Interplay of spin and charge channels in zero-dimensional systems

We study the interplay of charge and spin (zero-mode) channels in quantum dots. The latter affects the former in the form of a distinct signature on the differential conductance. We also obtain both longitudinal and transverse spin susceptibilities. All these observables, underlain by spin fluctuations, become accentuated as one approaches the Stoner instability. The nonperturbative effects of zero-mode interaction are described in terms of the propagation of gauge bosons associated with charge [U(1)] and spin [SU(2)] fluctuations in the dot, while transverse spin fluctuations are analyzed perturbatively.     

Superconductivity induced by longitudinal ferromagnetic fluctuations in UCoGe

From detailed angle-resolved NMR and Meissner measurements on a ferromagnetic (FM) superconductor UCoGe (T(Curie)～2.5 K and T(SC)～0.6 K), we show that superconductivity in UCoGe is tightly coupled with longitudinal FM spin fluctuations along the c axis. We found that magnetic fields along the c axis (H∥c) strongly suppress the FM fluctuations and that the superconductivity is observed in the limited magnetic-field region where the longitudinal FM spin fluctuations are active. These results, combined with model calculations, strongly suggest that the longitudinal FM spin fluctuations tuned by H∥c induce the unique spin-triplet superconductivity in UCoGe. This is the first clear example that FM fluctuations are intimately related with superconductivity.     

The self-consistent renormalization theory of longitudinal spin fluctuations for weak antiferromagnetic metals with degenerate bands

We develop the self-consistent renormalization theory of spin fluctuations (the SCR theory) for weak antiferromagnetic metals with the single band to the SCR theory with the degenerate bands. The longitudinal spin fluctuations and the longitudinal dynamical susceptibility based on the Hubbard model with the degenerate bands are investigated. As a result, the longitudinal spin fluctuations and the longitudinal dynamical susceptibility are increased with the degeneracy of the band. The Néel temperature is lowered with our increasing the degeneracy of the band.     

Dynamic properties of a diluted pyrochlore cooperative paramagnet (Tb(p)Y(1-p))2Ti2O7

Investigations of the spin dynamics of the geometrically frustrated pyrochlore (Tb(p)Y(1-p))2Ti2O7, using muon spin relaxation and neutron spin echo, as a function of magnetic coverage p, have been carried out. Our major finding is that paramagnetic fluctuations prevail as T-->0 for all values of p, and that they are sensitive to dilution, indicating a cooperative spin motion. However, the percolation threshold pc is not a critical point for the fluctuations. We also find that the low temperature spectral density has a 1/f behavior, and that dilution slows down the spin fluctuations.     

Superconductivity and spin fluctuations

In the conventional superconductors, the Cooper pairs are mediated by phonons, which is a process where only the correlations between the phonons and the charge properties of the electrons are needed. However, superconductivity can also be derived from other types of elementary excitations. The spin fluctuations are arguably the most promising candidate that can mediate such unconventional superconductivity. In some of the important systems such as cuprates, Fe-based superconductors and heavy-fermion superconductors, spin fluctuations play a key role in the mechanism of their superconductivity although there are still many debates. In this paper, we will give a brief review on the correlation between the spin fluctuations and superconductivity.     

Microscopic Theory of the Two-Dimensional Quantum Antiferromagnet in a Paramagnetic Phase

We have developed a consistent theory of the Heisenberg quantum antiferromagnet in the disordered phase with a short range antiferromagnetic order on the basis of the path integral for spin coherent states. In the framework of our approach we have obtained the response function for the spin fluctuations for all values of the frequency ω and the wave vector k and have calculated the free energy of the system. We have also reproduced the known results for the spin correlation length in the lowest order in 1/N. We have presented the Lagrangian of the theory in a form which is explicitly invariant under rotations and found natural variables in terms of which one can construct a natural perturbation theory. The short wave spin fluctuations are similar to those in the spin wave theory and they are on the order of the smallness parameter 1/2s where s is the spin magnitude. The long-wave spin fluctuations are governed by the nonlinear sigma model and are on the order of the smallness parameter 1/N, where N is the number of field components. We also have shown that the short wave spin fluctuations must be evaluated accurately and the continuum limit in time of the path integral must be performed after the summation over the frequencies ω.     

