arXiv subjects

Lin-Lin Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Lin-Lin Wang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Visualizing band selective enhancement of quasiparticle lifetime in a metallic ferromagnet

Electrons navigate more easily in a background of ordered magnetic moments than around randomly oriented ones. This fundamental quantum mechanical principle is due to their Bloch wave nature and also underlies ballistic electronic motion in a perfect crystal. As a result, a paramagnetic metal that develops ferromagnetic order often experiences a sharp drop in the resistivity. Despite the universality of this phenomenon, a direct observation of the impact of ferromagnetic order on the electronic quasiparticles in a magnetic metal is still lacking. Here we demonstrate that quasiparticles experience a significant enhancement of their lifetime in the ferromagnetic state of the low-density magnetic semimetal EuCd2As2, but this occurs only in selected bands and specific energy ranges. This is a direct consequence of the magnetically induced band splitting and the multi-orbital nature of the material. Our detailed study allows to disentangle different electronic scattering mechanisms due to non-magnetic disorder and magnon exchange. Such high momentum and energy dependence quasiparticle lifetime enhancement can lead to spin selective transport and potential spintronic applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Pressure-induced ferromagnetism in the topological semimetal EuCd$_2$As$_2$

The antiferromagnet and semimetal EuCd$_2$As$_2$ has recently attracted a lot of attention due to a wealth of topological phases arising from the interplay of topology and magnetism. In particular, the presence of a single pair of Weyl points is predicted for a ferromagnetic configuration of Eu spins along the $c$-axis in EuCd$_2$As$_2$. In the search for such phases, we investigate here the effects of hydrostatic pressure in EuCd$_2$As$_2$. For that, we present specific heat, transport and $μ$SR measurements under hydrostatic pressure up to $\sim\,2.5\,$GPa, combined with {\it ab initio} density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimentally, we establish that the ground state of EuCd$_2$As$_2$ changes from in-plane antiferromagnetic (AFM$_{ab}$) to ferromagnetic at a critical pressure of $\,\approx\,$2\,GPa, which is likely characterized by the moments dominantly lying within the $ab$ plane (FM$_{ab}$). The AFM$_{ab}$-FM$_{ab}$ transition at such a relatively low pressure is supported by our DFT calculations. Furthermore, our experimental and theoretical results indicate that EuCd$_2$As$_2$ moves closer to the sought-for FM$_c$ state (moments $\parallel$ $c$) with increasing pressure further. We predict that a pressure of $\approx$\,23\,GPa will stabilize the FM$_c$ state, if Eu remains in a 2+ valence state. Thus, our work establishes hydrostatic pressure as a key tuning parameter that (i) allows for a continuous tuning between magnetic ground states in a single sample of EuCd$_2$As$_2$ and (ii) enables the exploration of the interplay between magnetism and topology and thereby motivates a series of future experiments on this magnetic Weyl semimetal.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Site Mixing for Engineering Magnetic Topological Insulators

The van der Waals compound, MnBi$_2$Te$_4$, is the first intrinsic magnetic topological insulator, providing a materials platform for exploring exotic quantum phenomena such as the axion insulator state and the quantum anomalous Hall effect. However, intrinsic structural imperfections lead to bulk conductivity, and the roles of magnetic defects are still unknown. With higher concentrations of same types of magnetic defects, the isostructural compound MnSb$_2$Te$_4$ is a better model system for a systematic investigation of the connections among magnetic, topology and lattice defects. In this work, the impact of antisite defects on the magnetism and electronic structure is studied in MnSb$_2$Te$_4$. Mn-Sb site mixing leads to complex magnetic structures and tunes the interlayer magnetic coupling between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic. The detailed nonstoichiometry and site-mixing of MnSb$_2$Te$_4$ crystals depend on the growth parameters, which can lead to $\approx$40\% of Mn sites occupied by Sb and $\approx$15\% of Sb sites by Mn in as-grown crystals. Single crystal neutron diffraction and electron microscopy studies show nearly random distribution of the antisite defects. Band structure calculations suggest that the Mn-Sb site-mixing favors a FM interlayer coupling, consistent with experimental observation, but is detrimental to the band inversion required for a nontrivial topology. Our results suggest a long range magnetic order of Mn ions sitting on Bi sites in MnBi$_2$Te$_4$. The effects of site mixing should be considered in all layered heterostructures that consist of alternating magnetic and topological layers, including the entire family of MnTe(Bi$_2$Te$_3$)$_n$, its Sb analogs and their solid solution.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Pressure Effect on Band Inversion in AECd2As2

