Spin and orbital ferromagnetism in strongly correlated itinerant electron systems

Spectra of one-electron and collective excitations in narrow-band ferromagnets with unquenched orbital moments are calculated in various theoretical models. The interaction of spin and orbital excitations with conduction electrons results in the damping of the former which, however, turns out to be rather small; therefore, apart from usual spin waves, well-defined orbitons can exist. Non-quasiparticle states occur in the electron energy spectrum near the Fermi energy due to this interaction. The criteria of stability of the saturated spin and orbital ferromagnetic ordering are considered. Possible effects of orbital ordering in magnetite and in colossal magnetoresistance manganites are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, Revtex, PRB, accepte

Spin relaxation related to the edge scattering in graphene

We discuss the role of spin-flip scattering of electrons from the magnetized edges in graphene nanoribbons. The spin-flip scattering is associated with strong fluctuations of the magnetic moments at the edge. Using the Boltzmann equation approach, which is valid for not too narrow nanoribbons, we calculate the spin relaxation time in the case of Berry-Mondragon and zigzag graphene edges. We also consider the case of ballistic nanoribbons characterized by very long momentum relaxation time in the bulk, when the main source of momentum and spin relaxation is the spin-dependent scattering at the edges. We found that in the case of zigzag edges, an anomalous spin diffusion is possible, which is related to very weak spin-flip scattering of electrons gliding along the nanoribbon edge.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

Nonperturbative anharmonic phenomena in crystal lattice dynamics

Slow dynamics of energy transfer between different phonon modes under the resonance conditions is considered. It may result in new effects in the inelastic and quasielastic neutron scattering spectra.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Slow Dynamics in Complex Systems (Sendai, Japan,November 3-8, 2003), to be published in AIP Conference series, 200

Magnetism and interaction-induced gap opening in graphene with vacancies or hydrogen adatoms: Quantum Monte Carlo study

We study electronic properties of graphene with finite concentration of vacancies or other resonant scatterers by a straightforward lattice Quantum Monte Carlo calculations. Taking into account realistic long-range Coulomb interaction we calculate distribution of spin density associated to midgap states and demonstrate antiferromagnetic ordering. Energy gaps are open due to the interaction effects, both in the bare graphene spectrum and in the vacancy/impurity bands. In the case of 5 % concentration of resonant scatterers the latter gap is estimated as 0.7 eV and 1.1 eV for graphene on boron nitride and freely suspended graphene, respectively.Comment: Text is substantially updated, temperature dependence of order parameter is added. Accepted for publication in PR

An dynamical-mean-field-theory investigation of specific heat and electronic structure of α\alpha and δ\delta-plutonium

We have carried out a comparative study of the electronic specific heat and electronic structure of $\alpha$ and $\delta$-plutonium using dynmical mean field theory (DMFT). We use the perturbative T-matrix and fluctuating exchange (T-matrix FLEX) as a quantum impurity solver. We considered two different physical pictures of plutonoium. In the first, $5{f^5}+$, the perturbative treatment of electronic correlations has been carried out around the non-magnetic (LDA) Hamiltonian, which results in an f occupation around a bit above $n_f = 5$. In the second, $5{f^6}-$, plutonium is viewed as being close to an $5{f^6}$ configuration, and perturbation theory is carried out around the (LDA+U) starting point bit below $n_f = 6$. In the latter case the electronic specific heat coefficient $\gamma$ attains a smaller value in $\gamma$-Pu than in $\alpha$-Pu, in contradiction to experiment, while in the former case our calculations reproduce the experimentally observed large increase of $\gamma$ in $\delta$-Pu as compared to the $\alpha$ phase. This enhancement of the electronic specific heat coefficient in $\delta$-Pu is due to strong electronic correlations present in this phase, which cause a substantial increase of the electronic effective mass, and high density of states at $E_F$. The densities of states of $\alpha$ and $\delta$-plutonium obtained starting from the open-shell configuration are also in good agreement with the experimental photoemission spectra.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure