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Published on: June 7, 2018
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Ferromagnetic Quantum Critical Point in Noncentrosymmetric Systems
T R Kirkpatrick1, D Belitz2,3
1Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|April 28, 2020
Summary
Researchers found that noncentrosymmetric metals with strong spin-orbit interactions may enable ferromagnetic quantum criticality in clean systems. This is because spin-orbit interaction masses the soft modes that typically prevent such critical points from forming.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Ferromagnetic quantum criticality in clean metals is difficult to achieve.
- Fermionic soft modes typically drive ferromagnetic transitions first-order, hindering quantum criticality.
- Previous research has not identified suitable clean material systems for ferromagnetic quantum critical points.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a promising class of materials for realizing ferromagnetic quantum criticality in clean systems.
- To investigate the role of spin-orbit interaction and broken inversion symmetry in achieving quantum criticality.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of electronic properties in noncentrosymmetric metals.
- Investigating the impact of strong spin-orbit interaction on fermionic soft modes.
- Examining the effect of the absence of spatial inversion symmetry on emergent soft modes.
Main Results:
- Noncentrosymmetric metals with strong spin-orbit interaction are identified as promising candidates.
- The spin-orbit interaction effectively 'masses' the soft modes that typically disrupt quantum criticality.
- The absence of spatial inversion symmetry prevents the emergence of new disruptive soft modes.
Conclusions:
- Noncentrosymmetric metals with strong spin-orbit interaction offer a viable route to clean ferromagnetic quantum critical points.
- This finding opens new avenues for exploring exotic quantum phenomena in condensed matter systems.
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