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Yi-feng Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Yi-feng Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Hund-driven local-itinerant duality of Eu-4$f$ electrons in infinite-layer nickelates

Recent discovery of reentrant superconductivity and elevated $T_c$ in Eu-substituted infinite-layer nickelates raises a critical question concerning the nature of Eu-4$f$ states and their potential interaction with Ni-$d$ electrons. Here we combine density functional theory with the dynamical mean-field theory (DFT+DMFT) calculations to investigate the valence and magnetic properties of Eu-ions in the nickelate 112 structure, explicitly treating the Coulomb repulsion in both Ni-3$d$ and Eu-4$f$ shells. We find a three-regime evolution of the Eu-4$f$ configuration driven by its Hund's rule coupling $J_{\rm H}$. The magnetic and mixed-valence Eu ionic state inferred by experiments only occurs for moderate $J_{\rm H}$, with coexisting local moments and strongly correlated $j=7/2$ quasiparticles, in contrast to the nonmagnetic state at small $J_{\rm H}$ and the fully spin-polarized divalent state at large $J_{\rm H}$. This local-itinerant duality arises from an effectively hole-doped orbital-selective Mott state induced by the intra-4$f$ charge transfer between $j=5/2$ and $7/2$ manifolds. It not only explains the origin of the mixed-valence and local moment behaviors of the Eu-ions observed experimentally, but also predicts low-energy 4$f$ quasiparticles that may hybridize with the Ni-3$d$ electrons and contribute to the elevated $T_c$. Our work provides a basis for understanding the unusual ferromagnetic and superconducting properties of Eu-substituted infinite-layer nickelates.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2026

Interlayer pairing mechanism for bilayer nickelate superconductors

The discovery of superconductivity in Ruddlesden-Popper bilayer nickelates under both high pressure and ambient conditions has opened a new paradigm for exploring unconventional superconductivity. This review provides a brief survey of theoretical progress on bilayer nickelate superconductors. Drawing from the key experimental observations, we summarize essential physical ingredients including the hybridized Ni-3$d_{x^2-y^2}$ and 3$d_{z^2}$ electronic structure, orbital-dependent electronic correlation, Hund's coupling, and strong interlayer magnetic coupling. The fundamental theoretical models including the bilayer two-orbital Hubbard model and its minimal $t$-$J$ variants are introduced. Starting from the atomic-limit interlayer valence bond picture of the half-filled $d_{z^2}$ orbital, we elaborate on strong correlation interlayer pairing mechanisms based on different limiting considerations. Specific emphasis is placed on the hybridization mechanism, where the $d_{z^2}$ local singlet pairs provide the pairing energy and their hybridization with itinerant $d_{x^2-y^2}$ promotes superconducting phase coherence. We further analyze the pairing symmetry, the dependence of $T_c$ on various internal and external parameters, the nontrivial normal state properties including the Fermi liquid, non-Fermi liquid, weakly insulating and pseudogap behaviors. Effects of pressure tuning, oxygen content, and Kondo scattering induced by oxygen vacancies are also discussed. Finally, weak correlation theories based on spin fluctuations associated with Fermi surface nesting are briefly covered.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2026

Pressure-induced self-doping and Fermi surface reconstruction in UAs2

Superconductivity has recently been reported in the heavy-fermion compound UAs2 under pressure, with the highest Tc among uranium-based correlated 5f-electron superconductors. To elucidate its microscopic origin, we investigate its electronic structure using density functional theory combined with dynamical mean-field theory (DFT+DMFT). At ambient pressure, our calculations reproduce the characteristic Kondo-lattice electronic structure, with flat hybridization bands near the Fermi energy around the Γ and M points, in good agreement with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Under pressure, we find a systematic transfer of electrons from the more localized 5f5/2 orbitals to the more itinerant 5f7/2 orbitals, while the total U-5f occupancy remains nearly unchanged. This orbital-selective charge redistribution constitutes a pressure-induced self-doping effect that drives the 5f5/2 electrons from a localized Kondo regime toward a mixed-valence regime with enhanced charge fluctuations, leading to a dramatic reconstruction of the low-energy electronic structure. Remarkably, superconductivity emerges in the pressure range where the Fermi surface consists of two disconnected sheets with enhanced nesting, but disappears when they bend and merge into a corrugated three-dimensional cylinder. Our results provide an electronic-structure basis for understanding superconductivity in UAs2 and suggest that Fermi-surface nesting and charge fluctuations may contribute to the enhanced superconducting Tc, pointing to a possible distinction from conventional heavy-fermion superconductors.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2026

