetry in both monolayer phases, it is possible to excite even harmonics and that the even harmonics appear as the transverse components of the current response under excitations polarized along the zigzag direction of the monolayer, while odd harmonics arise from the longitudinal current response in all excitation directions. This suggests that the even and odd harmonic response can be controlled via the polarization of the probing field, opening an avenue for potentially useful applications in opto-electronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

One-dimensionality signature in optical conductivity of heavy-fermion CeIr$_{3}$B$_{2}$

In low dimensions, the combined effects of interactions and quantum fluctuations can lead to dramatically new physics distinct from that existing in higher dimensions. Here, we investigate the electronic and optical properties of CeIr$_{3}$B$_{2}$, a quasi-one-dimensional (1D) Kondo lattice system, using $ab\ initio$ calculations. The Ce atoms in the hexagonal crystal structure form 1D chains along the $c$-axis, with extremely short Ce-Ce distances. The quasi-1D nature of the crystal structure is well reflected in its electronic structure. Extremely flat bands emerge within the $ab$-plane of the Brillouin zone, yielding sharp optical transitions in the corresponding optical conductivity. Our calculations indicate that these prominent peaks in the optical conductivity provide a clear signature of quasi-1D heavy fermion systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

A real-time TDDFT study of femtosecond laser driven monolayer NbSe2

High harmonic generation (HHG) spectra have the potential to show novel signatures of ordered phases in condensed matter. We studied the femtosecond laser-driven electronic response of monolayer NbSe2 using state-of-the-art computational methods, which can guide future synthesis and optical characterization. Earlier studies found distinct signatures of charge density wave (CDW) ordered phases in the ground state of NbSe2 monolayers, in co-existence with superconductivity. Driving such systems with ultrashort laser pulses can shed new light on optically controlling various exotic phases (e.g. CDW) in monolayer NbSe2. This will not only provide a fundamental understanding of non-equilibrium phase-transitions in NbSe2, but also will open a path forward for revolutionizing quantum information technologies, such as valleytronics. To this end, we have studied high harmonic generation (HHG) in monolayer NbSe2 under various optical pump intensities using real-time time-dependent density functional theory (RT-TDDFT). Our calculations predict distinct signatures in HHG spectra for certain harmonics in the presence of CDW order in monolayer NbSe2. Finally, we also examined the dependence of HHG spectra on excitation intensity and qualitatively revealed its power-law behavior.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