Quantum fluctuations in quasi-one-dimensional superconducting channels leading to spontaneous changes of the phase of the order parameter by 2π, alternatively called quantum phase slips (QPS), manifest themselves as the finite resistance well below the critical temperature of thin superconducting nanowires and the suppression of persistent currents in tiny superconducting nanorings. Here we report the experimental evidence that in a current-biased superconducting nanowire the same QPS process is responsible for the insulating state--the Coulomb blockade. When exposed to rf radiation, the internal Bloch oscillations can be synchronized with the external rf drive leading to formation of quantized current steps on the I-V characteristic. The effects originate from the fundamental quantum duality of a Josephson junction and a superconducting nanowire governed by QPS--the QPS junction.

This study presents the novel hexacoordinated Co(ii) mononuclear complex with SIM behavior.

We report the synthesis and characterization of the new bismuth iron selenite oxochloride Bi2Fe(SeO3)2OCl3. The main feature of its crystal structure is the presence of a reasonably isolated set of spin S = 5/2 zigzag chains of corner-sharing FeO6 octahedra decorated with BiO4Cl3, BiO3Cl3, and SeO3 groups. When the temperature is lowered, the magnetization passes through a broad maximum at Tmax ≈ 130 K, which indicates the formation of a magnetic short-range correlation regime. The same behavior is demonstrated by the integral electron spin resonance intensity. The absorption is characterized by the isotropic effective factor g ≈ 2 typical for high-spin Fe(3+) ions. The broadening of ESR absorption lines at low temperatures with the critical exponent β = 7/4 is consistent with the divergence of the temperature-dependent correlation length expected for the quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin chain upon approaching the long-range ordering transition from above. At TN = 13 K, Bi2Fe(SeO3)2OCl3 exhibits a transition into an antiferromagnetically ordered state, evidenced in the magnetization, specific heat, and Mössbauer spectra. At T < TN, the (57)Fe Mössbauer spectra reveal a low saturated value of the hyperfine field Hhf ≈ 44 T, which indicates a quantum spin reduction of spin-only magnetic moment ΔS/S ≈ 20%. The determination of exchange interaction parameters using first-principles calculations validates the quasi-one-dimensional nature of magnetism in this compound.

We performed Raman studies and a dielectric characterization of the pseudo-kagome Cu 3 Bi(SeO 3 ) 2 O 2 X (X = Cl, Br). These compounds share competing nearest-neighbour ferromagnetic exchange and frustrating next-nearest-neighbour antiferromagnetic exchange as well as highly noncollinear magnetic ground state. However, at low temperature they differ with respect to the existence of inversion symmetry. For both compounds there exists a pronounced interplay of polar phonon modes with quantum magnetic fluctuations. A novel Raman mode appears for temperatures below the Neel temperature with a Fano lineshape and an enormous intensity that exceeds most of the phonon lines. We discuss a possible contribution of longitudinal magnons to this signal. In contrast, one magnon scattering based on linear transvers magnons is excluded based on a symmetry analysis of spin wave representations and Raman tensor calculations. There exists evidence that in these pseudo-kagome compounds magnetic quantum fluctuations carry an electric dipole moment. Our data as well as a comparison with previous farinfrared spectra allow us to conclude that Cu 3 Bi(SeO 3 ) 2 O 2 Cl changes its symmetry most likely from Pmmn to P2 1 mn with a second order structural phase transition at T*=120 K and becomes multiferroic. Cu 3 Bi(SeO 3 ) 2 O 2 Br represents an interesting counter part as it does not show this instability and stays inversion symmetric down to lowest temperatures, investigated.PACS: