arXiv subjects

J. Richter

Publications and source records attributed to J. Richter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Thermodynamics of the kagome-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet with arbitrary spin $S$

We use a second-order rotational invariant Green's function method (RGM) and the high-temperature expansion (HTE) to calculate the thermodynamic properties, of the kagome-lattice spin-$S$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet with nearest-neighbor exchange $J$. While the HTE yields accurate results down to temperatures of about $T/S(S+1) \sim J$, the RGM provides data for arbitrary $T \ge 0$. For the ground state we use the RGM data to analyze the $S$-dependence of the excitation spectrum, the excitation velocity, the uniform susceptibility, the spin-spin correlation functions, the correlation length, and the structure factor. We found that the so-called $\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}$ ordering is more pronounced than the $q=0$ ordering for all values of $S$. In the extreme quantum case $S=1/2$ the zero-temperature correlation length is only of the order of the nearest-neighbor separation. Then we study the temperature dependence of several physical quantities for spin quantum numbers $S=1/2,1,\dots,7/2$. As increasing $S$ the typical maximum in the specific heat and in the uniform susceptibility are shifted towards lower values of $T/S(S+1)$ and the height of the maximum is growing. The structure factor ${\cal S}(\mathbf{q})$ exhibits two maxima at magnetic wave vectors $\mathbf{q}={\mathbf{Q}_i}, i=0,1,$ corresponding to the $q=0$ and $\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}$ state. We find that the $\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}$ short-range order is more pronounced than the $q=0$ short-range order for all temperatures $T \ge 0$. For the spin-spin correlation functions, the correlation lengths and the structure factors, we find a finite low-temperature region $0 \le T < T^*\approx a/S(S+1)$, $a \approx 0.2$, where these quantities are almost independent of $T$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Enhanced magnetocaloric effect in a proximity of magnetization steps and jumps of spin-1/2 XXZ Heisenberg regular polyhedra

The magnetization process and adiabatic demagnetization of the antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 XXZ Heisenberg clusters with the shape of regular polyhedra (tetrahedron, octahedron, cube, icosahedron and dodecahedron) are examined using the exact diagonalization method. It is demonstrated that a quantum (xy) part of the XXZ exchange interaction is a primary cause for presence of additional intermediate magnetization plateaux and steps, which are totally absent in the limiting Ising case. The only exception to this rule is the spin-1/2 XXZ Heisenberg tetrahedron, which shows just a quantitative shift of the level-crossing fields related to two magnetization steps. It is evidenced that the spin-1/2 XXZ Heisenberg regular polyhedra exhibit an enhanced magnetocaloric effect in a proximity of the magnetization steps and jumps, which are accompanied with a rapid drop (rise) of temperature just above (below) of the level-crossing field when the magnetic field is removed adiabatically.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2017

Thermodynamics of frustrated ferromagnetic spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg chains: The role of inter-chain coupling

The thermodynamics of coupled frustrated ferromagnetic chains is studied within a spin-rotation-invariant Green's function approach. We consider an isotropic Heisenberg spin-half system with a ferromagnetic in-chain coupling $J_1<0$ between nearest neighbors and a frustrating antiferromagnetic next-nearest neighbor in-chain coupling $J_2>0$. We focus on moderate strength of frustration $J_2 < |J_1|/4$ such that the in-chain spin-spin correlations are predominantly ferromagnetic. We consider two inter-chain couplings (ICs) $J_{\perp,y}$ and $J_{\perp,z}$, corresponding to the two axis perpendicular to the chain, where ferromagnetic as well as antiferromagnetic ICs are taken into account. We discuss the influence of frustration on the ground-state properties for antiferromagnetic ICs, where the ground state is of quantum nature. The major part of our study is devoted to the finite-temperature properties. We calculate the critical temperature $T_{c}$ as a function of the competing exchange couplings $J_{2},J_{\perp,y}, J_{\perp,z}$. We find that for fixed ICs $T_c$ monotonically decreases with increasing frustration $J_2$, where as $J_2 \to |J_1|/4$ the $T_c(J_2)$-curve drops down rapidly. To characterize the magnetic ordering below and above $T_c$ we calculate the spin-spin correlation functions $\langle {\bf S}_0 {\bf S}_{\bf R} \rangle$, the magnetic order parameter $M$, the uniform static susceptibility $χ_0$ as well as the correlation length $ξ$. Moreover, we discuss the specific heat $C_V$ and the temperature dependence of the excitation spectrum $ω_{\mathbf{q}}$. As $J_2 \to |J_1|/4$ some unusual frustration-induced features were found, such as an increase of the in-chain spin stiffness (in case of ferromagnetic ICs) or of the in-chain spin-wave velocity (in case of antiferromagnetic ICs) with growing temperature.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Evidence for a magnetic field-induced unconventional nematic state in the frustrated and anisotropic spin-chain cuprate LiCuSbO$_4$

