arXiv subjects

M. Horvatić

Publications and source records attributed to M. Horvatić.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Attractive Tomonaga-Luttinger Liquid in a Quantum Spin Ladder

We present NMR measurements of a strong-leg spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic ladder compound (C7H10N)2CuBr4 under magnetic fields up to 15 T in the temperature range from 1.2 K down to 50 mK. From the splitting of NMR lines we determine the phase boundary and the order parameter of the low-temperature (3-dimensional) long-range-ordered phase. In the Tomonaga-Luttinger regime above the ordered phase, NMR relaxation reflects characteristic power-law decay of spin correlation functions as 1/T1 T^(1/2K-1), which allows us to determine the interaction parameter K as a function of field. We find that field-dependent K varies within the 1<K<2 range which signifies attractive interaction between the spinless fermions in the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Magnetic field-enhanced spin freezing in YBa2Cu3O6.45 at the verge of the competition between superconductivity and charge order

Using 63Cu NMR, we establish that the enhancement of spin order by a magnetic field H in YBa2Cu3O6.45 arises from a competition with superconductivity because the effect occurs for H perpendicular, but not parallel, to the CuO2 planes, and it persists up to field values comparable to Hc2. We also find that the spin-freezing has a glassy nature and that the frozen state onsets at a temperature which is independent of the magnitude of H. These results, together with the presence of a competing charge-ordering instability at nearby doping levels, are strikingly parallel to those previously obtained in La-214. This suggests a universal interpretation of magnetic field effects in underdoped cuprates where the enhancement of spin order by the field may not be the primary phenomenon but rather a byproduct of the competition between superconductivity and charge order. Low-energy spin fluctuations are manifested up to relatively high temperatures where they partially mask the signature of the pseudogap in 1/T1 data of planar Cu sites.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Spatially Resolved Magnetization in the Bose-Einstein Condensed State of BaCuSi2O6: Evidence for Imperfect Frustration

In order to understand the nature of the two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensed (BEC) phase in BaCuSi2O6, we performed detailed 63Cu and 29Si NMR above the critical magnetic field, Hc1= 23.4 T. The two different alternating layers present in the system have very different local magnetizations close to Hc1; one is very weak, and its size and field dependence are highly sensitive to the nature of inter-layer coupling. Its precise value could only be determined by "on-site" 63Cu NMR, and the data are fully reproduced by a model of interacting hard-core bosons in which the perfect frustration associated to tetragonal symmetry is slightly lifted, leading to the conclusion that the population of the less populated layers is not fully incoherent but must be partially condensed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Microscopic properties of the "pinwheel" kagome compound Rb_2Cu_3SnF_{12}

Using $^{63,65}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in magnetic fields up to 30 T we study the microscopic properties of the 12-site valence-bond-solid ground state in the "pinwheel" kagome compound Rb$_2$Cu$_3$SnF$_{12}$. We find that the ground state is characterized by a strong transverse staggered spin polarization whose temperature and field dependence points to a mixing of the singlet and triplet states. This is further corroborated by the field dependence of the gap $Δ(H)$, which has a level anticrossing with a large minimum gap value of $\approx Δ(0)/2$, with no evidence of a phase transition down to 1.5\,K. By the exact diagonalization of small clusters, we show that the observed anticrossing is mainly due to staggered tilts of the $g$-tensors defined by the crystal structure, and reveal symmetry properties of the low-energy excitation spectrum compatible with the absence of level crossing.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Glassy Transition in the Vortex Lattice of Ba(Fe0.93Rh0.07)2As2 superconductor, probed by NMR and ac-susceptibility

By using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and ac-susceptibility, the characteristic correlation times for the vortex dynamics, in an iron-based superconductor, have been derived. Upon cooling, the vortex dynamics displays a crossover consistent with a vortex glass transition. The correlation times, in the fast motions regime, merge onto a universal curve which is fit by the Vogel-Fulcher law, rather than by an Arrhenius law. Moreover, the pinning barrier shows a weak dependence on the magnetic field which can be heuristically justified within a fragile glass scenario. In addition, the glass freezing temperatures obtained by the two techniques merge onto the de Almeida-Thouless line. Finally the phase diagram for the mixed phase has been derived.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Field-induced magnetic behavior in quasi-one-dimensional Ising-like antiferromagnet BaCo2V2O8: A single-crystal neutron diffraction study

