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Published on: March 24, 2019
Probing Hole-Magnon Dynamics in an Antiferromagnet with Beyond-Nearest-Neighbor Couplings.
Kaijun Shen1, Kewei Sun2, Shixu Luo1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
Investigating a single hole in a 2D antiferromagnet reveals that frustrating next-nearest-neighbor exchange significantly alters magnetic polaron dynamics, impacting transport properties.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Magnetism
Background:
- Antiferromagnets exhibit complex magnetic ordering.
- Hole dynamics in magnetic materials are crucial for understanding conductivity.
- Long-range interactions can significantly influence quantum phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the real-time dynamics of a single hole in a 2D antiferromagnet.
- To understand the impact of frustrating next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) exchange on magnetic polaron formation and transport.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an extended t-J model incorporating nearest-neighbor (NN) and NNN hopping and superexchange.
- Employed the multiple Davydov Ansatz as a numerically accurate variational solver.
- Simulated hole-magnon dynamics on an 8x8 lattice.
Main Results:
- Frustrating NNN exchange qualitatively alters magnetic polaron dynamics.
- Initial frustration promotes transient self-localization of the hole.
- At longer times, frustration opens new propagation channels, increasing root-mean-squared displacement.
Conclusions:
- Beyond nearest-neighbor interactions substantially modify magnetic polaron formation and transport.
- Findings have implications for high-temperature cuprates and cold-atom quantum simulators.
- Understanding these dynamics is key to designing novel electronic materials.
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