arXiv subjects

Masaki Fujita

Publications and source records attributed to Masaki Fujita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Observation of Subharmonic Charge-Density-Wave Correlations in La-Based Cuprates

Pair-density-wave (PDW) correlations have been proposed as an important ingredient in the complex phase diagram of high-$T_{\rm c}$ cuprates, yet bulk-sensitive experimental signatures remain scarce. Here we report resonant x-ray scattering measurements revealing a subharmonic charge-density-wave (CDW) scattering response in Sr-doped $1/8$-LBCO. The subharmonic response appears at approximately half the primary CDW ordering wave vector and emerges within a physically relevant temperature regime associated with the development of in-plane superconducting correlations. Comparable subharmonic behavior is also observed in a chemically distinct La-based cuprate, LSCO, within the same stripe-ordered, layer-decoupled regime. Together, these observations identify a bulk-sensitive scattering signature that is consistent with PDW correlations in La-based superconducting cuprates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Probing La-based nickelates with Ni 1$s$ core-level photoelectron spectroscopy

We present a comparative Ni core level photoemission study of La$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$, Nd$_3$Ni$_2$O$_7$, and LaNiO$_3$ using both the Ni $2p$ and the Ni $1s$. We address the challenges in analyzing the widely investigated Ni $2p$ spectra arising from the substantial overlap in energy of the Ni $2p$ with the La $3d$. We show that on the other hand the deep Ni $1s$ core level does provide a clean view on the intrinsic electronic excitations and we highlight its potential to resolve detailed differences in the electronic structure within the strongly correlated Ruddlesden-Popper series La$_{n+1}$Ni$_n$O$_{3n+1}$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Spin dynamics in natural multiferroic pyroxene NaFeSi$_2$O$_6$

Spin dynamics in the natural mineral aegirine, NaFeSi$_2$O$_6$, a member of the pyroxene family, was studied by elastic and inelastic neutron scattering. Magnetization and specific heat measurements as well as single-crystal neutron diffraction maps, taken in the temperature range 2 - 20 K, confirm two successive magnetic transitions at 8.8 and 5.8 K, consistent with previous studies. The observed spin-wave excitations emerge from the incommensurate magnetic Bragg peaks corresponding to the propagation vector $k_{\rm ICM} = (0, 0.77, 0)$, and extend up to energies of about 1.5 meV. In the low-temperature helical phase, the spin dynamics of the Fe$^{3+}$ ions is well described by a simple linear spin-wave model. The observed excitations can be modeled using a spin Hamiltonian that includes three primary exchange interactions - intrachain coupling $J=0.142(2)$ meV, interchain couplings $J_1=0.083(1)$ meV and $J_2=0.186(1)$ meV - and an easy-plane anisotropy $D=0.020(6)$ meV. Our results show that no single exchange interaction dominates the spin dynamics. The similar strengths of the intrachain and interchain couplings point to the fact that the magnetic interactions in aegirine are three-dimensional rather than confined along one direction. As a result, the system cannot be considered quasi-one-dimensional, as previously suggested, and calls for further investigations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Tilted stripes origin in ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.88}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.12}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ revealed by anisotropic next-nearest neighbor hopping

Spin- and charge- stripe order has been extensively studied in the superconducting cuprates, among which underdoped ${\mathrm{La}}_{2-x}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ (LSCO) is an archetype with static spin stripes at low temperatures. An intriguing, but not completely understood, phenomenon in LSCO is that the stripes are tilted away from the high-symmetry Cu-Cu directions. Using high-resolution neutron scattering on LSCO with $x=0.12$, we find two coexisting phases at low temperatures, one with static spin stripes and the other with fluctuating ones, both sharing the same tilt angle. Our numerical calculations using the doped Hubbard model elucidate the tilting's origin, attributing it to anisotropic next-nearest neighbor hopping $t^{\prime}$, consistent with the material's slight orthorhombicity. Our results underscore the model's success in describing specific details of the ground state of this real material and highlight the role of $t^\prime$ in the Hamiltonian, revealing the delicate interplay between stripes and superconductivity across theoretical and experimental contexts.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Magnetic excitations in the noncentrosymmetric magnet Sr2MnSi2O7

