arXiv subjects

D. T. Adroja

Publications and source records attributed to D. T. Adroja.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Nodeless time-reversal symmetry breaking in the centrosymmetric superconductor Sc$_5$Co$_4$Si$_{10}$ probed by muon-spin spectroscopy

We investigate the superconducting properties of Sc$_{5}$Co$_{4}$Si$_{10}$ using low-temperature resistivity, magnetization, heat capacity, and muon-spin rotation and relaxation ($μ$SR) measurements. We find that Sc$_{5}$Co$_{4}$Si$_{10}$ {exhibits type-II} superconductivity with a superconducting transition temperature $T_\mathrm{C}= 3.5 (1)$\,K. The temperature dependence of the superfluid density obtained from transverse-field $μ$SR spectra is best modeled using an isotropic Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer type $s$-wave gap symmetry with $2Δ/k_\mathrm{B}T_\mathrm{C} = 2.84(2)$. However, the zero-field muon-spin relaxation asymmetry reveals the appearance of a spontaneous magnetic field below $T_\mathrm{C}$, indicating that time-reversal symmetry (TRS) is broken in the superconducting state. Although this behavior is commonly associated with non-unitary or mixed singlet-triplet pairing, our group-theoretical analysis of the Ginzburg-Landau free energy alongside density functional theory calculations indicates that unconventional mechanisms are pretty unlikely. Therefore, we have hypothesized that TRS breaking may occur via a conventional electron-phonon process.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Crystal Electic Field and Possible Coupling with Phonon in Kondo lattice CeCuGa3

We investigate the magnetic and crystal electric field (CEF) states of the Kondo lattice system CeCuGa3 by muon spin relaxation (muSR), neutron diffraction, and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. A noncentrosymmetric BaNiSn3-type tetragonal crystal structure (space group I4mm) is inferred from x-ray as well as from neutron powder diffraction. The low-temperature magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity data show an anomaly near 2.3 - 2.5~K associated with long range magnetic ordering, which is further confirmed by muSR and neutron diffraction data. The neutron powder diffraction collected at 1.7 K shows the presence of magnetic Bragg peaks indexed by an incommensurate magnetic propagation vector k = (0.148, 0.148, 0) and the magnetic structure is best described by a longitudinal spin density wave with ordered moments lying in ab-plane. An analysis of the INS data based on a CEF model reveals the presence of two magnetic excitations near 4.5 meV and 6.9 meV. The magnetic heat capacity data suggest an overall CEF splitting of 20.7 meV, however the excitation between 20 and 30 meV is very broad and weak in our INS data, but could provide an evidence of CEF level in this energy range in agreement with the magnetic entropy. Our analysis of INS data based on the CEF-phonon model indicates that the two excitations at 4.5 meV and 6.9 meV have their origin in CEF-phonon coupling (i.e. splitting of one CEF peak into two peaks, called vibron), with an overall splitting of 28.16 meV, similar to the case of CeCuAl3 and CeAuAl3.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Superconductivity in the layered cage compound Ba3Rh4Ge16

We report the synthesis and superconducting properties of a layered cage compound Ba3Rh4Ge16. Similar to Ba3Ir4Ge16, the compound is composed of 2D networks of cage units, formed by noncubic Rh-Ge building blocks, in marked contrast to the reported rattling compounds. The electrical resistivity, magnetization, specific heat capacity, and muSR measurements unveiled moderately coupled s-wave superconductivity with a critical temperature Tc = 7.0 K, the upper critical field ~ 2.5 T, the electron-phonon coupling strength ~ 0.80, and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter ~ 7.89. The mass reduction by the substitution of Ir by Rh is believed to be responsible for the enhancement of Tc and coupling between the cage and guest atoms. Our results highlight the importance of the atomic weight of the framework in cage compounds in controlling the electron-phonon coupling strength and Tc.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Magnetic order and crystalline electric field excitations of the quantum critical heavy fermion ferromagnet CeRh$_6$Ge$_4$

CeRh$_6$Ge$_4$ is an unusual example of a stoichiometric heavy fermion ferromagnet, which can be cleanly tuned by hydrostatic pressure to a quantum critical point. In order to understand the origin of this anomalous behavior, we have characterized the magnetic ordering and crystalline electric field (CEF) scheme of this system. While magnetic Bragg peaks are not resolved in neutron powder diffraction, coherent oscillations are observed in zero-field $μ$SR below $T_{\rm C}$, which are consistent with in-plane ferromagnetic ordering consisting of reduced Ce moments. From analyzing the magnetic susceptibility and inelastic neutron scattering, we propose a CEF-level scheme which accounts for the easy-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy, where the low lying first excited CEF exhibits significantly stronger hybridization than the ground state. These results suggest that the orbital anisotropy of the ground state and low lying excited state doublets are important for realizing anisotropic electronic coupling between the $f$- and conduction electrons, which gives rise to the highly anisotropic hybridization observed in photoemission experiments.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Quantum magnetism of ferromagnetic spin dimers in $α$-KVOPO$_4$

