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Andrew F. May

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew F. May.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Observation geometry for uncertainty-aware Hamiltonian inference and experimental design in quantum magnets

Determining microscopic interactions from spectroscopic and scattering measurements is central to understanding quantum materials, yet it often remains unclear which interactions can be reliably revealed by the available experimental data and how additional experimental modalities should be designed to resolve the remaining ambiguities. Here we present an artificial intelligence-enabled framework for uncertainty-aware Hamiltonian inference and adaptive experimental design. By combining Hamiltonian-conditioned neural surrogates with Bayesian inference and observation geometry, the framework characterizes how measurements constrain Hamiltonian parameter space, quantifies the identifiability of microscopic interactions, and propagates posterior uncertainty directly in the physical Hamiltonian parameter space rather than an abstract learned representation. Using multimodal powder and single-crystal inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the quantum magnet NiPS$_{3}$, we demonstrate physically interpretable Hamiltonian inference, modality-aware uncertainty quantification, and adaptive experimental design. The framework provides a general strategy for uncertainty-aware microscopic characterization and multimodal experimental design across quantum materials.

cond-mat.str-el

Nonresonant optomechanical control of structural phases

Optical tweezers demonstrate how light can exert forces to trap, repel, and manipulate microscopic particles without absorption. Recent theory has suggested that such forces can extend beyond particle manipulation to drive structural phase transitions in solids. Here we apply this optomechanical principle to tin selenide (SnSe), a material where proximity to several different structural phases gives rise to its high thermoelectric figure of merit and makes it a candidate for a switchable topological crystalline insulator. Whereas the force for standard optical tweezers arises from a gradient in the intensity of a light field, the optomechanical force is mediated by a gradient in the dielectric constant as a function of phonon coordinate. Unlike conventional methods that rely on resonant excitation and absorption through the imaginary part of the dielectric function, this approach operates dispersively through the real part and can be directly driven by Raman processes, enabling selective transitions with reduced energy cost and ultrafast response. Using time-domain Raman scattering, we show that above a critical mid-infrared field strength the $A_g$ Raman modes disappear abruptly without softening, signaling the formation of a new structural phase. This phase, distinct from those induced by heating or carrier excitation, exhibits large-amplitude and long-lived modulations in its optical response. Complementing this observation, we show also evidence for an equivalent DC-field-driven structural phase transformation to a higher symmetry phase, as observed by atom probe tomography. Our study demonstrates the concept of nonresonant optomechanical phase control and defines novel opportunities for synthesizing hidden structural phases with unique functional properties.

physics.optics

Frustration induced dimensional reduction and coexistence of long and short-range magnetic order in NdCl$_{3}$

The phenomenon of frustration greatly enriches the accessible physics of quantum magnets. With this in mind we study the magnetism of NdCl$_{3}$ using a combination of bulk properties measurements and neutron scattering techniques. The low-temperature heat capacity reveals two magnetic transitions at $T_{N1}$ = 270 mK and $T_{N2}$ = 180 mK. However, much of the magnetic entropy is released above $T_{N1}$, manifesting as a broad peak centered at $T^{*} \approx$ 450 mK. Single crystal elastic neutron scattering reveals highly anisotropic magnetic diffuse scattering above $T_{N2}$, confirming that quasi-one-dimensional, short-range, antiferromagnetic order is the origin of the broad peak in the heat capacity. Magnetic Bragg peaks characterized by a $\vec{k}$ = ($0$ $0$ $\frac{1}{2}$) propagation vector emerge below $T_{N1}$. Interestingly, the magnetic diffuse scattering persists for $T_{N2} < T < T_{N1}$, indicating a regime of coexisting short and long-range order. The magnetic Bragg peaks exhibit an additional increase in intensity below $T_{N2}$ with no change in $\vec{k}$. Concomitantly, the diffuse scattering disappears indicating the attainment of full long-range order. While the precise nature of the ordered magnetic ground state remains unresolved, the observed magnetic scattering indicates predominate $c$-axis moments with a small $ab$-plane component. We propose that the quasi-one-dimensional behavior and the coexistence of short and long-range order are driven by frustration of anisotropic exchange interactions.

