arXiv subjects

J. Wosnitza

Publications and source records attributed to J. Wosnitza.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Pronounced 2/3 magnetization plateau in a frustrated $S$ = 1 isolated spin-triangle compound: Interplay between Heisenberg and biquadratic exchange interactions

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new quantum magnet [2-[Bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)aminomethyl]pyridine]Ni(II)-trimer (BHAP-Ni3) in single-crystalline form. Our combined experimental and theoretical investigations reveal an exotic spin state that stabilizes a robust 2/3 magnetization plateau between 7 and 20 T in an external magnetic field. AC-susceptibility measurements show the absence of any magnetic order/glassy state down to 60 mK. The magnetic ground state is disordered and specific-heat measurements reveal the gapped nature of the spin excitations. Most interestingly, our theoretical modeling suggests that the 2/3 magnetization plateau emerges due to the interplay between antiferromagnetic Heisenberg and biquadratic exchange interactions within nearly isolated spin $S$ = 1 triangles.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Tuning interactions in the spin-ice materials Dy$_2$Ge$_{2-x}$Si$_x$O$_7$ by silicon substitution

We report that the lattice constant of Dy$_2$Ge$_{2-x}$Si$_x$O$_7$ ($x=0, 0.02, 0.08, 0.125$) can be systematically reduced by substituting the non-magnetic germanium ion in the cubic pyrochlore oxide with silicon. A multi-anvil high-pressure synthesis was performed up to 16 GPa and 1100 $^\circ$C to obtain polycrystalline samples in a solid-state reaction. Measurements of magnetization, ac susceptibility, and heat capacity reveal the typical signatures of a spin-ice phase. From the temperature shift of the peaks, observed in the temperature-dependent heat capacity, we deduce an increase of the strength of the exchange interaction. In conclusion, the reduced lattice constant leads to a changed ratio of the competing exchange and dipolar interaction. This puts the new spin-ice compounds closer towards the phase boundary of short-range spin-ice arrangement and antiferromagnetic long-range order consistent with an observed reduction of the monopole energy scale.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Evidence for the Single-Site Quadrupolar Kondo Effect in the Dilute non-Kramers System Y$_{1-x}$Pr$_x$Ir$_2$Zn$_{20}$

Acoustic signatures of the single-site quadrupolar Kondo effect in Y$_{0.966}$Pr$_{0.034}$Ir$_2$Zn$_{20}$ are presented. The elastic constant ($C_{11}-C_{12}$)/2, corresponding to the $Γ_3$(E)-symmetry electric-quadrupolar response, reveals a logarithmic temperature dependence of the quadrupolar susceptibility in the low-magnetic-field region below $\sim$0.3 K. Furthermore, the Curie-type divergence of the elastic constant down to $\sim$1 K indicates that the Pr ions in this diluted system have a non-Kramers ground-state doublet. These observations evidence the single-site quadrupolar Kondo effect, as previously suggested based on specific-heat and electrical resistivity data.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Dynamics of the magnetoelastic phase transition and adiabatic temperature change in Mn1.3Fe0.7P0.5Si0.55

The adiabatic temperature change DTad of a Mn1.3Fe0.7P0.5Si0.55 Fe2P-type alloy was measured under different magnetic field-sweep rates from 0.93 Ts-1 to 2870 Ts-1. We find a field-sweep-rate independent magnetocaloric effect due to a partial alignment of magnetic moments in the paramagnetic region overlapping with the magnetocaloric effect of the first-order phase transition. Additionally, the first-order phase transition is not completed even in fields up to 20 T leading to a non-saturating behavior of DTad. Measurements in different pulsed fields reveal that the first-order phase transition cannot follow the fast field changes as previously assumed, resulting in a distinct field-dependent hysteresis in DTad.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Precursor of a magnetic-field-induced liquid-liquid transition of oxygen

The acoustic properties of liquid oxygen have been studied up to 90 T by means of the ultrasound pulse-echo technique. A monotonic decrease of the sound velocity and an asymptotic increase of the acoustic attenuation are observed by applying magnetic fields. An unusually large acoustic attenuation, that becomes 20 times as large as the zero-field value, cannot be explained by the classical theory. These results indicate strong fluctuations of antiferromagnetically coupled local structures. We point out that the observed fluctuations are a precursor of a liquid-liquid transition, from a low-susceptibility to a high-susceptibility liquid, which is characterized by a local-structure rearrangement.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2019