Magnetism of the spin-$\frac12$ $α$-KVOPO$_4$ is studied by thermodynamic measurements, $^{31}$P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), neutron diffraction, and density-functional band-structure calculations. Ferromagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature of $θ_{\rm CW}\simeq 15.9$ K and the saturation field of $μ_0H_s\simeq 11.3$ T suggest the predominant ferromagnetic coupling augmented by a weaker antiferromagnetic exchange that leads to a short-range order below 5 K and the long-range antiferromagnetic order below $T_{\rm N}\simeq 2.7$ K in zero field. Magnetic structure with the propagation vector $\mathbf k=(0,\frac12,0)$ and the ordered magnetic moment of 0.58 $μ_B$ at 1.5 K exposes a non-trivial spin lattice where strong ferromagnetic dimers are coupled antiferromagnetically. The reduction in the ordered magnetic moment with respect to the classical value (1 $μ_{\rm B}$) indicates sizable quantum fluctuations in this setting, despite the predominance of ferromagnetic exchange. We interpret this tendency toward ferromagnetism as arising from the effective orbital order in the folded chains of the VO$_6$ octahedra.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Fully gapped superconductivity with preserved time reversal symmetry in noncentrosymmetric LaPdIn

We report an investigation of the superconducting properties of the hexagonal noncentrosymmetric compound LaPdIn. Electrical resistivity, specific heat and ac susceptibility measurements demonstrate the presence of bulk superconductivity below $T_c$ = 1.6 K. The specific heat, together with the penetration depth measured using transverse-field muon spin rotation and the tunnel diode oscillator based method, are well described by single gap $s$-wave superconductivity, with a gap magnitude of 1.8$k_BT_c$. From zero-field muon spin relaxation results no evidence is found for the spontaneous emergence of magnetic fields in the superconducting state, indicating that time-reversal symmetry is preserved. Band structure calculations reveal that there is a relatively weak effect of antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling on the electronic bands near the Fermi level, which is consistent with there being negligible singlet-triplet mixing due to broken inversion symmetry. On the other hand, isostructural LuPdIn and LaPtIn do not exhibit superconductivity down to 0.4 K, which may be due to these systems having a smaller density of states at the Fermi level.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

A crossover from Kondo semiconductor to metallic antiferromagnet with $5d$-electron doping in CeFe$_2$Al$_{10}$

We report a systematic study of the $5d$-electron-doped system Ce(Fe$_{1-x}$Ir$_x$)$_2$Al$_{10}$ ($0 \leq x \leq 0.15$). With increasing $x$, the orthorhombic $b$~axis decreases slightly while accompanying changes in $a$ and $c$ leave the unit cell volume almost unchanged. Inelastic neutron scattering, along with thermal and transport measurements, reveal that for the Kondo semiconductor CeFe$_2$Al$_{10}$, the low-temperature energy gap which is proposed to be a consequence of strong $c \mhyphen f$ hybridization, is suppressed by a small amount of Ir substitution for Fe, and that the system adopts a metallic ground state with an increase in the density of states at the Fermi level. The charge or transport gap collapses (at $x=$~0.04) faster than the spin gap with Ir substitution. Magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and muon spin relaxation measurements demonstrate that the system undergoes long-range antiferromagnetic order below a Néel temperature, $T_{\mathrm{N}}$, of 3.1(2)~K for $x = 0.15$. The ordered moment is estimated to be smaller than 0.07(1)~$μ_\mathrm{B}$/Ce although the trivalent state of Ce is confirmed by Ce L$_3$-edge x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. It is suggested that the $c \mhyphen f$ hybridization gap, which plays an important role in the unusually high ordering temperatures observed in Ce$T_2$Al$_{10}$ ($T$ = Ru and Os), may not be necessary for the onset of magnetic order with a low $T_{\mathrm{N}}$ seen here in Ce(Fe$_{1-x}$Ir$_x$)$_2$Al$_{10}$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Antiferromagnetic correlations in strongly valence fluctuating CeIrSn

CeIrSn with a quasikagome Ce lattice in the hexagonal basal plane is a strongly valence fluctuating compound, as we confirm by hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering, with a high Kondo temperature of $T_{\mathrm{K}}\sim 480$\,K. We report a negative in-plane thermal expansion $α/T$ below 2\,K, which passes through a broad minimum near 0.75\,K. Volume and $a$-axis magnetostriction for $B \parallel a$ are markedly negative at low fields and change sign before a sharp metamagnetic anomaly at 6\,T. These behaviors are unexpected for Ce-based intermediate valence systems, which should feature positive expansivity. Rather they point towards antiferromagnetic correlations at very low temperatures. This is supported by muon spin relaxation measurements down to 0.1\,K, which provide microscopic evidence for a broad distribution of internal magnetic fields. Comparison with isostructural CeRhSn suggests that these antiferromagnetic correlations emerging at $T\ll T_{\mathrm{K}}$ result from geometrical frustration.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Probing the superconducting gap structure in the noncentrosymmetric topological superconductor ZrRuAs

The superconducting gap structure of a topological crystalline insulator (TCI) candidate ZrRuAs ($T^{\rm on}_{\rm c}$ = 7.9(1) K) with a noncentrosymmetric crystal structure has been investigated using muon spin rotation/relaxation ($μ$SR) measurements in transverse-field (TF) and zero-field (ZF) geometries. We also present the results of magnetization, electrical resistivity and heat capacity measurements on ZrRuAs, which reveal bulk superconductivity below 7.9~K. The temperature dependence of the effective penetration depth obtained from the analysis of the TF-$μ$SR spectra below $T_{\rm c}$ is well described by an isotropic $s$-wave gap model as also inferred from an analysis of the heat capacity in the superconducting state. ZF $μ$SR data do not show any significant change in the muon spin relaxation rate above and below the superconducting transition temperature indicating that time-reversal symmetry is preserved in the superconducting state of this material.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Dynamic Spin Fluctuations in the Frustrated Spin Chain Compound Li$_3$Cu$_2$SbO$_6$

We report the signatures of dynamic spin fluctuations in the layered honeycomb Li$_3$Cu$_2$SbO$_6$ compound, with a 3$d$ S = 1/2 $d^9$ Cu$^{2+}$ configuration, through muon spin rotation and relaxation ($μ$SR) and neutron scattering studies. Our zero-field (ZF) and longitudinal-field (LF)-$μ$SR results demonstrate the slowing down of the Cu$^{2+}$ spin fluctuations below 4.0 K. The saturation of the ZF relaxation rate at low temperature, together with its weak dependence on the longitudinal field between 0 and 3.2 kG, indicates the presence of dynamic spin fluctuations persisting even at 80 mK without static order. Neutron scattering study reveals the gaped magnetic excitations with three modes at 7.7, 13.5 and 33 meV. Our DFT calculations reveal that the next nearest neighbors (NNN) AFM exchange ($J_{AFM}$ = 31 meV) is stronger than the NN FM exchange ($J_{FM}$ = -21 meV) indicating the importance of the orbital degrees of freedom. Our results suggest that the physics of Li$_3$Cu$_2$SbO$_6$ can be explained by an alternating AFM chain rather than the honeycomb lattice.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Nodeless superconductivity in Lu$_{5-x}$Rh$_6$Sn$_{18+x}$ with broken time reversal symmetry

Evidence for broken time reversal symmetry (TRS) has been found in the superconducting states of the $R_5$Rh$_6$Sn$_{18}$ (R = Sc, Y, Lu) compounds with a centrosymmetric caged crystal structure, but the origin of this phenomenon is unresolved. Here we report neutron diffraction measurements of single crystals with $R$=Lu, as well as measurements of the temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth using a self-induced tunnel diode-oscillator (TDO) based technique, together with band structure calculations using density functional theory. Neutron diffraction measurements reveal that the system crystallizes in a tetragonal caged structure, and that one of nominal Lu sites in the Lu$_5$Rh$_6$Sn$_{18}$ structure is occupied by Sn, yielding a composition Lu$_{5-x}$Rh$_6$Sn$_{18+x}$ ($x=1$). The low temperature penetration depth shift $Δλ(T)$ exhibits an exponential temperature dependence below around $0.3T_c$, giving clear evidence for fully gapped superconductivity. The derived superfluid density is reasonably well accounted for by a single gap $s$-wave model, whereas agreement cannot be found for models of TRS breaking states with two-component order parameters. Moreover, band structure calculations reveal multiple bands crossing the Fermi level, and indicate that the aforementioned TRS breaking states would be expected to have nodes on the Fermi surface, in constrast to the observations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Experimental realisation of multipartite entanglement via quantum Fisher information in a uniform antiferromagnetic quantum spin chain