Magnetic excitations in the noncentrosymmetric magnet Sr$_2$MnSi$_2$O$_7$ were investigated through inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Major magnetic excitations are limited up to the energy transfer of 0.5 meV, and two magnon branches under zero magnetic field were well explained in the framework of linear spin-wave theory. The magnitudes of the square-lattice in-plane and inter-plane nearest-neighbor interactions, spin anisotropy term, and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are respectively estimated to be $J_1=45.54(5)$ $μ$eV, $J_2=0.52(1)$ $μ$eV, $Λ=4.98(11)$ $μ$eV, $D_{xy}=0.02(9)$ $μ$eV, and $D_z=4.10(1)$ $μ$eV, and calculations using these parameters reproduce experimental data quite well. Sr$_2$MnSi$_2$O$_7$ appears to have the smallest energy scale among the melilite-type compounds, and the small $J_2/J_1=0.0114(2)$ indicates the sufficient two-dimensionality.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Unusual spin dynamics in the van der Waals antiferromagnet FeGa2S4

Spin dynamics in the van der Waals antiferromagnet FeGa$_2$S$_4$ with triangular lattices are investigated using magnetometry, neutron scattering, and muon spin relaxation measurements. The characteristic spin relaxation time is thoroughly clarified over thirteen orders of magnitude. Although the temperature dependence of DC and AC susceptibilities recalls a conventional spin-glass transition, nonlinear susceptibilities showing no divergences at the anomalous temperature, $T^{\ast}=16.87(7)$~K, deny that and instead hint at other mechanisms. Elastic neutron scattering together with previously measured muon results depict a slowly fluctuated ($\sim 10^{-5}$~sec) spin state above $T^{\ast}$. In juxtaposing the underlying simplest structure among frustrated magnets with an intricate hierarchy of time scales, FeGa$_2$S$_4$ can be a playground for studying temporal spin correlations in the two-dimensional limit.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Investigation of superconducting gap of high-entropy telluride AgInSnPbBiTe5

We performed transverse-field muon spin relaxation/rotation (TF-μSR) on a high-entropy-type (HE-type) superconductor AgInSnPbBiTe5. The emergence of bulk superconducting states was confirmed from magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and μSR. The superconducting gap 2Δ(0) estimated from μSR was clearly larger than that expected from conventional weak-coupling phonon-mediated model, suggesting the strong-coupling nature of superconductivity. In addition, a long penetration depth of 3.21(7) μm was obtained. The strong-coupling nature of superconductivity and the long penetration depth are similar to the trends observed in the other HE-type superconductors (HE alloys and transition-metal zirconides), which may be universal feature of HE-type superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Fermi-liquid state in $T$*-type La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ revealed via element substitution effects on magnetism

Despite its unique structural features, the magnetism of single-layered cuprate with five oxygen coordination ($T$*-type structure) has not been investigated thus far. Here, we report the results of muon spin relaxation and magnetic susceptibility measurements to elucidate the magnetism of $T$*-type La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ (LESCO) via magnetic Fe- and non-magnetic Zn-substitution. We clarified the inducement of the spin-glass (SG)-like magnetically ordered state in La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$Cu$_y$Fe$_{1-y}$O$_4$ with $x = 0.24 + y$, and the non-magnetic state in La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$Cu$_y$Zn$_{1-y}$O$_4$ with $x$ = 0.24 after the suppression of superconductivity for $y$ $\geq$ 0.025. The SG state lies below $\sim$7 K in a wide Sr concentration range between 0.19 and 0.34 in 5$\%$ Fe-substituted LESCO. The short-range SG state is consistent with that originating from the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction in a metallic state. Thus, the results provide the first evidence for Fermi liquid (FL) state in the pristine $T$*-type LESCO. Taking into account the results of an oxygen $K$-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurement $[$J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 89, 075002 (2020)$]$ reporting the actual hole concentrations in LESCO, our results demonstrate the existence of the FL state in a lower hole-concentration region, compared to that in $T$-type La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$. The emergence of the FL state in a lower hole-concentration region is possibly associated with a smaller charge transfer gap energy in the parent material with five oxygen coordination.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Combination of crystal growth with optical floating zone and evaluation of Nd3+:LaAlO3 crystals with the dynamic nuclear polarization of 139La and 27Al

