The universal shear conductivity of Fermi liquids and spinon Fermi surface states and its detection via spin qubit noise magnetometry

We demonstrate a remarkable property of metallic Fermi liquids: the transverse conductivity assumes a universal value in the quasi-static (omega -> 0) limit for wavevectors q in the regime l(mfp)(-1) << q << p(F), where l(mfp) is the mean free path and p(F) is the Fermi momentum. This value is (e(2)/h)R-FS/q in two dimensions (2D), where R-FS measures the local radius of curvature of the Fermi surface (FS) in momentum space. Even more surprisingly, we find that U(1) spin liquids with a spinon FS have the same universal transverse conductivity. This means such spin liquids behave effectively as metals in this regime, even though they appear insulating in standard transport experiments. Moreover, we show that transverse current fluctuations result in a universal low-frequency magnetic noise that can be directly probed by a spin qubit, such as a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, placed at a distance z above of the 2D metal or spin liquid. Specifically the magnetic noise is given by C omega P-FS/z, where P-FS is the perimeter of the FS in momentum space and C is a combination of fundamental constants of nature. Therefore these observables are controlled purely by the geometry of the FS and are independent of kinematic details of the quasi-particles, such as their effective mass and interactions. This behavior can be used as a new technique to measure the size of the FS of metals and as a smoking gun probe to pinpoint the presence of the elusive spinon FS in two-dimensional systems. We estimate that this universal regime is within reach of current NV center spectroscopic techniques for several spinon FS candidate materials.

Automated summary

Metallic Fermi liquids and U(1) spin liquids exhibit the same universal transverse conductivity under specific conditions, behaving as metals in a certain regime despite appearing insulating in standard transport experiments. Fluctuations in transverse current result in a directly probed low-frequency magnetic noise, controlled purely by the geometry of the Fermi surface and independent of kinematic details of quasi-particles.