arXiv subjects

Mona Berciu

Publications and source records attributed to Mona Berciu.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Holstein polaron: the effect of multiple phonon modes

We generalize the Momentum Average approximations MA$^{(0)}$ and MA$^{(1)}$ to study the effects of coupling to multiple optical phonons on the properties of a Holstein polaron. As for a single phonon mode, these approximations are numerically very efficient. They become exact for very weak or very strong couplings, and are highly accurate in the intermediate regimes, {\em e.g.} the spectral weights obey exactly the first six, respectively eight, sum rules. Our results show that the effect on ground-state properties is cumulative in nature. In particular, if the effective coupling to one mode is much larger than to the others, this mode effectively determines the GS properties. However, even very weak coupling to a second phonon mode has important non-perturbational effects on the higher energy spectrum, in particular on the dispersion and the phonon statistics of the polaron band.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Systematic improvement of the Momentum Average approximation for the Green's function of a Holstein polaron

We show how to systematically improve the Momentum Average (MA)approximation for the Green's function of a Holstein polaron, bysystematically improving the accuracy of the self-energy diagrams in such a way that they can still all be summed efficiently. This allows us to fix some of the problems of the MA approximation, e.g. we now find the expected polaron+phonon continuum at the correct location, and a momentum-dependent self-energy. The quantitative agreement with numerical data is further improved, as expected since the number of exactly satisfied spectral weight sum rules is increased. The corrections are found to be larger in lower dimensional systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

The Green's Function of the Holstein Polaron

We present a novel, highly efficient yet accurate analytical approximation for the Green's function of a Holstein polaron. It is obtained by summing all the self-energy diagrams, but with each self-energy diagram averaged over the momenta of its free propagators. The result becomes exact for both zero bandwidth and for zero electron-phonon coupling, and is accurate everywhere in the parameter space. The resulting Green's function satisfies exactly the first six spectral weight sum rules. All higher sum rules are satisfied with great accuracy, becoming asymptotically exact for coupling both much larger and much smaller than the free particle bandwidth. Comparison with existing numerical data also confirms this accuracy. We use this approximation to analyze in detail the redistribution of the spectral weight as the coupling strength varies.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

The effect of the Abrikosov vortex phase on spin and charge states in magnetic semiconductor-superconductor hybrids

We explore the possibility of using the inhomogeneous magnetic field carried by an Abrikosov vortex in a type-II superconductor to localize spin-polarized textures in a nearby magnetic semiconductor quantum well. We show how Zeeman-induced localization induced by a single vortex is indeed possible, and use these results to investigate the effect of a periodic vortex array on the transport properties of the magnetic semiconductor. In particular, we find an unconventional Integer Quantum Hall regime, and predict directly testable experimental consequences due to the presence of the periodic spin polarized structure induced by the superconducting vortex lattice in the magnetic semiconductor.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Green's function of a dressed particle

We present a new, highly efficient yet accurate approximation for the Green's functions of dressed particles, using the Holstein polaron as an example. Instead of summing a subclass of diagrams (e.g. the non-crossed ones, in the self-consistent Born approximation (SCBA)), we sum all the diagrams, but with each diagram averaged over its free propagators' momenta. The resulting Green's function satisfies exactly the first six spectral weight sum rules. All higher sum rules are satisfied with great accuracy, becoming asymptotically exact for coupling both much larger and much smaller than the free particle bandwidth. Possible generalizations to other models are also discussed.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Critical phenomena and quantum phase transition in long range Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chains

Antiferromagnetic Hamiltonians with short-range, non-frustrating interactions are well-known to exhibit long range magnetic order in dimensions, $d\geq 2$ but exhibit only quasi long range order, with power law decay of correlations, in d=1 (for half-integer spin). On the other hand, non-frustrating long range interactions can induce long range order in d=1. We study Hamiltonians in which the long range interactions have an adjustable amplitude lambda, as well as an adjustable power-law $1/|x|^α$, using a combination of quantum Monte Carlo and analytic methods: spin-wave, large-N non-linear sigma model, and renormalization group methods. We map out the phase diagram in the lambda-alpha plane and study the nature of the critical line separating the phases with long range and quasi long range order. We find that this corresponds to a novel line of critical points with continuously varying critical exponents and a dynamical exponent, z<1.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Manipulating spin and charge in magnetic semiconductors usingsuperconducting vortices

The continuous need for miniaturization and increase in device speed exerts pressureon the electronics industry to explore new avenues of information processing. One possibility is to use the spin to store, manipulate and carry information. Indeed,spintronics may hold the promise of providing such a new paradigm. However, all spintronics applications are faced with formidable challenges in attempting to find fastand efficient ways to create, transport, detect, control and manipulate spin textures and currents. Here we show how most of these operations can be performed in arelatively simple manner in a hybrid system consisting of a superconducting (SC) film and a paramagnetic diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) quantum well (QW). Ourproposal is based on the observation that the inhomogeneous magnetic fields of the SC create local spin and charge textures in the DMS, leading to effects such as Blochoscillations, an unusual Quantum Hall Effect, etc. We exploit the recent progress in manipulating magnetic flux bundles (vortices) in superconductors and show howthese can create, manipulate and control the spin textures in DMS.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Correlated mesoscopic fluctuations in integer quantum Hall transitions

We investigate the origin of the resistance fluctuations of mesoscopic samples, near transitions between Quantum Hall plateaus. These fluctuations have been recently observed experimentally by E. Peled et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 246802 (2003); ibid 90, 236802 (2003); Phys. Rev. B 69, R241305 (2004)]. We perform realistic first-principles simulations using a six-terminal geometry and sample sizes similar to those of real devices, to model the actual experiment. We present the theory and implementation of these simulations, which are based on the linear response theory for non-interacting electrons. The Hall and longitudinal resistances extracted from the Landauer formula exhibit all the observed experimental features. We give a unified explanation for the three regimes with distinct types of fluctuations observed experimentally, based on a simple generalization of the Landauer-Buttiker model. The transport is shown to be determined by the interplay between tunneling and chiral currents. We identify the central part of the transition, at intermediate filling factors, as the critical region where the localization length is larger than the sample size.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

The longitudinal conductance of mesoscopic Hall samples with arbitrary disorder and periodic modulations

We use the Kubo-Landauer formalism to compute the longitudinal (two-terminal) conductance of a two dimensional electron system placed in a strong perpendicular magnetic field, and subjected to periodic modulations and/or disorder potentials. The scattering problem is recast as a set of inhomogeneous, coupled linear equations, allowing us to find the transmission probabilities from a finite-size system computation; the results are exact for non-interacting electrons. Our method fully accounts for the effects of the disorder and the periodic modulation, irrespective of their relative strength, as long as Landau level mixing is negligible. In particular, we focus on the interplay between the effects of the periodic modulation and those of the disorder. This appears to be the relevant regime to understand recent experiments [S. Melinte {\em et al}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 92}, 036802 (2004)], and our numerical results are in qualitative agreement with these experimental results. The numerical techniques we develop can be generalized straightforwardly to many-terminal geometries, as well as other multi-channel scattering problems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Effects of large disorder on the Hofstadter butterfly

Motivated by the recent experiments on periodically modulated, two dimensional electron systems placed in large transversal magnetic fields, we investigate the interplay between the effects of disorder and periodic potentials in the integer quantum Hall regime. In particular, we study the case where disorder is larger than the periodic modulation, but both are small enough that Landau level mixing is negligible. In this limit, the self-consistent Born approximation is inadequate. We carry extensive numerical calculations to understand the relevant physics in the lowest Landau level, such as the spectrum and nature (localized or extended) of the wave functions. Based on our results, we propose a qualitative explanation of the new features uncovered recently in transport measurements.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

First-Principles Study of Integer Quantum Hall Transitions in Mesoscopic Samples

We perform first principles numerical simulations to investigate resistance fluctuations in mesoscopic samples, near the transition between consecutive Quantum Hall plateaus. We use six-terminal geometry and sample sizes similar to those of real devices. The Hall and longitudinal resistances extracted from the generalized Landauer formula reproduce all the experimental features uncovered recently. We then use a simple generalization of the Landauer-Büttiker model, based on the interplay between tunneling and chiral currents -- the co-existing mechanisms for transport -- to explain the three distinct types of fluctuations observed, and identify the central region as the critical region.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

A Laterally Modulated 2D Electron System in the Extreme Quantum Limit

We report on magnetotransport of a two-dimensional electron system (2DES), located 32 nm below the surface, with a surface superlattice gate structure of periodicity 39 nm imposing a periodic modulation of its potential. For low Landau level fillings $ν$, the diagonal resistivity displays a rich pattern of fluctuations, even though the disorder dominates over the periodic modulation. Theoretical arguments based on the combined effects of the long-wavelength, strong disorder and the short-wavelength, weak periodic modulation present in the 2DES qualitatively explain the data.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Exchange anisotropy, disorder and frustration in diluted, predominantly ferromagnetic, Heisenberg spin systems

