Quantum dynamics of atomic magnets: cotunneling and dipolar-biased tunneling

Multispin tunneling cross relaxations in an ensemble of weakly coupled Ho3+ ions, mediated by weak anisotropic dipolar interactions, can be evidenced by ac-susceptibility measurements in a high temperature regime. Based on a four-body representation, including the rare-earth nuclear spin, two-ion tunneling mechanisms can be attributed to both dipolar-biased tunneling and cotunneling processes. The coreversal involving entangled pairs of magnetic moments is discussed with a particular emphasis, giving new evidence to elucidate the many-body quantum dynamics in dipolar spin glasses.     

Low frequency acoustic and dielectric measurements on glasses

The acoustic and dielectric properties of different glasses at audio frequencies and temperatures below 1 K have been investigated with the vibrating reed and a capacitance bridge technique. We found the temperature dependence of the absorption of vitreous silica (Suprasil W) to agree with the predictions of the tunneling model which is commonly used to explain the low temperature behaviour of amorphous materials. The variation of the sound velocity and of the dielectric constant, however, shows significant deviations from the expected behaviour which cannot be accounted for by a simple modification of the model. Instead, it seems to be necessary to introduce a temperature dependence of some relevant model parameters. Moreover, at very low temperatures (T < 0.1 K) the sound velocity strongly depends on the excitation levels. The absence of this effect at higher temperatures proves that it can be ascribed to a nonlinear response of tunneling systems. Similar results were found in sound velocity measurements on a cover glass and on a superconducting metallic glass (Pd₃₀Zr₇₀, T_c = 2.6 K), which indicates that these features are a general aspect of the dynamics of tunneling states in glasses. In contrast to the insulating glasses we found that in Pd₃₀Zr₇₀ also the internal friction is strain dependent.     

金属玻璃的超声研究

本文综述脉冲超声实验在研究金属玻璃方面所取得的进展。将实验结果与描述非晶固体的双势阱和两能级隧道理论做比较,并讨论了金属玻璃中传导电子对两能级隧道系的弛豫作用,也介绍了最近Ngai提出的红外发散响应理论。     

Levy distribution of single molecule line shape cumulants in glasses

We investigate the distribution of single molecule line shape cumulants, kappa(1),kappa(2),ellipsis, in low temperature glasses based on the sudden jump, standard tunneling model. We find that the cumulants are described by Levy stable laws, thus the generalized central limit theorem is applicable for this problem.     

Low frequency elastic properties of glasses at low temperatures—implications on the tunneling model

We have measured the low frequency elastic properties of dielectric, normal conducting and superconducting metallic glasses at audio-frequencies (f1 kHz) and temperatures down to 10 mK. Our results are discussed in the framework of the tunneling model of glasses. The major assumption of the tunneling model regarding the tunneling states with long relaxation time has been verified, but discrepancies to high frequency measurements have been found. In addition, our experiments on superconducting metallic glasses seem to indicate that the present treatment of the electron-tunneling state interaction is not sufficient.     

Evidence for magnetic field induced changes of the phase of tunneling states: spontaneous echoes in (KBr)(1-x)(KCN)(x) in magnetic fields

Recently it was discovered that, in contrast to expectations, the low-temperature dielectric properties of some multicomponent glasses depend strongly on magnetic fields. The low-temperature dielectric response of these materials is governed by atomic tunneling systems. We now have investigated the influence of magnetic fields on the coherent properties of atomic tunneling states in a crystalline host in two-pulse echo experiments. As in glasses, we observe a very strong magnetic field dependence of the echo amplitude. Moreover, for the first time we have direct evidence that the magnetic fields change the phase of coherent tunneling systems.     

Field-induced structural aging in glasses at ultralow temperatures

In nonequilibrium experiments on the glasses Mylar and BK7, we measured the excess dielectric response after the temporary application of a strong electric bias field at millikelvin temperatures. A model recently developed describes the observed long time decays qualitatively for Mylar [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 105501(2003)]], but fails for BK7. In contrast, our results on both samples can be described by including an additional mechanism to the mentioned model with temperature independent decay times of the excess dielectric response. As the origin of this novel process beyond the "tunneling model" we suggest bias field induced structural rearrangements of "tunneling states" that decay by quantum mechanical tunneling.     

Paramagnetic tunneling systems and their contribution to the polarization echo in glasses

Startling magnetic effects on the spontaneous polarization echo in some silicate glasses at low and ultralow temperatures have been reported in the last decade or so. Though some progress in search of an explanation has been made by considering the nuclear quadrupole dephasing of tunneling particles, here we show that the effect of a magnetic field can be understood quantitatively by means of a special tunnel mechanism associated with paramagnetic impurities. For the Fe(3+)-, Cr(3+)-, and Nd(3+)-contaminated glasses we provide reasonable fits to the published data as a function of applied magnetic field and temperature.     

Effects of oxygen on the ultrasonic properties of amorphous germanium

The ultrasonic absorption and variation of the sound velocity with temperature has been measured in RF-sputtered films of a-GeO_x from 0.45 to 300 K at a frequency of 300 MHz. Incorporation of oxygen suppresses the strong absorption maximum observed in pure a-Ge at 135 K and results in the formation of two-level tunneling states which give rise to acoustic anomalies as observed in ordinary glasses at low temperature.     

