Dietrich Belitz

Here are some topics I hope to pursue while at the KITP:

*Generally speaking, I am interested in soft modes and the resulting
long-range correlations both at quantum phase transitions, and in
zero-temperature phases.

Some specific questions include,

* Coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism favors a spiral
structure of the magnetic order parameter, which can compete with a
spontaneous vortex lattice. What are the fluctuations about this
spiral state? Analogies to cholesteric liquid crystals suggest very
soft modes, and corresponding long-range correlations.

* MnSi is a helimagnet with strongly NFL thermodynamic and transport
properties (strangely, these are observed to date only in the
paramagnetic phase). Is it possible that these are related to the
condensation of "spiral droplets" in the paramagnetic phase? Again,
there is an analogy to liquid crystals, namely, the Blue Phase III in
cholesterics.

* What are the properties of simple non-equilibrium quantum phase
transitions? If, say, a quantum ferromagnet is rapidly quenched into
its ordered phase by pressure tuning at very low temperature, what are
the scaling laws that govern the growth of ferromagnetic domains?