arXiv subjects

C. Pappas

Publications and source records attributed to C. Pappas.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Tilted Spirals and Low Temperature Skyrmions in Cu2OSeO3

The bulk helimagnet Cu2OSeO3 represents a unique example in the family of B20 cubic helimagnets exhibiting a tilted spiral and skyrmion phase at low temperatures when the magnetic field is applied along the easy <001> crystallographic direction. Here we present a systematic study of the stability and ordering of these low temperature magnetic states. We focus our attention on the temperature and field dependencies of the tilted spiral state that we observe persisting up to above T =35 K, i.e. up to higher temperatures than reported so far. We discuss these results in the frame of the phenomenological theory introduced by Dzyaloshinskii in an attempt to reach a quantitative description of the experimental findings. We find that the anisotropy constants, which are the drivers behind the observed behaviour, exhibit a pronounced temperature dependence. This explains the differences in the behaviour observed at high temperatures (above T = 18 K), where the cubic anisotropy is weak, and at low temperatures (below T = 18 K), where a strong cubic anisotropy induces an abrupt appearance of the tilted spirals out of the conical state and enhances the stability of skyrmions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Magnetic phase diagram and cluster glass-like properties of stage-1 graphite intercalated FeCl$_3$

We present a comprehensive investigation of the magnetic properties of stage-1 graphite intercalated FeCl$_3$ using a combination of DC and AC magnetic susceptibility, thermoremanent magnetization and field dependent magnetization measurements. This van der Waals system, with a centrosymmetric honeycomb lattice, combines frustration and disorder, due to intercalation, and may be hosting topologically non-trivial magnetic phases. Our study identifies two magnetic phase transitions at $T_{f1} \approx $ 4.2 K and at $T_{f2} \approx $ 2.7 K. We find that the paramagnetic state, for $T > T_{f1}$, is dominated by short-range ferromagnetic correlations. These build up well above $T_{f1}$ and lead to a significant change in magnetic entropy, which reaches $\Delta S_M^{Pk} = $ -5.52 J kg$^{-1}$ K$^{-1}$ at 7 T. Between $T_{f1}$ and $T_{f2}$ we observe slow spin dynamics characteristic of a cluster glass-like state, whereas for $T$ $ < $ $T_{f2}$ our results indicate the onset of a low temperature long range ordered state. The analysis of the experimental results leads to a complex phase diagram, which may serve as a reference for future investigations searching for topological non-trivial phases in this system.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2021

Field-induced vortex-like textures as a probe of the critical line in reentrant spin glasses

We study the evolution of the low-temperature field-induced magnetic defects observed under an applied magnetic field in a series of frustrated amorphous ferromagnets (Fe$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$)$_{75}$P$_{16}$B$_{3}$Al$_{3}$ (a-FeMn). Combining small-angle neutron scattering and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the morphology of these defects resemble that of quasi-bidimensional spin vortices. They are observed in the reentrant spin-glass (RSG) phase, up to the critical concentration $x_{\rm C} \approx 0.36$ which separates the RSG and "true" spin glass (SG) within the low temperature part of the magnetic phase diagram of a-FeMn. These vortices systematically decrease in size with increasing magnetic field or decreasing the average exchange interaction, and they finally disappear in the SG sample ($x = 0.41$), being replaced by field-induced correlations over finite length scales. We argue that the study of these nanoscopic defects could be used to probe the nature of the critical line between the RSG and SG phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Spin Textures induced by Quenched Disorder in a Reentrant Spin Glass: Vortices versus "Frustrated" Skyrmions

Reentrant spin glasses are frustrated disordered ferromagnets developing vortex-like textures under an applied magnetic field. Our study of a Ni$_{0.81}$Mn$_{0.19}$ single crystal by small angle neutron scattering clarifies their internal structure and shows that these textures are randomly distributed. Spin components transverse to the magnetic field rotate over length scales of 3-15 nm in the explored field range, decreasing as field increases according to a scaling law. Monte-Carlo simulations reveal that the internal structure of the vortices is strongly distorted and differs from that assumed for "frustrated" skyrmions, built upon a competition between symmetric exchange interactions. Isolated vortices have small non-integer topological charge. The vortices keep an anisotropic shape on a 3 dimensional lattice, recalling "croutons" in a "ferromagnetic soup". Their size and number can be tuned independently by the magnetic field and concentration x (or heat treatment), respectively. This opens an original route to understand and control the influence of quenched disorder in systems hosting non trivial spin textures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

New magnetic phase of the chiral skyrmion material Cu2OSeO3

The lack of inversion symmetry in the crystal lattice of magnetic materials gives rise to complex non-collinear spin orders through interactions of relativistic nature, resulting in interesting physical phenomena, such as emergent electromagnetism. Studies of cubic chiral magnets revealed a universal magnetic phase diagram, composed of helical spiral, conical spiral and skyrmion crystal phases. Here, we report a remarkable deviation from this universal behavior. By combining neutron diffraction with magnetization measurements we observe a new multi-domain state in Cu2OSeO3. Just below the upper critical field at which the conical spiral state disappears, the spiral wave vector rotates away from the magnetic field direction. This transition gives rise to large magnetic fluctuations. We clarify physical origin of the new state and discuss its multiferroic properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Autoencoder-Driven Weather Clustering for Source Estimation during Nuclear Events

Emergency response applications for nuclear or radiological events can be significantly improved via deep feature learning due to the hidden complexity of the data and models involved. In this paper we present a novel methodology for rapid source estimation during radiological releases based on deep feature extraction and weather clustering. Atmospheric dispersions are then calculated based on identified predominant weather patterns and are matched against simulated incidents indicated by radiation readings on the ground. We evaluate the accuracy of our methods over multiple years of weather reanalysis data in the European region. We juxtapose these results with deep classification convolution networks and discuss advantages and disadvantages.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2017

Reorientations, relaxations, metastabilities and multidomains of skyrmion lattices

Magnetic skyrmions are nano-sized topologically protected spin textures with particle-like properties. They can form lattices perpendicular to the magnetic field and the orientation of these skyrmion lattices with respect to the crystallographic lattice is governed by spin-orbit coupling. By performing small angle neutron scattering measurements, we investigate the coupling between the crystallographic and skyrmion lattices in both Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ and the archetype chiral magnet MnSi. The results reveal that the orientation of the skyrmion lattice is primarily determined by the magnetic field direction with respect to the crystallographic lattice. In addition, it is also influenced by the magnetic history of the sample which can induce metastable lattices. Kinetic measurements show that these metastable skyrmion lattices may or may not relax to their equilibrium positions under macroscopic relaxation times. Furthermore, multidomain lattices may form when two or more equivalent crystallographic directions are favored by spin-orbit coupling and oriented perpendicular to the magnetic field.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Universality of the helimagnetic transition in cubic chiral magnets: Small angle neutron scattering and neutron spin echo spectroscopy studies of Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si

We present a comprehensive Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy (NSE) study of the structural and dynamical aspects of the helimagnetic transition in Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si with $x$ = 0.30. In contrast to the sharp transition observed in the archetype chiral magnet MnSi, the transition in Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si is gradual and long-range helimagnetic ordering coexists with short-range correlations over a wide temperature range. The dynamics are more complex than in MnSi and involve long relaxation times with a stretched exponential relaxation which persists even under magnetic field. These results in conjunction with an analysis of the hierarchy of the relevant length scales show that the helimagnetic transition in Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si differs substantially from the transition in MnSi and question the validity of a universal approach to the helimagnetic transition in chiral magnets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Dissipation phenomena and magnetic phase diagram of Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ below 50 K

The magnetic phase diagram of the chiral magnet Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ has been investigated by dc magnetisation and ac susceptibility over a very large frequency range from 0.1 Hz up to 1 kHz and temperatures below 50 K. Qualitatively different phase diagrams have been obtained by applying the magnetic field along the easy $\langle100\rangle$ or the hard $\langle110\rangle$ crystallographic directions. Strong $\chi"$ appears close to $B_{c2}$, but only below 30 K and is more pronounced when $B$ is applied along $\langle100\rangle$. In addition, the transition from the helical to the conical phase leads to two adjacent $B_{c1}$ lines below 50 K. The frequency dependence of $\chi"$ indicates the existence of very broad distributions of relaxation times both at $B_{c1}$ and $B_{c2}$. The associated very long characteristic times eventually prevent the system from reaching thermal equilibrium at low temperatures and lead to thermal hysteresis.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Extended skyrmion lattice scattering and long-time memory in the chiral magnet Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si

Small angle neutron scattering measurements on a bulk single crystal of the doped chiral magnet Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si with $x$=0.3 reveal a pronounced effect of the magnetic history and cooling rates on the magnetic phase diagram. The extracted phase diagrams are qualitatively different for zero and field cooling and reveal a metastable skyrmion lattice phase outside the A-phase for the latter case. These thermodynamically metastable skyrmion lattice correlations coexist with the conical phase and can be enhanced by increasing the cooling rate. They appear in a wide region of the phase diagram at temperatures below the $A$-phase but also at fields considerably smaller or higher than the fields required to stabilize the A-phase.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Magnetic relaxation phenomena in the Chiral Magnet Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si: An ac susceptibility study

We present a systematic study of the ac susceptibility of the chiral magnet Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$Si with $x$ = 0.30 covering four orders of magnitude in frequencies from 0.1 Hz to 1 kHz, with particular emphasis to the pronounced history dependence. Characteristic relaxation times ranging from a few milliseconds to tens of seconds are observed around the skyrmion lattice A-phase, the helical-to-conical transition and in a region above $T_C$. The distribution of relaxation frequencies around the A-phase is broad, asymmetric and originates from multiple coexisting relaxation processes. The pronounced dependence of the magnetic phase diagram on the magnetic history and cooling rates as well as the asymmetric frequency dependence and slow dynamics suggest more complicated physical phenomena in Fe$_{0.7}$Co$_{0.3}$Si than in other chiral magnets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Magnetic relaxation phenomena in Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ and phase diagram

We present an investigation of the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram of Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ based on DC magnetisation and AC susceptibility measurements covering a broad frequency range of four orders of magnitude, from very low frequencies reaching 0.1 Hz up to 1 kHz. The experiments were performed in the vicinity of $T_C=58.2$ K and around the skyrmion lattice A-phase. At the borders between the different phases the characteristic relaxation times reach several milliseconds and the relaxation is non-exponential. Consequently the borders between the different phases depend on the specific criteria and frequency used and an unambiguous determination is not possible.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Magnetic Fluctuations, Precursor Phenomena and Phase Transition in MnSi under Magnetic Field

The reference chiral helimagnet MnSi is the first system where skyrmion lattice correlations have been reported. At zero magnetic field the transition at $T_C$ to the helimagnetic state is of first order. Above $T_C$, in a region dominated by precursor phenomena, neutron scattering shows the build up of strong chiral fluctuating correlations over the surface of a sphere with radius $2\pi/\ell$, where $\ell$ is the pitch of the helix. It has been suggested that these fluctuating correlations drive the helical transition to first order following a scenario proposed by Brazovskii for liquid crystals. We present a comprehensive neutron scattering study under magnetic fields, which provides evidence that this is not the case. The sharp first order transition persists for magnetic fields up to 0.4 T whereas the fluctuating correlations weaken and start to concentrate along the field direction already above 0.2 T. Our results thus disconnect the first order nature of the transition from the precursor fluctuating correlations. They also show no indication for a tricritical point, where the first order transition crosses over to second order with increasing magnetic field. In this light, the nature of the first order helical transition and the precursor phenomena above $T_C$, both of general relevance to chiral magnetism, remain an open question.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Magnetic Fluctuations and Correlations in MnSi - Evidence for a Skyrmion Spin Liquid Phase

We present a comprehensive analysis of high resolution neutron scattering data involving Neutron Spin Echo spectroscopy and Spherical Polarimetry which confirm the first order nature of the helical transition and reveal the existence of a new spin liquid skyrmion phase. Similar to the blue phases of liquid crystals this phase appears in a very narrow temperature range between the low temperature helical and the high temperature paramagnetic phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

A Chiral Paramagnetic Skyrmion-like Phase in MnSi

We present a comprehensive study of chiral fluctuations in the reference helimagnet MnSi by polarized neutron scattering and Neutron Spin Echo spectroscopy, which reveals the existence of a completely left-handed and dynamically disordered phase. This phase may be identified as a spontaneous skyrmion phase: it appears in a limited temperature range just above the helical transition Tc and coexists with the helical phase at Tc.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2003

Dynamic scaling in spin glasses

We present new Neutron Spin Echo (NSE) results and a revisited analysis of historical data on spin glasses, which reveal a pure power-law time decay of the spin autocorrelation function $s(Q,t) = S(Q,t)/S(Q)$ at the glass temperature $T_g$, each power law exponent being in excellent agreement with that calculated from dynamic and static critical exponents deduced from macroscopic susceptibility measurements made on a quite different time scale. It is the first time that this scaling relation involving exponents of different physical quantities determined by completely independent experimental methods is stringently verified experimentally in a spin glass. As spin glasses are a subgroup of the vast family of glassy systems also comprising structural glasses, other non-crystalline systems living matter the observed strict critical scaling behaviour is important. Above the phase transition the strikingly non-exponential relaxation, best fitted by the Ogielski (power-law times stretched exponential) function, appears as an intrinsic, homogeneous feature of spin glasses.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