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“Comparative analysis of tight-binding models for transition metal dichalcogenides”. Jorissen B, Covaci L, Partoens B, SciPost physics core 7, 004 (2024). http://doi.org/10.21468/SCIPOSTPHYSCORE.7.1.004
Abstract: We provide a comprehensive analysis of the prominent tight-binding (TB) models for transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) available in the literature. We inspect the construction of these TB models, discuss their parameterization used and conduct a thorough comparison of their effectiveness in capturing important electronic properties. Based on these insights, we propose a novel TB model for TMDs designed for enhanced computational efficiency. Utilizing MoS2 as a representative case, we explain why specific models offer a more accurate description. Our primary aim is to assist researchers in choosing the most appropriate TB model for their calculations on TMDs.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
DOI: 10.21468/SCIPOSTPHYSCORE.7.1.004
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“Biaxial strain tuning of exciton energy and polarization in monolayer WS2”. Kourmoulakis G, Michail A, Paradisanos I, Marie X, Glazov MM, Jorissen B, Covaci L, Stratakis E, Papagelis K, Parthenios J, Kioseoglou G, Applied Physics Letters 123 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1063/5.0167724
Abstract: We perform micro-photoluminescence and Raman experiments to examine the impact of biaxial tensile strain on the optical properties of WS2 monolayers. A strong shift on the order of −130 meV per % of strain is observed in the neutral exciton emission at room temperature. Under near-resonant excitation, we measure a monotonic decrease in the circular polarization degree under the applied strain. We experimentally separate the effect of the strain-induced energy detuning and evaluate the pure effect coming from the biaxial strain. The analysis shows that the suppression of the circular polarization degree under the biaxial strain is related to an interplay of energy and polarization relaxation channels as well as to variations in the exciton oscillator strength affecting the long-range exchange interaction.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) ;
Impact Factor: 4
DOI: 10.1063/5.0167724
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“Partially unzipped carbon nanotubes as magnetic field sensors”. Costamagna S, Schulz A, Covaci L, Peeters F, Applied physics letters 100, 232104 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4726039
Abstract: The conductance through graphene nanoribbons (GNR) connected to a partially unzipped carbon nanotube (CNT) is studied in the presence of an external magnetic field applied parallel to the long axis of the tube by means of non-equilibrium Green's function technique. We consider CNTs that are partially unzipped to form armchair-GNR/zigzag-CNT/armchair-GNR or zigzag-GNR/armchair-CNT/zigzag-GNR junctions. We find that the inclusion of a longitudinal magnetic field affects the electronic states only in the CNT region, leading to the suppression of the conductance at low energies. We demonstrate that both types of junctions can be used as magnetic field sensors. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4726039]
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.411
Times cited: 10
DOI: 10.1063/1.4726039
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“Collapse of the low temperature insulating state in Cr-doped V2O3 thin films”. Homm P, Dillemans L, Menghini M, Van Bilzen B, Bakalov P, Su CY, Lieten R, Houssa M, Nasr Esfahani D, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Seo JW, Locquet JP;, Applied physics letters 107, 111904 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4931372
Abstract: We have grown epitaxial Cr-doped V2O3 thin films with Cr concentrations between 0% and 20% on (0001)-Al2O3 by oxygen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. For the highly doped samples (>3%), a regular and monotonous increase of the resistance with decreasing temperature is measured. Strikingly, in the low doping samples (between 1% and 3%), a collapse of the insulating state is observed with a reduction of the low temperature resistivity by up to 5 orders of magnitude. A vacuum annealing at high temperature of the films recovers the low temperature insulating state for doping levels below 3% and increases the room temperature resistivity towards the values of Cr-doped V2O3 single crystals. It is well-know that oxygen excess stabilizes a metallic state in V2O3 single crystals. Hence, we propose that Cr doping promotes oxygen excess in our films during deposition, leading to the collapse of the low temperature insulating state at low Cr concentrations. These results suggest that slightly Cr-doped V2O3 films can be interesting candidates for field effect devices. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.411
Times cited: 14
DOI: 10.1063/1.4931372
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“Tuning flexoelectricty and electronic properties of zig-zag graphene nanoribbons by functionalization”. Pandey T, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Carbon 171, 551 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.CARBON.2020.09.028
