Kagome Materials I: SG 191, ScV$_6$Sn$_6$. Flat Phonon Soft Modes and Unconventional CDW Formation: Microscopic and Effective Theory

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Main Authors: Hu, Haoyu, Jiang, Yi, Călugăru, Dumitru, Feng, Xiaolong, Subires, David, Vergniory, Maia G., Felser, Claudia, Blanco-Canosa, Santiago, Bernevig, B. Andrei
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Published: 2023
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author Hu, Haoyu
Jiang, Yi
Călugăru, Dumitru
Feng, Xiaolong
Subires, David
Vergniory, Maia G.
Felser, Claudia
Blanco-Canosa, Santiago
Bernevig, B. Andrei
author_facet Hu, Haoyu
Jiang, Yi
Călugăru, Dumitru
Feng, Xiaolong
Subires, David
Vergniory, Maia G.
Felser, Claudia
Blanco-Canosa, Santiago
Bernevig, B. Andrei
contents Kagome Materials with flat bands exhibit wildly different physical properties depending on symmetry group, and electron number. For the case of ScV$_6$Sn$_6$ in space group 191, we investigate the existence of a charge density wave (CDW) at vector $\bar{K}=(\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3})$ and its relationship with the phonon behavior. The experimental findings reveal a $\sim$95K CDW without nesting/peaks in the electron susceptibility at $\bar{K}$. Notably, ScV$_6$Sn$_6$ exhibits a collapsed phonon mode at $H=(\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{2})$ and an imaginary flat phonon band in the vicinity of $H$. The soft phonon is attributed to triangular Sn ($Sn^T$) mirror-even vibrations along the $z$-direction. We develop a simple force constant model to describe the entire soft phonon dispersion. By employing a new (Gaussian) approximation of the hopping parameter, we demonstrate the renormalization of the phonon frequency and the consequent collapse of the $H$ phonon. Additionally, we propose an effective model with two order parameters (OPs) to explain the appearance of the CDW at $\bar{K}$, which competes with the collapsed phonon at $H$. Through comparisons with experimental data, we show that the $H$ OP undergoes a second-order phase transition while exhibiting substantial fluctuations, ultimately inducing the first-order transition of the $\bar{K}$ OP. Furthermore, we extend our analysis to the similar compound YV$_6$Sn$_6$, which lacks a CDW phase, attributing this difference to the participation of the heavier Y atom in the out-of-plane phonon behavior. Our comprehensive study not only elucidates the CDW in ScV$_6$Sn$_6$ but also presents a significant advancement in modeling complex electronic systems, fostering collaborations between ab-initio simulations and analytical approaches.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2305_15469
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Kagome Materials I: SG 191, ScV$_6$Sn$_6$. Flat Phonon Soft Modes and Unconventional CDW Formation: Microscopic and Effective Theory
Hu, Haoyu
Jiang, Yi
Călugăru, Dumitru
Feng, Xiaolong
Subires, David
Vergniory, Maia G.
Felser, Claudia
Blanco-Canosa, Santiago
Bernevig, B. Andrei
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
Kagome Materials with flat bands exhibit wildly different physical properties depending on symmetry group, and electron number. For the case of ScV$_6$Sn$_6$ in space group 191, we investigate the existence of a charge density wave (CDW) at vector $\bar{K}=(\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3})$ and its relationship with the phonon behavior. The experimental findings reveal a $\sim$95K CDW without nesting/peaks in the electron susceptibility at $\bar{K}$. Notably, ScV$_6$Sn$_6$ exhibits a collapsed phonon mode at $H=(\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{3},\frac{1}{2})$ and an imaginary flat phonon band in the vicinity of $H$. The soft phonon is attributed to triangular Sn ($Sn^T$) mirror-even vibrations along the $z$-direction. We develop a simple force constant model to describe the entire soft phonon dispersion. By employing a new (Gaussian) approximation of the hopping parameter, we demonstrate the renormalization of the phonon frequency and the consequent collapse of the $H$ phonon. Additionally, we propose an effective model with two order parameters (OPs) to explain the appearance of the CDW at $\bar{K}$, which competes with the collapsed phonon at $H$. Through comparisons with experimental data, we show that the $H$ OP undergoes a second-order phase transition while exhibiting substantial fluctuations, ultimately inducing the first-order transition of the $\bar{K}$ OP. Furthermore, we extend our analysis to the similar compound YV$_6$Sn$_6$, which lacks a CDW phase, attributing this difference to the participation of the heavier Y atom in the out-of-plane phonon behavior. Our comprehensive study not only elucidates the CDW in ScV$_6$Sn$_6$ but also presents a significant advancement in modeling complex electronic systems, fostering collaborations between ab-initio simulations and analytical approaches.
title Kagome Materials I: SG 191, ScV$_6$Sn$_6$. Flat Phonon Soft Modes and Unconventional CDW Formation: Microscopic and Effective Theory
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.15469