Electronic transport in AlMn(Si) and AlCuFe quasicrystals: Break-down of the semiclassical model

Guy Trambly de Laissardière (1) , Jean-Pierre Julien (2) , Didier Mayou (3)

1 LPTM - UMR 8089 - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Modélisation
2 NEEL - TMC - Théorie de la Matière Condensée
3 NEEL - OPTIMA - Optique et Matériaux

The semi-classical Bloch-Boltzmann theory is at the heart of our understanding of conduction in solids, ranging from metals to semi-conductors. Physical systems that are beyond the range of applicability of this theory are thus of fundamental interest. It appears that in quasicrystals and related complex metallic alloys, a new type of break-down of this theory operates. This phenomenon is related to the specific propagation of electrons. We develop a theory of quantum transport that applies to a normal ballistic law but also to these specific diffusion laws. As we show phenomenological models based on this theory describe correctly the anomalous conductivity in quasicrystals. Ab-initio calculations performed on approximants confirm also the validity of this anomalous quantum diffusion scheme. This provides us with an ab-initio model of transport in approximants such as alpha-AlMnSi and AlCuFe 1/1 cubic approximant.

Mots clés: ab-initio calculations; quasicrystals; electronic transport properties; quantum diffusion

Domaines: Science des matériaux [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]

Guy Trambly de Laissardière, Jean-Pierre Julien, Didier Mayou. Electronic transport in AlMn(Si) and AlCuFe quasicrystals: Break-down of the semiclassical model. Philosophical Magazine B, 2008, 88 (13-15), pp.2131-2144. ⟨10.1080/14786430801894544⟩. ⟨hal-00198992⟩