arXiv subjects

K. I. Kugel

Publications and source records attributed to K. I. Kugel.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Anomalous multi-order Raman scattering in LaMnO_3: a signature of a quantum lattice effect in a Jahn-Teller crystal

The multi-order Raman scattering is studied up to a fourth order for a detwinned LaMnO_3 crystal. Based on a comprehensive data analysis of the polarisation-dependent Raman spectra, we show that the anomalous features in the multi-order scattering could be the sidebands on the low-energy mode at about 25 cm-1. We suggest that this low-energy mode stems from the tunneling transition between the potential energy minima arising near the Jahn-Teller Mn3+ ion due to the lattice anharmonicity, and the multi-order scattering is activated by this low-energy electronic motion. The sidebands are dominated by the oxygen contribution to the phonon density-of-states, however, there is an admixture of an additional component, which may arise from coupling between the low-energy electronic motion and the vibrational modes.

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arXiv2014

Effect of Eu doping and partial oxygen isotope substitution on magnetic phase transitions in (Pr$_{1-y}$Eu$_y$)$_{0.7}$Ca$_{0.3}$CoO$_3$ cobaltites

We study experimentally and theoretically the effect of Eu doping and partial oxygen isotope substitution on the transport and magnetic characteristics and spin-state transitions in (Pr$_{1-y}$Eu$_y$)$_{0.7}$Ca$_{0.3}$CoO$_3$ cobaltites. The Eu doping level $y$ is chosen in the range of the phase diagram near the crossover between the ferromagnetic and spin-state transitions ($0.10 < y < 0.20$). We prepared a series of samples with different degrees of enrichment by the heavy oxygen isotope $^{18}$O, namely, containing 90%, 67%, 43%, 17%, and 0% of $^{18}$O. Based on the measurements of ac magnetic susceptibility $χ(T)$ and electrical resistivity $ρ(T)$, we analyze the evolution of the sample properties with the change of Eu and $^{18}$O content. It is demonstrated that the effect of increasing $^{18}$O content on the system is similar to that of increasing the Eu content. The band structure calculations of the energy gap between $t_{2g}$ and $e_g$ bands including the renormalization of this gap due to the electron-phonon interaction reveal the physical mechanisms underlying such similarity.

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arXiv2013

Strongly anisotropic Dirac quasiparticles in irradiated graphene

We study quasiparticle dynamics in graphene exposed to a linearly-polarized electromagnetic wave of very large intensity. Low-energy transport in such system can be described by an effective time-independent Hamiltonian, characterized by multiple Dirac points in the first Brillouin zone. Around each Dirac point the spectrum is anisotropic: the velocity along the polarization of the radiation significantly exceeds the velocity in the perpendicular direction. Moreover, in some of the points the transverse velocity oscillates as a function of the radiation intensity. We find that the conductance of a graphene p-n junction in the regime of strong irradiation depends on the polarization as $G(θ)\propto|\sinθ|^{3/2}$, where $θ$ is the angle between the polarization and the p-n interface, and oscillates as a function of the radiation intensity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Electronic phase separation in iron pnictides

A mechanism for electronic phase separation in iron pnictides is proposed. It is based on the competition between commensurate and incommensurate spin-density-wave phases in a system with an imperfect doping-dependent nesting of a multi-sheeted Fermi surface. We model the Fermi surface by two elliptical electron pockets and three circular hole pockets. The interaction between a charge carrier in a hole band and a carrier in an electron band leads to the formation of spin-density-wave order. The commensurate spin density wave in the parent compound transforms to the incommensurate phase when doping is introduced. We show that, for certain parameter values, the uniform state is unstable with respect to phase separation. The resulting inhomogeneous state consists of regions of commensurate and incommensurate spin-density-wave phases. Our results are in qualitative agreement with recent observations of incommensurate spin density waves and electronic inhomogeneity in iron pnictides.