Modern theories of quantum magnetism predict exotic multipolar states in weakly interacting strongly frustrated spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains with ferromagnetic nearest neighbor (NN) inchain exchange in high magnetic fields. Experimentally these states remained elusive so far. Here we report the evidence for a long-sought magnetic field-induced nematic state arising above a field of $\sim 13$ T in the edge-sharing chain cuprate LiSbCuO$_4$ $\equiv$ LiCuSbO$_4$. This interpretation is based on the observation of a field induced spin-gap in the measurements of the $^7$Li NMR spin relaxation rate $T_1^{-1}$ as well as a contrasting field-dependent power-law behavior of $T_1^{-1}$ vs. $T$ and is further supported by static magnetization and ESR data. An underlying theoretical microscopic approach favoring a nematic scenario is based essentially on the NN XYZ exchange anisotropy within a model for frustrated spin-1/2 chains. It is investigated by the DMRG technique. The employed exchange parameters are justified qualitatively by electronic structure calculations for LiCuSbO$_4$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Quantum magnetism in two dimensions: From semi-classical Néel order to magnetic disorder

This is a review of ground-state features of the s=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on two-dimensional lattices. A central issue is the interplay of lattice topology (e.g. coordination number, non-equivalent nearest-neighbor bonds, geometric frustration) and quantum fluctuations and their impact on possible long-range order. This article presents a unified summary of all 11 two-dimensional uniform Archimedean lattices which include e.g. the square, triangular and kagome lattice. We find that the ground state of the spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet is likely to be semi-classically ordered in most cases. However, the interplay of geometric frustration and quantum fluctuations gives rise to a quantum paramagnetic ground state without semi-classical long-range order on two lattices which are precisely those among the 11 uniform Archimedean lattices with a highly degenerate ground state in the classical limit. The first one is the famous kagome lattice where many low-lying singlet excitations are known to arise in the spin gap. The second lattice is called star lattice and has a clear gap to all excitations. Modification of certain bonds leads to quantum phase transitions which are also discussed briefly. Furthermore, we discuss the magnetization process of the Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the 11 Archimedean lattices, focusing on anomalies like plateaus and a magnetization jump just below the saturation field. As an illustration we discuss the two-dimensional Shastry-Sutherland model which is used to describe SrCu2(BO3)2.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Magnetic behavior of volborthite Cu3V2O7(OH)2(H2O)2 determined by coupled trimers rather than frustrated chains

Motivated by recent experiments on volborthite single crystals showing a wide 1/3-magnetization plateau, we perform microscopic modeling by means of density functional theory (DFT) with the single-crystal structural data as a starting point. Using DFT+U, we find four leading magnetic exchanges: antiferromagnetic J and J2, as well as ferromagnetic J' and J1. Simulations of the derived spin Hamiltonian show good agreement with the experimental low-field magnetic susceptibility and high-field magnetization data. The 1/3-plateau phase pertains to polarized magnetic trimers formed by strong J bonds. An effective J$\rightarrow\infty$ model shows a tendency towards condensation of magnon bound states preceding the plateau phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

MICADO: first light imager for the E-ELT

MICADO will equip the E-ELT with a first light capability for diffraction limited imaging at near-infrared wavelengths. The instrument's observing modes focus on various flavours of imaging, including astrometric, high contrast, and time resolved. There is also a single object spectroscopic mode optimised for wavelength coverage at moderately high resolution. This contribution provides an overview of the key functionality of the instrument, outlining the scientific rationale for its observing modes. The interface between MICADO and the adaptive optics system MAORY that feeds it is summarised. The design of the instrument is discussed, focussing on the optics and mechanisms inside the cryostat, together with a brief overview of the other key sub-systems.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2016

