Quantum Hall skyrmions with higher topological charge

We have investigated quantum Hall skyrmions with more than one unit of topological, and hence electric, charge. Using a combination of analytic and numerical methods we find the counterintuitive result that when the Zeeman energy is tuned to values much smaller than the interaction energy ( ), the creation energy of a charge two skyrmion becomes less than twice the creation energy of a charge one skyrmion, i.e. skyrmions bind in pairs. The doubly charged skyrmions are stable to further accretion of charge and exhibit a larger spin per unit charge than charge one skyrmions which would, in principle, signal this pairing. 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.     

Rational maps, monopoles and skyrmions

We discuss the similarities between BPS monopoles and skyrmions, and point to an underlying connection in terms of rational maps between Riemann spheres. This involves the introduction of a new ansatz for Skyrme fields. We use this to construct good approximations to several known skyrmions, including all the minimal energy configurations up to baryon number nine, and some new solutions such as a baryon number seventeen Skyrme field with the truncated icosahedron structure of a buckyball.

The new approach is also used to understand the low-lying vibrational modes of skyrmions, which are required for quantization. Along the way we discover an interesting Morse function on the space of rational maps which may be of use in understanding the Sen forms on the monopole moduli spaces.     

Group-theoretical analysis of possible structural phase transitions in the high-temperature superconductors

A group-theoretical analysis is performed for the complete condensation of order parameters at structural phase transitions (SPT's) in the high-temperature superconductors belonging to the D ¹⁷ _4h -14/mmm space group in the high-symmetry phase. As a rule, such transformations are due to a successive softening of phonons with wave vectors k ₁ = 1/2 b ₃ and k ₂ = 1/2 (b ₁ - b ₃) belonging to the K13(X) star of the Brillouin zone of a tetragonal body-centered Bravais cell. SPT's in system La_2-x Ba _x CuO₄ are considered in detail.     

Fluctuation corrections at first order phase transitions: Application to C60

The temperature dependence of the elastic constants in C₆₀ is quite unusual in the vicinity of the order-disorder phase transition at 260 K, in sharp contrast to simple mean-field calculations. The observed deviations seem to be a combination of dynamical processes, the influence of defects and fluctuation effects. The latter are expected to be important, since the Landau free energy admits a third order term in the order parameter. We develop field theoretic perturbation theory for general models of this type. The formalism is applied to a simple scalar model of C₆₀ and the resulting temperature dependence of elastic constants is discussed.     

Brownian motion of massive skyrmions in magnetic thin films

We report on the thermal effects on the motion of current-driven massive magnetic skyrmions. The reduced equation for the motion of skyrmion has the form of a stochastic generalized Thiele’s equation. We propose an ansatz for the magnetization texture of a non-rigid single skyrmion that depends linearly with the velocity. By using this ansatz it is found that the skyrmion mass tensor is closely related to intrinsic skyrmion parameters, such as Gilbert damping, skyrmion-charge and dissipative force. We have found an exact expression for the average drift velocity as well as the mean-square velocity of the skyrmion. The longitudinal and transverse mobility of skyrmions for small spin-velocity of electrons is also determined and found to be independent of the skyrmion mass.     

On the theory of transient nucleation at the intermediate stage of phase transitions

The evolution of a system of growing aggregates in a macroscopically homogeneous medium with account of both the reduction in metastability and the continuing initiation of new nuclei is studied. The corresponding integro-differential model describing the intermediate stage of phase transitions is solved analytically for arbitrary nucleation kinetics and growth rates of nuclei. An exact solution of the Fokker–Planck equation is found with allowance for the diffusivity along the axis of nucleus radii. In limiting cases of purely kinetic and mixed kinetic-diffusion rates of crystal growth for a special form of diffusivity, the obtained solutions transform to earlier known expressions.     

Resistance fluctuations in integer quantum-Hall transitions

We have studied the resistance fluctuations (RF) in integer quantum-Hall transitions for high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas systems. The role of coherence in RF is examined by investigating the conductance through two scattering regions, that are spatially separated but interfere quantum-mechanically with each other. The phase coherence does not play a substantial role in determining the pattern of RF, whereas it affects the amplitude of RF.     

Cosmic phase transitions

The sequence of phase transitions during the hot history of the universe is followed within a phenomenological framework. Particular emphasis is put on the QCD confinement transition, which is at reach under earth laboratory conditions. A tepid inflationary scenario on the GUT scale with bubble growth at moderate supercooling is discussed.     