Abstract: The flexoelectric and electronic properties of zig-zag graphene nanoribbons are explored under mechanical bending using state of the art first principles calculations. A linear dependence of the bending induced out of plane polarization on the applied strain gradient is found. The inferior flexoelectric properties of graphene nanoribbons can be improved by more than two orders of magnitude by hydrogen and fluorine functionalization (CH and CF nanoribbons). A large out of plane flexoelectric effect is predicted for CF nanoribbons. The origin of this enhancement lies in the electro-negativity difference between carbon and fluorine atoms, which breaks the out of plane charge symmetry even for a small strain gradient. The flexoelectric effect can be further improved by co-functionalization with hydrogen and fluorine (CHF Janus-type nanoribbon), where a spontaneous out of plane dipole moment is formed even for flat nanoribbons. We also find that bending can control the charge localization of valence band maxima and therefore enables the tuning of the hole effective masses and band gaps. These results present an important advance towards the understanding of flexoelectric and electronic properties of hydrogen and fluorine functionalized graphene nanoribbons, which can have important implications for flexible electronic applications. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 6.337
Times cited: 15
DOI: 10.1016/J.CARBON.2020.09.028
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“Time-dependent investigation of charge injection in a quantum dot containing one electron”. de Sousa JS, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Farias GA, Journal of applied physics 112, 093705 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4759292
Abstract: The interaction of an injected electron towards a quantum dot (QD) containing a single confined electron is investigated using a flexible time-dependent quantum mechanics formalism, which allows both electrons to move and undergo quantum transitions. Different scenarios combining quantum dot dimensions, dielectric constant, injected wave packet energy, and width were explored, and our main results are: (i) due to the large characteristic transitions times between the confined state in the quantum dot and the delocalized state in the continuum, it is relatively difficult to ionize the occupied QD by Coulomb interaction solely and (ii) the charging state of the quantum dot can be sensed by direct injection of charges. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4759292]
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.068
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1063/1.4759292
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“Strain fields in graphene induced by nanopillar mesh”. Milovanović, SP, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Journal of applied physics 125, 082534 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.5074182
Abstract: The mechanical and electronic properties of a graphene membrane placed on top of a triangular superlattice of nanopillars are investigated. We use molecular dynamics simulations to access the deformation fields and the tight-binding approaches to calculate the electronic properties. Ripples form in the graphene layer that span across the unit cell, connecting neighboring pillars, in agreement with recent experiments. We find that the resulting pseudo-magnetic field (PMF) varies strongly across the unit cell. We investigate the dependence of PMF on unit cell boundary conditions, height of the pillars, and the strength of the van der Waals interaction between graphene and the substrate. We find direct correspondence with typical experiments on pillars, showing intrinsic “slack” in the graphene membrane. PMF values are confirmed by the local density of states calculations performed at different positions of the unit cell showing pseudo-Landau levels with varying spacings. Our findings regarding the relaxed membrane configuration and the induced strains are transferable to other flexible 2D membranes.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.068
Times cited: 9
DOI: 10.1063/1.5074182
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“Tunable magnetic focusing using Andreev scattering in superconductor-graphene hybrid devices”. Chaves A, Moura VN, Linard FJA, Covaci L, Milošević, MV, Journal Of Applied Physics 128, 124303 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1063/5.0020392
Abstract: We perform the wavepacket dynamics simulation of a graphene-based device where propagating electron trajectories are tamed by an applied magnetic field toward a normal/superconductor interface. The magnetic field controls the incidence angle of the incoming electronic wavepacket at the interface, which results in the tunable electron-hole ratio in the reflected wave function due to the angular dependence of the Andreev reflection. Here, mapped control of the quasiparticle trajectories by the external magnetic field not only defines an experimental probe for fundamental studies of the Andreev reflection in graphene but also lays the foundation for further development of magnetic focusing devices based on nanoengineered superconducting two-dimensional materials.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.2
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1063/5.0020392
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“Evidence of flat bands and correlated states in buckled graphene superlattices”. Mao J, Milovanović, SP, Andelkovic M, Lai X, Cao Y, Watanabe K, Taniguchi T, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Geim AK, Jiang Y, Andrei EY, Nature 584, 215 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1038/S41586-020-2567-3
