First-order quantum phase transition in the orthogonal-dimer spin chain

We investigate the low-energy properties of the orthogonal-dimer spin chain characterized by a frustrated dimer-plaquette structure. When the competing antiferromagnetic couplings are varied, the first-order quantum phase transition occurs between the dimer and the plaquette phases, which is accompanied by nontrivial features due to frustration: besides the discontinuity in the lowest excitation gap at the transition point, a sharp level-crossing occurs for the spectrum in the plaquette phase. We further reveal that the plateau in the magnetization curve at 1/4 of the full moment dramatically changes its character in the vicinity of the critical point. It is argued that the first-order phase transition in this system captures some essential properties found in the two-dimensional orthogonal-dimer model proposed for $\rm SrCu_2(BO_3)_2$.Comment: 7 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Magnetization process for a quasi-one-dimensional S=1 antiferromagnet

We investigate the magnetization process for a quasi-one-dimensional S=1 antiferromagnet with bond alternation. By combining the density matrix renormalization group method with the interchain mean-field theory, we discuss how the interchain coupling affects the magnetization curve. It is found that the width of the magnetization plateau is considerably reduced upon introducing the interchain coupling. We obtain the phase diagram in a magnetic field. The effect of single-ion anisotropy is also addressed.Comment: 6 pages, 7 eps figure

Middle-Field Cusp Singularities in the Magnetization Process of One-Dimensional Quantum Antiferromagnets

We study the zero-temperature magnetization process (M-H curve) of one-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets using a variant of the density-matrix renormalization group method. For both the S=1/2 zig-zag spin ladder and the S=1 bilinear-biquadratic chain, we find clear cusp-type singularities in the middle-field region of the M-H curve. These singularities are successfully explained in terms of the double-minimum shape of the energy dispersion of the low-lying excitations. For the S=1/2 zig-zag spin ladder, we find that the cusp formation accompanies the Fermi-liquid to non-Fermi-liquid transition.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 3 figures, some mistakes in references are correcte

Self-Organization of Polarized Cerebellar Tissue in 3D Culture of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

During cerebellar development, the main portion of the cerebellar plate neuroepithelium gives birth to Purkinje cells and interneurons, whereas the rhombic lip, the germinal zone at its dorsal edge, generates granule cells and cerebellar nuclei neurons. However, it remains elusive how these components cooperate to form the intricate cerebellar structure. Here, we found that a polarized cerebellar structure self-organizes in 3D human embryonic stem cell (ESC) culture. The self-organized neuroepithelium differentiates into electrophysiologically functional Purkinje cells. The addition of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) promotes spontaneous generation of dorsoventrally polarized neural-tube-like structures at the level of the cerebellum. Furthermore, addition of SDF1 and FGF19 promotes the generation of a continuous cerebellar plate neuroepithelium with rhombic-lip-like structure at one end and a three-layer cytoarchitecture similar to the embryonic cerebellum. Thus, human-ESC-derived cerebellar progenitors exhibit substantial self-organizing potential for generating a polarized structure reminiscent of the early human cerebellum at the first trimester