保真率与量子相变

量子相变是量子多体理论中的一个重要概念,保真度则是量子信息学的重要概念.文章简单介绍了一个量子系统的基态对系统参量的响应,即保真率,在量子相变中的行为.作为理解量子相变的一个新的视角,保真度方法的优势在于它是一个纯粹的几何学量,所以在研究相变过程中不需要考虑任何预设的序参量.文章用通俗的语言介绍了基态保真度、保真率、量子绝热维度以及它们的物理意义.为便于理解,文章以Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick模型与Kitaev蜂巢模型为例,对保真率在这两个模型中的性质做了简单介绍.     

Overview of phases and phase transitions

We provide an overview of some modern developments in the theory of phases and phase transitions in classical and quantum systems. We show the link between non-ergodicity and fidelity in quantum systems and discuss topological phase transitions. We show that the quantum phase transitions are associated with qualitative changes in some properties of the quantum wavefunctions across the phase transition. We discuss the topological phase transition associated with p-wave superconductor since it is a topic of wide interest because of the possible observation of Majorana fermions.     

Structural phase transitions at high-temperature in double perovskite Sr2GdRuO6

The crystal structure evolution of the Sr₂GdRuO₆ complex perovskite at high-temperature has been investigated over a wide temperature range between 298 K≤T≤1273 K. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements at room temperature and Rietveld analysis show that this compounds crystallizes in a monoclinic perovskite-type structure with P2₁/n (#14) space group and the 1:1 ordered arrangement of Ru⁵⁺ and Gd³⁺ cations over the six-coordinate M sites, with lattice parameters a=5.81032(8) Å, b=5.82341(4) Å, c=8.21939(7) Å, V=278.11(6) Å³ and angle β=90.311(2)^o. The high-temperature analysis shows that this material suffers two-phase transitions. At 373 K it adopts a monoclinic perovskite structure with I2/m space group, and lattice parameters a=5.81383(2) Å, b=5.82526(4) Å, c=8.22486(1) Å, V=278.56(2) Å³ and angle β=90.28(2)^o. Above of 773 K, it suffers a phase transition from monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m, with lattice parameters a=5.84779(1) Å, c=8.27261(1) Å, V=282.89(5) Å³ and angle β=90.02(9)^o. The high-temperature phase transition from monoclinic I2/m to tetragonal I4/m is characterized by strongly anisotropic displacements of the anions.     

Nanophases in mechanochemically synthesized AgI-CuI system: structure, phase stability and phase transitions

Nanoscale crystallites of Ag-rich (Ag_1−xCu_xI, x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.25), Cu-rich (Cu_1-yAg_yI, y=0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.25) and intermediate Ag_1-xCu_xI (x=0.50) solid solutions and end members AgI, CuI with sizes in the range of 46-13 nm were synthesized by attrition at ambient temperature in a soft mechanochemical reaction (MCR) of Ag, Cu and I. Monophasic γ-AgI (zincblende, ) with disordered Ag⁺ sublattice and the crystallite size of about ∼31 nm was realized in the case of Ag_0.75Cu_0.25I (x=0.25) composition. Lattice parameter decreases linearly from 649 to 604 pm with increasing Cu concentration in the AgI-CuI system validating Vegard's law. Smallest size (∼13 nm) agglomerated nanocrystals were realized in the Cu-rich composition Cu_0.75Ag_0.25I (), while unagglomerated uniform-sized (∼17 nm) and spherical shape nanocrystallites of Ag_0.50Cu_0.50I () with maximum strain were synthesized for sensor applications using MCR. Differential scanning calorimetry study shows the systematic changes in the phase transition temperature with Cu substitution. Ag-rich composition posses less enthalpy (ΔH (x or Cu=0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.25)=6.0, 6.11, 6.6, 6.3 in kJ/mol) and entropy (ΔS (y or Ag=0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.25)=14.15, 14.1, 15.03, 13.6 in J/mol K) when compared to undoped AgI () implying greater thermal stability of γ-phase due to Cu-strengthened Ag-I bond. Enhanced entropy () in Cu_0.75Ag_0.25I (Cu-rich) solid solutions relative to CuI () indicates Ag-induced cation disorder. Fifteen percent Ag-doped CuI (Cu_0.85Ag_0.15I) nanocrystals apparently behave like microscopic p-n junctions with currents in the range of 10⁻⁶-10⁻⁸ A characterized by a non-linear I-V curve.     

Reentrant phase transitions in liquid crystals

A comprehensive review of the recent developments regarding the phenomenon of reentrant phase transitions (RPT) in liquid crystals is presented. In addition to liquid crystals this phenomenon has been observed in amazingly diverse systems. A critical assessment of the experimental investigations concerning single and multiple reentrances is given. A brief account of the theoretical efforts is also given. The article ends with the identification of the factors which impede the proper understanding of the phenomenon.     

Role of thermal vibrations in alloy phase transitions

We resolve the fundamental contradiction that has existed from the earliest studies on order–disorder transitions between theoretical models that ignore the effect of thermal vibrations on the chemical interaction parameter, J(0), and the analysis of diffraction data that always incorporates the role of vibrations. New analysis of diffraction data shows that the temperature dependence of the order parameter, the central feature of order–disorder transitions, predicted by existing models is scientifically invalid. All models are constrained by the diffraction data to represent the interaction parameter as J(T) and the ordering energy as temperature dependent. The discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical ordering energies in Ni₃V and Pd₃V is direct evidence of their temperature dependence. Thermal vibrations influence order–disorder transitions through both the configurational and vibrational terms and not just the vibrational terms as hitherto believed. A modified Bragg–Williams model is proposed, which is the simplest model whose predicted order parameter can be compared with experiments.     

量子相变

量子相变是一种发生在绝对零度,由量子涨落而非热涨落导致的相变现象,满足著名的海森堡不确定关系。通过零温量子临界点的研究,可获知物质系统更广泛范围的行为,包括稀土磁性绝缘体,高温超导体和二维电子气体等。     

Structural phase transitions in elpasolite- and cryolite-type fluorides

The occurrence of phase transitions in elpasolite- and cryolite-type fluorides depends mainly on two factors: the electronic structure of the involved transition element and/or the value of the tolerance factor (t) close to the lower limit of the stability range. The phase transitions have been followed using low- and hightemperature X-ray diffraction. EPR signals of Ni¹¹¹ and Pd¹¹¹ compounds are characteristic of a doublet ground state. The trivalent species are located in axially elongated octahedra and a static ← dynamic Jahn-Teller transition can be observed in some of these phases.     

量子相变与几何相位

量子相变是凝聚态物理中的重要研究课题,而几何相位的发现是近几十年来量子力学中的重要进展,它们毫无关联地各自发展.但最近的研究表明,它们之间有密切联系：多体体系基态的几何相位在量子相变点附近具有标度性;不可收缩的几何相位可用来作为量子相变的标志等.文章将介绍最近在量子相变和几何相位的关系方面的研究进展,并用XY自旋链模型来详细说明.这些结果应会吸引凝聚态和几何相位领域工作的研究人员的关注和兴趣.     

Quantum phase transitions in antiferromagnets and superfluids

We present a general introduction to the non-zero temperature dynamic and transport properties of low-dimensional systems near a quantum phase transition. Basic results are reviewed in the context of experiments on the spin-ladder compounds, insulating two-dimensional antiferromagnets, and double-layer quantum Hall systems. Recent large N computations on an extended t–J model (Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 (1999) 3916) motivate a global scenario of the quantum phases and transitions in the high-temperature superconductors, and connections are made to numerous experiments.     

Quantum phase transitions in electronic systems

Quantum phase transitions occur at zero temperature when some non‐thermal control‐parameter like pressure or chemical composition is changed. They are driven by quantum rather than thermal fluctuations. In this review we first give a pedagogical introduction to quantum phase transitions and quantum critical behavior emphasizing similarities with and differences to classical thermal phase transitions. We then illustrate the general concepts by discussing a few examples of quantum phase transitions occurring in electronic systems. The ferromagnetic transition of itinerant electrons shows a very rich behavior since the magnetization couples to additional electronic soft modes which generates an effective long‐range interaction between the spin fluctuations. We then consider the influence of rare regions on quantum phase transitions in systems with quenched disorder, taking the antiferromagnetic transitions of itinerant electrons as a primary example. Finally we discuss some aspects of the metal‐insulator transition in the presence of quenched disorder and interactions.