arXiv subjects

Atsushi Tsukazaki

Publications and source records attributed to Atsushi Tsukazaki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Terahertz anomalous Hall effect in magnetic Weyl semimetal Co$_3$Sn$_2$S$_2$

Time-reversal-symmetry-broken Weyl semimetals are known to have at least two nodes in their electronic band structure, separated in momentum space and acting as sources and sinks of Berry curvature. This gives rise to a transverse Hall conductivity, known as the anomalous Hall effect (AHE), which, in the simplest two-node picture, is proportional to the momentum-space separation between the nodes in the zero frequency limit. In the recently discovered Weyl semimetal $\mathrm{Co_3Sn_2S_2}$, a giant AHE has been observed. However, experimental investigations in the low-energy regime, which directly probe quasiparticle excitations near the Weyl nodes, remain limited. Here, we present a systematic study of the intrinsic low-energy gyrotropic optical response of $\mathrm{Co_3Sn_2S_2}$ using terahertz spectroscopy combined with semianalytical calculations based on a physically intuitive effective model. Our results provide a robust and transparent explanation of the observed magnetooptical phenomena in terms of intrinsic gyrotropy arising from momentum-space separation of the Weyl nodes. Furthermore, quantitative comparison between experiment and theory places stringent constraints on the material parameters.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Bridging ambient- and high-pressure superconductivity in La$_2$LnNi$_2$O$_7$ films

The discovery of high critical-temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ superconductivity near 80 K in bilayer nickelates under high pressure has sparked extensive studies. While superconductivity exceeding 40 K was subsequently discovered at ambient pressure in compressively strained films, the relationship between ambient- and high-pressure regimes remains an open question. Here we present a systematic investigation of superconductivity in compressively strained La$_2$LnNi$_2$O$_7$ films (Ln = lanthanides) at ambient and high pressures. The normal-state resistivity at ambient pressure, revealed by suppressing superconductivity with magnetic fields of 59 T, tends toward $T^2$ behaviour. Under high pressure in a cubic-anvil cell, $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ was enhanced from 41-42 K at ambient pressure to 67-73 K at 16 GPa. On the other hand, lattice compression induced by Ln substitution, which may mimic effects of pressure, lowers $T_{\mathrm{c}}$. In both cases, $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ correlates with the evolution of normal-state transport between $T^2$ and $T$-linear behaviour, offering insight into the interplay between lattice structure and superconductivity in bilayer nickelates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Amorphous Fe-Sn nanofilms for anomalous-Nernst heat-flux sensing

Amorphous magnetic films are promising for anomalous-Nernst heat-flux sensing because their low thermal conductivity can enhance the temperature gradient generated by an applied heat flux. However, amorphization often degrades electronic transport and thermoelectric properties, making it challenging to obtain a large anomalous Nernst response in structurally disordered films. Here, we demonstrate nanometer-thick amorphous Fe-Sn films as high-sensitivity anomalous-Nernst heat-flux sensing materials. By systematically controlling composition and thickness, we find that amorphous Fe-Sn nanofilms combine a large anomalous Nernst response with low thermal conductivity, resulting in a heat-flux sensitivity of 0.37 um/A. This value exceeds the sensitivities reported for both amorphous magnetic thin films and representative crystalline topological magnets. X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy show that the optimized films lack long-range crystallinity while retaining local Fe-Sn environments, suggesting that short-range atomic order contributes to the anomalous Nernst response in the amorphous matrix. The sensitivity is also reproduced on flexible polymer substrates, indicating compatibility with mechanically compliant device architectures. These results establish amorphous Fe-Sn nanofilms as a platform for anomalous-Nernst heat-flux sensing and provide a materials design route based on local-structure control and thermal-conductivity reduction.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Pressure-induced superconductivity in epitaxially-stabilized Pr$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ films