Heavy fermion phase diagram in magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene

The interplay between localized magnetic moments and itinerant electrons gives rise to exotic quantum states in condensed matter systems. Here, we demonstrate an electrically tunable heavy fermion phase diagram in magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene, achieved by controlling the Kondo hybridization between localized flat-band electrons and itinerant Dirac electrons via a displacement field. Our results reveal a continuous quantum phase transition from an antiferromagnetic semimetal to a paramagnetic heavy fermion metal. At quantum critical point, we observe effective mass divergence and Fermi surface reconstruction. This highly tunable platform offers unprecedented control over heavy fermion physics, establishing moire heterostructures as a versatile arena for exploring correlated quantum phases-including potential unconventional superconductivity-in two-dimensional limit.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2026

A unified theory of thin film and bulk bilayer nickelates

The discovery of bilayer nickelate superconductivity in both pressurized bulk and thin films has drawn enormous attention on their similarity and distinction. Here we provide a unified explanation based on the two-component scenario for a number of key experimental observations reported recently. Our theory predicts two superconducting domes upon electron or hole doping, separated by a valence bond state near $d_{z^2}$ half filling for strong interlayer superexchange coupling $J$, and a single dome across half filling with a lower $T_c$ for weak or moderate $J$. Increasing doping drives the normal state from a Fermi liquid to non-Fermi liquid or weak insulating behaviors, with quasi-linear-in-$T$ scattering rate near optimal $T_c$, while breaking the interlayer valence bonds by oxygen vacancies or chemical substitution simultaneously suppresses the superconductivity and causes local Kondo scattering of $d_{x^2-y^2}$ electrons. These explain the different superconducting transitions and normal states in bulk and thin films, the effect of $d_{z^2}$ hole or electron doping, and the Kondo effect in non-superconducting samples. We propose bulk superconductivity at ambient pressure by doping or reducing the interlayer magnetic coupling and predict even higher $T_c$ upon electron doping.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2026

Interlayer Coupling Driven Correlated and Charge-Ordered Electronic States in a Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Superlattice

4Hb-TaS_2, a van der Waals superlattice comprising alternate stacked Ising superconducting 1H-TaS_2 and cluster Mott insulating 1T-TaS_2, exhibits emergent properties beyond those of its constituent layers. Notable phenomena include time-reversal-symmetry-breaking superconductivity and spontaneous vortex phases, which are driven by nontrivial interlayer interactions that remain debated. Using area-selective angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we provide direct spectroscopic evidence of such interaction by systematically probing the electronic structures of 1T- and 1H-terminted surfaces of 4Hb-TaS_2. The metallic states of subsurface 1H-layers are folded to the Brillouin zone center by the sqrt(13) by sqrt(13) modulation of the surface 1T-layer, forming chiral "windmill" Fermi surfaces via Umklapp scattering. These conducting states further hybridize with the incipient flat band of the surface 1T-layer, producing a Kondo-like peak at the Fermi level. Interlayer charge transfer induces distinct 3 by 3 and 2 by 2 charge orders on the surface and subsurface 1H-layers, respectively, which result in characteristic segmented Fermi surfaces and dichotomously shift the van Hove singularities. These findings reconcile the competing Kondo and Mott-Hubbard models in this material and emphasize the interplay of flat bands, van hove singularities, charge orders, and unconventional superconductivity in correlated superlattices.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2026

Mott-Derived Local Moments and Kondo Hybridization in a d-electron Kagome lattice

Unlike canonical Kondo lattices in f-electron systems, where localized f orbitalsnaturally provide local moments, d-electron Kondo lattices require a distinct mechanism for local-moment formation. However, the study of d-electron Kondo lattices in bulk materials remains far from settled, particularly with regard to the microscopic origin of the local moments. Here, we report a microscopic mechanism for this process in the bilayer kagome metal CsCr6Sb6, where strong correlations drive a Mott splitting of the kagome flat band to supply the requisite local moments. By combining STM/STS and ARPES, we resolve a spectroscopic hierarchy between high-energy correlation effects and low temperature hybridization. Low-temperature STS reveals a robust asymmetric suppression of the density of states near EF that is well captured phenomenologically by a Fano-type lineshape, while ARPES detects a sharp quasiparticlepeak near EF. These low-energy signatures evolveon the same temperature scale and disappear upon warming, consistent with the onset of Kondo hybridization. At the same time, STS resolves symmetric humps at approximately +-50 mV and ARPES identifies a weakly dispersive feature around 50 meV below EF; unlike the near-EF hybridization signatures, these features persist to substantially higher temperatures. This separation of energy and temperature scales supports a two-stage picture in which a kagome flat band first undergoes correlation-driven splitting into lower and upper Hubbard bands, and the occupied lower Hubbard band supplies the local moments that later hybridize with itinerant electrons at lower temperature. Our results therefore move beyond the phenomenology of a kagome Kondo lattice candidate and instead provide a microscopic spectroscopic picture linking Mottness to Kondo hybridization in a frustrated d-electron system.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2026

