arXiv subjects

Z. Tesanovic

Publications and source records attributed to Z. Tesanovic.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2011

Friedel-like Oscillations from Interstitial Iron in Superconducting Fe1+yTe0.62Se0.38

Using polarized and unpolarized neutron scattering we show that interstitial Fe in superconducting Fe_{1+y}Te_{1-x}Se_x induces a magnetic Friedel-like oscillation that diffracts at Q_(in-plane)=(1/2,0) and involves >50 neighboring Fe sites. The interstitial >2 mu_B moment is surrounded by compensating ferromagnetic four spin clusters that may seed double stripe ordering in Fe_{1+y}Te. A semi-metallic 5-band model with (1/2,1/2) Fermi surface nesting and four fold symmetric super-exchange between interstitial Fe and two in-plane nearest neighbors largely accounts for the observed diffraction.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

The effect of a velocity barrier on the ballistic transport of Dirac fermions

We propose a novel way to manipulate the transport properties of massless Dirac fermions by using velocity barriers, defining the region in which the Fermi velocity, $v_{F}$, has a value that differs from the one in the surrounding background. The idea is based on the fact that when waves travel accross different media, there are boundary conditions that must be satisfied, giving rise to Snell's-like laws. We find that the transmission through a velocity barrier is highly anisotropic, and that perfect transmission always occurs at normal incidence. When $v_{F}$ in the barrier is larger that the velocity outside the barrier, we find that a critical transmission angle exists, a Brewster-like angle for massless Dirac electrons.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2009

A Criterion for the Critical Number of Fermions and Chiral Symmetry Breaking in Anisotropic QED(2+1)

By analyzing the strength of a photon-fermion coupling using basic scattering processes we calculate the effect of a velocity anisotropy on the critical number of fermions at which mass is dynamically generated in planar QED. This gives a quantitative criterion which can be used to locate a quantum critical point at which fermions are gapped and confined out of the physical spectrum in a phase diagram of various condensed matter systems. We also discuss the mechanism of relativity restoration within the symmetric, quantum-critical phase of the theory.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Spin Gap and Resonance at the Nesting Wavevector in Superconducting FeSe0.4Te0.6

Neutron scattering is used to probe magnetic excitations in FeSe_{0.4}Te_{0.6} (T_c=14 K). Low energy spin fluctuations are found with a characteristic wave vector $(0.5,0.5,L)$ that corresponds to Fermi surface nesting and differs from Q_m=(δ,0,0.5) for magnetic ordering in Fe_{1+y}Te. A spin resonance with \hbarΩ_0=6.5 meV \approx 5.3 k_BT_c and \hbarΓ=1.25 meV develops in the superconducting state from a normal state continuum. We show that the resonance is consistent with a bound state associated with s+/- superconductivity and imperfect quasi-2D Fermi surface nesting.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2009

Determination of Superconducting Gap of SmFeAsFxO1-x Superconductors by Andreev Reflection Spectroscopy

The superconducting gap in FeAs-based superconductor SmFeAs(O1-xFx) (x = 0.15 and 0.30) and the temperature dependence of the sample with x = 0.15 have been measured by Andreev reflection spectroscopy. The intrinsic superconducting gap is independent of contacts while many other "gap-like" features vary appreciably for different contacts. The determined gap value of 2D = 13.34 +/-0.47 meV for SmFeAs(O0.85F0.15) gives 2D/kBTC = 3.68, close to the BCS prediction of 3.53. The superconducting gap decreases with temperature and vanishes at TC, in a manner similar to the BCS behavior but dramatically different from that of the nodal pseudogap behavior in cuprate superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

The BCS-like gap in superconductor SmFeAsO_0.85F_0.15

Since the discovery of superconductivity in the cuprates two decades ago, it has been firmly established that the CuO_2 plane is consequential for high T_C superconductivity and a host of other very unusual properties. A new family of superconductors with the general composition of LaFeAsO_(1-x)F_x has recently been discovered but with the conspicuous lacking of the CuO_2 planes, thus raising the tantalizing questions of the different pairing mechanisms in these oxypnictide superconductors. Intimately related to pairing in a superconductor are the superconducting gap, its value, structure, and temperature dependence. Here we report the observation of a single gap in the superconductor SmFeAsO_0.85F_0.15 with T_C = 42 K as measured by Andreev spectroscopy. The gap value of 2Delta = 13.34+/-0.3 meV gives 2Delta/k_BT_C = 3.68, close to the BCS prediction of 3.53. The gap decreases with temperature and vanishes at T_C in a manner consistent with the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) prediction but dramatically different from that of the pseudogap behavior in the cuprate superconductors. Our results clearly indicate a nodeless gap order parameter, which is nearly isotropic in size across different sections of the Fermi surface, and are not compatible with models involving antiferromagnetic fluctuations, strong correlations, t-J model, and the like, originally designed for cuprates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Rough edges in quantum transport of Dirac particles

