Magnetic transitions in layered triangular antiferromagnets

Magnetic states and phase transitions of the layered triangular antiferromagnets in an applied field are studied. It is shown that in compounds like VBr₂ and VCl₂ quantum effects change the ground-state structure and cause successive phase transitions as the magnetic field increases. Coplanar structures of different spin configuration are realized far from the saturation field and a noncoplanar structure of umbrella-type configuration is realized near this field. The ground-state phase diagram is constructed, and a finite region of fields where the collinear phase is also possible is indicated.     

The quantum compass chain in a transverse magnetic field

We study the magnetic behaviors of a spin-1/2 quantum compass chain (QCC) in a transverse magnetic field, by means of the analytical spinless fermion approach and numerical Lanczos method. In the absence of the magnetic field, the phase diagram is divided into four gapped regions. To determine what happens by applying a transverse magnetic field, using the spinless fermion approach, critical fields are obtained as a function of exchanges. Our analytical results show, the field-induced effects depend on in which one of the four regions the system is. In two regions of the phase diagram, the Ising-type phase transition happens in a finite field. In another region, we have identified two quantum phase transitions (QPT)s in the ground state magnetic phase diagram. These quantum phase transitions belong to the universality class of the commensurate-incommensurate phase transition. We also present a detailed numerical analysis of the low energy spectrum and the ground state magnetic phase diagram. In particular, we show that the intermediate state (h _c1 < h < h _c2) is gapful, describing the spin-flop phase.     

Incommensurate phases in ferromagnetic spin-chains with weak antiferromagnetic interchain interaction

We study planar ferromagnetic spin-chain systems with weak antiferromagnetic inter-chain interaction and dipole-dipole interaction. The ground state depends sensitively on the relative strengths of antiferromagnetic exchange and dipole energies κ = J′a ² c/(g _L μ _B )². For increasing values of κ, the ground state changes from a ferromagnetic via a collinear antiferromagnetic and an incommensurate phase to a 120° structure for very large antiferromagnetic energy. Investigation of the magnetic phase diagram of the collinear phase, as realized in CsNiF₃, shows that the structure of the spin order depends sensitivly on the direction of the magnetic field in the hexagonal plane. For certain angular domains of the field incommensurate phases appear which are seperated by commensurate phases. When rotating the field, the wave vector characterizing the structure changes continously in the incommensurate phase, whereas in the commensurate phase the wave vector is locked to a fixed value describing a two-sublattice structure. This is a result of the competition between the exchange and the dipole-dipole interaction.     

Magnetic phase diagram of the dimerized spin S = 1/2 ladder

The ground-state magnetic phase diagram of a spin S=1/2 two-leg ladder with alternating rung exchange J_⊥(n)=J_⊥[1 + (-1)ⁿ δ] is studied using the analytical and numerical approaches. In the limit where the rung exchange is dominant, we have mapped the model onto the effective quantum sine-Gordon model with topological term and identified two quantum phase transitions at magnetization equal to the half of saturation value from a gapped to the gapless regime. These quantum transitions belong to the universality class of the commensurate-incommensurate phase transition. We have also shown that the magnetization curve of the system exhibits a plateau at magnetization equal to the half of the saturation value. We also present a detailed numerical analysis of the low energy excitation spectrum and the ground state magnetic phase diagram of the ladder with rung-exchange alternation using Lanczos method of numerical diagonalizations for ladders with number of sites up to N = 28. We have calculated numerically the magnetic field dependence of the low-energy excitation spectrum, magnetization and the on-rung spin-spin correlation function. We have also calculated the width of the magnetization plateau and show that it scales as δ^ν, where critical exponent varies from ν = 0.87±0.01 in the case of a ladder with isotropic antiferromagnetic legs to ν = 1.82±0.01 in the case of ladder with ferromagnetic legs. Obtained numerical results are in an complete agreement with estimations made within the continuum-limit approach.     

Synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons in intense magnetic fields

The synchrotron radiation spectrum is calculated for relativistic electrons in the case where no restriction is placed on the strength of the magnetic field. It is shown that in intense fields H? H₀ = m²c³/e₀? =4.41 · 10¹³ G a major contribution to the total radiation intensity comes from transitions to the ground state and also to weakly excited levels. In particular, the contribution from transitions to the ground state (final electron energy E' =mc²) for electrons of initial energy E = 10 MeV in a field H = 2H₀ is 14% of the contribution from transitions to highly excited states (E'?mc²).     

Magnetic catalysis and magnetic oscillations in the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model

The phase structure of the four-dimensional Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model in the presence of a chemical potential μ and an external magnetic field H is investigated at comparatively small values of the bare coupling constant (G<G _c). It is shown that only for magnetic-field strengths in excess of some critical value H _c(μ) does the magnetic field induce a spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry. On the phase portrait of the model, there are infinitely many massless chiral-invariant phases; in addition, there is one massive phase characterized by spontaneously broken chiral invariance. It is because of this phase structure of the system that some physical features of its ground state, including magnetization, pressure, and particle density, oscillate as H → 0. Changes in the vacuum properties of the model are accompanied by first-or second-order phase transitions.     

Jahn-Teller transitions in Yb<Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis>=V,P) stimulated by a strong magnetic field

The effect of an external magnetic field directed along various symmetry axes of a crystal on Jahn-Teller-type structural phase transitions (quadrupole ordering) is studied in YbPO₄ and YbVO₄ crystals with zircon structure. In the absence of a magnetic field, the crystals are in a precritical state and do not exhibit a spontaneous quadrupole ordering. It is shown that, in a field H ∥ [110], the strain susceptibility χ_γ increases with the field and, at a sufficiently high field strength, an orthorhombic lattice deformation along the [100] axis arises in the crystals under study; i.e., a stimulated Jahn-Teller phase transition of γ symmetry occurs. Using interaction constants determined from independent experiments, we calculated phase diagrams and anomalies in the magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of the YbPO₄ and YbVO₄ crystals near the stimulated phase transitions, investigated the effect of various pairwise interactions on them, and analyzed possible experimental observations of the predicted effects.     

Phase Transitions of Fel2 in high magnetic field parallel to the spin direction,static field up to 150 kOe,pulsed field up to 250 kOe

Study of parallel and perpendicular susceptibilities shows that ferrous iodide presents at low temperature an antiferromagnetic order, with spins oriented along the anisotropy axis (c axis).Phase transitions of Fel₂ in a magnetic field parallel to c axis are studied by help of magnetization measurements. At low temperature (2.2 K) saturation is reached only for a magnetic field of 140 kOe. Results obtained in high static fields (Bitter and supraconductive coils allowing respectively 140 and 150 kOe) and in pulsed field are presented.At low temperature, two successive first order phase transitions are observed at 46 and 120 kOe. In the intermediate phase, the magnetization presents two minor discontinuities. An original phase diagram is given.The complexity of the Fel₂ behavior, in parallel magnetic field shows that the magnetic structure is not the same as the two sublattices one characteristic of FeCl₂ and FeBr₂. An estimate of the principal exchange coupling parameters and a study by neutron diffraction measurements (to be published) confirm an original magnetic structure.     

Crystal and magnetic structures of the oxyphosphates MFePO 5 (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu). Analysis of the magnetic ground state in terms of superexchange interactions

We have studied in detail the crystal and magnetic structures of the oxyphosphates MFePO₅ (M: divalent transition metal) using neutron powder diffraction as a function of temperature. All of them are isomorphic to the mixed valence compound α-Fe₂PO₅ with space-group Pnma. No disorder exists between the two metallic sites. The M²⁺O₆ octahedra share edges between them and faces with Fe³⁺O₆ octahedra building zigzag chains running parallel to the b-axis that are connected by PO₄ tetrahedra. The topology of this structure gives rise to a complex pattern of super-exchange interactions responsible of the observed antiferromagnetic order. The magnetic structures are all collinear with the spin directed along the b-axis except for M = Co. The experimental magnetic moments of Cu⁺² and Ni²⁺ correspond to the expected ionic value, on the contrary the magnetic moment of Fe³⁺ is reduced, probably due to covalence effects, and that of Co²⁺ is greater than the spin-only value indicating a non negligible orbital contribution. Using numerical calculations we have established a magnetic phase diagram adapted for this type of crystal structure and determined the constraints to be satisfied by the values of the exchange interactions in order to obtain the observed magnetic structure as the ground state. Received 15 December 2000 and Received in final form 25 June 2001     

Oscillatory behavior of magneto-optical interband emissions in asymmetric quantum well structures

We report on the oscillatory behavior of the photoluminescence intensity from asymmetric AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs quantum well structures in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field. Two distinct photoluminescence peaks originating from transitions from the ground (e₁) and the first excited (e₂) electronic states to the heavy hole state (hh₁) are observed. The opposite phase of the oscillations shows clearly the competitive process between the transitions from the ground and first excited states. Electron transfer mechanisms cannot explain the origin of these oscillations. The optical oscillations emerge from changes in the effective electron–hole interaction.     

