arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E. S. Choi.
We report on a positive colossal magnetoresistance (MR) induced by metallization of FeSb$_{2}$, a nearly magnetic or "Kondo" semiconductor with 3d ions. We discuss contribution of orbital MR and quantum interference to enhanced magnetic field response of electrical resistivity.
We show that the metamagnetic transition in Sr$_4$Ru$_3$O$_{10}$ bifurcates into two transitions as the field is rotated away from the conducting planes. This two-step process comprises partial or total alignment of moments in ferromagnetic bands followed by an itinerant metamagnetic transition whose critical field increases with rotation. Evidence for itinerant metamagnetism is provided by the Shubnikov-de Hass effect which shows a non-trivial evolution of the geometry of the Fermi surface and an enhancement of the quasiparticles effective-mass across the transition. The metamagnetic response of Sr$_4$Ru$_3$O$_{10}$ is orbital-dependent and involves ferromagnetic and metamagnetic bands.
We report results of structural, magnetic and transport properties of single crystal CaRu1-xCrxO3 (0≤x≤0.36) and SrRu1-xCrxO3 (0≤x≤0.30). Cr substitution as low as x=0.08 drives CaRu1-xCrxO3 from the paramagnetic state to an itinerant ferromagnetic state with field-driven first-order metamagnetic transitions leading to a sizeable saturation moment (~0.4B/f.u.within the ab plane). The ferromagnetism occurs abruptly and reaches as high as TC=123 K for x=0.22. The Cr-driven ferromagnetism is highly anisotropic, suggesting an important role for spin-orbit coupling. Lattice constant and magnetic measurements strongly support the valence of the Cr as tetravalent (Cr4+, 3d2 configuration). Cr substitution for Ru in SrRuO3 (TC=165 K) enhances the itinerant ferromagnetism, with TC reaching 290 K for x=0.30, consistent with Cr-induced ferromagnetism in paramagnetic CaRuO3. Preliminary pressure-dependent magnetization of CaRu0.85Cr0.15O3 shows strong enhancement of the saturation magnetization (25% for P~0.7 GPa). All results indicate a coupling of Ru 4d and Cr 3d electrons that is unexpectedly favorable for itinerant ferromagnetism which often exists delicately in the ruthenates.
Of the dense Kondo materials in the class CeTSb2 (where T = Au, Ag, Ni, Cu, or Pd), CeAgSb2 is special due to its complex magnetic ground state, which exhibits both ferro- and anti-ferromagnetic character below an ordering temperature TO ~ 9.8 K. To further elucidate a description this magnetic ground state, we have carried out a systematic study of single crystalline CeAgSb2 by magnetic, electrical magneto-transport, and Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) studies over a broad range of temperature and magnetic field. We have constructed the magnetic phase diagram based solely on magnetoresistance data. Here, depending on the orientation of the magnetic field H, either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic ordering occurs below TO. The resistivity of this compound below TO does not follow a simple Fermi liquid behavior, but requires an additional contribution from conduction electron scattering from boson excitations with an energy gap, D. At zero field the temperature dependent resistivity below TO is most consistent with antiferromagnetic order, based on the transport theory which includes magnon scattering. Crystal field effect theory applied to the susceptibility data yields splitting energies from the ground state to the first and second excited states of 53 K and 137 K, respectively. Although there is some uncertainty in the Kondo temperature determination, we estimate TK ~ 23 K from our analysis. In the Fermi surface studies, the measurements show very small Fermi surface sections, not predicted by band structure calculations, and the SdH amplitudes are very sensitive to field direction. Only by considering lens orbits between the main Fermi surface cylinders can the SdH results be reconciled with the Fermi surface topology predicted from band structure.
Recently the authors discovered that the suppression of the charge density wave (CDW) ground states by high magnetic fields in the organic conductor series Per2M(mnt)2 is followed by additional high field, CDW-like phases. The purpose of this presentation is to review these compounds, to consider the relevant parameters of the materials that describe the manner in which the CDW ground state may undergo new field induced changes above the Pauli limit.
The Per2M(mnt)2 class of organic conductors exhibit a charge density wave (CDW) ground state below about 12 K, which may be suppressed in magnetic fields of order 20 to 30 T. However, for both cases of counter ion M(mnt)2 species studied (M = Au (zero spin) and M = Pt (spin 1/2)), new high field ground states evolve for further increases in magnetic field. We report recent investigations where thermopower, Hall effect, high pressure and additional transport measurements have been carried out to explore these new high field phases.
