Spin Dynamics of a Canted Antiferromagnet in a Magnetic Field

The spin dynamics of a canted antiferromagnet with a quadratic spin-wave dispersion near \vq =0 is shown to possess a unique signature. When the anisotropy gap is negligible, the spin-wave stiffness \dsw (\vq, B) = (\omega_{\vq}-B)/q^2 depends on whether the limit of zero field or zero wavevector is taken first. Consequently, \dsw is a strong function of magnetic field at a fixed wavevector. Even in the presence of a sizeable anisotropy gap, the field dependence of both \dsw and the gap energy distinguishes a canted antiferromagnet from a phase-separated mixture containing both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic regions.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Anomalous elastic softening of SmRu_{4}P_{12} under high pressure

The filled skutterudite compound SmRu_4P_{12} undergoes a complex evolution from a paramagnetic metal (phase I) to a probable multipolar ordering insulator (phase II) at T_{MI} = 16.5 K, then to a magnetically ordered phase (phase III) at T_{N} = 14 K. Elastic properties under hydrostatic pressures were investigated to study the nature of the ordering phases. We found that distinct elastic softening above T_{MI} is induced by pressure, giving evidence of quadrupole degeneracy of the ground state in the crystalline electric field. It also suggests that quadrupole moment may be one of the order parameters below T_{MI} under pressure. Strangely, the largest degree of softening is found in the transverse elastic constant C_{T} at around 0.5-0.6 GPa, presumably having relevancy to the competing and very different Gruneisen parameters \Omega of T_{MI} and T_{N}. Interplay between the two phase transitions is also verified by the rapid increase of T_{MI} under pressure with a considerably large \Omega of 9. Our results can be understood on the basis of the proposed octupole scenario for SmRu_4P_{12}.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Toward Identification of Order Parameters in Skutterudites - a Wonderland of Strong Correlation Physics -

Current status is described toward identifying unconventional order parameters in filled skutterudites with unique ordering phenomena. The order parameters in PrFe$_4$P$_{12}$ and PrRu$_4$P$_{12}$ are discussed in relation to associated crystalline electric field (CEF) states and angular form factors. By phenomenological Landau analysis, it is shown that a scalar order model explains most properties in both PrFe$_4$P$_{12}$ and PrRu$_4$P$_{12}$ with very different magnetic properties. In particular, the highly anisotropic susceptibility induced by uniaxial pressure in PrFe$_4$P$_{12}$ is explained in terms of two types of couplings. In the case of SmRu$_4$P$_{12}$, the main order parameter at low field is identified as magnetic octupoles. A microscopic mechanism is proposed how the dipole and octupole degrees of freedom mix under the point group $T_h$ of skutterudites.Comment: To be published in Proc. International Conference on New Quantum Phenomena in Skutterudite and Related Systems (Suppl. J. Phys. Soc. Jpn 78, 2008

Anomalous ferromagnetic spin fluctuations in an antiferromagnetic insulator Pr_{1-x}Ca_{x}MnO_{3}

The high temperature paramagnetic state in an antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulator Pr_{1-x}Ca_{x}MnO_{3} is characterized by the ferromagnetic (FM) spin fluctuations with an anomalously small energy scale. The FM fluctuations show a precipitous decrease of the intensity at the charge ordering temperature T_{CO}, but persist below T_{CO}, and vanish at the AFM transition temperature T_{N}. These results demonstrate the importance of the spin ordering for the complete switching of the FM fluctuation in doped manganites.Comment: REVTeX, 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.