We give a general introduction to quantum phase transitions in strongly-correlated electron systems. These transitions which occur at zero temperature when a non-thermal parameter $g$ like pressure, chemical composition or magnetic field is tuned to a critical value are characterized by a dynamic exponent $z$ related to the energy and length scales $\Delta$ and $\xi$. Simple arguments based on an expansion to first order in the effective interaction allow to define an upper-critical dimension $D_{C}=4$ (where $D=d+z$ and $d$ is the spatial dimension) below which mean-field description is no longer valid. We emphasize the role of pertubative renormalization group (RG) approaches and self-consistent renormalized spin fluctuation (SCR-SF) theories to understand the quantum-classical crossover in the vicinity of the quantum critical point with generalization to the Kondo effect in heavy-fermion systems. Finally we quote some recent inelastic neutron scattering experiments performed on heavy-fermions which lead to unusual scaling law in $\omega /T$ for the dynamical spin susceptibility revealing critical local modes beyond the itinerant magnetism scheme and mention new attempts to describe this local quantum critical point.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/cond-mat/0102119.pdf

Quantum Phase Transitions

Many-body localization is shown to suppress the imaginary parts of complex eigenenergies for general non-Hermitian Hamiltonians having time-reversal symmetry. We demonstrate that a real-complex transition, which we conjecture occurs upon many-body localization, profoundly affects the dynamical stability of non-Hermitian interacting systems with asymmetric hopping that respects time-reversal symmetry. Moreover, the real-complex transition is shown to be absent in non-Hermitian many-body systems with gain and/or loss that breaks time-reversal symmetry, even though the many-body localization transition still persists.

Non-Hermitian Many-Body Localization.

A non-Hermitian extension of a Chern insulator and its bulk-boundary correspondence are investigated. It is shown that in addition to the robust chiral edge states that reflect the nontrivial topology of the bulk (nonzero Chern number), anomalous helical edge states localized only at one edge can appear, which are unique to the non-Hermitian Chern insulator.

Anomalous helical edge states in a non-Hermitian Chern insulator

Nonequilibrium open systems effectively described by non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with parity-time ($P\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}T$) symmetry have recently attracted considerable attention due to their properties with no Hermitian counterparts. In particular, there exists a growing interest in non-Hermitian topological phases of matter. Here, the authors show that a $P\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}T$-symmetric topological superconducting wire possesses two distinct types of unconventional edge modes, those with complex energies and with nonorthogonal Majorana zero modes. The latter induce anomalous particle transport with nonlocal currents present only at the edges. This work explores a unique nonequilibrium topological phenomenon that results from the interplay between $P\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}T$ symmetry and topological superconductivity.

Parity-Time-Symmetric Topological Superconductor

Out of equilibrium, a lack of reciprocity is the rule rather than the exception. Non-reciprocity occurs, for instance, in active matter1-6, non-equilibrium systems7-9, networks of neurons10,11, social groups with conformist and contrarian members12, directional interface growth phenomena13-15 and metamaterials16-20. Although wave propagation in non-reciprocal media has recently been closely studied1,16-20, less is known about the consequences of non-reciprocity on the collective behaviour of many-body systems. Here we show that non-reciprocity leads to time-dependent phases in which spontaneously broken continuous symmetries are dynamically restored. We illustrate this mechanism with simple robotic demonstrations. The resulting phase transitions are controlled by spectral singularities called exceptional points21. We describe the emergence of these phases using insights from bifurcation theory22,23 and non-Hermitian quantum mechanics24,25. Our approach captures non-reciprocal generalizations of three archetypal classes of self-organization out of equilibrium: synchronization, flocking and pattern formation. Collective phenomena in these systems range from active time-(quasi)crystals to exceptional-point-enforced pattern formation and hysteresis. Our work lays the foundation for a general theory of critical phenomena in systems whose dynamics is not governed by an optimization principle.

Non-reciprocal phase transitions.

We describe the critical behavior of the electric field-driven (dynamic) Mott insulator-to-metal transitions in dissipative Fermi and Bose systems in terms of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians invariant under simultaneous parity $(\mathcal{P})$ and time-reversal $(\mathcal{T})$ operations. The dynamic Mott transition is identified as a $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry-breaking phase transition, with the Mott insulating state corresponding to the regime of unbroken $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry with a real energy spectrum. We establish that the imaginary part of the Hamiltonian arises from the combined effects of the driving field and inherent dissipation. We derive the renormalization and collapse of the Mott gap at the dielectric breakdown and describe the resulting critical behavior of transport characteristics. The obtained critical exponent is in an excellent agreement with experimental findings.

Parity-time symmetry-breaking mechanism of dynamic Mott transitions in dissipative systems

The cleanest way to observe a dynamic Mott insulator-to-metal transition (DMT) without the interference from disorder and other effects inherent to electronic and atomic systems, is to employ the vortex Mott states formed by superconducting vortices in a regular array of pinning sites. Here, we report the critical behavior of the vortex system as it crosses the DMT line, driven by either current or temperature. We find universal scaling with respect to both, expressed by the same scaling function and characterized by a single critical exponent coinciding with the exponent for the thermodynamic Mott transition. We develop a theory for the DMT based on the parity reflection-time reversal ($\mathcal{P}T$) symmetry breaking formalism and find that the nonequilibrium-induced Mott transition has the same critical behavior as the thermal Mott transition. Our findings demonstrate the existence of physical systems in which the effect of a nonequilibrium drive is to generate an effective temperature and hence the transition belonging in the thermal universality class.

/pdf/scaling-universality-at-the-dynamic-vortex-mott-transition-dn7pwsxgyx.pdf

Scaling universality at the dynamic vortex Mott transition

A single transport relaxation rate governs the decay of both, longitudinal and Hall currents in Landau Fermi Liquids (LFL). Breakdown of this fundamental feature, first observed in cuprates and subsequently in other three-dimensional correlated systems close to (partial or complete) Mott metal-insulator transitions, played a pivotal role in emergence of a non-Landau Fermi liquid paradigm in higher dimensions $D(>1)$. Motivated hereby, we explore the emergence of this "two relaxation rates" scenario in the Hubbard-Falicov-Kimball model (HFKM) using the dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). Specializing to $D=3$, we find, beyond a critical FK interaction, that two distinct relaxation rates governing distinct temperature ($T$) dependence of the longitudinal and Hall currents naturally emerges in the non-LFL metal. We rationalize this surprising finding by an analytical analysis of the structure of charge and spin correlations in the underlying impurity problem, and point out good accord with observations in the famed case of V$_{2-y}$O$_3$ near the MIT.

Realization of a scenario with two relaxation rates in the Hubbard Falicov-Kimball model

The local moment approach (LMA) has presented itself as a powerful semianalytical quantum impurity solver (QIS) in the context of the dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) for the periodic Anderson model and it correctly captures the low-energy Kondo scale for the single impurity model, having excellent agreement with the Bethe ansatz and numerical renormalization group (NRG) results. However, the most common correlated lattice model, the Hubbard model, has not been explored well within the LMA+DMFT framework beyond the insulating phase. Here in our work, within the framework we complete the filling-interaction phase diagram of the single band Hubbard model at zero temperature. Our formalism is generic to any particle filling and can be extended to finite temperature. We contrast our results with another QIS, namely the iterated perturbation theory (IPT) and show that the second spectral moment sum rule improves better as the Hubbard interaction strength grows stronger in LMA, whereas it severely breaks down after the Mott transition in IPT. For the metallic case, the Fermi liquid (FL) scaling agreement with the NRG spectral density supports the fact that the FL scale emerges from the inherent Kondo physics of the impurity model. We also show that, in the metallic phase, the FL scaling of the spectral density leads to universality which extends to infinite frequency range at infinite correlation strength (strong coupling). At large interaction strength, the off half-filling spectral density forms a pseudogap near the Fermi level and filling-controlled Mott transition occurs as one approaches the half-filling. As a response property, we finally study the zero temperature optical conductivity and find universal features such as absorption peak position governed by the FL scale and a doping independent crossing point, often dubbed the isosbestic point in experiments.

Local moment approach as a quantum impurity solver for the Hubbard model

We present an improved numerical implementation of the iterated perturbation theory, for use as an impurity solver for lattice models within dynamical mean field theory (DMFT). We demonstrate higher resolution of spectral and transport features and a reduced computational expense. Using this implementation, we study the issues of scaling and universality in spectral and transport properties of the particle-hole symmetric Hubbard model within DMFT. We re-examine experimental results for pressure-dependent resistivity in Selenium doped NiS2 and thermal hysteresis on V2O3 and find qualitative agreement. A systematic study of spectral weight transfer in optical conductivity is carried out.

/pdf/transport-and-spectra-in-the-half-filled-hubbard-model-340q96v1ly.pdf

Himadri Barman

Papers

Parity-time symmetry-breaking mechanism of dynamic Mott transitions in dissipative systems

Scaling universality at the dynamic vortex Mott transition

Realization of a scenario with two relaxation rates in the Hubbard Falicov-Kimball model

Local moment approach as a quantum impurity solver for the Hubbard model

Transport and spectra in the half--filled Hubbard model