arXiv subjects

Tony Low

Publications and source records attributed to Tony Low.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Gigantic tunneling magnetoresistance in magnetic Weyl semimetal tunnel junctions

We investigate the tunneling magnetoresistance in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) comprised of Weyl semimetal contacts. We show that chirality-magnetization locking leads to a gigantic tunneling magnetoresistance ratio, an effect that does not rely on spin filtering by the tunnel barrier. Our results indicate that the conductance in the anti-parallel configuration is more sensitive to magnetization fluctuations than in MTJs with normal ferromagnets, and predicts a TMR as large as 10^4 % when realistic magnetization fluctuations are accounted for. In addition, we show that the Fermi arc states give rise to a non-monotonic dependence of conductance on the misalignment angle between the magnetizations of the two contacts.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Current-induced torques in magnetic Weyl semimetal tunnel junctions

We study the current-induced torques in asymmetric magnetic tunnel junctions containing a conventional ferromagnet and a magnetic Weyl semimetal contact. The Weyl semimetal hosts chiral bulk states and topologically protected Fermi arc surface states which were found to govern the voltage behavior and efficiency of current-induced torques. We report how bulk chirality dictates the sign of the non-equilibrium torques acting on the ferromagnet and discuss the existence of large field-like torques acting on the magnetic Weyl semimetal which exceeds the theoretical maximum of conventional magnetic tunnel junctions. The latter are derived from the Fermi arc spin texture and display a counter-intuitive dependence on the Weyl nodes separation. Our results shed light on the new physics of multilayered spintronic devices comprising of magnetic Weyl semimetals, which might open doors for new energy efficient spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

The 2021 Quantum Materials Roadmap

In recent years, the notion of Quantum Materials has emerged as a powerful unifying concept across diverse fields of science and engineering, from condensed-matter and cold atom physics to materials science and quantum computing. Beyond traditional quantum materials such as unconventional superconductors, heavy fermions, and multiferroics, the field has significantly expanded to encompass topological quantum matter, two-dimensional materials and their van der Waals heterostructures, Moire materials, Floquet time crystals, as well as materials and devices for quantum computation with Majorana fermions. In this Roadmap collection we aim to capture a snapshot of the most recent developments in the field, and to identify outstanding challenges and emerging opportunities. The format of the Roadmap, whereby experts in each discipline share their viewpoint and articulate their vision for quantum materials, reflects the dynamic and multifaceted nature of this research area, and is meant to encourage exchanges and discussions across traditional disciplinary boundaries. It is our hope that this collective vision will contribute to sparking new fascinating questions and activities at the intersection of materials science, condensed matter physics, device engineering, and quantum information, and to shaping a clearer landscape of quantum materials science as a new frontier of interdisciplinary scientific inquiry.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Toggling Near-field Directionality via Polarization Control of Surface Waves

Directional excitation of guidance modes is central to many applications ranging from light harvesting, optical information processing to quantum optical technology. Of paramount interest, especially, the active control of near-field directionality provides a new paradigm for the real-time on-chip manipulation of light. Here we find that for a given dipolar source, its near-field directionality can be toggled efficiently via tailoring the polarization of surface waves that are excited, for example, via tuning the chemical potential of graphene in a graphene-metasurface waveguide. This finding enables a feasible scheme for the active near-field directionality. Counterintuitively, we reveal that this scheme can transform a circular electric/magnetic dipole into a Huygens dipole in the near-field coupling. Moreover, for Janus dipoles, this scheme enables us to actively flip their near-field coupling and non-coupling faces.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Efficient domain wall motion in asymmetric magnetic tunnel junctions with vertical current flow

In this paper, we study the domain wall motion induced by vertical current flow in asymmetric magnetic tunnel junctions. The domain wall motion in the free layer is mainly dictated by the current-induced field-like torque acting on it. We show that as we increase the MTJ asymmetry, by considering dissimilar ferromagnetic contacts, a linear-in-voltage field-like torque behavior is accompanied by an enhancement in the domain wall displacement efficiency and a higher degree of bidirectional propagation. Our analysis is based on a combination of a quantum transport model and magnetization dynamics as described by the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation, along with comparison to the intrinsic characteristics of a benchmark in-plane current injection domain wall device.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Boosting quantum yields in 2D semiconductors via proximal metal plates