cond-mat.str-el

Anisotropic magnetism and Kondo-lattice behavior in the frustrated antiferromagnet Ce3MgBi5

We report the synthesis and physical characterization of single-crystalline Ce3MgBi5, a previously unexplored member of the Ce3MPn5 family. This compound crystallizes in the hexagonal P63/mcm structure, featuring an anisotropic Ce sublattice composed of zig-zag chains along the c axis and a distorted kagome-like network in the basal plane. Magnetization measurements reveal antiferromagnetic order below TN approximately 4.2 K, accompanied by strong magnetic anisotropy and multiple field-induced metamagnetic transitions for fields applied perpendicular to [001], leading to a dome-shaped H-T phase diagram. Electrical transport exhibits characteristic signatures of a Ce-based Kondo lattice, including broad resistivity maxima and pronounced field-dependent anomalies in the magnetoresistance and Hall response that track the magnetic phase boundaries. Specific-heat measurements confirm the magnetic transition and show that the full R ln 2 entropy expected for a Ce3+ Kramers doublet is recovered by 20 K, indicating an extended temperature range of magnetic fluctuations consistent with Kondo correlations. Our results establish Ce3MgBi5 as a platform within the Ce3MPn5 family for exploring the interplay of geometric frustration, magnetic anisotropy, and Kondo-lattice physics under applied magnetic fields.

cond-mat.str-el

Magnetism of single crystalline breathing pyrochlore spinel AgInCr4S8

Single crystals of \ce{AgInCr4S8} were grown by chemical vapor transport and crystallographic ordering of Ag/In that results in a breathing pyrochlore motif of Cr$^{3+}$ was verified by x-ray and neutron diffraction. Long-range antiferromagnetic order is observed below a N\'eel temperature of $T_{\mathrm N}$ $\approx$ 9.6 K. The magnetic properties are characterized using ac and dc magnetization, specific heat capacity, and single crystal neutron diffraction measurements. The specific heat data are characterized by a small lambda anomaly near 9.5 K and the estimated magnetic entropy reaches $\approx$ $\frac{1}{3}$ of the expected value by 3$T_{\mathrm N}$, suggesting significant short-range order in the paramagnetic phase. Single crystal neutron diffraction evidences an incommensurate spin structure with propagation vector $\textbf{\textit{k}}$ = (0,0,$\delta$) and $\delta$ = 0.343 at 5 K. The minimal model that accounts for the data consists of ferromagnetic layers of Cr atoms, with magnetic moments lying in the plane of the layers and modulating in the perpendicular direction to form a helical structure propagating along $\textbf{\textit{k}}$. This study represents a rare investigation of single crystals within the family of breathing pyrochlore materials.

cond-mat.str-el

Dichotomy of flat bands in the van der Waals ferromagnet Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$

Quantum materials with bands of narrow bandwidth near the Fermi level represent a promising platform for exploring a diverse range of fascinating physical phenomena, as the high density of states within the small energy window often enables the emergence of many-body physics. On one hand, flat bands can arise from strong Coulomb interactions that localize atomic orbitals. On the other hand, quantum destructive interference can quench the electronic kinetic energy. Although both have a narrow bandwidth, the two types of flat bands should exhibit very distinct spectral properties arising from their distinctive origins. So far, the two types of flat bands have only been realized in very different material settings and chemical environments, preventing a direct comparison. Here, we report the observation of the two types of flat bands within the same material system--an above-room-temperature van der Waals ferromagnet, Fe$_{5-x}$GeTe$_2$, distinguishable by a switchable iron site order. The contrasting nature of the flat bands is also identified by the remarkably distinctive temperature-evolution of the spectral features, indicating that one arises from electron correlations in the Fe(1) site-disordered phase, while the other geometrical frustration in the Fe(1) site-ordered phase. Our results therefore provide a direct juxtaposition of the distinct formation mechanism of flat bands in quantum materials, and an avenue for understanding the distinctive roles flat bands play in the presence of magnetism, topology, and lattice geometrical frustration, utilizing sublattice ordering as a key control parameter.

