The large N limit of the O(N) Heisenberg spin system in two dimensions

The large N limit of the O(N) Heisenberg spin system in two dimensions (a lattice version of the non-linear σ-model) is analysed by the collective field technique. A compact expression for the mass gap and the β-function is obtained for arbitrary but fixed gN. The strong and weak coupling limits of this expression correctly reproduce the known results.     

Parametric excitation of acoustohelicon waves in a piezoelectric semiconductor

The parametric excitation of acoustohelicon waves has been studied in a piezoelectric semiconductor in the presence of a strong high frequency oscillatory electric field. The threshold electric field amplitude and the growth rate of the unstable mode have been obtained analytically and for n-InSb at 77 K the unstable mode is found to be propagating with a growth rate ～10³ s^?1 when the crystal is irradiated with a 10.6 μm CO₂ laser.     

Propagation of high power helicons in n-indium antimonide crystal

The propagation of high power helicon in n-InSb has been analysed taking into account the heating of the carriers by the electric field of the wave. The momentum and energy transfer of the electrons have been taken to be due to acoustic phonons and polar optical phonons scattering at 77°K respectively. The sample is assumed to be finite and the wave is incident on the semiconductor-free space interface. Calculations have been made for phase constant, attenuation constant, reflection coefficient and the electron temperature as function of the magnetic field and the wave amplitude. The theoretical results are found to be in qualitative agreement with the experimental observations of Laurinavichyus and Pozhela[14].     

Thermal conductivity of geometrically frustrated, ferroelectric YMnO3: extraordinary spin-phonon interactions

The thermal conductivity of the magnetically frustrated, ferroelectric YMnO3 exhibits an isotropic suppression in the cooperative paramagnetic state, followed by a sudden increase upon magnetic ordering. This unprecedented behavior without an associated static structural distortion probably originates from the strong dynamic coupling between acoustic phonons and low-energy spin fluctuations in geometrically frustrated magnets. The replacement of magnetic Ho for Y at the ferroelectrically active site results in an even larger effect, suggestive of the strong influence of multiferroicity.     

Percolative Superconductivity in Mg1-xB2

Our results from various transport experiments on Mg1-xB2 indicate a surprising effect associated with the presence of a Mg deficiency in MgB2: the phase separation between Mg-vacancy rich and Mg-vacancy poor phases. The Mg-vacancy poor phase is superconducting, but the insulating nature of the Mg-vacancy rich phase probably originates from the Anderson (disorder-induced) localization of itinerant carriers. Furthermore, electron diffraction measurements indicate that within vacancy-rich regions these defects tend to order with intriguing patterns. This electronic phase separation in Mg1-xB2 shows similar, but also distinct characteristics compared with that observed in La(2)CuO(4+delta).     

Propagation of high intensity light in semiconductors

For photons of energy below the bandgap energy, semiconductors exhibit high transparency and low irradiance light passes freely through the medium. However, for high irradiances of light, as from a laser, the transmission through the semiconductor becomes nonlinear. As the irradiance of the incident light increases, the transmission through the semiconductor decreases through nonlinear absorption as well as from the generation of free carriers during the laser pulse. The propagation of light through this irradiance dependent medium can be described by a set of coupled, inhomogeneous, partial differential equations. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)