The comparison of the single-particle (SP) dynamics between the whisker and ring NbSe$_3$ crystals provides new insight into the phase transition properties in quasi-one-dimensional charge density wave (CDW) systems.
The possibility of driving phase transitions in low-density condensates through the loss of phase coherence alone has far-reaching implications for the study of quantum phases of matter. This has inspired the development of tools to control and explore the collective properties of condensate phases via phase fluctuations. Electrically-gated oxide interfaces, ultracold Fermi atoms, and cuprate superconductors, which are characterized by an intrinsically small phase-stiffness, are paradigmatic examples where these tools are having a dramatic impact. Here we use light pulses shorter than the internal thermalization time to drive and probe the phase fragility of the Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+delta}$ cuprate superconductor, completely melting the superconducting condensate without affecting the pairing strength. The resulting ultrafast dynamics of phase fluctuations and charge excitations are captured and disentangled by time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. This work demonstrates the dominant role of phase coherence in the superconductor-to-normal state phase transition and offers a benchmark for non-equilibrium spectroscopic investigations of the cuprate phase diagram.
We present a functional renormalization group calculation of the effect of strong interactions on the shape of the Fermi surface of weakly coupled metallic chains. In the regime where the bare interchain hopping is small, we show that scattering processes involving large momentum transfers perpendicular to the chains can completely destroy the warping of the true Fermi surface, leading to a confined state where the renormalized interchain hopping vanishes and a coherent motion perpendicular to the chains is impossible.
Most common types of symmetry breaking in quasi-one-dimensional electronic systems possess a combined manifold of states degenerate with respect to both the phase $theta$ and the amplitude $A$ sign of the order parameter $Aexp(itheta)$. These degrees of freedom can be controlled or accessed independently via either the spin polarization or the charge densities. To understand statistical properties and the phase diagram in the course of cooling under the controlled parameters, we present here an analytical treatment supported by Monte Carlo simulations for a generic coarse-grained two-fields model of XY-Ising type. The degeneracies give rise to two coexisting types of topologically nontrivial configurations: phase vortices and amplitude kinks -- the solitons. In 2D, 3D states with long-range (or BKT type) orders, the topological confinement sets in at a temperature $T=T_1$ which binds together the kinks and unusual half-integer vortices. At a lower $T=T_2$, the solitons start to aggregate into walls formed as rods of amplitude kinks which are ultimately terminated by half-integer vortices. With lowering $T$, the walls multiply passing sequentially across the sample. The presented results indicate a possible physical realization of a peculiar system of half-integer vortices with rods of amplitude kinks connecting their cores. Its experimental realization becomes feasible in view of recent successes in real space observations and even manipulations of domain walls in correlated electronic systems.
Effects of non-magnetic disorder on the critical temperature T_c and on diamagnetism of quasi-one-dimensional superconductors are reported. The energy of Josephson-coupling between wires is considered to be random, which is typical for dirty organic superconductors. We show that this randomness destroys phase coherence between wires and that T_c vanishes discontinuously at a critical disorder-strength. The parallel and transverse components of the penetration-depth are evaluated. They diverge at different critical temperatures T_c^{(1)} and T_c, which correspond to pair-breaking and phase-coherence breaking respectively. The interplay between disorder and quantum phase fluctuations is shown to result in quantum critical behavior at T=0, which manifests itself as a superconducting-normal metal phase transition of first-order at a critical disorder strength.
Thermopower and electrical resistivity measurements transverse to the conducting chains of the quasi-one-dimensional metal Li(0.9)Mo(6)O(17) are reported in the temperature range 5 K <= T <= 500 K. For T>= 400 K the interchain transport is determined by thermal excitation of charge carriers from a valence band ~ 0.14 eV below the Fermi level, giving rise to a large, p-type thermopower that coincides with a small, n-type thermopower along the chains. This dichotomy -- semiconductor-like in one direction and metallic in a mutually perpendicular direction -- gives rise to substantial transverse thermoelectric (TE) effects and a transverse TE figure of merit among the largest known for a single compound.