Fermi-surface topology of the heavy-fermion system Ce$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$

Ce$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$ is a recently discovered heavy-fermion system structurally related to the well-studied superconductor CeCoIn$_{5}$. Here, we report on low-temperature de Haas-van Alphen-effect measurements in high magnetic fields in Ce$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$ and Pr$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$. In addition, we performed band-structure calculations for localized and itinerant Ce-$4f$ electrons in Ce$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$. Comparison with the experimental data of Ce$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$ and of the $4f$-localized Pr$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$ suggests the itinerant character of the Ce-$4f$ electrons. This conclusion is further supported by the observation of effective masses in Ce$_{2}$PtIn$_{8}$, which are strongly enhanced with up to 26 bare electron masses.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Field-induced instability of the quantum-spin-liquid ground state in the $J_{\rm eff}=\frac{1}{2}$ triangular-lattice compound NaYbO$_2$

Polycrystalline samples of NaYbO$_2$ are investigated by bulk magnetization and specific-heat measurements, as well as by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) as local probes. No signatures of long-range magnetic order are found down to 0.3~K, evidencing a highly frustrated spin-liquid-like ground state in zero field. Above 2\,T, signatures of magnetic order are observed in thermodynamic measurements, suggesting the possibility of a field-induced quantum phase transition. The $^{23}$Na NMR relaxation rates reveal the absence of magnetic order and persistent fluctuations down to 0.3~K at very low fields and confirm the bulk magnetic order above 2~T. The $H$-$T$ phase diagram is obtained and discussed along with the existing theoretical concepts for layered spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ triangular-lattice antiferromagnets

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Magnetic interactions and spin dynamics in the bond-disordered pyrochlore fluoride NaCaCo$_2$F$_7$

We report high-frequency/high-field electron spin resonance (ESR) and high-field magnetization studies on single crystals of the bond-disordered pyrochlore NaCaCo$_2$F$_7$. Frequency- and temperature-dependent ESR investigations above the freezing temperature $T_f \sim 2.4$ K reveal the coexistence of two distinct magnetic phases. A cooperative paramagnetic phase, evidenced by a gapless excitation mode, is found as well as a spin-glass phase developing below 20 K which is associated with a gapped low-energy excitation. Effective $g$-factors close to 2 are obtained for both modes in line with pulsed high-field magnetization measurements which show an unsaturated isotropic behavior up to 58 T at 2 K. In order to describe the field-dependent magnetization in high magnetic fields, we propose an empirical model accounting for highly anisotropic ionic $g$-tensors expected for this material and taking into account the strongly competing interactions between the spins which lead to a frustrated ground state. As a detailed quantitative relation between effective $g$-factors as determined from ESR and the local $g$-tensors obtained by neutron scattering [Ross et al., Phys. Rev. B 93, 014433 (2016)] is still sought after, our work motivates further theoretical investigations of the low-energy excitations in bond-disordered pyrochlores.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Viscosity measurements in pulsed magnetic fields by using a quartz-crystal microbalance

Viscosity measurements in combination with pulsed magnetic fields are developed by use of a quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM). When the QCM is immersed in liquid, the resonant frequency, $f_0$, and the quality factor, $Q$, of the QCM change depending on $(ρη)^{0.5}$, where $ρ$ is the mass density and $η$ the viscosity. During the magnetic-field pulse, $f_0$ and $Q$ of the QCM are simultaneously measured by a ringdown technique. The typical resolution of $(ρη)^{0.5}$ is 0.5 %. As a benchmark, the viscosity of liquid oxygen is measured up to 55 T.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2019

Pressure-tuning the quantum spin Hamiltonian of the triangular lattice antiferromagnet Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$

Quantum triangular-lattice antiferromagnets are important prototype systems to investigate phenomena of the geometrical frustration in condensed matter. Apart from highly unusual magnetic properties, they possess a rich phase diagram (ranging from an unfrustrated square lattice to a quantum spin liquid), yet to be confirmed experimentally. One major obstacle in this area of research is the lack of materials with appropriate (ideally tuned) magnetic parameters. Using Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$ as a model system, we demonstrate an alternative approach, where, instead of the chemical composition, the spin Hamiltonian is altered by hydrostatic pressure. The approach combines high-pressure electron spin resonance and magnetization measurements, allowing us not only to quasi-continuously tune the exchange parameters, but also to accurately monitor them. Our experiments indicate a substantial increase of the exchange coupling ratio from 0.3 to 0.42 at a pressure of 1.8 GPa, revealing a number of emergent field-induced phases.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Magnetization beyond the Ising limit of Ho$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$

