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Aifeng Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Aifeng Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phase calibration of quantum oscillations in the magnetostrictive coefficient using the topological antiferromagnet YbMnBi$_2$

The Berry phase accumulated along a cyclotron orbit encodes important information about electronic band topology and is commonly inferred from the phase of quantum oscillations. Measurements of the ac magnetostrictive coefficient have recently emerged as a sensitive thermodynamic probe of quantum oscillations, but the phase offset has not been experimentally calibrated. Here, using the topological antiferromagnet YbMnBi$_2$, we calibrate this offset by directly comparing quantum oscillations in magnetization with those in the ac magnetostrictive coefficient. Measurements of both responses on the same single crystal reveal a single fundamental frequency of approximately 160 T in fields up to 14 T, enabling a direct phase comparison free from ambiguities associated with multiple frequencies. We observe an approximately $\pi/2$ relative phase shift between the two oscillatory responses, consistent with the Maxwell relation linking the magnetostrictive coefficient to the stress derivative of magnetization. Our results establish the appropriate phase needed to extract cyclotron-orbit phase information from quantum oscillations in the ac magnetostrictive coefficient.

cond-mat.str-el

Spin-orbit-enabled Fermi-surface splitting in noncollinear antiferromagnetic SmBi

Spin-split electronic structures in compensated antiferromagnets are commonly sought in the nonrelativistic limit, where magnetic order lifts spin degeneracy without spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Whether SOC can instead be the indispensable symmetry-breaking ingredient remains largely unexplored. Here we combine quantum oscillations detected by ultrahigh-sensitivity ac magnetostriction, magnetic-symmetry analysis and first-principles calculations to resolve the bulk Fermi-surface evolution of SmBi across two successive antiferromagnetic (AFM) transitions. New oscillation branches emerge below TN and undergo a further reconstruction below T*, whereas isostructural SmSb shows no comparable change. For the candidate noncollinear orders of SmBi, breaking global parity-time symmetry is insufficient in the nonrelativistic limit because residual spin-space symmetries protect twofold band degeneracy; conversely, SOC alone cannot lift the degeneracy of the centrosymmetric paramagnetic (PM) phase. Only the coexistence of noncollinear order and SOC locks spin to the lattice and removes the residual protection. SmBi therefore realizes a cooperative, relativistic route to spin-split Fermi surfaces, broadening unconventional magnetism beyond systems whose splitting is already present in the nonrelativistic limit.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Complex Temperature-dependent Thermal Conductivity in a Sawtooth Chain Magnet Fe$_\mathrm{2}$SiSe$_\mathrm{4}$

Geometrically frustrated magnets provide an ideal platform for exploring the interplay between lattice geometry and spin degrees of freedom. Here, we investigate the interactions between lattice and spin via thermal-transport measurements on the triangular sawtooth-lattice olivine magnet Fe$_\mathrm{2}$SiSe$_\mathrm{4}$, which exhibits successive magnetic transitions at $T_1 = 110$ K (antiferromagnetic) and $T_2 = 50$ K (ferrimagnetic). Although phonons dominate the thermal conductivity, its temperature dependence displays a pronounced double-peak structure arising from spin-phonon coupling. In the intermediate temperature range between $T_1$ and $T_2$ , resonant scattering of phonons by magnetic excitations around 5 meV produces a broad maximum around 60 K. Below $T_2$, the resonant spin-phonon scattering is strongly suppressed, leading to a rapid increase in thermal conductivity upon cooling and a pronounced low-temperature peak near 11 K, characteristic of heat transport governed by conventional phonon scattering mechanisms. Notably, this low-temperature peak is enhanced by a factor of $\sim 5$ compared to the broad maximum at higher temperatures. These results demonstrate the strong sensitivity of thermal transport to spin-lattice interactions and highlight spin-phonon scattering as an effective mechanism for tailoring thermal conductivity in geometrically frustrated magnets.

cond-mat.str-el

Collective Resonance of Superconducting/Normal Domain Walls in the Intermediate State of type-I superconductor

The dynamics of phase boundaries, such as superconducting/normal (S/N) interfaces in type-I superconductors, are typically obscured in conventional magnetic measurements, which are dominated by surface barriers and over-damped flux processes. Here, we employ ac magnetostriction as a sensitive probe to reveal the distinct bulk dynamics of these domain walls in the intermediate state of lead. In contrast to the Debye-type relaxation observed in magnetic susceptibility, we discover a pronounced quasiresonant response characterized by a sign reversal of the imaginary component and a non-monotonic evolution of the real part with frequency. We attribute this behavior to the collective oscillations of S/N interfaces driven by eddy currents generated within the normal domains. This work uncovers a fundamental dynamical channel in superconducting modulated phases and establishes ac magnetostrictive coefficient as a powerful tool for probing hidden interface physics.

