arXiv subjects

Ashok Kumar Ganguli

Publications and source records attributed to Ashok Kumar Ganguli.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Disorder-driven competing magnetic interactions and glassy magnetic behavior in quaternary Heusler alloy FeRuMnGe

In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we investigate the role of disorder in governing the magnetic ground state of the quaternary Heusler alloy FeRuMnGe. In the FeRuMnZ (Z = Ga, Si) series, chemical substitution modifies atomic ordering and electronic structure, resulting in distinct magnetic ground states. Motivated by this, we extend the series to FeRuMnGe. X-ray diffraction reveals B2-type antisite disorder, where Fe--Ru and Mn--Ge intermix. Theoretical calculations show that such disorder modifies exchange interactions, leading to competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic couplings, and drives the system from half-metallic to metallic. Magnetic measurements reveal competing interactions, giving rise to a cluster-glass state coexisting with long-range magnetic order. The absence of a thermodynamic signature at $T_f$, together with ac susceptibility and relaxation measurements, supports the presence of short-range magnetic interactions and a glassy magnetic state. The compound exhibits an enhanced magnetic response below $\sim 161$ K and a maximum magnetization of $\sim 1.64~\mu_B$/f.u. at 5 T. Overall, this work establishes a direct correlation between antisite disorder, competing exchange interactions, and glassy magnetism in quaternary Heusler alloys. Combined experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that disorder drives the system from an AFM-dominated state in FeRuMnSi to an FM-dominated state in FeRuMnGe, providing deeper insight into the role of the extent of disorder in governing the magnetic properties of QHAs.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Crystal Growth and anisotropic magneto-transport properties of semimetallic LaNiSb3

Single crystals of LaNiSb$_3$ were grown using the Sn flux method. Structural characterization confirms that LaNiSb$_3$ crystallizes in the orthorhombic $Pbcm$ space group with lattice parameters $a = 13.0970(2)\,\mathrm{\AA}$, $b = 6.1400(4)\,\mathrm{\AA}$, and $c = 12.1270(4)\,\mathrm{\AA}$. Electrical resistivity measurements demonstrate metallic behavior over the entire temperature range of 3--300~K. The magnetoresistance exhibits a positive anisotropic response, attaining a maximum of $\sim 8\%$ for $H \parallel b$, with a pronounced crossover from quadratic to nearly linear field dependence. Angular-dependent MR measurements reveal a pronounced twofold symmetry upon magnetic field rotation within both the $ab$ and $ac$ crystallographic planes up to 50~K, indicating anisotropic charge transport. Hall resistivity measurements show predominantly electron-type conduction at high temperatures, with an increasing hole contribution upon cooling. The multiband character is further corroborated by the violation of Kohler's scaling and is well described within a semiclassical two-band framework. Collectively, these results suggest that LaNiSb$_3$ exhibits anisotropic multiband electronic transport and is a compelling candidate for exploring structure--property correlations in topological semimetals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Frustrated magnetism in antiferromagnetic nonsymmorphic square-net lattice: NdSbSe

Spintronics has emerged as a field of vast applicability, and layered magnetic materials have served as a ground for advancement in this direction. Here, we report the synthesis and detailed magnetic and specific heat studies on NdSbSe, (a ZrSiS-based structure) magnetic topological material. The temperature-dependent magnetization shows the presence of competing magnetic interactions ($T_N<T<150$ K) in addition to a long-range antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering below 4.2~K. In the AFM state, the isothermal magnetization confirms spin reorientation to the critical magnetic field of 40 kOe. Frequency-dependent ac-susceptibility measurements have probed the nonequilibrium dynamics of frustrated magnetic moments (near 150 K). The $λ$-like peak at 3.8~K observed in the specific heat shifts to a lower temperature with applied magnetic fields and validates the AFM order. In addition, the specific heat does not exhibit any sign corresponding to the short-range magnetic order near 150 K (spin-glass-like memory effect). In addition, the derived parameters from specific heat suggest the presence of a strong electronic correlation in NdSbSe, resulting in a Kondo-like signature in temperature-dependent resistivity data.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Antiferromagnetic weak topological state in Bismuth square-net based nonsymmorphic lattice

The ZrSiS-class of layered materials offer interesting topological and magnetic characteristics suitable for spintronics applications. In this work, we have synthesized a polycrystalline NdBiTe using solid-state reaction technique and have examined the magnetic properties in 2 - 300 K temperature range using temperature and field-dependent magnetization measurements. Our magnetic and specific heat data demonstrates a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering in the material below 4.5 K. Furthermore, our isothermal magnetization data show a signature of spin-reorientation below Neel temperature. The observed nonlinearity in inverse susceptibility vs temperature data, and a hump in specific heat in 5-20 K range, indicate the existence of crystal field splitting in the material. Our transport properties measurements show the metallic behavior with positive magnetoresistance in the temperature range of 2 - 300 K. The observed rise in resistivity as function of temperature below Neel temperature infers the strongly correlated fermions, which is consistent with the observed large Sommerfeld coefficient. Consistent with experimental results, our first-principles calculations predict an antiferromagnetic semimetallic nature of NdBiTe. Further, our spin-orbit coupled simulations of electronic structure show a signature of weak topological nature of the material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Investigation of magnetic and transport properties of GdSbSe

