arXiv subjects

L. Forro

Publications and source records attributed to L. Forro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

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

Beyond the Linearity of Current-Voltage Characteristics in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

We present local and non-local electron transport measurements on individual multi-wall nanotubes for bias voltage between 0 and about 4 V. Local current-voltage characteristics are quite linear. In contrast, non-local measurements are highly non-linear; the differential non-local conductance can even become negative in the high-bias regime. We discuss the relationship between these results and transport parameters such as the elastic length, the number of current carrying shells, and the number of conducting modes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Competition between magnetic field dependent band structure and coherent backscattering in multiwall carbon nanotubes

Magnetotransport measurements in large diameter multiwall carbon nanotubes (20-40 nm) demonstrate the competition of a magnetic-field dependent bandstructure and Altshuler-Aronov-Spivak oscillations. By means of an efficient capacitive coupling to a backgate electrode, the magnetoconductance oscillations are explored as a function of Fermi level shift. Changing the magnetic field orientation with respect to the tube axis and by ensemble averaging, allows to identify the contributions of different Aharonov-Bohm phases. The results are in qualitative agreement with numerical calculations of the band structure and the conductance.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2006

Magnetic fullerenes inside single-wall carbon nanotubes

C59N magnetic fullerenes were formed inside single-wall carbon nanotubes by vacuum annealing functionalized C59N molecules encapsulated inside the tubes. A hindered, anisotropic rotation of C59N was deduced from the temperature dependence of the electron spin resonance spectra near room temperature. Shortening of spin-lattice relaxation time, T_1, of C59N indicates a reversible charge transfer toward the host nanotubes above $\sim 350$ K. Bound C59N-C60 heterodimers are formed at lower temperatures when C60 is co-encapsulated with the functionalized C59N. In the 10-300 K range, T_1 of the heterodimer shows a relaxation dominated by the conduction electrons on the nanotubes.

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↗

arXiv2005

Scaling Law in Carbon Nanotube Electromechanical Devices

We report a method for probing electromechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes(CNTs). This method is based on AFM measurements on a doubly clamped suspended CNT electrostatically deflected by a gate electrode. We measure the maximum deflection as a function of the applied gate voltage. Data from different CNTs scale into an universal curve within the experimental accuracy, in agreement with a continuum model prediction. This method and the general validity of the scaling law constitute a very useful tool for designing actuators and in general conducting nanowire-based NEMS.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Optical evidence for a magnetically driven structural transition in the spin web $Cu_3TeO_6$

$Cu_3TeO_6$ is a modest frustrated $S=1/2$ spin system, which undergoes an anti-ferromagnetic transition at $T_N\sim61$ $K$. The anti-ferromagnetic spin alignment in $Cu_3TeO_6$ below $T_N$ is supposed to induce a magneto-elastic strain of the lattice. The complete absorption spectrum of $Cu_3TeO_6$ is obtained through Kramers-Kronig transformation of the optical reflectivity, measured from the far-infrared up to the ultraviolet spectral range as a function of temperature ($T$). Below $T^*\sim 50$ $K$, we find a new mode at 208 $cm^{-1}$. The spectral weight associated to this additional mode increases as $\propto (T^*-T)^{1/2}$ with decreasing $T$ below $T^*$. The implication of the optical findings will be discussed in relation to the magnetic phase transition at $T_N$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Experimental Electronic Structure and Interband Nesting in BaVS_3

The correlated 3d sulphide BaVS_3 is a most interesting compound because of the apparent coexistence of one-dimensional and three-dimensional properties. Our experiments explain this puzzle and shed new light on its electronic structure. High-resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements in a 4eV wide range below the Fermi level explored the coexistence of weakly correlated a_1g wide-band and strongly correlated e_g narrow-band d-electrons that is responsible for the complicated behavior of this material. The most relevant result is the evidence for a_1g--e_g inter-band nesting condition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Determination of the Intershell Conductance in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