We examine an unusual phenomenon where, in tilted magnetic fields near magic angles parallel to crystallographic planes, a "giant" resonant Nernst signal has been observed by Wu et al.[Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 56601(2003)] in the metallic state of an organic conducting Bechgaard salt. We show that this effect appears to be a general feature of these materials, and is also present in the field induced spin density wave phase with even larger amplitude. Our results place new restrictions on models that treat the metallic state as an unconventional density wave or as a state with finite Cooper pairing.
We have investigated the magnetic field-induced metal-insulator transition in the tau-phase organic conductors, which occurs in fields above 35 T, and below 14 K, by magnetization, thermoelectric, and pressure dependent transport methods. Our results show that the transition is a bulk thermodynamic process where a magnetic field-dependent gap opens upon entry into the insulating state. We argue that the transition involves a magnetic field-induced change in the electronic structure.
We have measured the high field magnetoresistence and magnetization of quasi-one- dimensional (Q1D) organic conductor (Per)2Pt(mnt)2 (where Per = perylene and mnt = maleonitriledithiolate), which has a charge density wave (CDW) ground state at zero magnetic field below 8 K. We find that the CDW ground state is suppressed with moderate magnetic fields of order 20 T, as expected from a mean field theory treatment of Pauli effects[W. Dieterich and P. Fulde, Z. Physik 265, 239 - 243 (1973)]. At higher magnetic fields, a new, density wave state with sub-phases is observed in the range 20 to 50 T, which is reminiscent of the cascade of field induced, quantized, spin density wave phases (FISDW) observed in the Bechgaard salts. The new density wave state, which we tenatively identify as a field induced charge density wave state (FICDW), is re-entrant to a low resistance state at even higher fields, of order 50 T and above. Unlike the FISDW ground state, the FICDW state is only weakly orbital, and appears for all directions of magnetic field. Our findings are substantiated by electrical resistivity, magnetization, thermoelectric, and Hall measurements. We discuss our results in light of theoretical work involving magnetic field dependent Q1D CDW ground states in high magnetic fields [D. Zanchi, A. Bjelis, and G. Montambaux, Phys. Rev. B 53, (1996)1240; A. Lebed, JETP Lett. 78,138(2003)].
The charge density wave (CDW) transition temperature in the quasi-one dimensional (Q1D) organic material of (Per)$_2$Au(mnt)$_2$ is relatively low (TCDW = 12 K). Hence in a mean field BCS model, the CDW state should be completely suppressed in magnetic fields of order 30 - 40 T. To explore this possibility, the magnetoresistance of (Per)$_2$Au(mnt)$_2$ was investigated in magnetic fields to 45 T for 0.5 K < T < 12 K. For fields directed along the Q1D molecular stacking direction, TCDW decreases with field, terminating at about ~ 37 T for temperatures approaching zero. Results for this field orientation are in general agreement with theoretical predictions, including the field dependence of the magnetoresistance and the energy gap, $Δ_{CDW}$. However, for fields tilted away from the stacking direction, orbital effects arise above 15 T that may be related to the return of un-nested Fermi surface sections that develop as the CDW state is suppressed. These findings are consistent with expectations that quasi-one dimensional metallic behavior will return outside the CDW phase boundary.
Resistivity measurements are reported for single crystals of Mn12-Acetate and Fe8Br8. Both materials exhibit a semiconductor-like, thermally activated behavior over the 200-300 K range. The activation energy, Ea, obtained for Mn12-Acetate was 0.37 +/- 0.05 eV, which is to be contrasted with the value of 0.55 eV deduced from the earlier reported absorption edge measurements and the range of 0.3-1 eV from intramolecular density of states calculations, assuming 2Ea = Eg, the optical band gap. For Fe8Br8, Ea was measured as 0.73 +/- 0.1 eV, and is discussed in light of the available approximate band structure calculations. Some plausible pathways are indicated based on the crystal structures of both lattices. For Mn12-Acetate, we also measured photoconductivity in the visible range; the conductivity increased by a factor of about eight on increasing the photon energy from 632.8 nm (red) to 488 nm (blue). X-ray irradiation increased the resistivity, but Ea was insensitive to exposure.
Resistivity measurements are reported for single crystals of Mn$_{12}$-Acetate and Fe$_8$Br$_8$. Both materials exhibit a semiconductor-like, thermally activated behavior over the 200-300 K range. The activation energy, $E_a$, obtained for Mn$_{12}$-Acetate was 0.37 $\pm$ 0.05 eV, which is to be contrasted with the value of 0.55 eV deduced from the earlier reported absorption edge measurements and the range of 0.3-1 eV from intramolecular density of states calculations, assuming $2E_a$= $E_g$, the optical band gap. For Fe$_8$Br$_8$, $E_a$ was measured as 0.73 $\pm$ 0.1 eV, and is discussed in light of the available approximate band structure calculations. Some plausible pathways are indicated based on the crystal structures of both lattices. For Mn$_{12}$-Acetate, we also measured photoconductivity in the visible range; the conductivity increased by a factor of about eight on increasing the photon energy from 632.8 nm (red) to 488 nm (blue). X-ray irradiation increased the resistivity, but $E_a$ was insensitive to exposure.
We report electrical transport, skin depth, and magnetocaloric measurements in the tau-series of organic conductors at very high magnetic fields. Above 36 T these materials show a magnetic field induced first order phase transition from a metallic to an insulating state. The transition, which is a bulk thermodynamic phenomenon, does not follow the conventional prescription for field induced phase transitions in organic conductors.
The quantum oscillatory effect and superconductivity in a non-tetrachalcogenafulvalene (TCF) structure based organic superconductor beta-(BDA-TTP)_2SbF_6 are studied. Here the Shubnikov-de Haas effect (SdH) and angular dependent magnetoresistance oscillations (AMRO) are observed. The oscillation frequency associated with a cylindrical Fermi surface is found to be about 4050 tesla, which is also verified by the tunnel diode oscillator (TDO) measurement. The upper critical field Hc2 measurement in a tilted magnetic field and the TDO measurement in the mixed state reveal a highly anisotropic superconducting nature in this material. We compared physical properties of beta-(BDA-TTP)_2SbF_6 with typical TCF structure based quasi two-dimensional organic conductors. A notable feature of beta-(BDA-TTP)_2SbF_6 superconductor is a large value of effective cyclotron mass m_c^*=12.4+/1.1 m_e, which is the largest yet found in an organic superconductor. A possible origin of the enhanced effective mass and its relation to the superconductivity are briefly discussed.
We investigated thermoelectric power $S(T)$ of MgB$_{2-x}$Be$_{x}$ ($x=0$, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.6). $S(T)$ decreases systematically with $x$, suggesting that the hole density increases. Our band calculation shows that the increase occurs in the $σ$-band. With the hole-doping, $T_{c}$ decreases. Implication of this phenomenon is discussed within the BCS framework. While the Mott formula explains only the linear part of $S(T)$ at low temperature, incorporation of electron-phonon interaction enables us to explain $S(T)$ over wide temperature range including the anomalous behavior at high temperature.
We have measured temperature dependence of thermoelectric power (TEP) on MgB$_2$ superconductor under hydrostatic pressure. The sign and temperature dependence of TEP shows metallic hole carriers are dominant with activation type contribution at higher temperature. TEP increases with pressure while $T_c$ decrease with ratio -0.136 K/kbar. The data are discussed in consideration of carriers from different bands and anisotropy of compressibility.
We have used a low-frequency magneto-thermopower (MTEP) method to probe the high magnetic field ground state behavior of $α$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$KHg(SCN)$_4$ along all three principal crystallographic axes at low temperatures. The thermopower tensor coefficients ($S_{xx}, S_{yx}$ and $S_{zz}$) have been measured to 30 T, beyond the anomalous low temperature, field-induced transition at 22.5 T. We find a significant anisotropy in the MTEP signal, and also observe large quantum oscillations associated with the de Haas - van Alphen effect. The anisotropy indicates that the ground state properties are clearly driven by mechanisms that occur along specific directions for the in-plane electronic structure. Both transverse and longitudinal magnetothermopower show asymptotic behavior in field, which can be explained in terms of magnetic breakdown of compensated closed orbits.
We describe an AC method for the measurement of the longitudinal (Sxx) and transverse (Sxy, i.e. Nernst) thermopower of mm-size single crystal samples at low temperatures (T<1 K) and high magnetic fields (B>30 T). A low-frequency (33 mHz) heating method is used to increase the resolution, and to determine the temperature gradient reliably in high magnetic fields. Samples are mounted between two thermal blocks which are heated by a sinusoidal frequency f0 with a p/2 phase difference. The phase difference between two heater currents gives a temperature gradient at 2f0. The corresponding thermopower and Nernst effect signals are extracted by using a digital signal processing method due. An important component of the method involves a superconducting link, YBa2Cu3O7+d (YBCO), which is mounted in parallel with sample to remove the background magnetothermopower of the lead wires. The method is demonstrated for the quasi two-dimensional organic conductor a-(BEDT-TTF)2KHg(SCN)4, which exhibits a complex, magnetic field dependent ground state above 22.5 T at low temperatures.