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Andrey Zheludev

Publications and source records attributed to Andrey Zheludev.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nonperturbative Semiclassical Spin Dynamics for Ordered Quantum Magnets

In ordered quantum magnets where interactions between elementary excitations dominate over their kinetic energy, perturbative approaches often fail, making non-perturbative methods essential to capture spectral features such as bound states and the redistribution of weight within excitation continua. Although an increasing number of experiments report anomalous spin excitation continua in such systems, their microscopic interpretation remains an open challenge. Here, we investigate the spin dynamics of the triangular-lattice antiferromagnet in its 1/3-plateau phase using two complementary non-perturbative approaches: exact diagonalization in a truncated Hilbert space for a gas of elementary excitations (THED) and matrix product state (MPS) simulations. Alongside cross-validation between these methods, we benchmark our results against inelastic neutron scattering (INS) data. The THED analysis confirms the presence of two-magnon bound states and identifies the anomalous scattering continuum observed in both MPS and INS as a two-magnon resonance, arising from hybridization between the bound state and the two-magnon continuum. Furthermore, THED reveals bound states overlapping with the continuum, enriching the interpretation of continuum anomalies. More broadly, THED provides a robust framework for investigating anomalous spin excitation continua and bound-state effects in other materials with gapped spectra. Its combination of accuracy and computational efficiency makes it a powerful tool for extracting reliable microscopic models in semiclassical regimes.

cond-mat.str-el

Zeeman Ladders in Frustrated XYZ Spin Chains

We investigate the nature of the excitations captured by the dynamical response of XYZ triangular spin-1/2 ladders. We complement experimental inelastic neutron scattering results on the compound $\text{Cs}_\text{2}\text{CoBr}_\text{4}$ with numerically exact simulations based on time-dependent matrix product state methods. Our results show that bound states of spinon excitations can arise in XYZ beyond the requirement of strong Ising anisotropies. We analyze the role of the frustrated triangular couplings on the excitations giving rise to the spin dynamical structure factor and show how the features of the bound states manifest themselves in the different polarization channels.

cond-mat.str-el

Pressure-tuned quantum criticality in the large-$D$ antiferromagnet DTN

Strongly correlated spin systems can be driven to quantum critical points via various routes. In particular, gapped quantum antiferromagnets can undergo phase transitions into a magnetically ordered state with applied pressure or magnetic field, acting as tuning parameters. These transitions are characterized by $z=1$ or $z=2$ dynamical critical exponents, determined by the linear and quadratic low-energy dispersion of spin excitations, respectively. Employing high-frequency susceptibility and ultrasound techniques, we demonstrate that the tetragonal easy-plane quantum antiferromagnet NiCl$_{2}\cdot$4SC(NH$_2$)$_2$ (aka DTN) undergoes a spin-gap closure transition at about $4.2$ kbar, resulting in a pressure-induced magnetic ordering. The studies are complemented by high-pressure-electron spin-resonance measurements confirming the proposed scenario. Powder neutron diffraction measurements revealed that no lattice distortion occurs at this pressure and the high spin symmetry is preserved, establishing DTN as a perfect platform to investigate $z=1$ quantum critical phenomena. The experimental observations are supported by DMRG calculations, allowing us to quantitatively describe the pressure-driven evolution of critical fields and spin-Hamiltonian parameters in DTN.

cond-mat.str-el

Dielectric relaxation by quantum critical magnons

We report the experimental observation of dielectric relaxation by quantum critical magnons. Complex capacitance measurements reveal a dissipative feature with a temperature-dependent amplitude due to low-energy lattice excitations and an activation behavior of the relaxation time. The activation energy softens close to a field-tuned magnetic quantum critical point at $H=H_c$ and follows single-magnon energy for $H>H_c$, showing its magnetic origin. Our study demonstrates the electrical activity of coupled low-energy spin and lattice excitations, an example of quantum multiferroic behavior.

cond-mat.str-el

LT-scaling in depleted quantum spin ladders

Using a combination of neutron scattering, calorimetry, Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations and analytic results we uncover confinement effects in depleted, partially magnetized quantum spin ladders. We show that introducing non-magnetic impurities into magnetized spin ladders leads to the emergence of a new characteristic length L in the otherwise scale-free Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (serving as the effective low-energy model). This results in universal LT scaling of staggered susceptibilities. Comparison of simulation results with experimental phase diagrams of prototypical spin ladder compounds DIMPY and BPCB yields excellent agreement.