Discovery of a hybridization-wave electronic order in a van der Waals Kondo lattice

Kondo lattice systems, in which localized magnetic moments coherently hybridize with itinerant electrons, exhibit a rich landscape of emergent quantum phenomena. Within this framework, the hybridization strength itself has been theoretically proposed as a spatially modulated order parameter, giving rise to a so-called hybridization wave. However, direct experimental evidence of this quantum state has remained an outstanding challenge. Here, we report the direct observation of a hybridization wave in the layered transition metal dichalcogenide 6R-TaS2, a naturally occurring heterostructure composed of alternating 1T- and 1H-TaS2 layers. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), we identify the hybridization gap in 1T layer, demonstrating the establishment of a coherent Kondo lattice. Notably, we discover that the hybridization gap present a uniaxial unit-cell doubling modulation, which breaks the both translational and rotational symmetries of the underlying Star-of-David superlattice. Such unit-cell doubling is not caused by structural topography, and therefore, constitutes the real-space visualization of the hybridization-wave order. Furthermore, the hybridization wave correlates with an energy-dependent nematic order that shares the same periodicity and orientation, revealing intertwined electronic instabilities. Our findings not only validate a long-standing prediction but also establish layer-engineered van der Waals materials as a versatile platform for exploring and controlling hybridization-driven quantum phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2026

Observation of Kondo hybridization wave in UTe2

Condensed matter systems with strong electronic correlations often manifest a variety of intertwined ordered phases of charge, spin, orbital and other degrees of freedom. As a prototypical strongly correlated electronic system, the Kondo lattice provides fertile soil for many fascinating quantum states, including quantum criticality, unconventional superconductivity, hidden order and topological Kondo insulator/semimetal. The foundation of Kondo physics lies in the hybridization between localized moments and itinerant electrons. Generally, the evolution of Kondo hybridization is characterized as a broad crossover rather than a phase transition. Thus far, an ordered hybridization phase has not been observed. Here, we use scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to identify a translational-symmetry-breaking order of Kondo hybridization wave(KHW) for the first time on the surface of the spin-triplet heavy-fermion superconductor UTe2. The unprecedented phase of KHW manifests as a periodically modulated Fano lattice, accompanied by a commensurate charge density wave (CDW) and a pronounced energy gap opening near the Fermi level. This KHW-imprinted CDW has an intriguing real-space texture of complementary occupation of the heavy f and conduction charges, thereby forming a Kondo superlattice. The KHW is coexistent with superconductivity in UTe2, which may provide valuable insight into its controversial spin-triplet pairing symmetry and the underlying mechanism. Our first experimental evidence for an ordered hybridization state potentially sheds new light on the strong correlation physics of Kondo lattice system.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2026

Emergent quantum phenomena via phase-coherence engineering in infinite-layer nickelate superconductors

Dimensionality of a physical system, conventionally an invariant geometric characteristic, fundamentally governs the universality class of phase transitions and the landscape of emergent collective phenomena. In low-dimensional or layered high-temperature superconductors, the macroscopic phase coherence of superconducting orders is typically confined in two dimensions, underscoring the critical role of phase fluctuations in determining the overall phase diagrams. Here, we strategically enhance the phase fluctuations by fabricating periodically arranged nano-holes in the infinite-layer nickelate superconducting films, effectively constructing Josephson junction arrays. In the nano-patterned films, the weakening of macroscopic phase coherence drives a two-stage superconducting transition towards an anomalous metallic ground state with saturated resistance. The emergence of charge-2e quantum oscillations manifests the coherence across the array, while an anomalous zero-field magnetoresistance peak signifies the extreme quantum phase fluctuations persisting to ultralow temperatures. Remarkably, with quantum fluctuations enhanced synergistically by nano-patterning and magnetic fields, an anomalous reversal of superconducting anisotropy is observed in Nd-nickelates, where in-plane critical fields fall below out-of-plane values. The evolution of anisotropy may unmask an internal exchange-Zeeman field coupled to the collective electronic states. Our results unveil how superconductivity evolves in response to phase fluctuations, establishing nano-patterning as a powerful paradigm to uncover hidden intertwined orders in strongly correlated systems.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2026