Producing a polarized lanthanum (La) target with high polarization and long relaxation time is crucial for realizing time-reversal violation experiments using polarized neutron beams. We use a LaAlO3 crystal doped with a small amount of Nd3+ ions for the polarized lanthanum target. Optimizing the amount of Nd3+ ions is considerably important because the achievable polarization and relaxation time strongly depend on this amount. We established a fundamental method to grow single crystals of Nd3+:LaAlO3 using an optical floating zone method that employs halogen lamps and evaluated the crystals with the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) method for polarizing nuclear spins. Two crystal samples were grown by ourselves and evaluated with the DNP at 1.3 K and 2.3 T for the first time except for the target materials of protons. The enhancement of NMR signals for 139La and 27Al was successfully observed, and the enhancement factors were eventually 3.5+-0.3 and 13+-3 for the samples with Nd3+ ions of 0.05 and 0.01 mol%, respectively. These enhancement factors correspond to absolute vector polarizations of 0.27+-0.02% (Nd 0.05 mol%) and 1.4+-0.3% (Nd 0.01 mol%). Although the obtained polarizations are still low, they are acceptable as a first step. The combination scheme of the crystal growth and evaluation of the crystals is found to be effectively applicable for optimizing the amount of Nd3+ ions for improving the performance of the polarized target.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2023

Quantum Criticality in YbCu4Ni

We report on the quantum criticality of YbCu$_4$Ni as revealed by our combined micro- and macro-measurements. We determine the crystal structure of YbCu$_4$Ni with site mixing by neutron diffraction measurements, which suggests the possible presence of Kondo disorder. However, decreasing the local spin susceptibility distribution and the development of spin fluctuations below 10 K at ambient pressure by muon spin rotation and relaxation measurements suggests that YbCu4Ni exhibits quantum criticality. Therefore, our experimental results indicate that YbCu4Ni is a new material that exhibits quantum criticality under a zero magnetic field and ambient pressure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Magnetic Instability of Pr3Ru4Sn13

We report on the quantum criticality of Pr$_3$Ru$_4$Sn$_{13}$ revealed by our new material research. Pr$_3$Ru$_4$Sn$_{13}$ has been synthesized by flux growth and characterized by single X-ray, powder X-ray, and powder neutron diffraction measurements. The compound adopts a Yb$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$-type structure with a cubic Pm$\bar{3}$n. From the magnetization at 1 T, the effective magnetic moment was estimated to be 3.58 $μ_B$ per Pr$^{3+}$, suggesting that the magnetism is mainly contributed by Pr$^{3+}$ ions. The specific heat and magnetization show an anomaly at $T_{N} = 7.5$ ~ K owing to the phase transition. The muon spin rotation and relaxation ($μ$SR) time spectra exhibit clear oscillations below $T_N$. This suggests that the phase is magnetically ordered. The volume fraction of the magnetic phase estimated from the initial asymmetry is around ten percent. In addition, spin fluctuations were observed at low temperatures. These results provide microscopic evidence that the material is closest to the antiferromagnetically quantum critical point with a partial order among Pr$_3$$T_4$Sn$_{13}$ ($T= $ Co, Ru, Rh).

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

$^{139}$La-NMR study of spin-dynamics coupled with hole mobility in $T$*-type La$_{0.86}$Eu$_{0.86}$Sr$_{0.28}$CuO$_{4-δ}$

In $T$*-type cuprate oxides with five oxygen coordination, little is known about the relationship between the spin correlations and dope carriers. We performed $^{139}$La-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrical resistivity measurements on an as-sintered (AS) and oxidation annealed (OA) polycrystalline $T$*-type La$_{0.86}$Eu$_{0.86}$S$_{0.28}$CuO$_4$ (LESCO) to investigate its magnetic and superconducting (SC) properties. Upon cooling, the NMR spectrum of AS LESCO broadened below 3 K, at which the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ against the temperature exhibited a maximum, thereby indicating the appearance of static magnetism. The temperature dependence of $1/T_1$ between 3 K and 20 K was similar to that of the resistivity displaying the semiconducting behavior. Furthermore, the energy scale of the transport gap and spin-dynamics estimated was found to be comparable. These results suggest a close connection between the mobility of the doped carriers and low-energy spin-dynamics, as reported for lightly doped $T$-type La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$. In the OA SC sample, we confirmed the absence of a magnetic order and the Korringa relation above 10 K. Therefore, in the $T$*-type LESCO with $x$ = 0.28, the magnetic state coupled with holes drastically turns to the weakly correlated metallic state by oxidation annealing.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Triplon current generation in solids

