arXiv subjects

Masashi Tokuda

Publications and source records attributed to Masashi Tokuda.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Zero-field superconducting diode effect induced by magnetic flux in a van der Waals superconductor trigonal PtBi$_2$

The superconducting diode effect is one of the nonreciprocal transport phenomena, where the critical current depends on the current direction. This effect is typically realized in superconductors with broken spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetry. To break the time-reversal symmetry, external magnetic fields are commonly used. Here, we demonstrate a sign-controllable superconducting diode effect under zero external magnetic field in a van der Waals superconductor trigonal PtBi$_2$. The sign of the zero-field superconducting diode effect is controlled by the poling magnetic field, that is a large magnetic field applied prior to measurements. This result indicates that trapped magnetic flux are responsible for breaking the time-reversal symmetry. Our findings highlight the crucial role of trapped magnetic flux in generating the superconducting diode effect and provide a general pathway for realizing a zero-field superconducting diode effect.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Observation of the crossover from quantum fluxoid to half-quantum fluxoid in a chiral superconducting device

Topological superconductors are one of the intriguing material groups from the viewpoint of not only condensed matter physics but also industrial application such as quantum computers based on Majorana fermion. For the real application, developments of the thin-film topological superconductors are highly desirable. Bi/Ni bilayer is a possible candidate for thin-film chiral superconductors where the time-reversal symmetry is broken. Here we report the phase shift of resistance oscillations by half flux quantum in a ring-shaped device of epitaxial Bi/Ni bilayer induced by a small magnetic field through the ring. The half quantum fluxoid can be a decisive evidence for unconventional superconductors where the superconducting order parameter has an internal degree of freedom. The present result provides a functional operating principle for quantum devices where the phase of the supercurrent can be shifted by \pi with a small magnetic field, based on the internal degree of freedom possessed by topological superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Higher harmonic resistance oscillations in micro-bridge superconducting Nb ring

We studied resistance oscillations in two types of superconducting mesoscopic Nb rings. In a simple superconducting ring device, a resistance oscillation with a period of the quantized magnetic flux h/2e was clearly observed. On the other hand, in a micro-bridge ring device where two-narrow parts are embedded in parallel and work as superconductor-normal metal-superconductor junctions, higher harmonic resistance oscillations were obtained when the measurement current was well-tuned. We argue that such higher harmonic resistance oscillations can be detected even in the micro-bridge Nb superconducting ring device where the device size is much larger than the coherence length of Nb.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Kondo effect in Lieb's ferrimagnetic system on the T-shaped bipartite lattice

The minimal ferrimagnetism by Lieb's theorem emerges on the T-shaped bipartite lattice composed of four sites, which can be realized experimentally, just as Nagaoka ferromagnetism has been demonstrated experimentally using a quartet quantum-dot(J.P.Dehollain et al., Nature 579, 528 (2020).). In this paper, the Kondo effect on this ferrimagnetism is theoretically studied. The magnetic moment $S=1$ is screened in two steps by the Kondo effect and the series conductance $g_{s}$ is strongly suppressed to $g_{s}\simeq 0$, while the parallel conductance $g_{p}$ has the maximum value $g_{p}\simeq 4e^{2}/h$. The robustness of these properties against a parameter change toward reducing the Lieb's ferrimagnetism is also discussed, showing the scenarios for entanglement of the degrees of freedom toward the ground state.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2021

Thickness-induced crossover from strong to weak collective pinning in exfoliated FeTe$_{0.6}$Se$_{0.4}$ thin films at 1 T

We studied flux pinning in exfoliated FeTe$_{0.6}$Se$_{0.4}$ thin-film devices with a thickness $d$ from 30 to 150 nm by measuring the critical current density $J_{\mathrm{c}}$. In bulk FeTe$_{0.6}$Se$_{0.4}$, the flux pinning has been discussed in the framework of weak collective pinning, while there is little knowledge on the pinning mechanism in the thin-film region. From the thickness $d$ dependence of $J_{\mathrm{c}}$ at a fixed magnetic field of 1 T, we found that the strong pinning is dominant below $d \approx 70$ nm, while the weak collective pinning becomes more important above $d \approx 100$ nm. This crossover thickness can be explained by the theoretical model proposed by van der Beek $\textit{et al}$ [Phys. Rev. B. ${\bf 66}$, 024523 (2002)].

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Spin treacle in a frustrated magnet observed with spin current

By means of spin current, the flow of spin angular momentum, we find a regime of "spin treacle" in a frustrated magnetic system. To establish its existence, we have performed spin transport measurements in nanometer-scale spin glasses. At temperatures high enough that the magnetic moments fluctuate at high frequencies, the spin Hall angle, the conversion yield between spin current and charge current, is independent of temperature. The spin Hall angle starts to decrease at a certain temperature $T^{*}$ and completely vanishes at a lower temperature. We argue that the latter corresponds to the spin freezing temperature $T_{\rm f}$ of the nanometer-scale spin glass, where the direction of conduction electron spin is randomized by the exchange coupling with the localized moments. The present experiment \textit{quantitatively} verifies the existence of a distinct "spin treacle" between $T_{\rm f}$ and $T^{*}$. We have also quantified a time scale of fluctuation of local magnetic moments in the spin treacle from the spin relaxation time of conduction electrons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Butterfly-shaped magnetoresistance in triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Ag$_2$CrO$_2$

Spintronic devices using antiferromagnets (AFMs) are promising candidates for future applications. Recently, many interesting physical properties have been reported with AFM-based devices. Here we report a butterfly-shaped magnetoresistance (MR) in a micrometer-sized triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Ag$_2$CrO$_2$. The material consists of two-dimensional triangular-lattice CrO$_2$ layers with antiferromagnetically coupled $S$ = 3/2 spins and Ag$_2$ layers with high electrical conductivity. The butterfly-shaped MR appears only when the magnetic field is applied perpendicularly to the CrO$_2$ plane with the maximum MR ratio ($\approx$ 15%) at the magnetic ordering temperature. These features are distinct from those observed in conventional magnetic materials. We propose a theoretical model where fluctuations of partially disordered spins with the Ising anisotropy play an essential role in the butterfly-shaped MR in Ag$_2$CrO$_2$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Quantum oscillations with magnetic hysteresis observed in CeTe$_{3}$ thin films

We have performed magnetotransport measurements in CeTe$_{3}$ thin films down to $0.2~{\rm K}$. It is known that CeTe$_{3}$ has two magnetic transitions at $T_{\rm N1} \approx 3~{\rm K}$ and $T_{\rm N2} \approx 1~{\rm K}$. A clear Shubnikov-de-Haas (SdH) oscillation was observed at $4~{\rm K}$, demonstrating the strong two-dimensional nature in this material. Below $T_{\rm N2}$, the SdH oscillation has two frequencies, indicating that the Fermi surface could be slightly modulated due to the second magnetic transition. We also observed a magnetic hysteresis in the SdH oscillation below $T_{\rm N1}$. Especially, there is a unique spike in the magnetoresistance at $B \approx 0.6~{\rm T}$ only when the magnetic field is swept from a high enough field (more than $2~{\rm T}$) to zero field.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