This PhD thesis concerns the physics of low-dimensional quantum systems and especially quantum spin ladders. Novel metal-organic compounds (C5H12N)2CuBr4 and (C5H12N)2CuCl4 are investigated as model materials for low-dimensional quantum behavior by neutron scattering experiments and by measurements of magnetic and thermodynamic properties. The experimental results are compared quantitatively to calculations using a variety of theoretical and numerical methods (DMRG, ED) of the ground state and excitations of such systems. Key results are the determination of the Hamiltonian and its exchange parameters of (C5H12N)2CuCl4 studied here for the first time from quantitative modelling of magnetic susceptibility and neutron spectroscopy data. When a magnetic field is applied two quantum critical points occur at which fractionalization of the elementary quasi-particle excitations is ob- served. The characteristic excitation continua are explained by effective spin-chain and t-J models and are observed systematically as a function of magnetic field and temperature. Coherent and incoherent spin Luttinger-liquid physics is observed and for the first time modelled fully quantitatively. The chemical flexibility of the these metal-organic compounds allows continuous solid-state mixtures of Br and Cl resulting in systems with quenched disorder. The rung and leg exchange parameters assume discrete values given by the specific chemical composition of the exchange pathways. The influence of such quenched disorder on the excitations of quantum spin ladders has been studied experimentally. The observed spectra with damped excitations of the unperturbed ladder and more localized modes provide detailed insights into the physics that may be observed in such systems if a magnetic field is applied and so called Bose glass phases are induced.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:647223 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Ward, S. N. E. |
| Publisher | University College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1462036/ |
Page generated in 0.0017 seconds