Abstract: Two-dimensional atomic crystals can radically change their properties in response to external influences, such as substrate orientation or strain, forming materials with novel electronic structure(1-5). An example is the creation of weakly dispersive, 'flat' bands in bilayer graphene for certain 'magic' angles of twist between the orientations of the two layers(6). The quenched kinetic energy in these flat bands promotes electron-electron interactions and facilitates the emergence of strongly correlated phases, such as superconductivity and correlated insulators. However, the very accurate fine-tuning required to obtain the magic angle in twisted-bilayer graphene poses challenges to fabrication and scalability. Here we present an alternative route to creating flat bands that does not involve fine-tuning. Using scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, together with numerical simulations, we demonstrate that graphene monolayers placed on an atomically flat substrate can be forced to undergo a buckling transition(7-9), resulting in a periodically modulated pseudo-magnetic field(10-14), which in turn creates a 'post-graphene' material with flat electronic bands. When we introduce the Fermi level into these flat bands using electrostatic doping, we observe a pseudogap-like depletion in the density of states, which signals the emergence of a correlated state(15-17). This buckling of two-dimensional crystals offers a strategy for creating other superlattice systems and, in particular, for exploring interaction phenomena characteristic of flat bands. Buckled monolayer graphene superlattices are found to provide an alternative to twisted bilayer graphene for the study of flat bands and correlated states in a carbon-based material.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 64.8
Times cited: 109
DOI: 10.1038/S41586-020-2567-3
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“Survival of the Dirac points in rippled graphene”. Covaci L, Berciu M, Physical Review Letters 100, 256405 (2008). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.256405
Abstract: We study the effects of the rippling of a graphene sheet on quasiparticle dispersion. This is achieved using a generalization to the honeycomb lattice of the momentum average approximation, which is accurate for all coupling strengths and at all energies. We show that even though the position of the Dirac points may move and the Fermi speed can be renormalized significantly, quasiparticles with very long lifetimes survive near the Dirac points even for very strong couplings.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT);
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 15
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.256405
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“Holstein polarons near surfaces”. Goodvin GL, Covaci L, Berciu M, Physical Review Letters 103, 176402 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.176402
Abstract: We study the effects of a nearby surface on the spectral weight of a Holstein polaron, using the inhomogeneous momentum average approximation which is accurate over the entire range of electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling strengths. The broken translational symmetry is taken into account exactly. We find that the e-ph coupling gives rise to a large additional surface potential, with strong retardation effects, which may bind surface states even when they are not normally expected. The surface, therefore, has a significant effect and bulk properties are recovered only very far away from it. These results demonstrate that interpretation in terms of bulk quantities of spectroscopic data sensitive only to a few surface layers is not always appropriate.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 8
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.176402
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“Giant proximity effect in a phase-fluctuating superconductor”. Marchand D, Covaci L, Berciu M, Franz M, Physical Review Letters 101, 097004 (2008). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.097004
Abstract: When a tunneling barrier between two superconductors is formed by a normal material that would be a superconductor in the absence of phase fluctuations, the resulting Josephson effect can undergo an enormous enhancement. We establish this novel proximity effect by a general argument as well as a numerical simulation and argue that it may underlie recent experimental observations of the giant proximity effect between two cuprate superconductors separated by a barrier made of the same material rendered normal by severe underdoping.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 17
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.097004
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“Polaron formation in the presence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling: implications for spintronics”. Covaci L, Berciu M, Physical Review Letters 102, 186403 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.186403
Abstract: We study the effects of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling on polaron formation, using a suitable generalization of the momentum average approximation. While previous work on a parabolic band model found that spin-orbit coupling increases the effective mass, we show that the opposite holds for a tight-binding model, unless both the spin-orbit and the electron-phonon couplings are weak. It is thus possible to lower the effective mass of the polaron by increasing the spin-orbit coupling. We also show that when the spin-orbit coupling is large as compared to the phonon energy, the polaron retains only one of the spin-polarized bands in its coherent spectrum. This has major implications for the propagation of spin-polarized currents in such materials, and thus for spintronic applications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 25
