arXiv subjects

V. A. Chitta

Publications and source records attributed to V. A. Chitta.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Corbino-Enhanced Supersonic Acoustic-Emission Threshold in a GaAs Two-Dimensional Electron System

We report nonlinear differential-resistance measurements in a high-mobility GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron system patterned in a Corbino geometry. At zero magnetic field, $R_{\mathrm{diff}}(I_{dc})$ exhibits a pronounced polarity-selective threshold peak on the negative-current branch, gradually suppressed by a perpendicular magnetic field. We interpret the Corbino anomaly as a local Cherenkov-like threshold for acoustic phonon emission, enabled by the radial current concentration $j_r(r)=I/(2πr)$, which drives the local electron velocity above the sound velocity in a region adjacent to the inner contact. The polarity selectivity is attributed to Peltier heating and cooling, which modify the local thermal and boundary conditions near the contact, rather than to the kinematic threshold itself. Our results identify the Corbino geometry as a sensitive platform for probing local nonequilibrium electron--phonon processes in a high-mobility electron system within an independently established hydrodynamic-crossover regime and suggest that the inner Corbino contact can act as a geometry-defined source for supersonic acoustic emission.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Hydrodynamic magnetotransport in a GaAs Corbino geometry

We report the observation of positive magnetoresistance in high-mobility GaAs Corbino devices. Over a broad intermediate-temperature range, the resistance exhibits a quadratic dependence on perpendicular magnetic field. We analyze the data within hydrodynamic theories of magnetotransport in the Corbino geometry, which describe the crossover between the diffusive and viscous regimes, including finite-slip boundary conditions appropriate for current-penetrable contacts. The extracted relaxation rates are consistent with an approximately $T^2$ temperature dependence of the electron-electron scattering contribution. The extracted viscous relaxation parameters are consistent with those obtained from Hall-bar measurements. Comparison with theory indicates that the observed magnetoresistance is predominantly governed by the bulk hydrodynamic response, while finite slip modifies the Stokes--Ohm crossover quantitatively and the field-dependent boundary voltage provides a separate correction. These results show that Corbino magnetotransport can serve as a complementary bulk-sensitive probe of viscous electron flow.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Electron Hydrodynamics and Bernoulli Effect in Venturi-Shaped 2D Systems

The study of electron hydrodynamics provides a powerful framework for understanding transport in ultraclean conductors, yet experimental evidence has thus far been largely restricted to the linear-response regime. Here, we report the direct observation of a strongly nonlinear transport regime in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron system. By engineering devices with a Venturi-shaped wedge geometry specifically designed to enhance convective nonlinearities, we uncover a pronounced nonlinear voltage response and large diodicity in the current-voltage characteristics. Our experimental findings show quantitative agreement with a theoretical model that attributes the observed nonlinearity to the convective acceleration of the electron fluid, analogous to the Bernoulli effect. These results provide compelling evidence for the applicability of the hydrodynamic framework to two-dimensional electron transport and open new avenues for exploring nonlinear and preturbulent phenomena in solid-state systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Interaction Induced Magnetotransport in a 2D Dirac-Heavy Hole Hybrid Band System

While electron-electron (e-e) interactions are known to influence resistivity in non-Galilean invariant two-dimensional (2D) systems, their effect on magnetotransport is not fully understood. Conventional models for simple bands often predict a vanishing magnetoresistivity from e-e interactions alone. In this work, we investigate magnetotransport in a gapless 6.3 nm HgTe quantum well, a hybrid 2D band system that hosts coexisting holes with both linear (Dirac-like) and parabolic energy bands. Focusing on the high temperature regime where particle-particle collisions dominate scattering, we observe significant corrections to both the magnetoresistivity and the Hall effect. The high temperature transport coefficients are in good agreement with the theoretical model describing transport in massive-massless fermion mixtures governed by a frictional mechanism and intervalley scattering. Our findings provide strong experimental validation for this theoretical framework, demonstrating that collisions between particles with different dispersions are a key mechanism governing magnetotransport in hybrid band semimetals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Magnetotransport in a 2D Hybrid Band System: Dirac and Heavy Hole Interplay

