The antiferromagnetic order in an F-AF random alternating quantum spin chain : (CH_3)_2 CHNH_3 Cu(Cl_x Br_{1-x})_3

A possibility of the uniform antiferromagnetic order is pointed out in an S=1/2 ferromagnetic (F) - antiferromagnetic (AF) random alternating Heisenberg quantum spin chain compound: (CH_3)_2 CHNH_3 Cu(Cl_x Br_{1-x})_3. The system possesses the bond alternation of strong random bonds that take +/- 2J and weak uniform AF bonds of -J. In the pure concentration limits, the model reduces to the AF-AF alternation chain at x=0 and to the F-AF alternation chain at x=1. The nonequilibrium relaxation of large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations exhibits critical behaviors of the uniform AF order in the intermediate concentration region, which explains the experimental observation of the magnetic phase transition. The present results suggest that the uniform AF order may survive even in the presence of the randomly located ferromagnetic bonds.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Localization length of a soliton from a non-magnetic impurity in a general double-spin-chain model

A localization length of a free-spin soliton from a non-magnetic impurity is deduced in a general double-spin-chain model ($J_0-J_1-J_2-J_3$ model). We have solved a variational problem which employs the nearest-neighbor singlet-dimer basis. The wave function of a soliton is expressed by the Airy function, and the localization length $(\xi)$ is found to obey a power law of the dimerization $(J_2-J_3)$ with an exponent -1/3; $\xi\sim (J_2-J_3)^{-1/3}$. This explains why NaV_2O_5 does not show the antiferromagnetic order, while CuGeO_3 does by impurity doping. When the gap exists by the bond-dimerization, a soliton is localized and no order is expected. Contrary, there is a possibility of the order when the gap is mainly due to frustration.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, Figures are in eps-file

Order by disorder from non-magnetic impurities in a two-dimensional quantum spin liquid

We consider doping of non-magnetic impurities in the spin-1/2, 1/5-depleted square lattice. This structure, whose undoped phase diagram offers both magnetically ordered and spin-liquid ground states, is realized physically in CaV_4O_9. Doping into the ordered phase results in a progressive loss of order, which becomes complete at the percolation threshold. By contrast, non-magnetic impurities introduced in the spin liquids create a phase of weak but long-ranged antiferromagnetic order coexisting with the gapped state. The latter may be viewed as a true order-by-disorder phenomenon. We study the phase diagram of the doped system by computing the static susceptibility and staggered magnetization using a stochastic series-expansion quantum Monte Carlo technique.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Local magnetic structure due to inhomogeneity of interaction in S=1/2 antiferromagnetic chain

We study the magnetic properties of $S=1/2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains with inhomogeneity of interaction. Using a quantum Monte Carlo method and an exact diagonalization method, we study bond-impurity effect in the uniform $S=1/2$ chain and also in the bond-alternating chain. Here `bond impurity' means a bond with strength different from those in the bulk or a defect in the alternating order. Local magnetic structures induced by bond impurities are investigated both in the ground state and at finite temperatures, calculating the local magnetization, the local susceptibility and the local field susceptibility. We also investigate the force acting between bond impurities and find the force generally attractive.Comment: 15pages, 34figure

Temperature Dependence of Spin and Bond Ordering in a Spin-Peierls System

We investigate thermodynamic properties of a one-dimensional S=1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model coupled to a lattice distortion by a quantum Monte Carlo method. In particular we study how spin and lattice dimerize as a function of the temperature, which gives a fundamental process of the spin-Peierls transition in higher dimensions. The degree of freedom of the lattice is taken into account adiabatically and the thermal distribution of the lattice distortion is obtained by the thermal bath algorithm. We find that the dimerization develops as the temperature decreases and it converges to the value of the dimerization of the ground state at T=0. Furthermore we find that the coupling constants of spins fluctuate quite largly at high temperature and there thermodynamic properties deviate from those of the uniform chain. Doping of non-magnetic impurities causes cut of the chain into short chains with open boundary. We investigate thermodynamic properties of open chains taking relaxation of the lattice into consideration. We find that strong bonds locate at the edges and a defect of the bond alternation appears in the chain with odd number of sites, which causes enhancement of the staggered magnetic order. We find a spreaded staggered structure which indicates that the defect moves diffusively in the chain even at very low temperature.Comment: 7 pages, 17 figures; added comments on section 2 and 3, corrected typo

Excitation Spectra and Thermodynamic Response of Segmented Heisenberg Spin Chains

The spectral and thermodynamic response of segmented quantum spin chains is analyzed using a combination of numerical techniques and finite-size scaling arguments. Various distributions of segment lengths are considered, including the two extreme cases of quenched and annealed averages. As the impurity concentration is increased, it is found that (i) the integrated spectral weight is rapidly reduced, (ii) a pseudo-gap feature opens up at small frequencies, and (iii) at larger frequencies a discrete peak structure emerges, dominated by the contributions of the smallest cluster segments. The corresponding low-temperature thermodynamic response has a divergent contribution due to the odd-site clusters and a sub-dominant exponentially activated component due to the even-site segments whose finite-size gap is responsible for the spectral weight suppression at small frequencies. Based on simple scaling arguments, approximate low-temperature expressions are derived for the uniform susceptibility and the heat capacity. These are shown to be in good agreement with numerical solutions of the Bethe ansatz equations for ensembles of open-end chains.Comment: RevTex, 9 pages with 6 figure

Neutron Scattering Study of Magnetic Ordering and Excitations in the Doped Spin Gap System Tl(Cu1−x_{1-x}Mgx_x)Cl3_3

Neutron elastic and inelastic scattering measurements have been performed in order to investigate the spin structure and the magnetic excitations in the impurity-induced antiferromagnetic ordered phase of the doped spin gap system Tl(Cu$_{1-x}$Mg$_x$)Cl$_3$ with $x=0.03$. The magnetic Bragg reflections indicative of the ordering were observed at ${\pmb Q}=(h, 0, l)$ with integer $h$ and odd $l$ below $T_{\rm N}=3.45$ K. It was found that the spin structure of the impurity-induced antiferromagnetic ordered phase on average in Tl(Cu$_{1-x}$Mg$_x$)Cl$_3$ with $x=0.03$ is the same as that of the field-induced magnetic ordered phase for ${\pmb H} \parallel b$ in the parent compound TlCuCl$_3$. The triplet magnetic excitation was clearly observed in the $a^*$-$c^*$ plane and the dispersion relations of the triplet excitation were determined along four different directions. The lowest triplet excitation corresponding to the spin gap was observed at ${\pmb Q}=(h, 0, l)$ with integer $h$ and odd $l$, as observed in TlCuCl$_3$. It was also found that the spin gap increases steeply below $T_{\rm N}$ upon decreasing temperature. This strongly indicates that the impurity-induced antiferromagnetic ordering coexists with the spin gap state in Tl(Cu$_{1-x}$Mg$_x$)Cl$_3$ with $x=0.03$.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, 11 eps files, revtex style, will appear in Phys. Rev.

Magnetic polarons in weakly doped high-Tc superconductors

We consider a spin Hamiltonian describing $d$-$d$ exchange interactions between localized spins $d$ of a finite antiferromagnet as well as $p$-$d$ interactions between a conducting hole ($p$) and localized spins. The spin Hamiltonian is solved numerically with use of Lanczos method of diagonalization. We conclude that $p$-$d$ exchange interaction leads to localization of magnetic polarons. Quantum fluctuations of the antiferromagnet strengthen this effect and make the formation of polarons localized in one site possible even for weak $p$-$d$ coupling. Total energy calculations, including the kinetic energy, do not change essentially the phase diagram of magnetic polarons formation. For parameters reasonable for high-$T_c$ superconductors either a polaron localized on one lattice cell or a small ferron can form. For reasonable values of the dielectric function and $p$-$d$ coupling, the contributions of magnetic and phonon terms in the formation of a polaron in weakly doped high-$T_c$ materials are comparable.Comment: revised, revtex-4, 12 pages 8 eps figure

Study of impurities in spin-Peierls systems including lattice relaxation

The effects of magnetic and non-magnetic impurities in spin-Peierls systems are investigated allowing for lattice relaxation and quantum fluctuations. We show that, in isolated chains, strong bonds form next to impurities, leading to the appearance of magneto-elastic solitons. Generically, these solitonic excitations do not bind to impurities. However, interchain elastic coupling produces an attractive potential at the impurity site which can lead to the formation of bound states. In addition, we predict that small enough chain segments do not carry magnetic moments at the ends

Thermal conductivity and specific heat of the linear chain cuprate Sr2_{2}CuO3_{3}: Evidence for thermal transport via spinons

We report measurements of the specific heat and the thermal conductivity of the model Heisenberg spin-1/2 chain cuprate Sr$_{2}$CuO$_{3}$ at low temperatures. In addition to a nearly isotropic phonon heat transport, we find a quasi one-dimensional excess thermal conductivity along the chain direction, most likely associated with spin excitations (spinons). The spinon energy current is limited mainly by scattering on defects and phonons. Analyzing the specific heat data, the intrachain magnetic exchange $J/k_{B}$ is estimated to be 2650 K.Comment: 4 RevTeX pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.