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Zhao-Kun Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Zhao-Kun Yang.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Superconductivity near an Ising nematic quantum critical point in two dimensions

Near a two-dimensional Ising-type nematic quantum critical point, the quantum fluctuations of the nematic order parameter are coupled to the electrons, leading to non-Fermi liquid behavior and unconventional superconductivity. The interplay between these two effects has been extensively studied through the Eliashberg equations for the superconducting gap. However, previous studies often rely on various approximations that may introduce uncertainties in the results. Here, we re-visit the issue of how the superconducting transition temperature $T_{c}$ is affected by removing certain common approximations. We numerically solve the self-consistent Dyson-Schwinger equations of the electron propagator $G(p)$, the nematic propagator $D(q)$, and the vertex function $Γ_{\mathrm{v}}^{\mathrm{1L}}(p+q,p)$ expanded up to the triangle order, without introducing further approximations. Our calculations reveal that the extended $s$-wave superconducting gap is the only convergent solution to the nonlinear gap equations. We investigate the evolution of $T_{c}$ as the system approaches the nematic quantum critical point from the disordered (tetragonal) phase. Under the bare vertex approximation, $T_{c}$ is monotonically enhanced. However, when vertex corrections are incorporated, $T_{c}$ initially increases but then decreases, with the maximum value of $T_{c}$ occurring at a point away from the quantum critical point. The obtained gap symmetry and the non-monotonic behavior of $T_{c}$ are compared with recent experiments on doped FeSe materials.

cond-mat.supr-con

Reply to "Comment on `Towards exact solutions of superconducting $T_c$ induced by electron-phonon interaction' "

In a series of papers, we have proposed a non-perturbative field-theoretic approach to deal with strong electron-phonon and strong Coulomb interactions. The key ingredient of such an approach is to determine the full fermion-boson vertex corrections by solving a number of self-consistent Ward-Takahashi identities. Palle (see Phys. Rev. B 110, 026501 (2024), arXiv:2404.02918) argued that our Ward-Takahashi identities failed to include some important additional terms and thus are incorrect. We agree that our Ward-Takahashi identities have ignored some potentially important contributions and here give some remarks on the role played by the additional terms.

cond-mat.supr-con

Theoretical study of phonon-mediated superconductivity beyond Migdal-Eliashberg approximation and Coulomb pseudopotential

In previous theoretical studies of phonon-mediated superconductors, the electron-phonon coupling is treated by solving the Migdal-Eliashberg equations under the bare vertex approximation, whereas the effect of Coulomb repulsion is incorporated by introducing one single pseudopotential parameter. These two approximations become unreliable in low carrier-density superconductors in which the vertex corrections are not small and the Coulomb interaction is poorly screened. Here, we shall go beyond these two approximations and employ the Dyson-Schwinger equation approach to handle the interplay of electron-phonon interaction and Coulomb interaction in a self-consistent way. We first derive the exact Dyson-Schwinger integral equation of the full electron propagator. Such an equation contains several unknown single-particle propagators and fermion-boson vertex functions, and thus seems to be intractable. To solve this difficulty, we further derive a number of identities satisfied by all the relevant propagators and vertex functions and then use these identities to show that the exact Dyson-Schwinger equation of electron propagator is actually self-closed. This self-closed equation takes into account not only all the vertex corrections, but also the mutual influence between electron-phonon interaction and Coulomb interaction. Solving it by using proper numerical methods leads to the superconducting temperature $T_{c}$ and other quantities. As an application of the approach, we compute the $T_{c}$ of the interfacial superconductivity realized in the one-unit-cell FeSe/SrTiO$_{3}$ system. We find that $T_{c}$ can be strongly influenced by the vertex corrections and the competition between phonon-mediated attraction and Coulomb repulsion.

cond-mat.supr-con

A non-perturbative study of the interplay between electron-phonon interaction and Coulomb interaction in undoped graphene

In condensed-matter systems, electrons are subjected to two different interactions under certain conditions. Even if both interactions are weak, it is difficult to perform perturbative calculations due to the complexity caused by the interplay of two interactions. When one or two interactions are strong, ordinary perturbation theory may become invalid. Here we consider undoped graphene as an example and provide a non-perturbative quantum-field-theoretic analysis of the interplay of electron-phonon interaction and Coulomb interaction. We treat these two interactions on an equal footing and derive the exact Dyson-Schwinger integral equation of the full Dirac-fermion propagator. This equation depends on several complicated correlation functions and thus is difficult to handle. Fortunately, we find that these correlation functions obey a number of exact identities, which allows us to prove that the Dyson-Schwinger equation of the full fermion propagator is self-closed. After solving this self-closed equation, we obtain the renormalized velocity of Dirac fermions and show that its energy (momentum) dependence is dominantly determined by the electron-phonon (Coulomb) interaction. In particular, the renormalized velocity exhibits a logarithmic momentum dependence and a non-monotonic energy dependence.

cond-mat.str-el

Nonperturbative Dyson-Schwinger equation approach to strongly interacting Dirac fermion systems

Studying the strong correlation effects in interacting Dirac fermion systems is one of the most challenging problems in modern condensed matter physics. The long-range Coulomb interaction and the fermion-phonon interaction can lead to a variety of intriguing properties. In the strong-coupling regime, weak-coupling perturbation theory breaks down. The validity of $1/N$ expansion with $N$ being the fermion flavor is also in doubt since $N$ equals to $2$ or $4$ in realistic systems. Here, we investigate the interaction between (1+2)- and (1+3)-dimensional massless Dirac fermions and a generic scalar boson, and develop an efficient non-perturbative approach to access the strong-coupling regime. We first derive a number of self-consistently coupled Ward-Takahashi identities based on a careful symmetry analysis and then use these identities to show that the full fermion-boson vertex function is solely determined by the full fermion propagator. Making use of this result, we rigorously prove that the full fermion propagator satisfies an exact and self-closed Dyson-Schwinger integral equation, which can be solved by employing numerical methods. A major advantage of our non-perturbative approach is that there is no need to employ any small expansion parameter. Our approach provides a unified theoretical framework for studying strong Coulomb and fermion-phonon interactions. It may also be used to approximately handle the Yukawa coupling between fermions and order-parameter fluctuations around continuous quantum critical points. Our approach is applied to treat the Coulomb interaction in undoped graphene. We find that the renormalized fermion velocity exhibits a logarithmic momentum-dependence but is nearly energy independent, and that no excitonic gap is generated by the Coulomb interaction. These theoretical results are consistent with experiments in graphene.

cond-mat.str-el

Towards exact solutions for the superconducting $T_c$ induced by electron-phonon interaction

Electron-phonon interaction plays an important role in metals and can lead to superconductivity and other instabilities. Previous theoretical studies on superconductivity are largely based on the Migdal-Eliashberg theory, which neglects all the vertex corrections to electron-phonon coupling and breaks down in many unconventional superconductors. Here, we go beyond the Migdal-Eliashberg approximation and develop a nonperturbative Dyson-Schwinger equation approach to deal with the superconducting transition. Remarkably, we take into account all the vertex corrections by solving two coupled Ward-Takahashi identities derived from two global U(1) symmetries and rigorously prove that the fully renormalized electron propagator satisfies a self-closed integral equation that is directly amenable to numerical computations. Our approach works equally well in the weak and strong coupling regimes and provides an efficient method to determine superconducting $T_c$ and other quantities. As an application, our approach is used to investigate the high-$T_c$ superconductivity in one-unit-cell FeSe/SrTiO$_3$.

cond-mat.supr-con

Effects of the Dirac cone tilt in two-dimensional Dirac semimetal

Two-dimensional Dirac semimetal with tilted Dirac cone has recently attracted increasing interest. Tilt of Dirac cone can be realized in a number of materials, including deformed graphene, surface state of topological crystalline insulator, and certain organic compound. We study how Dirac cone tilting affects the low-energy properties by presenting a renormalization group analysis of the Coulomb interaction and quenched disorder. Random scalar potential or random vector potential along the tilting direction cannot exist on its own as it always dynamically generates a new type of disorder, which dominates at low energies and turns the system into a compressible diffusive metal. Consequently, the fermions acquire a finite disorder scattering rate. Moreover, the isolated band-touching point is replaced by a bulk Fermi arc in the Brillouin zone. These results are not qualitatively changed when the Coulomb interaction is incorporated. In comparison, random mass and random vector potential along the non-tilting direction can exist individually, without generating other types of disorder. They both suppress tilt at low energies, and do not produce bulk Fermi arc. Upon taking the Coulomb interaction into account, the system enters into a stable quantum critical state, in which the fermion field acquires a finite anomalous dimension but the dynamical exponent $z=1$. These results indicate that Dirac cone tilt does lead to some qualitatively different low-energy properties comparing to the untilted system.

cond-mat.str-el