arXiv subjects

Julie B. Staunton

Publications and source records attributed to Julie B. Staunton.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Verification of Anderson superexchange in MnO via magnetic pair distribution function analysis and \textit{ab initio} theory

We present temperature-dependent atomic and magnetic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of neutron total scattering measurements of antiferromagnetic MnO, an archetypal strongly correlated transition-metal oxide. The known antiferromagnetic ground-state structure fits the low-temperature data closely with refined parameters that agree with conventional techniques, confirming the reliability of the newly developed magnetic PDF method. The measurements performed in the paramagnetic phase reveal significant short-range magnetic correlations on a $\sim$1~nm length scale that differ substantially from the low-temperature long-range spin arrangement. \textit{Ab initio} calculations using a self-interaction-corrected local spin density approximation of density functional theory predict magnetic interactions dominated by Anderson superexchange and reproduce the measured short-range magnetic correlations to a high degree of accuracy. Further calculations simulating an additional contribution from a direct exchange interaction show much worse agreement with the data. The Anderson superexchange model for MnO is thus verified by experiment and confirmed by \textit{ab initio} theory.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Ab initio Disordered Local Moment Approach for a Doped Rare-Earth Magnet

Following the finite-temperature ab initio calculation framework based on the relativistic disordered local moments, we computationally demonstrate the possibility of doping-enhanced coercivity at high-temperatures, taking YCo$_5$ as a working material in order to extract the $3d$-electron part of the electronic structure of the rare-earth permanent magnets. Alkaline-earth dopants are shown to be the candidates to realize the proposed phenomenon.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Improvement of magnetic hardness at finite temperatures: ab initio disordered local moment approach for YCo$_5$

Temperature dependence of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy and magnetization of the prototypical rare-earth magnet YCo$_5$ is calculated from first principles, utilizing the relativistic disordered local moment approach. We discuss a strategy to enhance the finite-temperature anisotropy field by hole doping, paving the way for an improvement of the coercivity near room temperature or higher.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Generalized inclusion of short range ordering effects in the coherent potential approximation

The coherent potential approximation has historically allowed the efficient study of disorder effects over a variety of solid state systems. Its original formulation is however limited to a single-site or uncorrelated model of local substitutions. This neglects the effects of correlation and short range ordering, often found in realistic materials. Recent theoretical work has shown how to systematically address such shortcomings, for simple materials with only one element per unit cell. We briefly review the basic ideas of these developments within the framework of multiple scattering theory, and suggest their generalization to materials with complex lattices and possibly different types of disorder. We illustrate this extension with an example of local environment effects in the exotic Hapkeite $Fe-Fe_{37.5%}Si_{62.5%}$ compound.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Cubic MnSb: epitaxial growth of a predicted room temperature half-metal

Epitaxial films including bulk-like cubic and wurtzite polymorphs of MnSb have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs via careful control of the Sb4/Mn flux ratio. Nonzero-temperature density functional theory was used to predict ab initio the spin polarization as a function of reduced magnetization for the half-metals NiMnSb and cubic MnSb. In both cases, half-metallicity is lost at a threshold magnetization reduction, corresponding to a temperature T*< Tc. This threshold is far higher for cubic MnSb compared to NiMnSb and corresponds to T* > 350K, making epitaxial cubic MnSb a promising candidate for room temperature spin injection into semiconductors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Effects of short-range order on the electronic structure of disordered metallic systems

For many years the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent-potential approximation (KKR-CPA) has been widely used to describe the electronic structure of disordered systems based upon a first-principles description of the crystal potential. However, as a single-site theory the KKR-CPA is unable to account for important environmental effects such as short-range order (SRO) in alloys and spin fluctuations in magnets, amongst others. Using the recently devised KKR-NLCPA (where NL stands for nonlocal), we show how to remedy this by presenting explicit calculations for the effects of SRO on the electronic structure of the bcc Cu_{50}Zn_{50} solid solution.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2001

ZrZn2: geometrical enhancement of the local DOS and quantum design of magnetic instabilities

The recent discovery of coexisting ferromagnetism and superconductivity in ZrZn2, and the fact that they are simultaneously suppressed on applying pressure suggest the possibility of a pairing mechanism which is mediated by exchange interactions and connected with the proximity to a magnetic quantum critical point. On the basis of first principles, full potential calculations we study the conditions that, for ZrZn2, determine the proximity to this magnetic instability. More specifically, we discuss the role played by the geometrical arrangement of the lattice, the hybridization and the presence of disorder, in addition to the widely used method of applying external pressures. These circumstances influence the width of the relevant Zr d bands whose narrowing, due to the reduction of the effective number of neighbours or to an increase of the cell volume, causes an enhancement of the density of states at the Fermi level. Finally, we highlight some general features that may aid the design of other materials close to a magnetic instability.

cond-mat.supr-con↗