How a dc Electric Field Drives Mott Insulators Out of Equilibrium

ROZENBERG, M.; GUILLOUX-VIRY, M.; CORRAZE, B.; BESLAND, M.?P.; CORDIER, S.; QUERRÉ, M.; DIENER, P.; CARIO, L.; CAMJAYI, A.; ADDA, C.; JANOD, E.

PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2018 vol. 121 p. 16601 - 16601

0031-9007

Out of equilibrium phenomena are a major issue of modern physics. In particular, correlated materials such as Mott insulators experience fascinating long-lived exotic states under a strong electric field. Yet, the origin of their destabilization by the electric field is not elucidated. Here we present a comprehensive study of the electrical response of canonical Mott insulators GaM4Q8 (M = V, Nb, Ta, Mo; Q = S, Se) in the context of a microscopic theory of electrical breakdown where in-gap states allow for a description in terms of a two-temperature model. Our results show how the nonlinearities and the resistive transition originate from a massive creation of hot electrons under an electric field. These results give new insights for the control of the long-lived states reached under an electric field in these systems which has recently open the way to new functionalities used in neuromorphic applications.