arXiv subjects

Walter Metzner

Publications and source records attributed to Walter Metzner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Anomalous criticality near semimetal-to-superfluid quantum phase transition in a two-dimensional Dirac cone model

We analyze the scaling behavior at and near a quantum critical point separating a semimetallic from a superfluid phase. To this end we compute the renormalization group flow for a model of attractively interacting electrons with a linear dispersion around a single Dirac point. We study both ground state and finite temperature properties. In two dimensions, the electrons and the order parameter fluctuations exhibit power-law scaling with anomalous scaling dimensions. The quasi-particle weight and the Fermi velocity vanish at the quantum critical point. The order parameter correlation length turns out to be infinite everywhere in the semimetallic ground state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Nematic Quantum Criticality Without Order

We consider a two-dimensional interacting Fermi system which displays a nematic phase within mean-field theory. The system is analyzed using a non-perturbative renormalization-group scheme. We find that order-parameter fluctuations can suppress the nematic order obtained in mean-field theory even at zero temperature. For a suitable choice of parameters a quantum critical point surrounded by a disordered phase can be realized, giving rise to quantum critical behavior in the absence of an ordered regime in the phase diagram.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Parametrization of Nambu vertex in a singlet superconductor

We analyze general properties of the effective Nambu two-particle vertex and its renormalization group flow in a spin-singlet superconductor. In a fully spin-rotation invariant form the Nambu vertex can be expressed by only three distinct components. Solving exactly the flow of a mean-field model with reduced BCS and forward scattering interactions, we gain insight into the singularities in the momentum and energy dependences of the vertex at and below the critical energy scale for superconductivity. Using a decomposition of the vertex in various interaction channels, we manage to isolate singular momentum and energy dependences in only one momentum and energy variable for each term, such that the singularities can be efficiently parametrized.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Competition of Fermi surface symmetry breaking and superconductivity

We analyze a mean-field model of electrons on a square lattice with two types of interaction: forward scattering favoring a d-wave Pomeranchuk instability and a BCS pairing interaction driving d-wave superconductivity. Tuning the interaction parameters a rich variety of phase diagrams is obtained. If the BCS interaction is not too strong, Fermi surface symmetry breaking is stabilized around van Hove filling, and coexists with superconductivity at low temperatures. For pure forward scattering Fermi surface symmetry breaking occurs typically via a first order transition at low temperatures. The presence of superconductivity reduces the first order character of this transition and, if strong enough, can turn it into a continuous one. This gives rise to a quantum critical point within the superconducting phase. The superconducting gap tends to suppress Fermi surface symmetry breaking. For a relatively strong BCS interaction, Fermi surface symmetry breaking can be limited to intermediate temperatures, or can be suppressed completely by pairing.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Theory of the in-plane anisotropy of magnetic excitations in YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6+y}

A pronounced xy-anisotropy was observed in recent neutron scattering experiments for magnetic excitations in untwinned YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6+y} (YBCO). The small anisotropy of the bare band structure due to the orthorhombic crystal symmetry seems to be enhanced by correlation effects. A natural possibility is that the system is close to a Pomeranchuk instability associated with a d-wave Fermi surface deformation (dFSD). We investigate this possibility in the bilayer t-J model within a self-consistent slave-boson mean-field theory. We show that the dFSD correlations drive a pronounced xy-anisotropy of magnetic excitations at low doping and at relatively high temperatures, providing a scenario for the observed xy-anisotropy in optimally doped as well as underdoped YBCO, including the pseudogap phase.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Electrical resistivity near Pomeranchuk instability in two dimensions

We analyze the DC charge transport in the quantum critical regime near a d-wave Pomeranchuk instability in two dimensions. The transport decay rate is linear in temperature everywhere on the Fermi surface except at cold spots on the Brillouin zone diagonal. For pure systems, this leads to a DC resistivity proportional to T^{3/2} in the low-temperature limit. In the presence of impurities the residual impurity resistance at T=0 is approached linearly at low temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Magnetic excitations and their anisotropy in YBCO: slave-boson mean-field analysis of bilayer t-J model

