arXiv subjects

I. Kezsmarki

Publications and source records attributed to I. Kezsmarki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Easy-cone state mediating the spin reorientation in topological kagome magnet Fe$_3$Sn$_2$

We investigated temperature-driven spin reorientation (SR) in the itinerant kagome magnet Fe$_3$Sn$_2$ using high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, magnetometry, and magnetic force microscopy (MFM), further supported by phenomenological analysis. Our study reveals a crossover from the state with easy-plane anisotropy to the high-temperature state with uniaxial easy-axis anisotropy taking place between $\sim40-130$~ K through an intermediate easy-cone (or tilted spin) state. This state, induced by the interplay between the anisotropy constants $K_1$ and $K_2$, is clearly manifested in the thermal evolution of the magnetic structure factor, which reveals a gradual change of the SR angle $\mathbfθ$ between $40-130$~K. We also found that the SR is accompanied by a magnetoelastic effect. Zero-field MFM images across the SR range show a transformation in surface magnetic patterns from a dendritic structure at 120~K, to domain wall dominated MFM contrast at 40~K.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Optical magnetoelectric effect in the polar honeycomb antiferromagnet Fe2Mo3O8

The lack of both time-reversal and spatial inversion symmetry in polar magnets is a prerequisite for the occurrence of optical magnetoelectric effects such as nonreciprocal directional dichroism with the potential for the realization of optical diodes. In particular, antiferromagnetic materials with magnetic excitations in the THz range such as Fe2Mo3O8 are promising candidates for next-generation spintronic applications. In a combined experimental and theoretical effort we investigated the THz excitations of the polar honeycomb antiferromagnet Fe2Mo3O8 in external magnetic fields and their nonreciprocal directional dichroism, together with the temperature dependence of the electronic transitions in the mid- and near-infrared frequency range. Using an advanced single-ion approach for the Fe ions, we are able to describe optical excitations from the THz to the near-infrared frequency range quantitatively and successfully model the observed nonreciprocal directional dichroism in the THz regime.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Optical diode effect in the room-temperature multiferroic BiFeO$_3

Multiferroics permit the magnetic control of the electric polarization and electric control of the magnetization. These static magnetoelectric (ME) effects are of enormous interest: The ability to read and write a magnetic state current-free by an electric voltage would provide a huge technological advantage. Dynamic or optical ME effects are equally interesting because they give rise to unidirectional light propagation as recently observed in low-temperature multiferroics. This phenomenon, if realized at room temperature, would allow the development of optical diodes which transmit unpolarized light in one, but not in the opposite direction. Here, we report strong unidirectional transmission in the room-temperature multiferroic BiFeO$_3$ over the gigahertz--terahertz frequency range. Supporting theory attributes the observed unidirectional transmission to the spin-current driven dynamic ME effect. These findings are an important step toward the realization of optical diodes, supplemented by the ability to switch the transmission direction with a magnetic or electric field.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Simultaneously Magnetic- and Electric-dipole Active Spin Excitations Govern the Static Magnetoelectric Effect in Multiferroic Materials

We derive a sum rule to demonstrate that the static magnetoelectric (ME) effect is governed by optical transitions that are simultaneously excited via the electric and magnetic components of light. By a systematic analysis of magnetic point groups, we show that the ME sum rule is applicable to a broad variety of non-centrosymmetric magnets including ME multiferroic compounds. Due to the dynamical ME effect, the optical excitations in these materials can exhibit directional dichroism, i.e. the absorption coefficient can be different for counter-propagating light beams. According to the ME sum rule, the magnitude of the linear ME effect of a material is mainly determined by the directional dichroism of its low-energy optical excitations. Application of the sum rule to the multiferroic Ba$_2$CoGe$_2$O$_7$, Sr$_2$CoSi$_2$O$_7$ and Ca$_2$CoSi$_2$O$_7$ shows that in these compounds the static ME effect is mostly governed by the directional dichroism of the spin-wave excitations in the GHz-THz spectral range. On this basis, we argue that the studies of directional dichroism and the application of ME sum rule can promote the synthesis of new materials with large static ME effect.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Malaria pigment crystals as magnetic micro-rotors: key for high-sensitivity diagnosis

The need to develop new methods for the high-sensitivity diagnosis of malaria has initiated a global activity in medical and interdisciplinary sciences. Most of the diverse variety of emerging techniques are based on research-grade instruments, sophisticated reagent-based assays or rely on expertise. Here, we suggest an alternative optical methodology with an easy-to-use and cost-effective instrumentation based on unique properties of malaria pigment reported previously and determined quantitatively in the present study. Malaria pigment, also called hemozoin, is an insoluble microcrystalline form of heme. These crystallites show remarkable magnetic and optical anisotropy distinctly from any other components of blood. As a consequence, they can simultaneously act as magnetically driven micro-rotors and spinning polarizers in suspensions. These properties can gain importance not only in malaria diagnosis and therapies, where hemozoin is considered as drug target or immune modulator, but also in the magnetic manipulation of cells and tissues on the microscopic scale.

physics.bio-ph↗

arXiv2012

Disorder promotes ferromagnetism: Rounding of the quantum phase transition in Sr_{1-x}Ca_xRuO_3

The subtle interplay of randomness and quantum fluctuations at low temperatures gives rise to a plethora of unconventional phenomena in systems ranging from quantum magnets and correlated electron materials to ultracold atomic gases. Particularly strong disorder effects have been predicted to occur at zero-temperature quantum phase transitions. Here, we demonstrate that the composition-driven ferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic quantum phase transition in Sr1-xCaxRuO3 is completely destroyed by the disorder introduced via the different ionic radii of the randomly distributed Sr and Ca ions. Using a magneto-optical technique, we map the magnetic phase diagram in the composition-temperature space. We find that the ferromagnetic phase is significantly extended by the disorder and develops a pronounced tail over a broad range of the composition x. These findings are explained by a microscopic model of smeared quantum phase transitions in itinerant magnets. Moreover, our theoretical study implies that correlated disorder is even more powerful in promoting ferromagnetism than random disorder.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2010

Giant directional dichroism of terahertz light in resonance with magnetic excitations of the multiferroic oxide BaCo$_2$Ge$_2$O$_7$

We propose that concurrently magnetic and ferroelectric, i.e. multiferroic, compounds endowed with electrically-active magnetic excitations (electromagnons) provide a key to produce large directional dichroism for long wavelengths of light. By exploiting the control of ferroelectric polarization and magnetization in a multiferroic oxide Ba$_2$CoGe$_2$O$_7$, we demonstrate the realization of such a directional light-switch function at terahertz frequecies in resonance with the electromagnon absorption. Our results imply that this hidden potential is present in a broad variety of multiferroics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2009

Magnetic order induced crystal symmetry lowering in ACr$_2$O$_4$ ferrimagnetic spinels

We demonstrate that the onset of complex spin orders in ACr$_2$O$_4$ spinels with magnetic A$=$Co, Fe and Cu ions lowers the lattice symmetry. This is clearly indicated by the emergence of anisotropic lattice dynamics -- as evidenced by the pronounced phonon splittings -- even when experiments probing static distortions fail. We show that the crystal symmetry in the magnetic phase is reduced from tetragonal to orthorhombic for FeCr$_2$O$_4$ and CuCr$_2$O$_4$ with Jahn-Teller active A-site ions. The conical spin structure in FeCr$_2$O$_4$ is also manifested in the phonon frequencies. In contrast, the multiferroic CoCr$_2$O$_4$ with no orbital degrees of freedom remains nearly cubic in its ground state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

New type of ellipsometry in infrared spectroscopy: The double-reference method

We have developed a conceptually new type of ellipsometry which allows the determination of the complex refractive index by simultaneously measuring the unpolarized normal-incidence reflectivity relative to the vacuum and to another reference media. From these two quantities the complex optical response can be directly obtained without Kramers-Kronig transformation. Due to its transparency and large refractive index over a broad range of the spectrum, from the far-infrared to the soft ultraviolet region, diamond can be ideally used as a second reference. The experimental arrangement is rather simple compared to other ellipsometric techniques.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

