Current-induced persistent magnetization in a relaxorlike manganite

A single crystal of 7% Fe-doped (La$_{0.7}$Pr$_{0.3}$)$_{0.65}$Ca$_{0.35}$MnO$_3$ shows up as a typical relaxor ferromagnet, where ferromagnetic metallic and charge-orbital-ordered insulating clusters coexist with controllable volume fraction by external stimuli. There, the persistent ferromagnetic metallic state can be produced by an electric-current excitation as the filamentary region, the magnetization in which is increased by ~0.4$\mu_{\rm B}$ per Mn. A clear distinction from the current heating effect in a magnetic field, which conversely leads to a decrease in ferromagnetic fraction, enables us to bi-directionally switch both the magnetization and resistance by applying the voltages with different magnitudes.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Influence of length and measurement geometry on magnetoimpedance in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3

We show that ac magnetoresistance at room temperature in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 is extremely high (= 47% in H = 100 mT, f = 3-5 MHz), and magnetic field dependence of reactance exhibits a double peak behavior. However, magnitudes of the ac magnetoresistance and magnetoreactance for a fixed length of the sample (li) decrease with decreasing separation (lv) between voltage probes unlike the dc magnetoresistance. On the contrary, change in li has a negligible influence on magnetoimpedance when lv is fixed. Our results indicate that high frequency electrical transport is sensitive to local variations in the magnetic permeability.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Dephasing in a quantum dot coupled to a quantum point contact

We investigate a dephasing mechanism in a quantum dot capacitively coupled to a quantum point contact. We use a model which was proposed to explain the 0.7 structure in point contacts, based on the presence of a quasi-bound state in a point contact. The dephasing rate is examined in terms of charge fluctuations of electrons in the bound state. We address a recent experiment by Avinun-Kalish {\it et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 92}, 156801 (2004)], where a double peak structure appears in the suppressed conductance through the quantum dot. We show that the two conducting channels induced by the bound state are responsible for the peak structure.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Electronic band structure and Fermi surface of Ag5_5Pb2_2O6_6

We present electronic band structure of Ag$_5$Pb$_2$O$_6$ with layered hexagonal structure containing one-dimensional chains and two-dimensional Kagom\'{e} layers of silver. A half-filled conduction band shows extremely simple, single nearly-free-electron-like Fermi surface. The conduction band is composed of an antibonding state of Pb-$6s$ and O-$2p$ mixing with Ag-4d and $5s$. Mass enhancement in the state density at the Fermi energy is expected to be negligibly small by comparing with the specific-heat data. Calculated Fermi velocity is consistent with small anisotropy observed in transport properties. Doping effects on the electronic structure are also discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures; fig7 replaced, reference 6 adde

Magnetic digital flop of ferroelectric domain with fixed spin chirality in a triangular lattice helimagnet

Ferroelectric properties in magnetic fields of varying magnitude and direction have been investigated for a triangular-lattice helimagnet CuFe1-xGaxO2 (x=0.035). The magnetoelectric phase diagrams were deduced for magnetic fields along [001], [110], and [1-10] direction, and the in-plane magnetic field was found to induce the rearrangement of six possible multiferroic domains. Upon every 60-degree rotation of in-plane magnetic field around the c-axis, unique 120-degree flop of electric polarization occurs as a result of the switch of helical magnetic q-vector. The chirality of spin helix is always conserved upon the q-flop. The possible origin is discussed in the light of the stable structure of multiferroic domain wall.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Accepted in Phys. Rev. Let

Temperature and Field Dependence of Magnetic Domains in La1.2_{1.2}Sr1.8_{1.8}Mn2_2O7_7

Colossal magnetoresistance and field-induced ferromagnetism are well documented in manganite compounds. Since domain wall resistance contributes to magnetoresistance, data on the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the ferromagnetic domain structure are required for a full understanding of the magnetoresistive effect. Here we show, using cryogenic Magnetic Force Microscopy, domain structures for the layered manganite La$_{1.2}$Sr$_{1.8}$Mn$_2$O$_7$ as a function of temperature and magnetic field. Domain walls are suppressed close to the Curie temperature T$_C$, and appear either via the application of a c-axis magnetic field, or by decreasing the temperature further. At temperatures well below T$_C$, new domain walls, stable at zero field, can be formed by the application of a c-axis field. Magnetic structures are seen also at temperatures above T$_C$: these features are attributed to inclusions of additional Ruddleston-Popper manganite phases. Low-temperature domain walls are nucleated by these ferromagnetic inclusions.Comment: 6 figure

Specific heat study of spin-structural change in pyrochlore Nd2_2Mo2_2O7_7

By measurements of specific heat, we have investigated the magnetic field ($H$) induced spin-structural change in Nd$_2$Mo$_2$O$_7$ that shows spin-chirality-related magneto-transport phenomena. A broad peak around 2 K caused by the ordering of 2-in 2-out structure of the Nd moments at zero $H$ shifts to the lower temperature ($T$) up to around 3 T and then to the higher $T$ above around 3 T with increasing $H$ for all the direction of $H$. This is due to the crossover from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic arrangement between the Nd and Mo moments. While the peak $T$ increases monotonically above 3 T for $H$//[100], another peak emerges around 0.9 K at 12 T for $H$//[111], which is ascribed to the ordering of 3-in 1-out structure. For $H$//[110], a spike like peak is observed at around 3 T, which is caused perhaps by some spin flip transition.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure