Spin-orbit induced mixed-spin ground state in RRNiO3_3 perovskites probed by XAS: new insight into the metal to insulator transition

We report on a Ni L$_{2,3}$ edges x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study in $R$NiO$_3$ perovskites. These compounds exhibit a metal to insulator ($MI$) transition as temperature decreases. The L$_{3}$ edge presents a clear splitting in the insulating state, associated to a less hybridized ground state. Using charge transfer multiplet calculations, we establish the importance of the crystal field and 3d spin-orbit coupling to create a mixed-spin ground state. We explain the $MI$ transition in $R$NiO$_3$ perovskites in terms of modifications in the Ni$^{3+}$ crystal field splitting that induces a spin transition from an essentially low-spin (LS) to a mixed-spin state.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted as PRB - Rapid Comm. Dez. 200

From band insulator to Mott insulator in one dimension

We derive the phase diagram for the one-dimensional model of a ferroelectric perovskite recently introduced by Egami, Ishihara and Tachiki [Science, {\bf 261}, 1307 (1993)]. We show that the interplay between covalency, ionicity and strong correlations results in a spontaneously dimerized phase which separates the weak-coupling band insulator from the strong-coupling Mott insulator. The transition from the band insulator to the dimerized phase is identified as an Ising critical point. The charge gap vanishes at this single point with the optical conductivity diverging as $\sigma(\omega)\sim \omega^{-3/4}$. The spin excitations are gapless above the second transition to the Mott insulator phase.Comment: 4 pages LaTex (RevTex) and 1 postscript figure included by eps

Short-range charge-order in RRNiO3_{3} perovskites (RR=Pr,Nd,Eu) probed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

The short-range organization around Ni atoms in orthorhombic $R$NiO$_{3}$ ($R$=Pr,Nd,Eu) perovskites has been studied over a wide temperature range by Ni K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that two different Ni sites, with different average Ni-O bond lengths, coexist in those orthorhombic compounds and that important modifications in the Ni nearest neighbors environment take place across the metal-insulator transition. We report evidences for the existence of short-range charge-order in the insulating state, as found in the monoclinic compounds. Moreover, our results suggest that the two different Ni sites coexists even in the metallic state. The coexistence of two different Ni sites, independently on the $R$ ion, provides a common ground to describe these compounds and shed new light in the understanding of the phonon-assisted conduction mechanism and unusual antiferromagnetism present in all $R$NiO$_{3}$ compounds.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted PRB - Brief Report Dec.200

Exploring the concept of 'ideal' university student

This paper contributes to our understanding of the ‘ideal’ university student – a working concept that promotes a more transparent conversation about the explicit, implicit and idealistic expectations of students in higher education. Drawing on Weber’s theory of ideal types, we explore university staff and students’ conceptualisation of the ‘ideal’ student. Informed by 20 focus groups with 75 university staff and students, we focus on how the concept of ‘ideal’ student is perceived, challenged and negotiated. We argue that the ‘ideal’ student has important conceptual and practical implications for higher education, especially the importance of explicitness and the dangers of presumptions. The concept has the potential to bridge differences and manage expectations between lecturers and students, which have been stretched due to consumerism, by offering a platform where expectations of university students are elaborated. We present a working definition of ‘ideal’ university student, which, we argue, encompasses desirability, imperfection and realism

Coulomb parameters and photoemission for the molecular metal TTF-TCNQ

We employ density-functional theory to calculate realistic parameters for an extended Hubbard model of the molecular metal TTF-TCNQ. Considering both intra- and intermolecular screening in the crystal, we find significant longer-range Coulomb interactions along the molecular stacks, as well as inter-stack coupling. We show that the long-range Coulomb term of the extended Hubbard model leads to a broadening of the spectral density, likely resolving the problems with the interpretation of photoemission experiments using a simple Hubbard model only.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Silicon intercalation into the graphene-SiC interface

