arXiv subjects

G. Lapertot

Publications and source records attributed to G. Lapertot.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Symmetry of the Excitations in the Hidden Order State of URu2Si2

We have performed polarized electronic Raman scattering on URu2Si2 single crystals at low temperature down to 8 K in the hidden order state and under magnetic field up to 10 T. The hidden order state is characterized by a sharp excitation at 1.7 meV and a gap in the electronic continuum below 6.8 meV. Both Raman signatures are of pure A2g symmetry. By comparing the behavior of the Raman sharp excitation and the neutron resonance at Q0=(0,0,1), we provide new evidence, constrained by selection rules of the two probes, that the hidden order state breaks the translational symmetry along the c axis such that Gamma and Z points fold on top of each other. The observation of these distinct Raman features with a peculiar A2g symmetry as a signature of the hidden order phase places strong constraints on current theories of the hidden order in URu2Si2.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Lattice dynamics of the heavy fermion compound URu$_2$Si$_2$

We report a comprehensive investigation of the lattice dynamics of URu$_2$Si$_2$ as a function of temperature using Raman scattering, optical conductivity and inelastic neutron scattering measurements as well as theoretical {\it ab initio} calculations. The main effects on the optical phonon modes are related to Kondo physics. The B$_{1g}$ ($Γ_3$ symmetry) phonon mode slightly softens below $\sim$100~K, in connection with the previously reported softening of the elastic constant, $C_{11}-C_{12}$, of the same symmetry, both observations suggesting a B$_{1g}$ symmetry-breaking instability in the Kondo regime. Through optical conductivity, we detect clear signatures of strong electron-phonon coupling, with temperature dependent spectral weight and Fano line shape of some phonon modes. Surprisingly, the line shapes of two phonon modes, E$_u$(1) and A$_{2u}$(2), show opposite temperature dependencies. The A$_{2u}$(2) mode loses its Fano shape below 150 K, whereas the E$_u$(1) mode acquires it below 100~K, in the Kondo cross-over regime. This may point out to momentum-dependent Kondo physics. By inelastic neutron scattering measurements, we have drawn the full dispersion of the phonon modes between 300~K and 2~K. No remarkable temperature dependence has been obtained including through the hidden order transition. {\it Ab initio} calculations with the spin-orbit coupling are in good agreement with the data except for a few low energy branches with propagation in the (a,b) plane.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Giant overlap between the magnetic and superconducting phases of CeAu2Si2 under pressure

High pressure provides a powerful means for exploring unconventional superconductivity which appears mostly on the border of magnetism. Here we report the discovery of pressure-induced heavy fermion superconductivity up to 2.5 K in the antiferromanget CeAu2Si2 (TN ~ 10 K). Remarkably, the magnetic and superconducting phases are found to overlap across an unprecedentedly wide pressure interval from 11.8 to 22.3 GPa. Moreover, both the bulk Tc and TM are strongly enhanced when increasing the pressure from 16.7 to 20.2 GPa. Tc reaches a maximum at a pressure slightly below pc ~ 22.5 GPa, at which magnetic order disappears. Furthermore, the scaling behavior of the resistivity provides evidence for a continuous delocalization of the Ce 4f-electrons associated with a critical endpoint lying just above pc. We show that the maximum Tc of CeAu2Si2 actually occurs at almost the same unit-cell volume as that of CeCu2Si2 and CeCu2Ge2, and when the Kondo and crystal field splitting energies becomes comparable. Dynamical mean-filed theory calculations suggest that the peculiar behavior in pressurized CeAu2Si2 might be related to its Ce 4f-orbital occupancy. Our results not only provide a unique example of the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism, but also underline the role of orbital physics in understanding Ce-based heavy fermion systems.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Switching of the magnetic order in CeRhIn$_{5-x}$Sn$_{x}$ in the vicinity of its quantum critical point

