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arXiv · 1102.1190

Microscopic model for the semiconductor-to-ferromagnetic-metal transition in FeSi$_{1-x}$Ge$_{x}$ Alloys

Abstract

The simplified bandstructure introduced by Mazurenko et al to model FeSi is used to analyze the singlet semiconductor to ferromagnetic metal transition in the isoelectronic isostructural alloys, FeSi$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$. The complex bandstructure of the alloy is replaced by an alternating chain of doubly and singly degenerate atoms to represent Fe and Si/Ge respectively. The former(latter) form narrow(broad) bands with a substantial hybridization between them. A substantial onsite repulsion including a Hund's rule coupling is introduced on the Fe sites. The mean field phase diagram contains a first order phase transition from the singlet semiconductor to a ferromagnetic metal with increasing temperature and interaction strength similar to the alloys. The analysis also reproduces the rapid rise of the spin susceptibility in the semiconductor with a crossover to a Curie-Weiss form at higher temperatures. Good agreement is found at zero temperature between the mean field and accurate DMRG calculations.

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Kai-Yu Yang, Y. Yamashita, A. M. Läuchli, M. Sigrist, T. M. Rice. 2011-02-06. Microscopic model for the semiconductor-to-ferromagnetic-metal transition in FeSi$_{1-x}$Ge$_{x}$ Alloys. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075%2F95%2F47007

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