Spin-flux phase in the Kondo lattice model with classical localized spins

We provide numerical evidence that a spin-flux phase exists as a ground state of the Kondo lattice model with classical local spins on a square lattice. This state manifests itself as a double-Q magnetic order in the classical spins with spin density at both $(0,\pi)$ and $(\pi,0)$ and further exhibits fermionic spin currents around an elementary plaquette of the square lattice. We examine the spin-wave spectrum of this phase. We further discus an extension to a face centered cubic (FCC) lattice where a spin-flux phase may also exist. On the FCC lattice the spin-flux phase manifests itself as a triple-Q magnetically ordered state and may exist in $\gamma$-Mn alloys.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Broken Time Reversal Symmetry and Superconducting States in the Cuprates

Recently, Kaminski et al. have reported that time reversal symmetry is broken in the pseudogap phase in the high temperature superconducting material Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{2+\delta} (Bi-2212). Here we examine the role of translationally invariant broken time reversal states on d_{x^2-y^2} superconductors. In particular, we determine the change in the superconducting order parameter structure. We find that the broken time reversal pseudogap state that is consistent with the experiment of Kaminski et al., gives rise to a novel mixed singlet-triplet pairing d+ip phase. This d+ip state is shown to give rise to a helical superconducting phase. Consequences of this d+ip state on Josephson experiments are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Kondo effect in the presence of spin-orbit coupling

We study the T=0 Kondo physics of a spin-1/2 impurity in a non-centrosymmetric metal with spin-orbit interaction. Within a simple variational approach we compute ground state properties of the system for an {\it arbitrary} form of spin-orbit coupling consistent with the crystal symmetry. This coupling produces an unscreened impurity magnetic moment and can lead to a significant change of the Kondo energy. We discuss implications of this finding both for dilute impurities and for heavy-fermion materials without inversion symmetry.Comment: TeXLive (Unix), revtex4-1, 5 page