We report on the intershell electron transport in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). To do this, local and nonlocal four-point measurements are used to study the current path through the different shells of a MWNT. For short electrode separations $\lesssim$ 1 $μ$m the current mainly flows through the two outer shells, described by a resistive transmission line with an intershell conductance per length of ~(10 kΩ)^{-1}/$μ$m. The intershell transport is tunnel-type and the transmission is consistent with the estimate based on the overlap between $π$-orbitals of neighboring shells.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Optical evidence for the proximity to a spin-density-wave metallic state in Na$_{0.7}$CoO$_2$

We present the optical properties of \na single crystals, measured over a broad spectral range as a function of temperature ($T$). The capability to cover the energy range from the far-infrared up to the ultraviolet allows us to perform reliable Kramers-Kronig transformation, in order to obtain the absorption spectrum (i.e., the complex optical conductivity). To the complex optical conductivity we apply the generalized Drude model, extracting the frequency dependence of the scattering rate ($Γ$) and effective mass ($m^*$) of the itinerant charge carriers. We find that $Γ(ω)\sim ω$ at low temperatures and for $ω> T$. This suggests that \na is at the verge of a spin-density-wave metallic phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2003

Carbon Nanotube Based Bearing for Rotational Motions

We report the fabrication of a nanoelectromechanical system consisting of a plate rotating around a multiwalled nanotube bearing. The motion is possible thanks to the low intershell friction. Indeed, the nanotube has been engineered so that the sliding happens between different shells. The plate rotation is activated electrostatically with stator electrodes. The static friction force is estimated at $\approx 2\cdot10^{-15}$ N/Å$^2$.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2003

Geometrical Dependence of High-Bias Current in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

We have studied the high-bias transport properties of the different shells that constitute a multiwalled carbon nanotube. The current is shown to be reduced as the shell diameter is decreased or the length is increased. We assign this geometrical dependence to the competition between electron-phonon scattering process and Zener tunneling.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2003

Magnetic Field Induced Density of States in Superconducting MgB$_{2}$: Measurement of Conduction Electron Spin-Susceptibility

The magnetic field dependence of the spin-susceptibility, $χ_{s}$ was measured in the superconducting state of high purity MgB$_{2}$ fine powders below 1.3 T. $χ_{s}$ was determined from the intensity of the conduction electron spin resonance spectra at 3.8, 9.4, and 35 GHz. At the lowest magnetic fields (0.14 T), a gap opens in the density of states at the Fermi energy and, accordingly, $χ_{s}(T)$ is small at low temperatures. Fields above 0.2 T (about 15 % of $H^{c}_{c2}$, the minimum upper critical field), destroy the gap. The field induced $χ_{s}$ is much larger than expected from current superconductor models of MgB$_{2}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2003

The electrical properties of Cd2Re2O7 under pressure

We examine the resistivity and thermopower of single crystal specimens of the pyrochlore oxide Cd2Re2O7 at pressures up to 2GPa. Thermopower proves to be a sensitive tool in the study of the phase diagram of Cd2Re2O7. The 200K metal-to-metal phase transition is accompanied by a strong increase of the absolute value of the thermopower. A weaker anomaly allows to identify a second phase transition at 125K. Following the temperature dependence of this anomaly, we obtain the corresponding phase boundary up to 1.2GPa, and argue that it must drop to T=0 before p reaches 1.8GPa. There is a wide temperature range where the electrical properties are fairly sensitive to pressure, indicating the strong coupling of the electronic degrees of freedom to the lattice.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Phonon anomaly at the charge ordering transition in 1T-TaS2

The infrared reflectance of the transition metal chalcogenide 1T-TaS2 has been measured at temperatures from 30K to 360K over 30-45,000cm^-1 (4meV-5.5eV). The optical conductivity was obtained by Kramers-Kronig analysis. At 360K only modest traces of the phonon lines are noticeable. The phonon modes are followed by a pseudogap-like increase of the optical conductivity, with direct optical transitions observed at frequencies above 1eV. As the temperature decreases, the low frequency conductivity also decreases, phonon modes become more pronounced and pseudogap develops into a gap at 800cm^-1 (100meV). We observe an anomalous frequency dependence of the 208cm^-1 infrared-active phonon mode. This mode demonstrates softening as the temperature decreases below the 180K metal-to-insulator transition. The same mode demonstrates strong hysteresis of the frequency and linewidth changes, similar in its temperature behavior to the hysteresis in the dc-resistivity. We discuss a possible relation of the observed softening of the mode to the structural changes associated with the metal-to-insulator transition.

cond-mat↗

arXiv2002

Persistence of molecular excitations in metallic fullerides and their role in a possible metal to insulator transition at high temperatures

We present 13C NMR spin-lattice relaxation measurements (1/T1) in Na2CsC60 and Rb3C60 from 10 to 700K. The large temperature range of this measurement allow to define unambiguously an increase of 1/T1T with increasing temperature, which is anomalous in a simple metallic picture, where the Korringa law predicts 1/T1T = cst. We attribute this increase to the existence of an additional relaxation channel related to singlet-triplet (ST) excitations of Jahn-Teller distorted C60^{2-} and C60^{4-}. These units are formed within the metal on very short time scales (10^{-14} sec) that do not imply static charge segregation. We show that the amplitude of the ST component depends directly on the density of states, which indicates an interplay between metallic and molecular excitations. Such an interaction is also revealed by the high temperature behavior of Na2CsC60 and CsC60, that we then discuss. A divergence between the behaviors of 1/T1, the NMR shift and the ESR susceptibility is interpreted as the result of a rapid increase of the lifetime of the charge carriers, signaling a tendency to charge localization. In our analysis, the particular stability of C60^{2n-} is then a common feature of all known metallic fullerides and allow to reconcile apparently contradicting properties of these systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Gaps and excitations in fullerides with partially filled bands : NMR study of Na2C60 and K4C60

We present an NMR study of Na2C60 and K4C60, two compounds that are related by electron-hole symmetry in the C60 triply degenerate conduction band. In both systems, it is known that NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T1) measurements detect a gap in the electronic structure, most likely related to singlet-triplet excitations of the Jahn-Teller distorted (JTD) C60^{2-} or C60^{4-}. However, the extended temperature range of the measurements presented here (10 K to 700 K) allows to reveal deviations with respect to this general trend, both at high and low temperatures. Above room temperature, 1/T1 deviates from the activated law that one would expect from the presence of the gap and saturates. In the same temperature range, a lowering of symmetry is detected in Na2C60 by the appearance of quadrupole effects on the 23Na spectra. In K4C60, modifications of the 13C spectra lineshapes also indicate a structural modification. We discuss this high temperature deviation in terms of a coupling between JTD and local symmetry. At low temperatures, 1/T$_1$T tends to a constant value for Na2C60, both for 13C and 23Na NMR. This indicates a residual metallic character, which emphasizes the proximity of metallic and insulting behaviors in alkali fullerides.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Coexistence of spin-singlets and metallic behavior in simple cubic CsC60

We present a detailed NMR study of simple cubic CsC60, the only metallic cubic fullerides known so far besides A3C60. 133Cs NMR signals the presence of about 12 to 15% of ``anomalous'' C60 balls, characterized by a 15 meV gap. We present different experimental observations supporting the idea that a spin-singlet (i.e. a C60^{2-}) is localized on these latter balls and stabilized by a JTD. A splitting of the 133Cs spectrum into three different lines, with distinct electronic environments, is observed which emerges naturally from such a situation. Quadrupole effects on 133Cs confirm an inhomogeneous distribution of the charge between C60 molecules. Analysis of the relative intensities of the 133Cs lines show that the spin-singlets do not form clusters at the local scale, but are diluted within the lattice. This is probably to avoid the occurrence of neighboring C60^{2-} and minimize electrostatic repulsion between these balls. Through spin-lattice relaxation measurements, we detect chemical exchange between the Cs sites above 100 K. From this, we deduce that the lifetime of a spin-singlet on a given ball decreases exponentially with increasing temperature (from 15 sec at 100 K to 3 ms at 130 K). The implications of the presence of such spin-singlets for the nature of the metallic state is discussed, in relation with a decrease of 1/T1T for 13C at low temperatures, which would be anomalous for a simple metal.

cond-mat.str-el↗