Abstract: The configuration interaction method is used to obtain the magneto-optical absorption spectrum of a few-electron (Ne=1,2,,5) quantum dot containing a single magnetic ion. We find that the IR spectrum (the position, the number, and the oscillator strength of the cyclotron resonance peaks) depends on the strength of the Coulomb interaction, the number of electrons, and the position of the magnetic ion. We find that the Kohn theorem is no longer valid as a consequence of the electron-spin-magnetic-ion-spin-exchange interaction.

Abstract: The electronic properties, carrier mobility, and strain response of TiS3 nanoribbons (TiS3 NRs) are investigated by first-principles calculations. We found that the electronic properties of TiS3 NRs strongly depend on the edge type (a or b). All a-TiS3 NRs are metallic with a magnetic ground state, while b-TiS3 NRs are direct band gap semiconductors. Interestingly, the size of the band gap and the band edge position are almost independent of the ribbon width. This feature promises a constant band gap in a b-TiS3 NR with rough edges, where the ribbon width differs in different regions. The maximum carrier mobility of b-TiS3 NRs is calculated by using the deformation potential theory combined with the effective mass approximation and is found to be of the order 10(3) cm(2) V-1 s(-1). The hole mobility of the b-TiS3 NRs is one order of magnitude lower, but it is enhanced compared to the monolayer case due to the reduction in hole effective mass. The band gap and the band edge position of b-TiS3 NRs are quite sensitive to applied strain. In addition we investigate the termination of ribbon edges by hydrogen atoms. Upon edge passivation, the metallic and magnetic features of a-TiS3 NRs remain unchanged, while the band gap of b-TiS3 NRs is increased significantly. The robust metallic and ferromagnetic nature of a-TiS3 NRs is an essential feature for spintronic device applications. The direct, width-independent, and strain-tunable band gap, as well as the high carrier mobility, of b-TiS3 NRs is of potential importance in many fields of nanoelectronics, such as field-effect devices, optoelectronic applications, and strain sensors.

Abstract: The effect of electron-impurity and electron-electron interactions on the energy spectrum of electrons moving in graphene is investigated in the presence of a high magnetic field. We find that the width of the broadened Landau levels exhibits an approximate 1/B dependence near half filling for charged impurity scattering. The Landau-level width, the density of states, and the Fermi energy exhibit an oscillatory behavior as a function of magnetic field. Comparison with experiment shows that scattering with charged impurities cannot be the main scattering mechanism that determines the width of the Landau levels.

Abstract: We calculate the equilibrium properties and the dynamic response of two vertically coupled circular quantum dots populated by particles of different electrical charge sign, i.e., electrons and holes. The equilibrium density profiles are obtained and used to compute the frequencies and oscillator strengths of magnetoplasma excitations. We find a strong coupling between the modes derived from the center-of-mass modes of the individual dots which leads to an anticrossing with a pronounced oscillator strength transfer from the “acoustic” to the “optical” branch. Also, due to the breaking of the generalized Kohn theorem a number of other than center-of-mass modes are excited whose oscillator strengths, however, are rather weak.

Abstract: We report extensive measurements on a new compound (Yb0.24Sn0.76)Ru that crystallizes in the cubic CsCl structure. Valence-band photoemission (PES) and L3 x-ray absorption show no divalent component in the 4f configuration of Yb. Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) indicates that the eight-fold degenerate J-multiplet of Yb3+ is split by the crystalline electric field (CEF) into a Γ7-doublet ground state and a Γ8 quartet at an excitation energy 20 meV. The magnetic susceptibility can be fit very well by this CEF scheme under the assumption that a Γ6-excited state resides at 32 meV; however, the Γ8/Γ6 transition expected at 12 meV was not observed in the INS. The resistivity follows a Bloch-Grüneisen law shunted by a parallel resistor, as is typical of systems subject to phonon scattering with no apparent magnetic scattering. All of these properties can be understood as representing simple local moment behavior of the trivalent Yb ion. At 1 K there is a peak in specific heat that is too broad to represent a magnetic-phase transition, consistent with absence of magnetic reflections in neutron diffraction. On the other hand this peak also is too narrow to represent the Kondo effect in the Γ7-doublet ground state. On the basis of the field dependence of the specific heat, we argue that antiferromagnetic (AF) short-range order (SRO) (possibly coexisting with Kondo physics) occurs at low temperatures. The long-range magnetic order is suppressed because the Yb site occupancy is below the percolation threshold for this disordered compound.