A triplon refers to a fictitious particle that carries angular momentum $S = 1$ corresponding to the elementary excitation in a broad class of quantum dimerized spin systems. Such systems without magnetic order have long been studied as a testing ground for quantum properties of spins. Although triplons have been found to play a central role in thermal and magnetic properties in dimerized magnets with singlet correlation, a spin angular momentum flow carried by triplons, a triplon current, has not been detected yet. Here we report spin Seebeck effects induced by a triplon current: triplon spin Seebeck effect, using a spin-Peierls system CuGeO$_3$. The result shows that the heating-driven triplon transport induces spin current whose sign is positive, opposite to the spin-wave cases in magnets. The triplon spin Seebeck effect persists far below the spin-Peierls transition temperature, being consistent with a theoretical calculation for triplon spin Seebeck effects.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Reduction annealing effects on the crystal structure of $T^{\prime}$-type La$_{1.8}$Eu$_{0.2}$CuO$_{4+α-δ}$

We performed neutron powder diffraction measurements on the as-sintered (AS) and oxygen-reduced (OR) La$_{1.8}$Eu$_{0.2}$CuO$_{4+α-δ}$ (LECO). The structural parameters for oxygens in AS and OR samples refined by the Rietveld analysis are almost identical to those of the reference system, Pr$_{2}$CuO$_{4+α-δ}$. Thus, the two systems are comparable in terms of the structural changes in oxygens due to the annealing, although superconductivity appears only in LECO.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Fermi surface in La-based cuprate superconductors from Compton scattering imaging

Compton scattering provides invaluable information on the underlying Fermi surface (FS) and is a powerful tool complementary to angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and quantum oscillation measurements. Here we perform high-resolution Compton scattering measurements for La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} with x=0.08 (Tc=20K) at 300K and 150K, and image the momentum distribution function in the two-dimensional Brillouin zone. We find that the observed images cannot be reconciled with the conventional hole-like FS believed so far. Instead, our data imply that the FS is strongly deformed by the underlying nematicity in each CuO_2 plane, but the bulk FSs recover the fourfold symmetry. We also find an unusually strong temperature dependence of the momentum distribution function, which may originate from the pseudogap formation in the presence of the reconstructed FSs due to the underlying nematicity. Additional measurements for x=0.15 and 0.30 at 300K suggest similar FS deformation with weaker nematicity, which nearly vanishes at x=0.30.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Magnetic excitations of Sr$_3$Ir$_2$O$_7$ observed by inelastic neutron scattering measurement

In this short note, we report on the first inelastic neutron scattering (INS) study on high-energy magnetic excitations in Sr$_3$Ir$_2$O$_7$. We observed excitations between $\sim$80 meV and $\sim$180 meV. The peak position of the excitations is consistent with the dispersion of a single magnon determined by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) measurement. Thus, our results demonstrate that INS and RIXS observe identical excitations in iridate oxides, as in La$_2$CuO$_4$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Localized character of charge excitations for La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$NiO$_{4+δ}$ revealed by oxygen $K$-edge resonant inelastic X-ray scattering

We performed a resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) study of La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$NiO$_{4+δ}$ (LSNO) at the oxygen $K$ edge to investigate the nature of the doped holes with regard to charge excitations. Charge excitations of the hole-doped nickelates are found to be almost independent of momentum transfer, indicating that the doped holes are strongly localized in character. Additionally, conspicuous changes in energy position are in temperature dependence. These characters are observed in stark contrast to those of the high-$T_{c}$ cuprate La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ (LSCO), where delocalized doped holes form charge excitations with sizable momentum dependence in the CuO$_2$ plane. This distinct nature of charge excitations of doped holes is consistent with the metallicity of the materials and could be caused by strong electron-phonon coupling and weak quantum spin fluctuation in the nickelates.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Revisiting the phase diagram of T*-type La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ using Oxygen $K$-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Oxygen $K$-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements were conducted on T*-type La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ (LESCO) to estimate the hole density ($n_{\rm h}$) and investigate the oxidation annealing effect on $n_{\rm h}$. A drastic increase in $n_{\rm h}$ due to annealing was found. The increase in $n_{\rm h}$ cannot be explained solely by the oxygen gain due to annealing, suggesting that delocalized holes are introduced into the CuO$_2$ plane. A phase diagram of LESCO was redrawn against $n_{\rm h}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