Electronic liquid crystal phases of strongly correlated systems

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:11040089,
            doi = {10.48660/11040089},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/11040089},
            author = {Fradkin, Eduardo},
            keywords = {Condensed Matter},
            language = {en},
            title = {Electronic liquid crystal phases of strongly correlated systems},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2011},
            month = {apr},
            note = {PIRSA:11040089 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }
          

Abstract

It is a generic feature of strongly correlated electronic systems that several mechanisms (broadly represented by interactions) compete with each other. This competition often leads to the phenomenon of frustration. In strongly correlated systems such as doped Mott insulators kinetic energy and Coulomb repulsion frustrate the tendency of doped holes to phase separate. The result is the onset of a set of novel phases, which we dubbed Electronic Liquid Crystal (ELC) states, with varying degrees of complexity. Much like classical liquid crystals, electronic liquid crystal phases break translation and rotational invariance to varying degrees. In this talk I will focus on the experimental evidence and theory of two these phases, stripes and nematics, in several different systems including two-dimensional electron gases in large magnetic fields, ruthenate oxides, heavy fermions, and cuprate and pnictide superconductors.