arXiv subjects

Gregory A. Fiete

Publications and source records attributed to Gregory A. Fiete.

142 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Degenerate perturbation theory of quantum fluctuations in a pyrochlore antiferromagnet

We study the effect of quantum fluctuations on the half-polarized magnetization plateau of a pyrochlore antiferromagnet. We argue that an expansion around the easy axis limit is appropriate for discussing the ground state selection amongst the classically degenerate manifold of collinear states with a 3:1 ratio of spins parallel/anti-parallel to the magnetization axis. A general approach to the necessary degenerate perturbation theory is presented, and an effective quantum dimer model within this degenerate manifold is derived for arbitrary spin $s$. We also generalize the existing semiclassical analysis of Hizi and Henley [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 73}, 054403 (2006)] to the easy axis limit, and show that both approaches agree at large $s$. We show that under rather general conditions, the first non-constant terms in the effective Hamiltonian for $s\geq 1$ occur only at {\sl sixth} order in the transverse exchange coupling. For $s\geq 3/2$, the effective Hamiltonian predicts a magnetically ordered state. For $s\leq 1$ more exotic possibilities may be realized, though an analytical solution of the resulting quantum dimer model is not possible.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Mechanisms of degeneracy breaking in pyrochlore antiferromagnets

Motivated by the low temperature magnetization curves of several spinel chromites, we theoretically study classical mechanisms of degeneracy lifting in pyrochlore antiferromagnets. Our main focus is on the coupling of spin exchange to lattice distortions. Prior work by Penc et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 197203 (2004)) has demonstrated that such coupling leads to a robust magnetization plateau at half the saturation moment per spin, in agreement with experiment. We show that a simple Einstein model incorporating local site distortions generates a ``universal'' magnetic order on the plateau, and highlight the distinct predictions of this model from that in Penc et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 197203 (2004)). We also consider the complementary degeneracy-lifting effects of further neighbor exchange interactions. We discuss the implications for transitions off the plateau at both the high field and low field end, as well as at fields close to the saturation value. We predict that under certain circumstances there is spontaneous {\sl uniform} XY magnetization (transverse to the field) for field values just above the plateau. These features may be tested in experiments. While selecting a unique magnetic order in the half magnetization plateau, at zero magnetic field the Einstein model retains an extensive degeneracy, though significantly reduced compared with the pure Heisenberg antiferromagnet.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Coulomb drag between two spin incoherent Luttinger liquids

In a one dimensional electron gas at low enough density, the magnetic (spin) exchange energy $J$ between neighboring electrons is exponentially suppressed relative to the characteristic charge energy, the Fermi energy $E_F$. At non-zero temperature $T$, the energy hierarchy $J \ll T \ll E_F$ can be reached, and we refer to this as the spin incoherent Lutinger liquid state. We discuss the Coulomb drag between two parallel quantum wires in the spin incoherent regime, as well as the crossover to this state from the low temperature regime by using a model of a fluctuating Wigner solid. As the temperature increases from zero to above $J$ for a fixed electron density, the $2k_F$ oscillations in the density-density correlations are lost. As a result, the temperature dependence of the Coulomb drag is dramatically altered and non-monotonic dependence may result. Drag between wires of equal and unequal density are discussed, as well as the effects of weak disorder in the wires. We speculate that weak disorder may play an important role in extracting information about quantum wires in real drag experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Ordering in a frustrated pyrochlore antiferromagnet proximate to a spin liquid

We perform a general study of spin ordering on the pyrochlore lattice with a 3:1 proportionality of two spin polarizations. Equivalently, this describes valence bond solid conformations of a quantum dimer model on the diamond lattice. We determine the set of likely low temperature ordered phases, on the assumption that the ordering is weak, i.e the system is close to a ``U(1)'' quantum spin liquid in which the 3:1 proportionality is maintained but the spins are strongly fluctuating. The nature of the 9 ordered states we find is determined by a ``projective symmetry'' analysis. All the phases exhibit translational and rotational symmetry breaking, with an enlarged unit cell containing 4 to 64 primitive cells of the underlying pyrochlore. The simplest of the 9 phases is the same ``R'' state found earlier in a theoretical study of the ordering on the magnetization plateau in the $S=3/2$ materials \cdaf and \hgaf. We suggest that the spin/dimer model proposed therein undergoes a direct transition from the spin liquid to the R state, and describe a field theory for the universal properties of this critical point, at zero and non-zero temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Quantum effects in a half-polarized pyrochlore antiferromagnet