We investigate magnetoresistivity and the Hall effect in a 6.3 nm gapless HgTe quantum well - a two-dimensional hybrid band system featuring coexisting linear (Dirac-like) and parabolic hole energy bands at low energies. Using a classical two-subband model that incorporates intervalley scattering, we reveal a striking tenfold enhancement of the Hall resistance, primarily driven by the dominant transport contribution of Dirac holes. A comprehensive magnetotransport analysis enables us to extract key parameters, such as the mobilities of both carrier types, thereby providing insight into their complex interplay. These results establish the HgTe quantum well as a distinctive platform for exploring novel transport phenomena in hybrid band systems and deepen our understanding of mixed-carrier magnetotransport.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Resistivity of non-Galilean invariant two dimensional Dirac system

We revisited the influence of electron-electron scattering on the resistivity of a two-dimensional system with linear spectrum. In conventional systems with parabolic spectrum, where Umklapp scattering is either prohibited or ineffective due to small Fermi surface, particle-particle scattering does not contribute to conductivity because it does not change the total momentum. However, within the framework of Boltzmann kinetic model, we demonstrate that electron-electron scattering in Dirac systems can significantly contribute to conductivity, producing distinct temperature-dependent corrections: a T\textsuperscript{4} behavior at low temperatures and T\textsuperscript{2} dependence at moderate temperatures. While the predicted T\textsuperscript{4} scaling is not observed experimentally -- likely suppressed by dominant weak localization effects -- the T\textsuperscript{2} scaling is clearly confirmed in our measurements. Specifically, temperature-dependent resistivity data from gapless single-valley HgTe quantum well exhibit T\textsuperscript{2} corrections, which align well with theoretical predictions. Thus, we challenge the paradigm that T\textsuperscript{2} term in resistivity is absent in single-band 2D metals.

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arXiv2025

Obstacle-Induced Gurzhi Effect and Hydrodynamic Electron Flow in Two-Dimensional Systems

The viscous flow of electrons in a narrow channel requires both strong electron-electron interactions and no-slip boundary conditions. However, introducing obstacles within the liquid can significantly increase flow resistance and, as a result, amplify the effects of viscosity. Even in samples with smooth walls, the presence of an obstacle can strongly alter electron behavior, leading to pronounced hydrodynamic effects. We investigated transport in mesoscopic samples containing a disordered array of obstacles. In contrast to samples without obstacles, which do not show a decrease in resistivity with rising temperature, samples with obstacles exhibit a significant resistivity reduction as temperature increases (the Gurzhi effect). By measuring the negative magnetoresistance, we extracted shear viscosity and other parameters through comparison with theoretical predictions. Consequently, narrow-channel samples with a disordered obstacle array provide a valuable platform for studying hydrodynamic electron flow independently of boundary conditions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Bulk and shear viscosities in multicomponent 2D electron system

We investigated magnetotransport in mesoscopic samples containing electrons from three different subbands in GaAs triple wells. At high temperatures, we observed positive magnetoresistance, which we attribute to the imbalance between different types of particles that are sensitive to bulk viscosities. At low temperatures, we found negative magnetoresistance, attributed to shear viscosity. By analyzing the magnetoresistance data, we were able to determine both viscosities. Remarkably, the electronic bulk viscosity was significantly larger than the shear viscosity. Studying multicomponent electron systems in the hydrodynamic regime presents an intriguing opportunity to further explore the physics in systems with high bulk viscosity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Magnetization of Zn1-xCoxO nanoparticles: single-ion anisotropy and spin clustering

