arXiv subjects

Jinsheng Wen

Publications and source records attributed to Jinsheng Wen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Electrically tunable superconducting dimensionality in stripe-ordered monolayer MoTe$_2$

Dimensionality governs the stability of collective quantum states, including whether Cooper pairs can establish the phase coherence required for superconductivity. In solids, however, electronic dimensionality is usually encoded in the crystal structure and is difficult to control reversibly. Here we show evidence that monolayer 1$T^{\prime}$-MoTe$_2$ develops a stripe charge-density wave that reorganizes its low-energy electronic states into quasi-one-dimensional channels. Raman spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy identify the stripe order, whereas directional transport and tunneling spectroscopy reveal superconducting correlations confined to the stripe direction and insulating behavior perpendicular to it. Electrostatic doping weakens the transverse insulating response and drives the system into phase-coherent two-dimensional superconductivity. These results show that stripe charge order can reconfigure superconducting dimensionality and make it electrically tunable within a single crystalline layer.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Negligible Kitaev interaction in the van der Waals antiferromagnet NiBr$_2$ revealed by neutron spectroscopy

Using time-of-flight neutron spectroscopy, we have mapped out the magnetic excitations in the van der Waals antiferromagnet NiBr$_2$ over a broad range of energies and momenta. The observed well-defined magnon dispersions are quantitatively reproduced by linear spin-wave theory based on a minimal bilinear Hamiltonian that includes Heisenberg exchange interactions up to third-nearest neighbors, interlayer couplings, and a single-ion anisotropy term, with no need to invoke a Kitaev interaction. This finding is consistent with the fact that bromine is lighter than iodine, leading to weaker ligand-mediated spin-orbit coupling in NiBr2 than in NiI2, and consequently a reduced Kitaev interaction. Our results establish NiBr$_2$ as a Heisenberg-dominated van der Waals antiferromagnet and support the view that the ligand spin-orbit coupling governs the strength of the bond-dependent interactions within the NiX$_2$ (X = halogen) family.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Hidden Triakontadipole Order in the Triangular-Lattice Magnet CeMgAl$_{11}$O$_{19}$

The absence of magnetic Bragg peaks and a broad excitation continuum are commonly recognized experimental features of a quantum spin liquid. The Ce-based triangular-lattice hexaaluminate CeMgAl$_{11}$O$_{19}$ exhibits both signatures, yet its effective model and ground state remain under debate. Experiments have variously suggested a quantum spin liquid, proximate umbrella point, and disorder-suppressed magnetic order. Here we trace these contradictions to an overlooked multipolar degree of freedom: the transverse pseudospin of the $|\pm5/2\rangle$ Kramers doublet is a rank-5 triakontadipole rather than an ordinary dipole. Analyzing the magnetization, neutron spectra, and thermodynamics on equal footing, we establish a dipole-triakontadipole XXZ model with $J_{\perp} \simeq 0.65$ K and $J_c \simeq -0.13$ K. The resulting planar triakontadipolar superfluid order is hidden from dipolar probes, explaining the absence of a magnetic Bragg peak in neutron scattering. The zero-field excitations separate into a low-energy triakontadipole wave and a broad higher-energy continuum. We further propose nuclear spin-lattice relaxation and spin-current experiments to probe the gapless excitations of this hidden triakontadipole superfluid. Our findings thus open a new avenue for high-rank multipolar physics in rare-earth triangular-lattice magnets.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Topological Hall Effect Induced by Chiral Spin Textures at the Ferroelectric/Ferromagnetic Interface

Chiral spin textures, largely driven by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, offer significant potential for next-generation computing technologies due to their chirality and topological stability. Ferroelectric/ferromagnetic van der Waals heterostructures are particularly appealing because they can combine interfacial inversion-symmetry breaking and spin-orbit coupling to promote interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, while switchable ferroelectric polarization provides a nonvolatile tuning knob. This study investigates interfacial chiral spin textures in few-layer Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$/$α$-In$_2$Se$_3$ heterostructures. Two groups of topological Hall signals are identified just below and above the coercive field, and thickness-dependent transport reveals a notable reduction in critical temperature with increasing Fe$_3$GeTe$_2$ layer thickness. Low-temperature magnetic force microscopy images reveal two types of magnetic bubbles with opposite magnetic contrasts near the coercive field, each associated with distinct topological Hall signals. Together with atomistic spin-dynamics simulations and first-principles calculations, these results support the formation of interfacial DMI-stabilized chiral spin textures. Switching the ferroelectric polarization of the $α$-In$_2$Se$_3$ layer further enables nonvolatile modulation of both anomalous and topological Hall effects. The resulting ferroelectric and magnetic bistabilities generate four distinguishable Hall resistance states programmable by electric and magnetic fields. These findings highlight the potential of van der Waals interfaces for advanced device applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Strongly Enhanced Charge-Density Waves and Correlated Insulating State in Atomically Thin 1$T$-TaS$_2$

We investigate thickness-dependent charge-density-wave (CDW) transitions in 1$T$-TaS$_2$ using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and electrical transport. Raman measurements show that the incommensurate, nearly commensurate, and commensurate CDW phases persist down to the monolayer limit. As the thickness is reduced, the transition temperatures increase, accompanied by an orders-of-magnitude rise in sheet resistance and a sharp reduction in the carrier localization length. The first-order hysteretic CCDW-NCCDW transition is uniquely absent in the monolayer. Calculations suggest that the enhanced CDW in thin layers originates from strengthened Coulomb interactions due to reduced out-of-plane screening, particularly in the nonlocal component. These findings highlight the cooperative roles of electron correlation, electron-phonon interaction, and interlayer coupling in shaping the ground state and transition dynamics of atomically thin 1$T$-TaS$_2$, opening pathways for engineering correlated phases in two-dimensional CDW systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Sizable Ligand-Mediated Bond-Dependent Interactions in a Spin-1 Triangular Antiferromagnet NiI$_2$

The bond-dependent anisotropic Kitaev interactions are the key for the Kitaev model, which has attracted intense interest for its potential to host quantum-spin-liquid states and fractional excitations. However, experimental realizations of such interactions remain scarce. Here, we investigate the magnetic excitations of NiI$_2$, a van der Waals magnet with spin $S=1$. By combining inelastic neutron scattering, magnetization measurements, magnetic structure analysis, first-principles calculations, and linear-spin-wave simulations, we identify a minimal model that features substantial Kitaev and off-diagonal $Γ$ interactions, which together stabilize the canted magnetic ground state and open a gap in the spin-wave spectrum. Notably, these interactions arise from strong spin-orbit coupling on the ligand ions, despite the quenched orbital moment of the magnetic Ni$^{2+}$ ions. Our results provide compelling experimental evidence for the ligand-driven Kitaev mechanism. This demonstrates a concrete pathway to generating strong bond-dependent anisotropy in systems where the magnetic ions themselves have weak spin-orbit coupling, thereby substantially broadening the range of potential Kitaev materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Cascade of magnetic-field-induced quantum spin states in a spin-1 honeycomb magnet

Quantum fluctuations endow spin systems with surprisingly enriched magnetic phase diagrams. In frustrated magnets, strong quantum fluctuations boosted by either geometrical incompatibility or competitive exchange interactions stabilize cascades of unusual phases of matter. Here we reveal the presence of multiple quantum phases in the honeycomb antiferromagnet Na$_{3}$Ni$_{2}$BiO$_{6}$, both inside and beyond its field-induced one-third magnetization plateau. Comprehensive measurements of thermodynamic quantities demonstrate that the one-third plateau comprises at least three distinct spin states with nearly-degenerate net magnetization, separated by first-order transitions that likely involve sequential spin reconfiguration. Upon further increasing the magnetic field, the system evolves across a myriad of peculiar phases before reaching full polarization; these intermediate phases possess copious low-energy excitations, manifested by anomalous upturns of specific heat at ultralow temperatures -- probably hinting at the development of "hidden" ordered ground states. The complex magnetic phase diagram of Na$_{3}$Ni$_{2}$BiO$_{6}$ underlines the preponderant impact of quantum fluctuations on a honeycomb spin lattice with strong exchange frustration.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Magnon Damping as a Probe of Kondo Coupling in Magnetically Ordered Systems

In $d$-electron systems, there can also be intricate interplay between Kondo coupling and magnetic interactions as that in $f$-electron systems, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, using inelastic neutron scattering, we investigate the temperature evolution of the low-energy spin waves (magnons) in a metallic van der Waals ferromagnet Fe$_{3-x}$GeTe$_{2}$, and observe that the magnon damping diverges at both low and high temperatures and exhibits a minimum at an intermediate temperature. These behaviours are described by a formula that combines logarithmic and power-law terms, representing the dominant contributions from Kondo coupling and thermal fluctuations, respectively. These findings can be explained by considering electron-magnon scattering of spin-flip type within the ferromagnetic Kondo-Heisenberg lattice model, distinct from the original Kondo effect which only considers the coupling between itinerant electrons and isolated impurity spins. These results unveil the intriguing interplay between itinerant electrons and spin waves in metallic 3$d$-electron systems with magnetic order, and provide magnon damping as a new effective probe of Kondo coupling in metallic quantum magnets, thereby opening new avenues for exploring Kondo physics from the magnon perspective.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Magnetic Signature of Chiral Phonons Revealed by Neutron Spectroscopy in Ferrimagnetic Fe$_{1.75}$Zn$_{0.25}$Mo$_3$O$_8$

Lattice vibrations can carry angular momentum and magnetic moments under broken inversion or time-reversal symmetry, forming so-called chiral phonons. While such excitations have been explored in nonmagnetic systems via optical probes, their direct detection in magnetic materials and coupling to spin excitations remain largely unexplored. Here, using neutron spectroscopy, sensitive to both nuclear and magnetic scattering, we reveal the magnetic signature of chiral phonons in ferrimagnetic Fe$_{1.75}$Zn$_{0.25}$Mo$_3$O$_8$ with Curie temperature $T_{\rm C}\sim49$ K. Below $T_{\rm C}$, we observe enhanced magnetic scattering of phonons at small momenta, arising from strong magnon-phonon coupling. In addition, out-of-plane intensity modulation, phonon mode splitting, and field-induced Zeeman shifts are observed, all closely associated with the ferrimagnetic order. These features vanish above $T_{\rm C}$, where phonon spectra are dominated by nuclear scattering. These observations demonstrate the existence of chiral phonons carrying substantial magnetic moments that directly contribute to magnetic scattering, and establish neutron spectroscopy as a powerful, momentum-resolved probe of their magnetic character.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Field-free Superconducting Diode Effect in FeTe$_{0.55}$Se$_{0.45}$

The superconducting diode effect (SDE) - the asymmetry of critical currents with respect to current direction - is a pivotal advancement in non-reciprocal superconductivity. While SDE has been realized in diverse systems, a fundamental challenge remains achieving field-free operation in iron-based superconductors with simple device geometries. Here, we report a non-volatile, field-free SDE in thin crystalline FeTe$_{0.55}$Se$_{0.45}$(FTS), showing asymmetric critical currents with a rectification coefficient of 1.9% and operating temperatures up to 9 K. Intriguingly, a pronounced non-zero second harmonic resistance emerges at the superconducting transition, exhibiting a sign reversal under varying current and temperature. The SDE persists at zero magnetic field and the rectification coefficient($η$) exhibits an even symmetric dependence on the magnetic field, distinguishing it from magnetic chirality anisotropy mechanisms. In addition to this, we systematically ruled out influences from dynamic superconducting domains, thermal gradients, and sample geometry, while establishing that localized stress amplifies the rectification coefficient, likely constituting one of the principal contributing factors. These results establish FTS as a robust platform for realizing field-free superconducting diodes in a structurally simple platform.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Magnetic excitations in biaxial-strain detwinned $α$-RuCl$_{3}$

The honeycomb magnet $α$-RuCl$_{3}$ has been a leading candidate for realizing the Kitaev quantum spin liquid (QSL), but its intrinsic spin dynamics have remained obscured by crystal twinning. Here we apply biaxial anisotropic strain to detwin $α$-RuCl$_{3}$ single crystals and directly visualize the intrinsic magnetic excitations using inelastic neutron scattering. We discover that the low-energy spin waves emerge from the $M$ points -- transverse to the magnetic Bragg peaks -- providing direct evidence of anisotropic magnetic interactions in $α$-RuCl$_{3}$. The intrinsic spin-wave spectrum imposes stringent constraints on the extended Kitaev Hamiltonian, yielding a refined, quantitatively consistent set of exchange couplings for the zigzag ground state and its low-energy dynamics. Above the magnon band, we uncover broad excitation continua: while a twofold-symmetric feature near 6 meV at $Γ$ is consistent with bimagnon scattering, the dominant spectral weight forms a sixfold-symmetric continuum extending up to $\sim 16$ meV that cannot be explained by conventional magnons. This strongly supports the presence of fractionalized excitations-a hallmark of Kitaev QSL physics. Our findings establish biaxial strain as a powerful symmetry-breaking probe to access the intrinsic spin dynamics of Kitaev materials and provide critical benchmarks for refining theoretical models of quantum magnetism in $α$-RuCl$_{3}$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Disorder-induced spin excitation continuum and spin-glass ground state in the inverse spinel CuGa$_2$O$_4$

Spinel-structured compounds serve as prototypical examples of highly frustrated systems, and are promising candidates for realizing the long-sought quantum spin liquid (QSL) state. However, structural disorder is inevitable in many real QSL candidates and its impact remains a topic of intense debate. In this work, we conduct comprehensive investigations on CuGa$_2$O$_4$, a spinel compound with significant structural disorder, focusing on its thermodynamic properties and spectroscopic behaviors. No long-range magnetic order is observed down to $\sim$80 mK, as evidenced by magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and elastic neutron scattering measurements. More intriguingly, inelastic neutron scattering experiments reveal a broad gapless continuum of magnetic excitations around the Brillouin zone boundary, resembling the magnetic excitation spectra expected for a QSL. Nevertheless, a spin-freezing transition at $T_{\rm{f}} \approx $ 0.88 K is identified from the cusp in the dc susceptibility curves, where a bifurcation between zero-field-cooling and field-cooling curves occurs. Furthermore, ac susceptibility measurements show a peak close to $T_{\rm{f}}$ at low frequency, which shifts to higher temperature with increasing frequency. These results are evident that CuGa$_2$O$_4$ has spin-glass ground state, consistent with the establishment of short-range order inferred from the specific heat measurements. Collectively, these results illustrate the crucial role of disorder in defining the excitation spectrum out of the disordered ground state. Our findings shed light onto the broader class of AB$_2$O$_4$ spinels and advance our understanding of the spin dynamics in magnetically disordered systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Resolving Phonons in Superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ at Sub-Unit-Cell Resolution

The role of phonons in cuprates remains controversial, with their complex lattice structure complicating the investigation. Here, we identify phonon modes originating from charge reservoir and superconducting layers of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ using sub-unit-cell resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope. We reveal several phonon modes exhibiting layer-specific localization: ~78 meV in-plane modes localized in the CuO2 planes, ~42 meV hybrid (in-plane and out-of-plane) modes in the CuO2 planes, and ~38 meV hybrid modes in the BiO layers. We also observe a periodic modulation of phonon frequencies induced by the superstructure, spatially correlating with the superconducting gap variation. Our findings offer new insights into the electron-phonon coupling in cuprates, fostering deeper exploration of the microscopic linkage between lattice dynamics and superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Magnetic switching of phonon angular momentum in a ferrimagnetic insulator

Circularly polarized phonons offer a new route for mediating angular momentum in solids. However, controlling phonon angular momentum without altering the material's structure or composition remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate the non-volatile switching of angular momentum-carrying phonons by leveraging intrinsic ferrimagnetism in an insulator. We find a pair of chiral phonons with giant energy splitting reaching 20% of the phonon frequency, due to spontaneously broken time-reversal symmetry. With a moderate magnetic field, the phonon angular momentum of the two chiral phonon branches can be switched along with the magnetization. Notably, near the critical temperature, the effective phonon magnetic moment is enhanced, reaching 2.62 Bohr magneton, exceeding the moment of a magnon. A microscopic model based on phonon-magnon coupling accounts for the observations. Furthermore, we identify two types of phononic domains with opposite phonon Zeeman splitting and propose the existence of topologically protected phononic edge modes at domain boundaries. These results demonstrate effective manipulation of chiral phonons with magnetism, and pave the way for engineering chiral phononic domains on the micrometer scale.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Magnetically disordered ground state in the triangular-lattice antiferromagnets Rb$_3$Yb(VO$_4$)$_2$ and Cs$_3$Yb(VO$_4$)$_2$

Quantum spin liquids~(QSLs) represent a unique quantum disordered state of matter that hosts long-range quantum entanglement and fractional excitations. However, structural disorder resulting from site mixing between different types of ions usually arises in real QSL candidates, which is considered as an obstacle to gain the insight into the intrinsic physics. Here, we have synthesized two new rare-earth compounds Rb$_3$Yb(VO$_4$)$_2$ and Cs$_3$Yb(VO$_4$)$_2$. X-ray diffractions reveal a perfect triangular-lattice structure with no detectable disorder. Magnetic susceptibility measurements do not capture any phase transition or spin freezing down to 1.8~K. A fit to low-temperature data indicates dominant antiferromagnetic interactions with the Curie-Weiss temperature of -1.40~K and -0.43~K for Rb$_3$Yb(VO$_4$)$_2$ and Cs$_3$Yb(VO$_4$)$_2$, respectively. Specific heat results show no sign of long-range magnetic order down to $\sim$0.1~K either, but only a Schottky anomaly that is continuously mediated by the external magnetic fields. Additionally, inelastic neutron scattering is employed to detect low-energy spin excitations in Rb$_3$Yb(VO$_4$)$_2$. The absence of magnetic excitation signals as well as static magnetic order down to 97~mK aligns with the results from magnetic susceptibility and specific heat. Collectively, these findings point to a quantum disordered ground state with persistent spin dynamics, reminiscent of QSL behaviors. Our work provides a promising platform for further exploration of quantum magnetism in this new disorder-free system.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Significant Chiral Magnetotransport Magnified by Multiple Weyl Nodes

The intertwining of magnetism with topology is known to give rise to exotic quantum phenomena. Here, we explore the magnetotransport properties of NdAlSi, a magnetic Weyl semimetal that spontaneously breaks inversion and time-reversal symmetries and hosts a large number of Weyl nodes. We observe a significant negative magnetoresistance, which we attribute to the chiral anomaly associated with multiple Weyl nodes. Remarkably, the extracted chiral coefficient reaches approximately $52~\mathrm{mΩ}^{-1}~\mathrm{m}^{-1}~\mathrm{T}^{-2}$, larger than many other topological materials. Additionally, we observe an exotic anomalous Hall effect with an out-of-sync behavior, where the anomalous Hall resistance does not exactly follow the field dependence of the magnetization, in contrast to that in conventional ferromagnets. These rich quantum transport phenomena, driven by the interplay between magnetism and Weyl nodes, establish NdAlSi as a prime platform for exploring the intricate topological behaviors of magnetic Weyl semimetals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Magnetic Interactions in the Polar Ferrimagnet with a Bipartite Structure

The polar magnets A$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$ (A=Fe, Mn, Co, and Ni) feature a bipartite structure, where the magnetic A$^{2+}$ ions occupy two different sites with octahedral and tetrahedral oxygen coordinations. This bipartite structure provides a platform for the emergence of nontrivial magnetoelectric (ME) effects and intriguing excitation behaviors, and thus creates significant research interest. In this study, we conduct inelastic neutron scattering measurements on single crystals of Mn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$, an L-type ferrimagnet in the A$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$ family, to investigate its spin dynamics. The obtained magnetic excitation spectra reveal two distinct magnon dispersions corresponding to the octahedral and tetrahedral spins in Mn$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$. These magnon bands can be well described by a spin Hamiltonian including Heisenberg and single-ion anisotropy terms. Employing our effective spin model, we successfully reproduce the unusual temperature dependence of the L-type ferrimagnetic susceptibility through self-consistent mean-field theory. This research reveals the significance of the bipartite structure in determining the excitation properties of the polar magnets $\rm{A_{2}Mo_{3}O_{8}}$ and provides valuable insights into the spin dynamics of L-type ferrimagnets.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Absence of altermagnetic spin splitting character in rutile oxide RuO$_2$

Rutile RuO$_2$ has been posited as a potential $d$-wave altermagnetism candidate, with a predicted significant spin splitting up to 1.4 eV. Despite accumulating theoretical predictions and transport measurements, direct spectroscopic observation of spin splitting has remained elusive. Here, we employ spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to investigate the band structures and spin polarization of thin-film and single-crystal RuO$_2$. Contrary to expectations of altermagnetism, our analysis indicates that RuO$_2$'s electronic structure aligns with those predicted under non-magnetic conditions, exhibiting no evidence of the hypothesized spin splitting. Additionally, we observe significant in-plane spin polarization of the low-lying bulk bands, which is antisymmetric about the high-symmetry plane and contrary to the $d$-wave spin texture due to time-reversal symmetry breaking in altermagnetism. These findings definitively challenge the altermagnetic order previously proposed for rutile RuO$_2$, prompting a reevaluation of its magnetic properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