cond-mat.supr-con

Multiple Topological States in LaAgAs2, a Failed Square-Net Semimetal

The rational design of new materials emerges as an important direction to explore new topological materials, which is based on the understanding of the correlation between crystal and electronic structures. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive study on the crystal and electronic structures in LaAgAs2 through a combination of single-crystal x-ray diffraction (XRD), quantum oscillation, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experimental measurements, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Single-crystal XRD measurements reveal that LaAgAs2 crystallizes into a HfCuSi2-derived structure with the square net distorted into cis-trans chains. Quantum oscillation measurements reveal two frequencies with small effective masses and quasi-two-dimensional (2D) characters. ARPES measurements reveal an electronic structure strikingly different from the square-net-based semimetals, such as LaAgAs2. The Fermi surface is quasi-two-dimensional (2D), with Dirac-like hole pockets at the zone center and a quasi-1D elliptical electron pocket at the zone boundary. Based on the DFT calculations, the measured electronic structure can be well understood regarding the cis-trans distortion, which transforms the two-dimensional square net-derived Dirac bands into quasi-1D trivial bands. Intriguingly, multiple topological states can be identified around the zone center, including a nontrivial Z2 topological surface state and a bulk Dirac state. Our study clarifies the impact of cis-trans distortion and identifies LaAgAs2 as a topological material with multiple topological states near the Fermi level, providing a guideline for intentionally designing new topological materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Fluctuation-enhanced electron-phonon coupling in FeSe

The interactions among lattice, charge, and spin degrees of freedom fundamentally shape material properties. In FeSe, symmetry-breaking perturbations serve as highly sensitive probes of these couplings. Previous work has shown that defects and isoelectronic substitution can substantially alter these interactions, giving rise to additional phonon modes. In this study, uniaxial strain is employed as a tunable symmetry-breaking control parameter to probe the intrinsic lattice response in the absence of disorder. The temperature evolution of phonon excitations was examined with fine temperature resolution in the vicinity of the nemato-structural transition temperature $T_s$, under strain applied along the $\langle 110 \rangle$ and $\langle 100 \rangle$ crystallographic directions. A subtle asymmetry of the $A_{1g}^{ph}$ mode appears in the unstrained crystal within a narrow temperature window around $T_s$, originating from the emergence of an additional mode in the fully symmetric channel. With applied strain, this feature becomes more distinctly resolved. The anomaly is attributed to modifications of the coupling between lattice and electronic degrees of freedom driven by the ordering fluctuations right above the nematic transition. These fluctuations enhance susceptibility for phonon-electron-phonon coupling in the vicinity of the X and R points of the Brillouin zone and promote two-phonon scattering close to the $A_{1g}^{ph}$ mode. The presence of this two-phonon scattering depends on both the strength and the direction of the applied strain, indicating a high sensitivity of FeSe to local symmetry breaking.

cond-mat.supr-con

Microstructure-controlled vortex phases and two-phase superconductivity in (TaNb)0.7(HfZrTi)0.5 revealed by ac magnetostrictive coefficients

We investigate flux dynamics in the high-entropy alloy superconductor (TaNb)0.7(HfZrTi)0.5 after annealing (as-cast, 500 {\deg}C, 550 {\deg}C, and 1000 {\deg}C) using a sensitive ac composite magnetoelectric method that measures the complex ac magnetostrictive coefficient (d{\lambda}/dH)ac. The resulting vortex phase diagrams show that intermediate annealing (500-550 {\deg}C) induces nanoscale clustering, enhances pinning, and produces a pronounced fishtail effect with successive elastic- and plastic-vortex-glass regimes. Flux-jump instabilities appear at 550 {\deg}C and persist at 1000 {\deg}C, indicating strong pinning and thermomagnetic instability in the low-temperature, low-field regime. Remarkably, the 1000 {\deg}C sample exhibits a two-step superconducting response-a double plateau or drop in d{\lambda}'/dH and two dissipation peaks in d{\lambda}''/dH-demonstrating the coexistence of two superconducting phases with distinct irreversibility and critical-field value. We further show that the resolvability of the two-step (d{\lambda}/dH)ac signature is governed by the topological connectivity of the phase-separated microstructure, which controls magnetic shielding between the TaNb-rich network and the (TaNb)0.7(HfZrTi)0.5 parent phase. These results establish a direct microstructure-vortex-state correlation and provide a route to tailoring flux pinning in chemically complex superconductors via thermal processing.

