Spin–Spin Interactions and Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation in Magnetic Solids

The influence of the orientational fluctuations of the electronic magnetization, which modulate nuclear spin–spin interactions (Suhl–Nakamura and dipole–dipole), on the spin-lattice relaxation of magnetic nuclei with spin I = 1/2 in the magnetically ordered solids has been investigated. It has been shown that this mechanism of the spin-lattice relaxation is less effective in comparison with the process of spin-lattice relaxation caused by the direct fluctuations of hyperfine fields, which appear when there are the fluctuations of electronic magnetization direction.     

Theory of intramolecular spin relaxation by translational diffusion in locally ordered fluids

In locally ordered fluids, such as macromolecular solutions, clays and lyotropic liquid crystals, nuclear spin relaxation can be induced by modulation, through translational diffusion of the fluid molecules, of the magnitude and orientation of the residual intramolecular spin-lattice coupling tensor, which is only partially averaged by local molecular motions near an interface. A theory of spin relaxation in locally ordered fluids bounded by planar interfaces is developed, with special emphasis on effects of translational diffusion. The theory is based on a continuous diffusion model (CDM) which, in contrast to the commonly adopted discrete exchange model (DEM), treats equilibrium and time-dependent distribution functions in a self-consistent way. A striking feature of translational diffusion in heterogeneous systems is the abundance of reencounters with previously visited interfacial regions. It is demonstrated that these diffusional reencounters, which are inherent in the CDM theory, may lead to a relaxation behaviour which is qualitatively different from that predicted by the DEM theory. Furthermore, it is seen that the widespread concept of intrinsic relaxation rate (associated with a spatial region) and the fast/slow exchange classification are not generally valid. The formal framework of the CDM theory allows molecular interactions of any complexity to be introduced. In this paper a mean-field model based on the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation is used to obtain analytic expressions for the spectral density functions that determine the relaxation behaviour in the presence and in the absence of spectral line splittings.     

Ultrafast Quantum Relaxation Dynamics of Magnetically Ordered Systems with Spin Crossover in an Excited State under a Sudden Perturbation

JETP Letters - A theoretical model based on the relaxation equation for the density matrix has been proposed to describe the ultrafast time dynamics of magnetically ordered systems with spin...     

Direct evidence for a dynamical ground state in the highly frustrated Tb(2)Sn(2)O(7) pyrochlore

mSR experiments have been performed on a powder sample of the "ordered spin ice" Tb(2)Sn(2)O(7) pyrochlore. At base temperature (T=35 mK), the muon relaxation is found to be of dynamical nature, which demonstrates that strong fluctuations persist below the ferromagnetic transition (T(C)=0.87 K). Hints of long-range ordering appear as oscillations of the muon polarization when an external field is applied and also as a hysteretic behavior below T(C). We propose that dynamics results from fluctuations of clusters of correlated spins with the ordered spin ice structure.     

Enhancing the superconducting transition temperature of CeRh 1-x IrxIn5 due to the strong-coupling effects of antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations: an 115In nuclear quadrupole resonance study

We report on systematic evolutions of antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin fluctuations and unconventional superconductivity (SC) in heavy-fermion (HF) compounds CeRh(1-x)Ir(x)In(5) via an (115)In nuclear-quadrupole-resonance experiment. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T(1) has revealed the marked development of AFM spin fluctuations as approaching an AFM ordered state. Concomitantly, the superconducting transition temperature T(c) and the energy gap Delta0 increase drastically from T(c)= 0.4K and 2Delta0/k(B)T(c)=5 in CeIrIn(5) up to T(c) =1.2K and 2Delta0/k(B)T(c) =8.3 in CeRh(0.3)Ir(0.7)In5 , respectively. The present work suggests that the AFM spin fluctuations in close proximity to the AFM quantum critical point are indeed responsible for the strong-coupling unconventional SC in HF compounds.     

Magnetic excitations in solids

This article presents a review of low to moderate frequency magnetic excitations, termed magnons or spin waves, in magnetically ordered materials. The emphasis is on intuitive behavior rather than analytical theory. Topics include spin waves, magnetostatic modes, dipole-exchange modes, surface anisotropy, dispersion properties, nonlinear effects, and relaxation. These phenomena are illustrated with experimental examples based on magnon light scattering results as well as conventional microwave techniques.     

Transient grating studies of phase and spin relaxations of excitons in GaAs single quantum wells

Exciton spin and phase relaxations at low temperatures in GaAs/AlGaAs single quantum wells were investigated by using transient grating technique. The technique allows us to obtain the exciton lifetime, spin relaxation, and phase relaxation in the same setup. In combination with a series of single quantum wells grown on the same substrate, the well width dependence of exciton spin relaxation was studied. The obtained spin relaxation results were analyzed with their phase relaxation times in a framework of MAS mechanism, and were in good agreement with the calculated results. Especially, the motional narrowing character of the exciton spin relaxation was well demonstrated.     

Non-equilibrium dynamics in 3d spin glasses

The random spin structure of a quenched spin glass experiences a continuous re-structuring in the low-temperature spin glass phase; the spin glass ages. Some recent experimental studies of relaxation and temperature dependence of the low-frequency AC-susceptibility and DC-magnetisation have given essential new information on which are the governing physical parameters for the spontaneous re-construction of the spin configuration. These results are briefly reviewed and put into the context of a phenomenological real space picture of the spin glass phase. This picture includes: domains of spin glass ordered regions that use spontaneous droplet excitations as the only mechanism for their growth at constant temperature, chaos with temperature and overlap on short length scales between the equilibrium states at two different temperatures.     

Ordering in Heisenberg spin glasses

For five different Heisenberg spin glass systems, torque experiments were performed in applied magnetic fields up to 4 T. The Dzyaloshinski-Moriya random anisotropy strengths, the in-field torque onset temperatures, and the torque relaxation were measured. Critical exponents were estimated independently using a standard protocol. The data are strong evidence for a true spin glass ordered state which survives under high applied magnetic fields; they can be interpreted consistently in terms of a chiral ordering model with replica symmetry breaking as proposed by Kawamura and co-workers.     

Photoinduced melting of antiferromagnetic order in La(0.5)Sr(1.5)MnO4 measured using ultrafast resonant soft x-ray diffraction

We used ultrafast resonant soft x-ray diffraction to probe the picosecond dynamics of spin and orbital order in La(0.5)Sr(1.5)MnO(4) after photoexcitation with a femtosecond pulse of 1.5 eV radiation. Complete melting of antiferromagnetic spin order is evidenced by the disappearance of a (1/4,1/4,1/2) diffraction peak. On the other hand, the (1/4,1/4,0) diffraction peak, reflecting orbital order, is only partially reduced. We interpret the results as evidence of destabilization in the short-range exchange pattern with no significant relaxation of the long-range Jahn-Teller distortions. Cluster calculations are used to analyze different possible magnetically ordered states in the long-lived metastable phase. Nonthermal coupling between light and magnetism emerges as a primary aspect of photoinduced phase transitions in manganites.     

Spin relaxation in single-layer and bilayer graphene

We investigate spin relaxation in graphene spin valves and observe strongly contrasting behavior for single-layer graphene (SLG) and bilayer graphene (BLG). In SLG, the spin lifetime (τ(s)) varies linearly with the momentum scattering time (τ(p)) as carrier concentration is varied, indicating the dominance of Elliot-Yafet (EY) spin relaxation at low temperatures. In BLG, τ(s) and τ(p) exhibit an inverse dependence, which indicates the dominance of Dyakonov-Perel spin relaxation at low temperatures. The different behavior is due to enhanced screening and/or reduced surface sensitivity of BLG, which greatly reduces the impurity-induced EY spin relaxation.     

Biased motion about the long molecular axis in ‘ordered’ smectic phases as studied by deuterium NMR relaxation

Spectral densities of motion were determined by deuteron NMR relaxation measurements in the ‘ordered’ smectic-B and -G phases of 4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene-d ₁-4′-heptylaniline and 4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene-4′-heptylaniline-2,3,5,6-d ₄ at two different Larmor frequencies. Different forms of motional behaviour are involved in these phases in comparison with those in the high temperature ‘disordered’ phases. Specifically, internal ring rotation and direction fluctuation are not effective in the ordered smectic phases. In addition, the fast rotation of the molecule about its long molecular axis is now strongly hindered to give a libration motion of angular amplitudes of about 100°. The third-rate model is again used to describe the molecular reorientation, taking the restricted γ motion into account. The effects of phase biaxiality on spin relaxation in the smectic-G phase are also discussed.     

Field-dependent nuclear relaxation of spins 1/2 induced by dipole-dipole couplings to quadrupole spins: LaF3 crystals as an example

A general theory of spin-lattice nuclear relaxation of spins I=1/2 caused by dipole-dipole couplings to quadrupole spins S1, characterized by a non-zero averaged (static) quadrupole coupling, is presented. In multispin systems containing quadrupolar and dipolar nuclei, transitions of spins 1/2 leading to their relaxation are associated through dipole-dipole couplings with certain transitions of quadrupole spins. The averaged quadrupole coupling attributes to the energy level structure of the quadrupole spin and influences in this manner relaxation processes of the spin 1/2. Typically, quadrupole spins exhibit also a complex multiexponential relaxation sensed by the dipolar spin as an additional modulation of the mutual dipole-dipole coupling. The proposed model includes both effects and is valid for an arbitrary magnetic field and an arbitrary quadrupole spin quantum number. The theory is applied to interpret fluorine relaxation profiles in LaF3 ionic crystals. The obtained results are compared with predictions of the 'classical' Solomon relaxation theory.     

