Semiclassical spin liquid state of easy axis Kagome antiferromagnets

Motivated by recent experiments on Nd-langasite, we consider the effect of strong easy axis single-ion anisotropy $D$ on $S > 3/2$ spins interacting with antiferromagnetic exchange $J$ on the Kagome lattice. When $T \ll DS^2$, the collinear low energy states selected by the anisotropy map on to configurations of the classical Kagome lattice Ising antiferromagnet. However, the low temperature limit is quite different from the cooperative Ising paramagnet that obtains classically for $T \ll JS^2$. We find that sub-leading ${\mathcal O}(J^3S/D^2)$ multi-spin interactions arising from the transverse quantum dynamics result in a crossover from an intermediate temperature classical cooperative Ising paramagnet to a semiclassical spin liquid with distinct short-ranged correlations for $T \ll J^3S/D^2$.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figure

Apparent rippling with honeycomb symmetry and tunable periodicity observed by scanning tunneling microscopy on suspended graphene

Suspended graphene is difficult to image by scanning probe microscopy due to the inherent van-der-Waals and dielectric forces exerted by the tip which are not counteracted by a substrate. Here, we report scanning tunneling microscopy data of suspended monolayer graphene in constant-current mode revealing a surprising honeycomb structure with amplitude of 50$-$200 pm and lattice constant of 10-40 nm. The apparent lattice constant is reduced by increasing the tunneling current $I$, but does not depend systematically on tunneling voltage $V$ or scan speed $v_{\rm scan}$. The honeycomb lattice of the rippling is aligned with the atomic structure observed on supported areas, while no atomic corrugation is found on suspended areas down to the resolution of about $3-4$ pm. We rule out that the honeycomb structure is induced by the feedback loop using a changing $v_{\rm scan}$, that it is a simple enlargement effect of the atomic resolution as well as models predicting frozen phonons or standing phonon waves induced by the tunneling current. Albeit we currently do not have a convincing explanation for the observed effect, we expect that our intriguing results will inspire further research related to suspended graphene.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, modified, more detailed discussion on errors in vdW parameter

Antiferromagnetic Quantum Spins on the Pyrochlore Lattice

The ground state of the S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the pyrochlore lattice is theoretically investigated. Starting from the limit of isolated tetrahedra, I include interactions between the tetrahedra and obtain an effective model for the spin-singlet ground state multiplet by third-order perturbation. I determine its ground state using the mean-field approximation and found a dimerized state with a four-sublattice structure, which agrees with the proposal by Harris et al. I also discuss chirality correlations and spin correlations for this state.Comment: 4 pages in 2-column format, 5 figures; To appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. (Mar, 2001

Quantum Monte Carlo scheme for frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnets

When one tries to simulate quantum spin systems by the Monte Carlo method, often the 'minus-sign problem' is encountered. In such a case, an application of probabilistic methods is not possible. In this paper the method has been proposed how to avoid the minus sign problem for certain class of frustrated Heisenberg models. The systems where this method is applicable are, for instance, the pyrochlore lattice and the $J_1-J_2$ Heisenberg model. The method works in singlet sector. It relies on expression of wave functions in dimer (pseudo)basis and writing down the Hamiltonian as a sum over plaquettes. In such a formulation, matrix elements of the exponent of Hamiltonian are positive.Comment: 19 LaTeX pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl

Seasonal cycle of precipitation variability in South America on intraseasonal timescales

The seasonal cycle of the intraseasonal (IS) variability of precipitation in South America is described through the analysis of bandpass filtered outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies. The analysis is discriminated between short (10--30 days) and long (30--90 days) intraseasonal timescales. The seasonal cycle of the 30--90-day IS variability can be well described by the activity of first leading pattern (EOF1) computed separately for the wet season (October--April) and the dry season (May--September). In agreement with previous works, the EOF1 spatial distribution during the wet season is that of a dipole with centers of actions in the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) and southeastern South America (SESA), while during the dry season, only the last center is discernible. In both seasons, the pattern is highly influenced by the activity of the Madden--Julian Oscillation (MJO). Moreover, EOF1 is related with a tropical zonal-wavenumber-1 structure superposed with coherent wave trains extended along the South Pacific during the wet season, while during the dry season the wavenumber-1 structure is not observed. The 10--30-day IS variability of OLR in South America can be well represented by the activity of the EOF1 computed through considering all seasons together, a dipole but with the stronger center located over SESA. While the convection activity at the tropical band does not seem to influence its activity, there are evidences that the atmospheric variability at subtropical-extratropical regions might have a role. Subpolar wavetrains are observed in the Pacific throughout the year and less intense during DJF, while a path of wave energy dispersion along a subtropical wavetrain also characterizes the other seasons. Further work is needed to identify the sources of the 10--30-day-IS variability in South America

Electrical transport and low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy of microsoldered graphene

Using the recently developed technique of microsoldering, we perform a systematic transport study of the influence of PMMA on graphene flakes revealing a doping effect of up to 3.8x10^12 1/cm^2, but a negligible influence on mobility and gate voltage induced hysteresis. Moreover, we show that the microsoldered graphene is free of contamination and exhibits a very similar intrinsic rippling as has been found for lithographically contacted flakes. Finally, we demonstrate a current induced closing of the previously found phonon gap appearing in scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments, strongly non-linear features at higher bias probably caused by vibrations of the flake and a B-field induced double peak attributed to the 0.Landau level of graphene.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

The detailed dynamics of the June–August Hadley Cell

The seminal theory for the Hadley Cells has demonstrated that their existence is necessary for the reduction of tropical temperature gradients to a value such that the implied zonal winds are realisable. At the heart of the theory is the notion of angular momentum conservation in the upper branch of the Hadley Cells. Eddy mixing associated with extra‐tropical systems is invoked to give continuity at the edge of the Hadley Cell and to reduce the subtropical jet by a factor of 3 or more to those observed. In this paper a detailed view is presented of the dynamics of the June–August Hadley Cell, as given by ERA data for the period 1981–2010, with an emphasis on the dynamics of the upper branch. The steady and transient northward fluxes of angular momentum have a very similar structure, both having a maximum on the equator and a reversal in sign near 12°S, with the transient flux merging into that associated with eddies on the winter sub‐tropical jet. In the northward absolute vorticity flux, the Coriolis torque is balanced by both the steady and transient fluxes. The overturning circulations that average to give the Hadley Cell are confined to specific longitudinal regions, as are the steady and transient momentum fluxes. In these regions, both intra‐seasonal and synoptic variations are important. The dominant contributor to the Hadley Cell is from the Indian Ocean and W Pacific regions, and the maxima in OLR variability and meridional wind in these regions have a characteristic structure associated with the Westward‐moving Mixed Rossby‐Gravity wave. Much of the upper tropospheric motion into the winter hemisphere occurs in filaments of air from the summer equatorial region. These filaments can reach the winter sub‐tropical jet, leading to the strengthening of it and of the eddies on it, implying strong tropical‐extratropical interaction