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Shuntaro Sumita

Publications and source records attributed to Shuntaro Sumita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fluctuation-induced antiparallel spin polarization near the boundaries of chiral metals

The spin response of chiral conductors to nonequilibrium electrical fluctuations remains largely unexplored. We develop a low-frequency semiclassical Boltzmann theory coupled to Gauss's law for a chiral metal with spin-orbit coupling of hedgehog type, treating impurity scattering beyond the conventional relaxation-time approximation. We first determine the quadratic response to a local ac current and its frequency dependence, and then show that zero-mean stationary current fluctuation and electric-field fluctuation near boundaries generate finite time-averaged spin polarizations in the two boundary regions of the chiral metal. The polarizations are normal to the boundaries and antiparallel: for one chirality they point inward at both boundaries, and for the other they point outward. Within this model, the dominant contribution arises from the linear Edelstein effect driven by a quadratic effective electric field localized near each boundary. This picture may provide a qualitative explanation for CISS-related spin polarization reported in the absence of an applied bias. More broadly, we expect other externally maintained stochastic drives to induce spin polarization through the same mechanism.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Density-matrix quantum kinetics of spin-mode crossover and ac Edelstein response in spin--orbit-coupled chiral metals

To establish a reference for angular-momentum dynamics driven by spin--orbit coupling (SOC) in chiral conductors, we formulate a density-matrix quantum kinetic theory for a three-dimensional isotropic chiral metal with hedgehog SOC and nonmagnetic impurity scattering. The formulation retains interband coherence, and its collision integral conserves charge, energy, and spin during impurity scattering. We identify three spin modes that evolve continuously from a long-lived D'yakonov--Perel' relaxation mode and two strongly damped precessional modes at weak SOC to one relaxational and two coherent precessional modes at strong SOC. Comparison with a band-diagonal Boltzmann equation shows that interband coherence is essential for both the weak-SOC relaxation mode and the strong-SOC precessional modes. We further derive the ac Edelstein susceptibility and the reciprocal current response to a time-dependent Zeeman field, show that their poles coincide with the spin modes, and verify Onsager reciprocity. The theory thus provides a unified analytic description of spin relaxation, precession, and spin--charge conversion across the weak-to-strong SOC crossover.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Theory of Magnetic Excitations in the Heavy-Fermion Spin-Triplet Superconductor UTe$_2$

We study the dynamical spin response of UTe$_2$ by using a mixed-dimensional periodic Anderson model. Within the BCS-RPA formalism, we examine how the $f$-orbital character of the quasiparticles affects magnetic excitations in both the normal and superconducting (SC) states. In the normal state, finite mixing between localized $f$ electrons and conduction electrons produces a hybridization gap and enhances the spin response at $\mathbf{Q}_{\mathrm{Y}} = (0,π,0)$, indicating that the magnetic excitation originates from particle--hole scattering across the hybridization gap. In the SC state, we compare four odd-parity irreducible representations, $A_u$, $B_{1u}$, $B_{2u}$, and $B_{3u}$, for the spin-triplet order parameter. We find that, for the component of the spin susceptibility parallel to the $\mathbf{d}$ vector, a pronounced superconductivity-induced spin resonance appears at $\mathbf{Q}_{\mathrm{Y}}$ only in the $B_{2u}$ state. This behavior arises because the $B_{2u}$ order parameter remains finite and changes its sign between the relevant $f$-electron-dominated Fermi-surface regions connected by $\mathbf{Q}_\mathrm{Y}$ near $k_z=π$. The sign-change criterion is applicable to multiband superconductors in three-dimensional heavy-fermion systems, in the presence of (i) low-dimensional portions of the Fermi surface connected by a nesting vector, (ii) the dominance of the $f$-electron character, and (iii) the finite amplitude of SC gap on the portions.

cond-mat.supr-con

Two routes to quantum anomalous Hall states in altermagnets

We theoretically propose two possible routes to realizing quantum anomalous Hall states in altermagnetic materials. We consider a minimal square-lattice Hubbard model with antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling associated with an orthorhombic crystal structure, which supports a topologically trivial altermagnetic state. By incorporating Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling and external perturbations, we demonstrate that this trivial state can be turned into topological altermagnetic phases in two distinct ways. The first route is driven by a staggered potential that breaks the symmetry connecting crystallographically equivalent sublattices, leading to a topological altermagnetic ground state characterized by a quantized Hall conductivity $\left| σ_{xy} \right|=e^2/h$ and a Chern number $C=1$. The second route is realized by applying a magnetic field perpendicular to the two-dimensional plane. The resulting topological state appears as a metastable state in the magnetic hysteresis loop, exhibiting a quantized Hall conductivity $\left| σ_{xy} \right|=2e^2/h$ associated with a Chern number $C=2$. We show that these topological transitions are accompanied by characteristic gap closings at the Brillouin-zone boundary, with the number of gap-closing points determining the Chern number. Ribbon-geometry calculations reveal chiral edge states consistent with the bulk topological invariants and demonstrate distinct spin polarizations between the $C=1$ and $C=2$ states. Our results establish experimentally accessible routes to quantized anomalous Hall responses in altermagnets.

