arXiv subjects

Hechang Lei

Publications and source records attributed to Hechang Lei.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Tailored tunnel magnetoresistance response in three ultrathin chromium trihalides

Materials that demonstrate large magnetoresistance have attracted significant interest for many decades. Recently, extremely large tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) has been reported by several groups across ultrathin CrI$_3$ by exploiting the weak antiferromagnetic coupling between adjacent layers. Here, we report a comparative study of TMR in all three chromium trihalides (CrX$_3$, X= Cl, Br, or I) in the two-dimensional limit. As the materials exhibit different transition temperatures and interlayer magnetic ordering in the ground state, tunneling measurements allow for an easy determination of the field-temperature phase diagram for the three systems. By changing sample thickness and biasing conditions, we then demonstrate how to maximize and further tailor the TMR response at different temperatures for each material. In particular, near the magnetic transition temperature, TMR is non-saturating up to the highest fields measured for all three compounds owing to the large, field-induced exchange coupling.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Intrinsic anomalous Nernst effect amplified by disorder in a half-metallic semimetal

Intrinsic anomalous Nernst effect (ANE), like its Hall counterpart, is generated by Berry curvature of electrons in solids. Little is known about its response to disorder. In contrast, the link between the amplitude of the ordinary Nernst coefficient and the mean-free-path is extensively documented. Here, by studying Co$_3$Sn$_2$S$_2$, a topological half-metallic semimetal hosting sizable and recognizable ordinary and anomalous Nernst responses, we demonstrate an anti-correlation between the amplitude of ANE and carrier mobility. We argue that the observation, paradoxically, establishes the intrinsic origin of the ANE in this system. We conclude that various intrinsic off-diagonal coefficients are set by the way the Berry curvature is averaged on a grid involving the mean-free-path, the Fermi wavelength and the de Broglie thermal length.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Magnetic-field control of topological electronic response near room temperature in correlated Kagome magnets

Strongly correlated Kagome magnets are promising candidates for achieving controllable topological devices owing to the rich interplay between inherent Dirac fermions and correlation-driven magnetism. Here we report tunable local magnetism and its intriguing control of topological electronic response near room temperature in the Kagome magnet Fe3Sn2 using small angle neutron scattering, muon spin rotation, and magnetoresistivity measurement techniques. The average bulk spin direction and magnetic domain texture can be tuned effectively by small magnetic fields. Magnetoresistivity, in response, exhibits a measurable degree of anisotropic weak localization behavior, which allows the direct control of Dirac fermions with strong electron correlations. Our work points to a novel platform for manipulating emergent phenomena in strongly-correlated topological materials relevant to future applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Near-room-temperature giant topological Hall effect in antiferromagnetic kagome metal YMn6Sn6

The kagome lattice, consisting of interconnected triangles and hexagons uniquely, is an excellent model system for study frustrated magnetism, electronic correlation and topological electronic structure. After an intensive investigation on frustrated magnetism in insulating magnetic kagome lattices, the interplay between charge and spin degrees of freedom via spin-orbital coupling in metallic systems (kagome metals) has become an attractive topic recently. Here, we study centrosymmetric YMn6Sn6 with Mn kagome lattice. We discover that it exhibits giant topological Hall effect near room temperature, ascribed to the field-induced non-collinear spin texture, possibly a skyrmion lattice (SkL) state. Combined with the large intrinsic anomalous Hall effect, YMn6Sn6 shows a synergic effect of real- and momentum-space Berry phase on physical properties. Since the features of tunable magnetic interaction and flexible structure in this large homologous series, it provides a novel platform for understanding the influence of electronic correlations on topological quantum states in both real and momentum spaces.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Ionic-liquid-gating induced protonation and superconductivity in FeSe, FeSe0.93S0.07, ZrNCl, 1T-TaS2, and Bi2Se3

We report protonation in several compounds by an ionic-liquid-gating method, with optimized gating conditions. This leads to single superconducting phases for several compounds. Non-volatility of protons allow post-gating magnetization and transport measurements. The superconducting transition temperature $T_C$ is enhanced to 43.5~K for FeSe$_{0.93}$S$_{0.07}$, and 41~K for FeSe after protonation. Superconductivity with $T_c$$\approx$15~K for ZrNCl, $\approx$7.2~K for 1$T$-TaS$_2$, and $\approx$3.8~K for Bi$_2$Se$_3$ are induced after protonation. Electric transport in protonated FeSe$_{0.93}$S$_{0.07}$ confirms high-temperature superconductivity. Our $^{1}$H NMR measurements on protonated FeSe$_{1-x}$S$_{x}$ reveal enhanced spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/^{1}T_1$ with increasing $x$, which is consistent with LDA calculations that H$^{+}$ are located in the interstitial sites close to the anions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Evolution of interlayer and intralayer magnetism in three atomically thin chromium trihalides

