227 research outputs found
Quantum oscillations without quantum coherence
We study numerically the damping of quantum oscillations and the dynamics of the density matrix in model many-spin systems decohered by a spin bath. We show that oscillations of some density matrix elements can persist with considerable amplitude long after other elements, along with the entropy, have come close to saturation, i.e., when the system has been decohered almost completely. The oscillations exhibit very slow decay, and may be observable in experiments.
Intrinsic ripples in graphene
The stability of two-dimensional (2D) layers and membranes is subject of a
long standing theoretical debate. According to the so called Mermin-Wagner
theorem, long wavelength fluctuations destroy the long-range order for 2D
crystals. Similarly, 2D membranes embedded in a 3D space have a tendency to be
crumpled. These dangerous fluctuations can, however, be suppressed by
anharmonic coupling between bending and stretching modes making that a
two-dimensional membrane can exist but should present strong height
fluctuations. The discovery of graphene, the first truly 2D crystal and the
recent experimental observation of ripples in freely hanging graphene makes
these issues especially important. Beside the academic interest, understanding
the mechanisms of stability of graphene is crucial for understanding electronic
transport in this material that is attracting so much interest for its unusual
Dirac spectrum and electronic properties. Here we address the nature of these
height fluctuations by means of straightforward atomistic Monte Carlo
simulations based on a very accurate many-body interatomic potential for
carbon. We find that ripples spontaneously appear due to thermal fluctuations
with a size distribution peaked around 70 \AA which is compatible with
experimental findings (50-100 \AA) but not with the current understanding of
stability of flexible membranes. This unexpected result seems to be due to the
multiplicity of chemical bonding in carbon.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure
A new 2D monolayer BiXene, M2C (M = Mo, Tc, Os)
The existence of BiXenes, a new family of 2D monolayers, is hereby predicted. Theoretically, BiXenes have 1H symmetry (P6[combining macron]m2) and can be formed from the 4d/5d binary carbides. As the name suggests, they are close relatives of MXenes, which instead have 1T symmetry (P3[combining macron]m1). The newly found BiXenes, as well as some new MXenes, are shown to have formation energies close to that of germanene, which suggests that these materials should be possible to be synthesised. Among them, we illustrate that 1H-Tc2C and 1T-Mo2C are dynamically stable at 0 K, while 1H-Mo2C, 1T-Tc2C, 1H-Os2C, and 1T-Rh2C are likely to be stabilised via strain or temperature. In addition, the nature of the chemical bonding is analysed, emphasizing that the covalency between the transition metal ions and carbon is much stronger in BiXenes than in MXenes. The emergence of BiXenes can not only open up a new era of conducting 2D monolayers, but also provide good candidates for carrier materials aimed at energy storage and spintronic devices that have already been unveiled in MXenes
Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb Problem in Graphene Ring
We study the Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb problem in a graphene ring. We
investigate, in particular, the effects of a Coulomb type potential of the form
on the energy spectrum of Dirac electrons in the graphene ring in two
different ways: one for the scalar coupling and the other for the vector
coupling. It is found that, since the potential in the scalar coupling breaks
the time-reversal symmetry between the two valleys as well as the effective
time-reversal symmetry in a single valley, the energy spectrum of one valley is
separated from that of the other valley, demonstrating a valley polarization.
In the vector coupling, however, the potential does not break either of the two
symmetries and its effect appears only as an additive constant to the spectrum
of Aharonov-Bohm potential. The corresponding persistent currents, the
observable quantities of the symmetry-breaking energy spectra, are shown to be
asymmetric about zero magnetic flux in the scalar coupling, while symmetric in
the vector coupling.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures (V2) 18 pages, accepted in JPHYS
Electronic transport in polycrystalline graphene
Most materials in available macroscopic quantities are polycrystalline.