cond-mat.supr-con

Distinct Suppression Mechanisms of Superconductivity by Magnetic Domains and Spin Fluctuations in EuFe2(As1-xPx)2 superconductors

Using ac composite magnetoelectric technique, we map the phase diagrams of EuFe(As1-xPx)2 to resolve the interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism. For samples with Tc TFM, strong short-range spin correlations and phase boundaries within a multiphase coexistence regime near the triple point act as potent pair-breaking centers, leading to pronounced Hc2 suppression.

cond-mat.supr-con

Single-crystal growth, structural characterization, and physical properties of a decorated square-kagome antiferromagnet KCu$_7$TeO$_4$(SO$_4$)$_5$Cl

The square-kagome lattice, composed of two-dimensional corner-sharing triangles, provides a novel platform for studying frustrated magnetism. However, material realizations of the square-kagome lattice remain scarce. Here, we report the single-crystal growth, structural characterization, magnetic and electric properties of KCu$_7$TeO$_4$(SO$_4$)$_5$Cl, a nabokoite compound featuring a distorted and decorated square-kagome lattice. Weak anomalies near 4 K are observed in both magnetization and specific heat, indicating the onset of a magnetic transition.The formation of a long-range antiferromagnetic state below 4.5 K is further confirmed by $^{35}$Cl nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. Magnetic susceptibility data reveal nearly isotropic Curie-Weiss temperatures ($\sim-145$ K) and $g$-factors ($\sim2.4$) for both in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields. Moreover, we observe two successive ferroelectric transitions at $T_\mathrm{FE1}\sim30$ K and $T_\mathrm{FE2}\sim27$ K, driven by inversion-symmetry breaking, most likely associated with distortions in the Cu2O$_4$Cl$_1$ pyramids and the adjacent SO$_4$ tetrahedra. These results suggest that a three-dimensional model incorporating interlayer couplings via decorating Cu2 sites is essential for capturing the magnetic and electric behaviors in KCu$_7$TeO$_4$(SO$_4$)$_5$Cl.

cond-mat.str-el

Single crystal growth, structural and physical properties, and absence of a charge density wave in Ti_{0.85}Fe6Ge6

Kagome materials with charge density waves (CDWs) are fascinating quantum systems, offering an ideal platform to explore intertwined orders and to uncover novel mechanisms behind CDW formation. Chemical models have been developed and applied to predict CDW in $AM_6X_6$-type kagome materials, such as the rattling chain model based on ScV6Sn6 and the magnetic energy-saving model based on FeGe. In this study, we successfully synthesized Ti_{0.85}Fe6Ge6 single crystals using the vapor transport method. As predicted by the rattling chain model, these crystals are expected to exhibit kagome CDW behavior. Magnetization measurements indicate that Ti_{0.85}Fe6Ge6 is an easy-axis antiferromagnet with T_N = 488 K and transport measurements reveal metallic behavior primarily driven by electron-type carriers. However, no clear signatures of a CDW were observed in Ti_{0.85}Fe6Ge6. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate a markedly distinct electronic structure compared to related compounds: instead of a carrier-doping-induced rigid shift, the density of states shifted away from the Fermi level. Consistent with our structural investigations, the absence of a CDW and the unusual band structure can be attributed to the bonding characteristic within Ti_{0.85}Fe6Ge6. The strong covalent bonds of Ti-Ge1b, along with the solid Ge1b-Ge1b dimers, prevent the Ti-Ge1b-Ge1b-Ti chain from rattling. The presence of Fe-Fe antibonding state at the Fermi level enhances the spin polarization and depletes the electronic density around the Fermi level. Our results suggest that both the ionic radius and the bonding characteristics of the filler atom are crucial for the formation of CDWs in kagome materials. These factors can serve as supplementary terms to the rattling chain model, providing new insights for the discovery of novel kagome CDW materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Time-domain decoding of unconventional charge order mechanisms in nonmagnetic and magnetic kagome metals