Recent studies have predicted that magnetic EuCd2As2 can host several different topological states depending on its magnetic order, including a single pair of Weyl points. Here we report on the bulk properties and band inversion induced by pressure in the non-magnetic analogs AECd2As2 (AE = Ca, Sr, Ba) as studied with density functional theory calculations. Under ambient pressure we find these compounds are narrow band gap semiconductors, in agreement with experiment. The size of the band gap is dictated by both the increasing ionicity across the AE series which tends to increase the band gap, as well as the larger nearest neighbor Cd-As distance from increasing atomic size which can decrease the band gap because the conduction band edge is an anti-bonding state derived mostly from Cd 5s orbitals. The combination of these two competing effects results in a non-monotonic change of the band gap size across the AE series with SrCd2As2 having the smallest band gap among the three compounds. The application of negative pressure reduces this band gap and causes the band inversion between the Cd 5s and As 4p orbitals along the $Γ$-A direction to induce a pair of Dirac points. The topological nature of the Dirac points is then confirmed by finding the closed Fermi arcs on the (10-10) surface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Topological Descendants of Multicritical EuTl2

The past decades have witnessed a transformation in characterizing condensed matter systems with topology. Aided by a refined understanding of topological band structures with crystalline symmetries that has emerged recently, many electronic phases have been identified and a plethora of materials have been predicted to host novel properties and functionalities. A key underlying question, also with respect to future application, is to what extent the related physical features can be manipulated, especially in the context of magnetic order. Here we describe a paradigmatic semimetal that simultaneously incorporates multiple, and sometimes conflicting topology which guarantees gaplessness and leads to an exceptionally rich family of descendent phases on lowering symmetry. We predict that this multicritical phase is realized in EuTl2. Starting from the parent semimetallic state, which already separates two topological insulating regimes, the interplay of inherent magnetism and strain allows for an exceptionally rich phase diagram of topological descendant states.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Expansive Open Fermi Arcs and Connectivity Changes Induced by Infrared Phonons in ZrTe5

Expansive open Fermi arcs covering most of the surface Brillouin zone (SBZ) are desirable for detection and control of many topological phenomena, but so far has been only reported for Kramers-Weyl points, or unconventional chiral fermions, pinned at time-reversal invariant momentum in chiral materials. Here using first-principles band structure calculations, we show that for conventional Weyl points in ZrTe5 with the chirality of +1/-1 near the BZ center at general momentum induced by one of the infrared phonons, the second lowest B1u mode for breaking inversion symmetry, they can also form expansive open Fermi arcs across the SBZ boundary to occupy most of the SBZ when projected on (001) surface. We reveal that such expansive open Fermi arcs are evolved from the topological surface states that connect multiple surface Dirac points on the (001) surface of the topological insulator phases without lattice distortion in ZrTe5. Furthermore, we find that the connectivity of the induced open Fermi arcs can be changed by the magnitude of the lattice distortion of this infrared phonon mode. Thus, we propose that using coherent optical phonon to modulate lattice parameters can offer ways to induce novel topological features including expansive open Fermi arcs and dynamically control Fermi arcs connectivity in ZrTe5.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Discovery of a weak topological insulating state and van Hove singularity in triclinic RhBi2

