Low Energy Singlets in the Excitation Spectrum of the Spin Tetrahedra System Cu_2Te_2O_5Br_2

Low energy Raman scattering of the s=1/2 spin tetrahedra system Cu_2Te_2O_5Br_2 is dominated by an excitation at 18 cm^{-1} corresponding to an energy E_S=0.6\Delta, with \Delta the spin gap of the compound. For elevated temperatures this mode shows a soft mode-like decrease in energy pointing to an instability of the system. The isostructural reference system Cu_2Te_2O_5Cl_2 with a presumably larger inter-tetrahedra coupling does not show such a low energy mode. Instead its excitation spectrum and thermodynamic properties are compatible with long range Neel-ordering. We discuss the observed effects in the context of quantum fluctuations and competing ground states.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, ISSP-Kashiwa 2001, Conference on Correlated Electron

Anomalous frequency and intensity scaling of collective and local modes in a coupled spin tetrahedron system

We report on the magnetic excitation spectrum of the coupled spin tetrahedral system Cu$_{2}$Te$_{2}$O$_{5}$Cl$_{2}$ using Raman scattering on single crystals. The transition to an ordered state at T$_{N}^{Cl}$=18.2 K evidenced from thermodynamic data leads to the evolution of distinct low-energy magnetic excitations superimposed by a broad maximum. These modes are ascribed to magnons with different degree of localization and a two-magnon continuum. Two of the modes develop a substantial energy shift with decreasing temperature similar to the order parameter of other Neel ordered systems. The other two modes show only a negligible temperature dependence and dissolve above the ordering temperature in a continuum of excitations at finite energies. These observations point to a delicate interplay of magnetic inter- and intra-tetrahedra degrees of freedom and an importance of singlet fluctuations in describing a spin dynamics.Comment: 7pages, 6figures, 1tabl

Substitution effects on spin fluctuations in the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO_3

Using Raman scattering we studied the effect of substitutions on 1D spin fluctuations in CuGeO_3 observed as a spinon continuum in frustration induced exchange scattering. For temperatures below the spin-Peierls transition (T_{SP}=14K) the intensity of this continuum at 120-500 cm^{-1} is exponentially suppressed and transferred into a 3D two-magnon density of states. Besides a spin-Peierls gap-induced mode at 30 cm^{-1} and additional modes at 105 and 370 cm^{-1} are observed. Substitution of Zn on the Cu-site and Si on the Ge-site of CuGeO_3 quenches easily the spin-Peierls state. Consequently a suppression of the spin-Peierls gap observable below T_{SP}=14K as well as a change of the temperature dependence of the spinon continuum are observed. These effects are discussed in the context of a dimensional crossover of this compound below T_{SP} and strong spin-lattice interaction.Comment: 9 pages, 2 eps figures include

Positive contraction mappings for classical and quantum Schrodinger systems

The classical Schrodinger bridge seeks the most likely probability law for a diffusion process, in path space, that matches marginals at two end points in time; the likelihood is quantified by the relative entropy between the sought law and a prior, and the law dictates a controlled path that abides by the specified marginals. Schrodinger proved that the optimal steering of the density between the two end points is effected by a multiplicative functional transformation of the prior; this transformation represents an automorphism on the space of probability measures and has since been studied by Fortet, Beurling and others. A similar question can be raised for processes evolving in a discrete time and space as well as for processes defined over non-commutative probability spaces. The present paper builds on earlier work by Pavon and Ticozzi and begins with the problem of steering a Markov chain between given marginals. Our approach is based on the Hilbert metric and leads to an alternative proof which, however, is constructive. More specifically, we show that the solution to the Schrodinger bridge is provided by the fixed point of a contractive map. We approach in a similar manner the steering of a quantum system across a quantum channel. We are able to establish existence of quantum transitions that are multiplicative functional transformations of a given Kraus map, but only for the case of uniform marginals. As in the Markov chain case, and for uniform density matrices, the solution of the quantum bridge can be constructed from the fixed point of a certain contractive map. For arbitrary marginal densities, extensive numerical simulations indicate that iteration of a similar map leads to fixed points from which we can construct a quantum bridge. For this general case, however, a proof of convergence remains elusive.Comment: 27 page

Magnetic Bound States in Dimerized Quantum Spin Systems

Magnetic bound states are a general phenomenon in low dimensional antiferromagnets with gapped singlet states. Using Raman scattering on three compounds as dedicated examples we show how exchange topology, dimensionality, defects and thermal fluctuations influence the properties and the spectral weight of these states.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, proceedings of the SCES'98, Paris, to be published in Physica

Energy-level ordering and ground-state quantum numbers for frustrated two-leg spin-1/2 ladder model

The Lieb-Mattis theorem about antiferromagnetic ordering of energy levels on bipartite lattices is generalized to finite-size two-leg spin-1/2 ladder model frustrated by diagonal interactions. For reflection-symmetric model with site-dependent interactions we prove exactly that the lowest energies in sectors with fixed total spin and reflection quantum numbers are monotone increasing functions of total spin. The nondegeneracy of most levels is proved also. We also establish the uniqueness and obtain the spin value of the lowest-level multiplet in the whole sector formed by reflection-symmetric (antisymmetric) states. For a wide range of coupling constants, we prove that the ground state is a unique spin singlet. For other values of couplings, it may be also a unique spin triplet or may consist of both multiplets. Similar results have been obtained for the ladder with arbitrary boundary impurity spin. Some partial results have also been obtained in the case of periodical boundary conditions.Comment: 17 page

TiOCl, an orbital-ordered system?

We present first principles density functional calculations and downfolding studies of the electronic and magnetic properties of the layered quantum spin system TiOCl. We discuss explicitely the nature of the exchange pathes and attempt to clarify the concept of orbital ordering in this material. An analysis of the electronic structure of slightly distorted structures according to the phononic modes allowed in this material suggests that this system is subject to large orbital fluctuations driven by the electron-phonon coupling. Based on these results, we propose a microscopic explanation of the behavior of TiOCl near the phase transition to a spin-gapped system.Comment: Some figures are compressed, for higher quality please contact the author

Xenogeneic, extracorporeal liver perfusion in primates improves the ratio of branched-chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids (Fischer's ratio)

In fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the development of hepatic encephalopathy is associated with grossly abnormal concentrations of plasma amino acids (PAA). Normalization of the ratio of branched-chain amino acids to aromatic amino acids (Fischer's ratio) correlates with clinical improvement. This study evaluated changes in PAA metabolism during 4 h of isolated, normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion using a newly designed system containing human blood and a rhesus monkey liver. Bile and urea production were within the physiological range. Release of the transaminases AST, ALT and LDH were minimal. The ratio of branched (valine, leucine, isoleucine) to aromatic (tyrosine, phenylalanine) amino acids increased significantly. These results indicate that a xenogeneic extracorporeal liver perfusion system is capable of significantly increasing Fischer's ratio and may play a role in treating and bridging patients in FHF in the future