Inhomogeneous Phase Formation on the Border of Itinerant Ferromagnetism
Abstract
A variety of analytical techniques suggest that quantum fluctuations lead to a fundamental instability of the Fermi liquid that drives ferromagnetic transitions first order at low temperatures. We present both analytical and numerical evidence that, driven by the same quantum fluctuations, this first order transition is preempted by the formation of an inhomogeneous magnetic phase. This occurs in a manner that is closely analogous to the formation of the inhomogeneous superconducting Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state. We derive these results from a field-theoretical approach supplemented with numerical quantum Monte Carlo simulations.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.207201
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0906.1347
- Bibcode:
- 2009PhRvL.103t7201C
- Keywords:
-
- 75.20.En;
- 64.60.Kw;
- 75.45.+j;
- Metals and alloys;
- Multicritical points;
- Macroscopic quantum phenomena in magnetic systems;
- Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 2 figures