cond-mat.str-el

Quantum Imaging of Ferromagnetic van der Waals Magnetic Domain Structures at Ambient Conditions

Recently discovered 2D van der Waals magnetic materials, and specifically Iron-Germanium-Telluride ($\rm Fe_{5}GeTe_{2}$), have attracted significant attention both from a fundamental perspective and for potential applications. Key open questions concern their domain structure and magnetic phase transition temperature as a function of sample thickness and external field, as well as implications for integration into devices such as magnetic memories and logic. Here we address key questions using a nitrogen-vacancy center based quantum magnetic microscope, enabling direct imaging of the magnetization of $\rm Fe_{5}GeTe_{2}$ at sub-micron spatial resolution as a function of temperature, magnetic field, and thickness. We employ spatially resolved measures, including magnetization variance and cross-correlation, and find a significant spread in transition temperature yet with no clear dependence on thickness down to 15 nm. We also identify previously unknown stripe features in the optical as well as magnetic images, which we attribute to modulations of the constituting elements during crystal synthesis and subsequent oxidation. Our results suggest that the magnetic anisotropy in this material does not play a crucial role in their magnetic properties, leading to a magnetic phase transition of $\rm Fe_{5}GeTe_{2}$ which is largely thickness-independent down to 15 nm. Our findings could be significant in designing future spintronic devices, magnetic memories and logic with 2D van der Waals magnetic materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

From weakly interacting spinons to tightly bound triplons in the frustrated quantum spin-Peierls chain

Fractionalized quasiparticles and their confinement into emergent bound states lie at the heart of modern quantum magnetism. While the evolution into magnonic bound states has been well characterized, experimental insight into the analogous transition to triplons remains limited. Here, using high-resolution neutron spectroscopy and state-of-the-art spin dynamics simulations, we uncover the transformation from weakly interacting spinons to tightly bound triplons in the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO3. Quantitative comparisons between the measured spectra and tensor network simulations reveal substantial next-nearest-neighbor frustration and weak external dimerization, placing the system deep within the spontaneously dimerized regime and near the exactly solvable Majumdar-Ghosh point. We further show an energy- and temperature-dependent evolution between two contrasting quasiparticle regimes: deconfined spinons with markedly suppressed interactions by frustration, and coherent triplonic bound states with no observable spinon degrees of freedom. Remarkably, triplon character persists into the two-particle regime, forming a structured two-triplon continuum with a spectral feature associated with a van Hove singularity at its lower boundary. These findings challenge the conventional view that robust triplons require strong external dimerization and demonstrate how the interplay between frustration and dimerization can reshape fractionalization and confinement.

cond-mat.str-el

Anisotropic magnetism of polymorphic ErAl3

ErAl$_3$ can form in either a trigonal ($\alpha$) or cubic ($\beta$) polymorph and this paper investigates the physical properties of these polymorphs through characterizations of single crystals grown in an aluminum flux. We demonstrate that polymorph selection can be achieved based on the nominal composition of the crystal growth. Magnetic measurements confirm that both $\beta$-ErAl$_3$ and $\alpha$-ErAl$_3$ order antiferromagnetically at low temperatures. $\beta$-ErAl$_3$ undergoes AFM ordering at a N\'eel temperature T$_N$ = 5.1 K, and the transition is suppressed continually with applied field. $\alpha$-ErAl$_3$ displays more complex behavior, with successive magnetic transitions at T$_N$ = 5.7 K and T$_2$ = 4.6 K for zero field, where heat capacity and dilatometry measurements evidence that these transitions are second- and first-order, respectively. Under magnetic field, strong anisotropy is revealed in $\alpha$-ErAl$_3$, with several step-like metamagnetic transitions observed below T$_2$ for H$\parallel$c. These transitions produce sequential magnetization plateaus near one-half of the apparent saturation magnetization. The electrical resistivity of $\alpha$-ErAl$_3$ is strongly coupled to its magnetism. At $T$ = 2 K, we observe a positive magnetoresistance reaching 60\%, with distinct anomalies at the metamagnetic transitions. The results are summarized in $H$- $T$ phase diagrams that demonstrate complex magnetic behavior for $\alpha$-ErAl$_3$, suggesting an important role of competing interactions in this metallic system that possesses characteristics of Ising physics.

