Condensed Matter Physics Commons^™

Emergence Of Helical Edge Conduction In Graphene At The Ν = 0 Quantum Hall State, Pavel Tikhonov, Efrat Shimshoni, H. A. Fertig, Ganpathy Murthy

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The conductance of graphene subject to a strong, tilted magnetic field exhibits a dramatic change from insulating to conducting behavior with tilt angle, regarded as evidence for the transition from a canted antiferromagnetic (CAF) to a ferromagnetic (FM) ν = 0 quantum Hall state. We develop a theory for the electric transport in this system based on the spin-charge connection, whereby the evolution in the nature of collective spin excitations is reflected in the charge-carrying modes. To this end, we derive an effective field-theoretical description of the low-energy excitations, associated with quantum fluctuations of the spin-valley domain-wall ground-state configuration which …

First-Order Superfluid To Valence-Bond Solid Phase Transitions In Easy-Plane Su(N) Magnets For Small N, Jonathan D'Emidio, Ribhu K. Kaul

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We consider the easy-plane limit of bipartite SU(N) Heisenberg Hamiltonians, which have a fundamental representation on one sublattice and the conjugate to fundamental on the other sublattice. For N = 2 the easy plane limit of the SU(2) Heisenberg model is the well-known quantum XY model of a lattice superfluid. We introduce a logical method to generalize the quantum XY model to arbitrary N, which keeps the Hamiltonian sign-free. We show that these quantum Hamiltonians have a world-line representation as the statistical mechanics of certain tightly packed loop models of N colors in which neighboring loops are …

Ν = 1/2 Landau Level: Half-Empty Versus Half-Full, Ganpathy Murthy, R. Shankar

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We show here that an extension of the Hamiltonian theory developed by us over the years furnishes a composite fermion (CF) description of the ν = 1/2 state that is particle-hole (PH) symmetric, has a charge density that obeys the magnetic translation algebra of the lowest Landau level (LLL), and exhibits cherished ideas from highly successful wave functions, such as a neutral quasiparticle with a certain dipole moment related to its momentum. We also a provide an extension away from ν = 1/2, which has the features from ν = 1/2 and implements the PH transformation on the LLL as …

Collective Bulk And Edge Modes Through The Quantum Phase Transition In Graphene At Ν = 0, Ganpathy Murthy, Efrat Shimshoni, H. A. Fertig

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Undoped graphene in a strong, tilted magnetic field exhibits a radical change in conduction upon changing the tilt angle, which can be attributed to a quantum phase transition from a canted antiferromagnetic (CAF) to a ferromagnetic (FM) bulk state at filling factor ν = 0. This behavior signifies a change in the nature of the collective ground state and excitations across the transition. Using the time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation, we study the collective neutral (particle-hole) excitations in the two phases, both in the bulk and on the edge of the system. The CAF has gapless neutral modes in the bulk, whereas …

Understanding Electrical Conduction In Lithium Ion Batteries Through Multi-Scale Modeling, Jie Pan

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Silicon (Si) has been considered as a promising negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high theoretical capacity, low discharge voltage, and low cost. However, the utilization of Si electrode has been hampered by problems such as slow ionic transport, large stress/strain generation, and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). These problems severely influence the performance and cycle life of Si electrodes. In general, ionic conduction determines the rate performance of the electrode, while electron leakage through the SEI causes electrolyte decomposition and, thus, causes capacity loss. The goal of this thesis research is to design Si …

A Systematic Study Of The Effect Of Spin-Orbit Interaction On Properties Of Tetravalent And Pentavalent Iridate Compounds, Jasminka Terzic

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Previous studies of iridates have shown that an interplay of strong SOI, Coulomb interaction U, Hund’s rule coupling and crystalline electric fields result in unexpected insulating states with complex magnetic states. The novel J_eff =1/2 insulating state first observed in Sr₂IrO₄ is a direct consequence of such an intriguing interplay and is one of the central foci of this dissertation study.

The work presented here consists of three projects: (1) Effects of Tb doping on Sr₂IrO₄ having tetravalent Ir⁴⁺(5d⁵) ions; (2) Emergence of unexpected magnetic states in double-perovskite (Ba …

Physical And Electronic Properties Of Nanoscale 2d Materials, Mathias J. Boland

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

There is a great push towards reducing the size scale of both electronic components and machines. Two dimensional materials, such as graphene, are ideal candidates towards this push, as they are naturally atomically thin. In the case of nanoscale machines, the mechanical properties of the material surfaces become increasingly important. The use of laminar materials, such as graphene and MoS₂, to modify the surface properties, yet maintain nanoscale topographical features, are very attractive. Towards this goal, we have investigated the surface properties of MoS₂ at the nanoscale using Lateral Force Microscopy (LFM). In these investigations, we measure …

Synthesis, Integration, And Physical Characterization Of Graphene And Carbon Nanotubes, David P. Hunley

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Graphene and carbon nanotubes are among the hottest topics in physics today. Both materials exhibit numerous remarkable mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties that make them promising materials for use in a large number of diverse applications, especially in the field of nanotechnology. One of the ultimate goals driving the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology has been the attainment of atomically precise construction of intricate integrated systems consisting of materials with diverse behavior. Specifically, it is desirable to have high performance conductors, semiconductors, and insulators integrated into complex atomically precise arrangements. This dissertation represents the culmination of work that has …

A Study On Atomically Thin Ultra Short Conducting Channels, Breakdown, And Environmental Effects, Abhishek Sundararajan

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

We have developed a novel method of producing ultra-short channel graphene field effect devices on SiO₂ substrates and have studied their electrical transport properties. A nonlinear current behavior is observed coupled with a quasi-saturation effect. An analytical model is developed to explain this behavior using ballistic transport, where the charge carriers experience minimal scattering. We also observe multilevel resistive switching after the device is electrically stressed. In addition, we have studied the evolution of the electrical transport properties of few-layer graphene during electrical breakdown. We are able to significantly increase the time scale of break junction formation, and we …

The Development And Implementation Of Systems To Study The Physical Properites Of Tantalum Trisulfide And Small-Molecule Organic Semiconductors, Hao Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The charge-density-wave (CDW) material orthorhombic tantalum trisulfide (TaS₃) is a quasi-one dimensional material that forms long ribbon shaped crystals, and exhibits unique physical behavior. We have measured the dependence of the hysteretic voltage-induced torsional strain (VITS) in TaS₃, which was first discovered by Pokrovskii et. al. in 2007, on temperature and applied torque. Our experimental results shows that the application of torque to the crystal could also change the VITS time constant, magnitude, and sign. This suggests that the VITS is a consequence of residual torsional strain originally present in the sample which twists the polarizations …

A Study Of The Lithium Ionic Conductor Li5La3Ta2O12: From Synthesis Through Materials And Transport Characterization, Brian M. Ray

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The ionic conductivity of the lithium ionic conductor, Li5La3Ta2O12, is studied in an attempt to better understand the intrinsic bulk ionic conductivity and extrinsic sample dependent contributions to the ionic conductivity, such as grain boundary effects and the electrode-electrolyte interface. To characterize the material, traditional AC impedance spectroscopy studies were performed as well novel in-situ nanoscale transport measurements. To perform the nanoscale measurements, higher quality samples were required and new synthesis techniques developed. The results of these new synthesis techniques was samples with higher densities, up to 96% of theoretical, and slightly higher room temperature ionic conductivity, 2x10^−5 S/cm. By …

A Systematic Transport And Thermodynamic Study Of Heavy Transition Metal Oxides With Hexagonal Structure, Kamal H. Butrouna

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

There is no apparent, dominant interaction in heavy transition metal oxides (TMO), especially in 5d-TMO, where all relevant interactions are of comparable energy scales, and therefore strongly compete. In particular, the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) strongly competes with the electron-lattice and on-site Coulomb interaction (U). Therefore, any tool that allows one to tune the relative strengths of SOI and U is expected to offer an opportunity for the discovery and study of novel materials. BaIrO₃ is a magnetic insulator driven by SOI whereas the isostructural BaRuO₃ is a paramagnetic metal. The contrasting ground states have been shown to result …

Time Dependent Holography, Diptarka Das

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

One of the most important results emerging from string theory is the gauge gravity duality (AdS/CFT correspondence) which tells us that certain problems in particular gravitational backgrounds can be exactly mapped to a particular dual gauge theory a quantum theory very similar to the one explaining the interactions between fundamental subatomic particles. The chief merit of the duality is that a difficult problem in one theory can be mapped to a simpler and solvable problem in the other theory. The duality can be used both ways.

