529 research outputs found
Spin-Wave Lifetimes Throughout the Brillouin Zone
We use a neutron spin-echo method with eV resolution to determine the
lifetimes of spin waves in the prototypical antiferromagnet MnF over the
entire Brillouin zone. A theory based on the interaction of magnons with
longitudinal spin fluctuations provides an excellent, parameter-free
description of the data, except at the lowest momenta and temperatures. This is
surprising, given the prominence of alternative theories based on magnon-magnon
interactions in the literature. The results and technique open up a new avenue
for the investigation of fundamental concepts in magnetism. The technique also
allows measurement of the lifetimes of other elementary excitations (such as
lattice vibrations) throughout the Brillouin zone.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Time-dependent correlations in quantum magnets at finite temperature
In this article we investigate the time dependence of the gap mode of copper
nitrate at various temperatures. We combine state-of-the-art theoretical
calculations with high precision neutron resonance spin-echo measurements to
understand the anomalous decoherence effects found previously in this material.
It is shown that the time domain offers a complementary view on this
phenomenon, which allows us to directly compare experimental data and
theoretical predictions without the need of further intensive data analysis,
such as (de)convolution.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Momentum-resolved electron-phonon interaction in lead determined by neutron resonance spin-echo spectroscopy
Neutron resonance spin-echo spectroscopy was used to monitor the temperature
evolution of the linewidths of transverse acoustic phonons in lead across the
superconducting transition temperature, , over an extended range of the
Brillouin zone. For phonons with energies below the superconducting energy gap,
a linewidth reduction of maximum amplitude eV was observed below
. The electron-phonon contribution to the phonon lifetime extracted from
these data is in satisfactory overall agreement with {\it ab-initio}
lattice-dynamical calculations, but significant deviations are found
Energy Gaps and Kohn Anomalies in Elemental Superconductors
The momentum and temperature dependence of the lifetimes of acoustic phonons
in the elemental superconductors Pb and Nb was determined by resonant spin-echo
spectroscopy with neutrons. In both elements, the superconducting energy gap
extracted from these measurements was found to converge with sharp anomalies
originating from Fermi-surface nesting (Kohn anomalies) at low temperatures.
The results indicate electron many-body correlations beyond the standard
theoretical framework for conventional superconductivity. A possible mechanism
is the interplay between superconductivity and spin- or charge-density-wave
fluctuations, which may induce dynamical nesting of the Fermi surface
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