arXiv subjects

S. Sachdev

Publications and source records attributed to S. Sachdev.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Anomalous mirror symmetry breaking in a model insulating cuprate Sr$_2$CuO$_2$Cl$_2$

Understanding the complex phase diagram of cuprate superconductors is an outstanding challenge. The most actively studied questions surround the nature of the pseudogap and strange metal states and their relationship to superconductivity. In contrast, there is general agreement that the low energy physics of the Mott insulating parent state is well captured by a two-dimensional spin $S$ = 1/2 antiferromagnetic (AFM) Heisenberg model. However, recent observations of a large thermal Hall conductivity in several parent cuprates appear to defy this simple model and suggest proximity to a magneto-chiral state that breaks all mirror planes perpendicular to the CuO$_2$ layers. Here we use optical second harmonic generation to directly resolve the point group symmetries of the model parent cuprate Sr$_2$CuO$_2$Cl$_2$. We report evidence of an order parameter $\Phi$ that breaks all perpendicular mirror planes and is consistent with a magneto-chiral state in zero magnetic field. Although $\Phi$ is clearly coupled to the AFM order parameter, we are unable to realize its time-reversed partner ($-\Phi$) by thermal cycling through the AFM transition temperature ($T_{\textrm{N}}$ $\approx$ 260 K) or by sampling different spatial locations. This suggests that $\Phi$ onsets above $T_{\textrm{N}}$ and may be relevant to the mechanism of pseudogap formation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Cross-correlating galaxy catalogs and gravitational waves: a tomographic approach

Unveiling the origin of the coalescing binaries detected via gravitational waves (GW) is challenging, notably if no multi-wavelength counterpart is detected. One important diagnostic tool is the coalescing binary distribution with respect to the large scale structures (LSS) of the universe, which we quantify via the cross-correlation of galaxy catalogs with GW ones. By using both existing and forthcoming galaxy catalogs and using realistic Monte Carlo simulations of GW events, we find that the cross-correlation signal should be marginally detectable in a 10-year data taking of advanced LIGO-Virgo detectors at design sensitivity, at least for binary neutron star mergers. The expected addition of KAGRA and LIGO-India to the GW detector network would allow for a firmer detection of this signal and, in combination with future cosmological surveys, would also permit the detection of cross-correlation for coalescing black holes. Such a measurement may unveil, for instance, a primordial origin of coalescing black holes. To attain this goal, we find that it is crucial to adopt a tomographic approach and to reach a sufficiently accurate localization of GW events. The depth of forthcoming surveys will be fully exploited by third generation GW detectors such as the Einstein Telescope or the Cosmic Explorer, which will allow one to perform precision studies of the coalescing black hole LSS distribution and attain rather advanced model discrimination capabilities.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

The Advanced LIGO Photon Calibrators

The two interferometers of the Laser Interferometry Gravitaional-wave Observatory (LIGO) recently detected gravitational waves from the mergers of binary black hole systems. Accurate calibration of the output of these detectors was crucial for the observation of these events, and the extraction of parameters of the sources. The principal tools used to calibrate the responses of the second-generation (Advanced) LIGO detectors to gravitational waves are systems based on radiation pressure and referred to as Photon Calibrators. These systems, which were completely redesigned for Advanced LIGO, include several significant upgrades that enable them to meet the calibration requirements of second-generation gravitational wave detectors in the new era of gravitational-wave astronomy. We report on the design, implementation, and operation of these Advanced LIGO Photon Calibrators that are currently providing fiducial displacements on the order of $10^{-18}$ m/$\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ with accuracy and precision of better than 1 %.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2014

Evolution of Quantum Fluctuations Near the Quantum Critical Point of the Transverse Field Ising Chain System CoNb$_2$O$_6$

The transverse field Ising chain (TFIC) model is ideally suited for testing the fundamental ideas of quantum phase transitions, because its well-known $T=0$ ground state can be extrapolated to finite temperatures. Nonetheless, the lack of appropriate model materials hindered the past effort to test the theoretical predictions. Here we map the evolution of quantum fluctuations in the TFIC based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements of CoNb$_2$O$_6$, and demonstrate the finite temperature effects on quantum criticality for the first time. From the temperature dependence of the $^{93}$Nb longitudinal relaxation rate $1/T_1$, we identify the renormalized classical, quantum critical, and quantum disordered scaling regimes in the temperature ($T$) vs. transverse magnetic field ($h_{\perp}$) phase diagram. Precisely at the critical field $h_{\perp}^{c}=5.25 \pm 0.15$ T, we observe a power-law behavior, $1/T_{1} \sim T^{-3/4}$, as predicted by quantum critical scaling. Our parameter-free comparison between the data and theory reveals that quantum fluctuations persist up to as high as $T \sim 0.4 J$, where the intra-chain exchange interaction $J$ is the only energy scale of the problem.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Topological Defects Coupling Smectic Modulations to Intra-unit-cell Nematicity in Cuprate

We study the coexisting smectic modulations and intra-unit-cell nematicity in the pseudogap states of underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+{\delta}. By visualizing their spatial components separately, we identified 2\pi topological defects throughout the phase-fluctuating smectic states. Imaging the locations of large numbers of these topological defects simultaneously with the fluctuations in the intra-unit-cell nematicity revealed strong empirical evidence for a coupling between them. From these observations, we propose a Ginzburg-Landau functional describing this coupling and demonstrate how it can explain the coexistence of the smectic and intra-unit-cell broken symmetries and also correctly predict their interplay at the atomic scale. This theoretical perspective can lead to unraveling the complexities of the phase diagram of cuprate high-critical-temperature superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

Quantum Fluctuations of a Nearly Critical Heisenberg Spin Glass

We describe the interplay of quantum and thermal fluctuations in the infinite-range Heisenberg spin glass. This model is generalized to SU(N) symmetry, and we describe the phase diagram as a function of the spin S and the temperature T. The model is solved in the large N limit and certain universal critical properties are shown to hold to all orders in 1/N. For large S, the ground state is a spin glass, but quantum effects are crucial in determining the low T thermodynamics: we find a specific heat linear in T and a local spectral density of spin excitations linear in frequency for a spin glass state which is marginally stable to fluctuations in the replicon modes. For small S, the spin-glass order is fragile, and a spin-liquid state dominates the properties over a significant range of temperatures and frequencies. We argue that the latter state may be relevant in understanding the properties of strongly-disordered transition metal and rare earth compounds.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1998

A low frequency radio telescope at Mauritius for a Southern sky survey

A new, meter-wave radio telescope has been built in the North-East of Mauritius, an island in the Indian ocean, at a latitude of -20.14 deg. The Mauritius Radio Telescope (MRT) is a Fourier Synthesis T-shaped array, consisting of a 2048 m long East-West arm and a 880 m long South arm. In the East-West arm 1024 fixed helices are arranged in 32 groups and in the South arm 16 trolleys, with four helices on each, which move on a rail are used. A 512 channel digital complex correlation receiver is used to measure the visibility function. At least 60 days of observing are required for obtaining the visibilities up to 880 m spacing. The Fourier transform of the calibrated visibilities produces a map of the area of the sky under observation with a synthesized beam width 4'X 4.6'sec(dec+20.14) at 151.5 MHz. The primary objective of the telescope is to produce a sky survey in the declination range -70 deg to -10 deg with a point source sensitivity of about 200 mJy (3-sigma level). This will be the southern sky equivalent of the Cambridge 6C survey. In this paper we describe the telescope, discuss the array design and the calibration techniques used, and present a map made using the telescope.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1996

Finite temperature correlations in the one-dimensional quantum Ising model

We extend the form-factors approach to the quantum Ising model at finite temperature. The two point function of the energy is obtained in closed form, while the two point function of the spin is written as a Fredholm determinant. Using the approach of \Korbook, we obtain, starting directly from the continuum formulation, a set of six differential equations satisfied by this two point function. Four of these equations involve only spacetime derivatives, of which three are equivalent to the equations obtained earlier in \mccoy,\perk. In addition, we obtain two new equations involving a temperature derivative. Some of these results are generalized to the Ising model on the half line with a magnetic field at the origin.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1994

Landau theory of quantum spin glasses of rotors and Ising spins

We consider quantum rotors or Ising spins in a transverse field on a $d$-dimensional lattice, with random, frustrating, short-range, exchange interactions. The quantum dynamics are associated with a finite moment of inertia for the rotors, and with the transverse field for the Ising spins. For a suitable distribution of exchange constants, these models display spin glass and quantum paramagnet phases and a zero temperature quantum transition between them. An earlier exact solution for the critical properties of a model with infinite-range interactions can be reproduced by minimization of a Landau effective-action functional for the model in finite $d$ with short-range interactions. The functional is expressed in terms of a composite spin field which is bilocal in time. The mean-field phase diagram near the zero temperature critical point is mapped out as a function of temperature, strength of the quantum coupling, and applied fields. The spin glass ground state is found to be replica symmetric, with replica symmetry breaking appearing only at finite temperatures. Next we examine the consequences of fluctuations about mean-field for the critical properties. Above $d=8$, and with certain restrictions on the values of the Landau couplings, we find that the transition is controlled by a Gaussian fixed point with mean-field critical exponents. For couplings not attracted by the Gaussian fixed point above $d=8$, and for all physical couplings below $d=8$, we find runaway renormalization group flows to strong coupling. General scaling relations that should be valid even at the strong coupling fixed point are proposed and compared with Monte Carlo simulations.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1993

Universal Magnetic Properties of Frustrated Quantum Antiferromagnets in Two Dimensions

We present a theory of frustrated, two-dimensional, quantum antiferromagnets in the vicinity of a quantum transition from a non-collinear, magnetically-ordered ground state to a quantum-disordered phase. Using a sigma-model for bosonic, spin-1/2, spinon fields, we obtain universal scaling forms for a variety of observables. Our results are compared with numerical data on the spin-1/2 triangular antiferromagnet.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1993

Universal Behavior of the Spin-Echo Decay Rate in La_2CuO_4

We present a theoretical expression for the spin-echo decay rate, 1/T_2G, in the quantum-critical regime of square lattice quantum antiferromagnets. Our results are in good agreement with recent experimental data by Imai et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. v.71, 1254 (1993)] for La_2CuO_4.

cond-mat↗