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A. H. Castro Neto

Publications and source records attributed to A. H. Castro Neto.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
arXiv2005

Reply to Millis et al. on "A Tale of Two Theories: Quantum Griffiths Effects in Metallic Systems"

In a recent paper (cond-mat/0411197) we showed the equivalence of two seemingly contradictory theories on Griffiths-McCoy singularities (GMS) in metallic antiferromagnets close to a quantum critical point (QCP). In a recent comment, Millis {\it et al.} (cond-mat/0411738) argue that in heavy-fermion materials the electronic damping is large leading to the freezing of locally magnetically ordered droplets at high temperatures. In this reply we show that this erroneous conclusion is based on a treatment of the problem of disorder close to a QCP which is not self-consistent. We argue that a self-consistent treatment of the ordered droplets must lead to weak damping and to a large region of GMS behavior, in agreement with the our ealier results.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2004

Microscopic Theory of the Single Impurity Surface Kondo Resonance

We develop a microscopic theory of the single impurity Kondo effect on a metallic surface. We calculate the hybridization energies for the Anderson Hamiltonian of a magnetic impurity interacting with surface and bulk states and show that, contrary to the Kondo effect of an impurity in the bulk, the hybridization matrix elements are strongly dependent on the momentum around the Fermi surface. Furthermore, by calculating the tunneling conductance of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), we show that when the magnetic impurity is located at a surface the Kondo effect can occur with equal strength between bulk and surface states. We compare our results with recent experiments of Co impurities in Cu(111) and Cu(100) surfaces and find good quantitative agreement.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2004

A Tale of Two Theories: Quantum Griffiths Effects in Metallic Systems

We show that two apparently contradictory theories on the existence of Griffiths-McCoy singularities in magnetic metallic systems [1,2] are in fact mathematically equivalent. We discuss the generic phase diagram of the problem and show that there is a non-universal crossover temperature range T* < T < W where power law behavior (Griffiths-McCoy behavior) is expect. For T<T* power law behavior ceases to exist due to the destruction of quantum effects generated by the dissipation in the metallic environment. We show that T* is an analogue of the Kondo temperature and is controlled by non-universal couplings.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2004

Nuclear spin qubits in a pseudo-spin quantum chain

We analyze a quantum computer (QC) design based on nuclear spin qubits in a quasi-one-dimensional (1D) chain of non-Kramers doublet atoms. We explore the use of spatial symmetry breaking to obtain control over the local dynamics of a qubit. We also study the decoherence mechanisms at the single qubit level and the interactions mediated by the magnetic media. The design can be realized in $\textrm{PrBr}_{\textrm{3}-x}\textrm{F}_{x}$ with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques.

cond-mat.other↗
arXiv2004

Excitations and Quantum Fluctuations in Site Diluted Two-Dimensional Antiferromagnets

We study the effect of site dilution and quantum fluctuations in an antiferromagnetic spin system on a square lattice within the linear spin-wave approximation. By performing numerical diagonalization in real space and finite-size scaling, we characterize the nature of the low-energy spin excitations for different dilution fractions up to the classical percolation threshold. We find nontrivial signatures of fractonlike excitations at high frequencies. Our simulations also confirm the existence of an upper bound for the amount of quantum fluctuations in the ground state of the system, leading to the persistence of long-range order up to the percolation threshold. This result is in agreement with recent neutron-scattering experimental data and quantum Monte Carlo numerical calculations. We also show that the absence of a quantum critical point below the classical percolation threshold holds for a large class of systems whose Hamiltonians can be mapped onto a system of coupled noninteracting massless bosons.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2004

Double Exchange Model for Magnetic Hexaborides

A microscopic theory for rare-earth ferromagnetic hexaborides, such as Eu(1-x)Ca(x)B6, is proposed on the basis of the double-exchange Hamiltonian. In these systems, the reduced carrier concentrations place the Fermi level near the mobility edge, introduced in the spectral density by the disordered spin background. We show that the transport properties such as Hall effect, magnetoresitance, frequency dependent conductivity, and DC resistivity can be quantitatively described within the model. We also make specific predictions for the behavior of the Curie temperature, Tc, as a function of the plasma frequency, omega_p.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2004

