274 research outputs found
Critical speeding-up near the monopole liquid-gas transition in magnetoelectric spin-ice
Competing interactions in the so-called spin-ice compounds stabilize a
frustrated ground-state with finite zero-point entropy and, interestingly,
emergent magnetic monopole excitations. The properties of these monopoles are
at the focus of recent research with particular emphasis on their quantum
dynamics. It is predicted that each monopole also possesses an electric dipole
moment, which allows to investigate their dynamics via the dielectric function
\epsilon(\nu). Here, we report on broadband spectroscopic measurements of
\epsilon(\nu) in Dy2Ti2O7 down to temperatures of 200mK with a specific focus
on the critical endpoint present for a magnetic field along the
crystallographic [111] direction. Clear critical signatures are revealed in the
dielectric response when, similarly as in the liquid-gas transition, the
density of monopoles changes in a critical manner. Surprisingly, the dielectric
relaxation time \tau\ exhibits a critical speeding-up with a significant
enhancement of 1/\tau\ as the temperature is lowered towards the critical
temperature. Besides demonstrating the magnetoelectric character of the
emergent monopole excitations, our results reveal unique critical dynamics near
the monopole condensation transition.Comment: Changes: Data shown and discussed as function of internal field H and
flux density B, Figs.3&4 rearranged, references adde
Quantum bicriticality in the heavy-fermion metamagnet YbAgGe
Bicritical points, at which two distinct symmetry-broken phases become
simultaneously unstable, are typical for spin-flop metamagnetism.
Interestingly, the heavy-fermion compound YbAgGe also possesses such a
bicritical point (BCP) with a low temperature T_BCP ~ 0.3 K at a magnetic field
of mu_0 H_BCP ~ 4.5 T. In its vicinity, YbAgGe exhibits anomalous behavior that
we attribute to the influence of a quantum bicritical point (QBCP), that is
close in parameter space yet can be reached by tuning T_BCP further to zero.
Using high-resolution measurements of the magnetocaloric effect, we demonstrate
that the magnetic Grueneisen parameter Gamma_H indeed both changes sign and
diverges as required for quantum criticality. Moreover, Gamma_H displays a
characteristic scaling behavior but only on the low-field side, H < H_BCP,
indicating a pronounced asymmetry with respect to the critical field. We
speculate that the small value of T_BCP is related to the geometric frustration
of the Kondo-lattice of YbAgGe.Comment: submitted to PR
Critical spin-flip scattering at the helimagnetic transition of MnSi
We report spherical neutron polarimetry (SNP) and discuss the spin-flip
scattering cross sections as well as the chiral fraction close to the
helimagnetic transition in MnSi. For our study, we have developed a
miniaturised SNP device that allows fast data collection when used in small
angle scattering geometry with an area detector. Critical spin-flip scattering
is found to be governed by chiral paramagnons that soften on a sphere in
momentum space. Carefully accounting for the incoherent spin-flip background,
we find that the resulting chiral fraction decreases gradually above the
helimagnetic transition reflecting a strongly renormalised chiral correlation
length with a temperature dependence in excellent quantitative agreement with
the Brazovskii theory for a fluctuation-induced first order transition.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Sign change of the Grueneisen parameter and magnetocaloric effect near quantum critical points
We consider the Grueneisen parameter and the magnetocaloric effect near a
pressure and magnetic field controlled quantum critical point, respectively.
Generically, the Grueneisen parameter (and the thermal expansion) displays a
characteristic sign change close to the quantum-critical point signaling an
accumulation of entropy. If the quantum critical point is the endpoint of a
line of finite temperature phase transitions, T_c \propto (p_c-p)^Psi, then we
obtain for p<p_c, (1) a characteristic increase \Gamma \sim T^{-1/(\nu z)} of
the Grueneisen parameter Gamma for T>T_c, (2) a sign change in the Ginzburg
regime of the classical transition, (3) possibly a peak at T_c, (4) a second
increase Gamma \sim -T^{-1/(nu z)} below T_c for systems above the upper
critical dimension and (5) a saturation of Gamma \propto 1/(p_c-p). We argue
that due to the characteristic divergencies and sign changes the thermal
expansion, the Grueneisen parameter and magnetocaloric effect are excellent
tools to detect and identify putative quantum critical points.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures; final version, only minor change
Mott metal-insulator transition on compressible lattices
The critical properties of the finite temperature Mott endpoint are
drastically altered by a coupling to crystal elasticity, i.e., whenever it is
amenable to pressure tuning. Similar as for critical piezoelectric
ferroelectrics, the Ising criticality of the electronic system is preempted by
an isostructural instability, and long-range shear forces suppress microscopic
fluctuations. As a result, the endpoint is governed by Landau criticality. Its
hallmark is thus a breakdown of Hooke's law of elasticity with a non-linear
strain-stress relation characterized by a mean-field exponent. Based on a
quantitative estimate, we predict critical elasticity to dominate the
temperature range DeltaT/Tc ~ 8% close to the Mott endpoint of
kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2X.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure
Instability of magnetic skyrmion strings induced by longitudinal spin currents
It is well established that spin-transfer torques exerted by in-plane spin
currents give rise to a motion of magnetic skyrmions resulting in a skyrmion
Hall effect. In films of finite thickness or in three-dimensional bulk samples
the skyrmions extend in the third direction forming a string. We demonstrate
that a spin current flowing longitudinally along the skyrmion string instead
induces a Goldstone spin wave instability. Our analytical results are confirmed
by micromagnetic simulations of both a single string as well as string lattices
suggesting that the instability eventually breaks the strings. A longitudinal
current is thus able to melt the skyrmion string lattice via a dynamical phase
transition. For films of finite thickness or in the presence of disorder a
threshold current will be required, and we estimate the latter assuming weak
collective pinning.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
Recommended from our members
A neural circuit mechanism for regulating vocal variability during song learning in zebra finches
Motor skill learning is characterized by improved performance and reduced motor variability. The neural mechanisms that couple skill level and variability, however, are not known. The zebra finch, a songbird, presents a unique opportunity to address this question because production of learned song and induction of vocal variability are instantiated in distinct circuits that converge on a motor cortex analogue controlling vocal output. To probe the interplay between learning and variability, we made intracellular recordings from neurons in this area, characterizing how their inputs from the functionally distinct pathways change throughout song development. We found that inputs that drive stereotyped song-patterns are strengthened and pruned, while inputs that induce variability remain unchanged. A simple network model showed that strengthening and pruning of action-specific connections reduces the sensitivity of motor control circuits to variable input and neural ‘noise’. This identifies a simple and general mechanism for learning-related regulation of motor variability. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03697.00
Low-temperature ordered phases of the spin- XXZ chain system CsCoCl
In this study the magnetic order of the spin-1/2 XXZ chain system
CsCoCl in a temperature range from 50 mK to 0.5 K and in applied
magnetic fields up to 3.5 T is investigated by high-resolution measurements of
the thermal expansion and the specific heat. Applying magnetic fields along a
or c suppresses completely at about 2.1 T. In addition, we find
an adjacent intermediate phase before the magnetization saturates close to 2.5
T. For magnetic fields applied along b, a surprisingly rich phase diagram
arises. Two additional transitions are observed at critical fields T and T, which we propose to
arise from a two-stage spin-flop transition.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure
- …