Optical phase diagram of perovskite-type colossal magnetoresistance manganites with near-half doping

We present a systematic optical study for a bandwidth-controlled series of nearly half doped colossal magnetoresistive manganites RE$_{0.55}$AE$_{0.45}$MnO$_3$ (RE and AE being rare earth and alkaline earth ions, respectively) under the presence of quenched disorder over a broad temperature region $T=10-800$ K. The ground state of the compounds ranges from the charge and orbital ordered insulator through the spin glass to the ferromagnetic metal. The enhanced phase fluctuations, namely the short-range charge and orbital correlations dominate the paramagnetic region of the phase diagram above all the ground-state phases. This paramagnetic region is characterized by a full-gap to pseudo-gap crossover towards elevated temperatures where a broad low-energy electronic structure appears in the conductivity spectra over a large variation of the bandwidth. This pseudo-gap state with local correlations is robust against thermal fluctuations at least up to T=800 K. For small bandwidth the onset of the long-range charge order is accompanied by an instantaneous increase of the gap. The emergence of the ferromagnetic state is manifested in the optical spectra as a first-order insulator to metal transition for compounds with moderate bandwidth while it becomes a second-order transition on the larger bandwidth side. Unusually large scattering rate of the metallic carriers is observed in the ferromagnetic state which is attributed to orbital correlation with probably rod-like ($3z^2-r^2$-like) character.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Anomalous Hall effect in (In,Mn)Sb dilute magnetic semiconductor

High magnetic field study of Hall resistivity in the ferromagnetic phase of (In,Mn)Sb allows one to separate its normal and anomalous components. We show that the anomalous Hall term is not proportional to the magnetization, and that it even changes sign as a function of magnetic field. We also show that the application of pressure modifies the scattering process, but does not influence the Hall effect. These observations suggest that the anomalous Hall effect in (In,Mn)Sb is an intrinsic property and support the application of the Berry phase theory for (III,Mn)V semiconductors. We propose a phenomenological description of the anomalous Hall conductivity, based on a field-dependent relative shift of the heavy- and light-hole valence bands and the split-off band.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

High-pressure infrared spectroscopy: tuning of the low-energy excitations in correlated electron systems

We have extended the range of the high-pressure optical spectroscopy to the far-infrared region keeping the accuracy of ambient-pressure experiments. The newly-developed method offers a powerful tool for the study of pressure-induced phase transitions and electronic-structural changes in correlated electron systems. The novel-type optical pressure cell, equipped with large free-aperture diamond window, allows the measurement of optical reflectivity down to $ω\approx20-30$ cm$^{-1}$ for hydrostatic pressures up to $p\approx26$ kbar. The efficiency of the technique is demonstrated by the investigation of the 2-dimensional charge-density-wave 1$T$-TaS$_2$ whose electronic structure shows high sensitivity to external pressure. The room-temperature semi-metallic phase of 1$T$-TaS$_2$ is effectively extended by application of pressure and stabilized as the ground state above $p=14$ kbar. The corresponding fully incoherent low-energy optical conductivity is almost temperature independent below T=300 K. For intermediate pressures, the onset of the low-temperature insulating phase is reflected by the sudden drop of the reflectivity and by the emergence of sharp phonon resonances.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

