arXiv subjects

Steven H. Simon

Publications and source records attributed to Steven H. Simon.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Quantum Boltzmann equation for bilayer graphene

A-B stacked bilayer graphene has massive electron and hole-like excitations with zero gap in the nearest-neighbor hopping approximation. In equilibrium, the quasiparticle occupation approximately follows the usual Fermi-Dirac distribution. In this paper we consider perturbing this equilibrium distribution so as to determine DC transport coefficients near charge neutrality. We consider the regime $β|μ| \lesssim 1$ (with $β$ the inverse temperature and $μ$ the chemical potential) where there is not a well formed Fermi surface. Starting from the Kadanoff-Baym equations, we obtain the quantum Boltzmann equation of the electron and hole distribution functions when the system is weakly perturbed out of equilibrium. The effect of phonons, disorder, and boundary scattering for finite sized systems are incorporated through a generalized collision integral. The transport coefficients, including the electrical and thermal conductivity, thermopower, and shear viscosity, are calculated in the linear response regime. We also extend the formalism to include an external magnetic field. We present results from numerical solutions of the quantum Boltzmann equation. Finally, we derive a simplified two-fluid hydrodynamic model appropriate for this system, which reproduces the salient results of the full numerical calculations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Classical Dimers on Penrose Tilings

We study the classical dimer model on rhombic Penrose tilings, whose edges and vertices may be identified with those of a bipartite graph. We find that Penrose tilings do not admit perfect matchings (defect-free dimer coverings). Instead, their maximum matchings have a monomer density of $81-50φ\approx 0.098$ in the thermodynamic limit, with $φ=\left(1+\sqrt{5}\right)/2$ the golden ratio. Maximum matchings divide the tiling into a fractal of nested closed regions bounded by loops that cannot be crossed by monomers. These loops connect second-nearest neighbour even-valence vertices, each of which lies on such a loop. Assigning a charge to each monomer with a sign fixed by its bipartite sublattice, we find that each bounded region has an excess of one charge, and a corresponding set of monomers, with adjacent regions having opposite net charge. The infinite tiling is charge neutral. We devise a simple algorithm for generating maximum matchings, and demonstrate that maximum matchings form a connected manifold under local monomer-dimer rearrangements. We show that dart-kite Penrose tilings feature an imbalance of charge between bipartite sub-lattices, leading to a minimum monomer density of $\left(7-4φ\right)/5\approx 0.106$ all of one charge.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Energetics of Pfaffian-AntiPfaffian Domains

In several recent works it has been proposed that, due to disorder, the experimentally observed nu=5/2 quantum Hall state could be microscopically composed of domains of Pfaffian order along with domains of AntiPfaffian order. We numerically examine the energetics required for forming such domains and conclude that for the parameters appropriate for recent experiments, such domains would not occur.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Partial Equilibration of the Anti-Pfaffian edge due to Majorana Disorder

We consider electrical and thermal equilibration of the edge modes of the Anti-Pfaffian quantum Hall state at $ν=5/2$ due to tunneling of the Majorana edge mode to trapped Majorana zero modes in the bulk. Such tunneling breaks translational invariance and allows scattering between Majorana and other edge modes in such a way that there is a parametric difference between the length scales for equilibration of charge and heat transport between integer and Bose mode on the one hand, and for thermal equilibration of the Majorana edge mode on the other hand. We discuss a parameter regime in which this mechanism could explain the recent observation of quantized heat transport [Banerjee et all, Nature 559, 7713 (2018)].

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Transport in bilayer graphene near charge neutrality: Which scattering mechanisms are important?

Using the semiclassical quantum Boltzmann equation (QBE), we numerically calculate the DC transport properties of bilayer graphene near charge neutrality. We find, in contrast to prior discussions, that phonon scattering is crucial even at temperatures below 40K. Nonetheless, electron-electron scattering still dominates over phonon collisions allowing a hydrodynamic approach. We introduce a simple two-fluid hydrodynamic model of electrons and holes interacting via Coulomb drag and compare our results to the full QBE calculation. We show that the two-fluid model produces quantitatively accurate results for conductivity, thermopower, and thermal conductivity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Finite temperature effects on Majorana bound states in chiral $p$-wave superconductors

We study Majorana fermions bound to vortex cores in a chiral $p$-wave superconductor at temperatures non-negligible compared to the superconducting gap. Thermal occupation of Caroli de Gennes-Matricon states, below the full gap, causes the free energy difference between the two fermionic parity sectors to decay algebraically with increasing temperature. The power law acquires an additional factor of $T^{-1}$ for each bound state thermally excited. The zero-temperature result is exponentially recovered well below the minigap (lowest-lying CdGM level). Our results suggest that temperatures larger than the minigap may not be disastrous for topological quantum computation. We discuss the prospect of precision measurements of pinning forces on vortices as a readout scheme for Majorana qubits.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Interaction effects and charge quantization in single-particle quantum dot emitters

We discuss a theoretical model of an on-demand single-particle emitter that employs a quantum dot, attached to an integer or fractional quantum Hall edge state. Via an exact mapping of the model onto the spin-boson problem we show that Coulomb interactions between the dot and the chiral quantum Hall edge state, unavoidable in this setting, lead to a destruction of precise charge quantization in the emitted wave-packet. Our findings cast doubts on the viability of this set-up as a single-particle source of quantized charge pulses. We further show how to use a spin-boson master equation approach to explicitly calculate the current pulse shape in this set-up.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Weak-coupling superconductivity in an anisotropic three-dimensional repulsive Hubbard model

We study a three-dimensional single-band repulsive Hubbard model at weak coupling. We establish the superconducting phase diagram in the parameter space of the chemical potential and the out-of-plane hopping strength. The model continuously connects the Hubbard model in two and three dimensions. We confirm previously-established results in these limits, and identify a rich structure of competing order parameters in between. Specifically, we find five types of $p$- and $d$-wave orders. In several regions of the phase diagram, even when the Fermi surface is a corrugated cylinder, the ground state is a time-reversal-symmetry-breaking superconductor with nodes, i.e. a Weyl superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Theory of the Josephson Junction Laser

We develop an analytic theory for the recently demonstrated Josephson Junction laser (Science 355, p. 939, 2017). By working in the time-domain representation (rather than the frequency-domain) a single non-linear equation is obtained for the dynamics of the device, which is fully solvable in some regimes of operation. The nonlinear drive is seen to lead to mode-locked output, with a period set by the round-trip time of the resonant cavity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Effective Edge State Dynamics in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

We consider the behaviour of quantum Hall edges away from the Luttinger liquid fixed point that occurs in the low energy, large system limit. Using the close links between quantum Hall wavefunctions and conformal field theories we construct effective Hamiltonians from general principles and then constrain their forms by considering the effect of bulk symmetries on the properties of the edge. In examining the effect of bulk interactions on this edge we find remarkable simplifications to these effective theories which allow for a very accurate description of the low-energy physics of quantum Hall edges relatively far away from the Luttinger liquid fixed point, and which apply to small systems and higher energies.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

On the Structure of Edge State Inner Products in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

We analyse the inner products of edge state wavefunctions in the fractional quantum Hall effect, specifically for the Laughlin and Moore-Read states. We use an effective description for these inner products given by a large-$N$ expansion ansatz proposed in recent work by J. Dubail, N. Read and E. Rezayi, PRB 86, 245310 (2012). As noted by these authors, the terms in this ansatz can be constrained using symmetry, a procedure we perform to high orders. We then check this conjecture by calculating the overlaps exactly for small system sizes and compare the numerics with our high-order expansion. We find the effective description to be very accurate.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Size Constraints on Majorana Beamsplitter Interferometer: Majorana Coupling and Surface-Bulk Scattering

Topological insulator surfaces in proximity to superconductors have been proposed as a way to produce Majorana fermions in condensed matter physics. One of the simplest proposed experiments with such a system is Majorana interferometry. Here, we consider two possibly conflicting constraints on the size of such an interferometer. Coupling of a Majorana mode from the edge (the arms) of the interferometer to vortices in the centre of the device sets a lower bound on the size of the device. On the other hand, scattering to the usually imperfectly insulating bulk sets an upper bound. From estimates of experimental parameters, we find that typical samples may have no size window in which the Majorana interferometer can operate, implying that a new generation of more highly insulating samples must be explored.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

