Non-magnetic impurities in two- and three- dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets

In this paper we study in a large-S expansion effects of substituting spins by non-magnetic impurities in two- and three- dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets in a weak magnetic field. In particular, we demonstrate a novel mechanism where magnetic moments are induced around non-magnetic impurities when magnetic field is present. As a result, Curie-type behaviour in magnetic susceptibility can be observed well below the Neel temperature, in agreement with what is being observed in $La_2Cu_{1-x}Zn_{x}O_4$ and $Sr(Cu_{1-x}Zn_x)_2O_3$ compounds.Comment: Latex fil

Charge Segregation and Antiferromagnetism in High-Tc Superconductors

Local antiferromagnetism coexists with superconductivity in the cuprates. Charge segregation provides a way to reconcile these properties. Direct evidence for modulated spin and charge densities has been found in neutron and X-ray scattering studies of Nd-doped La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4). Here we discuss the nature of the modulation, and present some new results for a Zn-doped sample. Some of the open questions concerning the connections between segregation and superconductivity are described.Comment: 9 pp using elsart.sty, 3 eps figures included with psfig.sty, for Proc. of ISSP-7, to be published in J. Phys. Chem. Solid

Order from Disorder: Non Magnetic Impurities in the Spin-gap Phase of the Cuprates

We solve the problem of $N$ non magnetic impurities in the staggered flux phase of the Heisenberg model which we assume to be a good mean-field approximation for the spin-gap phase of the cuprates. The density of states is evaluated exactly in the unitary limit and is porportional to 1/\left (\omega \ln^2(|\omega|/D)), in analogy with the 1D case of doped spin-Peierls and two-leg ladders compounds. We argue that the system exhibits a quasi long-range order at T=0 with instantaneous spin-spin correlations decreasing as n_i/ \ln^2\left (n_i R_{ij}) for large distances $R_{ij}$ and we predict enhanced low energy fluctuations in Neutron Scattering.Comment: 4 pages, corrected typos, references adde

Frustration induced Raman scattering in CuGeO_3

We present experimental data for the Raman intensity in the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO_3 and theoretical calculations from a one-dimensional frustrated spin model. The theory is based on (a) exact diagonalization and (b) a recently developed solitonic mean field theory. We find good agreement between the 1D-theory in the homogeneous phase and evidence for a novel dimerization of the Raman operator in the spin-Peierls state. Finally we present evidence for a coupling between the interchain exchange, the spin-Peierls order parameter and the magnetic excitations along the chains.Comment: Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Comm, in Pres

Spin Dynamics near the Superconductor-to-Insulator Transition in Impurity-Doped YBa2Cu4O8

We studied low-frequency spin dynamics near the impurity-induced superconductor-to-insulator transition for underdoped high-Tc superconductor YBa2(Cu1-xMx)4O8 (M=Ni, Zn) using the Cu nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spin-echo technique. We observed remarkable suppression of the normal-state pseudo spin-gap and a loss of Cu NQR spectrum intensity at low temperatures around the critical impurity concentration.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. To be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol.70, No.7 (2001

Dzyaloshinski-Moriya Interaction in the 2D Spin Gap System SrCu2(BO3)2

The Dzyaloshinski-Moriya interaction partially lifts the magnetic frustration of the spin-1/2 oxide SrCu2(BO3)2. It explains the fine structure of the excited triplet state and its unusual magnetic field dependence, as observed in previous ESR and new neutron inelastic scattering experiments. We claim that it is mainly responsible for the dispersion. We propose also a new mechanism for the observed ESR transitions forbidden by standard selection rules, that relies on an instantaneous Dzyaloshinski-Moriya interaction induced by spin-phonon couplings.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, symmetries clarified, added references, (v3) correct addres