Ferroelectricity in the Magnetic E-Phase of Orthorhombic Perovskites

We show that the symmetry of the spin zigzag chain E phase of the orthorhombic perovskite manganites and nickelates allows for the existence of a finite ferroelectric polarization. The proposed microscopic mechanism is independent of spin-orbit coupling. We predict that the polarization induced by the E-type magnetic order can potentially be enhanced by up to two orders of magnitude with respect to that in the spiral magnetic phases of TbMnO3 and similar multiferroic compounds.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, somewhat changed emphases, accepted to PR

Localization of one-photon state in space and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox in spontaneous parametric down conversion

An experiment on one-photon state localization in space using a correlation technique in Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC) process is discussed. Results of measurements demonstrate an idea of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox for coordinate and momentum variables of photon states. Results of the experiment can be explained with the help of an advanced wave technique. The experiment is based on the idea that two-photon states of optical electromagnetic fields arising in the nonlinear process of the spontaneous parametric down conversion (spontaneous parametric light scattering) can be explained by quantum mechanical theory with the help of a single wave function

Dispersion and fidelity in quantum interferometry

We consider Mach-Zehnder and Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometers with nonclassical states of light as input, and study the effect that dispersion inside the interferometer has on the sensitivity of phase measurements. We study in detail a number of different one- and two-photon input states, including Fock, dual Fock, N00N states, and photon pairs from parametric downconversion. Assuming there is a phase shift $\phi_0$ in one arm of the interferometer, we compute the probabilities of measurement outcomes as a function of $\phi_0$, and then compute the Shannon mutual information between $\phi_0$ and the measurements. This provides a means of quantitatively comparing the utility of various input states for determining the phase in the presence of dispersion. In addition, we consider a simplified model of parametric downconversion for which probabilities can be explicitly computed analytically, and which serves as a limiting case of the more realistic downconversion model.Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures. Submitted to Physical Review

Roles of Bond Alternation in Magnetic Phase Diagram of RMnO3

In order to investigate nature of the antiferromagnetic structures in perovskite RMnO3, we study a Heisenberg J1-J2 model with bond alternation using analytical and numerical approaches. The magnetic phase diagram which includes incommensurate spiral states and commensurate collinear states is reproduced. We discuss that the magnetic structure with up-up-down-down spin configuration (E-type structure) and the ferroelectricity emerge cooperatively to stabilize this phase. Magnetoelastic couplings are crucial to understand the magnetic and electric phase diagram of RMnO3.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Role of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in multiferroic perovskites

With the perovskite multiferroic RMnO3 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy) as guidance, we argue that the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) provides the microscopic mechanism for the coexistence and strong coupling between ferroelectricity and incommensurate magnetism. We use Monte-Carlo simulations and zero temperature exact calculations to study a model incorporating the double-exchange, superexchange, Jahn-Teller and DMI terms. The phase diagram contains a multiferroic phase between A and E antiferromagnetic phases, in excellent agreement with experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Similarity of organized patterns in driving and basal stresses of Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets beneath extensive areas of basal sliding

The rate of ice transport from the interior of ice sheets to their margins, and hence the rate with which it contributes to sea level, is determined by the balance of driving stress, basal resistance, and ice internal deformation. Using recent high-resolution observations of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, we compute driving stress and ice deformation velocities, inferring basal traction by inverse techniques. The results reveal broad-scale organization in 5–20 km band-like patterns in both the driving and basal shear stresses located in zones with substantial basal sliding. Both ice sheets experience basal sliding over areas substantially larger than previously recognized. The likely cause of the spatial patterns is the development of a band-like structure in the basal shear stress distribution that is the results of pattern-forming instabilities related to subglacial water. The similarity of patterns on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets suggests that the flow of ice sheets is controlled by the same fundamental processes operating at their base, which control ice sheet sliding and are highly variable on relatively short spatial and temporal scales, with poor predictability. This has far-reaching implications for understanding of the current and projection of the future ice sheets' evolution

Radar observations in the vicinity of pre-noon auroral arcs

International audienceA combination of EISCAT incoherent scatter radar measurements, optical and magnetometer data is used to study the plasma in and around pre-noon structured precipitation and auroral arcs. Particular attention is paid to regions of comparatively low E-region density observed adjacent to arcs or structured precipitation in the EISCAT Svalbard radar field-aligned measurements. Comparison between luminosity and incoherent scatter electron density measurements shows that the low-density regions occur primarily due to the absence of diffuse precipitation rather than to a cavity formation process. Two cases of arcs and low density/luminosity regions are identified. The first is related to a strong Pc5 pulsation event, and the absence of diffuse precipitation is due to a large-scale modulation of the diffuse precipitation. In the second case the equatormost arc is on a shielding boundary and the low-density region coincides with a strong flow region just poleward of this arc. Regions of high electric field and low luminosity and conductance are observed prior to intensification of the structured precipitation in both cases. The ionospheric current is enhanced in the low conductance region, indicating that the strong electric fields do not result solely from ionospheric polarization electric fields, and thus are mainly driven by magnetospheric processes. The average energy of the precipitating electrons in the arcs and structured precipitation is, according to EISCAT measurements, 500eV and the energy spectra are similar for the pulsation and shielding cases. The average energy is thus significantly less than in the diffuse precipitation region which shows central CPS-like energy spectra. We suggest that the low ionospheric conductance of 0.7S in the low density regions is favorable for the arc formation process. This is in quantitative agreement with recent simulations of the ionospheric feedback instability. Keywords. Magnetospheric physics (Auroral phenomena; Magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions) ? Ionosphere (Plasma convection

Universal emergence of the one-third plateau in the magnetization process of frustrated quantum spin chains

We present a numerical study of the magnetization process of frustrated quantum spin-S chains with S=1, 3/2, 2 as well as the classical limit. Using the exact diagonalization and density-matrix renormalization techniques, we provide evidence that a plateau at one third of the saturation magnetization exists in the magnetization curve of frustrated spin-S chains with S>1/2. Similar to the case of S=1/2, this plateau state breaks the translational symmetry of the Hamiltonian and realizes an up-up-down pattern in the spin component parallel to the external field. Our study further shows that this plateau exists both in the cases of an isotropic exchange and in the easy-axis regime for spin-S=1, 3/2, and 2, but is absent in classical frustrated spin chains with isotropic interactions. We discuss the magnetic phase diagram of frustrated spin-1 and spin-3/2 chains as well as other emergent features of the magnetization process such as kink singularities, jumps, and even-odd effects. A quantitative comparison of the one-third plateau in the easy-axis regime between spin-1 and spin-3/2 chains on the one hand and the classical frustrated chain on the other hand indicates that the critical frustration and the phase boundaries of this state rapidly approach the classical result as the spin S increases.Comment: 15 pages RevTex4, 13 figure

Superconducting joining of melt-textured Y-Ba-Cu-O bulk material

The Tm-Ba-Cu-O solder can be successfully used to produce a superconductive joint between MT-YBCO parts. The peculiarities of solidification, phase formation, structure transformations and electromagnetic properties of MT-YBCO soldered with TmBa2Cu3O7-d are discussed.Comment: PS of 6 pages text and 5 figures, presented at ICMC'2000, Brasi