Publication Date:
2017-09-21
Description:
Author(s): Laura Classen, Igor F. Herbut, and Michael M. Scherer Thermal phase transitions are successfully described by fluctuations of an appropriate order parameter, which further allows classification of the transition into first or second order. However, some quantum analogs of thermal phase transitions defy this description and identifying the mechanisms behind these unconventional processes will fundamentally improve our understanding of matter. Here, the authors provide a thorough study of such a transition, which has been experimentally accessed in graphene: the emergence of a Kekulé valence bond solid. Additional gapless quantum fluctuations of Dirac electrons change the nature of this transition from first to second order. Using a nonperturbative functional renormalization group approach, the authors advance the state-of-the-art estimates for the corresponding critical exponents and predict measurable corrections to scaling. [Phys. Rev. B 96, 115132] Published Wed Sep 20, 2017
Keywords:
Electronic structure and strongly correlated systems
Print ISSN:
1098-0121
Electronic ISSN:
1095-3795
Topics:
Physics
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