On the Interpretation of Thermal Conductance of the nu=5/2 Edge

Recent experiments [Banerjee et al, arXiv:1710.00492] have measured thermal conductance of the nu=5/2 edge in a GaAs electron gas and found it to be quantized as K \approx 5/2 (in appropriate dimensionless units). This result is unexpected, as prior numerical work predicts that the nu=5/2 state should be the Anti-Pfaffian phase of matter, which should have quantized K=3/2. The purpose of this paper is to propose a possible solution to this conflict: if the Majorana edge mode of the Anti-Pfaffian does not thermally equilibrate with the other edge modes, then K=5/2 is expected. I briefly discuss a possible reason for this nonequilibration, and what should be examined further to determine if this is the case.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

How SU(2)$_4$ Anyons are Z$_3$ Parafermions

We consider the braid group representation which describes the non-abelian braiding statistics of the spin 1/2 particle world lines of an SU(2)$_4$ Chern-Simons theory. Up to an abelian phase, this is the same as the non-Abelian statistics of the elementary quasiparticles of the $k=4$ Read-Rezayi quantum Hall state. We show that these braiding statistics are identical to those of Z$_3$ Parafermions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Efficient representation of fully many-body localized systems using tensor networks

We propose a tensor network encoding the set of all eigenstates of a fully many-body localized system in one dimension. Our construction, conceptually based on the ansatz introduced in Phys. Rev. B 94, 041116(R) (2016), is built from two layers of unitary matrices which act on blocks of $\ell$ contiguous sites. We argue this yields an exponential reduction in computational time and memory requirement as compared to all previous approaches for finding a representation of the complete eigenspectrum of large many-body localized systems with a given accuracy. Concretely, we optimize the unitaries by minimizing the magnitude of the commutator of the approximate integrals of motion and the Hamiltonian, which can be done in a local fashion. This further reduces the computational complexity of the tensor networks arising in the minimization process compared to previous work. We test the accuracy of our method by comparing the approximate energy spectrum to exact diagonalization results for the random field Heisenberg model on 16 sites. We find that the technique is highly accurate deep in the localized regime and maintains a surprising degree of accuracy in predicting certain local quantities even in the vicinity of the predicted dynamical phase transition. To demonstrate the power of our technique, we study a system of 72 sites and we are able to see clear signatures of the phase transition. Our work opens a new avenue to study properties of the many-body localization transition in large systems.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2016

Strong Peak in $T_c$ of Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ Under Uniaxial Pressure

We report a combined experimental and theoretical study of the dependence of the superconductivity of the unconventional superconductor Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ on anisotropic strain. Novel piezoelectric apparatus is used to apply uniaxial pressures of up to $\sim$1~GPa along a $\langle 100 \rangle$ direction ($a$-axis) of the crystal lattice. $T_c$ increases from 1.5~K in unstrained material to 3.4~K at compression by $\approx$0.6\%, then falls steeply. The $c$-axis upper critical field for the strained $T_c$ = 3.4~K material is a factor of twenty larger than that of the unstrained crystal, whereas the in-plane ($a$-axis) critical field increases by only a factor of three. First-principles electronic structure calculations give evidence that the observed maximum $T_c$ occurs at or near a Lifshitz transition when the Fermi level passes through a van Hove singularity. Finally, we perform order parameter analyses using three-band renormalization group calculations. These, combined with the unexpectedly low in-plane critical field, open the possibility that the highly strained $T_c$=3.4~K Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ has an even- rather than an odd-parity order parameter. Potential implications such as a transition at nonzero strain between odd- and even-parity order parameters are discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Quantum Hall Edges with Hard Confinement: Exact Solution beyond Luttinger Liquid

We consider a Laughlin droplet in a confining potential which is very steep but also weak compared to the ultra-short ranged inter-particle interactions. We find that the eigenstates have a Jack polynomial structure, and have an energy spectrum which is extremely different from the well-known Luttinger liquid edge.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Driven impurity in an ultracold 1D Bose gas with intermediate interaction strength

We study a single impurity driven by a constant force through a 1D Bose gas using a Lieb-Liniger based approach. Our calculaton is exact in the interaction amongst the particles in the Bose gas, and is perturbative in the interaction between the gas and the impurity. In contrast to previous studies of this problem, we are able to handle arbitrary interaction strength for the Bose gas. We find very good agreement with recent experiments [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 150601 (2009)].

cond-mat.quant-gas↗