Effects of spin fluctuations in itinerant electron ferromagnets

Effects of spin fluctuations on the paramagnetic spin susceptibility, magnetization and specific heat are calculated in gaussian statistics as a power series of k_BT. The results are applied to nickel and iron. It is shown that in effect spin fluctuations reduce the molecular field coefficient above the Curie temperature.     

Invariant spin coherent states and the theory of the quantum antiferromagnet in a paramagnetic phase

A consistent theory of the Heisenberg quantum antiferromagnet in the disordered phase with short-range antiferromagnetic order was developed on the basis of the path integral for the spin coherent states. We presented the Lagrangian of the theory in the form that is explicitly invariant under rotations and found natural variables in terms of which one can construct a perturbation theory. The short-wavelength spin fluctuations are similar to the ones in spin-wave theory, and the long-wavelength spin fluctuations are governed by the nonlinear sigma model. We also demonstrated that the short-wavelength spin fluctuations should be considered accurately in the framework of the discrete version in time of the path integral. In the framework of our approach, we obtained the response function for the spin fluctuations for the whole region of the frequency ω and the wave vector k and calculated the free energy of the system.     

Spin fluctuations of nonequilibrium electrons and excitons in semiconductors

Effects that are related to deviations from thermodynamic equilibrium have a special place in modern physics. Among these, nonequilibrium phenomena in quantum systems attract the highest interest. The experimental technique of spin-noise spectroscopy has became quite widespread, which makes it possible to observe spin fluctuations of charge carriers in semiconductors under both equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions. This calls for the development of a theory of spin fluctuations of electrons and electron–hole complexes for nonequilibrium conditions. In this paper, we consider a range of physical situations where a deviation from equilibrium becomes pronounced in the spin noise. A general method for the calculation of electron and exciton spin fluctuations in a nonequilibrium state is proposed. A short review of the theoretical and experimental results in this area is given.     

Muon spin relaxation and susceptibility studies of the pure and diluted spin 1/2 kagomé-like lattice system (CuxZn(1-x))3V2O7(OH2) 2H2O

Muon spin relaxation and magnetic susceptibility measurements have been performed on the pure and diluted spin 1/2 kagomé system (CuxZn(1-x))3V2O7(OH)2 2H2O. In the pure x=1 system we found a slowing down of Cu spin fluctuations with decreasing temperature towards T approximately 1 K, followed by slow and nearly temperature-independent spin fluctuations persisting down to T=50 mK, indicative of quantum fluctuations. No indication of static spin freezing was detected in either of the pure (x=1.0) or diluted samples. The observed magnitude of fluctuating fields indicates that the slow spin fluctuations represent an intrinsic property of kagomé network rather than impurity spins.     

Temperature-induced local magnetic moment in narrow band electron systems

It is pointed out that the local spin fluctuations in certain exchange- enhanced paramagnetic metals can grow rapidly with temperature up to saturation, where the spin fluctuations may be regarded as arising from a set of local magnetic moments. Physical consequences of this phenomenon are discussed referring to experimental results.     

Low-frequency spin fluctuations in Skyrmions confined by wires: measurements of local nuclear spin relaxation

We investigate low-frequency electron spin dynamics in a quantum Hall system with wire confinement by nuclear spin relaxation measurements. We developed a technique to measure the local nuclear spin relaxation rate T(1)(-1). T(1)(-1) is enhanced on both sides of the local filling factor ν(wire)=1, reflecting low-frequency fluctuations of electron spins associated with Skyrmions inside the wire. As the wire width is decreased, the fast nuclear spin relaxation is suppressed in a certain range of Skyrmion density. This suggests that the multi-Skyrmion state is modified and the low-frequency spin fluctuations are suppressed by the wire confinement.     

Theory of itinerant electron antiferromagnetism

Itinerant electron antiferromagnetism is studied by taking into account the realistic electronic structure and the effect of spin fluctuations within static Gaussian statistics. Expression for the magnetic susceptibility above and below the Néel temperature are obtained. It is shown that spin fluctuations can stabilize antiferromagnetism in a certain case. The character of magnetic transitions and the comparison with experiment are discussed.     

