Resonating-valence-bond theory of phase transitions and superconductivity in La2CuO4-based compounds

Emergent Superconductivity and Competing Charge Orders in Hole-Doped Square-Lattice t-J Model

The square-lattice Hubbard and closely related t-J models are considered as basic paradigms for understanding strong correlation effects and unconventional superconductivity (SC). Recent large-scale density matrix renormalization group simulations on the extended t-J model have identified d-wave SC on the electron-doped side (with the next-nearest-neighbor hopping t_{2}>0) but a dominant charge density wave (CDW) order on the hole-doped side (t_{2}<0), which is inconsistent with the SC of hole-doped cuprate compounds. We re-examine the ground-state phase diagram of the extended t-J model by employing the state-of-the-art density matrix renormalization group calculations with much enhanced bond dimensions, allowing more accurate determination of the ground state. On six-leg cylinders, while different CDW phases are identified on the hole-doped side for the doping range δ=1/16-1/8, a SC phase emerges at a lower doping regime, with algebraically decaying pairing correlations and d-wave symmetry. On the wider eight-leg systems, the d-wave SC also emerges on the hole-doped side at the optimal 1/8 doping, demonstrating the winning of SC over CDW by increasing the system width. Our results not only suggest a new path to SC in general t-J model through weakening the competing charge orders, but also provide a unified understanding on the SC of both hole- and electron-doped cuprate superconductors.

Spin-Liquid Insulators Can Be Landau's Fermi Liquids

The long search for insulating materials that possess low-energy quasiparticles carrying electron's quantum numbers except charge-inspired by the neutral spin-1/2 excitations, the so-called spinons, exhibited by Anderson's resonating-valence-bond state-seems to have reached a turning point after the discovery of several Mott insulators displaying the same thermal and magnetic properties as metals, including quantum oscillations in a magnetic field. Here, we show that such anomalous behavior is not inconsistent with Landau's Fermi liquid theory of quasiparticles at a Luttinger surface. That is the manifold of zeros within the Brillouin zone of the single-particle Green's function at zero frequency, and which thus defines the spinon Fermi surface conjectured by Anderson.

Symmetry of Identical Particles, Modern Achievements in the Pauli Exclusion Principle, in Superconductivity and in Some Other Phenomena

In this review, the modern achievements in studies of the Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) and the properties of the identical particle systems when PEP is not fulfilled are discussed. The validity of conception of the spin in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) approaches is analyzed. The modern state of the recently discovered Fe-based superconductors is discussed in detail. These materials belong to the paramagnetic semimetal family and become superconductors upon doping. Recently, in 2020, room-temperature superconductivity was realized. However, from the following discussion in the SC community, it was not evident that the results of room-temperature superconductivity have been repeated by other laboratories. Thus, the question “is room temperature really achieved?” is still open. In the concluding remarks, we present the explanation of why the PEP limitations on the symmetry of identical particles system exist in nature, and following from it, some important consequences.

Loss of classicality in alternating spin-12/spin-1 chain, in the presence of next-neighbor couplings and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions

We have considered and alternating spin-12/spin-1 chain with nearest-neighbor (NN) (J₁), next-nearest neighbor (NNN) (J₂) antiferromagnetic (AFM) Heisenberg interactions along withz-component of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) (D^z) interaction. The Hamiltonian has been studied using (a) linear spin-wave theory and (b) density matrix renormalization group. The system had been reported earlier as a classical ferrimagnet only when NN exchange interactions are present. Both the AFM NNN interactions and DM interactions introduce strong quantum fluctuations and due to which all the signatures of ferrimagnetism vanishes. We find that the nonzeroJ₂introduces strong quantum fluctuations in each of the spin sites due to which thez-components of both spin-1 and spin-1/2 sites average out to be zero. The ground state becomes a singlet. The presence ofJ₁along withD^zintroduces a short range order but develops long range order along theXYplane.J₁along withJ₂induces competing phases with structure factor showing sharp and wide peaks, at two different angles reflecting the spin spiral structure locally as well as in the underlying lattice. Interestingly, we find that theD^zterm removes the local spin spiral structure inz-direction, while developing a spiral order in theXYplane.

Emergent gauge symmetries: making symmetry as well as breaking it

Gauge symmetries play an essential role in determining the interactions of particle physics. Where do they come from? Might the gauge symmetries of the Standard Model unify in the ultraviolet or might they be emergent in the infrared, below some large scale close to the Planck scale? Emergent gauge symmetries are important in quantum many-body systems in quantum phases associated with long range entanglement and topological order, e.g. they arise in high temperature superconductors, with string-net condensation and in the A-phase of superfluid ³He. String-nets and superfluid ³He exhibit emergent properties similar to the building blocks of particle physics. Emergent gauge symmetries also play an important role in simulations of quantum field theories. This article discusses recent thinking on possible emergent gauge symmetries in particle physics, commenting also on Higgs phenomena and the vacuum energy or cosmological constant puzzle in emergent gauge systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Quantum technologies in particle physics'.

Spin liquids in geometrically perfect triangular antiferromagnets

The cradle of quantum spin liquids, triangular antiferromagnets show strong proclivity to magnetic order and require deliberate tuning to stabilize a spin-liquid state. In this brief review, we juxtapose recent theoretical developments that trace the parameter regime of the spin-liquid phase, with experimental results for Co-based and Yb-based triangular antiferromagnets. Unconventional spin dynamics arising from both ordered and disordered ground states are discussed, and the notion of a geometrically perfect triangular system is scrutinized to demonstrate non-trivial imperfections that may assist magnetic frustration in stabilizing dynamic spin states with peculiar excitations.

Specific Heat Study of 1D and 2D Excitations in the Layered Frustrated Quantum Antiferromagnets Cs_{2}CuCl_{4-x}Br_{x}

We report an experimental and theoretical study of the low-temperature specific heat C and magnetic susceptibility χ of the layered anisotropic triangular-lattice spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets Cs_{2}CuCl_{4-x}Br_{x} with x=0, 1, 2, and 4. We find that the ratio J^{'}/J of the exchange couplings ranges from 0.32 to ≈0.78, implying a change (crossover or quantum phase transition) in the materials' magnetic properties from one-dimensional (1D) behavior for J^{'}/J<0.6 to two-dimensional (2D) behavior for J^{'}/J≈0.78. For J^{'}/J<0.6, realized for x=0, 1, and 4, we find a magnetic contribution to the low-temperature specific heat, C_{m}∝T, consistent with spinon excitations in 1D spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets. Remarkably, for x=2, where J^{'}/J≈0.78 implies a 2D magnetic character, we also observe C_{m}∝T. This finding, which contrasts the prediction of C_{m}∝T^{2} made by standard spin-wave theories, shows that Fermi-like statistics also plays a significant role for the magnetic excitations in spin-1/2 frustrated 2D antiferromagnets.

Evidence for a quantum dipole liquid state in an organic quasi-two-dimensional material

Mott insulators are commonly pictured with electrons localized on lattice sites, with their low-energy degrees of freedom involving spins only. Here, we observe emergent charge degrees of freedom in a molecule-based Mott insulator κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂Hg(SCN)₂Br, resulting in a quantum dipole liquid state. Electrons localized on molecular dimer lattice sites form electric dipoles that do not order at low temperatures and fluctuate with frequency detected experimentally in our Raman spectroscopy experiments. The heat capacity and Raman scattering response are consistent with a scenario in which the composite spin and electric dipole degrees of freedom remain fluctuating down to the lowest measured temperatures.

Bonding in phase change materials: concepts and misconceptions

Bonding concepts originating in chemistry are surveyed from a condensed matter perspective, beginning around 1850 with 'valence' and the word 'bond' itself. The analysis of chemical data in the 19th century resulted in astonishing progress in understanding the connectivity and stereochemistry of molecules, almost without input from physicists until the development of quantum mechanics in 1925 and afterwards. The valence bond method popularized by Pauling and the molecular orbital methods of Hund, Mulliken, Bloch, and Hückel play major roles in the subsequent development, as does the central part played by the kinetic energy in covalent bonding (Ruedenberg and others). 'Metallic' (free electron) and related approaches, including pseudopotential and density functional theories, have been remarkably successful in understanding structures and bonding in molecules and solids. We discuss these concepts in the context of phase change materials, which involve the rapid and reversible transition between amorphous and crystalline states, and note the confusion that some have caused, in particular 'resonance' and 'resonant bonding'.

