arXiv subjects

H. D. Rosales

Publications and source records attributed to H. D. Rosales.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

From chiral spin liquids to skyrmion fluids and crystals, and their interplay with itinerant electrons

The physics of skyrmions, and in particular the issue of how to isolate and manipulate them individually, is a subject of major importance nowadays in the community of magnetism. In this article we present an in-depth extension of a study on this issue that was recently proposed by some of the authors [H. D. Rosales, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{130}, 106703 (2023)]. More precisely, we analyse the competition between skyrmions and a chiral spin liquid in a model on the kagome lattice. We first present an analytical overview of the low-energy states using the Luttinger-Tisza approximation. We then study the effect of thermal fluctuations thanks to large-scale Monte-Carlo simulations, and explore the entire parameter space with a magnetic field $B$, in-plane $D^{xy}$ and out-of-plane $D^z$ Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions. While skyrmions and the chiral spin liquid live in different regions of the parameter space, we show how to bring them together, stabilizing a skyrmion fluid in between; a region where the density of well-defined skyrmions can be tuned before obtaining an ordered phase. We investigate in particular the melting of the skyrmion solid. Our analysis also brings to light a long-range ordered phase with Z$_3$ symmetry. At last, we initiate the study of this rich magnetic background on conduction electrons that are coupled to the local spins. We study how the different chiral magnetic textures stabilized in this model (skyrmion solid, liquid and gas and chiral spin liquid) induce a topological Quantum Hall effect. We observe in the ordered skyrmion phase the appearance of Landau levels which persist even in the skyrmion-liquid regime and gradually disappear as the skyrmion density decreases to form a gas.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2023

Magnetic ground state and perturbations of the distorted kagome Ising metal TmAgGe

We present the magnetic orders and excitations of the distorted kagome intermetallic magnet TmAgGe. Using neutron single crystal diffraction we identify the propagation vectors $\bf{k}$ = (1/2 0 0) and $\bf{k}$ = (0 0 0) and determine the magnetic structures of the zero-field and magnetic field-induced phases for $H$ along the $a$ and [-1 1 0] crystal directions. We determine the experimental magnetic field-temperature ($H$, $T$)-phase diagram and reproduce it by Monte-Carlo simulations of an effective spin exchange Hamiltonian for one distorted kagome layer. Our model includes a strong axial single-ion anisotropy and significantly smaller exchange couplings which span up to the third-nearest neighbours within the layer. Single crystal inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements reveal an almost flat, only weakly dispersive mode around 7 meV that we use alongside bulk magnetization data to deduce the crystal-electric field (CEF) scheme for the Tm$^{3+}$ ions. Random phase approximation (RPA) calculations based on the determined CEF wave functions of the two lowest quasi-doublets enable an estimation of the interlayer coupling that is compatible with the experimental INS spectra. No evidence for low-energy spin waves associated to the magnetic order was found, which is consistent with the strongly Ising nature of the ground state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Chiral multiple-q and skyrmion phases induced by Rashba-Hund interactions in the kagome lattice

Engineering non trivial topological phases in materials, specially skyrmion-like arrangements, has been of great interest in the last decade due to its potential technological applications. In this work, we study a model of electrons coupled to a magnetic texture in the kagome lattice interacting with magnetic moments via Rashba spin orbit coupling in the large Hund interaction limit. We obtain the effective spin Hamiltonian and study the emergent low temperature phases under an external magnetic field using large scale Monte Carlo simulations. We show that strong geometric frustration, characteristic of the kagome lattice, and the competition between the effective exchange, antisymmetric and anisotropic couplings, gives rise to a large variety of non-trivial topological phases. On the one hand, for antiferromagnetic exchange coupling a pseudo-antiferromagnetic skyrmion crystal is stabilized for a broad range of parameters. As the exchange coupling gets smaller, chiral single-q and double-q phases emerge. On the other hand, in the ferromagnetic case, even though the competition of the different interactions produce a series of exotic textures, a remarkable parallel may be drawn with the pure ferromagnetic model with antisymmetric interactions. Finally, for the special case where the exchange coupling is completely suppressed, we show that, coming from a higher temperature cooperative paramagnet, an "umbrella-like" plaquette order with semiextensive degeneracy is induced by the external magnetic field.

