956 research outputs found
Spectroscopic evidences of quantum critical charge fluctuations in cuprates
We calculate the optical conductivity in a clean system of quasiparticles
coupled to charge-ordering collective modes. The absorption induced by these
modes may produce an anomalous frequency and temperature dependence of
low-energy optical absorption in some cuprates. However, the coupling with
lattice degrees of freedom introduces a non-universal energy scale leading to
scaling violation in low-temperature optical conductivity.Comment: Proceedings of M2S 2006. To appear in Physica
Phase separation and long wave-length charge instabilities in spin-orbit coupled systems
We investigate a two-dimensional electron model with Rashba spin-orbit
interaction where the coupling constant depends on the electronic
density. It is shown that this dependence may drive the system unstable towards
a long-wave length charge density wave (CDW) where the associated second order
instability occurs in close vicinity to global phase separation. For very low
electron densities the CDW instability is nesting-induced and the modulation
follows the Fermi momentum . At higher density the instability criterion
becomes independent of and the system may become unstable in a broad
momentum range. Finally, upon filling the upper spin-orbit split band, finite
momentum instabilities disappear in favor of phase separation alone. We discuss
our results with regard to the inhomogeneous phases observed at the
LaAlO/SrTiO or LaTiO/SrTiO interfaces.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure
Phase diagrams of voltage-gated oxide interfaces with strong Rashba coupling
We propose a model for the two-dimensional electron gas formed at the
interface of oxide heterostructures that includes a Rashba spin-orbit coupling
proportional to an electric field oriented perpendicularly to the interface.
Taking into account the electron density dependence of this electric field
confining the electron gas at the interface, we report the occurrence of a
phase separation instability (signaled by a negative compressibility) for
realistic values of the spin-orbit coupling and of the electronic
band-structure parameters at zero temperature. We extend the analysis to finite
temperatures and in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field, thereby
obtaining two phase diagrams which exhibit a phase separation dome. By varying
the gating potential the phase separation dome may shrink and vanish at zero
temperature into a quantum critical point where the charge fluctuates
dynamically. Similarly the phase separation may be spoiled by a planar magnetic
field even at zero temperature leading to a line of quantum critical points.Comment: 17 pages, 17 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
Phase separation from electron confinement at oxide interfaces
Oxide heterostructures are of great interest both for fundamental and
applicative reasons. In particular the two-dimensional electron gas at the
LaAlO/SrTiO or LaTiO/SrTiO interfaces displays many different
physical properties and functionalities. However there are clear indications
that the interface electronic state is strongly inhomogeneous and therefore it
is crucially relevant to investigate possible intrinsic electronic mechanisms
underlying this inhomogeneity. Here the electrostatic potential confining the
electron gas at the interface is calculated self-consistently, finding that the
electron confinement at the interface may induce phase separation, to avoid a
thermodynamically unstable state with a negative compressibility. This provides
a generic robust and intrinsic mechanism for the experimentally observed
inhomogeneous character of these interfaces.Comment: 8 pages and 4 figure
Charge-fluctuation contribution to the Raman response in superconducting cuprates
We calculate the Raman response contribution due to collective modes, finding
a strong dependence on the photon polarizations and on the characteristic
wavevectors of the modes. We compare our results with recent Raman spectroscopy
experiments in underdoped cuprates, and
, where anomalous low-energy peaks are
observed, which soften upon lowering the temperature. We show that the specific
dependence on doping and on photon polarizations of these peaks is only
compatible with charge collective excitations at finite wavelength.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Inhomogeneous multi-carrier superconductivity at LaXO3/SrTiO3 (X=Al or Ti) oxide interfaces
Several experiments reveal the inhomogeneous character of the superconducting
state that occurs when the carrier density of the two-dimensional electron gas
formed at the LaXO3/SrTiO3 (X=Al or Ti) interface is tuned above a threshold
value by means of gating. Re-analyzing previous measurements, that highlight
the presence of two kinds of carriers, with low and high mobility, we shall
provide a description of multi-carrier magneto-transport in an inhomogeneous
two-dimensional electron gas, gaining insight into the properties of the
physics of the systems under investigation. We shall then show that the
measured resistance, superfluid density, and tunneling spectra result from the
percolative connection of superconducting "puddles" with randomly distributed
critical temperatures, embedded in a weakly localizing metallic matrix. We
shall also show that this scenario is consistent with the characteristics of
the superconductor-to-metal transition driven by a magnetic field. A
multi-carrier description of the superconducting state, within a weak-coupling
BCS-like model, will be finally discussed.Comment: 12 pages 10 figure
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