We report the detailed investigation of the magnetic, transport, and magnetocaloric effects of GdSbSe by magnetic susceptibility $χ(T)$, isothermal magnetization $M(H)$, resistivity $ρ(T, H)$, and heat capacity $C_p(T)$ measurements, crystallizing in the ZrSiS-type tetragonal crystal system with space group $P4/nmm$. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed long-range antiferromagnetic ordering with two additional magnetic anomalies below Néel temperature ($T_N$ $\approx$ 8.6 K), corroborated through magnetocaloric and specific heat studies. Isothermal magnetization measurements unveil hidden metamagnetic signatures through a clear deviation from linearity. In addition, the enhanced value of the Sommerfeld coefficient ($γ$ = 152(5) mJ/ mol K$^2$) suggests strong electronic correlations in GdSbSe. The entropy of magnetization derived from magnetic isotherms unfolds the field-induced transition from Inverse magnetocaloric Effect (IMCE) to Conventional MCE. The detailed transport properties indicate a semimetallic behavior, strongly coupled with magnetic order. Deviations from Kohler's rule and non-linear Hall resistivity anticipate the possibility of Dirac-like dispersion with non-trivial characteristics.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Weak anti-localization and spin-momentum locking in topological insulator Ta$_2$Ni$_3$Te$_5$

We report the synthesis, structural characterization, and investigation of electrical transport, magnetic and specific heat properties of bulk semiconducting layered material Ta$_2$Ni$_3$Te$_5$. Ta$_2$Ni$_3$Te$_5$ crystallizes in the centrosymmetric orthorhombic structure with space group Pnma. Temperature-dependent resistivity shows a transition from semiconducting to metallic nature below 7 K. Low-temperature magnetotransport studies show large magnetoresistance with the signature of weak anti-localization (WAL) effect. The magnetoconductivity data has been used to explore the origin of the WAL effect, extract relevant parameters, and study their variation with temperature. The presence of significant electron-phonon interaction is evident from the MR vs. B/R plot (Kohler's plot). Isothermal field-dependent magnetization studies show Berry paramagnetism as the signature for spin-orbit coupling-induced spin-momentum locking. Observation of WAL effect and spin-momentum locking phenomenon demonstrate Ta$_2$Ni$_3$Te$_5$ as a promising low dimensional material for quantum spin Hall insulator-based applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Experimental and first-principles studies of superconductivity in topological nodal line semimetal SnTaS$_2$

We report a detailed study of superconductivity in polycrystalline SnTaS$_2$ using electrical transport, magnetization and heat capacity measurements. SnTaS$_2$ crystallizes in centrosymmetric hexagonal structure with space group $P6_3/mmc$. Electrical resistivity, magnetization and specific heat data suggest SnTaS$_2$ to be a weakly coupled, type-II superconductor with $T_c \approx$ 2.8 K. First-principles calculations show signature for nodal line topology in the electronic band structure, protected by the spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries, that strongly gapped out by the inclusion of spin-orbit coupling (SOC). Superconductivity in layered SnTaS$_2$ with nodal line topological state makes it a strong candidate to be considered for a 3D topological superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Superconductivity in Se-doped new materials EuSr2Bi2S4F4 and Eu2SrBi2S4F4

From our powder x ray diffraction pattern, electrical transport and magnetic studies we report the effect of isovalent Se substitution at S sites in the newly discovered systems EuSr2Bi2S4F4 and Eu2SrBi2S4F4. We have synthesized two new variants of 3244 type superconductor with Eu replaced by Sr which is reported elsewhere [Z. Haque et. al.]. We observe superconductivity at Tc 2.9 K (resistivity) and 2.3 K (susceptibility) in EuSr2Bi2S4-xSexF4 series for x = 2. In the other series Eu2SrBi2S4-xSexF4, two materials (x= 1.5; Tc = 2.6 K and x = 2; Tc = 2.75 K) exhibit superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Unusual mixed valence of Eu in two new materials EuSr2Bi2S4F4 and Eu2SrBi2S4F4: Mössbauer and X-ray photoemission Spectroscopy investigations

We have synthesized two new Eu-based compounds, EuSr2Bi2S4F4 and Eu2SrBi2S4F4 which are derivatives of Eu3Bi2S4F4, an intrinsic superconductor with Tc = 1.5 K. They belong to a tetragonal structure (SG: I4/mmm, Z = 2), similar to the parent compound Eu3Bi2S4F4. Our structural and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy studies show that in EuSr2Bi2S4F4, Eu-atoms exclusively occupy the crystallographic 2a-sites. In Eu2SrBi2S4F4, 2a-sites are fully occupied by Eu-atoms and the other half of Eu-atoms and Sr-atoms together fully occupy 4e-sites in a statistical distribution. In both compounds Eu atoms occupying the crystallographic 2a-sites are in a homogeneous mixed valent state ~ 2.6 - 2.7. From our magnetization studies in an applied H = 9 Tesla, we infer that the valence of Eu-atoms in Eu2SrBi2S4F4 at the 2a-sites exhibits a shift towards 2+. Our XPS studies corroborate the occurrence of valence fluctuations of Eu and after Ar-ion sputtering show evidence of enhanced population of Eu2+-states. Resistivity measurements, down to 2 K suggest a semi-metallic nature for both compounds.

cond-mat.supr-con↗