Theory of inelastic scattering from magnetic impurities

We use the numerical renormalization group method to calculate the single-particle matrix elements T of the many-body T matrix of the conduction electrons scattered by a magnetic impurity at T=0 temperature. Since T determines both the total and the elastic, spin-diagonal scattering cross sections, we are able to compute the full energy, spin, and magnetic field dependence of the inelastic scattering cross section sigma(inel)(omega). We find an almost linear frequency dependence of sigma(inel)(omega) below the Kondo temperature T(K), which crosses over to a omega(2) behavior only at extremely low energies. Our method can be generalized to other quantum impurity models.     

Hydrogen control of ferromagnetism in a dilute magnetic semiconductor

We show that upon exposure to a remote dc hydrogen plasma, the magnetic and electronic properties of the dilute magnetic semiconductor Ga1-xMnxAs change qualitatively. While the as-grown Ga1-xMnxAs thin films are ferromagnetic at temperatures T less, similar 70 K, the samples are found to be paramagnetic after the hydrogenation, with a Brillouin-type magnetization curve even at T=2 K. Comparing magnetization and electronic transport measurements, we conclude that the density of free holes p is significantly reduced by the plasma process, while the density of Mn magnetic moments does not change.     

On the Nature of Fermi Golden Rule for Open Quantum Systems

We consider a general class of models consisting of a small quantum system $S$ interacting with a reservoir $R$ . We compare three applications of 2nd order perturbation theory (the Fermi Golden Rule) to the study of such models: (1) the van Hove (weak coupling) limit for the dynamics reduced to $S$ ; (2) the Fermi Golden Rule applied to the Liouvillean—an argument that was used in recent papers on the return to equilibrium; (3) the Fermi Golden Rule applied to the so-called C-Liouvillean. These three applications lead to three Level Shift Operators. As our main result, we prove that if the reservoir $R$ is thermal (if it satisfies the KMS condition), then the Level Shift Operator obtained in (1) (often called the Davies generator) and the Level Shift Operator constructed in (2) are connected by a similarity transformation. We also show that the Davies generator coincides with the Level Shift Operator obtained in (3) for a general $R$ .     

Metal Ion Complexation: A Route to 2 D Templates?

The two-dimensional ordering of a number of 2,2'-bipyridine derivatives at the liquid/solid interface has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. By appropriate functionalization of the bipyridine units, their intermolecular distance can be tuned, which has proved to be crucial for complexation with metal ions. The in situ addition of metal salts (Pd(2+), Cu(2+)), leading to the formation of metal-bipyridine complexes, has a dramatic influence on the two-dimensional ordering of the molecules and suggests that these complexes could be used as templates.     

Lewis acid mediated [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic alpha-amino amides

Boron trifluoride and BBr(3) mediated [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements of allylic alpha-amino amides have been developed affording secondary amines in good yields. (E)-Crotyl and (E)-cinnamyl alpha-amino amides 2b and 2c exhibit excellent syn-diastereoselectivity upon rearrangement with either Lewis acid. The allylic amine 2a forms upon treatment with BF(3) or BBr(3) a five-membered heterocylic complex in which a single halide anion has been displaced by the carbonyl oxygen atom. The structures of the Lewis acid-amine complexes were elucidated using NMR spectroscopy. A plausible reaction mechanism, based on DFT calculations, is presented. Thus, BF(3)- or BBr(3)-complexed allylic amines 2 are shown to preferentially proceed, after deprotonation, via an endo transition state.