Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)

Abstract: Disorder is the primary obstacle in current Majorana nanowire experiments. Reducing disorder or achieving ballistic transport is thus of paramount importance. In clean and ballistic nanowire devices, quantized conductance is expected with plateau quality serving as a benchmark for disorder assessment. Here, we introduce ballistic PbTe nanowire devices grown using the selective-area-growth (SAG) technique. Quantized conductance plateaus in units of $2e^2/h$ are observed at zero magnetic field. This observation represents an advancement in diminishing disorder within SAG nanowires, as none of the previously studied SAG nanowires (InSb or InAs) exhibit zero-field ballistic transport. Notably, the plateau values indicate that the ubiquitous valley degeneracy in PbTe is lifted in nanowire devices. This degeneracy lifting addresses an additional concern in the pursuit of Majorana realization. Moreover, these ballistic PbTe nanowires may enable the search for clean signatures of the spin-orbit helical gap in future devices.

Abstract: We theoretically demonstrate that adding an easy-axis magnetic anisotropy facilitates magnon condensation in thin yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films. Dipolar interactions in a quasi-equilibrium state stabilize room-temperature magnon condensation in YIG. Even though the out-of-plane easy-axis anisotropy generally competes with the dipolar interactions, we show that adding such magnetic anisotropy may assist the generation of the magnon condensation electrically, via the spin transfer torque mechanism. We use analytical calculations and micromagnetic simulations to illustrate this effect. Our results may explain the recent experiment on Bi-doped YIG and open a new pathway toward application of current-driven magnon condensation in quantum spintronics.

Abstract: Weyl semimetals have been theoretically predicted to become topological metals with anomalous Hall conductivity in amorphous systems. However, measuring the anomalous Hall conductivity in realistic materials, particularly those with multiple pairs of Weyl points, is a significant challenge. If a system respects time-reversal symmetry, then the anomalous Hall conductivity even vanishes. As such, it remains an open question how to probe the Weyl band like topology in amorphous materials. Here, we theoretically demonstrate that, under magnetic fields, a topological metal slab in amorphous systems exhibits three-dimensional quantum Hall effect, even in time-reversal invariant systems, thereby providing a feasible approach to exploring Weyl band like topology in amorphous materials. We unveil the topological origin of the quantized Hall conductance by calculating the Bott index. The index is carried by broadened Landau levels with bulk states spatially localized except at critical transition energies. The topological property also results in edge states localized at distinct hinges on two opposite surfaces.

Abstract: We theoretically analyze the scattering process of an electron on a graphene quantum dot (GQD) exposed to an external light irradiation. We prove that for suitable choices of the light polarization state, there emerge scattering resonances, characterized by electron trapping effects inside the GQD.

Abstract: The influence of different Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) tensor components on the static and dynamic properties of domain walls (DWs) in magnetic nanowires is investigated using one dimensional collective coordinates models and micromagnetic simulations. It is shown how the different contributions of the DMI can be compactly treated by separating the symmetric traceless, antisymmetric and diagonal components of the DMI tensor. First, we investigate the effect of all different DMI components on the static DW tilting in the presence and absence of in plane (IP) fields. We discuss the possibilities and limitations of this measurement approach for arbitrary DMI tensors. Secondly, the interplay of different DMI tensor components and their effect on the field driven dynamics of the DWs are studied and reveal a non-trivial effect of the Walker breakdown field of the material. It is shown how DMI tensors combining diagonal and off-diagonal elements can lead to a non-linear enhancement of the Walker field, in contrast with the linear enhancement obtainable in the usual cases (interface DMI or bulk DMI).

Abstract: Chirality arises from the asymmetry of matters, where two counterparts are the mirror image of each other. The interaction between circular-polarization light and quantum materials is enhanced in chiral space groups due to the structural chirality. Tellurium (Te) possesses the simplest chiral crystal structure, with Te atoms covalently bonded into a spiral atomic chain (left- or right-handed) with a periodicity of three. Here, we investigate the tunable circular photo-electric responses in 2D Te field-effect transistor with different chirality, including the longitudinal circular photogalvanic effect induced by the radial spin texture (electron-spin polarization parallel to the electron momentum direction) and the circular photovoltaic induced by the chiral crystal structure (helical Te atomic chains). Our work demonstrates the controllable manipulation of the chirality degree of freedom in materials.

Abstract: We investigate the quantum transport dynamics of electrons in a multi-path Aharonov-Bohm interferometer comprising several parallel graphene nanoribbons. At low magnetic field strengths, the conductance displays a complex oscillatory behavior stemming from the interference of electron wave functions from different paths, reminiscent of the diffraction grating in optics. With increasing magnetic field strength, certain nanoribbons experience transport blockade, leading to conventional Aharonov-Bohm oscillations arising from two-path interference. We also discuss the impact of edge effects and the influence of finite temperature. Our findings offer valuable insights for experimental investigations of quantum transport in multi-path devices and their potential application for interferometry and quantum sensing.

Abstract: We revise the Kubo formula for the electric dc conductivity in the presence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC). We discover that each velocity operator that enters this formula differs from $\partial H/\partial \boldsymbol p$, where $H$ is the Hamiltonian and $\boldsymbol p$ is the canonical momentum. Moreover, we find an additional contribution to the Hall dc conductivity from noncommuting coordinates that is missing in the conventional Kubo-Streda formula. We show that the widely used Rashba model does in fact provide a finite anomalous Hall dc conductivity in the metallic regime (in the noncrossing approximation). In addition to the Kubo formula, the Berry-phase theory of the anomalous Hall effect should also be revised for systems where the velocity operator differs from $\partial H/\partial \boldsymbol p$. While we focus on the Hall response of the charge current to the electric field, linear response theories of other SOC-related effects should be modified similarly.

Abstract: Topological semimetals, such as the Weyl and Dirac semimetals, represent one of the most active research fields in modern condensed matter physics. The peculiar physical behavior of these systems mainly originates from their underlying symmetries, emergent relativistic dispersion, and band topology. In this paper, we present a novel class of $\textit{geometric semimetals}$ in three dimensions. These semimetals are protected by the generalized chiral and rotation symmetries, but are topologically trivial. Nevertheless, we show that their band geometry is nontrivial, as evidenced by the corresponding quantum metric trace that can give rise to a quantized geometric invariant. The possible realization in synthetic matter is also discussed.