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arXiv2022

Skyrmion-skyrmion interaction induced by itinerant electrons in a ferromagnetic strip

Magnetic skyrmions are promising spin textures for building next-generation magnetic memories and spintronic devices. Nevertheless, one of the major challenges in realizing skyrmion-based devices is the stabilization of ordered arrays of these spin textures in different geometries. Here we numerically study the skyrmion-skyrmion interaction potential that arises due to the dynamics of itinerant electrons coupled to the magnetic texture in a ferromagnetic background with racetrack geometry. We consider different topological textures (ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM)), namely: skyrmions, antiskyrmions and biskyrmions. We show that at low electron filling, for sufficiently short separation, the skyrmions strongly couple each other yielding a bound-state bound by electronic dynamics. However, when the filling is increased, the interaction potential energy presents local minima at specific values of the skyrmion-skyrmion distance. Each of these local minima correspond to energetically stable positions of skyrmions which are "protected" by well defined energy barriers. By inspecting the local charge density, we find that in the case of AFM skyrmions, the local antiferromagnetic nature prevents electronic penetration into the core, allowing the AFM skyrmions to be seen as infinite potential barriers for electrons.

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arXiv2022

Spontaneous antiferromagnetic skyrmion/antiskyrmion lattice and spiral spin liquid states in the frustrated triangular lattice

Magnetic skyrmions are topological quasiparticles of great interest for data storage applications because of their small size, high stability, and ease of manipulation via electric current. Antiferromagnetic (AF) skyrmions, with new features and huge benefits (ultra-small skyrmion sizes, no transverse deflection and efficient manipulation), have recently become the subject of intense focus. Here we show that a spontaneous antiferromagnetic skyrmion/antiskyrmion lattice (AF-SkL/ASkL) emerges in the classical Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the triangular-lattice under magnetic fields, taking only exchange interactions up to third nearest neighbors ($J_1$-$J_2$-$J_3$). By means of the Luttinger-Tisza approximation and large scale Monte-Carlo simulations (combining Parallel-Tempering and overrelaxation with the Metropolis algorithm), we present a rich $J_2$-$J_3$ magnetic phase diagram including exotic multiple-q phases, degenerate states and a spontaneous AF-SkL/ASkL lattice at intermediate magnetic fields. In addition, we show that at zero magnetic field, exotic spin liquid states with ring-like degeneracy emerge at intermediate temperatures, which are broken by thermal fluctuations selecting different multiple-q states. These findings greatly enrich the research on antiferromagnetic skyrmions in centrosymmetric materials or lattices including relatively weak Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

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arXiv2022

Machine learning techniques to construct detailed phase diagrams for skyrmion systems

Recently, there has been an increased interest in the application of machine learning (ML) techniques to a variety of problems in condensed matter physics. In this regard, of particular significance is the characterization of simple and complex phases of matter. Here, we use a ML approach to construct the full phase diagram of a well known spin model combining ferromagnetic exchange and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions where topological phases emerge. At low temperatures, the system is tuned from a spiral phase to a skyrmion crystal by a magnetic field. However, thermal fluctuations induce two types of intermediate phases, bimerons and skyrmion gas, which are not as easily determined as spirals or skyrmion crystals. We resort to large scale Monte Carlo simulations to obtain low temperature spin configurations, and train a convolutional neural network (CNN), taking only snapshots at specific values of the DM couplings, to classify between the different phases, focusing on the intermediate and intricate topological textures. We then apply the CNN to higher temperature configurations and to other DM values, to construct a detailed magnetic field-temperature phase diagram, achieving outstanding results. We discuss the importance of including the disordered paramagnetic phases in order to get the phase boundaries, and finally, we compare our approach with other ML algorithms.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Anisotropy driven response of skyrmion lattice in MnSc$_2$S$_4$ to applied magnetic fields

We theoretically and experimentally study the stability of the unconventional fractional antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattice (AF-SkL) in Mn$_2$S$_4$ spinel under magnetic fields applied along the $[$1-10$]$ crystal direction. By performing numerical Monte Carlo simulations for the minimal effective spin model that we proposed in Ref. [S. Gao, et al., Nature 586, 37-41 (2020)], we show that the skyrmion lattice is aligned within the equivalent and symmetric $[$1-11$]$ or $[$1-11$]$ planes, which are equally inclined to the applied magnetic field. We attribute this behavior to the magnetic anisotropy of the host material. Neutron single crystal diffraction presents a very good agreement with the predictions of the effective model. It reveals that the topological spin texture gets destabilized at low temperatures and moderate magnetic fields and is replaced by a conical phase for B// $[$1-10$]$. The present study elucidates the central role of the magnetic anisotropy in the stabilization of antiferromagnetic skyrmionic states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Topological phase transition driven by magnetic field and topological Hall effect in an antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattice

The topological Hall effect (THE), given by a composite of electric and topologically non-trivial spin texture is commonly observed in magnetic skyrmion crystals. Here we present a study of the THE of electrons coupled to antiferromagnetic Skyrmion lattices (AF-SkX). We show that, in the strong Hund coupling limit, topologically non-trivial phases emerge at specific fillings. Interestingly, at low filling an external field controlling the magnetic texture, drives the system from a conventional insulator phase to a phase exhibiting THE. Such behavior suggests the occurrence of a topological transition which is confirmed by a closing of the bulk-gap that is followed by its reopening, appearing simultaneously with a single pair of helical edge states. This transition is further verified by the calculation of the the Chern numbers and Berry curvature. We also compute a variety of observables in order to quantify the THE, namely: Hall conductivity and the orbital magnetization of electrons moving in the AF-SkX texture.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Chiral phase transition and thermal Hall effect in an anisotropic spin model on the kagome lattice

We present a study of the thermal Hall effect in the extended Heisenberg model with $XXZ$ anisotropy in the kagome lattice. This model has the particularity that, in the classical case, and for a broad region in parameter space, an external magnetic field induces a chiral symmetry breaking: the ground state is a doubly degenerate $q=0$ order with either positive or negative net chirality. Here, we focus on the effect of this chiral phase transition in the thermal Hall conductivity using Linear-Spin-Waves theory. We explore the topology and calculate the Chern numbers of the magnonic bands, obtaining a variety of topological phase transitions. We also compute the magnonic effect to the critical temperature associated with the chiral phase transition ($T_c^{SW}$). Our main result is that, the thermal Hall conductivity, which is null for $T>T_c^{SW}$, becomes non-zero as a consequence of the spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking at low temperatures. Therefore, we present a simple model where it is possible to "switch" on/off the thermal transport properties introducing a magnetic field and heating or cooling the system.

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arXiv2020

Fractional antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattice induced by anisotropic couplings

Magnetic skyrmions are topological solitons with a nanoscale winding spin texture that hold promise for spintronics applications. Until now, skyrmions have been observed in a variety of magnets that exhibit nearly parallel alignment for the neighbouring spins, but theoretically, skyrmions with anti-parallel neighbouring spins are also possible. The latter, antiferromagnetic skyrmions, may allow more flexible control compared to the conventional ferromagnetic skyrmions. Here, by combining neutron scattering and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that a fractional antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattice with an incipient meron character is stabilized in MnSc$_2$S$_4$ through anisotropic couplings. Our work demonstrates that the theoretically proposed antiferromagnetic skyrmions can be stabilized in real materials and represents an important step towards implementing the antiferromagnetic-skyrmion based spintronic devices.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Field-induced pseudo-skyrmion phase in the antiferromagnetic kagome lattice

We study the effects of an in-plane Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction under an external magnetic field in the highly frustrated kagome antiferromagnet. We focus on the low-temperature phase diagram, which we obtain through extensive Monte-Carlo simulations. We show that, given the geometric frustration of the lattice, highly non trivial phases emerge. At low fields, lowering the temperature from a cooperative paramagnet phase, the kagome elementary plaquettes form non-coplanar arrangements with non-zero chirality, retaining a partial degeneracy. As the field increases, there is a transition from this "locally chiral phase" to an interpenetrated spiral phase with broken $\mathcal{Z}_{3}$ symmetry. Furthermore, we identify a quasi-skyrmion phase in a large portion of the magnetic phase diagram, which we characterize with a topological order parameter, the scalar chirality by triangular sublattice. This pseudo-skyrmion phase (pSkX) consists of a crystal arrangement of three interpenetrated non-Bravais lattices of skyrmion-like textures, but with a non-(fully)-polarized core. The edges of these pseudo-skyrmions remain polarized with the field, as the cores are progressively canted. Results show that this pseudo-skyrmion phase is stable up to the lowest simulated temperatures, and for a broad range of magnetic fields.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

From skyrmions to Z2 vortices in distorted chiral antiferromagnets

Swirling topological spin configurations, known as magnetic skyrmions, are known to be stabilised in chiral ferromagnets with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). In particular, for appropriate values of the external magnetic field they appear in a topological crystalline phase, termed Skyrmion crystal phase (SkX). A similar phenomenon is present in the antiferromagnetic case, for the Heisenberg triangular antiferromagnet (HTAF) with DMI. Here, the most striking feature is that the emergent topological phase consists of three SkX interpenetrated sublattices. On the other hand, the pure HTAF, being described by an SO(3) order parameter, can host Z2 vortices. This rises the fundamental question on whether both non trivial structures are related. In this paper we unravel a hidden connection between both topological entities by studying the HTAF with anisotropic DMI. To this end, we combine an effective field theory description, the Luttinger-Tisza approximation and Monte Carlo simulations. We show that even a slight anisotropy in the DMI proves to be the key ingredient to deform the interpenetrated SkX structure and reveal a Z2-vortex crystal.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