We conduct a comprehensive study of three different magnetic semiconductors, CrI$_3$, CrBr$_3$, and CrCl$_3$, by incorporating both few- and bi-layer samples in van der Waals tunnel junctions. We find that the interlayer magnetic ordering, exchange gap, magnetic anisotropy, as well as magnon excitations evolve systematically with changing halogen atom. By fitting to a spin wave theory that accounts for nearest neighbor exchange interactions, we are able to further determine a simple spin Hamiltonian describing all three systems. These results extend the 2D magnetism platform to Ising, Heisenberg, and XY spin classes in a single material family. Using magneto-optical measurements, we additionally demonstrate that ferromagnetism can be stabilized down to monolayer in more isotropic CrBr$_3$, with transition temperature still close to that of the bulk.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Negative flat band magnetism in a spin-orbit coupled correlated kagome magnet

It has long been speculated that electronic flat band systems can be a fertile ground for hosting novel emergent phenomena including unconventional magnetism and superconductivity. Although flat bands are known to exist in a few systems such as heavy fermion materials and twisted bilayer graphene, their microscopic roles and underlying mechanisms in generating emergent behavior remain elusive. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy to elucidate the atomically resolved electronic states and their magnetic response in the kagome magnet Co3Sn2S2. We observe a pronounced peak at the Fermi level, which is identified to arise from the kinetically frustrated kagome flat band. Increasing magnetic field up to +-8T, this state exhibits an anomalous magnetization-polarized Zeeman shift, dominated by an orbital moment in opposite to the field direction. Such negative magnetism can be understood as spin-orbit coupling induced quantum phase effects tied to non-trivial flat band systems. We image the flat band peak, resolve the associated negative magnetism, and provide its connection to the Berry curvature field, showing that Co3Sn2S2 is a rare example of kagome magnet where the low energy physics can be dominated by the spin-orbit coupled flat band. Our methodology of probing band-resolved ordering phenomena such as spin-orbit magnetism can also be applied in future experiments to elucidate other exotic phenomena including flat band superconductivity and anomalous quantum transport.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Intertwined magnetic and nematic orders in semiconducting KFe$_{0.8}$Ag$_{1.2}$Te$_2$

Superconductivity in the iron pnictides emerges from metallic parent compounds exhibiting intertwined stripe-type magnetic order and nematic order, with itinerant electrons suggested to be essential for both. Here we use X-ray and neutron scattering to show that a similar intertwined state is realized in semiconducting KFe$_{0.8}$Ag$_{1.2}$Te$_2$ (K$_5$Fe$_4$Ag$_6$Te$_{10}$) without itinerant electrons. We find Fe atoms in KFe$_{0.8}$Ag$_{1.2}$Te$_2$ form isolated $2\times2$ blocks, separated by nonmagnetic Ag atoms. Long-range magnetic order sets in below $T_{\rm N}\approx35$ K, with magnetic moments within the $2\times2$ Fe blocks ordering into the stripe-type configuration. A nematic order accompanies the magnetic transition, manifest as a structural distortion that breaks the fourfold rotational symmetry of the lattice. The nematic orders in KFe$_{0.8}$Ag$_{1.2}$Te$_2$ and iron pnictide parent compounds are similar in magnitude and how they relate to the magnetic order, indicating a common origin. Since KFe$_{0.8}$Ag$_{1.2}$Te$_2$ is a semiconductor without itinerant electrons, this indicates that local-moment magnetic interactions are integral to its magnetic and nematic orders, and such interactions may play a key role in iron-based superconductivity.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Ferromagnetic van der Waals crystal VI3

We report structural, physical properties and electronic structure of van der Waals (vdW) crystal VI3. Detailed analysis reveals that VI3 exhibits a structural transition from monoclinic C2/m to rhombohedral R-3 at Ts ~ 79 K, similar to CrX3 (X = Cl, Br, I). Below Ts, a long-range ferromagnetic (FM) transition emerges at Tc ~ 50 K. The local moment of V in VI3 is close to the high-spin state V3+ ion (S = 1). Theoretical calculation suggests that VI3 may be a Mott insulator with the band gap of about 0.84 eV. In addition, VI3 has a relative small interlayer binding energy and can be exfoliated easily down to few layers experimentally. Therefore, VI3 is a candidate of two-dimensional FM semiconductor. It also provides a novel platform to explore 2D magnetism and vdW heterostructures in S = 1 system.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Raman fingerprint of two terahertz spin wave branches in a two-dimensional honeycomb Ising ferromagnet

