Study of one-dimensional nature of (Sr,Ba)_2Cu(PO_4)_2 and BaCuP_2O_7 via 31P NMR

The magnetic behavior of the low-dimensional phosphates (Sr,Ba)_2 Cu(PO_4)_2 and BaCuP_2O_7 was investigated by means of magnetic susceptibility and ^{31}P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. We present here the NMR shift K(T), the spin-lattice 1/T_1 and spin-spin 1/T_2 relaxation-rate data over a wide temperature range 0.02 K < T < 300 K. The T-dependence of the NMR K(T) is well described by the S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain model with an intrachain exchange of J/k_B = 165 K, 151 K, and 108 K in Sr_2Cu(PO_4)_2, Ba_2Cu(PO_4)_2, and BaCuP_2O_7, respectively. Our measurements suggest the presence of magnetic ordering at 0.8 K in BaCuP_2O_7 (J/k_B = 108 K). For all the samples, we find that 1/T_1 is nearly T-independent at low-temperatures (1 K < T < 10 K), which is theoretically expected for 1D chains when relaxation is dominated by fluctuations of the staggered susceptibility. At high temperatures, 1/T_1 varies nearly linearly with temperature

Predictions in SU(5) Supergravity Grand Unification with Proton Stability and Relic Density Constraints

It is shown that in the physically interesting domain of the parameter space of SU(5) supergravity GUT, the Higgs and the Z poles dominate the LSP annihilation. Here the naive analyses on thermal averaging breaks down and formulae are derived which give a rigorous treatment over the poles. These results are then used to show that there exist significant domains in the parameter space where the constraints of proton stability and cosmology are simultaneously satisfied. New upper limits on light particle masses are obtained.Comment: (An error in the reheating factor is corrected, strengthening the conclusions, i.e. the region in parameter space where the relic density constraints are satisfied is enlarged.

Antiferromagnetism of Zn2_2VO(PO4)2_4)_2 and the dilution with Ti4+^{4+}

We report static and dynamic properties of the antiferromagnetic compound Zn$_{2}$(VO)(PO$_{4}$)$_{2}$, and the consequences of non-magnetic Ti$^{4+}$ doping at the V$^{4+}$ site. $^{31}$P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and spin-lattice relaxation rate ($1/T_1$) consistently show the formation of the long-range antiferromagnetic order below $T_N= 3.8-3.9$\,K. The critical exponent $\beta=0.33 \pm 0.02$ estimated from the temperature dependence of the sublattice magnetization measured by $^{31}$P NMR at 9.4\,MHz is consistent with universality classes of three-dimensional spin models. The isotropic and axial hyperfine couplings between the $^{31}$P nuclei and V$^{4+}$ spins are $A_{\rm hf}^{\rm iso} = (9221 \pm 100)$ Oe/$\mu_{\rm B}$ and $A_{\rm hf}^{\rm ax} = (1010 \pm 50)$ Oe/$\mu_{\rm B}$, respectively. Magnetic susceptibility data above 6.5\,K and heat capacity data above 4.5\,K are well described by quantum Monte-Carlo simulations for the Heisenberg model on the square lattice with $J\simeq 7.7$\,K. This value of $J$ is consistent with the values obtained from the NMR shift, $1/T_1$ and electron spin resonance (ESR) intensity analysis. Doping Zn$_2$VO(PO$_4)_2$ with non-magnetic Ti$^{4+}$ leads to a marginal increase in the $J$ value and the overall dilution of the spin lattice. In contrast to the recent \textit{ab initio} results, we find neither evidence for the monoclinic structural distortion nor signatures of the magnetic one-dimensionality for doped samples with up to 15\% of Ti$^{4+}$. The N\'eel temperature $T_{\rm N}$ decreases linearly with increasing the amount of the non-magnetic dopant.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, 2 table

CP Violation and Dark Matter

A brief review is given of the effects of CP violation on the direct detection of neutralinos in dark matter detectors. We first summarize the current developments using the cancellation mechanism which allows for the existence of large CP violating phases consistent with experimental limits on the electron and on the neutron electric dipole moments in a broad class of SUSY, string and D brane models. We then discuss their effects on the scattering of neutralinos from quarks and on the event rates. It is found that while CP effects on the event rates can be enormous such effects are reduced significantly with the imposition of the EDM constraints. However, even with the inclusion of the EDM constraints the effects are still very significant and should be included in a precision prediction of event rates in any SUSY, string or D brane model.Comment: Based on an invited talk at the conference "Sources and Detection of Dark Matter in the Universe", at Marina del Rey, CA, Feb. 23-25, 2000; 12 pages, Latex including 2 figure