Abstract: Using the Ginzburg-Landau theory extended to the next-to-leading order, we determine numerically the healing lengths of the two order parameters at the two-gap superconductor/normal metal interface. We demonstrate on several examples that those can be different even in the strict domain of applicability of the Ginzburg-Landau theory. This justifies the use of this theory to describe relevant physics of two-gap superconductors, distinguishing them from their single-gap counterparts. The calculational degree of complexity increases only slightly with respect to the conventional Ginzburg-Landau expansion, thus the extended Ginzburg-Landau model remains numerically far less demanding compared to the full microscopic approaches.

Abstract: The far-infrared dielectric response of superlattices (SL) composed of superconducting YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) and ferromagnetic La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LCMO) has been investigated by ellipsometry. A drastic decrease of the free-carrier response is observed which involves an unusually large length scale of d(crit)approximate to20 nm in YBCO and d(crit)approximate to10 nm in LCMO. A corresponding suppression of metallicity is not observed in SL's where LCMO is replaced by the paramagnetic metal LaNiO3. Our data suggest that either a long-range charge transfer from the YBCO to the LCMO layers or alternatively a strong coupling of the charge carriers to the different and competitive kind of magnetic correlations in the LCMO and YBCO layers is at the heart of the observed metal-insulator transition. The low free-carrier response observed in the far-infrared dielectric response of the magnetic superconductor RuSr2GdCu2O8 is possibly related to this effect.

Abstract: We apply neutron diffraction, high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction, magnetization measurements, electronic structure calculations, and quantum Monte-Carlo simulations to unravel the structure and magnetism of (CuCl)LaTa2O7. Despite the pseudo-tetragonal crystallographic unit cell, this compound features an orthorhombic superstructure, similar to the Nb-containing (CuX)LaNb2O7 with X = Cl and Br. The spin lattice entails dimers formed by the antiferromagnetic fourth-neighbor coupling J(4), as well as a large number of nonequivalent interdimer couplings quantified by an effective exchange parameter J(eff). In (CuCl)LaTa2O7, the interdimer couplings are sufficiently strong to induce the long-range magnetic order with the Neel temperature T-N similar or equal to 7 K and the ordered magnetic moment of 0.53 mu(B), as measured with neutron diffraction. This magnetic behavior can be accounted for by J(eff)/J(4) similar or equal to 1.6 and J(4) similar or equal to 16 K. We further propose a general magnetic phase diagram for the (CuCl)LaNb2O7-type compounds, and explain the transition from the gapped spin-singlet (dimer) ground state in (CuCl)LaNb2O7 to the long-range antiferromagnetic order in (CuCl)LaTa2O7 and (CuBr)LaNb2O7 by an increase in the magnitude of the interdimer couplings J(eff)/J(4), with the (CuCl)LaM2O7 (M = Nb, Ta) compounds lying on different sides of the quantum critical point that separates the singlet and long-range-ordered magnetic ground states.

Abstract: We report crystal structure, electronic structure, and magnetism of manganese tetraboride, MnB4, synthesized under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. In contrast to superconducting FeB4 and metallic CrB4, which are both orthorhombic, MnB4 features a monoclinic crystal structure. Its lower symmetry originates from a Peierls distortion of the Mn chains. This distortion nearly opens the gap at the Fermi level, but despite the strong dimerization and the proximity of MnB4 to the insulating state, we find indications for a sizable paramagnetic effective moment of about 1.7 mu(B)/f.u., ferromagnetic spin correlations, and, even more surprisingly, a prominent electronic contribution to the specific heat. However, no magnetic order has been observed in standard thermodynamic measurements down to 2 K. Altogether, this renders MnB4 a structurally simple but microscopically enigmatic material; we argue that its properties may be influenced by electronic correlations.

Abstract: A polycrystalline sample of LuFe2O4 has been investigated by means of powder synchrotron x-ray and neutron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), along with Mössbauer spectroscopy and transport and magnetic properties. A monoclinic distortion is unambiguously evidenced, and the crystal structure is refined in the monoclinic C2/m space group [aM = 5.9563(1) Å, bM = 3.4372(1) Å, cM = 8.6431(1) Å, β = 103.24(1)°]. Along with the previously reported modulations distinctive of the charge-ordering (CO) of the iron species, a new type of incommensurate order is observed, characterized by a vector q⃗1 = α1a⃗M* + γ1c⃗M* (with α1 ≅ 0.55, γ1 ≅ 0.13). In situ heating TEM observations from 300 to 773 K confirm that the satellites associated with q⃗1 vanish completely, only at a temperature significantly higher than the CO temperature. This incommensurate modulation has a displacive character and corresponds primarily to a transverse displacive modulation wave of the Lu cations position, as revealed by the high resolution, high angle annular dark field scanning TEM images and in agreement with synchrotron data refinements. Analyses of vacuum-annealed samples converge toward the hypothesis of a new ordering mechanism, associated with a tiny oxygen deviation from the O4 stoichiometry.