Amplitude `Higgs' mode in 2H-NbSe2 Superconductor

We report experimental evidences for the observation of the superconducting amplitude mode, so-called `Higgs' mode in the charge density wave superconductor 2H-NbSe2 using Raman scattering. By comparing 2H-NbSe2 and its iso-structural partner 2H-NbS2 which shows superconductivity but lacks the charge density wave order, we demonstrate that the superconducting mode in 2H-NbSe2 owes its spectral weight to the presence of the coexisting charge density wave order. In addition, temperature dependent measurements in 2H-NbSe2 show a full spectral weight transfer from the charge density wave mode to the superconducting mode upon entering the superconducting phase. Both observations are fully consistent with a superconducting amplitude mode or Higgs mode.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B Rapid Com. 5 pages with 3 figure

Unconventional high-energy-state contribution to the Cooper pairing in under-doped copper-oxide superconductor HgBa2_2Ca2_2Cu3_3O8+δ_{8+\delta}

We study the temperature-dependent electronic B1g Raman response of a slightly under-doped single crystal HgBa$_2$Ca$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{8+\delta}$ with a superconducting critical temperature Tc=122 K. Our main finding is that the superconducting pair-breaking peak is associated with a dip on its higher-energy side, disappearing together at Tc. This result hints at an unconventional pairing mechanism, whereas spectral weight lost in the dip is transferred to the pair-breaking peak at lower energies. This conclusion is supported by cellular dynamical mean-field theory on the Hubbard model, which is able to reproduce all the main features of the B1g Raman response and explain the peak-dip behavior in terms of a nontrivial relationship between the superconducting and the pseudo gaps.Comment: 7 pages 4 figure

Transition from Free to Interacting Composite Fermions away from ν\nu=1/3

Spin excitations from a partially populated composite fermion level are studied above and below $\nu=1/3$. In the range $2/7<\nu<2/5$ the experiments uncover significant departures from the non-interacting composite fermion picture that demonstrate the increasing impact of interactions as quasiparticle Landau levels are filled. The observed onset of a transition from free to interacting composite fermions could be linked to condensation into the higher order states suggested by transport experiments and numerical evaluations performed in the same filling factor range.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in PR

Integrated modeling of friction stir welding of 6xxx series Al alloys: Process, microstructure and properties

International audienceCompared to most thermomechanical processing methods, friction stir welding (FSW) is a recent technique which has not yet reached full maturity. Nevertheless, owing to multiple intrinsic advantages, FSW has already replaced conventional welding methods in a variety of industrial applications especially for Al alloys. This provides the impetus for developing a methodology towards optimization, from process to performances, using the most advanced approach available in materials science and thermomechanics. The aim is to obtain a guidance both for process fine tuning and for alloy design. Integrated modeling constitutes a way to accelerate the insertion of the process, especially regarding difficult applications where for instance ductility, fracture toughness, fatigue and/or stress corrosion cracking are key issues. Hence, an integrated modeling framework devoted to the FSW of 6xxx series Al alloys has been established and applied to the 6005A and 6056 alloys. The suite of models involves an in-process temperature evolution model, a microstructure evolution model with an extension to heterogeneous precipitation, a microstructure based strength and strain hardening model, and a micro-mechanics based damage model. The presentation of each model is supplemented by the coverage of relevant recent literature. The "model chain" is assessed towards a wide range of experimental data. The final objective is to present routes for the optimization of the FSW process using both experiments and models. Now, this strategy goes well beyond the case of FSW, illustrating the potential of chain models to support a "material by design approach" from process to performances

Absorption in the fractional quantum Hall regime: trion dichroism and spin polarization

We present measurements of optical interband absorption in the fractional quantum Hall regime in a GaAs quantum well in the range 0 < nu < 1. We investigate the mechanism of singlet trion absorption, and show that its circular dichroism can be used as a probe of the spin polarization of the ground state of the two-dimensional electron system (2DES). We find that at nu = 1/3 the 2DES is fully spin-polarized. Increasing the filling factor results in a gradual depolarization, with a sharp minimum in the dichroism near nu = 2/3. We find that in the range 0.5 < nu < 0.85 the 2DES remains partially polarized for the broad range of magnetic fields from 2.75 to 11 Tesla. This is consistent with the presence of a mixture of polarized and depolarized regions.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures (Fig 4 is in color

Lattice and spin excitations in multiferroic h-YMnO3

We used Raman and terahertz spectroscopies to investigate lattice and magnetic excitations and their cross-coupling in the hexagonal YMnO3 multiferroic. Two phonon modes are strongly affected by the magnetic order. Magnon excitations have been identified thanks to comparison with neutron measurements and spin wave calculations but no electromagnon has been observed. In addition, we evidenced two additional Raman active peaks. We have compared this observation with the anti-crossing between magnon and acoustic phonon branches measured by neutron. These optical measurements underly the unusual strong spin-phonon coupling

Orbital dichotomy of Fermi liquid properties in Sr2_2RuO4_4 revealed by Raman spectroscopy

We report a polarization-resolved Raman spectroscopy study of the orbital dependence of the quasiparticles properties in the prototypical multi-band Fermi liquid Sr\textsubscript{2}RuO\textsubscript{4}. We show that the quasiparticle scattering rate displays $\omega^{2}$ dependence as expected for a Fermi liquid. Besides, we observe a clear polarization-dependence in the energy and temperature dependence of the quasiparticle scattering rate and mass, with the $d_{xz/yz}$ orbital derived quasiparticles showing significantly more robust Fermi liquid properties than the $d_{xy}$ orbital derived ones. The observed orbital dichotomy of the quasiparticles is consistent with the picture of Sr\textsubscript{2}RuO\textsubscript{4} as a Hund's metal. Our study establishes Raman scattering as a powerful probe of Fermi liquid properties in correlated metals.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Supplementary Materials available at publisher sit