The discovery of high critical-temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ superconductivity in La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ under high pressure has led to a rapid expansion of the $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ range through lanthanide $Ln$ substitution, and to ambient-pressure superconductivity in strained thin films, yet the exploration of new bilayer nickelates remains strongly constrained by thermodynamic stability. Beyond the difficulty of synthesis of bulk single-crystals, here we report on the pressure-induced high-$T_{\mathrm{c}}$ superconductivity in epitaxially-stabilized Pr$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ thin films. While the Pr$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ films exhibit insulating behaviour at ambient pressure regardless of ozone-annealing treatment, they show $T$-linear metallic transport and superconductivity reaching an onset $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ of 66 K and zero-resistance at nearly 40 K at 22 GPa. Furthermore, Nd$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$, with the smaller rare-earth ion Nd, can also be stabilized, however, superconductivity is not observed in the measured pressure range. Epitaxial stabilization enables us to examine the dependence of $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ and the critical pressure $P_{\mathrm{c}}$ for superconductivity on the $Ln$ ion in $Ln_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ ($Ln$ = La, Pr, Nd). These results suggest that a higher $P_{\mathrm{c}}$ is required for smaller $Ln$ ions, consistent with trends observed in bulk studies of $Ln$ substitution. This study demonstrates that epitaxial stabilization is a powerful technique to further expand the family of superconducting bilayer nickelates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

${H}$-linear magnetoresistance in the ${T^2}$ resistivity regime of overdoped infinite-layer nickelate La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$NiO$_2$

We report a systematic magnetotransport study on high-crystallinity La$_{1-x}$Sr$_{x}$NiO$_2$ (LSNO) thin films with $x=0.20-0.24$. By conducting pulsed-field transport experiment up to 62 T, we reveal two salient features of the normal-state transport in overdoped LSNO thin films: (1) the magnetoresistance does not follow the Kohler's rule but exhibits a $H$-linear behavior in the high $H/T$ limit and (2) the normal-state $ρ(T)$ below 30 K consistently follows a $T^2$ behavior across the overdoped regime. Our results demonstrate a coexistence of $H$-linear magnetoresistance and $T^2$ resistivity in a model unconventional superconductor and provide new information on the transport characteristics of the normal ground state that host superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Two-dimensional superconducting diode effect in topological insulator/superconductor heterostructure

The superconducting diode effect (SDE) is characterized by the nonreciprocity of Cooper-pair motion with respect to current direction. In three-dimensional (3D) materials, SDE results in a critical current that varies with direction, making the effect distinctly observable: the material exhibits superconductivity in one direction while behaving as a resistive metal in the opposite direction. However, in genuinely two-dimensional (2D) materials, the critical current density is theoretically zero, leaving the manifestation of SDE in the 2D limit an intriguing challenge. Here, we present the observation of SDE in a heterostructure composed of the topological insulator Bi$_2$Te$_3$ and the iron based superconductor Fe(Se,Te) $-$a candidate for topological superconductor$-$ where superconductivity is confined to the 2D limit. The observed I-V characteristics reveal nonreciprocity in the vortex-creep regime, where finite voltages arise due to the two-dimensional nature of superconductivity. Furthermore, our 2D film demonstrates abrupt voltage jumps, influenced by both the current flow direction and the transverse magnetic field direction. This behavior resembles that of 3D materials but, in this case, is driven by the vortex-flow instability, as illustrated by voltage controlled S-shaped I-V curves. These results underscore the pivotal role of vortex dynamics in SDE and provide new insights into the interplay between symmetry breaking and two-dimensionality in topological insulator/superconductor systems.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Higher-order epitaxy: A pathway to suppressing structural instability and emergent superconductivity

Molecular beam epitaxy enables the growth of thin film materials with novel properties and functionalities. Typically, the lattice constants of films and substrates are designed to match to minimise disorders and strains. However, significant lattice mismatches can result in higher-order epitaxy, where commensurate growth occurs with a period defined by integer multiples of the lattice constants. Despite its potential, higher-order epitaxy is rarely used to enhance material properties or induce emergent phenomena. Here, we report single-crystalline FeTe films grown via 6:5 commensurate higher-order epitaxy on CdTe(001) substrates. Scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals self-organised periodic interstitials near the interface, arising from higher-order lattice matching. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction shows that the tetragonal-to-monoclinic structural transition in bulk FeTe is strongly suppressed. Remarkably, these films exhibit substrate-selective two-dimensional superconductivity, likely due to suppressed monoclinic distortion. These findings demonstrate the potential of higher-order epitaxy as a tool to control materials and inducing emergent phenomena.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Systematic evolution of superconducting pairing strength and Seebeck coefficients in correlated infinite-layer La$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$NiO$_2$