Time reversal symmetric (TRS) invariant topological insulators (TIs) fullfil a paradigmatic role in the field of topological materials, standing at the origin of its development. Apart from TRS protected 'strong' TIs, it was realized early on that more confounding weak topological insulators (WTI) exist. WTIs depend on translational symmetry and exhibit topological surface states only in certain directions making it significantly more difficult to match the experimental success of strong TIs. We here report on the discovery of a WTI state in RhBi2 that belongs to the optimal space group P1, which is the only space group where symmetry indicated eigenvalues enumerate all possible invariants due to absence of additional constraining crystalline symmetries. Our ARPES, DFT calculations, and effective model reveal topological surface states with saddle points that are located in the vicinity of a Dirac point resulting in a van Hove singularity (VHS) along the (100) direction close to the Fermi energy. Due to the combination of exotic features, this material offers great potential as a material platform for novel quantum effects.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Study of single crystalline SrAgSb and SrAuSb semimetals

Given renewed interest in the electronic properties of semimetallic compounds with varying degrees of spin orbit coupling we have grown single crystals of SrAgSb and SrAuSb, measured their temperature and field dependent electrical resistivity and magnetization and performed density functional theory (DFT) band structure calculations. Magnetization measurements are consistent with a diamagnetic host with a small amount of local moment bearing impurities. Although the residual resistivity ratio (RRR) for all samples studied was relatively low, ranging between 2.4 and 3.4, the compounds had non-saturating magnetoresistance (MR), reaching values of $\sim$ 17% and $\sim$ 70% at 4 K and 9 T for SrAgSb and SrAuSb respectively. Band structure calculations, using the experimentally determined Wyckoff positions for the Sr, Ag/Au, and Sb atoms, show that whereas SrAgSb is a topologically trivial, but compensated, semimetal; SrAuSb is a topologically non-trivial, Dirac semimetal.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Manipulating of magnetism in the topological semimetal EuCd2As2

Magnetic Weyl semimetals are expected to have extraordinary physical properties such as a chiral anomaly and large anomalous Hall effects that may be useful for future, potential, spintronics applications. However, in most known host materials, multiple pairs of Weyl points prevent a clear manifestation of the intrinsic topological effects. Our recent density functional theory (DFT) calculations study suggest that EuCd$_{2}$As$_{2}$ can host Dirac fermions in an antiferromagnetically (AFM) ordered state or a single pair of Weyl fermions in a ferromagnetically (FM) ordered state. Unfortunately, previously synthesized crystals ordered antiferromagnetically with $T_{\textrm{N}}$\,$\simeq$\,9.5\,K. Here, we report the successful synthesis of single crystals of EuCd$_{2}$As$_{2}$ that order ferromagnetically (FM) or antiferromagnetically (AFM) depending on the level of band filling, thus allowing for the use of magnetism to tune the topological properties within the same host. We explored their physical properties via magnetization, electrical transport, heat capacity, and angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and conclude that EuCd$_{2}$As$_{2}$ is an excellent, tunable, system for exploring the interplay of magnetic ordering and topology.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Intrinsic axion insulating behavior in antiferromagnetic MnBi$_6$Te$_{10}$

A striking feature of time reversal symmetry (TRS) protected topological insulators (TIs) is that they are characterized by a half integer quantum Hall effect on the boundary when the surface states are gapped by time reversal breaking perturbations. While time reversal symmetry (TRS) protected TIs have become increasingly under control, magnetic analogs are still largely unexplored territories with novel rich structures. In particular, topological magnetic insulators can also host a quantized axion term in the presence of lattice symmetries. Since these symmetries are naturally broken on the boundary, the surface states can develop a gap without external manipulation. In this work, we combine theoretical analysis, density functional calculations and experimental evidence to reveal intrinsic axion insulating behavior in MnBi6Te10. The quantized axion term arises from the simplest possible mechanism in the antiferromagnetic regime where it is protected by inversion symmetry and a fractional translation symmetry. The anticipated gapping of the Dirac surface state at the edge is subsequently experimentally established using Angle Resolved Spectroscopy. As a result, this system provides the magnetic analogue of the simplest TRS protected TI with a single, gapped Dirac cone at the surface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Gapless Dirac surface states in the antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4