cond-mat.str-el

Enhanced Neel temperature and unusual thermal expansion in flux-grown FeCrAs crystals

We report results from our experimental investigation of the distorted-kagome compound FeCrAs. For this work, we developed a procedure using tin metal as a flux to produce needlelike crystals. The crystals were characterized by single crystal x-ray diffraction as well as measurements of magnetization, electrical transport, and heat capacity. The physical behaviors are generally similar to published results on crystals grown from a stoichiometric melt with two notable exceptions. The Sommerfeld coefficient is found to be 18 mJ/K2/mol, a little more than half of the previously reported value, and the Neel temperature is found to be 150 K, about 25K higher than in previous reports. The reason for these discrepancies are uncertain, but they may be related to differences in stoichiometry or disorder; it is expected that the Cr/Fe ratio has some variability in this compound. In addition, we find unusual thermal expansion behavior, with an anomaly at the Neel temperature and nearly temperature independent thermal expansion along the hexagonal c-axis above this transition. This suggests significant spin-lattice coupling, which may provide insight into non-metallic transport properties that have been associated with anomalous charge carrier scattering.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Short-range magnetic order and planar anisotropy in the topological ferrimagnet Mn3Si2Te6

Mn3Si2Te6 is a ferrimagnetic topological nodal-line semiconductor that exhibits unconventional colossal magnetoresitance (CMR) behavior, with short-range spin fluctuations being potentially intimately linked to the emergent properties. In this work, we determine the short range magnetic order and quantify the local magnetic anisotropy through total neutron scattering and polarized neutron powder diffraction (pNPD) measurements on polycrystalline Mn3Si2Te6. The real space local and long range spin structure was determined through the application of magnetic pair distribution function (mPDF) analysis, with measurements from the low temperature ordered phase to the high temperature paramagnetic state. Short-range order over a frustrated trimer of three nearest neighbors was found to exist well above the long range ferrimagnetic transition. pNPD measurements in the spin polarized paramagnetic state were used to extract the local site susceptibility tensor of the Mn ions to quantify the magnetic anisotropy. Our combined mPDF and pNPD results provide quantitative information on the short-range order intrinsic to Mn3Si2Te6, showing strong in-plane anisotropy with the spins largely confined to the ab-plane in zero field and remain stable with increasing temperature through the long-range to short-range ordered transition.

cond-mat.str-el

Crystal field splittings and magnetic ground state of the square-lattice antiferromagnets YbBi2ClO4 and YbBi2IO4 with Jeff = 1/2

We report on the crystal field level splitting and magnetic ground state of the Jeff = 1/2 square lattice antiferromagnets YbBi2ClO4 and YbBi2IO4 using powder inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and neutron diffraction measurements. Both compounds exhibit a well-isolated $\Gamma_{7}$ doublet ground state under a tetragonal crystal field environment, confirming a robust Jeff = 1/2 picture with slight XY-type anisotropic character in the g-tensor. Notably, the ground state wave functions closely resemble the $\Gamma_{7}$ doublet expected in the perfect cubic limit, consistent with the nearly cubic ligand configuration of eight O2- ions surrounding Yb3+. Below TN =0.21 K, YbBi2IO4 exhibits a stripe long-range magnetic order characterized by an ordering wave vector qm = (1/2, 0, 0) or its symmetry-equivalent (0, 1/2, 0), with magnetic moments aligned along qm. The ordered moment is approximately 79 % of the classical prediction, significantly larger than expected from the isotropic J1-J2 model, suggesting the possible involvement of exchange anisotropy in explaining this observation. We show that symmetry-allowed XXZ and bond-dependent anisotropic exchange terms in a square lattice can play a critical role in stabilizing the stripe order and suppressing the moment reduction as observed. These findings establish YbBi2ClO4 and YbBi2IO4 as unique platforms for exploring rich Jeff = 1/2 magnetism from two less investigated perspectives: (i) on a square lattice and (ii) within a (nearly) cubic ligand environment.

cond-mat.str-el

Anomalous continuum scattering and higher-order van Hove singularity in the strongly anisotropic S = 1/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet

The S = 1/2 triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLAF) is a paradigmatic example of frustrated quantum magnetism. An ongoing challenge involves understanding the influence of exchange anisotropy on the collective behavior within such systems. Using inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and advanced calculation techniques, we have studied the low and high-temperature spin dynamics of Ba2La2CoTe2O12 (BLCTO): a Co2+-based Jeff = 1/2 TLAF that exhibits 120° order below TN = 3.26 K. We determined the spin Hamiltonian by fitting the energy-resolved paramagnetic excitations measured at T > TN, revealing exceptionally strong easy-plane XXZ anisotropy. Below TN, the excitation spectrum exhibits a high energy continuum having a larger spectral weight than the single-magnon modes, suggesting a scenario characterized by a spinon confinement length that markedly exceeds the lattice spacing. We conjecture that this phenomenon arises from the proximity to a quantum melting point, even under strong easy-plane XXZ anisotropy. Finally, we highlight characteristic flat features in the excitation spectrum, which are connected to higher-order van Hove singularities in the magnon dispersion directly induced by easy-plane XXZ anisotropy. Our results provide a rare experimental insight into the nature of highly anisotropic S = 1/2 TLAFs between the Heisenberg and XY limits.

cond-mat.str-el

Quantum and classical spin dynamics across temperature scales in the S = 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet

Using the framework of semi-classical Landau-Lifshitz dynamics (LLD), we conduct a systematic investigation of the temperature-dependent spin dynamics in the S = 1/2 Heisenberg square-lattice antiferromagnet (SqAF). By performing inelastic neutron scattering measurements on Zn2VO(PO4)2 (ZVPO) and corresponding finite-temperature spin dynamics simulations based on LLD, we present a comprehensive analysis that bridges quantum and classical spin dynamics over a broad temperature range. First, a remarkable agreement between experimental data and LLD simulations is found in the paramagnetic phase of ZVPO, demonstrating the capability of LLD in accurately determining the spin Hamiltonian of S = 1/2 systems and capturing the quantum-to-classical crossover of their spin dynamics. Second, by analyzing the discrepancies between the experimental data and the LLD simulations at lower temperatures, we determine the experimental temperature dependence of the quantum effects in the excitation spectrum of the S = 1/2 SqAF: the quantum renormalization factor for the magnon energies and the quantum continuum above the one-magnon bands. Notably, the emergence of each quantum effect is found to correlate with the formation of three-dimensional long-range order. This work demonstrates the utility of LLD in gaining experimental insights into the temperature-induced modifications of quantum spin dynamics and their convergence towards classical expectations at higher temperatures. This motivates further applications to more challenging quantum antiferromagnets dominated by stronger quantum fluctuations.

cond-mat.str-el

MnRhBi3: A Cleavable Antiferromagnetic Metal

Cleavable metallic antiferromagnets may be of use for low-dissipation spintronic devices; however, few are currently known. Here we present orthorhombic MnRhBi3 as one such compound and present a thorough study of its physical properties. Exfoliation is demonstrated experimentally, and the cleavage energy and electronic structure are examined by density functional theory calculations. It is concluded that MnRhBi3 is a van der Waals layered material that cleaves easily between neighboring Bi layers, and that the Bi atoms have lone pairs extending into the van der Waals gaps. A series of four phase transitions are observed below room temperature, and neutron diffraction shows that at least two of the transitions involve the formation of antiferromagnetic order. Anomalous thermal expansion points to a crystallographic phase transition and/or strong magnetoelastic coupling. This work reveals a complex phase evolution in MnRhBi3 and establishes this cleavable antiferromagnetic metal as an interesting material for studying the interplay of structure, magnetism, and transport in the bulk and ultrathin limits as well as the role of lone pair electrons in interface chemistry and proximity effects in van der Waals heterostructures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Spin Dynamics of the Centrosymmetric Skyrmion Material GdRu2Si2

