Spectral Function in Mott Insulating Surfaces

We show theoretically the fingerprints of short-range spiral magnetic correlations in the photoemission spectra of the Mott insulating ground states realized in the triangular silicon surfaces K/Si(111)-B and SiC(0001). The calculated spectra present low energy features of magnetic origin with a reduced dispersion ~10-40 meV compared with the center-of-mass spectra bandwidth ~0.2-0:3 eV. Remarkably, we find that the quasiparticle signal survives only around the magnetic Goldstone modes. Our findings would position these silicon surfaces as new candidates to investigate non-conventional quasiparticle excitations.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte

Spin gap in the Quasi-One-Dimensional S=1/2 Antiferromagnet: Cu2(1,4-diazacycloheptane)2Cl4

Cu_{2}(1,4-diazacycloheptane)_{2}Cl_{4} contains double chains of spin 1/2 Cu^{2+} ions. We report ac susceptibility, specific heat, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on this material. The magnetic susceptibility, $\chi(T)$, shows a rounded maximum at T = 8 K indicative of a low dimensional antiferromagnet with no zero field magnetic phase transition. We compare the $\chi(T)$ data to exact diagonalization results for various one dimensional spin Hamiltonians and find excellent agreement for a spin ladder with intra-rung coupling $J_1 = 1.143(3)$ meV and two mutually frustrating inter-rung interactions: $J_2 = 0.21(3)$ meV and $J_3 = 0.09(5)$ meV. The specific heat in zero field is exponentially activated with an activation energy $\Delta = 0.89(1)$ meV. A spin gap is also found through inelastic neutron scattering on powder samples which identify a band of magnetic excitations for $0.8 < \hbar\omega < 1.5$ meV. Using sum-rules we derive an expression for the dynamic spin correlation function associated with non-interacting propagating triplets in a spin ladder. The van-Hove singularities of such a model are not observed in our scattering data indicating that magnetic excitations in Cu_{2}(1,4-diazacycloheptane)_{2}Cl_{4} are more complicated. For magnetic fields above $H_{c1} \simeq 7.2$ T specific heat data versus temperature show anomalies indicating a phase transition to an ordered state below T = 1 K.Comment: 9 pages, 8 postscript figures, LaTeX, Submitted to PRB 8/4/97, e-mail Comments to [email protected]

Dimensionality of spin modulations in 1/8-doped lanthanum cuprates from the perspective of NQR and muSR experiments

We investigate the dimensionality of inhomogeneous spin modulation patterns in the cuprate family of high-temperature superconductors with particular focus on 1/8-doped lanthanum cuprates. We compare one-dimensional stripe modulation pattern with two-dimensional checkerboard of spin vortices in the context of nuclear quadrupole resonance(NQR) and muon spin rotation(muSR) experiments. In addition, we also consider the third pattern, a two-dimensional superposition of spin spirals. Overall, we have found that none of the above patterns leads to a consistent interpretation of the two types of experiments considered. This, in particular, implies that the spin vortex checkerboard cannot be ruled out on the basis of available NQR/muSR experimental results.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Tuning the spin Hamiltonian of NENP by external pressure: a neutron scattering study

We report an inelastic neutron scattering study of antiferromagnetic spin dynamics in the Haldane chain compound Ni(C2H8N2)2NO2ClO4 (NENP) under external hydrostatic pressure P = 2.5 GPa. At ambient pressure, the magnetic excitations in NENP are dominated by a long-lived triplet mode with a gap which is split by orthorhombic crystalline anisotropy into a lower doublet centered at $\Delta_\perp\approx$ 1.2meV and a singlet at $\Delta_\parallel\approx$ 2.5meV. With pressure we observe appreciable shifts in these levels, which move to $\Delta_\perp{(2.5GPa)}\approx$ 1.45 meV and $\Delta_\parallel(2.5GPa)\approx$ 2.2meV. The dispersion of these modes in the crystalline c-direction perpendicular to the chain was measured here for the first time, and can be accounted for by an interchain exchange J'_c approximately 3e-4*J which changes only slightly with pressure. Since the average gap value $\Delta_H\approx$ 1.64 meV remains almost unchanged with P, we conclude that in NENP the application of external pressure does not affect the intrachain coupling J appreciably, but does produce a significant decrease of the single-ion anisotropy constant from D/J = 0.16(2) at ambient pressure to D/J = 0.09(7) at P = 2.5 GPa.Comment: LaTeX file nenp_p.tex, 10 pages, 1 table, 5 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Quasiparticle vanishing driven by geometrical frustration

We investigate the single hole dynamics in the triangular t-J model. We study the structure of the hole spectral function, assuming the existence of a 120 magnetic Neel order. Within the self-consistent Born approximation (SCBA) there is a strong momentum and t sign dependence of the spectra, related to the underlying magnetic structure and the particle-hole asymmetry of the model. For positive t, and in the strong coupling regime, we find that the low energy quasiparticle excitations vanish outside the neighbourhood of the magnetic Goldstone modes; while for negative t the quasiparticle excitations are always well defined. In the latter, we also find resonances of magnetic origin whose energies scale as (J/t)^2/3 and can be identified with string excitations. We argue that this complex structure of the spectra is due to the subtle interplay between magnon-assisted and free hopping mechanisms. Our predictions are supported by an excellent agreement between the SCBA and the exact results on finite size clusters. We conclude that the conventional quasiparticle picture can be broken by the effect of geometrical magnetic frustration.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures. Published versio

