arXiv subjects

J. L. Garcia-Palacios

Publications and source records attributed to J. L. Garcia-Palacios.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2009

Equilibrium susceptibilities of superparamagnets: longitudinal & transverse, quantum & classical

The equilibrium susceptibility of uniaxial paramagnets is studied in a unified framework which permits to connect traditional results of the theory of quantum paramagnets, $\Sm=1/2, 1, 3/2$, ..., with molecular magnetic clusters, $\Sm\sim5, 10, 20$, all the way up, $\Sm=30, 50, 100$,... to the theory of classical superparamagnets. This is done using standard tools of quantum statistical mechanics and linear response theory (the Kubo correlator formalism). Several features of the temperature dependence of the susceptibility curves (crossovers, peaks, deviations from Curie law) are studied and their scalings with $\Sm$ identified and characterized. Both the longitudinal and transverse susceptibilities are discussed, as well as the response of the ensemble with anisotropy axes oriented at random. For the latter case a simple approximate formula is derived too, and its range of validity assessed, so it could be used in modelization of experiments.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2009

On the Statics and Dynamics of Magneto-Anisotropic Nanoparticles

Sec I - Introduction Sec II - Equilibrium properties: generalities and methodology Sec III - Equilibrium properties: some important quantities Sec IV - Dynamical properties: heuristic approach Sec V - Dynamical properties: stochastic approach Sec VI - Foundation of the stochastic dynamical equations Sec VII - Summary and conclusions Appendices References

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Introduction to the theory of stochastic processes and Brownian motion problems

These notes are an introduction to the theory of stochastic processes based on several sources. The presentation mainly follows the books of van Kampen and Wio, except for the introduction, which is taken from the book of Gardiner and the parts devoted to the Langevin equation and the methods for solving Langevin and Fokker-Planck equations, which are based on the book of Risken.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2006

Solving spin quantum-master equations with matrix continued-fraction methods: application to superparamagnets

We implement continued-fraction techniques to solve exactly quantum master equations for a spin with arbitrary S coupled to a (bosonic) thermal bath. The full spin density matrix is obtained, so that along with relaxation and thermoactivation, coherent dynamics is included (precession, tunnel, etc.). The method is applied to study isotropic spins and spins in a bistable anisotropy potential (superparamagnets). We present examples of static response, the dynamical susceptibility including the contribution of the different relaxation modes, and of spin resonance in transverse fields.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2006

Non-linear response of single-molecule magnets: field-tuned quantum-to-classical crossovers

Quantum nanomagnets can show a field dependence of the relaxation time very different from their classical counterparts, due to resonant tunneling via excited states (near the anisotropy barrier top). The relaxation time then shows minima at the resonant fields H_{n}=n D at which the levels at both sides of the barrier become degenerate (D is the anisotropy constant). We showed that in Mn12, near zero field, this yields a contribution to the nonlinear susceptibility that makes it qualitatively different from the classical curves [Phys. Rev. B 72, 224433 (2005)]. Here we extend the experimental study to finite dc fields showing how the bias can trigger the system to display those quantum nonlinear responses, near the resonant fields, while recovering an classical-like behaviour for fields between them. The analysis of the experiments is done with heuristic expressions derived from simple balance equations and calculations with a Pauli-type quantum master equation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Perturbative continued-fraction method for weakly interacting Brownian spins and dipoles

The continued-fraction method was developed systematically by Risken and co-workers to solve problems of arbitrary fluctuations in nonlinear systems. However, this efficient technique is limited to problems with a few variables, which in practice means systems of noninteracting entities (particles, spins, etc.) We illustrate how to extend the continued-fraction method to weakly coupled systems with the problem of relaxation in classical spins.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

Spin dynamics in a dissipative environment: from quantal to classical

We address the problem of spin dynamics in the presence of a thermal bath, by solving exactly the appropriate quantum master equations with continued-fraction methods. The crossover region between the quantum and classical domains is studied by increasing the spin value S, and the asymptote for the classical absorption spectra is eventually recovered. Along with the recognized relevance of the coupling strength, we show the critical role played by the structure of the system-environment interaction in the emergence of classical phenomenology.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Quantum Ratchets at High Temperatures

Using the continued-fraction method we solve the Caldeira-Leggett master equation in the phase-space (Wigner) representation to study Quantum ratchets. Broken spatial symmetry, irreversibility and periodic forcing allows for a net current in these systems. We calculate this current as a function of the force under adiabatic conditions. Starting from the classical limit we make the system quantal. In the quantum regime tunnel events and over-barrier wave reflection phenomena modify the classical result. Finally, using the phase-space formalism we give some insights about the decoherence in these systems.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Large quantum nonlinear dynamic susceptibility of single-molecule magnets

The nonlinear dynamical response of Mn$_{12}$ single-molecule magnets is experimentally found to be very large, quite insensitive to the spin-lattice coupling constant, and displaying peaks reversed with respect to classical superparamagnets. It is shown that these features are caused by the strong field dependence of the relaxation rate due to the detuning of energy levels between which tunneling takes place. The nonlinear susceptibility technique, previously overlooked, is thus proposed as a privileged probe to ascertain the occurrence of quantum effects in mesoscopic magnetic systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Caldeira--Leggett quantum master equation in Wigner phase space: continued-fraction solution and application to Brownian motion in periodic potentials

The continued-fraction method to solve classical Fokker--Planck equations has been adapted to tackle quantum master equations of the Caldeira--Leggett type. This can be done taking advantage of the phase-space (Wigner) representation of the quantum density matrix. The approach differs from those in which some continued-fraction expression is found for a certain quantity, in that the full solution of the master equation is obtained by continued-fraction methods. This allows to study in detail the effects of the environment (fluctuations and dissipation) on several classes of nonlinear quantum systems. We apply the method to the canonical problem of quantum Brownian motion in periodic potentials both for cosine and ratchet potentials (lacking inversion symmetry).

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2004

Solving quantum master equations in phase space by continued-fraction methods

Inspired on the continued-fraction technique to solve the classical Fokker--Planck equation, we develop continued-fraction methods to solve quantum master equations in phase space (Wigner representation of the density matrix). The approach allows to study several classes of nonlinear quantum systems subjected to environmental effects (fluctuations and dissipation), with the only limitations that the starting master equations may have. We illustrate the method with the canonical problem of quantum Brownian motion in periodic potentials.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2004

Nonlinear response of superparamagnets with finite damping: an analytical approach

The strongly damping-dependent nonlinear dynamical response of classical superparamagnets is investigated by means of an analytical approach. Using rigorous balance equations for the spin occupation numbers a simple approximate expression is derived for the nonlinear susceptibility. The results are in good agreement with those obtained from the exact (continued-fraction) solution of the Fokker-Planck equation. The formula obtained could be of assistance in the modelling of the experimental data and the determination of the damping coefficient in superparamagnets.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2001

Thermodynamic perturbation theory for dipolar superparamagnets

Thermodynamic perturbation theory is employed to derive analytical expressions for the equilibrium linear susceptibility and specific heat of lattices of anisotropic classical spins weakly coupled by the dipole-dipole interaction. The calculation is carried out to the second order in the coupling constant over the temperature, while the single-spin anisotropy is treated exactly. The temperature range of applicability of the results is, for weak anisotropy (A/kT << 1), similar to that of ordinary high-temperature expansions, but for moderately and strongly anisotropic spins (A/kT > 1) it can extend down to the temperatures where the superparamagnetic blocking takes place (A/kT \sim 25), provided only the interaction strength is weak enough. Besides, taking exactly the anisotropy into account, the results describe as particular cases the effects of the interactions on isotropic (A = 0) as well as strongly anisotropic (A \to \infty) systems (discrete orientation model and plane rotators).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2001

Relaxation time of weakly interacting superparamagnets

The relaxation time of weakly interacting classical spins is calculated by introducing the averages of the local dipolar field, obtained by thermodynamic perturbation theory, in a rigorous expression for the single-spin thermoactivation rate in a weak but arbitrarily oriented field. At low temperatures the non-trivial dependence of the superparamagnetic blocking on the damping coefficient, numerically found by Berkov and Gorn, is reproduced by our model and interpreted in terms of the deviations from uniaxial anisotropy associated to the transversal component of the dipolar field acting on each spin.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