Quantum entanglement is a quantum mechanical phenomenon where the quantum state of a many-body system with many degrees of freedom cannot be described independently of the state of each body with a given degree of freedom, no matter how far apart in space each body is. Entanglement is not only considered a resource in quantum information but also believed to affect complex condensed matter systems. Detecting and quantifying multi-particle entanglement in a many-body system is thus of fundamental significance for both quantum information science and condensed matter physics. Here, we detect and quantify multipartite entanglement in a spin 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain in a bulk solid. Multipartite entanglement was detected using quantum Fisher information which was obtained using dynamic susceptibility measured via inelastic neutron scattering. The scaling behaviour of quantum Fisher information was found to identify the spin 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain to belong to a class of strongly entangled quantum phase transitions with divergent multipartite entanglement.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Time-reversal-symmetry breaking and unconventional pairing in the noncentrosymmetric superconductor La$_{7}$Rh$_{3}$

Noncentrosymmetric superconductors have sparked significant research interests due to their exciting properties, such as the admixture of spin-singlet and spin-triplet Cooper pairs. Here we report $μ$SR and thermodynamic measurements on the noncentrosymmetric superconductor La7Rh3 which indicate a fully established superconducting gap and spontaneous time-reversal-symmetry breaking at the onset of superconductivity. We show that our results pose severe constraints on any microscopic theory of superconductivity in the system. A symmetry analysis identifies ground states compatible with time-reversal-symmetry breaking and the resulting gap functions are discussed. Furthermore, general energetic considerations indicate the relevance of electron-electron interactions for the pairing mechanism, in accordance with hints of spin-fluctuations revealed in susceptibility measurements.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Investigation of the magnetic ground state of the ordered double perovskite Sr2YbRuO6: a tale of two transitions

Comprehensive muon spin rotation/relaxation (muSR) and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) studies supported via bulk measurements have been performed on the ordered double perovskite Sr2YbRuO6 to investigate the nature of the magnetic ground state. Two sharp transitions at TN1 ~ 42 K and TN2 ~ 36 K have been observed in the static and dynamic magnetization measurements, coinciding with the heat capacity data. In order to confirm the origin of the observed phase transitions and the magnetic ground state, microscopic evidences are presented here. An initial indication of long-range magnetic ordering comes from a sharp drop in the muon initial asymmetry and a peak in the relaxation rate near TN1. NPD confirms that the magnetic ground state of Sr2YbRuO6 consists of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure with interpenetrating lattices of parallel Yb3+ and Ru5+ moments lying in the ab-plane and adopting a A-type AFM structure. Intriguingly, a small but remarkable change is observed in the long-range ordering parameters at TN2 confirming the presence of a weak spin reorientation (i.e. change in spin configuration) transition of Ru and Yb moments, as well as a change in the magnetic moment evolution of the Yb3+ spins at TN2. The temperature dependent behaviour of the Yb3+ and Ru5+ moments suggests that the 4d-electrons of Ru5+ play a dominating role in stabilizing the long range ordered magnetic ground state in the double perovskite Sr2YbRuO6 whereas only the Yb3+ moments show an arrest at TN2. The observed magnetic structure and the presence of a ferromagnetic interaction between Ru- and Yb- ions are explained with use of the Goodenough-Kanamori-Anderson (GKA) rules. Possible reasons for the presence of the second magnetic phase transition and of a compensation point in the magnetization data are linked to competing mechanisms of magnetic anisotropy.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Effect of Nd and Rh substitution on the spin dynamics of Kondo insulator CeFe2Al10

The dynamic magnetic properties of the Kondo-insulator state in CeFe2Al10 (spin gap, resonance mode) have been investigated using polarized neutrons on a single crystal of pure CeFe2Al10. The results indicate that the magnetic excitations are polarized mainly along the orthorhombic a axis and their dispersion along the orthorhombic c direction could be determined. Polycrystalline samples of Nd- and Rh-doped CeFe2Al0 were also studied by the time-of-flight technique, with the aim of finding out how the low-energy magnetic excitation spectra change upon isoelectronic substitution of the rare-earth (Nd) on the magnetic Ce site or electron doping (Rh) on the transition-element Fe sublattice. The introduction of magnetic Nd impurities strongly modifies the spin gap in the Ce dynamic magnetic response and causes the appearance of a quasielastic signal. The crystal-field excitations of Nd, studied in both LaFe2Al10 and CeFe2Al10, also reveal a significant influence of f-electron hybridization (largest in the case of Ce) on the crystal-field potential. As a function of the Rh concentration, a gradual change is observed from a Kondo-insulator to a metallic Kondo-lattice response, likely reflecting the decrease in the hybridization energy.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Orbital-selective spin waves in detwinned NaFeAs

