arXiv subjects

Milo Sprague

Publications and source records attributed to Milo Sprague.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Observation of the Optical Phonons in {\alpha}-MnTe films

The altermagnetic materials have emerged as model systems for studying spin split electronic structures, yet controlled epitaxial growth on technologically relevant substrates remains challenging. Among the known candidates, MnTe stands out as a prominent altermagnetic material owing to its layered structure and high Neel temperature. Here, we report the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth of high quality alpha MnTe thin films on GaAs(111)B substrates and provide a comprehensive analysis of the growth evolution and structural properties. Raman spectroscopy reveals multiple vibrational features of alpha MnTe including modes near 121, and 140 1/cm. Combined with first principles phonon calculations, these features are identified as the Raman-active phonons of the hexagonal NiAs type lattice. Our results show that the high crystalline quality of MBE grown alpha MnTe enables the complete experimental resolution of all symmetry allowed Raman active phonon modes, highlighting epitaxial alpha MnTe as a robust thin film platform for investigating altermagnetism and its lattice coupled excitations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Synergistic doping and stabilization of magnetically tunable LnTi$_3$(Sb,Sn)$_4$ (Ln:Ce--Gd) kagome metals

Here we present our synthesis and characterization of the LnTi$_3$(Sb,Sn)$_4$ (Ln: Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd) family of cleavable kagome metals. While these materials are isostructural to the LnTi$_3$Bi$_4$ family, they only form as (Sb,Sn) solid-solutions with no corresponding LnTi$_3$Sb$_4$ or LnTi$_3$Sn$_4$ phases. We use a combination of first-principles density functional theory (DFT) and Crystal Orbital Hamilton Population (COHP) calculations to show that (Sb,Sn) alloying has a stabilizing effect on the structure by adjusting the Fermi level, filling bonding states, depopulating antibonding states, and adjusting the density-of-states (DOS) towards local minima, an effect we call ``synergistic doping.'' The tunable Fermi level also has a profound effect on the magnetism, which we demonstrate through a detailed characterization of the SmTi$_3$(Sb,Sn)$_4$ series. The series hosts multiple magnetic ground states resulting from competing magnetic interactions that are tunable by the (Sb,Sn) ratio. While the focus of this work is on SmTi$_3$(Sb,Sn)$_4$, we briefly comment on the (Sb,Sn) solubility range and the conferred magnetic tunability in the other rare-earths compounds (Ln: Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd) as well. Our work demonstrates how the (Sb,Sn) synergistic pair can be used to stabilize the LnTi$_3$(Sb,Sn)$_4$ structure while simultaneously providing a means to tune the magnetism, ultimately providing a potential route to develop new intermetallics with chemical, magnetic, and electronic tunability.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Topological character of the antiferromagnetic EuMg$_{2}$Bi$_{2}$

Antiferromagnetic EuM$_{2}$Pn$_{2}$ compounds, where M is a metal element and Pn is a pnictogen element, have been recognized as candidates for realizing a topologically nontrivial electronic structure. In this paper, we focus on EuMg$_2$Bi$_2$, whose topological nature still remains unclear. We present a comprehensive study based on several experimental and theoretical techniques. Magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and specific heat capacity measurements confirm the existence of an antiferromagnetic ordering. The electronic band structure was investigated by high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), supported by ab initio calculations. ARPES measurement reveals that the electronic structure of this system is dominated by linearly dispersive hole-like bands near the Fermi level. Theoretical analyses of the electronic band structure indicates that EuMg$_2$Bi$_2$ is a strong topological insulator, which should be reflected in the presence of a metallic surface state. We also theoretically examine the magnetic-field-induced anomalous Hall conductivity, confirming previously reported observations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Observation of Altermagnetic Spin Splitting in an Intercalated Transition Metal Dichalcogenide

Altermagnetism is a novel magnetic phase combining characteristics of both antiferromagnetism and ferromagnetic ordering. Despite growing theoretical interest in altermagnetic materials, reports of experimentally verified high Neel temperature layered compounds are limited or remain to be firmly established. Here, we present an angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) study of Co1/4TaSe2, a compound we identify as a layered altermagnetic material. Magnetic susceptibility measurements confirm type A antiferromagnetic ordering with a Neel temperature of 178 K. Our ARPES measurements reveal an electronic band structure in excellent agreement with DFT calculations, demonstrating clear signatures of altermagnetic spin splitting at the Fermi surface. Furthermore, temperature dependent ARPES reveals a reconstructed valence band structure, with observable band shifts and the closing of energy gaps upon heating above the Neel temperature (TN), consistent with the suppression of altermagnetic order. These findings establish Co1/4TaSe2 as a promising platform for exploring altermagnetic phenomena.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Complex electronic topography and magnetotransport in an in-plane ferromagnetic kagome metal

