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Ian Affleck

Publications and source records attributed to Ian Affleck.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
arXiv2000

Detecting the Kondo screening cloud around a quantum dot

A fundamental prediction of scaling theories of the Kondo effect is the screening of an impurity spin by a cloud of electrons spread out over a mesoscopic distance. This cloud has never been observed experimentally. Recently, aspects of the Kondo effect have been observed in experiments on quantum dots embedded in quantum wires. Since the length of the wire may be of order the size of the screening cloud, such systems provide an ideal opportunity to observe it. We point out that persistent current measurements in a closed ring provide a conceptually simple way of detecting this fundamental length scale.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2000

Boundary Critical Phenomena in SU(3) "Spin" Chains

SU(3)-invariant "spin" chains with a single impurity, such as a modified exchange coupling on one link, are analyzed using boundary conformal field theory techniques. These chains are equivalent to a special case of the "tJV" model, i.e. the t-J model with a nearest neighbour repulsion added. In the continuum limit they are equivalent to two free bosons at a special value of the compactification radii. The SU(3) symmetry, which is made explicit in this formulation, provides insight into the exact solution of a non-trivial boundary critical point found earlier in another formulation of this model as a theory of quantum Brownian motion.

cond-mat↗
arXiv2000

On the Nagaoka polaron in the t-J model

It is widely believed that a single hole in the two (or three) dimensional t-J model, for sufficiently small exchange coupling J, creates a ferromagnetic bubble around itself, a finite J remnant of the ferromagnetic groundstate at J=0 (the infinite U Hubbard model), first established by Nagaoka. We investigate this phenomenon in two dimensions using the density matrix renormalization group, for system sizes up to 9x9. We find that the polaron forms for J/t<0.02-0.03 (a somewhat larger value than estimated previously). Although finite-size effects appear large, our data seems consistent with the expected 1.1(J/t)^{-1/4} variation of polarion radius. We also test the Brinkman-Rice model of non-retracing paths in a Neel background, showing that it is quite accurate, at larger J. Results are also presented in the case where the Heisenberg interaction is dropped (the t-J^z model). Finally we discuss a "dressed polaron" picture in which the hole propagates freely inside a finite region but makes only self-retracing excursions outside this region.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2000

Quantum brownian motion on a triangular lattice and c=2 boundary conformal field theory

We study a single particle diffusing on a triangular lattice and interacting with a heat bath, using boundary conformal field theory (CFT) and exact integrability techniques. We derive a correspondence between the phase diagram of this problem and that recently obtained for the 2 dimensional 3-state Potts model with a boundary. Exact results are obtained on phases with intermediate mobilities. These correspond to non-trivial boundary states in a conformal field theory with 2 free bosons which we explicitly construct for the first time. These conformally invariant boundary conditions are not simply products of Dirichlet and Neumann ones and unlike those trivial boundary conditions, are not invariant under a Heisenberg algebra.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2000

Effective "Penetration Depth" in the Vortex State of a d-wave Superconductor

The temperature and field dependence of the effective magnetic penetration depth in the vortex state of a d-wave superconductor, as measured by muon spin rotation experiments, is calculated using a nonlocal London model. We show that at temperatures below T^* \propto \sqrt{B}, the linear T-dependence of the effective penetration depth crosses over to a T^3-dependence. This could provide an explanation for the low temperature flattening of the effective penetration depth curves observed in a recent muon spin rotation experiment.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2000

Hopping between Random Locations: Spectrum and Instanton

Euclidean random matrices appear in a broad class of physical problems involving disorder. The problem of determining their spectra can be mapped, using the replica method, into the study of a scalar field theory with an interaction of the type e^(psi^2). We apply the instanton method to study their spectral tails.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2000

Edge Critical Behaviour of the 2-Dimensional Tri-critical Ising Model

Using previous results from boundary conformal field theory and integrability, a phase diagram is derived for the 2 dimensional Ising model at its bulk tri-critical point as a function of boundary magnetic field and boundary spin-coupling constant. A boundary tri-critical point separates phases where the spins on the boundary are ordered or disordered. In the latter range of coupling constant, there is a non-zero critical field where the magnetization is singular. In the former range, as the temperature is lowered, the boundary undergoes a first order transition while the bulk simultaneously undergoes a second order transition.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2000

Andreev scattering and Josephson current in a one-dimensional electron liquid

Andreev scattering and the Josephson current through a one-dimensional interacting electron liquid sandwiched between two superconductors are re-examined. We first present some apparently new results on the non-interacting case by studying an exactly solvable tight-binding model rather than the usual continuum model. We show that perfect Andreev scattering (i.e. zero normal scattering) at the Fermi energy can only be achieved by fine-tuning junction parameters. We also obtain exact results for the Josephson current, which is generally a smooth function of the superconducting phase difference except when the junction parameters are adjusted to give perfect Andreev scattering, in which case it becomes a sawtooth function. We then observe that, even when interactions are included, all low energy properties of a junction (E<<Δ, the superconducting gap) can be obtained by "integrating out" the superconducting electrons to obtain an effective Hamiltonian describing the metallic electrons only with a boundary pairing interaction. This boundary model provides a suitable starting point for bosonization/renormalization group/boundary conformal field theory analysis. We argue that total normal reflection and total Andreev reflection correspond to two fixed points of the boundary renormalization group. For repulsive bulk interactions the Andreev fixed point is unstable and the normal one stable. However, the reverse is true for attractive interactions. This implies that a generic junction Hamiltonian (without fine-tuned junction parameters) will renormalize to the normal fixed point for repulsive interactions but to the Andreev one for attractive interactions. An exact mapping of our tight-binding model to the Hubbard model with a transverse magnetic field is used to help understand this behavior.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv1999