Electromagnetic Response of Layered Superconductors with Broken Lattice Inversion Symmetry

We investigate the macroscopic effects of charge density waves (CDW) and superconductivity in layered superconducting systems with broken lattice inversion symmetry (allowing for piezoelectricity) such as two dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD). We work with the low temperature time dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory and study the coupling of lattice distortions and low energy CDW collective modes to the superconducting order parameter in the presence of electromagnetic fields. We show that superconductivity and piezoelectricity can coexist in these singular metals. Furthermore, our study indicates the nature of the quantum phase transition between a commensurate CDW phase and the stripe phase that has been observed as a function of applied pressure.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2003

Spin-glass phase of cuprates

We investigate a phenomenological model for the spin glass phase of La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4, in which it is assumed that holes doped into the CuO_2 planes localize near their Sr dopant, where they cause a dipolar frustration of the antiferromagnetic environment. In absence of long-range antiferromagnetic order, the spin system can reduce frustration, and also its free energy, by forming a state with an ordered orientation of the dipole moments, which leads to the appearance of spiral spin correlations. To investigate this model, a non-linear sigma model is used in which disorder is introduced via a randomly fluctuating gauge field. A renormalization group study shows that the collinear fixed point of the model is destroyed through the disorder and that the disorder coupling leads to an additive renormalization of the order parameter stiffness. Further, the stability of the spiral state against the formation of topological defects is investigated with the use of the replica trick. A critical disorder strength is found beyond which topological defects proliferate. Comparing our results with experimental data, it is found that for a hole density x > 0.02, i.e. in the entire spin glass regime, the disorder strength exceeds the critical threshold. In addition, some experiments are proposed in order to distinguish if the incommensurabilities observed in neutron scattering experiments correspond to a diagonal stripe or a spiral phase.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2003

Interplay between disorder, quantum and thermal fluctuations in ferromagnetic alloys: The case of UCu2Si(2-x)Ge(x)

We consider, theoretically and experimentally, the effects of structural disorder, quantum and thermal fluctuations in the magnetic and transport properties of certain ferromagnetic alloys.We study the particular case of UCu2Si(2-x)Ge(x). The low temperature resistivity, rho(T,x), exhibits Fermi liquid (FL) behavior as a function of temperature T for all values of x, which can be interpreted as a result of the magnetic scattering of the conduction electrons from the localized U spins. The residual resistivity, rho(0,x), follows the behavior of a disordered binary alloy. The observed non-monotonic dependence of the Curie temperature, Tc(x), with x can be explained within a model of localized spins interacting with an electronic bath whose transport properties cross-over from ballistic to diffusive regimes. Our results clearly show that the Curie temperature of certain alloys can be enhanced due to the interplay between quantum and thermal fluctuations with disorder.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2003

Charge Inhomogeneities in Strongly Correlated Systems

We review the problem of stripe states in strongly correlated systems,and some of the theoretical, numerical and experimental methods used in the last few years to understand these states. We compare these states to more traditional charge-ordered states such as charge density waves (CDW) and phase-separated systems. We focus on the origin of stripe states as an interplay between magnetic and kinetic energy, and argue that the stripe state is generated via a mechanism of kinetic energy release that can be described via strongly correlated models such as the t-J model. We also discuss phenomenological models of stripes, and their relevance for magnetism and for the pinning of stripes by the underlying lattice and by disordered impurities. Recent experimental evidence for the existence of stripe states in different cuprate systems is also reviewed.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2003