Thermodynamic properties of small amorphous and crystalline Silica particles at low temperatures

We have measured the low-temperature (K) specific heat and heat release of small amorphous and crystalline SiO₂ particles embedded in Teflon and of Vycor. The temperature and time dependence of these properties have been interpreted in terms of the tunneling model. We found that the particle size influences the density of states of tunneling systems of the composite. The smaller the size of the particles the larger is the density of states of tunneling systems P₀. Quartz grains with dimensions in the micrometer range show similar glass-like properties as vitreous silica. In comparison with bulk vitreous silica, Vycor shows a much larger P₀ in agreement with the behavior we found for small SiO₂ particles. We discuss the implication of our results on the origin of the universal low-temperature properties of glasses. Received 9 April 1998     

Elastic properties of several amorphous solids and disordered crystals below 100 K

We have measured the internal friction and speed of sound variation at temperatures between 60 mK and room temperature for amorphous CdGeAs₂, Polystyrene, and Stycast 2850FT epoxy, and the disordered crystals (ZrO₂)_0.89(CaO)_0.11 and (CaF₂)_0.74(LaF₃)_0.26. A comparison of our results with an extensive review of previously published data shows a remarkable similarity in the internal friction of disordered solids below ～5 K. The low temperature elastic behavior of these solids is adequately described by the standard tunneling model, from which one finds a nearly universal density of tunneling states for glasses. Internal friction above ～10 K for different materials, however, displays a wide range of magnitudes and temperature dependence that is far from universal. Attempts to directly link the tunneling states observed by internal friction at low temperatures to configurational states of localized oscillators existing at high temperatures must take into account this striking variation among disordered solids above 10 K.     

Relaxation dynamics in quantum electron glasses

It is experimentally shown that, depending on the carrier concentration of the system n, the dynamics of electron glasses either slows down with increasing temperature or it is independent of it. This also correlates with the dependence of a typical relaxation time (or "viscosity") on n. These linked features are argued to be consistent with a model for dissipative tunneling. The slow relaxation of the electron glass may emerge then as a manifestation of friction in a many-body quantum system. Our considerations may also explain why strongly localized granular metals are likely to show electron-glass effects while semiconductors are not.     

玻璃中两能级隧道态耦合态及其对低频声吸收的影响

讨论了在声子作用下，两能级隧道态耦合态激发和退激发规律，并用此理论解释低温低频声吸收规律 关键词：     

Low temperature properties of proton and deuteron glasses

2D deuteron exchange NMR and ⁸⁷Rb spin-lattice relaxation time measurements in proton and deuteron glasses show that the O-H..O dipoles are not completely frozen out at low temperatures but show dynamic features characteristic of incoherent tunneling. RADP and DRADP are thus quantum glasses.     

Magnetic Field Dependent Tunneling of Atoms and Molecules in Non-Magnetic Disordered Solids

The low-temperature properties of disordered solids, such as glasses or crystals with certain substitutional defects are governed by atomic tunneling systems. Until recently it was believed that the dielectric properties of insulating materials devoid of magnetic impurities should not—or only very weakly—depend on external magnetic fields. In contrast, new experiments on glasses and crystalline defect systems show a pronounced magnetic field dependence of the dielectric properties of such materials at ultra-low temperatures. In particular, the low-frequency dielectric susceptibility and the amplitude of polarization echoes appear to be strongly affected by magnetic fields. These very surprising findings clearly indicate that atomic tunneling systems can couple to magnetic fields. We summarize the available data and discuss the possible origin of these intriguing phenomena.     

Disorder phenomena in β-alumina

Experimental and theoretical results are reviewed relevant to the conduction plane disorder in the nonstoichiometric fast ion conductor Naβ-alumina. Thermal, dielectric, acoustic, nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance measurements at low temperatures (<50 K) can be interpreted in terms of the tunneling mode formalism previously proposed for glasses. Experimental results at higher temperatures exhibit behavior similar to glasses near their glass transition.     

Many-electron Coulomb correlations in hopping transport along layers of quantum dots

Experimental data are analyzed on the hopping transport of holes in two-dimensional layers of Ge/Si(001) quantum dots (QDs) under conditions of the long-range Coulomb interaction of charge carriers localized in QDs, when the temperature dependence of the conductivity obeys the Efros-Shklovskii law. It is found that the parameters of hopping conduction significantly deviate from the predictions of the model of one-electron excitations in “Coulomb glasses.” Many-particle Coulomb correlations associated with the motion of holes localized in QDs play a decisive role in the processes of hopping charge transfer between QDs. These correlations lead to a substantial decrease in the Coulomb barriers for the tunneling of charge carriers.     

A new broadening mechanism in tunneling systems

A broadening mechanism which arises through the phonon dressing factor is presented. Some of the experimental results which are more consistent with this type of broadening are mentioned. Finally, the extension to other types of tunneling systems, such as glasses, is discussed briefly.     

Supersolidity of glasses

The supersolidity of glasses is explained as the property of an unusual state of condensed matter. This state is essentially different from both normal and superfluid solid states. The mechanism of the phenomenon is the transfer of the mass by tunneling two-level systems.     

Phase transitions and relaxation characteristics of Quantum Magnets and Quantum Glasses

An overview is presented of the phase changes as well as certain relaxation characteristics of model quantum magnets, magnetic glasses and proton glasses. Although the systems considered are quite varied, they are connected by the common themes of tunneling, transverse Ising model, long-ranged interactions and above all, the occurrence of quantum phase transitions. Because the interactions are long-ranged, mean-field theory is eminently suitable for analyzing both the equilibrium and nonequilibrium properties. Wherever pertinent, detailed comparisons with experimental data have been presented.