Two-dimensional (2D) magnetism has been long sought-after and only very recently realized in atomic crystals of magnetic van der Waals materials. So far, a comprehensive understanding of the magnetic excitations in such 2D magnets remains missing. Here we report polarized micro-Raman spectroscopy studies on a 2D honeycomb ferromagnet CrI3. We show the definitive evidence of two sets of zero-momentum spin waves at frequencies of 2.28 terahertz (THz) and 3.75 THz, respectively, that are three orders of magnitude higher than those of conventional ferromagnets. By tracking the thickness dependence of both spin waves, we reveal that both are surface spin waves with lifetimes an order of magnitude longer than their temporal periods. Our results of two branches of high-frequency, long-lived surface spin waves in 2D CrI3 demonstrate intriguing spin dynamics and intricate interplay with fluctuations in the 2D limit, thus opening up opportunities for ultrafast spintronics incorporating 2D magnets.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Rare-earth chalcogenides: A large family of triangular lattice spin liquid candidate

Frustrated quantum magnets are expected to host many exotic quantum spin states like quantum spin liquid (QSL), and have attracted numerous interest in modern condensed matter physics. The discovery of the triangular lattice spin liquid candidate YbMgGaO$_4$ stimulated an increasing attention on the rare-earth-based frustrated magnets with strong spin-orbit coupling. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of a large family of rare-earth chalcogenides AReCh$_2$ (A = alkali or monovalent ions, Re = rare earth, Ch = O, S, Se). The family compounds share the same structure (R$\bar{3}$m) as YbMgGaO$_4$, and antiferromagnetically coupled rare-earth ions form perfect triangular layers that are well separated along the $c$-axis. Specific heat and magnetic susceptibility measurements on NaYbO$_2$, NaYbS$_2$ and NaYbSe$_2$ single crystals and polycrystals, reveal no structural or magnetic transition down to 50mK. The family, having the simplest structure and chemical formula among the known QSL candidates, removes the issue on possible exchange disorders in YbMgGaO$_4$. More excitingly, the rich diversity of the family members allows tunable charge gaps, variable exchange coupling, and many other advantages. This makes the family an ideal platform for fundamental research of QSLs and its promising applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Observation of cyclotron antiresonance in the topological insulator Bi2Te3

We report on the experimental observation of a cyclotron antiresonance in a canonical 3D topological insulator Bi$_2$Te$_3$. Magneto-reflectance response of single crystal Bi$_2$Te$_3$ was studied in 18 Tesla magnetic field, and compared to other topological insulators studied before, the main spectral feature is inverted. We refer to it as an antiresonance. In order to describe this unconventional behavior we propose the idea of an imaginary cyclotron resonance frequency, which on the other hand indicates that the form of the Lorentz force that magnetic field exerts on charge carriers takes an unconventional form.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Experimental observation of bulk nodal lines and electronic surface states in ZrB$_2$

Topological nodal-line semimetals are characterized by the line-contact bulk band crossings and the topological surface states. Breaking certain protecting symmetry turns this system into a Dirac semimetal or Weyl semimetal that hosts zero-dimensional isolated nodal points. Recent advances in band theory predicted a topological nodal-line semimetal state possessing a new type of nodal line in AlB$_2$-type diborides. Here, we report an experimental realization of nodal-line fermions and associated surface states near the Fermi energy in ZrB$_2$ by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with first-principles calculations. The Dirac nodal lines in ZrB$_2$ wind into two groups of nodal rings, which are linked together along the $Γ$-$K$ direction. We further observe a distinct surface state connecting to each nodal line, indicative of the nontrivial topological nature of the bulk nodal lines. Therefore, our results provide convincing experimental evidence of the nodal-line semimetal states in ZrB$_2$ both in the bulk and on the surface, suggesting ZrB$_2$ as a remarkable platform for discovering unique phenomena induced by nodal-line fermions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Experimental Observation of Dirac Nodal Links in Centrosymmetric Semimetal TiB$_2$