The magnetization of Zn1-xCoxO (0.0055 < x < 0.073) nanoparticles has been measured as a function of temperature T (1.7 K < T , 10 K) and for magnetic field up to 65 kOe using a SQUID magnetometer. Samples were synthesized by three different growth methods: microwave-assisted hydrothermal, combustion reaction and sol-gel. For all studied samples, the magnetic properties derive from the antiferromagnetic (AF) spin clustering due to the Co2+ nearest neighbors. At T >= 6 K, the magnetization of the Co2+ ions has a Brillouin-type behavior, but below 6 K, it shows a notable deviation. We have shown that the observed deviation may be derived from single-ion anisotropy (SIA) with uniaxial symmetry. Results of fits show that the axial-SIA parameter D (typically D = 4.4 K) is slightly larger that the bulk value D = 3.97 K. No significant change of D has been observed as a function of the Co concentration or the growth process. For each sample, the SIA fit gave also the effective concentration (x) corresponding to the technical saturation value of the magnetization. Comparison of the concentration dependence of x with predictions based on cluster models shows an enhancement of the AF spin clustering independent of the growth method. This is ascribed to a clamped non-random distribution of the cobalt ions in the nanoparticles. The approach of the local concentration (xL) has been used to quantify the observed deviation from randomicity. Assuming a ZnO core/ Zn1-xCoxO shell nanoparticle, the thickness of the shell has been determined from the ratio xL/x.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Defect Induced Room Temperature Ferromagnetism in High Quality Co-doped ZnO Bulk Samples

The nature of the often reported room temperature ferromagnetism in transition metal doped oxides is still a matter of huge debate. Herein we report on room temperature ferromagnetism in high quality Co-doped ZnO (Zn1-xCoxO) bulk samples synthesized via standard solid-state reaction route. Reference paramagnetic Co-doped ZnO samples with low level of structural defects are subjected to heat treatments in a reductive atmosphere in order to introduce defects in the samples in a controlled way. A detailed structural analysis is carried out in order to characterize the induced defects and their concentration. The magnetometry revealed the coexistence of a paramagnetic and a ferromagnetic phase at room temperature in straight correlation with the structural properties. The saturation magnetization is found to increase with the intensification of the heat treatment, and, therefore, with the increase of the density of induced defects. The magnetic behavior is fully explained in terms of the bound magnetic polaron model. Based on the experimental findings, supported by theoretical calculations, we attribute the origin of the observed defect-induced-ferromagnetism to the ferromagnetic coupling between the Co ions mediated by magnetic polarons due to zinc interstitial defects.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Converting Faraday rotation into magnetization in europium chalcogenides

We present a simple semiclassical model to sustain that in europium chalcogenides (EuX), Faraday rotation (FR) in the transparency gap is proportional to the magnetization of the sample, irrespective of the material's magnetic phase, temperature, or applied magnetic field. The model is validated by FR and magnetization measurements in EuSe in the temperature interval 1.7-300K, covering all EuSe magnetic phases (paramagnetic, antiferromagnetic type I or type II, ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic). Furthermore, by combining the semiclassical model with the explicit electronic energy structure of EuX, the proportionality coefficient between magnetization and FR is shown to be dependent only on the wavelength and the band gap. Due to its simplicity, the model has didactic value, moreover, it provides a working tool for converting FR into magnetization in EuX. Possible extension of the model to other intrinsic magnetic semiconductors is discussed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Ultrafast light switching of ferromagnetism in EuSe

We demonstrate that light resonant with the bandgap forces the antiferromagnetic semiconducor EuSe to enter ferromagnetic alignment in the picosecond time scale. A photon generates an electron-hole pair, whose electron forms a supergiant spin polaron of magnetic moment of nearly 6,000 Bohr magnetons. By increasing the light intensity, the whole of the sample can be fully magnetized. The key to the novel large photoinduced magnetization mechanism is the huge enhancement of the magnetic susceptibility when both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions are present in the material, and are of nearly equal magnitude, as is the case in EuSe.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