arXiv subjects

Andrea D. Bianchi

Publications and source records attributed to Andrea D. Bianchi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Signatures of field-induced multi-color kagome spin liquids in the dipole-octupole pyrochlore $\mathrm{Ce_2Hf_2O_7}$

We report low-temperature magnetization and magnetostriction measurements on the dipole-octupole pyrochlore $\mathrm{Ce_2Hf_2O_7}$, revealing an unconventional field response for $\mathbf B\parallel[111]$. The magnetization shows no kagome-ice plateau; instead it evolves continuously and exhibits two rapid changes in slope near 0.35~T and 1.2~T, accompanied by magnetostriction features at the same field scales. Classical Monte Carlo simulations, exact diagonalization, and ground-state analysis of the Hamiltonian show that a representative QSI-compatible parameter set captures the data. For this parameter set, the lower-field anomaly marks a closely spaced transition sequence from a two-color kagome spin liquid (KSL) through a narrow three-color KSL into a mixed two-/three-color KSL, while the upper-field anomaly marks the transition from the mixed KSL into a nearly polarized state. These results identify $\mathrm{Ce_2Hf_2O_7}$, and dipole-octupole pyrochlore magnets more broadly, as promising platforms for exotic KSLs beyond conventional spin ice.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Study of the symmetry of electronic system of the Weyl semimetal GdBiPt using rotational anisotropy of second harmonic generation

The half-Heusler compound GdBiPt orders antiferromagnetically around $T_\mathrm{N}=8.5$ K which implies breaking the time reversal symmetry as well as the translational symmetry. This combination preserves the global symmetry. Here, we used rotational anisotropy of second harmonic generation (SHG) to study the symmetry changes associated with this phase transition. GdBiPt crystallizes in the space group $F\overline{4}3m$, which does not change through the phase transition. From powder neutron diffraction, the proposed magnetic point group for the magnetic unit cell is $3m$. We carried out a symmetry analysis of the SHG patterns. Above \tn, the SHG data shows a $C_2$ symmetry which excludes the point group $\overline{4}3m$, as well as the $3m$ point group which represents a $[1 1 1]$ facet of the sample. Thus, we considered the point groups $2$ and $m$, but we have to reject the first one as the associated tensor elements poorly represent the angular dependence SHG. Finally, a superposition consisting of the point groups $3m$ and $m$ fit the data correctly. Below \tn, we had to add a third contribution associated with magnetic points group $m'$ in order to properly describe the SHG signal. The SHG intensity is linearly proportional to the antiferromagnetic order parameter. This allows us to determine $T_\mathrm{N}=9.61\pm0.48$ K and a critical exponent $β=0.346\pm0.017$, which are in agreement with the values found in the literature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

The magnetic structure of Ce$_3$TiBi$_5$ and its relation to current-induced magnetization

The control of magnetization using electric fields has been extensively studied in magnetoelectric multiferroic insulator materials. Changes in magnetization in bulk metals caused by electric currents have attracted less attention. The recently discovered metallic magnet Ce$_3$TiBi$_5$ has been reported to exhibit current-induced magnetization. Here we determined the magnetic structure of Ce$_3$TiBi$_5$ using neutron diffraction, aiming to understand the microscopic origin of this magnetoelectric phenomenon in a metal. We established that the antiferromagnetic order emerging below $T_N=5$ K is a cycloid order described by $P6_3/mcm.1'(0,0,g)00sss$ with small moment sizes of $0.50(2)~μ_B$ and propagation vector ${\bf k}=(0,0,0.386)$. Surprisingly, the symmetry of this magnetic structure is inconsistent with the presence of current-induced magnetization and potential origins of this inconsistency with previous results are discussed. Additionally, our results suggest that moments order along their hard magnetic direction in Ce$_3$TiBi$_5$, a phenomenon which has been observed in other Kondo systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Possible quantum nematic in a colossal magnetoresistance material

EuB6 has for a long time captured the attention of the physics community, as it shows a ferromagnetic phase transition leading to a insulator the metal transition together with colossal magnetoresistance (CMR). EuB6 has a very low carrier density, which is known to drastically change the interaction between the localized Eu moments and the conduction electrons. One of early triumphs of the quantum theory in condensed matter was the presence of Fermi surface, which is intimately linked to the symmetry of the underlying crystal lattice. This symmetry can be probed by angle resolved magnetoresistance (AMRO) measurements. Here, we present angle resolved magnetoresistance (AMRO) measurements that show a that in EuB6 this symmetry is broken, possibly indicating the presence of a quantum nematic phase. We identify the region in the temperature-magnetic field phase diagram where the magnetoresistance shows two-fold oscillations instead of the expected fourfold pattern. Quantum nematic phases are analogous to classical liquid crystals. Like liquid crystals, which break the rotational symmetry of space, their quantum analogs break the point-group symmetry of the crystal due to strong electron-electron interactions, as in quantum Hall states, Sr3Ru2O7, and high temperature superconductors. This is the same region where magnetic polarons were previously observed, suggesting that they drive the nematicity in EuB6. This is also the region of the phase diagram where EuB6 shows a colossal magnetoresistance (CMR). This novel interplay between magnetic and electronic properties could thus be harnessed for spintronic applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Coexistence of magnetic fluctuations and long-range orders in the one-dimensional $J_1-J_2$ zigzag chains materials BaDy$_2$O$_4$ and BaHo$_2$O$_4$