The recently discovered superconducting infinite-layer nickelates offer a novel platform to explore an exotic pairing mechanism in multi-band systems towards high-temperature superconductivity and associated rich quantum phases, contrasting with cuprates. Here, we show that infinite-layer (La,Sr)NiO$_2$ exhibits strong-coupling superconductivity, resilient to in-plane magnetic fields exceeding 47 T at optimal doping - more than twice the Pauli limit for conventional BCS superconductors. This violation becomes pronounced towards the underdoped regime, implying an intriguing evolution of pairing glue. The unexpected observation of positive Seebeck coefficients in this regime indicates the presence of nontrivial electron correlations. Furthermore, our comprehensive investigation across the superconducting dome reveals that the evolution of (thermo)electric normal-state properties - specifically, the sign changes of the Hall and Seebeck coefficients - coincide with the evolution of superconducting anisotropy and pairing strength. This demonstrates a definitive link between electron correlations and strong-coupling superconductivity in (La,Sr)NiO$_2$, contributing to a unified framework for understanding unconventional superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Quantum geometry in low-energy linear and nonlinear optical responses of magnetic Rashba semiconductor (Ge,Mn)Te

Quantum geometry appears as a key factor in understanding the optical properties of quantum materials, with the anticipation on diverging or quantized responses near the Dirac and Weyl points. Here we investigate linear and nonlinear optical responses -- optical conductivity and injection current -- in a magnetic Rashba semiconductor in the mid-infrared region, with varying the Fermi energy across the Dirac point. We reveal that the linear optical conductivity reflects quantum metric, which remains finite irrespective of the diminishing joint density-of-states at lower photon energy. It is also confirmed that the magnetic injection current enhances depending on the energy of the Fermi level relative to the Dirac point. These optical spectra are nicely reproduced by our theoretical calculations with geometrical effects taken into account.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Control of nonreciprocal charge transport in topological insulator/superconductor heterostructures with Fermi level tuning and superconducting-layer thickness

Nonreciprocal charge transport (NCT) is defined as a phenomenon where electrical resistance depends on the current direction. It has been drawing much attention because it sensitively reflects the symmetry breaking of material systems. A topological insulator (TI)/superconductor (SC) heterostructure where the topological surface state (TSS) of the TI layer is proximitized with the SC layer is one such system that presents a sizable NCT due to a large spin-orbit coupling and superconductivity. Here, we report a control of the magnitude and sign of NCT: reversal of the direction of NCT by tuning the Fermi energy of TSS of the TI layer with respect to the charge neutral point by systematic regulation of Sb composition $x$ in a TI/SC heterostructures of (Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$)$_2$Te$_3$/FeSe$_{0.1}$Te$_{0.9}$. The result is consistent with the model of a TSS proximitized with superconductivity. Furthermore, we find a significant enhancement of the magnitude of NCT in the TI/SC heterostructures by reducing the thickness of the SC layer. The enhancement can be ascribed to the inversion-symmetry breaking of the FeSe$_{0.1}$Te$_{0.9}$ SC-layer itself adjacent to the TI layer. Our results highlight the essential role of the TSS for exhibiting NCT and offer new knobs to control the direction and magnitude of NCT.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Strain-tuning for superconductivity in La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$ thin films

The recent discovery of high-transition temperature ($T_\mathrm{c}$) superconductivity in pressurized La$_{3}$Ni$_{2}$O$_{7}$ bulk crystals has attracted keen attention due to its characteristic energy diagram of $e_{g}$ orbitals, containing nearly half-filled $d_{3z^2 - r^2}$ and quarter-filled $d_{x^2 - y^2}$ orbitals. This finding provides valuable insights into the orbital contributions and interlayer interactions in double NiO$_{6}$ octahedra, offering opportunities to control the electronic structure via ligand field variations. Here, we demonstrate strain-tuning of $T_\mathrm{c}$ over a range of 50 K in La$_{3}$Ni$_{2}$O$_{7}$ films grown on different oxide substrates under 20 GPa. As the $c/a$ ratio increases, the onset $T_\mathrm{c}$ systematically rises from 10 K in the tensile-strained film on SrTiO$_{3}$ to a maximum of about 60 K in the compressively strained film on LaAlO$_{3}$. These systematic variations suggest that strain engineering is a promising strategy for expanding superconductivity in bilayer nickelates by tuning the orbital energy landscape toward high-$T_\mathrm{c}$ superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

AC Current-Driven Magnetization Switching and Nonlinear Hall Rectification in a Magnetic Topological Insulator

Spin-orbit torque arising from the spin-orbit-coupled surface states of topological insulators enables current-induced control of magnetization with high efficiency. Here, alternating-current (AC) driven magnetization reversal is demonstrated in a semi-magnetic topological insulator (Cr,Bi,Sb)2Te3/(Bi,Sb)2Te3, facilitated by a low threshold current density of 1.5x10^9 A/m^2. Time-domain Hall voltage measurements using an oscilloscope reveal a strongly nonlinear and nonreciprocal Hall response during the magnetization reversal process. Fourier analysis of the time-varying Hall voltage identifies higher-harmonic signals and a rectified direct-current (DC) component, highlighting the complex interplay among the applied current, external magnetic field, and magnetization dynamics. Furthermore, a hysteretic behavior in the current-voltage characteristics gives rise to frequency mixing under dual-frequency excitation. This effect, distinct from conventional polynomial-based nonlinearities, allows for selective extraction of specific frequency components. The results demonstrate that AC excitation can not only switch magnetization efficiently but also induce tunable nonlinear responses, offering a new pathway for multifunctional spintronic devices with potential applications in energy-efficient memory, signal processing, and frequency conversion.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Light-induced anomalous Hall conductivity in massive 3D Dirac semimetal Co$_3$Sn$_2$S$_2$

Weyl semimetals can emerge from Dirac semimetals when the time-reversal or spatial-inversion symmetries are broken. Recently, it has been proposed based on the Floquet theory that Dirac semimetals can be converted into Weyl semimetals even by shining circularly polarized light (CPL). Here we have investigated the possibility of such a Dirac-Weyl conversion by measuring the CPL-induced anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) in a massive 3D Dirac semimetal Co$_3$Sn$_2$S$_2$ in the paramagnetic phase using ultrafast mid-infrared pump-terahertz Faraday rotation probe spectroscopy. We find that the field-strength and driving frequency dependence of the observed AHC is well accounted for by CPL-induced nonzero Berry curvature associated with the splitting of the Dirac bands as predicted by the Floquet theory. The estimated splitting of the Dirac bands reaches about 60 % of the mass gap and the calculated CPL-induced AHC quantitatively reproduces the experimental observation, demonstrating a promising route toward the realization of Floquet-Weyl states from massive Dirac semimetals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Non-Fermi liquid transport and strong mass enhancement near the nematic quantum critical point in FeSe$_x$Te$_{1-x}$ thin films

Unconventional superconductivity is often accompanied by non-Fermi liquid (NFL) behavior, which emerges near a quantum critical point (QCP) - a point where an electronic ordered phase is terminated at absolute zero under non-thermal parameters. While nematic orders, characterized by broken rotational symmetry, are sometimes found in unconventional superconductors, the role of nematic fluctuations in driving NFL transport behavior remains unclear. Here, we investigated electrical and thermoelectric transport properties in FeSe$_x$Te$_{1-x}$ thin films and observed hallmark NFL behavior: temperature-linear resistivity and logarithmic divergence of thermoelectricity at low temperatures. Notably, the thermoelectricity peaks sharply at the nematic QCP ($x$ = 0.45), highlighting the dominant role of nematic fluctuations in the NFL transport. Furthermore, we found that the pair-breaking mechanisms in the superconducting phase crosses over from orbital- to Pauli-limited effects, indicating the mass enhancement near the nematic critical regime. These findings reveal the profound impact of nematic fluctuations on both normal-state transport and superconducting properties.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Charge sensing of few-electron ZnO double quantum dots probed by radio-frequency reflectometry

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has garnered much attention as a promising material for quantum devices due to its unique characteristics. To utilize the potential of ZnO for quantum devices, the development of fundamental technological elements such as high-speed readout and charge sensing capabilities has become essential. In this study, we address these challenges by demonstrating radio-frequency (rf) reflectometry and charge sensing in ZnO quantum dots, thus advancing the potential for qubit applications. A device is fabricated on a high-quality ZnO heterostructure, featuring gate-defined target and sensor quantum dots. The sensor dot, integrated into an rf resonator circuit, enables the detection of single-electron charges in the target dots. Using this setup, the formation of few-electron double quantum dots is observed by obtaining their charge stability diagram. Also, a charge stability diagram with a gate pulse sequence is measured. We discuss the strong electron correlation in ZnO, which leads to nearly degenerate spin-singlet and -triplet two-electron states in the (0, 2) charge state, and the perspectives on spin-state readout.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Emergence of ferroelectric topological insulator as verified by quantum Hall effect of surface states in (Sn,Pb,In)Te films

