Symmetry-determined generalized ferromagnetism in multi-valley electron fluids

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Calvera, Vladimir, Berg, Erez, Kivelson, Steven A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Calvera, Vladimir
Berg, Erez
Kivelson, Steven A.
author_facet Calvera, Vladimir
Berg, Erez
Kivelson, Steven A.
contents Quantum electronic fluids with spin and valley degrees of freedom have a correlation driven tendency to flavor polarization (generalized ferromagnetism). To first order in the long-range Coulomb interactions -- i.e. in the Hartree-Fock approximation -- spin and valley polarization exhibit a spurious degeneracy. We show that to second order -- or more generally in the random-phase approximation -- this degeneracy is lifted in a way that depends only on the underlying symmetry relating the two valleys. In two spatial dimensions, if the valleys are related by an $n-$fold rotation ($n>2$) or by mirror reflection and each valley is invariant under $C_2$ or time reversal (as is the case in AlAs quantum wells) then valley polarization is preferred. If the valleys are related by time reversal or by $C_2$ rotation symmetry (as in multilayer graphene systems) then spin order is selected.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_05344
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Symmetry-determined generalized ferromagnetism in multi-valley electron fluids
Calvera, Vladimir
Berg, Erez
Kivelson, Steven A.
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Quantum electronic fluids with spin and valley degrees of freedom have a correlation driven tendency to flavor polarization (generalized ferromagnetism). To first order in the long-range Coulomb interactions -- i.e. in the Hartree-Fock approximation -- spin and valley polarization exhibit a spurious degeneracy. We show that to second order -- or more generally in the random-phase approximation -- this degeneracy is lifted in a way that depends only on the underlying symmetry relating the two valleys. In two spatial dimensions, if the valleys are related by an $n-$fold rotation ($n>2$) or by mirror reflection and each valley is invariant under $C_2$ or time reversal (as is the case in AlAs quantum wells) then valley polarization is preferred. If the valleys are related by time reversal or by $C_2$ rotation symmetry (as in multilayer graphene systems) then spin order is selected.
title Symmetry-determined generalized ferromagnetism in multi-valley electron fluids
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.05344