Molecular-field approach to the spin-Peierls transition in CuGeO_3

We present a theory for the spin-Peierls transition in CuGeO_3. We map the elementary excitations of the dimerized chain (solitons) on an effective Ising model. Inter-chain coupling (or phonons) then introduce a linear binding potential between a pair of soliton and anti-soliton, leading to a finite transition temperature. We evaluate, as a function of temperature, the order parameter, the singlet-triplet gap, the specific heat, and the susceptibility and compare with experimental data on CuGeO_3. We find that CuGeO_3 is close to a first-order phase transition. We point out, that the famous scaling law \sim\delta^{2/3} of the triplet gap is a simple consequence of the linear binding potential between pairs of solitons and anti-solitons in dimerized spin chains.Comment: 7.1 pages, figures include

Hemispheric Asymmetry in New Neurons in Adulthood Is Associated with Vocal Learning and Auditory Memory

Many brain regions exhibit lateral differences in structure and function, and also incorporate new neurons in adulthood, thought to function in learning and in the formation of new memories. However, the contribution of new neurons to hemispheric differences in processing is unknown. The present study combines cellular, behavioral, and physiological methods to address whether 1) new neuron incorporation differs between the brain hemispheres, and 2) the degree to which hemispheric lateralization of new neurons correlates with behavioral and physiological measures of learning and memory. The songbird provides a model system for assessing the contribution of new neurons to hemispheric specialization because songbird brain areas for vocal processing are functionally lateralized and receive a continuous influx of new neurons in adulthood. In adult male zebra finches, we quantified new neurons in the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), a forebrain area involved in discrimination and memory for the complex vocalizations of individual conspecifics. We assessed song learning and recorded neural responses to song in NCM. We found significantly more new neurons labeled in left than in right NCM; moreover, the degree of asymmetry in new neuron numbers was correlated with the quality of song learning and strength of neuronal memory for recently heard songs. In birds with experimentally impaired song quality, the hemispheric difference in new neurons was diminished. These results suggest that new neurons may contribute to an allocation of function between the hemispheres that underlies the learning and processing of complex signals

Elementary excitations, exchange interaction and spin-Peierls transition in CuGeO3_3

The microscopic description of the spin-Peierls transition in pure and doped CuGeO_3 is developed taking into account realistic details of crystal structure. It it shown that the presence of side-groups (here Ge) strongly influences superexchange along Cu-O-Cu path, making it antiferromagnetic. Nearest-neighbour and next-nearest neighbour exchange constants $J_{nn}$ and $J_{nnn}$ are calculated. Si doping effectively segments the CuO_2-chains leading to $J_{nn}(Si)\simeq0$ or even slightly ferromagnetic. Strong sensitivity of the exchange constants to Cu-O-Cu and (Cu-O-Cu)-Ge angles may be responsible for the spin-Peierls transition itself (``bond-bending mechanism'' of the transition). The nature of excitations in the isolated and coupled spin-Peierls chains is studied and it is shown that topological excitations (solitons) play crucial role. Such solitons appear in particular in doped systems (Cu_{1-x}Zn_xGeO_3, CuGe_{1-x}Si_xO_3) which can explain the $T_{SP}(x)$ phase diagram.Comment: 7 pages, revtex, 7 Postscript figure

Magnetic Resonance in the Spin-Peierls compound α′−NaV2O5\alpha'-NaV_2O_5

We present results from magnetic resonance measurements for 75-350 GHz in $\alpha$'-NaV$_{2}$O$_{5}$. The temperature dependence of the integrated intensity indicates that we observe transitions in the excited state. A quantitative description gives resonances in the triplet state at high symmetry points of the excitation spectrum of this Spin-Peierls compound. This energy has the same temperature dependence as the Spin-Peierls gap. Similarities and differences with the other inorganic compound CuGeO$_{3}$ are discussed.Comment: 2 pages, REVTEX, 3 figures. to be published in Phys.Rev.

Nonadiabatic Approach to Spin-Peierls Transitions via Flow Equations

The validity of the adiabatic approach to spin-Peierls transitions is assessed. An alternative approach is developed which maps the initial magneto-elastic problem to an effective magnetic problem only. Thus the equivalence of magneto-elastic solitons and magnetic spinons is shown. No soft phonon is required for the transition. Temperature dependent couplings are predicted in accordance with the analysis of experimental data.Comment: Latex, 4 pages, Phys. Rev. B, Rap. Comm. in press final version containing some clarification

Study of the magnetic susceptibility in the spin-Peierls system CuGeO3_3

We study numerically, using a one-dimensional Heisenberg model, the spin-Peierls transition in the linear Cu$^{2+}$ spin-1/2 chains in the inorganic compound CuGeO$_3$ which has been recently observed experimentally. We suggest that the magnetic susceptibility, the temperature dependence of the spin gap and the spin-Peierls transition temperature of this material can be reasonably described by including nearest and next nearest neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions along the chain. We estimate that the nearest neighbor exchange parameter J is approximately $160\:\rm K$, and that the next nearest neighbor exchange parameter is approximately $0.36\:\rm J$.Comment: 14 pages, Revtex v2.0, 4 figures available upon reques

Spin glass transition in a magnetic field: a renormalization group study

We study the transition of short range Ising spin glasses in a magnetic field, within a general replica symmetric field theory, which contains three masses and eight cubic couplings, that is defined in terms of the fields representing the replicon, anomalous and longitudinal modes. We discuss the symmetry of the theory in the limit of replica number n to 0, and consider the regular case where the longitudinal and anomalous masses remain degenerate. The spin glass transitions in zero and non-zero field are analyzed in a common framework. The mean field treatment shows the usual results, that is a transition in zero field, where all the modes become critical, and a transition in non-zero field, at the de Almeida-Thouless (AT) line, with only the replicon mode critical. Renormalization group methods are used to study the critical behavior, to order epsilon = 6-d. In the general theory we find a stable fixed-point associated to the spin glass transition in zero field. This fixed-point becomes unstable in the presence of a small magnetic field, and we calculate crossover exponents, which we relate to zero-field critical exponents. In a finite magnetic field, we find no physical stable fixed-point to describe the AT transition, in agreement with previous results of other authors.Comment: 36 pages with 4 tables. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Reexamination of the microscopic couplings of the quasi one-dimensional antiferromagnet CuGeO_3

Experimental data for the magnetic susceptibility and magnetostriction of CuGeO_3 are analyzed within a one-dimensional antiferromagnetic model with nearest ({J_1}) and next-nearest neighbour interactions ({J_2}). We show that the ratio of the exchange constants in the antiferromagnetic chains of CuGeO_3 amounts to ${J_2}/{J_1}$ = 0.354(0.01), i.e. it is significantly larger than the critical value for the formation of a spontaneous gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum without lattice dimerization. The susceptibility data are reproduced by our numerical results over the temperature range from 20K to 950K to a high degree of accuracy for ${J_1} = 80.2 (3.0)$ and ${J_2} = 28.4 (1.8)$. The pressure dependence of the exchange constants is estimated from magnetostriction data. Furthermore, the specific heat data are checked on consistency against the calculated entropy of the above model.Comment: 9 pages, REVTEX, 5 figure

Shot Noise Enhancement in Resonant Tunneling Structures in a Magnetic Field

We have observed that the shot noise of tunnel current, I, in GaSb-AlSb-InAs-AlSb-GaSb double-barrier structure under a magnetic field can exceed 2qI. The measurements were done at T=4K in fields up to 5T parallel to the current. The noise enhancement occurred at each of the several negative-differential conductance regions induced by the tunneling of holes through Landau levels in the InAs quantum well. The amount of the enhancement increased with the strength of the negative conductance and reached values up to 8qI. These results are explained qualitatively by fluctuations of the density of states in the well, but point out the need for a detailed theory of shot noise enhancement in resonant tunneling devices.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, 3 figure

Order Parameter Description of the Anderson-Mott Transition

An order parameter description of the Anderson-Mott transition (AMT) is given. We first derive an order parameter field theory for the AMT, and then present a mean-field solution. It is shown that the mean-field critical exponents are exact above the upper critical dimension. Renormalization group methods are then used to show that a random-field like term is generated under renormalization. This leads to similarities between the AMT and random-field magnets, and to an upper critical dimension $d_{c}^{+}=6$ for the AMT. For $d<6$, an $\epsilon = 6-d$ expansion is used to calculate the critical exponents. To first order in $\epsilon$ they are found to coincide with the exponents for the random-field Ising model. We then discuss a general scaling theory for the AMT. Some well established scaling relations, such as Wegner's scaling law, are found to be modified due to random-field effects. New experiments are proposed to test for random-field aspects of the AMT.Comment: 28pp., REVTeX, no figure