Correlated topological band structures of the kagome altermagnets Mn$_3X$ ($X=$ Sn, Ge, Ga)

The interplay of topological band structures and electronic correlations may lead to novel quantum phenomena with potential applications. First-principles calculations are critical for guiding experimental discoveries and interpretations, but often fail if electronic correlations cannot be properly treated. Here we show that this issue occurs also in the kagome altermagnets Mn$_3X$ ($X=$ Sn, Ge, Ga), which were believed to exhibit large anomalous Hall effect due to topological band structures with Weyl nodes near the Fermi energy. Our systematic investigations reveal critical importance of beyond-DFT treatments on three key aspects of their magnetic, electronic, and topological properties: (1) establishment of noncollinear altermagnetic orders, (2) weakly renormalized band structures in excellent agreement with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiment, and (3) sensitive tuning of the Weyl nodes. Our work provides a unified basis for understanding topological properties of the Mn$_3X$ family, which challenges previous experimental interpretations based on DFT band structures and predicts potentially higher anomalous Hall conductivity in Mn$_3$Ga under electron doping. This underscores the importance of a correlation-aware framework beyond DFT in understanding topological magnetic materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2026

Superconductivity under pressure in the two-dimensional van der Waals heavy-fermion metal CeSiI

CeSiI is a newly discovered exfoliable van der Waals (vdW) heavy-fermion metal featured by a long-range antiferromagnetic (AF) order (TN =7.5 K) inside the Kondo coherent state below T* = 50 K. To gain a more profound understanding of the intriguing physics of this material and to uncover novel phenomena driven by quantum criticality, it is imperative to construct the phase diagram of CeSiI detailing the evolutions of T* and TN as a function of external tuning parameters such as pressure (P).In this study, we employ high pressure as an effective tuning knob to investigate this system, thereby generating a comprehensive T-P phase diagram of CeSiI. This diagram is characterized by an unusual V-shaped nonmonotonic evolution of T*(P) and the emergence of a superconducting dome with Tcmax = 240 mK upon suppression of AF order at Pc = 6 GPa, coinciding with the minimum of T*(P).The close proximity of the superconductivity (SC) to the AF instability and an unusually large upper critical field Bc2(0) exceeding 4-7 times the Pauli paramagnetic limit, suggests an unconventional pairing mechanism in CeSiI. Further analyses of normal-state transport properties provide evidence of quantum criticality, i.e., non-Fermi-liquid behavior and divergence of quasiparticle effective mass near Pc = 7 GPa. Our findings not only establish CeSiI as the first vdW heavy-fermion superconductor but also highlight an unconventional nature for the Kondo coherent state at T* at ambient pressure, hence opening a new avenue to study the interplay of strong electron correlation, Kondo hybridization, magnetism, and unconventional SC in the vdW heavy-fermion systems.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2026

Auxiliary-Bath Numerical Renormalization Group Method and Successive Collective Screening in Multi-Impurity Kondo Systems

We propose an auxiliary-bath algorithm for the numerical renormalization group (NRG) method to solve multi-impurity models with shared electron baths. The method allows us to disentangle the electron baths into independent Wilson chains to perform standard NRG procedures beyond the widely adopted independent bath approximation. Its application to the 2-impurity model immediately reproduces the well-known even- and odd-parity channels. For 3-impurity Kondo models, we find collective screening of cluster degrees of freedom depending on impurity configurations and clarify the false prediction of a non-Fermi liquid ground state for the $C_3$ symmetric case in previous literature due to improper treatment of disentanglement. Our work highlights the importance of nonlocal spatial correlations due to shared baths and reveals a generic picture of successive collective screening for entropy depletion that is crucial in real correlated systems. Our method greatly expands the applicability of the NRG and opens an avenue for its further development.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2025