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (1L-TMDs) have tremendous potential as atomically thin, direct bandgap semiconductors that can be used as convenient building blocks for quantum photonic devices. However, the short exciton lifetime due to the defect traps and the strong exciton-exciton interaction in TMDs has significantly limited the efficiency of exciton emission from this class of materials. Here, we show that exciton-exciton dipolar field interaction in 1L-WS2 can be effectively screened using an ultra-flat Au film substrate separated by multilayers of hexagonal boron nitride. Under this geometry, dipolar exciton-exciton interaction becomes quadrupole-quadrupole interaction because of effective image dipoles formed inside the metal. The suppressed exciton-exciton interaction leads to a significantly improved quantum yield by an order of magnitude, which is also accompanied by a reduction in the exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA) rate, as confirmed by time-resolved optical measurements. A semiclassical model accounting for the screening of the dipole-dipole interaction qualitatively captures the dependence of EEA on exciton densities. Our results suggest that fundamental EEA processes in the TMD can be engineered through proximal metallic screening, which represents a practical approach towards high-efficiency 2D light emitters.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Toward Monoatomic-Layer Field Confinement Limit via Acoustic Graphene Plasmons

Vertical plasmonic coupling in double-layer graphene leads to two hybridized plasmonic modes: optical and acoustic plasmons with symmetric and anti-symmetric charge distributions across the interlayer gap, respectively. However, in most experiments based on far-field excitation, only the optical plasmons are dominantly excited in the double-layer graphene systems. Here, we propose strategies to selectively and efficiently excite acoustic plasmons with a single or multiple nano-emitters. The analytical model developed here elucidates the role of the position and arrangement of the emitters on the symmetry of the resulting graphene plasmons. We present an optimal device structure to enable experimental observation of acoustic plasmons in double-layer graphene toward the ultimate level of plasmonic confinement defined by a monoatomic spacer, which is inaccesible with a graphene-on-a-mirror architecture.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Visualization and Manipulation of Bilayer Graphene Quantum Dots with Broken Rotational Symmetry and Nontrivial Topology

Electrostatically defined quantum dots (QDs) in Bernal stacked bilayer graphene (BLG) are a promising quantum information platform because of their long spin decoherence times, high sample quality, and tunability. Importantly, the shape of QD states determines the electron energy spectrum, the interactions between electrons, and the coupling of electrons to their environment, all of which are relevant for quantum information processing. Despite its importance, the shape of BLG QD states remains experimentally unexamined. Here we report direct visualization of BLG QD states by using a scanning tunneling microscope. Strikingly, we find these states exhibit a robust broken rotational symmetry. By using a numerical tight-binding model, we determine that the observed broken rotational symmetry can be attributed to low energy anisotropic bands. We then compare confined holes and electrons and demonstrate the influence of BLG's nontrivial band topology. Our study distinguishes BLG QDs from prior QD platforms with trivial band topology.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Graphene plasmon-phonon coupled modes at the exceptional point

Properties of graphene plasmons are greatly affected by their coupling to phonons. While such coupling has been routinely observed in both near-field and far-field graphene spectroscopy, the interplay between coupling strength and mode losses, and its exceptional point physics has not been discussed. By applying a non-Hermitian framework, we identify the transition point between strong and weak coupling as the exceptional point. Enhanced sensitivity to perturbations near the exceptional point is observed by varying the coupling strength and through gate modulation of the graphene Fermi level. Finally, we also show that the transition from strong to weak coupling is observable by changing the incident angle of radiation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Simple linear response model for predicting energy band alignment of two-dimensional vertical heterostructure