Feasibility of a metamagnetic transition in correlated systems

The long-standing issue of the competition between the magnetic field and the Kondo effect, favoring, respectively, triplet and singlet ground states, is addressed using a cluster slave-rotor mean-field theory for the Hubbard model and its spin-correlated, spin-frustrated extensions in two dimensions. The metamagnetic jump is established and compared with earlier results of dynamical mean-field theory. This approach also reproduces the emergent super-exchange energy scale in the insulating side. A scaling is found for the critical Zeeman field in terms of the intrinsic coherence scale just below the metal-insulator transition, where the critical spin fluctuations are soft. The conditions required for metamagnetism to appear at a reasonable field are also underlined. Gutzwiller analysis on the two-dimensional Hubbard model and a quantum Monte Carlo calculation on the Heisenberg spin system are performed to check the limiting cases of the cluster slave-rotor results for the Hubbard model. Low-field scaling features for magnetization are discussed.

A coefficient average approximation towards Gutzwiller wavefunction formalism

Gutzwiller wavefunction is a physically well-motivated trial wavefunction for describing correlated electron systems. In this work, a new approximation is introduced to facilitate the evaluation of the expectation value of any operator within the Gutzwiller wavefunction formalism. The basic idea is to make use of a specially designed average over Gutzwiller wavefunction coefficients expanded in the many-body Fock space to approximate the ratio of expectation values between a Gutzwiller wavefunction and its underlying noninteracting wavefunction. To check with the standard Gutzwiller approximation (GA), we test its performance on single band systems and find quite interesting properties. On finite systems, we noticed that it gives superior performance over GA, while on infinite systems it asymptotically approaches GA. Analytic analysis together with numerical tests are provided to support this claimed asymptotical behavior. Finally, possible improvements on the approximation and its generalization towards multiband systems are illustrated and discussed.

Fractional excitations in the square lattice quantum antiferromagnet

Quantum magnets have occupied the fertile ground between many-body theory and low-temperature experiments on real materials since the early days of quantum mechanics. However, our understanding of even deceptively simple systems of interacting spins-1/2 is far from complete. The quantum square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (QSLHAF), for example, exhibits a striking anomaly of hitherto unknown origin in its magnetic excitation spectrum. This quantum effect manifests itself for excitations propagating with the specific wave vector (π, 0). We use polarized neutron spectroscopy to fully characterize the magnetic fluctuations in the metal-organic compound CFTD, a known realization of the QSLHAF model. Our experiments reveal an isotropic excitation continuum at the anomaly, which we analyse theoretically using Gutzwiller-projected trial wavefunctions. The excitation continuum is accounted for by the existence of spatially-extended pairs of fractional S=1/2 quasiparticles, 2D analogues of 1D spinons. Away from the anomalous wave vector, these fractional excitations are bound and form conventional magnons. Our results establish the existence of fractional quasiparticles in the high-energy spectrum of a quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnet, even in the absence of frustration.

Exchange Perturbation Theory for Multiatomic Electron System and Its Application to Spin Arrangement in Manganite Chains

A new methodology of binding energy calculation with respect to different spin arrangements for a multiatomic electron system is developed from the first principle in the frame of the exchange perturbation theory (EPT). We developed EPT formalism in the general form of the Rayleigh-Srchödinger expansion with a symmetric Hamiltonian, taking into account an exchange and nonadditive contributions of a superexchange interaction. The expressions of all corrections to the energy and wave function were reduced to the nonsymmetric Hamiltonian form. The EPT method is extended for the case of degeneracy in the total spin of a system. As an example of the application of the developed EPT formalism for the degeneracy case, spin arrangements were considered for the key –O– (: Mn3+ or Mn4+) fragments in manganites. In –O– for La1/3Ca2/3MnO3 are in good agreement the obtained estimations of Heisenberg parameter and binding energy with the available experimental data.