Most of the current theoretical framework is suited to study equilibrium systems, or …

A Study Of Periodic And Aperiodic Ferromagnetic Antidot Lattices, Vinayak S. Bhat

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

This thesis reports our study of the effect of domain wall pinning by ferromagnetic (FM) metamaterials [1] in the form of periodic antidot lattices (ADL) on spin wave spectra in the reversible regime. This study was then extended to artificial quasicrystals in the form of Penrose P2 tilings (P2T). Our DC magnetization study of these metamaterials showed reproducible and temperature dependent knee anomalies in the hysteretic regime that are due to the isolated switching of the FM segments. Our dumbbell model analysis [2] of simulated magnetization maps indicates that FM switching in P2T is nonstochastic. We have also acquired …

Evolution Of Magnetism In The Single-Crystal Honeycomb Iridates (Na1−XLiX)2Iro3, Gang Cao, Tongfei Qi, L. Li, Jsaminka Terzic, Vincent Shian Cao, Shujuan Yuan, M. Tovar, Ganpathy Murthy, Ribhu K. Kaul

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report the successful synthesis of single crystals of the layered iridate (Na_1−xLi_x)₂IrO₃, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9, and a thorough study of its structural, magnetic, thermal, and transport properties. This compound allows a controlled interpolation between Na₂IrO₃ and Li₂IrO₃, while maintaining the quantum magnetism of the honeycomb Ir⁴⁺ planes. The measured phase diagram demonstrates a suppression of the Néel temperature T_N at an intermediate x, indicating that the magnetic orders in Na₂IrO₃ and Li₂IrO_{3 …}

Tuning The JEff = 1/2 Insulating State Via Electron Doping And Pressure In The Double-Layered Iridate Sr3Ir2O7, L. Li, P. P. Kong, Tongfei Qi, C. Q. Jin, Shujuan Yuan, Lance E. Delong, P. Schlottmann, Gang Cao

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Sr₃Ir₂O₇ exhibits a novel J_eff = 1/2 insulating state that features a splitting between J_eff = 1/2 and 3/2 bands due to spin-orbit interaction. We report a metal-insulator transition in Sr3Ir2O7 via either dilute electron doping (La³⁺ for Sr²⁺) or application of high pressure up to 35 GPa. Our study of single-crystal Sr₃Ir₂O₇ and (Sr_1−xLa_x)₃Ir₂O₇ reveals that application of high hydrostatic pressure P leads to a drastic reduction in the electrical resistivity by as much …

Spin Switching And Magnetization Reversal In Single-Crystal Ndfeo3, Shujuan Yuan, W. Ren, F. Hong, Y. B. Wang, J. C. Zhang, L. Bellaiche, Gang Cao

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report an experimental and computational study of single-crystal NdFeO₃, which features two inequivalent magnetic sublattices, namely, Fe and Nd sublattices that are coupled in an antiparallel fashion. This paper reveals that a strong interaction between 3d and 4f electrons of the two sublattices along with a spin-lattice coupling drives an extremely interesting magnetic state that is highly sensitive to the orientation and history of weak magnetic field. The following phenomena are particularly remarkable: (1) sharply contrasting magnetization M(T) along the a and c axes; (2) a first-order spin switching along the a …

Magnetic And Crystal Structures Of Sr2Iro4: A Neutron Diffraction Study, Feng Ye, Songxue Chi, Bryan C. Chakoumakos, Jaime A. Fernandez-Baca, Tongfei Qi, Gang Cao

Center for Advanced Materials Faculty Publications

We report a single-crystal neutron diffraction study of the layered Sr₂IrO₄. This work unambiguously determines the magnetic structure of the system and reveals that the spin orientation rigidly tracks the staggered rotation of the IrO₆ octahedra in Sr₂IrO₄. The long-range antiferromagnetic order has a canted spin configuration with an ordered moment of 0.208(3) μ_B/Ir site within the basal plane; a detailed examination of the spin canting yields 0.202(3) and 0.049(2) μ_B/site for the a axis and the b axis, respectively. It is intriguing that forbidden nuclear reflections …

Voltage Modulated Infrared Reflectance Study Of Soluble Organic Semiconductors In Thin Film Transistors, Emily Geraldine Bittle

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Soluble organic semiconductors have attracted interest due to their potential in making flexible and cheap electronics. Though their use is being implemented in electronics today, the conduction mechanism is still under investigation. In order to study the charge transport, this study examines the position, voltage, and frequency dependence of charge induced changes in far infrared absorption in soluble organic semiconductors in thin-film transistor structures. Measurements are compared to a simple model of a one-dimensional conductor which gives insight into the charge distribution and timing in devices. Main results of the study are dynamic measurements of charge taken by varying the …

A Systematic Study Of Transport, Magnetic And Thermal Properties Of Layered Iridates, Oleksandr B. Korneta

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

A unique feature of the 5d-iridates is that the spin-orbit interaction (SOI) and Coulomb interactions U are of comparable strength and therefore compete vigorously. The relative strength of these interactions stabilizes new exotic ground states that provide a fertile ground for studying new physics. SOI is proportional to Z^4 (Z is the atomic number), and it is now recognized that strong SOI can drive novel narrow-gap insulating states in heavy transition metal oxides such as iridates. Indeed, strong SOI necessarily introduces strong lattice degrees of freedom that become critical to new physics in the iridates. This dissertation thoroughly examines a …

The Development And Implementation Of Electromechanical Devices To Study The Physical Properties Of Sr2iro4 And Tas3, John A. Nichols

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Transition metal oxides (TMO) have proven to exhibit novel properties such as high temperature superconductivity, magnetic ordering, charge and spin density waves, metal to insulator transitions and colossal magnetoresistance. Among these are a spin-orbit coupling (SOC) induced Mott insulator Sr₂IrO₄. The electric transport properties of this material remain finite even at cryogenic temperatures enabling its complex electronic structure to be investigated by a scanning tunneling microscope. At T = 77 K, we observed two features which represent the Mott gap with a value of 2D ~ 615 meV. Additionally an inelastic loss feature was observed inside …

Magnetic And Orbital Orders Coupled To Negative Thermal Expansion In Mott Insulators, Ca2ru1-Xmxo4 (M = 3d Transition Metal Ion), Tongfei Qi

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Ca₂RuO₄ is a structurally-driven Mott insulator with a metal-insulator (MI) transition at T_MI = 357K, followed by a well-separated antiferromagnetic order at T_N = 110 K. Slightly substituting Ru with a 3d transition metal ion M effectively shifts T_MI and induces exotic magnetic behavior below T_N. Moreover, M doping for Ru produces negative thermal expansion in Ca₂Ru_1-xM_xO₄ (M = Cr, Mn, Fe or Cu); the lattice volume expands on cooling with a total volume expansion ratio reaching as high as 1%. The onset of the …

Magnetic Properties Of Nb/Ni Superconducting / Ferromagnetic Multilayers, Sergiy A. Kryukov

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Magnetic properties of Nb/Ni superconducting (SC) / ferromagnetic (FM) multilayers exhibit interesting properties near and below SC transition. A complex Field (H) – Temperature (T) phase boundary is observed in perpendicular and parallel orientation of ML with respect to DC field. We address the critical need to develop methods to make reliable magnetic measurements on SC thin films and ML, in spite of their extreme shape anisotropy and the strong diamagnetic response of the SC state.

Abrupt, highly reproducible “switching” of the SC state magnetization near the normal-state FM coercive fields has been observed in Nb/Ni ML. The SC penetration …