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.186403
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“Efficient numerical approach to inhomogeneous superconductivity: the Chebyshev-Bogoliubov-de Gennes method”. Covaci L, Peeters FM, Berciu M, Physical review letters 105, 167006 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.167006
Abstract: We propose a highly efficient numerical method to describe inhomogeneous superconductivity by using the kernel polynomial method in order to calculate the Greens functions of a superconductor. Broken translational invariance of any type (impurities, surfaces, or magnetic fields) can be easily incorporated. We show that limitations due to system size can be easily circumvented and therefore this method opens the way for the study of scenarios and/or geometries that were unaccessible before. The proposed method is highly efficient and amenable to large scale parallel computation. Although we only use it in the context of superconductivity, it is applicable to other inhomogeneous mean-field theories.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 80
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.167006
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“Real-space calculation of the conductivity tensor for disordered topological matter”. Garcia JH, Covaci L, Rappoport TG, Physical review letters 114, 116602 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.116602
Abstract: We describe an efficient numerical approach to calculate the longitudinal and transverse Kubo conductivities of large systems using Bastin's formulation. We expand the Green's functions in terms of Chebyshev polynomials and compute the conductivity tensor for any temperature and chemical potential in a single step. To illustrate the power and generality of the approach, we calculate the conductivity tensor for the quantum Hall effect in disordered graphene and analyze the effect of the disorder in a Chern insulator in Haldane's model on a honeycomb lattice.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 69
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.116602
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“Rectification by an imprinted phase in a Josephson junction”. Berdiyorov GR, Milošević, MV, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Physical review letters 107, 177008 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.177008
Abstract: A Josephson phase shift can be induced in a Josephson junction by a strategically nearby pinned Abrikosov vortex (AV). For an asymmetric distribution of an imprinted phase along the junction (controlled by the position of the AV) such a simple system is capable of rectification of ac current in a broad and tunable frequency range. The resulting rectified voltage is a consequence of the directed motion of a Josephson antivortex which forms a pair with the AV when at local equilibrium. The proposed realization of the ratchet potential by an imprinted phase is more efficient than the asymmetric geometry of the junction itself, is easily realizable experimentally, and provides rectification even in the absence of an applied magnetic field.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 28
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.177008
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“Unconventional vortex states in nanoscale superconductors due to shape-induced resonances in the inhomogeneous Cooper-pair condensate”. Zhang L-F, Covaci L, Milošević, MV, Berdiyorov GR, Peeters FM, Physical review letters 109, 107001 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.107001
Abstract: Vortex matter in mesoscopic superconductors is known to be strongly affected by the geometry of the sample. Here we show that in nanoscale superconductors with coherence length comparable to the Fermi wavelength the shape resonances of the order parameter results in an additional contribution to the quantum topological confinement-leading to unconventional vortex configurations. Our Bogoliubov-de Gennes calculations in a square geometry reveal a plethora of asymmetric, giant multivortex, and vortex-antivortex structures, stable over a wide range of parameters and which are very different from those predicted by the Ginzburg-Landau theory. These unconventional states are relevant for high-T-c nanograins, confined Bose-Einstein condensates, and graphene flakes with proximity-induced superconductivity.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 31
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.107001
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“Position-dependent effect of non-magnetic impurities on superconducting properties of nanowires”. Zhang L-F, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Europhysics letters 109, 17010 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/109/17010
Abstract: Anderson's theorem states that non-magnetic impurities do not change the bulk properties of conventional superconductors. However, as the dimensionality is reduced, the effect of impurities becomes more significant. Here we investigate superconducting nanowires with diameter comparable to the Fermi wavelength $\lambda_F$ (which is less than the superconducting coherence length) by using a microscopic description based on the Bogoliubov-de Gennes method. We find that: 1) impurities strongly affect the superconducting properties, 2) the effect is impurity position dependent, and 3) it exhibits opposite behavior for resonant and off-resonant wire widths. We show that this is due to the interplay between the shape resonances of the order parameter and the subband energy spectrum induced by the lateral quantum confinement. These effects can be used to manipulate the Josephson current, filter electrons by subband and investigate the symmetries of the superconducting subband gaps.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 1.957
Times cited: 7
DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/109/17010
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“Quantum mechanics of spin transfer in coupled electron-spin chains”. Kim W, Covaci L, Dogan F, Marsiglio F, Epl 79, 67004 (2007). http://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/79/67004
Abstract: The manner in which spin-polarized electrons interact with a magnetized thin film is currently described by a semi-classical approach. This in turn provides our present understanding of the spin transfer, or spin torque phenomenon. However, spin is an intrinsically quantum-mechanical quantity. Here, we make the first strides towards a fully quantum-mechanical description of spin transfer through spin currents interacting with a Heisenberg-coupled spin chain. Because of quantum entanglement, this requires a formalism based on the density matrix approach. Our description illustrates how individual spins in the chain time-evolve as a result of spin transfer.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 1.957
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/79/67004
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“Holstein polaron: The effect of coupling to multiple-phonon modes”. Covaci L, Berciu M, Epl 80, 67001 (2007). http://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/80/67001
Abstract: We investigate the effects of coupling to multiple-phonon modes on the properties of a Holstein polaron. To this end, we generalize the Momentum Average approximations MA((0)) and MA((1)) to deal with multiple-phonon modes. As for a single-phonon mode, these approximations are found to be numerically very efficient. They become exact for very weak or very strong couplings, and are highly accurate in the intermediate regimes, e.g. the spectral weights obey exactly the first six, respectively eight, sum rules. Our results show that the effect on ground-state properties is cumulative in nature. As a result, if the effective coupling to one mode is much larger than to all the others, this mode effectively determines the ground-state properties. However, even very weak coupling to a second phonon mode has important non-perturbational effects on the higher-energy spectrum, in particular on the dispersion and the phonon statistics of the polaron band. This has important consequences on the analysis and interpretation of data for real materials.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 1.957
Times cited: 9
DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/80/67001
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“Surface correlation effects in two-band strongly correlated slabs”. Nasr Esfahani D, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Journal of physics : condensed matter 26, 075601 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/26/7/075601
Abstract: Using an extension of the Gutzwiller approximation for an inhomogeneous system, we study the two-band Hubbard model with unequal band widths for a slab geometry. The aim is to investigate the mutual effect of individual bands on the spatial distribution of quasi-particle weight and charge density, especially near the surface of the slab. The main effect of the difference in band width is the presence of two different length scales corresponding to the quasi-particle profile of each band. This is enhanced in the vicinity of the critical interaction of the narrow band where an orbitally selective Mott transition occurs and a surface dead layer forms for the narrow band. For the doped case, two different regimes of charge transfer between the surface and the bulk of the slab are revealed. The charge transfer from surface/ center to center/ surface depends on both the doping level and the average relative charge accumulated in each band. Such effects could also be of importance when describing the accumulation of charges at the interface between structures made of multi-band strongly correlated materials.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.649
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/26/7/075601
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“Zitterbewegung of moiré, excitons in twisted MoS₂/WSe₂, heterobilayers”. Lavor IR, da Costa DR, Covaci L, Milošević, MV, Peeters FM, Chaves A, Physical review letters 127, 106801 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.127.106801
Abstract: The moire pattern observed in stacked noncommensurate crystal lattices, such as heterobilayers of transition metal dichalcogenides, produces a periodic modulation of their band gap. Excitons subjected to this potential landscape exhibit a band structure that gives rise to a quasiparticle dubbed the moire exciton. In the case of MoS2/WSe2 heterobilayers, the moire trapping potential has honeycomb symmetry and, consequently, the moire exciton band structure is the same as that of a Dirac-Weyl fermion, whose mass can be further tuned down to zero with a perpendicularly applied field. Here we show that, analogously to other Dirac-like particles, the moire exciton exhibits a trembling motion, also known as Zitterbewegung, whose long timescales are compatible with current experimental techniques for exciton dynamics. This promotes the study of the dynamics of moire excitons in van der Waals heterostructures as an advantageous solid-state platform to probe Zitterbewegung, broadly tunable by gating and interlayer twist angle.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.127.106801
