Indications of a Metallic Antiferromagnetic Phase in the 2 Dimensional U−t−t′U-t-t' Model

We present mean-field and quantum Monte Carlo results that suggest the existence of an itinerant antiferromagnetic ground state in the half-filled $U-t-t'$ model in two dimensions. In particular, working at $t'/t=-0.2$ we found that antiferromagnetic long range order develops at $U_{c_1}/t\approx 2.5$, while a study of the density of states $N(\omega)$ and the response to an external magnetic field indicates that the system becomes insulating at a larger coupling $4<U_{c_2}/t<6$.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex 3.0, 5 figures embedded in the text, modifications in the text, as well as added data to Fig.

The Phase Separation Scenario for Manganese Oxides

Recent computational studies of models for manganese oxides have revealed a rich phase diagram, not anticipated in early calculations in this context performed in the 1950's and 60's. In particular, the transition between the antiferromagnetic insulator state of the hole-undoped limit and the ferromagnetic metal at finite hole-density was found to occur through a mixed-phase process. When extended Coulomb interactions are included, a microscopically charge inhomogeneous state should be stabilized. These phase separation tendencies, also present at low electronic densities, influence the properties of the ferromagnetic region by increasing charge fluctuations. Experimental data reviewed here using several techniques for manganites and other materials are consistent with this scenario. Similarities with results previously discussed in the context of cuprates are clear from this analysis, although the phase segregation tendencies in manganites seem stronger.Comment: Accepted for publication in Science, 10 pages, Revtex, with 5 figures embedde

Effect of Adiabatic Phonons on Striped and Homogeneous Ground States

The effects of adiabatic phonons on a spin-fermion model for high T_c cuprates are studied using numerical simulations. In the absence of electron-phonon interactions (EPI), stripes in the ground state are observed for certain dopings while homogeneous states are stabilized in other regions of parameter space. Different modes of adiabatic phonons are added to the Hamiltonian:breathing, shear and half-breathing modes. Diagonal and off-diagonal electron-phonon couplings are considered. It is observed that strong diagonal EPI generate stripes in previously homogeneous states, while in striped ground states an increase in the diagonal couplings tends to stabilize the stripes, inducing a gap in the density of states (DOS) and rendering the ground state insulating. The off-diagonal terms, on the other hand, destabilize the stripes creating inhomogeneous ground states with a pseudogap at the chemical potential in the DOS. The breathing mode stabilizes static diagonal stripes; while the half-breathing (shear) modes stabilize dynamical (localized) vertical and horizontal stripes. The EPI induces decoherence of the quasi-particle peaks in the spectral functions.Comment: latex, 9 pages,13 figure