Taking into account the vertical drift of molecular ions when determining the kinetic parameters of ionization-recombination processes in the F2-layer maximum

Height distribution analysis for kinetic molecular ionization-recombination processes in F 2 region during solar activitie

Lattice Distortion and Magnetism of 3d-t2gt_{2g} Perovskite Oxides

Several puzzling aspects of interplay of the experimental lattice distortion and the the magnetic properties of four narrow $t_{2g}$-band perovskite oxides (YTiO$_3$, LaTiO$_3$, YVO$_3$, and LaVO$_3$) are clarified using results of first-principles electronic structure calculations. First, we derive parameters of the effective Hubbard-type Hamiltonian for the isolated $t_{2g}$ bands using newly developed downfolding method for the kinetic-energy part and a hybrid approach, based on the combination of the random-phase approximation and the constraint local-density approximation, for the screened Coulomb interaction part. Then, we solve the obtained Hamiltonian using a number of techniques, including the mean-field Hartree-Fock (HF) approximation, the second-order perturbation theory for the correlation energy, and a variational superexchange theory. Even though the crystal-field splitting is not particularly large to quench the orbital degrees of freedom, the crystal distortion imposes a severe constraint on the form of the possible orbital states, which favor the formation of the experimentally observed magnetic structures in YTiO$_3$, YVO_, and LaVO$_3$ even at the HF level. Beyond the HF approximation, the correlations effects systematically improve the agreement with the experimental data. Using the same type of approximations we could not reproduce the correct magnetic ground state of LaTiO$_3$. However, we expect that the situation may change by systematically improving the level of approximations for dealing with the correlation effects.Comment: 30 pages, 17 figures, 8 tables, high-quality figures are available via e-mai

Theoretical Analysis of Electronic and Magnetic Properties of NaV2_2O4_4: Crucial Role of the Orbital Degrees of Freedom

Using realistic low-energy model with parameters derived from the first-principles electronic structure calculation, we address the origin of the quasi-one-dimensional behavior in orthorhombic NaV$_2$O$_4$, consisting of the double chains of edge-sharing VO$_6$ octahedra. We argue that the geometrical aspect alone does not explain the experimentally observed anisotropy of electronic and magnetic properties of NaV$_2$O$_4$. Instead, we attribute the unique behavior of NaV$_2$O$_4$ to one particular type of the orbital ordering, which respects the orthorhombic $Pnma$ symmetry. This orbital ordering acts to divide all $t_{2g}$ states into two types: the `localized' ones, which are antisymmetric with respect to the mirror reflection $y \rightarrow -$$y$, and the symmetric `delocalized' ones. Thus, NaV$_2$O$_4$ can be classified as the double exchange system. The directional orientation of symmetric orbitals, which form the metallic band, appears to be sufficient to explain both quasi-one-dimensional character of interatomic magnetic interactions and the anisotropy of electrical resistivity.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Modeling of complex oxide materials from the first principles: systematic applications to vanadates RVO3 with distorted perovskite structure

"Realistic modeling" is a new direction of electronic structure calculations, where the main emphasis is made on the construction of some effective low-energy model entirely within a first-principle framework. Ideally, it is a model in form, but with all the parameters derived rigorously, on the basis of first-principles electronic structure calculations. The method is especially suit for transition-metal oxides and other strongly correlated systems, whose electronic and magnetic properties are predetermined by the behavior of some limited number of states located near the Fermi level. After reviewing general ideas of realistic modeling, we will illustrate abilities of this approach on the wide series of vanadates RVO3 (R= La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Yb, and Y) with distorted perovskite structure. Particular attention will be paid to computational tools, which can be used for microscopic analysis of different spin and orbital states in the partially filled t2g-band. We will explicitly show how the lifting of the orbital degeneracy by the monoclinic distortion stabilizes C-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, which can be further transformed to the G-type AFM state by changing the crystal distortion from monoclinic to orthorhombic one. Two microscopic mechanisms of such a stabilization, associated with the one-electron crystal field and electron correlation interactions, are discussed. The flexibility of the orbital degrees of freedom is analyzed in terms of the magnetic-state dependence of interatomic magnetic interactions.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figure

Realization of anisotropic compass model on the diamond lattice of Cu2+^{2+} in CuAl2_2O4_4