In this work we use LEEM, XPEEM and XPS to study how the excess Si at the graphene-vacuum interface reorders itself at high temperatures. We show that silicon deposited at room temperature onto multilayer graphene films grown on the SiC(000[`1]) rapidly diffuses to the graphene-SiC interface when heated to temperatures above 1020. In a sequence of depositions, we have been able to intercalate ~ 6 ML of Si into the graphene-SiC interface.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, submitted to PR

Bloch oscillations of magnetic solitons in anisotropic spin-1/2 chains

We study the quantum dynamics of soliton-like domain walls in anisotropic spin-1/2 chains in the presence of magnetic fields. In the absence of fields, domain walls form a Bloch band of delocalized quantum states while a static field applied along the easy axis localizes them into Wannier wave packets and causes them to execute Bloch oscillations, i.e. the domain walls oscillate along the chain with a finite Bloch frequency and amplitude. In the presence of the field, the Bloch band, with a continuum of extended states, breaks up into the Wannier-Zeeman ladder -- a discrete set of equally spaced energy levels. We calculate the dynamical structure factor in the one-soliton sector at finite frequency, wave vector, and temperature, and find sharp peaks at frequencies which are integer multiples of the Bloch frequency. We further calculate the uniform magnetic susceptibility and find that it too exhibits peaks at the Bloch frequency. We identify several candidate materials where these Bloch oscillations should be observable, for example, via neutron scattering measurements. For the particular compound CoCl_2.2H_2O we estimate the Bloch amplitude to be on the order of a few lattice constants, and the Bloch frequency on the order of 100 GHz for magnetic fields in the Tesla range and at temperatures of about 18 Kelvin.Comment: 31 single-spaced REVTeX pages, including 7 figures embedded with eps

Dynamics of pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) immigration and colonization of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in Europe

BACKGROUND Understanding the dynamics of pest immigration into an agroecosystem enables effective and timely management strategies. The pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) is a primary pest of the inflorescence stages of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). This study investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of pollen beetle immigration into oilseed rape fields in Denmark and the UK using multiple methods, including optical sensors. RESULTS In all fields, pollen beetles were found to be aggregated and beetle density was related to plant growth stage, with more beetles occurring on plants after the budding stage than before inflorescence development. Optical sensors were the most efficient monitoring method, recording pollen beetles 2 and 4 days ahead of water traps and counts from plant scouting, respectively. CONCLUSION Optical sensors are a promising tool for early warning of insect pest immigration. The aggregation pattern of pollen beetles post immigration could be used to precisely target control in oilseed rape crops. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry

Evolution of magnetic polarons and spin-carrier interactions through the metal-insulator transition in Eu1−x_{1-x}Gdx_{x}O

Raman scattering studies as functions of temperature, magnetic field, and Gd-substitution are used to investigate the evolution of magnetic polarons and spin-carrier interactions through the metal-insulator transition in Eu$_{1-x}$Gd$_{x}$O. These studies reveal a greater richness of phase behavior than have been previously observed using transport measurements: a spin-fluctuation-dominated paramagnetic (PM) phase regime for T $>$ T$^{*}$ $>$ T$_{C}$, a two-phase regime for T $<$ T$^{*}$ in which magnetic polarons develop and coexist with a remnant of the PM phase, and an inhomogeneous ferromagnetic phase regime for T $<$ T$_{C}$

Susceptibility of the one-dimensional, dimerized Hubbard model

We show that the zero temperature susceptibility of the one-dimensional, dimerized Hubbard model at quarter-filling can be accurately determined on the basis of exact diagonalization of small clusters. The best procedure is to perform a finite-size scaling of the spin velocity $u_\sigma$, and to calculate the susceptibility from the Luttinger liquid relation $\chi=2/\pi u_\sigma$. We show that these results are reliable by comparing them with the analytical results that can be obtained in the weak and strong coupling limits. We have also used quantum Monte Carlo simulations to calculate the temperature dependence of the susceptibility for parameters that should be relevant to the Bechgaard salts. This shows that, used together, these numerical techniques are able to give precise estimates of the low temperature susceptibility of realistic one-dimensional models of correlated electrons.Comment: 10 pages, latex, figures available from the authors. To appear in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Comm