Magnetic skyrmion crystals are traditionally associated with non-centrosymmetric crystal structures; however, it has been demonstrated that skyrmion crystals can be stabilized by competing interactions in centrosymmetric crystals. To understand and optimize the physical responses associated with topologically-nontrivial skyrmion textures, it is important to quantify their magnetic interactions by comparing theoretical predictions with spectroscopic data. Here, we present neutron diffraction and spectroscopy data on the centrosymmetric skyrmion material GdRu$_2$Si$_2$, and show that the key spectroscopic features can be explained by the magnetic interactions calculated using density-functional theory calculations. We further show that the recently-proposed 2-$\mathbf{q}$ "topological spin stripe" structure yields better agreement with our data than a 1-$\mathbf{q}$ helical structure, and identify how the magnetic structure evolves with temperature.

cond-mat.str-el

Codimension-Two Spiral Spin-Liquid in the Effective Honeycomb-Lattice Compound Cs$_3$Fe$_2$Cl$_9$

A codimension-two spiral spin-liquid is a correlated paramagnetic state with one-dimensional ground state degeneracy hosted within a three-dimensional lattice. Here, via neutron scattering experiments and numerical simulations, we establish the existence of a codimension-two spiral spin-liquid in the effective honeycomb-lattice compound Cs$_3$Fe$_2$Cl$_9$, which demonstrates a novel path to spiral spin-liquids by overcoming the long-standing impediment of weak further-neighbor interactions. In the long-range ordered regime, competing spiral and spin density wave orders emerge as a function of applied magnetic field, among which a possible order-by-disorder transition is identified.

cond-mat.str-el

Intricate magnetic landscape in antiferromagnetic kagome metal TbTi$_3$Bi$_4$ and interplay with Ln$_{2-x}$Ti$_{6+x}$Bi$_9$ (Ln: Tb-Lu) shurikagome metals

Here we present the discovery and characterization of the kagome metal TbTi$_3$Bi$_4$ in tandem with a new series of compounds, the Ln$_{2-x}$Ti$_{6+x}$Bi$_9$ (Ln: Tb-Lu) shurikagome metals. We previously reported on the growth of the LnTi$_3$Bi$_4$ (Ln: La-Gd$^{3+}$, Eu$^{2+}$, Yb$^{2+}$) family, a chemically diverse and exfoliable series of kagome metals with complex and highly anisotropic magnetism. However, unlike the La-Gd analogs, TbTi$_3$Bi$_4$ cannot be synthesized by our previous methodology due to phase competition with Ln$_{2-x}$Ti$_{6+x}$Bi$_9$ (x$\sim$1.7-1.2). Here we discuss the phase competition between the LnTi$_3$Bi$_4$ and Ln$_{2-x}$Ti$_{6+x}$Bi$_9$ families, helping to frame the difficulty in synthesizing LnTi$_3$Bi$_4$ compounds with small Ln species and providing a strategy to circumvent formation of Ln$_{2-x}$Ti$_{6+x}$Bi$_9$. Detailed characterization of the magnetic and electronic transport properties on single crystals of TbTi$_3$Bi$_4$ reveals a highly complex landscape of magnetic phases arising from an antiferromagnetic ground state. A series of metamagnetic transitions creates at least 5 unique magnetic phase pockets, including a 1/3 and 2/3 magnetization plateau. Further, the system exhibits an intimate connection between the magnetism and magnetotransport, exhibiting sharp switching from positive (+40%) to negative magnetoresistance (-50%). Like the LnTi$_3$Bi$_4$ kagome metals, the Ln$_{2-x}$Ti$_{6+x}$Bi$_9$ family exhibits quasi-2D networks of titanium and chains of rare-earth. We present the structures and some basic magnetic properties of the Ln$_{2-x}$Ti$_{6+x}$Bi$_9$ family alongside our characterization of the newly discovered TbTi$_3$Bi$_4$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci