arXiv subjects

D. Ehlers

Publications and source records attributed to D. Ehlers.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Vital role of anisotropy in cubic chiral skyrmion hosts

The impact of magnetic anisotropy on the skyrmion lattice (SkL) state in cubic chiral magnets has been overlooked for long, partly because a semi-quantitative description of the thermodynamically stable SkL phase pocket forming near the Curie temperature could be achieved without invoking anisotropy effects. However, there has been a range of phenomena reported recently in these materials, such as the formation of low-temperature tilted conical and SkL states as well as temperature-induced transformations of lattice geometry in metastable SkL states, where anisotropy was suspected to play a key role. To settle this issue on experimental basis, we quantified the cubic anisotropy in a series of CoZnMn-type cubic chiral magnets. We found that the strength of anisotropy is highly enhanced towards low temperatures in all the compounds, moreover, not only the magnitude but also the character of cubic anisotropy drastically varies upon changing the Co/Mn ratio. We correlate these changes with temperature- and composition-induced variations of the helical modulation vectors, the anharmonicity and structural rearrangements of the metastable SkLs and the spin relaxation rates. Similar systematic studies on magnetic anisotropy may not only pave the way for a quantitative and unified description of the stable and metastable modulated spin textures in cubic chiral magnets but would also help exploring further topological spin textures in this large class of skyrmion hosts.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Topological magnetic order and superconductivity in EuRbFe$_4$As$_4$

We study single crystals of the magnetic superconductor EuRbFe$_4$As$_4$ by magnetization, electron spin resonance (ESR), angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and electrical resistance in pulsed magnetic fields up to 630 kOe. The superconducting state below 36.5 K is almost isotropic and only weakly affected by the development of Eu$^{2+}$ magnetic order at 15 K. On the other hand, for the external magnetic field applied along the c-axis the temperature dependence of the ESR linewidth reveals a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless topological transition below 15 K. This indicates that Eu$^{2+}$-planes are a good realization of a two-dimensional XY-magnet, which reflects the decoupling of the Eu$^{2+}$ magnetic moments from superconducting FeAs-layers.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Field-induced instability of the quantum-spin-liquid ground state in the $J_{\rm eff}=\frac{1}{2}$ triangular-lattice compound NaYbO$_2$

Polycrystalline samples of NaYbO$_2$ are investigated by bulk magnetization and specific-heat measurements, as well as by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) as local probes. No signatures of long-range magnetic order are found down to 0.3~K, evidencing a highly frustrated spin-liquid-like ground state in zero field. Above 2\,T, signatures of magnetic order are observed in thermodynamic measurements, suggesting the possibility of a field-induced quantum phase transition. The $^{23}$Na NMR relaxation rates reveal the absence of magnetic order and persistent fluctuations down to 0.3~K at very low fields and confirm the bulk magnetic order above 2~T. The $H$-$T$ phase diagram is obtained and discussed along with the existing theoretical concepts for layered spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ triangular-lattice antiferromagnets

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Quasi-two-dimensional $S=1/2$ magnetism of Cu[C$_6$H$_2$(COO)$_4$][C$_2$H$_5$NH$_3$]$_2$

We report structural and magnetic properties of the spin-$\frac12$ quantum antiferromagnet Cu[C$_6$H$_2$(COO)$_4$][C$_2$H$_5$NH$_3$]$_2$ by means of single-crystal x-ray diffraction, magnetization, heat capacity, and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements on polycrystalline samples, as well as band-structure calculations. The triclinic crystal structure of this compound features CuO$_4$ plaquette units connected into a two-dimensional framework through anions of the pyromellitic acid [C$_6$H$_2$(COO)$_4$]$^{4-}$. The ethylamine cations [C$_2$H$_5$NH$_3]^+$ are located between the layers and act as spacers. Magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements establish a quasi-two-dimensional, weakly anisotropic and non-frustrated spin-$\frac12$ square lattice with the ratio of the couplings $J_a/J_c\simeq 0.7$ along the $a$ and $c$ directions, respectively. No clear signatures of the long-range magnetic order are seen in thermodynamic measurements down to 1.8\,K. However, the gradual broadening of the ESR line suggests that magnetic ordering occurs at lower temperatures. Leading magnetic couplings are mediated by the organic anion of the pyromellitic acid and exhibit a non-trivial dependence on the Cu--Cu distance, with the stronger coupling between those Cu atoms that are further apart.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Néel-type Skyrmion Lattice with Confined Orientation in the Polar Magnetic Semiconductor GaV$_4$S$_8$

Following the early prediction of the skyrmion lattice (SkL) - a periodic array of spin vortices - it has been observed recently in various magnetic crystals mostly with chiral structure. Although non-chiral but polar crystals with C$_{nv}$ symmetry were identifed as ideal SkL hosts in pioneering theoretical studies this archetype of SkL has remained experimentally unexplored. Here, we report the discovery of a SkL in the polar magnetic semiconductor GaV$_4$S$_8$ with rhombohedral (C$_{3v}$) symmetry and easy axis anisotropy. The SkL exists over an unusually broad temperature range compared with other bulk crystals and the orientation of the vortices is not controlled by the external magnetic feld but instead confned to the magnetic easy axis. Supporting theory attributes these unique features to a new non-chiral or Néel-type of SkL describable as a superposition of spin cycloids in contrast to the Bloch-type SkL in chiral magnets described in terms of spin helices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