Specific Heat Linear Term in YBa2Cu3O7−x and a Survey of Related Compounds

We have measured the specific heat, C, in the temperature range 0.3 to 20K and in magnetic fields up to 12 Tesla of several compounds related to the high-Tc superconductors. The linear term in C for YBa2Cu3O7−x is only weakly dependent on oxygen concentration in the range 0 ≤ × ≤ 0.7. The linear term in C changes by less than 10% at 10 Tesla for La1.98Sr.02CuO4, whereas for YBa2Cu3O7−x it is obscured by additional field-dependent structure. Magnetic ordering anomalies are observed in YBa2Cu2O5 at 10.6 K and in BaCuO2+6 at 9.3 K.

Extended DFT + U + V method with on-site and inter-site electronic interactions

In this paper we introduce a generalization of the popular DFT + U method based on the extended Hubbard model that includes on-site and inter-site electronic interactions. The novel corrective Hamiltonian is designed to study systems for which electrons are not completely localized on atomic states (according to the general scheme of Mott localization) and hybridization between orbitals from different sites plays an important role. The application of the extended functional to archetypal Mott-charge-transfer (NiO) and covalently bonded insulators (Si and GaAs) demonstrates its accuracy and versatility and the possibility to obtain a unifying and equally accurate description for a broad range of very diverse systems.

All-temperature magnon theory of ferromagnetism

We present an all-temperature magnon formalism for ferromagnetic solids. To our knowledge, this is the first time that all-temperature spin statistics have been calculated. The general impression up to now is that the magnon formalism breaks down at the Curie point as it introduces a series expansion and unphysical states. Our treatment is based on an accurate quantum mechanical representation of the Holstein-Primakoff transformation. To achieve this end, we introduce the 'Kubo operator'. The treatment is valid for all 14 types of Bravais lattices, and not limited to simple cubic unit cells. In the present work, we carry out a zeroth-order treatment involving all possible spin states, and leaving out all unphysical states. In a subsequent paper we will show that the perturbed energy values are very different, but the magnetic properties undergo only small modifications from the zeroth-order results.

Impurity band Mott insulators: a new route to high Tc superconductivity

Last century witnessed the birth of semiconductor electronics and nanotechnology. The physics behind these revolutionary developments is certain quantum mechanical behaviour of 'impurity state electrons' in crystalline 'band insulators', such as Si, Ge, GaAs and GaN, arising from intentionally added (doped) impurities. The present article proposes that certain collective quantum behaviour of these impurity state electrons, arising from Coulomb repulsions, could lead to superconductivity in a parent band insulator, in a way not suspected before. Impurity band resonating valence bond theory of superconductivity in boron doped diamond, recently proposed by us, suggests possibility of superconductivity emerging from impurity band Mott insulators. We use certain key ideas and insights from the field of high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates and organics. Our suggestion also offers new possibilities in the field of semiconductor electronics and nanotechnology. The current level of sophistication in solid state technology and combinatorial materials science is very well capable of realizing our proposal and discover new superconductors.

Spin-charge separation in two-dimensional frustrated quantum magnets

The dynamics of a mobile hole in two-dimensional frustrated quantum magnets is investigated by exact diagonalization techniques. Our results provide evidence for spin-charge separation upon doping the kagome lattice, a prototype of a spin liquid. In contrast, in the checkerboard lattice, a symmetry broken valence bond crystal, a small quasiparticle peak is seen for some crystal momenta, a finding interpreted as a restoration of weak holon-spinon confinement.

Resonating valence bond wave function for the two-dimensional fractional spin liquid

The unconventional low-lying spin excitations, recently observed in neutron scattering experiments on Cs2CuCl4, are explained with a spin liquid wave function. The dispersion relation as well as the wave vector of the incommensurate spin correlations are well reproduced within a projected BCS wave function with gapless and fractionalized spin-1/2 excitations around the nodes of the BCS gap function. The proposed wave function is shown to be very accurate for one-dimensional spin-1/2 systems and remains similarly accurate in the two-dimensional model corresponding to Cs2CuCl4, thus representing a good ansatz for describing spin fractionalization in two dimensions.