The intricate interplay between flat bands, Dirac cones, and magnetism in kagome materials has recently attracted significant attention from materials scientists, particularly in compounds belonging to the RMn6Sn6 family (R = Sc, Y, rare earths), due to their inherent magnetic frustration. Here, we present a detailed investigation of the ferromagnetic (FM) kagome magnet ScMn6(Sn0.78Ga0.22)6 using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), magnetotransport measurements, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our findings reveal a paramagnetic-to-FM transition at 375 K, with the in-plane direction serving as the easy magnetization axis. Notably, ARPES measurements reveal a Dirac cone near the Fermi energy, while the Hall resistivity exhibits a substantial contribution from the anomalous Hall effect. Additionally, we observe a flat band spanning a substantial portion of the Brillouin zone, arising from the destructive interference of wave functions in the Mn kagome lattice. Theoretical calculations reveal that the gap in the Dirac cone can be modulated by altering the orientation of the magnetic moment. An out-of-plane orientation produces a gap of approximately 15 meV, while an in-plane alignment leads to a gapless state, as corroborated by ARPES measurements. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the electronic structure of magnetic kagome materials and paves the way for exploring novel topological phases in this material class.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Electronic structure of a layered altermagnetic compound CoNb4Se8

Recently, there has been a growing interest in altermagnetism, a novel form of magnetism, characterized by unique spin-splitting even in the absence of both net magnetic moments and spin-orbit coupling. Despite numerous theoretical predictions, experimental evidence of such spin-splitting in real materials remains limited. In this study, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the electronic band structure of the altermagnet candidate CoNb4Se8. This material features an ordered sublattice of intercalated Co atoms within NbSe2 layers. Magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements reveal the onset of antiferromagnetism below 168 K. Temperature dependent ARPES data, supported by DFT calculations, uncover spin split bands along the MGM high-symmetry direction. The observation of spin splitting in this high temperature altermagnet opens new avenues for exploring its electronic properties and potential applications in spintronic technologies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Diverse electronic topography in a distorted kagome metal LaTi3Bi4

Recent reports on a family of kagome metals of the form LnTi3Bi4 (Ln = Lanthanide) has stoked interest due to the combination of highly anisotropic magnetism and a rich electronic structure. The electronic structure near the Fermi level is proposed to exhibit Dirac points and van Hove singularities. In this manuscript, we use angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements in combination with density functional theory calculations to investigate the electronic structure of a newly discovered kagome metal LaTi3Bi4. Our results reveal multiple van Hove singularities (VHSs) with one VHS located in the vicinity of the Fermi level. We clearly observe two flat bands, which originate from the destructive interference of wave functions within the Ti kagome motif. These flat bands and VHSs originate from Ti d orbitals and are very responsive to the polarization of the incident beam. We notice a significant anisotropy in the electronic structure, resulting from the breaking of six fold rotational symmetry in this material. Our findings demonstrate this new family of Ti based kagome material as a promising platform to explore novel emerging phenomena in the wider LnTi3Bi4 (Ln= lanthanide) family of materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Spin density wave and van Hove singularity in the kagome metal CeTi3Bi4

Kagome metals with van Hove singularities near the Fermi level can host intriguing quantum phenomena such as chiral loop currents, electronic nematicity, and unconventional superconductivity. However, to our best knowledge, unconventional magnetic states driven by van Hove singularities--like spin-density waves--have not been observed experimentally in kagome metals. Here, we report the magnetic and electronic structure of the layered kagome metal CeTi3Bi4, where Ti kagome electronic structure interacts with a magnetic sublattice of Ce3+ Jeff = 1/2 moments. Neutron diffraction reveals an incommensurate spin-density wave ground state of the Ce3+ moments, coexisting with commensurate antiferromagnetic order across most of the temperature-field phase diagram. The commensurate component is preferentially suppressed by thermal fluctuations and magnetic field, yielding a rich phase diagram involving an intermediate single-Q spin-density wave phase. First-principles calculations and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy identify van Hove singularities near the Fermi level, with the observed magnetic propagation vectors connecting their high density of states, strongly suggesting a van Hove singularity-assisted spin-density wave. These findings establish kagome metals LnTi3Bi4 as a model platform where the characteristic electronic structure of the kagome lattice plays a pivotal role in magnetic order.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2024

Electronic Structure of a Nodal Line Semimetal Candidate TbSbTe

The LnSbTe (Ln = Lanthanides) family, like isostructural ZrSiS type compounds, has emerged as a fertile playground for exploring the interaction of electronic correlations and magnetic ordering with the nodal line band topology. Here, we report a detailed electronic band structure investigation of TbSbTe, corroborated by electrical transport, thermodynamic, and magnetic studies. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility and thermodynamic transport studies indicate the onset of antiferromagnetic ordering below TN = 5.1 K. The electronic band structure study, carried out with high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements aided with density functional theory based first-principles calculations reveals presence of nodal lines in the GammaX high symmetry direction, forming a diamond-shaped nodal plane around Gamma high symmetry point. A strongly photon energy dependent nodal feature located at the X point of the surface Brillouin zone, indicating an extended nodal line along X R direction, is also observed. This study elucidates the intricate interplay among symmetry-protected band characteristics, the influence of spin orbit coupling, magnetism, and topological properties.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Observation of multiple flat bands and van Hove singularities in the distorted kagome metal NdTi3Bi4

Kagome materials have attracted enormous research interest recently owing to their diverse topological phases and manifestation of electronic correlation. Here, we present the electronic structure of a distorted ferromagnetic kagome metal, NdTi3Bi4, exhibiting a transition temperature of 9 K. Our investigation employs a combination of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We discover the presence of two flat bands which are found to originate from the kagome structure formed by Ti atoms with major contribution from Ti dxy and Ti dx2-y2 orbitals. We also observed multiple van Hove singularities (VHSs) in its electronic structure, with one VHS lying near the Fermi level. The ARPES data reveals the existence of Dirac cone at the K point, a finding which is corroborated by our DFT calculations. These findings present detailed electronic structure capable of hosting correlation-driven phenomenon in this novel ferromagnetic kagome metal.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Complex Fermiology and Electronic Structure of Antiferromagnet EuSnP

We studied the electronic structure of a layered antiferromagnetic metal, EuSnP, in the paramagnetic and in the antiferromagnetic phase using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) alongside density functional theory (DFT) based first principles calculations. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility measurements exhibits an antiferromagnetic transition at a Neel temperature of 21 K. Employing high resolution ARPES, the valence band structure was measured at several temperatures above and below the Neel temperature, which produced identical spectra independent of temperature. Through analysis of the ARPES results presented here, we attribute the temperature independent spectra to the weak coupling of the Sn, and P conduction electrons with Eu 4f states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Electronic structure in a rare-earth based nodal-line semimetal candidate PrSbTe

Nodal line semimetals feature topologically protected band crossings between the bulk valence and conduction bands that extend along a finite dimension in the form of a line or a loop. While ZrSiS and similar materials have attracted extensive research as hosts for the nodal line semimetallic phase, an alternative avenue has emerged in the form of isostructural rare-earth (RE) based RESbTe materials. Such systems possess intriguing potentialities for harboring elements of magnetic ordering and electronic correlations owing to the presence of 4f electrons intrinsic to the RE elements. In this study, we have carried out angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and thermodynamic measurements in conjunction with first principles computations on PrSbTe to elucidate its electronic structure and topological characteristics. Magnetic and thermal characterizations indicate the presence of well-localized 4f states with the absence of any discernible phase transition down to 2 K. The ARPES results reveal the presence of gapless Dirac crossings that correspond to a nodal-line along the XR direction in the three-dimensional Brillouin zone. Furthermore, Dirac crossing that makes up nodal line, which forms a diamond-shaped nodal plane centered at the center of the Brillouin zone is also identified within the experimental resolution. This study on the electronic structure of PrSbTe contributes to the understanding of the pivotal role played by spin-orbit coupling in the context of the RESbTe family of materials

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Observation of flat and weakly dispersing bands in a van der Waals semiconductor Nb3Br8 with breathing kagome lattice

Niobium halides, Nb3X8 (X = Cl,Br,I), which are predicted two-dimensional magnets, have recently gotten attention due to their breathing kagome geometry. Here, we have studied the electronic structure of Nb3Br8 by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles calculations. ARPES results depict the presence of multiple flat and weakly dispersing bands. These bands are well explained by the theoretical calculations, which show they have Nb d character indicating their origination from the Nb atoms forming the breathing kagome plane. This van der Waals material can be easily thinned down via mechanical exfoliation to the ultrathin limit and such ultrathin samples are stable as depicted from the time-dependent Raman spectroscopy measurements at room temperature. These results demonstrate that Nb3Br8 is an excellent material not only for studying breathing kagome induced flat band physics and its connection with magnetism, but also for heterostructure fabrication for application purposes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Diverse electronic landscape of the kagome metal YbTi3Bi4