We use high-resolution, tunable angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electronic properties of single crystals of MnBi2Te4, a material that was predicted to be the first intrinsic antiferromagnetic (AFM) topological insulator. We observe both bulk and surface bands in the electronic spectra, in reasonable agreement with the DFT calculations results. In striking contrast to the earlier literatures showing a full gap opening between two surface band manifolds along (0001) direction, we observed a gapless Dirac cone remain protected in MnBi2Te4 across the AFM transition (TN = 24 K). Our data also reveal the existence of a second Dirac cone closer to the Fermi level, predicted by band structure calculations. Whereas the surface Dirac cones seem to be remarkably insensitive to the AFM ordering, we do observe splitting of the bulk band that develops below the TN . Having a moderately high ordering temperature, MnBi2Te4 provides a unique platform for studying the interplay between topology and magnetic ordering.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Fragility of Fermi arcs in Dirac semimetals

We use tunable, vacuum ultraviolet laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to study the electronic properties of Dirac semimetal candidate cubic PtBi${}_{2}$. In addition to bulk electronic states we also find surface states in PtBi${}_{2}$ which is expected as PtBi${}_{2}$ was theoretical predicated to be a candidate Dirac semimetal. The surface states are also well reproduced from DFT band calculations. Interestingly, the topological surface states form Fermi contours rather than double Fermi arcs that were observed in Na$_3$Bi. The surface bands forming the Fermi contours merge with bulk bands in proximity of the Dirac points projections, as expected. Our data confirms existence of Dirac states in PtBi${}_{2}$ and reveals the fragility of the Fermi arcs in Dirac semimetals. Because the Fermi arcs are not topologically protected in general, they can be deformed into Fermi contours, as proposed by [Kargarian {\it et al.}, PNAS \textbf{113}, 8648 (2016)]. Our results demonstrate validity of this theory in PtBi${}_{2}$.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Use of Cernox thermometers in AC specific heat measurements under pressure

We report on the resistance behavior of bare-chip Cernox thermometers under pressures up to 2 GPa, generated in a piston-cylinder pressure cell. Our results clearly show that Cernox thermometers, frequently used in low-temperature experiments due to their high sensitivity, remain highly sensitive even under applied pressure. We show that these thermometers are therefore ideally suited for measurements of heat capacity under pressure utilizing an ac oscillation technique up to at least 150 K. Our Cernox-based system is very accurate in determining changes of the specific heat as a function of pressure as demonstrated by measurements of the heat capacity on three different test cases: (i) the superconducting transition in elemental Pb (T_{c} = 7.2 K), (ii) the antiferromagnetic transition in the rare-earth compound GdNiGe3 (T_{N} = 26 K) and (iii) the structural/magnetic transition in the iron-pnictide BaFe2As2 (T_{s,N} = 130 K). The chosen examples demonstrate the versatility of our technique for measuring the specific heat under pressure of various condensed matter systems with very different transition temperatures as well as amounts of removed entropy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

A Single Pair of Weyl Fermions in Half-metallic EuCd2As2 Semimetal

An ideal Weyl semimetal with a single pair of Weyl points (WPs) may be generated by splitting a single Dirac point (DP) through the breaking of time-reversal symmetry by magnetic order. However, most known Dirac semimetals possess a pair of DPs along an axis that is protected by crystalline symmetry. Here, we demonstrate that a single pair of WPs may also be generated from a pair of DPs. Using first-principles band structure calculations, we show that inducing ferromagnetism in the AFM Dirac semimetal EuCd2As2 generates a single pair of WPs due to its half-metallic nature. Analysis with a low-energy effective Hamiltonian shows that this ideal Weyl semimetal is obtained in EuCd2As2 because the DPs are very close to the zone center and the ferromagnetic exchange splitting is large enough to push one pair of WPs to merge and annihilate at Gamma while the other pair survives. Furthermore, we predict that alloying with Ba at the Eu site can stabilize the ferromagnetic configuration and generate a single pair of Weyl points without application of a magnetic field.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Phenomenal magneto-elastoresistance of WTe$_{2}$: strain engineering of electronic and quantum transport properties