We perform a comprehensive analysis of the dynamical magnetic susceptibility χ(q,ω) in the slave-boson mean-field scheme of the bilayer t-J model. In the d-wave pairing state, the strongest magnetic spectral weight appears at q=Q=(pi,pi) and ω=ω_{Q}^{res}, and spreads into a diamond-shaped shell around Q in q space for ω<ω_{Q}^{res}. This weight is due to a collective mode, namely a particle-hole bound state, which has a downward ωversus q dispersion around Q. Within the high intensity shell, the incommensurate (IC) signals at q=(pi,pi\pm 2piη) and (pi\pm 2piη,pi) tend to be stronger than the diagonal incommensurate (DIC) signals at q=(pi\pm 2piη',pi\pm 2piη'), especially for a large hole density δ. For ω\ll ω_{Q}^{res} the IC signals completely disappear and the weight remains only around the DIC positions. For ω> ω_{Q}^{res} strong signals of Imχ(q,ω) tracing an upward dispersion are found and interpreted as an overdamped collective mode near ω_{Q}^{res}. In the normal state, Imχ(q,ω) has a broad peak at q=Q. That is, the IC and DIC signals appear only in the d-wave pairing state. We also study effects of a small orthorhombic anisotropy, which is intrinsic in untwinned YBCO crystals. Because of electron-electron correlations favoring d-wave shaped Fermi surface deformations (dFSD), we expect an enhanced anisotropy of magnetic excitation spectra. This effect is particularly pronounced for low δand at relatively high temperature. The present theory provides a rather detailed microscopic explanation of the most salient properties of magnetic excitations observed in YBCO.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Fermionic renormalization group flow into phases with broken discrete symmetry: charge-density wave mean-field model

We generalize the application of the functional renormalization group (fRG) method for the fermionic flow into the symmetry-broken phase to finite temperatures. We apply the scheme to the case of a broken discrete symmetry: the charge-density wave (CDW) mean-field model at half filling. We show how an arbitrarily small initial CDW order parameter starts to grow at the CDW instability and how it flows to the correct final value, suppressing the divergence of the effective interaction in the fRG flow. The effective interaction peaks at the instability and saturates at low energy scales or temperatures. The relation to the mean-field treatment, differences compared to the flow for a broken continuous symmetry, and the prospects of the new method are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Fermi surface fluctuations and single electron excitations near Pomeranchuk instability in two dimensions

A metallic electron system near an orientational symmetry breaking Pomeranchuk instability is characterized by a ''soft'' Fermi surface with enhanced collective fluctuations. We analyze fluctuation effects in a two-dimensional electron system on a square lattice in the vicinity of a Pomeranchuk instability with d-wave symmetry, using a phenomenological model which includes interactions with a small momentum transfer only. We compute the dynamical density correlations with a d-wave form factor for small momenta and frequencies, the dynamical effective interaction due to fluctuation exchange, and the electron self-energy. At the quantum critical point the density correlations and the dynamical forward scattering interaction diverge with a dynamical exponent z=3. The singular forward scattering leads to large self-energy corrections, which destroy Fermi liquid behavior over the whole Fermi surface except near the Brillouin zone diagonal. The decay rate of single-particle excitations, which is related to the width of the peaks in the spectral function, exceeds the excitation energy in the low-energy limit. The dispersion of maxima in the spectra flattens strongly near those portions of the Fermi surface which are remote from the zone diagonal.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Pseudogap at hot spots in the two-dimensional Hubbard model at weak coupling

We analyze the interaction-induced renormalization of single-particle excitations in the two-dimensional Hubbard model at weak coupling using the Wick-ordered version of the functional renormalization group. The self energy is computed for real frequencies by integrating a flow equation with renormalized two-particle interactions. In the vicinity of hot spots, that is points where the Fermi surface intersects the umklapp surface, self energy effects beyond the usual quasi-particle renormalizations and damping occur near instabilities of the normal, metallic phase. Strongly enhanced renormalized interactions between particles at different hot spots generate a pronounced low-energy peak in the imaginary part of the self energy, leading to a pseudogap-like double-peak structure in the spectral function for single-particle excitations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Mean-field theory for symmetry-breaking Fermi surface deformations on a square lattice

We analyze a mean-field model of electrons with pure forward scattering interactions on a square lattice which exhibits spontaneous Fermi surface symmetry breaking with a d-wave order parameter: the surface expands along the kx-axis and shrinks along the ky-axis (or vice versa). The symmetry-broken phase is stabilized below a dome-shaped transition line Tc(mu), with a maximal Tc near van Hove filling. The phase transition is usually first order at the edges of the transition line, and always second order around its center. The d-wave compressibility of the Fermi surface is however strongly enhanced even near the first order transition down to zero temperature. In the weak coupling limit the phase diagram is fully determined by a single non-universal energy scale, and hence dimensionless ratios of different characteristic quantities are universal. Adding a uniform repulsion to the forward scattering interaction, the two tricritical points at the ends of the second order transition line are shifted to lower temperatures. For a particularly favorable choice of hopping and interaction parameters one of the first order edges is replaced completely by a second order transition line, leading to a quantum critical point.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Semiclassical theory of electron drag in strong magnetic fields