The existence of orbital-dependent electronic correlations has been recognized as an essential ingredient to describe the physics of iron-based superconductors. NaFeAs, a parent compound of iron based superconductors, exhibits a tetragonal-to-orthorhombic lattice distortion below $T_s\approx 60$ K, forming an electronic nematic phase with two 90$^\circ$ rotated (twinned) domains, and orders antiferromagnetically below $T_N\approx 42$ K. We use inelastic neutron scattering to study spin waves in uniaxial pressure-detwinned NaFeAs. By comparing the data with combined density functional theory and dynamical mean-field theory calculations, we conclude that spin waves up to an energy scale of $E_\text{crossover} \approx 100$ meV are dominated by $d_{yz}$-$d_{yz}$ intra-orbital scattering processes, which have the two-fold ($C_2$) rotational symmetry of the underlying lattice. On the other hand, the spin wave excitations above $E_\text{crossover}$, which have approximately fourfold ($C_4$) rotational symmetry, arise from the $d_{xy}$-$d_{xy}$ intra-orbital scattering that controls the overall magnetic bandwidth in this material. In addition, we find that the low-energy ($E\approx 6$ meV) spin excitations change from approximate $C_4$ to $C_2$ rotational symmetry below a temperature $T^\ast$ ($>T_s$), while spin excitations at energies above $E_\text{crossover}$ have approximate $C_4$ rotational symmetry and are weakly temperature dependent. These results are consistent with angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements, where the presence of an uniaxial strain necessary to detwin NaFeAs also raises the onset temperature $T^\ast$ of observable orbital-dependent band splitting to above $T_s$, thus supporting the notion of orbital selective spin waves in the nematic phase of iron-based superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Excitations in the spin-1 trimer chain compound CaNi3P4O14: gapped dispersive spinwaves to gapless magnetic excitations

Magnetic excitations and the spin Hamiltonian of the spin-1 J1-J1-J2 trimer chain compound CaNi3P4O14 have been investigated by inelastic neutron scattering. Experimental data reveal gapped dispersive spin wave excitations in the 3D long-range ordered magnetic state (TC = 16 K), and gapless magnetic excitations above the TC. Simulated magnetic excitations, by using the linear spin wave theory, for a model of coupled trimer spin-chains provide a good description of the observed experimental data. The analysis reveals both ferromagnetic J1 and J2 interactions within the chains, and an antiferromagnetic interchain interaction J3 between chains. The strengths of the J1 and J2 are found to be closer (J2/J1 ~ 0.81), and J3 is determined to be weaker (J3/ J1 ~ 0.69), which is consistent with the spin chain type crystal structure. Presence of a weak single-ion-anisotropy (D/J=0.19) is also revealed. The strengths and signs of exchange interactions explain why the 1/3 magnetization is absent in the studied spin-1 compound CaNi3P4O14 in contrast to its S= 5/2 counterpart Mn based isostructural compound. The signs of the exchange interactions are in agreement with that obtained from the reported DFT calculations, whereas, their strengths are found to be significantly different. The relatively strong value of the J3 in CaNi3P4O14 gives a conventional 3D type magnetic ordering below the TC, however, retains its 1D character above the TC. The present experimental study also reveals a sharp change of single-ion anisotropy across the TC indicating that the stability of the 3D magnetic ordering in CaNi3P4O14 is ascribed to the local magnetic anisotropy in addition to interchain interactions. The present study divulges the importance of full knowledge of the exchange interactions in trimer spin chain compounds to understand their exotic magnetic properties, such as 1/3 magnetization plateau.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Dynamic Spin Fluctuations in the Frustrated A-site Spinel CuAl2O4

We performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and muon spin relaxation (μSR) experiments to identify the magnetic ground state of the frustrated quantum A-site spinel, CuAl2O4. Our results verify that the ground state does not exhibit a long-range magnetic ordering, but a glass-like transition manifests at T*=2.3 K. However, the Gaussian shape and the weak longitudinal field dependence of μSR spectra below T* show that the ground state has dynamic spin fluctuations, distinct from those of conventional spin-glasses.

cond-mat.str-el↗