On the possibility of mixed phases in disordered quantum paraelectrics

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding phase transitions in disordered quantum paraelectrics, highlighting the emergence of mixed phases and power-law distributions of quantum critical points due to quenched disorder.

Contribution

It introduces a novel replica symmetry breaking approach to model disorder effects and predicts the existence of mixed phases in disordered quantum paraelectrics.

Findings

Presence of mixed phases at finite disorder levels.

Power law distribution of quantum critical points.

Finite temperature effects in disordered quantum materials.

Abstract

We present a theory of phase transition in quantum critical paraelectrics in presence of quenched random-Tc disorder using replica trick. The effects of disorder induced locally ordered regions and their slow dynamics are included by breaking the replica symmetry at vector level. The occurrence of a mixed phase at any finite value of disorder strength is argued. A broad power law distribution of quantum critical points and and its finite temperature consequences are predicted. Results are interesting in the context of a certain class of disordered materials near quantum phase transition.