cond-mat.str-el

Theory of phonon angular momentum transport across a smooth crystal interface

We theoretically elucidate the transfer of phonon angular momentum by acoustic modes across a smooth interface between crystals. We analyze this process, which is difficult to describe with the conventional acoustic mismatch model, using a reformulated boundary condition and the Boltzmann theory. For an interface between a chiral and an achiral crystal, our analysis reveals that thermal gradients in the chiral crystal induce angular momentum, which diffuses into the achiral crystal even without heat flow. Notably, the density of angular momentum can be enhanced near the interface. These findings advance our understanding of phonon transport and its interplay with electron spins.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Boundary condition for phonon distribution functions at a smooth crystal interface and interfacial angular momentum transfer

We theoretically elucidate the boundary conditions for phonon distribution functions of long-wavelength acoustic phonons at smooth crystal interfaces. We first derive boundary conditions that fully incorporate reflection, transmission, and mode conversion. We obtain these conditions for phonons from those for classical lattice vibrations, using the correspondence between the quantum and classical descriptions. This formulation provides a theoretical foundation for the acoustic mismatch model, widely used to analyze Kapitza resistance. We then refine the boundary conditions to include spatial dependence parallel to the interface. The refined form captures transverse shifts of elastic wave packets, analogous to the optical Imbert--Fedorov shift, and ensures conservation of total angular momentum. Consequently, circularly polarized phonons carrying spin angular momentum (SAM) generate phonon orbital angular momentum (OAM) at the interface. We analytically determine the spatial profile of this OAM and demonstrate that SAM and OAM are both involved in the interfacial diffusion of chiral phonons. Our theory provides concise boundary conditions for phonons, with applications ranging from heat transport to phonon angular momentum transport.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Chirality-dependent spin polarization in metals: linear and quadratic responses

We study spin polarization induced by locally injected electric currents in a metal whose spin--orbit coupling reflects its structural chirality. We reveal both spin polarization in the bulk in the linear response and antiparallel spin polarization near the interface in the quadratic response to external electric currents, and reproduce the experimentally observed correlation between the chirality of the metal and the direction of spin polarization. In particular, we elucidate that the sign of the spin polarization in the quadratic response is opposite to that expected from the bulk spin current. This sign discrepancy originates from spin polarization induced by dipole-like charge distribution appearing in the quadratic response.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Phase-modulated superconductivity via altermagnetism

Stimulated by recent interest in altermagnets, a novel class of antiferromagnets with macroscopic time-reversal symmetry breaking, we investigate the coexistence of altermagnetism and superconductivity. By developing a Ginzburg--Landau theory based on microscopic models, we show that a phase-modulated Fulde--Ferrell superconducting state is stabilized via altermagnetic spin splitting, in contrast to the typical amplitude-modulated states that occur under the uniform Zeeman field. We apply our framework to different models to compare the resulting phase diagrams: a two-sublattice model with altermagnetic order, a continuum model with an anisotropic Zeeman field mimicking altermagnetic spin splitting, and a conventional square-lattice model with two kinds of anisotropic Zeeman fields. We show that the multisublattice structure is crucial for realizing the phase-modulated superconductivity, and highlight spin-split altermagnets as a promising platform for exploring this exotic superconductivity without external magnetic fields.

cond-mat.supr-con

Ideal Spin-Orbit-Free Dirac Semimetal and Diverse Topological Transitions in Pr$_8$CoGa$_3$ Family

Topological semimetals, known for their intriguing properties arising from band degeneracies, have garnered significant attention. However, the discovery of a material realization and the detailed characterization of spinless Dirac semimetals have not yet been accomplished. Here, we propose from first-principles calculations that the $RE_8\mathrm{Co}X_3$ group ($RE$ = rare earth elements, $X$ = Al, Ga, or In) contains ideal spinless Dirac semimetals whose Fermi surfaces are fourfold degenerate band-crossing points (without including spin degeneracy). Despite the lack of space inversion symmetry in these materials, Dirac points are formed on the rotation-symmetry axis due to accidental degeneracies of two bands corresponding to different 2-dimensional irreducible representations of $C_{6v}$ group. We also investigate, through first-principles calculations and effective model analysis, various phase transitions caused by lattice distortion or elemental substitutions from the Dirac semimetal phase to distinct topological semimetallic phases such as nonmagnetic linked-nodal-line and Weyl semimetals (characterized by the second Stiefel-Whitney class) and ferromagnetic Weyl semimetals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Anisotropy-induced spin parity effects