We study quantum effects in a spin-3/2 antiferromagnet on the pyrochlore lattice in an external magnetic field, focusing on the vicinity of a plateau in the magnetization at half the saturation value, observed in CdCr$_2$O$_4$, and HgCr$_2$O$_4$. Our theory, based on quantum fluctuations, predicts the existence of a symmetry-broken state on the plateau, even with only nearest-neighbor microscopic exchange. This symmetry broken state consists of a particular arrangement of spins polarized parallel and antiparallel to the field in a 3:1 ratio on each tetrahedron. It quadruples the lattice unit cell, and reduces the space group from $Fd\bar{3}m$ to $P4_332$. We also predict that for fields just above the plateau, the low temperature phase has transverse spin order, describable as a Bose-Einstein condensate of magnons. Other comparisons to and suggestions for experiments are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Transport in a spin incoherent Luttinger liquid

We theoretically investigate transport in a spin incoherent one dimensional electron system, which may be realized in quantum wires at low electron density and finite temperature. Both the pure and disordered cases are considered, both in finite wires and in the thermodynamic limit. The effect of Fermi liquid leads attached to the finite length system is also addressed. In the infinite system, we find a phase diagram identical to that obtained for a spinless Luttinger Liquid, provided we make the identification $g=2g_c$, where $g$ is the interaction parameter in a spinless Luttinger Liquid and $g_c$ is the interaction parameter of the charge sector of a Luttinger Liquid theory for electrons with spin. For a finite length wire attached to Fermi liquid leads the transport depends on details of the disorder in the wire. A simple picture for the cross-over from the spin incoherent regime to the spin coherent regime as the temperature is varied is also discussed, as well as some physical implications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Theory of momentum resolved tunneling into a short quantum wire

Motivated by recent tunneling experiments in the parallel wire geometry, we calculate results for momentum resolved tunneling into a short one-dimensional wire, containing a small number of electrons. We derive some general theorems about the momentum dependence, and we carry out exact calculations for up to N=4 electrons in the final state, for a system with screened Coulomb interactions that models the situation of the experiments. We also investigate the limit of large $N$ using a Luttinger-liquid type analysis. We consider the low-density regime, where the system is close to the Wigner crystal limit, and where the energy scale for spin excitations can be much lower than for charge excitations, and we consider temperatures intermediate between the relevant spin energies and charge excitations, as well as temperatures below both energy scales.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Disorder, spin-orbit, and interaction effects in dilute ${\rm Ga}_{1-x}{\rm Mn}_x{\rm As}$

We derive an effective Hamiltonian for ${\rm Ga}_{1-x}{\rm Mn}_x {\rm As}$ in the dilute limit, where ${\rm Ga}_{1-x}{\rm Mn}_x {\rm As}$ can be described in terms of spin $F=3/2$ polarons hopping between the {\rm Mn} sites and coupled to the local {\rm Mn} spins. We determine the parameters of our model from microscopic calculations using both a variational method and an exact diagonalization within the so-called spherical approximation. Our approach treats the extremely large Coulomb interaction in a non-perturbative way, and captures the effects of strong spin-orbit coupling and Mn positional disorder. We study the effective Hamiltonian in a mean field and variational calculation, including the effects of interactions between the holes at both zero and finite temperature. We study the resulting magnetic properties, such as the magnetization and spin disorder manifest in the generically non-collinear magnetic state. We find a well formed impurity band fairly well separated from the valence band up to $x_{\rm active} \lesssim 0.015$ for which finite size scaling studies of the participation ratios indicate a localization transition, even in the presence of strong on-site interactions, where $x_{\rm active}<x_{\rm nom}$ is the fraction of magnetically active Mn. We study the localization transition as a function of hole concentration, Mn positional disorder, and interaction strength between the holes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Disorder induced local density of states oscillations on narrow Ag(111) terraces

The local density of states of Ag(111) has been probed in detail on disordered terraces of varying width by dI/dV-mapping with a scanning tunneling microscope at low temperatures. Apparent shifts of the bottom of the surface-state band edge from terrace induced confinement are observed. Disordered terraces show interesting contrast reversals in the dI/dV maps as a function of tip-sample voltage polarity with details that depend on the average width of the terrace and the particular edge profile. In contrast to perfect terraces with straight edges, standing wave patterns are observed parallel to the step edges, i.e. in the non-confined direction. Scattering calculations based on the Ag(111) surface states reproduce these spatial oscillations and all the qualitative features of the standing wave patterns, including the polarity-dependent contrast reversals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2004

Green's function for magnetically incoherent interacting electrons in one dimension

Using a path integral approach and bosonization, we calculate the low energy asymptotics of the one particle Green's function for a ``magnetically incoherent'' one dimensional strongly interacting electron gas at temperatures much greater than the typical exchange energy but much lower than the Fermi energy. The Green's function exhibits features reminiscent of spin-charge separation, with exponential spatial decay and scaling behavior with interaction dependent anomalous exponents inconsistent with any unitary conformal field theory. We compute the tunneling density of states at low energies and find that it is a power law in energy with exponent $1/(4g)-1$, where $g$ is the Luttinger interaction parameter in the charge sector. The underlying physics is made transparent by the simplicity of the approach. Our results generalize those of Cheianov and Zvonarev [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 92}, 176401 (2004)].

