How Generic Scale Invariance Influences Quantum and Classical Phase Transitions
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss a paradigm that has become of increasing importance in the theory of quantum phase transitions, namely, the coupling of the order-parameter fluctuations to other soft modes and the resulting impossibility of constructing a simple Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson theory in terms of order parameter only.
Abstract: This review discusses a paradigm that has become of increasing importance in the theory of quantum phase transitions, namely, the coupling of the order-parameter fluctuations to other soft modes and the resulting impossibility of constructing a simple Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson theory in terms of the order parameter only. The soft modes in question are manifestations of generic scale invariance, i.e., the appearance of long-range order in whole regions in the phase diagram. The concept of generic scale invariance and its influence on critical behavior is explained using various examples, both classical and quantum mechanical. The peculiarities of quantum phase transitions are discussed, with emphasis on the fact that they are more susceptible to the effects of generic scale invariance than their classical counterparts. Explicit examples include the quantum ferromagnetic transition in metals, with or without quenched disorder; the metal-superconductor transition at zero temperature; and the quantum antiferromagnetic transition. Analogies with classical phase transitions in liquid crystals and classical fluids are pointed out, and a unifying conceptual framework is developed for all transitions that are influenced by generic scale invariance.
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TL;DR: In this paper, it has been shown that a gravitational dual to a superconductor can be obtained by coupling anti-de Sitter gravity to a Maxwell field and a charged scalar.
Abstract: It has been shown that a gravitational dual to a superconductor can be obtained by coupling anti-de Sitter gravity to a Maxwell field and charged scalar We review our earlier analysis of this theory and extend it in two directions First, we consider all values for the charge of the scalar field Away from the large charge limit, backreaction on the spacetime metric is important While the qualitative behaviour of the dual superconductor is found to be similar for all charges, in the limit of arbitrarily small charge a new type of black hole instability is found We go on to add a perpendicular magnetic field B and obtain the London equation and magnetic penetration depth We show that these holographic superconductors are Type II, ie, starting in a normal phase at large B and low temperatures, they develop superconducting droplets as B is reduced
1,059 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarize some of the basic issues, including the extent to which the quantum criticality in heavy-fermion metals goes beyond the standard theory of order-parameter fluctuations, the nature of the Kondo effect in the quantum-critical regime, the non-Fermi-liquid phenomena that accompany quantum criticalities and the interplay between quantum criticalness and unconventional superconductivity.
Abstract: Quantum criticality describes the collective fluctuations of matter undergoing a second-order phase transition at zero temperature. Heavy-fermion metals have in recent years emerged as prototypical systems to study quantum critical points. There have been considerable efforts, both experimental and theoretical, that use these magnetic systems to address problems that are central to the broad understanding of strongly correlated quantum matter. Here, we summarize some of the basic issues, including the extent to which the quantum criticality in heavy-fermion metals goes beyond the standard theory of order-parameter fluctuations, the nature of the Kondo effect in the quantum-critical regime, the non-Fermi-liquid phenomena that accompany quantum criticality and the interplay between quantum criticality and unconventional superconductivity. At a zero-temperature phase transition from one ordered state to another, fluctuations between the two states lead to quantum critical behaviour that can lead to unexpected physics. Metals with ‘heavy’ electrons often harbour such weird states.
1,055 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review studies of the electromagnetic response of various classes of correlated electron materials including transition metal oxides, organic and molecular conductors, intermetallic compounds with $d$- and $f$-electrons as well as magnetic semiconductors.
Abstract: We review studies of the electromagnetic response of various classes of correlated electron materials including transition metal oxides, organic and molecular conductors, intermetallic compounds with $d$- and $f$-electrons as well as magnetic semiconductors. Optical inquiry into correlations in all these diverse systems is enabled by experimental access to the fundamental characteristics of an ensemble of electrons including their self-energy and kinetic energy. Steady-state spectroscopy carried out over a broad range of frequencies from microwaves to UV light and fast optics time-resolved techniques provide complimentary prospectives on correlations. Because the theoretical understanding of strong correlations is still evolving, the review is focused on the analysis of the universal trends that are emerging out of a large body of experimental data augmented where possible with insights from numerical studies.
668 citations
TL;DR: The experimental status of the study of the superconducting phases of $f$-electron compounds is reviewed in this paper, where superconductivity has been found at the border of magnetic order as well as deep within ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetically ordered states.
Abstract: Intermetallic compounds containing $f$-electron elements display a wealth of superconducting phases, which are prime candidates for unconventional pairing with complex order parameter symmetries. For instance, superconductivity has been found at the border of magnetic order as well as deep within ferromagnetically and antiferromagnetically ordered states, suggesting that magnetism may promote rather than destroy superconductivity. Superconducting phases near valence transitions or in the vicinity of magnetopolar order are candidates for new superconductive pairing interactions such as fluctuations of the conduction electron density or the crystal electric field, respectively. The experimental status of the study of the superconducting phases of $f$-electron compounds is reviewed.
529 citations
TL;DR: The functional renormalization group as discussed by the authors is a flexible and unbiased tool for dealing with scale-dependent behavior of correlated fermion systems, such as Luttinger liquid behavior and the Kondo effect.