Ground-State Ordering of the $J_1$--$J_2$ Model on the Simple Cubic and Body-Centered Cubic Lattices

The $J_1$--$J_2$ Heisenberg model is a "canonical" model in the field of quantum magnetism in order to study the interplay between frustration and quantum fluctuations as well as quantum phase transitions driven by frustration. Here we apply the Coupled Cluster Method (CCM) to study the spin-half $J_1$--$J_2$ model with antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor bonds $J_1 >0$ and next-nearest-neighbor bonds $J_2 >0$ for the simple cubic (SC) and body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices. In particular, we wish to study the ground-state ordering of these systems as a function of the frustration parameter $p=z_2J_2/z_1J_1$, where $z_1$ ($z_2$) is the number of nearest (next-nearest) neighbors. We wish to determine the positions of the phase transitions using the CCM and we aim to resolve the nature of the phase transition points. We consider the ground-state energy, order parameters, spin-spin correlation functions as well as the spin stiffness in order to determine the ground-state phase diagrams of these models. We find a direct first-order phase transition at a value of $p = 0.528$ from a state of nearest-neighbor Néel order to next-nearest-neighbor Néel order for the BCC lattice. For the SC lattice the situation is more subtle. CCM results for the energy, the order parameter, the spin-spin correlation functions and the spin stiffness indicate that there is no direct first-order transition between ground-state phases with magnetic long-range order, rather it is more likely that two phases with antiferromagnetic long-range are separated by a narrow region of a spin-liquid like quantum phase around $p=0.55$. Thus the strong frustration present in the $J_1$--$J_2$ Heisenberg model on the SC lattice may open a window for an unconventional quantum ground state in this three-dimensional spin model.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Lieb-Mattis ferrimagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors

We show the possibility of long-range ferrimagnetic ordering with a saturation magnetisation of the order of 1 Bohr magneton per spin for arbitrarily low concentration of magnetic impurities in semiconductors, provided that the impurities form a superstructure satisfying the conditions of the Lieb-Mattis theorem. Explicit examples of such superstructures are given for the wurtzite lattice, and the temperature of ferrimagnetic transition is estimated from a high-temperature expansion. Exact diagonalization studies show that small fragments of the structure exhibit enhanced magnetic response and isotropic superparamagnetism at low temperatures. A quantum transition in a high magnetic field is considered and similar superstructures in cubic semiconductors are discussed as well.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb lattice: Spin gap and low-energy parameters

We use the coupled cluster method implemented to high orders of approximation to investigate the frustrated spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ $J_{1}$--$J_{2}$--$J_{3}$ antiferromagnet on the honeycomb lattice with isotropic Heisenberg interactions of strength $J_{1} > 0$ between nearest-neighbor pairs, $J_{2}>0$ between next-nearest-neighbor pairs, and $J_{3}>0$ between next-next-neareast-neighbor pairs of spins. In particular, we study both the ground-state (GS) and lowest-lying triplet excited-state properties in the case $J_{3}=J_{2} \equiv κJ_{1}$, in the window $0 \leq κ\leq 1$ of the frustration parameter, which includes the (tricritical) point of maximum classical frustration at $κ_{\rm cl} = \frac{1}{2}$. We present GS results for the spin stiffness, $ρ_{s}$, and the zero-field uniform magnetic susceptibility, $χ$, which complement our earlier results for the GS energy per spin, $E/N$, and staggered magnetization, $M$, to yield a complete set of accurate low-energy parameters for the model. Our results all point towards a phase diagram containing two quasiclassical antiferromagnetic phases, one with Néel order for $κ< κ_{c_{1}}$, and the other with collinear striped order for $κ> κ_{c_{2}}$. The results for both $χ$ and the spin gap $Δ$ provide compelling evidence for a quantum paramagnetic phase that is gapped over a considerable portion of the intermediate region $κ_{c_{1}} < κ< κ_{c_{2}}$, especially close to the two quantum critical points at $κ_{c_{1}}$ and $κ_{c_{2}}$. Each of our fully independent sets of results for the low-energy parameters is consistent with the values $κ_{c_{1}} = 0.45 \pm 0.02$ and $κ_{c_{2}} = 0.60 \pm 0.02$, and with the transition at $κ_{c_{1}}$ being of continuous (and probably of the deconfined) type and that at $κ_{c_{2}}$ being of first-order type.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Ground-state properties of the triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet with arbitrary spin quantum number $s$

We apply the coupled cluster method to high orders of approximation and exact diagonalizations to study the ground-state properties of the triangular-lattice spin-$s$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet. We calculate the fundamental ground-state quantities, namely, the energy $e_0$, the sublattice magnetization $M_{\rm sub}$, the in-plane spin stiffness $ρ_s$ and the in-plane magnetic susceptibility $χ$ for spin quantum numbers $s=1/2, 1, \ldots, s_{\rm max}$, where $s_{\rm max}=9/2$ for $e_0$ and $M_{\rm sub}$, $s_{\rm max}=4$ for $ρ_s$ and $s_{\rm max}=3$ for $χ$. We use the data for $s \ge 3/2$ to estimate the leading quantum corrections to the classical values of $e_0$, $M_{\rm sub}$, $ρ_s$, and $χ$. In addition, we study the magnetization process, the width of the 1/3 plateau as well as the sublattice magnetizations in the plateau state as a function of the spin quantum number $s$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Thermodynamics of the frustrated $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg ferromagnet on the body-centered cubic lattice with arbitrary spin

We use the spin-rotation-invariant Green's function method as well as the high-temperature expansion to discuss the thermodynamic properties of the frustrated spin-$S$ $J_{1}$-$J_{2}$ Heisenberg magnet on the body-centered cubic lattice. We consider ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor bonds $J_1 < 0$ and antiferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor bonds $J_2 \ge 0$ and arbitrary spin $S$. We find that the transition point $J_2^c$ between the ferromagnetic ground state and the antiferromagnetic one is nearly independent of the spin $S$, i.e., it is very close to the classical transition point $J_2^{c,{\rm clas}}= \frac{2}{3}|J_1|$. At finite temperatures we focus on the parameter regime $J_2<J_2^c$ with a ferromagnetic ground-state. We calculate the Curie temperature $T_{C}(S,J_{2})$ and derive an empirical formula describing the influence of the frustration parameter $J_{2}$ and spin $S$ on $T_C$. We find that the Curie temperature monotonically decreases with increasing frustration $J_2$, where very close to $J_2^{c,{\rm clas}}$ the $T_C(J_2)$-curve exhibits a fast decay which is well described by a logarithmic term $1/\textrm{log}(\frac{2}{3}|J_1|-J_{2})$. To characterize the magnetic ordering below and above $T_C$, we calculate the spin-spin correlation functions $\langle {\bf S}_{\bf 0} {\bf S}_{\bf R} \rangle$, the spontaneous magnetization, the uniform static susceptibility $χ_0$ as well as the correlation length $ξ$. Moreover, we discuss the specific heat $C_V$ and the temperature dependence of the excitation spectrum. As approaching the transition point $J_2^c$ some unusual features were found, such as negative spin-spin correlations at temperatures above $T_C$ even though the ground state is ferromagnetic or an increase of the spin stiffness with growing temperature.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2015

The ground-state phase diagram of the XXZ spin-s kagome antiferromagnet: A coupled-cluster study

We use the coupled cluster method to high orders of approximation in order to calculate the ground-state phase diagram of the XXZ spin-$s$ kagome antiferromagnet with easy-plane anisotropy, i.e. the anisotropy parameter $Δ$ varies between $Δ=1$ (isotropic Heisenberg model) and $Δ=0$ ($XY$ model). We find that for the extreme quantum case $s=1/2$ the ground state is magnetically disordered in the entire region $0 \le Δ\le 1$. For $s=1$ the ground state is disordered for $0.818 < Δ\le 1$, it exhibits $\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}$ magnetic long-range order for $0.281 < Δ<0.818$, and $q=0$ magnetic long-range order for $0 \le Δ< 0.281$. We confirm the recent result of Chernyshev and Zhitomirsky (Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 237202 (2014)) that the selection of the ground state by quantum fluctuations is different for small $Δ$ ($XY$ limit) and for $Δ$ close to one (Heisenberg limit), i.e., $q=0$ magnetic order is favored over $\sqrt{3}\times\sqrt{3}$ for $0\le Δ<Δ_c$ and vice versa for $Δ_c < Δ\le 1$. We calculate $Δ_c$ as a function of the spin quantum number $s$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