Spin-orbit (SO) Mott insulators are regarded as a new paradigm of magnetic materials, whose properties are largely influenced by SO coupling and featured by highly anisotropic bond-dependent exchange interactions between the spin-orbital entangled Kramers doublets, as typically manifested in $5d$ iridates. Here, we propose that a very similar situation can be realized in cuprates when the Cu$^{2+}$ ions reside in a tetrahedral environment, like in spinel compounds. Using first-principles electronic structure calculations, we construct a realistic model for the diamond lattice of the Cu$^{2+}$ ions in CuAl$_2$O$_4$ and show that the magnetic properties of this compound are largely controlled by anisotropic compass-type exchange interactions that dramatically modify the magnetic ground state by lifting the spiral spin-liquid degeneracy and stabilizing a commensurate single-$\boldsymbol{q}$ spiral

Noncollinear magnetism in distorted perovskite compounds

Using results of the band structure calculations in the local-spin-density approximation we demonstrate how the crystal distortions affect the magnetic structure of orthorhombically distorted perovskites leading to a non-collinear spin arrangement. Our results suggest that the non-collinearity of the spin magnetic moments, being generally small in La$M$O$_3$ series with $M$=Cr-Fe, is large in SrRuO$_3$.Comment: 6 pagest, 1 figure, Proceedings of ICPTM '9

Hybridization and spin-orbit coupling effects in quasi-one-dimensional spin-1/2 magnet Ba3Cu3Sc4O12

We study electronic and magnetic properties of the quasi-one-dimensional spin-1/2 magnet Ba3Cu3Sc4O12 with a distinct orthogonal connectivity of CuO4 plaquettes. An effective low-energy model taking into account spin-orbit coupling was constructed by means of first-principles calculations. On this basis a complete microscopic magnetic model of Ba3Cu3Sc4O12, including symmetric and antisymmetric anisotropic exchange interactions, is derived. The anisotropic exchanges are obtained from a distinct first-principles numerical scheme combining, on one hand, the local density approximation taking into account spin-orbit coupling, and, on the other hand, projection procedure along with the microscopic theory by Toru Moriya. The resulting tensors of the symmetric anisotropy favor collinear magnetic order along the structural chains with the leading ferromagnetic coupling J1 = -9.88 meV. The interchain interactions J8 = 0.21 meV and J5 = 0.093 meV are antiferromagnetic. Quantum Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that the proposed model reproduces the experimental Neel temperature, magnetization and magnetic susceptibility data. The modeling of neutron diffraction data reveals an important role of the covalent Cu-O bonding in Ba3Cu3Sc4O12.Comment: 11 pages, 12 figure

Ferromagnetic zigzag chains and properties of the charge ordered perovskite manganites

The low-temperature properties of the so-called ''charge ordered'' state in 50% doped perovskite manganites are described from the viewpoint of the magnetic spin ordering. In these systems, the zigzag antiferromagnetic ordering, combined with the double-exchange physics, effectively divides the whole sample into the one-dimensional ferromagnetic zigzag chains and results in the anisotropy of electronic properties. The electronic structure of one such chain is described by an effective 3$\times$3 Hamiltonian in the basis of Mn($3de_g$) orbitals. We treat this problem analytically and consider the following properties: (i) the nearest-neighbor magnetic interactions; (ii) the distribution of the Mn($3de_g$) and Mn($4p$) states near the Fermi level, and their contribution to the optical conductivity and the resonant x-ray scattering near the Mn $K$-absorption edge. We argue that the anisotropy of magnetic interactions in the double-exchange limit, combined with the isotropic superexchange interactions, readily explains both the local and the global stability of the zigzag antiferromagnetic state. The two-fold degeneracy of $e_g$ levels plays a very important role in the problem and explains the insulating behavior of the zigzag chain, as well as the appearance of the orbital ordering in the double-exchange model. Importantly, however, the charge ordering itself is expected to play only a minor role and is incompatible with the ferromagnetic coupling within the chain. We also discuss possible effects of the Jahn-Teller distortion and compare the tight-binding picture with results of band structure calculations in the local-spin-density approximation.Comment: 35 pages, 8 figure

Origin of the giant magnetic moments of Fe impurities on and in Cs films

To explore the origin of the observed giant magnetic moments ($\sim 7 \mu_B$) of Fe impurities on the surface and in the bulk of Cs films, we have performed the relativistic LSDA + U calculations using the linearized muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) band method. We have found that Fe impurities in Cs behave differently from those in noble metals or in Pd. Whereas the induced spin polarization of Cs atoms is negligible, the Fe ion itself is found to be the source of the giant magnetic moment. The 3d electrons of Fe in Cs are localized as the 4f electrons in rare-earth ions so that the orbital magnetic moment becomes as large as the spin magnetic moment. The calculated total magnetic moment of $M = 6.43 \mu_B$, which comes mainly from Fe ion, is close to the experimentally observed value.Comment: 4 pages including 3 figures and 1 table. Submitted to PR