We report neutron diffraction experiments performed in the tetragonal antiferromagnetic heavy fermion system CeRhIn$_{5-x}$Sn$_{x}$ in its ($x$, $T$) phase diagram up to the vicinity of the critical concentration $x_c$ $\approx$ 0.40, where long range magnetic order is suppressed. The propagation vector of the magnetic structure is found to be $\bf{k_{IC}}$=(1/2, 1/2, $k_l$) with $k_l$ increasing from $k_l$=0.298 to $k_l$=0.410 when $x$ increases from $x$=0 to $x$=0.26. Surprisingly, for $x$=0.30, the order has changed drastically and a commensurate antiferromagnetism with $\bf{k_{C}}$=(1/2, 1/2, 0) is found. This concentration is located in the proximity of the quantum critical point where superconductivity is expected.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Understanding the $μ$SR spectra of MnSi without magnetic polarons

Transverse-field muon-spin rotation ($μ$SR) experiments were performed on a single crystal sample of the non-centrosymmetric system MnSi. The observed angular dependence of the muon precession frequencies matches perfectly the one of the Mn-dipolar fields acting on the muons stopping at a 4a position of the crystallographic structure. The data provide a precise determination of the magnetic dipolar tensor. In addition, we have calculated the shape of the field distribution expected below the magnetic transition temperature $T_C$ at the 4a muon-site when no external magnetic field is applied. We show that this field distribution is consistent with the one reported by zero-field $μ$SR studies. Finally, we present ab initio calculations based on the density-functional theory which confirm the position of the muon stopping site inferred from transverse-field $μ$SR. In view of the presented evidence we conclude that the $μ$SR response of MnSi can be perfectly and fully understood without invoking a hypothetical magnetic polaron state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Magnetic order in Ce0.95Nd0.05CoIn5: the Q-phase at zero magnetic field

We report neutron scattering experiment results revealing the nature of the magnetic order occurring in the heavy fermion superconductor Ce0.95Nd0.05CoIn5, a case for which an antiferromagnetic state is stabilized at a temperature below the superconducting transition one. We evidence an incommensurate order and its propagation vector is found to be identical to that of the magnetic field induced antiferromagnetic order occurring in the stoichiometric superconductor CeCoIn5, the so-called Q-phase. The commonality between these two cases suggests that superconductivity is a requirement for the formation of this kind of magnetic order and the proposed mechanism is the enhancement of nesting condition by d-wave order parameter with nodes in the nesting area.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Magnetic Polarization and Fermi Surface Instability: Case of YbRh2Si2

We report thermoelectric and resitivity measurements of antiferromagnetic heavy fermion compound YRh2Si2 at low temperatures down and under high magnetic field. At low temperature, the thermoelectric power and the resistivity present several distinct anomalies as a function of field around H_0 ~ 9.5 T when the magnetic polarization reaches a critical value. The anomalies are accompanied with a change of sign from negative at low magnetic field to positive at high field (H>H_0) and are resulting from a Lifshitz-type topological transition of the Fermi surface. A logarithmic divergence of S/T at T \to 0 K just above H_0 (H=11.5 T) is quite comparable to the well known divergence of S/T in the temperature range above the antiferromagnetic order at H=0 T referred to as non Fermi liquid behavior. The transition will be compared to the well characterized Fermi surface change in CeRu2Si2 at its pseudo-metamagnetic transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Strong pressure dependence of the magnetic penetration depth in single crystals of the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 studied by muon spin rotation

In the tetragonal heavy fermion system CeCoIn5 the unconventional superconducting state is probed by means of muon spin rotation. The pressure dependence (0-1 GPa) of the basal-plane magnetic penetration depth (λ_a), the penetration depth anisotropy (γ=λ_c/λ_a) and the temperature dependence of 1/λ_i^2 (i=a,c) were studied in single crystals. A strong decrease of λ_a with pressure was observed, while γand λ_i^2(0)/λ_i^2(T) are pressure independent. A linear relationship between 1/λ_a^2(270 mK) and Tc was also found. The large decrease of λ_a with pressure is the signature of an increase of the number of superconducting quasiparticles by a factor of about 2.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Verification of the Wiedemann-Franz law in YbRh2Si2 at a quantum critical point

The thermal conductivity measurements have been performed on the heavy-fermion compound YbRh2Si2 down to 0.04 K and under magnetic fields through a quantum critical point (QCP) at Bc = 0.66 T || c-axis. In the limit as T -> 0, we find that the Wiedemann-Franz law is satisfied within experimental error at the QCP despite the destruction of the standard signature of Fermi liquid. Our results place strong constraints on models that attempt to describe the nature of unconventional quantum criticality of YbRh2Si2.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

(p,T,H) phase diagram of Heavy Fermion systems : Some systematics and some surprises from ytterbium

Pressure is the cleanest way to tune heavy fermion systems to a quantum phase transition in order to study the rich physics and competing phases, and the comparison between ytterbium and cerium systems is particularly fruitful. We briefly review the mechanisms in play and show some examples of expected and unexpected behaviour. We emphasize the importance of the valence changes under pressure and show how modern synchrotron techniques can accurately determine this, including at low temperature.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Reentrant valence transition in EuO at high pressures: beyond the bond-valence model

The pressure-dependent relation between Eu valence and lattice structure in model compound EuO is studied with synchrotron-based x-ray spectroscopic and diffraction techniques. Contrary to expectation, a 7% volume collapse at $\approx$ 45 GPa is accompanied by a reentrant Eu valence transition into a $\emph{lower}$ valence state. In addition to highlighting the need for probing both structure and electronic states directly when valence information is sought in mixed-valent systems, the results also show that widely used bond-valence methods fail to quantitatively describe the complex electronic valence behavior of EuO under pressure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Evidence for an exotic magnetic transition in the triangular spin system FeGa2S4

We report positive muon spin relaxation measurements on the triangular lattice magnetic system FeGa2S4. A magnetic transition not previously detected by specific heat and magnetic susceptibility measurements is found in zero field at T^* \simeq 30 K. It is observed through the temperature dependencies of the signal amplitude and the spin-lattice relaxation rate. This transition is therefore not a conventional magnetic phase transition. Since persistent spin dynamics is observed down to 0.1 K, the ground state cannot be of the canonical spin-glass type, which could be suggested from hysteresis effects in the bulk susceptibility below T_f \simeq 16 K. These results are compared to those found for the isomorph NiGa2S4. It is argued that the fate of the transition, which has been interpreted in terms of the Z_2 topological transition in this latter system, is probably different in FeGa2S4.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Valence Instability of YbCu$_2$Si$_2$ through its quantum critical point

We report Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering measurements (RIXS) in YbCu$_2$Si$_2$ at the Yb L$_{3}$ edge under high pressure (up to 22 GPa) and at low temperatures (down to 7 K) with emphasis on the vicinity of the transition to a magnetic ordered state. We find a continuous valence change towards the trivalent state with increasing pressure but with a pronounced change of slope close to the critical pressure. Even at 22 GPa the Yb$^{+3}$ state is not fully achieved. The pressure where this feature is observed decreases as the temperature is reduced to 9 GPa at 7K, a value close to the critical pressure (\itshape{p\normalfont{$_c$}}\normalfont $\approx$ 7.5 GPa) where magnetic order occurs. The decrease in the valence with decreasing temperature previously reported at ambient pressure is confirmed and is found to be enhanced at higher pressures. We also compare the f electron occupancy between YbCu$_2$Si$_2$ and its Ce-counterpart, CeCu$_2$Si$_2$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Thermoelectric response near a quantum critical point of beta-YbAlB4 and YbRh2Si2: A comparative study

The thermoelectric coefficients have been measured on the Yb-based heavy fermion compounds beta-YbAlB4 and YbRh2Si2 down to a very low temperature. We observe a striking difference in the behavior of the Seebeck coefficient, S in the vicinity of the Quantum Critical Point (QCP) in the two systems. As the critical field is approached, S/T enhances in beta-YbAlB4 but is drastically reduced in YbRh2Si2. While in the former system, the ratio of thermopower-to-specific heat remains constant, it drastically drops near the QCP in YbRh2Si2. In both systems, on the other hand, the Nernst coefficient shows a diverging behavior near the QCP. The results provide a new window to the way various energy scales of the system behave and eventually vanish near a QCP.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Ferromagnetism in YbCu2Si2 at high pressure