cond-mat.str-el

Electron Spin Resonance of the Interacting Spinon Liquid

We report experimental verification of the recently predicted collective modes of spinons, stabilized by backscattering interaction, in a model quantum spin chain material. We exploit the unique geometry of uniform Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions in K$_2$CuSO$_4$Br$_2$ to measure the interaction-induced splitting between the two components of the electron spin resonance (ESR) response doublet. From that we directly determine the magnitude of the "marginally irrelevant" backscattering interaction between spinons for the first time.

cond-mat.str-el

Phase diagram and spin waves in the frustrated ferro-antiferromagnet SrZnVO(PO4)2

Single crystals of the frustrated S=1/2 ferro-antiferromagnetic proximate square lattice material SrZnZnVO(PO$_4$)$_2$ are studied in magnetometric, calorimetric, neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering experiments. The measured spin wave spectrum reveals a substantial degree of magnetic frustration and a large quantum renormalization of the exchange constants. The H-T magnetic phase diagram is established. It features a novel pre-saturation phase, which appears for only one particular field orientation. The results are discussed noting the similarities and differences with the previously studied and similarly structured Pb$_2$VO(PO$_4$)$_2$ compound.

cond-mat.str-el

Sign-switching of dimer correlations in SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ under hydrostatic pressure

Magnetic and vibrational excitations in SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ are studied using Raman spectroscopy at hydrostatic pressures up to 34 kbar and temperatures down to 2.6 K. The frequency of a particular optical phonon, the so-called pantograph mode, shows a very strong anomalous temperature dependence below about 40 K. We link the magnitude of the effect to the magnetic exchange energy on the dimer bonds in the Sutherland-Shastry spin lattice in this material. The corresponding dimer spin correlations are quantitatively estimated and found to be strongly pressure dependent. At around P$_2\sim$22 kbar they switch from antiferromagnetic to being predominantly ferromagnetic.

cond-mat.str-el

Quantum critical dynamics and scaling in one-dimensional antiferromagnets

For a number of quantum critical points in one dimension quantum field theory has provided exact results for the scaling of spatial and temporal correlation functions. Experimental realizations of these models can be found in certain quasi one dimensional antiferromagnetc materials. Measuring the predicted scaling laws experimentally presents formidable technical challenges. In many cases it only became possible recently, thanks to qualitative progress in the development of inelastic neutron scattering techniques and to the discovery of new model compounds. Here we review some of the recent experimental studies of this type.

cond-mat.str-el

High pressure Raman study of the quantum magnet (C$_4$H$_{12}$N$_2$)Cu$_2$Cl$_6$

Magnetic and lattice excitations in the quantum antiferromagnet (C$_4$H$_{12}$N$_2$)Cu$_2$Cl$_6$ (PHCC) are studied across two pressure-induced phase transition at $P_c=4.3~\mathrm{kbar}$ and $P_1=13.4~\mathrm{kbar}$ using Raman spectroscopy. It is confirmed that neither transition is a result of a structural transformation. Magnetic scattering is detected. It shows a pronounced pressure dependence and undergoes substantial changes at both transitions. The results are in clear contradiction with previous neutron studies, which detected only minor changes of the magnon spectrum at $P_1$. A number of phonons show anomalous frequency shifts at low temperatures. This effect is pressure dependent and for two of the observed phonons dramatically reverses sign at around $P_1$. The anomalous behavior is attributed to strong magnetoelastic coupling in PHCC.

cond-mat.str-el

Magnetic structure and spin waves in the frustrated ferro-antiferromagnet Pb$_2$VO(PO$_4$)$_2$

Single crystal neutron diffraction, inelastic neutron scattering and electron spin resonance experiments are used to study the magnetic structure and spin waves in Pb$_2$VO(PO$_4$)$_2$, a prototypical layered $S=1/2$ ferromagnet with frustrating next nearest neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. The observed excitation spectrum is found to be inconsistent with a simple square lattice model previously proposed for this material. At least four distinct exchange coupling constants are required to reproduce the measured spin wave dispersion. The degree of magnetic frustration is correspondingly revised and found to be substantially smaller than in all previous estimates.

cond-mat.str-el

Magnetic field induced bound states in spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ ladders

Motivated by the intriguing mode splittings in a magnetic field recently observed with inelastic neutron scattering in the spin ladder compound (C$_5$H$_{12}$N)$_2$CuBr$_4$ (BPCB), we investigate the nature of the spin ladder excitations using DMRG and analytical arguments. Starting from the fully frustrated ladder, for which we derive the low-energy spectrum, we show that bound states are generically present close to $k=0$ in the dynamical structure factor of spin ladders above $H_{c 1}$, and that they are characterized by a field-independent binding energy and an intensity that grows with $H-H_{c 1}$. These predictions are shown to explain quantitatively the split modes observed in BPCB.

cond-mat.str-el

Miniature capacitive Faraday force magnetometer for magnetization measurements at low temperatures and high magnetic fields