Quadrupolar susceptibility and magnetic phase diagram of PrNi2Cd20 with non-Kramers doublet ground state

ABSTRACT

In this study, ultrasonic measurements were performed on a single crystal of cubic PrNi₂Cd₂₀, down to a temperature of 0.02?K, to investigate the crystalline electric field ground state and search for possible phase transitions at low temperatures. The elastic constant (C₁₁?C₁₂)/2, which is related to the Γ₃-symmetry quadrupolar response, exhibits the Curie-type softening at temperatures below ～30?K, which indicates that the present system has a Γ₃ non-Kramers doublet ground state. A leveling-off of the elastic response appears below ～0.1?K toward the lowest temperatures, which implies the presence of level splitting owing to a long-range order in a finite-volume fraction associated with Γ₃-symmetry multipoles. A magnetic field–temperature phase diagram of the present compound is constructed up to 28?T for H || [110]. A clear acoustic de Haas–van Alphen signal and a possible magnetic-field-induced phase transition at H ～26?T are also detected by high-magnetic-field measurements.     

On the ground-state magnetic structure in Er2Ni2Pb

We have studied the unusual low-temperature magnetic phase of Er₂Ni₂Pb using powder neutron diffraction measurements in zero field down to 460 mK. Our previous neutron diffraction experiments down to 1.5 K showed that magnetic Bragg reflections seen in Er₂Ni₂Pb can be indexed by several propagation vectors that partially coexist. All the incommensurate propagation vectors seemed to disappear in the low temperature limit. The present study, however, shows that reflections belonging to the propagation vector q’ = (0.47 0 1/2) do not disappear but remain present down to 460 mK. This highly unexpected result suggests that the magnetic structure described by this propagation vector might not be a simple sine-wave modulation. One interesting possibility here is a spin-slip structure as the ground state.     

Emission of gamma rays by electron-nuclear doubletransitions

In this paper we discuss the relevance of electron-nuclear double transitions for the problem of the amplification of gamma rays. We consider the electron-nuclear coupled system of ¹⁵¹Eu in a CaF₂ lattice, in the presence of a strong static magnetic field. We analyze the possibility of pumping this electron-nuclear coupled system from the ground atomic electron Zeeman level to a higher electron level with the aid of a microwave magnetic field, while the nucleus is simultaneously undergoing a gamma-ray transition to the nuclear ground state. It is shown that an overall inversion condition can be satisfied even in the absence of inversion of the nuclear populations, provided that the ratio of the electron populations in the excited and ground electron Zeeman states has a sufficiently small value. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Manifestation of a series of phase transitions in IR spectra of a multiferroic TbMnO3

We have studied IR transmittance spectra of a multiferroic TbMnO₃. Three phase transitions (T _N = 43 K, T _FE = 28 K, and T _Tb = 7 K), which manifest themselves in a shift of the absorption band edge of manganese and in changes in the spectral parameters of lines of f-f transitions of terbium, have been detected. An incommensurate character of the magnetic structure leads to nonequivalence of terbium positions and to an additional inhomogeneous broadening. The spontaneous electric polarization, which arises at T < T _FE, significantly affects the crystal field that acts on terbium and noticeably shifts its energy levels. The phase transition with ordering of terbium (7 K) is accompanied by a lowering of the energy of the ground state of the Tb³⁺ ion.     