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Mean-field magnetization relaxation in conducting ferromagnets

Collective ferromagnetic motion in a conducting medium is damped by the transfer of the magnetic moment and energy to the itinerant carriers. We present a calculation of the corresponding magnetization relaxation as a linear-response problem for the carrier dynamics in the effective exchange field of the ferromagnet. In electron systems with little intrinsic spin-orbit interaction, a uniform magnetization motion can be formally eliminated by going into the rotating frame of reference for the spin dynamics. The ferromagnetic damping in this case grows linearly with the spin-flip rate when the latter is smaller than the exchange field and is inversely proportional to the spin-flip rate in the opposite limit. These two regimes are analogous to the "spin-pumping" and the "breathing Fermi-surface" damping mechanisms, respectively. In diluted ferromagnetic semiconductors, the hole-mediated magnetization can be efficiently relaxed to the itinerant-carrier degrees of freedom due to the strong spin-orbit interaction in the valence bands.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Positional Disorder, Spin-Orbit Coupling and Frustration in GaMnAs

We study the magnetic properties of metallic GaMnAs. We calculate the effective RKKY interaction between Mn spins using several realistic models for the valence band structure of GaAs. We also study the effect of positional disorder of the Mn on the magnetic properties. We find that the interaction between two Mn spins is anisotropic due to spin-orbit coupling within both the so-called spherical approximation and in the more realistic six band model. The spherical approximation strongly overestimates this anistropy, especially for short distances between Mn ions. Using the obtained effective Hamiltonian we carry out Monte Carlo simulations of finite and zero temperature magnetization and find that, due to orientational frustration of the spins, non-collinear states appear in both valence band approximations for disordered, uncorrelated Mn impurities in the small concentration regime. Introducing correlations among the substitutional Mn positions or increasing the Mn concentration leads to an increase in the remnant magnetization at zero temperature and an almost fully polarized ferromagnetic state.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Effective Hamiltonian for Ga_{1-x}Mn_xAs in the Dilute Limit

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2003

Semiclassical Theory of Coherence and Decoherence

A general semiclassical approach to quantum systems with system-bath interactions is developed. We study system decoherence in detail using a coherent state semiclassical wavepacket method which avoids singularity issues arising in the usual Green's function approach. We discuss the general conditions under which it is approximately correct to discuss quantum decoherence in terms of a ``dephasing'' picture and we derive semiclassical expressions for the phase and phase distribution. Remarkably, an effective system wavefunction emerges whose norm measures the decoherence and is equivalent to a density matrix formulation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2003

Theory of Quantum Corrals and Quantum Mirages

Quantum corrals are two dimensional structures built atom by atom on an atomically clean metallic surface using a scanning tunneling microscope. These two dimensional structures ``corral'' electrons in the surface states of noble metals which lead to standing wave patterns in the electron density inside the quantum corral. We review the physics of quantum corrals and relate the signal of the scanning tunneling microscope to the scattering properties of substrate electrons from atomic impurities supported on the surface. The theory includes the effects of incoherent surface state electron scattering at the impurities and quantitively describes all of the current STM data on quantum corrals, including the recent quantum mirage experiments with Kondo effect. We discuss the physics underlying the recent mirage experiments and review some of the outstanding questions regarding Kondo effect from impurities in nanoscale structures on metallic surfaces. We also summarize recent work on variations of ``quantum'' corrals: optical corrals and acoustical corrals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Kondo effect and STM spectra through ferromagnetic nanoclusters

Motivated by recent scanning tunneling microscope (STM) experiments on cobalt clusters adsorbed on single wall metallic nanotubes [Odom {\em et al.}, Science {\bf 290}, 1549 (2000)], we study theoretically the size dependence of STM spectra and spin-flip scattering of electrons from finite size ferromagnetic clusters adsorbed on metallic surfaces. We study two models of nanometer size ferromagnets: (i) An itinerant model with delocalized s, p and d electrons and (ii) a local moment model with both localized d-level spins and delocalized cluster electrons. The effective exchange coupling between the spin of the cluster and the conduction electrons of the metallic substrate depends on the specific details of the single particle density of states on the cluster. The calculated Kondo coupling is inversely proportional to the total spin of the ferromagnetic cluster in both models and thus the Kondo temperature is rapidly suppressed as the size of the cluster increases. Mesoscopic fluctuations in the charging energies and magnetization of nanoclusters can lead to large fluctuations in the Kondo temperatures and a very asymmetric voltage dependence of the STM spectra. We compare our results to the experiments.

cond-mat.str-el↗