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arXiv2013

Formation of metallic magnetic clusters in a Kondo-lattice metal: Evidence from an optical study

Magnetic materials are usually divided into two classes: those with localised magnetic moments, and those with itinerant charge carriers. We present a comprehensive experimental (spectroscopic ellipsomerty) and theoretical study to demonstrate that these two types of magnetism do not only coexist but complement each other in the Kondo-lattice metal, Tb2PdSi3. In this material the itinerant charge carriers interact with large localised magnetic moments of Tb(4f) states, forming complex magnetic lattices at low temperatures, which we associate with self-organisation of magnetic clusters. The formation of magnetic clusters results in low-energy optical spectral weight shifts, which correspond to opening of the pseudogap in the conduction band of the itinerant charge carriers and development of the low- and high-spin intersite electronic transitions. This phenomenon, driven by self-trapping of electrons by magnetic fluctuations, could be common in correlated metals, including besides Kondo-lattice metals, Fe-based and cuprate superconductors.

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arXiv2012

Noise studies of magnetization dynamics in dilute magnetic semiconductor heterostructures

We study theoretically and experimentally the frequency and temperature dependence of resistivity noise in semiconductor heterostructures delta-doped by Mn. The resistivity noise is observed to be non-monotonous as a function of frequency. As a function of temperature, the noise increases by two orders of magnitude for a resistivity increase of about 50%. We study two possible sources of resistivity noise -- dynamic spin fluctuations and charge fluctuations, and find that dynamic spin fluctuations are more relevant for the observed noise data. The frequency and temperature dependence of resistivity noise provide important information on the nature of the magnetic interactions. In particular, we show how noise measurements can help resolve a long standing debate on whether the Mn-doped GaAs is an p-d Zener/RKKY or double exchange ferromagnet. Our analysis includes the effect of different kinds of disorder such as spin-glass type of interactions and a site-dilution type of disorder. We find that the resistivity noise in these structures is well described by a disordered RKKY ferromagnet model dynamics with a conserved order parameter.

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arXiv2010

Charge inhomogeneities and transport in semiconductor heterostructures with a manganese $δ$-layer

We study experimentally and theoretically the effects of disorder, nonlinear screening, and magnetism in semiconductor heterostructures containing a $δ$-layer of Mn, where the charge carriers are confined within a quantum well and hence both ferromagnetism and transport are two-dimensional (2D) and differ qualitatively from their bulk counterparts. Anomalies in the electrical resistance observed in both metallic and insulating structures can be interpreted as a signature of significant ferromagnetic correlations. The insulating samples turn out to be the most interesting as they can give us valuable insights into the mechanisms of ferromagnetism in these heterostructures. At low charge carrier densities, we show how the interplay of disorder and nonlinear screening can result in the organization of the carriers in the 2D transport channel into charge droplets separated by insulating barriers. Based on such a droplet picture and including the effect of magnetic correlations, we analyze the transport properties of this set of droplets, compare it with experimental data, and find a good agreement between the model calculations and experiment. Our analysis shows that the peak or shoulder-like features observed in temperature dependence of resistance of 2D heterostructures $δ$-doped by Mn lie significantly below the Curie temperature $T_{C}$ unlike the three-dimensional case, where it lies above and close to $T_{C}$. We also discuss the consequences of our description for understanding the mechanisms of ferromagnetism in the heterostructures under study.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Relationship between orbital structure and lattice distortions: CE phase of manganites, revisited

Analyzing the orbital structure and lattice distortions in the CE phase of half-doped manganites, we demonstrate that the usual approach directly relating the orbital occupation of Jahn-Teller ions to the displacements of neighboring ligands may be misleading. For the correct identification of orbital structure, it is necessary to take self-consistently into account the electron-lattice interactions, kinetic energy of charge carriers, and crystal-field effects. In certain situations, e.g. in the CE phase of single-layered manganite La$_{0.5}$Sr$_{1.5}$MnO$_4$, the type of orbital ordering strongly deviates from that, which one would deduce from the local lattice distortions.

