Semiclassical theory of anisotropic transport at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces under in-plane magnetic field

The unconventional magnetotransport at the interface between transition-metal oxides $LaAlO_3$ (LAO) and $SrTiO_3$ (STO) is frequently related to mobile electrons interacting with localized magnetic moments. However nature and properties of magnetism at this interface are not well understood so far. In this paper, we focus on transport effects driven by spin-orbit coupling and intentionally neglect possible strong correlations. The electrical resistivity tensor is calculated as a function of the magnitude and orientation of an external magnetic field parallel to the interface. The semiclassical Boltzmann equation is solved numerically for the two-dimensional system of spin-orbit coupled electrons accelerated by an electric field and scattered by spatially-correlated impurities. At temperatures of a few Kelvin and densities such that the chemical potential crosses the second pair of spin-orbit split bands, we find a strongly anisotropic modulation of the (negative) magnetoresistance above 10 T, characterized by multiple maxima and minima away from the crystalline axes. Along with the drop of the magnetoresistance, an abrupt enhancement of the transverse resistivity occurs. The angular modulation of the latter considerably deviates from a (low-field) sinusoidal dependence to a (high-field) step-like behaviour. These peculiar features are the consequences of the anisotropy of both (intra-band and inter-band ) scattering-amplitudes in the Brillouin zone when the relevant energy scales in the system - chemical potential, spin-orbit interaction and Zeeman energy - are all comparable to each other. The theory provides good qualitative agreement with experimental data in the literature.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 2 appendices. Extended version with discussion section widely revised, additional results for different parameters in Appendix B, theoretical model presented in details in Appendix A. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Density inhomogeneities and Rashba spin-orbit coupling interplay in oxide interfaces

There is steadily increasing evidence that the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) formed at the interface of some insulating oxides like LaAlO3/SrTiO3 and LaTiO3/SrTiO3 is strongly inhomogeneous. The inhomogeneous distribution of electron density is accompanied by an inhomogeneous distribution of the (self-consistent) electric field confining the electrons at the interface. In turn this inhomogeneous transverse electric field induces an inhomogeneous Rashba spin-orbit coupling (RSOC). After an introductory summary on two mechanisms possibly giving rise to an electronic phase separation accounting for the above inhomogeneity,we introduce a phenomenological model to describe the density-dependent RSOC and its consequences. Besides being itself a possible source of inhomogeneity or charge-density waves, the density-dependent RSOC gives rise to interesting physical effects like the occurrence of inhomogeneous spin-current distributions and inhomogeneous quantum-Hall states with chiral "edge" states taking place in the bulk of the 2DEG. The inhomogeneous RSOC can also be exploited for spintronic devices since it can be used to produce a disorder-robust spin Hall effect.Comment: 13 pages, 15 figure

Possible mechanisms of electronic phase separation in oxide interfaces

LaAlO3/SrTiO3 ad LaTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces are known to host a strongly inhomogeneous (nearly) two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). In this work we present three unconventional electronic mechanisms of electronic phase separation (EPS) in a 2DEG as a possible source of inhomogeneity in oxide interfaces. Common to all three mechanisms is the dependence of some (interaction) potential on the 2DEG's density. We first consider a mechanism resulting from a sizable density-dependent Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Next, we point out that an EPS may also occur in the case of a density-dependent superconducting pairing interaction. Finally, we show that the confinement of the 2DEG to the interface by a density-dependent, self-consistent electrostatic potential can by itself cause an EPS.Comment: 4 pages and 4 figures, Proceedings of the International Conference "Superstripes 2014", 25-31 July 2015, Erice, Ital

Twisted Fermi surface of a thin-film Weyl semimetal

The Fermi surface of a conventional two-dimensional electron gas is equivalent to a circle, up to smooth deformations that preserve the orientation of the equi-energy contour. Here we show that a Weyl semimetal confined to a thin film with an in-plane magnetization and broken spatial inversion symmetry can have a topologically distinct Fermi surface that is twisted into a \mbox{figure-8} $-$ opposite orientations are coupled at a crossing which is protected up to an exponentially small gap. The twisted spectral response to a perpendicular magnetic field $B$ is distinct from that of a deformed Fermi circle, because the two lobes of a \mbox{figure-8} cyclotron orbit give opposite contributions to the Aharonov-Bohm phase. The magnetic edge channels come in two counterpropagating types, a wide channel of width $\beta l_m^2\propto 1/B$ and a narrow channel of width $l_m\propto 1/\sqrt B$ (with $l_m=\sqrt{\hbar/eB}$ the magnetic length and $\beta$ the momentum separation of the Weyl points). Only one of the two is transmitted into a metallic contact, providing unique magnetotransport signatures.Comment: V4: 10 pages, 14 figures. Added figure and discussion about "uncrossing deformations" of oriented contours, plus minor corrections. Published in NJ

Phase shift of cyclotron orbits at type-I and type-II multi-Weyl nodes

Quantum oscillations of response functions in high magnetic fields tend to reveal some of the most interesting properties of metals. In particular, the oscillation phase shift is sensitive to topological band features, thereby helping to identify the presence of Weyl fermions. In this work, we predict a characteristic parameter dependence of the phase shift for Weyl fermions with tilted and overtilted dispersion (type-I and type-II Weyl fermions) and an arbitrary topological charge (multi-Weyl fermions). For type-II Weyl fermions our calculations capture the case of magnetic breakthrough between the electron and the hole part of the dispersion. Here, the phase shift turns out to depend only on the quantized topological charge due to the cancellation of nonuniversal contributions from the electron and the hole part

Chirality blockade of Andreev reflection in a magnetic Weyl semimetal

A Weyl semimetal with broken time-reversal symmetry has a minimum of two species of Weyl fermions, distinguished by their opposite chirality, in a pair of Weyl cones at opposite momenta $\pm K$ that are displaced in the direction of the magnetization. Andreev reflection at the interface between a Weyl semimetal in the normal state (N) and a superconductor (S) that pairs $\pm K$ must involve a switch of chirality, otherwise it is blocked. We show that this "chirality blockade" suppresses the superconducting proximity effect when the magnetization lies in the plane of the NS interface. A Zeeman field at the interface can provide the necessary chirality switch and activate Andreev reflection.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures. V2: added investigation of the dependence of the chirality blockade on the direction of the magnetization and (Appendix C) calculations of the Fermi-arc mediated Josephson effec

Chiral anomaly trapped in Weyl metals: Nonequilibrium valley polarization at zero magnetic field

Theoretical Physic

Ribavirin restores ESR1 gene expression and tamoxifen sensitivity in ESR1 negative breast cancer cell lines

Tumor growth is estrogen independent in approximately one-third of all breast cancers, which makes these patients unresponsive to hormonal treatment. This unresponsiveness to hormonal treatment may be explained through the absence of the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1). The ESR1 gene re-expression through epigenetic modulators such as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and/or histone deacetylase inhibitors restores tamoxifen sensitivity in ESR1 negative breast cancer cell lines and opens new treatment horizons in patients who were previously associated with a poor prognosis