Kagome lattices have emerged as an ideal platform for exploring exotic quantum phenomena in materials. Here, we report the discovery of Ti-based kagome metal YbTi3Bi4 which we characterize using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and magneto-transport, in combination with density functional theory calculations. Our ARPES results reveal the complex fermiology of YbTi3Bi4 and provide spectroscopic evidence of four flat bands. Our measurements also show the presence of multiple van Hove singularities originating from Ti 3d orbitals and a linearly-dispersing gapped Dirac-like bulk state at the K point in accord with our theoretical calculations. Our study establishes YbTi3Bi4 as a platform for exploring exotic phases in the wider LnTi3Bi4 (Ln= lanthanide) family of materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Observation of momentum-dependent charge density wave gap in a layered antiferromagnet GdTe3

Charge density wave (CDW) ordering has been an important topic of study for a long time owing to its connection with other exotic phases such as superconductivity and magnetism. The RTe3 (R = rare-earth elements) family of materials provides a fertile ground to study the dynamics of CDW in van der Waals layered materials, and the presence of magnetism in these materials allows to explore the interplay among CDW and long range magnetic ordering. Here, we have carried out a high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of a CDW material GdTe3, which is antiferromagnetic below 12 K, along with thermodynamic, electrical transport, magnetic, and Raman measurements. Our Raman spectroscopy measurements show the presence of CDW amplitude mode at room temperature, which remains prominent when the sample is thinned down to 4-layers by exfoliation. Our ARPES data show a two-fold symmetric Fermi surface with both gapped and ungapped regions indicative of the partial nesting. The gap is momentum dependent, maximum along G-Z and gradually decreases going towards G - M. Our study provides a platform to study the dynamics of CDW and its interaction with other physical orders in two- and three-dimensions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Revealing the intrinsic electronic structure and complex fermiology of YRu2Si2 using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We performed a detailed study of the intrinsic electronic structure of YRu2Si2 employing angleresolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density-functional theory (DFT) based firstprinciples calculations. Electrical and magnetic measurements were conducted on well-oriented highquality single crystals. Bulk physical measurements indicate that the compound exhibits slightly enhanced Pauli paramagnetic behavior, accompanied by electrical transport properties reminiscent of metals. Our ARPES data reveal four fold symmetric Fermi surface with weakly-dispersing bands around the N point originating from Ru d orbitals. We observed the anisotropic characteristics of the band near the N point, showing weak dispersion in the XNX direction and minimal dispersion along the NGN direction. The electronic band structure near the Fermi level is primarily governed by the Ru d orbital, with minor contributions from the Y d and Si p orbitals. Polarization-dependent ARPES results indicate the multi-band and multi-orbital band-character of YRu2Si2. Due to the negligible correlation effect, the observed ARPES data is found to be in good agreement with the DFT results.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Observation of gapless nodal-line states in NdSbTe

Lanthanide (Ln) based systems in the ZrSiS-type nodal-line semimetals have been subjects of research investigations as grounds for studying the interplay of topology with possible magnetic ordering and electronic correlations that may originate from the presence of Ln 4f electrons. In this study, we carried out a thorough study of a LnSbTe system - NdSbTe - by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy along with first-principles calculations and thermodynamic measurements. We experimentally detect the presence of multiple gapless nodal-line states, which is well supported by first-principles calculations. A dispersive and an almost non-dispersive nodal-line exist along the bulk X-R direction. Another nodal-line is present well below the Fermi level across the G- M direction, which is formed by bands with high Fermi velocity that seem to be sensitive to light polarization. Our study provides an insight into the electronic structure of a new LnSbTe material system that will aid towards understanding the connection of Ln elements with topological electronic structure in these systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Complex electronic structure evolution of NdSb across the magnetic transition

The rare-earth monopnictide (REM) family, which hosts magnetic ground states with extreme magnetoresistance, has established itself as a fruitful playground for the discovery of interesting topological phases. Here, by using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy complemented by first-principles density functional-theory based modeling, we examine the evolution of the electronic structure of the candidate REM Dirac semimetal NdSb across the magnetic transition. A complex angel-wing-like band structure near the zone center and three arc-like features at the zone corner have been observed. This dramatic reconstruction of the itinerant bands around the zone center is shown to be driven by the magnetic transition: Specifically,, the Nd 5d electron band backfolds at the Gamma point and hybridizes with the Sb 5p hole bands in the antiferromagnetic phase. Our study indicates that antiferromagnetism plays an intricate role in the electronic structure of the REM family.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