Huge negative differential conductance in Au-H2 molecular nanojunctions

Experimental results showing huge negative differential conductance in gold-hydrogen molecular nanojunctions are presented. The results are analyzed in terms of two-level system (TLS) models: it is shown that a simple TLS model cannot produce peaklike structures in the differential conductance curves, whereas an asymmetrically coupled TLS model gives perfect fit to the data. Our analysis implies that the excitation of a bound molecule to a large number of energetically similar loosely bound states is responsible for the peaklike structures. Recent experimental studies showing related features are discussed within the framework of our model.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

The effect of dynamical Bloch oscillations on optical-field-induced current in a wide gap dielectric

We consider the motion of charge carriers in a bulk wide-gap dielectric interacting with a few-cycle laser pulse. A semiclassical model based on Bloch equations is applied to describe the emerging time-dependent macroscopic currents for laser intensities approaching the damage threshold. At such laser intensities, electrons can reach edges of the first Brillouin zone even for electron-phonon scattering rates as high as those known for SiO_2. We find that, whenever this happens, Brag-like reflections of electron waves, also known as Bloch oscillations, affect the dependence of the charge displaced by the laser pulse on its carrier-envelope phase.Comment: This version corrects a mistake in the paper published by the New Journal of Physics: panel (a) of Fig. 9 depicts -s(t_0=0) rather than s(t_0=0

Conductance of Pd-H nanojunctions

Results of an experimental study of palladium nanojunctions in hydrogen environment are presented. Two new hydrogen-related atomic configurations are found, which have a conductances of ~0.5 and ~1 quantum unit (2e^2/h). Phonon spectrum measurements demonstrate that these configurations are situated between electrodes containing dissolved hydrogen. The crucial differences compared to the previously studied Pt-H_2 junctions, and the possible microscopic realizations of the new configurations in palladium-hydrogen atomic-sized contacts are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Dynamics of periodic anticrossings: Decoherence, pointer states and hysteresis curves

We consider a strongly driven two-level (spin) system, with a periodic external field that induces a sequence of avoided level crossings. The spin system interacts with a bosonic reservoir which leads to decoherence. A Markovian dynamical equation is introduced without relying on the rotating wave approximation in the system-external field interaction. We show that the time evolution of the two-level system is directed towards an incoherent sum of periodic Floquet states regardless of the initial state and even the type of the coupling to the environment. Analyzing the time scale of approaching these time-dependent pointer states, information can be deduced concerning the nature and strength of the system-environment coupling. The inversion as a function of the external field is usually multi-valued, and the form of these hysteresis curves is qualitatively different for low and high temperatures. For moderate temperatures we found that the series of Landau-Zener-St\"{u}ckelberg-type transitions still can be used for state preparation, regardless of the decoherence rate. Possible applications include quantum information processing and molecular nanomagnets.Comment: 10 pages, 9 slightly reduced quality figures, submitted to PRA; More details concerning applications to molacular nanomagnets are give

The effect of irradiation-induced disorder on the conductivity and critical temperature of the organic superconductor κ\kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2_2Cu(SCN)2_2

We have introduced defects into clean samples of the organic superconductor $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(SCN)$_2$ in order to determine their effect on the temperature dependence of the conductivity and the critical temperature $T_{\rm c}$. We find a violation of Matthiessen's rule that can be explained by a model of the conductivity involving a defect-assisted interlayer channel which acts in parallel with the band-like conductivity. We observe an unusual dependence of $T_{\rm c}$ on residual resistivity which is not consistent with the generalised Abrikosov-Gor'kov theory for an order parameter with a single component, providing an important constraint on models of the superconductivity in this material

Hall effect in quasi one-dimensional organic conductors

We study the Hall effect in a system of weakly coupled Luttinger Liquid chains, using a Memory function approach to compute the Hall constant in the presence of umklapp scattering along the chains. In this approximation, the Hall constant decomposes into two terms: a high-frequency term and a Memory function term. For the case of zero umklapp scattering, where the Memory function vanishes, the Hall constant is simply the band value, in agreement with former results in a similar model with no dissipation along the chains. With umklapp scattering along the chains, we find a power-law temperature dependance of the Hall constant. We discuss the applications to quasi 1D organic conductors at high temperatures.Comment: Proceedings of the ISCOM conference "Sixth International Symposium on Crystalline Organic Metals, Superconductors, and Ferromagnets", Key West, Florida, USA (Sept. 2005), to be plublished in the Journal of Low Temperature Physic

Fermi liquid identities for the Infinite U Anderson Model

We show how the electron gas methods of Luttinger, Ward and Nozi\`eres can be applied to the infinite U Anderson impurity model within a Schwinger boson treatment. Working to all orders in a 1/N expansion, we show how the Friedel Langreth relationship, the Yamada-Yosida-Yoshimori and the Shiba-Korringa relations can be derived, under the assumption that the spinon and holon fields are gapped. One of the remarkable features of this treatment, is that the Landau amplitudes depend on the exchange of low energy virtual spinons and holons. We end the paper with a discussion on the extension of our approach to the lattice, where the spinon-holon is expected to close at a quantum critical point.Comment: 18 pages. Version 2 revised after referees comment