Striped morphologies induced by magnetic impurities in d-wave superconductors

We study striped morphologies induced by magnetic impurities in d-wave superconductors (DSCs) near optimal doping by self-consistently solving the Bogoliubov–de Gennes equations based on the t ? t′ ? U ? V model. For the single-impurity case, it is found that the stable ground state is a modulated checkerboard pattern. For the two-impurity case, the stripe-like structures in order parameters are induced due to the impurity-pinning effect. The modulations of DSC and charge orders share the same period of four lattice constants (4a), which is half the period of modulations in the coexisting spin order. Interestingly, when three or more impurities are inserted, the impurities could induce more complex striped morphologies due to quantum interference. Further experiments of magnetic impurity substitution in DSCs are expected to check these results.     

Traveling–stripe forcing of oblique rolls in anisotropic systems

The effects of a traveling, spatially periodic forcing are investigated in a system with axial anisotropy, where oblique stripe patterns occur at threshold in the unforced case and where the forcing wavenumber and the wavenumber of stripes are close to a 2:1 resonance. The forcing induces an interaction between the two degenerate oblique stripe orientations and for larger forcing amplitudes rectangular patterns are induced, which are dragged in phase by the forcing. With increasing forcing velocity a transition from a locked rectangular pattern to an unlocked superposition of a rectangular and oblique stripe pattern takes place. In this transition regime, especially when the ratio between the wavenumber of the forcing and that of the pattern deviates from the 2:1 ratio, surprisingly stable or long living complex patterns, such as zig–zag patterns and patterns including domain walls are found. Even more surprising is the observation, that such coherent structures propagate faster than the stripe forcing.     

Unconventional state with two coexisting long-range orders for frustrated Heisenberg model at quantum phase transition

For the frustrated two-dimensional S=1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model close to quantum phase transition we consider the singlet ground states retaining both translational and SU(2) symmetry. Besides usually discussed checkerboard, spin-liquid and stripe states an unconventional state with two coexisting long-range orders appears to be possible at sufficiently large damping of spin excitations. The problem is treated in the frames of self-consistent spherically symmetric approach.     

欠掺杂高温超导体中的涡旋电荷结构相变

利用平均场t-t′-U-V-V_c模型,通过自洽求解Bogoliubov-de Gennes方程,研究了高温超导体中涡旋结构的相变.发现增大原位排斥势U,自旋密度波、电荷密度波以及d波序参量由棋盘结构转变为条纹结构.模型哈密顿量中引入合适强度的长程库仑势后,欠掺杂高温超导体样品中也可以出现二维或者棋盘结构,结果与文献报道的扫描隧道显微镜实验结果一致. 关键词： 高温超导 涡旋结构 长程库仑势     

The possibility of detection of finite temperature stripe ordering in 2D spinless Falicov–Kimball model

This paper announces a possibility of detection of finite-temperature stripe ordering in the two-dimensional Falicov–Kimball model at half-filling by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Moreover, the tools to study orderings and to detect phase transition temperatures are presented. The use of Binder's cumulant is supplemented by finite-size magnetization profiles not analyzed previously in this context. Continuous character of phase transitions is announced. Analyses proving the existence of more complicated phases of finite-temperature stripe ordering than the checkerboard one conclude the paper.     

Stripe patterns in the magnetic reorientation of a glass-forming nematic liquid crystal

We study spontaneous pattern formation in a glass-forming nematic liquid crystal during the magnetically induced dynamic Fréedericksz transition. Pattern growth rates and wavelengths as functions of the magnetic field are extracted from optical transmission textures of thin planar cells. The characteristics of the observed stripe pattern can be related to viscoelastic parameters of the nematic by means of a linear stability analysis of director fluctuation modes. The viscous properties of the material allow to vary the time scales of the experiment with temperature by orders of magnitude, leaving the spatial structure of the pattern essentially unchanged. We find that the ratios of shear and rotational viscosity coefficients relevant for the pattern wavelength selection remain constant in the temperature range investigated, whereas their absolute values change by almost two orders. Received 23 November 2001 and Received in final form 19 April 2002     

Dynamical ordering of driven stripe phases in quenched disorder

We examine the dynamics and stripe formation in a system with competing short and long-range interactions in the presence of both an applied dc drive and quenched disorder. Without disorder, the system forms stripes organized in a labyrinth state. We find that, when the disorder strength exceeds a critical value, an applied dc drive can induce a dynamical stripe ordering transition to a state that is more ordered than the originating undriven, unpinned pattern. We show that signatures in the structure factor and transport properties correspond to this dynamical reordering transition, and we present the dynamic phase diagram as a function of strengths of disorder and dc drive.     

