Ferroelectricity Modulates Polaronic Coupling at Multiferroic Interfaces

Physics of the multiferroic interfaces is currently understood mostly within a phenomenological framework including screening of the polarization field and depolarizing charges. Largely unexplored still remains the band dependence of the interfacial charge modulation, as well as the associated changes of the electron-phonon interaction, coupling the charge and lattice degrees of freedom. Here, multiferroic heterostructures of the colossal-magnetoresistance manganite La1-xSrxMnO3 buried under ferroelectric BaTiO3 and PbZrxTi1-xO3 are explored using soft-X-ray angle-resolved photoemission. The experimental band dispersions from the buried La1-xSrxMnO3 identify coexisting two-dimensional hole and three-dimensional electron charge carriers. The ferroelectric polarization modulates their charge density, changing the band filling and orbital occupation in the interfacial region. Furthermore, these changes in the carrier density affect the coupling of the 2D holes and 3D electrons with the lattice which forms large Froelich polarons inherently reducing mobility of the charge carriers. We find that the fast dynamic response of electrons makes them much more efficient in screening of the electron-lattice interaction compared to the holes. Our k-resolved results on the orbital occupancy, band filling and electron-lattice interaction in multiferroic oxide heterostructures modulated by the ferroelectric polarization disclose most fundamental physics of these systems needed for further progress of beyond-CMOS ferro-functional electronics.

Raman spectra of twisted bilayer graphene close to the magic angle

In this work, we study the Raman spectra of twisted bilayer graphene samples as a function of their twist-angles (θ), ranging from 0.03º to 3.40º, where local θ are determined by analysis of their associated moiré superlattices, as imaged by scanning microwave impedance microscopy. Three standard excitation laser lines are used (457, 532, and 633 nm wavelengths), and the main Raman active graphene bands (G and 2D) are considered. Our results reveal that electron-phonon interaction influences the G band's linewidth close to the magic angle regardless of laser excitation wavelength. Also, the 2D band lineshape in the θ < 1º regime is dictated by crystal lattice and depends on both the Bernal (AB and BA) stacking bilayer graphene and strain soliton regions (SP) [1]. We propose a geometrical model to explain the 2D lineshape variations, and from it, we estimate the SP width when moving towards the magic angle.

Многократное изменение электрон-фононного взаимодействия в квантовых ямах с диэлектрически различными барьерами

The specific features of the interaction of charged particles with polar optical phonons have been studied theoretically for quantum wells with the barriers that are asymmetric in their dielectric properties. It is shown that the interaction with interface phonon modes makes the greatest contribution in narrow quantum wells. The parameters of the electron-phonon interaction were found for the cases of different values of the phonon frequencies in the barrier materials. It turned out that a significant (by almost an order of magnitude) change in the parameters of the electron-phonon interaction can occur in such structures. This makes it possible, in principle, to trace the transition from weak to strong interactions in quantum wells of the same type but with different compositions of barrier materials. The conditions are found under which an enhancement of the electron-phonon interaction is possible in an asymmetric structure in comparison with a symmetric one with the barriers of the same composition.

Электрон-фононное взаимодействие в композитах с колллоидными квантовыми точками: исследование методами люминесцентной спектроскопии и комбинационного рассеяния света

The temperature-dependent luminescence spectra were analyzed to determine the parameters of the electron-phonon interaction (Huang-Rhys factor and the average phonon energy) for nanocomposites with colloidal CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (deposited on the surface of a glass substrate and embedded in a thin polymer film of polyisobutylene, and in a frozen colloidal solution in toluene). The measured values of the parameters are analyzed in comparison with model calculations and data obtained using the low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. It is found that in the case of a vitrified colloidal solution of quantum dots in toluene, the matrix effect leads to a noticeable change in the parameters of the electron-phonon interaction.

Correction: Benedek et al. Measuring the Electron–Phonon Interaction in Two-Dimensional Superconductors with He-Atom Scattering. Condens. Matter 2020, 5, 79

In the original publication [...]

Low energy electrodynamics of CrI3 layered ferromagnet

We report on the optical properties from terahertz (THz) to Near-Infrared (NIR) of the layered magnetic compound CrI3 at various temperatures, both in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phase. In the NIR spectral range, we observe an insulating electronic gap around 1.1 eV which strongly hardens with decreasing temperature. The blue shift observed represents a record in insulating materials and it is a fingerprint of a strong electron-phonon interaction. Moreover, a further gap hardening is observed below the Curie temperature, indicating the establishment of an effective interaction between electrons and magnetic degrees of freedom in the ferromagnetic phase. Similar interactions are confirmed by the disappearance of some phonon modes in the same phase, as expected from a spin-lattice interaction theory. Therefore, the optical properties of CrI3 reveal a complex interaction among electronic, phononic and magnetic degrees of freedom, opening many possibilities for its use in 2-Dimensional heterostructures.