Double-exchange theory of ferroelectric polarization in orthorhombic manganites with twofold periodic magnetic texture

We argue that many aspects of improper ferroelectric activity in orthorhombic manganites can be rationalized by considering the limit of infinite intra-atomic splitting between the majority- and minority-spin states (or the double exchange limit), which reduces the problem to the analysis of a spinless double exchange (DE) Hamiltonian. We apply this strategy to the low-energy model, derived from the first-principles calculations, and combine it with the Berry-phase theory of electric polarization. We start with the simplest two-orbital model, describing the behavior of the eg bands, and apply it to the E-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase, which in the DE limit effectively breaks up into one-dimensional zigzag chains. We derive an analytical expression for the electronic polarization (Pel) and explain how it depends on the orbital ordering and the energy splitting Delta between eg states. Then, we evaluate parameters of this model, starting from a more general five-orbital model for all Mn 3d bands and constructing a new downfolded model for the eg bands. From the analysis of these parameters, we conclude that the behavior of Pel in realistic manganites corresponds to the limit of large Delta. We further utilize this property in order to derive an analytical expression for Pel in a general two-fold periodic magnetic texture, based on the five-orbital model and the perturbation-theory expansion for the Wannier functions in the first order of 1/Delta. This expression explains the functional dependence of Pel on the relative directions of spins. Furthermore, it suggests that Pel is related to the asymmetry of the transfer integrals, which should simultaneously have symmetric and antisymmetric components. Finally, we explain how the polarization can be switched between orthorhombic directions a and c by inverting the zigzag AFM texture in every second ab plane.Comment: 41 page, 10 figure

Spin dependence of ferroelectric polarization in the double exchange model for manganites

The double exchange (DE) model is systematically applied for studying the coupling between ferroelectric (FE) and magnetic orders in several prototypical types of multiferroic manganites. The model was constructed for the magnetically active Mn $3d$ bands in the basis of Wannier functions and include the effect of screened on-site Coulomb interactions. The essence of our approach for the FE polarization is to use the Berry phase theory, formulated in terms of occupied Wannier functions, and to evaluate the asymmetric spin-dependent change of these functions in the framework of the DE model. This enables us to quantify the effect of the magnetic symmetry breaking and derive several useful expressions for the electronic polarization ${\bf P}$, depending on the relative directions of spins. The proposed theory is applied to the solution of three major problems: (i) The magnetic-state dependence of ${\bf P}$ in hexagonal manganites; (ii) The microscopic relationship between canted ferromagnetism and ${\bf P}$ in monoclinic BiMnO$_3$; (iii) The origin of FE activity in orthorhombic manganites. We show that for an arbitrary noncollinear magnetic structure, propagating along the orthorhombic $\boldsymbol{b}$ axis and antiferromagnetically coupled $\boldsymbol{c}$, ${\bf P}$ can be obtained by scaling the one of the E-phase with the prefactor depending only on the relative directions of spins and being the measure of the spin inhomogeneity. This picture works equally well for the twofold (HoMnO$_3$) and fourfold (TbMnO$_3$) periodic manganites. The basic difference is that the twofold periodic magnetic structure is strongly inhomogeneous, that leads to large ${\bf P}$. On the contrary, the fourfold periodic magnetic structure can be viewed as a moderately distorted homogeneous spin spiral, which corresponds to weaker ${\bf P}$.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figure

Possible Odderon discovery at HERA via charge asymmetry in the diffractive pi+pi- production

We discuss how the evasive Odderon signal can be enhanced by final state interactions. We suggest the charge asymmetry of pion spectra in diffractive pi+pi- photoproduction as a promising signature of the Odderon exchange.Comment: 4 pages, To appear in Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS2001), Bologna, Italy, 27 Apr. - 1 May 200

Unitarity cutting rules for the nucleus excitation and topological cross sections in hard production off nuclei from nonlinear k_t-factorization

At the partonic level, a typical final state in small-x deep inelastic scattering off nuclei and hard proton-nucleus collisions can be characterized by the multiplicity of color-excited nucleons. Within reggeon field theory, each color-excited nucleon is associated with the unitarity cut of the pomeron exchanged between the projectile and nucleus. In this communication we derive the unitarity rules for the multiplicity of excited nucleons, alias cut pomerons, alias topological cross sections, for typical hard dijet production processes. We demonstrate how the coupled-channel non-Abelian intranuclear evolution of color dipoles, inherent to pQCD, gives rise to the reggeon field theory diagrams for final states in terms of the uncut, and two kinds of cut, pomerons. Upon the proper identification of the uncut and cut pomeron exchanges, the topological cross sections for dijet production follow in a straightforward way from the earlier derived nonlinear k_t - factorization quadratures for the inclusive dijet cross sections. The concept of a coherent (collective) nuclear glue proves extremely useful for the formulation of reggeon field theory vertices of multipomeron - cut and uncut - couplings to particles and between themselves. A departure of our unitarity cutting rules from the ones suggested by the pre-QCD Abramovsky-Kancheli-Gribov rules, stems from the coupled-channel features of intranuclear pQCD. We propose a multiplicity re-summation as a tool for the isolation of topological cross sections for single-jet production.Comment: 53 pages, 16 eps-figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Initial dynamics of the EKG during an electrical defibrillation of the heart

In tests on 11 mature dogs, immobilized by means of an automatic blocking and synchronization system, artefact free EKG were obtained, beginning 0.04-0.06 sec after passage of a defibrillating current. Different versions of the start of fibrillation were noted, in application of the defibrillating stimulus in the early phase of the cardiac cycle. A swinging phenomenon, increasing amplitude, of fibrillation was noted for 0.4-1.5 sec after delivery of a subthreshold stimulus. Conditions for a positive outcome of repeated defibrillation were found, and a relationship was noted between the configuration of the exciting process with respect to the lines of force of the defibrillating current and the defibrillation threshold. It was shown that the initial EKG dynamics after defibrillation is based on a gradual shift of the pacemaker from the myocardium of the ventricles to the sinus node, through phases of atrioventricular and atrial automatism

Quenching of Leading Jets and Particles: the p_t Dependent Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect from Nonlinear k_t Factorization

We report the first derivation of the Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal effect for leading jets at fixed values of the transverse momentum p_t in the beam fragmentation region of hadron-nucleus collisions from RHIC (Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider) to LHC (Large Hadron Collider). The major novelty of this work is a derivation of the missing virtual radiative pQCD correction to these processes - the real-emission radiative corrections are already available in the literature. We manifestly implement the unitarity relation, which in the simplest form requires that upon summing over the virtual and real-emission corrections the total number of scattered quarks must exactly equal unity. For the free-nucleon target, the leading jet spectrum is shown to satisfy the familiar linear Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov leading log(1/x) (LL-1/x) evolution. For nuclear targets, the nonlinear k_t-factorization for the LL-1/x evolution of the leading jet sepctrum is shown to exactly match the equally nonlinear LL-1/x evolution of the collective nuclear glue - there emerges a unique linear k_t-factorization relation between the two nonlinear evolving nuclear observables. We argue that within the standard dilute uncorrelated nucleonic gas treatment of heavy nuclei, in the finite energy range from RHIC to LHC, the leading jet spectrum can be evolved in the LL-1/x Balitsky-Kovchegov approximation. We comment on the extension of these results to, and their possible reggeon field theory interpretation for, mid-rapidity jets at LHC.Comment: 36 pages, 8 eps figs, revised, discussion on reggeon interpretation and refs. adde