Elastoresistance describes the relative change of a material's resistance when strained. It has two major contributions: strain induced geometric and electronic changes. If the geometric factor dominates, like in ordinary metals such as copper, the elastoresistance is positive and rather small, i.e. typically of order 1. In a few materials, however, changes in electronic structure dominate, which gives rise to larger and even negative values, such as (-11) for Bi. Here, we report that the transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) WTe$_{2}$ is a member of the second group, exhibiting a large and non-monotonic elastoresistance that is about (-20) near 100 K and changes sign at low temperatures. We discover that an applied magnetic field has a dramatic effect on the elastoresistance in WTe$_{2}$: in the quantum regime at low temperatures, it leads to quantum oscillations of the elastoresistance, that ranges between (-80) to 120 within a field range of only half a Tesla. In the semiclassical regime at intermediate temperatures, we find that the elastoresistance rapidly increases and changes sign in a magnetic field. We provide a semi-quantitative understanding of our experimental results using a combination of first-principle and analytical low-energy model calculations. Understanding bulk properties of TMDCs under uniaxial strain is an important stepping stone toward strain engineering of 2D TMDCs.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Effect of pressure on the physical properties of the superconductor NiBi3

We present an experimental study of the superconducting properties of NiBi3 as a function of pressure by means of resistivity and magnetization measurements and combine our results with DFT calculations of the band structure under pressure. We find a moderate suppression of the critical temperature Tc from ~ 4.1K to ~ 3K by pressures up to 2GPa. By taking into account the change of the band structure as a function of pressure, we argue that the decrease in Tc is consistent with conventional, electron-phonon-mediated BCS-type superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Electronic structure of topological superconductor candidate Au${}_{2}$Pb

We use magnetization measurements, high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electronic properties of Au${}_{2}$Pb, a topological superconductor candidate. The magnetization measurements reveal three discontinuities at 40, 51, and 99~K that agree well with reported structural phase transitions. ARPES measurements of the Au${}_{2}$Pb (111) surface at 110~K shows a shallow hole pocket at the center and flower-petal-like surface states at the corners of the Brillouin zone. These observations match the results of DFT calculations relatively well. The flower-petal-like surface states appear to originate from a Dirac like dispersion close to the zone corner. For the Au${}_{2}$Pb (001) surface at 150~K, ARPES reveals at least one electron pocket between the $Γ$ and $M$ points, consistent with the DFT calculations. Our results provide evidence for the possible existence of Dirac state in this material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Extremely large magnetoresistance and Kohler's rule in PdSn4: a complete study of thermodynamic, transport and band structure properties

The recently discovered material PtSn$_4$ is known to exhibit extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR) that also manifests Dirac arc nodes on the surface. PdSn$_4$ is isostructure to PtSn$_4$ with same electron count. We report on the physical properties of high quality single crystals of PdSn$_4$ including specific heat, temperature and magnetic field dependent resistivity and magnetization, and electronic band structure properties obtained from angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). We observe that PdSn$_4$ has physical properties that are qualitatively similar to those of PtSn$_4$, but find also pronounced differences. Importantly, the Dirac arc node surface state of PtSn$_4$ is gapped out for PdSn$_4$. By comparing these similar compounds, we address the origin of the extremely large magnetoresistance in PdSn$_4$ and PtSn$_4$; based on detailed analysis of the magnetoresistivity, $ρ(H,T)$, we conclude that neither carrier compensation nor the Dirac arc node surface state are primary reason for the extremely large magnetoresistance. On the other hand, we find that surprisingly Kohler's rule scaling of the mangnetoresistance, which describes a self-similarity of the field induced orbital electronic motion across different length scales and is derived for a simple electronic response of metals to applied in a magnetic field is obeyed over the full range of temperatures and field strengths that we explore.

cond-mat.str-el↗