The lattice dynamics of the $rm YMnO_3$ magneto-electric compound has been investigated using density functional calculations, both in the ferroelectric and the paraelectric phases. The coherence between the computed and experimental data is very goo
d in the low temperature phase. Using group theory, modes continuity and our calculations we were able to show that the phonons modes observed by Raman scattering at 1200K are only compatible with the ferroelectric $P6_{3} cm$ space group, thus supporting the idea of a ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition at higher temperature. Finally we proposed a candidate for the phonon part of the observed electro-magnon. This mode, inactive both in Raman scattering and in Infra-Red, was shown to strongly couple to the Mn-Mn magnetic interactions.
We present ab-initio calculations of effective magnetic exchange, $J$, as well as Hubbard parameters ($t$, $U$ and $delta varepsilon$) as a function of the local distribution of doping atoms for the high-$T_c$ superconducting $rm (Ca_xLa_{1-x})(Ba_{1
.75-x}La_{0.25+x})Cu_3O_y$ family. We found that both the exchange and the energies of the magnetic orbitals are strongly dependant on the local dopant distribution, both through the induced modification of the apical oxygen location and of the induced local electrostatic potential. The $J$ real-space map, for a random distribution of dopants, positively compares with observed STS gap inhomogeneity maps. Similarly, the orbital energy fluctuations induce weak charge inhomogeneities on copper sites, that can be positively compared with the observed LDOS inhomogeneities. These results clearly support an extrinsic origin of both the gap inhomogeneities and LDOS.