Singlet ground state in the alternating spin-1/21/2 chain compound NaVOAsO4_4

We present the synthesis and a detailed investigation of structural and magnetic properties of polycrystalline NaVOAsO$_4$ by means of x-ray diffraction, magnetization, electron spin resonance (ESR), and $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements as well as density-functional band structure calculations. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility, ESR intensity, and NMR line shift could be described well using an alternating spin-$1/2$ chain model with the exchange coupling $J/k_{\rm B}\simeq 52$ K and an alternation parameter $\alpha \simeq 0.65$. From the high-field magnetic isotherm measured at $T=1.5$ K, the critical field of the gap closing is found to be $H_{\rm c}\simeq 16$ T, which corresponds to the zero-field spin gap of $\Delta_0/k_{\rm B}\simeq 21.4$ K. Both NMR shift and spin-lattice relaxation rate show an activated behavior at low temperatures, further confirming the singlet ground state. The spin chains do not coincide with the structural chains, whereas the couplings between the spin chains are frustrated. Because of a relatively small spin gap, NaVOAsO$_4$ is a promising compound for further experimental studies under high magnetic fields.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 2 table

Hindered magnetic order from mixed dimensionalities in CuP2_2O6_6

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the spin-1/2 compound CuP$_2$O$_6$ that features a network of two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnetic (AFM) square planes, interconnected via one-dimensional (1D) AFM spin chains. Magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization, and electron spin resonance (ESR) data, as well as microscopic density-functional band-structure calculations and subsequent quantum Monte-Carlo simulations, show that the coupling $J_{2D}\sim$ 40 K in the layers is an order of magnitude larger than $J_{1D}\sim$ 4 K in the chains. Below $T_N\sim$ 8 K, CuP$_2$O$_6$ develops long-range order (LRO), as evidenced by a weak net moment on the 2D planes induced by anisotropic magnetic interactions of Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya type. A striking feature of this 3D ordering transition is that the 1D moments grow significantly slower than the ones on the 2D layers, which is evidenced by the persistent paramagnetic ESR signal below $T_N$. Compared to typical quasi-2D magnets, the ordering temperature of CuP$_2$O$_6$ $T_N/J_{2D}\sim$ 0.2 is unusually low, showing that weakly coupled spins sandwiched between 2D magnetic units effectively decouple these units and impede the long-range ordering.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, 1 table; published version with few additional citations added and misprints fixe

31P NMR study of Na2CuP2O7: a S=1/2 two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnetic system

The magnetic properties of Na2CuP2O7 were investigated by means of 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements. We report the 31P NMR shift, the spin-lattice 1/T1, and spin-spin 1/T2 relaxation-rate data as a function of temperature T. The temperature dependence of the NMR shift K(T) is well described by the S=1/2 square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnetic (HAF) model with an intraplanar exchange of J/k_B \simeq 18\pm2 K and a hyperfine coupling A = (3533\pm185) Oe/mu_B. The 31P NMR spectrum was found to broaden abruptly below T \sim 10 K signifying some kind of transition. However, no anomaly was noticed in the bulk susceptibility data down to 1.8 K. The heat capacity appears to have a weak maximum around 10 K. With decrease in temperatures, the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 decreases monotonically and appears to agree well with the high temperature series expansion expression for a S = 1/2 2D square lattice.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, submitted to J. Phys.: Cond. Ma

Disordered ground state in the spin-orbit coupled Jeff=1/2J_{\rm eff}= 1/2 cobalt-based metal-organic framework magnet with orthogonal spin dimers

We present the magnetic properties of a strongly spin-orbit coupled quantum dimer magnet based on Co$^{2+}$. The metal-organic framework compound Co$_2$(BDC)$_2$(DPTTZ)$_2$$\cdot$DMF features Co$^{2+}$ dimers arranged nearly orthogonal to each other, similar to the Shastry-Sutherland lattice. Our assessment based on the magnetization and heat capacity experiments reveals that the magnetic properties at low temperatures can be described by an effective $J_{\rm eff} = 1/2$ Kramers doublet and the ground state is a singlet with a tiny spin gap. Although the magnetic susceptibility could be analyzed in terms of the interacting dimer model with an isotropic intradimer coupling $J_0/k_{\rm B} \simeq 7.6$ K, this model fails to reproduce the shape of magnetization isotherm and heat capacity data. A model of isolated spin dimers with the anisotropic exchange couplings $J_{xy} \simeq 3.5$ K and $J_{z} \simeq 11$ K provides an adequate description to the magnetic susceptibility, magnetization isotherm, and heat capacity data at low temperatures. Interestingly, no field-induced quantum phase phase is detected down to 100~mK around the critical field of gap closing, suggesting the absence of Bose-Einstein condensation of triplons and establishing isolated dimers with a negligible interdimer coupling.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure