Why could electron spin resonance be observed in a heavy fermion Kondo lattice?

We develop a theoretical basis for understanding the spin relaxation processes in Kondo lattice systems with heavy fermions as experimentally observed by electron spin resonance (ESR). The Kondo effect leads to a common energy scale that regulates a logarithmic divergence of different spin kinetic coefficients and supports a collective spin motion of the Kondo ions with conduction electrons. We find that the relaxation rate of a collective spin mode is greatly reduced due to a mutual cancellation of all the divergent contributions even in the case of the strongly anisotropic Kondo interaction. The contribution to the ESR linewidth caused by the local magnetic field distribution is subject to motional narrowing supported by ferromagnetic correlations. The developed theoretical model successfully explains the ESR data of YbRh₂Si₂ in terms of their dependence on temperature and magnetic field.     

Low temperature electron spin resonance of the Kondo ion in a heavy fermion metal: YbRh2Si2

We report an electron spin resonance (ESR) study on single crystals of the heavy fermion metal YbRh2Si2 which shows pronounced non-Fermi liquid behavior related to a close antiferromagnetic quantum critical point. It is shown that the observed ESR spectra can be ascribed to a bulk Yb3+ resonance. This is the first observation of ESR of the Kondo ion itself in a dense Kondo lattice system. The ESR signal occurs below the Kondo temperature (T(K)) which thus indicates the existence of large unscreened Yb3+ moments below T(K). We observe the spin dynamics as well as the static magnetic properties of the Yb3+ spins to be consistent with the results of nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic susceptibility.     

Relevance of ferromagnetic correlations for the electron spin resonance in Kondo lattice systems

Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements of the ferromagnetic (FM) Kondo lattice system CeRuPO show a well defined ESR signal which is related to the Ce3+ magnetism. In contrast, no ESR could be observed in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) homologue CeOsPO. Additionally, we detect an ESR signal in ferromagnetic YbRh while it was absent in a number of Ce or Yb intermetallic compounds with dominant AFM exchange. Thus, the observation of an ESR signal in a Kondo lattice is neither specific to Yb nor to the proximity to a quantum critical point, but seems to be connected to the presence of FM fluctuations. These conclusions not only provide a basic concept to understand the ESR in Kondo lattice systems even well below the Kondo temperature (as observed in YbRh2Si2) but point out ESR as a prime method to investigate directly the spin dynamics of the Kondo ion.     

Electron spin resonance in YbRh2Si2: local-moment, unlike-spin and quasiparticle descriptions

Electron spin resonance (ESR) in the Kondo lattice compound YbRh(2)Si(2) has stimulated discussion as to whether the low-field resonance outside the Fermi liquid regime in this material is more appropriately characterized as a local-moment phenomenon or one that requires a Landau quasiparticle interpretation. In earlier work, we outlined a collective mode approach to the ESR that involves only the local 4f moments. In this paper, we extend the collective mode approach to a situation where there are two subsystems of unlike spins: the pseudospins of the ground multiplet of the Yb ions and the spins of the itinerant conduction electrons. We assume a weakly anisotropic exchange interaction between the two subsystems. With suitable approximations our expression for the g-factor also reproduces that found in recent unlike-spin quasiparticle calculations. It is pointed out that the success of the local-moment approach in describing the resonance is due to the fact that the susceptibility of the Yb subsystem dominates that of the conduction electrons with the consequence that the relative shift in the resonance frequency predicted by the unlike-spin models (and absent in the local-moment models) is ? 1. The connection with theoretical studies of a two-component model with like spins is also discussed.     

ESR of Yb3+ ions in a single crystal of the fluctuating-valence compound YbB12

The temperature and angular dependences of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of Yb³⁺ ions in a single crystal of fluctuating-valence compound YbB₁₂ were studied. The existence of Yb?Yb ion pairs was observed in a cubic-symmetry crystal. The ions forming the pairs are coupled by the isotropic exchange but interact also with the other pairs by the dipole and exchange coupling. The occurrence of a slight anisotropy in a cubic semiconductor may be the result of a spontaneous break of symmetry specific for the ground state of the Kondo dielectric. A strong temperature dependence of the amplitude of the ESR signals is found at 1.6–4.2 K and interpreted as a result of the capture of electrons by Yb³⁺ ions from electron traps with a binding energy of 18 K. ESR spectra of Yb³⁺ single ions in the Γ₆ state were observed also. The decrease of temperature from 4.2 to 1.6 K indicates a tendency to the ferromagnetic ordering of Yb?Yb pairs.     

X-Band ESR and51V NMR study of the Haldane system PbNi2−xMgxV2O8

The temperature and angular dependence of the X-band electron spin resonance (ESR) and⁵¹V nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra have been measured in a recently discovered Haldenegap system, PbNi_2-xMg_xV₂O₈ (0≤x≤0.24). The angular dependence of the ESR signal suggests that both the spin diffusion as well as the magnetic anisotropy determine the electronic spin correlation functions. However, in doped samples the magnetic anisotropy increasingly dominates the spin dynamics on cooling. The huge broadening of the⁵¹V NMR spectra in doped samples at low temperatures provides evidence for localized magnetic moments in the vicinity of the Mg impurities. Locally distorted structure around each Mg impurity may slightly modify the magnetic interactions and be potentially responsible for the antiferromagnetic ordering (belowT _N≈ 3.5K) in doped compositions.     

Novel electron spin resonance spectra of a tetrathiafulvalene salt of copper chloride, (TTF) 2CuCl2

An ESR study has been carried out on electrically conducting (TTF)₂CuCl₂ crystals. The peak-to-peak width W of the ESR spectrum exhibited an unusual angular dependence with respect to the angle θ between the TTF-stack direction and the external field: the W showed a sharp minimum (4.9 G at 300 K) at θ = 0°, a maximum (7.5 G) at 60° (corresponding to 3cos²θ ∼ 1), and another minimum (6.9 G) at 90°. This angular depence has been explained by assuming an anisotropic motional narrowing that may arise from a spin correlation in one-dimensional electroconductive lattices. The temperature dependence of the W showed no anomaly around the temperature of metal-semiconductor transition: the spin relaxation is substantially unchanged by the phase transition.     

Quantum critical Kondo quasiparticles probed by ESR in β-YbAlB₄

Electron spin resonance (ESR) can probe conduction electrons (CE) and local moment (LM) spin systems in different materials. A CE spin resonance (CESR) is observed in metallic systems based on light elements or with enhanced Pauli susceptibility. LM ESR can be seen in compounds with paramagnetic ions and localized d or f electrons. Here we report a remarkable and unprecedented ESR signal in the heavy-fermion superconductor β-YbAlB? [S. Nakatsuji et al., Nature Phys. 4, 603 (2008)] which behaves as a CESR at high temperatures and acquires characteristics of the Yb3? LM ESR at low temperature. This dual behavior strikes as an in situ unique observation of the Kondo quasiparticles in a quantum critical regime. The proximity to a quantum critical point may favor the appearance of this dual character of the ESR signal in β-YbAlB?.     

Field-dependent collective ESR mode in YbRh2Si2

Electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments in YbRh₂Si₂ Kondo lattice at different field/frequencies and H_⊥c revealed: (i) a strong field dependent Yb³⁺ spin-lattice relaxation, (ii) a weak field and T-dependent effectiveg-value, (iii) a suppression of the ESR intensity beyond 15% of Lu-doping, and (iv) a strong sample and Lu-doping (≤15%) dependence of the ESR data. These results suggest that the ESR signal in YbRh₂Si₂ may be due to a coupled Yb³⁺-conduction electron resonant collective mode with a subtle field-dependent spins dynamic.     

Non-fermi-liquid scaling in Ce(Ru0.5Rh)2Si2

We study the temperature and field dependence of the magnetic and transport properties of the non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) compound Ce(Ru0.5Rh0.5)2Si2. For fields H less, similar0.1 T the results suggest that the observed NFL behavior is disorder driven. For higher fields, however, magnetic and transport properties are dominated by the coupling of the conduction electrons to critical spin fluctuations. The temperature dependence of the susceptibility as well as the scaling properties of the magnetoresistance are in very good agreement with the predictions of recent dynamical mean-field theories of Kondo alloys close to a spin-glass quantum critical point.     

Spin Pumping from a Quantum Dot in the Presence of Decoherence

We study the pumped spin current of an interacting quantum dot tunnel coupled to a single lead in the presence of electron spin resonance （ESR） field. The spin decoherence in the dot is included by the Bffttiker approach. Using the nonequilibrium Green＇s function technique, we show that ESR-induced spin flip can generate finite spin current with no charge transport. Both the Coulomb interaction and spin decoherence decrease the amplitude of spin current. The dependence of pumped spin current on the intensity and frequency of ESR field, and the spin decoherence is discussed.     

Magnetism, f-electron localization and superconductivity in 122-type heavy-fermion metals

Both CeCu2Si2 and YbRh2Si2 crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr2Si2 crystal structure. Recent neutron-scattering results on normal-state CeCu2Si2 reveal a slowing down of the quasielastic response which complies with the scaling expected for a quantum critical point (QCP) of itinerant, i.e., three-dimensional spin-density-wave (SDW), type. This interpretation is in full agreement with the non-Fermi-liquid behavior observed in transport and thermodynamic measurements. The momentum dependence of the magnetic excitation spectrum reveals two branches of an overdamped dispersive mode whose coupling to the heavy charge carriers is strongly retarded. These overdamped spin fluctuations are considered to be the driving force for superconductivity in CeCu2Si2 (Tc = 600 mK). The weak antiferromagnet YbRh2Si2 (TN = 70 mK) exhibits a magnetic-field-induced QCP at BN = 0.06 T (B⊥c). There is no indication of superconductivity down to T = 10 mK. The magnetic QCP appears to concur with a breakdown of the Kondo effect. Doping-induced variations of the average unit-cell volume result in a detachment of the magnetic and electronic instabilities. A comparison of the properties of these isostructural compounds suggests that 3D SDW QCPs are favorable for unconventional superconductivity. The question whether a Kondo-breakdown QCP may also give rise to superconductivity, however, remains to be clarified.     

储锂硅材料的ESR谱研究

采用了电化学方法制备储锂硅材料,并用电子自旋共振(ESR)方法进行研究. 实验结果表明, 储锂前的硅ESR行为符合居里自旋的ESR特征, ESR信号主要来源于硅材料中的晶格缺陷、 表面悬空键等局域化自旋中心. 储锂后硅材料中产生了泡利自旋,居里自旋的强度比储锂前增大2～3倍. 此外,对硅和储锂硅ESR谱线的g因子和ΔH_pp随温度的变化情况也进行了分析. 硅材料电化学储锂时,与锂离子中和的电子主要参与形成Li-Si共价键,对ESR信号贡献很小.     

Electron spin resonance investigation of ultra-small double walled carbon nanotubes embedded in zeolite nanochannels

We report on the low temperature electron spin resonance (ESR) properties of ultra-small (0.45?nm) double walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) embedded in zeolite nanochannels. An isotropic ESR signal is observed at g(c)?=?2.002?77 with the spin density (S?=?1/2)?～?10(19)?g(-1), which is suggested to originate from the carbon related point defects in the DWCNTs. Measurements of the ESR line width and signal intensity as a function of temperature indicate that the spins are of a localized nature as opposed to the conduction type electrons observed in large diameter CNTs. The results are consistent with the suggestion that electrons are trapped at interstitial defects. The observed linear frequency dependence of the ESR line width of embedded DWCNTs points to 'strain' as the prime source of broadening. By contrast, the study of free standing DWCNTs shows the presence of a distinctly superlinear frequency dependence of the signal width at low temperatures. The possible origin of the frequency dependence is discussed.     

Understanding the heavy fermion phenomenology from a microscopic model

We solve the 3D periodic Anderson model using a two impurity cluster dynamical mean field theory. We obtain the temperature versus hybridization phase diagram. Approaching the quantum critical point (QCP) both the Néel and lattice Kondo temperatures decrease and they do not cross at the lowest temperature we reached. While strong ferromagnetic spin fluctuation on the Kondo side is observed, our result suggests the critical static spin susceptibility is local in space at the QCP. We observe in the crossover region a logarithmic temperature dependence in the specific heat coefficient and spin susceptibility.     

Temperature dependence of the Kondo resonance and its satellites in CeCu2Si2

We present high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy studies on the Kondo resonance of the strongly correlated Ce system CeCu2Si2. By exploiting the thermal broadening of the Fermi edge we analyze position, spectral weight, and temperature dependence of the low-energy 4f spectral features, whose major weight lies above the Fermi level E(F). We also present theoretical predictions based on the single-impurity Anderson model using an extended noncrossing approximation, including all spin-orbit and crystal field splittings of the 4f states. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment provides strong evidence that the spectral properties of CeCu2Si2 can be described by single-impurity Kondo physics down to T approximately 5 K.     

Energy structure of a finite Haldane chain in Y2BaNi0.96Mg0.04O5 studied by high field electron spin resonance

This Letter presents the fine structure of energy levels for the edge states of a Haldane chain. In order to investigate the edge states, we have performed high field and multifrequency electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements of finite length S=1 antiferromagnetic chains in Y2BaNi0.96Mg0.04O5. Owing to the high spectral resolution by high fields and high frequencies, observed ESR signals can be separated into the contributions of the finite chains with various chain lengths. Our results clearly show that the edge spins actually interact with each other through the quantum spin chain and the interaction depends on the chain length N. This N dependence has been obtained experimentally for the first time, and shows that the correlation length xi in the real system is somewhat larger than that calculated by a simple Heisenberg model.     

ESR study of the undoped heavy-fermion compound YbRh2Si2

The electron spin resonance (ESR) of the heavy-fermion metal YbRh₂Si₂ has been studied. The angular variation and the temperature dependence of the ESR line width have been measured in YbRh₂Si₂ single crystals in the temperature range of 4–25 K. The characteristic spin-fluctuation temperatureT ^* ～ 17 K estimated from these studies coincides very well with other experimental data. A well-behaved ESR signal due to local Yb³⁺ moments strongly supports the localized moment scenario for heavy-fermion quantum critical points.     

Nonequilibrium dynamics of anisotropic large spins in the kondo regime: time-dependent numerical renormalization group analysis

We investigate the time-dependent Kondo effect in a single-molecule magnet (SMM) strongly coupled to metallic electrodes. Describing the SMM by a Kondo model with large spin S>1/2, we analyze the underscreening of the local moment and the effect of anisotropy terms on the relaxation dynamics of the magnetization. Underscreening by single-channel Kondo processes leads to a logarithmically slow relaxation, while finite uniaxial anisotropy causes a saturation of the SMM's magnetization. Additional transverse anisotropy terms induce quantum spin tunneling and a pseudospin-1/2 Kondo effect sensitive to the spin parity.     

Probing the tilting mode in fission with γ-ray multiplicity techniques

The γ-ray multiplicities of the fragments from a number of ⁴He-induced fission reactions have been measured as a function of fragment emission angle. The value of M_γ is found to vary with angle in qualitative agreement with the predictions of statistical models of fission-fragment angular distributions. The observed variation is rather weak, on the order of 5%. The data are compared with several models. Calculations assuming a rigidly rotating, transition-state nucleus predict a much stronger angular dependence of the fragment spin than indicated by the data. The agreement is significantly improved if a fragment-spin enhancement effect is included in these calculations. The fragment spins are explored within the framework of the statistical scission model and the collective mode model. Both of these models predict large fragment spins and thus a relatively weak angular dependence of the total fragment spin. Neither model provides a completely satisfactory explanation of the data. Depending on the assumptions made in the calculations, the models either predict too strong an angular dependence of the total fragment spin or spins which seem incompatible with M_γ.