We consider Dirac particles confined to a thin strip, e.g., graphene nanoribbon, with rough edges. The confinement is implemented by a large mass in the Hamiltonian or by imposing boundary conditions directly on the graphene wave-functions. The scattering of a rough edge leads to a transverse channel-mixing and provides crucial limitation to the quantum transport in narrow ribbons. We solve the problem perturbatively and find the edge scattering contribution to the conductivity, which can be measured experimentally. The case of Schroedinger particles in a strip is also addressed, and the comparison between Schroedinger and Dirac transport is made. Anomalies associated with quasi-one dimensionality, such as Van Hove singularities and localization, are discussed. The violation of the Matthiessen rule is pointed out.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Charge modulation, spin response, and dual Hofstadter butterfly in high-Tc cuprates

The modulated density of states observed in recent STM experiments in underdoped cuprates is argued to be a manifestation of the charge density wave of Cooper pairs (CPCDW). CPCDW formation is due to superconducting phase fluctuations enhanced by Mott-Hubbard correlations near half-filling. The physics behind the CPCDW is related to a Hofstadter problem in a dual superconductor. It is shown that CPCDW does not impact nodal fermions at the leading order. An experiment is proposed to probe coupling of the CPCDW to the spin carried by nodal quasiparticles.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2003

Low-Temperature Specific Heat of an Extreme-Type-II Superconductor at High Magnetic Fields

We present a detailed study of the quasiparticle contribution to the low-temperature specific heat of an extreme type-II superconductor at high magnetic fields. Within a T-matrix approximation for the self-energies in the mixed state of a homogeneous superconductor, the electronic specific heat is a linear function of temperature with a linear-$T$ coefficient $γ_s(H)$ being a nonlinear function of magnetic field $H$. In the range of magnetic fields $H\agt (0.15-0.2)H_{c2}$ where our theory is applicable, the calculated $γ_s(H)$ closely resembles the experimental data for the borocarbide superconductor YNi$_2$B$_2$C.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2003

Gauge invariant response functions in Algebraic Fermi liquids

A new method is developed that permits the simple evaluation of two-loop response functions for fermions coupled to a gauge field. We employ this method to study the gauge-invariant response functions in the Algebraic Fermi liquid, a non-Fermi liquid state proposed to describe the pseudogap phase in the QED3 theory of cuprate superconductors. The staggered spin susceptibility is found to exhibit a characteristic anomalous dimension exponent η_4, while other correlators show behavior consistent with the conservation laws imposed by the symmetries of the underlying theory.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2003

Interplay of disorder and magnetic field in the superconducting vortex state

We calculate the density of states of an inhomogeneous superconductor in a magnetic field where the positions of vortices are distributed completely at random. We consider both the cases of s-wave and d-wave pairing. For both pairing symmetries either the presence of disorder or increasing the density of vortices enhances the low energy density of states. In the s-wave case the gap is filled and the density of states is a power law at low energies. In the d-wave case the density of states is finite at zero energy and it rises linearly at very low energies in the Dirac isotropic case (α_D=t/Δ_0=1, where t is the hopping integral and Δ_0 is the amplitude of the order parameter). For slightly higher energies the density of states crosses over to a quadratic behavior. As the Dirac anisotropy increases (as Δ_0 decreases with respect to the hopping term) the linear region decreases in width. Neglecting this small region the density of states interpolates between quadratic and back to linear as α_D increases. The low energy states are strongly peaked near the vortex cores.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2003

Quasiparticle density of states of d-wave superconductors in a disordered vortex lattice