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arXiv2010

Phase diagram and isotope effect in (PrEu)_0.7Ca_0.3CoO_3 cobaltites exhibiting spin-state transitions

We present the study of magnetization, thermal expansion, specific heat, resistivity, and a.c. susceptibility of (Pr$_{1-y}$Eu$_y$)$_{0.7}$Ca$_{0.3}$CoO$_3$ cobaltites. The measurements were performed on ceramic samples with $y = 0.12 - 0.26$ and $y = 1$. Based on these results, we construct the phase diagram, including magnetic and spin-state transitions. The transition from the low- to intermediate-spin state is observed for the samples with $y > 0.18$, whereas for a lower Eu-doping level, there are no spin-state transitions, but a crossover between the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states occurs. The effect of oxygen isotope substitution along with Eu doping on the magnetic/spin state is discussed. The oxygen-isotope substitution ($^{16}$O by $^{18}$O) is found to shift both the magnetic and spin-state phase boundaries to lower Eu concentrations. The isotope effect on the spin-state transition temperature ($y > 0.18$) is rather strong, but it is much weaker for the transition to a ferromagnetic state ($y < 0.18$). The ferromagnetic ordering in the low-Eu doped samples is shown to be promoted by the Co$^{4+}$ ions, which favor the formation of the intermediate-spin state of neighboring Co$^{3+}$ ions.

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arXiv2009

Effect of electron-lattice interaction on the phase separation in strongly correlated electron systems with two types of charge carriers

The effect of electron-lattice interaction is studied for a strongly correlated electron system described by the two-band Hubbard model. A two-fold effect of electron-lattice interaction is taken into account: in non-diagonal terms, it changes the effective bandwidth, whereas in diagonal terms, it shifts the positions of the bands and the chemical potential. It is shown that this interaction significantly affects the doping range corresponding to the electronic phase separation and can even lead to a jump-like transition between states with different values of strains.

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arXiv2009

Phase separation in doped systems with spin-state transitions

Spin-state transitions, observed in many transition metal compounds containing Co$^{3+}$ and Fe$^{2+}$, may occur with the change of temperature, pressure, but also with doping, in which case the competition of single-site effects and kinetic energy of doped carriers can favor a change in the spin state. We consider this situation in a simple model, formally resembling that used for manganites in Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 267210 (2005). Based on such a model, we predict the possibility of a jump-like change in the number of Co$^{3+}$ ions undergoing spin-state transition caused by hole doping. A tendency to the electronic phase separation within a wide doping range is demonstrated. Phase diagrams with the regions of phase separation are constructed at different values of the characteristic parameters of the model.

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arXiv2008

A model for the phase separation controlled by doping and the internal chemical pressure in different cuprate superconductors

In the framework of a two-band model, we study the phase separation regime of different kinds of strongly correlated charge carriers as a function of the energy splitting between the two sets of bands. The narrow (wide) band simulates the more localized (more delocalized) type of charge carriers. By assuming that the internal chemical pressure on the CuO$_2$ layer due to interlayer mismatch controls the energy splitting between the two sets of states, the theoretical predictions are able to reproduce the regime of phase separation at doping higher than 1/8 in the experimental pressure-doping-$T_c$ phase diagram of cuprates at large microstrain as it appears in overoxygenated La$_2$CuO$_4$.

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arXiv2008

Doped orbitally-ordered systems: another case of phase separation

A possible mechanism of electronic phase separation in the systems with orbital ordering is analyzed. We suggest a simple model taking into account an interplay between the delocalization of charge carriers introduced by doping and the cooperative ordering of local lattice distortions. The proposed mechanism is quite similar to the double exchange usually invoked for interpretation of phase separation in doped magnetic oxides like manganites, but can be efficient even in the absence of any magnetic ordering. It is demonstrated that the delocalized charge carriers favor the formation of nanoscale inhomogeneities with the orbital structure different from that in the undoped material. The directional character of orbitals leads to inhomogeneities of different shapes and sizes.

