Impurity and boundary effects in one and two-dimensional inhomogeneous Heisenberg antiferromagnets

We calculate the ground-state energy of one and two-dimensional spatially inhomogeneous antiferromagnetic Heisenberg models for spins 1/2, 1, 3/2 and 2. Our calculations become possible as a consequence of the recent formulation of density-functional theory for Heisenberg models. The method is similar to spin-density-functional theory, but employs a local-density-type approximation designed specifically for the Heisenberg model, allowing us to explore parameter regimes that are hard to access by traditional methods, and to consider complications that are important specifically for nanomagnetic devices, such as the effects of impurities, finite-size, and boundary geometry, in chains, ladders, and higher-dimensional systems.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.

Current-induced magnetization dynamics in disordered itinerant ferromagnets

Current-driven magnetization dynamics in ferromagnetic metals are studied in a self-consistent adiabatic local-density approximation in the presence of spin-conserving and spin-dephasing impurity scattering. Based on a quantum kinetic equation, we derive Gilbert damping and spin-transfer torques entering the Landau-Lifshitz equation to linear order in frequency and wave vector. Gilbert damping and a current-driven dissipative torque scale identically and compete, with the result that a steady current-driven domain-wall motion is insensitive to spin dephasing in the limit of weak ferromagnetism. A uniform magnetization is found to be much more stable against spin torques in the itinerant than in the \textit{s}-\textit{d} model for ferromagnetism. A dynamic spin-transfer torque reminiscent of the spin pumping in multilayers is identified and shown to govern the current-induced domain-wall distortion

Magnetic exchange coupling and Curie temperature of Ni(1+x)MnSb (x=0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) from first principles

We study the dependence of magnetic interactions and Curie temperature in Ni(1+x)MnSb system on the Ni concentration within the framework of the density-functional theory. The calculation of the exchange parameters is based on the super-cell and frozen-magnon approaches. The Curie temperatures, Tc, are calculated within the random-phase approximation. In agreement with experiment we obtain decrease of the Curie temperature with increasing Ni content.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figure

Magnetization damping in a local-density approximation

The linear response of itinerant transition metal ferromagnets to transverse magnetic fields is studied in a self-consistent adiabatic local-density approximation. The susceptibility is calculated from a microscopic Hamiltonian, including spin-conserving impurities, impurity induced spin-orbit interaction and magnetic impurities using the Keldysh formalism. The Gilbert damping constant in the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation is identified, parametrized by an effective transverse spin dephasing rate, and is found to be inversely proportional to the exchange splitting. Our result justify the phenomenological treatment of transverse spin dephasing in the study of current-induced magnetization dynamics in weak, itinerant ferromagnets by Tserkovnyak \textit{et al.}. We show that neglect of gradient corrections in the quasiclassical transport equations leads to incorrect results when the exchange potential becomes of the order of the Fermi energy.Comment: 11 pages, 41 references, no figure

Finite-temperature magnetism of Fex_xPd1−x_{1-x} and Cox_xPt1−x_{1-x} alloys

The finite-temperature magnetic properties of Fe$_x$Pd$_{1-x}$ and Co$_x$Pt$_{1-x}$ alloys have been investigated. It is shown that the temperature-dependent magnetic behaviour of alloys, composed of originally magnetic and non-magnetic elements, cannot be described properly unless the coupling between magnetic moments at magnetic atoms (Fe,Co) mediated through the interactions with induced magnetic moments of non-magnetic atoms (Pd,Pt) is included. A scheme for the calculation of the Curie temperature ($T_C$) for this type of systems is presented which is based on the extended Heisenberg Hamiltonian with the appropriate exchange parameters $J_{ij}$ obtained from {\em ab-initio} electronic structure calculations. Within the present study the KKR Green's function method has been used to calculate the $J_{ij}$ parameters. A comparison of the obtained Curie temperatures for Fe$_x$Pd$_{1-x}$ and Co$_x$Pt$_{1-x}$ alloys with experimental data shows rather good agreement.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Self-stresses and Crack Formation by Particle Swelling in Cohesive Granular Media

We present a molecular dynamics study of force patterns, tensile strength and crack formation in a cohesive granular model where the particles are subjected to swelling or shrinkage gradients. Non-uniform particle size change generates self-equilibrated forces that lead to crack initiation as soon as strongest tensile contacts begin to fail. We find that the coarse-grained stresses are correctly predicted by an elastic model that incorporates particle size change as metric evolution. The tensile strength is found to be well below the theoretical strength as a result of inhomogeneous force transmission in granular media. The cracks propagate either inward from the edge upon shrinkage and outward from the center upon swelling

Decoherence: Concepts and Examples

We give a pedagogical introduction to the process of decoherence - the irreversible emergence of classical properties through interaction with the environment. After discussing the general concepts, we present the following examples: Localisation of objects, quantum Zeno effect, classicality of fields and charges in QED, and decoherence in gravity theory. We finally emphasise the important interpretational features of decoherence.Comment: 24 pages, LATEX, 9 figures, needs macro lamuphys.sty, to appear in the Proceedings of the 10th Born Symposiu

Effects of training and motivation on auditory P300 brain–computer interface performance

Objectives Brain–computer interface (BCI) technology aims at helping end-users with severe motor paralysis to communicate with their environment without using the natural output pathways of the brain. For end-users in complete paralysis, loss of gaze control may necessitate non-visual BCI systems. The present study investigated the effect of training on performance with an auditory P300 multi-class speller paradigm. For half of the participants, spatial cues were added to the auditory stimuli to see whether performance can be further optimized. The influence of motivation, mood and workload on performance and P300 component was also examined. Methods In five sessions, 16 healthy participants were instructed to spell several words by attending to animal sounds representing the rows and columns of a 5 × 5 letter matrix. Results 81% of the participants achieved an average online accuracy of ≥70%. From the first to the fifth session information transfer rates increased from 3.72 bits/min to 5.63 bits/min. Motivation significantly influenced P300 amplitude and online ITR. No significant facilitative effect of spatial cues on performance was observed. Conclusions Training improves performance in an auditory BCI paradigm. Motivation influences performance and P300 amplitude. Significance The described auditory BCI system may help end-users to communicate independently of gaze control with their environment