We calculate the density of states of a disordered inhomogeneous d-wave superconductor in a magnetic field. The field-induced vortices are assumed to be pinned at random positions and the effects of the scattering of the quasi-particles off the vortices are taken into account using the singular gauge transformation of Franz and Tesanovic. We find two regimes for the density of states: at very low energies the density of states follows a law ρ(ε) \sim ρ_0 + |ε|^α where the exponent is close to 1. A good fit of the density of states is obtained at higher energies, excluding a narrow region around the origin, with a similar power law energy dependence but with αclose to 2. Both at low and at higher energies ρ_0 scales with the inverse of the magnetic length (\sqrt{B}).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

QED3 theory of pairing pseudogap in cuprates: From d-wave superconductor to antiferromagnet via "algebraic" Fermi liquid

High-$T_c$ cuprates differ from conventional superconductors in three crucial aspects: the superconducting state descends from a strongly correlated Mott-Hubbard insulator, the order parameter exhibits d-wave symmetry and superconducting fluctuations play an all important role. We formulate a theory of the pseudogap state in the cuprates by taking the advantage of these unusual features. The effective low energy theory within the pseudogap phase is shown to be equivalent to the (anisotropic) quantum electrodynamics in (2+1) space-time dimensions (QED$_3$). The role of Dirac fermions is played by the nodal BdG quasiparticles while the massless gauge field arises through unbinding of quantum vortex-antivortex degrees of freedom. A detailed derivation of this QED$_3$ theory is given and some of its main physical consequences are inferred for the pseudogap state. We focus on the properties of symmetric QED$_3$ and propose that inside the pairing protectorate it assumes the role reminiscent of that played by the Fermi liquid theory in conventional metals.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Magnetic field induced charge and spin instabilities in cuprate superconductors

A d-wave superconductor, subject to strong phase fluctuations, is known to suffer an antiferromagnetic instability closely related to the chiral symmetry breaking in (2+1)-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED3). On the basis of this idea we formulate a "QED3 in a box" theory of local instabilities of a d-wave superconductor in the vicinity of a single pinned vortex undergoing quantum fluctuations around its equilibrium position. As a generic outcome we find an incommensurate 2D spin density wave forming in the neighborhood of a vortex with a concomitant "checkerboard" pattern in the local electronic density of states, in agreement with recent neutron scattering and tunneling spectroscopy measurements.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Gauge invariant fermion propagator in QED3

In a recent preprint [cond-mat/0204040] Khveshchenko questioned the validity of our computation of the gauge invariant fermion propagator in QED3, which we employed as an effective theory of high-T_c cuprate superconductors [cond-mat/0203333]. We take this opportunity to further clarify our procedure and to show that criticism voiced in the above preprint is unwarranted.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Quasiparticle Thermal Conductivities in a Type-II Superconductor at High Magnetic Field

We present a calculation of the quasiparticle contribution to the longitudinal thermal conductivities as well as transverse (Hall) thermal conductivity of an extreme type-II superconductor in a high magnetic field and at low temperatures. In the limit of frequency and temperature approaching zero, both longitudinal and transverse conductivities upon entering the superconducting state undergo a reduction from their respective normal state values by the factor $(Γ/Δ)^2$, which measures the size of the region at the Fermi surface containing gapless quasiparticle excitations. We use our theory to numerically compute the longitudinal transport coefficient in borocarbide and A-15 superconductors. The agreement with recent experimental data on LuNi_2B_2C is very good.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Relativity Restored: Dirac Anisotropy in QED$_3$

We show that at long lengthscales and low energies and to leading order in 1/N expansion, the anisotropic QED in 2+1 dimensions renormalizes to an isotropic limit. Consequently, the (Euclidean) relativistic invariance of the theory is spontaneously restored at the isotropic critical point, characterized by the anomalous dimension exponent of the Dirac fermion propagator $η$. We find $η=16/3π^2 N$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Algebraic Fermi liquid from phase fluctuations: "topological" fermions, vortex "berryons" and QED3 theory of cuprate superconductors

Within the phase fluctuation model for the pseudogap state of cuprate superconductors we identify a novel statistical "Berry phase" interaction between the nodal quasiparticles and fluctuating vortices. The effective action describing this model assumes the form of an anisotropic Euclidean quantum electrodynamics in (2+1) dimensions (QED_3) and naturally generates the marginal Fermi liquid behavior for its fermionic excitations. The doping axis in the x-T phase diagram emerges as a quantum critical line which regulates low energy fermiology. We examine the merits of our theory in light of available experiments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