In kagome lattice materials, quantum interplay between charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom gives rise to a remarkably rich set of emergent phenomena, ranging from unconventional charge order and superconductivity to topological magnetism. While the exact nature of these exotic orders is often challenging to comprehend in static experiments, time-resolved techniques can offer critical insights by disentangling coupled degrees of freedom on the time-axis. In this work, we demonstrate that the nature of charge orders in two representative kagome metals - nonmagnetic ScV6Sn6 and magnetic FeGe - which has been highly controversial in static studies, can be directly deciphered in the time-domain through their fundamentally distinct order parameter dynamics measured via time-resolved X-ray scattering at an X-ray free electron laser. In nonmagnetic ScV6Sn6, the dynamics are characterized by ultrafast melting and coherent amplitudon oscillations, typical of a phonon-coupled charge order. In stark contrast, magnetic FeGe exhibits resilient metastable charge order dynamics, hitherto unobserved in any other charge-ordered system - this unique time-domain behavior directly signifies an unconventional magnetism-interlocked charge order state realized in this kagome magnet. Our results not only provide a model case where unconventional nature of electronic order, hidden in equilibrium, is directly unraveled in the time-domain, but also pave the way for future out-of-equilibrium engineering of novel quantum orders in kagome lattice platforms.

cond-mat.str-el

ac strain based thermodynamic criterion for vortex lattice in type-II superconductors

In type-I superconductors, zero electrical resistivity and perfect diamagnetism define two fundamental criteria for superconducting behavior. In contrast, type-II superconductors exhibit more complex mixed state physics, where magnetic flux penetrates the material above the lower critical field Hc1 in the form of quantized vortices, each carrying a single flux quantum. These vortices form a two dimensional lattice which persists up to another irreversible field (Hirr) and then melts into a dissipative liquid phase. The vortex lattice is fundamental to the magnetic and electrical properties of type II superconductors, ac strain susceptibility-a thermodynamic criterion-for identifying this phase has remained elusive. Here, we report the discovery of a dynamic magnetostrictive effect, wherein the geometry of the superconductor oscillates only under an applied alternating magnetic field due to the disturbance of the vortex lattice. This effect is detected by a thin piezoelectric transducer, which converts the excited geometric deformation into an in-phase ac voltage. Notably, we find a direct and nearly linear relationship between the signal amplitude and the vortex density in lattice across several representative type-II superconductors. In the vortex liquid phase above Hirr, the signal amplitude rapidly decays to zero near the upper critical field (Hc2), accompanied by a pronounced out-of-phase component due to enhanced dissipation. This dynamic magnetostrictive effect not only reveals an unexplored magnetoelastic property of the vortex lattice but also establishes a fundamental criterion for identifying the type-II superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con

Magnetic phase diagram of Cr2Te3 revisited by ac magnetostrictive coefficient

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials have attracted considerable interest owing to their potential applications in spintronics and fundamental investigations into low-dimensional magnetism. Cr2Te3, a quasi 2D non van der Waals magnet, exhibits a complex magnetic phase diagram due to competing magnetic interactions within and between layers. However, the precise nature and evolution of these magnetic phases remain unclear. Here, we utilize an ultrahigh-sensitive composite magnetoelectric technique, which probes the ac magnetostrictive coefficient, to systematically explore the temperature magnetic field phase diagram of Cr2Te3 single crystals. Our results reveal the coexistence of multiple magnetic phases, including canted ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and paramagnetic states. Another canted ferromagnetic phase and a possible triple point have been proposed. The updated phase diagram provides deeper insights into the specific spin configurations associated with each phase. These findings also highlight the decoupled magnetic ordering between the Cr1/Cr3 layers and the Cr2 layer near the magnetic ordering temperature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Anomalous Magnetotransport in the Paramagnetic State of a Magnetic Kagome Metal EuTi$_3$Bi$_4$

We investigate the electrical transport properties of a magnetic kagome metal EuTi$_3$Bi$_4$, which undergoes magnetic ordering below $T_\mathrm{c}=10.5$ K. Unlike typical magnets showing anomalous magnetotransport in their ordered states, EuTi$_3$Bi$_4$ exhibits unusual magnetotransport behaviors in its paramagnetic phase. Specifically, the magnetoconductivity shows a linear dependence on magnetic field at low fields below $\sim 1$ T, and the Hall conductivity undergoes a sign change below about 2 T. These behaviors resemble those observed in the charge density wave (CDW) phase of kagome metals $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($A$ = K, Rb, Cs). The anomalous magnetotransport in $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ has commonly been attributed to the possible emergence of a time-reversal symmetry breaking chiral CDW order. However, given the absence of CDW in EuTi$_3$Bi$_4$ and its manifestation exclusively in the paramagnetic state, the anomalous magnetotransport observed in EuTi$_3$Bi$_4$ is likely associated with multiband transport and/or the van Hove singularities near the Fermi level.