Abstract: Numerous correlated electron systems exhibit a strongly scale-dependent behavior. Upon lowering the energy scale, collective phenomena, bound states, and new effective degrees of freedom emerge. Typical examples include (i) competing magnetic, charge, and pairing instabilities in two-dimensional electron systems; (ii) the interplay of electronic excitations and order parameter fluctuations near thermal and quantum phase transitions in metals; and (iii) correlation effects such as Luttinger liquid behavior and the Kondo effect showing up in linear and nonequilibrium transport through quantum wires and quantum dots. The functional renormalization group is a flexible and unbiased tool for dealing with such scale-dependent behavior. Its starting point is an exact functional flow equation, which yields the gradual evolution from a microscopic model action to the final effective action as a function of a continuously decreasing energy scale. Expanding in powers of the fields one obtains an exact hierarchy of flow equations for vertex functions. Truncations of this hierarchy have led to powerful new approximation schemes. This review is a comprehensive introduction to the functional renormalization group method for interacting Fermi systems. A self-contained derivation of the exact flow equations is presented and frequently used truncation schemes are described. Reviewing selected applications it is shown how approximations based on the functional renormalization group can be fruitfully used to improve our understanding of correlated fermion systems.
511 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors find rod-like features in the reciprocal plane translating to two-dimensional (2D) fluctuations in real space and find 3D magnetic ordering peaks for $x\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}} = \phantom{ 0ex}0.2$ and $0.3$ located on these rods which hence can be viewed as 2D precursors of 3D order.
Abstract: The heavy-fermion system ${\mathrm{CeCu}}_{6\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Au}}_{x}$ exhibits a quantum-critical point at ${x}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}0.1$ separating nonmagnetic and magnetically ordered ground states. The pronounced non-Fermi-liquid behavior at ${x}_{c}$ calls for a search for the relevant quantum critical fluctuations. Systematic measurements of the inelastic neutron scattering cross section $S(q,\ensuremath{\omega})$ for $x\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0.1$ reveal rodlike features in the reciprocal $\mathrm{ac}$ plane translating to two-dimensional (2D) fluctuations in real space. We find 3D magnetic ordering peaks for $x\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0.2$ and $0.3$ located on these rods which hence can be viewed as 2D precursors of 3D order.
175 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it is shown that sand behaves in a manner more reminiscent of a first-order transition than of a second-order one, which is not consistent with self-organized criticality.
Abstract: Bak, Tang, and Wiesenfeld proposed the idea of self-organized criticality in order to gain a general understanding of the behavior of extended dynamical systems driven in a nonequilibrium state. In particular this idea was intended to explain the ubiquitous scaling behavior and fractal structures that are observed in many different phenomena occurring spontaneously in nature. Recent experiments on the dynamics of a pile of sand, which had been expected to show self-organized criticality, are reviewed and it is shown that sand behaves in a manner more reminiscent of a first-order transition than of a second order (or critical) one.
174 citations
TL;DR: Electrical resistivity measurements of the 3d metal MnSi are reported, indicating an unexpected breakdown of the Fermi-liquid model—not in a narrow crossover region close to a quantum critical point where it is normally expected to fail, but over a wide region of the phase diagram near a first-order magnetic transition.
Abstract: Fermi-liquid theory (the standard model of metals) has been challenged by the discovery of anomalous properties in an increasingly large number of metals. The anomalies often occur near a quantum critical point--a continuous phase transition in the limit of absolute zero, typically between magnetically ordered and paramagnetic phases. Although not understood in detail, unusual behaviour in the vicinity of such quantum critical points was anticipated nearly three decades ago by theories going beyond the standard model. Here we report electrical resistivity measurements of the 3d metal MnSi, indicating an unexpected breakdown of the Fermi-liquid model--not in a narrow crossover region close to a quantum critical point where it is normally expected to fail, but over a wide region of the phase diagram near a first-order magnetic transition. In this regime, corrections to the Fermi-liquid model are expected to be small. The range in pressure, temperature and applied magnetic field over which we observe an anomalous temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity in MnSi is not consistent with the crossover behaviour widely seen in quantum critical systems. This may suggest the emergence of a well defined but enigmatic quantum phase of matter.
170 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the asymptotic time behavior of the velocity autocorrelation function and of the kinetic parts of the correlation functions for the shear viscosity and the heat conductivity is derived on the basis of a local equilibrium assumption and the linearized Navier-Stokes equations.
Abstract: The asymptotic time behavior ($\ensuremath{\sim}c{t}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{d}{2}}$, where $d$ is the dimensionality of the system) of the velocity autocorrelation function and of the kinetic parts of the correlation functions for the shear viscosity and the heat conductivity is derived on the basis of a local equilibrium assumption and the linearized Navier-Stokes equations. The coefficients $c$ are expressed in terms of the transport coefficients and thermodynamic quantities. The physical mechanism responsible for the long-time tail is indicated, and the connections between the present work and investigations based on molecular dynamics and on kinetic theory are discussed.
169 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a formal derivation of Wegner's non-linear σ model for the localization transition and discuss those properties which are unusual, but necessary, if it is to give a correct description of physics near the mobility edge.
168 citations