Graphene, a recently discovered two-dimensional form of carbon with strong
potential for replacing silicon in future electronics, is no exception. There
is growing evidence of the polycrystalline nature of graphene samples obtained
using various techniques. Grain boundaries, intrinsic topological defects of
polycrystalline materials, are expected to dramatically alter the electronic
transport in graphene. Here, we develop a theory of charge carrier transmission
through grain boundaries composed of a periodic array of dislocations in
graphene based on the momentum conservation principle. Depending on the grain
boundary structure we find two distinct transport behaviours - either high
transparency, or perfect reflection of charge carriers over remarkably large
energy ranges. First-principles quantum transport calculations are used to
verify and further investigate this striking behaviour. Our study sheds light
on the transport properties of large-area graphene samples. Furthermore,
purposeful engineering of periodic grain boundaries with tunable transport gaps
would allow for controlling charge currents without the need of introducing
bulk band gaps in otherwise semimetallic graphene. The proposed approach can be
regarded as a means towards building practical graphene electronics.Comment: accepted in Nature Material
Simple Metals at High Pressure
In this lecture we review high-pressure phase transition sequences exhibited
by simple elements, looking at the examples of the main group I, II, IV, V, and
VI elements. General trends are established by analyzing the changes in
coordination number on compression. Experimentally found phase transitions and
crystal structures are discussed with a brief description of the present
theoretical picture.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, lecture notes for the lecture given at the Erice
course on High-Pressure Crystallography in June 2009, Sicily, Ital
Transport through a strongly coupled graphene quantum dot in perpendicular magnetic field
We present transport measurements on a strongly coupled graphene quantum dot
in a perpendicular magnetic field. The device consists of an etched
single-layer graphene flake with two narrow constrictions separating a 140 nm
diameter island from source and drain graphene contacts. Lateral graphene gates
are used to electrostatically tune the device. Measurements of Coulomb
resonances, including constriction resonances and Coulomb diamonds prove the
functionality of the graphene quantum dot with a charging energy of around 4.5
meV. We show the evolution of Coulomb resonances as a function of perpendicular
magnetic field, which provides indications of the formation of the graphene
specific 0th Landau level. Finally, we demonstrate that the complex pattern
superimposing the quantum dot energy spectra is due to the formation of
additional localized states with increasing magnetic field.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Valley filter and valley valve in graphene
It is known that the lowest propagating mode in a narrow ballistic ribbon of
graphene may lack the twofold valley degeneracy of higher modes. Depending on
the crystallographic orientation of the ribbon axis, the lowest mode mixes both
valleys or lies predominantly in a single valley (chosen by the direction of
propagation). We show, using a tight-binding model calculation, that a
nonequilibrium valley polarization can be realized in a sheet of graphene, upon
injection of current through a ballistic point contact with zigzag edges. The
polarity can be inverted by local application of a gate voltage to the point
contact region. Two valley filters in series may function as an
electrostatically controlled ``valley valve'', representing a
zero-magnetic-field counterpart to the familiar spin valve.Comment: RevTeX, 4 pages, 5 figure
High-Field Superconductivity at an Electronic Topological Transition in URhGe
The emergence of superconductivity at high magnetic fields in URhGe is
regarded as a paradigm for new state formation approaching a quantum critical
point. Until now, a divergence of the quasiparticle mass at the metamagnetic
transition was considered essential for superconductivity to survive at
magnetic fields above 30 tesla. Here we report the observation of quantum
oscillations in URhGe revealing a tiny pocket of heavy quasiparticles that
shrinks continuously with increasing magnetic field, and finally disappears at
a topological Fermi surface transition close to or at the metamagnetic field.
The quasiparticle mass decreases and remains finite, implying that the Fermi
velocity vanishes due to the collapse of the Fermi wavevector. This offers a
novel explanation for the re-emergence of superconductivity at extreme magnetic
fields and makes URhGe the first proven example of a material where magnetic
field-tuning of the Fermi surface, rather than quantum criticality alone,
governs quantum phase formation.Comment: A revised version has been accepted for publication in Nature Physic
- …