We demonstrate from detailed ac-susceptibility and calorimetry studies under hydrostatic pressure that YbCu2Si2 probably orders ferromagnetically at high pressure. The (p,H,T) phase diagram, shows that the transition temperature increases with pressure, but also with an applied magnetic field. We suggest that many ytterbium systems may show a trend towards ferromagnetism and we discuss the possible reasons for this. We also examine the implications, including the potential of YbCu2Si2 and other Yb compounds for further studies of the rich physical properties that may occur near a ferromagnetic critical point.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Evolution of the spin resonance of CeCoIn$_{5}$ as a function of magnetic field and La substitution

We report the evolution of the spin resonance in CeCoIn$_{5}$ as a function of magnetic field and lanthanum substitution. In both cases, the resonance peak position shifts to lower energy and the lineshape broadens. For La doping, it is found that the ratio $Ω_{res}/k_{B}T_{c}$ is almost constant as a function of $x$. Under magnetic field the decrease of the excitation energy is similar for H// [1,$\bar{1}$,0] and [1,1,1] and faster than the decrease of $T_{c}(H)$. The Zeeman effect found for the field applied along [1,$\bar{1}$,0] corresponds to the ground state magnetic moment.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Effects of La non-magnetic impurities on the spin resonance of CeCoIn$_{5}$

The influence of La non magnetic impurities on the spin dynamics of CeCoIn$_{5}$ was studied by inelastic neutron scattering. In La-substituted systems, the spin resonance peak (observed at $Ω_{res}=0.55 meV$ in the pure system) is shifted to lower energies but the ratio $Ω_{res}/k_{B}T_{c}$ remains unchanged. The excitation broadens till it reaches 0.3 meV equal to the value of the quasi-elastic signal in the normal state. The evolution of La substitution is compared with the evolution of the magnetic resonance in Ni and Zn substituted YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Thermodynamic phase diagram of Fe(Se$_{0.5}$Te$_{0.5}$) single crystals up to 28 Tesla

We report on specific heat ($C_p$), transport, Hall probe and penetration depth measurements performed on Fe(Se$_{0.5}$Te$_{0.5}$) single crystals ($T_c \sim 14$ K). The thermodynamic upper critical field $H_{c2}$ lines has been deduced from $C_p$ measurements up to 28 T for both $H\|c$ and $H\|ab$, and compared to the lines deduced from transport measurements (up to 55 T in pulsed magnetic fields). We show that this {\it thermodynamic} $H_{c2}$ line presents a very strong downward curvature for $T \rightarrow T_c$ which is not visible in transport measurements. This temperature dependence associated to an upward curvature of the field dependence of the Sommerfeld coefficient confirm that $H_{c2}$ is limited by paramagnetic effects. Surprisingly this paramagnetic limit is visible here up to $T/T_c \sim 0.99$ (for $H\|ab$) which is the consequence of a very small value of the coherence length $ξ_c(0) \sim 4 Å$ (and $ξ_{ab}(0) \sim 15 Å$), confirming the strong renormalisation of the effective mass (as compared to DMFT calculations) previously observed in ARPES measurements [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 097002 (2010)]. $H_{c1}$ measurements lead to $λ_{ab}(0) = 430 \pm 50$ nm and $λ_c(0) = 1600 \pm 200$ nm and the corresponding anisotropy is approximatively temperature independent ($\sim 4$), being close to the anisotropy of $H_{c2}$ for $T\rightarrow T_c$. The temperature dependence of both $λ$ ($\propto T^2$) and the electronic contribution to the specific heat confirm the non conventional coupling mechanism in this system.

cond-mat.supr-con↗