The spin-1/2 square-lattice J_1-J_2 model: The spin-gap issue

We use the coupled cluster method to high orders of approximation in order to calculate the ground-state energy, the ground-state magnetic order parameter, and the spin gap of the spin-1/2 J_1-J_2 model on the square lattice. We obtain values for the transition points to the magnetically disordered quantum paramagnetic phase of J_2^{c1}=0.454J_1 and J_2^{c2}= 0.588 J_1. The spin gap is zero in the entire parameter region accessible by our approach, i.e. for J_2 \le 0.49J_1 and J_2 > 0.58J_1. This finding is in favor of a gapless spin-liquid ground state in this parameter regime.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Microscopic magnetic modeling for the $S$=1/2 alternating chain compounds Na$_3$Cu$_2$SbO$_6$ and Na$_2$Cu$_2$TeO$_6$

The spin-1/2 alternating Heisenberg chain system Na$_3$Cu$_2$SbO$_6$ features two relevant exchange couplings: $J_{1a}$ within the structural Cu$_2$O$_6$ dimers and $J_{1b}$ between the dimers. Motivated by the controversially discussed nature of $J_{1a}$, we perform extensive density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations, including DFT+$U$ and hybrid functionals. Fits to the experimental magnetic susceptibility using high-temperature series expansions and quantum Monte Carlo simulations yield the optimal parameters $J_{1a}$ = $-$217 K and $J_{1b}$ = 174 K with the alternation ratio $α= J_{1a}/J_{1b} \simeq$ $-$1.25. For the closely related system Na$_2$Cu$_2$TeO$_6$, DFT yields substantially enhanced $J_{1b}$, but weaker $J_{1a}$. The comparative analysis renders the buckling of the chains as the key parameter altering the magnetic coupling regime. Numerical simulation of the dispersion relations of the alternating chain model clarify why both antiferromagnetic and ferrromagnetic $J_{1a}$ can reproduce the experimental magnetic susceptibility data.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Geometrical origin of ferrimagnetism and superparamagnetism in Fe-based double perovskite multiferroics

We show that a superstructure of antiferromagnetically interacting Fe$^{3+}$ ($S=5/2$) ions in double perovskites AFe$_{1/2}$M$_{1/2}$O$_{3}$ exhibits a ferrimagnetic ordering below $T_{fe} \approx 5.6J_1$ ($J_1/k_B \sim 50$~K), which is close to room temperature. Small clusters of the same structure exhibit a superparamagnetic behavior at $T \lesssim T_{fe}$. The possibility of formation of such clusters explains the room-temperature (superpara)magnetism in 3$d$-metal based oxides.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Delta chain with ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions at the critical point

We investigate the spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on the delta chain (sawtooth chain) with ferromagnetic nearest-neighbor and antiferromagnetic next-neighbor interactions. For a special ratio between these interactions there is a class of exact ground states formed by localized magnons and the ground state is macroscopically degenerate with a large residual entropy per spin $s_0=\frac{1}{2}\ln 2$. An important feature of this model is a sharp decrease of the gaps for excited states with an increase of the number of magnons. These excitations give an essential contribution to the low-temperature thermodynamics. The behavior of the considered model is compared with that of the delta chain with both antiferromagnetic interactions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Magnetic susceptibility of frustrated spin-s J1-J2 quantum Heisenberg magnets: High-temperature expansion and exact diagonalization data

Motivated by recent experiments on low-dimensional frustrated quantum magnets with competing nearest-neighbor exchange coupling J1 and next nearest-neighbor exchange coupling J2 we investigate the magnetic susceptibility of two-dimensional J1-J2 Heisenberg models with arbitrary spin quantum number s. We use exact diagonalization and high-temperature expansion up to order 10 to analyze the influence of the frustration strength J2/J1 and the spin quantum number s on the position and the height of the maximum of the susceptibility. The derived theoretical data can be used to get information on the ratio J2/J1 by comparing with susceptibility measurements on corresponding magnetic compounds.

cond-mat.str-el↗