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“Proximity effect and Josephson current in clean strong/weak/strong superconducting trilayers”. Covaci L, Marsiglio F, Physical Review B 73, 014503 (2006). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.73.014503
Abstract: Recent measurements of the Josephson critical current through LSCO/LCO/LSCO thin films showed an unusually large proximity effect. Using the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations for a tight-binding Hamiltonian we describe the proximity effect in weak links between a superconductor with critical temperature T-c and one with critical temperature T-c('), where T-c > T-c('). The weak link (N-') is therefore a superconductor above its own critical temperature and the superconducting regions are considered to have either s-wave or d-wave symmetry. We note that the proximity effect is enhanced due to the presence of superconducting correlations in the weak link. The dc Josephson current is calculated, and we obtain a nonzero value for temperatures greater than T-c(') for sizes of the weak links that can be almost an order of magnitude greater than the conventional coherence length. Considering pockets of superconductivity in the N-' layer, we show that this can lead to an even larger effect on the Josephson critical current by effectively shortening the weak link.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 31
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.73.014503
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“Using magnetic stripes to stabilize superfluidity in electron-hole double monolayer graphene”. Dell'Anna L, Perali A, Covaci L, Neilson D, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 92, 220502 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.220502
Abstract: Experiments have confirmed that double monolayer graphene does not generate finite-temperature electron-hole superfluidity, because of very strong screening of the pairing attraction. The linear dispersing energy bands in monolayer graphene block any attempt to reduce the strength of the screening. We propose a hybrid device with two sheets of monolayer graphene in a modulated periodic perpendicular magnetic field. The field preserves the isotropic Dirac cones of the original monolayers but reduces the slope of the cones, making the monolayer Fermi velocity v(F) smaller. We demonstrate that with current experimental techniques, the reduction in vF can weaken the screening sufficiently to allow electron-hole superfluidity at measurable temperatures.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 7
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.92.220502
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“Emerging nonequilibrium bound state in spin-current–local-spin scattering”. Doğan F, Covaci L, Kim W, Marsiglio F, Physical Review B 80, 104434 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.80.104434
Abstract: Magnetization reversal is a well-studied problem with obvious applicability in computer hard drives. One can accomplish a magnetization reversal in at least one of two ways: application of a magnetic field or through a spin current. The latter is more amenable to a fully quantum-mechanical analysis. We formulate and solve the problem whereby a spin current interacts with a ferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain, to eventually reverse the magnetization of the chain. Spin flips are accomplished through both elastic and inelastic scattering. A consequence of the inelastic-scattering channel, when it is no longer energetically possible, is the occurrence of a nonequilibrium bound state, which is an emergent property of the coupled local plus itinerant spin system. For certain definite parameter values the itinerant spin lingers near the local spins for some time, before eventually leaking out as an outwardly diffusing state. This phenomenon results in spin-flip dynamics and filtering properties for this type of system.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 3.836
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.80.104434
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“Impurity scattering of wave packets on a lattice”. Kim W, Covaci L, Marsiglio F, Physical Review B 74, 205120 (2006). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.74.205120
Abstract: Quantum transport in a lattice is distinct from its counterpart in continuum media. Even a free wave packet travels differently in a lattice than in the continuum. We describe quantum scattering in a one-dimensional lattice and illustrate characteristics of quantum transport such as resonant transmission. In particular we examine the transport characteristics of a random trimer model. We demonstrate the real-time propagation of a wave packet and its phase shift due to impurity configurations. Spin-flip scattering is also taken into account in a spin-chain system. We show how individual spins in the chain evolve as a result of a spin-flip interaction between an incoming electron and a spin chain.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 14
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.74.205120
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“Hidden symmetries of electronic transport in a disordered one-dimensional lattice”. Kim W, Covaci L, Marsiglio F, Physical Review B 73, 195109 (2006). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.73.195109