Quantum glass transition in a periodic long-range Josephson array

We show that the ground state of a periodic long-range Josephson array frustrated by a magnetic field is a glass for sufficiently large Josephson energies despite the absence of quenched disorder. Like superconductors, this glass state has non-zero phase stiffness and Meissner response; for lower Josephson energies the glass “melts” and the ground state loses its phase stiffness and becomes insulating. We find the critical scaling behavior near this quantum phase transition: the excitation gap vanishes as (J−J _c )², and the frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility behaves as . Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 1450–1461 (October 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Evolution of magnetism in U(Ni 1- xPd x) Si single crystals

Single crystals of U(Ni_1-xPd_x)₂Si₂ with x = 0.05, 0.09 and 0.135 have been grown. Magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements were performed in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields in order to study stability of magnetic phases in the solid solutions between UNi₂Si₂ and UPd₂Si₂ with a special emphasis on the type of ground state. In UPd₂Si₂ the simple AFI-type antiferromagnetic structure of U moments is observed at low temperatures. UNi₂Si₂ adopts the uncompensated AF structure (UAF) with the + + - stacking of U moments along the c-axis and consequently this compound exhibits a spontaneous magnetization corresponding to 1/3 of the U moment. The substitution of Pd for Ni leads to a rapid decay of the spontaneous magnetization. The evolution of magnetization and electrical resistivity behavior with Pd doping is tentatively attributed to the coexistence of the AF-I and UAF phases in the ground state of U(Ni_0.91Pd_0.09)₂Si₂ and U(Ni_0.865Pd_0.135)₂Si₂. In this scenario, the volume fraction of the AF-I phase rapidly grows with Pd doping on account of the UAF. At lowest temperatures an irreversible transition to the UAF phase is observed when a sufficiently high magnetic field is applied along the c-axis. Received 28 March 2002 / Received in final form 8 August 2002 Published online 19 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: sech@mag.mff.cuni.cz     

Magnetic structure of a RbDy(WO4)2 single crystal

The results of measuring the temperature and field dependences of the magnetization of a RbDy(WO₄)₂ single crystal in the temperature range from 4.2 to 50 K and in magnetic fields up to 1.6 T are presented. The energies of the exchange and dipole-dipole interactions are estimated. The magnetic structure of the ground state is determined. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 672–676 (April 1999)     

The magnetoelectric effects in weak ferromagnetic YMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> modulated structure: a Landau theory approach

According to the group theory approach, linear magnetoelectric effect (ME) can not be obtained for the spatial group of YMn₂O₅, which was known to be mmm. Regard to the magnetic structure of these type of materials, we propose a magnetic group structure for the YMn₂O₅ by considering spin orientation of the Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions. According to the landau theory of phase transition it can be shown, how symmetrical rules result in relationship between quantities such as magnetic order, polarization, and etc. This relation shows a weak ferromagnetic state, associated with spontaneous polarization, arisen by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya type interaction and a field induced change in magnetoelectrical susceptibility.     

Nuclear reactions as an example of the quantum theory of irreversible processes

A modification of the atomic beam magnetic resonance method for investigation of the hyperfine structure of excited atomic states will be described. Radiofrequency transitions between the hyperfine structure niveaus of the excited state, which are unequally populated by circularly polarized light, are detected by observing the resulting change in population number of the hyperfine structure niveaus of the ground state using magnetic deflection in an inhomogeneous field and additional radiofrequency transitions in the ground state as analyzers. As an application the hyperfine structure of the excited 4² P _3/2-state of K³⁹ has been investigated in an almost strong magnetic field of about 65 G with a constant frequency of the applied radiofrequency field of 125.50 Mc/s. The analysis of the radiofrequency signal of the excited state detected as a change in the amplitude of a radiofrequency transition in the ground state yielded the valuesA=(6.10±0.25) Mc/s andB=(1.8±1.2) Mc/s for the hyperfine structure constants of the 4² P _3/2-state of K³⁹. Further possibilities for observing signals of the excited state with the apparatus used in this experiment are also discussed.     

Optical spectroscopy of low-dimensional rare-earth iron borates

The family of RFe₃(BO₃)₄ borates (R=Pr, Nd, Eu-Er, Y) was studied by high-resolution optical absorption and Raman spectroscopies. Structural and magnetic phase transitions were detected and the types of magnetic structure were determined. Energy of crystal-field (CF) levels and exchange splitting of the ground state of the R³⁺ ion were obtained from the analysis of optical spectra. CF calculations were carried out. Effective magnetic field at the R³⁺ site was found, using the calculated value of the magnetic g-factor. Some peculiarities of modeling the paramagnetic susceptibility of NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ are discussed.