The electronic structure and the phases of BaVS3

BaVS3 is a moderately correlated d-electron system with a rich phase diagram. To construct the corresponding minimal electronic model, one has to decide which d-states are occupied, and to which extent. The ARPES experiment presented here shows that the behavior of BaVS3 is governed by the coexistence of wide-band (A_1g) and narrow-band (twofold degenerate E) d-electrons. We sketch a lattice fermion model which may serve as a minimal model of BaVS3. This serves foremost for the understanding of the metal-insulator in pure BaVS3 and its absence in some related compounds. The nature of the low temperature magnetic order differs for several systems which may be described in terms of the same electron model. We describe several recent experiments which give information about magnetic order at high pressures. In particular, we discuss field-induced insulator-to-metal transition at slightly subcritical pressures, and an evidence for magnetic order in the high-pressure metallic phase. The phase diagram of Sr-doped BaVS3 is also discussed. The complexity of the phases of BaVS3 arises from the fact that it is simultaneously unstable against several kinds of instabilities.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Magnetic-field-induced transition in BaVS3

The metal-insulator transition (MIT) of BaVS3 is suppressed under pressure and above the critical pressure of p~2GPa the metallic phase is stabilized. We present the results of detailed magnetoresistivity measurements carried out at pressures near the critical value, in magnetic fields up to B=12T. We found that slightly below the critical pressure the structural tetramerization -- which drives the MIT -- is combined with the onset of magnetic correlations. If the zero-field transition temperature is suppressed to a sufficiently low value (T_MI<15K), the system can be driven into the metallic state by application of magnetic field. The main effect is not the reduction of T_MI with increasing B, but rather the broadening of the transition due to the applied magnetic field. We tentatively ascribe this phenomenon to the influence on the magnetic structure coupled to the bond-order of the tetramers.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Separation of orbital contributions to the optical conductivity of BaVS$_3$

The correlation-driven metal-insulator transition (MIT) of BaVS$_3$ was studied by polarized infrared spectroscopy. In the metallic state two types of electrons coexist at the Fermi energy: The quasi 1D metallic transport of $A_{1g}$ electrons is superimposed on the isotropic hopping conduction of localized $E_g$ electrons. The "bad-metal" character and the weak anisotropy are the consequences of the large effective mass $m_{eff}\approx7m_e$ and scattering rate $Γ\geq160$ meV of the quasi-particles in the $A_{1g}$ band. There is a pseudo-gap above $T_{MI}=69$ K, and in the insulating phase the gap follows the BCS-like temperature dependence of the structural order parameter with $Δ_{ch}\approx42$ meV in the ground state. The MIT is described in terms of a weakly coupled two-band model.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Pressure dependence of the thermoelectric power of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have measured the thermoelectric power (S) of high purity single-walled carbon nanotube mats as a function of temperature at various hydrostatic pressures up to 2.0 GPa. The thermoelectric power is positive, and it increases in a monotonic way with increasing temperature for all pressures. The low temperature (T < 40 K) linear thermoelectric power is pressure independent and is characteristic for metallic nanotubes. At higher temperatures it is enhanced and though S(T) is linear again above about 100 K it has a nonzero intercept. This enhancement is strongly pressure dependent and is related to the change of the phonon population with hydrostatic pressure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2000

Pressure dependence of the spin gap in BaVS_3

We carried out magnetotransport experiments under hydrostatic pressure in order to study the nature of the metal-insulator transition in BaVS$_3$. Scaling relations for $ρ(T,H,p)$ are established and the pressure dependence of the spin gap is determined. Our new results, in conjunction with a re-analysis of earlier specific heat and susceptibility data, demonstrate that the transition is weakly second order. The nature of the phase diagram in the $T$--$p$--$H$ space is discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2000

Orbitally Driven Spin Pairing in the 3D Non-Magnetic Mott Insulator BaVS3: Evidence from Single Crystal Studies

Static electrical and magnetic properties of single crystal BaVS_3 were measured over the structural (T_S=240K), metal-insulator (T_MI=69K), and suspected orbital ordering (T_X=30K) transitions. The resistivity is almost isotropic both in the metallic and insulating states. An anomaly in the magnetic anisotropy at T_X signals a phase transition to an ordered low-T state. The results are interpreted in terms of orbital ordering and spin pairing within the lowest crystal field quasi-doublet. The disordered insulator at T_X<T<T_MI is described as a classical liquid of non-magnetic pairs.

cond-mat.str-el↗