Abstract: Correlated, or extended, impurities play an important role in the transport properties of dirty metals. Here, we examine, in the framework of a tight-binding lattice, the transmission of a single electron through an array of correlated impurities. In particular we show that particles transmit through an impurity array in identical fashion, regardless of the direction of traversal. The demonstration of this fact is straightforward in the continuum limit, but requires a detailed proof for the discrete lattice. We also briefly demonstrate and discuss the time evolution of these scattering states, to delineate regions (in time and space) where the aforementioned symmetry is violated.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.73.195109
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“Electric-field-driven Mott metal-insulator transition in correlated thin films : an inhomogeneous dynamical mean-field theory approach”. Bakalov P, Esfahani DN, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Tempere J, Locquet J-P, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 93, 165112 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.93.165112
Abstract: Simulations are carried out based on the dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) in order to investigate the properties of correlated thin films for various values of the chemical potential, temperature, interaction strength, and applied transverse electric field. Application of a sufficiently strong field to a thin film at half filling leads to the appearance of conducting regions near the surfaces of the film, whereas in doped slabs the application of a field leads to a conductivity enhancement on one side of the film and a gradual transition to the insulating state on the opposite side. In addition to the inhomogeneous DMFT, a local density approximation (LDA) is considered in which the particle density n, quasiparticle residue Z, and spectral weight at the Fermi level A(ω=0) of each layer are approximated by a homogeneous bulk environment. A systematic comparison between the two approaches reveals that the less expensive LDA results are in good agreement with the DMFT approach, except close to the metal-to-insulator transition points and in the layers immediately at the film surfaces. LDA values for n are overall more reliable than those for Z and A(ω=0). The hysteretic behavior (memory effect) characteristic of the bulk doping driven Mott transition persists in the slab.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Theory of quantum systems and complex systems; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.93.165112
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“Majorana zero-energy modes and spin current evolution in mesoscopic superconducting loop systems with spin-orbit interaction”. Zha G-Q, Covaci L, Peeters FM, Zhou S-P, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 92, 094516 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.094516
Abstract: The Majorana zero modes and persistent spin current in mesoscopic d-wave-superconducting loops with spin-orbit (SO) interaction are investigated by numerically solving the spin-generalized Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations self-consistently. For some appropriate strength of the SO coupling, Majorana zero-energy states and sharp jumps of the spin-polarized currents can be observed when the highest energy levels cross the Fermi energy in the spectrum, leading to spin currents with opposite chirality flowing near the inner and outer edges of the sample. When the threaded magnetic flux turns on, four flux-dependent patterns of the persistent spin current with step-like features show up, accompanied by Majorana edge modes at flux values where the energy gap closes. Moreover, the Majorana zero mode is highly influenced by the direction of the Zeeman field. A finite in-plane field can lead to the gap opening since the inversion symmetry is broken. Remarkably, multiple Majorana zero-energy states occur in the presence of an out-of-plane field h(z), and the number of steps in the spin current evolution can be effectively tuned by the field strength due to the shift of Majorana zero modes. Finally, when the loop sample contains surface indentation defects, zero-energy modes can always show up in the presence of an appropriate h(z). Interestingly, multiple Majorana states may be present in the system with a corner defect even if h(z) = 0.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.92.094516
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“Adatoms and Anderson localization in graphene”. García JH, Uchoa B, Covaci L, Rappoport TG, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 90, 085425 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.085425
Abstract: We address the nature of the disordered state that results from the adsorption of adatoms in graphene. For adatoms that sit at the center of the honeycomb plaquette, as in the case of most transition metals, we show that the ones that form a zero-energy resonant state lead to Anderson localization in the vicinity of the Dirac point. Among those, we show that there is a symmetry class of adatoms where Anderson localization is suppressed, leading to an exotic metallic state with large and rare charge droplets, that localizes only at the Dirac point. We identify the experimental conditions for the observation of the Anderson transition for adatoms in graphene.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 12
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.90.085425
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