Minimal Theory of Strange Carriers

Area of Science:

• Condensed matter physics
• Quantum mechanics
• Materials science

Background:

• Strange metals exhibit unusual transport and optical properties.
• Existing theories like Drude-Boltzmann struggle to explain these phenomena.
• Strongly correlated systems present complex quantum behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a theoretical framework for understanding the transport and optical properties of strange metallic carriers.
• To explain T-linear resistivity and optical absorption spectra in strange metals.
• To reconcile quantum behaviors with observed macroscopic properties.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling based on quantum transport.
• Assumptions of diffusion constant at its quantum limit (D=ℏ/m).
• Treating quantum carriers as distinguishable particles.

Main Results:

• Derivation of T-linear resistivities from the theoretical model.
• Explanation of apparent Planckian scattering rates.
• Rationalization of stretched Drude peaks and ω/T scaling in optical absorption.

Conclusions:

• The proposed theory successfully explains key experimental observations in strange metals.
• Quantum effects, particularly when thermal de Broglie wavelength exceeds mean-free path, are crucial.
• Carrier behavior should be viewed as quantum projective measurements, not classical collisions.