ABSTRACT
We present the results of a combined ^{7}Li-NMR and diffraction study on LiGa_{0.95}In_{0.05}Cr_{4}O_{8}, a member of the LiGa_{1-x}In_{x}Cr_{4}O_{8} "breathing" pyrochlore family. Via specific heat and NMR measurements, we find that the complex sequence of first-order transitions observed for LiGaCr_{4}O_{8} is replaced by a single second-order transition at T_{f}=11 K. Neutron and x-ray diffraction rule out both structural symmetry lowering and magnetic long-range order as the origin of this transition. Instead, reverse Monte Carlo fitting of the magnetic diffuse scattering indicates that the low-temperature phase may be described as a collinear spin nematic state, characterized by a quadrupolar order parameter. This state also shows signs of short-range order between collinear spin arrangements on tetrahedra, revealed by mapping the reverse Monte Carlo spin configurations onto a three-state color model.
ABSTRACT
We present new magnetic heat capacity and neutron scattering results for two magnetically frustrated molybdate pyrochlores: S=1 oxide Lu_{2}Mo_{2}O_{7} and S=1/2 oxynitride Lu_{2}Mo_{2}O_{5}N_{2}. Lu_{2}Mo_{2}O_{7} undergoes a transition to an unconventional spin glass ground state at T_{f}â¼16 K. However, the preparation of the corresponding oxynitride tunes the nature of the ground state from spin glass to quantum spin liquid. The comparison of the static and dynamic spin correlations within the oxide and oxynitride phases presented here reveals the crucial role played by quantum fluctuations in the selection of a ground state. Furthermore, we estimate an upper limit for a gap in the spin excitation spectrum of the quantum spin liquid state of the oxynitride of Δâ¼0.05 meV or Δ/|θ|â¼0.004, in units of its antiferromagnetic Weiss constant θâ¼-121 K.
ABSTRACT
We introduce a simple method to extract the nuclear coherent and isotope incoherent, spin incoherent, and magnetic neutron scattering cross section components from powder scattering data measured using a single neutron beam polarization direction and a position-sensitive detector with large out-of-plane coverage. The method draws inspiration from polarized small-angle neutron scattering and contrasts with conventional so-called "xyz" polarization analysis on wide-angle instruments, which requires measurements with three orthogonal polarization directions. The viability of the method is demonstrated on both simulated and experimental data for the classical "spin ice" system Ho2Ti2O7, the latter from the LET direct geometry spectrometer at the ISIS facility. The cross section components can be reproduced with good fidelity by either fitting the out-of-plane angle dependence around a Debye-Scherrer cone or grouping the data by angle and performing a matrix inversion. The limitations of the method and its practical uses are discussed.
ABSTRACT
It is well established that in the low-temperature limit, the two-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a square lattice (2DQHAFSL) exhibits an anomaly in its spectrum at short-wavelengths on the zone-boundary. In the vicinity of the [Formula: see text] point the pole in the one-magnon response exhibits a downward dispersion, is heavily damped and attenuated, giving way to an isotropic continuum of excitations extending to high energies. The origin of the anomaly and the presence of the continuum are of current theoretical interest, with suggestions focused around the idea that the latter evidences the existence of spinons in a two-dimensional system. Here we present the results of neutron inelastic scattering experiments and Quantum Monte Carlo calculations on the metallo-organic compound Cu(DCOO)[Formula: see text]D2O (CFTD), an excellent physical realisation of the 2DQHAFSL, designed to investigate how the anomaly at [Formula: see text] evolves up to finite temperatures [Formula: see text]. Our data reveal that on warming the anomaly survives the loss of long-range, three-dimensional order, and that it is thus a robust feature of the two-dimensional system. With further increase of temperature the zone-boundary response gradually softens and broadens, washing out the [Formula: see text] anomaly. This is confirmed by a comparison of our data with the results of finite-temperature Quantum Monte Carlo simulations where the two are found to be in good accord. In the vicinity of the antiferromagnetic zone centre, there was no significant softening of the magnetic excitations over the range of temperatures investigated.
ABSTRACT
Neutron spectroscopy and diffuse neutron scattering on herbertsmithite [ZnCu(3)(OH)(6)Cl(2)], a near-ideal realization of the s=1/2 kagome antiferromagnet, reveal the hallmark property of a quantum spin liquid: instantaneous short-ranged antiferromagnetic correlations in the absence of a time-averaged ordered moment. These dynamic antiferromagnetic correlations are weakly dependent of neutron-energy transfer and temperature, and persist up to 25 meV and 120 K. At low energy transfers a shift of the magnetic scattering to low Q is observed with increasing temperature, providing evidence of gapless spinons. It is argued that these observations provide important evidence in favor of resonating-valence-bond theories of (doped) Mott insulators.
ABSTRACT
Pyrochlore systems are ideally suited to the exploration of geometrical frustration in three dimensions, and their rich phenomenology encompasses topological order and fractional excitations. Classical spin ices provide the first context in which it is possible to control emergent magnetic monopoles, and anisotropic exchange leads to even richer behaviour associated with large quantum fluctuations. Whether the magnetic ground state of Yb2Ti2O7 is a quantum spin liquid or a ferromagnetic phase induced by a Higgs transition appears to be sample dependent. Here we have determined the role of structural defects on the magnetic ground state via the diffuse scattering of neutrons. We find that oxygen vacancies stabilise the spin liquid phase and the stuffing of Ti sites by Yb suppresses it. Samples in which the oxygen vacancies have been eliminated by annealing in oxygen exhibit a transition to a ferromagnetic phase, and this is the true magnetic ground state.
ABSTRACT
Quantum magnets have occupied the fertile ground between many-body theory and low-temperature experiments on real materials since the early days of quantum mechanics. However, our understanding of even deceptively simple systems of interacting spins-1/2 is far from complete. The quantum square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (QSLHAF), for example, exhibits a striking anomaly of hitherto unknown origin in its magnetic excitation spectrum. This quantum effect manifests itself for excitations propagating with the specific wave vector (π, 0). We use polarized neutron spectroscopy to fully characterize the magnetic fluctuations in the metal-organic compound CFTD, a known realization of the QSLHAF model. Our experiments reveal an isotropic excitation continuum at the anomaly, which we analyse theoretically using Gutzwiller-projected trial wavefunctions. The excitation continuum is accounted for by the existence of spatially-extended pairs of fractional S=1/2 quasiparticles, 2D analogues of 1D spinons. Away from the anomalous wave vector, these fractional excitations are bound and form conventional magnons. Our results establish the existence of fractional quasiparticles in the high-energy spectrum of a quasi-two-dimensional antiferromagnet, even in the absence of frustration.
ABSTRACT
The low-energy (ε = hω < 1 meV), low-temperature (T = 0.05 K) spin dynamics of the s = 1/2 kagome candidate herbertsmithite are probed in the presence of magnetic fields up to 2.5 T. The zero-field spectra reveal a very weak continuum of scattering at T = 10 K and a broad inelastic peak centred at ε(max) = 0.2 meV at lower temperatures, T < 1 K. The broad peak is found to be strongly damped, with a liquid-like structure factor implying correlations at length scales up to r = 6 Å. The field dependence of the peak appears to follow the Zeeman splitting of s = 1/2 excitations, consistent with the weakly split 'doublets' observed in low-temperature specific heat. A possible explanation of these observations is a short-range correlated state involving defect spins between the kagome planes and moments in the kagome layers.
ABSTRACT
Spangolite, Cu(6)Al(SO(4))(OH)(12)Cl·3H(2)O, is a hydrated layered copper sulfate mineral. The Cu(2+) ions of each layer form a systematically depleted triangular lattice which approximates a maple leaf lattice. We present details of the crystal structure, which suggest that in spangolite this lattice actually comprises two species of edge linked trimers with different exchange parameters. However, magnetic susceptibility measurements show that despite the structural trimers, the magnetic properties are dominated by dimerization. The high temperature magnetic moment is strongly reduced below that expected for the six s = 1/2 in the unit cell.
ABSTRACT
The establishment of pediatric emergency medicine as a subspecialty of emergency medicine has engendered the need for closer examination and development of guidelines for fellowship training. Core content and curriculum documents pertaining to fellowship training in pediatric emergency medicine for pediatric graduates have been published previously. However, the educational needs of emergency medicine graduates for such training are significantly different from those of pediatric graduates in several important respects. We believe that emergency physicians should take an active role in the creation and refinement of educational guidelines for fellowship training in pediatric emergency medicine for emergency medicine graduates. For this reason, we present a proposed core content outline in the hope that it will serve to foster this process.
Subject(s)
Curriculum , Education, Medical, Graduate/organization & administration , Emergency Medicine/education , Fellowships and Scholarships/organization & administration , Guidelines as Topic , Pediatrics/education , Physician's Role , Humans , Program Development , United StatesABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To delineate the topics discussed with families during the death notification process and to identify which of these topics are stressful to the physician. Also, the survey served as a needs assessment in designing an educational program for emergency medicine residents in death notification. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five residents and 20 attendings physicians in emergency medicine at the Medical College of Pennsylvania were given an anonymous, self-administered, 47-item questionnaire seeking demographic information and assessing topics discussed during notification, perceived importance to the family of these topics, and the stressfulness of these topics. RESULTS: One hundred percent of the participants responded to the survey. Hospital care, prehospital care, and cause of death were most often discussed with the family, although no topic was discussed 100% of the time by all physicians. Those items that may be perceived as emotionally charged, such as organ donation and autopsy, were rated as more stressful and were less frequently addressed during notification. CONCLUSION: Factual information is discussed most often, and emotional issues are considered most stressful. Therefore, a program in death notification must address those issues that must be handled during a notification and provide mechanisms for residents to feel comfortable with emotional responses from the family.
Subject(s)
Attitude to Death , Emergency Service, Hospital , Family , Physicians/psychology , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Emergency Medicine/education , Emotions , Female , Humans , Internship and Residency , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Both platelets and macrophages play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. To examine whether they may interact and, if they do, to elucidate the mechanisms of such an interaction, suspensions of the two cell types from rabbits were mixed together, then subjected to Stractan density-gradient centrifugation and transmission electron microscopy. Suspensions of only one cell type served as controls. When otherwise unstimulated platelets and macrophages came into contact with each other, the platelets became less dense. Ultrastructurally, the platelets underwent shape changes without losing their granules, and were often arranged around the macrophages like a rosette. The processes of the macrophages became elongated. ADP caused a similar shift in platelet density and, when the cell types were together, increased this shift. With ADP the rosetting was abolished, but platelet aggregates were found to be in superficial contact with the macrophages. With thrombin the contact between the platelet aggregates and macrophages was close. Addition of platelet antagonists showed that the shift in platelet density and the rosetting upon contact with macrophages are dependent on divalent cations. Neither ADP, nor thrombin, nor PAF seem to be involved in the reactions.
Subject(s)
Cell Communication/physiology , Macrophages, Alveolar/physiology , Platelet Activation/physiology , Adenosine Diphosphate/pharmacology , Alprostadil/pharmacology , Animals , Cell Communication/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Centrifugation, Density Gradient , Creatine Kinase/pharmacology , Edetic Acid/pharmacology , Ferric Compounds/pharmacology , Macrophages, Alveolar/drug effects , Microscopy, Electron , Phosphocreatine/pharmacology , Platelet Activating Factor/physiology , Platelet Activation/drug effects , Rabbits , Thrombin/pharmacology , Triazolam/pharmacologyABSTRACT
Interest in pediatric emergency medicine has grown steadily during the past decade among pediatricians and emergency physicians. With the rapid proliferation of pediatric emergency medicine programs for pediatricians has come extensive and valuable experience with this type of fellowship education. As a result, the structure and scope of these programs have become increasingly well established. Because the number of pediatric emergency medicine fellowship programs for emergency physicians has yet to reach "critical mass," no similar de facto standards exist for these programs. The recent establishment of guidelines for pediatric emergency medicine subspecialty certification by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics brings new importance to fostering such standards for the training for emergency physicians. To this end, we present a proposed pediatric emergency medicine fellowship program developed during a retreat that included physicians from an emergency medicine program and two pediatric hospitals. We also review some of the significant events that have occurred in the evolution of pediatric emergency care.