Fate of the Wiedemann-Franz law near quantum critical points of electron systems in solids

Abstract

We introduce and analyze two different scenarios for violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law in strongly correlated electron systems of solids, close to a topological quantum critical point (TQCP) where the density of states $N(0)$ diverges. The first, applicable to the Fermi-liquid (FL) side of the TQCP, involves a transverse zero-sound collective mode that opens a new channel for the thermal conductivity, thereby enhancing the Lorenz number $L(0)$ relative to the value $L_0={\pi }^2{k}_B^2/3e^2$ dictated by conventional FL theory. The second mechanism for violation of the WF law, relevant to the non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) side of the TQCP, involves the formation of a flat band and leads instead to a reduction of the Lorenz number.

7 pages, 1 figure

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Cited by in corpus (1)

• The occurrence of a Mott-like gap in single-particle spectra of electron systems possessing flat bands