Spin wave-like excitation of magnetization fluctuations in the vicinity of the phase transition from a paramagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic phase with domain structure

The dynamics of fluctuations in ferromagnetic samples with finite dimension has been described. There are solutions of equations of motion describing spin waves of magnetization fluctuations in the paramagnetic phase. The analysis of the dispersion relation describing the soft mode of spin waves allows us to determine the phase transition temperature from a paramagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic one with domain structure.     

A ParametrizedS-matrix model of deep-inelastic scattering

Deep-inelastic collisions are studied within a phenomenological approach based on a parametrized S matrix. The importance of a correct treatment of the Poisson sum is emphasized and the possibility of non-zero angular-momentum transfer is included. Statistical fluctuations are also considered. It is shown that the spin polarization is extremely sensitive to the treatment of the Poisson sum and that the spin alignment is independent of the scattering angle in the absence of statistical fluctuations.     

Charge-fluctuation-induced dephasing of exchange-coupled spin qubits

Exchange-coupled spin qubits in semiconductor nanostructures are shown to be vulnerable to dephasing caused by charge noise invariably present in the semiconductor environment. This decoherence of exchange gate by environmental charge fluctuations arises from the fundamental Coulombic nature of the Heisenberg coupling and presents a serious challenge to the scalability of the widely studied exchange gate solid state spin quantum computer architectures. We estimate dephasing times for coupled spin qubits in a wide range (from 1 ns up to >1 micros) depending on the exchange coupling strength and its sensitivity to charge fluctuations.     

Inhomogeneous low frequency spin dynamics in La(1.65)Eu(0.2)Sr(0.15)CuO(4)

We report Cu and La nuclear magnetic resonance measurements in the title compound that reveal an inhomogeneous glassy behavior of the spin dynamics. A low temperature peak in the La spin lattice relaxation rate and the "wipeout" of Cu intensity both arise from these slow electronic spin fluctuations that reveal a distribution of activation energies. Inhomogeneous slowing of spin fluctuations appears to be a general feature of doped lanthanum cuprate.     

Dynamical theory of thermal spin fluctuations in metallic ferromagnets

A self-consistent dynamical theory of thermal spin fluctuations is developed which describes their spatial correlation. It is based on the functional integral method and utilizes the quadratic representation for the electron free energy in a fluctuating exchange field with renormalized susceptibilities allowing for the interaction of various spin fluctuation modes. Interpolation between the single-site and homogeneous susceptibilities is used, where these susceptibilities are found self-consistently. The average over fluctuations takes account of both long-wavelength and local excitations. A closed system of equations is formed for both unknown quantities: the magnetization and the mean-square exchange field at a site. The basic characteristics of a specific magnet are the density of electron states and the atomic magnetic moment at T=0. A method is proposed for separating the relatively slow thermal-spin fluctuations from the rapid zero-spin fluctuations forming the ground state of the magnets. At T=0 we have a system of equations of mean field theory. The temperature excites thermal spin fluctuations, which are described by taking account of correlation in time and space. The magnetization, susceptibility, magnitude of the spin fluctuations and their distribution over momenta, and the degree of magnetic short-range order in iron are calculated as functions of the temperature in the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases, and also at the transition between them, the Curie temperature. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 90–98 (January 1998)     

Effect of spin fluctuations on T<Subscript>c</Subscript> from density-functional theory for superconductors

The transverse spin fluctuations are introduced to the density functional theory for superconductors (SCDFT). Paramagnons are treated within the random phase approximation and assumed to be the same for the normal and superconducting state. The effect of spin fluctuations on T_c is studied for a few simple metals at ambient pressure and niobium at several pressures up to 80 GPa.     

Persistent narrowing of nuclear-spin fluctuations in InAs quantum dots using laser excitation

We demonstrate the suppression of nuclear-spin fluctuations in an InAs quantum dot and measure the timescales of the spin narrowing effect. By initializing for tens of milliseconds with two continuous wave diode lasers, fluctuations of the nuclear spins are suppressed via the hole-assisted dynamic nuclear polarization feedback mechanism. The fluctuation narrowed state persists in the dark (absent light illumination) for well over 1 s even in the presence of a varying electron charge and spin polarization. Enhancement of the electron spin coherence time (T2*) is directly measured using coherent dark state spectroscopy. By separating the calming of the nuclear spins in time from the spin qubit operations, this method is much simpler than the spin echo coherence recovery or dynamic decoupling schemes.