Emergent superconducting stripes in two-orbital superconductors

Motivated by recent experiments in KTaO$_3$/EuO interface, we propose an intrinsic mechanism where superconducting stripes emerge naturally without involving disorder, charge inhomogeneity, or competing orders. Our theory is based on a two-orbital model of superconductivity, where one orbital displays a quasi-one-dimensional dispersion and the other orbital is more localized and contributes pairing interactions along the perpendicular direction. Our auxiliary-field Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the pairing amplitude exhibits spatial modulation such that the superconductivity naturally disaggregates into two-leg or three-leg superconducting stripes separated by non-superconducting blocks. Our work provides a promising scenario of emergent superconducting stripes in homogeneous two-dimensional systems and reveals unexpectedly rich physics in two-orbital superconductors for future materials design.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2025

Fermi liquid and isotropic superconductivity of Hund scenario for bilayer nickelates

Recent experiments on bulk and thin film bilayer nickelate high-$T_c$ superconductors urge for clarification of their pairing mechanism. Debates exist on whether the hybridization or the Hund's coupling between the nickel $d_{x^2-y^2}$ and $d_{z^2}$ orbitals plays a primary role in driving the superconductivity. Here, we study the Hund scenario and make comparisons with the hybridization scenario using the same dynamic Schwinger boson approach. Our calculations reveal several key features of the Hund-driven superconductivity, including an isotropic $s$-wave gap, a lower maximum $T_c$, and Fermi liquid normal states, that differ from the hybridization-driven mechanism. We attribute these differences to their distinct low-energy dynamics. Comparison with recent experiments suggests that the Hund scenario alone is not enough to explain the bilayer nickelate superconductivity in both bulk and thin films.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2025

Large ferromagnetic-like band splitting in ultrathin ${\mathrm{SmC}}_{6}$ films

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials provide a unique platform for exploring quantum phases from magnetic order in reduced dimensions. While there have been extensive studies on 2D magnetic materials based on 3$d$ electrons, experimental studies on 4$f$-electron counterparts are far fewer, particularly on their electronic structure. In this study, we report the successful synthesis of ultrathin ${\mathrm{SmC}}_{6}$ films using molecular beam epitaxy. Utilizing in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we uncover a large band splitting in the valence bands, which we attribute to the ferromagnetic order driven by exchange couplings between Sm 4$f$ moments and conduction electrons. Despite the small magnetic moment of Sm, the observed splitting is comparable to those of Eu- and Gd-based systems with much larger local moments. Interestingly, the surface state also exhibits splitting with similar magnitude and can be eliminated by overannealing, while the valence bands with ferromagnetic-like splittings remain robust. Our work provides spectroscopic insight to understand the electronic origin of magnetic order in Sm-based compounds. Our study also offers a platform to study 2D magnetic materials based on 4$f$ electrons.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2025

Hole clustering and mutual interplay in three-band Hubbard model

Recent scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) experiments revealed remarkable role of a supercell consisting $4\times4$ CuO$_2$ unit cells in the emergence of local nematic state and preformed local Cooper pairs and phase coherent cuprate superconductivity. By employing the numerically exact determinant Quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we mimic the effects of experimental Ca vacancy by an external local potential to investigate the charge and spectral properties of the system hosting two doped holes. The model numerically support the role of the $4\times4$ supercell as the building block of hole doped cuprates via the hole density distribution and local spectra around the local potential. Our results might provide a theoretical support on the experimental observations and a platform for investigating local charge order and local Cooper pairs on the $4\times4$ supercell as the plausible route to understanding unconventional cuprate superconductivity.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2025

Possible Fano effect and suppression of Andreev reflection in La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$

The recently-discovered high-temperature superconductor La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ under high pressure has stimulated intensive debates. Key controversies concern interlayer versus intralayer pairing scenarios and if the hybridization plays a key role in establishing the superconductivity. But experimental clarification is difficult due to the limitation of employing state-of-the-art techniques under high pressure. Here we propose that quasiparticle tunneling and Andreev reflection may provide a feasible way to distinguish different pairing scenarios. We predict that an asymmetric Fano line shape may be induced by the hybridization between the $d_{x^2-y^2}$ metallic bands and the strongly renormalized flat $d_{z^2}$ quasiparticle bands. In the superconducting state, we show that the Andreev reflection should be greatly suppressed for interlayer pairing superconductivity with a small interlayer hopping. We propose future experiments to examine these predictions and help clarify the fundamental physics of superconducting La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ and other multilayer nickelate superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