cond-mat.str-el

Impact of Thermal Effects on the Current-Tunable Electrical Transport in the Ferrimagnetic Semiconductor Mn$_3$Si$_2$Te$_6$

In the ferrimagnetic semiconductor Mn$_3$Si$_2$Te$_6$, a colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) is observed only when a magnetic field is applied along the magnetic hard axis ($\mathbf{H}\parallel c$). This phenomenon suggests an unconventional CMR mechanism potentially driven by the interplay between magnetism, topological band structure, and/or chiral orbital currents (COC). By comparing electrical resistance measurements using continuous direct currents and pulse currents, we found that the current-induced insulator-metal transition, supporting the COC-driven CMR mechanism, is likely a consequence of Joule heating effects. First-principles calculations reveal a pronounced band gap reduction upon tilting the magnetic moments toward the $c$-axis, accompanied by increased carrier concentration and Fermi velocity. Combining spin orientation-dependent electronic structure with Boltzmann transport theory, the calculated electrical resistance closely reproduces the CMR observed experimentally. These findings suggest that the CMR in Mn$_3$Si$_2$Te$_6$ stems primarily from band gap reduction induced by partial polarization of magnetic moments along the magnetic hard axis.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Spin-orbit-splitting-driven nonlinear Hall effect in NbIrTe4

The Berry curvature dipole (BCD) serves as a one of the fundamental contributors to emergence of the nonlinear Hall effect (NLHE). Despite intense interest due to its potential for new technologies reaching beyond the quantum efficiency limit, the interplay between BCD and NLHE has been barely understood yet in the absence of a systematic study on the electronic band structure. Here, we report NLHE realized in NbIrTe4 that persists above room temperature coupled with a sign change in the Hall conductivity at 150 K. First-principles calculations combined with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements show that BCD tuned by the partial occupancy of spin-orbit split bands via temperature is responsible for the temperature-dependent NLHE. Our findings highlight the correlation between BCD and the electronic band structure, providing a viable route to create and engineer the non-trivial Hall effect by tuning the geometric properties of quasiparticles in transition-metal chalcogen compounds.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Large Nernst Effect in a layered metallic antiferromagnet EuAl$_2$Si$_2$

The large Nernst effect is advantageous for developing transverse Nernst thermoelectric generators or Ettingshausen coolers within a single component, avoiding the complexity of electron- and hole-modules in longitudinal Seebeck thermoelectric devices. We report a large Nernst signal reaching 130 uV/K at 8 K and 13 T in the layered metallic antiferromagnet EuAl$_2$Si$_2$. Notably, this large transverse Nernst thermopower is two orders of magnitude greater than its longitudinal counterpart. The Nernst coefficient peaks around 4 K and 8 K at 3 T and 13 T, respectively. At similar temperatures, both the Hall coefficient and the Seebeck signal change sign. Additionally, nearly compensated electron- and hole-like carriers with high mobility ($\sim$ 4000 cm$^2$/Vs at 4 K) are revealed from the magnetoconductivity. These findings suggest that the large Nernst effect and vanishing Seebeck thermopower in EuAl$_2$Si$_2$ are due to the compensated electron- and hole-like bands, along with the high mobility of the Weyl band near the Fermi level. Our results underscore the importance of band compensation and topological fermiology in achieving large Nernst thermopower and exploring potential Nernst thermoelectric applications at low temperatures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Probing critical spin fluctuations with a composite magnetoelectric method: A case study on a Kitaev spin liquid candidate Na$_3$Co$_2$SbO$_6$

In correlated quantum materials, divergent critical fluctuations near the quantum critical point are often closely associated with exotic quantum phases of matter, such as unconventional superconductivity and quantum spin liquids. Here we present a simple yet highly sensitive composite magnetoelectric (ME) method for detecting the critical spin fluctuations in quantum magnets. The ME signal is proportional the magnetostriction coefficient, which directly probes the product of magnetization and spin-spin correlation. As a demonstration, the composite ME method is applied to a Kitaev quantum spin liquid candidate Na$_3$Co$_2$SbO$_6$, which shows signs of magnetic field-induced quantum criticality. Notably, the ME signal prominently diverges at the magnetic field-induced tricritical points, particularly at a tricritical point that lies in close proximity to a zero-temperature quantum critical point. A crucial aspect of these tricritical points is their tunability through the modification of the in-plane magnetic field's direction. The direction of magnetic field can thus serve as a handful yet important tuning parameter, alongside pressure and chemical doping, for searching quantum critical points in quantum magnets with pronounced magnetic anisotropy.

cond-mat.str-el