Intrinsic double-peak structure of the specific heat in low-dimensional quantum ferrimagnets

Motivated by recent magnetic measurements on A3Cu3(PO4)4 (A=Ca,Sr) and Cu(3-Clpy)2(N3)2 (3-Clpy=3-Chloropyridine), both of which behave like one-dimensional ferrimagnets, we extensively investigate the ferrimagnetic specific heat with particular emphasis on its double-peak structure. Developing a modified spin-wave theory, we reveal that ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic dual features of ferrimagnets may potentially induce an extra low-temperature peak as well as a Schottky-type peak at mid temperatures in the specific heat.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures embedded, Phys. Rev. B 65, 214418 (2002

Elementary Excitations of Heisenberg Ferrimagnetic Spin Chains

We numerically investigate elementary excitations of the Heisenberg alternating-spin chains with two kinds of spins 1 and 1/2 antiferromagnetically coupled to each other. Employing a recently developed efficient Monte Carlo technique as well as an exact diagonalization method, we verify the spin-wave argument that the model exhibits two distinct excitations from the ground state which are gapless and gapped. The gapless branch shows a quadratic dispersion in the small-momentum region, which is of ferromagnetic type. With the intention of elucidating the physical mechanism of both excitations, we make a perturbation approach from the decoupled-dimer limit. The gapless branch is directly related to spin 1's, while the gapped branch originates from cooperation of the two kinds of spins.Comment: 7 pages, 7 Postscript figures, RevTe

Competing Ground States of the New Class of Halogen-Bridged Metal Complexes

Based on a symmetry argument, we study the ground-state properties of halogen-bridged binuclear metal chain complexes. We systematically derive commensurate density-wave solutions from a relevant two-band Peierls-Hubbard model and numerically draw the the ground-state phase diagram as a function of electron-electron correlations, electron-phonon interactions, and doping concentration within the Hartree-Fock approximation. The competition between two types of charge-density-wave states, which has recently been reported experimentally, is indeed demonstrated.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures embedded, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Ground State Property of an Alternating Spin Ladder Involving Two Kinds of Inter-Chain Interactions

The ground state property of the alternating spin ladder is studied in the case that the system involves an antiferromagnetic intra-chain interaction as well as two kinds of inter-chain interactions; one is between spins of the same magnitude and the other is between spins with different magnitudes. The calculation has been carried out by the exact diagonalization method. As a consequence of the competition among interactions, the system is revealed to show an interesting variety of phases in the ground state property. Its phase diagram is exhibited in the parameter space of the system. We find that, however small the total amount of the inter-chain interactions is, the ferrimagnetic ground state becomes unstable in a certain region. In this case, which of the ferrimagnetic and the singlet ground state to appear is determined only by the ratio between the inter-chain interactions regardless of their total amount. The nature of two phases appearing in the singlet region of the phase diagram and the type of the phase transition between them are also discussed. The results are ensured by comparing with those of obtained in other models which are contained in our model as special limiting cases.Comment: 12 pages, 9 PostScript figure

Nuclear Spin-Lattice Relaxation in One-Dimensional Heisenberg Ferrimagnets: Three-Magnon versus Raman Processes

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in one-dimensional Heisenberg ferrimagnets is studied by means of a modified spin-wave theory. We consider the second-order process, where a nuclear spin flip induces virtual spin waves which are then scattered thermally via the four-magnon exchange interaction, as well as the first-order process, where a nuclear spin directly interacts with spin waves via the hyperfine interaction. We point out a possibility of the three-magnon relaxation process predominating over the Raman one and suggest model experiments.Comment: to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 73, No. 6 (2004

Modified spin-wave theory of nuclear magnetic relaxation in one-dimensional quantum ferrimagnets: Three-magnon versus Raman processes

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in one-dimensional Heisenberg ferrimagnets is studied by means of a modified spin-wave theory. Calculating beyond the first-order mechanism, where a nuclear spin directly interacts with spin waves through the hyperfine coupling, we demonstrate that the exchange-scattering-enhanced three-magnon nuclear relaxation may generally predominate over the Raman one with increasing temperature and decreasing field. Recent proton spin-lattice relaxation-time (T_1_) measurements on the ferrimagnetic chain compound NiCu(C_7_H_6_N_2_O_6_)(H_2_O)_3_2H_2_O suggest that the major contribution to 1/T_1_ be made by the three-magnon scattering.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Charge echo in a Cooper-pair box

A spin-echo-type technique is applied to an artificial two-level system that utilizes charge degree of freedom in a small superconducting electrode. Gate-voltage pulses are used to produce the necessary pulse sequence in order to eliminate the inhomogeneity effect in the time-ensemble measurement and to obtain refocused echo signals. Comparison of the decay time of the observed echo signal with estimated decoherence time suggests that low-frequency energy-level fluctuations due to the 1/f charge noise dominate the dephasing in the system.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation in the Haldane-Gap Antiferromagnet Ni(C_2_H_8_N_2_)_2_NO_2_(ClO_4_)

A new theory is proposed to interpret nuclear spin-lattice relaxation-time (T_1_) measurements on the spin-1 quasi-one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet Ni(C_2_H_8_N_2_)_2_NO_2_(ClO_4_) (NENP). While Sagi and Affleck pioneeringly discussed this subject in terms of field-theoretical languages, there is no theoretical attempt yet to explicitly simulate the novel observations of 1/T_1_ reported by Fujiwara et al.. By means of modified spin waves, we solve the minimum of 1/T_1_ as a function of an applied field, pending for the past decade.Comment: to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 73, No. 4 (2004

Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation in the Ferrimagnetic Chain Compound NiCu(C_7_H_6_N_2_O_6_)(H_2_O)_3_2H_2_O: Three-Magnon Scattering?

Recent proton spin-lattice relaxation-time (T_1_) measurements on the ferrimagnetic chain compound NiCu(C_7_H_6_N_2_O_6_)(H_2_O)_3_2H_2_O are explained by an elaborately modified spin-wave theory. We give a strong evidence of the major contribution to 1/T_1_ being made by the three-magnon scattering rather than the Raman one.Comment: J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 16, No. 49, 9023 (2004