The Anderson and midgap models are often used in the study of semiconductor heterojunctions, but for van der Waals (vdW) vertical heterostructures they have shown only very limited success. Using the group-IV monochalcogenide vertical heterostructures as a prototypical system, we propose a linear response model and compare the effectiveness of these models in predicting density functional theory (DFT) band alignments, band types and bandgaps. We show that the DFT band alignment is best predicted by the linear response model, which falls in between the Anderson and midgap models. Our proposed model can be characterized by an interface dipole $α\times(E_{m2}-E_{m1})$, where the linear response coefficient $α$ = 0 and 1 corresponds to the Anderson and midgap model respectively, and $E_{m}$ is the midgap energy of the monolayer, which can be viewed as an effective electronegativity. For group-IV monochalcogenides, we show that $α$ = 0.34 best captures the DFT band alignment of the vdW heterostructure, and we discuss the viability of the linear response model considering other effects such as strains and band hybridization, and conclude with an application of the model to predict experimental band alignments.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Giant Anomalous Hall Effect due to Double-Degenerate Quasi Flat Bands

We propose a novel approach to achieve giant AHE in materials with flat bands (FBs). FBs are accompanied by small electronic bandwidths, which consequently increases the momentum separation ($K$) within pair of Weyl points and thus the integrated Berry curvature. Starting from a simple model with a single pair of Weyl nodes, we demonstrated the increase of $K$ and AHE by decreasing bandwidth. It is further expanded to a realistic pyrochlore lattice model with characteristic double degenerated FBs, where we discovered a giant AHE while maximizing the $K$ with nearly vanishing band dispersion of FBs. We identify that such model system can be realized in both pyrochlore and spinel compounds based on first-principles calculations, validating our theoretical model and providing a feasible platform for experimental exploration.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Ferromagnetic phase of spinel compound MgV$_2$O$_4$ and its spintronics properties

Spinel compound, MgV$_2$O$_4$, known as a highly frustrated magnet has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically for its exotic quantum magnetic states. However, due to its intrinsic insulating nature in its antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state, its realistic applications in spintronics are quite limited. Here, based on first-principles calculations, we examine the ferromagnetic (FM) phase of MgV$_2$O$_4$, which was found to host three-dimensional flat band (FB) right near the Fermi level, consequently yielding a large anomalous Hall effect (AHE, $σ\approx 670\,Ω^{-1}\cdot cm^{-1}$). Our calculations suggest that the half-metallicity feature of MgV$_2$O$_4$ is preserved even after interfacing with MgO due to the excellent lattice matching, which could be a promising spin filtering material for spintronics applications. Lastly, we explore experimental feasibility of stabilizing this FM phase through strain and doping engineering. Our study suggests that experimentally accessible amount of hole doping might induce a AFM-FM phase transition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Real-space imaging of acoustic plasmons in large-area CVD graphene

An acoustic plasmonic mode in a graphene-dielectric-metal heterostructure has recently been spotlighted as a superior platform for strong light-matter interaction. It originates from the coupling of graphene plasmon with its mirror image and exhibits the largest field confinement in the limit of a nm-thick dielectric. Although recently detected in the far-field regime, optical near-fields of this mode are yet to be observed and characterized. Direct optical probing of the plasmonic fields reflected by the edges of graphene via near-field scattering microscope reveals a relatively small damping rate of the mid-IR acoustic plasmons in our devices, which allows for their real-space mapping even with unprotected, chemically grown, large-area graphene at ambient conditions. We show an acoustic mode that is twice as confined - yet 1.4 times less damped - compared to the graphene surface plasmon under similar conditions. We also image the resonant acoustic Bloch state in a 1D array of gold nanoribbons responsible for the high efficiency of the far-field coupling. Our results highlight the importance of acoustic plasmons as an exceptionally promising platform for large-area graphene-based optoelectronic devices operating in mid-IR.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2020

Image polaritons in boron nitride for extreme polariton confinement with low losses

