138 research outputs found
Continuous and Discontinuous Quantum Phase Transitions in a Model Two-Dimensional Magnet
The Shastry-Sutherland model, which consists of a set of spin 1/2 dimers on a
2-dimensional square lattice, is simple and soluble, but captures a central
theme of condensed matter physics by sitting precariously on the quantum edge
between isolated, gapped excitations and collective, ordered ground states. We
compress the model Shastry-Sutherland material, SrCu2(BO3)2, in a diamond anvil
cell at cryogenic temperatures to continuously tune the coupling energies and
induce changes in state. High-resolution x-ray measurements exploit what
emerges as a remarkably strong spin-lattice coupling to both monitor the
magnetic behavior and the absence or presence of structural discontinuities. In
the low-pressure spin-singlet regime, the onset of magnetism results in an
expansion of the lattice with decreasing temperature, which permits a
determination of the pressure dependent energy gap and the almost isotropic
spin-lattice coupling energies. The singlet-triplet gap energy is suppressed
continuously with increasing pressure, vanishing completely by 2 GPa. This
continuous quantum phase transition is followed by a structural distortion at
higher pressure.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in PNA
Incommensurate Spin Ordering and Fluctuations in underdoped La_{2-x}Ba_{x}CuO_{4}
Using neutron scattering techniques, we have studied incommensurate spin
ordering as well as low energy spin dynamics in single crystal underdoped \LBCO
with x0.095 and 0.08; high temperature superconductors with T 27
K and 29 K respectively. Static two dimensional incommensurate magnetic order
appears below T=39.5 0.3 K in \LBCO (x=0.095) and a similar
temperature for x=0.08 within the low temperature tetragonal phase. The spin
order is unaffected by either the onset of superconductivity or the application
of magnetic fields of up to 7 Tesla applied along the c-axis in the x=0.095
sample. Such magnetic field {\it independent} behaviour is in marked contrast
with the field induced enhancement of the staggered magnetisation observed in
the related \LSCO system, indicating this phenomenon is not a universal
property of cuprate superconductors. Surprisingly, we find that
incommensurability is only weakly dependent on doping relative to
\LSCO. Dispersive excitations in \LBCO (x=0.095) at the same incommensurate
wavevector persist up to at least 60 K. The dynamical spin susceptibility of
the low energy spin excitations saturates below \tc, in a similar manner to
that seen in the superconducting state of LaCuO.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, submitted to PRB, figures update
- …