arXiv subjects

M. C. Rahn

Publications and source records attributed to M. C. Rahn.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Evidence for $J_{\rm eff} = 0$ ground state and defect-induced spin glass behaviour in the pyrochlore osmate Y$_{2}$Os$_{2}$O$_{7}$

We present AC and DC magnetometry, heat capacity, muon spin relaxation ($μ$SR) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) studies of the pyrochlore osmate Y$_2$Os$_2$O$_7$. We observe a non-zero effective moment governed by $\sqrt{f}μ_{\rm{eff}} = 0.417(1)\,μ_{\rm{B}}$ where $f$ is the fraction of Os sites which exhibit a spin, and spin freezing at temperature $T_{\rm f} \simeq 5\,$K, consistent with previous results. The field dependence of magnetisation data shows that the paramagnetic moment is most likely due to large moments $μ_{\rm eff} \simeq 3\,μ_{\rm B}$ on only a small fraction $f \simeq 0.02$ of Os sites. Comparison of single-ion energy level calculations with the RIXS data yields a non-magnetic $J_{\rm eff} = 0$ ground state on the Os$^{4+}$ sites. The spin-orbit interaction, Hund's coupling and trigonal distortion of OsO$_{6}$ octahedra are all important in modelling the experimentally observed spectra. We are able to rule out impurity effects, leaving disorder-related effects such as oxygen non-stoichiometry or site interchange between Os and Y ions as the most plausible explanation for the magnetic response in this material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Coupling of magnetic order and charge transport in the candidate Dirac semimetal EuCd$_2$As$_2$

We use resonant elastic x-ray scattering to determine the evolution of magnetic order in EuCd$_2$As$_2$ below $T_\textrm{N}=9.5$\,K, as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. We find an A-type antiferromagneticstructure with in-plane magnetic moments, and observe dramatic magnetoresistive effects associated with field-induced changes in the magnetic structure and domain populations. Our \textit{ab initio} electronic structure calculations indicate that the Dirac dispersion found in the nonmagnetic Dirac semimetal Cd$_3$As$_2$ is also present in EuCd$_2$As$_2$, but is gapped for $T < T_\textrm{N}$ due to the breaking of $C_3$ symmetry by the magnetic structure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Spin resonance in the superconducting state of Li$_{1-x}$Fe$_{x}$ODFe$_{1-y}$Se observed by neutron spectroscopy

We have performed inelastic neutron scattering measurements on a powder sample of the superconductor lithium iron selenide hydroxide Li$_{1-x}$Fe$_{x}$ODFe$_{1-y}$Se ($x \simeq 0.16, y \simeq 0.02$, $T_{\rm c} = 41$\,K). The spectrum shows an enhanced intensity below $T_{\rm c}$ over an energy range $0.64\times2Δ< E < 2Δ$, where $Δ$ is the superconducting gap, with maxima at the wave vectors $Q_1 \simeq 1.46$\,Å$^{-1}$ and $Q_2 \simeq 1.97$\,Å$^{-1}$. The behavior of this feature is consistent with the spin resonance mode found in other unconventional superconductors, and strongly resembles the spin resonance observed in the spectrum of the molecular-intercalated iron selenide, Li$_{0.6}$(ND$_{2}$)$_{0.2}$(ND$_{3}$)$_{0.8}$Fe$_{2}$Se$_{2}$. The signal can be described with a characteristic two-dimensional wave vector $(π, 0.67π)$ in the Brillouin zone of the iron square lattice, consistent with the nesting vector between electron Fermi sheets.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

All-in all-out magnetic order and propagating spin-waves in Sm2Ir2O7

Using resonant magnetic x-ray scattering we address the unresolved nature of the magnetic groundstate and the low-energy effective Hamiltonian of Sm$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$, a prototypical pyrochlore iridate with a finite temperature metal-insulator transition. Through a combination of elastic and inelastic measurements, we show that the magnetic ground state is an all-in all-out (AIAO) antiferromagnet. The magnon dispersion indicates significant electronic correlations and can be well-described by a minimal Hamiltonian that includes Heisenberg exchange ($J=27.3(6)$ meV) and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction ($D=4.9(3)$ meV), which provides a consistent description of the magnetic order and excitations. In establishing that Sm$_2$Ir$_2$O$_7$ has the requisite inversion symmetry preserving AIAO magnetic groundstate, our results support the notion that pyrochlore iridates may host correlated Weyl semimetals.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Strong $(π,0)$ spin fluctuations in $β$-FeSe observed by neutron spectroscopy

We have performed powder inelastic neutron scattering measurements on the unconventional superconductor $β$-FeSe ($T_{\rm c} \simeq 8\,\mathrm{K}$). The spectra reveal highly dispersive paramagnetic fluctuations emerging from the square-lattice wave vector $(π,0)$ extending beyond 80 meV in energy. Measurements as a function of temperature at an energy of $\sim 13\,\mathrm{meV}$ did not show any variation from $T_{\rm c}$ to $104\,\mathrm{K}$. The results show that FeSe is close to an instability towards $(π,0)$ antiferromagnetism characteristic of the parent phases of the high-$T_{\rm c}$ iron arsenide superconductors, and that the iron paramagnetic moment is neither affected by the orthorhombic-to-tetragonal structural transition at $T_{\rm s} \simeq 90\,\mathrm{K}$ nor does it undergo a change in spin state over the temperature range studied.

cond-mat.supr-con↗