Active faulting and earthquakes in the central Alboran Sea

Central Alboran Sea constitutes a key area to analyze the relationships between active tectonic structures and moderate seismicity. The heterogeneous crustal layered structure and the propagation of the deformation along the fault zones are key features to relate active faults and seismic hazard. The NW-SE oblique convergence between Eurasian and African plates determines the broad band of tectonic deformation and seismicity along the Alboran Sea basin (westernmost Mediterranean). The Betic-Rif Cordilleras are connected through the Gibraltar Arc and surround the Alboran Sea formed by thinned continental crust. This basin is filled since the Neogene by sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Central Alboran Sea is now undergoing shortening and is mainly deformed by a system of conjugated WNW-ESE dextral and NE-SW sinistral faults with recent activity formed by indenter tectonics related to a heterogeneous crustal behavior. In addition a NNW-SSE normal fault set and large ENE-WSW folds deform the central and northern Alboran Sea. These structures support a present-day N160 E maximum compression and orthogonal extension. In this setting, most of the recent seismicity is concentrated along a NNE-SSW zone that extends landward from Campo de Dalias (SE Spain) to Al Hoceima (Morocco). The Campo de Dalias 1993-1994 seismic crisis reached up to magnitudes Mw= 5.3, while the Al Hoceima area was affected by seismic crisis of 1994 (May 26, Mw=5.6) and 2004 (Feb 24, Mw= 6.4). The main active fault related to the 2004 earthquakes, even that it was a vertical NNE-SSW oriented fault and focal depth was 6 km, did not reach the surface probably due to the presence of a mechanically layered crust. The main active surface faults located in Al Hoceima area (the NNE-SSW transtensional sinistral Trougout fault zone) extended northwards towards the NE-SW sinistral Al Idrissi Fault that intersects the Alboran Sea and are connected with the normal NNW-SSE Balanegra Fault zone. Although these active faults determine most of the seismicity of the central Alboran Sea, the seismic crisis that occurred since January 2016, reaching Mw= 6.3 is located in a region westward of Al Idrissi Fault, underlining the relevance of growth of new faults to determine the seismic hazard of the region. Earthquake focal mechanisms support that the main active fault has a NNE-SSW orientation, similar to Al Idrissi Fault zone. Maximum magnitude suggests a surface rupture length of at least 12 km and a subsurface rupture of 20 km. Propagation of a new fault is more efficient to accumulate elastic deformation, and to produce highest magnitude earthquakes than already formed faults. This new fault is connected probably in deep crustal levels with the blind sinistral fault responsible of the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake. The tsunami hazard of the region should be consequence of both seabottom displacement due to fault activity and co-seismic submarine landslides. The INCRISIS cruise, scheduled by May 2016, will provide evidences of seabottom effects of this seismic crisis

Quantum magnetism in the stripe phase: bond- versus site order

It is argued that the spin dynamics in the charge-ordered stripe phase might be revealing with regards to the nature of the anomalous spin dynamics in cuprate superconductors. Specifically, if the stripes are bond ordered much of the spin fluctuation will originate in the spin sector itself, while site ordered stripes require the charge sector as the driving force for the strong quantum spin fluctuations.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, LaTe

Variational states for the spin-Peierls system

We introduce a family of Jastrow pair product states for quasi one-dimensional spin systems. Depending on a parameter they interpolate between the resonating valence bond ground state of the Haldane-Shastry model describing a spin liquid and the (dimerized) valence bond solid ground states of the Majumdar-Ghosh spin chain. These states are found to form an excellent basis for variational studies of Heisenberg chains with next nearest neighbour interaction and bond alternation as realized in the spin-Peierls system CuGeO_3.Comment: RevTeX+epsf macros, 24 pp. incl. figures, some references adde

Static and Dynamic Properties of Antiferromagnetic Heisenberg Ladders: Fermionic versus Bosonic Approaches

In terms of spinless fermions via the Jordan-Wigner transformation along a snake-like path and spin waves modified so as to restore the sublattice symmetry, we investigate static and dynamic properties of two-leg antiferromagnetic Heisenberg ladders. The specific heat is finely reproduced by the spinless fermions, whereas the magnetic susceptibility is well described by the modified spin waves. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate is discussed in detail with particular emphasis on its novel field dependence.Comment: to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 73, No. 3 (2004

Magnetic order in ferromagnetically coupled spin ladders

A model of coupled antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 Heisenberg ladders is studied with numerical techniques. In the case of ferromagnetic interladder coupling we find that the dynamic and static structure factor has a peak at $(\pi,\pi/2)$ where the first (second) direction is along (transversal) to the ladders. Besides, we suggest that the intensity of this peak and the spin-spin correlation at the maximum distance along the ladder direction remain finite in the bulk limit for strong enough interladder coupling. We discuss the relevance of these results for magnetic compounds containing ladders coupled in a trellis lattice and for the stripe scenario in high-T$_c$ superconducting cuprates.Comment: 6 pages, 7 psfigs- Final version to be published in Phys. Rev.