Ultrafast transport of laser-excited spin-polarized carriers in Au/Fe/MgO(001)

Hot carrier-induced spin dynamics is analyzed in epitaxial Au/Fe/MgO(001) by a time domain approach. We excite a spin current pulse in Fe by 35 fs laser pulses. The transient spin polarization, which is probed at the Au surface by optical second harmonic generation, changes its sign after a few hundred femtoseconds. This is explained by a competition of ballistic and diffusive propagation considering energy-dependent hot carrier relaxation rates. In addition, we observe the decay of the spin polarization within 1 ps, which is associated with the hot carrier spin relaxation time in Au.     

Magnetism in iron implanted oxides: a status report

Emission Mössbauer spectroscopy on ⁵⁷Fe fed by ⁵⁷Mn ions implanted in the metal oxides ZnO, MgO and Al₂O₃ has been performed. The implanted ions occupy different lattice sites and charge states. A magnetic part of the spectra in each oxide can be assigned to Fe^3?+? ions in a paramagnetic state with unusually long relaxation time observable to temperatures up to several hundreds Kelvin. Earlier expectations that the magnetic spectra could correspond to an ordered magnetic state could not be confirmed. A clear decision for paramagnetism and against an ordered magnetic state was achieved by applying a strong magnetic field of 0.6 Tesla. The relaxation times deduced were compared to spin–lattice relaxation times from electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).     

14N核四极共振自旋系统自旋-晶格弛豫时间的测量

¹⁴N核四极共振自旋系统的自旋-晶格弛豫是一种双指数弛豫。本文介绍了¹⁴N核四极共振自旋系统的自旋-晶格弛豫时间的3种测量方法,利用可变多面体方法对实验数据进行拟合,获得了¹⁴N核四极共振自旋系统的自旋-晶格弛豫时间T_1s和T₁₁,对有关文献中关于核四极共振弛豫时间的测量的3个观点提出了质疑。     

Theoretical model of spin transfer torque in multilayers

We present a model of spin transport in a Co/Cu(1 1 1)/Co pseudo-spin-valve (PSV) structure where current is flowing in the current perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) geometry. The model considers ballistic spin-dependent transmission at the two Co–Cu interfaces, as well as diffusive spin relaxation within the Cu spacer and free Co layer. In the latter, the spin relaxation process is composed of the usual longitudinal spin relaxation due to spin flip scattering, as well as transverse spin relaxation due to spin precession. The resulting spin transfer torque exerted on the moments within the free Co layer is composed of two contributions, the main contribution coming from “absorbed” spins in the interfacial regions. The second contribution arises from the relaxation of spin accumulation within the free Co layer. The calculated critical current density for switching is estimated to be approximately between 3.3×10⁷ and 1.1×10⁸ A/cm², which is in agreement with available experimental results.     

Magnetic structure and magnetic excitations in the two-dimensional spin system of the Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> compound

This paper reports on the results of measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, neutron scattering, muon spin relaxation, and electron paramagnetic resonance in Cu₃B₂O₆ for the study of the ground state of the spin system of this compound. The results obtained suggest that, at a temperature of 10 K, the spin subsystem of the crystal, which consists of single spins and clusters of pairs and fours of spins interacting with one another, undergoes a transition to a state representing a superposition of the singlet (for clusters) and magnetically ordered (for single spins) states.     

Exchange coupling and helical spin order in the triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuCrO2 using first principles

The magnetic and electronic properties of the geometrically frustrated triangular antiferromagnet CuCrO2 are investigated by first principles through density functional theory calculations within the generalized gradient approxi- mations （GGA）＋U scheme. The spin exchange interactions up to the third nearest neighbours in the ab plane as well as the coupling between adjacent layers are calculated to examine the magnetism and spin frustration. It is found that CuCrO2 has a natural two-dimensional characteristic of the magnetic interaction. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we obtain the Neel temperature to be 29.9 K, which accords well with the experimental value of 24 K. Based on non- collinear magnetic structure calculations, we verify that the incommensurate spiral-spin structure with （110） spiral plane is believable for the magnetic ground state, which is consistent with the experimental observations. Due to intra-layer geometric spin frustration, parallel helical-spin chains arise along the a, b, or a＋ b directions, each with a screw-rotation angle of about I20°. Our calculations of the density of states show that the spin frustration plays an important role in the change of d-p hybridization, while the spin-orbit coupling has a very limited influence on the electronic structure.     

Microscopic evidence of spin state order and spin state phase separation in layered cobaltites RBaCo2O5.5 with R=Y, Tb, Dy, and Ho

We report muon-spin relaxation measurements on the magnetic structures of RBaCo2O(5.5) with R=Y, Tb, Dy, and Ho. Three different phases, one ferrimagnetic and two antiferromagnetic, are identified below 300 K. They consist of different ordered spin state arrangements of high-, intermediate-, and low-spin Co3+ of CoO6 octahedra. Phase separation into well separated regions with different spin state order is observed in the antiferromagnetic phases. The unusual strongly anisotropic magnetoresistance and its onset at the FM-AFM phase boundary is explained.