arXiv subjects

N. V. Prokof'ev

Publications and source records attributed to N. V. Prokof'ev.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv1996

Exact Quantum Monte Carlo Process for the Statistics of Discrete Systems

We introduce an exact Monte Carlo approach to the statistics of discrete quantum systems which does not rely on the standard fragmentation of the imaginary time, or any small parameter. The method deals with discrete objects, kinks, representing virtual transitions at different moments of time. The global statistics of kinks is reproduced by explicit local procedures, the key one being based on the exact solution for the biased two-level system.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1996

Wigner Crystalization in the Lowest Landau Level for $ν\ge 1/5$

By means of exact diagonalization we study the low-energy states of seven electrons in the lowest Landau level which are confined by a cylindric external potential modelling the rest of a macroscopic system and thus controlling the filling factor $ν$. Wigner crystal is found to be the ground state for filling factors between $ ν= 1/3$ and $ ν= 1/5$ provided electrons interact via the bare Coulomb potential. Even at $ν=1/5$ the solid state has lower energy than the Laughlin's one, although the two energies are rather close. We also discuss the role of pseudopotential parameters in the lowest Landau level and demonstrate that the earlier reported gapless state, appearing when the short-range part of the interaction is suppressed, has nothing in common with the Wigner crystalization in pure Coulomb case.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1995

Decoherence in the Quantum Dynamics of a "Central Spin" Coupled to a Spin Environment

We consider here the problem of a "central spin", with spin quantum number $S \gg 1$, interacting with a set of microscopic spins. Interactions between the microscopic spins are ignored. This model describes magnetic grains or magnetic macromolecules (ferromagnetically or antiferromagnetically ordered) interacting with nuclear spins and with any surrounding paramagnetic electronic spins. It has also been used to describe $Si:P$ near the metal-insulator transition, and quantum spin glasses. In this paper we consider the possible coherent motion of the central spin. We reduce the model to an effective low-energy Hamiltonian, and then calculate the correlation function using instanton methods. The general solution is given for the unbiased case, for all relevant values of the couplings. Under certain conditions, nuclear spin diffusion also plays a role. The results are then used to calculate the spectral absorption for 2 experimental systems, viz., $TbFe_3$ grains, and ferritin molecules. Our results have general implications for the observation of mesoscopic and macroscopic quantum coherence, and for the foundations of quantum mechanics. They show that a spin environment usually has a very destructive effect on coherence, which cannot be understood using the conventional "oscillator bath" models of quantum environments.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1995

Quantum Coherence in Magnetic Grains

We consider a model of the dynamics of a magnetic grain, incorporating interactions with nuclear and paramagnetic spins, conduction electrons, and phonons. Decoherence comes both from the spins and the electrons, although electron effects can be neglected if the substrate is insulating, and the grain has spin $S \le 10^5$. A successful experiment will require both isotopic and chemical purification, if coherence is to be seen; we suggest a "spin echo" arrangement to do this.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1995

Quantum Relaxation of Magnetisation in Magnetic Particles

At temperatures below the magnetic anisotropy energy, monodomain magnetic systems (small particles, nanomagnetic devices, etc.) must relax quantum mechanically. This quantum relaxation must be mediated by the coupling to both nuclear spins and phonons (and electrons if either particle or substrate is conducting. We analyze the effect of each of these couplings, and then combine them. Conducting systems can be modelled by a "giant Kondo" Hamiltonian, with nuclear spins added in as well. At low temperatures, even microscopic particles on a conducting substrate (containing only $10-50$ spins) will have their magnetisation frozen over millenia by a combination of electronic dissipation and the "degeneracy blocking" caused by nuclear spins. Raising the temperature leads to a sudden unblocking of the spin dynamics at a well defined temperature. Insulating systems are quite different. The relaxation is strongly enhanced by the coupling to nuclear spins. At short times the magnetisation of an ensemble of particles relaxes logarithmically in time, after an initial very fast decay; this relaxation proceeds entirely via the nuclear spins. At longer times phonons take over, but the decay rate is still governed by the temperature-dependent nuclear bias field acting on the particles - decay may be exponential or power-law depending on the temperature. The most surprising feature of the results is the pivotal role played by the nuclear spins. The results are relevant to any experiments on magnetic particles in which interparticle dipolar interactions are unimportant. They are also relevant to future magnetic device technology.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1995

Decoherence in the Spin Bath

We develop a mathematical description of the decoherence caused by "spin baths", such as nuclear spins or magnetic impurities. In contrast to the usual oscillator bath models of quantum environments, decoherence in the spin bath can occur without any dissipation. Given the almost ubiquitous presence of nuclear spins in nature, our results have important consequences for quantum measurement theory, particularly as the decoherence mechanisms in spin baths work very differently from those in oscillator baths.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1995

Supercurrent States in 1D Finite-Size Rings

We consider topological supercurrent excitations (SC) in 1D mesoscopic rings. Under certain conditions such excitations are well-defined except for (i) a tunneling between resonating states with clockwise and anti-clockwise currents, which may be characterized by the amplitude $Δ$, and (ii) a decay of SC assisted by phonons of the substrate, both effects being macroscopically small. Most attention is paid to the calculation of the macroscopic scaling of $Δ$ (the main superfluid characteristic of a mesoscopic system) under different conditions: a commensurate system, a system with single impurity, and a disordered system. The results are in a very good agreement with the exact-diagonalization spectra of the boson Hubbard models. Apart from really 1D electron wires we discuss two other important experimental systems: the 2D electron gas in the FQHE state and quasi-1D superconducting rings. We suggest some experimental setups for studying SC, e.g., via persistent current measurements, resonant electro-magnetic absorption or echo signals, and relaxation of the metastable current states.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1993

Fermi-Edge Singularity with Backscattering in the Luttinger-Liquid Model

We study the response of the interacting electron gas in one dimension on the local external potential. In the low frequency limit the power-law singularities are essentially modifyed by backscattering effects which, in the case of zero forward scattering, result in the universal critical exponent depending only on the Luttinger-liquid interactions. The results obtained may be used to describe singular responses of the 1D boson chains.

cond-mat↗