Thermofield dynamics: Quantum chaos versus decoherence

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2021)

Quantum chaos imposes universal spectral signatures that govern the thermofield dynamics of a many-body system in isolation. The fidelity between the initial and time-evolving thermofield double states ... [more ▼]

Quantum chaos imposes universal spectral signatures that govern the thermofield dynamics of a many-body system in isolation. The fidelity between the initial and time-evolving thermofield double states exhibits as a function of time a decay, dip, ramp, and plateau. Sources of decoherence give rise to a nonunitary evolution and result in information loss. Energy dephasing gradually suppresses quantum noise fluctuations and the dip associated with spectral correlations. Decoherence further delays the appearance of the dip and shortens the span of the linear ramp associated with chaotic behavior. The interplay between signatures of quantum chaos and information loss is determined by the competition among the decoherence, dip, and plateau characteristic times, as demonstrated in the stochastic Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model. [less ▲]

Quantum ammeter: Measuring full counting statistics of electron currents at quantum timescales

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2020), 101

Magnetic structure factor of correlated moments in small-angle neutron scattering

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2020), 101(13), 134401

The interplay between structural and magnetic properties of nanostructured magnetic materials allows one to realize unconventional magnetic effects, which results in a demand for experimental techniques ... [more ▼]

The interplay between structural and magnetic properties of nanostructured magnetic materials allows one to realize unconventional magnetic effects, which results in a demand for experimental techniques to determine the magnetization profile with nanoscale resolution. Magnetic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) probes both the chemical and magnetic nanostructure and is thus a powerful technique, e.g., for the characterization of magnetic nanoparticles. Here, we show that the conventionally used particle-matrix approach to describe SANS of magnetic particle assemblies, however, leads to a flawed interpretation. As a remedy, we provide general expressions for the field-dependent two-dimensional magnetic SANS cross section of correlated moments. It is shown that for structurally disordered ensembles the magnetic structure factor is in general, and contrary to common assumptions, (i) anisotropic also in zero field and (ii) that even in saturation the magnetic structure factor deviates from the nuclear one. These theoretical predictions explain qualitatively the intriguing experimental, polarized SANS data of an ensemble of dipolar-coupled iron oxide nanoparticles. [less ▲]

Experimental observation of third-order effect in magnetic small-angle neutron scattering

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2020), 101

Evidence for the formation of nanoprecipitates with magnetically disordered regions in bulk Ni50Mn45In5 Heusler alloys

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2019), 99

Erratum: Third-order effect in magnetic small-angle neutron scattering by a spatially inhomogeneous medium [Phys. Rev. B 91, 054404 (2015)]

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2019), 99

Charge and energy fractionalization mechanism in one-dimensional channels

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2017), 96

We study the problem of injecting single electrons into interacting one-dimensional quantum systems, a fundamental building block for electron quantum optics. It is well known that such injection leads to ... [more ▼]

We study the problem of injecting single electrons into interacting one-dimensional quantum systems, a fundamental building block for electron quantum optics. It is well known that such injection leads to charge and energy fractionalization. We elucidate this concept by calculating the nonequilibrium electron distribution function in the momentum and energy domains after the injection of an energy-resolved electron. Our results shed light on how fractionalization occurs via the creation of particle-hole pairs by the injected electron. In particular, we focus on systems with a pair of counterpropagating channels, and we fully analyze the properties of each chiral fractional excitation which is created by the injection. We suggest possible routes to access their energy and momentum distribution functions in topological quantum Hall or quantum spin-Hall edge states. [less ▲]

Time-resolved energy dynamics after single electron injection into an interacting helical liquid

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2016), 94(03), 5404

The possibility of injecting a single electron into ballistic conductors is at the basis of the new field of electron quantum optics. Here, we consider a single electron injection into the helical edge ... [more ▼]

The possibility of injecting a single electron into ballistic conductors is at the basis of the new field of electron quantum optics. Here, we consider a single electron injection into the helical edge channels of a topological insulator. Their counterpropagating nature and the unavoidable presence of electron-electron interactions dramatically affect the time evolution of the single wave packet. Modeling the injection process from a mesoscopic capacitor in the presence of nonlocal tunneling, we focus on the time-resolved charge and energy packet dynamics. Both quantities split up into counterpropagating contributions whose profiles are strongly affected by the interaction strength. In addition, stronger signatures are found for the injected energy, which is also affected by the finite width of the tunneling region, in contrast to what happens for the charge. Indeed, the energy flow can be controlled by tuning the injection parameters, and we demonstrate that, in the presence of nonlocal tunneling, it is possible to achieve a situation in which charge and energy flow in opposite directions. [less ▲]

Phonon-limited carrier mobility and resistivity from carbon nanotubes to graphene

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2015)

Under which conditions do the electrical transport properties of one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 2D graphene become equivalent? We have performed atomistic calculations of the phonon ... [more ▼]

Under which conditions do the electrical transport properties of one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 2D graphene become equivalent? We have performed atomistic calculations of the phonon-limited electrical mobility in graphene and in a wide range of CNTs of different types to address this issue. The theoretical study is based on a tight-binding method and a force-constant model from which all possible electron-phonon couplings are computed. The electrical resistivity of graphene is found in very good agreement with experiments performed at high carrier density. A common methodology is applied to study the transition from one to two dimensions by considering CNTs with diameter up to 16 nm. It is found that the mobility in CNTs of increasing diameter converges to the same value, i.e., the mobility in graphene. This convergence is much faster at high temperature and high carrier density. For small-diameter CNTs, the mobility depends strongly on chirality, diameter, and the existence of a band gap. [less ▲]

Ab initio perspective on the Mollwo-Ivey relation for F centers in alkali halides

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2015), 92

We revisit the well-known Mollwo-Ivey relation that describes the ``universal'' dependence of the absorption energies of F-type color centers on the lattice constant a of alkali-halide crystals, E-abs ... [more ▼]

We revisit the well-known Mollwo-Ivey relation that describes the ``universal'' dependence of the absorption energies of F-type color centers on the lattice constant a of alkali-halide crystals, E-abs proportional to a(-n). We perform both state-of-the-art ab initio quantum chemistry and post-DFT calculations of F-center absorption spectra. By ``tuning'' independently the lattice constant and the atomic species we show that the scaling with the lattice constant alone 2 in agreement with the ``particle-in-the-box'' model. Keeping the lattice constant fixed and changing the atomic species enables us to quantify the ion-size effects which are shown to be responsible for the exponent n approximate to 1.8. [less ▲]