arXiv subjects

S. Pankov

Publications and source records attributed to S. Pankov.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2011

Nearly frozen Coulomb Liquids

We show that very long range repulsive interactions of a generalized Coulomb-like form $V(R)\sim R^{-α}$, with $α<d$ ($d$-dimensionality), typically introduce very strong frustration, resulting in extreme fragility of the charge-ordered state. An \textquotedbl{}almost frozen\textquotedbl{} liquid then survives in a broad dynamical range above the (very low) melting temperature $T_{c}$ which is proportional to $α$. This \textquotedbl{}pseudogap\textquotedbl{} phase is characterized by unusual insulating-like, but very weakly temperature dependent transport, similar to experimental findings in certain low carrier density systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Characterizing Complex Particle Morphologies Through Shape Matching: Descriptors, Applications, and Algorithms

Many standard structural quantities, such as order parameters and correlation functions, exist for common condensed matter systems, such as spherical and rod-like particles. However, these structural quantities are often insufficient for characterizing the unique and highly complex structures often encountered in the emerging field of nano and microscale self-assembly, or other disciplines involving complex structures such as computational biology. Computer science algorithms known as "shape matching" methods pose a unique solution to this problem by providing robust metrics for quantifying the similarity between pairs of arbitrarily complex structures. This pairwise matching operation, either implicitly or explicitly, lies at the heart of most standard structural characterization schemes for particle systems. By substituting more robust "shape descriptors" into these schemes we extend their applicability to structures formed from more complex building blocks. Here, we describe several structural characterization schemes and shape descriptors that can be used to obtain various types of structural information about particle systems. We demonstrate the application of shape matching algorithms to a variety of example problems, for topics including local and global structure identification and classification, automated phase diagram mapping, and the construction of spatial and temporal correlation functions. The methods are applicable to a wide range of systems, both simulated and experimental, provided particle positions are known or can be accurately imaged.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2008

Resonating singlet valence plaquettes

We consider the simplest generalizations of the valence bond physics of SU(2) singlets to SU(N) singlets that comprise objects with N sites -- these are SU(N) singlet plaquettes with N=3 and N=4 in three spatial dimensions. Specifically, we search for a quantum mechanical liquid of such objects -- a resonating singlet valence plaquette phase that generalizes the celebrated resonating valence bond phase for SU(2) spins. We extend the Rokhsar-Kivelson construction of the quantum dimer model to the simplest SU(4) model for valence plaquette dynamics on a cubic lattice. The phase diagram of the resulting quantum plaquette model is analyzed both analytically and numerically. We find that the ground state is solid everywhere, including at the Rokhsar-Kivelson point where the ground state is an equal amplitude sum. By contrast, the equal amplitude sum of SU(3) singlet triangular plaquettes on the face centered cubic lattice is liquid and thus a candidate for describing a resonating single valence plaquette phase, given a suitably defined local Hamiltonian.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Self-doping instability of the Wigner-Mott insulator

We present a theory describing the mechanism for the two-dimensional (2D) metal-insulator transition (MIT) in absence of disorder. A two-band Hubbard model is introduced, describing vacancy-interstitial pair excitations within the Wigner crystal. Kinetic energy gained by delocalizing such excitations is found to lead to an instability of the insulator to self-doping above a critical carrier concentration $n=n_c$, mapping the problem to a density-driven Mott MIT. This mechanism provides a natural microscopic picture of several puzzling experimental features, including the large effective mass enhancement, the large resistivity drop, and the large positive magneto-resistance on the metallic side of the transition. We also present a global phase diagram for the clean 2D electron gas as a function of $n$ and parallel magnetic field $B_{\shortparallel}$, which agrees well with experimental findings in ultra clean samples.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

2D-MIT as self-doping of a Wigner-Mott insulator

We consider an interaction-driven scenario for the two-dimensional metal-insulator transition in zero magnetic field (2D-MIT), based on melting the Wigner crystal through vacancy-interstitial pair formation. We show that the transition from the Wigner-Mott insulator to a heavy Fermi liquid emerges as an instability to self-doping, resembling conceptually the solid to normal liquid transition in He3. The resulting physical picture naturally explains many puzzling features of the 2D-MIT.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Nonlinear screening theory of the Coulomb glass

A nonlinear screening theory is formulated to study the problem of gap formation and its relation to glassy freezing in classical Coulomb glasses. We find that a pseudo-gap ("plasma dip") in a single-particle density of states begins to open already at temperatures comparable to the Coulomb energy. This phenomenon is shown to reflect the emergence of short range correlations in a liquid (plasma) phase, a process which occurs even in the absence of disorder. Glassy ordering emerges when disorder is present, but this occurs only at temperatures more then an order of magnitude lower, which is shown to follow from nonlinear screening of the Coulomb interaction. Our result suggest that the formation of the "plasma dip" at high temperatures is a process distinct from the formation of the Efros-Shklovskii (ES) pseudo-gap, which in our model emerges only within the glassy phase.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