arXiv · 1210.1195
Easy-axis ferromagnetic chain on a metallic surface
Abstract
The phases and excitation spectrum of an easy-axis ferromagnetic chain of S=1/2 magnetic impurities built on the top of a clean metallic surface are studied. As a function of the (Kondo) coupling to the metallic surface and at low temperatures, the spin chain exhibits a quantum phase transition from an Ising ferromagnetic phase with long-range order to a paramagnetic phase where quantum fluctuations destroy the magnetic order. In the paramagnetic phase, the system consists of a chain of Kondo-singlets where the impurities are completely screened by the metallic host. In the ferromagnetic phase, the excitations above the Ising gap are damped magnons, with a finite lifetime arising due to the coupling to the substrate. We discuss the experimental consequences of our results to spin-polarized electron energy loss spectroscopy (SPEELS), and we finally analyze possible extensions to spin chains with S>1/2.
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Alejandro M. Lobos, Miguel A. Cazalilla. 2012-10-03. Easy-axis ferromagnetic chain on a metallic surface. https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984%2F25%2F9%2F094008
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