The topological nodal-line semimetal state, serving as a fertile ground for various topological quantum phases, where a topological insulator, Dirac semimetal, or Weyl semimetal can be realized when the certain protecting symmetry is broken, has only been experimentally studied in very few materials. In contrast to discrete nodes, nodal lines with rich topological configurations can lead to more unusual transport phenomena. Utilizing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, here, we provide compelling evidence of nodal-line fermions in centrosymmetric semimetal TiB$_2$ with a negligible spin-orbit coupling effect. With the band crossings just below the Fermi energy, two groups of Dirac nodal rings are clearly observed without any interference from other bands, one surrounding the Brillouin zone (BZ) corner in the horizontal mirror plane $σ_h$ and the other surrounding the BZ center in the vertical mirror plane $σ_v$. The linear dispersions forming Dirac nodal rings are as wide as 2 eV. We further observe that the two groups of nodal rings link together along the $Γ$-$K$ direction, composing a nodal-link configuration. The simple electronic structure with Dirac nodal links mainly constituting the Fermi surfaces suggests TiB$_2$ as a remarkable platform for studying and applying the novel physical properties related to nodal-line fermions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

One million percent tunnel magnetoresistance in a magnetic van der Waals heterostructure

We report the observation of a very large negative magnetoresistance effect in a van der Waals tunnel junction incorporating a thin magnetic semiconductor, CrI3, as the active layer. At constant voltage bias, current increases by nearly one million percent upon application of a 2 Tesla field. The effect arises from a change between antiparallel to parallel alignment of spins across the different CrI3 layers. Our results elucidate the nature of the magnetic state in ultrathin CrI3 and present new opportunities for spintronics based on two-dimensional materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Critical behaviors of half-metallic ferromagnet Co3Sn2S2

We have investigated the critical behavior of a shandite-type half-metal ferromagnet Co3Sn2S2. It exhibits a second-order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition with TC = 174 K. To investigate the nature of the magnetic phase transition, a detailed critical exponent study has been performed. The critical components beta, gamma, and delta determined using the modified Arrott plot, the Kouvel-Fisher method as well as the critical isotherm analysis are match reasonably well and follow the scaling equation, confirming that the exponents are unambiguous and intrinsic to the material. The determined exponents of Co3Sn2S2 deviates from theoretical estimated short-range universal models. Instead, Co3Sn2S2 exhibits long-range order in the nature of magnetic interaction with the spin decay as J(r) ~ 1/r^[-(d + sigma)] with sigma = 1.28.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Large intrinsic anomalous Hall effect in half-metallic ferromagnet Co3Sn2S2 with magnetic Weyl fermions

The origin of anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in magnetic materials is one of the most intriguing aspect in condensed matter physics and has been controversial for a long time. Recent studies indicate that the intrinsic AHE is closely related to the Berry curvature of occupied electronic states. In a magnetic Weyl semimetal with broken time-reversal symmetry, there are significant contributions on Berry curvature around Weyl nodes, which would lead to a large intrinsic AHE. Here, we report the large intrinsic AHE in the half-metallic ferromagnet Co3Sn2S2 single crystal. By systematically mapping out the electronic structure of Co3Sn2S2 theoretically and experimentally, the large intrinsic AHE should originate from the Weyl fermions near the Fermi energy. Furthermore, the intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity depends linearly on the magnetization and this can be attributed to the sharp decrease of magnetization and the change of topological characteristics.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Local corrugation and persistent charge density wave in ZrTe3 with Ni intercalation

The mechanism of emergent bulk superconductivity in transition metal intercalated ZrTe3 is investigated by studying the effect of Ni doping on the band structure and charge density wave (CDW). The study reports theoretical and experimental results in the range of Ni0.01ZrTe3 to Ni0.05ZrTe3. In the highest doped samples bulk superconductivity with Tc < TCDW is observed, while TCDW is strongly reduced. Relativistic ab-initio calculations reveal Ni incorporation occurs preferentially through intercalation in the van-der-Waals gap. Analysis of the structural and elec- tronic effects of intercalation, indicate buckling of the Te-sheets adjacent to the Ni site akin to a locally stabilised CDW-like lattice distortion. Experiments by low temperature x-ray diffraction, angle-resolved-photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) as well as temperature dependent resistivity reveal the nearly unchanged persistence of the CDW into the regime of bulk superconductivity. The CDW gap is found to be unchanged in its extent in momentum space, with the gap size also unchanged or possibly slightly reduced on Ni intercalation. Both experimental observations suggest that superconductivity coexists with the CDW in NixZrTe3.

cond-mat.supr-con↗