From frustrated magnetism to spontaneous Chern insulators

We study the behaviour of electrons interacting with a classical magnetic background via a strong Hund coupling. The magnetic background results from a Hamiltonian which favours at low temperature the emergence of a phase with non-zero scalar chirality. The strong Hund's coupling combined with the total chirality of the classical spins induces in the electrons an effective flux which results in the realisation of a band structure with non zero Chern number. First, we consider as a magnetic background a classical spin system with spontaneous net chirality. We study the Density of States (DoS) and Hall conductance in order to analyse the topological transitions, as a function of the Fermi energy and the temperature of the classical spins. We also study a similar model in which the Chern number of the filled bands can be "tuned" with the external magnetic field, resulting in a topological insulator in which the direction of the chiral edge mode can be reverted by reversing the orientantion of the magnetic field applied to the classical magnetic system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Stability of skyrmions in perturbed ferromagnetic chiral magnets

Magnetic skyrmions, topological spin textures observed in chiral magnets, have attracted huge interest due to their applications in the field of spintronics. In this work we study the stability of circular isolated skyrmions in ferromagnetic chiral magnets under the influence of different perturbations and external fields. To this end we develop a general systematic procedure based in a harmonic expansion series of the skyrmion boundary which allows the identifycation of the breakdown of the skyrmion circular shape on each instability channel independently. We apply our approach to a few representative spin models with actual interest in order to obtain the zero temperature phase diagram, where isolated skyrmions emerge as metaestable states. The results presented in this paper are in agreement with properties of isolated skyrmions observed in recent experiments opening the possibility of extending the analysis to more complex situations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Phase transitions, order by disorder and finite entropy in the Ising antiferromagnetic bilayer honeycomb lattice

We present an analytical and numerical study of the Ising model on a bilayer honeycomb lattice including interlayer frustration and coupling with an external magnetic field. First, we discuss the exact $T=0$ phase diagram, where we find finite entropy phases for different magnetisations. Then, we study the magnetic properties of the system at finite temperature using complementary analytical techniques (Bethe lattice), and two types of Monte-Carlo algorithms (Metropolis and Wang-Landau). We characterize the phase transitions and discuss the phase diagrams. The system presents a rich phenomenology: there are first and second order transitions, low-temperature phases with extensive degeneracy, and order-by-disorder state selection.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2017

Phase ordering dynamics of reconstituting particles

We consider the large-time dynamics of one-dimensional processes involving adsorption and desorption of extended hard-core particles (dimers, trimers,\,$\cdots,k$-mers), while interacting through their constituent monomers. Desorption can occur whether or not these latter adsorbed together, which leads to reconstitution of $k$-mers and the appearance of sectors of motion with nonlocal conservation laws for $k \ge 3$. Dynamic exponents of the sector including the empty chain are evaluated by finite-size scaling analyses of the relaxation times embodied in the spectral gaps of evolution operators. For attractive interactions it is found that in the low-temperature limit such time scales converge to those of the Glauber dynamics, thus suggesting a diffusive universality class for $k \ge 2$. This is also tested by simulated quenches down to $T=0$ where a common scaling function emerges. By contrast, under repulsive interactions the low-temperature dynamics is characterized by metastable states which decay subdiffusively to a highly degenerate and partially jammed phase.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2016

Composite Spin Crystal Phase in Antiferromagnetic Chiral Magnets

We study the classical antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the triangular lattice with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions in a magnetic field. We focus in particular in the emergence of a composite spin crystal phase, dubbed antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattice, that was recently observed in [Phys. Rev. B 92, 214439 (2015)] for intermediate fields. This complex phase can be made up from three inter-penetrated skyrmion lattices, one for each sub-lattice of the original triangular one. Following these recent numerical results, in this paper we explicitly construct the low-energy effective action that reproduces the correct phenomenology and could serve as a starting point to study the coupling to charge carriers, lattice vibrations, structural disorder and transport phenomena.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Intermediate magnetisation state and competing orders in Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ and Ho$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$

Among the frustrated magnetic materials, spin-ice stands out as a particularly interesting system. Residual entropy, freezing and glassiness, Kasteleyn transitions and fractionalisation of excitations in three dimensions all stem from a simple classical Hamiltonian. But is the usual spin-ice Hamiltonian a correct description of the experimental systems? Here we address this issue by measuring magnetic susceptibility in the two most studied spin-ice compounds, Dy$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ and Ho$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$, using a vector magnet. Using these results, and guided by a theoretical analysis of possible distortions to the pyrochlore lattice, we construct an effective Hamiltonian and explore it using Monte Carlo simulations. We show how this Hamiltonian reproduces the experimental results, including the formation of a phase of intermediate polarisation, and gives important information about the possible ground-state of real spin-ice systems. Our work suggests an unusual situation in which distortions might contribute to the preservation rather than relief of the effects of frustration.

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