Motivated by the recent suggestion of anisotropic effective exchange interactions between Mn spins in Ga$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$As (arising as a result of spin-orbit coupling), we study their effects in diluted Heisenberg spin systems. We perform Monte Carlo simulations on several phenomenological model spin Hamiltonians, and investigate the extent to which frustration induced by anisotropic exchanges can reduce the low temperature magnetization in these models and the interplay of this effect with disorder in the exchange. In a model with low coordination number and purely ferromagnetic (FM) exchanges, we find that the low temperature magnetization is gradually reduced as exchange anisotropy is turned on. However, as the connectivity of the model is increased, the effect of small-to-moderate anisotropy is suppressed, and the magnetization regains its maximum saturation value at low temperatures unless the distribution of exchanges is very wide. To obtain significant suppression of the low temperature magnetization in a model with high connectivity, as is found for long-range interactions, we find it necessary to have both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic (AFM) exchanges (e.g. as in the RKKY interaction). This implies that disorder in the sign of the exchange interaction is much more effective in suppressing magnetization at low temperatures than exchange anisotropy.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2003

Nanoscale Zeeman localization of charge carriers in diluted magnetic semiconductor-permalloy hybrids

We investigate the possibility of charge carrier localization in magnetic semiconductors due to the presence of a highly inhomogeneous external magnetic field. As an example, we study in detail the properties of a magnetic semiconductor-permalloy disk hybrid system. We find that the giant Zeeman respose of the magnetic semiconductor in conjuction with the highly non-uniform magnetic field created by the vortex state of a permalloy disk can lead to Zeeman localized states at the interface of the two materials. These trapped state are chiral, with chirality controlled by the orientation of the core magnetization of the permalloy disk. We calculate the energy spectrum and the eigenstates of these Zeeman localized states, and discuss their experimental signatures in spectroscopic probes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2002

Spin Waves in Disordered III-V Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors

We propose a new scheme for numerically computing collective-mode spectra for large-size systems, using a reformulation of the Random Phase Approximation. In this study, we apply this method to investigate the spectrum and nature of the spin-waves of a (III,Mn)V Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor. We use an impurity band picture to describe the interaction of the charge carriers with the local Mn spins. The spin-wave spectrum is shown to depend sensitively on the positional disorder of the Mn atoms inside the host semiconductor. Both localized and extended spin-wave modes are found. Unusual spin and charge transport is implied.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2002

Monte Carlo simulations of an impurity band model for III-V diluted magnetic semiconductors

We report the results of a Monte Carlo study of a model of (III,Mn)V diluted magnetic semiconductors which uses an impurity band description of carriers coupled to localized Mn spins and is applicable for carrier densities below and around the metal-insulator transition. In agreement with mean field studies, we find a transition to a ferromagnetic phase at low temperatures. We compare our results for the magnetic properties with the mean field approximation, as well as with experiments, and find favorable qualitative agreement with the latter. The local Mn magnetization below the Curie temperature is found to be spatially inhomogeneous, and strongly correlated with the local carrier charge density at the Mn sites. The model contains fermions and classical spins and hence we introduce a perturbative Monte Carlo scheme to increase the speed of our simulations.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2002

Two-component approach for thermodynamic properties in diluted magnetic semiconductors

We examine the feasibility of a simple description of Mn ions in III-V diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) in terms of two species (components), motivated by the expectation that the Mn-hole exchange couplings are widely distributed, expecially for low Mn concentrations. We find, using distributions indicated by recent numerical mean field studies, that the thermodynamic properties (magnetization, susceptibility, and specific heat) cannot be fit by a single coupling as in a homogeneous model, but can be fit well by a two-component model with a temperature dependent number of ``strongly'' and ``weakly'' coupled spins. This suggests that a two-component description may be a minimal model for the interpretation of experimental measurements of thermodynamic quantities in III-V DMS systems.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2001

Reply to cond-mat/0111504

We show that the choice of the sign of the hopping matrix in our impurity band model for disordered III-V diluted magnetic semiconductors [PRL 87, 107293 (2000); cond-mat/0111045] is justified: with this choice, the impurity band is placed inside the gap and it has a mobility edge, as expected for a disordered system. The other sign choice, suggested in cond-mat/0111504, leads to an unphysical description of the occupied states of the impurity band (extremely long tail, no mobility edge, no bulk ferromagnetism).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