Quantum Magnetic Impurities in Magnetically Ordered Systems

We discuss the problem of a spin 1/2 impurity immersed in a spin S magnetically ordered background. We show that the problem maps onto a generalization of the dissipative two level system (DTLS) with two independent heat baths, associated with the Goldstone modes of the magnet, that couple to different components of the impurity spin operator. Using analytical perturbative renormalization group (RG) methods and accurate numerical renormalization group (NRG) we show that contrary to other dissipative models there is quantum frustration of decoherence and quasi-scaling even in the strong coupling regime. We make predictions for the behavior of the impurity magnetic susceptibility that can be measured in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Our results may also have relevance to quantum computation.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2003

Long-range Charger transfer in DNA through Polaron Diffusion

Recent experimental evidence shows that the pi-orbitals along the stacking of base pairs can facilitate the long-range charge transfer in DNA. Proton motion in the base pair hydrogen bonds has also been found to affect the transfer rate. To explain this behavior we propose a model considering interactions of doped charges with hydrogen bonds and vibrations in DNA. The charge trapped by either protons or vibrations can cause structural distortions leading to polaron formation. By further considering polaron diffusion in DNA we find that the charge transfer rate derived from the diffusion coefficient is in agreement with the experimental results.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2002

Vortex liquid crystals in anisotropic type II superconductors

In a type II superconductor in a moderate magnetic field, the superconductor to normal state transition may be described as a phase transition in which the vortex lattice melts into a liquid. In a biaxial superconductor, or even a uniaxial superconductor with magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the symmetry axis, the vortices acquire elongated cross sections and interactions. Systems of anisotropic, interacting constituents generally exhibit liquid crystalline phases. We examine the possibility of a two step melting in homogeneous type II superconductors with anisotropic superfluid stiffness from a vortex lattice into first a vortex smectic and then a vortex nematic at high temperature and magnetic field. We find that fluctuations of the ordered phase favor an instability to an intermediate smectic-A in the absence of intrinsic pinning.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2002

Stripe as an effective one-dimensional band of composite excitations

The microscopic structure of a charge stripe in an antiferromagnetic insulator is studied within the t-Jz model using analytical and numerical approaches. We demonstrate that a stripe in an antiferromagnet should be viewed as a system of composite holon-spin-polaron excitations condensed at the self-induced antiphase domain wall (ADW) of the antiferromagnetic spins. The properties of such excitations are studied in detail with numerical and analytical results for various quantities being in very close agreement. A picture of the stripe as an effective one-dimensional (1D) band of such excitations is also in very good agreement with numerical data. These results emphasize the primary role of kinetic energy in favoring the stripe as a ground state. A comparative analysis suggests the effect of pairing and collective meandering on the energetics of the stripe formation to be secondary. The implications of this microscopic picture of fermions bound to the 1D antiferromagnetic ADW for the effective theories of the stripe phase in the cuprates are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2002

A Coulomb gas approach to the anisotropic one-dimensional Kondo lattice model at arbitrary filling

We establish a mapping of a general spin-fermion system in one dimension into a classical generalized Coulomb gas. This mapping allows a renormalization group treatment of the anisotropic Kondo chain both at and away from half-filling. We find that the phase diagram contains regions of paramagnetism, partial and full ferromagnetic order. We also use the method to analyze the phases of the Ising-Kondo chain.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2002

Phase diagram of the anisotropic Kondo chain

We establish the phase diagram of the one-dimensional anisotropic Kondo lattice model at T=0 using a generalized two-dimensional classical Coulomb gas description. We analyze the problem by means of a renormalization group (RG) treatment. We find that the phase diagram contains regions of paramagnetism, partial and full ferromagnetic order.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2001

Charge Density Wave Formation in the Low-Temperature-Tetragonal Phase of Cuprates

We calculate the influence of transverse fluctuations on the longitudinal dynamics in the striped phase of cuprates by using the bosonization technique. We find that a charge density wave instability can arise if the stripe is quarter filled and the underlying lattice potential has a zigzag symmetry. Our results explain why static stripes are experimentally observed in underdoped La_{2-x-y}Nd_ySr_xCuO_4 exactly at the onset of the low-temperature-tetragonal transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