Emergent phenomena arising from nontrivial band structures based on topology and symmetry have been attracting keen interest in contemporary condensed-matter physics. Materials such as SnTe and PbTe are one such example, which demonstrate a topological phase transition while showing ferroelectric instability derived from their rock-salt structure. The ferroelectricity can lift the valley degeneracy, enabling the emergence of the Z2 topological insulator phase, although its observation in transport phenomena remains elusive. Here, we report magnetotransport properties of ferroelectric (Sn,Pb)Te thin films with finely-controlled Fermi levels via In doping. We identified the ferroelectric topological insulator phase from the observations of the quantum Hall states with filling factors of $ν$ = 1, 2 and 3 with both spin- and valley-degeneracy lifting. The electronic states are two-dimensional, indicating the ferroelectricity-induced topological surface states with a single Dirac cone. The finding of the new topological state with ferroelectricity will further expand the field of topological physics and advance the development of functional properties, such as topological nonlinear photonics and nonreciprocal transport with memory effect.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

This took us a Weyl: synthesis of a semimetallic Weyl ferromagnet with point Fermi surface

Quantum materials governed by emergent topological fermions have become a cornerstone of physics. Dirac fermions in graphene form the basis for moiré quantum matter, and Dirac fermions in magnetic topological insulators enabled the discovery of the quantum anomalous Hall effect. In contrast, there are few materials whose electromagnetic response is dominated by emergent Weyl fermions. Nearly all known Weyl materials are overwhelmingly metallic, and are largely governed by irrelevant, conventional electrons. Here we theoretically predict and experimentally observe a semimetallic Weyl ferromagnet in van der Waals (Cr,Bi)$_2$Te$_3$. In transport, we find a record bulk anomalous Hall angle $> 0.5$ along with non-metallic conductivity, a regime sharply distinct from conventional ferromagnets. Together with symmetry analysis, our data suggest a semimetallic Fermi surface composed of two Weyl points, with a giant separation $> 75\%$ of the linear dimension of the bulk Brillouin zone, and no other electronic states. Using state-of-the-art crystal synthesis techniques, we widely tune the electronic structure, allowing us to annihilate the Weyl state and visualize a unique topological phase diagram exhibiting broad Chern insulating, Weyl semimetallic and magnetic semiconducting regions. Our observation of a semimetallic Weyl ferromagnet offers an avenue toward novel correlated states and non-linear phenomena, as well as zero-magnetic-field Weyl spintronic and optical devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Molecular beam epitaxy of superconducting FeSe$_{x}$Te$_{1-x}$ thin films interfaced with magnetic topological insulators

Engineering heterostructures with various types of quantum materials can provide an intriguing playground for studying exotic physics induced by the proximity effect. Here, we report the successful synthesis of iron-based superconductor FeSe$_{x}$Te$_{1-x}$ (FST) thin films across the entire composition range of $0 \leq x \leq 1$ and its heterostructure with a magnetic topological insulator by using molecular beam epitaxy. Superconductivity is observed in the FST films with an optimal superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ $\sim$ 12 K at around x = 0.1. We found that superconductivity survives in the very Te-rich films ($x \leq 0.05$), showing stark contrast to bulk crystals with suppression of superconductivity due to an appearance of bicollinear antiferromagnetism accompanied by a monoclinic structural transition. By examining thickness $t$ dependence of magnetic susceptibility and electrical transport properties, we observed a trend where anomalies associated with the first order structural transition broaden in films with below $t \sim$ 100 nm. We infer this observation suggests a suppression of the structural instability near substrates. Furthermore, we fabricated an all chalcogenide-based heterointerface between FST and a magnetic topological insulator (Cr,Bi,Sb)$_{2}$Te$_{3}$ for the first time, observing both superconductivity and a large anomalous Hall conductivity. The anomalous Hall conductivity increases with decreasing temperature, approaching the quantized value of $e^2/h$ down to the measurable minimum temperature at $T_c$. The result suggests coexistence of magnetic and superconducting gaps at low temperatures opening at the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. Our novel magnetic topological insulator/superconductor heterostructure could be an ideal platform to explore chiral Majorana edge mode.

cond-mat.supr-con↗