Nonlinear excitations in arrays of Bose-Einstein condensates

The dynamics of localized excitations in array of Bose-Einstein condensates is investigated in the framework of the nonlinear lattice theory. The existence of temporarily stable ground states displaying an atomic population distributions localized on very few lattice sites (intrinsic localized modes), as well as, of atomic population distributions involving many lattice sites (envelope solitons), is studied both numerically and analytically. The origin and properties of these modes are shown to be inherently connected with the interplay between macroscopic quantum tunnelling and nonlinearity induced self-trapping of atoms in coupled BECs. The phenomenon of Bloch oscillations of these excitations is studied both for zero and non zero backgrounds. We find that in a definite range of parameters, homogeneous distributions can become modulationally unstable. We also show that bright solitons and excitations of shock wave type can exist in BEC arrays even in the case of positive scattering length. Finally, we argue that BEC array with negative scattering length in presence of linear potentials can display collapse.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

One-dimensional dynamics of the d-electrons in α′\alpha'-NaV2_{2}O5_{5}

We have studied the electronic properties of the ladder compound $\alpha'$-NaV$_{2}$O$_{5}$, adopting a joint experimental and theoretical approach. The momentum-dependent loss function was measured using electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission. The optical conductivity derived from the loss function by a Kramers-Kronig analysis agrees well with our results from LSDA+U band-structure calculations upon application of an antiferromagnetic alignment of the V~3$d_{xy}$ spins along the legs and an on-site Coulomb interaction U of between 2 and 3 eV. The decomposition of the calculated optical conductivity into contributions from transitions between selected energy regions of the DOS reveals the origin of the observed anisotropy of the optical conductivity. In addition, we have investigated the plasmon excitations related to transitions between the vanadium states within an effective 16 site vanadium cluster model. Good agreement between the theoretical and experimental loss function was obtained using the hopping parameters derived from the tight binding fit to the band-structure and moderate Coulomb interactions between the electrons within the ab plane.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures; submitted to PR

Magnetostatic wave analog of integer quantum Hall state in patterned magnetic films

A magnetostatic spin wave analog of integer quantum Hall (IQH) state is proposed in realistic patterned ferromagnetic thin films. Due to magnetic shape anisotropy, magnetic moments in a thin film lie within the plane, while all spin-wave excitations are fully gapped. Under an out-of-plane magnetic field, the film acquires a finite magnetization, where some of the gapped magnons become significantly softened near a saturation field. It is shown that, owing to a spin-orbit locking nature of the magnetic dipolar interaction, these soft spin-wave volume-mode bands become chiral volume-mode bands with finite topological Chern integers. A bulk-edge correspondence in IQH physics suggests that such volume-mode bands are accompanied by a chiral magnetostatic spin-wave edge mode. The existence of the edge mode is justified both by micromagnetic simulations and by band calculations based on a linearized Landau-Lifshitz equation. Employing intuitive physical arguments, we introduce proper tight-binding models for these soft volume-mode bands. Based on the tight-binding models, we further discuss possible applications to other systems such as magnetic ultrathin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA).Comment: 20 pages, 12 figure

The size of electron-hole pairs in pi conjugated systems

We have performed momentum dependent electron energy-loss studies of the electronic excitations in sexithiophene and compared the results to those from parent oligomers. Our experiment probes the dynamic structure factor S(q,omega)and we show that the momentum dependent intensity variation of the excitations observed can be used to extract the size of the electron-hole pair created in the excitation process. The extension of the electron-hole pairs along the molecules is comparable to the length of the molecules and thus maybe only limited by structural constraints. Consequently, the primary intramolecular electron-hole pairs are relatively weakly bound. We find no evidence for the formation of excitations localized on single thiophene units.Comment: RevTex, 3 figures, to appear in Physical Review Letter

Isolated pairs of Majorana zero modes in a disordered superconducting lead monolayer

Majorana zero modes are fractional quantum excitations appearing in pairs, each pair being a building block for quantum computation . Some possible signatures of these excitations have been reported as zero bias peaks at endpoints of one-dimensional semiconducting wires and magnetic chains. However, 1D systems are by nature fragile to a small amount of disorder that induces low-energy excitations, hence obtaining Majorana zero modes well isolated in a hard gap requires extremely clean systems. Two-dimensional systems offer an alternative route to get robust Majorana zero modes. Indeed, it was shown recently that Pb/Co/Si(111) could be used as a platform for generating 2D topological superconductivity with a strong immunity to local disorder. While 2D systems exhibit dispersive chiral edge states, they can also host Majorana zero modes located on local topological defects. According to predictions, if an odd number of zero modes are located in a topological domain an additional zero mode should appear all around the domain's edge. Here we use scanning tunneling spectroscopy to characterize a disordered superconducting monolayer of Pb coupled to underlying Co-Si magnetic islands meant to induce a topological transition. We show that pairs of zero modes are stabilized: one zero mode positioned at a point in the middle of the magnetic domain and its zero mode partner extended all around the domain. The zero mode pair is remarkably robust, it is isolated within a hard superconducting energy gap and it appears totally immune to the strong disorder present in the Pb monolayer. Our theoretical scenario supports the protected Majorana nature of this zero mode pair, highlighting the role of magnetic or spin-orbit coupling textures. This robust pair of Majorana zero modes offers a new platform for theoretical and experimental study of quantum computing

Orbital polarons versus itinerant e_g electrons in doped manganites

We study an effective one-dimensional (1D) orbital t-J model derived for strongly correlated e_g electrons in doped manganites. The ferromagnetic spin order at half filling is supported by orbital superexchange prop. to J which stabilizes orbital order with alternating x^2-y^2 and 3z^2-r^2 orbitals. In a doped system it competes with the kinetic energy prop. to t. When a single hole is doped to a half-filled chain, its motion is hindered and a localized orbital polaron is formed. An increasing doping generates either separated polarons or phase separation into hole-rich and hole-poor regions, and eventually polarizes the orbitals and gives a it metallic phase with occupied 3z^2-r^2 orbitals. This crossover, investigated by exact diagonalization at zero temperature, is demonstrated both by the behavior of correlation functions and by spectral properties, showing that the orbital chain with Ising superexchange is more classical and thus radically different from the 1D spin t-J model. At finite temperature we derive and investigate an effective 1D orbital model using a combination of exact diagonalization with classical Monte-Carlo for spin correlations. A competition between the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic spin order was established at half filling, and localized polarons were found for antiferromagnetic interactions at low hole doping. Finally, we clarify that the Jahn-Teller alternating potential stabilizes the orbital order with staggered orbitals, inducing the ferromagnetic spin order and enhancing the localized features in the excitation spectra. Implications of these findings for colossal magnetoresistance manganites are discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 20 figure