×
 Physics at Virginia
ABSTRACT:
Geometrical frustration gives rise to a large number of degenerate ground states and suppresses a simple-minded long-range ordering in general. Here we discuss theoretically how the degeneracy is lifted in three-dimensionally frustrated pyrochlore systems whose lattice structure consists of corner-sharing tetrahedra. The pyrochlore systems are most typically found in the so-called B spinel oxides. Focusing on the spinels with B=V and Cr, we explore the low-temperature physics by the mean-field argument and Monte Carlo simulation for effective spin-orbital-lattice coupled models. For V spinels, we clarify the strong interplay between spin and orbital degrees of freedom. Orbital ordering reduces the magnetic frustration partially and realizes weakly coupled one-dimensional chains in the three-dimensional pyrochlore lattice. For Cr spinels, we show that the system exhibits novel phase transitions under the external magnetic field due to the spin-Peierls type mechanism. An emergence of a half-magnetization plateau is discussed in detail.
Condensed Matter Seminar
Thursday, March 17, 2005
4:00 PM
Physics Building, Room 204
Note special time.
Note special room.

 Add to your calendar

To add a speaker, send an email to phys-speakers@Virginia.EDU. Please include the seminar type (e.g. Condensed Matter Seminars), date, name of the speaker, title of talk, and an abstract (if available).