The compounds BaDy$_2$O$_4$ and BaHo$_2$O$_4$ are part of a family of frustrated systems exhibiting interesting properties, including spin liquid-type ground states, magnetic field-induced phases, and the coexistence of short- and long-range magnetic orders, with dominant one-dimensional correlations, which can be described as Ising $J_1-J_2$ zigzag chains along the $c$-axis. We have investigated polycrystalline samples of BaDy$_2$O$_4$ and BaHo$_2$O$_4$ with both neutron diffraction and neutron spectroscopy, coupled to detailed crystalline electric field calculations. The latter points to site-dependent anisotropic magnetism in both materials, which is corroborated by the magnetic structures we determined. The two systems show the coexistence of two different long-range orders --- two double Néel $\uparrow\uparrow\downarrow\downarrow$ orders in the $ab$-plane with propagation vectors $\mathbf{k}_1$ = ($\frac{1}{2}$,0,$\frac{1}{2}$) and $\mathbf{k}_2$ = ($\frac{1}{2}$,$\frac{1}{2}$,$\frac{1}{2}$) for BaDy$_2$O$_4$, and two distinct arrangements of simple Néel $\uparrow\downarrow\uparrow\downarrow$ orders along the $c$-axis, both with the propagation vector $\mathbf{k}_0$ = (0,0,0) for BaHo$_2$O$_4$. The order for both wave vectors in BaDy$_2$O$_4$ occurs at $T_\mathrm{N}$ = 0.48 K, while in BaHo$_2$O$_4$, the first order sets in at $T_\mathrm{N}\sim$ 1.3 K and the second one has a lower ordering temperature of 0.84 K. Both compounds show extensive diffuse scattering which we successfully modeled with a one-dimensional axial next-nearest neighbor Ising (ANNNI) model. In both materials, strong diffusive scattering persists to temperatures well below where the magnetic order is fully saturated. The ANNNI model fits indicate the presence of sites which do not order with moments in the $ab$-plane.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Switching of magnetic domains reveals evidence for spatially inhomogeneous superconductivity

The interplay of magnetic and charge fluctuations can lead to quantum phases with exceptional electronic properties. A case in point is magnetically-driven superconductivity, where magnetic correlations fundamentally affect the underlying symmetry and generate new physical properties. The superconducting wave-function in most known magnetic superconductors does not break translational symmetry. However, it has been predicted that modulated triplet p-wave superconductivity occurs in singlet d-wave superconductors with spin-density wave (SDW) order. Here we report evidence for the presence of a spatially inhomogeneous p-wave Cooper pair-density wave (PDW) in CeCoIn5. We show that the SDW domains can be switched completely by a tiny change of the magnetic field direction, which is naturally explained by the presence of triplet superconductivity. Further, the Q-phase emerges in a common magneto-superconducting quantum critical point. The Q-phase of CeCoIn5 thus represents an example where spatially modulated superconductivity is associated with SDW order.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

On the dc Magnetization, Spontaneous Vortex State and Specific Heat in the superconducting state of the weakly ferromagnetic superconductor RuSr$_{2}$GdCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$

Magnetic-field changes $<$ 0.2 Oe over the scan length in magnetometers that necessitate sample movement are enough to create artifacts in the dc magnetization measurements of the weakly ferromagnetic superconductor RuSr$_{2}$GdCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$ (Ru1212) below the superconducting transition temperature $T_{c} \approx$ 30 K. The observed features depend on the specific magnetic-field profile in the sample chamber and this explains the variety of reported behaviors for this compound below $T_{c}$. An experimental procedure that combines improvement of the magnetic-field homogeneity with very small scan lengths and leads to artifact-free measurements similar to those on a stationary sample has been developed. This procedure was used to measure the mass magnetization of Ru1212 as a function of the applied magnetic field H (-20 Oe $\le$ H $\le$ 20 Oe) at $T < T_{c}$ and discuss, in conjunction with resistance and ac susceptibility measurements, the possibility of a spontaneous vortex state (SVS) for this compound. Although the existence of a SVS can not be excluded, an alternative interpretation of the results based on the granular nature of the investigated sample is also possible. Specific-heat measurements of Sr$_{2}$GdRuO$_{6}$ (Sr2116), the precursor for the preparation of Ru1212 and thus a possible impurity phase, show that it is unlikely that Sr2116 is responsible for the specific-heat features observed for Ru1212 at $T_{c}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