Collective magnetic excitations of C4C_{4} symmetric magnetic states in iron-based superconductors

We study the collective magnetic excitations of the recently discovered $C_{4}$ symmetric spin-density wave states of iron-based superconductors with particular emphasis on their orbital character based on an itinerant multiorbital approach. This is important since the $C_{4}$ symmetric spin-density wave states exist only at moderate interaction strengths where damping effects from a coupling to the continuum of particle-hole excitations strongly modifies the shape of the excitation spectra compared to predictions based on a local moment picture. We uncover a distinct orbital polarization inherent to magnetic excitations in $C_{4}$ symmetric states, which provide a route to identify the different commensurate magnetic states appearing in the continuously updated phase diagram of the iron-pnictide family.Comment: 5+7 pages, 3+2 figure

Persistent current-carrying state of charge quasuparticles in npnp-ribbon featuring single Dirac cone

The formation of persistent charge currents in mesoscopic systems remains an interesting and actual topic of condensed matter research. Here, we analyze the formation of spontaneous arising persistent currents of charged fermions in 2-dimensional electron-hole ribbons on the top and bottom of a 3-dimensional topological insulator. In such a device the two-dimensional Dirac fermions with opposite chiralities are spatially separated that allows these currents to flow in the opposite directions without compensating each other. The nature of this phenomenon is based on the interference of the quasiparticle quantum waves which are scattered with asymmetric scattering phases at the lateral n-p chiral junction and then reflected back by the external boundaries of the ribbon. As a result quasiparticles in the ribbon are shown to be in unified electron-hole quantum states carrying the persistent current.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Spin-orbit coupling, minimal model and potential Cooper-pairing from repulsion in BiS2_2-superconductors

We develop the realistic minimal electronic model for recently discovered BiS$_2$ superconductors including the spin-orbit coupling based on a first-principles band structure calculations. Due to strong spin-orbit coupling, characteristic for the Bi-based systems, the tight-binding low-energy model necessarily includes $p_x$, $p_y$, and $p_z$ orbitals. We analyze a potential Cooper-pairing instability from purely repulsive interaction for the moderate electronic correlations using the so-called leading angular harmonics approximation (LAHA). For small and intermediate doping concentrations we find the dominant instabilities to be $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave, and $s_{\pm}$-wave symmetries, respectively. At the same time, in the absence of the sizable spin fluctuations the intra and interband Coulomb repulsion are of the same strength, which yields the strongly anisotropic behaviour of the superconducting gaps on the Fermi surface in agreement with recent ARPES findings. In addition, we find that the Fermi surface topology for BiS$_2$ layered systems at large electron doping can resembles the doped iron-based pnictide superconductors with electron and hole Fermi surfaces with sufficient nesting between them. This could provide further boost to increase $T_c$ in these systems.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Antiferromagnetism in Iron-Based Superconductors: Selection of Magnetic Order and Quasiparticle Interference

The recent discovery of superconductivity in the iron-based layered pnictides with T_c ranging between 26 and 56K generated enormous interest in the physics of these materials. Here, we review some of the peculiarities of the antiferromagnetic order in the iron pnictides, including the selection of the stripe magnetic order and the formation of the Ising-nematic state in the unfolded BZ within an itinerant description. In addition we analyze the properties of the quasiparticle interference spectrum in the parent antiferromagnetic phase.Comment: Invited talk at SCES 2013, to published in JPSJ Special Topic

Quasiparticle approach to the transport in infinite-layer nickelates

The normal-state transport properties of superconducting infinite-layer nickelates are investigated within an interacting three-orbital model. It includes effective Ni-$d_{z^2}$, Ni-$d_{x^2-y^2}$ bands as well as the self-doping band degree of freedom. Thermopower, Hall coefficient and optical conductivity are modelled within a quasiparticle approximation to the electronic states. Qualitative agreement in comparison to experimentally available Hall data is achieved, with notably a temperature-dependent sign change of the Hall coefficient for larger hole doping $x$. The Seebeck coefficient changes from negative to positive in a non-trivial way with $x$, but generally shows only modest temperature dependence. The optical conductivity shows a pronounced Drude response and a prominent peak structure at higher frequencies due to interband transitions. While the quasiparticle picture is surely approximative to low-valence nickelates, it provides enlightening insights into the multiorbital nature of these challenging systems.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Long-range Ising spins models emerging from frustrated Josephson junctions arrays with topological constraints

Geometrical frustration in correlated systems can give rise to a plethora of novel ordered states and intriguing phases. Here, we analyze theoretically vertex-sharing frustrated Kagome lattice of Josephson junctions and identify various classical and quantum phases. The frustration is provided by periodically arranged $0$- and $\pi$- Josephson junctions. In the frustrated regime the macroscopic phases are composed of different patterns of vortex/antivortex penetrating each basic element of the Kagome lattice, i.e., a superconducting triangle interrupted by three Josephson junctions. We obtain that numerous topological constraints, related to the flux quantization in any hexagon loop, lead to highly anisotropic and long-range interaction between well separated vortices (antivortices). Taking into account this interaction and a possibility of macroscopic "tunneling" between vortex and antivortex in single superconducting triangles we derive an effective Ising-type spin Hamiltonian with strongly anisotropic long-range interaction. In the classically frustrated regime we calculate numerically the temperature-dependent spatially averaged spins polarization, $\overline{m}(T)$, characterizing the crossover between the ordered and disordered vortex/antivortex states. In the coherent quantum regime we analyze the lifting of the degeneracy of the ground state and the appearance of the highly entangled states.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures and 2 Appendice

Eliashberg theory of superconductivity and inelastic rare-earth impurity scattering in filled skutterudite La1−x_{1-x}Prx_{x}Os4_{4}Sb12_{12}

We study the influence of inelastic rare-earth impurity scattering on electron-phonon mediated superconductivity and mass renormalization in (La$_{1-x}$Pr$_{x}$)Os$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$ compounds. Solving the strong coupling Eliashberg equations we find that the dominant quadrupolar component of the inelastic scattering on Pr impurities yields an enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature T$_c$ in LaOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$ and increases monotonically as a function of Pr concentration. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimentally observed T$_c (x)$ dependence. Our analysis suggests that phonons and quadrupolar excitations cause the attractive electron interaction which results in the formation of Cooper pairs and singlet superconductivity in PrOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$.Comment: 5 pages,4 figures, revised title suggested by editor, original fig.4 and fig.5 combined together, discussion added before conclusio