Critical fluctuations and quenched disordered two-dimensional charge stripes in La(5/3)Sr(1/3)NiO4

Using high-resolution x-ray scattering, we have demonstrated the existence of quenched disordered charge stripes in a single crystal of La (5/3)Sr (1/3)NiO (4) at low temperatures. Above the second-order transition critical scattering was observed due to fluctuations into the charge stripe phase. The charge stripes are shown to be two dimensional in nature both by measurements of their correlation lengths (xi(a) approximately 185 A, xi(b) = 400 A, and xi(c) approximately 25 A) and by the critical exponents of the charge strip transition. The charge stripe ordering did not develop long-range order even at low temperatures, indicating that the charge stripes are disordered and that the length scale of the disorder is quenched.     

The influence of magnetic ordering on the superconducting properties of amorphous (Zr1−xErx)3Rh alloys

The effect of Er impurities on the superconducting properties of an amorphous Zr₃Rh alloy has been studied. The Er impurities are found to exhibit magnetic behavior characteristic of a free Er³⁺ ion in a weak crystal field. Magnetic ordering of the Er moments is observed to occur at a temperature T_M which is proportional to the Er concentration. This ordering strongly influences superconductivity as evidenced by anomalous behavior in the concentration dependence of T_c. For concentrations near the critical Abrikosov-Gor'kov value, superconductivity appears to be induced by magnetic ordering. The superconducting critical field H_c2(T) is strongly effected by magnetic ordering and can be used to deduce information concerning the nature of the ordering. The results are analyzed in terms of theoretical models.     

Vortices in a rotating two-component Bose–Einstein condensate with tunable interactions and harmonic potential

We consider a pair of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations modeling a rotating two-component Bose–Einstein condensate with tunable interactions and harmonic potential, with emphasis on the structure of vortex states by varying the strength of inter-component interaction, rotational frequency, and the aspect ratio of the harmonic potential. Our results show that the inter-component interaction greatly enhances the effect of rotation. For the case of isotropic harmonic potential and small inter-component interaction, the initial vortex structure remains unchanged. As the ratio of inter- to intra-component interactions increases, each component undergoes a transition from a vortex lattice (vortex line) in an isotropic (anisotropic) harmonic potential to an alternatively arranged stripe pattern, and eventually to the interwoven “serpentine” vortex sheets. Moreover, in the case of anisotropic harmonic potential the system can develop to a rotating droplet structure.     

Local tunneling spectroscopy as a signature of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in s- and d-wave superconductors

The Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) states for two-dimensional s- and d-wave superconductors (s- and d-SCs) are self-consistently studied under an in-plane magnetic field. While the stripe solution of the order parameter is found to have lower free energy in s-SCs, a square lattice solution appears to be energetically more favorable in the case of d-SCs. At certain symmetric sites, we find that the features in the local density of states (LDOS) can be ascribed to two types of bound states. We also show that the LDOS maps for d-SCs exhibit bias-energy-dependent checkerboard patterns. These characteristics can serve as signatures of the FFLO states.     

Origin of the 150-K anomaly in LaFeAsO: competing antiferromagnetic interactions, frustration, and a structural phase transition

From all-electron fixed-spin-moment calculations we show that ferromagnetic and checkerboard antiferromagnetic ordering in LaFeAsO are not stable and the stripe antiferromagnetic configuration with M(Fe)=0.48 microB is the only stable ground state. The main exchange interactions between Fe ions are large, antiferromagnetic, and frustrated. The magnetic stripe phase breaks the tetragonal symmetry, removes the frustration, and causes a structural distortion. These results successfully explain the magnetic and structural phase transitions in LaFeAsO recently observed by neutron scattering. The presence of competing strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions suggests that magnetism and superconductivity in doped LaFeAsO may be strongly coupled, much like in the high-T(c) cuprates.     

Phase transitions in the 2D J 1-J 2 Heisenberg model with arbitrary signs of exchange interactions

The ground state of the J ₁-J ₂ Heisenberg model with arbitrary signs of exchange is studied for spin S = 1/2 in the case of the two-dimensional (2D) square lattice. The states with different types of spin long-range order (antiferromagnetic checkerboard, stripe, collinear ferromagnetic) as well as the disordered spin liquid states are described in the framework of one analytical approach. In particular, it is shown that the phase transition between the ferromagnetic spin liquid and the ferromagnet with long-range order is of the second order. In the vicinity of such transition, we have found the ferromagnetic state with a rapidly varying condensate function.     

Revealing charge density wave formation in the LaTe2 system by angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We present the first direct study of charge density wave (CDW) formation in quasi-2D single layer LaTe2 using high-resolution angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction. CDW formation is driven by Fermi surface (FS) nesting, however, characterized by a surprisingly smaller gap ( approximately 50 meV) than seen in the double layer RTe2 compounds, extending over the entire FS. This establishes LaTe2 as the first reported semiconducting 2D CDW system where the CDW phase is FS nesting driven. In addition, the layer dependence of this phase in the tellurides and the possible transition from a stripe to a checkerboard phase is discussed.     

Electric field induced phase transition in first order ferroelectrics with large zero point energy

An electric field induced phase transition in first order ferroelectrics with very large zero point energy is studied on the framework of the effective field approach. It is well known that when the zero point energy of a system is relatively large, the ferroelectric behaviour is depressed and no phase transition can be observed. The critical value Ω_cf of zero point energy for whom the phase transition disappears turns out to be dependant on the order of transition. For zero point energies larger than this critical value, a phase transition may be induced applying an external electric field. This temperature dependence of the induced polarization shows a discontinuous step when the applied electric field is weak, but becoming a continuous one at a strong applied electric field. Another critical value of zero point energy Ω_cp>Ω_cf is deduced for which no phase transition at all can be attained.     

流动氩气放电系统中条纹斑图形成的实验研究

采用双水电极介质阻挡放电装置, 在大气压下流动氩气中产生了稳定的条纹斑图, 并采用拍照和电学方法对其产生机理进行了研究. 研究发现, 条纹斑图仅出现在外加电压较低的情况下, 在较高电压下放电会过渡到均匀模式. 低电压下的条纹斑图是由于放电丝沿着气流方向定向移动形成的, 该定向移动速度几乎与电压无关, 主要由气体流量决定. 分析发现放电空间中活性粒子的记忆效应对条纹斑图的形成起决定作用. 电学测量发现放电电流和放电的气隙起始电压都随着气流的增加而减小, 本文对这一现象进行了定性解释. 本文结果对斑图动力学研究和介质阻挡放电的工业应用都具有很重要的意义.     

First-principles study of pressure effects on and

We have performed first-principles calculations to investigate the pressure effects on CaFe₂As₂ and BaFe₂As₂. Our calculations show that in CaFe₂As₂, the orthorhombic structure transforms to a collapsed tetragonal structure at 0.4 GPa with a volume collapse of 9.5%, which is in agreement with experiments. Together with the structural phase transition, CaFe₂As₂ undergoes a magnetic transition from the stripe antiferromagnetic ordering to the nonmagnetic state. For BaFe₂As₂, we predict that the orthorhombic structure transforms to the tetragonal structure at 9.4 GPa. Unlike CaFe₂As₂, the magnetic moments of Fe ions in BaFe₂As₂ are not zero and the stripe antiferromagnetic ordering transforms to the checkerboard antiferromagnetic ordering together with the structural phase transition. The stability of the orthorhombic structure up to 9.4 GPa suggests that superconductivity and magnetism coexist in BaFe₂As₂.     

Possible phase transition of anisotropic frustrated Heisenberg model at finite temperature

The frustrated spin-1/2 J_1a–J_1b–J₂ antiferromagnet with anisotropy on the two-dimensional square lattice was investigated, where the parameters J_1aand J_1b represent the nearest neighbor exchanges and along the x and y directions, respectively. J₂ represents the next-nearest neighbor exchange. The anisotropy includes the spatial and exchange anisotropies. Using the double-time Green’s function method, the effects of the interplay of exchanges and anisotropy on the possible phase transition of the Néel state and stripe state were discussed. Our results indicated that, in the case of anisotropic parameter 0≤η<1, the Néel and stripe states can exist and have the same critical temperature as long as J₂ = J_1b/2. Under such parameters, a first-order phase transformation between the Néel and stripe states can occur below the critical point. For J₂ ≠J_1b/2, our results indicate that the Néel and stripe states can also exist, while their critical temperatures differ. When J₂>J_1b/2, a first-order phase transformation between the two states may also occur. However, for J₂<J_1b/2, the Néel state is always more stable than the stripe state.     

Templating of thin films induced by dewetting on patterned surfaces

The instability, dynamics, and morphological transitions of patterns in thin liquid films on chemically heterogeneous striped surfaces are investigated based on 3D nonlinear simulations. The film breakup is suppressed on some potentially destabilizing nonwettable sites when their spacing is below a characteristic length scale of the instability, lambda(h). The thin film pattern replicates the substrate surface energy pattern closely only when (i) the periodicity of substrate pattern lies between lambda(h) and 2lambda(h), and (ii) the stripe width is within a range bounded by a lower critical length, below which no heterogeneous rupture occurs, and an upper transition length above which complex morphological features unlike the substrate pattern are formed.     

Thickness dependence of magnetic anisotropic properties of FeCoNd films

The magnetic FeCoNd films with thickness (t) from 50 to 166 nm were fabricated by RF magnetron co-sputtering at ambient condition. The amorphous structures of all of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. A spin reorientation transition from in-plane single domain state to out-of-plane stripe domain state was observed as a function of t. When t is below a critical thickness, magnetic moments lie in the film plane corresponding to in-plane single domain state because of the strong demagnetization energy. However, when t is increased, out-of-plane stripe domain structure was developed due to a dominated perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Scanning electron microscopy data indicate that the perpendicular anisotropy, which is responsible for the formation of stripe domains, may result from the shape effect of the columnar growth of the FeCo grains.