We present a semiclassical theory for electron drag between two parallel two-dimensional electron systems in a strong magnetic field, which provides a transparent picture of the most salient qualitative features of anomalous drag phenomena observed in recent experiments, especially the striking sign reversal of drag at mismatched densities. The sign of the drag is determined by the curvature of the effective dispersion relation obeyed by the drift motion of the electrons in a smooth disorder potential. Localization plays a role in explaining activated low temperature behavior, but is not crucial for anomalous drag per se.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Renormalization group flows into phases with broken symmetry

We describe a way to continue the fermionic renormalization group flow into phases with broken global symmetry. The method does not require a Hubbard-Stratonovich decoupling of the interaction. Instead an infinitesimally small symmetry-breaking component is inserted in the initial action, as an initial condition for the flow of the selfenergy. Its flow is driven by the interaction and at low scales it saturates at a nonzero value if there is a tendency for spontaneous symmetry breaking in the corresponding channel. For the reduced BCS model we show how a small initial gap amplitude flows to the value given by the exact solution of the model. We also discuss the emergence of the Goldstone boson in this approach.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2001

Pair fluctuation induced pseudogap in the normal phase of the two-dimensional attractive Hubbard model at weak coupling

One-particle spectral properties in the normal phase of the two-dimensional attractive Hubbard model are investigated in the weak coupling regime using the non-selfconsistent T-matrix approximation. The corresponding equations are evaluated numerically directly on the real frequency axis. For temperatures sufficiently close to the superconducting transition temperature a pseudogap in the one-particle spectral function is observed, which can be assigned to the increasing importance of pair fluctuations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

d-wave superconductivity and Pomeranchuk instability in the two-dimensional Hubbard model

We present a systematic stability analysis for the two-dimensional Hubbard model, which is based on a new renormalization group method for interacting Fermi systems. The flow of effective interactions and susceptibilities confirms the expected existence of a d-wave pairing instability driven by antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations. More unexpectedly, we find that strong forward scattering interactions develop which may lead to a Pomeranchuk instability breaking the tetragonal symmetry of the Fermi surface.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Renormalization group analysis of the 2D Hubbard model

Salmhofer [Commun. Math. Phys. 194, 249 (1998)] has recently developed a new renormalization group method for interacting Fermi systems, where the complete flow from the bare action of a microscopic model to the effective low-energy action, as a function of a continuously decreasing infrared cutoff, is given by a differential flow equation which is local in the flow parameter. We apply this approach to the repulsive two-dimensional Hubbard model with nearest and next-nearest neighbor hopping amplitudes. The flow equation for the effective interaction is evaluated numerically on 1-loop level. The effective interactions diverge at a finite energy scale which is exponentially small for small bare interactions. To analyze the nature of the instabilities signalled by the diverging interactions we extend Salmhofers renormalization group for the calculation of susceptibilities. We compute the singlet superconducting susceptibilities for various pairing symmetries and also charge and spin density susceptibilities. Depending on the choice of the model parameters (hopping amplitudes, interaction strength and band-filling) we find commensurate and incommensurate antiferromagnetic instabilities or d-wave superconductivity as leading instability. We present the resulting phase diagram in the vicinity of half-filling and also results for the density dependence of the critical energy scale.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Reduction formula for fermion loops and density correlations of the 1D Fermi gas

Fermion N-loops with an arbitrary number of density vertices N > d+1 in d spatial dimensions can be expressed as a linear combination of (d+1)-loops with coefficients that are rational functions of external momentum and energy variables. A theorem on symmetrized products then implies that divergencies of single loops for low energy and small momenta cancel each other when loops with permuted external variables are summed. We apply these results to the one-dimensional Fermi gas, where an explicit formula for arbitrary N-loops can be derived. The symmetrized N-loop, which describes the dynamical N-point density correlations of the 1D Fermi gas, does not diverge for low energies and small momenta. We derive the precise scaling behavior of the symmetrized N-loop in various important infrared limits.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Fermion loops, loop cancellation and density correlations in two dimensional Fermi systems

We derive explicit results for fermion loops with an arbitrary number of density vertices in two dimensions at zero temperature. The 3-loop is an elementary function of the three external momenta and frequencies, and the N-loop can be expressed as a linear combination of 3-loops with coefficients that are rational functions of momenta and frequencies. We show that the divergencies of single loops for low energy and small momenta cancel each other when loops with permuted external variables are summed. The symmetrized N-loop, i.e. the connected N-point density correlation function of the Fermi gas, does not diverge for low energies and small momenta. In the dynamical limit, where momenta scale to zero at fixed finite energy variables, the symmetrized N-loop vanishes as the (2N-2)-th power of the scale parameter.

cond-mat↗