A Faraday force magnetometer is presented for measurements of magnetization at temperatures down to 100~mK and in magnetic fields up to 14~T. The specimen is mounted on a flexible cantilever forming a force-sensing capacitor in combination with a fixed back plate. Two different cantilever designs are presented. A torsion resistant cantilever allows to measure magnetization of highly anisotropic single crystal samples. Measurements of the metal organic quantum magnets (C$_5$H$_{12}$N)$_2$CuBr$_4$ (BPCB) and NiCl$_2$$\cdot$4 SC(NH$_2$)$_2$ (DTN) demonstrate the device's capabilities. Routinely, a specimen's magnetic moment is measured with a resolution better than $10^{-7}$ A$\,$m$^2$ ($10^{-4}$ emu). The device in miniaturized to fit is almost any cryostat.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Dynamics and field-induced order in the layered spin $S=1/2$ dimer system (C$_5$H$_6$N$_2$F)$_2$CuCl$_4$

The quasi-two-dimensional Heisenberg spin $S=1/2$ dimer system bis(2-amino-5-fluoro-pyridinium) tetrachlorocuprate(II) is studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering, calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. In the absence of an applied magnetic field we find dispersive triplet excitations with a spin gap of $Δ=1.112(15)$ meV and a bandwidth of $0.715(15)$ meV within the layers and $0.116(15)$ meV between the layers, respectively. In an applied magnetic field of $μ_0H_c\approx 8.5$ T the spin gap is closed and we find a field induced antiferromagnetically ordered phase.

cond-mat.str-el

Finite-temperature correlations in a quantum spin chain near saturation

Inelastic neutron-scattering and finite-temperature density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) calculations are used to investigate the spin excitation spectrum of the $S=1/2$ Heisenberg spin chain compound K$_2$CuSO$_4$Cl$_2$ at several temperatures in a magnetic field near saturation. Critical correlations characteristic of the predicted $z=2$, $d=1$ quantum phase transition occurring at saturation are shown to be consistent with the observed neutron spectra. The data is well described with a scaling function computed using a free fermion description of the spins, valid close to saturation, and the corresponding scaling limits. One of the most prominent non-universal spectral features of the data is a novel thermally activated longitudinal mode that remains underdamped across most of the Brillouin zone.

cond-mat.str-el

Phase transition of chemically doped uniaxial relaxor ferroelectric

We report a neutron scattering study of the ferroelectric phase transition in Sr$_{0.585}$Ce$_{0.025}$Ba$_{0.39}$Nb$_2$O$_6$ (SBN-61:Ce). We find no evidence for a soft transverse optic phonon. We do, however, observe anisotropic diffuse scattering. This scattering has inelastic and elastic contributions. In the paraelectric phase the susceptibility associated with the elastic diffuse scattering follows well the anomaly of the dielectric susceptibility of SBN-61:Ce. In the ferroelectric phase the lineshape of the elastic scattering is consistent with the form expected for the ferroelectric domain walls. In contrast to the macroscopic observations, the scattering properties of Ce-doped crystal do not exhibit important changes with respect to those of pure Sr$_{0.61}$Ba$_{0.39}$Nb$_2$O$_6$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Quantum spin chains with frustration due to Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions

The properties of two quantum spin chain materials, K$_2$CuSO$_4$Cl$_2$ and K$_2$CuSO$_4$Br$_2$, are studied by a variety of experimental techniques, including bulk measurements, neutron spectroscopy and ESR. The hierarchy of relevant terms in the magnetic Hamiltonian is established. It is shown that these two compounds feature substantial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions that are uniform within each chain, but antiparallel in adjacent chains. The result is a peculiar type of frustration of inter-chain interactions, which leads to an unusual field-temperature phase diagram.

cond-mat.str-el

Dirty-boson physics with magnetic insulators

We review recent theoretical and experimental efforts aimed at the investigation of the physics of interacting disordered bosons (so-called dirty bosons) in the context of quantum magnetism. The physics of dirty bosons is relevant to a wide variety of condensed matter systems, encompassing Helium in porous media, granular superconductors and ultracold atoms in disordered optical potentials, to cite a few. Nevertheless, the understanding of the transition from a localized, Bose-glass phase to an ordered, superfluid condensate phase still represents a fundamentally open problem. Still to be constructed is also a quantitative description of the highly inhomogeneous and strongly correlated phases connected by the transition. We discuss how disordered magnetic insulators in a strong magnetic field can provide a well controlled realization of the above transition. Combining numerical simulations with experiments on real materials can shed light on some fundamental properties of the critical behavior, such as the scaling of the critical temperature to condensation close to the quantum critical point.

cond-mat.str-el