Crossover to non-Fermi-liquid spin dynamics in cuprates

The antiferromagnetic spin correlation function $S_{\bf Q}$, the staggered spin susceptibility $\chi_{\bf Q}$ and the energy scale $\omega_{FL}=S_{\bf Q}/\chi_{\bf Q}$ are studied numerically within the t-J model and the Hubbard model, as relevant to cuprates. It is shown that $\omega_{FL}$, related to the onset of the non-Fermi-liquid spin response at $T>\omega_{FL}$, is very low in the regime below the 'optimum' hole doping $c_h < c_h^* \sim 0.16$, while it shows a steep increase in the overdoped regime. A quantitative analysis of NMR spin-spin relaxation-rate $1/T_{2G}$ for various cuprates reveals a similar behavior, indicating on a sharp, but continuous, crossover between a Fermi-liquid and a non-Fermi-liquid behavior as a function of doping.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to PR

Unexpected phase locking of magnetic fluctuations in the multi-k magnet USb

The spin waves in the multi-k antiferromagnet USb soften and become quasielastic well below the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature TN. This occurs without a magnetic or structural transition. It has been suggested that this change is in fact due to dephasing of the different multi-k components: a switch from 3-k to 1-k behavior. In this work, we use inelastic neutron scattering with tridirectional polarization analysis to probe the quasielastic magnetic excitations and reveal that the 3-k structure does not dephase. More surprisingly, the paramagnetic correlations also maintain the same clear phase correlations well above TN (up to at least 1.4TN)

Larmor diffraction measurement of the temperature dependence of lattice constants in CuGeO3

International audienceBy using the neutron Larmor diffractionmethod and a setup based on the improvedneutron resonant spin echooption ZETA recently installed on the three-axis spectrometer IN22 (CRG beam line at the ILL), we have determined the precise relative evolution of the inter- and intra-chain lattice constants of the paradigmatic spin-Peierls compound CuGeO3 as a function of temperature. Our results are consistent with previous results obtained by conventional high-resolution diffraction. This method also allows to retrieve independently the sample mosaicities, as well as the widths of various lattice-spacings distributions, thus offering an evaluation of the intrinsic sample quality. In spite of the good definition of the spin-Peierls transition at T_{SP}=14.1(1) K in our sample, we observe a large distribution of lattice constants (\Delta d/d ~ 3 10^{- 3}), while the mosaicity of the sample appears to be quite reasonable (\le 20 minutes)

Understanding complex magnetic order in disordered cobalt hydroxides through analysis of the local structure

In many ostensibly crystalline materials, unit-cell-based descriptions do not always capture the complete physics of the system due to disruption in long-range order. In the series of cobalt hydroxides studied here, Co(OH)$_{2-x}$(Cl)$_x$(H$_2$O)$_{n}$, magnetic Bragg diffraction reveals a fully compensated N\'eel state, yet the materials show significant and open magnetization loops. A detailed analysis of the local structure defines the aperiodic arrangement of cobalt coordination polyhedra. Representation of the structure as a combination of distinct polyhedral motifs explains the existence of locally uncompensated moments and provides a quantitative agreement with bulk magnetic measurements and magnetic Bragg diffraction

Spin anisotropy of the resonance in superconducting FeSe0.5Te0.5

We have used polarized-neutron inelastic scattering to resolve the spin fluctuations in superconducting FeSe0.5Te0.5 into components parallel and perpendicular to the layers. A spin resonance at an energy of 6.5 meV is observed to develop below T_c in both fluctuation components. The resonance peak is anisotropic, with the in-plane component slightly larger than the out-of-plane component. Away from the resonance peak the magnetic fluctuations are isotropic in the energy range studied. The results are consistent with a dominant singlet pairing state with s^{\pm} symmetry, with a possible minority component of different symmetry.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Noise-induced switching between vortex states with different polarization in classical two-dimensional easy-plane magnets

In the 2-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg model with XY-symmetry there are non-planar vortices which exhibit a localized structure of the z-components of the spins around the vortex center. We study how thermal noise induces a transition of this structure from one polarization to the opposite one. We describe the vortex core by a discrete Hamiltonian and consider a stationary solution of the Fokker-Planck equation. We find a bimodal distribution function and calculate the transition rate using Langer's instanton theory (1969). The result is compared with Langevin dynamics simulations for the full many-spin model.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, Phys. Rev. B., in pres

Interchain interactions and magnetic properties of Li2CuO2

An effective Hamiltonian is constructed for an insulating cuprate with edge-sharing chains Li2CuO2.The Hamiltonian contains the nearest and next-nearest neighboring intrachain and zigzag-type interchain interactions.The values of the interactions are obtained from the analysis of the magnetic susceptibility, and this system is found to be described as coupled frustrated chains.We calculate the dynamical spin correlation function S(q,\omega) by using the exact diagonalization method, and show that the spectra of S(q,\omega) are characterized by the zigzag-type interchain interactions. The results of the recent inelastic neutron scattering experiment are discussed in the light of the calculated spectra.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, RevTe

Effect of Nonmagnetic Impurities on the Magnetic Resonance Peak in YBa2Cu3O7

The magnetic excitation spectrum of a YBa_2 Cu_3 O_7 crystal containing 0.5% of nonmagnetic (Zn) impurities has been determined by inelastic neutron scattering. Whereas in the pure system a sharp resonance peak at E ~ 40 meV is observed exclusively below the superconducting transition temperature T_c, the magnetic response in the Zn-substituted system is broadened significantly and vanishes at a temperature much higher than T_c. The energy-integrated spectral weight observed near q = (pi,pi) increases with Zn substitution, and only about half of the spectral weight is removed at T_c

Dimming the Powerhouse: Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Liver and Skeletal Muscle of Intrauterine Growth Restricted Fetuses

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of the fetus, resulting from placental insufficiency (PI), is characterized by low fetal oxygen and nutrient concentrations that stunt growth rates of metabolic organs. Numerous animal models of IUGR recapitulate pathophysiological conditions found in human fetuses with IUGR. These models provide insight into metabolic dysfunction in skeletal muscle and liver. For example, cellular energy production and metabolic rate are decreased in the skeletal muscle and liver of IUGR fetuses. These metabolic adaptations demonstrate that fundamental processes in mitochondria, such as substrate utilization and oxidative phosphorylation, are tempered in response to low oxygen and nutrient availability. As a central metabolic organelle, mitochondria coordinate cellular metabolism by coupling oxygen consumption to substrate utilization in concert with tissue energy demand and accretion. In IUGR fetuses, reducing mitochondrial metabolic capacity in response to nutrient restriction is advantageous to ensure fetal survival. If permanent, however, these adaptations may predispose IUGR fetuses toward metabolic diseases throughout life. Furthermore, these mitochondrial defects may underscore developmental programming that results in the sequela of metabolic pathologies. In this review, we examine how reduced nutrient availability in IUGR fetuses impacts skeletal muscle and liver substrate catabolism, and discuss how enzymatic processes governing mitochondrial function, such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle and electron transport chain, are regulated. Understanding how deficiencies in oxygen and substrate metabolism in response to placental restriction regulate skeletal muscle and liver metabolism is essential given the importance of these tissues in the development of later lifer metabolic dysfunction