No Arabic abstract
We thoroughly examine the ground state of the triangular lattice of Pb on Si(111) using scanning tunneling microscopy. We detect charge-order, accompanied by a subtle structural reconstruction. Applying the extended variational cluster approach we map out the phase diagram as a function of local and non-local Coulomb interactions. Comparing the experimental data with the theoretical modeling leads us to conclude that electron correlations are the driving force of the charge-ordered state in Pb/Si(111), rather than Fermi surface nesting. These results resolve the discussion about the origin of the well known $3times 3$ reconstruction forming below $86,$K. By exploiting the tunability of correlation strength, hopping parameters and bandfilling, this material class represents a promising platform to search for exotic states of matter, in particular, for chiral topological superconductivity.
Frustrated magnetic interactions in a quasi-two-dimensional [111] slab of pyrochlore lattice were studied. For uniform nearest neighbor (NN) interactions, we show that the complex magnetic problem can be mapped onto a model with two independent degrees of freedom, tri-color and binary sign. This provides a systematic way to construct the complex classical spin ground states with collinear and coplanar bi-pyramid spins. We also identify `partial but extended zero-energy excitations amongst the ground states. For nonuniform NN interactions, the coplanar ground state can be obtained from the collinear bi-pyramid spin state by collectively rotating two spins of each tetrahedron with an angle, $alpha$, in an opposite direction. The latter model with $alpha sim 30^circ$ fits the experimental neutron data from SCGO well.
Using synchrotron X-rays and neutron diffraction we disentangle spin-lattice order in highly frustrated ZnCr$_2$O$_4$ where magnetic chromium ions occupy the vertices of regular tetrahedra. Upon cooling below 12.5 K the quandary of anti-aligning spins surrounding the triangular faces of tetrahedra is resolved by establishing weak interactions on each triangle through an intricate lattice distortion. The resulting spin order is however, not simply a N{e}el state on strong bonds. A complex co-planar spin structure indicates that antisymmetric and/or further neighbor exchange interactions also play a role as ZnCr$_2$O$_4$ resolves conflicting magnetic interactions.
The candidate magnetoelectric Pb3Mn7O15 has a structure consisting of 1/3 filled Kagome layers linked by ribbons of edge-sharing octahedra in the stacking direction. Previous reports have indicated a complex hexagonal-orthorhombic structural transition upon cooling to room temperature, although its origins are uncertain. Here both structures are revisited using a combination of neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. Large shifts of oxygen positions are detected which show that the interlayer sites and those which occupy voids in the kagome lattice are trivially charge ordered in both phases. The symmetry breaking is found to occur due to Mn3+ orbital ordering on the ribbon sites and charge ordering of the sub-set of layer sites which make up a Kagome network.
The ferromagnetic Kondo lattice model with an antiferromagnetic interaction between localized spins is a minimal description of the competing kinetic t and magnetic K energy terms which generate the rich physics of manganite systems. Motivated by the discovery in one dimension of homogeneous ``island phases, we consider the possibility of analogous phases in higher dimensions. We characterize the phases present at commensurate fillings, and consider in detail the effects of phase separation in all filling and parameter regimes. We deduce that island and flux phases are stable for intermediate values of K/t at the commensurate fillings n = 1/4, 1/3, 3/8, and 1/2. We discuss the connection of these results to the charge and magnetic ordering observed in a wide variety of manganite compounds.
We overview physical effects of exchange frustration and quantum spin fluctuations in (quasi-) two dimensional (2D) quantum magnets ($S=1/2$) with square, rectangular and triangular structure. Our discussion is based on the $J_1$-$J_2$ type frustrated exchange model and its generalizations. These models are closely related and allow to tune between different phases, magnetically ordered as well as more exotic nonmagnetic quantum phases by changing only one or two control parameters. We survey ground state properties like magnetization, saturation fields, ordered moment and structure factor in the full phase diagram as obtained from numerical exact diagonalization computations and analytical linear spin wave theory. We also review finite temperature properties like susceptibility, specific heat and magnetocaloric effect using the finite temperature Lanczos method. This method is powerful to determine the exchange parameters and g-factors from experimental results. We focus mostly on the observable physical frustration effects in magnetic phases where plenty of quasi-2D material examples exist to identify the influence of quantum fluctuations on magnetism.