Spin parity effects refer to those special situations where a dichotomy in the physical behavior of a system arises, solely depending on whether the relevant spin quantum number is integral or half-odd integral. As is the case with the Haldane conjecture in antiferromagnetic spin chains, their pursuit often derives deep insights and invokes new developments in quantum condensed matter physics. Here, we put forth a simple and general scheme for generating such effects in any spatial dimension through the use of anisotropic interactions, and a setup within reasonable reach of state-of-the-art cold-atom implementations. We demonstrate its utility through a detailed analysis of the magnetization behavior of a specific one-dimensional spin chain model, an anisotropic antiferromagnet in a transverse magnetic field, unraveling along the way the quantum origin of finite-size effects observed in the magnetization curve that had previously been noted but not clearly understood.

cond-mat.stat-mech

Spin-orbit enabled unconventional Stoner magnetism

The Stoner instability remains a cornerstone for understanding metallic ferromagnets. This instability captures the interplay of Coulomb repulsion, Pauli exclusion, and two-fold fermionic spin degeneracy. In materials with spin-orbit coupling, this fermionic spin is generalized to a two-fold degenerate pseudospin which is typically believed to have symmetry properties as spin. Here we identify a distinct symmetry of this pseudospin that forbids it to couple to a Zeeman field. This `spinless' property is required to exist in five non-symmorphic space groups and has non-trivial implications for superconductivity and magnetism. With Coulomb repulsion, Fermi surfaces composed primarily of this spinless pseudospin feature give rise to Stoner instabilities into magnetic states that are qualitatively different than ferromagnets. These spinless-pseudospin ferromagnets break time-reversal symmetry, have a vanishing magnetization, are non-collinear, and exhibit altermagnetic-like energy band spin-splittings. In superconductors, for all pairing symmetries and field orientations, this spinless pseudospin extinguishes paramagnetic limiting. We discuss applications to superconducting UCoGe and magnetic NiS$_{2-x}$Se$_x$.

cond-mat.str-el

Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state induced by antiferromagnetic order in $κ$-type organic conductors

We theoretically investigate superconductivity under a spin-split band structure owing to a collinear-type antiferromagnetic order in quasi-two-dimensional organic compounds $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2X$. We find that the magnetic order can induce a Fulde--Ferrell--Larkin--Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state, where the Cooper pair possesses a finite center-of-mass momentum. We show this from two types of analyses: (1) an effective model where simple intraband attractive interactions are assumed, and (2) many-body calculations of the repulsive Hubbard model based on the fluctuation-exchange approximation and the linearized Eliashberg equation. Our results show the possibility of realizing the FFLO state without applying an external magnetic field.

cond-mat.supr-con

Crystal-symmetry-protected gapless vortex-line phases in superconducting Dirac semimetals

Vortex lines in superconducting Dirac semimetals realize crystal-symmetry-protected gapless vortex-line phases in which gapless excitations propagate inside a vortex line, in the presence of appropriate crystal symmetry, spin-orbit coupling, and multi-band structures. Here we present a general scheme to classify possible gapless vortex-line phases in superconducting Dirac semimetals with rotation (or screw) symmetry and inversion symmetry, assuming that the rotation (screw) axis is parallel to the vortex line. The rotation (screw)-symmetry-protected gapless modes are stable as long as they have different rotation (screw) eigenvalues. The underlying mechanism for the formation of gapless vortex bound states depends on irreducible representations of rotation (screw) symmetry subject to a vortex field and is classified into three types: (i) accidental band crossing of two vortex bound-state modes under rotation symmetry; (ii) accidental and (iii) enforced band crossing of four vortex bound-state modes under screw symmetry. We present a tight-binding model of screw-symmetry-protected Dirac semimetal with an $s$-wave pair potential, demonstrating a gapless vortex-line phase of type (ii). We obtain four gapless modes of vortex bound states whose gapless points (Majorana zero modes) pinned at a time-reversal invariant momentum (TRIM) when the Fermi energy is close to the Dirac points. As the Fermi energy is moved away from the Dirac points, the four gapless modes are split into a pair of two gapless modes with vanishing excitation energy at non-TRIMs. In closing, we discuss Nb$_3$Pt as a candidate material with the four-fold screw-symmetry-protected Dirac cones that can host a gapless vortex-line phase.

cond-mat.supr-con

Supercurrent-Induced Weyl Superconductivity

We show that Weyl superconductivity can be induced by finite supercurrent in noncentrosymmetric spin-orbit-coupled superconductors with line nodes. We introduce a three-dimensional tight-binding model of a tetragonal superconductor in a $D+p$-wave pairing state with a finite center-of-mass momentum, and elucidate that a line-nodal to point-nodal spectral transition occurs by applying an infinitesimal supercurrent. We also clarify that the higher-order effect in spin-orbit coupling is particularly important for this phenomenon. The point nodes are protected by topologically nontrivial Weyl charges, and therefore gapless arc states appear on the surface of the superconductor. Furthermore, both the positions and the Weyl charges of the point nodes depend on the direction of the current. In addition, a quantized Berry phase defined on high-symmetry planes characterizes the Weyl nodes when the in-plane supercurrent is considered. Our proposition paves a new way for controlling the superconducting gap structures by using an external field.

cond-mat.supr-con

Topological gapless points in superconductors: From the viewpoint of symmetry

Searching for topological insulators/superconductors is a central subject in recent condensed matter physics. As a theoretical aspect, various classification methods of symmetry-protected topological phases have been developed, where the topology of a gapped Hamiltonian is investigated from the viewpoint of its onsite/crystal symmetry. On the other hand, topological physics also appears in semimetals, whose gapless points can be characterized by topological invariants. Stimulated by this background, we shed light on the topology of nodal superconductors. In this paper, we review our modern topological classification theory of superconducting gap nodes in terms of symmetry. The classification method elucidates nontrivial gap structures arising from nonsymmorphic symmetry or angular momentum, which cannot be predicted by a conventional theory.

cond-mat.supr-con

Superconductor/normal-metal/superconductor junction of topological superconductors revisited: Fractional Josephson current, fermion parity, and oscillating wavefunctions

The fractional Josephson effect is known to be a characteristic phenomenon of topological Josephson junctions hosting Majorana zero modes (MZMs), where the Josephson current has a $4π$ (rather than a $2π$) periodicity in the phase difference between the two topological superconductors. We introduce a one-dimensional model of a topological superconductor/normal-metal/superconductor (SNS) junction with the normal-metal (N) region of finite length, which is intermediate regime between the short- and long-junction limits. Assuming weak tunneling at the SN interfaces, we investigate resonance and finite-size effects on the fractional Josephson effect due to the existence of several discrete energy levels in the N region in which wavefunctions have oscillating nodal structure. Through careful analysis of the sign change in the transmission amplitudes through the junction and the fermion parity of the two MZMs, we find that the fractional Josephson current is proportional to the parity of total fermion numbers including both filled normal levels and two MZMs. Furthermore, we elucidate drastic enhancement of the Josephson current due to the resonance between a discrete level in the N region and MZMs.

cond-mat.supr-con

Supercurrent-induced topological phase transitions

We show that finite current in superconductors can induce topological phase transitions, as a result of the deformation of the quasiparticle spectrum by a finite center-of-mass (COM) momentum of the Cooper pairs. To show the wide applicability of this mechanism, we examine the topological properties of three prototypical systems, the Kitaev chain, $s$-wave superconductors, and $d$-wave superconductors. We introduce a finite COM momentum as an external field corresponding to supercurrent and show that all the models exhibit current-induced topological phase transitions. We also discuss the possibility of observing the phase transitions in experiments and the relation to the other finite COM momentum pairing states.

cond-mat.supr-con

Dirac lines and loop at the Fermi level in the Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking Superconductor LaNiGa$_2$

Unconventional superconductors have Cooper pairs with lower symmetries than in conventional superconductors. In most unconventional superconductors, the additional symmetry breaking occurs in relation to typical ingredients such as strongly correlated Fermi liquid phases, magnetic fluctuations, or strong spin-orbit coupling in noncentrosymmetric structures. In this article, we show that the time-reversal symmetry breaking in the superconductor LaNiGa$_2$ is enabled by its previously unknown topological electronic band structure. Our single crystal diffraction experiments indicate a nonsymmorphic crystal structure, in contrast to the previously reported symmorphic structure. The nonsymmorphic symmetries transform the $k_z=π/c$ plane of the Brillouin zone boundary into a node-surface. Band-structure calculations reveal that distinct Fermi surfaces become degenerate on the node-surface and form Dirac lines and a Dirac loop at the Fermi level. Two symmetry related Dirac points remain degenerate under spin-orbit coupling. ARPES measurements confirm the calculations and provide evidence for the Fermi surface degeneracies on the node-surface. These unique topological features enable an unconventional superconducting gap in which time-reversal symmetry can be broken in the absence of other typical ingredients. LaNiGa$_2$ is therefore a topological crystalline superconductor that breaks time-reversal symmetry without any overlapping magnetic ordering or fluctuations. Our findings will enable future discoveries of additional topological superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con