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The Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics organizes regular colloquia about topics of current interest in the field of theoretical physics.
Cascade of phase transitions near Quantum Critical Point
Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium (ASC)
1 hour 8 minutes 54 seconds
4 months ago
Cascade of phase transitions near Quantum Critical Point
In the standard picture of a quantum phase transition, a single quantum critical point separates the phases at zero temperature. Here
we show that the two-dimensional case is considerably more complex. Instead of the single point separating the antiferromagnet from
the normal metal, we have discovered a broad region between these two phases where the magnetic order is destroyed but certain areas of the Fermi surface are closed by a large gap. This gap reflects the formation of a novel quantum state characterized by a superposition of d-wave superconductivity and a quadrupole density wave
(QDW), which builds a checkerboard pattern with a period incommensurate with that of the original spin density wave. At moderate temperatures both orders co-exist over comparatively large distances but thermal fluctuations destroy the long-range order. Below
a critical temperature the
fluctuations are less essential and super-
conductivity becomes stable. Applying a magnetic field destroys the superconductivity but establishes QDW. In addition to these phases
we obtain also a charge density wave (CDW) arising as a result of interaction of electrons with superconducting fluctuations. This phase
is possible when the superconductivity is destroyed by either thermal fluctuations or a magnetic field. The results of our theory can serve as explanation of recent experiments on cuprates performed with the help of STM, NMR, hard and resonant soft X-ray scattering, sound
propagation, and other techniques.
Sommerfeld Theory Colloquium (ASC)
The Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics organizes regular colloquia about topics of current interest in the field of theoretical physics.