Polaritons in two-dimensional materials provide extreme light confinement that is difficult to achieve with metal plasmonics. However, such tight confinement inevitably increases optical losses through various damping channels. Here we demonstrate that hyperbolic phonon polaritons in hexagonal boron nitride can overcome this fundamental trade-off. Among two observed polariton modes, featuring a symmetric and antisymmetric charge distribution, the latter exhibits lower optical losses and tighter polariton confinement. Far-field excitation and detection of this high-momenta mode becomes possible with our resonator design that can boost the coupling efficiency via virtual polariton modes with image charges that we dub image polaritons. Using these image polaritons, we experimentally observe a record-high effective index of up to 132 and quality factors as high as 501. Further, our phenomenological theory suggests an important role of hyperbolic surface scattering in the damping process of hyperbolic phonon polaritons.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Chiral plasmons with twisted atomic bilayers

Van der Waals heterostructures of atomically thin layers with rotational misalignments, such as twisted bilayer graphene, feature interesting structural moiré superlattices. Due to the quantum coupling between the twisted atomic layers, light-matter interaction is inherently chiral; as such, they provide a promising platform for chiral plasmons in the extreme nanoscale. However, while the interlayer quantum coupling can be significant, its influence on chiral plasmons still remains elusive. Here we present the general solutions from full Maxwell equations of chiral plasmons in twisted atomic bilayers, with the consideration of interlayer quantum coupling. We find twisted atomic bilayers have a direct correspondence to the chiral metasurface, which simultaneously possesses chiral and magnetic surface conductivities, besides the common electric surface conductivity. In other words, the interlayer quantum coupling in twisted van der Waals heterostructures may facilitate the construction of various (e.g., bi-anisotropic) atomically-thin metasurfaces. Moreover, the chiral surface conductivity, determined by the interlayer quantum coupling, determines the existence of chiral plasmons and leads to a unique phase relationship (i.e., +/-π/2 phase difference) between their TE and TM wave components. Importantly, such a unique phase relationship for chiral plasmons can be exploited to construct the missing longitudinal spin of plasmons, besides the common transverse spin of plasmons.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Hyperbolicity in 2D transition metal ditellurides induced by electronic bands nesting

Naturally occurring hyperbolic plasmonic media is rare, and was only recently observed in the 1T$'$ phase of WTe$_2$. We elucidate on the physical origin of this strong infrared hyperbolic response, and attribute it to band-nested anisotropic interband transitions. Such phenomenon does not occur in general anisotropic materials, at least not in their pristine state. However, band-nested anisotropic interband transitions can in principle be induced via proper electronic band nesting. We illustrate this principle and demonstrate a topological elliptic-to-hyperbolic transition in MoTe$_2$ via strain engineering, which is otherwise non-hyperbolic.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Broadband Enhancement of On-chip Single Photon Extraction via Tilted Hyperbolic Metamaterials

A fundamental building block for on-chip quantum photonics is a single-photon source with high repetition rates, which can enable many applications such as high-speed quantum communication and quantum information processing. Ideally, such single photon sources would then require a large on-chip photon extraction decay rate, namely the rate of excited photons coupled into nanofibers or waveguides, over a broad spectral range. However, this goal has remained elusive till date. Here we propose a feasible scheme to enhance the on-chip photon extraction decay rate of quantum emitters, through the tilting of the optical axis of hyperbolic metamaterials with respect to the end-facet of nanofibers. Importantly, the revealed scheme is applicable to arbitrarily orientated quantum emitters over a broad spectral range, e.g., up to ~80 nm for visible light. The underlying physics relies on the emerging unique feature of hyperbolic metamaterials if their optical axis is judiciously tilted. That is, their supported high-k (i.e., wavevector) hyperbolic eigenmodes, which are intrinsically confined inside them if their optical axis is un-tilted, can now become momentum-matched with the guided modes of nanofibers, and more importantly, they can safely couple into nanofibers almost without reflection.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Plasmons and screening in finite-bandwidth 2D electron gas

The dynamical and nonlocal dielectric function of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) with finite energy bandwidth is computed within random-phase approximation. For large bandwidth, the plasmon dispersion has two separate branches at small and large momenta. The large momenta branch exhibits negative quasi-flat dispersion. The two branches merge with decreasing bandwidth. We discuss how the maximum energy plasmon mode which resides at energies larger than all particle-hole continuum can potentially open a route to low-loss plasmons. Moreover, we discuss the bandwidth effects on the static screening of the charged and magnetic impurities.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