We report that the local Ising anisotropy in pyrochlore oxides - the crucial requirement for realizing the spin-ice state - can be broken by means of high magnetic fields. For the case of the well-established classical spin-ice compound Ho$_2$Ti$_2$O$_7$ the magnetization exceeds the angle-dependent saturation value of the Ising limit using ultra-high fields up to 120 T. However, even under such extreme magnetic fields full saturation cannot be achieved. Crystal-electric-field calculations reveal that a level crossing for two of the four ion positions leads to magnetization steps at 55 and 100 T. In addition, we show that by using a field sweep rate in the range of the spin-relaxation time the dynamics of the spin system can be probed. Exclusively at 25 ns/T a new peak of the susceptibility appears around 2 T. We argue, this signals the cross-over between spin-ice and polarized correlations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Enhancement of the effective mass at high magnetic fields in CeRhIn$_5$

The Kondo-lattice compound CeRhIn$_5$ displays a field-induced Fermi surface reconstruction at $B^*\approx30$ T, which occurs within the antiferromagnetic state, prior to the quantum critical point at $B_{c0}\approx50$ T. Here, in order to investigate the nature of the Fermi surface change, we measured the magnetostriction, specific heat, and magnetic torque of CeRhIn$_5$ across a wide range of magnetic fields. Our observations uncover the field-induced itineracy of the $4f$ electrons, where above $B_{\rm onset}\approx17$ T there is a significant enhancement of the Sommerfeld coefficient, and spin-dependent effective cyclotron masses determined from quantum oscillations. Upon crossing $B_{\rm onset}$, the temperature dependence of the specific heat also shows distinctly different behavior from that at low fields. Our results indicate that the Kondo coupling is remarkably robust upon increasing the magnetic field. This is ascribed to the delocalization of the $4f$ electrons at the Fermi surface reconstruction at $B^*$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Magnetoelastic phenomena in antiferromagnetic uranium intermetallics: the $\mathrm{UAu_{2}Si_{2}}$ case

Thermal expansion, magnetostriction and magnetization measurements under magnetic field and hydrostatic pressure were performed on a $\mathrm{UAu_{2}Si_{2}}$ single crystal. They revealed a large anisotropy of magnetoelastic properties manifested by prominent length changes leading to a collapse of the unit-cell volume accompanied by breaking the fourfold symmetry (similar to that in $\mathrm{URu_{2}Si_{2}}$ in the hidden-order state) in the antiferromagnetic state as consequences of strong magnetoelastic coupling. The magnetostriction curves measured at higher temperatures confirm a bulk character of the 50 K weak ferromagnetic phase. The large positive pressure change of the ordering temperature predicted from Ehrenfest relation contradicts the more than an order of magnitude smaller pressure dependence observed by the magnetization and specific heat measured under hydrostatic pressure. A comprehensive magnetic phase diagram of $\mathrm{UAu_{2}Si_{2}}$ in magnetic field applied along the $c$ axis is presented. The ground-state antiferromagnetic phase is suppressed by a field-induced metamagnetic transition that changes its character from the second to the first order at the tricritical point.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Phonon Magnetochiral Effect

Magnetochiral effect (MChE) of phonons, a nonreciprocal acoustic property arising due to the symmetry principles, is demonstrated in a chiral-lattice ferrimagnet Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$. Our high-resolution ultrasound experiments reveal that the sound velocity differs for parallel and antiparallel propagation with respect to the external magnetic field.The sign of the nonreciprocity depends on the chirality of the crystal in accordance with the selection rule of the MChE. The nonreciprocity is enhanced below the magnetic ordering temperature and at higher ultrasound frequencies, which is quantitatively explained by a proposed magnon-phonon hybridization mechanism.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Fermi surface reconstruction and dimensional topology change in Nd-doped CeCoIn$_5$

We performed low-temperature de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect measurements on a Ce$_{1-x}$Nd$_x$CoIn$_5$ series, for x = 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 1, down to T = 40 mK using torque magnetometry in magnetic felds up to 35 T. Our results indicate that a Fermi-surface (FS) reconstruction occurs from a quasi-two-dimensional (2D) topology for Nd-2% to a rather three-dimensional (3D) for Nd-5%, thus reducing the possibility of perfect FS nesting. The FS evolves further with increasing Nd content with no observed divergence of the effective mass between Nd-2% and 10%, consistent with the crossing of a spin density wave (SDW) type of quantum critical point (QCP). Our results elucidate the origin of the Q-phase observed at the 5% Nd-doping level [Raymond et al., J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 83, 013707 (2014)].

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Quantum Criticality of an Ising-like Spin-1/2 Antiferromagnetic Chain in Transverse Magnetic Field

We report on magnetization, sound velocity, and magnetocaloric-effect measurements of the Ising-like spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic chain system BaCo$_2$V$_2$O$_8$ as a function of temperature down to 1.3 K and applied transverse magnetic field up to 60 T. While across the Néel temperature of $T_N\sim5$ K anomalies in magnetization and sound velocity confirm the antiferromagnetic ordering transition, at the lowest temperature the field-dependent measurements reveal a sharp softening of sound velocity $v(B)$ and a clear minimum of temperature $T(B)$ at $B^{c,3D}_\perp=21.4$ T, indicating the suppression of the antiferromagnetic order. At higher fields, the $T(B)$ curve shows a broad minimum at $B^c_\perp = 40$ T, accompanied by a broad minimum in the sound velocity and a saturation-like magnetization. These features signal a quantum phase transition which is further characterized by the divergent behavior of the Grüneisen parameter $Γ_B \propto (B-B^{c}_\perp)^{-1}$. By contrast, around the critical field, the Grüneisen parameter converges as temperature decreases, pointing to a quantum critical point of the one-dimensional transverse-field Ising model.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Search for Multipolar Instability in URu$_2$Si$_2$ Studied by Ultrasonic Measurements under Pulsed Magnetic Field

The elastic properties of URu$_2$Si$_2$ in the high-magnetic field region above 40 T, over a wide temperature range from 1.5 to 120 K, were systematically investigated by means of high-frequency ultrasonic measurements. The investigation was performed at high magnetic fields to better investigate the innate bare 5$f$-electron properties, since the unidentified electronic thermodynamic phase of unknown origin, so called `hidden order'(HO) and associated hybridization of conduction and $f$-electron ($c$-$f$ hybridization) are suppressed at high magnetic fields. From the three different transverse modes we find contrasting results; both the $Γ_4$(B$_{\rm 2g}$) and $Γ_5$(E$_{\rm g}$) symmetry modes $C_{66}$ and $C_{44}$ show elastic softening that is enhanced above 30 T, while the characteristic softening of the $Γ_3$(B$_{\rm 1g}$) symmetry mode $(C_{11}-C_{12})/2$ is suppressed in high magnetic fields. These results underscore the presence of a hybridization-driven $Γ_3$(B$_{\rm 1g}$) lattice instability in URu$_2$Si$_2$. However, the results from this work cannot be explained by using existing crystalline-electric field (CEF) schemes applied to the quadrupolar susceptibility in a local $5f^2$ configuration. Instead, we present an analysis based on a band Jahn-Teller effect.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Increasing stripe-type fluctuations in $A$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ ($A$ = K, Rb, Cs) superconductors probed by $^{75}$As NMR spectroscopy

We report $^{75}$As nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on single crystals of RbFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ and CsFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$. Taking previously reported results for KFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ into account, we find that the anisotropic electronic correlations evolve towards a magnetic instability in the $A$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ series (with $A$ = K, Rb, Cs). Upon isovalent substitution with larger alkali ions, a drastic enhancement of the anisotropic nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate and decreasing Knight shift reveal the formation of pronounced spin fluctuations with stripe-type modulation. Furthermore, a decreasing power-law exponent of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $(1/T_{1})_{H\parallel{ab}}$, probing the in-plane spin fluctuations, evidences an emergent deviation from Fermi-liquid behavior. All these findings clearly indicate that the expansion of the lattice in the $A$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ series tunes the electronic correlations towards a quantum critical point at the transition to a yet unobserved, ordered phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