Finite size spectrum, magnon interactions and magnetization of S=1 Heisenberg spin chains

We report our density matrix renormalization-group and analytical work on S=1 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chains. We study the finite size behavior within the framework of the non-linear sigma model. We study the effect of magnon-magnon interactions on the finite size spectrum and on the magnetization curve close to the critical magnetic field, determine the magnon scattering length and compare it to the prediction from the non-linear $σ$ model.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1999

Phase diagram of a 1 dimensional spin-orbital model

We study a 1 dimensional spin-orbital model using both analytical and numerical methods. Renormalization group calculations are performed in the vicinity of a special integrable point in the phase diagram with SU(4) symmetry. These indicate the existence of a gapless phase in an extended region of the phase diagram, missed in previous studies. This phase is SU(4) invariant at low energies apart from the presence of different velocities for spin and orbital degrees of freedom. The phase transition into a gapped dimerized phase is in a generalized Kosterlitz-Thouless universality class. The phase diagram of this model is sketched using the density matrix renormalization group technique.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1999

Impurity correlations in dilute Kondo alloys

The single impurity Kondo model is often used to describe metals with dilute concentrations (n_i) of magnetic impurities. Here we examine how dilute the impurities must be for this to be valid by developing a virial expansion in impurity density. The O(n_i^2) term is determined from results on the 2-impurity Kondo problem by averaging over the RKKY coupling. The non-trivial fixed point of the 2-impurity problem could produce novel singularities in the heat capacity of dilute alloys at O(n_i^2).

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1999

Logarithmic Corrections in Quantum Impurity Problems

The effect of a BULK marginal operator on BOUNDARY critical phenomena in two space-time dimensions is considered. The particular case of an open S=1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain, corresponding to a Wess-Zumino-Witten non-linear sigma model, is solved. In this case, the needed renormalization group coefficient is associated with a novel operator product expansion in which THREE operators approach the same point. Resulting logarithmic corrections occurring in finite size calculations and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1999

On the Field-Induced Gap in Cu Benzoate and Other S=1/2 Antiferromagnets

Recent experiments on the S=1/2 antiferromagnetic chain compound, Cu benzoate, discovered an unexpected gap scaling as approximately the 2/3 power of an applied magnetic field. A theory of this gap, based on an effective staggered field, orthogonal to the applied uniform field, resulting from a staggered gyromagnetic tensor and a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, leading to a sine-Gordon quantum field theory, has been developed. Here we discuss many aspects of this subject in considerable detail, including a review of the S=1/2 chain in a uniform field, a spin-wave theory analysis of the uniform plus staggered field problem, exact amplitudes for the scaling of gap, staggered susceptibility and staggered magnetization with field or temperature, intensities of soliton and breather peaks in the structure function and field and temperature dependence of the total susceptibility.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1999

Theory of Low Temperature Electron Spin Resonance in Half-integer Spin Antiferromagnetic Chains

A theory of low temperature (T) electron spin resonance (ESR) in half-integer spin antiferromagnetic chains is developed using field theory methods and avoiding previous approximations. It is compared to experiments on Cu benzoate. Power laws are predicted for the line-width broadening due to various types of anisotropy. At T -> 0, zero width absorption peaks occur in some cases. The second ESR peak in Cu benzoate, observed at T<.76K, is argued not to indicate Neel order as previously claimed, but to correspond to a sine-Gordon "breather" excitation.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1998

Finite-size scaling for the S=1/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnetic Chain

Corrections to the asymptotic correlation function in a Heisenberg spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic spin chain are known to vanish slowly (logarithmically) as a function of the distance r or the chain size L. This leads to significant differences with numerical results. We calculate the sub-leading logarithmic corrections to the finite-size correlation function, using renormalization group improved perturbation theory, and compare the result with numerical data.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1998

Magnon Wave-function and Impurity Effects in S=1 Antiferromagnetic Chains: A Large-n Approach

A large-n approximation to the S=1 antiferromagnetic chain, using the symmetric tensor representation and its conjugate, is developed to order 1/n in order to calculate the magnon wave-function and to study the effect of modifying the exchange coupling from J to J' on a single link. It is shown that a magnon boundstate exists below the Haldane gap for arbitrarily small negative J'-J but only above a certain critical value of J'-J for positive values. In the former case the binding energy vanishes as the square of (J-J').

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv1998

Low Temperature Behavior of the Vortex Lattice in Unconventional Superconductors

We study the effect of the superconducting gap nodes on the vortex lattice properties of high temperature superconductors at very low temperatures. The nonlinear, nonlocal and nonanalytic nature of this effect is shown to have measurable consequences for the vortex lattice geometry and the effective penetration depth in the mixed state as measured by muon-spin-rotation experiments.

cond-mat.supr-con↗