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arXiv2007

A mechanism for phase separation in copper oxide superconductors

A two-band Hubbard model is used to describe the band structure and phase separation (PS) in multiband superconductors, especially in cuprates. We predict a large peak in the density of states at the Fermi level in the case of optimum doping, corresponding to the minimum energy difference between the centers of two hole bands. For strong interband hybridization, a metal-insulator transition occurs near this optimum doping level. We suggest a mechanism of PS related to the redistribution of holes between two Hubbard bands rather than to the usual antiferromagnetic correlations. We show that the critical superconducting temperature $T_c$ can be about its maximum value within a wide range of doping levels due to PS.

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arXiv2007

Phase separation in a two-band model for strongly correlated electrons

The two-band Hubbard model is used to analyze a possibility of a non-uniform charge distribution in a strongly correlated electron system with two types of charge carriers. It is demonstrated that in the limit of strong on-site Coulomb repulsion, such a system has a tendency to phase separation into the regions with different charge densities even in the absence of magnetic or any other ordering. This tendency is especially pronounced if the ratio of the bandwidths is large enough. The characteristic size of inhomogeneities is estimated accounting for the surface energy and the electrostatic energy related to the charge imbalance.

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arXiv2007

Two-dimensional Ising model with competing interactions and its application to clusters and arrays of $π$-rings and adiabatic quantum computing

We study planar clusters consisting of loops including a Josephson $π$-junction ($π$-rings). Each $π$-ring carries a persistent current and behaves as a classical orbital moment. The type of particular state associated with the orientation of orbital moments at the cluster depends on the interaction between these orbital moments and can be easily controlled, i.e. by a bias current or by other means. We show that these systems can be described by the two-dimensional Ising model with competing nearest-neighbor and diagonal interactions and investigate the phase diagram of this model. The characteristic features of the model are analyzed based on the exact solutions for small clusters such as a 5-site square plaquette as well as on a mean-field type approach for the infinite square lattice of Ising spins. The results are compared with spin patterns obtained by Monte Carlo simulations for the 100 $\times$ 100 square lattice and with experiment. We show that the $π$-ring clusters may be used as a new type of superconducting memory elements. The obtained results may be verified in experiments and are applicable to adiabatic quantum computing where the states are switched adiabatically with the slow change of coupling constants.

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arXiv2006

Small-scale phase separation in doped anisotropic antiferromagnets

We analyze the possibility of the nanoscale phase separation manifesting itself in the formation of ferromagnetic (FM) polarons (FM droplets) in the general situation of doped anisotropic three- and two-dimensional antiferromagnets. In these cases, we calculate the shape of the most energetically favorable droplets. We show that the binding energy and the volume of a FM droplet in the three-dimensional (3D) case depend only upon two universal parameters $\bar{J} =(J_x + J_y + J_z)S^2$ and $t_{eff} =(t_xt_yt_z)^{1/3}$, where $\bar{J}$ and $t_{eff}$ are effective antiferromagnetic (AFM) exchange and hopping integrals, respectively. In the two-dimensional (2D) case, these parameters have the form $\bar{J} =(J_x + J_y)S^2$ and $t_{eff} =(t_xt_y)^{1/2}$. The most favorable shape of a ferromagnetic droplet corresponds to an ellipse in the 2D case and to an ellipsoid in the 3D case.

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arXiv2006

A new type of bound magnetic polaron state: the formation of long-range spin distortions

The structure of bound magnetic polarons in an antiferromagnetic matrix is studied in the framework of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) Kondo-lattice models in the double exchange limit (J_H >> t). The conduction electron is bound by a nonmagnetic donor impurity and forms a ferromagnetic core of the size about the electron localization length (bound magnetic polaron). We find that the magnetic polaron produces rather long-range extended spin distortions of the antiferromagnetic background around the core. In a wide range of distances, these distortions decay as 1/r^2 and 1/r^4 in 2D and 3D cases, respectively. In addition, the magnetization of the core is smaller than its saturation value. Such a magnetic polaron state is favorable in energy in comparison to usually considered one (saturated core without extended distortions).

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