BaCo2V2O8 is a nice example of a quasi-one-dimensional quantum spin system that can be described in terms of Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid physics. This is explored in the present study where the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram is thoroughly established up to 12 T using single-crystal neutron diffraction. The transition from the Néel phase to the incommensurate longitudinal spin density wave (LSDW) phase through a first-order transition, as well as the critical exponents associated with the paramagnetic to ordered phase transitions, and the magnetic order both in the Néel and in the LSDW phase are determined, thus providing a stringent test for the theory.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Field-induced quantum soliton lattice in a frustrated two-leg spin-1/2 ladder

The field-induced quantum phase transitions (QPT) of the spin ladder material Bi(Cu(1-x)Znx)2PO6 have been investigated via 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on single-crystal samples with x = 0 and x = 0.01. Measurements at temperatures between 0.25 K and 20 K in magnetic fields up to 31 T served to establish the nature of the various phases. In BiCu2PO6, an incommensurate (IC) magnetic order develops above a critical field mu0*H(c1) ~ 21 T; the field and temperature dependences of the NMR lines and the resulting model for the spin structure are discussed. Supported by results of Density-Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) calculations it is argued that the observed field-induced IC order involves the formation of a magnetic-soliton lattice. An additional QPT is predicted to occur at H > H(c1). For x = 0.01, this IC order is found to be stable against site disorder, although with a renormalized critical field.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Quantum-critical spin dynamics in quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnets

By means of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1, we follow the spin dynamics as a function of the applied magnetic field in two gapped one-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets: the anisotropic spin-chain system NiCl2-4SC(NH2)2 and the spin-ladder system (C5H12N)2CuBr4. In both systems, spin excitations are confirmed to evolve from magnons in the gapped state to spinons in the gapples Tomonaga-Luttinger-liquid state. In between, 1/T1 exhibits a pronounced, continuous variation, which is shown to scale in accordance with quantum criticality. We extract the critical exponent for 1/T1, compare it to the theory, and show that this behavior is identical in both studied systems, thus demonstrating the universality of quantum critical behavior.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Anisotropy of Magnetic Interactions in the Spin-Ladder Compound (C$_5$H$_{12}$N)$_2$CuBr$_4$

Magnetic excitations in the spin-ladder material (C$_5$H$_{12}$N)$_2$CuBr$_4$ [BPCB] are probed by high-resolution multi-frequency electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Our experiments provide a direct evidence for a biaxial anisotropy ($\sim 5\%$ of the dominant exchange interaction), that is in contrast to a fully isotropic spin-ladder model employed for this system previously. It is argued that this anisotropy in BPCB is caused by spin-orbit coupling, which appears to be important for describing magnetic properties of this compound. The zero-field zone-center gap in the excitation spectrum of BPCB, $Δ_0/k_{B}=16.5$ K, is detected directly. Furthermore, an ESR signature of the inter-ladder exchange interactions is obtained. The detailed characterization of the anisotropy in BPCB completes the determination of the full spin hamiltonian of this exceptional spin-ladder material and shows ways to study anisotropy effects in spin ladders.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Field Evolution of Coexisting Superconducting and Magnetic Orders in CeCoIn$_5$

We present nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on the three distinct In sites of CeCoIn$_5$ with magnetic field applied in the [100] direction. We identify the microscopic nature of the long range magnetic order (LRO) stabilized at low temperatures in fields above 10.2 T while still in the superconducting (SC) state. We infer that the ordered moment is oriented along the $\hat c$-axis and map its field evolution. The study of the field dependence of the NMR shift for the different In sites indicates that the LRO likely coexists with a modulated SC phase, possibly that predicted by Fulde, Ferrell, Larkin, and Ovchinnikov. Furthermore, we discern a field region dominated by strong spin fluctuations where static LRO is absent and propose a revised phase diagram.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Comment on ``Texture in the Superconducting Order Parameter of CeCoIn$_5$ Revealed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance''

The study of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state has been of considerable recent interest. Below the temperature $T^*$ which is believed to be the transition temperature ($T$) to the FFLO phase in CeCoIn$_5$, K. Kakuyanagi et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 047602 (2005)) reported a composite NMR spectrum with a tiny component observed at frequencies corresponding to the normal state signal. The results were interpreted as evidence for the emergence of an FFLO state. This result is inconsistent with two other NMR studies of V. F. Mitrovi{ć} et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 117002 (2006)) and B.-L. Young et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 036402 (2007)). In this comment we show that the findings of K. Kakuyanagi et al. do not reflect the true nature of the FFLO state but result from excess RF excitation power used in that experiment.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Field Dependence of the Ground State in the Exotic Superconductor CeCoIn$_5$: a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigation

We report $^{115}$In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements in CeCoIn$_5$ at low temperature ($T \approx 70$ mK) as a function of magnetic field ($H_0$) from 2 T to 13.5 T applied perpendicular to the $\hat c$-axis. NMR line shift reveals that below 10 T the spin susceptibility increases as $\sqrt{H_0}$. We associate this with an increase of the density of states due to the Zeeman and Doppler-shifted quasiparticles extended outside the vortex cores in a d-wave superconductor. Above 10 T a new superconducting state is stabilized, possibly the modulated phase predicted by Fulde, Ferrell, Larkin and Ovchinnikov (FFLO). This phase is clearly identified by a strong and linear increase of the NMR shift with the field, before a jump at the first order transition to the normal state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

NMR Study of Large Skyrmions in Al_{0.13}Ga_{0.87}As Quantum Wells

A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study is reported of multiple (30) Al$_{0.13}$Ga$_{0.87}$As quantum well (QW) sample near the Landau level filling factor $ν=1$. In these Al$_{0.13}$Ga$_{0.87}$As QWs the effective $g$ factor is nearly zero. This can lead to two effects: vanishing electronic polarization $(P)$ and skyrmionic excitations composed of a huge number of spins. As small $P$ values cause an overlap of the NMR signals from the QW and barriers, a special technique was employed to allow these two signals to be distinguished. The QW signal corresponds to a small, negative, and very broad distribution of spin polarization that exhibits thermally induced depolarization. Such a distribution can be attributed to sample inhomogeneities and/or to large skyrmions, the latter possibility being favored by observation of a very fast $T_{2}^{-1}$ rate.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2007

Phase Diagram of CeCoIn_5 in the Vicinity of H_{c2} as Determined by NMR

We report ^{115}In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn_5 as a function of temperature in different magnetic fields applied parallel to the $(\hat a, \hat b)$ plane. The measurements probe a part of the phase diagram in the vicinity of the superconducting critical field H_{c2} where a possible inhomogeneous superconducting state, Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO), is stabilized. We have identified clear NMR signatures of two phase transitions occurring in this part of the phase diagram. The first order phase transitions are characterized by the sizable discontinuity of the shift. We find that a continuous second order phase transition from the superconducting to the FFLO state occurs at temperature below which the shift becomes temperature independent. We have compiled the first phase diagram of CeCoIn_5 in the vicinity of H_{c2} from NMR data and found that it is in agreement with the one determined by thermodynamic measurements.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Huge Transverse Magnetization in the Field-Induced Phase of the Antiferromagnetic Molecular Wheel CsFe8

The 1H-NMR spectrum and nuclear relaxation rate 1/T_1 in the antiferromagnetic wheel CsFe8 were measured to characterize the previously observed magnetic field-induced low-temperature phase around the level crossing at 8 T. The data show that the phase is characterized by a huge staggered transverse polarization of the electronic Fe spins, and the opening of a gap, providing microscopic evidence for the interpretation of the phase as a field-induced magneto-elastic instability.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

How free are Composite Fermions at $ν= 1/2$? A NMR investigation

NMR measurements of the electron spin polarization have been performed on a 2D electron system at and around half-filled lowest Landau level. Comparing the magnetic field and the temperature dependence of the spin polarization to models of free and interacting composite fermions (CF), we confirm the existence of a Fermi sea and show that residual interactions are important. Independent measurements of the CF effective mass, g-factor and Fermi energy are obtained from the thermal activation of the spin polarization in tilted fields. The filling factor dependence of the spin polarization for $2/5 < ν< 2/3$ reveals a broken particle-hole symmetry for the partially polarized CF Fermi sea.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